Disclaimer: Victorious and its characters are the property of Schneider's Bakery and Nickelodeon. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. No profit is intended or wanted for this story.

Note: Special thanks to LoganX5 for inestimable help with this story. Thanks to suggestiond from Logan, I trimmed down the 'travelogue' aspects of the story. I love Chicago and it's history but I did go overboard. Hope I trimmed enough so it wasn't too much of a school lesson.

Chapter 1

Loss

"NOOOOO! THEY CAN'T BE… MY BABEEE…!"

The screams echoed through the hospital ER after a raven-haired young woman was given life-shattering news.


A Week Later…

It was a sunny, brisk day in Los Angeles. A small crowd of mourners gathered near a pair of graves – one significantly, tragically small.

All in black, including the sling supporting her fractured left arm, Jade West-Oliver sat in the first row of chairs near the caskets, staring blankly at the lacquered surface of her husband's coffin. On the other side, mercifully hidden by the larger box, a smaller coffin awaited internment.

Tori Vega sat on her former enemy's left, her arm carefully wrapped around Jade as Jade's head rested uneasily on the woman's shoulder. Cat Valentine-Shapiro sat on the other side, holding Jade's cold, limp hand.

Behind them sat Cat's husband, Robbie, Andre Harris as well as Tori's sister, Trina, ready to do whatever they could for the broken woman. Even Erwin Sikowitz, their old teacher from Hollywood Arts was there for Jade.

The elder Vegas, Jade's brother, parents and her in-laws, the Olivers, were in attendance as well as over two dozen other mourners.

The graveside service was mercifully short after the funeral mass at the nearby Catholic Church.

As the service concluded, Jade spoke for the first time since she learned the horrible news in the hospital. "Beck… My baby, my little James…"

Collapsing as sobs racked her frame, Jade fell into Tori's embrace and her mind went completely blank.

The next day, after the wake and the dinner – neither of which she remembered – Jade packed two bags and left their - her apartment for the last time.


The day after, Tori was becoming frantic when she couldn't find Jade. Initially, fearing the worst, she finally got the building manager to let her into the apartment. No Jade, but evidence of what looked like a hasty packing job were all she found.

Grabbing her PearPhone, Tori quickly dialed the one other person Jade might turn to at this time. "Cat? I'm at Jade's place. No, I haven't heard from her either. That's why I came here. It… Cat, slow down. Wait a minute…. It looks like she packed some clothes and stuff but… No, I don't know where she went. I was hoping you did. No? Well, if she calls you, call me right away. Of course I'll call you back if I hear anything."

By this time, Jade West-Oliver was several hundred miles from Los Angeles and her old, now horribly broken life.


Five Years Later…

Tori Vega was on tour. Her fourth album was nearing platinum status as she was finishing a cross-country tour with another three-show stop in Chicago. This was actually her third trip to Chicago for a concert. The first time she performed at a small club on the North Side called the Double Door and had a marvelous time. Her second time, a couple of years ago, she opened for another band at the UIC Pavilion. This current set of shows was at a slightly smaller venue, an old converted movie theater on the North Side called the Vic. But , like the Double Door, she was the headliner.

Even though it was early April, Tori was amazed at how cold it was. The forecast that morning called for warmer temperatures and a light breeze. This is warmer? The Southern California native thought as she continued her stroll south along Michigan Avenue past the historic Water Tower Pumping Station across from the iconic Water Tower.

Her last stop in Chicago was early in the fall less than two years before. It was still quite warm but her itinerary didn't allow her time to do much sight-seeing or window-shopping. She wanted to see the Magnificent Mile as she had often heard it compared to Rodeo Drive back home.

It's like freezing… came the thought when she stepped into the shadow of one of the towers along Michigan and the breeze picked up momentarily.

For a Los Angelino, a forty-eight degree day would seem to be freezing. But what really bothered Tori, in her scarf, heavy coat and gloves, were the people strolling along wearing jackets or even wind-breakers. There were a couple of goons in shorts and t-shirts. Idiots, she thought.

