Exit from DC Thwarted... but is the mistress a scapegoat? Was she just a convenient outlet?

Thirty Four

"Oh my god."Tori trudged into the hotel room and over to the bed, falling face first down on top of it, then yelping, and rolling onto her side. "That was stupid."

"Mm." Jade landed next to her. "Understandable though." She looked at the clock. "It's two am."

They'd been surprised at the hospital by a visit from the police, and an investigator from the FBI, who had tracked them down. With lots, and lots of questions, which they'd fortunately done in a small office at the hospital instead of at the police station, or the Bureau building. "I'm glad I'm not a cop." Jade groaned. "It's bad enough being a nerd executive… seeing crooked CFO's in corners."

"I think that one guy has a crush on you."Tori mumbled, resting her head on an outstretched arm. "The redheaded one?"

"Ungh." Jade exhaled. "I've never actually met a guy of our generation who uses Old Spice before." They exchanged wry looks. "I thought they were going to wet themselves over my father."

Not surprising. Here, you have a hospital that gets bombed, containing an infamous senator who is publicly known to be hostile to both of us, and up conveniently pops an ex Navy SEAL with thirty years experience in pyrotechnics and clandestine operations. Jade sighed. "Fortunately, daddy thought it was more funny than anything else."

"I can't believe they even thought he'd be involved."Tori lifted her head, her brow creasing in anger. "I mean, he was in the stupid hospital, with his wife, and his daughter… what kind of idiocy is that?"

"Daughters." Jade corrected her. "Yes, well… they gotta ask all the questions, and his background really is a little too scary for them to dismiss him just because of some minor matter like..oh, he would have blown himself up too."

Tori smiled slightly. "My sisters really like your folks." She commented. "And dad was so cute with the baby…he's such a mushball."

rolled over onto her belly and rested her chin on her arm. "Yeah.. he was, wasn't he? I can remember him playing with me when I was really little… I wasn't sure which one of us had more fun."

A little silence fell. "Wow."Tori sighed. "I'm really tired."

"Me too." Jade agreed. "Oh… The jet will be ready for us in about twelve hours, so we can get some sleep." She started to roll over onto her side, then paused as her injured muscles cramped. "Oh… yeowch."

"Yeah."Tori shifted her sling. "Hey, Jade?" Her brows contracted. "You know, the press is going to go nuts over this thing for a while.. maybe it's better if we lie low for a few days."

"Hmm?" A thoughtful eyebrow lifted. "Yeah, maybe… " Jade reached around and probed her back gently. "You know… come to think of it, sitting in an office chair is gonna be damn uncomfortable for a while."

Tori wiggled her fingers. "So's typing." She reminded her boss. "We could work from home, though."

"We could." Jade agreed. "But we're not going to."

"We're not?"

cautiously eased off the bed and trudged over to the laptop sitting on the desk, sitting down at it and rattling the keys for approximately five minutes straight whileTori lay and watched her. "There." She hit a final key, then sat back. "We're on vacation."

Tori's ears perked up visibly. "We are?"

A nod. Jade allowed a tired smile to cross her face. "I promised you a trip to Key West."

", we can't both just go on vacation like this." The brunette smiled. "Not that I don't want to."

"We can." Jade disagreed. "We are… I just told Alastair and Marina. If they don't like it, too damn bad." She got up and went to the bed, sitting down and reaching a hand out. "You, me, and Chino… in a bungalow on the beach for a week. It's a done deal."

Tori clasped her fingers with her own. "Sounds wonderful.. but… you had those meetings this week, Jade.. and the new network… I know how important that is to you."

"It's not." Jade's voice was quiet and soft. "It doesn't mean a thing to me, not anymore."

Tori fell silent. Maybe two o'clock in the morning wasn't the best time for them to be discussing this, she reflected, though she sensed Jade was being completely truthful with her. She studied the pale blue eyes, shadowed with the strain of the last few days, and decided maybe some time off wasn't a bad idea. "Okay." She agreed. What was the worst they could do.. fire them? Well, she'd never been fired before… it would be a new experience in that case. "I'd really like to spend time with you… we haven't ever really been able to.. for more than a day or so… without work, or some other disaster happening."

looked pleased. "Good." Her face creased into an unexpected smile. "I'd really like that too.. it's been a while since I took some time off."

