Forty one
The hangar bay door rolled back, revealing the F14 Tomcat in all it's sinister glory. Jade took a brief moment to study the swept-back wing fighter, before she shook her head, and tightened one of the seven zillion straps there seemed to be in the flight suit Beck had insisted she wear.
Three shadowy figures were standing by the plane, and they saluted as Beck came up, stepping out of his way as he circled the aircraft, checking it thoroughly. He was all business now, and spoke to the crewmen in quiet, terse sentences as they finished the fueling and hooked the mounting ladder to it's side. The canopy swung up, and Beck motioned Jade forward. "You first.. so I can stand up there and tell you what not to touch."
He missed the wry look from his friend, as she pulled herself up the ladder, stepped over the high cockpit side, and settled herself into the surprisingly comfortable seat. She was surrounded by electronics, and she was momentarily glad the canopy was glass, which lessened the claustrophobic feeling a bit. "Okay."
Beck mounted next, and placed a booted foot on the edge of the canopy, pointing down. "That's the weapons array, that's radar, that's.."
"The targeting system, threat management, and navigation." Jade finished dryly. "And this, this little beauty is the heads up generator, which I wrote the original programming for."
Beck stared at her. "Oh." He gave her a sheepish grin. "Sorry."
Jade glanced up. "It's all right. I won't touch anything, I promise." She assured him, feeling the tremor as her muscles jerked in agitation. "Let's just get going."
They finished the checklist, then a small vehicle tugged them out into the open, and to the taxiway where Beck lit off his engines and started under his own power. The roar was almost subliminal in it's intensity, and Jade could feel it vibrating down along her clenched jaw. She settled the headphones on her head, and listened, as Beck talked quietly to the tower at the airfield, filing his flight plan, and confirming that was heading for a civilian airport. Then the Tomcat rolled forward, winding down the taxiways before it reached the runway, outlined in dim blues and reds, the oil marked tarmac clear in the icy white of his plane's running lights.
"You ready?" His voice sounded tinny through the earpieces.
"Yep." Jade responded, and tightened her straps. The song "I would do anything for love' inescapably began running through her mind, and she sighed, hoping the afterburners would drown it out. The Tomcat's engines powered up, and the plane began to shake against it's brakes, then with a tremendous jerk, they released, and they were flying down the runway.
It seemed mere seconds, rather than the long time it took with a regular airplane, before they were airborne, and headed up at a steep angle. Jade could feel the g pressure slamming against her, and she kept her breathing steady, closing her eyes and waiting for the plane to eventually level out.
Which it did, cruising along at quite a pace for a little while, as Beck navigated out of the established flight paths and into an isolated one reserved for military aircraft. "You ready?" He asked again. "It's one thirty am, and we're gonna crack plates all over Maryland… so hang on."
"Okay.. go." Jade briefly wondered what it was like to fly at more than the speed of sound, then the afterburners kicked in, and she felt like a horses hooves had slammed her in the chest "Jesus." The acceleration kept up, and she watched the mach meter, creeping closer and closer until it hit mach one, and a rolling wave of thunder cascaded around the plane, shivering through every part of it, and making her ears itch.
Then it was quiet.
They rolled up through mach 2, then Beck trimmed the engines, and maintained a steady flight speed, whipping over the earth with nonchalant ease.
It seemed only moments, in which she sat, trying not to think of anything at all, until she felt the pressure in her ears that meant they were descending. The plane slowed, and the rumble came back, and she could hear Beck's low, even conversation with the traffic controllers in the area. White Plains, apparently, didn't have anything but a radar officer and one single controller on watch, just in case, but they had no other planes in the area, and Beck just told them to turn on the runway lights, and he'd find it okay.
They queried him, uncertainly.
"I'm a carrier pilot." He responded dryly. "I've landed on something a lot smaller than your field."
Then they were on the ground, and Beck parked his plane in an unused hangar, shutting it down and turning it over to the watchful eye of an MP sent for just that purpose. They got in the car he had waiting, and started off.
A half-hour drive to Darien, which was right on the water. They could feel the ocean breeze hitting the car even before they got there, and Jade peered at the GPS, giving terse, nervous directions.
At last. A somber, white building rose before them, with gates in the front, and a full complement of security.
Beck looked at her uncertainly. "How are we going to get in there?"
Blue eyes regarded him. "You're not.. you're staying right here until I get back.. and if I don't get back, call this number." She tried to hand him a card, but he wouldn't take it.
"No way, Jade… I'm going in there with you." His jaw jutted stubbornly. "You had me fly all the way out here, I'm not missing out on the fun."
"Beck, this could mean trouble for you…I don't want that on my conscience." The dark haired woman objected.
"Flying into Iraqi airspace meant trouble for me." He replied bluntly. "I went anyway."
Jade remained silent, then sighed. "All right." She took her badge from her briefcase and clipped it on her, then peered at him. "Here.' She clipped the luggage tag on his flight suit. "Take off the insignia.. they won't know the difference."
They got out of the car, and Jade stripped off her flight suit, donning instead the trench coat she'd brought against the chill air. She shouldered her laptop, and faced him. "We're here to fix the computers… okay?"
His brows creased, as he pulled off his wings and name patch. "What if they aren't broken?"
"They are." Jade assured him. "They have a trouble ticket open with a contracting account here. I kinda found the ticket when I looked at their systems before we left."
"That's a bit of a coincidence, isn't it?" He inquired warily.
"Not really." Jade replied, as she started walking towards the guard house. "It's a long holiday weekend, they have to transmit their payroll tonight, and both of their local techs are with their families three hundred miles away. It's the worst possible time for a problem, ergo, there is one." She straightened her lapel. "Computers are like that."
Beck thought about that. "Oh." He zipped up his jacket, hanging his luggage tag from the outside pocket. "It's that Murphy Law, right?"
Jade just smiled, as they came up to the gate, a large, rectangle of light from the glassed in window spilling out along the darkened path.
As they approached, a small panel slid aside, revealing a young guard with thick, curly blond hair and blue eyes. "Can I help you?" He started to ask, then his eyes fell on her badge. "Oh.. thank god…thank god…let me get the gate open."
Jade winked at Beck. "Now, that's the kind of reception I like to see the company get." Now that she was here, and doing something, her nerves had steadied, and she felt a lot calmer. It was the waiting that killed her.
The gate swung open and the guard hurried out. "You need an escort?" He asked anxiously.
Jade consulted a paper. "Let's see.. it's the computer room on the… " She bent closer.
"Third floor.. near the lockdown unit." He supplied helpfully. "Go up the elevator, get off at the third floor, turn right, and it's three doors down on the left. I'll have it opened for you."
