Trina's Return

Disclaimer: Do not own Victorious or CSI

A/N: Yes you get an early morning update, only because I'm up this early.

Chapter 26 (Emotions Sealed Away)

"This is me trying not to freak out," Trina said while pacing the hotel floor. She was outside the door with Charlie and DB, they'd stepped out for a second to talk. The children were asleep inside and she didn't want to disturb them with news of her mother's death. She stopped and pointed to the side. "My mother was murdered by the killer I'm pursuing! Someone has to notify next of kin! There is no way in hell this is happening. No way!"

Her body was trembling, her chest was aching and every single muscle in her body was screaming in sheer agony. Trina was beginning to hyperventilate, this was too much for her heart. Solving Robbie's case had been too much, then having to deal with Jade's mother being the first victim? That didn't make matters any better. "When I said 'it couldn't get much worse', that wasn't a sign for it to get worse!'' She knew what her mother's murder meant, it meant having to investigate, which also meant having to question her own father in order to clear his name.

"You still have to do it," DB said, "Unfortunately. Besides…you have to face your sister eventually." She scoffed, perfectly content with letting her traumas and emotions take hold. As painful as a deal that was, she still was worried how Tori would react to her. "Would you rather notify your sister about her mother's death, or would you rather someone treat it as a routine next-of-kin notification."

"DB, it's been twenty years, what warmth do you honestly think is going to be there?" She still had compassion for Tori, but honestly, she didn't trust her. Not when she was married to Andre and mixing with Jade, Cat, and Beck. "I'm about ten minutes from hopping on a plane back to Vegas. Don't say I wouldn't do that, either." DB raised an eyebrow and Charlie shook his head. She wasn't likely to do that, she didn't believe in quitting while she was ahead, and she really needed to finish this case one way or another.

"You wouldn't do that," Charlie smirked, "I know you too well." She slanted her eyes at him and crossed her arms. He stepped up beside her and put his arms around her, a mild comfort for her while all her nerves were severely shot as it was. "It's okay, Trina…"

"It's not okay." He was in front of her, so she bowed her head to rest her forehead on his chest just beneath his chin. Tears welled up in her eyes as her shoulders rose and fell with her rapid breaths. "It isn't okay!" He held her close, rubbing her back and gently kissing the top of her head. "Why would you say it's okay? Why would anyone say it's okay? I'm working a case that's forcing me to make all these connections I spent so long trying to avoid."

"I know, Trina. I know. Maybe that's the reason, maybe you were led back here for that reason. Besides, no one said you had to get personal, just go to your sister and do your job."

She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes, "Is it that simple?"

"What choice do you have? Besides, something tells me Dad would be more than willing to introduce himself as your father-in-law if you didn't go." She chuckled through her tears and wiped her eyes. Her arms drifted around his waist and she hummed as she cuddled close to him. "Be strong Trina, strong like I know you are. You'll make it through this."

"I hope so…It's too hard…so hard not to give up. This case has taken everything out of me…"

"And you're still fighting, Trina." He gave her a reassuring smile after kissing her forehead. She closed her eyes and breathed in through her nose, exhaling from her lips. "This serial case has apparently eluded other investigators, your mother's body hidden for eighteen years and the killer of both yours and Jade's mom is out there somewhere…freely roaming…now if anyone can solve this, it's you. Go out there and kick ass."

"I will. Thanks…I love you, Charlie."

"Love you too."

After an hour, they were there. Trina, Marshall, and DB all standing before Tori's house hold. She felt the wind blowing past her and gazed at the sun through her shades. She narrowed her eyes and scoffed, slowly making her way to the door. "We deal with the case and the case alone, got that?" Trina stated.

"Works for me," Marshall replied, "Not sure how DB feels about that." DB laughed and Trina flashed a deadly smirk. "I'll do the talking if you like?" Humming at the suggestion, she didn't feel it was his place considering it was her father and sister.

"I got this, Marshall." It was more than a routine next of kin notification, she had to question her father too. "Have to eliminate them as suspects. I know my father's and sister's alibis at the time of Denise West's murder, but not Holly Vega."

Once on the porch, she knocked on the door with her free hand, as she was holding the case folder in her left hand. The door opened a few seconds afterwards and Tori gawked like a deer caught in headlights. The second their eyes met, Tori looked ready to faint. Behind her, clearly visible in his recliner was David, with the same stunned expression on his face.

"Funny. My daughter visits you and you're surprised to see me at the door?" She bowed her head and removed her shades, exhaling softly. "Unfortunately, I'm here on business. I don't suppose that lovable oaf of a husband of yours is here today? I seem to recall releasing him back to the public."

"A-Andre came home but left almost immediately." Tori shook her head and clasped her hand to her chest, clutching her blue shirt for dear life. Tears burst from her eyes. "T-Trina, what are…business? What happened? Andre's safe, I hope?"

"For now." Trina and the detectives walked in and Trina pocketed her shades in the pocket on the inside of her coat. "So long as he doesn't do anything that pisses me off. Slamming his car into mine and my father-in-law while drunk doesn't actually give a good first impression."

"Hey I was there too," Marshall joked. Trina glanced back at him with a subtle smirk and he lifted his shoulders.

