Disclaimer: The Show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Where's Tori
Chapter 4 – Homecoming
No One's POV
There was a brief moment of tense silence as Tori eyed her mother and new "Stepfather," as they stood in the doorway. A second later Holly Vega rushed to her daughter as tears fell from her eyes.
"Tori!" She said as she threw her arms around Tori.
Tori felt 2 separate emotions all at the same time. Happiness that she was seeing her mother but at the same time a most distinct sense of betrayal. But for the moment Tori just pushed thoughts of Gary aside and hugged her mother.
But the bliss of the first hug in 9 years seemed to fade as soon as the hug broke. Tori gave Gary a rather intense look then gave the same look to her mother.
"Gary?" was all that Tori said with a look of bewilderment.
Tori's mother's mouth hung open for a moment as she tried to think of a response. In that time the entire room became somewhat tense.
Gary, sensing the tension wisely decided to excuse himself. "I think maybe it's best if I wait outside. It's good to see that you're ok Tori." Gary said with a nervous smile, before he left.
Holly looked to the now empty doorway for a moment and then back to her daughter. But before she could say anything she spotted little Jade standing a few feet away.
"Is that?"
The little girl moved to where Tori was sitting and put her arm around her.
"This is Jade, my daughter."
Momentarily forgetting the tension, Holly smiled at the little girl. "Hello, I'm your grandma Holly.'
"Why mom?" Tori said, sounding hurt.
Holly sighed, "Can we discuss this later, now is not the time."
"TIME…TIME…You want talk about time mother. I finally get out of that stupid fucking basement after 9 friggen years, just hoping to try and get my life back but guess what, my life is gone. Everything is upside down and backwards. You and dad are divorced and you're married to Gary. I have a 4 year old brother and Trina lives in Chicago. Not to mention Jade, my precious Jade, who is now sedated in the other room because she had a breakdown as a result of seeing my scars. She's the love of my life and she's a complete emotional wreck." Tori started to spew out in an angry tone of voice, almost uncontrollably.
Cat put a hand on Tori's shoulder. "Tori, calm down." She said softly.
Tori quivered for a moment as tears suddenly burst from her eyes. "I just want something to be the same, everything's changed. I want my life back."
Tori much like Jade only a short while previously, broke down and began to sob uncontrollably.
Little Jade put her arms around Tori and began to say. "It's alright mama."
Tori's mom just wrapped her arms around her now sobbing daughter.
"I need to be with Jade." Tori said through the tears. Cat nodded, then took tori and Little Jade by the hand and led them out. It was then, Tori's mom looked to the doctor.
"Just how is my daughter?"
He sighed. "Physically she's in fairly good shape. She's a bit underfed but that can be easily corrected. She had scars showing that she's been physically abused. None of them look too recent, but there are a good number of them. Mentally is the tricky part. She's starting to show signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I'm not a psychiatrist but it's a safe bet she has that. She will need counseling. She's been through a terrible ordeal. It will take some time for her to heal. From my observations, her friend Jade will as well. What they both need, besides counseling, is love and support."
It was heartbreaking for Holly, to think of all the things that had been done to her daughter. She knew she had to explain why things worked out the way it did.
"Can she go home?"
The doctor nodded. "I don't see any real need for her or her daughter to stay here. They just need to get counseling as soon as possible."
"Thank You."
The doctor smiled. "She will recover, just be patient."
Holly walked into the hallway where Gary was chatting with one of the police officers present. He walked over to Holly. "How is she?"
Holly put her head down and wiped a tear from her eye. "Physically she's fine but she's going to need help. The doctor said he thinks Tori, is suffering from PTSD. She's escaped but everything is different, it's obvious she's having trouble adjusting."
Gary nodded. "It's understandable."
"I'm going to go and check on Tori." Holly said.
Holly walked into the room where Jade and Tori was.
Sitting in a corner was Cat and Beck who where talking to little Jade. On a bed was Jade, who was still asleep. Spooning her was Tori.
Holly walked over to her daughter and put a hand on Tori's shoulder. "The doctor said you can go. I can drive you to Jade's house. I assume that's were you wanted to go. I've been there a few years back. It's quite nice."
Tori remained silent for a moment, "Not like I actually have any place to live." She said bitterly.
At this point Beck said to Cat, "Honey, why don't you stop at home and get those old clothes of Chloe's that we were giving to the salvation army. They don't fit Chloe anymore but some of them may fit little Jade here. I'm guessing the clothes she's wearing is all she has."
Tori sat up in bed and nodded. Though no longer sobbing, she looked very sad and depressed.
So the group left the hospital and drove to Jade's house. Tori Jade and Little jade all drove with Tori's mom and Gary. It was and awkward and silent car ride. Tori barely said a word to her mother or jade. The only person talking was little Jade, who was marveling at all the outside things she had never seen before. Jade slept the entire way home. Cat and Beck followed them in their car.
They arrived a short while later at Jade's home. It was a very large and modern looking house on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Tori couldn't help think it was a thousand times bigger than the apartment they used to live at.
"I'll get those clothes and be right back." Cat said as Beck got out of the car. Beck picked up the sleeping Jade and they all entered the home. Tori noticed that the interiors, floors ceilings, walls were almost all white. The furniture was almost all black. On the walls were movie posters for The Scissoring and other horror movies. Tori did recognize at least one picture she had bought for their apartment all those years ago on the wall.
Beck took Jade to her room while Tori found a guest bedroom for Little Jade to lie down. The little girl had been up most of the night and was very sleepy.
