A few days passed since the two women talked about what happened in the past.
They didn't bring that argument out since then.
It hurt both of them, in two different ways.
Tina, she hated him for what he did to her wife, but she also was upset with Bette, who kept her in the dark.
She just couldn't understand why she did it.
As far as Bette was concerned, she didn't do anything wrong.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I just wanted to protect you."
That was Bette's response, everytime Tina tried to talk about it.
Then there only was silence.

Tina did as Bette asked her. She just tried to avoid to be alone with Eric, eventhough there weren't lot of chances to meet each other.
She tried to talk with Mark about him. She didn't say anything about what he did to Bette, but she just hoped that maybe Mark would decline the offer knowing that she wasn't feeling comfortable with him staying there.
Of course, he didn't accept that.
Fortunately, he had been busy for some kind of cases, this kept him away from the set. And everytime he managed to be there, they never talked. Tina always tried to stay away from him.
At least things seemed to be fine.
Until that day.

"Catie, make sure to schedule the meeting with the casting producer at five" Tina asked, from her office.
"Sure, Tina. Need anything else?"
"No, thanks, you can leave for lunch if you want."
"Fine, see you later!"

The studio was almost empty. Most of the crew was out for lunch. Tina was busy getting some paperworks done, when she heard her office door opening. 'Shit, I forgot to lock it'
"Catie, you know, I always said you have to knock before gettin' in" Tina said, looking at the papers.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I should have knocked" that wasn't Catie's voice.
Tina stopped writing as she heard the voice, she kept looking down at her paperworks, then lifted her head. "Eric?"
"I thought you could be hungry, so I brought you some food if it doesn't bother you..."
"Actually, I already had lunch, thanks" she tried to rid of him.
She hated that bastard who was just a few centimeters afar from her.
"Oh, I see... too bad, well how's everything going?" he sat down in the chair that was in front of the desk, without asking any permission.
The nerve he had.
"Listen... I really need to get these paperworks done, so if you don't mind" Tina tried to let him understand that he wasn't wanted there.
He stood up, again and crossed his arms, "Fine, Mrs. Porter-Kennard..." he said, staring at some photos of her with Bette and Angie, that was scattered here and there in the office.
He always had that smug smile on his face. That was irritating.
"Maybe we can talk later, I will be here all day long" he exited the office, without letting her say anything.

That same day, Bette had the brilliant idea to bring some food to Tina, at work, so they could eat together. The brunette entered the studios and as soon as she approached the hallway Eric popped out.
Their eyes met, he noticed the bag of food Bette was carrying and smirked, "Oh, she already had lunch" then he quickly passed her.
Bette, stood there for a little while... she realized he just exited Tina's office.
She panicked and started to run forward the office.
"I told you to lock the door!" she said as she stepped in.
"Fuck, Bette! You scared the hell out of me!"
"That makes two of us!" she was upset. "I just... I just met that fucking bastard, who told me 'oh she just had lunch'... What the fuck does that mean? Are you having lunch with him, now?"
"What? Bette, are you out of your mind?"
"So, what is it?"
"He... he came into my office -unannounced- and brought some lunch... and I said I already had lunch, that's all"
"Yes, but you still didn't lock the fucking door"
"Jesus, I forgot, okay?"
"Try not to forget, then!"
Both of them looked at each other and sighed.
Then Tina added, "Look, I know how concerned you are, but believe there is no reason to react this way, we barely talk to each other".
Bette cutted her off. "Oh yeah, and he walks into your office"
"Jesus, cut me some slack! This has been an isolated case, just because I've been a little busy doing my job and I forgot to lock the door"
"No, I will not cut you come slack, when it comes to your safety!"
"Did you come here to eat lunch with me or to fucking lecture me?"
Bette tightened her lips together. She tried to calm down a little and pulled out the food from the bag. The two women never lost eyes contact.
"I'm sorry" Tina admitted.
Bette didn't say anything, she just looked at her.
"You're right, after what happened, you have every right to react this way, I just want you to know that I'm able to take care of myself. I'm safe here, as long as I am with the others... He won't hurt me."
"But he could've happened right a few minutes ago, Tee. You were alone, in your office... just like... jus —" Bette sighed. "Just like I was, some years ago. It takes a moment to find yourself against the fucking wall, trying to slip out his hands..." she rubbed her forehead. "Fuck"
Tina knew how hard it was for Bette to talk about it.
"Baby, I know I already asked this a million of times, but I really need to know why you didn't tell me"
"Because," her eyes started to fill up with tears. "when he -did it- to me, he made me promise to never tell anyone. And that if I would, then he would've done the same to —"
"To me" Tina finished Bette's sentence.
"Exactly" Bette started to cry. "And I didn't tell you, because I knew you probably would have called the police and something like that, and I didn't want expose you to this fucking mess. He is a lawyer, he surely was able to come clean from this easily... I couldn't risk"
"You never told to anyone?"
"No, I kept it for me."
"God, baby. You lived all these years with this huge weight on your shoulders?" Tina's voice was full of pain.
"Actually, it didn't touched me that much. I tried to go on and let it go. As long as I was with you and he was far from us, that wasn't a big deal... since he came back a week ago... I started to panic" Bette crossed her hands. "I thought he told me that he would came back just to scare me, I didn't think he was actually going to do it"
"So, you think this whole thing about the funding is only a way to get close to me?"
"I absolutely do."
Tina stood up and got closer. She sat on her lap and hugged her wife. "I'll be carefull and it will be alright, I promise" she said burying her head in the brunette's neck.
Bette wanted to believe her, but she just couldn't. After sharing a very passionate kiss with her wife, she saluted her and left the office. After making sure her wife locked the door, she headed to the exit.

