A/N: Made a couple of change ups. I just couldn't shake off the idea of this storyline. I hope you enjoy it :1

AU story

There is domestic abuse in the story. Please do not read if it maybe triggering.

I do not own VicTORIous

Not Strong Enough.

It was hard to understand how Tori Vega, out of all people, had such energy. She was always running around helping other people. It seemed like Tori could never have a trouble in the world. Even during her times of tribulation she always managed to find enough strength to smile. How did she do it? Jade would be damned before she ever admitted out loud that Tori Vega was one of the strongest people she knew and would ever come to know. Deep down Jade found it kind of nice to know that she had a friend, yes a friend, to count on. She still remembered how distraught the brunette appeared the time Jade showed up at her doorstep the night she broke up with Beck. It had not occurred to her that the young Vega might be in the middle of her own problems. She briefly noticed a hint of fear in the girl's brown eyes, but it was pushed aside as Jade began to cry. Tori Vega had her own problems?

Again the hint of fear appeared in the girl's eyes the night the red head and Jade asked for the singer's help to get back at the two egomaniac girls at the karaoke bar. Jade wasn't sure if she was imaging the look in the brown eyes. It always seemed to disappear before she had the opportunity to decide.

In the last month Tori had appeared to be eating less at school. She'd join the gang for lunch with her meal, but most of her time was spent talking as she moved the food around, making it appear like she ate some. Jade observed the girl. She appeared tired most of the time, yet she smiled and laughed with her friends. She did well in the class activities and performances. The morning Jade volunteered to give the girl a ride to school, she couldn't help but notice how jumpy the girl was. It didn't help that Jade was trying to mess with her by driving her through the desert, but even before the girl stepped into the car she appeared to be fidgeting a lot more. Jade briefly saw the small bruises along the caramel wrist, before Tori pulled her sleeve down and crossed her arms.

Jade had chosen to dismiss the bruises thinking the girl must have gained them from the gym class they had at school. That week the class had been learning to play volleyball and that game wasn't the kindest to the skin. Again Jade noticed some bruises along the bronze skin when they were forced to wear the heavily skin revealing outfits for the short Blonde Squad film Beck had done as a project. This time the bruises appeared along the girl's shoulders. Before Jade could get a clear look at them Tori had adjusted her shirt and hair to cover up. It was becoming strange to the Goth. Tori seemed to have a lot of bruises and her wardrobe had changed dramatically. For a warm summer in California, the girl seemed to wear a lot of long sleeve shirt.

The first time the young Vega showed up at her doorstep, Jade was prepared to kick whoever was knocking at her door to the curb for waking her up at such a late hour. The dark haired girl quickly changed her mind the moment she turned on the porch light and noticed the exhausted eyes and the softly bloated cheek of the bronze skinned girl. Her eyes were glazed over as blue eyes attempted to draw her attention. There was no doubt that she'd been crying. Her eyes were red and heavy. When the brown eyes finally met the stunned green they seemed to be terrified. The brunette seemed to only then become aware of where she was and soon enough attempted to leave but Jade reached for her arm. It didn't go unnoticed how she jumped back at the sudden touch. Jade led her into the home. She examined the girl, unsure of what to say to her.

Tori was avoiding eye contact and was too abnormally quiet. The girl seemed so tired, Jade felt more than obligated to let the girl spend the night. Without a single word Jade allowed Tori to lie beside her in her bed. Tori must have thought Jade had fallen asleep. She became frightened when the girl began to cry. She kept her face buried into the pillow and tried to cry the quietest, attempting not to wake the dark haired girl beside her. When the cries had died down and Jade was certain the girl was asleep, she moved closer to the girl and hugged her. She held her close and wondered what could have possibly had led Tori to such a break down in the middle of the night. Her arm remained around the smaller girl's waist as she fell asleep.

The following morning Jade tossed and turned. She quickly sat up when she felt an empty space beside her. Had it all been just a dream? She couldn't have dreamt of Tori suddenly appearing at her door step only three hours ago could she? She looked around the room and found not one trace of the young Vega. Had she been in her home? Had she cried herself to sleep? Jade sighed and got out of bed. School would begin in less than an hour. Surely she could reach the girl and see if there was any trace of her injuries.

