Another long one. two more to go.

Forty-Three

James stood on the Bow of his boat. a gloved hand holding an invisible patch in his hands. The same patch that had Poisoned his daughter some months back. He had gotten it off one of his buddies. It had come to mind before he'd left San Francisco. that maybe he should have back up. Call it Parental intuition. but he knew his kids needed him. He thought Maybe he'd make a few people sick with it. make their lives miserable with it just like his kids were enduring. but when Jade told him about that bastard Evans...

James saw Red.

And it was so easy as James was putting that man out of the Senator's house, to grip him by the neck. The dissolvable patch pressed firmly on the skin of his neck right on the Aorta. It had to have been seconds before he was feeling the effects. the poison going straight to Gary's Heart.

"Cardiac Paralysis caused by an ingested toxin" David Had said when they landed. James dropped the other patch he had into the ocean below. and smiled. His kids were finally safe from that man. and an evil Rapist got just what he deserved. Now that family could grieve in peace.

Tori folded her hands on her desk, and regarded Brent with a sense of surreal disbelief. "You were working for my mother?" She asked carefully. "Here?"

Brent nodded, his expressionless face still and reflective. "I was hired to come in here and keep watch on you, bust up your place here if I could." He said. "Paid me pretty good, always wanted more information than I could get, though."

Several options occurred to Tori, most of which she regretfully dismissed in deference to personnel policies that frowned on employeecide. "Why tell me now?" She asked, keeping her voice even with an effort.

Brent shrugged. "I don't know." He admitted. "I just figured you should know about it, that's all." His hands twisted against each other. "I've been thinking about the whole thing for a few weeks, and I was fixing to tell you anyhow."

Tori propped her chin on her fist. "Why?"

He looked up, his pale eyes meeting hers. "Wasn't right." Brent replied. "At first, I just thought she was just keeping an eye on you, y'know? But she started asking for real personal stuff, and started pushing me to do stuff I didn't like."

"Like what?" Tori asked.

Another shrug. "Doesn't matter now."

"Like spreading rumors about me and some tall, dark haired guy here in the office?"

Brent studied his shoes.

"How much did you get paid for that one?" Tori asked, her tone sharpening. "Do you know what I would have done to you if Jim had found out people were saying that?"

The pale eyes lifted uneasily. "Didn't know." Brent said. "I just figured you did what everyone else does, you know?"

Tori exhaled. That was, she had to acknowledge, true enough. She had only to spend a few minutes in the lunchroom and listen to the gossip of the day to know that. "Well I don't." She told him. "But I don't know why I should be mad at you, either. You were just doing what some old bitch paid you to do."

Brent's head popped up and he looked at her, obviously startled.

"Why did you come with us to the Navy base?" Tori asked, getting up and walking around her desk. Brent leaned back in his chair uneasily as she approached. "Another spy mission? Maybe you were the one who was responsible for those bastards coming after us. Maybe you were the one who put us all in danger."

"N..no." Brent's eyes widened. "No, no way. Not me." He held his hands up, palms out. "I was scared out my ass out there, no fooling."

Tori's eyes narrowed, and she moved closer, then realized Brent was actually cringing back from her.

From her. Tori's sense of self almost whiplashed back onto itself. The little wiener was actually scared, physically scared, of her.

Her. Tori Vega. It was almost funny, and it distracted her enough to make her back off, and perch on the edge of her desk, arms folded over her chest as she regarded her victim. "Then why did you go?"

Brent stared down at his shoes. "I wanted to see what the hell she was going to do." He finally said, grudgingly.

"Who?" Tori's brow creased. "You mean , Jade?"

He nodded.

Tori rubbed her temples. "I don't understand you."

"S'allright. I don't understand you much, Ms. Vega." Brent replied stolidly. "I don't understand how someone as normal looking as you could be doing what you do. It's not right."

Tori looked down at the carpet, counting to ten silently under her breath. "Brent." She said, when she finished. "Get the fuck out of my office before I throw you out." The sentence came out in one long burst. "I'm not going to fire you only because I don't have any legal grounds to, but if you know what's good for you, you'll find a job somewhere else, quickly."

And he got up and left, never turning around to look at her, just going through the door and closing it behind him and leaving silence in his wake. Tori felt like she was short of breath, so she slowly circled her desk and sat down, pressing the heels of her hands into her head as shivers made their way through her body.

She heard the inner door open, and knew without looking who entered, as the footsteps quickened towards her.

"Tor?"

Jade's hand on her back felt very warm. She lifted her head off her hands and turned it, opening her eyes to see Jade's very concerned visage not far from her nose. "Hi."

"You okay?" Jade actually knelt at her side, somehow managing to remain balanced and graceful despite her skirt and heels and the sling on her arm. "Tor?"

Tori studied Jade's face seriously. "Jade, you know something?"

"What?" Her lover touched an anxious hand to her forehead.

"Life really sucks sometimes." Tori exhaled weightily. "That little pissant bastard Brent was spying for my mother."

Both of Jade's eyebrows jerked straight up and her blue eyes opened very wide. "What?" Abruptly she jerked to her feet and reached for the phone. "That slimy piece of..."

"Buh buh buh..." Tori grabbed the long fingers groping for her buttons. "Whoa... whoa... hang on.. hang on... "

"No I will not hang on. I'm going to call Sinjin and have him shoved into a mainframe multidisc packing box and tossed down the garbage chute." Jade growled fiercely, wrenching her hand free and scrabbling for the phone. "Hell, I'll do it myself..."

"Jade!" Tori almost tackled her, wrapping her arms around Jade's restlessly moving body and physically holding her still. It was like trying to hold a racehorse in one place and she felt herself almost lifted off the ground as she hung on. "Honey, now stop, okay? I already told him to find employment elsewhere."

"I don't want him to find another job. I want him to find another plane of existence." Her boss snarled. "Spying for your mother? Squealing on you on MY payroll? Like hell. I want him out of this damn building by the time I get.. "

"HEY!" Tori hollered the word at the top of her voice. Surprisingly, that worked, bringing both the motion and the vocal ramblings to a halt. Now, only Jade's nostrils flared, in time with the restless twitching of the muscles in her face. "Easy." She gently rubbed Jade's stomach through the silk of her shirt, feeling the surface moving in quick, short jerks. "Easy, there tiger."

