Chapter 12:

The ride back to the hotel is a quiet one, very quiet… even Robbie realizes that this is not the time for conversation.

Trina parks the van and they walk, yawning into the hotel.

"I can turn in the van here and they'll return it to Alamo rental."

"Alamo car rental?", Beck asks in surprise, "What are the odds of that?"

"Well, in this town… it seems like almost everything is named after the Alamo."

Just then, Cat lets out a loud, unladylike yawn. "I'm gonna sleep like the dead." Then, looking at Jade and Tori, adds, "No pun, intended."

"It's okay. I'm dead tired, too", Tori remarks lightly, feeling the tenseness surrounding them ease for the first time. Looking over at Jade, she returns her smile and looks down at their still joined hands. It's become like second nature to them both and they don't even remember when they relinked.

"Well, I think everyone could use a good nights sleep", Beck snaps, "and then, we'll see … things much more clearly."

Jade stops walking and unconsciously pulls Tori closer to her before addressing Beck. "Beck… maybe it would be a good idea for us a have a long talk then."

Before Beck can respond, Lane sweeps into the lobby, but instead of attacking them as would be expected, he has a huge smile on her well-rested face.

"Good morning! I must say I'm surprised to see you here so early. I hope everyone had a restful night because I know, I always find air travel to be very tiring. I believe today they have breakfast burritos. There's nothing like a few jalapeños to start off your day. Eat well and then we'll be loading the buses and heading to the airport."

He, obliviously, leads the teenagers into the breakfast room.

…

"I can't believe we got away with that", Andre says as they leave breakfast thirty minutes later.

Cat is walking next to him with Trina on her left. "Yeah, that was the most amazing luck I've ever seen."

Jade and Tori are following them with an ever watchful Beck bringing up the rear.

The lobby is starting to fill up with Hollywood Arts students who look, surprisingly, more ragged and tired than our heroes. There must have been some serious partying going on here last night.

Suddenly, Tori stops short and gasps as she stares at the stack of complimentary newspapers on the counter.

"I can't believe it!" She runs over to the newspapers and drops Jade's hand so she can pick up the paper. "Look at this!"

The headlines of the San Antonio Express-News reads, "30 Year Old Murder Case Reopened!".

"Listen everyone…", Tori says as she reads.

Justice has finally been served in the tragic death of Louise Crisholm, resident of Lubbock, Texas. Mrs. Chisholm died in 1982 in what was then deemed to be an accidental electrocution. However, evidence has recently been discovered that Mrs. Chisholm was actually murdered. Police are investigating this case further and feel sure that charges will be brought forward soon.

"Isn't that awesome?" Tori is nearly jumping up and down with enthusiasm.

Everyone, but Jade, is staring at her strangely.

"Is she the old lady in our shower?", she says.

"Yes! I called Mr. Forester and he must have taken care of it. Man, he works fast."

"Let's hope he works just as fast for Johnny", Jade says solemnly.

"Oh, babe…", Tori drops the newspaper and takes both of Jade's hands in hers. "I know he will. And even if it takes awhile, at least we know his soul's at rest now. He's with Annabelle, right?"

There is dead silence in the lobby as Tori gazes lovingly up into Jade's crystal blue eyes. Oblivious to the sudden silence, Jade returns her gaze with one of her own and finally allows herself to remember the kiss they shared a few short hours ago… the kiss that became their own when Johnny and Annabelle left them. Slowly, she bends her head down to hers and meets her lips with her own in a slow, sweet kiss.

Tori and Jade jerk apart when they heard Cat talking to an angry Beck. By the time the couple look for him, Beck is already racing out of the room towards his. The rest of their schoolmates, who were so engrossed in watching the two of them a minute ago, start to turn away and mill out back to their rooms to pack up for the trip home.

"I'm sorry", Jade apologizes, "I shouldn't have done that."

"No… it's my fault", Tori insists, quietly. She looks down at their conjoined hands and slowly pulls away.

"Don't", Jade insists, more harshly than she intended. Jade pulls her hands back to Tori. "It's nobody's fault. I love you, Tori. We can't let anyone come between us and we don't need to feel any guilt over that. We don't chose who we fall in love with … it just happens."

"That's … beautiful, Jade."

"It's something I read in Johnny's journal and yeah."

"Ah, there you are", comes that aristocratic voice that they instantly recognize.

Montague Forester is striding across the lobby and looking like he just stepped out of an advertisement for Brooks Brothers.

"I'm glad I caught the both of you before you left."