"Great.. thanks. We'll try to be quick." Jade promised.
"Please.. if they don't transmit that tape before the banks update in the morning, I'm toast." The man begged. "I promised I'd take my mother in law out to brunch on Sunday, and at this rate, it's going to be at McDonalds."
Jade patted his shoulder. "Relax." She started up the gravel path, the stones crunching under her boots and exhaled. "First hurdle down."
Beck moved closer. "Isn't it bad, raising his hopes like that?"
Blue eyes shot a look at him. "Trust me, they've got a lot better chance of getting those damn systems working with me here than if they'd sent one of the field techs. That contractor is a hack." She continued walking, heading up a low series of steps to the front door of the facility. "I don't know if you've heard, but I'm kind of a genius" she joked.
"Bu.. uh.. well, I know, Jade.. but we're not really here to do that.. I mean…are you actually going to fix it, then?"
Jade sighed. "I have to access their mainframe to see what the problem is, and also to pull the information on where Tori is.. I'll take a look then. "
They entered the building, quiet at this hour, and nodded at the guard sitting on the reception desk. He glanced at them, then spotted the badge and looked profoundly relieved. "Damn, are we glad to see you guys.. they said they didn't have anyone in the area.. I thought we were really screwed."
"We flew in." Jade replied honestly, as she headed past the desk and entered the elevator. The doors closed behind them, and she exhaled again. "Hurdle number two." It was a silent ride, until the doors slid open on the third floor, exposing a long expanse of mind numbingly mint green concrete. "Jesus.. I hate that color." Jade muttered, as she turned to her right.
Their shoes squeaked on the polished tile, and the sound made the nurse at the desk look up in startled attention. She came around the corner and approached them, a short, slim woman with dark hair, and a lightly made up face. "Can I… oh." Her eyes widened on seeing Jade's badge. "Thank the good Lord's mercy."
Jade smiled, and stopped in front of the room the guard had indicated, nodding at it. "Wanna let me in?"
The nurse hurriedly punched in a code, and the door opened. She pushed it back, holding it respectfully as they entered. "Oh, you have no idea how wonderful it is to see you…I can't believe they found someone at this time of night. It's incredible."
Jade entered the computer room, and set her briefcase down, then seated herself in front of the AS400 terminal and examined it. She pulled her laptop out of it's case and booted it, while Beck watched with interest.
"Can I get you two anything?" The nurse asked, anxiously. "Coffee.. a doughnut.. we've got some turkey and stuffing left?"
Jade glanced over. "Thanks, Ms.. " She squinted a little. "Archer.. coffee would be wonderful." She paused. "I like mine with everything."
The nurse nodded, then glanced at Beck.
"Just black for me, thanks." He smiled at her.
"Right you are.. I'll be right back." She hurried off.
Jade recalled the company's profile, and drilled down to their operations section, retrieving their administrative login and password. She typed it in, and was rewarded with full access to their systems.
"How do you guys do this?" Beck whispered. "It's like you've got some massive set of skeleton keys or something."
"Well.." The dark haired woman entered a query to their patient database, and waited for the screen to come back. Then she recorded Tori's location, and the lock code to her room. "I don't usually do these things. But it's how my company started. I used to contract myself out to crack systems like this, and help them secure their data." Jade made several changes to Tori's file, then saved it, and returned to the main menu.
"And they usually sit back and realize, it does make sense, because we are professionals, and this is what we do.. it's more cost efficient for us to add them to our network, then for them to maintain their own " Jade then dumped out of the menus and went to the operating system level, starting a diagnostic.
"Okay…that makes sense." Beck acknowledged.
"So.. after that, we go in, and say.. 'hey.. we're doing the data stuff for the CU, and we handle your network, why not outsource the rest of your IS to us.. we'll give you a support package, and you won't have to worry about anything.." Jade watched the diagnostic run. "There's the problem." She muttered, stopping it, then standing up and going around to the back of the computer, and kneeling down. "Stupid interface cable's chewed.. they must have rats."
Beck peered at her. "You figured it out already?"
Blue eyes glanced back at him. "It's my job, remember?" Jade took a splicing kit from her briefcase, and quickly fixed the cable, then went back to the console. "They don't know we're here, I might as well fix this, then we can get on with getting Tori the hell out of here.. she's probably sleeping, Might as well give her a few minutes more." She typed in a set of commands, and tested the cable. "Ah.. better."
"So..do they usually let you take over their stuff?" Beck asked, fascinated.
"A lot of times, yeah.. Half the time people have no idea what I'm saying."
"Like now." Beck smiled.
"Well… " Jade chuckled ruefully, as she started up the data transfer cycle. "They were bringing a tech up from Chicago.. I canceled him." She watched the counters roll. "They'll be fine… they're getting a freebie. " She stood up and dusted her hands off, then turned, as the nurse came back with the coffee. "Good news."
The woman handed the coffee over, and peered at the screen. "Really?"
"Yep.. you're rolling." Jade informed her. "It'll take about twenty minutes for this to go through.. we'll hang around and make sure it gets finished."
"Bless you!" The nurse squealed in delight. "Oh my god.. I have to go let everyone know.. thank you . .thank you.. you're a genius." She dashed out, headed back for her station.
"Okay." Jade took a sip of her coffee. "You stay here. I'm going to wander casually down the hallway, and see if I can get into Tori's room." She picked up the piece of paper with the room and code on it, and put it into her pocket. "Then I have to figure a way to get her the hell out of here."
"Oh.. so that part of the plan's not ready yet?" He asked, nervously.
"Plan?" Jade gave him an amused look. "What plan?" She slipped out the door, and sauntered down the hallway, gazing around in apparently casual interest. The nurse spotted her, and waved, never stopping her speech on the phone as she did so. Jade waved back, and continued her progress, stopping every so often to peer at the bulletin boards which dotted the walls, and read the notices and schedules on them.
Tori's room was at the end of the hallway, Jade realized, around a small crook in the otherwise straight walls. When she came even with the door, and glanced back over her shoulder, she could no longer see the inside of the nurses station, only the front edge of the desk. "Good." She muttered, then eased back the little peephole and peered inside. The harsh white light displayed a stark, almost bare room, with a bed near the far wall. A figure was curled up in it, and Jade nodded to herself, as she closed the panel, then keyed in the lock code and gently opened the door.
She felt rather than saw the blow coming, and let her body react, twisting as something hard and cold struck her on the shoulders. She went with the force of it, diving for the floor and rolling, then coming back up on her feet in a dazed blur, holding her hands out in a defensive posture.
