A fun chapter. Yep Jade is her mother's child alright... but you know... you never get along with the parent that you favor personality wise. Anyway enjoy this. ~S.K.

Nineteen

A soft knock at the door brought Jade's head up, and she paused in her work. "Yeah?"

Cat stuck her head in, and smiled. "Got a minute?"

Jade leaned back and rubbed her eyes. "Sure… c'mon in."

The Personnel VP entered and closed the door, crossing the carpeted floor and seating herself in one of Jade's visitor chairs. "How's it going?"

"Not bad." Jade folded her hands. "We got most of the new boxes in place… and I think we're going to start testing next week. It's going a lot smoother than I'd planned for… nice, for a change."

"Good to hear." Cat nodded. "Listen.. Rob and I, and Sinjin and Barbara were planning on taking a ride up to the fair tonight.. you and Tori interested?"

The Youth Fair. Jade was surprised at her tickling of interest. "I don't know. Hang on." She pressed the intercom. "Hey, Tori?"

"Yeesss?" The brunette's voice sounded a touch smug, and definitely pleased.

"You up for the youth fair?"

A puzzled silence. "I didn't know you were into cows, Jade.. or is this a continuance of yesterday's conversation?"

Cat clapped a hand over her mouth and turned pink from laughter.

Jade sighed. "You haven't been to a youth fair down here, I take it." She played with a pen. "Few ducks, few chickens, few rabbits.. mostly rides and the midway."

"Oh." Tori fell silent for a moment. "Okay.. sure.. that sounds like fun. Maybe I'll win you a huge stuffed pig or something."

"I'd better drive, then, because you, me and a stuffed pig aren't going to fit in your car." Jade advised her dryly. "Cat doing the invite.. it's us, her and Robbie, and Sinjin and Barb." She grinned. "You can finally challenge Sinjin to that slingshot competition." She waited for Tori to stop laughing. "Okay.. see you later." Jade lifted an eyebrow at Cat. "Sounds like a plan."

"Good." Cat clasped her hands around one knee. "Actually, I didn't come here to ask that. I just finished going over the review you did for Tori." She watched Jade tilt her head in inquiry. "And I wanted to come over here, and talk to you about it."

"Problem?"

"No.. just the opposite." Cat shook her head. "It was a a very well balanced, well thought out review, that seemed objective, and professional." She paused. "Did you get someone to ghost write it? I've been reading reviews from you for five years, Jade… they don't' usually look like that."

Jade doodled on her scratch pad. "No…I just wanted to be very careful.. I know there's a built in prejudice there, and I bent over backwards to be as fair as I possibly could." Finding negatives, she reflected, had been the most difficult part. No one was perfect, but she tended to mentally downplay Tori's faults to an almost ludicrous point, and that wasn't fair to either of them professionally. Her biggest issue with her assistant was that Tori tended to get totally involved in the details of a project.. and sometimes she lost sight of the big picture.

That was something, Jade was sure, that would correct itself with experience, as Tori learned to watch the impact of her actions on a wider scope. But it had caused a few near misses, and she'd had to bring Tori in the last time, and sit her down, and give her a lecture.

She wondered who that lecture had stung more.

"Well, you certainly did that. I was very impressed. Good job." Cat smiled. "Now.. do you want to give it to her, or do you want me to?"

Jade took a breath. "I'll do it." She met Cat's eyes. "But she's up for a salary action… I'd rather you handled the details of that." A faint smile twisted her lips.

Cat chuckled. "All right… good point… but give me a guideline.. what do you think she's worth?"

Blue eyes caught hers, as quiet, and serious as she'd ever seen them. "The company couldn't afford what I think she's worth." Jade replied calmly. "That's why I'm asking you to work it out." She flipped her pencil over. "I'm going to talk to her about that open position we have when I give her the eval… I think with some guidance, she'd do all right there."

Cat considered the statement. "We could probably post it, and get someone with more experience, but Tori's got two things going for her. One, she knows how we work, and two, she can work with you." She gave Jade a frank look. "And of the two, the second is what would concern me the most bringing in an outsider."