Jade had tried to study the girl's face the entire day. During lunch she could have sworn Tori's cheek looked swollen. It was hard to tell with the bronze hand tucked over the cheek. Tori seemed like she was okay. She was laughing and joking with the gang. Jade chose to believe the night had only been a silly dream. Why would Tori ever choose to go to her with her problems?

The second time the singer showed up at the actress's home, she seemed out of it. Jade could barely recognize the girl. Her hair was a mess and without a doubt across her cheek was a mark of a hand. Her lip was parted and bled lightly. She seemed to hesitate as she met the alarmed green eyes. Jade quickly helped her inside and over to the couch. She bolted to the fridge and grabbed a bag of frozen peas. Making her way back to the girl, she gently pressed the bag to her bruising cheek. She wanted to question the girl. She wanted to bombard her with questions and demand to know who had done that to her. But she didn't. She watched as the girl looked down at her bruised arm and began to cry. Eventually she wound up resting her head against the pale girl's lap before falling asleep crying.

Jade knew then the first time had not been a silly dream. She hadn't made it up. The strong and defiant singer was hurting. She wanted, needed help. Jade tried her best to stay awake for the brunette's sake, but in the end sleep won. Like the first time, the young Vega was gone when morning arrived. Jade awoke in her bed. She ran down to the kitchen and found the bag of peas in the exact place it had been before. There was no trace of the torn girl ever having been in her home. Jade didn't know what to believe. Was Tori really presenting herself late at night or was is a simple pigment of her imagination?

Three days went gone by and Tori had yet to show up at school. The older Vega roamed around the hallways as usual. She flaunted new outfits and spoke nonsense. Anytime someone tried to question her about the younger Vega's absence she quickly dismissed the question and changed the subject. Jade was beginning to grow anxious about Tori. Trina was being a gank and selfish. She had to refrain from making her way to her and strangling the girl. It angered her how carless the talentless brunette could be.

That night Jade nearly jumped out of her skin when loud knockings came from the front door. She blinked multiple times as she swung the door open to a nearly frightening looking young brunette. Her hair was a mess and her clothes looked like they had been trampled on. Jade couldn't make out the face as Tori kept her gaze fixed on her shoes.

"Tori?" she whispered.

The entire three days the gang had been texting and calling Tori wondering where she was. She'd suddenly gone MIA on the group. Jade had tried to act like she could careless but by the end of the three days she had sent Tori three text messages and called her at least twice each day. She'd been worried sick about the girl. Each time she'd appeared she'd seemed more damaged than the other. What if it had gone worse this time? What if she was... She hadn't allowed her thoughts to drive that road. Despite their history, after seeing Tori broken, really broken the first time, she knew she didn't want anything or anyone to hurt the young Vega. She stepped forward to shield the young girl from the moist weather. It was lightly raining but nevertheless it wasn't helping the situation.

Tori finally looked up once inside the familiar home. She looked up at the pale girl who appeared to be on the verge of tears as she took in the horrific injuries. Jade bit the inside of her cheek as she scanned over the fading injuries of the girl before her. The corner of her right lip was bruised, no doubt from someone swinging on her with a hard fist. The now healing gash over her brow looked more than painful. Her usually stunning cheekbones were pale and bruised. Jade felt enraged. Whoever was doing this had to be locked away for good. If it weren't for the chocolate brown eyes and the weak smile, Tori could be almost unrecognizable.

"I know it's late," Tori softly spoke. Her words sounded almost muffled, the injury to her mouth making it difficult to speak. "I just wanted you to know that I'm fine." Even with the all the pain she was enduring, Tori still had enough energy to apologize.

Jade didn't know whether to scream at the girl or hug her. Her brows knitted together as her anger took the best of her. "F-Fine? Tori, you can't even talk!" Jade hissed. Her jaw felt heavy with emotions as she watched Tori give a small painful smile before looking down at her hands.