"Is this our new home mommy?" Little Jade asked as Tori tucked her in.
Tori nodded with a smile.
"Can we go outside?" It was such an innocent question but heartbreaking at the same time.
"Yes, we can anytime we want. We can teach you to swim and you can even go in the pool."
"I'm glad we can go outside." Little Jade said before she drifted off.
Tori departed the bedroom and looked around. Tori felt a sense of disappointment that there was no pictures of her on the walls.
"If Jade missed me so much, than where are the pictures of me."
It was when she looked in Jade's office did she get her answer. It was once a 2nd story guest bedroom which had been converted into an office. In typical Jade style half written scripts and stories were scattered all around the unkempt room. The computer at the desk was still on. Jade had been writing a horror story when she for some reason, walked away from the computer.
But it was one wall in particular which attracted Tori's attention. There was strange painting on the wall. On it was painted the words Tori remembered leaving in her last voice mail to Jade. Beneath that was the words "Why and Where" painted over and over behind them. Surrounding the painting was at least 15 pictures of Tori. Some of them were her by herself, some of them were with Jade. It looked very much like a shrine.
One other thing Tori noticed. Though the room was messy and cluttered, the pictures were all clean and dust free. Tori just stood there starring at the wall, thinking about what it did to Jade, not knowing Tori was alive.
"My poor Jade." Tori said tearfully.
Looking out a window she spotted a woman sunbathing on a chair by the pool.
Tori then walked out onto the patio where she spotted a young woman. Tori guessed she was probably no older than 21. She had long brown hair, and distinct Latina features. Tori could not help notice the resemblance between herself and the girl on the chair.
Tori silently walked up to the woman so her shadow covered the woman. A moment later the woman seemed to sense Tori's presence and opened her eyes.
"And who might you be?" Tori asked in a somewhat cold tone of voice.
The girl sat up and quickly put on a UCLA t shirt over her bathing suit and extended her hand. "I'm Gwen. I'm a friend of Jade's. There was a water main break in the building where my classes are and they all got canceled. I hoped to find Jade. She wasn't here so I thought I would just do some sunbathing. Is she here?"
Gwen suddenly felt very uncomfortable when Tori tensed up and clenched both of her fists.
"OH my god" The woman suddenly proclaimed. "You're Tori Vega. I love your music. I heard you disappeared or something. Wait didn't you used to date Jade? I mentioned you to her once and she wouldn't speak to me for a month. We don't have a relationship per say, it's just…"
"You're fuck buddies!" Tori said her voice going even colder.
Gwen suddenly seemed to become very nervous as she suddenly realized the look of murderous hatred Tori was giving her.
Gwen suddenly got up and grabbed her bag. "Uh…Maybe I should get going."
Tori put her arm around Gwen and gave her a chilling smile. "That's a very good idea Gwen."
"Are you going to hurt me?"
"Only if I ever find you talking to or with Jade ever again. The amusement park is now closed. The only person that will ever go on the rides again is me. So do yourself a favor, take your Barbie's and play somewhere else. Oh…the key she gave you. Give it to me." Tori said with a very chilling voice as she extended her hand.
The girl pulled out a key and put in Tori's hand. Tori pulled her arm from around the now terrified Gwen and intensified her murderous gaze.
"If I ever see you with Jade or so much as even talk to her, I'll cut off your head and use it as a hood ordainment. Understand?"
Gwen never answered; she was too busy fleeing the house in terror.
Tori re entered the house to find a very surprised, Beck, Holly and Gary.
"Who was that that just ran screaming from the house?" Beck asked.
"One of Jade's former fuck buddies. I'm tired and going to lie down with Jade." Tori said, suddenly looking tired.
Tori then walked to Jade's room and found the Goth still sleeping. Wanting to do nothing else in the world Tori slipped down to her underwear and crawled under the covers with Jade. Tears of Joy fell from her faces as she pulled Jade tightly into her arms.
"I never thought I'd be with you again." Tori said as she gently stroked Jade's hair.
Jade at this point started to wake up.
"Where am I?" She muttered.
"Exactly where you belong, in my arms." Tori said softly.
Jade moved so she was facing Tori, their bodies tightly pressed up against each other.
"I'm sorry for screaming at the hospital. When I thought of what he did to you. I…I.." Jade started to cry again.
"I'm with you now, thats all that matters. Oh by the way. I met Gwen."
Jade suddenly stiffened and put her head down in shame. "I'm sorry Tori I.."
Tori put a finger on Jade's mouth to silence her. "I said I forgive you. I just don't want to ever see or hear about any of them. Gwen won't ever come back. Apparently she didn't like the thought of me using her head as a hood ordainment. No more substitutes. You have the real thing now. "
Jade just put her forehead to Tori's and continued to cry. "I missed you so much Tori. I love you so much. I'm so happy. None of them meant anything. I just wanted you back."
"I love you too Jade." Tori said through her tears. "No more talking. Just sleep with me. I need to sleep in your arms. I've missed it so much."
Jade happily obliged and pulled Tori tightly in her arms. Within seconds Tori drifted off, as she had been up most of the night.
Jade couldn't believe she was here with Tori. Though she knew they both had a long road ahead of them. She was already feeling a craving for a drink creeping in. Not to mention she still felt guilty and had lots of anger that had built up over the years.
Tori was back, but Jade knew that Tori was hurting down deep inside. But for now, Jade just savored the sweet moment and for the first time in nine years fell asleep with Tori in her arms.
This was a hard chapter for me to write for some reason. Not much was resolved between Tori and her mom but Tori is finally home and in Jade's arms.