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, don't know what else TONYA, part 6 Finally, Jonathan spoke the question Jessica dreaded hearing and answering. "Jessica, I know you gave me until Saturday to figure this out on my own. But I really don't want to snoop into your private life. Can't you tell me?" Jessica's mind raged with questions. Should I tell him? Would he understand? her mind screamed. Why not? He'll eventually find out anyway. Jessica sighed and took a deep breath. "You remember the weekend you, Dad, Dr. Quest, and Hadji went camping?" Jonathan nodded. He did remember. He had caught a fifteen pound fish. His first. Jessica walked to the fireplace and stared into space, lost. "After you guys left, I returned from school and working on my science project." Jessica went on to tell about feeling like she was being watched. She told him about the rape. About feeling so helpless, dirty, used, scared, worthless. "Remember the bruise on my cheek? Well, that's where he slapped me hard" she confided. "All my other bruises had healed by the time you guys got home." "Hadji didn't believe me. But no matter how hard he pressed, I wouldn't tell him the truth." Jonathan nodded slowly. "Hadji told me he was concerned. He told Dad and Race that you were holding something back. He just didn't know what." Jessica told him about discovering that she was pregnant, telling her mom, and being afraid to come back and face Race. She walked to the mantle and picked up three picture frames. "This is Tonya Angel Bannon when she was born- born two months premature." "She's beautiful, Jessica." She showed him the other two pictures. One was of Tonya when she was a year old. Jessica told him of the contaminated blood transfusion and the AIDS. "This picture...this picture is Tonya on her third birthday. Right before she died." Tears began to slip down Jessica's face. Jonathan hugged her and held her tight. "But look at what you've accomplished, Jessica." He looked into her eyes, his voice soft and comforting. "Because of you and Tonya, one child died in order to save millions of people, not to mention children." "But Tonya died. My baby." Jessica sobbed. Jonathan held her tighter. "It's okay, Jessica." She pulled away from him. "No, it's not okay. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get up every morning? To know that you disowned your family, to know that your baby died, all because of you?" "Every morning, I pray to God for the strength to go on. So I can help children all across the world fight disease, hunger, and AIDS." "Every three weeks, I go to a shrink." she said bitterly. "Mom found out that I was suicidal a few years back, so she made me go to Dr. Cranston." "Jonathan, my life has been a living hell ever since that Friday night." She took a deep breath, calming herself down. "The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that there are children out there who need help. My help." Jessica turned around to face him. "I'm sorry to have dumped my problems on you." "No problem." Jonathan said. "So, can I have a detailed tour of your mansion?" Jessica laughed. "Sure." QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ "Awesome room. Jessica!" Jonathan exclaimed as he ran his hand over the planet Earth. "This is incredible. And it's so detailed." Jessica smiled. "This is my favorite room." "I can see why. Electronics, computer equipment,... hey, QuestWorld." "Well, I borrowed some of your Dad's technology and reprogrammed a version of QuestWorld into my private QuestWorld. I named in QBVReality." Jonathan grinned. "Let me guess. Quest-Bannon-Virtual-Reality." "You got it." Jonathan examined the room. Abruptly, he yawned. "Excuse me." He glanced at his watch. "Whoa, it's after midnight!" Jessica yawned, also. "Well, I guess we'd better turn in for the night. I sure hope this storm doesn't do any major damage to anything." Jonathan headed upstairs. "You said it. Goodnight, Jess.." ---------------------------- comments and stuff to me at laf99@hotmail.com (c) Laura Fort 1997