She blinked the stars from her eyes, and heard a faint choking sound, then her vision focused finally on Tori's stunned face. "Wow." She managed to joke weakly. "You swing a mean stool there."
"Oh my god, I'm .. " Tori unfroze and closed the distance between them, touching Jade's neck in horror. "Jade.. I'm… I didn't know it w… I thought it was….you're bleeding.. oh.. Jesus.. "
Jade rubbed her head. "Does that mean you're glad to see me, or not?" She gave the brunette a wry smile.
Tori just looked at her for a long moment, then slowly came forward and leaned her body against Jade's, sliding her arms around her lover's waist and burying her face in Jade's neck. "Glad to see you? I've never been so glad to see anyone in my entire life." She let out a shaky sigh. "Oh god."
Jade felt her entire world collapse until it only encompassed the two of them, as she wrapped her arms around Tori and gently kissed her head. "I'm sorry this happened to you."
A sigh warmed her neck, even through the fabric. "I can't believe she did this… it was horrible, Jade.. at first, she wanted to blame you.. She said it was all your fault, that you… lured me into this… "
Jade exhaled, but kept silent.
"And.. I couldn't… I had to tell her that wasn't true… and she.. " Tori's arm unwound and lifted, her hand touching her cheek. "She hit me."
The dark haired woman pulled back a little, so she could see her partner's cheek. "Bitch."
Tori just looked sad. "There was so much hate in her voice…I don't understand, Jade.. how can people hate you for something as beautiful as loving someone?" She put her head back down in misery.
"It's part of what makes us human, Tori." Jade answered in a tired voice. "We like everyone to be the same as we are.. we don't like differences… in ancient times it's what held our little tribes together, and we've been fighting that genetic influence ever since." She told her softly. "Come on.. we've got to get you out of here."
Tori nodded. "I know… they were going to start 'probing' me in the morning.. I knew I had to get out of here before then… I was afraid they'd…" She hesitated. "I didn't know what kind of drugs they were going to fill me with.. or … I mean, you can say anything under some of that stuff, and.." Her eyes lifted and met the pale blue ones gazing down at her. "I didn't want to take a chance on them forcing me to say something I didn't mean."
Jade's lips tensed into a grim smile. "What were you going to do after you knocked out little miss sunshine out there?"
"Find a phone." Tori admitted. "And scream for help." She plucked at her hospital gown. "After stealing some scrubs to wear." Her brow creased. "And.. how did you know about this, Jade?"
The other woman snorted. "They put the admission and treatment in as a request against your medical benefits." She keyed the door open again, and peeked out, seeing a quiet, empty hallway. "Let me go see if I can find your clothes.. and let Beck know what's going on."
"Beck?" Tori queried.
"Gerald Easton's son.. he got me here." Jade answered, absently, peering at doors to try and figure out what was behind them.
"Got you here?" A pause. "How did you get here so fast?"
"Tomcat." Jade replied offhandedly. "DC to White Plains in twenty minutes or less. What a ride." She eased out. "Okay.. I'll be right back.. just take it easy, okay?" She patted her pockets, then pulled out a slip of paper. "Just in case." She handed it to Tori. "It's your lock code."
Tori blinked at her in adoration. "Bring back some gauze, so I can put a bandage on your neck, while you're at it." She sighed. "Hero."
Jade glanced at her, and blushed, but left without a word.
Outside, Jade padded quietly down the hallway, after shifting her jacket so that the cut on her neck was covered, and popped around the corner to see the nurse bending over some paperwork. She looked up as Jade sauntered closer, then smiled.
"Well, you certainly are the hero of the building." She put down her clipboard and sighed. "You don't know how many people there are here who can breathe now... for me, tomorrow is my kid's birthday. It was gonna be a doughnut with a candle in it until you walked in."
Jade smiled sincerely at her. "Glad I could help." She leaned on the counter, checking her watch. "Not too much longer." She commented, stifling a yawn. "Say.. are those things really comfortable?"
The nurse looked down. "Oh. .the scrubs? Yeah.. they sure are.. beats the heck out of that starched polyester they used to make us wear, let me tell you." She looked at Jade speculatively. "Hey…would you like a set to try? I could get you one.. we've got thousands."
It was too easy. "Could you?" Mild blue eyes blinked at her in gratitude. "I've always wanted to try them."
The nurse patted her hand. "Honey, for you, anything." She ducked out from behind the desk, and hurried off.
Jade smiled and regarded the nurses station, peering under the counter to see if she could spot any of Tori's belongings without much success. "Hey, Beck… how's it going in there." She called, in a normal tone of voice.
Beck's blond head popped out, and he glanced at her. "Um.. the red bar is about seventy five percent of the way across.. is that what you're asking?"
She nodded.
"Everything okay?" He looked closer. "Christ on a rudder, Jade.. you're bleeding." He walked over to her and pulled her jacket collar back. "What happened?" He asked in a lower voice. "Did you find Tori?"
"Yes, I got hit with a stool, and yes." Jade muttered. "Tori was trying to make a break for it, and thought I was a nurse."
"God.. feisty thing, isn't she?" Beck half laughed. "She okay?"
The dark haired woman nodded. "She's fine.. they hadn't had time to do anything to her… that was scheduled for the morning." She sighed. "But she's pretty shook up."
He digested this. "What kind of place is this, Jade?"
She glanced around. "A psychiatric hospital."
He blinked. "No shit? What's wrong with her?"
Jade shook her head. "Nothing… other than she got caught being gay."
The shock showed in his face as he stared at her. "You're not serious."
The executive sighed tiredly, rubbing eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep and tension. "Yeah." She looked up as the nurse returned, holding a package and smiling cheerfully. "Here you go.. hope you enjoy them." She handed it over, then gave Beck a smile as well.
"Thanks." Jade took the scrubs and tried to figure out what to do next. Her mind was slowing down, she realized, as the problems of getting Tori out of the hospital safely weighed down on her shoulders. She hadn't really gotten past what to do after she got in here.. mostly because she had no idea what the layout was, or the possibilities.. maybe she could pull the fire alarm… or.. was that a water pressure pipe in that other alcove.."
"Excuse me." The nurse touched her arm "Listen.. can I ask you a big favor, since you're stuck here for a little while anyway?"
"Huh?" Jade broke off her planning and turned to the woman. "Sorry.. sure."
"I'd like to run down and grab a sandwich from the cafeteria.. can you just listen for this phone?" She pointed at it. "If it rings, just answer 3rd Floor, and take a message."
"Uh… well, sure.. of course.. no problem." Jade assured her, working hard to keep an incredulous grin off her face. "Go on.. we'll be here another.. uh.. thirty minutes… at least.. that load's taking longer than I thought."
