Chapter 20: Gamble in Vegas

5 days until deadline.

Jess sipped her coffee as she did a once over of the pile of clothes she was planning on taking to Vegas and wondering just how the hell she was meant to fit it all into her small suitcase.

"I don't think it's going to fit." Sara announced pulling up a seat next to her.

Jess sighed, she didn't either but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try.

Los Vegas was said to be the entertainment capital of the world and if living with Sara had taught her anything, it was to be prepared. She had everything from; an evening dress, killer hills, flats in case her fit got tried, formal outfit, causal outfit and of course a first aid kit after all they were still them.

Jess stood up and made her way towards the bag.

"So are you looking forward to the trip?" Jess asked Sara as she started placing items into her beg.

Sara had been working double shifts all week because the hospital had been short staffed and Jess hadn't seen much of her other than passing glances.

"I am actually, I have a feeling it's going to be incredible." Sara told her honestly.

Jess nodded in agreement.

"So where is your bodyguard today?" Sara asked.

Jess froze and started at her friend. For someone who claimed not to like Jay very much she sure did ask about him a lot and when she wasn't asking about him she was either trying to wind him up or complaining about him.

"What?" Sara demanded when she notice Jess staring at her.

"I thought you didn't like Jay." Jess reminded her.

Sara looked away refusing to meet her eyes.

"I don't." she said folding her arms defiantly.

Jess bit her lip to stop herself form laughing.

"Then why do you keep asking about him?" Jess asked.

"I don't." Sara argued. She did. Over the past week every time Sara saw Jess without Jay, Sara would asked about him.

"You do." Jess defended.

"Every time he isn't with me you ask about him and when he is you spend your time trying to wind him up, do you have a thing for him or something?" Jess asked and when Sara blushed Jess new she had hit the nail on the head.

"You do don't you?" Jess squealed with excitement.

Jess liked Jay and if anyone could make Sara happy she had no doubt it would be him.

"I don't." Sara argued but Jess was pretty sure they both knew it was a lie.

Jess held up her hands in mock surrender. She would let it go for now but eventually she would get the truth.

"Since Andy is picking us up, I won't see Jay until we get back from Vegas." Jess informed Sara.

Sara nodded but Jess could see the disappointment on her friends face and she made a mental note to make sure the pair were around each other more.


Tommy stepped out of the elevator and walked towards Connors office. He was picking up Connor while Andy picked up the girls before they headed to the airport.

"Anyone would think you don't trust me." Jenna said to Connor as Tommy rounded the corner to approach Connor's office.

Tommy froze. He was not getting in the middle of that.

Connor sighed frustrated.

"That's is not what I am saying and you know it." His brother argued.

Neither of them had notices his arrival yet.

Jenna glared at him.

"I just hate leaving things unfinished and what if something goes wrong." Connor reasoned.

"Then I will be here to fix it like I always am." Jenna pointed out.

"And if you can't?" Connor asked.

Tommy wanted to slap him over the back of the head. Even he knew that Jenna would call him if something was really wrong with the company.

Tommy couldn't watch any more. He step forward.

"Then she will call you like she always does." Tommy said making them aware of his presence.

They both looked at him.

"Exactly." Jenna said with smile.

Connor just sighed in defeat.

"Fine." His brother said reluctantly.

Connor turned to look at him.

"Let me just grab my bag and we can go." Connor said.

Connor went into his office coming out a few minutes later with his bag.

"You ready?" Tommy asked Connor, they really needed to get going. Not to mention he really want to see Jess.

Connor nodded before looking over at Jenna.

"Max will be at your service while I'm away." Connor told her.

"Connor you don't need to do that." Jenna said.

Connor shook his head.

"Please Jenna, this way I'll know you will make it home safe when you decided not to leave here till midnight." Connor argued. Clearly it was something they had spoken about before.

It surprised Tommy. While he knew Connor cared for Jenna he was surprised about how much.

Jenna sighed.

"Fine if you promise me to have fun." She argued as smile gracing her lips.

Tommy notice his brother smile to. Jenna smiling made Connor smile. That was interesting. Something was defiantly going on between the two of them.

"I promise." his brother agreed.

Tommy and Connor said their goodbyes to Jenna before heading out towards the car.

"What's with you and Jenna?" Tommy asked pulling away from the curb.