Jade let out a hissing breath. "Sorry." She bit off the word, as the red faded from her vision and the scarily savage temper tantrum eased, leaving her shaking a bit. "Wow. How was that for over the top, eh?"

"I think we're both a little overstressed." Tori said, in a quiet voice. "Are you all right?" She knew the answer, though, as the body wrapped in her arms relaxed, and Jade's breathing slowed and steadied. "That's better... whew. This is not a good way to start the week, sweetheart."

"Mm." Jade grunted in agreement. "Okay, so you took care of him, right?"

"Right." Tori kept up her slow stroking of Jade's body. "Now, why are you all charged up?"

"I just threw Jeff Ainsbright out of my office." Jade told her. "And I have a marketing meeting in twenty minutes with Elle and Jose." A pause. "And my arm hurts." She muttered, as almost an afterthought.

Tori straightened Jade's sling with careful fingers. "Okay. So it's a sucky day. How about we go share some nice herbal tea before your meeting, and make a date for a candlelight dinner under the stars in our swing later on?"

"Hmm." Jade hummed in approval. "All right. I like that plan. Let's implement it." She backed off and let Tori move out from behind her desk, then followed her to the office door.

"Whew." Tori took the small towel and wiped the sweat off her face as she ambled over to watch Jade peacefully doing sit ups. Her wife was using the roman chair, hooking her ankles under the padded bars and extending her body backwards over open air. Tori only just resisted the urge to stroke the exposed, muscular thighs or give Jade's glistening abs a tickle.

"Finish your circuit?" Jade asked, not pausing her even motion. She was holding her injured arm in place with her good hand.

"Mmhm." Tori nodded. "Can't you tell from the steam coming off me?" She held her arms out, glancing down at her drenched form with a wry grin. "Feels good, though. I worked off some of my frustration on the leg press."

Jade regarded her fondly, noting the more relaxed expression on Tori's face. She pulled herself upright and unhooked her ankles, then stood up and stretched her body out, appreciating the minor ache of well used muscles. Not being able to use her arm was annoying, but she'd found enough things to do that didn't require the limb to allow her some satisfaction with the night's workout.

And god, she'd needed it. The two meetings she'd had that afternoon had left her tied in knots of frustration, and for the first time in a while she'd found herself really looking forward to burning off some of the twitchy energy in the clean confines of the island's gym.

Not that she really minded exercising - she didn't. But she did it out of a sense of personal responsibility, and the knowledge that somewhere down the line, she'd have to pay for it if she didn't. Tori's presence had made the task enjoyable, in fact, but Jade had never been one of those people who eagerly joined the gym crowd and got carried along with the recent fitness trends.

She liked being strong, though. She liked the sense of presence and power she knew she projected and the fact that she knew she could take care of herself, and Tori too if she needed to. It felt good. Jade regarded the gym thoughtfully. Now if she could only get this damn shoulder fixed. "Feel like a swim?" She indicated the indoor, heated pool.

"Sure." Tori agreed. She followed Jade towards the changing room, exchanging pleasant nods with the few other residents who chose to take advantage of the gym. Two of them she knew casually, from mutual trips to the island's market and other various meetings. One of the other men, a tall, red haired guy about her age had persistently tried to get her to go out until Tori kindly sat him down one day and explained that her dark sandy haired, good looking workout partner wasn't actually the sister he assumed her to be.

Then he'd asked both of them out.

Kinky. Tori shook her head as she unlocked the cedar wood locker she and Jade shared, and removed her swimsuit from it's hook next to her wife's. "Want some help with that sling?"

"Yeah." Jade unwrapped the terrycloth weighted wrist wraps from her arms and tucked them inside the locker, then ducked her head as Tori unfastened her sling and gently removed it. Slowly, she allowed her arm to straighten, lowering it to her side and flexing the muscles carefully. "Eh."

"How is it?" Tori eased the cutoff sleeveless shirt over Jade's head and peered at the skin around her shoulder. The bruising had faded some, going from livid dark blue and purple to a more moderate dull ochre. "Hm.. you know, that looks better. Did Dr. Dodie call you about the x rays?"

Jade nodded. "Yeah." She folded her shirt and put it in the bag they kept for laundry. "He said it was really hard to tell if there was more damage or not, that'd have to wait for the MRI." She shucked off her gym shorts and unhooked her suit. "Give me a hand?"

"Well." Tori obligingly assisted in putting her wife's suit on. "I'd rather take off your clothing than put it on, but you look good in red, so I won't complain." She gave the shoulder strap of the simple but bold one piece a snap, then busied herself putting on her own swimsuit.

She felt Jade's fingers untangle her hair from her suit strap as she adjusted it, and she turned her head to see the fond gaze looking back at her. "What?"

"So, you going to tell me what Dr. Dodie had to say to you?" Jade inquired, with a faint smile. She handed Tori her towel as they closed the locker and made their way towards the glassed in pool, opening the door to a blast of chlorinated air.

Tori sighed. "Nothing I didn't expect to hear." She evaded the question, mildly chagrined at the chastising she'd taken from the kindly Dr. Dodie. "I told you my family's prone to low blood sugar."

"Uh huh." Jade hung her towel on the towel rack and plunged stolidly down the steps into the water, moving through it as though she fully expected it to part before her. "And?"

Tori dove into the deep end, using the excuse of being eight feet under water to give her a chance to compose her answer before she surfaced and shook the wet hair out of her eyes. "And?" She swam over to where Jade was relaxing against the wall. "And I have to watch what I eat and when I eat it, and not let stress wear me out." She shrugged, glancing up to see Jade's steady, blue gaze resting evenly on her face.

One eye brow lifted, just slightly.

Crap. Tori exhaled. "More than it already has." She leaned against the wall next to Jade. "I have a little problem with my blood pressure, too."

"Yeah, I know." Jade remarked mildly. "He called me first."

Tori put her hands on her hips and turned, staring at her in mild outrage. "What?" She blurted. "What happened to patient confidentiality?"

Jade's lips twitched into a small grin. "He also asked me to see if I could get you to stop calling every hour to check on my x-rays."

Tori had taken an indignant breath to continue her mock tirade, and this just made her let it out, a blush covering her face. "Well. I was worried." She muttered, folding her arms across her chest and resuming her slump against the wall.

