Start from scratch

Chapter 27 - Just one more thing...

Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Start from scratch.

Chapter 27 – Just one more thing...

Note: One week has passed since the last chapter.

Tori, who was normally a light sleeper, woke to the sounds of Jade crying out in the other room. Looking at her clock as she hopped out of bed and threw on her robe, she could see it was 3:55 in the morning.

Tori hurried out of her room into the still dark living room just in time to hear Jade scream and suddenly sit up on the couch. She appeared to be very disorientated and upset and for a moment her arms flailed as if she was fighting off some imaginary attacker.

Tori quickly kneeled by the couch, making sure not to touch Jade. "Jade, Jade. It's ok, you're safe. It was only a bad dream Calm down."

Jade seemed to calm slightly down hearing Tori's soft voice, but it was obvious she was very disturbed by her nightmare.

"It's ok.....just relax, you're safe now."

The Goth continued to stare straight ahead, with a somewhat hollow expression.

"Just breathe Jade. You're ok."

After sitting there for a moment, Jade rubbed her face and fought back a tear. "It was a bad one."

"I'm sorry you had another nightmare, Jade. Do you want me to hold your hand?"

"No, don't touch me please. Not now."

Jade then covered half her face with her open hand, this time letting a tear escape her eye. "How foolish I was to think I could ever actually be free of him. He was convicted 2 weeks and sentenced to life in prison 4 days ago and I'm still having nightmares about him."

"I'm there for you. I wasn't before, but I am now."

"Tori, stop that!" Retorted Jade quickly. "You did what you could. There's a saying. A dog can only bite the hand that feeds them so many times before their left to starve. I proverbially bit you more than enough times. Ok, you made mistakes, I'll admit that, but I'm way ahead of you in that department. Stop beating yourself up over it. Just sit with me for a moment."

"Ok" Replied Tori in a soft voice.

"I dreamed that cops grabbed me and locked me in his cell. He just kept raping me, over and over....."

"You're ok now."

Jade nodded but remained silent, as she sat there, collecting her thoughts.

"I'm just tired, when I'm tired, worn out or stressed, I have these dreams more often."

"Jade that the third one this week. I'm getting worried. I'm not sure what's going on but you've been going out the last few nights and staying out really late. Not to mention you've been spending 4-5 hours on the computer at a time for the last week. It's been wearing you out, not to mention you're been shorter tempered than normal. When did you come home tonight? "

Jade ran her hands through her hair. "Just after 2 am."

"Jade, I know you said this had to do with your mysterious project, but I'm worried. Whatever it is, it's not worth it."

"I have to do this Tori. I just have one more thing to do, then I'm done. It will be worth it. I promise." Jade said wearily.

"You will tell me what this about, will you?"