Disclaimer: The characters of Jonny Quest, Jessie Bannon (Quest
<g>), and
Hadji Singh are the sole property of Hanna-Barbera, Warner Brothers,
Cartoon Network and any other head honchos who want to claim them and have
a heck of a lot more lawyers than I'll ever see in my lifetime. Anisa and
Haresh Singh belong to me, however, so if your gonna borrow 'em, just let
me know. This story was written by a fan for the enjoyment of other fans,
no money is being made (though compliments are always appreciated), and no
copyright infringement is intended.
Archivers: It's all yours!
Categories: J&J HR, F, a little H, V
Summary: Jon and Jess try to spend a nice quiet Valentine's Day at home,
and meet with limited success...
JUST THE TWO OF US?
by Susan "Suze" Howe
2/14/98
"An evening all to ourselves? For real???" Jess exclaimed.
Jon laughed. "Yes, for real! I know how crazy things have been lately,
and I thought that you and I deserved a nice quiet Valentine's Day...just
the two of us."
Jess sighed in pleasure. "Oh, that sounds heavenly!"
Jon grinned. "I aim to please..."
Jonathan Quest knew that his wife wanted nothing more in the world than to
spend a quiet evening at home. Since his marriage to Jessica Bannon - now
Jessica Quest - a little over a year ago, life had been a whirlwind of
activity. First, their European honeymoon had been interrupted by an
attack by Jeremiah Surd. Then the two of them had thrown themselves into
their work at Quest Enterprises; Jess taking over the Computer Development
division, and Jon heading up the newly-created IRIS Security Systems
branch. After working non-stop for over half a year, a cry for assistance
in dispatching a persistent international terrorist had pushed them back
into the field. As they wearily resumed their work at Quest Enterprises,
Jon knew that they needed a break. Valentine's Day seemed like the most
convenient excuse.
The following Saturday, Jess hummed cheerfully as she donned a flowing
green velvet dress, piled her brilliant red hair atop her head in a
fashionable disarray, and carefully applied just the right amount of
make-up. After adding two heart-shaped diamond earrings to her ensemble,
she checked herself out in the bedroom's floor-length mirror. *Not bad*
she decided. *Not quite the girl that Jonny Quest married, but not bad...*
A knock at the door interrupted her musings and Jon popped his head into
the room. "Jess? Are you about ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be!"
"Good...perfect timing." He crossed the room to her and grinned. "Jess!
You look beautiful!"
She smirked, "Yeah, right...but thank you." She looked him over and
surveyed the black double-breasted suit, crisp white shirt, and shiny dress
shoes with a critical eye. She laughed as she noticed the tiny heart
pattern on his red tie. "You don't look so bad yourself, stranger! So,
now what?"
"Close your eyes," he instructed.
"Close my eyes? Jon, isn't that just a bit clich=E9?"
He put on his best wounded puppy face and pleaded, "C'mon, Jess. Humor me
here..."
"Alright, alright..." She closed her eyes as Jon slipped his arm around
her shoulders.
"Just walk through here...that's it....careful of the steps...." He
cautiously led her downstairs, through the hall, into another room, and
finally helped her into a chair. He paused for a moment, and Jess began
to get impatient.
"Can I open my eyes yet?"
"Just one more sec....okay...now! Go ahead and open your eyes."
Slowly, Jessica Quest opened her eyes and gasped. She was seated at their
small dining room table which had been covered with a Batenburg lace
tablecloth, and laid out with fine china, silver, and delicate crystal
glasses. In the center of the table was huge wrought iron candelabra,
whose brilliant light danced over every surface. Finally, across her place
setting, was a single red rose with a note attached. Wordlessly, she
reached for the card.
MY FIRE ANGEL **
by Jonathan Quest
dedicated to Jessica Bannon
My lovely fire angel--
For that, indeed, you are,
With your flaming hair
And your sparking-jade eyes--
Is there space enough in the cosmos
For all that I feel for you?
Is there time enough in forever
To say how often you are on my mind
Or the million ways my heart stops
And cries out
When your fairie form
Falls onto my eyes?
Is there any tongue
Whose words can say
Why I stammer and flush
When you are so near
That your lily-of-the-valley perfume
Seduces my nostrils with every breath?
Only the language of love,
Beloved,
For this alone can I say:
'Til the Great Clock's last tick,
And beyond,
Though my heart beat no more,
I LOVE YOU!!!!
Will you still be my valentine?
Your loving husband,
Jon
Her eyes misted over as Jess recognized the words Jon had written for her
so many years before. Her gaze rose from the card and she favored him with
a beatific smile. "Of course I will," she whispered. She leaned over to
kiss him...
=2E..and the phone rang.
Jon smiled and shrugged as he went over to pick up the receiver. "Hello?
Yes... No. I can't. Really... It's Valentine's Day, you dolt!" He
glanced over at Jess and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know... No.
Yes... Tuesday? Sure. Okay... Okay... Yeah, see ya." He hung up the
phone and returned to the table.
"Who was that?" Jess asked.