"I called you, sent you texts messages. Why didn't you answer me?! I thought you were... I thought..." Jade shook her head trying desperately to push away any images of the brunette's motionless body.

Tori looked up with a sincere apology written across her eyes. "Sorry. I couldn't answer my phone," she simply replied leaning back against the door. She wrapped her arm around her torso, hoping Jade didn't notice the way she winced in discomfort.

The way Tori hugged her ribs in discomfort, wincing did indeed get noticed by the raven haired beauty. There were more wounds? She thought. She could see how Tori stiffened when she began to approach her.

"Jade, wait..."she tried but failed, her mouth hurting too much to allow to her any other words.

Jade ignored the girl's protest and lifted the bottom of the brunette's shirt. She gasped and let out a soft sob at the sight. Tori's left side of the ribs was covered completely with angry bruises and scratches, clearly made by some sort of footwear. Tori pulled down her shirt and groaned in pain as she stood back.

"Tori, who did this? Who's hurting you? Please tell me! Please!" Jade begged. She'd given up trying not to cry. She feared the worst after seeing the horrific bruises. There was no way Tori could inhale or move without hurting. The injuries had trailed down from her upper torso down below her waist line.

Tori leaned with great exhaustion against the door. "There are certain people you shouldn't upset Jade," she smiled sadly.

"Tori," Jade made an attempt to step closer, but Tori shook her head. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly, trying to ignore the throbbing pain. Jade watched as her face contorted from pain to anguish. "It's not their fault. I shouldn't upset them," she whispered.

Tori Vega was defending her abuser? Jade growled and closed the gap between them. "You listen to me, Tori! No one and I mean absolutely no one deserves this kind of mistreatment. It's inhuman!" She ran her thump lightly over the bruised jaw. "Please let me help you," Jade whispered.

Tori closed her eyes and rested her cheek against the warm hand. "I'm sorry, Jade, but that's not your job." With that said Tori gently dropped the pale girl's hand and opened the door and silently slipped out of the warm house and out into the cold rain.

Not...her...job? Then whose job was it? What did she mean? Jade slammed her fist against the shut door. Tori was suffering. Whoever was hurting her was going to wind up killing her at this rate. Jade needed to help her. She ran out trying to catch up to the brunette but by the time she made it outside she was nowhere to be seen. She fell on her knees and sobbed. Why was this happening? Who could be so heartless? Who would want to hurt Tori? She was the sweetest person. She was supposed to be one of the strongest.

…

How long had this been going on? The next day Tori showed up to school. There were no traces of the injuries from the night before. You had to really look at the girl to see the heavily covered bruises on the bronze skin. It helped that Tori's hair covered the healing gash, but nevertheless she wore a headband claiming it was a style she was trying out. Jade bit her lip. How was she playing this off? She was smiling and laughing with her friends. Every once in a while Jade would catch the brunette wincing in pain. Had she always done that? The bruises on her side must've been severe to cause her such discomfort.

When the young Vega could no longer take the pain she excused herself and headed for the restroom. She was unaware of the Goth following her as she entered the restroom. Jade closed the door behind her and locked it before turning to the brunette.

"Tori!" she called out.

Tori jumped startled by the girl. "Jade, what are you-" Jade cut her off and walked up to the girl until her back was pressed against the wall. She rested her hands on the girl's waist before lifting the shirt to reveal the dark marks. Jade had only seen one side the other night. She had failed to acknowledge the rest of the bruised torso. Her entire torso was covered with the dark marks.

"Tori," she whispered resting her head against the bronze shoulder. She breathed hard trying not to cry out loud. "Pleaselet me help you. You're in pain. I can help you. I can-"

Her words were lost when warm hand was placed over her own. "I'm scared," Tori whispered. "I don't... I don't know what to do anymore. It hurts so much," she cried. "It hurts, Jade. I'm not strong enough." She buried her face in the pale girl's neck. "It hurts," she repeated and broke down. She sobbed into the girl's arms as Jade held her.

