Bette:
A loud knock on the door woke us up in a jolt.
"What the fuck?" I heard Tina say groggily.
We had only gone to sleep around half an hour ago because we just couldn't get enough of each other. I lost count of how many times we made each other come. The insistent knocking banging on the door harder and I sat up.
"Who the fuck is that at this hour?" I said standing up.
"Mmm, hold on," Tina said sitting up, "let me go with you."
"You don't have to," I said putting on my boy shorts and grabbing Tina's discarded tank top and slipped it on.
"No, if someone's here now it's important," Tina said slipping on her boy shorts, "and that shirt was mine."
"Well get another one," I said standing up with a grin.
Tina scoffed and stood up lazily. She dragged her feet to the drawer and grabbed another tank top.
"That's mine," I said with a chuckle.
"One for one," Tina said laughing, slipping on the shirt. We walked out of the room lazily and answered the door tentatively.
"Bette! Tina!" Shane yelled once the door was opened. She looked terribly panicked. Tears were streaming down her face and she looked anxious. I opened the door all the way and turned on the light.
"Shane, what's wrong?" I said worriedly.
"What's going on?" Tina said anxiously.
"Alice has been shot!" Shane said desperately, "we tried to call you but you didn't answer!"
"The phone is unplugged, sorry," I said, "where is Alice? Is she okay?"
"I don't know," Shane cried, "Tasha was crying hysterically, I could barely understand her. She said they're at the general hospital, Carmen is waiting for me outside, come on, we have to go!"
"Oh my God!" Tina said anxiously. This was the first time I turned to look at her, mostly because I was struggling with the news myself. She had tears streaming down her face and she was almost hyperventilating.
"Tina, Tina," I said grabbing her arms, "calm down, baby. Come on, let's get dressed and go to the hospital."
"O-okay," Tina said in between sobs walking towards the bedroom.
"We'll meet you there," I called back to Shane, "please, let Carmen drive okay, I don't want you driving."
Carmen walked into the house now, gently touching Shane on the shoulder. She extended her hand and Shane reluctantly gave her the car keys. She gave me a small nod and they walked out of the house slowly. I rushed into the room where Tina was desperately dressing.
"Tina, please baby, you have to relax, Alice is going to be okay," I said, "she is strong."
"That's what we said about Dana and look at what happened to her!" Tina cried.
"Baby," I said tenderly hugging her onto my chest. She cried into my chest and wrapped her arms around my neck. When her sobs subsided I let her go and she went back to the closet. I had to hold in my own tears because I needed to be strong for Tina, but now I let them slide down my cheeks. I cried as I walked to the closet and grabbed a shirt and some jeans. I walked to the drawer and grabbed underwear then started changing. Tina, who had finished getting dressed, sat down next to me and watched me as I cried silently and got dressed. When I was done I stood up and grabbed the keys that were on the dresser still letting my tears fall.
She grabbed my arm and turned me around gently. Her soft hand wiped my tears gently and she placed a gentle kiss on my lips. I gave her a small smile and we walked out of the house. We drove in silence until we reached the hospital then we rushed in.
"Bette! Tina! Over here!" Carmen called.
We ran to her and asked at the same time, "how is she?"
"We don't know yet, they're prepping her for surgery," Carmen said.
"Where did they shoot her?" I asked.
"Who shot her?" Tina asked at the same time.
"Hey guys, don't badger her!" Shane said stepping in between us, "she was shot when she was talking to Tasha at her post in a drive by shooting. The guys had murdered someone just down the street and I guess when they saw Tasha, they thought she was going to arrest them and they shot at her. Alice jumped in the way and got shot in the back."
"Oh my God," Tina whimpered letting her tears fall again.
I pulled her into a hug letting my own tears fall, unable to be the brick she needed. "What do the doctors say?" I asked.
"He's coming right now," Shane said pointing to the doctor walking down the hall. He was a tall black man with small glasses and a serious expression on his face. He seemed familiar to me but I couldn't seem to pinpoint him. I kept on looking at him trying to will myself to figure out where I've seen this guy when I felt Tina's hand on my arm.
