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Love is Strong	By : harry102 Category: +M through R > New Adventures of Jonny Quest, The Views: 8124 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 30
- 31
Race was disoriented when he woke up, but his encounter with Jade flooded to the forefront of his thoughts as soon as consciousness found him. "Fuck," he whispered to himself and then began to retrieve and replace his clothing. He was not sure how he felt about waking up alone, but knew it was for the best that she had gone. As angry as he was…and yes he still saw red when he thought about what she did…he did not want her to get jammed up by the authorities that would be overwhelming the Compound in the next few days.
With that thought in mind, he started to make his way to the lab. He had a long night ahead of him seeing as he insisted on being provided with the names of every agent that would be stepping foot on the property. He would be doing his own background checks on all of them.
"Hey," he greeted Jonny with a sigh upon finding him at one of the working stations already. "What are you doing out here? You still look like shit," he deadpanned.
"I couldn't sleep," Jonny admitted, running a hand over his face. "I don't like the idea of so many people we don't know being on the grounds tomorrow. I was trying to find a list of names to go through."
"That is my job to worry about," Race responded quickly. "I will be vetting them all before they are allowed any access. Go get some rest," he then ordered.
"I'm too wired. Let me help you..."
"I DON'T NEED HELP," he interrupted. "… just let me do my job," he finished more calmly.
"I wasn't insinuating that you needed my help, Race. I know you don't need help. I was just offering because I don't know what else to do with myself right now…and PLEASE don't tell me to go relax because I can't fucking relax when everyone I love is in danger and I'm the one that put them there. Would you be able to?"
"I promised my daughter that I wouldn't do this with you until you got some sleep," Race interrupted again.
"I know she is just trying to help," Jonny conceded. "…but I also know what I need right now and that is to either help you or hash things out with you… and I need to do both before I can unwind at all…so please let me help…or let me have it."
Race took a deep breath and tried to focus on the monitor in front of him. He kept repeating the promise he made to his daughter in his head and hoped that his silence would be enough to convince Jonny to let it go for a while.
"She could have gotten really hurt or worse because I didn't keep my mouth shut," Jonny baited. "…fucking rip my head off already. I deserve it."
"I am well aware of that, kid…and not happy about it," Race replied tightly. The idea of his daughter being hurt resulted in violent thoughts. "What I don't comprehend is why you think I'm not just as angry that YOU ran off without my back up."
"Because I don't deserve that," he huffed. "I have lied right to your face to cover my tracks on this for YEARS. I lied to everyone," Jonny admitted pained. "It made sense at the time…I thought I was doing the right thing. It was one thing when it was just me, but the moment I came clean to Jess..." he trailed off. "I have no excuse for that…I'm just SO sorry. I'm sorry. I have messed up plenty and you have had a front row seat, but I have never been more wrong and I know it. I hope you'll forgive me someday though…and I hope you know that I respect you so much and I LOVE your daughter. I will never forgive myself for putting her in that position."
"Holding on to guilt like that does no one any good," Race advised after a few moments of letting the apology sink in. "Trust me… it can and will tear all the good things in your life down. No matter how noble or well-intentioned those feelings, they will ultimately cause more pain for you and everyone else if you can't figure out how to let them go. If someone forgives you…accept it. Don't let 'what-ifs' eat you alive."
"I don't know how to do that…"
"Figure it out…," Race ordered. "Holding on to that shit is not worth fucking up your relationships, especially with Jess. She's the best thing that will ever happen to you."
"I know that," Jonny grinned widely and took a deep breath, thinking about that beautiful girl that was all his. "Jade gone?" he then asked.
"Long gone," Race grunted, while booting up the station across from Jonny.
"I'm sorry for complicating your relationship with her," he apologized.
"Jade and I are plenty good at complicating our…relationship," he hedged. "…on our own. It's not your problem."
"It is though since I am the cause of the problem. I'm the reason this situation…"
"Why didn't you let me help you?" Race cut in, clearly hurt and more concerned with that than Jade at the moment. "I would have helped you. All you had to do was ask me and I would have been there without hesitation."
"I know," Jonny sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "I had this same conversation with Jess. It wasn't about trust. I trust you completely. I was just more focused on not letting my dad find out than anything else and I couldn't ask you to keep that from him."
"He would have understood," Race argued.
"You're right," Jonny nodded. "It will never happen again, Race. I swear."
"It better not…"
"I'm not that dumb. I don't think my heart could take more secrets anyway."
"I forgive you," Race whispered and Jonny's head shot up in surprise. "…but do it again and I will kill you myself," he made sure he had his eye. "Merry Christmas, kiddo."
"I don't…," Jonny shook his head. "Thank you," he sighed in relief. "I don't deserve it, but I will accept it."
