A/N: I'm hoping how Jori ends in this chapter will make up for how they start!


I just wanna take

Someone else's holiday

Sometimes the grass is greener

And someone else's sugar,

Someone else's sugar's… Sweeter

Chapter 9: Sweeter

As quickly as Tori made contact, she pulled away. A flurry of apologies streamed from her mouth as Jade did her best to recover from the shock of what just happened.

"Tori," Jade tried to gain attention. The attempt proved futile with Tori's brain short-circuiting and its efforts to reboot were flying from her mouth in a tangled mess of words.

"Vega!" Jade tried again but Tori was all worked up and beginning to make no sense. So, the pale one pulled Tori in and silenced her with yet another kiss.

This time the moment lasted. Jade now no longer in shock was able to properly participate. Tori relaxed into her as Jade worked them over to the couch. Jade gentled straddled Tori onto their couch and took the liberty to begin removing clothing. Clothes quickly shed as they helped each other undress. Then, just like a light switch, Tori realized what exactly she was doing.

"No," the tan girl sat up bringing Jade with her. "No, no, no," she continued whilst getting up from the couch to stand.

"Tori…" Jade reached out to take Tori's hand, but the girl pulled away.

Tori shook her head, "I'm sorry," she tearfully spoke as she held her clothes over her underwear clad body. "I can't. Sorry," she tried to apologize before running off to her room embarrassed.

Jade, now more confused than before, sat on the couch listening to the rain that had begun to fall outside. It was then she finally realized her knuckles were bruised from where she punched the wall earlier.

"Ow," she whined rubbing her bum hand. She put some ice in a bag and placed it where the pain was.

"Ow," she said again, but this time for another reason.


Despite being disappointed that she didn't inform him, Sikowitz does not ask Cat to leave the program, but gives her a leave to recover. Robbie however is expelled and put under investigation by the hospital; he could face legal charges if enough evidence is collected.

"I don't want my grandchild to have the heart surgery," Tabby, Rayna's mother, announced as Jade was examining her with Sands and Tori present.

Dr. Sands gave her a look, "Pardon me?"

Tabby sighed in annoyance, "In light of recent events, I don't think Rayna is a fit mother. I've obtained a lawyer to gain guardianship of my grandchild starting immediately. My first wish as his guardian will be to not have the surgery."

Tori kindly took Rayna's hand, "Is this what you want?"

"She's a minor. She has no say." Tabby barked.

"She does. It is her child. Until you can legally present us with proof of guardianship, she's the mother. Not you." Jade bit back.

Sands stepped forward, "Dr. West and Dr. Vega, please wait outside while I have a word with Rayna and Ms. Locke, please?" The two nodded politely and exited the room.

"I have a delivery for a, uh," the delivery man carrying a medium vase of flowers looked at the card, "Dr. Tori Vega! She here?" the man smiled at the nurse behind the desk as Tori and Jade approached.

Tori beamed from ear to ear, "I'm her," she stepped behind the desk to face the man.

The delivery man handed her the vase and she thanked him, "Aww, they're beautiful." The vase was filled with colorful daisies.

"Who sent them?" Jade really didn't need to ask though.

Tori read the card, "Oh, how sweet. They're from Rich," she smiled at the synthetic colored flora.

I seriously don't get it. If she's attracted to me, then why keep Doc Dick around? This is confusing. We haven't even talked about last night, but we need to. Ugh, my head hurts from all this crap.

"Hey Vega," Jade begins a bit unsure. "I think we should talk about last night, please."

Tori's big smile fell into a small no teeth one, "Yeah, we probably should. Let's go into the stairwell," she led Jade away from the prying ears of their colleagues.

"Are you attracted to me?" Jade asked flat-out once Tori closed the door.

Tori swallowed, "I might be…" she answered hesitantly.

"What does 'might' mean to you?" Jade asked resting her hands on her hips.

Tori shrugged, "I've never met anyone like you before, Jade. You've had me in a fog for weeks now, months even." A smile crept across that face Jade had grown to like over the last several weeks, "Are you, Dr. West, attracted to me?"

Damn. Damn. Damn.

"Yes, I am. But I'm not a predatory person; if you like penis exclusively, then cool. I won't pursue you unless invited," Jade explained with a confidence that pleasantly surprised Tori.

Tori looked down at her shoes, "I'm not in love with him," her voice was barely above a whisper.

"You don't?" Jade stepped forward and Tori's eyes met hers.

"I love him, but I'm not in love with him. It's complicated." Tori giggled wryly.

Jade nodded, "I get it though. I've been there before." The two shared a genuine smile then.

"So," Tori inhaled. "What about us?" she gingerly took Jade's hands into hers.

Jade smiled down at Tori's tan fingers interlacing her pale ones, "What about Hilliard?"

Just then the door flew open and knocked Tori down. The nurse, who opened the door, apologized profusely, but Jade simply waved him away as she attended to Tori.

"Okay," Jade sighed. "Your knee's all scraped up. Let's get you to a bed," the concrete stairs Tori landed on tore through the stocking that was encasing her leg and left an abrasion.


Jade was cleaning up after tending to Tori's knee when a question came to her. "What's the story behind the tat on your back?" she turned towards Tori whom was sitting on the hospital bed.

"I got it for my mom after she died," Tori started as she stood. "She referred to herself as my Guardian Angel growing up, because she was always there."

Jade had to admit even that made her tear up, "That's probably the sweetest thing I've ever heard." She smiled at Tori and got one in return.

"Well, Vega…" Jade finished up with her back to Tori, but heard light footsteps on the tile approach.

"Kiss me…" Tori wound her arms around Jade's waist.

Jade turned within the embrace to face Tori. You could feel the heat radiating off their bodies. Want and desire written all over their faces and showing in their eyes. Jade leaned in and placed a light kiss on Tori's lips. Tori kissed her back, and soon chaste kisses were replaced with passionate ones.

Tori stepped out of her shoes as Jade backed them up towards the bed. Their breathing resembled that of wild animals in an unbearable, tantalizing breeding heat. Sweat was beginning to form as hands groped clothing, aching to caress bare skin. Carefully, Jade lowered them onto the bed.

"God…" Tori mewed into Jade's hair, her hips bucking upward whenever Jade would hit her pulse line.

Jade paused to look Tori in the eyes fully, "You sure? You're not going to stop me again?"

"No," Tori giggled cupping Jade's face in her hands. "You may proceed."

Jade drew in a breath, "Yes ma'am." She bit down on her lip as Tori's hands glided the zipper of her pants down.


A/N: Hopefully that ending made up for all the waiting! Is Hilliard gone for good? No, he's not. Will it be paradise for Jori? Not yet. Stay tuned!

If life behaves, I'd like to have this done by the end of the month. Maybe. So, for now my SDRR story will probably be on hold. Mostly likely will resume that one once this one has been wrapped up. Hopefully.