"Oh, Mr. Forester, I can't believe how quickly you found out about Mrs. Chisholm. You're amazing", Tori gushes happily to the older man.

"My dear, you're the amazing one. Without your help, no one would have ever known." Tori blushes slightly and leans into Jade's side. Mr. Forester frowns slightly, but continues. "I just wanted to let you know that Johnny's name will soon be cleared and the museum curator is having a bronze plaque commissioned to commemorate his role in protecting the Alamo."

"That's wonderful, Mr. Forester. My family and I are very grateful to you", Jade reaches for Mr. Forester's hand and gives it a firm handshake to show his appreciation.

"Ah yes, you must be Johnny's descendant…"

"Jade West", Jade offers.

"Yes…", Montague sighs deeply as he studies the two of them. They are standing very close together and Tori is leaning into Jade's side, seeming to find comfort in this closeness. Their fingers are entwined and they look like they never want to let go.

"Ms. West… I wanted to discuss something very serious with you before you leave for Albuquerque. I've noticed your closeness to Miss Vega."

Jade tenses slightly at his scrutiny and she feels Tori do the same.

"Jade makes me feel … safe", Tori admits, not sure where this conversation is going. "But I'm not sure why that's any of your business."

"It's very much my business if it interferes with your abilities. You aren't the first Level Six Medium to find the one person in the world who can short circuit their abilities."

"Short circuit?"

"Yes, when there is direct skin-to-skin contact with the two of you, he interrupts the electromagnetic pulses which tap into the sensitized area of your brain that allows you to contact the spirit world. In effect, he short circuits your brain." Mr. Forester finishes his explanation and takes a long pause to see their reaction.

Tori looks at Jade and seems to be studying her. So serious is her stare, that Jade starts to become nervous about what she must be thinking. Then, she looks back to Mr. Forester.

"I prefer to think of her as an anchor, not some complicated electromagnetic do-hickey. She's my anchor; she keeps me grounded and keeps away all the demons. I also love her very much." Tori ends with a big smile on her face as she turns back to Jade.

"Wow…", Jade murmurs quietly, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

"Still…", Mr. Forester interrupts, "I must protest."

"Look!", Tori snaps at him. "I really appreciate all the help you've given us, but my life is really none of your business. Plus, we have some packing to do. We're going home today. Goodbye, Mr. Forester."

She turns away from him and pulls a very willing Jade along with her and towards the rooms.

"Wow, I'm really rubbing off on you", Jade smirks.

… … … …

"We're not in every class together, you know. Will you be alright?" It's their first day back at school. Everything seems to go back to normal for the rest of the gang except for Jade, Tori and Beck.

"I'll be fine. I've only ever seen one spirit here and he's down on the track. In fact…", Tori trails off as she looks towards the track field. "Maybe I should go have a talk with him."

"No you're purposefully seeking out ghosts to try to right their wrongs? Maybe we should start calling you Ghost Girl or something. Oh, this is good", Jade says animatedly. "How about a skin tight bathing suit uniform like Wonder Woman with a cape like Superman?"

She smiles up at her indulgently. "Seriously Jade?"

They're almost at the school doors when they hear the sound of a loud sigh. Beck is standing in front them, blocking their path.

"Beck?" Jade whispers.

"Jade. Ready for that talk now?",he seethes at her.

"Oh… well", Jade looks nervously to Tori who interrupts her by saying, "It's okay, I'll go talk to that track star and we'll compare notes later."

"If you're sure?"

"I am."

Tori turns around and heads down towards the track.

Turning back to Beck, Jade says, "You're right, Beck. It's time we talked."

…..

"Ummmm, hi there. You getting ready for the big meet on Saturday?" Tori tries to sound conversational. She's sitting on the bleachers closest to where the 1970's era track star is stretching.

He snaps his head up at her voice and looks at her in disbelief. His disbelief turns to swagger when he observes her long brown hair, skin tight tank top and lowest riser jeans. He stands up tall and pulls a hair pick out of his back pocket and starts to pick and shape his voluminous afro as he struts over.

"Hey there, sweet mama, how's it hangin? I ain't never seen you around here before."

"Oh God, I'm being picked up by a dead guy", Tori moans. "Maybe, this isn't such a good idea."

"Hey! Who you callin' dead?", he says indignantly. "I ain't dead. I'm just stuck is all."

"Stuck? Sweetie, judging from your clothes and language, I'd say you've been dead for about 30 years. So, what gives? Why are you still here? Never got a chance to finish that last big race? And let's make it snappy; I've got to get to class." She glances down at her watch. "Final bell rings in seven minutes." She sounds more snarky than she originally intended, but this jerk is really getting on her nerves.