"Skiing, wasn't it?"Tori prodded her memory. "You getting up close and personal with nature… if I'm not mistaken."

"You remembered that."

"Mm.. I thought it was really interesting.. most people would have lied and said they skied the black diamond slopes."Tori replied. "Not you…. I remember being impressed at how secure you were with yourself."

slowly let herself lie down, and stretched her legs out on the bed. "I never thought of it like that." She admitted. "I was just praying you weren't going to ask me when, precisely, that skiing trip was."

Tori cocked her head. "When was it?" She asked, predictably.

"My senior year in high school."

The brunette's hand dropped to the bed and she stared. "Are you telling me you haven't had a vacation since high school?"

nodded sheepishly. "The last time Marina checked… I had enough rolled over time built up to take off an entire year."

"B…"Tori rubbed her face. "B… what about that place in Colorado? You spent time there!"

"Weekends." Jade shrugged.

"Good Lord, Jade Giana West."Tori shook her head. "Damn right we're taking next week off… I may kidnap you and keep you down there for a month."

grinned happily. "Promise?"

This was a new smiled back at her, and interlaced their fingers. "Promise." It would be nice, actually.. and she could take the time to let her arm heal, before she had to come back and deal with the usual stuff…

Yeah.

"What if the police want us to stay?" She asked suddenly. "That one guy was asking some pretty weird questions, Jade… like had I noticed people following me and stuff… what was that all about?"

Good question. Jade mused, as she levered herself up and tugged her shirt out of her jeans. "I don't know… I think they've just got to ask everything... you never know what's going to mean something or not." She paused. "They asked me that too… I told them if someone was trying to blow me up... there's a lot better places to do it than a damn hospital. "

"Mm."Tori felt her eyes close. "Why did she do it, Jade?"

"If she did."

A brown eye opened. "What?"

"Dad thinks whoever did it.. knew what they were doing. Pamela doesn't seem much of a terrorist to me." Jade replied. "But who knows? Maybe they'll have more on it tomorrow.. she looked sorta pathetic to me on the television."

"I wonder how her kids feel." Tori wondered out loud.

"Her kids… are older than you are." Jade reminded her. "I should have caught that when we did the initial gathering…I registered there were children… not how old they were...But I suppose your dad would have noticed your mom being gone for the length of a pregnancy."

Tori slowly rolled over and got up. "She supported them all these years." She shook her head, and started unbuttoning her shirt one handed. "It's so hard to believe." Fingers took over from hers, and she used that hand to explore the soft, warm skin now inches away. Jade had bruises all over her, and little scrapes, tiny dark lines against her tan that rubbed rough againstTori's fingertips. "You smell nice." She commented idly, reflecting that being her height wasn't a bad thing when it got you the view it got her when Dad was naked.

"Thank you." The taller woman rumbled. "It's that scrub stuff you got from the Internet…I kinda like it."

"Mm."Tori got her nose closer, then took an experimental lick. "Smells different on you than on me." She nibbled further.

chuckled unexpectedly. "We're dif…ah.. that tickles."

"Really?" Tori repeated the experiment, feeling Jade's ribcage contract sharply under her other hand as she laughed again. "Hmm…"

"Tori!" Jade unhooked the sling holding up her arm and carefully lowered it. "Easy.." She slid the device off, then removed the brunette's long sleeve cotton shirt. "What have we here?" She plucked something offTori's brastrap and held it up before her eyes. "Two timing me, hmm?"

Tori focused her vision on the tiny item. "Just like in the movies.. you find a blond hair on my underthings…." She sighed. "My cover's blown.. I'm having an affair with our dog."

They both started giggling, the long day's tension dissolving in absurdity.

"Lemme guess.. it's the tail, right?' Jade guessed.

"Nah.. it's that six inch long ton-"

"Hey, girls?"

