Meanwhile, Hadji wrestled with Jessie's guard on the deck. The bigger man took a swing at Hadji's head, but Hadji ducked and kicked the guard in the stomach. Staggering backwards, the guard pulled something from his belt. Hadji's eyes narrowed as he caught the glint of a metal, and without warning he struck out with his foot, knocking the knife from the guard's hand. The man lunged for the knife, but Hadji caught his arm and flipped him to the deck. The guard stared up with glassy eyes as Hadji stood over him. "This is for Jessie," he said coldly, and the guard's body went limp as Hadji's heel slammed into his head. Hadji raced to the rail of the boat as Jonny turned them around, back to where Jessie had been thrown overboard. Scanning the waves desperately, Hadji saw a piece of rope floating on the surface. Taking a deep breath, he leaped over the rail and plunged into the frigid water. Kicking furiously, he swam deeper into the murky water. At last Hadji saw Jessie's sinking form a few meters away. Swimming to her quickly, he caught her in his arm and shot to the surface. Jonny let out his breath with a rush when he saw Hadji resurface with Jessie in his arms and swim for the nearby shore. Jonny had already used the ship's radio to contact Dr. Quest and Race, and he could now hear the hum of their approaching helicopter. Jonny quickly finished tying up Jessie's kidnappers before jumping into the smaller, faster speedboat. By the time he reached the shore, Hadji had lifted Jessie onto the pier and laid her down. Tears blurred Jonny's vision as he dropped down beside Jessie and took her hand. "Come on, Jess," he whispered. "You can't give up now." Hadji didn't even notice Jonny. Blinded by tears, he remained bent over Jessie, his lips pressed to hers, desperately forcing air into her lungs. Suddenly Jonny cried out, "She has a pulse! She's gonna make it!" Shaking, Hadji sat back and felt Jessie's wrist. After a moment she began to cough up water, and he lifted her head gently. Breathing at last, Jessie opened her eyes and saw Hadji. For a second she heard the buzz of an approaching helicopter. Then she blacked out again. Relieved that Jessie was alive but still more than a little concerned, Hadji quickly lifted her into his arms and ran towards the Quests' helicopter with Jonny close behind. Race took one look at Hadji's lifeless burden and immediately lifted off as soon as Jonny grabbed the edge of the door. Dr. Quest turned to pull his son into the cockpit and then radioed the hospital, seeing his fear mirrored in Jonny's eyes as he glanced back at his adopted daughter. Jessie's lips were ghostly pale and all color was gone from her face except for where the men had hit her. Purplish bruises were already beginning to darken her temple and jaw, and blood trickled from a cut on her mouth. Her shirt was torn where the guard had kicked her, and Dr. Quest guessed that some of her ribs were broken. In the back of the helicopter Hadji held Jessie close against him, trying to keep her warm. He quickly pulled off his turban and wrapped it tightly around her ribcage, hoping fervently that he wasn't causing her additional pain. Silently taking Jonny's offered jacket, he didn't notice his own shivering as he gingerly folded her into the soft covering. He tore a strip from his sleeve and dabbed gently at her cut lip while Jonny tried to rub some warmth into her hands. As they neared the hospital, Hadji drew Jessie closer, letting her head rest under his chin, and concentrated all his mental energy on offering her his strength. Jessie fought her way slowly back to consciousness, struggling to make sense of her memories. She remembered fighting the man on the ship, and seeing Hadji and Jonny in the speedboat. She recalled shouting for Hadji, and then the sensation of falling for a long time. The last thing she remembered was Hadji's face close to hers, his eyes filled with worry and something else she couldn't name. "Hadji…?" Jessie breathed softly as she finally opened her eyes. She was lying in a hospital bed in a darkened room, and to her left she could make out the dim shape of another bed. Hadji sat in a chair to her right, holding her hand in both of his. Even in the semi-darkness she could see that he looked tired, and a large bruise darkened one side of his face. He wore no turban, and his hair was damp and disheveled. Hadji leaned forward eagerly as Jessie stirred and whispered his name. "Jessie, I'm