This is the slowest the story goes. Just wait till the girls get home. Just finished adapting first major climax in the book, and i tell you... whew... in this chapter I cured some micro aggressions that I spotted... if you spot anymore let me know i'm not American by birth .

Five

"Strawberry or pineapple?" Tori inquired, sticking a toe above the bubbling water and wiggling it.

"Banana." Jade replied, from her relaxed position , eyes closed and hands folded over her bare stomach.

"Do you do that just to be contrary?" Tori sighed, and took a bit of banana, dipping it in the melted chocolate fondue, then passing it over and placing it on Jade's impatiently waiting tongue. "Sinjin once told me he knew you deliberately found the hardest way to do things, just so you could say you did them that way."

A blue eye appeared, and regarded her, then winked. "Nah. I just like bananas."

Tori chuckled, as she settled back against the sloping wall of the jacuzzi. "This was a good idea. I was really still kind of tired from yesterday… was it yesterday? I can't believe that's all it was. I can't believe I'm here, and you're here, and…" She paused, and took a breath. "God, I'm babbling. Sorry."

Jade slid closer, and patted her thigh. "It's okay. You must have been pretty strung up. Remind me to send a card to the guy who landed the plane, huh?"

"Yeah." Tori forced a smile. "There was a moment there, right before we landed, when I was sure we weren't going to make it." She found Jade's hand under the water and laced their fingers together. "I was so pissed off."

"Pissed off?" Jade retrieved a strawberry and coated it in chocolate, then split it in half and offered one section to Tori. "Why?"

"I was mad at the idea we'd be separated." Tori answered honestly. "I didn't want to leave you.. that's what I thought about the most."

Jade went very still for a few heartbeats, then her chest moved in a long inhale. "You know." She gazed at the water and spoke quietly. "I have no idea what I would have done if that had happened."

Tori blinked, a little alarmed at the lost look on Jade's face. "Well, it didn't, so no sense in dwelling on it." She paused, but Jade's expression didn't change. "Jade?"

A momentary tensing of the muscles of her jaw, then the sandy haired woman's body relaxed a little. "True." Jade produced a smile. "I'm.. sort of glad I didn't know what was going on until it was over. I…think I would have gone a little berzerk." She glanced down as Tori rested her cheek against her shoulder. "What was that pilot's name again?"

"John." Tori murmured. "John Jabonski."

"Let me call the airline CEO." Jade reached over her head and fished for her cell phone. "Maybe I can get him to double the guy's salary…"

"Jade." Tori laughed softly. "He was just doing his job."

Direct, powerful blue eyes captured hers. "He held your life in his hands, and didn't drop it." Jade told her. "Do you know what that's worth to me?" She started to dial, then almost dropped the phone in the water when it buzzed in her hand. "God damn it.. I wish that woudn't do that." She opened the phone. "Yes?"

"Easy, honey." Tori rubbed Jade's belly comfortingly.

"Oh.. hi dad." Jade's frame relaxed. "You just get in?"

"Yes, we surely did." James West's raspy voice answered. "I do believe your mother is no longer welcome in them islands, however."

"Oh? What'd she do?" Jade's brow hiked.

"She did not appreciate some of the local customs, and damn well near started a revolution.." Her father answered. "Good thing I had them put those naval engines in this here boat. "

"Oh." Jade watched Tori covering her mouth as she listened. "Sounds... like you had fun." She remarked. "Listen.. I've got some bad news."

"I already spoke to that buddy of the kumquats… where are you?" James asked.

"Chicago." Jade said. "Weather's pretty bad." She felt her body unwinding from the unexpected tension Tori's words had caused. "I don't think I'm going to make it back for the holiday."

"We figgered." Her father answered placidly. "Where'd Tori end up?"

Jade's eyes flicked to the wet, slightly flushed face next to hers. "Uh.. she's here too."

"Magine that. " The ex SEAL drawled. "You two take care, all right?"

Tori took the phone. "Thanks, dad… sorry we're going to miss having turkey with you." She told her father in law. "You're not going to escape Christmas, though… I'm warning you."

There was a faint throat clearing. "Ah do believe it's going to be you two squirts that aren't going to escape that particular holiday, kumquat. " James said. "Been a couple things I've had a mind to get for Gigi since she was in short pants, and now I've got the chance."

