Out of Time
Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious
A/N:
Chapter 23 (One Path Opens)
Jade and Beck made their way out of the hospital, knowing Spencer and the others would need some time by themselves. When they got to the ground level, they heard another elevator chime and open it's doors.
To their great pleasure, they saw Gary leading Holly out in a pair of handcuffs. Several officers surrounded them, the woman was glaring around the hospital with her lips twisted in an angry snarl. "My daughter betrayed me, my staff betrayed me. This isn't over."
Gary rolled his eyes and looked to Jade with a sigh. "This is one of those moments where I wish we could legally put duct tape over the criminal's mouth." He cleared his throat and pushed Holly forward. "I said before, you have the right to remain silent. Please fucking utilize it." Holly spat on the floor and growled at him.
Rather than see the relief they thought he'd have, he seemed exhausted. Sam followed him out, her skin pale as she shook her head in disbelief. "Was there a fight of some kind?" Beck asked. Sam ran her hand over the back of her head and glanced over.
"No." The blonde breathed in and looked ahead at Holly. "A lot of cussing from a woman locked up in a cell. No, down there was a devil's lair like nothing I've seen. None of us were fully prepared for it." Jade swallowed a breath of air and looked back to the elevator. Part of her was tempted to go down and see it, but she was honestly afraid to do so. "It is an active crime scene of course."
"What was down there?"
"There were a lot of children, there were pictures of people. The place had bloodstains everywhere, literal shit everywhere. I'm pretty sure we found a den of evidence too, including a massive book of names and numbers."
"Names and…you mean like the people that were sold off?" Her eyes widened and Sam slowly nodded.
"There's going to be quite a bit of people the police will have to track down. I heard the officers talking about men, women and children that they recognized from prior missing persons reports. Holly kept records locked away down there, vast and numerous."
"I guess when you're leading a crime organization that sort of thing happens, but…" She let out a low whistle and heard another elevator ring. When she looked, she saw officers walking out, some carrying toddlers and babies in their arms while a few walked hand in hand with children up to six years of age.
Innocent lives almost cut short by a woman with more evil and hate in her soul than Jade could've ever thought possible. Holly looked at them with narrow eyes, growling softly.
Another set of elevator doors opened and a flowery scent filled the air. Holly's eyes narrowed further and Jade looked to see Spencer walking out with Tori and Carly. In his hands was a glass container with a candle burning. He met Holly's glare and stopped just a few feet from her.
"I want you to know." His voice was calm, his gaze unwavering. "You didn't win today. Today, Sasha won. All the lives that were lost, all the people you tore away from each other, all the pain you've caused. Today, win, and we will move forward. Sasha lives on in our hearts, Tori and the children that have survived you will live their lives." Holly started to growl, her teeth clenched as she tried in vain to lunge forward. Spencer didn't flinch. "You lose."
It wasn't long before they had officers sent out to Robbie's home and Cat's home to pick them up. The same was said for Mrs. Valentine, as further evidence had been found tying the woman to the clan.
Gary had called Trina to come back to the station as well, which was a surprise. Jade had been even more surprised when Trina did show. Though they didn't take her to the interrogation room, rather, they met with her in the lobby.
"You were able to find Sasha?" Trina asked, to which Gary replied with a nod. "Mom? All those kids?" He nodded once more and Trina took a seat in a nearby chair, giving out a heavy sigh of relief. "Good."
"I have something else in mind for you as well, if you would hear me out." Trina looked up at him and he turned slightly. "We managed to track them down and called them here. Not sure where exactly-"
"Diaper change," Jade said abruptly. Gary sighed and shook his head. It took a few seconds, but Jason emerged from the bathroom with Rachel in tow. Trina's eyes opened wide and she jumped to her feet.
"Jason? What…" Moisture started to form in her eyes and she looked at Gary, speaking with a quick, hushed tone. "I asked that they didn't be involved." Gary put his hands to his hips and dipped his chin.
"They're not. Moreover, I do have a heart. All of the families that this woman tore apart, mine included, you're young. You have a young family. It seems that the state is willing to offer you a second chance within the witness protection program." Trina let out a soft gasp, raising her hands over her mouth as Jason made his way towards her. "That is, in exchange as you've said, you're willing to testify."
"I am." Trina took Rachel into her arms and gazed lovingly at her child. She leaned sideways into Jason as he put an arm around her waist. "Oh god."
