Dog Days of Summer

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

A/N:

Chapter 12 (The Source)

"I thought I made you happy." Tori sat in front of Trina, watching as the girl chopped an onion. The fumes made tears run along Trina's face, so every so often the woman would reach up and wipe them away. "I was going to be good, perfect even so everything was going to be okay. You wouldn't go away, mommy and daddy would stay together. If I was a good girl, mommy would stay with dad and he would be okay."

It was painful to acknowledge the nightmare she blocked out. Like any small child in her situation, she blamed herself. Her eyes closed and she uttered the questions asked by a small eight year old girl. "Why do mom and dad fight? Why does sister stay away? Maybe…maybe if I put on a smile and do everything right I'll make all of you happy."

Her voice trembled and she quickly shook her head, silently cursing herself. The memory she blocked out returned a second time, now burning itself into her head. "All I can see. That girl-me-in the corner of the motel room crying out to dad. He can't hear me…He said he had a headache, I thought I caused that headache." Her eyes clenched and her heart began to pound as she visualized her father lying motionless on the bed with a bottle of liquor in his hand. "Momma didn't want us anymore. I didn't make her happy, I couldn't make daddy happy when she left with you."

"My fault, it was all my fault." She opened her eyes and gazed back up at Trina. "I was so happy when daddy was okay, and when you and mom came back. I swore I'd do right this time. I swore I'd be good and mommy wouldn't leave again-and Daddy would want to live because I'd make all of you so happy."

Now she was doing it again. Driving all of them apart, but what was she doing wrong? "I'm perfect now aren't I? I make the best grades, I do everything, but momma cheats and Dad hides in his job. So I distract myself…I don't feel like that scared, lonely girl anymore. Hollywood Arts gives me that-the fame gives me that. I don't mean to be a diva, I can't help it." It felt like a drug to her and she couldn't back away.

"What are you going on about?" Tori flinched at the sound of Jade's voice and spun around to meet the girl's suspicious and curious gaze. She grit her teeth and forced a smile.

"Nothing."

"Tori?"

"It's none of your business, okay!" She began to walk at a fast pace, brushing past Jade and escaping the girl before she could dig any further. This time she wasn't going to spill her guts, this time she wasn't going to bring up her family's ancient history. "I don't want to be alone. If they separate I'll be alone…I won't be alone if people love me, if I'm good enough at Hollywood Arts-I won't have to worry about being afraid."

She passed by Beck on the couch and ignored when he called out to her. "Tori, what's wrong!"

"She won't say," Jade answered, "God knows what's going on in that girl's mind. It wasn't my fault this time, either."

Tori slipped through the doggie door and froze on the front porch. In the distance was a yellow taxicab. Her body tensed as she watched a man in a black uniform and white cap. Her eyes widened when the man pulled a suitcase from the car and tipped the driver.

"It's him," she whispered. Jade and Beck stepped out onto the porch and stopped just behind her. She looked over her shoulder and watched their gazes fall onto the marine. "Jason."

As he walked towards the house, his lips curved into a gentle smile and his strong eyes fixated on the door. Behind her she heard it creek and glanced back to see Trina stepping outside. "Cleo, you-" Trina's eyes turned up and she took in a deep breath. Her hands moved up to her mouth just as her gaze met with her boyfriend's. "Jason you're here already?"

He set his suitcase down and spread his arms out. "I wanted to surprise you, so I got an earlier flight." Trina stepped over the dogs and hurried up to him, throwing her arms around his neck and weeping. He moved his arms around her waist and gazed at her with loving eyes.

"I missed you so much." Trina kissed his lips and continued to hug him. Watching this swelled Tori's heart, she was glad to see her sister happy.

"Who would have thought," Jade said quietly, "Trina would have found someone worthwhile that thought the same about her." Tori rolled her eyes and shot the girl a glare that caused her to jerk back and glare back defensively. "What? I didn't mean anything negative. I'm just saying it's good she found someone."

"When do you ever not mean something negative, Jade!"

"Tori come on, that's not fair."

"Whatever."

"What is wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"In case you haven't noticed. I'm a dog!" She didn't mean to snap or be irritable with Jade, but it was hard to control herself. She moved off the porch in a haste and stepped beside Trina and Jason. She stood up and set her paws to Trina's leg, whining once.

Jason and Trina gazed down and the man laughed with a pleasant tone. "Aw, who's this little one?"

"Cleo. She's one of the dogs I told you about that found themselves in the back of grandpa's truck somehow." She reached down and picked Tori up. This gave the girl a closer look at Jason. The man was as handsome as he looked in the picture and as gentle seeming as she remembered from when she saw him at his uncle's place. "I really think Tori would like this one. I don't know why, I just get the feeling she would. She's really sweet. You know, for a poodle."