Tori chuckled. "Uh oh."

"Now you hush." Jim warned. "Be careful. I got in a boat load of trouble in Chicago last time I was there."

"During Basic?"Jade smirked when she heard that scoff from the other end. "We will." Jade took the phone back. "See you soon, dad." She hung up and hung up, tapping the phone against her chin. "Wonder what he's up to."

"You weren't supposed to hear that." Tori removed the phone from her wife's hands and set it down, glad of the distraction that had snapped Jade out of her funk. "I'm sure it'll be something really nice… "

"Like?" Jade amiably returned her attention to the lonely looking pineapple, which had languished far behind the more popular banana and strawberries in getting a chocolate bath. "I hope he remembers I'm not ten anymore." She offered Tori a slice of the yellow fruit, which her brown haired companion accepted neatly. "I don't' need him to buy me anything." She added. "It's enough of a.. it's nice just having him back."

"I love your parents." Tori replied. "I already started picking things out for them for presents. " She grinned, at Jade's expression. "Cmon, don't' tell me you haven't started shopping yet."

Blue eyes took on a guilty tint. "Um… "

"Jade."

"I do all my shopping online." Jade protested lamely. "There's plenty of time.. haven't you ever heard of Amazon?"

"Jesus." Tori covered her eyes.

"Hey." Jade splashed her. "It's not like yours hasn't been gotten already."

Brown eyes peeked through wet fingers. "Yeah?"

"Yes." Jade put a blob of chocolate squarely on Tori's nose and went to work cleaning it off. "And boy, did I ever have fun doing that."

"Uh oh." Tori smiled nervously. "It didn't have anything to do with that leather store, did it?"

Jade grinned, seemingly fully restored to her good humor from her previous anxiety. "Guess you'll have to wait and find out.. won'tcha?"

"Oooo… if I guess, will you tell me?" Tori coaxed, sliding over and straddling Jade's legs, receiving some chocolate in a place that almost made her forget her question. "Hey.. that's warm."

"Not as warm as this is." Jade delicately removed the fudge. "And no, I will not tell you."

"Please?" Tori leaned over and begged, right into Jade's ear.

"Curious, aren't you? It's just a present."

"What present?" Tori whispered, getting a chuckle in response, as Jade turned her attention to more chocolate removal. "Oh yeah. I'll take that one…"

And then, of course, the lights went off. The jacuzzi whirred into silence. Tori lowered her forehead to touch Jades, and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Hm." Jade regrouped. "Bet I can find your navel in the dark."

"Bet you can't." Pause. "Oooo…. I take that back."

"Is the power back on?"

"No."

"That means the heat isn't either, right?"

"No."

"Ah." Tori closed her eyes again and put her head back down on Jade's shoulder. It was dark and warm where she was, the several blankets and quilt the room provided over them both like a cloth igloo. Warm enough for her to be completely comfortable, despite her current state of dress. Or lack thereof, actually.

"Got any ideas for today?" Jade put aside all thoughts of her worklist. "We could start burning the furniture for heat."

"Hm." Tori brushed the tip of her nose against the short, fine hairs that covered Jade's body. "I can think of other things to do for heat."

"Anyone ever tell you that you're insatiable?" Jade chuckled.

Tori burrowed upward, and poked her head out from under the covers, looking very much like a dishevelled brown muskrat. "Nope." She shook her head. "Anyone ever tell you that you're way too sexy for those white socks you're wearing?" She blinked in the wan sunlight trying to lighten the room.

"No one but you ever sees my socks." Jade remarked mildly. "So I'd have to say no."

Tori rolled over onto her side and curled up next to Jade, only her head exposed to the cold air. It was very quiet inside the room, only the sound of Jade's gentle breathing was audible, along with some faint clicks, pops, and thumps over and under them as fellow hotel captives stirred. "Trapped in a posh hotel in Chicago, with you, naked." Tori exhaled. "Well, if I can't have turkey with all the trimmings, I suppose that'll do."

"Gee thanks." Jade arched a brow at her. "Glad to see where I rank."