"It's nothing." Connor lied and Tommy scoffed.

"Of course it's not." Tommy replied.

He took a quick look at Connor to show his disbelief before looking back at the road.

Connor sighed.

"I don't know what it is." Connor admitted.

"But I know she's important." Connor added brining their conversation to an end.


Andy pulled out his sister's bag from the back of the car and almost dropped it. Dam it was heavy. Was it just his sister or did all women over pack? Andy glanced as Jess's bag. Sure it wasn't as big as his sisters but it wasn't much smaller either. They did know they were only going for three days, right?

"I can take it." Jess offered but Andy shook his head.

His parents has raised a gentleman and no matter how heavy the bags were he would not let his parents down now, but it was still nice of Jess to offer.

"I got it." He replied with a smile just as a car pulled up beside them.

"Sorry we're late." Connor voice called.

Andy dropped the bags back in the car and silently thanked his lucky stars as he looked up and smiled at his friends.

Tommy went straight to Jess, gathering her in his arms and kissing her like he hadn't seen her in days even though he had only seen her last night. Not that Andy really blamed him, he guessed that when he found someone he really love he would feel the same.

Connor came to help him.

"Need some help?" Connor offered.

"Thanks." Andy replied nodding towards the car.

Connor frowned her he looked at the girl's bags.

"They do know we are only going for three days right?" Connor asked.

Andy snorted that had been his exact thought when he sure them.

Connor shook his head before grabbing a bag. Andy followed suit and they made their way into the airport.


Tommy looked a Jess as she got ready for dinner. Their plane arrived in Vegas just after 6 and after picking up the car Connor had rented they went straight to the hotel, each disappearing to their rooms before they met for dinner at half 8.

Tonight they would take it easy and tomorrow they would visit his grandma Donna before hitting the casinos.

"You ok?" Tommy asked Jess.

She had been quite ever since they got off the plane.

Jess looked at him in the mirror. She was applying makeup she never needed.

She nodded but Tommy could tell she was lying. He pulled up a chair beside her and took her hand.

"Talk to me." He said.

Jess turned to look at him.

"It just hit me that after tomorrow the list will be complete." Jess told him.

Tommy frowned.

"And this makes you sad?" He asked, he thought that was what she wanted.

Jess shrugged.

"I have never felt so close to my mum as I have since doing the list, what if I stop feeling close to her?" Jess asked.

Tommy shook his head. He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed kisses to her knuckles as he spoke,

"I may not remember a lot about your mum but what I do remember was how much she loved you."

Tommy looked up at her face, her eyes were glassy with tears that threaten to fall.

He cupped her face in his left hand and she leant into his touch.

"Which is how I no she will always be with you." He told her, honestly believing every word of it.

Jess closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Sorry." she muttered turning her face into his hand and pressing a kiss to it.

"Don't be sorry." Tommy gently ordered her when she opened her eyes to look at him.

"I won't you to be able to tell me your fears." He told her.

Jess smiled.

"That works both ways." she pointed out.

Tommy nodded. He couldn't promise that he would tell her all of his fears but he would try.

Jess leant forward and pecked his lips.

"I love you." She told him.

She turned to go back to putting on her make up but Tommy stopped her and pulled her back towards him.

"I love you too." He replied kissing her.

A peck was never enough.

Jess laughed against his lips before playful pushing him away.

"We have to finish getting ready." Jess pointed out.

Tommy kissed her one last time before reluctantly letting her go.


THE NEXT DAY:

Jess work early with a horrible headache. After dinner last night they had moved to the hotel bar where she may have had one too many cocktails.

She moved to get out of bed and groaned when the pounding got worse.

"Good morning beautiful." Tommy voice called as the bathroom door opened.

Jess looked up at her boyfriend and glared at him. How could he be so happy in the morning?

Tommy laughed.

"Oh don't be like that." He said moving towards her.

Even in her hungover state her tummy did a little flip at the sight of him in nothing but a towel coming towards her. She couldn't help but reach out and touch his stomach just above the towel.

Tommy sucked in a breath and met her eyes.

He leant down and captured her mouth with his. Jess responded, wrapping her arms round his neck and pulling further down towards her.

Jess pulled away breathless and Tommy rested his forehead on hers.

"Good morning." She panted breathless.