The young African American man gets a sudden look of despair on his face and he sits down on the bleacher next to her.

"I'm sorry, miss. It's just I didn't want you to think I was some sort of retard, mama's boy. But I can tell you, I've done a lot of crying for my mama over the years. It's pretty lonely here, with no one to talk to."

"So what's wrong? Why can't you move on?"

"It's about my mama, actually. She thinks I ODed on heroine, but I didn't. My coach gave me something to help me run faster … and I did. Boy, did I run faster. Except I couldn't stop running and my heart finally gave out. They told my mama that I was a user and took too much heroine. So I figure until I can tell her the truth, I'm stuck right here."

"Maybe I can do something to help you", Tori says sympathetically.

"Oh yeah", he says with a devious smile, "cause I been alone for a very long time."

"Ewww! No dead guy sex! Got it?", Tori jumps and starts to head back to school, but stops and turns back to him. "Oh, by the way, what's your name and when did you die?"

He tells her the information and she promises to do what she can.

… … … …

"How'd it go?", Jade walks up behind Tori and joins her as they walk towards homeroom.

"Fine. How about you?"

They link arms automatically and continue down the hall.

"It went okay. I think we understand each other now and he's not going to give us any problems. I just explained that you're the love of my life and he understood completely."

"Really?" Tori's look of disbelief is obvious.

"Something like that. What happened at the track?"

"I was just in the office checking with the secretary about former students. How'd you like to take a road trip to San Diego this weekend?"

"San Diego? What's in San Diego?"

"My next assignment."

… … …

The week goes quickly and true to Jade's word, Beck leaves them alone. In fact, he leaves everyone alone, such that she is recoiling into a shell. Cat decides to take it upon herself to help him and he agrees to go with her to the movies on Friday night.

Immediately after school, Tori jumps into Jade's black Mustang and drove to San Diego.

Three and a half hours later, they pull into the driveway of Mrs. Margaret Simmons, mother of deceased high school track star, Omar Simmons. It's an emotional hour later when they finally emerge from the distraught woman's home. She was overwhelmed by the story that Tori told, but it definitely had the ring of truth to it and most importantly, it gave the woman closure.

It was too late to drive back home, so after dinner at a local diner, they decide to stay at the SD's Sunshine Inn for the night.

While waiting for the desk clerk, Tori looks around the cozy lobby, made to look like a family room, complete with blazing fire in the hearth. Jade looks over at Tori with concern when she hears her sharp intake of breath. She's staring, transfixed at the fireplace, unable to move. Quickly, Jade reaches over and grabs her hand. She immediately relaxes and looks up to Jade with a quick thank you.

"That was a bad one - really bad", is all she will say.

The desk clerk completes their registration and Jade quickly grabs the one keycard and walks off towards the room.

"We don't have to share a room, Jade. I've got enough money to pay for my own", Tori insists as she carries both their overnight bags and tags behind Jade as she leads them to their room.

"Nonsense. It doesn't make sense to pay for two rooms when we're going to be sharing one bed."

Before Tori can reply, she swiftly unlocks the room door, opens it and pulls Tori inside.

... … … …

Jade looks over at the clock and can't believe it's already ten in the morning. Where had the time gone? Then, she smiles widely as she remembers what happened last night. Tori.

Jade rolls over to her other side and studies the girl beside her. She even sleeps beautifully. Jade watches in adoration as her chest rises and falls under the white sheet covering her body. And knowing what's under that sheet…

The rhythm of her breathing starts to change and Jade knows she's waking up, so she bends down to ease her into full wakefulness with a slow, sweet kiss.

"Hi", Jade finally says after ending the kiss.

"Hi, yourself."

"Ummm, we'd better get going. It's already after ten."

"I put the Do Not Disturb card on the door. I think we might have a few more minutes", Tori says as she rolls Jade over and straddles her hips.

"You like being in control, don't you?", Jade murmurs and she starts to caress her in the all the places that she discovered last night which drive her crazy.

"I like being on top", she replies as she slowly slip two fingers inside Jade.

… … …

Two hours later, Tori is checking out of the room while Jade goes to get the car. It's taking forever and after she finishes reading the cover of the local newspaper, she starts to look idly around the room, having forgotten in her blissful state of happiness why this is a bad idea. Suddenly, she realizes what she's doing and where she's looking, but the horrific scene from the night before is nowhere to be seen.