"Good. Now let's get to work," Race ordered. "Put together a summary on each name. I'll do the same and then we will do a final check on each other's summaries."

When Jessie's alarm went off, her first instinct was to throw it out the window, but she did not want to be late for the family dinner. She practically ran from her room to the dining area and could not stop the ear to ear grin that spread across her face. Sitting at the table, and quite attached at the hip, were Jonny's parents whispering to each other softly. A few seats away were Jonny and her father. Her boys. They were huddled over some paperwork. Intense focus was clear on both their faces, but then Jonny looked up sensing her presence. The tired grin that lit up his face told her that he had not slept. She was too happy in the moment to lecture him, however.
"Sit down, sweetie. You need to eat," Rachael ordered softly. "Actually, do you want to go get your mother first?"
"Let her sleep," Jessie jumped in quickly and then headed toward the kitchen. She was not in the mood to deal with her mother or subject others to her. "I'll help Mrs. Evans."
"Me too," Jonny smiled and shot up to follow her amid the snickers of his parental figures. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her midsection. "I missed you."
"It's only been a few hours," she teased.
"…and yet you missed me too," he kissed her neck. "I can tell."
"Maybe," she turned around with a grin and let him trap her between his arms and the kitchen island. "You are kinda cute," she flirted and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So I won't even scold you for not sleeping."
"Mmm," he closed his eyes and sighed into her neck. "I was helping your dad with some background checks."
"Did you two talk?" she asked nervously and scratched his scalp in a soothing manner.
"Yeah. He forgave me, but threatened my life if I did it again," he chuckled softly. "It went as well as could be expected."
"That's a relief," she sagged in his embrace, unaware that she had been holding her breath until it exploded out of her body. "I really like you," she then sighed, which made him laugh again.
"Should I be concerned that you've downgraded from love to like," he whispered in her ear.
"Not even a little, babe. Love doesn't begin to cover it."
"Are you two about done?" Mrs. Evans quipped from behind them. Jess instinctively tensed up, but Jonny just pulled her closer until she relaxed again.
"Nah. I need at least eighty more years," Jonny teased back and then pulled away to grab the food. "This smells awesome, Mrs. E."
"Yeah…yeah," she admonished. "Take the food into the dining room."
Dinner was perfect, at least in Jessie's estimation, until Estella showed up. It was sad, but her mother had gotten her to the point where Jessie felt uncomfortable in her presence. Luckily, Estella did not arrive until desert so Jessie decided she could make an exit gracefully. "Hotshot, let's go watch a movie together," she jumped up and ran a hand through his hair.
He followed her into the living room like a pathetic puppy and did not care one bit what anyone thought about it. He just wanted to hold her close and know that she was safe. "What do you want to watch?" she beamed at him.
"You," he smiled back.
"So cheesy," she laughed, but immediately abandoned her review of their dvds and curled up beside him on the couch. "I can't wait to be alone with you," she whispered softly in his ear.
"Don't tease me," he whispered back. "You're gonna get me in trouble."
"Nobody loves trouble as much as you…"
"I'd be happy to give it up for a while though…have a boring few months. Take my girlfriend out on a few dates."
"Sounds like a lucky girl."
"She's really hot too."
"Hmm," she sighed in contentment.
"What movie is this?" Estella asked with crossed arms from the entrance and then made her way into the room to sit across from them.
Jessie felt Jonny take a deep breath, but her patient boyfriend did not react otherwise. Jessie decided to take a page out of his book. "Still deciding… I want to watch something romantic. He wants action of course. How about Mr. and Mrs. Smith?" Jessie directed at Jonny.
"How about no," he shook his head.
"Why not?"
"I don't like Angelina Jolie," he huffed.
"What? If that's true than I think you are the only straight man with that opinion?"
"It is true and I doubt I'm the only one. She's too skinny. Not a fan. Now Jessica Alba I like. Do we have any movies with her?"
"No."
"You have no clue if that's true," he laughed.
"Well you can watch movies with her alone," she teased.
"It's cute that you're jealous…"
"I'm not jealous," she interrupted. "I just think your taste is questionable."
"I think my taste is impeccable," he whispered and kissed her ear.
"Is this really necessary?" Estella jumped in.
"You can leave anytime," Jessie chimed in without missing a beat.
"Should I go and let you two talk?" he asked quietly.
"No. We have already said everything we have to say to each other," Jessie sighed sadly, but didn't look at her mother.
"That's not true until you work it out," Jonny insisted and then got up despite his girlfriend's protests.
"Jonny…"
"Ace," he cut her off. "Life's too fucking short. Work it out. You and I both know you won't feel better until you do," and then he left the room to give them some space.
"Well," Estella started and Jessie just sat there waiting to see what direction her mother would take the conversation. "I love you and I want you to be happy."