She would never get tired of waking up with him and she was pretty sure he felt the same.

"As much as I would love to spend the day in bed with you Connor has a lot planned for today so we have to get going." Tommy told her reluctantly pulling away from her and straightening himself.

Jess pouted playfully and Tommy laughed as he made his way over to their bags.

Jess sighed in defeat and made her way out of bed.

"Tomorrow we can spend all morning in bed." Tommy promised. Jess smiled she would look forward to that.

Jess felt a little better when she got out the shower but her head still pounded slightly. She got dress and made her way back into the room she shared with Tommy.

Tommy stood next to the door looking down at his phone. Jess guessed he was probably checking in with his dad to make sure everything was ok back home.

"I got you some aspirin for your head and some juice." Tommy told her without looking up.

"It's on the bedside table." He added.

"I love you." Jess mumbled as she made her way over to his gift.

She froze when she reached the bedside table. There was the juice and a bottle of aspirin but there was also a medium size jewellery box.

"Tommy?" Jess asked confused.

She picked up the box and turned to look at her boyfriend.

Tommy leant against the door frame looking at her a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Open it and find out." Tommy suggested.

Jess frowned and looked down at the box.

"But it's not my birthday for another few days." Jess reminded him.

"It's not a birthday present." Tommy told her.

Jess looked back at him.

"Then what is it?" she asked.

Tommy sighed.

"Jess just open it." He ordered.

Jess looked back down at the box and slowly opened the lid. Inside the box with a beautiful emerald necklace with two very small silver arrows either side that connection together on a simple yet beautiful silver chain.

"Tommy it's beautiful." She told him.

Jess looked up and smiled at him.

"Turn it over." He ordered.

Jess carefully removed the necklace from the box and turned it over. At the back of the pendent was an engraving. It had a date and then it read,

I will love you forever and always. T xx

Jess looked at Tommy. The date was a few months back.

"What's the date?" she asked.

Tommy walked towards her.

"It was the day we went on the motor bike ride together." He told her stopping just inches from her.

Jess had to look up to meet his eyes then.

"Like for us was our friendship and I will always be grateful for our friendship but that day, the day I thought I was just realising I like you was actually the moment I realised I love you." Tommy told her honestly.

Jess could feel tears of happiness build in her eyes as she smiled at Tommy.

"I love it." Jess told him standing up on her tip toes to press a kiss to his mouth.

"And I love you." she added pressing another kiss to his mouth.

"Will you help me put it on?" she asked handing him the necklace. She went to turn so he could put the necklace on her but Tommy stopped her.

"I have a confession though." Tommy told her.

Jess frowned at her.

"I had every intention to give you this necklace before your birthday but while it was getting engraved," Tommy stopped he took a breath and whipped and hand through his head looking comfortable.

"Check happened and I have never been so scared in my entire life." Tommy added.

Jess shook her head she had no idea where he was going with this. She hate how much sadness it still brought him.

"Tommy what are you trying to say?" She asked egger to change the subject.

Tommy sighed.

"I had my mum put a tracker in it because I can't face another Check situation Jess I just can't." Tommy admitted.

Jess sucked in a breath. She loved the necklace she really did but she did not the like the idea of the tracker.

"I promise I will only every use it when I have too." Tommy promised as if he already knew where her head was going.

Jess met his eyes. She believed him and if her wearing the tracker made him happier about her safety then she would do it.

She turned round and raised her hair.

"I still love it." she mumbled. She did tracker and all.

Tommy realised a breath of relief before placing the necklace round her neck and doing up the latch.

Jess looked at it the mirror as Tommy pressed a kissed to the back of her neck before removing her hand from her hair and letting it fall back into place. It looked so good on.

"Thank you." Tommy said as he met her eyes in the mirror.


Connor smiled at Donna as she approached them smiling as bright as ever. One of Connor's first memories of meeting Donna was her coming towards him with the same bright smile.

After Tommy and Jess joined them fifteen minutes later than planned they headed straight for Felicity's mum house.

"Look my babies you're are all so big now." Donna cooed hugging them all one by one.

Donna looked very good for her age. She had tone down her wardrobe, but she still dyed her hair and loved applying large amounts of makeup.

"Good to see you Gran." Tommy said when she got to him.

When Donna reached him she gave him a good look up and down.