"Don't be mad at him." Jade bumped her with a shoulder. "He always treats his married patients like that. Figures they come as a package deal."

Honey Brown eyes flicked to Jade's face. "Well, we sort of agreed I had a reason to be so stressed this week. He wants me to come back next month for more tests. Then if things still look icky, we'll have to talk about drugs or whatever." Tori splashed the water a little. "So I need to get back to my regular routine life, because damn it, Jade, I'm too young to start taking half a dozen pills a day."

"Right." Jade agreed. "Even if I have to fire you."

Tori gave her a startled look. "What?"

"You heard me." Her lover replied. "If you think for one second I'm going to stand by and let WesTrek make you sick, you're crazy, Tori. I'll fire you first, and then I'll quit, and we can go cruising in the Caribbean for six months together."

Oo. Tori could almost taste the pina colada. "But I like work." She said, "So do you."

Jade eased in front of her and gave her a serious look. "I like the idea of cutting loose and living life with you more." She replied honestly. "I mean it, Tor. We've been talking about running a new business from a laptop on the bow of the boat. I'm ready for it, if that's what you want to do."

Wow. Tori slowly let her breath out, ruffling the surface of the water as she thought about the idea. "I'm going to have to take a while and think about this, Jade." She said quietly. "That's a big decision."

"Uh huh." Privately, Jade didn't really consider it to be a very big decision at all, but she did understand that Tori, newly promoted and newly minted in her career, might feel very differently than Jade, who'd spent the better part of fifteen years in the whirlwind they worked inside. "Just an option." She added lightly, leaning over and kissing Tori on the nose. "Did you say we had a surprise for dinner?"

Tori set the new thoughts aside for later reflection, and concentrated on the here and now. "Yes." She grinned at Jade. "Something very simple, yet very, very decadent."

"Oh really?" Jade grinned back. "Color me intrigued."

The stars twinkled overhead in a crisp black sky, as a night breeze cooled by a touch of winter blew over the porch. The promised candles were certainly there, hooded from the breeze but letting off the warm smell of scented wax.

Jade and Tori were seated in their swing chair together, a large bowl between them and a bottle on the table nearby. "You're right." Jade sighed in utter contentment, selecting another piece of their dinner and dipping it into melted butter. "Very simple." She sucked the meat off the bit of stone crab claw. "And very, very decadent."

"Mm." Tori agreed, taking a sip from her glass of champagne, and offering Jade some. "Two pounds of stone crabs, and a bottle of bubbly. Can't get any simpler than that." She worried a piece of crab off for herself, and dipped it first into the butter, then into the spicy cocktail sauce before she popped it into her mouth and chewed appreciatively.

"You forgot to mention the flan over there for dessert." Jade sipped the champagne, feeling the pleasant bite of the drink slide down her throat and clear the rich taste of the crab from it. She held out the glass and Tori obligingly refilled it, emptying the bottle in the process. "Oh oh.. did we finish the whole damn thing?"

"Yes." Tori put the bottle down and went back to her shell cracker, feeling a definite buzz. "Got another bottle on ice though." Being just a little drunk felt much better than she'd expected, diffusing the lingering anxiety and allowing her to relax fully against Jade's warm body.

She found a piece of stone crab brushing her lips, covered in butter and she accepted it, sucking the messy sauce off her lips and Jade's fingers, as a low chuckle rumbled through her. The next piece was presented between Jade's teeth, and she shared it willingly, tasting the spices and lingering as Jade showed no desire to move.

Tori circled Jade's neck with one arm and pulled her closer, deepening her kiss as she felt Jade's touch lightly against the skin of her face. They spent a few moments indulging in each other, then parted, trading knowing, darkened gazes. "You know something?" Tori finally murmured, hearing the husky note in her voice that made her blush slightly.

"I know a few things." Jade purred. "One of which is that I intend on dipping every square inch of your body into that butter sauce and licking it off."

Tori turned an appealing shade of crimson. "Oh lord, that wasn't what I expected you to say." She covered her face with one hand.

They both started laughing. "That's what you get for pouring a half bottle of champagne down my throat." Jade admitted, leaning her head against Tori's and snickering. "You should try that at office parties... boy, would I ever be the life of them then."

Tori burst into a helpless giggling.

"Picture me saying that to Jose." Jade rambled on. "He'd probably keel over and end up with his head in the punch bowl."

Tori almost snorted the sip of champagne she'd taken out her nose. She put the glass down and just laughed and laughed, finally winding down to a trickle of chuckles. "You know, I needed that."

"Mm." Jade had her eyes closed, and she was nuzzling Tori's neck. "Me too. C'mere."

"Gladly." Tori set their shared bowl down on the table and moved fully into Jade's embrace, letting the swing wind them closer together and abandoning herself to the surge of sensual passion that fairly swamped her senses.

A gray stripe of dawn crept its way across the boldly colored comforter draped over the two intertwined bodies in the center of the bed. It peeked over the edge of a slim, tanned arm and skittered across a bare, paler shoulder, slinking through rich brown hair before it came up short in a deep blue reflection that greeted it.

Jade blinked sleepily at the intruder laying it's impudent finger across Tori's cheek. Damn blinds. She peered resentfully at the window, identifying the twisted bit of aluminum that was not doing it's job and permitting the stripe access. It was, she fully recognized, time for them to get up, but that thought didn't prod her to stir an inch from her comfortable nest there in the middle of the bed, with Tori's deeply asleep body draped over her. She decided it was much nicer to simply lay still and watch her lover doze, her face and form completely relaxed. Tori's arm was lying over Jade's stomach, and Jade lifted her hand and folded her fingers over Tori's, smiling a little as the blond woman's grip tightened instinctively even in sleep.

Tori could use a few more minutes, Jade decided, studying the still visible lines of strain that creased her lover's expressive face and shadowed her eyes. Hell. She decided, remembering Dr. Dodie concern the day before, to remain snuggled in bed until Tori woke naturally, regardless of the busy schedule the both had planned for the day.

Jade, the doctor had told her, if I had the pressure readings she did today, they'd have put me in Jackson. The voice echoed in her subconscious, making Jade's brow furrow. Could she just force Tori to take time off? Sure, she could, but Jade wasn't sure it was a good idea, much less something she could get away with.