The inner door started to swing open and Tori's eyes almost turned the size of baseballs. "Oh shit!"

kicked her brain into gear and quickly wrapped her arms aroundTori, neatly covering both of them as her father poked his head in. "Hi dad."

"Hey list…." James's face turned an odd shade of coral." Good Lord, ah beg your pardon,"

"No problem, dad." Jade reassured him, bolstered by years of boardroom experience in poker faces. "I was just helpingTori get undressed."

James scratched his jaw. "Done a right professional job at it, looks like."

Tori started laughing, her breath tickling Jade right between the breasts.

"I always try to do things right." Jade managed to keep a straight face. "Did you need something?"

James found something interesting on the opposite wall to examine. "We were gonna order us up some ice cream… thought you might be interested."

"Sure." Jade smiled. "Great nightcap."

"With lots of syrup."Tori's muffled voice rose up from the depths.

"All right." James agreed seriously.

"And cherries." Another half heard request.

"You can have mine" Jade remarked dryly. "Make sure there's nuts, though."

"Now. Ah'd have thought them would be…oh. You mean the eat'n kind." Her father drawled back. "All right."

"Dad!"Tori squealed, turning her head and peeking at him.

James gave her a rakish grin and disappeared.

"I can't believe he said that."Tori spluttered.

"Why?" Jade released her, and continued removing her clothing. "He knows the difference between boys and girls,Tor… and despite rumors to the contrary he knows I don't have anf..ffof." She peered at her love over a hand clamped firmly across her mouth.

"Thank you so much for the biology lesson."Tori muttered. "I'm just not really used to parents making comments like that… mine never did." She paused. "It would have been like the statue of George Washington cracking an X rated joke."

nibbledTori's palm, exploring the soft skin, which shifted and was removed. "You know what they always said about George, right?" She teased, then inclined her head and foundTori's lips about to make a protest. Then she circledTori with both arms again and drew her closer as they kissed, reveling in the solid reality she'd almost lost the day before. One hand slid up and cuppedTori's neck, her fingers tangling in the her shorter hair as she allowed the intensity to build, blocking out everything but the emotion of the moment.

They paused to breathe, and swayed together, moving to inaudible music they both heard, eyes locked, souls bound.

Finally Tori smiled. "Guess I'd better get my jammies on before the ice cream gets here." She commented, still almost lost in Jade's gaze.

"Yeah." Jade agreed amiably, not moving an inch.

A silence fell again for a while.

"We're going to really embarrass dad if he comes back in here."

"Yeah." Jade sighed. "I'll have to start teaching him all the 'how many lesbians does it take to change a lightbulb' jokes." But she finally shifted, and unhooked Tori's bra, then retrieved both of their sleeping outfits from the suitcase.

Tori settled on the bed in her Tweety shirt and cradled her arm. "So.." She watched Jade as she folded everything and put it away. "How many does it take?"

"What?"

"Lesbians. To change a light bulb?"

"Well." Jade came over and sat on the bed, laying out on her side carefully and stretching long, mostly bare legs out. "There's the two with the wood.."

"Wood?"

"They have to build the ladder first."

"Why?"

"Power tools. Anyway… the two with the wood, then four to plan the strategy…"

"Four!"

"Yeah… a representative sample…one butch, one fem, and two that self identify as androgynous."

Tori giggled.

"Then you need six more to research where to buy the bulb…."

"Six!"

"Gotta make sure those dyke dollars go to supportive stores, hon." Jade drawled. "And we can't forget the dozen academics to analyze the process, and determine if changing a bulb could be considered the subject of a 'Changing role relationships in the American Workplace" seminar"

Tori giggled harder. "And that's how you'd change a bulb?" She asked, skeptically.

"Nah." Jade shook her head, as she heard sounds in the next room. "I'd hire someone else to do it." She leaned over and stole another kiss. "I hate stereotypes."

The banging on the door brought Jade bolt upright, and nearly sent her clawing for the ceiling as her back seized up in dire protest. "Son of a bitch!" She yelped, nearly scaring Tori to death as she was shocked awake as well.