Nurse Archer beamed at her. "You're the best." She ducked out from behind the desk again. "Can I bring you back a sandwich? They have turkey on a croissant today, and some tomato soup."
"No.. no.. we're fine.. thanks." Jade waved at her. "Take your time."
The doors to the elevator slid closed behind her white butt, and they looked at each other. "Well." Jade rubbed her nose. "You stay here and listen for the phone, and I'll go get Tori." Unable to quite believe her good luck, the dark haired woman trotted down the hallway to her lover's door, and punched in the code, having the handle practically taken out of her hand by an impatient brunette. "Hey!"
"I was starting to get nervous." Tori whispered. "I thought maybe you got into trouble."
Jade leaned forward and kissed her on the lips, letting her touch linger a bit. "I am trouble." She purred into the other woman's ear. "Here." She handed Tori the scrubs, which came complete with little booties. "It's not chic, but it'll get you the hell out of here."
Tori took the bundle and examined it with interest. "Hm.. I always wanted a set of these… this wasn't the way I'd have chosen to get them, though." She opened the packages and shook out the white garments, stripping off her uncomfortable hospital gown and slipping into the drawstring pants. "Yeesh." She tugged on the waist strings to make them fit, and ended up tying a big bow, while Jade knelt and did the same for the ankles. "That's better.. at least I won't trip on them." The brunette muttered, as she pulled on the shirt, settling it around her body. "Well.. that's not too bad."
Jade smiled, then stood up and pulled a comb out of her pocket, and ran it through Tori's disheveled hair. "So.. other than that, Mrs. Lincoln.. how was Thanksgiving?"
That got a weak laugh from the Latina. "Oh… lots of relatives, lots of bullshit…I got to make nice with Daniel, and see some of my uncles and aunts I haven't seen in a while." She paused. "Now I guess I won't again." She concluded softly. "Jade, she's not going to just let go of this."
"Leave that to me." Her boss responded, in a crisp, no nonsense voice.
Tori looked at her. "What does that mean?"
Jade finished her task, and turned her lover towards the light. "You'll do." She concluded. "It means that I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and I'd like you to just trust me to handle the situation."
Warily, Tori gazed at her. "You're not going to tell me what's going on?"
Serious blue eyes studied her face. "Not here.. not now… and it's easier if I show you. When we get home, I'll lay it all out for you, I promise." She paused. "Will you trust me?"
Tori looked her right in the eye for a long silent moment. "I trust you." She stated quietly. "Just.. remember, Jade.. whatever else she may be, she is my mother."
Jade patted her cheek. "I know." She took a breath. "Come on.. let's get out of here. I'm going to have you go downstairs with Beck.. I'll wait for the nurse to get back here, then join you. It would look strange if we left the floor unwatched, and I don't want any alarms getting out."
Tori nodded. "Then what?"
Cool, direct blue eyes. "Then we go to your parents house to pick up your things."
"What? Jade.. no.. I don't need that stuff.. there is nothing there irreplaceable… I don't want to go back there." Tori protested vehemently.
"Tori.. " Jade started to speak.
"No!" The brown eyed woman interrupted. "I can't face them.. not after this.. Jade, don't ask that of me, please." She turned away, hugging herself. "Can't we just get out of here?" She whispered.
Jade exhaled. "Okay… let's go." She walked forward and put an arm around Tori's shoulders. "I'm sorry.. I'm so used to being so damn confrontational, I forget not everyone can do that."
Tori let herself be turned around, and they headed for the door. "What purpose would it serve anyway? "
"Just lets them know they didn't beat you." Jade replied quietly, as she opened the door and gently ushered her lover out into the hall, checking first to make sure the coast was clear. "But that's my pride speaking.. and it's kinda loud sometimes."
Tori looked over her shoulder at the frank admission, and felt a tiny smile tugging at her lips. "That 'in yer face' gene again, huh?" She glanced around at the depressing hallway. "Uck.. this place is disgusting."
They came around the corner and spotted Beck's lonely figure, casually slumped against the desk, as he waited. He saw them and straightened, then smiled as they came closer. "Hi." He gave Tori a tentative smile. "You must be Tori."
She held a hand out. "And you must be Beck.. it's nice to meet you."
Jade went around behind the desk, and started rooting through drawers. She came to a locked one, then glanced at the counter. "Nice nurse." She grabbed the set of keys the woman had left and unlocked the drawer, pawing through it. "Ah." A set of hospital badges, all with little post it notes on them. "Let's see.. " She studied them. "Terminated.. terminated… quit.. terminated…deceased.. terminated.. admitted?" She peered at that one. "Hmm… ah.. " She pulled one out from the stack and handed it to Tori. "Clip that on.. the picture's close enough."
Tori did so. "Now what?"
Jade relocked the drawer and put the keys back down. "Okay.. you two take the elevator there down, and just walk out the front door. Tori.. you pretend you're just walking him out, okay?"
The blond was recovering her composure. "It would be more realistic if I was hitting on him." She glanced at the blushing Beck. "He's cute."
"Fine." The executive chuckled wearily. "Once you get out there, just wait for me, okay?"
They both nodded. "What are you going to do?" Tori asked, predictably.
"Discharge you." The dark haired woman smiled piratically. "I like things neat. Get going." She paused. "Beck, take my laptop, okay?"
He nodded. "Gotcha… see you downstairs." He retrieved the case, and left, guiding Tori towards the elevator. At the doors, the blond woman turned and met Jade's watching eyes.
"Be careful."
Jade smiled. "You too."
She watched the doors close, then she turned her attention to the task at hand.
The ride down the elevator was quiet, and Tori ran her fingers through her hair restlessly, fidgeting until the doors opened at the bottom floor, and they got out. Ahead of them, a single guard was seated at the reception desk, leaning on his elbows. He glanced up as he saw them, and a big smile crossed his face.
"Hey.. hear you guys saved the day! Way to go, man!"
Beck waved. "Yeah.. it was a chewed up wire.. but we got things going again.. I'm just going to put my stuff away." He hefted the briefcase. "Boss is upstairs making sure things finish okay for you guys."
"Great.. great… listen, can we get you a soda or something?" The guard's eyes flicked over Tori, and dismissed her.
"Nah.. we're just wanting to get to the hotel, and get some sleep.. been a hell of a long day." He declined, starting to move past the desk. "Glad it all worked out."
"Which hotel they got you at?" The guard asked in friendly interest. "I know most of the good happy hours around here."