Ironic. All those arguments with her mother about allowing her father to make his own choices in life, when it came to his health, and life. Jade had to grimace a little in self acknowledgement. Boy, does love change things, or what? She felt Tori take a slightly deeper breath and stir, nestling closer with a soft murmur of contentment. An intense, fierce urge to protect her wife fought viciously against the knowledge she had that Tori was an adult woman, intelligent, competent, and fully capable of making her own decisions about herself, her life, and her future.

Rats. Jade scowled at the ceiling. Rats, rats, cats and fruit bats.

"Honey?" Tori's sleepy drawl interrupted her.

"Mm?" Jade cocked her head and regarded her adorable blanket.

"Why are you growling?" Tori inquired.

Jade sighed. "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you up." She forced herself to relax. "Go on back to sleep."

A brown iris appeared, peeking up at her over the curve of her breast. "And be late for work?" Tori inquired. "What will I tell my boss?" She squeezed Jade's fingers lightly. "I could get in a lot of trouble for this."

Jade's face creased into a grin, making her eyes twinkle. "Tell your boss to kiss your ass."

Tori started laughing softly. "She'd enjoy it."

"Shall we test that theory?" Jade started to sit up, carrying Tori with her, and started laughing as the Latina scrambled to pin her back down, carefully handling her injured shoulder.

"Ah ah ah!" Tori managed to gain the upper hand, mostly by simply sitting on Jade's abdomen and pinning her upper arms down.

"Mm." Jade enjoyed the view of her lover's naked body. "On second thought, I can think of other places to kiss."

"Oh, you can, can you?" Tori glanced down. "Well, so can I, now that you mention it." She licked her lips, then almost jumped as a cold nose touched her arm "Yahh!"

"Growf." Chino wagged her tail gently.

Tori ruffled the dog's fur and sighed. "Guess it is time to get up, huh?"

Jade studied her face for a moment. "Nope." She tensed her muscles and heaved, rolling onto her side and tossing a shocked Tori off her and back into the mess of covers. Then she pounced on top of her, rolling her up in a tangle of arms and legs and comforter. "Gotcha."

Tori reviewed her prison, and decided she very much liked it. She snuggled deeper into Jade's embrace with a little grunt of pleasure, and exhaled, allowing the scent of clean laundry and Jade's skin surround her. It felt so nice and safe here. She knew nothing could get at her, and no one could hurt her, here in this place that was hers, and hers alone. She felt Jade start to gently rub the back of her neck and her eyes fluttered closed as she responded to the familiar touch. "You got me, all right." She mumbled into Jade's skin. "How'd I get so lucky?"

The touch stroked her cheek, then, unexpectedly, a low, vibrant voice surrounded her in gentle melody, singing the song Jade had sung at their wedding ceremony. Tori held her breath in delight, listening to every note with a sense of wonder until the voice faded out on the last one, the faintest echo trailing after it.

"Oh." Tori laid her head on Jade's belly, and gazed up at her in total adoration. "That's so beautiful."

Jade blushed slightly, and shrugged a bit. "It was supposed to make you go back to sleep." She scowled engagingly.

"Hm." Tori obediently closed her eyes. "Maybe if you sing it again?"

And sure enough, Tori felt the sweet music lift her up and take her away, coaxing her back into slumber with very little effort.

Jade felt Tori's body slump against hers and she finished her song, idly playing with a lock of brown hair as she bemusedly considered her decent into utter mushdom. She turned her head and glanced at Chino, who was resting her muzzle on the bed's bolster, giving her a soulful look. "What do you think, have I turned into a softie?"

Chino's tail wagged, and she licked Jade's arm affectionately.

"Yeah? I sure have, huh?" Jade stroked the dog's head with one hand, and returned Tori's clasp with the other. "Is that because I love my family, Chino? You and Tori? Are you my family?"

Chino hopped up onto the bed and settled down next to Jade, rocking the surface of the water bed as she snuggled up against Jade's left side.

"I guess that's a yes." Jade reviewed her adorable blond clan, with a feeling of quiet satisfaction. "My family." She repeated. "And maybe a little baby too…Y'know, I think I like that."

Peace settled over the room, as the dawn light spread into the rosy glow of sunrise. Chino sighed. Tori mumbled something in her sleep.

"Maybe I'll take up knitting." Jade addressed the air seriously. Then she yelped as a very sensitive part of her anatomy was gently, but firmly gripped in neat, white teeth and nibbled. "Yow!"

Chino's head popped up in alarm. Tori chuckled, and settled back down to nap. "Knit that, granny." She burred. "Your family, and any future little ones we may bring into it loves you too."

"Hey Tor." Andre stuck his head inside Tori's office, spotting his target entrenched behind her desk and monitor.

"Hey." Tori looked up in surprise. "What brings you here?"

Andre took this as permission to enter, and he did, crossing the floor and seating himself opposite Tori. He was dressed in a well tailored business suit, and looked somewhat more formal than Tori was used to seeing him. "A job interview."

Tori's jaw almost dropped. "What?"

Her friend grinned. "You heard me. You guys were advertising for a payables manager, so..." he lifted both hands. "Here I am to apply."

"B... when's your interview? Who are you interviewing with, Lou Draefus?" Tori spluttered. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just had it." Andre advised her, with a smile. "And I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to put a fix in for me, which I figured you could."

Tori just looked at him. "I wouldn't have had to. You're more than qualified, Dre."

Andre nodded. "I know - so were you." he exchanged wry looks with Tori. "Don't be mad. I really just decided to do it at the last minute a few days ago, when you were out of town. Call me impulsive."

"I didn't think you wanted to work for us." Tori leaned back, trying to absorb the news.

"Are you kidding? It's the playroom… besides I miss you."

" I'm glad you applied...how did it go?"

Andre's eyes twinkled. "I start two weeks from yesterday."

Tori laughed. "You ass! Get out of here!" She was glad, though. Life had been so hectic the last few months, she'd lost touch with Andre, and found herself missing her friend's cheerful good nature. "That's great, Dre. At least we'll get to see each other now."

"I was thinking the same thing." Andre agreed. "Matter of fact, you up for lunch, or do they feed you under the door in this mausoleum?" he teased.