"What…wh.." Tori grabbed for her. "What's wr- Jesus, what time is it… "

The knocking repeated itself, and Jade's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oh.. buddy.. whoever you are. You're gonna be six inches shorter when I get done with you." She yanked the covers back and slid out of the warm bed, stalking towards the door a little stiffly, but nonetheless impressively to her watching wife.

She didn't even bother looking out the peephole, grabbing the door handle and pushing down, then pulling back the door and facing off the noisy intruder, glowering at him with all the dark temper she could muster. "What?"

A tow haired man of middling height was standing there, a pad in his hand that he'd been looking at. He looked up and started speaking, then paused. "Sorry. I'm looking fer someone name of Jade West?"

"Congratulations. You found me." Jade snarled. "You've got twenty seconds to explain why you're banging on my door at six am, or I'm gonna introduce you to the back of the elevator head first."

His jaw sagged a little. "I'm with the police, ma'am."

"I don't give a rats ass if you're the Attorney Goddamn General." Jade's voice rose. "I was answering questions until two goddamn am last night. Now you've got ten seconds."

"Look, lady… you don't seem to understand…"

"Five seconds." Jade took a step forward, and despite the fact that she was barefoot and dressed in only a shirt, the man backed away.

"Okay..okay… look.. they just told me to come up here and ask you some questions.. it wasn't my idea." He held up a hand. "Don't get all hostile on me, lady."

Jade folded her arms, and lifted her eyebrows. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"What are the questions?"

He glanced up and down the hallway. "Look.. can we go inside?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"My wife's asleep."

The policeman gazed at his pad, then up at her. "Maybe I better come back later."

"Good idea."

"Maybe I better send my lieutenant."

"Even better."

The man turned and walked to the elevator, looking back at her as the doors closed and shaking his head. Jade exhaled, then chuckled to herself, before she walked back inside the room and closed the door. She trudged back to the bed and climbed under the covers. "Jackass."

"Who was that?" Tori asked curiously.

"The police." Jade yawned, snuggling back down in the comfortable bed.

"What did they want?" Tori resumed her favorite spot.

"I don't know… more questions.. I told them to get the hell out of here."

Tori considered this. "Jade.. honey… you really can't treat the police like that." She winced. "They get really mad."

"He didn't know that." Jade closed her eyes firmly. "Besides. This is the one time I was happy to use my privilege. Knocking at my door at 6 am… had to be out of his damn better not be back until after breakfast." She curled an arm around Tori and relaxed. "Then they can be as mad as they want."

Tori giggled into Jade's shoulder and settled back into sleep.

"The FBI reported today that they have given up hope of retrieving any further living victims of the hospital explosion, and are now concentrating on examining the rubble for evidence of what set it off."

"A bomb?" Tori buttered another biscuit and drizzled some honey on it, then took a bite. "How much evidence does it take?"

"I think.. " Jade was munching on a thick Belgian waffle. "They want to know what kind." She cut another syrup doused slice and stuck it in her mouth.

A knock came at the door, sharp and commanding. Jade and Tori glanced at each other. "Well, it's close." Tori smiled, motioning her to stay seated. "We might as well get it over with." She got up and walked to the door, peering through the eyehole. A short, muscular woman with a no nonsense attitude was standing there, and she opened the door, peering out at her with an inquisitive look. "Yes?"

"Are you Jade West?"

"No." Tori shook her head. "I'm not."

"Is she in this room, ma'am?" The woman snapped.

"Yes, she is." Tori stepped back. "Would you like to come in?" She pulled the door back with her, and the policewoman strode past, brushing her aside as she walked towards where Jade was sprawled, one bare foot propped up on the bed, as she continued her breakfast. "Guess you would." She muttered, closing the door and following.

"Are you Jade West?" The woman asked.

"That'd be me." Jade drawled softly.

"Ma'am, I am Lieutenant Jacobs, and I don't appreciate how my officer was treated by you this morning."

Jade lifted her milk and took a swallow "We're even." She put the glass down. "I don't appreciate being woken up at six am."

"Do you understand we're investigating a crime here?" The policewoman was very intense, very obviously angry, and very obviously irritated at Jade's casual attitude.