The shops – Neiman-Marcus, Saks-5th Avenue, Vera Wang, etc – were all on a comparable scale to Rodeo but the character was different. In LA, mainly the well-to-do and tourists were seen on Rodeo. Here, people from all walks of life were strolling the sidewalks and side streets with their own trendy shops. Often there were street musicians playing all manner of portable instruments, including some kids playing drums on old, upended PVC buckets in front of the Walgreens near the Water Tower.

Tori listened to each musician, especially the kids with the 'drums', and always left a nice tip. They're better than a lot of recording session drummers.

The rising star was pleasantly surprised at the fact that only a few of the people along Michigan recognized her. Well, a lot of my fans are in school after all. But her new album was garnering interest beyond her earlier tween and teen audience so Tori couldn't help but wonder if it was the large-lensed sunglasses she wore. Maybe Clark Kent had something there…

That thought was dashed when the first fan/admirer asked for her autograph. And about another half-dozen or so along the sidewalk as she ambled south.

Eventually, she reached the Tribune Tower at the south end of the Mile, a gothic-inspired building towering over the plaza near the Chicago River. Tori's pace slowed as she walked around the base of the building, looking at the rocks, brick fragments and other relics from locations around the world that were set in the concrete base of the tower. Everything from a pieces of the Parthenon, Angkor Wat, the the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the World Trade Center ruins, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Abraham Lincoln's Tomb to Corregidor Island. In the concrete near each piece was inscribed the origin location. Some she couldn't help but wonder how such a fragment was available – such as the Great Wall of China, the Vatican or the Taj Mahal.

She took a couple of dozen pictures of the various stones as well as the arched entrance to the building, the white, stucco Wrigley Building across the street and the Michigan Avenue Bridge to the south.

At the southeast corner of the tower was a large, plate-glass window that looked out across the large, open space known as Pioneer Court and the bridge beyond. Behind the window was a small, satellite radio studio for WGN-AM. At the moment, the studio was empty but TVs above and inside the windows showed the local WGN News at Noon, which started locally at 11:00, with sound reaching the plaza from speakers mounted outside.

She smiled, remembering her early morning appearance on the WGN Morning News promoting her previous concert tour. She even performed one of her new hits near the end of the show. The newscasters and crew were among the loosest groups of that sort she'd had to deal with – more like a morning drive time radio crew than a newsroom. The only problem was the abominable hour she had to be up.

At least I don't have to be on the air at some ungodly hour everyday like the early morning news teams do, Tori thought. She was scheduled to appear again for a brief interview and song during the 9 o'clock hour the next morning. The Morning News ran from 4 AM to 10 AM on channel 9 locally. Tori always wondered how the newscasters on WGN, CNN, Headline News or the other outlets – both local and national - didn't get bored reporting on the same stories or weather every half hour.

Turning away from the small studio, she walked over to a tall, bronze bust of a man wearing glasses holding a document with a microphone in front of him. The inscription was Jack Brickhouse. The name didn't mean anything to the young woman – in fact, the first thing she thought of was an old disco hit from her parents' childhood. But around the pedestal was a list of his accomplishments as a newscaster and sportscaster in Chicago for over 40 years from the War Years to the decade before she was born.

Taking a picture of the memorial, Tori made a mental note to Wikipedia him when she got back to the hotel. Even though she wasn't much of a sports enthusiast, she did love show business and that included the history of radio and television.

She thought about getting a light lunch and debated what she wanted. While she considered her options, the biting breeze gusted up from the south so she decided not to cross the river to the Loop and reversed her course, heading back towards the Tower.

Tori's new plan was to cross Michigan to the Wrigley Building and head back north towards the Drake Hotel where she was staying. She saw a mid-block crosswalk near the sidewalk studio.

As she neared the studio, movement caught her eye. Turning, she saw a woman leaning over the desk where one of the microphones was set up as she was readying for a broadcast.

Tori had actually done The Today Show in Rockefeller Center, along with other network affiliate studios across the country, so a street front broadcast wasn't much of a big deal to her. As she was about to turn away, the woman looked up and familiar greenish-blue eyes locked with soft brown eyes.