Lunch. Tori glanced at her PC's clock. "Ah... it is that time of the day, isn't it? I was waiting for Jade to get back from her client briefing. Hang on." Tori popped a message box up and typed into it, then hit send. Moments later an answer came back. "Ouch. Jade's stuck on an overseas conference call." A few more keystrokes, then Tori stood up and pulled her jacket from it's perch on her chair and slipped it on. "C'mon, let's go down. She'll join us if she finishes up."

They left Tori's office and walked down the hallway to the elevators. Sinjin joined them a moment later, pulling the sleeves down on his coat. "Hey, Tori."

"Hey. We're headed down to lunch.. you going?" Tori greeted him cordially. "What's up?"

Sinjin gave her a wry look. "Brent resigned."

"Ah." Tori felt a vindictively sharp sense of satisfaction. She had no intention of letting anyone else know of Brent's second job, though she figured Sinjin suspected something had gone on between them, but she couldn't keep a grim smile from crossing her face.

They entered the elevator and let the doors close. "So." Sinjin cleared his throat. "How are ya, Andre? Long time no see."

Andre glanced at Tori, then nodded. "That's about to change. They just hired me on here, in accounting." He told Sinjin. "I finally succumbed and was assmiliated."

Sinjin chuckled. "Yeah? Cool. Wait, we can stop on ten and get you your implants." He glanced down at the carpet, then looked furtively at Tori. "How's the boss doing? Arm any better?"

"A little, yeah." Tori was glad to shift the subject. "I have to take her over to get an MRI after work, and she was griping about that, which in a way is good because it means she's feeling better." She told them, as the doors opened on the bottom floor.

They joined a crowd moving towards the café, and Tori found herself relaxing and looking forward to the lunchtime talk with her companions. It had been a good morning, and she'd been very pleased with the status reports at her operations meeting. Her projects were on schedule, and the two tough issues she'd been struggling over before she'd left for Connecticut had cleared, almost like magic.

Things were good. Tori paused, waiting for her food to be handed over the counter to her, and glanced around the large room, exchanging smiles with several people and returning a wave from Cat.

Yeah. Tori thanked the server for her arroz con pollo and tostones and put it on her tray, then selected a bottle of cranberry juice and joined Sinjin at the register. "We need to have a side meeting about the resources for Jade's project X." She reminded the MIS Director. "I want to have those budget projections ready by next week."

"You got it." Sinjin grinned at her. "Hey. Glad you're back." He picked up his tray and went in search of a table for them.

"This place isn't half bad." Andre complimented her, setting down his tray of pepper steak over rice. "One heck of a lot better than Life Sim, I"ll say that."

"Sure." Tori paid for both of their lunches in one smooth swipe of her credit card. "Jade eats here. One thing she will not put up with is bad food." She led Andre over to the table Sinjin had staked out and set her tray down, then slid into a seat.

"Hey, did you hear about that hacker attack on Microsoft's website?" Sinjin asked, taking up a forkful of rice.

"Another one?" Tori had to chuckle. "No, tell me about it."

Jade listened to the argument coming through her speaker phone, idly surfing as she sifted through the various viewpoints of the international operations group. Unlike her domestic division, the international entities were used to local self control, and generally resisted attempts to change their ways coming from her office.

Or, Jade clicked over to Google .com and browsed the banner ads, at least they did initially. Her first couple of meetings with them as CIO hadn't been pretty, and two international managers had resigned in a huff, only to recind their resignation several days later when Jade didn't immediately fly overseas to plead with them not to.

Oo. Jade clicked on a link to Godiva chocolate. Holiday specials. I like holiday specials. "No." She glanced at the phone and interjected for the first time in several minutes. "We're not investing in that much infrastructure if we have to bring it in from here. Find local suppliers."

"But Jade, I tell you it's not possible." The expected protest replied. "Everything's in very short supply here! It will cost us a fortune!"

"Shipping and customs from here will cost me a fortune." Jade retorted. "We've got contracts that stipulate we provision locally, and you know it, so get off your ass and go find the stuff."

There was a moment's silence on the line, and she returned her attention and clicked through the website. "Mm." She spotted a box of truffles she suspected Tori would die for, and put them in her electronic shopping cart. Then she clicked over to a site which featured high tech desk toys, and browsed the stress relief section. "Well?" She barked at the phone.

"I'll see what I can do." The resigned answer came back.

"Jade." Another voice interjected. "We've been told we're subject to power outages for the next month."

Click, click. Jade ordered two more items. "Yeah?" She threw the word out. "And?"

A pause. "We'll have to shut down."

Jade glanced at the phone. "No you don't." She scowled. "Crank your generators up, David. What the hell do you think they're there for?"

"Well, we can't." David Elsmere admitted. "The big one's out of commission, and we're on a waiting list for the replacement parts."

Jade leaned forward, getting closer to the phone and deepening her voice. "And you waited until now to tell me this why, exactly?"

David paused awkwardly. "I thought the parts would get here."

A silent curse. "Send me a list." Jade growled.

"I thought we could not import things!" The first voice interrupted. "Is that not what you said, Jade?"

Jade felt her lip twitch into a snarl and she opened her mouth to answer, then closed it, pinched the bridge of her nose and counted to ten, picturing Tori's face as she did so. Then she exhaled and opened her eyes. "You can send me a list too, Pierre." She replied in a pleasant tone. "As long as you don't mind me taking the handling fees out of your salary to send you what you need."

A grumpy silence followed. "Now, if you all are done whining, I've got another meeting to go to." Jade concluded. She listened to the grumbling assents, then released the line. "Yeah, yeah yeah." She sighed, and shook her head, finalizing her order online and sending it on it's way. Chocolates and a little Catbert and Ratbert stress beanbags, with a wall Velcro target would make a nice surprise present for Tori, she decided, pleased with her choices.

"Okay. That's done." Jade reviewed her inbox, searching for a few more sticky issues Tori was involved in that she could clear for her behind the scenes, and found none. "Guess that means lunch." She closed her mail program out and stood up, stretching her body out and flexing her hands. Her shoulder twinged a little, but not nearly as badly as it had a few days prior, and she found herself hoping she'd get away with little more than another prescription for therapy after her test later on.