Jade propped her chin up on one fist. "Am I such a problem?" She asked, plaintively.

"Jade, don't even go there. You know we're friends, but you also know perfectly well that you're one of the hardest people in the entire corporation to work with." Cat smiled to take the sting out of her words. "Although you have mellowed out a whole lot in the last few months."

"I don't think I have." Jade disagreed. "It's just that Tori's taken off so much of the bullshit from my shoulders.. I don't have to be an asshole nearly as often to get things done." She pointed a finger at Cat. "But I haven't forgotten how."

"Warning taken." Cat stood, and brushed her slacks off. "Have we gotten rid of our New York pest? You know he was busting my chops to get your personnel file." She smirked. "I just loved pulling out my three hundred and seventy two page personnel directive handbook and quoting the privacy regulations to him."

"Yeah.. for now." Jade leaned back and stifled a yawn. "But I've got the feeling he'll be back.. .he gave me the creeps. He's not going to stop until he causes major league trouble, I think." She got up and checked her watch. "I'm going to get some coffee… interested?"

Cat nodded. "Sure… that stomach bug clear up all right for you?"

Jade shrugged, as they headed towards the door. "Yeah, pretty much." She held the door for Cat and followed her out. "Glad it wasn't contagious."

Tori stood, regarding her reflection in the mirror soberly. She was dressed in her underwear, and laid out neatly on the counter was her little leather outfit, draping saucily over the edge in a fall of slinky hide.

"Well." She met the honey brown eyes gazing back at her. "I could pretend I was going as Pocahontas." She paused. "Although We are definitely not trying to coopt a culture for a costume,So…I think I may just have to suck it up and wear this leather and flaunt what my mamma gave me… more like my daddy"

With a sigh, she finally picked up the skirt, and wrapped it around her waist, adjusting the fit with the convienient velcro closures. "What on earth did they do before velcro, Chino? I can't imagine it."

"Grufw." The Labrador was curled up on the bed, watching her with interest, tired out after a long afternoon's run Tori had just finished up with.

"It's pretty, huh?" She fingered the leather belt, intricately tooled and stained in several colors, with a knotwork design. The skirt itself was a very soft rusty tan leather, so thin it draped over her hips and thighs almost like cloth. "O…K…" Tori picked up the top next, and studied it. "Hm. A leather sports bra. This is going to be different."

After a moment's hesitation, she removed her regular bra and slipped the leather one on, fiddling with the fastenings in back then bringing the straps around to her front, and adjusting them. With faint trepidation, she lifted her eyes to the reflection and chewed her lip at what she saw.

God, there was a lot of her showing. She spared a moment of intense gratitude for the months in the gym, as she twisted her body a little, and watched the muscles move just under her tan. "See what she meant about needing to work out to wear this one." She murmured. "What do you think, Chino?"

"Gorgeous."

Tori's brain almost exploded, then she realized the voice was Jade's, and coming from the door. "Jesus." She covered her eyes as a laugh escaped. "I thought the dog answered me."

"Woof." Jade replied, easing the rest of the way into the room, still dressed in her workout shorts and cutoff shirt. "Mmm… I like it." She studied Tori approvingly. "You definitely look natural in that."

"Natural?' Tori put her hands on her hips. "Jade, it's a leather bikini.. don't' tell me I look natural in a leather bikini, please, because my brain will dribble out my ears just at the thought."

"But you do." Jade objected gently. "Stand up straight."

With a sigh, Tori did so, letitng her hands drop to her thighs. In reflex, she lifted her head, and chin as Jade adjusted the straps on her top, the feel of the light fingertips on her bare back striking a chord of faint familiarity. "I look like a fake Native American."

"Nah." Jade pulled her brown hair back and held it. "How bout we put a leather holder on this, and you can put on some of that old jewelry in Aunt May's trunk. You'll look great, Tor. Honest.." She peeked over Tori's shoulder and examined the mirror's reflection, as Tori lifted her eyes and met her gaze in it. "What's wrong?"