It was Jade!

Tori felt her heart trip in her chest at the realization. She had been trying to find the woman for the past five years. She googled Jade West, Jade Oliver and, of course, Jade West-Oliver. She tried every search engine she could find. When she toured, she scoured local phone books as well. She even hired a couple of private detective firms that specialized in missing persons. All in vain.

But here, in front of her surprised eyes, was Jade. Her shorter hair hung to her shoulders and still had a silky sheen but it was back to its original soft, dark brown with no obvious highlights. She didn't have as much eye makeup and, from a distance, it looked like she had given up on the piercings. But it was Jade.

For her part, Jade had a deer-in-the-headlights look.

They held each other's eyes for what seemed an eternity. Then Jade blinked, turned and ran from the studio into the building.

Tori shook her head then headed towards the Tribune's main entrance. She stepped into the high-ceilinged, gothic lobby and looked around. At the front desk, under a giant relief map of Illinois, she asked a security guard, "Do you know Jade West-Oliver? I'm sure I saw her in the studio window."

"I'm sorry, don't know the name. Only a coupla people from the radio station come here to do their shows and that name don't ring any bells."

"Okay, can I go in to see her?"

"No, not by yourself. Naturally, security's tight since the Times bombing in New York a coupla years ago. Lemme see if someone can…" He trailed off as he picked up a phone and called back to the satellite WGN office.

A few minutes later, a staffer came out, an attractive woman in her mid-thirties. "I'm Sue Phillips. I handle the overall operations here at the Tower station. Can I help you?"

"Hi, I thought I saw someone I knew in the studio a couple of minutes ago. Do you know a Jade West-Oliver?"

"No, I'm sorry." The woman looked genuinely sad to impart that news as she could see how eager Tori was to find this Jade woman. "Wait!" Tori turned back towards the woman. "West?"

Tori nodded and the woman slapped her forehead, "Of course! The early afternoon show… Liz does that. Could you mean Liz West?"

"Liz?" Tori asked. She then remembered Jade's middle name – Elizabeth. "Yes, that's her. That has to be her! Can I see her? See, we were friends back in high school and…"

"Oh my god! You're Tori Vega!" Sue interrupted, recognition evident on her face. "My daughter loves your music. I'm a huge fan too."

"Uh, thank you, but back to Jade…uh, Liz…"

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry. I never knew she knew anyone famous. But she never really talks about herself or her past. All I really know is that she grew up somewhere in the Southwest."

"Yeah, Hollywood actually. We went to Hollywood Arts High School together," Tori said quickly, anxious to see Jade again.

"Come on, let's go see if she's free. Her show starts at noon and she's on until 3 when Garry Meier comes on." Sue led Tori through the door into a main corridor, adding, "She's only been here a few years but she's got quite a following."

The corridors and offices didn't reflect the classic exterior design of the Tower but Tori wasn't surprised. The woman led Tori to the studio annex but there was no sign of Jade/Liz.

"I was sure she'd be here. Oh, wait. There's her engineer and sound man," Sue pointed to the man and waved him over, "Steve? Is Liz here? This young lady knows her and wanted to say hello."

"No. Sorry Susie. She was getting ready for the broadcast then came in here, saying she couldn't do the show. She claimed she was sick. And she did look paler than usual," the middle-aged studio engineer explained.

Sue and Steve talked briefly as Sue arranged some filler from the main broadcast facilities on the North Side.

Tori didn't really pay attention to the conversation, she felt like her heart had plummeted to her stomach. She was genuinely distressed to see Jade after all this time but not to be able to talk to her. She had so much to say, so much she wanted to know.

"Ms. Vega? Are you alright?" Sue asked, concern in her voice.

"I… I'm fine. I'm just…disappointed. I really…" Tori shook her head and blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. She muttered to herself, "After all this time, I just missed Jade…"

The singer took a deep breath and said, "Well, thank you. I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Tori headed back towards the lobby. Sue hurried to catch up, "Ms. Vega? Please, wait a minute?"