here," he said softly, bending closer. "You are safe now." She looked up into his face, his eyes dark and intense staring into hers. "Hadji," she said again, her eyes filling with unexpected tears. She reached for him, and he gently wrapped his arms around her and held her close. After a long moment Hadji reluctantly let go of Jessie and stood up. "I should go tell Race that you are awake," he said. "Dad's all right?" asked Jessie. "And the others?" "Everyone is fine," answered Hadji. "But Race has been worried sick about you. We thought he was going to do something rash until Dr. Quest suggested that he go question the men who did this to you." Hadji's voice turned hard with anger. "When we find out who was responsible for this, I'll---" He broke off and turned away. "I will tell the others that you are awake." "Hadji, wait." Jessie grabbed his hand. "Please don't go. I don't want to be alone right now." Her voice was pleading, and he could see the shadows of fear in her eyes. Struck with pity, Hadji sat down again and took her hand in his. He had always thought that Jessie was one of the strongest people he knew, but as he looked down at her little hand engulfed in his big one she seemed suddenly small and helpless. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to protect her from all harm, to guard her with his life. Squeezing her hand, he raised his eyes to her face and watched some of the fear leave her eyes. Jessie took a deep breath, wincing at the pain in her side. "When they kidnapped me," she began quietly after a moment, "I was so scared that they might have killed you and all my family. I wanted to die rather than live without anyone." She paused for a moment, closing her eyes, and when she spoke again her voice was filled with shame. "I'm so sorry to have caused all this. Everyone's lives were in danger because of me, because I fell right into their trap. And now look at you!" Jessie's fingers brushed the bruise on Hadji's face and she looked away, fighting back tears. "How could I have been so stupid?" "No, Jessie," said Hadji firmly, turning her face back to his. "You are not to blame. If anyone is at fault it is I. Those men were using you to get to me, and I'll never forgive myself for letting that happen." Hadji's voice choked with anger. "Especially since I was both the reason for the trap and the bait that got you involved." "But why me?" Jessie wondered suddenly. "Why didn't they kidnap your mother or Dr. Quest or someone else important?" Her eyes widened with fear. "Do you think they're next?" Hadji squeezed her hand. "I hope not, Jessie. But I think they picked you precisely because you are important. You may not realize how much you mean to me, but whoever is behind this obviously knows how to hurt me the most." His voice softened and he reached over to touch her cheek. "I don't know what I would do without you." Jessie had never seen Hadji like this before. His words surprised her, but not nearly as much as her own feelings. Her voice was a whisper, "Hadji---" Suddenly light streamed into the room, outlining a tall figure in the doorway. "Dad?" Hadji stood and backed away from the bed, and Jessie reluctantly let go of his hand as her father bent to hug her. "The doctor said you're going to be fine, sweetheart," said Race. "Thank goodness." "No, thank Hadji," corrected Jonny from the doorway. "How do you feel, Jess?" Jessie managed a weak grin. "Slammin'!" "The nurse says you'll be out of here in a couple of days," said Dr. Quest, coming into the room. "You have a concussion and some bruised ribs, but nothing too serious." "Is that all? All that trouble and I didn't even break anything?" Jessie sighed. "Sorry, guys." "Don't be," said Race. "It's a good thing Hadji knows CPR, or we really would have been sorry." "CPR?!" Jessie exclaimed. "What happened?" "You nearly drowned, Jess," Jonny answered, taking her hand. "When Hadji pulled you out of the water, you were a goner. And if it hadn't been for him, you would have stayed that way." "Wow," Jessie breathed. "Thanks, Hadji. I guess I really owe you one." Her voice was joking, but her gaze on Hadji was completely serious. She smiled wonderingly at him, her head spinning. Could he possibly care as much for me as I— "We all do," said Race, resting his hand on Hadji's shoulder. His thanks were more than apparent in his eyes. Two days later Jessie was released from the hospital and returned to the palace with the