Tori poked her lower lip out a little and batted her fair lashes. "Sorry.. we did miss dinner last night, and I'm hungry." She stretched out under the covers. "Though, getting up to get dressed is going to be a bitch."

"Nah." Jade flipped the covers off both of them in a swift move, then scrambled out of bed and dove for her clothes as a yelping Tori untangled herself and stripped a pillowcase off it's pillow, grabbing one end and snapping Jade smartly across the backside with the other.

"You half duplex nerdlette!" The brunette whacked her again. "I'm gonna kill you for that…"

Jade grinned and ducked out of the way. "Better put some clothes on first." She tossed Tori a shirt, and dodged the unerringly accurate linen. "Hey! You're the one who said you were hungry, remember?"

"Baaaaaaa!!!" Tori abandoned the pillowcase and dove at her half clad target, catching Jade just as she was about to put a pair of shorts on. "Gotcha!"

Off balance, Jade hopped frantically to one side but was unable to escape the assault, which sent them both tumbling to the ground with a resounding thump. "Oof."

"Ow." Tori winced. "Note to self. Don't wrestle naked on polyester carpeting." She rubbed her rear end. "I think I just got a rug burn."

Jade examined the spot. "Hm." She leaned over and kissed the spot, then slapped Tori's calf. "Get dressed… we can jog downstairs and see what we can find, all right?"

"Seventeen flights? Sure." Tori braced her hand on Jade's shoulder and stood, moving quickly to her bag and pulling on a thick sweatshirt. "I can use the workout." She tugged on the rest of her clothes. "Maybe we can find out how wid…" The lights flickered on, and the hum of the air exchangers cut in. "'spread the outage is." She finished, with a sigh. "Never mind."

Jade flicked the light switch approvingly, and watched the lamp come on, bathing the gloomy room with warm luminance. "Nice timing." She turned her head and watched the white snow falling past the window. "Wonder how long it'll last?"

Tori stood just inside the door, and adjusted her scarf as she watched Jade leave the front desk and move towards her. Her Love was tucked into her winter coat, and as she joined Tori, she stuck her hands in her pockets. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tori asked. "It's pretty deep out there."

Jade pushed the door open, and blinked as the cold air hit her eyes. "I thought you liked snow." She waited for Tori to move outside, then followed her. "What happened to that Northern toughness routine?"

"I do like snow." Tori buried her nose into the scarf's soft fabric. "On television." She muttered softly. "Or in a snowglobe."

Jade forged ahead, glancing around her with interest. Despite the white cover, there was plenty to see. Chicago was a more wide open city than New York, and it was cleaner. Jade liked that. "Hey, what about having breakfast there?" She pointed.

"No.. no pizza for breakfast, honey." Tori latched onto her arm and pulled. "But moving away from the lake is a good idea. My eyeballs are freezing solid." They turned their back on the wind, and moved down the street. "And besides, I really need some… ah."

They ducked into the coffee shop, where a sharp, rich scent greeted them. Two cups of mocha and several croissants later, they emerged back into the cold. "Now where?" Tori asked. "How about we take a ride on the train?"

Jade stomped a hillock of snow, then turned to regard her companion. "I think you just want to get inside." She accused. "All right.. where does the train go?"

Tori shrugged. "Let's get on one and find out." She spotted an entrance to the mass transit, and plowed determinedly towards it. "It's not that I don't like snow, Jade.. honestly.. it's great, it's just that…" She stopped, then let out a wild yell, as Jade neatly deposited a handful of the cold slush down the back of her shirt.

"It's cold." Jade finished for her, then bolted for the haven of the train station.

"Oh.. you are so dead." Tori scrambled after her. "Jade Giana West, when I catch you, I'm gonna… I'm gonna…. "

Tori pressed her nose against the glass, watching the passing stations. There was a light tap on her knee, which she steadfastly ignored. Another tap. She pressed the glass harder, examining the tile walls flicking by.

A nudge. She turned her head. "I'm damp, and really pissed off." She told Jade, regretting it a moment later when she got caught in a sudden blast of wide open hurt in her partner's blue eyes, quickly masked as Jade turned her head, and settled back in her seat, folding her arms in a pose of casual disinterest.

