now things have calmed down, we're getting to a sweet celebration and the closing of the story. One more chapter left and we move on to Outlaw Sea.

Forty-Four

Tori hopped down from the driver's seat of Jade's Volvo, and closed the door behind her, taking a moment to check her reflection in the side mirror and tug her linen jacket straight. A no nonsense, stern expression looked back at her, appropriate to the occasion that brought them back to the Navy base.

Nearby, Alastair was getting out of a Range Rover that also contained General Oliver, and the mood that settled over everyone was decidedly cool and businesslike. Even General Oliver's aide was looking pretty grim as she emerged, tucking a slim briefcase under her arm.

Jade came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, and Tori turned, reviewing her lover's iron gray over black silk business suit with a nod of approval. "You look slick."

"Thanks." Jade ran her hand through her hair, and pulled the edges of it out from under the collar of the jacket she'd just settled over her shoulders.

Tori lifted a hand without thinking and arranged the necklace Jade was wearing, pulling it out from under her shirt into the light. She paused as she saw the flicker of bemusement cross her wife's face, and realized they were probably being watched. "Whoops."

Jade just chuckled. The necklace was an early birthday present, which Tori had surprised her with last night. It was a thin, serpentine gold chain with a gorgeous charm on it, a microchip rendered in platinum, gold and diamond chips, with tracings of ruby and jade. It had an inscription on the back, her name and a short verse she suspected Tori had written, and she loved the piece dearly. It was just so classy, and so incredibly nerdish, like wearing one of the new appleWatch.

Which they really didn't have in her favorite color yet.

Yet.

"We ready?" Jade left off this pleasant contemplation, and glanced over Tori's slate blue clad shoulder at her boss. Alastair was wearing one of his standard issue dark gray double breasted business suits, complete with company tie tack. He was wearing a black tie, though - making Jade wonder if he was color coordinating with her on purpose.

"Yes, ma'am." Alastair nodded briskly. He'd arrived in San Francisco early that morning, and after a quick meeting in Jade's office they'd started on the drive down south. Now he cocked his head and looked up at Jade. "You ready for this, JW? I know these are old stomping grounds of yours."

Jade let her eyes run over the monochrome buildings, and the familiar contours for a moment. "Yeah." She responded briefly, as she watched a small cluster of children running in the field beyond the fence that marked the base's active boundary. "I'm not the bad guy here."

They walked together towards the administration building, watched warily by sentries who saluted the General but didn't impede their progress for even a second. General Oliver led the way upstairs, followed by his civilian brigade. Heads turned as they came down the administrative hallway, eyes going first to the military man in the lead, then slipping uneasily past to glance off Jade's frosty glare.

Oliver went straight to the base's large briefing room and opened the door, gesturing them inside. "Let me go grab the brass." He stated, meeting Jade's eyes over Alastair's head. "We'll make this short and sweet."

Jade waited for the door to close behind him, then she walked over to the window and looked out, as the rest of the group gathered around the large wooden table. It was strange, really. She'd expected to feel like such a traitor coming in here, knowing the changes that were going to happen because of her.

But she didn't.

The little scum sucking bastards had messed with her childhood home. Jade watched the quadrangle below, allowing herself to be lost in a brief memory of a long ago summer afternoon, when she'd run across that very strip of grass as fast as she could, to meet the figure in fatigues coming down the steps fresh off a mission she still had no idea of the subject of.

The door opened, and Jade waited a moment, then turned around to see Jeff Ainsbright and Commander Albert entering. Jeff was already in full diatribe, which cut off as he looked up to meet her gaze.

Fargo would have been warmer. But that was okay, because Jade knew her own expression must be glacial, just from the reaction she glimpsed on Tori's face. She took a few steps forward, and let her hands drop to rest on the back of the chair at the head of the table. "Have a seat." She took the lead effortlessly. "This won't take long."

Gerald Oliver gave her a wry look as he closed the door and entered, circling the table to join Jade and Alastair at the head end, while Tori stood quietly with the General's aide off to one side. "As Jade said.." Oliver stated, putting a hand on Jade's shoulder. 'This wont' take long."

That one little motion should have warned them. Tori watched Ainsbright's face go from angry to wary, to downright frightened in the space of a few breaths.