others. In the van on the way back Race filled her in on the details of her kidnapping. The team had learned from questioning her captors that the man responsible was a wealthy aristocrat named Murud Valsad, but so far they had been unable to locate him. As Jessie had guessed, Valsad was not pleased with Hadji's reforms and sought to end them. When the assassination attempt failed, Valsad had decided to try another tactic. Fortunately, that too had been thwarted. "But Dad," Jessie protested from the backseat, "don't you think he's going to try something else? He doesn't sound like the type who gives up easily." "Yeah," Jonny agreed from the seat next to her. "Anyone who doesn't quit after one run-in with this family has got to be either really desperate or really stupid." "You are right, my friend, but Valsad is anything but stupid," said Hadji grimly, frowning at the bruises on Jessie's face. "He is a very dangerous man." "Which is why we're gonna follow every lead until we catch this lunatic and put a stop to him for good," Race said firmly. For the next few days the Quest team spent most of their time investigating. Unfortunately, they met with little success. With each passing day the tension in the palace grew. Everyone expected Valsad to strike again, and their nervousness was heightened by the sense that they could do nothing to prevent it. Hadji was in turmoil. He could hardly concentrate for worrying about his friends, especially Jessie. Every night he woke several times from bad dreams and rushed to her room to make sure she was all right. He didn't understand why he was so torn apart by the situation, for he had never been so scared on any of the many previous occasions where their lives were endangered. All he knew was that something had to be done before he went insane with worry. Hadji paced around his room like a prowling cat, deep in thought. Until Valsad and his men were apprehended no one close to him would be safe, especially not Jessie. They knew how important she was to him, and obviously had no qualms about using her to get to him. And if they had tried it once they would do it again. He had considered the problem from every angle, and could see only one way to remedy the situation. Hadji stopped pacing and heaved a sigh of resignation. "Oh, this is not good," he said to himself. "Jessie is not going to be happy about this…" Suddenly the peaceful silence of the palace was shattered by a commotion in the west wing. Fearing another assassination attempt, Jonny, Race, and Dr. Quest sprang into action. As they bolted down the corridor they heard Jessie's voice raised in anger, and another accented male voice that sounded familiar. The three rounded the last corner and skidded to a halt in the doorway to Jessie's room. They hadn't recognized the male voice because they had never heard Hadji in such a passion. He and Jessie stood facing each other in her room, in the midst of a heated argument. Jessie's eyes were bright with angry tears, her cheeks flushed and her fists clenched. Hadji's dark eyes were practically burning, and even from where they stood the others could see his body shaking with feeling. As Race and the Quests stared in astonishment, Neela appeared in another doorway and stood watching with an unreadable expression on her face. Oblivious to their audience, Hadji and Jessie continued their argument. "I don't believe I'm hearing this!" Jessie fairly shouted. "Are you really telling me to leave?" "Jessie, I am asking you to go someplace safer," Hadji said through clenched teeth. "It is for your own good." "My own good? What about you?" "Never mind about me; I will be fine. But you have been hurt too many times because of me, and I won't let that happen again." "Hadji, I can take care of myself!" "I know, but I cannot allow you to risk your life for no reason—" "It's my life, Hadji! And I'm not risking it for no reason. This is what friends do!" Jessie's voice choked as she took a step closer to Hadji. "If our positions were reversed and I told you to leave, would you do it?" she demanded. "No," replied Hadji reluctantly, "but that's different." "How is it different?" cried Jessie. "How is it fair that you can do what you want with your life, but I can't stay to help my best friend?" "Jessie, I can't let you do this!" Hadji cried desperately, gripping her shoulders. "Please, you must leave Bangalore!" Jessie stared at him, stricken. "You really want me to leave?" Her