In the lobby, Tori turned and waited for Sue to catch up, "Please, call me Tori."

Sue smiled, "Thank you. Where are you staying? I can let Liz know and ask her to call you there."

"I'm at the Drake," Tori replied, giving the woman her room number. "I have to leave for the theater for a short rehearsal - more of a sound check really - tonight at around 6 or 6:30 though."

"Yes, your show. My daughter, Carly, was so disappointed that she couldn't go."

Even as she was focussed on Jade, Tori loved her fans. She bit her lower lip for a moment. "I can arrange for you and your daughter to come to the show. Would tomorrow night be good? Or I have shows on Saturday and Sunday."

"Oh, thank you but that's not necessary. But I will try to call Liz and let her know you'd love to see her."

"Listen, the show is small payback for your kindness. Even in cities where I don't know anyone, I get comp tickets. And I'd hate to disappoint anyone named Carly," Tori said with a smile, thinking of her old friend from Seattle.

"I'll call Liz from my office. Would you like to wait and see if…" Sue invited.

"Of course."

While Sue tried to call Jade/Liz's cell, Tori sat on the edge of a chair in front of Sue's desk, looking at the items scattered around the room. A diploma in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, certificates of recognition from the Tribune and WGN, piles of reports and charts scattered on her desk, some books (reference and technical) and pictures of her family.

Tori used her PearHD and called her manager about the tickets. In minutes, arrangements were made and Tori had four tickets made available at the Vic's Will Call for her Friday concert for Sue, Carly and Carly's best friend. She also made arrangements for backstage passes for all four tickets.

While she made a point of setting aside a ticket and VIP pass in each stop on her tour, with instructions for the ticket window/ushers to keep a look out for a Gothic looking woman, Tori knew, from past experience, that the fourth ticket and pass (one set for each of the three shows) would likely not be used. But she hoped that slim hope that Jade might come see her perform. But she now adjusted the description from Goth to young brunette.

After Tori told her about the tickets and passes, Sue beamed. "Thank you so much, Ms…uh, Tori. I can't tell you how happy Carly will be. Me too." Sue's smile faded slightly, "I'm sorry but I couldn't get Liz on her phone. I left a message and also called her apartment, leaving another message. I'll also try her a little later and tell her about the tickets and passes."

"Thank you, Sue. I appreciate that. So, what'll you do for her time slot?" Tori asked out of curiosity.

"We have some earlier taped shows we can announce as a repeat so her usual callers won't waste time trying to call in. I'm surprised at Liz though. She's one of the best of the on-air talent for being on time and totally prepared. She's really a true pro. Hell, I have to practically get a court order to make her take a vacation."

"Well, thank you for trying. I do appreciate it."

Tori smiled that famous, poster-selling smile of hers and then asked, "I'm kinda hungry. Where's a good place to grab some lunch?"

"Well, depends on what you want. There's Pizzeria Uno or Pizzeria Due over on Wabash, a Pot-Belly, a couple of Chinese places and a new Famous Dave's, that's a local barbecue place, over on Chicago Avenue."

"Isn't there a famous burger joint around here?"

"Oh, yes, the Goat. Billy Goat Tavern. It's right across the street on Lower Michigan Avenue."

"That's the place!"

As Sue gave Tori the simple directions – basically across the street and down the stairway in the sidewalk, Tori asked if Sue'd like to join her.

"Well, there's nothing I need to worry about here apparently. At least until Garry comes in at 2 or 2:30 to prep for his show. Sure, why not?" Sue replied.

They headed across Michigan and down the steps to the lower level of Chicago, a shadowy area of streets mainly lined with loading docks. "Most of this area is used for freight and deliveries. Billy Goat is one of the few public places down here." Sue pointed south towards the Michigan Avenue Bridge, "That's where Costner met Sean Connery in The Untouchables and beyond that is Lower Wacker Drive where the Blues Brothers had part of their big chase scene. Also part of the chase between Batman and the Joker in The Dark Knight. A lot of movies and TV shows have been filmed in Chicago."