"This is Alastair Rosenthal, the Chairman of WesTrek, who joined us at my request." General Oliver went on.

To his credit, Jeff tried to rally. "Then I've got some serious complaints to level at you, sir." He started to get up. "I want you to know..."

"Siddown, Jeff." General Oliver interrupted him.

Ainsbright paused, then subsided.

"Let's cut to the chase here." Gerry stated. "We all know the facts. The facts wont' be laid out here, or anywhere else, for that matter."

Utter relief on Ainsbright's face, along with the Captains. "Damn straight, General. I knew this whole project was a mistake from the start. I told you it was, and now I'm glad to see common sense is taking over and putting things right."

"Agreed, Sir." Albert nodded briskly. "Though I'm sure our... guests here have some recommendations, which we'll take under advisement." He gave Jade a pleasant, completely triumphant smile.

Jade smiled back. "Oh yeah." She rumbled softly. "That we do."

"Yes." General Oliver smoothly interrupted, and took the meeting back over. "One of the goals of this project was to identify areas where improvements could be made, and WesTrek has done an admirable job of laying out in specific this information."

Tori accepted her cue, and walked over to the table, placing a neatly bound report on it, then taking a step back and clasping her hands in front of her. "Our operations group has performed a detailed analysis of the total infrastructure of the facility, and the programming and network specific applications being used." She stated. "We also ran an intelligent scanner over the base code, and provided a fully structured report on where we found deficiencies."

"Now, hold on." Commander Albert stood up. "Those programs work just fine."

"Those programs are older than I am." Tori replied calmly. "And my grandmother could have broken into your network layer given a screwdriver and an Altair."

Jade had to really, really concentrate hard to keep the laugh that was rumbling inside her chest from emerging.

The Commander just stared at Tori, open mouthed.

"Precisely why the Joint Chiefs have decided, based on the available information, that it's time for the Navy to truly update all its systems. " General Oliver said. "Pursuant to that, we've awarded a complete outsourcing contract to WesTrek for the entire data system structure, network wide for the service."

Dead silence.

"So." General Oliver went on. "You gentlemen will be seeing some changes coming down the pike. I expect everyone here to cooperate with Mr. Rosenthal's team, and provide all assistance in effecting a very... " He stared at them. "Smooth transition. Am I clear on that?"

It was interesting, Tori decided, watching just how clearly the words "oh shit' could form above two people's heads without them saying a single syllable. "I'll need a contact name." She said quietly. "When my operations teams start coming in next week."

"I'm sure you'll get one, Ms. Vega." General Oliver gave her a grim smile. "Now, if you ladies and gentlemen will excuse us, I've got some matters I need to discuss with Commander Ainsbright." He held out a hand to Alastiar. " Alastair, a pleasure as always. "

"We'll get things squared away for you in short order, Gerry." Alastair shook his hand firmly. "You know I've got the best in the business on this project." He gave Ainsbright and the Commander one of his cheerful, business smiles. "Gentlemen. Looking forward to working with you. Jade? After you."

Jade led the way out, so she was the first to get to the door just as Albert did. He stared at her with a look of complete and total loathing.

"You... " His voice was low.

"Won." Jade held the door for him. He met her eyes for a long moment, then turned and walked out. Jade let out a contented sigh and followed him, with Alastair and Tori behind her. They paused in the hallway and regrouped, as the base traffic meandered by them. "So."

Alastair put his hands behind him and rocked back and forth. "That didn't take nearly as long as I expected. I forgot how easy it all is when you're in the military. The General gives an order, and that's that. Imagine what it would be like if our company was like that, hmm?"

Tori and Jade looked at him. Tori scratched her jaw, while Jade found something vaguely interesting on a nearby pin up board.

"Or does that explain why our operations group is so efficient?" Alastair asked, wryly. "Well, it would be a novel experience for ME at any rate."

Jade smiled at him. "You flying back today?"

"I planned to, yes." Her boss replied. "Unless you can give me a reason not to."

Jade glanced around, then back at him. "Want to come to my birthday party?" She offered, mildly. "It's tomorrow."

Alastair's jaw was hanging open. He closed it with a slight click of molars. "Well, I... " He spluttered, as they turned and started walking down the hall. "Sure, Jade." He finally rallied. "I'd love to."

