The Real Adventures of Jessica Bannon

TONYA
by Laura Fort

Disclaimer: Don't own anything in relation to Jonny Quest. Ya'll know 
the rules and routines.

Archivers: Have at thee! (Just let me know first!)

Categories: A, HR, not sure what else

TONYA, part 4

   Jessica was pretty sure the Quests, Race, and Hadji knew she was 
living in Chicago. If you watched the news or read the newspaper often 
enough, you would know. But, if they read some of hte magazine articles, 
they probably even knew some information about Tonya.
   She hoped not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   It was another hectic day at work. The latest shipment of files 
hadn't arrived yet, and it was already twenty-six hours late.
   Jessica frowned into the phone. "Well, tell Michael that I needed 
those files YESTERDAY!"
   She paused long enough to catch her breath. "Fine, but he'd better 
HURRY!" She slammed the receiver into its cradle and sat down at her 
desk.
   *What a day. It's only eleven on Tuesday, and I'm ready for the 
weekend.* she thought.
   *BEEP* Jessica glanced at her intercom.
   "Yes, Jaci?"
   "Ms. Bannon, there is a young man here to see you."
   Jessica sighed. The last thing she wanted was to meet with another 
person. "Send him in, Jaci."
   A few minutes alter, the door opened. Jessica glanced up into a pair 
of clear blue eyes she would know anywhere. Her mouth dropped open as 
she stood up.
   He smiled and opened his arms. "Jess-"
   She rushed into his arms, enjoying being in his warmth once again 
after thirteen years.
   Jonathan Quest felt her tears through his black polo shirt. He just 
held her. "It's great to see you again."
   Finally, Jessica pulled away. She sheepishly wiped her eyes. "I'm 
sorry."
   Jonathan flashed his trademark lopsided grin. "Geez, Jess. You could 
call once in a while."
   Jessica paled and turned away. "I...I'm sorry, Jonathan. As you can 
see, and I'm sure you have heard, I've been a little busy."
   "Don't worry. I'm not here to jump down your throat. I mean, you just 
traded a few years of Quest life for the AIDS and HIV vaccine. Not bad." 
Jonathan commented.
   He held her at arm's length and gave her the once-over. "You sure are 
a sight for sore eyes."
   Jessica blushed and laughed a little nervously. "So, I guess you 
didn't have a whole lot of trouble finding me, huh?"
   Jonathan gestured to the sign for the AIDS Center. "Hey, don't 
forget, the Quest team has lots of resources. But hearing about you in 
the news was quite helpful."
   Jessica sat down in her chair. She motioned for Jonathan to have a 
seat.
   "C'mon, Jess." he said as he sat down on her desk. "You know me 
better than that."
   He gave a skeptical once-over. "Jessica, you look great."
   "You're lying." She could hear it in his voice.
   Jonathan sighed. "I know. Looks like you've become a workaholic."
   "What do you mean?" she asked, although she knew darn well.
   "You've accomplished so much, and you're only thirty. And besides, 
you're as thin as a pencil."
   "You sound like my mother."
   "Good. I think you need to hear it."
   Jessica galred at him. "You're here for only five minutes and already 
you're critisizing me."
   "Well, excuse me, but I'm not the one who left for fourteen years 
without so much as a goodbye."
   They sat in uncomfortable silence.
   Finally, Jonathan spoke up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
   "Don't worry about it. I should have been nicer. You come to visit me 
just to have me yell at you. I'm sorry."
   "Forget it." Jonathan said.
   She grinned. "By the way, congratulations on your Space Program. I 
hear you're heading for the Charity Banquet later this week."
   Jonathan picked up a picture of Jessica and Estella. "Yeah, I know
you're invited too. I love kids and everything, but I don't like formal 
parties."
   "I remember." Jessica laughed.
   "So anyway, I guess one way or another, you've heard that I'm still 
dateless."
   Jessica opened her mouth to speak, but Jonathan beat her to it. "I 
want to ask you something."
   Jessica waited patiently for the question. "Jess, will you accompany 
me to the Banquet as my date?"
   Jessica grinned. It was all she could do to keep from jumping up and 
kissing Jonathan. *Too early for that.* she thought. "Of course, I will. 
You should know that."
   Jonathan grinned back. "Well, I haven't seen you in years. Besides, I 
figured that you were mad at me. Or Race. Or Dad. Or Hadji. Nobody knew 
why you never came back."
   Jessica's smiled faltered. She sighed deeply. "Jonathan, I can't tell 
you why just yet. Although you will probably find out on Friday at the 
Banquet. But I promise you this. You guys had nothing to do with why I 
left."
   She stood up and looked out the office window to the chaos below. "I 
had some personal problems and I didn't want to drag any of you guys in 
the middle of them."
   Jonathan crossed the room and put his arm around her waist. "Jessica, 
all four of us would have helped you. We're a family."
   Jessica smiled up at him. "I know." She glanced at her feet. "I 
really want to tell you, but I'm not ready yet."
   Jonathan thought for a minute. He decided not to push it. "Well, what 
if I find out on my own?"
   "Okay. I'll give you until the day after the Banquet. If you haven't 
figured it out yet, I'll tell you. Deal?"
   Jonathan stuck out his hand. "Deal."
   Jessica shook his hand. She smiled up at Jonathan and froze in his 
gaze.
   Jonathan put a hand on her shoulder and brushed a stray strand of her 
crimson hair out of her face. Without thinking, without wanting to 
think, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her.

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Sent comments and things to me at  laf99@hotmail.com

Thanks.
I think some of you will notice that I stole some phrases from the Nancy 
Drew/Hardy Boys Supermystery "Secrets of the Nile."
I don't own them either, cause if I did, there would definitly be more 
JQ:TRA episodes on the way!!

(c) Laura Fort 1997