Conspiracy

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:I thought I'd already posted this, but evidently not, so here's chapter 26. Still working on trying to get ahead, the end is in sight

Chapter 26 (Sisters' Slow Growth)

While waiting on Beck to come to her place, Jade positioned herself on her bed with the next bit of letters she received from Tori and Trina. She was truly looking forward to seeing where they were at now, since the letters seemed to be getting better with each time she read them.

In the last ones sent, Tori was going on and on about a simple drive to the next checkpoint, where they were driving past mountains. She'd never seen such things before and couldn't believe how magnificent they were. They also stopped by a fishery at one point, and Tori felt the need to include every detail of what she learned in her letter.

Even Trina seemed somewhat happier in her writing-if not a tad dazed and confused. Her attraction to Jason had grown, and according to Trina, she had no idea what to do about it. The poor girl never gave serious thought to relationships and had asked for Jade's advice on what was to be expected in them.

So she told her: Relationships with someone else just means you can share a part of your life with someone you care about and trust, who cares about you as well. She told Trina that relationships take time to build that trust, but they can be the best thing to have in life.

Curious to see how Trina reacted to her advice, Jade opened her letter first. She crossed her legs and slid down her headboard while unfolding the stapled pages. The scent of perfume hit her hard and drew her eyes to a quickly scribbled note at the top corner of the page: Forgive the perfume, Jade. Lindsay was showing me this bottle of perfume she sent me and sprayed it on my hand. My papers and my hand now smell like ocean breeze…

Jade laughed and breathed in the scent. It was truly a faint smell, but somehow there was just enough to be detected. She swept her hand through her hair, tucking it over her left ear, then dropped her gaze to the start of the letter.

So it has been close to a month now, I think? I still can't beat Jason in a sparring match. He says I've got to much pent up anger and stuff that I can't focus. He told me that I need to learn how to relax and think clearly so then I can maintain a stronger focus.

Jade chuckled at the impatient tone of the letter. She looked to her right, where she had brought in a bowl of pretzel snacks. After grabbing a handful, she turned back to the letter and thought on Trina's impatience.

It was almost amusing to see, but she agreed with Jason, Trina would have to calm her own nerves and emotions if she wanted to focus more.

Of course, the tone of the writing seemed to shift now, and Jade could almost picture Trina speaking with a slower and softer voice. It was nice to see, though interesting to see that this time as she skipped ahead, the entire letter appeared to approach Jason as the subject. Some of Trina's letters focused on other matters, this was the first where Jason seemed to be a predominant thought.

She was growing, and that was what mattered most.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, right? He's more experienced than I am. He…Jason knows his stuff, though. He's not trying to be better than me, he isn't waving it in my face or anything like that, I think he genuinely cares about getting me to be a better fighter. I don't know. Jason said he was like me once, where he thought fighting meant attacking-but martial arts is about being a defender, a protector, and not a fighter.

That man can be cryptic sometimes. I can't get him to talk much about himself, but sometimes I want to know. I saw him the other day, practicing by himself. You know we're in like an old castle-looking place? I mean we've got the standard battlements and all that stuff, well I was walking along and he was on the outside. By the lake. His movements were fluid, but what I saw, he didn't have his shirt on and he had these ugly scars.

Where are those from? Who hurt him, I wonder? I want to ask him.

You said in your last letter, a relationship involves two people who care about each other. I care about him, does that mean we could have a relationship? I don't even know why I'm thinking about that. I know, or I don't know, I don't want to be alone.

All the things I've been through, Jade? I don't want to let that keep me from being happy, but what if I can't? What if, what if I can't endure it?

I'm scared. I still have nightmares. They're better when I'm with him. He seems to understand, but I haven't told him anything. I can't help but to feel like he's been through something terrible himself.

Anyway, I did tell him I'd like to talk to him outside of the whole training thing. Just to get to know him a little bit, like you suggested. He said okay. When I'm done writing this, he and I are going to maybe go for a walk outside the main campgrounds and just talk. I'll ask him about the scars then.

It was around that area of the letter that Jade noticed tiny spots-likely where Lindsay ended up spraying the perfume. There was also a break in the writing. She could hardly focus on it with her own emotions-she was starting to tear up as she read because she'd never seen Trina so vulnerable before.

It was a lot to lay out, she knew, and she was grateful that Trina appeared to trust Jade enough to let her know a little of what was going on.

On another note, I'm glad the investigation seems to be going well. Mom says in her letters that she thinks she'll get to be with dad again. Good. Mom deserves to be happy. So does Tori. Me? I'm not sure, but I feel happier. Sometimes I wonder if that's a good thing, or even if it'll last.

There was another thing you said in your last letter. About relationships and stuff like that. It's that through the companionship you don't have to be alone, and two people can make each other happy. If mom and dad can be happy, and make each other better-and then the letters I get from Tori, Ian has been instrumental in that.

I wonder if that'll happen for me. I wonder if I even deserve it. I…think I'm going to stop here. Jason's probably done with whatever he's working on, and Lindsay's going on about wanting to "fix me up". It's just a simple talk! It's not like Jason and I, well, you know.

I look forward to your next letter.

"You do deserve happiness," Jade whispered. She folded the letter slowly and closed her eyes. She hoped desperately that Trina would be able to find that happiness, because the girl more than earned some. She was a survivor, and she made it out.