"Come on babe," she said giving me a curious look.
I shook my head out of its daze and I followed the girls to the approaching doctor. Tasha had been sitting on the floor crying into her lap the whole time next to Papi who was comforting her. When the doctor stopped in front of her, Tasha jumped up as if at attention and desperately said, "what! What! Is she okay!"
"Remain calm Ms. Williams," the doctor said softly, "she's about to be moved into the surgery room. I just wanted to explain to you what's about to happen."
"Will she be okay, Doctor?" Shane said.
The doctor hesitated and we all looked at him expectantly. With a deep sigh he responded, "the bullet is lodged in her spine and tangled in essential nerves."
I let out a shuddering cry as I understood what that meant, but everyone else didn't seem to understand. "W-what does that mean?" Shane said her voice cracking and her tears flowing.
"It means that there's very little chance she will survive the surgery and if she does she will probably be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of her life," the doctor said solemnly.
"Oh God," Tasha cried dropping her head on Papi's chest and she hugged her tenderly.
"B-but isn't there therapy or something for being able to walk again?" Carmen said holding Shane as Shane wasn't able to hold back her sobs any longer.
"Assuming she survives the surgery, she would be placed in therapy, but the process is long and tedious," the doctor said, "and there is no guarantee it will be a success."
"Please," Tasha cried grabbing the doctor's arm frantically, "save her, Doctor, please!"
"I will do my best Ms Williams," the doctor promised.
When he turned his head to the side I recognized him and I let out a loud gasp. Everyone turned towards me and all of the sudden I couldn't breathe anymore.
"Bette?" Tina said grabbing my arms as my legs wobbled.
The doctor came to my side and motioned for a nurse. "Ma'am are you okay?" he said grabbing my other arm on the other side of Tina.
"Bette! Baby?" Tina cried.
"She's having an anxiety attack," the doctor said, "Julie get the oxygen," he ordered.
The nurse standing next to him nodded and ran off to the nearest room. "Ms…" the doctor said.
"Porter," Tina responded.
"Ms. Porter, I want you to put your hands on your head," he said touching my arm softly.
I let out a yelp at his touch and squirmed away from him. When he heard my yell his eyes widened and he backed away from me stunned.
The nurse came back with the tank and stood next to the doctor. The doctor just remained there standing in shock as the nurse looked at him impatiently.
Tina looked from me to the doctor and whispered in my ear, "Bette, what's going on? Do you know him?"
I turned my head slowly, barely able to breathe, and gasped out, "he's one of the guys who attacked me."
Tina's eyes widened and she looked back to doctor. "Um, is there any way another doctor can perform the surgery?" Tina said loudly.
"What? Tina what the fuck are you talking about?" Tasha said frantically.
"He's a lesbian hater," Tina said as I struggled to breathe. The nurse gave him a shocked look as did the girls who stood there in a shocked silence.
The nurse approached me and gave me air from the tank as Tina stood up indignantly. "You are not the right doctor to perform surgery on my friend!" Tina said angrily her eyes welling up hot tears.
I've never seen Tina so aggressive. Not even when she found out about Candace was she this angry.
The doctor back away from us with tears in his eyes and said, "I'm a different person now."
I let out a scoff still hooked on to the oxygen. "Shh," the nurse assuaged.
"No, really," the doctor cried, "I did what I did because I was scared! I had these weird feelings for men and I didn't want to be gay. Those two guys were my friends and they hated gay people, they wanted me to prove that I wasn't gay! That's the only reason I went with them that night! I didn't know that they were gonna do that!"
"How do I know you will really want to save my girlfriend?" Tasha said angrily stepping in front of the doctor.
The doctor backed away, obviously intimidated by the strong woman, and said, "because I am a doctor, and I vowed to save lives not end them."
"Just like you almost killed my fiancé?" Tina snapped stepping forward and slapping the doctor square on his face.
At this point I didn't need the oxygen anymore and I stood up in surprise. I heard the collective gasp from everyone else and the doctor dropped his head in shame.
"Look," he said weakly, "I am gay okay? I was in the closet back then and I've regretted that night every day of my life. I want nothing more than your forgiveness." He looked at me square in the face and said, "please forgive me. Please let me operate on your friend, I am the best doctor in the area. I have the best chance of saving her."