Tori walked a pace behind them, smiling to herself.

The city lights flickered in the background as the Bertram bobbed lightly up and down in its berth. Ceci paused as she made her way out onto the stern, where Jim and Gerry Oliver were seated, and reflected on just how unlikely this scenario would have ever seemed to her before.

Oh, get togethers with the Olivers was one thing. That had always been fun, and a highlight of an otherwise stagnant social agenda. But hosting Gerry on the back of a luxury yacht, one which actually belonged to her and James?

No way. Ceci set the tray down with its burden of beer bottles and took hers while her husband and the General did the same. She sat down in the third deck chair and propped her feet up on the diving locker nearby, letting out a long breath of amazed contentment. No way.

She'd known going in with Jim that she'd never be kept in the way she'd been accustomed to. That was something she'd dealt with long years back, and it never really had been an issue for her. Sure, she'd wished sometimes they'd had more money, for little things, and larger ones like perhaps a private school for Jade.

But even that had turned out all right, with Jade making it to college easily on her own, her SAT scores guaranteeing her the academic scholarship program of her choice. They'd gotten by, they had, saving for the things they had to have and not really missing the things they couldn't get around to.

Her paintings had given them the ability to splurge once in a while, though - she'd never been really mainstream popular, but since she never put out a lot of work, there was a segment of the trade that coveted her stuff, liking what they called the touch of humanity she put in them. There was always a market when she produced a canvas, and they'd used that to go on short trips out the islands, or up to Disney World, or out to Sanibel when Jim was in port for a shore stint.

Now she just shook her head, and chuckled, returning her attention to the conversation.

"Ah do not like them people getting off like that." James was stating, his brow creased. "Regardless of if it stops or not."

Oliver took a swig of his beer, and leaned back. He was in a pair of cotton Dockers and a short sleeved shirt, having left his uniform behind at his hotel. "Jim, damn it, no one's getting off. They're just not getting charged with anything." He said. "I told Jeff today he's being transferred to the Northwestern command area, and to just pack his kit and keep his mouth shut."

Ceci almost snorted her own beer. "You're sending him to Alaska?"

"Hell yes." Oliver stated. "And he's lucky for that. There was a slot open in the Antarctic research station, but I happen to like his wife and you can at least get to Sears in Alaska."

"Huh." James subsided. "Ah still don't like it. What about them folks they were whoring for? Ah don't want them types coming back here and maybe getting a mind to be bothering mah kid."

Oliver sighed. "Problem with that is, they did a pretty damn good job of covering their tracks, Jim, data or no data. Those people weren't stupid - they kept out of sight and just did business via blind accounts and drops. They drifted off into the mist the minute Albert knew something was up. He warned them."

"He the big cheese?" Jim asked.

"Apparently so." Oliver confirmed. "They had Jeff boxed into a corner, and once he agreed to turn a blind eye, they had him by the short hairs."

"He should have come to see you." Ceci stated. "Hell, he should have just leveled with Jade when she showed up there. What did he think was going to happen? Did he really think they wouldn't be found out?"

"They really did." Gerry told her. "Silly bastards spent a fortune on bringing in some hotshot punk to alter the base computers so they could run everything through there. Figured the damn thing was so old, no one'd notice or if they did, be able to get in there and figure out what was going on."

Jim folded his arms across his chest. "Wall, it woulda worked, seems like." He cocked his head to one side. "Stuff ain't changed in that place for a dog's age."

Oliver nodded. "Yes, it would have." He said. "It did - until they were faced with the hotshot punk who originally rigged the damn thing. What'r the odds, Jim? Damn, I feel like an exhibit in Ripley's Believe it or Not."

"Mm."

"Coulda been a thousand other people, coulda been a dozen other companies I picked to help me spend my budget." Oliver sighed. "Figured I was doing the smart thing though, picking someone who knew the service, who I trusted..."

"She done what you asked." James stated mildly. "Not Jade's fault them jackasses didn't figger on having to deal with her." He went on. "Just weren't prepared."

"How do you prepare for Jade?" Ceci asked, rhetorically. "One, they'd have to have realized that some fifteen year old kid had designed their main computer system, and two, they'd have to acknowledge the fact that no one they brought in was smart enough to be able to cover their tracks from her. Not a very likely scenario, if you ask me."