Blinking several times to clear her vision, she tries again, but there's nothing there. Odd, but good. So why does she feel slightly disappointed that she's not seeing a tragic scene of blood and gore?

Jade rejoins her and she shakes off the feeling as they get in the car to head back home.

An hour out of Los Angeles and the sky grows suddenly dark and the wind picks up to gale force.

"This is weird. It's a little late for monsoon season", Tori says as she looks up at the darkening sky with concern.

"You think we should pull over?"

It's already starting to rain heavily and the wind is causing the little car to sway slightly on the road.

"That might not be a bad idea", Tori says as Jade starts to slow down the car and pull over to the side of the road.

However, before she can come to a complete stop, their Mustang is clipped from behind and the little sports car is sent spinning off the road and into a ditch and everything goes black.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Trina runs through the emergency room doors, trailed closely behind by her parents and Mr. And Mrs. West. Tori is pacing anxiously up and down in front of an ominous looking set of closed double doors.

"Tori!", they all seem to shout at the same time.

"Are you okay, honey?", her mother asks worriedly. "You're cut." Tori's eyes are red from crying and she has a small line of stitches across her forehead.

"I'm fine; this is nothing", she casually brushes off the comment. "But they won't tell me anything about Jade. They've been working on her for over an hour." Her voice drops to a whisper when she continues, "I heard her heart stopped and they had to shock her back to life. I'm so worried."

Mr. and Mrs. West immediately go to find someone in charge and see if they can see their daughter.

"What happened, Tor?", her father asks.

"I'm not sure. It started raining heavily and then when Jade was trying to pull off to the side of the highway, something hit us and I must have gotten knocked out."

The Vegas wrap their youngest daughter in a deep hug and try to console her.

Fifteen minutes later, the Wests are in with Jade, but no one else is allowed to enter. Trina pulls Tori over to the side to talk to her.

"How are you really doing, Tori? I mean it can't be easy being in this place again. You know … with all the dead people and all."

"Dead people?", she squeaks, before realizing what Trina's saying. "Oh… that. I-I really haven't seen anything, Treen. Maybe I've just been so worried about Jade that I haven't been paying any attention."

"Really? Have you ever had to concentrate before?", Trina asks suspiciously.

"Well, no."

"Then, what's changed? What's happened between now and the last time you saw a ghost. When was that? Was it that track guy from the 70's?"

"Um, no. It was at the hotel last night", Tori says slowly as she thinks carefully about the last twelve hours. "But I didn't see them this morning when we were checking out."

"At the hotel? You stayed in a hotel with Jade?"

"Yeah, it was too late to drive back. I called home and told mom. Quit looking at me like that, Trina. I'm not a child."

"That's not why I'm staring at you, Tor. Think about it for a minute. If touching her hand makes the baddie go away… then, having more intimate contact might just…"

"Oh my God! You think she short circuited me permanently?"

"I'm just guessing, but it might make sense in this crazy, mystical kind of life you lead."

"Wow, that's just…" Before she can continue, an anguished scream emits from Jade's room.

Without hesitation, Tori and Trina go barreling into the room.

Jade is propped up in bed and wild-eyed with terror in her eyes.

"Keep them away! Please! Keep them away."

She's flaying around in the bed and her father is trying his best to calm her, but to no avail.

"What's wrong, honey? Please tell us, so we help", his mother pleas in a tense voice. She's trying to sound calm, but it's not working.

"Dead people! I see them everything!" Jade's shouting in a near panic now.

"Huh, who knew West is afraid of ghosts?" Trina asks which earned her a glare from Tori.

Tori then quickly rushes up and takes Jade's hand to try and help Mr. West control her before she hurts herself.

As soon as she touches Jade, Jade relaxes and comes back to herself.

"Tori? Oh God, it's happened to me too. It must have something to do with dying and then coming back. This is horrible, Tori. I don't know how you handle it. It's going to drive me insane."

Surprising everyone in the room, Tori looks directly into her eyes and with a big smile on her face, whispers, "Don't worry, Jade. I know the cure."

… … … …

A/N: And there you have it folks, the last chapter of this story. I honestly don't know how to end it then I remembered the ghost guy I made Tori see in Chapter 2. Lol. And I also know that some of you will think that Jade can never be afraid of ghosts but for me, in my opinion, every living human being will be afraid of seeing ghosts for the first time even if this person seems to be not afraid of anything.

Anyway, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all, my readers, for supporting this story until the very end. Thank you for your kind reviews and your honest comments. I really am glad to have journeyed with you. Know that your reviews were my inspiration to write and once again, thank you.