"Your dad. He's been after me to help him set up the new computer security
system at his house, but I just haven't had the time. He was hoping I
could come over tonight."
"On Valentine's Day?"
"Yeah...*please* don't let us get so set in our married ways that we forget
how to celebrate days like this!"
She laughed. "Agreed! Now where were we..."
"Right about here..." Jon leaned over to kiss her...
=2E..and the computer terminal beeped.
Jess sighed and said, a little testily, "What is it, IRIS?"
"VIDEO LINK CONNECTION IS BEING ATTEMPTED."
"Source?"
"ROYAL PALACE OF THE SULTAN, BANGALORE, INDIA."
Jon looked at her. "It's Hadj...we've got to take it, Jess."
"I know...IRIS, please route the Video Link to the monitor in the dining roo=
m."
"ACKNOWLEDGED. WORKING..."
Suddenly, the monitor on the far wall came alive and Hadji's face came into
view. "Jon? Jess? Are you there, my friends?"
"Yeah, we're here, Hadj," Jon said. "What's up?"
"Nothing special. It has just been a while since we last spoke and I
wanted to catch up with you. Besides," he grinned as two figures jostled
him to get space in front of the video screen, "Anisa and Haresh wanted to
say hello, and you know I can't refuse them anything!"
Jess brightened as two chubby-cheeked toddlers appeared on the screen.
Anisa stared into the camera with huge limpid eyes and promptly stuck a
thumb into her mouth, while Haresh grinned broadly and waved frantically at
the monitor. After a bit of prompting from Hadji, Haresh burst out,
"Hello, Aunt Jessee!!!"
Jess laughed as Jon assumed a hurt expression. "What about me??? Don't I
get hello?"
Anisa came to his rescue and said quietly, "Hewo, Unca Jonee..." At least
that's what they thought she had said around the thumb in her mouth.
Jon and Jess chuckled, as Hadji reappeared on the screen. "They've gotten
so *big*, Hadj!" Jess commented.
Hadji glanced offscreen wistfully and said, "Yes...you would be amazed at
how quickly they grow up. I have a whole new respect for our parents these
days."
"I know what you mean," Jon said.
Suddenly, Hadji noticed the table behind them. "Oh! I am sorry! Are you
in the middle of something?"
"Well, it *is* Valentine's Day, Hadj." Jon reminded him
"We were just sitting down to a nice quiet dinner," Jess added.
Hadji looked apologetically at the couple, "And I just interrupted it. I
am very sorry, my friends. I will let you get back to it..."
"Are sure, Hadj? I know that you're really busy."
"It is quite alright. I will call you tomorrow evening to see how you are
doing, okay?"
"That would be great. We'll talk to you then"
Jess smiled, "Thanks, Hadj!"
"No problem, my friends." And with that, he broke the video connection and
the screen went dark once more.
"That was nice of him," Jon commented. "I know that he's swamped these
days..."
"Jon?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Get over here and kiss me."
Jon grinned widely and moved around the table to sit beside his wife. He
leaned over to kiss her and...
=2E..the doorbell rang.
"I don't believe this..." Jess muttered as she laid her crossed arms on the
table and rested her forehead atop them.
Jon patted her back gently and rose to answer the door. "I *swear*,
honey...I'll get rid of whoever it is..."
Just as he reached the door, Estella breezed in carrying an armload of
packages. "Hello, Jon" she said, as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Hello, Estella," he said in surprise.
"I just brought a few things for--" She stopped short as she saw Jess
slumped over the table. "Goodness, darling! Are you feeling alright??
Maybe we should get--"
"I'm FINE, Mother..." Jess said irritably as she lifted her head.
Estella took in the china, the candles, and the rose at a glance, and
realized that perhaps she shouldn't have barged in unannounced. "Oh,
you're busy celebrating Valentine's Day. I'm sorry, Jessica." She handed
the parcels to Jon and walked over to her daughter. "I should have called
first, but I was so excited about the gifts I bought, that I wanted to show
them to you right away."
Jess accepted her hug wearily. "It's alright, Mom, it's just that..."
"You and Jon are trying to have a quiet moment alone together and I just
ruined it." Jess looked at her in surprise. "Do you think you're the only
married couple whose intimate plans were wrecked by an overbearing mother?"
Jon draped an arm over Estella's shoulders and said sarcastically, "You,
overbearing, Estella? Never!"
She grinned and swatted at him playfully, "You just watch yourself, mister,
or I'll send my personal bodyguard over hear to deal with you!"
Jess moaned melodramatically, "Stop it, Jon! We don't need Dad over here,
too!"
Estella smiled and moved to hug her daughter again. "I'm glad to see
you're in better spirits, my dear. I'll get the heck out of here and leave
you two to the rest of your evening." She kissed Jess on the cheek then
moved toward the door. She waved off Jon's attempt to walk her out. "Stay
here with your wife, I can show myself out. I'll call you tomorrow, Jess."
"Okay, Mom...bye..."
"Bye, Estella."
Jess waited until she heard the front door close, then let out a huge sigh
of relief. "I was afraid she wouldn't leave."
"Aw, your Mom's not *that* bad, Jess..."