voice sounded small and defeated. "I never said I wanted that," said Hadji. "What do you want then?" Jessie flared again, shaking out of his hands. "I want you to be safe. I want you—" Hadji's voice broke off as he looked at her. Then suddenly he pulled her into his arms and kissed her full on the lips. For a moment Jessie stood startled, but then she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. In the doorway, three men stared open-mouthed at the spectacle. Finally Dr. Quest and Jonny gripped a shocked Race by the arms and led him away from the scene. Hadji and Jessie were still locked in an embrace as Neela returned to her chamber, smiling to herself. Finally Jessie and Hadji parted and looked at each other uncertainly. "Wow," breathed Jessie softly, her anger forgotten. "Jessie, I'm sorry," began Hadji miserably. "I didn't want to hurt you. But now you see why I asked you to leave. I love you, and I couldn't bear to see you hurt again because of me." Jessie's eyes shone with tears as she looked at him. "Why didn't you tell me?" Hadji sighed. "Because I didn't know myself, until it was almost too late. I have always been so absorbed in my duties that I never allowed myself to think about anything else. But when you were kidnapped I finally realized how much I needed you. When I thought you were dead…I wanted to die too." Hadji's eyes closed briefly, and he shuddered at the memory. "Then I knew that I loved you. After that, I wanted to tell you but…I didn't want to burden you when you have so much else to worry about. I'm sorry, Jessie," he said again. "I didn't mean for things to happen like this." Jessie surprised him by smiling through her tears. "I have to agree, your timing stinks," she said. "But I'm not sorry, because…I love you, too. Which is why," she continued firmly, "I am not leaving. For the same reasons you want me to go I am determined to stay." Her voice softened as she reached up to touch his face. "I love you, Hadji, I need you, and I'm not going to run away while someone is trying to kill you." Hadji stared at her upturned face, his mind whirling. Inside his heart was soaring, but some part of him still wanted to make Jessie listen to reason. "But Jessie—" he began, not sure what else he could say. Jessie cut him off with a gentle hand over his mouth. "No more buts. You should know better than to argue with me," she said, moving closer. As Jessie's arms went around his neck Hadji gave up all pretense of listening to reason and for the first time in his life let himself be guided only by his heart. After Hadji left, Jessie lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling, thinking. Now that she knew both her heart and his, the threat of Valsad's attacks weighed even more heavily. What would she do if Valsad were successful in his attempts to kill Hadji? Jessie's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door. "Come in," she called absently. Jonny stepped cautiously into the room. "Hi, Jess." "Hi, Jonny. What's up?" Jessie sat up on her elbows and patted the bed. Jonny slowly came and sat down beside her. "Um, is everything—I mean, uh, are you and Hadji okay?" he asked nervously. "Yeeessss," Jessie answered suspiciously, peering closely at him. "Why?" Jonny blushed and stammered, "We, uh, sort of, heard you guys arguing and, uh, we thought it was Valsad or something, so we ran in and, um, well…" Jonny's voice trailed off. "Well, what?" Jessie asked impatiently, sitting up. "Wesawyouguyskissing," Jonny finished in a rush. Now it was Jessie's turn to blush. "Oh, no. Did Dad flip out?" "He was pretty shocked," Jonny said. "Actually, we all were. Except Neela, and—I have to admit—I kinda suspected you and Hadji were getting closer. You should have seen him the night you were kidnapped. I mean, we were all upset, but Hadji was dangerous." Jessie smiled, but then her brow furrowed. "Is it a bad thing, the two of us?" she asked earnestly. "No!" said Jonny seriously. "We just weren't really prepared. But," he added, patting her hand, "I couldn't think of two better people for my best friends to fall in love with than each other." "Thanks, Jonny," said Jessie gratefully, giving him a quick hug. "You're the greatest." "Before you tell the others, can I put in a request?" Jonny asked with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Jessie nodded. "Do I get to be best man at the wedding?" "You're incorrigible, Jonny Quest!" Jessie laughed, hurling a