They all reflected on that. "You know, that's quite frightening." Oliver murmured. "If you think about it." He glanced at James. "It's a damn good thing she's your kid, Jimmy."

Ceci didn't even feel insulted by that, because it was bedrock truth and she knew it. Jade's sense of what was right and what wasn't did come from Jim, certainly not from her. She'd cursed that stubborn honor and pride more than often enough to understand it very thoroughly.

"Fact is, I was very surprised when Rosenthal showed up with that offer." Oliver went on. "I'd girded my loins for the battle of the century."

"Yeap, well." James studied his beer bottle. "Lucky thing is Gigi got her sense of priorities from her mamma, and not from me."

Everyone was silent for a moment, only the soft clanking of the yacht's rigging being heard.

Ceci almost felt like crying, at a vindication she'd never expected to hear.

Oliver cleared his throat in mild embarrassment. "Well, she didn't do badly out of what happened." He remarked. "I had one hell of a time finding a way to push that contract through - used up a decades worth of favors getting it past the oversight committee. But I think all in all, it'll end up being a good thing for everyone."

"Jade'll see you right." Jim agreed softly. "Them boys are safe in her hands."

The silence was longer this time, as they watched a long freighter move slowly through the cut, heading for the huge unloading docks at the port. Ceci lifted an arm and draped it over Jim's shoulder, playing with the short, bristly hairs at his temple.

"Moo." Jade opened one eye to find that a cow had taken up residence on her chest. She picked up the animal and examined it, then tossed it from her and closed her eye, listening to the scrabbling of Labrador toenails as Chino chased the stuffed animal across the tile floor.

It was otherwise pretty quiet in the House. From the base they'd gone to lunch, then driven Alastair to his hotel. They could have gone back to the office, but a call to Mariela confirmed that there was nothing earth shattering going on and they'd decided to just go on home instead.

Hence, here she was, in shorts and a t shirt, sprawled across her living room couch at six pm, instead of sitting at her desk in the office. Just as well, Jade reasoned, since they had a lot of preparing they'd had to do for the party tomorrow, and in fact, Tori was at the Island Market now making sure everything was ready to be picked up tomorrow morning and taken to the boat.

"Moo." Jade felt around for the cow and tossed it without looking.

Tori caught the cow with one hand and held it up out of the frustrated Chino's grasp as she studied the tall form lying on the couch. "You know something, Jade?"

Blue eyes popped wide open in surprise. "Hey. " Jade blinked at her. "Didn't even hear you come in."

"I know." Tori tossed the Chino, who leaped up and grabbed it between her front paws. "Good catch, honey!" She praised the dog, as she walked over to the couch and sat down on the edge of it. Jade rolled over and curled her body around Tori's giving her a nice backrest. "Everything's set."

"Good." Jade stifled a yawn. "Sinjin called. He's going to carpool with Rob and Mari - they'll be here around ten."

"Mm." Tori leaned back and extended her arms along Jade's body. "It's going to be fun. Weather's supposed to be sunny and mid seventies tomorrow, just perfect."

"Perfect for a Christmas party, yep." Jade agreed, with a grin. "You going to wear your new purple suit?"

Tori returned the grin. "Maybe." She said. "Did you get all the boxes loaded on the boat? We'll have to make a run out to the island real early tomorrow."

"All done, ma'am." Jade assured her. "I personally made sure they were all tucked in the hold." She shifted, carefully lifting her arm and moving it a bit. "Wanna join me in the pool for some more therapy after dinner?" She'd suffered through one session at the hospital, and that, said Jade, was that. Period. She'd gotten the idea of what they were trying to do, and decided she could handle that on her own without snotty little boys mauling her and giving her condescending pats on the head.

Tori tangled her fingers in Jade's hair, tugging out a snarl as she considered the request. "Sure." She agreed, having really enjoyed the session the previous night. The warm pool water had been very soothing, and she'd found herself very happy to be helping Jade with the gentle motion exercises, which seemed to be really doing some good for her partner's injured shoulder. "How about we get into our suits, and go have a light bite down at the beach club, then go to the pool from there?"

So they did. Hand in hand, they strolled down the path from the House, with Chino frisking along beside them. It was a nice night out, clear and breezy, and they gladly accepted a table on the outside patio facing the sea. Tori ordered a crabmeat salad and a bowl of soup, and Jade settled for a dish of blackened chicken alfredo with garlic bread.