"I know, but..."
"Hey, let's check out the stuff she brought..." Jon headed for the pile of
packages, but Jess grabbed him by the arm.
"Oh, no you don't. We'd better wait and open those when she's here or
she'll throw a fit."
"You're probably right. Besides...we've still got some unfinished business
to attend to..." He leaned in to kiss her and...
=2E..his cellphone rang.
Jon eyed Jess warily as he heard her softly counting, "1...2...3...". He
pulled the cellphone out of his jacket pocket and punched the receive
button. "Hello? Dad? Why are you calling on the cellphone? ... Oh..."
There was a long pause, then suddenly Jon burst out into hysterical
laughter. "Too late, Dad. She was already here.... Yes. Yes, you
are..." Jon tried vainly to stop giggling. "Don't worry about it, Dad.
You're not the only one... Tomorrow. Okay... okay.... Bye, Dad." Jon
punched the off button and stuffed the phone into his pocket. He turned to
Jess and explained, "That was Dad. He was supposed to call and tell us
that Estella was coming over, but he got busy picking up equipment and
forgot to... Jess?" He looked at his wife worriedly. "Are you okay?"
She sat in stony silence for a moment, then.. "That's IT!" Jess exploded.
"I am NOT going to have our evening interrupted again!"
"Okay...what's the plan?" Jon asked.
"You go turn off our beepers - mine is on the dresser - and the cellphones,
I'll take care of everything else."
"You got it!"
As Jon raced down the hall, Jess tried to calm herself and attend to the
other distractions. "IRIS, suspend all outside communications to Quest
Manor."
"PARAMETERS?"
"All incoming phone, fax, computer, Video Link connections...everything!"
"ACKNOWLEDGED. WORKING... COMMUNICATIONS SUSPENSION COMPLETED."
"Good, now institute full lockdown of the house and grounds. Repel all
attempts to enter Quest Manor; passive deterrence only. Block all attempts
to override the lockdown per authorization Jessica Zeta One."
"AUTHORIZATION JESSICA ZETA ONE ACKNOWLEDGED. PASSIVE DETERRENT MODE OF
QUEST MANOR HOUSE AND GROUNDS ENGAGED."
Jon reentered the room and wearily sat down next to her. "I think I found
them all...is IRIS all set?"
"Yes. Now will you *please* kiss me?"
"With pleasure," Jon grinned wolfishly. After furtively glancing around,
as if looking for yet another interruption, he leaned over to Jess and...
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
He drew back. "What is it?" Jon asked, looking at her with concern.
Jess took a deep breath. "Nothing..." At his skeptical look she added,
"Just a cramp or something...I've probably been sitting here for too long."
She smiled. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm not going to let *anything* else
interrupt us tonight!"
"If your sure..."
"I'm su--ow!" Jess clutched at her stomach and swore softly. "Dammit
dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit...."
Jon chuckled ruefully as he stood and offered a hand to his wife. "I hate
to say it, Love, but I think that someone has other plans for us tonight..."
=46rustrated, Jess exclaimed, "Is this Cupid's idea of fun???"
Jon put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her tenderly. Then he
leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Well, I don't know about you,
but *this*," he tenderly ran a hand across her swollen belly, "this is the
best Valentine's Day present that *I've* ever gotten..."
Touched, the fire went out of her eyes, and Jess smiled up at her husband
as he helped her on with her coat and grabbed her bag. "Me, too... Just
promise me one thing."
"Name it..."
She grinned. "Next Valentine's Day let's send the kid to our parents,
ditch our beepers and cellphones, and run away for the weekend so we can
*finally* spend some time alone...just the two of us. What do you say?"
Jon smiled. "I'd say you've got yourself a date, Mrs. Quest!"
"Good, then let's get the heck out of here, Mr. Quest, before someone ELSE
shows up!"
"Jess?"
"What?"
He gestured to her burgeoning stomach. "What if the doctor is right...what
if it turns out to be twins?"
Jess threw her hands up in exasperation. "Great. What's one MORE person
this evening..." Gritting her teeth against another contraction, she
glared at him and said, "Jon?"
"Yes, dear?" he replied meekly.
"Shut up."
"Yes, dear..."
END
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
** Dixon, Alyce Fae, =A9 1997, "Fire Angel",
http://arc=
hivego
ddess.simplenet.com/alyce/fireangel.html
"Fire Angel" by Alyce Dixon was one of the entries to the original JQ:TRA
Valentine's Day fanfic challenge back in February 1997. I absolutely
*love* the poem that she wrote for it. So, thanks to a suggestion from
Debbie (thanks again!), I decided it was only fitting to...uh...borrow it
for this year's challenge (I hope you don't mind, Alyce!) If you like the
poem (and I know you will), then go check out the fanfic! (the URL is with
the copyright info above).
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
So what do you think guys and gals?
Comments, questions, compliments, chocolates, roses, etc. are highly
encouraged and flames will be pointedly ignored. Please send all feedback
to: starfox@ultranet.com
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!
-- Suze
=A9 1998 Susan Howe
(c) Susan Howe 1998