Tina scoffed and walked away from him. I knew this was what she did when she didn't have her anger in check. She walked to stand next to me and looked at me. "I need to think," I said softly.
"I understand," the doctor said, "I wouldn't be surprised if you never forgive me. Will you let me perform this surgery?"
"That's up to Tasha," I said looking at the woman who's hands were balled into fists and her anger was indiscernible.
"Bette, do you think he should?" Tasha said with a growl.
"Ms," the nurse who had given me the oxygen said, "if anyone can save your friend, Doctor Mercer can."
I nodded at the woman then turned to Tasha and gave her a small nod. Tasha hesitated for a minute and nodded her head. The doctor nodded his head and said, "I will do everything in my power to save her."
We nodded as he walked down the hall and out of sight.
"What did he do to you?" Tasha said turning around worriedly.
"Nothing I wanna talk about," I responded.
I felt Tina's hand on my arm and I turned to plant a kiss on her lips. "Hey," Shane said making us break the kiss, "um, fiancé?"
"Shit," Tina said not realizing she had said it.
"It's okay they were gonna find out anyways," I said, "Shane, Tina and I are engaged…"
….
Alice:
The grass is so green. It feel so soft on my feet. The little strands feel like silk in between my toes. I've never felt anything like this. But where am I? I've never seen this place before. I walked along the path enjoying the feel of the grass and gasped when I saw the lake. I ran to it and sat along the edge, dunking my feet in the water. The water was so cool and I couldn't help but laugh in joy. I felt so at peace, so happy.
A soft voice calling my name, snapped me out of my reverie.
"What are you doing here, Al?" a familiar female voice said.
I turned my head and gasped when I saw here. "Dana," I breathed. She looked as beautiful as she always did. Her wavy brown hair was blowing in the light breeze and her blue eyes were shining so bright.
"What are you doing here, Al?" she repeated.
"I don't know where I am, Dana," I said, "is this a dream?"
"No, Alice, it's not a dream," Dana said touching my arm.
"Then where am I?" I said.
"Where am I?" Dana said.
"Dana, you are dead," I said. I gasped and my eyes widened as I realized where I was. "Oh my God! I'm dead! What! How did that happen?" I cried desperately.
"Do you remember what happened before you got here?" Dana said.
My brows furrowed in concentration as I tried to remember what happened, then my eyes widened as I remembered. "Oh my God," I cried, "I took a bullet for Tasha!"
"Yes, you love her a lot Alice, you died for her," Dana said.
"But I wanna be with her!" I cried, "I don't wanna die! Not yet!"
"I didn't wanna die either, Al," Dana said, "I wanted to be with you."
I broke into tears and cried, "Oh Dana, I know that. I just don't wanna die! I need to show Tasha how much I love her."
"You're not supposed to be here," Dana said smiling.
"What do you mean?"
"You have a choice," Dana said, "you could stay here with me, for all eternity. Or you can go to that door over there, and live."
I turned around and saw the black door that Dana was referring to, it hadn't been there before. "I choose that," I said standing up.
"Once you choose that you don't have that option again," Dana said, "if you come back, you won't have the choice."
"At least I got a second chance," I said without hesitation.
"You don't wanna stay here with me?" she said softly. I turned for a moment to see the tears that were in her eyes.
"You will always be in my heart Dana," I said, "but I love Tasha."
Dana smiled and wiped her tears. "Then go to her."
I smiled and walked to her. "Before I go," I said, "I wanna do something that I never got a chance to do before you died."
I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her waist. I held her tightly as she returned the hug affectionately. "Goodbye, Dana," I said.
"Goodbye, Alice," she responded pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.
We parted as I felt a light touch on my arm. I turned and gasped saying, "Jenny!"
"Come on, Alice!" she urged with a small smile that I hadn't seen since I met her, "you're running out of time."
She offered her hand to me and I took it. She led me towards the door as I waved goodbye to Dana, who smiled and waved. I looked back to Jenny who had a bright smile on her face. The last time I saw that smile is when she first arrived in LA.