Entering the Billy Goat, they took a small flight of steps down. The grill area was directly in front of them. To the right, the old-fashioned bar extended along the front and side walls. Old 1950s era chrome and linoleum tables were arrayed between the bar and the grill. On the other side of the grill was another area full of tables. The place had an old-fashioned feel but was lively and well-maintained.

The dark-paneled walls were festooned with framed articles and enlarged copies of by-lines from writers and columnists for both the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times. There were even some older ones from the old news bureaus as well as autographed celebrity pictures posing with the owners, both Sam Sianis, the original owner, and his son, Sam Jr.

And it was busy with a decent pre-lunch crowd. Most were business people having informal lunch meetings or just there to scarf down a quick bite before returning to their offices. They barely noticed anyone in the place beyond the range of their table or barstool.

Tori was delighted when she ordered her cheeseburger and fries and the cook yelled, "Cheezborger! No fries, cheeps!"

"Just like Belushi," Sue commented with a smile. "Ask for a Pepsi…"

Before Tori could say anything, the cook yelled, "No Pipzee, Coke!"

Sue waved off the soda announcement, "I think I'll have a beer. You?"

"Sounds good," Tori said.

Over Sue's protest, Tori paid for lunch and Sue led them to recently emptied table away from most of the ruckus of the place at lunchtime. She went to the bar and got beers for them as well. "I got the beers too."

They sat and Tori savored the big, sloppy, greasy cheeseburger with grilled onions and the potato chips. The belly-pleasing food went well with a Lite draft. "I'm gonna have to work out a little more tomorrow after the morning interview. But it's worth it."

"Most of those bylines are from older, retirned newsmen. Some from the old Daily News and others from the Trib or the Sun-Times. The old wire service bureaus were all pretty much located around here and the Sun-Times used to be where the base of the Trump Tower is now. They relocated to the Merchandise Mart when Trump bought out the land. Nowadays, the only news people you see here are mainly the grunt staffers from the Trib.

"Nothing like the old days when Mike Royko would actually come in here to sit at the bar and finish his column with the help of the drinkers and the bartenders," Sue said with a wistful smile, nostaglic for a time that was winding down when she entered high school.

"That's cool. I don't know if we have anything like this in LA." Tori pointed to the bag of chips, "Jay's? These are good. We don't have these out in LA, unfortunately."

Sue lightly tapped Tori's bag of Jay's Potato Chips. "Another bit of Chicago history here. The Japp family had their name on the bags of the potato chips they sold before the war. After Pearl Harbor, the brand name changed to Jay's and stayed that way."

"You're pretty knowledgeable about Chicago," Tori observed.

"That's Liz. She loves history and always has some tidbit in her show."

Jade likes history? How much else don't I know about her?

Sue inadvertently interrupted Tori's reverie by asking, "Can you tell me about you and Liz?"

Looking a little confused, Tori replied, "Yes?"

"Were you a couple in school?"

"No! No, we were just friends… Well, frenemies first. But not…"

"I'm sorry. It's just that you had the same look my kid brother did when he found his old high school sweetheart. And now they've been happily married for almost four years."

"Well, no… It's not like that," Tori replied. But, deep inside, she was actually wondering about what she really felt for Jade. She did love her as a friend but was there more she never wanted to acknowledge?

"Well, I guess I just misunderstood. I'm sorry."

"No, don't worry about it Sue. I…" Tori blushed. "I was just upset that I came so close to finding Jade only for her to disappear. After five years…" Her voice trailed off.

"Don't worry, Tori. I'm sure it'll all work out. Can I ask what happened?"

"Jade suffered a traumatic loss but it's really not my place to talk about this."

"I could tell there was something. She's a very open person except when it comes to her past."

Jade, an open person? Is this really the Jade I knew? Could this be that mythic double everyone is supposed to have? No, a doppleganger wouldn't have run away.

Sue snickered then added, "I didn't want to like her when she came on the job. She got the job through some family connections so I figured she'd be a real pain in the… Well, you know. But, when I actually met her, I felt she really needed a friend and support." Sue smiled wistfully. "And, I'm happy to say she is marvelous on the air. She's built up such a rapport with her audience."