C'mon, Tori. She's apologized three times, What in the hell do you want, flowers fifty feet underground? Her conscience nudged her. It was a handful of snow.. get over it. Slowly she straightened in her seat, and let her hands rest on her knees. She watched Jade's profile, aware that Jade was aware she was. Small muscles in her jaw moved, and she saw her friend swallow, and she just couldn't stand it one more minute. "Sorry." A hand reached out and fit itself around Jade's knee., warm under her touch. "I'm really close to that time of the month, I guess."

Jade peeked at her uncertainly, from behind her cool facade. "Do you want my shirt? I'll take it off and give it to you."

Tori balanced the wonderful comfort that would provide against the chaos her wife disrobing in the subway would cause, and sighed. "Thanks, Gigi… but I don't want to have to bail you out of jail on Thanksgiving."

Jade relaxed a bit at the nickname, and edged closer. "For exposing my bra in public?"

"For causing a riot." Tori found a smile tugging her lips upward. "I think I need to get some chocolate into me so I can stop being so cranky… can you put up with me until then?"

A shrug., and a smile. "Don't worry about it.. you're entitled. I didn't realize just how wet that stuff was until after I did it."

"Snow virgin." Tori relaxed, seeing the tension ease out of Jade's face. Jade hated when they fought with each other, though as yet the longest any argument had lasted was just outside an hour.

Longest hour of my life, Tori recalled wryly. And it was always something silly like this, too, since thank the Lord they were relatively compatible otherwise. Fighting made Jade anxious and tense, and the few times it had happened at the office had resulted in some personnel issues that Tori had spent days smoothing out. For someone as together, and in control as Jade was, she had a curiously fragile grasp on her own emotional structure, something that Tori had found first odd, then extremely endearing as she got to know her wife better.

Jade could yell at people all day long, completely disregarding anyone's feelings including her own, then be reduced to a puddle of goo by a chocolate kiss placed squarely on her desk. Ah. Tori fished in a pocket, and pulled out a silver wrapped item, offering it to Jade with a smile. "Forgot I had these."

Jade accepted the kiss, and unwrapped it, neatly biting it in half and handing the other half back. Tori took it, and enjoyed the sweet taste as she squiggled nearer and leaned against Jade's leather swaddled body. "So. Where are we heading?"

Jade snorted. "I thought you had the map. " She reached over Tori and tugged at the paper sticking out of one pocket. "Cm'ere, let me look…"

The rapid progress of the train abruptly slowed, and the lights flickered once, twice and went out as the vehicle ground to a halt amid squeals and yells and an ominous hiss.

"Oh boy." Tori reached out instinctively and took Jade's hand. "What is it with us this weekend? I'm starting to get a little paranoid here." The car was pitch black, not even an emergency light breaking the darkness. She blinked her eyes a few times, and was unable to tell the difference. "Wow. This is mega creepy."

"Mm." Jade just kept her eyes closed. The few other people in the car started talking, making disgusted comments about the service of the trains, and other esoteric remarks which Jade didn't understand. "How long does this happen for?"

Tori leaned her cheek against Jade's shoulders. "Like I know? They didn't have subways in Darien, Jade."

"Damn piece of shit." A low voice came out of the darkness. "Fucking figures I get stuck under the god damned river half hour before I gotta pick up my god damned fucking turkey."

Tori felt Jade go really still next to her.

"River?" The sandy haired woman's voice repeated in a hiss. "What is he talking about?"

Uh oh… Tori folded her fingers around Jade's, and stroked her arm comfortingly. "It's okay, honey… I don't think we're really under the river right now." She murmured. "But part of the subway does go under it."

"Under?" Jade repeated.

'Yeah, you know.. they have those big hole boring machines, like we saw on the Discovery Channel the other night.. the ones that cut the Chunnel?" A pause. "You've been on the Chunnel train, haven't you?"

"No." Jade got out from between gritted teeth. "I fly over the damn English Channel, thank you very much."

"Be great if it picks now to leak again, huh?" A woman's voice asked, with a tone of weary amusement. "Hope we can all swim."

Tori could feel Jade's heart beating against her hand, the pulse so rapid she could hardly distinguish the thumps. "Honey?"