"What happened to you Jenny?" I said sadly as we arrived at the door, "you are so beautiful."
"I haven't felt this way in a long time," she said tears of joy filling her eyes, "I should have come here sooner."
"No Jenny," I said tenderly, "life without you is so hard. You left and I thought you stole my idea…"
"I didn't," she said quickly.
"I know," I said smiling, "but I wish you would have told me about the co-author sooner. Shane is taking it hard."
"I know," Jenny said solemnly, "but she looks much happier with Carmen. Make sure they get back together okay?"
"Before I go," I said opening the door, "who killed you, Jenny?"
"I don't know," Jenny responded, "I remember an argument but it was a bit shady. I only remember when my head hit the concrete, then I felt wet, then I couldn't breathe, but I couldn't bring myself to wake up to be able to breathe. Then I was here."
"You don't know who did it? Because that person should pay," I said.
"No," Jenny said smiling, "that person did me a favor."
I sighed and gave her a small smile, "I'm glad you got your happiness, Jenny. Goodbye."
"See you later," she said, "but way, way later." We hugged each other tightly then I walked into the door. It was dark, I couldn't seem to open my eyes, but I heard everything around me.
I heard a man's voice saying, "we almost got a pulse! Do it again! Clear!"
I heard a machine whirring and I felt an electric wave all throughout my body. Then I heard the insistent beeps of a machine and several sighs of relief. "We got her back!" the man said, I could hear the relief in his voice, "hurry, bring the bed pan for the bullet, we have to move quickly."
That was the last thing I heard before everything went silent, and I felt…nothing…
…..
Helena:
"It was so hot what you did today," Dusty said laughing.
We were inside of our tent eating our steak, which Ivan cooked himself. "What you did was hot!" I said remembering the steamy kiss.
"You've changed a lot Helena," Dusty said, "you were a little wimp in prison."
"Oh come on! There was a nasty bitch pressing a knife onto my throat! I was naked! You expected me to not be a wimp!" I defended.
"I had no problem fighting her off," Dusty said with a smug smile.
"That's cause you have those bulging muscles, that sexy, deep voice, that fucking amazing strength that I wish I can overtake so that I can dominate for once in bed!" I said a heat running through my body, "she was scared shitless!"
"So were you," Dusty said scooting closer to me nuzzling her face in my neck.
"I was fucking terrified," I said throwing my head back, "but I don't know, when you saved me, then you had that bad dream, and you looked so…I don't know, but I couldn't help but kiss you."
"Then I went with it," Dusty said, "to be honest, I wanted to fuck you since you walked into the cell, but I thought you were straight."
"What! Ha! No way!" I said shaking my head in disgust.
"I know that now," Dusty said, "I really, really know that now."
"Come on, Dusty, when are you gonna let me fuck you instead you fucking me all the time?" I said.
"Hmm," Dusty said, "I don't know."
"Why won't you let me, huh?"
"Has to do with that dream," Dusty said.
"Really?" I said sitting up straight. Dusty nodded and let out a deep sigh. "If I tell you how I ended up here," I said, "will you tell me the dream?"
"I don't trust people very easily," Dusty said, "I am a crook after all."
"I'm not."
"Bullshit!" Dusty said with a laugh, "you ended up in jail for stealing hundreds or thousands of dollars from your lover."
"She was prostituting me!" I argued, "she separated me from my friends and from my children. She used me and abused me, then didn't even let me keep the money I worked hard for."
"Okay, so maybe she deserved it," Dusty said with a chuckle, "I would have kicked her ass too."
"You can trust me, Dusty."
"Can you trust me?"
"There's some people I don't trust, and that's how I ended out here, but I feel like I can trust you."
"Hmm," Dusty said sitting up straight.
She was about to say something when someone knocked on the tent. "Yeah?" I said a bit frustrated at the interruption.
"Hey, Helena," Ivan's voice said, "someone's here to see you."
"At this hour?" I said.
"Yeah, said he has a message from someone," Ivan said.
My heart started to speed up. Could it be a message from Dylan? I don't wanna know anything about her! She broke my heart! I couldn't help but tremble in anxiety as I stood up.