Jade felt herself tearing up, she was happy for Trina. After all, she thought she deserved a chance at life, especially because like Andre, she may well have been more of a victim than anything else. She didn't deserve to lose her life because she was born, no matter what role she may have had, it was clear much of her life was forced by an abusive and psychotic mother.
Trina made her way over to a nearby chair and sat down, gazing at her child and swaying her back and forth in her arms. Jade watched the woman for a few seconds, breathing in slow and glancing over as Gary spoke with Jason.
Slowly she made her way to Trina and took a seat beside her. "Hey." Trina barely looked from her child, sniffling and breathing through subtle sobs. "It's a lot of stress, but it's going to be okay."
"I was scared," Trina whispered, "I still am. People would never understand, no one would try to."
"What wouldn't they get?"
"That it wasn't my choice. Like Andre, it wasn't something we had any power over. My mother expected that I would take over for her, if I questioned anything, she'd fly the fucking handle." Jade looked down, pressing her lips together and curling her eyebrows in. "I met Jason and he saw how much I was hurting. He wanted to get me out, but there was never a way. When I became pregnant, when Rachel was born, I was terrified. I couldn't show it or Mom would accuse me of being 'soft'."
"There's always hope somewhere, I know that." Taking a page from her father's practice, she did understand how important it was for people to be able to talk and to know there's a light at the end of the tunnel even if they can't see it. "I don't know a lot about the witness protection program, but what I do know is you'll be able to be given a second chance with Jason and with your daughter."
Trina looked over and moisture was sliding down her cheeks. "I'm scared of it though. I don't really have any close connections, but it's still hard to just reset everything."
"You won't be alone." She leaned back, sliding her hands over her knees and inhaling softly. Trina hugged Rachel close to her chest and pursed her lips. "I mean, I've heard how it works, you'll have someone that will be there for your family that you can go to."
"Like a case worker or something?"
"Yeah, someone that would be to guide you and help with resources."
Footsteps nearby caught her attention as they were growing closer, when she turned she saw a woman looking her way with a smile and intrigue in her eyes. She wore a purple blazer and dark slacks, her dark brown hair was cut short just above her shoulders and her blue eyes shimmered like the sea rippling in the sunlight.
"Katrina?" The woman met Trina's curious gaze, her gentle smile bringing a serene warmth to both women. "I'm Tracey Parker, I'll be working with you and your family during this process." Jade's eyebrows rose and she watched Trina rise slowly, seeming to calm just a tiny bit. Jason made his way over and Tracey extended a friendly hand, inviting them to go with her.
As they started to leave, Gary made his approach. He chuckled once, sliding his hands up to his waist. "You ever thought about counseling, Jade?" She furrowed her brow, her gaze still studying the departing woman. "You have a knack for it."
"I've never given it much thought. My dad runs a clinic, so I learned a lot from him." She tilted her head and pointed. "Who's that woman?"
"Mrs. Parker is a victim's advocate." Intrigue shot up within her and her lips moved into an oval. "They're essentially a social worker, kind of like what I just heard you describe to Trina a minute ago."
"What do they do?"
"They work with the victims of crime, as well as investigators and the prosecutor. They have resources to help the victims get back on their feet, whether providing a means for counseling or community programs, they are there for the victim, a person they know they can rely on. That's in a nutshell, they are essentially a means of support throughout the whole process."
"Cool." She stood up and looked down the hall to where Tracey was standing, holding a door open for Trina and Jason. The woman looked back down the hall with a smile that seemed to draw her in. There was a strange and calming sense to this woman's presence, one that would almost make Jade feel comfortable in sharing everything about her life with her.
Inside of her something stirred and she couldn't help but to smile back. Slowly she raised a hand and waved, to which the woman waved back before making her way into the room.
Gary folded his arms and smiled at her, his right eyebrow rising. "I think you'd be a good fit, but you'd probably want to focus on a degree in social work." She cleared her throat and turned her head to him. "Think your dad would let you work in his office?"
"Um…" She furrowed her brow and looked down, closing her hands excitedly before her. She remembered her dad asking her about it some time ago, so he definitely seemed interested in her going down a similar career path. "He brought it up before, and he's always kind of talking to me about counseling."
"Counseling services are just one part of what victim advocacy does, but it's always good to have a counseling background." A hum vibrated from her lips and she thought about the possibility.