"Yes." The word was precisely enunciated.

"You okay?"

No answer. Tori slid her arm around Jade's body, and hugged her. She could feel a ball of fear knotting her own guts, and had to swallow a few times before she could speak again. "One consolation."

"What's that?"

"You're here." Tori felt a light pressure against the side of her head, then a warmth as Jade laid her cheek against the spot. They both sighed at the same time, then Tori almost hit the ceiling as Jade's cell phone went off inside her pocket. "Yow!"

"Shit." Jade dug for the thing blindly. "Stupid piece of … " She got the phone out, the light from the display showing her features in eerie relief. "What?"

"Uh.. hi boss." Sinjins answered hesitantly. "Listen, I hate to bother you on Thanksgiving, but I just got paged on a hot one, and I need some advice."

Jade's nostrils flared visibly. "Oh. Really? Sure. No problem. What can I do for you?" Her voice oozed exaggerated patience.

"Well, one of the big mainframes in Illinois went wacko, and sent a blast across everything up in Chicago. It's causing all kinds of havoc… "

"No kidding." Jade muttered.

"Yeah, anyway.. it knocked out two power grids, and they can't get the boxes reset. You got your laptop? It's one of those old DOD rigs that you used to snuggle up to."

"No, Sinjin. I don't' have my laptop. I'm a little out of touch right at the moment." Jade told him.

"Oh yeah? Where are you?"

Tori took the phone. "Hi, Sinjin."

"Hey, Tor. What's up?"

"We're stuck in the Chicago subway."

Long silence. "Oh man.. that sucks!" Sinjin squeaked. "I had, like no idea… you guys are right in the middle of that crap!"

The car creaked, and everyone murmured. Then it creaked again, and slowly, out of the darkness, came a set of footsteps. They moved, then paused, and a sharp knock was heard a few cars up. Jade took the phone back. "Listen to me. What the hell is it going to take to get these damn trains moving?"

"Uh… " Sinjin's voice trailed off as he typed. "Shit, you'd have to… well, I can't tell, Jade.. I really don't know much about this stuff… it looks like mech relays that are electronically controlled, or something.. I don't'… I'm sorry, Jade.. I just can't tell."

Jade closed her eyes and rested her head against one hand, forcing her mind to focus. It was hard, between the darkness, and the knowledge of where she was, her thoughts wanted to dart all over the place, and she was conscious of Tori's calming touch rubbing her back. "What language is it?"

Sinjin told her.

"Okay." Jade painfully called up routines. "One way or two way surge logic?"

"What?"

Jade took a breath. "The programs are designed to protect the switches from damage - either they go one way, or both ways… which is it?"

"Oh." Typing. "Uh… I… one way, I think if I'm reading this right."

"Good." Jade murmured. "Then they can be reset… "

"Okay, folks." The door slammed open, and a rough voice intruded. "We want you all to stay put, okay? We're stuck right here just under the middle of the river, and they're workin' on getting the train restarted."

"Why can't we just walk the fuck out?" The young man to Tori's left groaned. "Fuck this.. I've got to get to the restaurant."

"We don't want to do that just yet, okay? It's real dark down here, and we don't got enough lights to make it safe. So just relax, and keep calm."

"Easy for him to say." Tori muttered.

"What were you saying, boss?" Sinjin asked. "Something about a reset?"

Jade sat still, her mind raging with the knowledge of the tons of water over her head. Her throat went dry, and she started to take short, sharp breaths.

"Hang on a minute, Sinjin." Tori spoke into the phone urgently then muted it. "Hey." She reached up and took hold of Jade's dimly seen jaw, and turned her head so that their eyes, merely glints in the faint illumination from the phone, met. "It's okay. I know it's scary down here, but you're our best chance of getting the hell out.. .you've got to hold it together, Jade."

Jade was utterly silent for a breath, then the muscles under Tori's fingers moved. "I know." She took the phone back. "Sinjin?"

"Yeah?" Sinjin sounded confused, and a little worried. "What's going on down there, boss? You okay?"

Jade took a breath. "I'm a freaking mile underground in the dark with a god damned river over my head and I'm severely claustrophobic. That give you a clue?" She growled furiously in response.