"I'm glad it's the weekend." Tori sighed, sliding down and extending her legs under the table. "It's been such a long week."

Jade was pouring herself a glass of ice tea. She finished, and took a sip. "That it has." She said. "It's been a pretty long month, now that you mention it. I'm glad we've got the holidays coming up next week."

Tori nodded. "I'm looking forward to a few days off." She admitted.

"A week." Jade reminded her, with a smile. "Starting next Friday, until the following year." She rested her elbows on the table and played with a fork. "I was thinking maybe we could take the boat out for a couple days, Or go to our house in Largo and rent a yacht there…. stay out, just bum around the Caribbean. What do you think?"

"You mean, sleep out on the water and everything?" Tori asked, with interest. They'd taken many day trips out of the harbor, but they'd never spent several days living on a boat, and she found herself very intrigued at the thought.

"Yeap." Jade nodded. "We could head out across the Caribbean, maybe drop in to Bimini, or Cat's Cay."

Tori felt a grin tug at her lips. "Yeah." She agreed enthusiastically. "Heck, let's leave Monday, and stay out until New Years... I would so completely, totally love to spend all that q time with you, and maybe a couple of gulls if they're lucky."

Jade was very pleased with the response, and it showed. "Great." Her eyes twinkled. "The laptops stay here."

Tori laughed. "Absofurginglutely." She grinned at the server who appeared silently, to put two gently steaming plates down for her, and one for Jade. "Thanks."

"Anytime, Ms. Vega." The server smiled back at her. "Beautiful night, isn't it?"

"Getting more so every second." Tori replied.

Jade propped her chin up on one fist and observed her Wife's now almost radiant face contentedly. The idea of the boat trip had only just occurred to her on the drive home, and the more she'd thought about it, the better the idea had seemed.

A sort of.. mini honeymoon they'd never had time to take.

Just the two of them. Jade almost had to bite her lip to stop from suggesting that they leave on Sunday, and make it two weeks, and to hell with work. Even on their week's vacation after the hospital bombing, they'd been on call, and attending to work.

Not this time.

"Hey." Tori's voice caught her attention, and she looked up to see her lover smiling broadly at her.

"Yes?" Jade replied.

"This is going to be so cool." Tori burbled. "Jade, what a fantastic idea. You're brilliant."

Jade smirked, just a little, and bit off a piece of her spicy chicken, enjoying the sting of the pepper against her lips. "We could get into a lot of trouble out there. Lots of little islands, and lots of very good rum."

Tori looked up from where she was mixing her salad dressing. "Do you know how much rum it would take to get me to do the samba?"

"No." Jade chuckled. "How much?"

"I don't know, but I bet we find out." Tori laughed with delight. "Whooohooo!" She did a little dance in her seat, causing Jade to burst out laughing as well. Their voices lifted up to the benignly watching stars, which twinkled back at them in silent, amused, approval.

Tori took a slow sip of her coffee, as she leaned on the railing and absorbed the early morning sun with a feeling of complete and total pleasure. It was just after dawn, and she was already dressed in her swimsuit, with a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top thrown over it, her bare toes curling against the stone balcony as she sniffed the clean, salt air.

"What a gorgeous day." She spoke quietly, then glanced to her right as she heard the whine and hiss of a car approaching. "Hey."

Jade got out of her car and headed for the garden gate. "Hey, yourself, cute stuff." She opened the door and disappeared, to reappear moments later as she entered the kitchen and padded out onto the balcony next to Tori. "All loaded up and ready to go."

"Cool." Tori offered her a sip of coffee. "I made some breakfast... want to bring it out here and share?" She waited while Jade obligingly ducked inside, returning with a small tray of eggs, toast, and fresh fruit. They sat down together at the metal and glass table and traded forkfuls as the sunlight poured across the space.

"You know." Jade leaned back and propped her feet up against the railing. "I'm really looking forward to today."

Tori looked at her. "I can tell. You've been smiling all morning." She teased gently. "I am too."

The dark head rolled towards her as Jade returned her gaze. "Was that a map of the Carribbean I saw in the study?"

Tori grinned, her nose wrinkling up appealingly.