Beck was at a loss. "Um… "
"Didn't you say the Marriott Courtyard? It's about a half mile from here." Tori interjected casually. "That's where you said we could get a drink later… "
"Wooo.. they put you up at the good places." The guard laughed. "And you got an invitation on top of it…well, g'night.. and thanks again." He glanced once more at Tori, then went back to the magazine he'd been reading.
They passed through the front hall, and exited the building. "Brr." Tori sighed. "These scrubs are not meant for November in Darien."
Beck glanced around as they crunched down the gravel path. "Thanks for saving my butt in there.. I've got no damn idea what hotels there are around this place." He glanced around. "Once we get past the front gate, I'll give you my jacket.. okay?"
Tori nodded, but kept silent, feeling the cold, hard ground through the thin surface of her booties. They came even with the front gate, and the guard inside looked up. Tori waved at him, and he waved back, then he waved even harder at Beck.
Beck smiled. "I feel like a goddamned messiah." He muttered out of the corner of his mouth. "I haven't gotten this kind of a greeting since Fleet Week in Norfolk" He glanced at the beaming guard. "He doesn't even realize he doesn't know you, does he?" The gate slowly opened in front of them, and they started to pass through.
Tori snorted softly. "There's a lot of pretty girls who are nurses… young, white brunettes are a dime a dozen, trust me…he probably sees twenty people who look like me every day." They passed out of light cone around the guardhouse, and finally, Tori felt her guts start to relax a little, as she heard the metal lock close shut behind her.
She was free. She was out of the worse situation she'd ever been in, and she mostly felt like finding a warm spot and just curling up into it and crying. It was dark around them now, and Beck stripped off his jacket, and set it around her shoulders. "Thanks." She nodded gratefully to him. "I know I owe you a big thank you for getting Jade here so fast, too."
He chuckled a little, as they came up to the military car, in dark blue, and he unlocked the door for her. "I'd do just about anything for her.. we've been friends since we were kids. She saved my ass once, after we built a treehouse out in a ficus that overhung a sinkhole." He waited for her to slide in, then he closed the door and got in on the other side. "My dad told me not to.. but I was pretty damn stubborn, and I did anyway… I was putting the final railing on when I lost my step and fell over the edge, with nothing between me and the bottom of that damn sinkhole except O2. " He exhaled. "My belt caught on a branch nub, and there I was, hanging like a stuffed pig on Christmas, yelling my head off."
Tori muffed a slightly hysterical laugh. "Oh no."
"Yep.. next thing I know, Jade's there, and she manages to get a rope tied off, and around her, then she climbs down next to me, and helps me get up onto the next branch… so then we both lose our balance, and fall.. and she's hanging on to me, and tied to that rope.. so I figure we're both toast."
"Oh no!" Tori's eyes widened.
"Yep.. but she's stronger than all hell, if you know what I mean, even then, when we were little, so she manages to get her body twisted round, and I can grab onto the branch and pull myself up. Then she gets up next to me, and we were all right. "
"Whew." The Latina blew out a breath. "Then what happened?"
He gave her a wry glance. "She slugged me for being so damned stupid."
Tori burst into laughter, clamping a hand over her mouth quickly. "Oh.. god. I'm sorry.. that's not funny." She apologized.
"Sure it is." Beck laughed. "It's Jade all over."
The brunette sighed. "Yeah.. I think I can see that.. even though I've only known her for a little while." Her eyes flicked to Beck's. "She's a brave woman."
He smiled at her "She's a brave human." He corrected her. "She's the best friend, and the worst enemy you could possibly want to have.. she never backs down, and she's always there if you need her to be."
Tori stared out the windshield, at the faintly glowing lights from the hospital. "That's true." She finally said softly. "She'll stand up to anyone." She fell silent, and leaned her head against the door jamb, her eyes glued on the path leading down from the hospital.
They waited what seemed like an eternity, but what was actually about ten minutes, until Tori's eyes found what they were looking for, and a lean figure came gliding down the gravel, stopping at the gate and exchanging a few words with the guard, who laughed, and waved, and exited out the sliding wire barrier into the darkness of the parking lot.
A moment later, and Jade was sliding into the back seat, with a long, exhausted sigh. "God damn it all to hell in a wire handbasket, I'm glad that's over with." She muttered, slumping against the cushions. "Damn woman nearly talked my ear off.. tried to give me a cupcake.. wanted my bosses name so she could put in a good word… Jesus!"
Tori started laughing helplessly. "You should have given it to her." She exhaled. "And you like cupcakes."
Beck glanced at her, then into the rearview mirror. "Where to?"
Jade considered. "There a hotel nearby? I think we all could use some sleep. I know I could.. then we can pack Beck back off to DC, and catch a commercial flight back home."
"What about that Marriott you mentioned?" Beck asked Tori.
Tori remained silent for a moment. "I.. um.. ." She half turned, and rested her chin on the back of the seat, gazing at Jade. "I.. think you're right. I think we should go pick up my stuff."
A dark eyebrow lifted. "I thought… "
"I know." Tori looked down at the fabric. "But I started this, and I need to finish it." She raised her eyes to Jade's. "I just need a little backup."
A quiet, proud smile edged Jade's lips. "You've got that… Tori, I know this is tough for you.. and I know you still love your parents very much.. try to remember that, all right?" She sighed. "Don't let what happened take that away from you.. no matter how much they seem to deserve it."
Beck started the car and pulled out of the lot.
Tori thought about Jade's advice throughout the quiet, darkness shrouded drive.
The house was dark. The front light was on, sending a pool of silver across the brown grass, but the rest of the building was silent and gray. Beck pulled up next to the driveway, and glanced back at Jade.
"All right." Jade sucked in a breath, and tried to summon up energy. "Beck…"
The pilot blinked at her. "She's enough of a scud to nap her own daughter, and have her shipped off to the funny farm… I'm going as your security." He reached under the seat of the car and brought out his service issued automatic, snapping the adjustable holster into it's place under his arm. "And just so they know I'm registered to carry that.. " He put his insignia back on.
Jade put a hand on his arm. "No." She quietly disagreed. "I don't' think it's going to be necessary, and I've got a few cards up my sleeve if she does try anything stupid.. let's not get the military involved in this, okay? She's a senator, and it could only mean big, big trouble, my friend."
"Jade's right." Tori added softly. "My mother has a bug up her ass about the power of the Pentagon.. don't give her that kind of ammunition."
Beck glanced from one to the other. "Okay.. but you've got thirty minutes. More than that, and I'm coming in after you."
"All right." The dark haired woman agreed. "You ready?" She asked Tori, who nodded. "Let's go."