For the next few minutes, Tori listened, fascinated at the relationship, professional and personal, Sue and Jade shared. She was glad there was someone for the former Goth. "Liz iss very much a loner. I don't think she even dates. But I have been able to get her to come to my place for holidays and an occasional impromptu dinner." Sue laughed, "I actually tried to set her up with a guy my husband works with but… God, what a disaster!"

Tori smiled, remembering Jade's attitude in school. "I know exactly what you mean."

Tori related the time she and Andre tried to get her a new boyfriend. Sue shook her head and said, "Fortunately she didn't chase me around the house or anything…"

"So, how old is Carly?" Tori asked, changing the subject.

"She's twelve. She's the apple of our eye and, to be honest, she has her father wrapped around her little finger…"

Tori laughed, remembering her own childhood. How Trina tried to do that but Tori managed it without even trying.

"Would your husband like a ticket too?"

"Nah. Stan'll be at the Cubs-Reds game tomorrow night. It's one of the rare Friday night games at Wrigley. So, have you ever played the Vic?"

"No. My first time."

"It's a marvelous venue. I went to a lot of shows there when I was younger. Older and newer acts. Saw the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Poi Dog Pondering, David Gilmour… Oh so many shows. It's one of the best venues in the city. The only other theater I like almost as much is the Park West…"

Eventually lunch was done and Sue had to get back to work. The two new friends reached upper Michigan and parted with a hug and goodbyes.

"See you tomorrow, Sue." Tori called as she headed back towards her hotel, walking off part of the cheezborger, cheeps and the two beers.

Later, after their session at the Vic, she had a lite dinner with her manager and her band at the hotel then went to bed early, still planning to run extra in the morning.


Tori got up early and was taken to the main WGN Studios on the North Side to be interviewed by the Morning News crew. It was as much fun as her previous appearance a year and half before. They all joked around and Robin Baumgarten said, "What I wouldn't give for you cheekbones!"

"Me too," Paul Conrad, the morning weatherman agreed, a distinct touch of sarcasm in his voice.

She performed a shortened version of one of her latest songs, Searching, in the final moments of the 9 o'clock hour before the Morning News ended. She was asked back to sing again on the Midday News at the midpoint, after Tom Skilling's weather report, and also to close the show at 1 PM.

"I'd love too," Tori replied. "When should I be back?"

With a little over two hours free, she decided to walk around as she missed her morning run. Nearby was the newly opened riverwalk along the North Branch of the Chicago River. It looked inviting and she set off, keeping track of the time so she could cross over at one of the bridges spanning the water and head back to the studio facilities in time to do the show.


The night's show was a huge success. Standing ovations caused Tori to do three encores – a new record. For the last encore, she came out and did an a capella version of Make It Shine

As with all her shows, she had a weird mix of adrenaline and fatigue. And she drained two bottles – one of water and another of grape Gatorade. She pulled off the shiny mini-skirt and the sparkly heels, massaging her feet – strutting and dancing in those shoes was rough.

At least they aren't those monstrosities from Pazinni that Trina always had to have, Tori smiled to herself as she pulled on a Chicago t-shirt, jeans and sandals. She always tried to wear a local t-shirt when she met fans after a show.

After changing, she wrapped a small towel around her neck, patting her brow with it, as she went to meet the lucky winners of the back stage passes for this show. There were about a dozen fans waiting for her and she spent the next hour chit-chatting with them, posing for pictures and signing posters, CDs and t-shirts.

While trying to be available to all her fans, she did spend most of her time near Sue, Carly and Carly's friend Erin. Sue managed to explain she hadn't really had a chance to talk to Liz. The woman came in for that day's show just before air time and left right after, claiming she was still feeling ill.

Finally, the fans were ushered out, all busy texting their friends proudly. Tori gave Sue and each of the girls a hug before they left.

Tori then thanked the members of the Vic's staff that were backstage and headed out the stage door to her limo. As she was getting in, one of the seemingly innumerable L trains, that ran to and from the Belmont L Station behind the theater, passed loudly overhead.

