The brunette stirred and stretched out an arm, instinctively reaching for Tina. Her eyes opened fully when she felt the cold side of the bed and a sickening wave of realisation dawned on her. It hadn't just been a bad dream, Tina really was missing. She wasn't sure what time she finally managed to fall asleep but the last time she'd checked the clock she'd still been tossing and turning at 4am.

Dragging herself out of bed, she pulled on some casual clothes and made her way through to the living room. She managed a half smile when she saw her friends gathered on the sofas with mugs of coffee. At least she had her family round her when she needed them the most.

"Hey baby sis" Kit smiled genuinely at her.

"Hey Kit, morning everyone"

"Coffee?" Helena offered.

"Please"

Bette took the mug that was being offered to her and took a seat next to Shane on the sofa.

"Where did you guys all sleep?" she asked the group in general.

"We made do with the guest room and the sofas" Alice told her.

"Well I appreciate you all staying"

They had been joined the night before by Captain Tasha Williams who had been appointed as their liaison officer, and Alice had taken quite a liking to her.

"Has there been any news?" Bette asked nervously.

"No I'm afraid not. I promise, you'll be the first to know when there is" Tasha replied.

"I just wish there was something we could do" Dana said sadly.

They all stayed gathered in the living room for the next couple of hours. For a group of friends who were so close they felt like family, none of them had much to say to one another. They were all trying to stay strong, but it was clear that the severity of the situation was weighing down on all of them. Tasha had stepped into the guestroom to take a phone call and when she re-entered the living room she found seven pairs of eyes staring at her.

"What is it, has something happened?" Bette got to her feet, panicking.

"No, that was just Detective Ramires. He says they've pulled the surveillance team from Mr Young's house as there's not sufficient reason to keep them there"

"Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Bette…" Kit tried to calm her sister down.

"No, I'll fucking yell if I want to Kit. I've told them Henry's behind this, he threatened T, what more 'sufficient reason' do they fucking want?"

"I'm really sorry, but Detective Ramires thinks that resources would be better used elsewhere" Tasha informed her apologetically.

"That's fucking ridiculous!"

Bette stormed out through the patio doors and paced up and down in the garden. Kit went to follow her but was stopped by Shane.

"No, I'll go. I could do with a smoke anyway"

As she approached her friend, Shane placed a hand on her arm and encouraged her to take a seat on the steps. Without speaking, she offered Bette a cigarette which she wordlessly accepted. Bette hadn't been a smoker since their college days but in times of extreme stress or intoxication she had been known to have the odd lapse.

"Shane….what am I gonna do if they don't find her?" Bette asked, tears welling in her eyes.

"Hey, you can't think like that ok?" Shane wrapped her free arm around her friend's waist.

"I just can't believe they've taken Henry off of surveillance. It's him, I know it is"

"Well…maybe there could be one positive in it…"

"How the hell can you find something positive in this?"

"Well now no-one's watching his house…..maybe you and I could pay him a visit"

Bette turned her head to look at her friend "You'd come with me"

"Of course. I mean, someone'd have to be there to stop you committing murder"

"You're a good friend Shane"

"I've always got your back, you know that"

"But what about the tiny issue of the cop in my house?"

"That's easy, just get Alice to distract her"

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"They don't call me Yoda for nothing. My wisdom knows no bounds"

"You just watch that ego of yours" Bette joked.

"Come on" Shane said, stubbing out her cigarette "Let's go put this plan into action"

As they re-entered the house, Shane rejoined their friends in the living room and Bette headed for the kitchen.

"Al?" she called.

"Yeah?"

"Can you come in here for a second please?"

"Wouldn't you be better off asking someone who knows their way round a kitchen?" Alice called back.

"Just get in here!"

"Alright alright I'm coming" Alice trudged through to the kitchen "What's up?"

"I need your help"

"What with?"

"I need you to distract the Captain for a couple of minutes"

"Mmm hmm….only if you tell what's going on?"

"Come on Al, I don't have time for this" Bette protested.

"It'll be a lot quicker if you tell me what you're up to"

"Fine!" the brunette held her hands up "I'm going to see Henry"

"I really don't think…"

"It's not up for negotiation. Just tell me you'll do as I asked"

"Fine fine" Alice relented "But don't say I didn't warn you"

"Thanks" the brunette responded through gritted teeth.