"I wanna go with you," Dusty said standing up next to me.
"You don't have to," I said.
"I just feel like I need to protect you," Dusty said.
I smiled and nodded saying, "Thanks." Dusty followed me out of the tent where Ivan was waiting to walk us to the mysterious visitor. I saw the visitor sitting on the hood of his car waiting patiently.
"Max?" I said in surprise.
"Hey Helena," Max said jumping off the car gently, holding his pregnant belly the whole time.
"What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"
"Kit told me, and I need to give you a message as well as tell you some news they told me just a while ago."
"News?"
"Bad news."
"What happened?" I said worriedly.
"Shane just called me," Max said, "Alice was shot tonight."
"Shot!" I cried my tears spilling out of my eyes instantly, "h-how, w-why, is she…"
"Calm down," Dusty whispered in my ear holding my arms gently.
"Last I heard she was in a very dangerous surgery, but Ivan agreed to keep his phone on and we will inform you what happened," Max explained.
"How did it happen?" I asked calming myself down, "she doesn't have enemies. She's my best friend! Who would want to hurt her?"
"She and Tasha were just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Max said, "Shane said these gangsters were doing a drive by and Alice took a bullet for Tasha."
"What?" I said in surprise.
"Wow," Dusty said.
"Is she gonna be okay?" I asked worriedly.
"I don't know, Shane didn't tell me much."
"I hope they call Ivan soon," I said.
"I'll go directly to the hospital from here," Max said, "I'll make sure to call. But I gotta give a message, that's why I'm here."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"Alone."
Ivan raised his hands and left. Dusty turned to leave but I grabbed her arm and said, "Dusty stays."
"It's better if you're alone," Max said.
"No, Dusty stays."
"Fine."
"I don't wanna be any trouble," Dusty said.
"No, I want you here," I said, "I trust you."
Max sighed deeply and said, "I have a message from Dylan."
"You've seen Dylan!" I said in surprise, "she's wanted by the police!"
"I didn't see here, I received a phone call."
"What did that bitch say?"
"That she didn't kill Jenny."
"I'm not so sure."
"Well she says that she meant what she said," Max said, "she said that she is really sorry for leading you on to steal your money and that it's not her intention anymore. She says she truly loves you even though she knew about the test you set up for her."
"She said all of that already and I still don't believe her," I said, "she hurt me deeply."
"I know," Max said, "I'm only the messenger. She made you fall in love with her then she used you and left. I know I wouldn't forgive Tom if he decided to come back."
"Even though he's the father of your baby?"
"I don't want this thing," Max said coldly.
"Well, if Dylan calls you again, tell her I say to go fuck herself and that I will never forgive her for what she did to me," I said angry tears spilling from my eyes.
"Alright," Max said walking back to his car, "I hope you recover soon and I'll call once there's news of Alice."
"Thanks Max," I said wiping my tears.
Dusty and I watched her drive away before we walked back to our tent.
"So that woman that guy was talking about," Dusty said once she zipped up the tent behind her, "is she the reason you're here?"
"Well when she came back into my life, I started drinking to try to forget everything," I said sadly.
"So now you're admitting you're an alcoholic?" Dusty said.
"Yeah," I said with a sigh, "I guess I was denying it so I can have another drink."
"That wouldn't solve the problem now would it?"
"No."
"You just need time, Helena," Dusty said in that tender tone that caught me off guard every single time, "you will heal."
"Did that work for you?"
"Sure," Dusty said, "but I bet telling someone would help solve it too."
"Yes, all my friends know my situation and it comforts me to know that they can help me at any moment's notice," I said.
"Well," Dusty started lying down on her sleeping bag, "when I was a little girl, my mother died of cancer."
"I had a friend who died of cancer," I said lying down next to her.
"My dad was so sad and he became this idiot who just went out with random women," Dusty said, "one day he went off and married this lady named Liz and she was a total bitch. She used to do horrible things to me. She used to tell me that people always did bad things to little girls and she always whipped me with this leather belt she used to wear with all of her pants. She put me through four years of torture and then she did something worse."