"HE makes me happy," she insisted.
"Ok."
"What's the catch?"
"No catch," Estella promised. "I'll try. I can't just flip a switch and be fine with it so you'll need to be patient with me, but I promise to try. I don't want to lose you. You can't possibly understand what you mean to me. You won't until you're a mother, which you should WAIT for…"
"I am in no rush for that, mom," she breathed out quickly.
"Acc…surprises can happen."
"Good save," Jessie rolled her eyes.
"Are you being safe?"
"YES. God, mom. I'm not an idiot."
"You have to be careful every time…"
"I got an A in biology," Jessie assured red-faced.
"What are you two talking about…" Race interrupted.
"Nothing," Jessie scrambled off the couch. "I'm going to sleep. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"That was mildly humiliating," she mumbled to herself as she made her way to the stairs.
"What was humiliating?" Jonny asked.
"Don't sneak up on me," she gasped.
"Why are you so tightly wound," he smirked.
"You don't want to know," she groaned.
"Alright," he pulled her close. "I'm going upstairs. Come find me when you can and I promise to help you relax."
"I'll be counting the minutes," she whispered back.
"G'night. I'll see you tomorrow," he said a little louder for her parents' benefit and then kissed her forehead. "Have you seen my parents?" Jonny directed at Race as he began walking up the stairs.
"They ran off to bed a few minutes ago."
"That's kinda gross," he smiled. "I love it."
"Go to sleep," Jessie yelled at him. "Before you pass out where you stand."
"Yes m'aam," he waved her off.
"Love," she called after him and he just turned and gave her a huge smile.
"You two are so cute it makes me sick," her father teased.
"Dad," she started. "I can't take anymore tonight. I beg of you."
"Alright," he laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow. Love," he smiled.
"Shut up."
"I love you, sweetheart."
Race walked into the kitchen then to find his ex-wife with a smile on her face. "What is that smile for? Have you and Jess called a cease fire?"
"We have," she sighed. "…and I admit that a weight has been lifted, but I figure I can at least embarrass her and have a little fun in the meantime."
"Tread lightly, Stel."
"I always do." That made Race laugh out loud.
"Night, Stel."

"This makes me feel like a teenager again," Rachael smiled and pulled back from Benton. "I feel like my dad is going to walk in…MY DAD," she stopped herself. "Is he…"
"He's fine," Benton assured. "…as far as I know, anyway. I have people watching out for him, but I haven't seen him in a while. We'll call him as soon as it's safe."
"Does Jonny see him?" she asked.
"He did at first, but it became too hard…" he trailed off.
"Why?" she insisted.
"He never got over it."
"Was he putting Jonny in the middle?" she asked. "I know that's something he would do."
"Jonny would come back upset every time he visited. I decided to put a stop to it and just kept it to phone calls. Eventually, Jonny decided on his own to stop calling. He never told me why."
"Stubborn old man," she sighed. "He should have put Jonny's feelings first."
"Well…we can both be accused of not doing that," Benton admitted painfully. "Doug and I could not be around each other. It was too toxic for Jonny. I knew that much, but I also completely understood where he was coming from. I couldn't let you go either. I like to think that I have been a good father…"
"You have," Rachael interrupted. "Jonny already told me so and even if he didn't just being around him tells me everything I need to know."
"I was always there when he was sick or needed stitches or help with his studies, but I was not the one to help him with your…absence. It's the greatest regret of my life and I have never had the courage to admit it to him and apologize. There is no excuse I can give to justify it. It just hurt and he is so much like you and looks so much like you that every time I tried I couldn't make the words come out. I think that was Doug's problem too. It's impossible to look at Jonny and not see you."
"He saved my life. One minute I was… and the next thing I know he was standing in front of me and promising to bring me back to you," she smiled with tears in her eyes.
"He is a lot like Race too. Race taught all of those kids how to take care of themselves for which I will be forever grateful, among other things," he sighed.
"What?" she urged.
"He's been more of a father to them than me," he choked out. "I've never said that out loud before."
"I don't think our son would agree."
"…only because he's too good of a man to say it."
"Well… I don't wonder where he got that from because I already know," she kissed him.
"You're too good for me," he whispered and brushed the hair from her face. "…but I'm too selfish to let you go."
"You are no more selfish than you are stupid," she shook her head. "You are human though, which you always seem to forget. We all have regrets. I think it's more important how you rectify them."
"I wouldn't know where to start," he admitted.
"Talk to your son," she breathed. "As long as you're not telling him to stay away from Jessie, I suspect he will listen," she joked.
"I think you are right about that," he laughed. "He gets a little overprotective and defensive where she is concerned."
"I can see that and I think it's adorable. Tell me about them?"
"I'd rather hear about you. I need to know what happened to you."