It was a supportive role, and an important one. To be able to help victims find services and programs that would enable them to get back on their feet and find some semblance of normalcy, this was truly enticing. To give victims a sense of comfort, of hope, to help aid them in navigating the turbulent waters of the legal system. Yes, she was truly interested in considering such a path.
"I mean it sounds wonderful, to be honest." She tucked a finger under her chin and chuckled. "A little strange. I know I wasn't the best person in the world just a few years ago, so hard to believe what I would go for…"
"I've seen you try to be supportive of nearly everyone throughout all of this. You even tried to help Robbie when he lost his father." She winced and Gary cleared his throat. "Yes, that ended poorly, but your intentions were what mattered most." She mustered a smile and Gary gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Just remember, you're still young. The brain is always developing, the personality is always changing. Who you were just three or five years ago is not the same person you are now nor the same person you will be in ten years. We're always growing. Yes, you made some pretty poor choices; but don't let the person you were in the past keep you afraid of pursuing anything."
"I'll think about that, thanks." Her heart lifted up and she imagined herself not only finally being able to contribute to something greater than that of herself but to being able to save lives and help people to heal and recover. It seemed like such an important role, despite how small she used to think of such things.
"Gary, what will happen to all the children the police were able to save?" Gary reached behind his head, scratching at his hairline with a deep and heavy sigh.
"It'll take days, even patients at that hospital might be victims of this gang. We'll have to do blood tests, check missing persons databases, contact families." He dropped his hand and closed his eyes. "Thing of it is, we've got Holly, we've crushed her home base; but there are still other things left for the FBI and the police departments to deal with. Hollywood Arts will be shut down for a while as they investigate every teacher in the school and potentially reroute students, underground prostitution sites will be raided as they are discovered. And even trying to find out who may have been sold to service slavery, there are many potential victims that can and likely will be saved; but there are also many that may never be found."
Jade swung her hands behind her back, lacing her fingers together as she tried to smile for him. "You're happy though, relieved, because your daughters were rescued." Gary blinked twice, looking to her slowly and mustering a broken smile.
"Of course I am, and I'm thrilled that we will be able to reunite a lot of families with their loved ones. Still, thinking about the ones that will never be whole again." He frowned and ran his hand over his chin and mouth. "It's difficult, because I wish we could rescue them all; but over my career I've learned-even accepted-that it's impossible."
"You can't save everyone."
Gary walked over to the chair where Trina had been sitting and took a seat, chuckling softly. "Yet, I resigned myself long ago that I might never see my children again." Jade furrowed her brow and watched as he ran his hand through his hair. "I gave up on that hope, so much I didn't even see it when Sam found her way to me."
Jade walked over to him. "Gar." He glanced into her eyes and she flashed a comforting smile. "Didn't you just tell me, in a way, not to let the past control you?"
"Yes." He laughed. "I did."
"We can regret the choices we've made, mull over the things we didn't see and the connections we lost; but what will doing that achieve? Hm? The important thing is, your girls are home. You can focus on paving that future for all three of you."
"You are not wrong."
Jade put her hand to her chest, raising her eyebrows. "Now, I don't know a lot but I'll always be here for you guys. I mean, sure you're kind of my boss, but Sam is a friend. Still, I could hook you up with my dad if you need someone to talk to…he's got a lot of counselors that work under him."
Gary smirked and started to stand. "I may take you up on that." He cleared his throat and started past her. "Now, let's go, we've got more work to do." She nodded and he glanced back at her for a few seconds. "That is, if you want you could go talk to Tori. I'm sure she could use a friend right now."
"Yeah, I think I'll do that. Beck likes the actual police work a bit more than I do. But, good to know we both can serve two different sides for the same cause."
"You got it, Jade. The criminal justice system is so much more than just police work. If you feel you're better served in a different spot, you're still working towards the same goal as the police and the lawyers. We're all here to serve the people, to help the victims of crime."
Jade's heart skipped a beat and she watched as Gary departed. Glancing off in a different direction, she knew the next thing to do was check in on Tori. Even after they left Sasha's room, both she and Spencer had been incredibly silent.
So Jade is realizing now that there is a role for her, and an important one at that. Granted the actual career requires some college, and possibly an internship. Victim Advocacy is definitely an important career, and they provide so many services to victims and their families, but also communicate with prosecutors and the law enforcement.