"And Ares hasn't made lunch out of her yet?" He laughed once and ran his hand over Tori's head. She licked his hand in response and barked once. "You're right though, she is an adorable poodle."

"It is a shame she's not more familiar with dogs. I've never got why mom and dad hate animals so much, but they should at least let Tori around them more." Trina cradled Tori in her arms and kissed her snout. Jason put his arm around Trina's shoulder and looked down at Tori with a smile. Her shoulders fell and she turned her head up to Jason. "They spend so much time fighting that I regret not making her come with me. That environment is as destructive for her as it was me."

"I thought you were going to talk to her?"

"Never got around to it. She's in Italy now, so I don't think I'd be able to get a hold of her. Plus, mom and dad don't really want her living on the farm."

Tori's nose twitched and her ears perked up. She did a double take, trying to figure out what exactly Trina was talking about. "Ran into another one of her friends the other day." Trina set her down and moved her hands to her hips. "Andre's trying to tell me to cut ties with them, I don't want to. Regardless, they're still family."

"You should do what you think is best."

"Right." Trina shook her hand in the air and led Jason to the house. "Come on, I'm making goulash. You'll love it!"

Jason pat his stomach and licked his lips. "Ah I know I'm home, I've missed your cooking." Trina smacked him playfully on the chest and turned her head over her shoulder. Tori saw a twinkle in her eyes that she'd not seen before, and for a second, a peculiar flicker struck her heart causing her to turn up her lips in a smile.

"You know I wasn't a good cook until I got on this farm. It was grandpa that taught me to cook right, so I didn't get really good until after you went away. You can't fool me."

"When I'm hungry, I'll eat anything I can get. They teach you that in the military."

"So I could cook worth shit and you'd still eat? Fascinating." Tori followed them into the house, ignoring Beck and Jade as she passed them up. Almost instantly Ares came running around the corner, barking excitedly at Jason. Jason laughed as Ares hopped up, hugging his arms around his owner's waist.

Tori was shocked to see Ares so excited, but she understood the joy. As she watched Jason play with his dog, she felt a strange yearning in her heart. She wanted to feel what he felt, though not in the sense of a dog and his owner, yet it was the same yearning and desire.

"How long has it been since he's been here?" She walked up beside Ares and tilted her head as he steadily calmed.

"Several months." He turned to face her and leaned his head back. "As a matter of fact, I recommend you find a different spot to sleep tonight." She scrunched her face and looked up to see Trina move back to the onion she'd been chopping. Jason stepped up beside her and gently rubbed her back, gazing down at her work with a smile.

"Trina, would you believe me if I said that onion alone looks appetizing?"

"Oh? Well you can eat it by itself if you'd like." She flashed a playful smirk and lifted a small slice of onion to his mouth. His lips parted and she slid the slice into his lips, to which he laughed as a result. "Is it every bit as appetizing as you think?"

"Compared to what I've been eating? Yes."

"Then you are going to love the meal I'm making."

Clarence walked into the kitchen, pulling on his brown jacket. "I hear talking." The elder looked over with wide eyes and his lips spread into an open smile. "Ah Jason! I didn't think you were coming in so soon. If I'd know you were coming in early, I would have had Trina wait on some of her chores so you could have done them."

"Oh yes," Trina laughed, "I totally needed his help with those hay bales." She rolled her eyes and looked towards him with a smirk. Tori watched curiously as her sister's eyes trailed along Jason's body. "Although I'm now picturing you holding two hay bales in your shirtless arms with the sun glinting off your sweat-"

Clarence lifted his hand and cleared his throat. "Save the lust for the bedroom, dear." Trina laughed again and Jason shook his head. After a few seconds, Jason snapped his fingers and walked around Trina.

"Mr. Vega, sir, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Clarence tucked his thumbs into his belt and pulled his pants up. "Please call me Clarence. I've told you that plenty of times, boy."

Trina pushed the chopped onion into a bowl and carried it towards the stove. She looked over her shoulder at the men. "I'll leave you two to chat, but if you're just going to talk, can you please not do it in the kitchen? You'll be in the way and I don't want to walk around you while I'm carrying ingredients."

"Yes, yes, I'm sure the dogs would love to have you drop some food for them." Clarence pat Trina on the shoulder as he passed her. He motioned for Jason, and the boy followed.

Out of curiosity Tori followed them, leaving Beck and Jade to deal with Ares and Trina. As she stumbled into the living room, she watched the two men sit on the couch. Jason sat in a full upright position, appearing to tower over the hunched elderly man. His shoulders were broad as his jaw strong. He looked to Clarence with an air of respect, acknowledging the frail looking man as the superior presence.