"Having been one of the victims of it… yeah, I'd gathered." Jade answered. "Look.. we answered questions until two am last night… I wasn't about to start up again before dawn.. if you've got a problem with that… Lieutenant… too damn bad."

"Jade's right." Tori resumed her seat and sipped her coffee. "They caught us at the hospital… we're both under medication, and I don't think it's fair you seem to expect us to keep that kind of schedule.. we're not the people who did this."

The woman paused, considering. "We didn't question anyone last night."

"The FBI did." Jade answered. "Don't you guys share notes?"

The officer sighed. "Not often. Look.. I'm sorry you were disturbed. But there's a huge pressure on to find out who did this… and we can't wait for people to finish brunch before we start asking questions."

"So.. what is it you want to know?" Tori asked. "Would you like some coffee?"

The woman eyed her. "Um.. no thanks…Ms…. ?"

"Vega." Tori held a hand out. "Tori Vega."

The woman had taken her hand before the name registered. "K… wait a minute… are you related to the senator?"

"Mm… yes, she's my mother." Tori admitted, releasing her. "Sorry.. don't' you people keep track of things like that?"

The officer looked at her, then at Jade, then back at her. "Ms. Vega.. how long have you known this person?"

Tori glanced at Jade, who lifted a brow at her. "Who.. her?" She pointed. "Um… almost a year?"

"May I speak to you outside?"

"Sure." Tori got up and trudged after her, going outside and closing the door behind them. "Yes?"

The woman gazed at her. "Have you ever had any reason to suspect your friend in there of being a violent person?"

Tori stared at her. "Excuse me?"

"Look.. Ms Vega… whoever planted that bomb in that hospital was probably after you, and your family." The policewoman stated. "The Senator informed us that your friend in there had a good motive to want her hurt."

Tori cleared her throat. "Actually.. I have a lot better motive."

It was the cop's turn to stare "Excuse me?"

"I have a lot better motive. My mother is an asshole, Lieutenant… when she found out I was in a relationship with Ms. West, she had me put into a mental hospital."

A breath. "Oh."

"And… this is a really stupid line of questioning.. because even if Jade did have a reason to want my mother dead…she doesn't have a reason to want me dead.. or her father.. or her mother… or herself… or my sisters, whom she kinda likes."

"So.. she was with you in the hospital.. is that what you're saying?"

"Of course… excuse me, but this is all on record… for the love of God, they've been showing film of us on CNN for two blasted days!"

"Ms. Vega…"

"Well, they have!"

"We don't spend our time watching the news, Ms. Vega." The woman stated, stiffly. "And as you can imagine, there's a lot of confusion right now… I had no idea you two were.. um.. "

"Married? Well, we are." Tori was annoyed. "Jade risked her life to get people out of that building… including my mother, as a matter of fact, and it's getting me really pissed off.."

"Okay..okay.. Ms. Vega.. please.." The policewoman sighed, "Please… understand, we have to ask, we have to follow up all the leads we get, no matter how ridiculous they seem to other people. We can't just ignore what someone tells us because someone else tells us to."

"My mother's in no danger from Jade." Tori replied, coldly. "But she better watch out the next time I see her." She looked at the other woman. "I thought you had someone who confessed to this?"

The policewoman shook her head. "It's a scam.. the FBI knows it.. they're just hanging onto her because they don't' have anything else right now… she did it for attention." She sighed, and scratched her ear. "So.. the senator gave us a red herring, huh?"

"Yes." Tori stated firmly.

"Damn.. that's too bad." The woman snorted a little. "I was looking forward to taking her down to the station and knocking some of that attitude off."

"Tch." Tori shook her head. "That's not attitude… that's just Jade." She told her. "You would have ended up really frustrated."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Hm." The woman crossed her arms. "Who do you think that bomber was after, Ms. Vega?"

Tori leaned against the door. "I wish I knew… I'd have to assume it was my mother.. I'm not in the habit of collecting enemies.. in fact… "She let her voice trail off. "Except…"

"What?" The policewoman asked softly, her gaze sharpening.