It took all of the young half-Latina's strength not to cry in the middle of a class when she remembered why her body hurt so much. It was unbearable to think about what was happening behind closed doors in her home. It was even more heartbreaking when she thought about who was at fault for her pain. She had grown tired of swallowing all of her feelings. She wasn't allowed to cry at home without getting in trouble nevertheless at school without being questioned. She often wondered if this happened to other people. Would she be able to read the signs? Could others see the signs on her?

Jade wrapped her arms in the gentlest way possible, trying not to touch her wounds. "Please tell me who's doing this, baby. I'll make it stop," she whispered into the auburn hair.

Tori tensed up and pulled back, fear glazing over her eyes. "I... No he'll get angry with me! He'll kill me! He'll…he'll hurt you! No!" she shook her head in a quick protest and tried to pull away from Jade's embrace.

Jade furrowed her brows keeping her lock around the girl firm. "Tori, at this rate he'll kill you even if you don't tell me. Please tell me," she begged. Jade couldn't stand it any longer. Something had to be done now.

Again Tori cried. "I don't know what I've done wrong. I try. I promise you, I try really hard." She sounded like a child being scowled at. "H-He said he loves me, Jade. He said he didn't mean. He always says he doesn't mean it," Tori whispered to herself. "Is love supposed to hurt? He doesn't hit Trina. Does he not love her?" she sobbed.

Mr. Vega was the cause of all of this? He always said he didn't mean it? How long had this been going on? Jade felt like she was on fire. He was her father. He was supposed to take care for his daughter, not beat her nearly to death. He was an officer of the law for crying out loud.

"Tori listen to me," Jade spoke softly, almost like she was talking to a child. "You haven't done anything wrong, okay? You don't deserve this. When someone loves you, they don't hurt you. They don't treat you like this. They take care of you and worry about you." She stroked away the tears. "Someone who loves you would never do something like this." She cupped the girl's face carefully.

Tori looked at her with timid brown eyes. Her voice was small and insecure as she spoke, "Do you love me, Jade?" She looked so frightened and broken.

The question caught the Goth off guard. She was worried about the girl and wanted nothing more than to protect her from the person hurting her. She knew she wasn't exactly the nicest person when it came to Tori, but deep down she'd always felt something toward the brunette. Something she wasn't quite sure she was ready to accept. Nevertheless was she ready to answer the brunette before her aloud.

As azure eyes met brown the only words Jade could form were of a promise. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Tori. I promise," she responded. She noticed the hint of disappointment in the brown eyes but she knew she couldn't answer such a question. Not when Tori was in such a vulnerable state.

Tori felt a pang of hurt hit her when the Goth didn't answer the question. She nodded at the girl's words, ignoring the rising feel of rejection.

As the school day ended, Jade waited for the younger Vega to put away her textbooks in her locker. After the encounter in the restroom, Jade had followed Tori close behind. Their friends had eyed them in suspicion, but chose wisely not to question the Goth's sudden infatuation with the singer. They were to go back to the pop singer's house and gather her belongings once school was over and soon after they were going to head down to the police station to file a report. Jade had questioned the brunette about the whereabouts of her mother in the entire situation and Tori explained that soon after Mr. Vega's drinking grew into an excessive level, she chose to take a job offer that required her travelling most days. Tori would always make sure to cover up any evidence of her dismay. Her mother would often return after Tori's bruises had faded and was oblivious to the entire situation occurring in her own home.

Trina on the other hand knew what was happening, but Tori had begged her not to tell anyone. Trina was usually out of the house, leaving the younger Vega to fend for herself. She was usually the one who helped clean her up and covered her bruises with make-up. Jade silently made a note not to be so harsh on the girl, but nevertheless the elder Vega could have tried harder to protect her younger sister.

Once they had put away their books the two girls drove in Jade's truck to the Vega residence. The driveway was empty, indicating that Mr. Vega was nowhere to be found. Tori mentioned he'd be working late. Jade had hesitantly agreed to drop off the girl after Tori claimed she wanted sometime on her own to collect everything she needed. She promised to return in half an hour, hoping it was enough time for Tori to gather her belongings.