The two made their way through to where their friends were gathered.

"Hey Tasha…I mean, Captain Williams" Alice started flirtatiously.

"It's fine, you can call me Tasha"

"I was wondering if you fancied a tour of the house and yard and stuff now that it's light"

From the look on Tasha's face it was clear that Alice's interest in her wasn't just one sided. The Captain agreed and as requested, Alice led her into the back yard for the first stop on their tour.

As soon as the two women were out of sight, Bette and Shane grabbed their jackets and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Kit asked them.

"The less you know the better"

The women knew better than to ask further questions and instead let Bette and Shane go about their business.

Once the two were in Bette's car, the bravado that she had been previously displaying seemed to leave the brunette.

"What the hell am I gonna say to him?" she asked nervously.

"Just….try and find out what he knows. Make sure he realises that you're on to him"

Bette took a deep breath "I have to do this….for Tina"

"For Tina" Shane echoed.

The drive to Tina's old house took them about fifteen minutes, and both women were lost in their own thoughts. It almost came as a surprise to them when they arrived.

"Ok, so how do you wanna do this?" Shane turned to her friend and asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want me to come in with you?"

"I think that's probably for the best. If he's as obnoxious as he was the last time I saw him, I might need you to hold me back"

"Bette….when has he ever not been obnoxious?"

"True. You ready then?"

"Let's do it"

Bette's confidence was back, and she strode up to the front door with Shane just behind her. Her fists clenched as she rang the bell, knowing that Henry was in from the fact that his car was parked on the drive.

He answered the door with a confused look on his face. He was dressed in boxer shorts and a tshirt, and by the state of his hair, it could only be assumed that he had just woken up. Without waiting for invitation, Bette pushed past him and into the house, and Shane followed.

"What the hell do you think you're doing there?" Henry fumed, slamming the front door.

Shane hung around in the background, letting Bette do the talking.

"We need to talk"

"I have nothing to say to you"

"Let's just cut the bullshit Henry. Tell me where Tina is"

"She left you already? I told you it wouldn't be long"

"Fuck off. What have you done with her?"

"I'm guessing it's your fault I had the cops knocking down my door yesterday then"

"Damn right it was. Where is she?"

"Off banging some guy for all I know. Obviously you weren't enough for her"

"You fucking…" Bette stormed at him before she felt Shane pulling her back.

"Bette…careful"

"That's it, take your little dyke buddy's advice" Henry smirked.

"I know you've got something to do with this and I swear to god you're gonna pay"

"Like I told the cops, I wish I knew where she was, but I don't. If I was gonna hurt someone, it'd be you"

"And that makes me all the more likely to believe you" Bette retorted sarcastically.

"I told you you wouldn't be able to keep her"

"Fuck you"

"No, fuck Tina. 'Cause that's probably what some guy is doing right now"

Even Shane couldn't hold back her friend this time as she launched herself at Henry. She put a hand around his throat and stepped in close to him, drawing herself to her full height which easily equalled his.

"If something happens to her, you're a dead man. You get me?" she hissed.

Henry began laughing at her, although the smile soon disappeared when he felt her fingers tightening around his throat and saw the murderous glare in her eyes. Just for good measure, she brought up a shift knee between his legs, causing him to double over.

"Consider that a warning" she said coldly.

"Get out" he spat, still wincing in pain.

"With pleasure. But don't forget, I'm watching you"

With her final warning, Bette left the house with Shane in tow. When they were safely outside, she found herself shaking.

"You did good man" Shane reassured her with a pat on the back.

"I lost my cool"

"Who wouldn't?"

"So what do we do now?" Bette asked as they got back into the car.

"Well you certainly got him rattled. Now we just have to wait and see what he does"

"And how are we supposed to do that without the police?"

"Easy, we start our own surveillance. I'm sure the rest of the girls will be on board"

"You think we can do this?"

"I know we can. We're gonna find Tina, one way or another, and with or without the police"

Bette nodded slowly "Ok. Let's get back to the house. We may have to get Alice to undertake a little more of her distracting"

"I'm sure she'll cope"

There was a determination about Bette for the first time since Tina had been taken "We're gonna find her"

Shane smiled at her friend's new found attitude "Damn right we are"