pillow at his lopsided grin. Later that night the team was finishing their somewhat subdued and awkward dinner when one of the palace guards rushed into the room. "Please excuse me, Your Highness," he said breathlessly, "but we have just received word that Hassan and his men have escaped from prison." Race was on his feet in an instant, his troubled thoughts about his not-so-little girl temporarily forgotten. "What? How?" "One of the jailers was bribed to free them," answered the guard. "Valsad!" Hadji hissed grimly as the rest of the team shot to their feet. "Be careful!" Neela called after them, but they were already racing for the helicopter. Within minutes after questioning the jailer the team was on the trail of Hassan and his men. Keeping the helicopter in stealth mode, Race landed outside the warehouse district. After radioing the police and the palace guards as to their location, the team piled out of the helicopter and crept towards the warehouse Hassan's gang had entered. "OK, kids," said Dr. Quest. "Race and I are going to check out the perimeter until the police get here. You three stay here and wait for them." "Be careful, Dad," Jessie begged. "You, too, Pop," said Jonny. Race nodded, loading his weapon. "And remember, you guys sit tight and stay cool. Under no circumstances are you to follow us." Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji nodded their assent as Race and Dr. Quest melted into the shadows. Two minutes later the three teenagers crept along the wall of the warehouse after their fathers. "Hey, at least we have an excuse this time," Jonny whispered defensively at Jessie's disapproving gaze. "If we don't stop that guard that went in the same direction as Race and Dad, we're gonna have a serious situation." Hadji silenced him with a wave of his hand as the trio spotted the open back door of the warehouse. "Oh, no! We're too late!" Jessie hissed in despair. Race and Dr. Quest stood just inside the storage room with their hands in the air. The sentry the kids had seen outside was pointing a gun at their backs, forcing them to march forward. Then the garage door began to lower. Without hesitation the three ran forward and rolled under the door, barely reaching it before it slid to the ground. Standing up quietly, they eyed the guard heading for the next room. As they watched, he reached for his radio. Hadji and Jonny leaped on the guard at the same time, and Jessie caught his gun as he fell. The boys lowered him to the ground silently and tied him up while Dr. Quest checked his radio. Race turned to Jessie. "I thought I told you to stay put," he whispered accusingly. "We tried," Jonny explained, "but when we saw that guy go after you we figured you'd need some backup." "And since it looks like we're stuck in here," Hadji added, indicating the closed back door, "we may as well help you find Valsad and make sure he doesn't leave before the police get here." "I suppose you wouldn't listen if we tried to persuade you not to come," Dr. Quest sighed resignedly. "Nope," Jessie answered, shrugging her shoulders. Race poked his head cautiously around the corner to see a group of unsavory men gathered on the far side of the room. Motioning for the others to follow, he quickly slipped behind a stack of crates in the corner. Silently the Quest team peeked over the tops of the crates. Valsad stood with several of his bodyguards, addressing Hassan and his men, who were all still bandaged and limping from the injuries they sustained during Jessie's rescue. "Didn't we just leave this party?" muttered Jessie under her breath as she peered at her one-time captors. Valsad waved a clenched fist in the air. "I have been thwarted by that wretched sultan and his friends for the last time! Now I shall finally have all the power and wealth promised to me by Vikram himself, before that miserable brat murdered him. You must not fail me again! Do whatever it takes, but I want the sultan and everyone near him dead by tomorrow!" The Quest team gave a collective gasp. "What we have here is what you'd call a situation," observed Race bluntly. "So what's the plan?" asked Jonny in a whisper. "The plan is, we wait for the police backup and then we bust these bozos." "But Race—" Before Jonny could finish, a rat scurried noisily out from under the crates where they were hiding. "What was that?" Hassan and the others turned in the direction of the sound. Everyone ducked back behind the crates, but it was