They eased out of the car, and shut the doors gently, then made their way up the front walk to the entrance. Tori faced the door and her hands clenched, then relaxed. She reached up and rang the bell.
Once. Twice. Three times, before they heard footsteps approaching. Jade put a steadying hand on her lover's back, and straightened her own, gathering her wits about her.
The door opened, and swung back, and the Senator was standing there, blinking at them in sleep fogged disbelief.
Tori walked forward, and mounted the step up to the threshold, then hauled off and slapped her hard across the face.
The sound of the slap ricocheted through the hallway, making her stumble back, and startling Jade, who had no idea in the world her lover was going to do that.
"What in the.." The Senator reached for a light switch and flipped it on, illuminating the doorway and inner hall. "How dare you.."
"How dare I?" Tori walked right in and up to her. "How dare I? How dare YOU do something like that to me!"
She stared at her, then slowly, her eyes drifted past her daughter to the dark figure looming behind her. "You." Her voice dripped with revulsion.
Jade walked inside and closed the door behind her. "I don't think we've met, have we?" She put a hand on her furious friend's back. "My name is Jade West, and I'm your daughter's supervisor."
"I know who you are, you whore." The woman roared. "Get out of my house!" She turned for the phone. "I'll have the law on you!"
"For.. what?" Jade cut off Tori's violent protest. "Exactly?"
"Breaking and entering!" She answered, dialing.
"You let us in." Jade reminded her.
"Of the hospital, you freak!"
"Actually, they' asked me in... I signed in the visitors log like anyone else." Jade replied calmly. "And I was requested there due to a computer problem."
She stopped dialing. "You broke her out of there." She accused.
"No no.. the nursing supervisor discharged her." The executive smiled at him. "After they found nothing wrong with her."
"There is something wrong with her." Holly put the phone down. "And it's your fault. You corrupted her, you bitch, and I'll have you… "
A long, powerful finger lifted. "You will have me filing a lawsuit against you for libel, along with one for kidnapping and forcibly detaining an employee of mine if you don't shut up." She slid ahead of Tori, dangerous as a panther as she walked up to the older woman, staring her evenly in the eyes. "Now.. I suggest we take this little discussion to whatever you use as an office, so the rest of your.. family.. doesn't have to hear what I have to tell you, okay?"
"You think you're so damn clever." The woman spat.
"No.. MENSA, thinks i'm clever, came to get me at home when I was ten." Jade replied, with a smile. "Now.. you can move, or we can just collect Tori's things and be on our way, and I'll just run a transmit to the news services when I get back in the car. Your choice." Jade's voice dripped with danger, smooth, slick syllables, that rolled off her tongue and were accented with glints of her eyes.
Holly moved, turning and heading towards a wooden door visible through the living room they were standing at the edge of. Jade followed her, and Tori, after taking a breath, followed her, stunned by the powerful presence her boss had manifested. She glanced to one side and found herself looking into her father's eyes, peering out from their bedroom doorway.
The eyes disappeared, and the door closed. Tori sighed, and kept walking, trailing after Jade's tall figure as they entered that damn study, and this time she closed the door behind them.
Jade circled the room, then ended up by the Senator's desk, which she perched on a corner of and crossed her arms. She stayed quiet, taking a moment to study her with interested, blue eyes.
'What do you want?" Holly finally asked, after a period of this.
Jade let her wait a bit longer, then she stood and walked around a little, ending up next to the window. "What do I want." She repeated. "I want you to go back twenty four hours and not have assaulted, kidnapped, and illegally incarcerated your own daughter there. That's what I want."
"I didn't illegally do anything." The Senator brusquely informed her. "She was admitted for observation, and it's my responsibility to make sure my family gets taken care of."
"Oh.. so when they filled me full of drugs, and tried to brainwash me in the morning.. that was for.. observational reasons?" Tori asked, from her position against the wall.
Holly glanced at her. "I wanted them to talk to you, yes, and get these crazy ideas out of your head, before you ruin your life." She glared at Jade. "She's the one who brainwashed you."
"Brainwashed her into what?" Jade snorted. "Into thinking for herself? No thanks.. she did that all by herself with no help from me." She paused. "Oh.. you mean brainwashed her into thinking we were in love with each other.. right… "
"I don't want to hear that." The older woman turned her back on them. "I don't accept that any child of mine would be a part of something that disgusting and depraved." She turned. "And be damned to Hell on top of it. " Her hand slashed through the air. "No!" her eyes went to Jade's shadowed face. "Why don't you just get out of here, and leave decent people alone? Your kind doesn't' belong in this country."
Jade stepped closer, so fast she didn't even have time to move, or to blink before the younger woman was practically on top of her, nose to nose. "My daddy died for this country you piece of ignorant trash.. so you watch what you say to me." Her voice had dropped to a menacing growl. "And he was worth a thousand of you."
Tori held her breath. She'd never seen Jade like this. Her eyes were glittering, and her whole body seemed alert with energy. The fiery rage was almost palpable.
Dead silence. Then. "I'm calling the police." The senator picked up the phone. "I'm going to have you arrested, on whatever charges I feel like paying the chief to write up for me, and then I'm going to enjoy seeing your ugly ass locked up in the men's side of the prison and watch you get raped until you scream. "
Surprisingly, Jade smiled. Charmingly. "Ah.. your true colors. Great woman…, wonderful christian…" She purred, her temper put back on a leash. "Before you finish dialing, you might want to think of the number…. 99344343."
Holly stopped dead, her finger on one button, and slowly, viciously, raised her eyes to Jade's.
A chuckle. "Did you know, Senator, that in this day and age, everything you do goes in a computer?" Jade stepped around the desk and sat on it's edge again. "Every credit card transaction, every banking transaction, every medical record.. " She smiled again. "Birth certificates.. Death certificates…everything."
She just stared at her. Hating.
Jade leaned forward. "You put the phone down. You let me get Victoria's stuff out of here, and then you don't bother her ever again, or I have one huge ass file that's going out on a mass mailing to every god damned news agency in the world, along with the Attorney General's office. " She paused. "With a personal note from me to Old Bill Barr, if you know what I mean."
"You're bluffing." she whispered.
Jade leaned closer. "No I'm not." She chuckled. "And believe me, I'd enjoy every single second of watching you self-destruct on CNN." She eyed Holly lazily. "I'd even send a condolence card to Pamela."
Her eyes bugged out. Jade slipped off the edge of the desk, and stood, waiting.
"All right." She straightened, and appeared to regain her composure. "What do you really want? What deal are you after."
"Deal?" Jade inquired softly.