Tori's lips tightened, then relaxed. "Sometimes I look in this mirror, and I have no idea who that person is looking back at me is." She gave a slight shake of her head, and lifted her hands a trifle, then let them drop. "I never imagined myself like this."

"Does it bother you?" Jade asked, hesitantly. "You know, Tori… just because I do the gym and all that, doesn't mean you have to."

"No, I like it." A gentle smile. "It's just that I've never felt good about myself before, and it's a little strange getting used to."She tilted her head back. "You're wonderful for my ego, you know that?"

"Glad to be of service." Jade chuckled in relief.

"Speaking of egos, it's your turn to get dressed." Tori grinned. "I'm going to finish up getting ready."

"Okay." Jade kissed her bare shoulder. "I'm going to grab a shower, then see if I can squeeze into that vest.. never mind those jeans you dug up from the closet." She gave Tori a pat on the butt and ambled out, followed by Chino.

Tori shook her head, and turned her attention back to the mirror. "You know something, Victoria? For someone once voted most likely to become a republican governor, you didn't turn out so bad."

Jade tousled her hair semi dry, then trudged out into her bedroom wrapped in a towel. Now that it was the day of the reunion, she found herself kind of looking forward to it, in a bizarre sort of way. High school hadn't been a great time for her, dad had been out to sea a lot, and her relationship with her mother had been going downhill.

But she'd had fun, anyway, finding the most outrageous things to wear and do possible, knowing the school was just gnashing it's teeth, since expelling an honor's student bucking for class valedictorian just didn't cut the mustard.

It was, what, eleventh grade when she'd started rebelling? Yeah. She'd worn sunglasses inside, and leather, and ripped clothes, with chains hanging around her neck, ear cuffs. Oh, and the spurs.

And the boots.

She's sounded like John Wayne going up in assembly that last year, to pick up not one, but four scholastic achievement awards, and she'd thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it drove every single one of the staff, and her mother, completely crazy.

Bite me. In studs, on the back of that leather jacket, too.

"What a punk." She laughed at her reflection. "And they couldn't say a god damned word to me - not with that record, and zero absences, and zero tardies."

Her tenure at Philip and Sala Burton Academic High School was marked by Perfect attendance. She was a straight A student. An excellent athlete who refused to participate in team sports. Cocky. Antisocial.

Jade sighed, meeting her own eyes in the mirror. "What an asshole I was. If I'd have met myself, I'd have kicked my ass from one end of Mansell Street to the other." With a wry chuckle, she shed her towel, and slid into a pair of cotton briefs with little devils all over them. Then she picked up the pair of very faded, artfully ripped jeans Tori had discovered in this bag shoved way back in the back of the closet, and stepped into them, tugging them up and pausing.

"Hm." They were snug, but she'd expected that. She fastened the worn buttons and studied the result. Well, nothing hung over, and nothing poked out. Better than she'd hoped for, actually. She picked up the vest and examined it, then shrugged it on and started pulling laces.

The leather was soft, and pliable, and readily fitted itself to her body as she finished the side laces, and started up the front. There were sizable gaps in the hide, where her own skin showed, and the neckline was cut low with narrow shoulder straps, exposing quite a bit of her upper body.

"All right." She murmured, tugging the last bit into place and patting the front. "An escapee from a bad Mad Max imitation movie. Nifty."

The door bell rang, and she blinked, then walked out into the living room and tried to imagine who on earth would be dropping by without security calling her. Clemente, probably. She unlocked the door and pulled it back, stopping in startled shock when blue eyes on a level with hers appeared.

"Oh.. hi dad." Jade glanced to one side. "Mother." A totally adolescent panic turned her guts to mush. "Uh.."

James West's eyebrows hiked up and he put a hand on one hip as he studied his offspring. "What in the hell?"

"Now, that's the daughter I remember." Cecilia murmured softly, an ironic twist to her lips. "Sorry we surprised you, Jade. We just flew in, and your father wouldn't rest before he showed me where you lived."