"Oh." Sinjin sounded chastened. "Sorry, Jade. What can I do to get you out of there?"

What, indeed? Jade closed her eyes again, and threw her mind at the problem, ignoring the pounding headache from the tension that surrounded them. C'mon, West. Get the damn synapses firing already. Slowly, the logic routines surfaced, dancing against her closed eyelids. "Okay. Send this down the pipe. " She rattled off a string of code. "Test it on one switch first."

"Okay." Sinjin murmured. "Which.. oh, wait, I see.. yeah, okay." Rattling keys. "Huh."

"Define 'huh'." Jade snapped.

"It reversed the state." Sinjin told her. "Cool. Hang on… let me dump it into a repeat routine."

Tori smiled in the darkness, her hands keeping up their soothing motions. "Jesus, Jade.. some of that stuff is older than we are... how do you remember it?"

"Urf." Jade grunted softly. "Well?"

"Okay.. okay, I got them all reversed.. now what?"

"Send this." Jade rattled off another string. "And hang onto your jockstrap."

"Ooo." Tori had to hold back a laugh.

"Uh.. I think I'll keep all ten on the keyboard if that's okay by you, bosseroo." Sinjin finished his task, then made a last click. "Now what?"

Jade counted. On ten, the whole train jerked, then the lights flickered on, bringing a rush of air through the car. It took a few moments more, then the alarm sounded.

"Okay folks.. we're gonna get moving again, please siddown, and thanks for being so patient." Pause. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Thanks, Sinjin." Tori removed the phone from Jade's fingers, and cradled it, watching her wife wipe the sweat from her forehead, and lean back as the car started to move. "That did the trick… you have no idea how much we appreciate it."

"Yeah, I've got a clue." Sinjin chuckled. "Hey.. I'm gonna see if I can poke around and get some other stuff going.. talk to you guys later."

Tori hung up the phone and stuck it in her pocket, then exhaled, feeling weak with relief. She blinked and glanced around, realizing the few people in the car were staring at her. "Hi." She murmured.

"Yo." The young man who had been cursing pointed at her and Jade. "You fucking fixed this son of a bitch over that cell phone, didn'ja?"

Jade opened a blue eye. "Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

"No.. that's cool." He clapped and the rest of the car joined him. "Way cool.. your like a master geek, huh?"

Jade felt like her inside were going to dissolve. She didn't feel like a master anything at the moment, all she wanted was to get off the damn train and out into the fresh air again. "Yeah." She slumped against Tori's supporting arm. "First time this thing stops, we're outta here."

"Okay." Tori agreed instantly. "Oh, wait.. I'm not sure where that…"

"I don't care." Jade exhaled. "Wherever it is, we're off this thing."

The train pulled in, and true to her word, Jade bolted from the car, trailing an understanding, but slightly nervous Tori with her. The station wasn't well lit, and as they moved through it towards the stairs, it took on a distinctly menacing air. Well. Tori reflected with a sigh. In the mood she's in, anyone stupid enough to try and rob us is asking for some severe nervous energy hurt.

The stairs echoed with their steps, and they had to carefully step between several crouched forms, who eyed them from under nondescript knit caps as they passed. Tori moved to one side of the stairs and grasped the metal rail lightly, feeling the many times painted metal nubbly under her fingertips as she climbed upwards.

Her nose wrinkled, though, and she was glad it was chilly. Heat would have made the stairway pungent beyond description, and Tori was glad when they topped the stairs and ducked outside into a surprisingly clearer day. "Oh." Tori glanced around. "Well, at least it stopped snowing."

Jade stuck her hands into her pockets and exhaled, her breath a white cloud in the wan sunlight. "Yeah." She regarded the snowy walk for a moment. "Listen, I'm sorry I went a little south down there."

Tori patted her arm. "It's okay.. I can't imagine what that must be like for you." She could sense that Jade was embarrassed. "No more trains, huh? Let's just see if we can get through today without another technological disaster." She hooked her hand around Jade's elbow, and looked around, trying to figure out which way to go.

Hm. No direction really looked promising. Squat, older buildings surrounded them, most boarded over, and there was graffiti evident on many of the vertical surfaces. There were also silent, huddled forms in any available shelter. "Um."