"Well… " Tori's brow creased, then she looked up as the door opened, and Jade stuck her head out curiously. "Jade… what was it you said Sinjin found out about Ankow… before you went into that meeting?"

"Ankow?" Jade murmured. "Damn.. I'd forgotten all about him.. what's he got to do with this?"

The lieutenant was glancing from one face to another. "Can we go back inside and talk about whoever this is?"

Jade opened the door and walked back to the desk, sitting down behind it and tapping a few keys on her laptop. "Well, not that much but… " She studied the information. "Just that his father was associated with that militia group… I used that to deflect his attack on us."

"Militia…" The policewoman sat down, and pulled out a pad. "Attack…wait.. who is this we're talking about?" She paused. "Did you tell the FBI about this?"

"No." Jade answered. "They didn't ask."

The woman grinned. "Okay.. so who is this?"

"Jade… tell her about you being poisoned!" Tori suddenly blurted. "Doctor Dodie said…"

"Poisoned?" Now Jade had the policewoman's total attention. "Wait. Let's start at the beginning… maybe we're looking at the wrong target here."

James and Ceci sat quietly on a bench, just across from the Vietnam memorial, no different than dozens of other tourists, most his age or older, some alone, some with companions, gazing at the black granite stones.

"There were many times." Ceci commented softly. "When I thanked the goddess you were a sailor, and not a soldier."

"Huh." James exhaled, stretching his legs out and crossing his ankles. "Never was a doubt." He replied, glancing at his diminutive wife. "Been some trip, ain't it?"

Ceci chuckled.

"Messed up your peace some."

"That it has." The silver blond woman agreed. "Thank goodness."

Blue eyes regarded her in mild surprise.

"You know… before you came back, if I had one painting idea a month, it was a lot." Ceci murmured. "I've had more images jump in my head in the past week than in the past five years." She turned her head and looked at her husband. "I want to do a family portrait, Jimmy."

"Do you?" He smiled, hesitantly.

"I do." She assured him. "You know I don't like portraits.. not the traditional kind, but I really want to do one… I want you, and Jade, and Tori.. and that silly little dog in there too."

James blinked. "All right… if that's what you want to do."

Ceci leaned against his arm contentedly. "And I think I want to get a tattoo."

James turned his whole head and tilted it down, peering at her with two very wide open blue eyes surmounted by hiked eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Mm… yeah."

"Now, hold on there, Ceci… I traveled every damn ocean across this whole damn world and didn't get a tattoo cause I promised you I wouldn't.. now you want one?"

She nodded. "You can get one with me. We'll get matching ones… how about it?"

"Ah am too old to be getting a tattoo.. and besides, we'll never hear the end of it from Jade." James protested.

"Aw.. c'mon, Jimmy…" She wrinkled her nose mischievously. "Just two little ones… we'll put them someplace she won't see."

"Ceci…"

"Little teddy bears… "

"Good lord, woman… I…" James broke off, and his eyes tracked across the open space, following a walking figure. "Now.. I wonder what that asshole is doing here."

"Who is it?" Ceci peered in the same direction, seeing a tall, good looking man with a muscular build seemingly strolling along without a care.

"Someone I do not like." Jim murmured. "Feller who was giving Jade a hell of a time… and maybe more than that."

"Do you know him?" Ceci glanced at the man uneasily.

"We met." Jim's jawline moved into a familiar line.

"Jimmy… it's not illegal to be walking around in Washington DC… maybe he's just here like everyone else is.. .to see what's going on." Cecilia reasoned. "It could be a coincidence."

"Could be." James didn't look even slightly convinced. "Glad we're getting out of here though. This place gives me the crawls." He stood, and offered Ceci his hand. "Let's head on back."

They walked hand in hand down the path, edging around the small groups of tourists and through a set of hedges in one of the little parks between the memorial and the hotel. It was a sunny morning, with a cool breeze rustling the leaves, and they ambled along in silence, simply enjoying each other's company.

Then Ceci felt the fingers in hers tense, and she glanced over, to see a tiny wave of alertness travel over her husband's tall form, bringing him up on the balls of his feet, and arching his neck just slightly. "Jimmy? " She looked around quickly. 'What is it?"