"Ah." Yeah.. okay.. jaw closed, brain on straight, Jade, c'mon. "Sure.. sure.. um. C'mon in." She backed up and allowed them to enter. "Mother, we have a dog."

"I heard." Cecilia replied evenly. "I'll live."

Chino came bounding out of Jade's bedroom and spotted James, corkscrewing over to him in utter delight. "Stop that." James scowled at the puppy, then knelt as Chino wriggled against his legs in animal ecstasy. "C'mon you furball.. cut that out."

Jade found herself facing her mother, totally unprepared to do so. She felt very off balance. "Um..you want to sit down.. we're just getting ready for this party we have to go to.. that's why the um.." She tugged at her leather laces. "I don't' usually dress this way anymore."

"Ah." Cecilia kept her response to a minimum, feeling as uncomfortable as Jade looked. "What kind of party?"

"High school reunion."

"Mm."

James stood up. "You are not tellin me you are stepping foot outside this house like that now, are you?"

"Ah. Yes, actually" Jade put her hands behind her back and tried not to breathe too deeply. "It's a come as you were thing."

Her father straightened. "Gigi, you are not goin out there half naked."

"No.. she's not." Tori's voice interrupted, a wonderful sound to Jade's ears. "But I am."

Eyes went to the stairs as the brunette trotted down them and appeared in all her scantily leathered, booted glory. "She's kinda overdressed, as a matter of fact."

"Dear Jesus." James covered his eyes.

Cecilia bit the inside of her mouth hard to keep from bursting out in hysterical laughter.

Jade slid an arm around Tori's shoulders and rubbed her back, as the shorter woman wrapped her in a hug. Over Tori's head, she looked up, and met her mother's eyes.

And realized they might at last have a common ground to meet on. She managed a half smile. Her mother managed one back.

Just maybe. "Want the nickel tour?" Jade spoke directly to Ceci.

"Sure."

"Maybe this was a bad idea, Jimmy." Ceci clasped her hands around one knee, as they sat together in the living room. Jade and Tori had disappeared into the kitchen after their little impromptu tour, and a lull had settled. "I don't think Jade's very comfortable with me here."

"Jest relax." Her husband murmured. "She'll be all right… she just hates surprises. Shoulda called her." He looked around. "Nice place, huh?"

Cecilia let her own eyes roam around the house. "Gorgeous." She admitted. "But it's so not Jade."

"Yeap." Jim admitted. "Ah think she just fell into it, and was easier just to stay."

Probably true. Ceci found her eyes drawn to a set of pictures on the entertainment center. Two were of Jade, at a young age. Two were of Tori, also older pictures, and the one in the center was of them together.

Both were looking forward to the camera. Jade was seated behind Tori, and had her arms wrapped around her, with a half smile on her face. The brunette was covering Jade's hands with her own, and the film had captured just the sweetest expression on her, one that almost made Ceci smile just looking at it.

"We need to find a place to stay tonight." She tore her attention from the picture and put it on her husband. "Any suggestions?" It had been years since she'd been in the city, though it hadn't changed really much, and she'd found a thousand memories regaining their color as she left the airport, and felt the San Francisco air fall over her. 'Someplace with sand, maybe?"

"Are you okay?" Tori asked, for the third time, as she assembled some glasses and a large pitcher of fruit juice. Jade was standing at the sink, staring out at the water with a completely unsettled look on her face. "Jade?"

"I wasn't expecting that." The dark head finally turned, and looked at her. "I didn't want it to be like this."

Tori cocked her head in question. "Like what?"

Jade's face twitched. "So damned… sudden."

Tori put her glasses down and walked over, laying a hand on Jade's almost leather covered back. "Look.. take it easy." She rubbed gently. "It's not that bad, is it? Your mom's being okay, I thought."

"No. Yeah. I don't know." Jade turned and leaned against the counter, folding her arms tightly over her chest. "It's taken me all this time to get used to having him back. Seeing them together..I'm having a little trouble comprehending that right now." Her hand lifted and rubbed her eyes. "Too big an adjustment."