"You must be after something… what is it, money?" She glanced up. Jade's eyebrows quirked. "You can't possibly make that much money at videogames… is that what you're after?" Holly moved around, drawing her attention and Tori's as she paced. "We can work out a deal... you just name what your price is and we.."
Jade's body moved with a savage suddenness that startled even Tori. She half turned and sent a sideways kick snapping up, her foot hitting something hard and sending it flying. Then she whirled and spun kicked again, this time sending a body flying against the wall with an audible thump.
Tori ran for the lights as she heard movement, and got to them, flicking them on just in time to see Gary go flying again, caught squarely in the ribs by a flying drop kick.
"What's the matter, Gary.. you too used to picking on little girls." Jade taunted, as she ducked a side swipe of his fist. "Intimidating them, and taking their puppies? Raping them?" She swiveled and cracked him in the jaw with a roundhouse kick "Stinking pig."
He lunged at her, grabbing her around the waist and taking them both down, but not counting on Jade's powerful legs, which wrapped around him and flipped them both over, landing Jade on top and letting her get in a good blow to the groin.
"Bitch." He slugged her in the side, then did it again, then wheezed as a knee slammed him in the gut. He scrambled out f her range, then lunged to his feet, intent on grabbing her.
Jade rolled up and caught him as he tried to stand up, slamming an elbow into his jaw, then grabbing an arm and throwing him over her shoulder to land with a sodden crash on the parquet floor. "Oh yeah.. the bitch that just kicked your ass and loved every minute of it." Jade felt her breathing steady, and she felt her temper dropping, the violent need satisfied for the moment.
It was quiet then, until Jade walked over to the far wall and picked up the automatic pistol she'd kicked out of Gary's hand, juggling it in her own.
Tori watched an unfamiliar expression appear on her Mother's face.
Fear. "Did I forget to mention she was the World Champion in karate one year?" Tori murmured. "Guess I did." Now it was her turn. She stepped forward, until she was standing against her Mother's desk. "What you did to me was wrong."
she just looked at her.
"Not just last night… you've been trying to make me into something I'm not since I was a little girl, and you hurt me a lot." Tori told her. "But your still my mother, and I still love you.. I just can't live with you."
"I am not your mother." She turned her back. "Get out of my house, and take your.. friend.. with you ."
Tori sighed, and glanced at Jade, who was unloading the pistol and pocketing the rounds. "Come on.. I don't have much to get here."
Jade tossed the automatic on the desk. "Right behind you."
They left the office, and proceeded silently up the stairs. Jade settled her hands on her lover's shoulders. "You okay?" She murmured softly into a pink ear.
Tori felt like just leaning back and letting Jade's body envelope hers. "I'm really hurting inside." She told the dark haired woman honestly. "I think I'm going to need a good, long cuddling real soon now."
Jade kissed her gently on the head. "Tonight, and ever other night for the rest of your life, if you want." She promised, realizing what she said after the words came out.
A momentary, almost shocked silence. "I want." Tori finally answered, in a soft voice. "C'mon.. let's get out of here… I have a life to attend to."
Tori walked into her old bedroom and crossed the floor to where her things were still resting. Someone had tucked everything away, and she hoped it had been Trina. She quickly checked through the laptop case, then her bag, and gave Jade a nod. "This is everything." She pulled out a pair of jeans and the Navy sweatshirt, and quickly changed, tucking her scrubs away in the bag and sitting down to pull on her sneakers.
Jade walked over and lifted the bag, swinging it to her shoulder. "All right… let's go."
Tori hesitated, and looked around. "I grew up in this room." She stated quietly. "Shelby and me."
Jade let her eyes flick over the room, then she put her free arm over Tori's shoulders. "You know you won't lose touch with your sisters, right?"
"I know." The Latina sighed.
They both looked up at a sound, and saw a disheveled chestnut head poked in. "Tor?"
"Treen."
Her sister came in and hurried over, as Tori stepped forward and hugged her. "Oh my god, Tori… what in the hell happened? You disappeared, and they wouldn't tell me what was going on.. or where you went, and I… "
"Shh… yeah.. it was pretty bad." Tori answered softly. "They knocked me out and took me to Bryans."
Trina released her, and stared at her sister in shock. "Oh my god." Her eyes finally drifted to the right, as she realized Tori wasn't alone, and she gasped a little, at the pale blue orbs catching the low light in the room. "Oh.. I… " She looked closer. "You must be… Jade?"
The woman smiled, a glint of white in the gloom. "That's right." She held out a hand courteously. "Nice to meet you, Trina.. wish it was under better circumstances."
"Oh.. uh… yeah." Tori's sister took her hand gingerly and shook it. "I've heard a lot about you.. .. " She smiled tentatively, then turned back to her sister. "So.. what happened?"
Tori sighed. "Well… Jade showed up and sprung me.. "
"You were doing pretty damn good at that yourself when I got there." Jade interrupted.
brown eyes gave her a mild, affectionate look. "Then we came back here, and I.. sort of had it out with mom, and now.. we're leaving." She paused, gazing at her sister. "For good, it looks like."
"Oh." Trina took her hands and squeezed them. "Well, I might be right behind you… and I'll keep in touch, okay?"
Tori smiled and hugged her. "Please… I'll miss you.. will you let Shelby know what's going on?"
Trina nodded, as they parted. "I'll call her tomorrow… I'm sort of glad she got stuck at school and wasn't here.. you know she would have gone ballistic."
Tori sighed. "I know… well, we've got to get going…I'll call you when I get back to Cali."
"During the day." Trina told her softly. "Richard's given me a lecture about getting involved." She made a face. "We had quite a discussion about that."
"All right." The younger sister shouldered her laptop. "C'mon, Jade.. before Beck comes busting in here." She gave her sister one last hug, then moved towards the door, trailing her, dark shadow behind her. They walked down the stairs and out the front door, passing through the pool of light and onto the path, towards where an anxious looking Beck was half in and half out of the car, one foot on the ground. He got back in as they arrived, and Jade opened the door, allowing Tori to slid inside. She started to close the door when the brunette held a hand up, then reached out and tugged her coat, sliding over further to make room.
Jade tossed the bag in the back seat and closed the door, then got in next to her lover and exhaled. "Let's get out of here."
Beck needed no further instruction. He started the car and backed out, then turned around and headed down the road. "Nasty?" He asked, after a few silent moments.
Jade sucked on a sore knuckle and glanced at him. "Very." She snuck a peek at the very quiet Tori, then put a hand on her shoulder. "How are you doing?"
Tori tore her eyes from the dark landscape, and slowly turned her head, peering up at Jade's half shadowed face. "Really sucky." She answered, in a hoarse voice. "Jade, why can't I just hate them? It would be so much simpler."