She was approaching the car, when she bumped into him again.
Bette tried to ignore him, but it was like he was waiting for her.
"Don't you want to say 'hi' to one of your old friends?"
Bette tried to pass him, but he stood still. Making both of them doing the famous 'dance' when both of them go to the left and then go to the right. "I didn't know we were friends?" she finally managed to walk.
"You know, I heard that when you share something with someone else, it means that this person is a very good friend" he said, with emphasis on the word 'something'. She knew he was talking about Tina.
"We never shared anything" she said, she now was a few steps ahead.
"I'll make sure we will, then"
Bette stopped walking immediately and turned around.
Her face turned pale.
Then he gave his back to her and went away.
Bette was paralyzed, she made her way to the car, as she sat down she dialed Tina's cell.
"Babe, I miss you already?"
Silence. She could hear Bette panting.
"Bette?"
The brunette swallowed, "You locked the door, right?"
"What, you know I did, yes"
"Good, stay in your office and don't go anywhere"
"You know I have to go out, sometimes, to make things done on the set"
"I know, but just stay there, today. Okay?"
"Bette, what's wrong?"
"Just. Fucking. Stay. There!"
"Jesus fucking Christ, Bette. What's wrong now?"
"He's going to hurt you"
"Who?"
"Santa Claus... Eric, Tina!"
"And how do you know?"
"He told me"
"He told you?"
"YES!"
"Don't yell!"
"Fuck, sorry. Okay. Listen, I met him here, near the parking lot and he clearly made me understand that he came back to take you away from me. I don't like this... I can't fucking take this"
"Ok, babe. Calm down. Please..."
"I can't. If you stay under the same roof with that bastard one more second, I'm going to die. Stay there, I'm coming back to your office."
"What?" she couldn't hear her anymore.
Bette hanged up the phone before Tina could utter a word.

Tina heard a knock on the door, "Who is it?"
It was Bette, she walked inside.
"Bette, your shaking... come here" she led her to the couch and sat next to her. "Tell me what happened"
The brunette told everything that happenened a few minutes before and Tina was starting to get worry as well.
"Come home with me" Bette pleased.
"Bette, I have an important meeting at five."
"There's no way you can reschedule it?"
"Nope..." Tina hated it. She wanted so bad to tell her she could.
"Can I stay here?"
"What? Why?"
"I don't know, I have this need to protect you, you know..."
Tina took a deep breathe. She knews she couldn't argue with her anymore.
"Okay, fine."