"Just keep walking." James told her quietly. "Stay close to me."

Ceci didn't question that request. She tucked her hand inside her husband's elbow and stayed in his shadow, as a faint rocking motion came into his steps, and his scarred face went very still. They walked through the park and towards the other side, and as they entered the small passageway that led between two buildings, Ceci thought she heard soft footsteps behind them. A quick glance up ward revealed a little smile tugging at Jim's lips and she swallowed hard, closing her eyes briefly and whispering a few words to a guardian spirit.

Two more steps, and she felt Jim's arm tense, and he released her hand. She took another breath, then in a split second, he was no longer next to her. She hardly saw him turn, and took hold of the man who had come up behind them, slamming an elbow into the man's jaw and hooking his leg to send him to the ground.

Jim slid easily down with him and pinned him to the earth with a knee, shaking out a slim blade with his free hand and taking to the man's throat in a single, very smooth motion. "Now, sir." He told the man quietly. "Were you looking to get my attention?"

Blood ran from the man's mouth, and he slowly lowered his hands to the earth palms up, not taking his eyes off Jim's face for a second. "There's a badge in the inside pocket of my jacket."

"Good for you." James didn't budge. "That does not give you license to creep up on fellers, and doing that outside a memorial to the Vietnam war makes me question what sense you do got."

"I'm an FBI agent."

"That explains the sense part." James still didn't move. "What do you want from me and mah wife?"

"Jimmy, he might be a little more talkative if you get off his chest." Cecilia commented. "I know I certainly couldn't manage a word if that were me."

Well. James examined the man's face, which was turning beet red. Maybe she had a point there. "All right." He released the man and stood in one motion, closing the knife and putting it back in his pocket. "You can get up now." He backed off and put an arm around Ceci, who leaned against him gratefully.

The FBI agent slowly got to his feet and straightened his clothing. "Mr. West.. I'm not here to make trouble… we're just not sure what's going on, or who's responsible for what happened the other day, and my bosses told me just to keep an eye on things, and make sure you and your wife were safe."

James scratched his jaw. "You were supposed to be guarding me?" A hint of amusement touched his voice.

"Yes.. I suppose you could look at it that way." The man replied.

"Son.. I can take care of myself… please go find yourself some criminals or something, all right?" James told him. "In three hours, we will be on a plane for San Francisco, and out of this crazy place." He considered something. "Now.. on the other hand.. I just saw me a feller you might be interested in."

"Really?" The man came cautiously closer. "Edgar Bird, by the way." He held out a hand. "Sorry about this, Mr. West."

"That's all right." Jim shook his hand graciously. "This is mah wife, Cecilia."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." The FBI agent took a pad out. "Now.. about this guy?"

"You about packed?" Tori came out to find Jade busy at her laptop. "Jade?"

"Mm?" Jade looked up. "Oh.. yeah, almost." She nodded. "I was just forwarding some minor details over to Lieutenant Jacobs." She grinned evilly. "She's all right, for a cop."

"Oh yeah? She wanted to take you back to the station and work you over." Tori informed her dryly, as she folded the last of her things and packed them in her duffel.

"Me? Why?" Jade looked up at her, mystified.

"She wanted to take your attitude down a peg.. I told her it wasn't an attitude."

"What attitude?"

"See? That's what I told her." Tori put two T-shirts she'd bought as souvenirs in her side pocket. "It's not an attitude.. that's just you. If you keep digging at it, you just get more and more Jade." She sighed. "My mother told her you had a motive for wanting to see her hurt."

Jade grew very serious. She stood and walked over to Tori, putting both hands on her shoulders. "She's right." She turned Tori around and studied her face. "For what she did to you… I'd love to see her knocked around but.. " She put a finger on Tori's nose. "I never would, because it would hurt you a lot more than it would her."

Tori sighed. "Am I totally stupid to still love her, Jade? In spite of everything?"

"No." Jade leaned on her shoulders, and touched their foreheads together. "That's just Tori, all the way through.. and if you keep digging, you just get more and more of you."