As the time approached, Jade left the coffee shop that was only a couple blocks away from the singer's home. She had nearly jumped the young man at the register for taking his time to make her a coffee. She felt uneasy and anxious for leaving the girl on her own. Finally getting her drink she made her way back to the singer's home. As the familiar house grew into view, Jade nearly had a heart attack when she saw the various police cars and fire trucks right in front of the inflamed Vega's residence. She barely finished shutting off the engine before she was running up to the scene. Officers blocked any access to the house and made way as a stretcher was brought out of inflamed home.

Blue eyes managed to make out the limp body lying on the stretcher. Jade cried out and began shoving people out of the way to make her way to the body.

"Tori!" she screamed. "Tori!" She tried to push past people, trying to reach the girl.

An officer tried to hold her back when she managed to get close enough. Managing to get near the brunette, Jade felt a wave of relief and fear wash over her. The brunette on the stretcher wasn't the young singer, but the singer's older sister Trina. The brunette had an open wound over her temple and a bruised jaw. In time Jade stepped back to see the large two story house engulf with flames.

The scene before her created great fear and anger. She screamed and tried her best to run in the direction of the house but the officer had a lock around her. Tori was nowhere to be found. She must have been in the home. All Jade could do was pray she wasn't, she couldn't be.

"Tori!" She cried. The officer tightened his hold trying to calm the Goth. "You son of a bitch! What did you do?" Jade cried out when she saw Mr. Vega standing by a patrol vehicle. "What did you do?!"

"Miss, please calm down," the officer spoke.

"He did this!" Jade continued. "He did this! Arrest him! Do something! Please!" Jade sobbed.

"David? No he was the one who made the call," the officer defended.

"Are fucking kidding me! Let go of me!" Jade's eyes grew wide when the ambulance closed the door and prepared to take off. "No! Wait! Where's Tori?! Where's Tori?!"

The officer had a paramedic inject the Goth to calm her down. Jade growled before relaxing in the officer's arms, the last image before passing out was of the elder Vega smirking and getting into his car.

...

Bright lights came into focus for bright colored eyes. Her head was spinning and there was a pounding in the back of her head. Jade quickly shot up as she remembered the horrific scene she had arrived to. She recognized the setting of the hospital room and jumped off the bed before making her way into the hallway.

She didn't want to draw attention to herself. Quietly searching for the older Vega's room Jade examined the names on the doors. A particular room farthest in the hallway caught her attention. It appeared to be for patients in critical conditions and no doubt crossed the Goth that Trina may be in it.

Making sure not to draw unwanted eyes to herself she slipped into the room in the most silent way possible, shutting the door behind her. The usually loud actress was silent, too silent for Jade's liking. She had an oxygen mask over her mouth and was bandaged up around her forehead. There was no major injury that could be seen to the naked eye, but whatever smoked aired she had inhaled in the house had indeed dropped the actress. Jade sat on the chair beside the resting brunette anxiously awaiting for the brunette to awaken. To her surprise Trina stirred and brown eyes opened.

"Jade?" The groggy voice asked as eyes settled on the unexpected guest.

Jade stood and nodded. "Trina, where's Tori? Tori was in that house. Did you see her?" she asked not wanting to waste any precious time.

The mask made it difficult for the actress to talk. She moved it to the side shaking her head. "Tori," she whispered her voice groggy from all the smoke she had inhaled. Brown eyes grew wide and watery at the memory of the home. "Tori," she cried remembering. "He hurt Tori," she whispered.

Jade's face contorted in panic. She couldn't have been in the house when the fire went off. No, she refused to believe it. "Where is she Trina? I need to find her." She insisted.

Brown eyes began to flutter shut in exhaustion. "He has her," Trina slurred. "Stop...him..." She breathed. "Save…Tori," she whispered before sleep took over and claimed her.

Jade allowed her tears to fall freely in anger. The bastard had her. He'd taken Tori. She wiped away the angry tears and left the older Vega to rest. She had to find Tori before it was too late. She had save her. She had to tell her the answer to her earlier question.

A/N: I changed this up a bit from its original form. The first time around it didn't feel right and I feel that there is still a lot more to be added into it. Hoped you enjoyed.

Review Please! (;