"I'm going to be up front from the beginning, since I don't want to lead you on." Trina folded her arms and turned to Tori, she knew what she was about to say was going to sound very cold, but she had to be honest. "It's been twenty long years, so don't think this is some benevolent force moving us back together into each other's lives, thereby allowing for everything to start off perfect. It becomes necessary to remove the rose-colored glasses. You, your friends, all hurt me. So you don't get to get everything you could ever want, Tori." Tori cupped her hands over her mouth and tears started to run down the woman's cheeks. "You can spend all the time with my children, I've permitted them to see you. My husband and his dad-" She pointed to DB, who introduced himself with a wave and a one word greeting. "But when it comes to me and you? It's going to take a long time, and right now, I'm not working on that. I'm working on this case."

"I-I understand…um, have a seat, I guess?"

"Thank you." Tori moved to the couch, making haste. David got up from his chair and moved to the couch, motioning for Trina to sit there. She thanked him and moved to the chair while David sat on the couch. "I have, bad news, this doesn't come easy for me at all, but we…we found Mom." She clenched her eyes and Tori gasped out. David tensed, likely understanding what this was.

"When you say you found her…" He moved his trembling hand over his mouth and closed his eyes.

"She…was murdered, we believe, by the same person who took the life of Mrs. West and six other victims. The serial killer that we've been pursuing."

Tori screamed out, "Oh god!" Her own heart was breaking, never did she want to have to give this kind of news to anyone. "H-How long?"

"Eighteen years," Marshall replied. Trina remained silent, fighting back her own tears on this issue. He took the folder from her and opened it up, sighing heavily. "She was reported missing allegedly by Officer Gary Andrews."

"The man she ran off with…"

"He reportedly took his life in September. It's been estimated that the murder of Ms. Vega took place in the final week of June, 2015. Do you remember where you were around June 26th through the week of July 4th?"

"Yes, we were vacationing at Grandma and Grandpa's that week," Tori replied. "We hadn't seen them when my birthday came around, so we thought to spend that week with them. I remember because Grandpa made barbeque and Grandma…Grandma went to the hospital for a heart attack, but she was fine." Trina felt her stomach tighten and slowly opened her eyes, sucking in the information.

"Which grandparents?" She asked. "Dad's parents?"

"Yes, and Aunt Sonya was there too, she can confirm that. I'm sure of it."

"All right…Marshall, I'll take that folder now…" He handed her the folder and she skimmed over the dates of all the victims. "February 28th, 2013…June 28th, 2015…July 4th, 2018…July 4th, 2021…July 3rd, 2023…July 5th, 2026…July 4th, 2028…and most recent, November 22nd, 2032. The last six victims were found at or around El Salón Roja." Tori frowned and David meshed his eyebrows together. "I'm going to need alibis from you two, only to clear your names from the books. With Mom's body being found…we don't want a second Mr. West here."

"What does that mean?"

"Jade's father was wrongfully imprisoned and was in prison for the duration of the murders. Now, each of the women listed are women who have cheated on their husbands and most were in their forties." She flicked her eyes towards Tori, recalling Andre's drunken stupor. "Andre mentioned you had an affair, he seemed pretty bent out of shape about it. Granted he was drunk, and suspiciously he admitted to always driving up and down the road where Holly's body was found."

"What? Andre would never do any of that!"

"I looked up his crime report, Tori, he seems pretty far from a preacher boy. Right now we don't have a good list of suspects, but his suspicious nature does raise a few eyebrows."

"Trina. We've never visited Vegas. Hell, Andre doesn't even like leaving this state, much less the city or the house. He's too busy drinking himself into those stupors to be a serial killer."

"Right. Well…I'm still keeping my eye on him, no offense." She pushed herself up, having said enough. There wasn't much she was going to be able to get from questioning the two of them, and her emotional level was far too strained to go any farther. "You know. When I left, Tori, I didn't stop caring about you. I've always cared about you, but when you met those people, I stopped being anything to you and when they walked over me, you let them. They did something to me, and I never knew if you were associated with it or not, but it pushed me over the edge, and that's when I left."

"I-I've never done anything other than say things I know now I should never have said. I don't know what they did to you, if anything."

"You remember the last four guys I dated in that last year?" Tori slowly nodded and Trina wagged her eyebrows. Seeming to understand, Tori moved her hand over her lips and slowly shook her head.

"They wouldn't…"

"They did. Andre says it was Jade's idea. I suppose you ought to look into who you choose as friends. Not to mention, I'm not exactly thrilled with who you married." Trina paused, her heart fluttered for a split second and exhaled softly. "Goodbye for now, Tori." Tori whimpered as Trina made her way to the door. She walked out without looking back, unable to say another word. She pushed her shades back over her eyes to cover the tears burning her retinas. Trina knew now that she saw Tori, the ice was broken and she'd be tempted to run to her again. It was a shame she still didn't get to see Katrina, maybe another time. It was becoming harder to ensure that the rough emotions would stay away.

She was ready to puke at the nearest bush, or bawl her eyes out. When DB stepped next to her, she could hardly think of anything to say. "I just want to focus on solving this case, DB. Solve this case, then go home…just…I can't stand it anymore…"

Maybe she should have been warmer with Tori and her father, but she didn't feel it was appropriate. Or more, she was afraid to open up, afraid to let those emotions out. She'd rather be cold and shut up than to risk more hurt.

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