Yeah, it must be. Tori thought, and not for the first time wondering if her spouse was neuro divergent as she took Jade's free hand in hers. "I know it must be tough. Hang in there, Jade. Having them back is a good thing for you, I really believe that."

A sigh. "I know."

"But it's weird."

"Yeah." Jade made a face.

"And us being dressed like a post-apocalyptic pair of whacked out Amazons doesn't help." Tori smiled as she got a chuckle out of her wife. "Though you have to admit seeing the look on your dad's face when I came downstairs was worth it."

"Mm." Jade relaxed a little and rubbed her neck. "Eyah… that's true."

"Kin ah ask what you two are up to?" James's voice growled from the doorway. "Starting to think you went to grow them damn fruits afore you squeezed em."

Tori picked up the tray and cleared her throat. "Ah.. that's my cue. Bye." She slipped past Jade's father quickly, and was gone, leaving the two of them alone in the kitchen.

Jim stuck his hands into the pockets of the jeans he was wearing and moved inside the room. "Think I owe you an apology, Gigi.. didn't meant to shake up your day like this."

Jade studied her father curiously. "You got a haircut."

Self consciously, he lifted a hand and scrubbed it through the trimmed silvered darkness. "Yeap."

There was something so different about him, and yet familiar. "Went okay up there, I see." Her eyes smiled at him. "I'm glad." A hesitation. "I didn't expect you back so soon."

Jim took a breath. "She wanted to come home." He responded simply. "Figured we'd find a spot, near to the water. Just set down and be quiet for a bit."

"Just like that?"

"Yeap." He scratched his jaw. "You called the right range on it, Gigi.. I owe you." His mouth moved into a smile. "Cept I don't' think I can pay you back for this one."

Now she realized what it was. He was whole again. Jade slowly moved forward. Oh, the scars were still there, but he'd left behind his hooded shirt, and regained an equilibrium she could see plainly, in the late afternoon light coming in the kitchen window. Hesitantly, she put a hand out and took his. "You don't owe me a damn thing." She whispered. "If it made you happy, that's all that mattered."

"Aw, Gigi." Jim opened his arms and found himself hugging his daughter's sturdy form. "Ain't' nothing you ever done that didn't make me happy, and prouder than all get out to be your daddy."

Mmm. Jade absorbed the infrequent hug greedily and returned it. "Even dressed like this?" She joked faintly, into his nearby ear.

"Lord." He started poking her through the holes. "Would you just look at this?"

She nearly doubled over in laughter at the tickling. "Augh."

"Tch." James released her, but put his hands on her shoulders. "Woudja do one more thing for yer old man?"

"Anything." Jade responded warmly.

He paused. "I know a bucket of stuff's happened, Jade. " He lifted a hand and touched her cheek. "I know you got hurt." Her lashes fluttered closed. "But I'd like it if you'd give yer mama another shot at what's between the two of you."

Oh. Is that all? Jade's eyes opened. "Is that what she wants?"

He nodded.

Jade thought about the request. It would be so hard, she knew already, to work through a lifetime of friction. Just thinking about it exhausted her. Did she really have a choice though? She looked into her father's eyes. "I'll try."

That earned her another smile.

Tori walked into the living room and set the tray down. "It's fruit juice. " She sat down and pouured a glass, offering it to Jade's mother. "Sort of a mixture."

Ceci leaned forward and took the glass. "Thank you."

She leaned back with the drink and sipped it, as they studied each other. "So." Ceci murmured. "I somehow didn't expect we'd be meeting again so soon."

"No." Tori agreed. "I guess not." She scratched her nose. "This is sort of awkward."

Ceci took a swallow of the sweet juice. "That's an understatement." She admitted. "It's been a very surprising few days." She regarded Tori's open, intelligent face curiously. "We could chat about the weather."

A glance outside. "Eighties, thirty percent chance of showers."

Ceci smiled. "Have you lived here long?"