Maybe she'd get really lucky, and something huge would break, making it necessary for her to cancel the appointment without getting scolded by Tori.

Jade nibbled the inside of her lip as she headed for her office door.

"Lie down, please."

Jade exhaled in resignation, and did as she was asked, wincing as the cold table impacted the bare skin on her back. She watched unhappily as the technician arranged machinery over her and wished fervently she was elsewhere.

"Hey." Tori appeared and leaned on the table, taking her hand and squeezing it. "This won't take long."

"It's already taking too long." Jade griped.

"Hm." Tori leaned closer. "Okay, suppose I take your mind off it by asking you what the hell you thought you were doing getting involved in my projects?"

The distraction worked quite thoroughly. Jade turned her head away from the tech, and focused her attention completely on Tori. "I was exercising my prerogative as CIO of WesTrek to expedite technical issues I feel need expediting." She replied, quietly and precisely. "Do you have an issue with that?"

Tori blinked, caught a little off guard by the response. "I could have handled those myself." She countered, with a touch more caution.

"Are you questioning my judgment?" Jade snapped right back, pinning her with a stare.

Tori released her hand and straightened, stepping back a pace in reflex. "Hey. Sorry I brought it up." She replied quietly. "Never mind. Thanks for the help."

Jade glanced away, then back at her, with shadowed blue eyes. "I know you could have handled it, Tori. I was just trying to take some of the stress off you, that's all." She said, shifting a little as the technician prepared to start the machine up.

Tori backed out of the way, as the machine started its work, swallowing a sick churning in her guts from pure emotional reaction. She was caught between indignation at Jade's intervention, and the intellectual knowledge that Jade was, in fact, absolutely correct about her right to do what she did.

She watched Jade's hands curl into fists as the machine made noise. She could see the tension making the tendons stand out along her wife's arms. Jesus, Tori. She quietly chastised herself. She did you a favor, okay? Chill the hell out and just be grateful she cares so damn much about you.

The machine stopped, and the tech swung it away, then repositioned something. "Be right back." He patted Jade on the shoulder before he walked over to the console.

Tori edged back over to the table. She waited for Jade to turn her head and look at her, the blue eyes wary and somewhat cool. "Sorry." She murmured. "That was over the line and disrespectful, and I apologize." She paused for a breath. "Boss."

Jade's nostrils twitched, and she blinked, a tiny shiver of motion going down her mostly bare body as she relaxed. One brow lifted slightly. "Yeah, well.. it's not like professional motives were behind it anyway." She admitted, peeking up at Tori's face. "But I'm not apologizing for doing it, and don't ask me to promise not to do it again."

Tori gazed at her, admiring Jade's complete self confidence and utter sense of presence despite being half naked on a hospital bench with little bits of tape sticking to her. "Okay." She replied softly, as the tech started back over to them. She lifted Jade's hand up and kissed the back of her hands, maintaining eye contact with her. "Thank you for caring, Jade."

This time, the blue eyes watched her as she backed off, never leaving her face as the machine whirred and clanked and buzzed. Tori smiled a little, and watched a twinkle enter Jade's gaze and her knotted insides relaxed from their unexpected conflict. Okay. She exhaled in relief. We're okay. The thought of being estranged from Jade right now...

Terrified her. Tori acknowledged soberly, folding her arms over her chest and feeling the tremor in her hands as she tucked them against her body.

"Hey." Jade's voice broke the mechanical whisperings. Tori looked up at her in question. "C'mere." The sandy haired woman requested.

Seeing that the test was over, Tori complied, leaning up against the padded table again as the technician pulled away the MRI machinery. "Yes, ma'am?"

Jade lifted her good arm and touched Tori's cheek. "There is nothing I would not do to protect you, Tori. Even if that means you get mad at me." She said, very gently. "So, please. Just trust me, okay? I do know what I'm doing."

Trust you. Tori gazed down at her thoughtfully. "The last person I trusted to know what was best for me was my mother." She replied. "That was a hard lesson to learn."

There was quiet compassion in Jade's eyes. "I'm not your mother."

Tori nodded. "I know. " She paused in silence, searching her heart. "And I do trust you. I always have." She helped Jade sit up and hop off the table, adjusting to the change in their orientation as Jade suddenly towered over her. "Jade?"

"Mm?" Jade looked up from her task of easing her shirt back on.

"Why is it we choose weird places in hospitals to have these little heart to heart chats?" Tori asked wryly, taking over the task of buttoning, aware of the covert glances from the staff on the other side of the room.

"You started it." Jade answered, with a tiny chuckle. "Hey, at least it kept me from thinking about that stupid machine." She left her shirt untucked from her jeans, which Tori helpfully fastened for her. "But we could go someplace quiet and continue the discussion, if you want - there's a little outdoor café near here that I used to hang out at."

"Sure." Tori readily agreed. "That sounds great, but we don't have to continue the subject." She tucked a hand around Jade's arm. "Do you need to stay and talk to the doctor?"

"No." Jade shook her head. "She's not here. She said she'd review the results and call me tomorrow." Gravely, she accepted a slip of paper from the technician, and they left, making their way out of the labyrinth of corridors and out into the cool, clear San Feransisco night.

Tori fit her hand into Jade's as they walked along the sidewalk, content to follow where Jade led her, as the strains of latin music echoed through the night air.

Tori sat back and took a sip of her beer, as they waited for their dinner to be delivered. She found herself liking the little café, which was more a burger joint than pasta fagioli type of place. But then, knowing Jade, and knowing how she'd grown up, that should not have surprised Tori. Here, the menu featured double cheeseburgers and onion rings, milk shakes and chili dogs, and the healthiest thing she could find was the lettuce and tomato as a promised burger garnish.

Ah well. But the beer was good, cold, and on tap, and she slid down a little in her chair, crossing her ankles and resting her elbows on the scarred wooden arms. "This place has been around a long time." She noted, eyeing the sign on the wall. "Established 1965."

"Yeap." Jade hooked a leg over her chair arm and rested her head against it's back, with a relaxed smile on her face. "Dad and I used to come here sometimes, after he picked me up from martial arts practice." She reflected idly on that sweeter, simpler time. "They used to have a punching bag machine up at the front of the place, and the guys that hung out here would take turns trying to get the highest score on it, placing bets and stuff - you know."