"Worse?" I said gulping.
"Way worse," Dusty said, "my dad had been away on his very first business trip because of his promotion and he had been gone for over a week, and I guess Liz got a bit…needy. So she went into my room and had her way with me. So I did what my innocent mind told me to do. I imitated a man's look the most possible. I looked like him and acted like him. Every time I sleep with a woman, I never let her do things to me."
"But what about your own release?" I said.
"Never had one, I survive just as well as watching another woman release."
"No, Dusty, you have no idea what you're missing out on!" I said sitting up, "look that Liz bitch did something horrible to you, but you can't let it continue to affect your life. Let me dominate, Dusty. Let me show you that what a woman can do to you is beautiful and glorious. Let me make you cum."
Dusty's eyes darkened with lust as she looked up and down my body, but she hesitated.
"Trust me," I whispered leaning down close to her planted a wet kiss on her throat. I slowly climbed on top of her so that I could straddle her and saw the nervousness in her eyes.
"Is that what your nightmare is?" I said.
"Yeah," Dusty said rubbing her calloused hands against my thigh.
"Let me make a dream then," I said seductively leaning down and pressing my lips against hers. He felt her strength and power as our lips connected. I could tell she wanted to flip us over and fuck me hard but she was restraining herself. "Sit up," I ordered.
I heard a small growl from her as she sat slowly. I lifted her shirt and undershirt off of her and I looked at her only in her bra. I have seen her like this before but she never let me get any farther. I wrapped my arms around gently and unclasped her bra. She shuddered nervously as I slipped off the bra. I almost gasped at what I saw. Her breasts were beautiful but there were deep scars on them. I looked into her eyes and saw the sadness. I knew who did this to her. I pushed her back so that she was lying down, then I leaned over and kissed the scars gently.
Her back arched involuntarily at the action and she let out the faintest of moans. I licked the scars slowly before swirling my tongue around her nipple, then sucking it into my mouth.
"Ohhh," Dusty grunted holding head in place as I continued my ministrations. When I stopped I heard her grunt in protest. I smirked as I led a trail of kisses down her body and started unbuckling her jeans. She looked even more nervous but she was in such of state of arousal she didn't want me to stop. I knew that look, I've seen too many times before.
I slid down Dusty's jeans slowly and looked at the scars that were all over her thighs. I removed her boy shorts slowly revealing her wet center there were scars dangerously close to it, but not on it. She squirmed under my gaze, so I looked up into her eyes with a smile and said, "you are so beautiful."
She returned the smile as I leaned down started kissing all her scars, leaving for the last the ones close to her center. When I finally reached the closest one she was bucking her hips anxiously. I gave her what she wanted once she asked for it. I latched my lips onto her clit and she let out a long groan of pleasure.
"Holy fuck…" Dusty moaned trailing off as other profanities escaped her lips. I continued sucking greedily enjoying the way her back arched and her hips bucked. I knew what would topple her over, so I brought my fingers up to her opening and pressed one in very slowly.
"Ahhhhhh," Dusty groaned tensing up upon feeling the intrusion. I knew a trick that drove all the women crazy, but that I never did as much because not many women can handle it. Tina was one of the few that did, so I bet Bette has a lot of fun with her. I knew Dusty would be able to handle so I, still sucking on her swollen nub, I added a second finger and began pushing my fingers up and down instead of in and out. The upwards motion slammed against her G spot while the downwards motions stretched her out.
"Oh my God!" Dusty grunted as her beck arched up and her entire body started trembling. I continued the motion faster and faster stopping my tongue action to look at her face. Dusty's face was contorted in pleasure then I saw it snap. Her face turned into a silent scream and spasm after spasm started slamming against her body. She trembled in my arms and I felt the violent throbbing against my fingers. They were squeezing my fingers really tightly which meant she came really hard.
Then her body went limp and she was panting to catch her breath. "You okay?" I said moving to lie down next to her.
"Fuck," Dusty breathed, "is that what I've been missing?"
"Yes, and I got more tricks," I said smiling.
"You can show me them later," Dusty said climbing on top of me, "right now it's my turn…"