Jade chuckled and reached over the table to clasp Tori's hand, rubbing her thumb against the knuckles. "My little pirate... I can't wait to sail the high seas with you."

The brown eyes were fairly ablaze with an intense joy as Tori looked back at her.

"If I'd have known you'd react like this, I'd have suggested a cruise a lot sooner." Jade remarked mildly.

"It's not just the trip." Tori told her, with a tiny, wry smile. "It's being out, alone with you, for a whole week. You have no idea how much I want that right now." She said, "It could have been a cruise, or a remote cabin in the woods, or a hike in the wilderness... I wouldn't have cared."

"I would." Jade told her, kindly. "Mosquitos and leaves for TP do not put me in a romantic mood nearly as much as salt air, and you in that swimsuit."

Tori blushed a little. "You must think I'm weirding out." She replied. "It's just that so much has happened in the last little while, I really just want some time to just... " Her jaw shook a little, and Jade squeezed her hand in concern. "Live." She finished softly.

"You got it." Jade whispered, watching Tori's profile intently. The brown eyes turned to hers with a look of almost painful vulnerability. "I think we've earned that."

A nod. "Me too." Tori got up and walked around to where Jade was sitting, putting her arms around her and giving her a hug. "Jade, will you do me a very big favor?"

"Sure. Name it." Jade enjoyed her hug, almost getting lost in the faint coconut and butter scent of the lotion Tori was wearing. A hand touched her cheek, and she looked up into Tori's face, surprised to see utter seriousness there.

"Please." Tori murmured. "Please be careful and take care of yourself, Jade. If I ever lose you, I'll die."

Jade's jaw dropped a little in alarm, and she half turned, taking hold of Tori's body with both hands. "Tori... "

Slowly, Tori's forehead dropped to touch hers. "I had this nightmare the other night." She whispered. "The one you woke me up from?"

"Yeah?" Jade nodded anxiously.

Tori fell silent for a moment. Then she sighed. "I was... in that hospital again. In the CCU. Only…"

"Easy." Jade could feel her shaking.

"Only it was you in that bed, and I couldn't... I couldn't stop... you... I.." Tori's knees buckled, and she would have fallen, but Jade caught her, pulling her down on her lap and holding in for dear life.

"Easy, sweetheart." Jade whispered. "It was just a dream." She could feel the jerks as Tori sobbed. "It's okay... "

Chino poked her nose under Tori's arm and snuffled worriedly, licking the skin within her reach.

"Ohh." Tori finally took a deep breath, and sniffled. "God, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Jade stroked her back gently. "Take it easy, honey. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I won't ever leave you, Tori. Never."

Tori sniffled again. "I.. .don't know where that all came from. I was just... sitting here thinking about what a great day it was and..." She sighed. "Jesus. What the hell's wrong with me." One hand lifted and wiped the tears off her face impatiently.

Jade hugged her more tightly. "I..um.." She paused to collect her thoughts. "I think you're just grieving and stressed out, Tor. It's been a bitch of a week, and you're on overload."

Tori remained silent for a bit, stroking Jade's hair with an almost hypnotic regularity. "Yeah." She finally said. "I think you're right." She exhaled. "Boss, can I take next week off? I need to decompress before I go on a wild vacation with someone I love more than life itself."

Jade smiled. "Sure." She felt a distinct sense of relief, at not having to order Tori to do exactly what she'd just requested. "I'll see what I can do about scaring you up some company."

Tori exhaled. "Only if the company is tall, dark and daunting and has blue eyes."

A beat. "You want to hang out with my dad?" Jade asked ingeniously.

It worked. Tori started snickering through her remaining tears, her body shaking with laughter.

"I could arrange for that, I guess." Jade went on, with a sigh. "I was hoping you'd rather spend time with me... but... " She was stopped by a gentle kiss on the lips. Then Tori rubbed her cheek against Jade's and smiled.

"Thanks." She murmured. "I needed a laugh."

"Mm." Jade tilted her head and stole another kiss. "I needed that."

They snuggled for a moment longer, then Tori regretfully got up, and ruffled Jade's hair. "Okay. My head's on straight now - let's get ready to party." She held a hand out to Jade, then led her into the House, with Chino frisking at their heels and occasionally between their legs.