Jade turned and started walking, drawing Tori after her, and they headed down the sidewalk together. The snow crunched lightly under their boots, and counterpointed the hiss of tires as cars drove slowly by, and the dimly heard rattle of the underground train emerging from the vents they crossed over.

It was cold out here, but Jade found herself almost joyous at being out from under the ground. She'd managed to forget over the years how much she hated that feeling of being frightened, and out of control. In San Francisco , subways and tunnels exist, but she stuck to her ride, and even her frequent airplane flights were generally taken in first class,or private aircraft. The most confined space she had to worry about was the elevator in their office building, and everything else was blissfully wide open to California's expansive horizon.

Maybe Tori had a point. Jade reluctantly admitted to herself. Maybe she needed to talk it out with someone, but the thought of going to a doctor for that…

Ugh.

"Honey?"

Jade turned, to see Tori eyeing her in concern. "Hm? Sorry.. I was just thinking."

"I know. But you were scowling, and you're making me wonder what's so awful." Tori kidded her faintly, but she was worried, and it showed.

C'mon, Jade. Suck it up and spit it out. "Being scared pisses me off." The paler woman admitted. "I get mad at myself, and I know it's stupid to." She paused. "Maybe you were right. Maybe I need to see a therapist about it."

Tori walked in silence for a bit, thinking. "Maybe you should talk to your dad." She caught Jade's startled look. "This could be PTSD, you know. My sister did a huge research project for that in one of her failed attempts at actually achieving a major in college.. it was interesting to read."

Jade blinked. "PT… c'mon, Tori.. that's for vets, and people under situations for long periods. We were only in that building a couple hours." But the idea appealed to her. "I could ask, I guess.. Dad might know someone I could speak with."

"Dad might be someone you can speak with, Jade." Tori reminded her gently. "He's been through an awful lot.. maybe you should start with him first."

"We don't… " Jade carefully edged around a huddled form, who glared up at her resentfully. "Sorry." She muttered, as they moved past. "Dad and I love each other, Tori, but we're not the best communicators in the world."

"Ah. Yeah, you're both the strong and silent type. Must be hereditary." They walked on another block, then Tori half turned, hearing a slight scuff behind them. There was nothing there, but she could have sworn she'd seen a flicker of motion in the doorway as she looked. "Um… Jade?"

Jade had been kicking little tufts of snow out of her way. Now she turned and cocked her head. "Hm?"

Tori edged closer and glanced around, one hand winding it's way around Jade's arm. "You're going to think I'm a paranoid wimp but I thought I heard someone following us."

"Par for the day." Jade checked her inside pocket, where she'd stashed her wallet and phone, then looked around. There wasn't much of a choice of directions. Buildings closed in on them from both sides, and there seemed to be more people drifting around, some glancing at them with a mixture of interest and appraisal. "You know what? I am so not in the mood for this right now."

"What are you in the mood for?" Tori asked, more as a distraction than anything else.

"Chocolate."

"Ooo… What a surprise! And here I was going to stop and get you some granola."

"Chocolate ice cream."

"Jade, it's snowing." Tori brushed a few flakes off her jacket.

"Okay. With hot fudge sauce." Her partner amended, with a half grin. "How about that?" She turned her head and looked at Tori, but her eyes flicked over Tori's shoulder, spotting two figures strolling casually after them. "Crap."

"Oh boy. Now what?" Tori asked softly. "Jade, I'm not liking this business trip. I think we need to schedule the next one in Aruba."

"Tell Jose to sell an account there." Jade considered her options. It was possible the two stalkers weren't going to do anything, of course. It was also possible that they were, and wrapped as she was in layers of cloth, wool, and leather, she'd be about as effective in fighting an attack off as the Michelin Tire Man would be. She let her recent experiences slide into the back of her memory, and concentrated on problem solving, her mind clearing and settling into a cool, even plane.

At least she was outside now, and didn't have that whole thing to worry about. Her eyes flicked across the store fronts, and she realized that the holiday had closed most of them down tight. Those that were normally open anyway, that is.

The best course, she reasoned, was to keep walking the direction they were already going, and hope the street ended up somewhere that got them out of trouble.

"Hey."