Feeling a need to write her thoughts to Trina immediately, she did so before going to Tori's letter. She did so with a heart already wracked with emotion. She wanted to tell them not to worry, that they caught the monster, but she felt like they needed to hear that from their mother.

Not to mention, she shouldn't be the one to reveal information pertinent to investigation. Plus, one monster was still free-even if the real terror was off the streets.

Tori's letter came with a small polaroid photograph inside. When Jade saw it, her heart skipped a beat, and a smile graced her moist cheeks. The photo was of Tori and Ian at some country-western style show. Ian was wearing a brown button up shirt, and a brown cowboy hat that seemed to rest loosely on his head.

Beside him, Tori seemed dressed in similar attire-only with a red shirt and an astonishingly pink hat. She was leaning into Ian and kissing him on the cheek. His lips were closed, but pulled into a bright smile, and his hands seemed folded beneath Tori's.

"Well." Jade took a deep breath and started to chuckle. "I wonder what Gary would have to say to that." The man would be glad his daughters were growing up, that much was certain, but Jade had him pegged as one of those protective fathers that really wouldn't like the idea of their daughters dating a boy they didn't know.

Her heart swelled with an eagerness and desire to learn more about this picture, so she set it on the end table and hurried to read the letter.

So we're in Durango, and I'm going to start out talking about the picture because it's probably going to be the first thing you see. We went to this fair, where they serve barbeque and have all this other stuff going on.

While eating dinner, these four guys get up on stage to perform a song and comedy routine-it was amazing. As you can see, while there, I kissed Ian on the cheek. His mom's friend was taking a picture of us, so just when she went to snap it, I leaned over and kissed him. I couldn't help myself! I'm just excited thinking about it now.

Oh his parents were surprised, but no one more surprised than Ian. Hehe, it's really hard to explain in a letter, but I care about him. I know he cares a great deal about me and I like him. A lot. His parents say we should wait until we get home to start dating, but he and I were talking about it and he said he cares about me too. I think, I don't know exactly what it is I feel, but I'm happy with him. He makes me happy, anyway.

It's the first time I've really ever felt this way, I'm almost scared about it.

There was no denying her impression, she was glad to see Tori wasn't as conflicted or unsure about her feelings as her sister was. Although she understood Trina's reasoning. Both girls needed someone that could be understanding and could care for them, and from the sounds of things, Jason and Ian were those people.

She hoped for the best, that was certain. Both of these letters were great signs for Jade, it showed that both were able to grow and learn. Now, she just hoped they both could see that they deserved the good things that came their way, and the happiness that they were due.

So you asked me how my studies were going. Well, I got done studying an Elk. We'll be going through Wisconsin and so forth, and we'll be staying at the Grand Tetons for a bit, so my teacher wanted me to brush up on Elks. We'll continue studying them when we're at the place, but I'm excited for a chance to see one live and in person!

Ian's dad was looking through some plants, you should have seen this, he was trying to figure out what one kind was…My teacher said, after she spent about a minute laughing, that it was poison ivy. The poor man is now covered up with creams and has to take some medicine, but he's doing okay. He told us he was glad never to have decided to become a botanist.

Also, when we reach the top of the country, we're going to see Yellowstone! Oh my god I'm so excited about this! I'm not happy about the amount of tourists we're going to run into, since I don't do well with crowds, but this is amazing. I can't wait to tell Mom, Dad, and Trina all about this trip.

We'll be heading East after that. There are some states we're not going to stop in because Mrs. Dennison says they have the same environment as some places we've already been to. However, she told us to expect a chance of scenery as we start making our way in that direction.

We will be stopping in New York when we get to that point. It made me think, Mom talks about our grandparents. Dad's parents. They're in New York. I…I've never met them before.

I hope one day to see them. I would love that. Mom's parents aren't around anymore. I never met them either. Trina only has memories of them, so, I really want to see them. Dad also has a sister, somewhere in the country. So. Trina and I have an aunt, an uncle-cousins.

I…I have to go now, we're about to get back on the road, and I get to cuddle up with Ian. Times with him are sometimes the best moments on this trip.

She pulled the letter away with a sigh and looked to her bedroom door. "They are growing," she said to herself, "but they have a way to go." Certainly the sisters would be able to meet their other relatives. Now that things were moving in a good direction, that family would be ready to see them.

There was a knock that interrupted her thoughts, so she shook herself and smiled when she saw Beck slowly entering. "Hey," he stated with a heavy breath, "What are you up to?"

"Reading letters, and responding." Beck sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at her. There was a somberness that reflected in his eyes, and a seriousness in his expression. "What about you? Is everything okay?"

"For the most part, yes. Dad and I aren't seeing eye to eye on a few things though." He cleared his throat and pointed to the letter she was gripping in her fingers. "Did you reply to that one yet?"

She glanced down and pressed her lips together. "No. I was about to." Her attention returned to Beck and the corners of her mouth lifted up. "Give me a moment?"

He stretched himself out on the bed, lying flat on his back. "Sure." His hands moved behind his head and he closed his eyes. "How are they doing, by the way?"

"They'll be okay, I think. They're growing. Learning to live."

"Good."

So we see a lot of good things that are happening for the girls on their respective trips, each are growing and learning to live. Now Jade's almost done with this case. On other news, my professor, Dr. Fields wants me to try and do this creative writing scholarship-not sure if I'm going to.