"I think you grow more handsome every time I see you." Donna told him affectionately.

Connor laughed before hugging her tightly.

After greetings were done Donna invited them in for a late breakfast.

"Are you all looking forward to tonight?" Donna asked.

Donna was taking them to the casino she used to wait tables at. When his dad married Felicity and they got the company back his dad offered to buy Donna a place to live closer to them, but she had kindly refused. She said that Vegas was in her blood and wouldn't feel right living anywhere else. Neither Felicity nor his dad liked it but they accepted it. So his dad had brought Donna a nice house in Vegas and regally put money into her account so she wouldn't have to work as hard. But Donna was stubborn just like her daughter and she worked for as long as she was able and they saw her as often as they could.

When Donna had first found out they would be going to Vegas for a few days she had demanded to be the one to show the ropes. They had been happy to agree as they didn't get to see her as often as they liked.

"I can't wait to hit the casinos." Sara surprisingly admitted.

"Me either." Jess said in agreement.

Donna smiled at them.

"Good because we are going to make a night of it." Donna told them with a smile.

Connor smiled too. He was really looking forward to tonight.


Sara's cheeks hurt from smiling so much. They had been at the casino just over an hour and she was having so much fun.

After they left Donna's they went back to the hotel to get ready. Donna met them a couple of hours later and took them to Caesar's Palace. She introduced them around to some of the people she used to work with before playing a few games with them all.

At midnight Donna returned home promising to have lunch with them before their flight home tomorrow night.

Andy disappear with a waitress he had befriend from the bar.

Connor was taking his chance on the slot mechanises, stating that if he played a card game he wouldn't be able to help but count cards and Donna had warned them against that. Sure Donna didn't know that the boys were the new team Arrow and could take care of themselves but Connor still believed it was better to take her advice.

Tommy was trying his luck at blackjack while she and Jess tired roulette.

"Even though I have nearly lost everything I planned to spend I am still having an amazing time." Jess said next to her.

Sara laughed. She was in the same boat as Jess. The money she had brought to spend was almost completely gone.

"How about we move on?" Jess suggested after she lost again.

Sara nodded it wasn't a bad idea.

The moved around and ended up at the craps table. After half an hour and a long conversation with the dealer later and they were both starting to get the hang of the game. While Sara understood she wasn't really getting anywhere, but Jess seemed to be on a lucky streak.

"What is going on?" Connor voice asked from behind her.

Sara turned just as Jess own another game.

Connor was standing behind her with Andy at his side.

"I thought you got lucky?" Sara said to her brother cringing at the last part.

Andy shook his head but didn't elaborate.

"Woo." Jess cheered next to her.

Sara turned back round.

"Jess is on a roll." she said answering Connor's earlier question.

Jess one a couple more times before Tommy joined them and about ten minutes later Andy declared they were being watching.

Sara looked around. There were a few extra guards around them then there were when the first arrived.

"Casino's don't like to lose so much." Andy reminded them.

The boys had some unspoken communication before Tommy whispered something in Jess ear. Her eyes widened and she nodded to whatever Tommy said.

Jess lost her last game and they headed for the exit before something happened.

Sara didn't mind, she may have lost most of her money that she brought for the weekend but she had an amazing time.


THE NEXT DAY

Tommy woke just in time to watch his stunning girlfriend get up from bed in nothing but the necklace he had given her. He really liked the view.

"It's rude to stare." She told him, probably feeling his eyes on her arse.

"Then you shouldn't be so beautiful." Tommy told her laughing.

It was cheesy but unbelievably true.

Jess looked at him over her shoulder at him with her eyebrows raised.

"That was awful." She told him. Yet the corners of her mouth were raised slightly as she tried not to laugh.

Tommy gave her his best cheeky smile as he sat up in bed.

Jess shook her head and went into the bathroom.

When she came back she was wearing his shirt from last night. He loved her wearing his clothes almost as much as he loved seeing her naked.

She got back in the bed and tucked herself into his side.

"I was promised a morning in bed." Jess reminded him.

Tommy sighed happily. He didn't mind that at all.

Jess's hand gently caressed his chest. He captured her hand in his.

"Did you have a good time last night?" Tommy asked.

Jess nodded.

"I have loved every moment of this trip." she told him.

Tommy kissed the top of her head.

"Good." he said, he had too.