too late. They had been spotted. "Get them!" shouted Valsad as his men ran towards the hidden observers. "So much for Plan A," muttered Race. "Time for Plan B!" He leaned his full weight against the crates, sending them crashing down on the approaching men. Most of the men dodged out of the way, but two were pinned down under the heavy cargo. The Quest team spread out in a line, ready to face the six remaining men. Race opted for the surprise tactic. "Heads up, ugly!" he shouted, springing into the air with his leg extended. Meanwhile, the other members of the Quest team were similarly engaged. Valsad stood with his last bodyguard and watched in horror as his hired thugs met their matches. Race finished his first man instantly with a well-placed kick and immediately set to work on a second. "Incoming, Benton!" he warned, and Dr. Quest took out a man with a bandaged head, noting his son's earlier work. Jonny struggled with one of Valsad's bodyguards, while Hadji dispatched another. Jessie had the pleasure of facing her friend with the broken jaw. Unfortunately, he remembered all too well their last encounter on the boat, and a calculated fist in the ribs brought Jessie to her knees. "Jessie!" Race and Hadji cried simultaneously, then looked at each other in surprise. But Jessie could take care of herself. She quickly dodged his next punch and swung her foot across the floor, sweeping his legs. The thug crashed to the ground face first, and Jessie made sure he stayed down. His men defeated, Valsad faced his enemies. "Party's over, sicko," Race said firmly. "Come along nicely now and we'll see that you get what's coming to you. You're gonna pay for threatening my daughter." "I don't think so, soldier," Valsad sneered, and his bodyguard pulled out an automatic. The Quests stepped back, and Hadji swiftly pulled Jessie behind him. "It's me you're after, Valsad," Hadji said angrily. "Let the others go. They have nothing to do with this." Valsad laughed. "You're right, Your Highness, they don't." He, too, pulled a gun and aimed it at Hadji. "Which is why they're staying here while you come with me. We have some business to discuss." He motioned Hadji to follow him. Hadji hesitated, and the bodyguard aimed his gun at Jonny's head. Glancing at his family, Hadji went to stand next to Valsad. His eyes held Jessie's as Valsad instructed the bodyguard to imprison his friends. Then he went at gunpoint out of the room. Jessie leaped forward to follow, but Jonny held her back. The bodyguard indicated with the tip of his gun another door, and the prisoners were starting towards it when a gunshot split the silence. "Hadji!" Jessie screamed. She ran after him as the bodyguard, momentarily distracted, lowered his gun. Jonny followed while Race and Dr. Quest disarmed their captor. Jessie skidded to a halt in the next room. Valsad lay on the ground, clutching his leg. Hadji stood calmly over the man who had tried to kill him. "It is over, Valsad," he said. "You lost." Relieved, Jessie flung herself into Hadji's arms as the others arrived. Race bent to tie up the wounded aristocrat. "You're lucky there's witnesses," he growled, "or you'd be wishing you were never even born." The Quest team could breathe freely for the first time in weeks as they stepped out of the warehouse. They were met by approaching vehicles with flashing lights. "Here come the cavalry!" Jessie pointed. "Just after the nick of time, I believe," said Hadji amusedly. That night seemed positively dull after the excitement of the past few weeks. The Quest team sat in the now peaceful palace, finally able to enjoy their well-deserved vacation. Hadji leaned over and took Jessie's hand. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden? I don't think you got the right impression the first time." Jessie grinned and let him lead her outside. Hand in hand, they walked along the well-kept paths. Jessie leaned against Hadji, staring up at the stars. She breathed a sigh of contentment as Hadji smiled and slipped his arm around her waist. "This is definitely an improvement over the last time I was here," she murmured happily, resting her head on his shoulder. THE END, or so it is written in the Book of Rage. As Race would say, you can stick a fork in this, 'cause it's done! : ) Oh, yeah, and don't forget to check out the illustration for this fic (it's the scene after the showdown with Valsad) at Wendy's amazing Eraser Dust JQ Art Gallery! (c) IRIS 1998