Tori leaned back. "Well, if you mean in California, about two years." She folded her arms over her bare stomach. "If you mean here, as in right here, a little over six months." A pause. "I like it. Sam Francisco, I mean. It was a little tough when I first moved down, but after a while, it grows on you."

"Yes, it does." Softly clinking ice. "You're from Connecticut originally?"

Tori nodded. "My family lives there."

"Sorry I made that crack about your mother the last time we met." Cecilia murmured. "Jimmy told me about what happened… that must have been very tough."

"In a way." Tori admitted. "In a way it was relief, because I'd been living as part of a charade for so long, and after that, I wasn't. I was free to live however I wanted to." She studied the table reflectively. "But I miss my family, sometimes. I miss knowing I'm a part of them." A glance up. "I still love them, in spite of everything, and I always will, even if they never speak to me again."

Cecilia found those steady, penetrating brown eyes boring into hers, transmitting a weight of meaning to her words it was difficult to avoid.

I think I like her. Ceci inclined her head a trifle, acknowledging the younger woman's statement. Even if she was raised a Christian Republican. "You really going to a party dressed like that?" She changed the subject, pointing a slim finger at Tori's outfit.

"It's her own fault." Jade answered the question, reappearing from the kitchen and settling down next to Tori on the loveseat. "She talked me into going to this reunion."

"Half nekkid?" James neatly stepped around Ceci's knees and dropped onto the couch.

"Uh.. no, actually.. I sort of wanted to um." Tori regarded Jade's sleek form. "Anyway, we made a deal, if she went, I'd have to dress the part and go too."

"Um." Jade's mother pursed her lips. "What part exactly are you dressing for?"

Tori glanced down at herself, then up at Jade. "You picked it. You answer."

Jade got caught napping. She felt her jaw open, then close a few times, and sneaked a furtive glance at her mother and father, who were watching in puzzled amusement. "Ah." Oh well. "Actually, it was Tori's idea."

"It was NOT."

"She wanted to see what I looked like in leather."

"Jade!" Tori blurted, turning an appealing shade of pink that extended all the way down to her navel.

"Jesus.. woman looks like a damn flamingo." James chuckled.

"Or like one of those squid that change color." Jade remarked, eyeing her companion critically.

"Oh god." Tori just gave up and buried her face into Jade's chest, pretending the outside world didn't exist for a little while. At least until she stopped glowing like a bad neon sign factory. "Is it time to go yet?" She muttered into the scent of skin and leather.

Jade chuckled and patted her back, then eyed her parents. "What are your plans? Dad said you were looking for a place to stay." The thought occurred to her to offer hospitality, but she wasn't sure if any of them were ready for that much close quarters so soon. However.. "We've got some little cottages here on the island they use as a hotel.. I could book you in one if you're interested."

The older pair exchanged glances. "That would be very nice. Thank you, Jade." Ceci finally answered. "At least until we can have a chance to look around down here a little."

"Sure." Jade was inwardly pleased with the solution. She picked up the phone and dialed the resident services number. "Hello? Yes.. hi, Clemente." A pause. "No, thanks.. I'm feeling much better, really." Another pause "Actually, I need to book one of the cottages." A much longer pause. "All right.. that'll have to do then." A quick smile. "No, it's for my parents." Lengthy listening. "Not on vacation, no. They're looking for a place out here." Short pause. "Um.. sure, that would be fine. Thanks, Clemente." She hung up. "All set. They'll send a cart for you."

Tori peeked out from her hiding spot. "Everyone's really nice here."

They exchanged a few more words, then stood, and Jade watched as the reservations staff took charge of her parents luggage, and transported them down the road. "They only had the big one left." She commented to Tori.

"The one with the Cadillac sized hot tub?"

"Uh huh."

"Oo. I'd like to be a fly on that wall."

Jade grinned. "Me too." She nudged Tori. "C'mon.. let's get this bike revved up and get going."

"Uh uh. I get to accessorize you first." The brunette wagged a finger. "I saw that bag of old chains and collars."

Jade winced. "Oh boy."