Jade sighed, but kept walking, putting a hand casually on Tori's back.

"Yo." Footsteps increased, and got louder.

"Jade…"

"I know. Just keep calm." Jade stopped walking, and turned, drawing herself up to her full height as she did so.

Bringing her eyes slightly above the blue ones of the man facing her, his right hand pointed at her curled around the threatening form of a gun. Jade let the shock of that roll past her, and curiously, her nerves settled into an alert calm. "What?"

"Gimme your money."

Jade felt Tori's body jerk in reaction, and she kept her hand on her wife's back, giving it a comforting pat. "No."

"What? You see this? I'm gonna shoot your ass if you don't gimme your money." The thief insisted, his partner looking around quickly to see if anyone was coming.

"No." Jade repeated, feeling the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Now, are you going to use that thing, or am I going to stick it so far up your ass they'll have to send a bloodhound in to find it?"

Her assailant was a thin man, with a scruffy beard and curiously thick eyebrows. Jade kept him pinned with her eyes, and allowed the smile to surface, just a little. "Well?" She dropped her voice to it's lowest register.

"You're crazy."

The smile widened. "Could be."

"Let's get outta here, Larry." The other man tugged on his sleeve. "C'mon…"

Undecided for a moment, the gun wielder finally stuffed his hand back in his pocket and started walking away, keeping his body half turned to watch Jade, a frustrated and perplexed look on his face.

Jade chuckled, her good humor restored. "Now there's an eight bit chip in a sixty four bit world." She glanced at Tori, who was markedly pale. "You okay?"

"I think I just realized something." The brunette remarked. "I'm gunphobic." Her knees buckled, and Jade only just caught her, grabbing her around the shoulders, and pulling her close as Tori clutched weakly at her arms.

"Hey… easy."

Tori closed her eyes, and leaned against Jade, taking deep breaths and wishing away the dizzy spinning in her head. "Wow." Her whole body felt like she'd been shocked and she held onto Jade until she regained the solid use of her legs. "Sorry.. I don't think I ever did that before." She straightened, and glanced around. They were alone in the street, even the doorways seemed to have cleared. "That was totally amazing, Jade."

"Hm?" Jade put an arm around her, and they slowly started walking again. "What was?"

"You talking that guy down!" Tori still felt a little shaky, and it made her voice sharper than usual. "Don't you dare just stand there and act like it was nothing. " She looked up and down the street. "Where in the hell is that ice cream store you promised me, anyway?"

Jade lifted a brow. "I think it's that way." She pointed, to where the streets seemed to lead towards taller buildings. "C'mon, before we get into any more trouble."

The day got better from there. Tori smiled as they found themselves on a major boulevard, surrounded by tall, stately buildings, stores, restaurants, and holiday décor. "This is more like it." She said, The sun had peeked reluctantly out through the still mostly overcast sky, and the streets were quiet, as most of the residents were heading home for the holiday.

They walked along the sidewalk, glancing inside the brightly lit windows. "Oo." Tori pressed both hands against the window of a toy store. "Mommy.. I want that."

Jade leaned next to her. "You've got two of those already." She remarked dryly.

"Not that model." A slim finger pointed. "That's the one with the internal cellular modem and decent browser." Tori eyed the Tablet. "And it comes in six colors, Jade - look at the raspberry one."

"And you call me a nerd."

"Oh, like you don't want one too." Tori jeered.

"Nope." Jade put on a virtuous expression. "I can honestly say I don't want one."

Tori put her hands on her hips and stared, cocking her head slowly from side to side. Finally, a finger wagged. "Cause you've already got one, doncha?"

A dazzling, if slightly sheepish smile answered her. "Early Christmas present." Jade observed the narrowed brown eyes directed at her. "I got you one too."

"You did?" Tori produced a quick grin of delight. Her eyes flicked back to the display window. "Which color?"

"It's a surprise." Jade told her loftily, continuing down the street. "C'mon.. I'm getting hungry. Spot any place we can go for dinner yet?"

Tori tugged her jacket closer against the rising late afternoon wind. She looked around, then recalled something and tipped her head back to look up. "As a matter of fact… yeah."

Jade followed her glance. "Well. It'll be a nice view."