Tori exhaled, and shook her head a little. "No, I don't." She told Jade. "I was never even in a bar until I went to college." She turned her glass in her hand and viewed the deep golden liquid. "My mother wouldn't have stepped foot in a place like this."

Jade watched her quietly. "Well." She availed herself of the basket of salsa and warm chips the server had put down. "You know, maybe it was the age difference that mattered too, Tor. Mom, Dad and I are a lot closer in years than you were with your parents."

Tori considered that thoughtfully. "Maybe." She shrugged. "But to be honest, I don't think it would have made one bit of difference, Jade. We had nothing in common, and they never viewed me as anything other than a pawn in their big old game." She gave the server a smile as he put down a platter in front of her with a pair of chili cheese dogs and a pile of French fries. "Thanks."

"My pleasure, little lady." The man cheerfully told her, his grizzled beard creasing into a smile. "Want a refill on the suds?"

"Sure." Tori handed her empty glass back, then turned to watch Jade carefully centering her cheeseburger platter, pushing the fries to one side and edging the pile of toppings out of the way. "In fact, you know I never even had fast food until I left home for college?"

Jade looked up. "You're kidding?"

"Nope." Tori shook her head and picked up a chili dog, biting into its end with relish. She put it down and wiped her fingers and mouth with a paper napkin as she chewed the messy treat.

"What you didn't miss." Jade munched a french fry. "We could live that way, though - if you really want to. "

Tori gave her a look.

"Just making the offer." Jade smiled. "It took me such a long time to get used to having money. We were always just scraping by when I was growing up - I remember just looking at my bank account after the first profitable quarter of the business, and totally not believing what the damn thing said."

"Did you celebrate?" Tori took another bite of her hot dog.

Jade's gaze unfocused, and she stared off into the distance for a few seconds. "No." She finally said, bringing her eyes back to Tori's face. "At that point in my life, I had no friends, really, to celebrate with. I think I opened a bottle of champagne and just went down to the beach by myself." A thoughtful pause. "It was so meaningless, at the time. Just one of my goals achieved by whatever means I felt necessary."

The server came back with Tori's beer, and put it down, then put down a basket of onion rings. He gave them both a grin, then left.

Tori picked up a hot ring and put it on Jade's plate. "You know what I think?"

"What?" Jade accepted the offering and picked it up, twirling it around her index finger.

"I think our present, and our future are one hell of a lot better than either of our pasts." Tori lifted her glass, and held it up. "And for that, I'm grateful to God, and to you."

Jade went very still for an instant, then she exhaled and put the ring down, lifting her root beer up and touching her glass to Tori's. "Likewise."

They both smiled, and took sips.

"Now." Tori put her glass down and nibbled on a fry. "I think we were planning an island beach party, weren't we? Like, for this weekend? Because let me tell you, I could sure use a good party."

Jade grinned. "I think that could be arranged." She took a bite out of her onion ring. "And after going down to the base on Friday when Gerry announces the outsourcing, I bet I'll be in need of a party myself." She took another bite, enjoying the crisp, spicy batter. "Won't be pretty."

"No." Tori studied her lover intently. "There's really no going back after that, is there?"

Jade shook her head. No going back. She would cross the line from the kid that grew up on the base to the bitch who ripped it apart, all in the space of the time it took for Gerald Oliver to make the announcement. Part of her honestly mourned the knowledge. A more perverse part of her was looking forward to the moment, when she'd neatly select a vicious victory out of what must seem to Ainsbright and his group total failure.

"Can I come down there with you?" Tori's soft voice interrupted her musing. "I'd like to be there."

Jade blinked. "Of course." She replied. "I wanted you to be there." A faint smile. "After all, I committed your entire operation to expanding by thirty five percent. "

Your operation. Tori nodded a tiny bit in confirmation. "So you did." She agreed gravely. "And wait till you see the budget you're going to have to sign off on for me to pull this off for you." A grin.

Jade winced. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

"Oh yes, you most certainly are." Tori wagged a finger at her.

Jade placed an onion ring on the finger, and lifted her glass. They clinked edges again, and smiled.

Jade glanced over her shoulder at the gathering twilight, and let out a sigh of satisfaction, flexing her hands and looking over the paper she'd been scribbling on. It was Wednesday, halfway to the party, she was almost done with work, and she had a pleasant night at the gym planned and waiting.

With some strawberries and cream to follow.

Now, if she could just get her damn shoulder to cooperate and heal, she'd be alright. Jade shifted, and experimentally lifted her arm, wincing as she reached halfway, and quickly putting it down again. Damn.

She fiddled with her pen, then sighed and went back to work, filling out a network plan with small notated symbols whose meaning was really only clear to Jade. The intercom buzzed, however, interrupting her. "Yes?"

"Jade, I have your doctor on linha dois." Mariela's voice filtered through.

Jade's lip curled up into a grimace, and she briefly considered pleading absence to avoid the call. "Put him through, Mariela." She finally said, reluctantly. There was a click, then Dr. Dodie's voice boomed into her office.

"Hey there, Jade!"

"Hi." Jade replied warily. "What's up?"

"Got your test results back." Dr. Dodie said. "Thought maybe you'd be interested in hearing about them."

"Not really." Jade mumbled.

A soft laugh. "C'mon, now, Jade. When are you going to grow up and stop being so scared of us little old harmless MD's?"

"When you stop poking me with pins and putting me in machines to look at my insides." Jade answered, getting up and pacing a few steps to relieve a suddenly pent up tension. "Well?"

"Well what?" Dr. Dodie replied innocently.

Jade glared at the phone in silence.

"Oh, so you do want to hear about it?" Her doctor teased. "Okay, okay, rugrat. It doesn't have to come off, so just sit your rump down and relax."

"Mmph." Jade took a seat on the edge of her desk. "But?"

"But nothing. Get your butt in for therapy, you little scaredy cat, so you can get that arm fixed before it freezes like that."

Jade dropped her head back and gazed up at the vaulted ceiling of her office in utter relief. She'd been so damn sure she was headed for arthroscopic surgery, and had been steeling herself for that. "Thanks."

A chuckle. "Feel better now?"

"Yeah." Jade admitted. "My life didn't need any more complications at the moment."