"So what did you want to ask me, son? Is it about Trina?" Tori's eyebrows rose and she moved closer to the couch, sitting down at Jason's feet. Her ears moved back and her head rested gently on her paws.

"Yes sir." Trina turned her head onto her side and closed her eyes, breathing out her nose with a mild hum. "You see, I've reached the end of my career training, and given my field they don't have need of me to be overseas any longer."

"Your career field that you've gone into." Clarence pulled his pipe from his mouth and exhaled softly. "Training, wasn't it?"

"That I'm still working on, right now they want me as a recruiter. My Colonel pulled some strings and has me stationed here in California. I have to go back to the base in a week, but I'll be coming back home to stay."

"Trina will be happy to hear that." Clarence returned his pipe to his lips and leaned back in his chair. "That girl has been driving herself up the wall with worry over you. I tell you, she's got more than enough stress worrying about whether you'll be called back overseas again."

"I know." Jason leaned forward and tapped his fingertips together. "She's a strong woman."

"Well she has to be, think of her situation. She loves you very much, thinks about you every single day." Clarence smiled at Jason and pat his shoulder. "So. Your Colonel doesn't want you overseas anymore?"

"No, I think I'll be made an administrator somewhere. He says the chances of me being sent overseas again will be slim, and that's definitely what I want." He leaned back into the couch and looked Clarence in the eye. "What I'm asking, and I'll get this out of the way, is permission to ask her hand in marriage."

Tori perked her ears and her head shot up. Her body shook as she looked to Jason, she was amazed by news but even more surprised was the fact that Jason hadn't met the family. Maybe he had and she didn't know, but it wasn't truly required. She never expected a man to go so far as to ask permission, such things were so far in the past times that they seemed almost out of place in today's world. Unless she missed something.

She held her breath awaiting Clarence's answer. The man stared for what seemed eternity before laughing and slapping Jason on the arm. "Why so formal!" Jason chuckled once and lifted his shoulder.

"It seemed the proper thing to do. She always talks about it as well, that it's proper to ask that permission." Clarence nodded once and pulled his pipe from his lips.

"Of course, Jason." Clarence pointed the tip of his pipe at Jason and lifted his eyebrows. "You do have my blessing, but first you have to promise me something."

"Sir?"

"You will take care of that girl. Make sure she's happy, respect her and her family. Treat them all right. I won't be around forever, but I'll be damned if my ghost doesn't come back to make sure you make an honest woman out of my granddaughter."

Jason removed his cap and smiled politely and gave him a swift nod. "Yes sir."

"That in there is a woman who knows what she wants in life." Clarence returned his pipe to its proper place and looked towards the kitchen. Tori followed his gaze, still stricken with shock and awe over what was going on. "I've asked her many times this last year how she felt and she has told me many times you are the only person she cares for. She doesn't want any other man, so you best damn well be that man. I don't know what'll happen to my farm when I'm gone, I suspect Trina wants to take it over, but only God knows what's going to happen there…"

"I understand, sir, and thank you."

Tori watched her sister step out from the kitchen. Trina cleared her throat and set her hands on the door frame. "Okay guys, supper's on the table." Jason stood up, holding his hat at his waist. Clarence rose beside him and pat him on the shoulder.

"Then let's eat," Clarence replied.

Tori watched them exit into the kitchen and remained in her place, still uncertain what to feel. While she was thrilled that Trina was to have a happy life, she felt jilted over the thought of lost time.

"Where did it go that my sister's going to get engaged and married?" It felt like she'd missed out on something, something important. She wasn't in any way dependent on Trina, but a part of her didn't want to let Trina marry anybody because she wanted her sister to herself in order to make up for lost time.

This wasn't the time to think about it, though. Certainly Trina would want Jason to meet her family if they got engaged, but Tori had to wonder if her family was stable enough at this point. Trina didn't seem hesitant or too embarrassed to make such introductions, but she did seem to have some reservations about them.

"What does it matter, I'm still a dog." She slowly pushed herself up and forced herself to move into the kitchen. "I guess I have to be happy for her, whenever he does propose." She started to mutter, but keeping low enough that Beck and Jade wouldn't overhear. "Losing mom to her affair, losing dad to whatever, and Trina's going to get married."

Could this be the 'source' that Shadow spoke of? Had she become so afraid of having a broken family and being alone because they split apart and separated that she'd allowed Hollywood Arts to act as a rug to sweep all this underneath? Now that the catalyst had been removed, it was all coming back to her, and she hated it.

So Jason's finally showing up for a time. He'll have to go back overseas again for a bit but he's here at least for a couple chapters.