"Mm." The brown eyes grew thoughtful. "I don't know, Jade… I think I have a mean streak."

"No way."

"Yeah… cause when you told that police officer how much Ankow despised strong women, I was giggling all over inside."

Jade grinned.

"She looked like a Rottweiler in front of a butcher shop." Tori tried to look contrite, and totally failed. "That was really mean."

Jade straightened, and started packing up her laptop. "I was just telling the truth, Tori." She informed her partner firmly.

"And what was that about him being a violent homophobe?"

"I saw the rainbow rings under her t-shirt." Jade muttered. "Figured I'd take a chance."

"Tch tch."

A knock rattled on the door in a familiar rhythm. "That's dad." Jade chuckled, going over and opening the door, stepping back to allow her parents to enter. "Just about ready to leave?"

James and Cecilia entered. Jim was carrying both their bags, and now he ambled over and took possession of Jade and Tori's as well.

"Hey!" Jade put her hands on her hips. "I'm capable of carrying a couple of bags."

"Don't bother." Her mother waved her off. "I've tried that… he's just in a feisty mood today or something."

Jade shook her head and finished packing up her computer. "Fine… fine… let's just get the hell out of here. I hear a conch fritter calling my name."

'Wait." Tori smiled, pulling out her camera. "I want a picture." She waved them together. "C'mon.. " She waited for James to shed his burden, then join his wife and daughter in front of the window. Light poured in the other side of the room, and Tori smiled as she focused her shot, shifting the lens slightly to frame her subjects. James had taken the center, and put an arm around each of the two women on either side of him. Ceci, of course, was almost dwarfed by his height, but she leaned against him with a warm sense of familiarity. Jade had amiably wrapped her arm around her father's back, and was looking at the camera with her usual air of wry self deprecation. "Perfect." She snapped the shot, then lowered the camera. "Thanks." She grinned at Ceci.

"Just you wait until you see what I have I mind for revenge." The older woman warned her, smiling back. They gathered their things and slipped out the door, managing to achieve the freight elevator without much trouble. They got to the bottom floor and were about the leave, when Jade heard her name called. "Damn." She turned. "Yes, Hamilton?"

The tall, urbane lawyer caught them up, and ushered them into a small antechamber, out of sight of the press. "Where do you all think you are going?"

"Home." Jade replied. "Why?"

"Not yet you can't." Hamilton told her blithely. "This afternoon you have to be here so the mayor, bless his heart, can give you both a pair of shiny little old medals." He waggled two fingers at Jade and Jim. "Now Jade, don't give me a hard time with this, it's great PR for the company.. and Ah've got two choice interviews set up, not long ones, with some very top new personalities."

"Son of a bitch" Jade swore.

"Now now.. flattery will get you nowhere, JaeJae." Hamilton informed her. "Just sit your butt down, and make us look good, and it'll be over sooner than you think." He patted her shoulder. "Ah've been working real hard to get us some very positive press, and have painted you as just below an archangel, so don't mess my garden up, hear?"

"Hamilton, I am going to kill you." Jade told him, seriously. "I have a jet on standby for a one pm flight out of here."

"Phone call will take care of that for you, so just you relax." The lawyer chuckled. "C'mon now.. how often do you get to get up on TV and get a medal pinned on you?" He glanced at his watch. "Let's duck into the Batmobile… we've got an hour or two before the first tv spot.. wait here.I'll find a good way out." He ducked out the door, leaving them staring at each other.

"I am not going to stand here for.." Jade started in, her voice rising, as Tori put a hand on her arm.

"Jade." James spoke very quietly, making his daughter fall silent. "Ah have a box of medals for killing folks. Ah think I'd like just one for saving em."

You could have heard a pin drop easily in the silence that followed, Tori mused, just like that old cliché.

"Okay." Jade replied in a subdued voice. She walked over to a bench near the door and sat down to wait, letting her briefcase rest on the floor. Ceci walked over and sat down next to her, but didn't speak. Tori just stood next to James, cradling her arm, unable to come up with a thing to say.