The limo headed east on Belmont to Lake Shore Drive and south towards the Drake. Exhausted but still wired from the show, Tori sat back and watched the darkness of Lake Michigan pass by along the left, occasional lights from boats visible on the water. Glancing to the right, she saw Lincoln Park then the Gold Coast pass by. She saw it all but her mind was focused on Jade.

In her room, Tori took a shower then raided the mini-bar and fixed a scotch and water. She lay back on the bed with the TV turned on. Again, she wasn't paying attention to The Late Show. She wanted to know what Jade had been up to. And why she ran away from her friends.

From her.

Setting the empty glass to the side, Tori fell asleep, her dreams full of images of Jade.


Unseen by Tori, in the back of the Vic audience, a stunning brunette enjoyed the show. Jade had bought the ticket weeks before. She had seen each of Tori's shows in Chicago over the years as well as other nearby venues. And these three shows were no exception. And she always stayed back away from the reflected light of the stage. At the Double Door show, Jade was worried that Tori would recognize her but went anyway, in a stylish slouch hat and darkened glasses.

Tonight, she waited across Sheffield Avenue in the shadows of the condos there and watched as Tori's limo pulled out from behind the theater, under the L structure, onto the side street and across the front of the Vic towards Belmont.

Then she headed home to her apartment in Wrigleyville, a few blocks north. In bed, she was prepared for a repeat of her nightmares.

They had been a constant presence for Jade, making sleep nearly impossible for months after the accident. The frequency tapered off but, whenever she saw Tori on TV or, especially after a live show when the singer was in Chicago or Milwaukee, the nightmares returned.

Jade was sure they'd be worse tonight since Tori had seen her in the Tower, even though she had a quiet sleep the previous night. The former Goth felt a mix of relief and apprehension knowing Tori had found her. And she was sure that would only intensify the dreams.

The nightmare did come to her that night, as it often had over the past five years. But this time, as she sat in shock in the hospital and through to the funeral, she realized Tori was there for her. And the horror eased for a night.


Saturday morning, Tori woke up early, got her sweats out and ran along Oak Street Beach towards the North Avenue Beach then over the pedestrian walkway between the beach and Lincoln Park. From there, a lap around the lagoon then back the same way to the Drake. The route was sparsely populated. An occasional early sunbather on the cool beach sand, some fishermen on the breakwaters and some scattered people strolling along the wide sidewalks near the beach as well as the park.

Well, it is only 9 AM, Tori thought. And it's still fucking cold! Most sane people are probably still sleeping in…

After ordering breakfast from room service, she stripped and stepped into the shower. In one of the Drake's fluffy robes and her hair wrapped up in a towel turban, Tori sat down to her meal. As she ate, she gazed out the suite's north-looking window at the beach and the lake to her right. She contemplated what she could do until she had to meet the limo just after 6:30 for her 8 o'clock show.

But she couldn't focus on anything other than the fact that she was in the same town as Jade. How could she find the woman? Tori considered hitting up Sue, even possibly trying a bribe of tickets to her next two shows. Then she remembered arranging that for the Philips women already.

Jade, where are you? Please God, I just want to talk to her…

The phone rang. She got up and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Tori?" The still-familiar voice caused Tori's heart rate to pick up.

"J-Jade?"

"Very good, Vega." Tori couldn't help but snicker.

"Jade, I've… Can we meet?" She fought the begging tone she felt coming out, "Please?"

"I don't know. I'm…" A sigh came over the line, "Okay. Lunch?"

"That'd be great!" Tori exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Do you know Leona's? On Sheffield?"

"No, but I'm sure I can find it."

"Okay. How about 1 o'clock?"

Tori's smile was practically splitting her skull as she simple said, "Yes."

"Okay… Um… I guess I'll see you then."

"Definitely."

Silence for several seconds. Tori thought her old friend had hung up when she heard, "Um Vega… I…don't… About LA…" A deep sigh and she said, "I'll see you then."

And then Tori heard the connection break. But she was giddy, nervous, thrilled, freaked out and already trying to figure out what to wear…