The dark haired woman circled her shoulders with a powerful arm and pulled her closer. "Sorry… I wish I had an answer for you." She felt Tori settle against her, an arm wrapping around her stomach as her lover buried her face into her shoulder. "I wish I could change their minds." She felt the catch in Tori's breathing, and she pulled her closer, rubbing her back soothingly.
Beck looked over and caught her eye, his own full of quiet sympathy. "Where to?"
Jade sighed. "Find a main road.. stop at the first place that looks like it doesn't have roaches in the sinks." She pulled her cell phone from her pocket, and dialed a number. "Morning." She said softly. "This is Jade West, ORGIDr 4432234." She paused. "I need two tickets from White Plains to San Feancisco, first flight out, airline not important. WIll charter if necessary" She listened for a long few moments. "That's fine.. use my credit card on record, though.. this is personal."
Tori stirred at that, but Jade just patted her back and kept up her soothing motion. "Okay.. that's great… excuse me? Oh.. " Jade smiled a little. "Yeah… that's true.. yeah, go ahead and apply them.. it's been a real long night and I think I can use a little extra space." She listened again. "Thanks… I'll pick them up at the airport.. I appreciate it." She hung up and let her head rest against the back of the seat. "Change in plans… keep going, and head for the airport.. the first flight out is at eleven.. we might as well get a few hours sleep before we all get out of here." She glanced at Beck. "Can you take off from there without causing havoc?"
He nodded. "Yeah.. I won't be able to do the kind of speed I did on the way in here, but.. " He yawned. "A few hours sack time sounds like a great idea.. I can call Dad, and I'll buy you guys breakfast before your flight, how's that?"
Jade felt Tori slump more heavily against her, and she realized the exhaustion was overtaking her friend. "Sounds great." She admitted. "Oh.. damn I want a bed… I feel like I was run over by a truck." She sighed.
Tori lifted her head, and peered up at her. "Well.. he did hit you a few times… everything okay in there?" She patted Jade's chest.
"Hit you?" Beck's head snapped up and around. "Who? What?"
Tori put her head back down. "My mother's bodyguard.. He tried to get the drop on Quick Draw McGraw here…who proceeded to kick his butt all over room."
Beck's face split into a grin. "Quick Draw, huh?" He laughed softly.
Jade groaned. "Just drive." She growled.
The hotel at the airport was small, and the desk clerk was rubbing his eyes when he finally came out and registered them. "One room?" He asked, in a mumble.
"Two." Beck answered, giving Jade a sideways look. "Adjoining."
She didn't protest. They got their keys and trudged upstairs, to rooms smelling of must and damp brick. Jade instinctively flipped the air conditioner on, then she went for the bed, the long days catching up with her. She lay herself down on her back, and felt her muscles go limp in reaction. "Damn." She hadn't really been counting on the fight with Gary… his sudden appearance had shocked her senses, and triggered a surge of adrenaline that had carried her through the battle, but now… "I'm getting too old for this shit." She muttered.
Beck had disappeared into his room, and Tori finished up the soda she'd gotten from the vending machine, then shut the light off. She crawled into bed next to Jade, and settled on her side, her eyes searched the sharp profile so close to her. "I don't think I've thanked you yet."
Jade rolled her head to one side, and peered wearily at her.
"It's an odd feeling, you know.. " Tori let her chin rest on her forearm. "Having your own knight in shining armor and all."
A soft snort. "I am not any such thing." The dark haired woman objected. "And we both know that."
Tori shook her head. "You may know that.. but I don't." She replied in quiet reflection. "Oh.. maybe I could write off the arriving by supersonic jet part… hey.. it was opportunistic, right?"
Jade rolled over and faced her, only inches separating them. "Right."
"Mm.. but not the standing up to my father.. and not the ass kicking you gave Gary.. I heard what you said to him, by the way." Tori continued. "So.. thank you… Jade… I've lived my life under the belief that people act for themselves and their own interests… now I know that's not the case."
A dark brow edged up. "Who said it wasn't in my own interests?" She inquired softly. "It was very much in my best interests to make damn sure you were safe, and whole…" She reached over and brushed her knuckles against Tori's cheek. "I very selfishly wanted you back."
Tori blushed a little, and ducked her head.
"I mean it…that was just pure self interest.. not a noble thing about it." Jade shook her head firmly. "Besides, you have any idea how long it would take me to find another assistant half as good as you?"
"Jade, I was trying to be serious." The Latina protested gently.
Soft fingertips caressed her jaw. "Whatever the effort.. it was worth it, Tori… believe me." Jade answered, just as seriously.
Tori cocked her head in question. "I know you said you knew where I was because they submitted the charges to my benefits card.. but how did you find out, Jade?"
"Mm." Jade rolled over onto her back, and stretched, feeling a wave of exhaustion roll over her. "I had a.. I don't know, a night mare I guess… I woke up in a sweat, that's for sure.. at about twelve thirty." She let her eyes close, remembering.
"Twelve thirty?" Tori murmured. "That's about when…yeah, that's when they knocked me out.. I remember looking at my watch right before I went into the study."
"Well, I knew I couldn't go back to sleep.. so I dialed up the office… and when I connected, a bot I had running popped up and displayed the fact that you're card had been used, and I .."
"Whoa… you had a bot checking for that?" Tori asked, puzzled. "Did you suspect something was going t happen?"
"Uh.. " Jade peeked at her from the corner of one eye. "Not exactly.."
Tori crawled closer and put her chin on Jade's shoulder. "Not exactly?"
"No..well, since you had that close encounter with the milk truck, I um.. " Jade was embarrassed, and she felt her skin heat with a blush. "I set it up just in case anything.. well. I mean, it's not like you have a contact card on you .. I mean, whatever… if something happened to you, I'd.. um.. "
"Jade, that's very sweet." Tori gazed at her.
"Practical." The executive argued. "A simple need for information."
They looked at each other, and Tori gently kissed the shoulder she was leaning on. "Thank you for caring, Jade." She said very softly. "You don't know how much that means to me right now."
The taller woman gently pulled her closer, and slid both arms around her. "I'm sorry things didn't work out with your folks, Tori… " She tucked Tori's head down against her, and kissed it.
Tori allowed herself to sink into the comforting warmth at last, breathing in Jade's distinctive scent, and settling her head down on her lover's broad shoulder. "Me too." She sighed. "I guess I have no family now." She added sadly.
"Sure you do." Jade murmured, her eyes closed.
Tori tilted her head, and regarded her in silence, then she smiled to herself, and put her head back down, at last allowing sleep to wash over her.