"Mm. How's Tori doing?" Dr. Dodie asked.

How was Tori doing? Jade considered the question. Tori had gotten a good night's sleep the night before, and had woken Jade up that morning by tickling her half to death, her spirits apparently edging back towards their normal buoyancy. "I think she's doing all right." She told the doctor.

"You giving her plenty of TLC?" Dr. Dodie asked.

Jade took a breath to answer, then looked up to see Tori leaning against the doorsill, arms crossed, brown eyes twinkling in amusement.

"I like to think so." Jade finally muttered, realizing she was blushing at being caught red handed, so to speak. She was saved by Tori walking over and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Yes, she certainly is, Dr. Dodie ." Tori announced. "Thanks for asking, but I feel better already, just getting back to work and my usual routine." She added firmly. "And spending time taking care of little partner here."

"Little?" Jade stood up and towered over her. "Listen, shrimp boat..."

"Hey.. that reminds me. Gumbo this weekend?" Tori neatly circumvented the teasing. "Hey, Dr. Dodie.. we're having a party this weekend, you interested?"

"Well, now, Tori..." Dr. Dodie demurred.

"My folks'll be there." Jade spoke up. "I know they'd love to have you by." She considered. "Are we going to have room on that island for all these people?"

"All right.. we'd love to come by, Jade." Dr. Dodie said. "I"ll give your daddy a call, see what he's got up his sleeve for this here party. Now you go call that therapist, rugrat, right now!"

"I will." Jade promised, as he hung up. She looked up to see Tori studying her with hopeful curiosity. "What?"

A look of uncertainty crossed Tori's face. "I.. um.." Her eyes dropped, and she took a step back. "Nothing. I just came to see if you finished reviewing those budget requests."

Jade reached out and caught her arm, then she tugged Tori back closer. "Damn." She murmured. "And here I was thinking you just wanted to find out if I was going to have my arm amputated."

Jadek lashes fluttered, as Tori blinked, then fastened her eyes on Jade's face. "I don't want you think I'm prying." She finally said quietly. "I think I went a little overboard there, right?"

Jade swiveled around and faced her, taking her other hand in her own. "No. What makes you say that?" She asked curiously. "I told you Dr Dodie treats us like any other married couple. You think my mom wouldn't call up to ask about my dad?"

Tori exhaled, and moved closer, bumping her thighs against Jade's knees. "I know. I just felt like I crossed a line yesterday, and I don't want to do that again."

Ah. Jade nibbled the inside of her lip. "That was work." She tried a faint shrug. "This isn't."

Tori nodded, accepting that. "I know. It's hard to keep those parts of us separate sometimes." She admitted. "It used to be a lot easier, but lately... I have to keep reminding myself of how I'm supposed to act around you when we're here."

Jade had actually noticed that, in meetings especially. Tori had started to interact with her during them as she normally would at home, and it had caused quite a few startled looks from the rest of the staff at the very least. The first few times it had thrown her for a loop a little, but she'd gotten used to it, just like the rest of them had, and now she found herself feeling uncomfortable with Tori's awkward formality instead.

"Relax." Jade reassured her lover, with a smile. "I like it when you act like we're home."

Tori blinked. "You do?" She hesitated. "But yesterday..."

"But yesterday, you caught me naked on a hospital table and I guarantee I'd have snapped at you if all you asked me was for an extra allocation of toilet paper for the staff bathroom." Jade reminded her. "Listen, we don't usually have a problem."

Tori relaxed a little. "I know." She squeezed Jade's hands. "It was just a reality check." She glanced around the office. "I think we lose track of things sometimes. Like what if someone walked in right now?"

Jade glanced at the door, then back at her. "Anyone who walked in here without knocking first would have a lot more to worry about than seeing you and I holding hands." She stated flatly.

"Jade." Tori had to laugh a bit.

"I'm very serious." Her boss insisted.

"I know." Tori gave in and leaned against her. "It's been a long day, and I've been a very good nerd since early this morning. Can we go play now?"

Jade kissed her head. "We sure can."

They were both silent for a moment, then Tori sighed. "I'm sorry. I think I'm still a little out of it." She murmured, resting her head against Jade's shoulder. "Can I have a hug?"

Easiest request she'd had all day. Jade stood up and put her arms around Tori, hugging her close and rubbing her back through the soft silk of her blouse. "I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the weekend to be here."

"Mm." Tori nodded against her chest. "For your birthday party."

"Christmas party." Jade corrected instantly.

One brown eye appeared. "Christmas doesn't rate double fudge mousse cheesecake." She stated. "I guess we'll have to settle for fruitcake, huh?"

Jade gave her a pathetically wounded look. "Fruitcake!" She stuck her tongue out. "Might as well serve bran muffins." She groaned. "Toriiiii..."

"Oh, stop that." Tori started laughing as she lifted a hand to cover her lover's mouth. "Of course I'm going to make your BIRTHDAY CAKE." She pronounced loudly. "And get you a BIRTHDAY CARD, and make sure everyone here sings you HAPPY BIRTHDAY."

Jade smiled against the palm covering her lips. She waited for Tori to remove her hand, then she leaned over and kissed her lover gently on the lips. "I know." She rested her forehead against Tori's. "You know, I think I'm looking forward to that. Have you heard my father sing?"

Tori shook her head. "No, no I haven't. Does he sing like you?" She found herself fascinated with Jade's thick eyelashes, watching them contrast against her tanned skin and pale, icy eyes.

"Mmhm. Just don't get him started on tavern songs." Jade kissed her again, just for the sheer pleasure of it. "You know, like 'Sixteen pirates on a dead man's chest, yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.." She broke into song, her strong voice dropping into an eardrum vibrating note on the last word.

"Oo." Tori wriggled against her. "I love when you do that."

Jade's eyebrow lifted. "I love when you do that." She stole another kiss, then had to reluctantly remind herself she was sitting in her office, and all her proclamations to the contrary, anyone really could walk in.

Not fair. "All right, let's pack it in, and get going." Jade gave her a pat on the arm. "Before something else breaks and we get stuck here."

Tori licked her lips thoughtfully. "I could bring down Plano's front end processors." She offered, as she wandered back towards the inner door. "If you promise to keep kissing me like that while we're trapped fixing it."

Jade just threw her a look and laughed.