"Benton… make love to me. Please," she begged and tried to catch his lips again.
"Sweetheart," he sat up with effort. "I want you more than you could ever know, but I don't think it's a good idea right now."
She knew he was right, but did not want to admit it. Mostly she just wanted to stay in this wonderful reunion bubble, which she knew would be busted once she began telling her story.
"Ok," she closed her eyes and kissed the back of his neck. "It was awful. I missed you every second and I missed Jonny so much it hurt to breathe some days. I knew I was missing everything. I would replay the same memories in my head of us and me with Jonny just to get through the days. I wasn't positive how much time had passed until Jade told me how old Jonny was. I did my best to keep track of the time. He let me keep a journal so I could mark days," she paused. "Every…," she had to clear her throat. "Every once and awhile he would bring me a picture of you or Jonny to remind me of what would happen if I tried to escape. He would threaten to kill you so that Jonny would have no one or kill Jonny so you would be alone. I would stare at those pictures for days and try to figure out what was going on in your lives," she cried out and he held her until she stopped shaking.
"He told me that you had another son, but didn't give me any details," she wiped at her eyes. "He liked to throw little bombs like that at me and then would leave for days. I think he did it as revenge because he was angry that I wouldn't play the devoted wife. I think he thought I would give in if enough time passed. He was so delusional, Benton… and obsessed with you. He would spend hours grilling me about you… every detail of your life and our time together."
"I think you must be the strongest person I know," he confessed with tears now filling his eyes too.
"I just lived for those moments where he might tell me something about one of you or bring a picture. And I dreamed that I could find a way to escape one day and see my son again and make peace with the fact that you had moved on."
"I never moved on, honey. Not even close."
"I didn't know that then," she sighed. "I don't think I've ever felt more conflicted. I wanted you to be happy and I wanted Jonny to have a… mother like influence, but the thought of being replaced ate me up inside. When Jonny told me that you still loved me, I thought I was dreaming. I never really thought I was going to get to see you again with the way that Richard had security and now here I am. Home with you."
"You said before that he made it impossible for you to contact me. What did he do to you?"
"We moved around a lot, but I was always in a room with no windows. Only a bed and some books to keep me occupied. The number of men watching my every move increased over the years. There were a few times where people tried to take me and use me against him," she trailed off.
"Did they hurt you?" he had to know.
"He always won Benton," she said quietly and with fear in her voice. "He's going to come after me."
"I know, but we will not let him win. I promise you."
"Just hold me. It makes me feel less afraid."
"What did he do to you?" Benton asked into her hair.
"I already…
"Sweetheart…did he force himself on you?"
"All the time," she sobbed into his chest. "He liked to play house," she said bitterly and got up to throw some water on her face. Benton followed.
"I'm so…"
"Don't apologize," she yelled. "It's not your fault and nothing you can say will ever change it."
"What can I do?" he asked desperately.
"Just hold me like I asked," she tried to smile. "It's the only thing that makes me feel better. The only thing that makes a happy ending seem possible."
"Forever," he swore.

The soft knock at his door brought an uncontrollable smile to Jonny’s face and he jumped up to answer like a kid at Christmas… or a kid receiving a surprise puppy. That thought brought an even bigger smile to his face as he rushed to unlock his door and let her inside.
“What’s that look for?” she asked, with an answering smile of her own, once he reached her.
“All you,” he responded, pulling her into the room and into his arms. “Is the coast clear?” he breathed heavily and all she could manage was a nod. “Thank god. I want you so bad and you are so much more fun than Bandit,” he whispered in her ear and then kissed it, followed by a trail of kisses down her throat as he pushed her up against the door.
“Thanks babe,” she retorted wryly and he laughed into her neck.   She loved him like this…so happy and carefree. Then she felt the blood rushing to the lower half of her body when he snaked one hand up her shirt and the other behind her to lock the door again.
“On the drive home from the hotel, I was thinking about when my parents surprised me with Bandit,” he offered by way of an explanation, but didn’t stop the path of his lips, which were steadily making their journey under her chin and up to her other ear. “It was the last time I remember being with my parents before tonight and it’s such a perfect memory,” he whispered and she pulled away slightly to beam at him.
“I love you so much,” she answered back.
“That memory…that’s how you make me feel when you tell me you love me and when you look at me like this,” he admitted and then leaned in for a slow kiss, now with both hands under her shirt. “Alone at last,” he whispered against her lips and it ignited a feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn’t describe. She was already breathing deeply and couldn’t focus on much past his hands. He was teasing her by only lightly caressing her stomach and then the sides of her breasts with his fingertips.
“What do you plan to do about it, Mr. Quest?” She asked the question while trying unsuccessfully to find friction against his hands or his chest. Her knees got weak when he just licked his lips and grinned at her in response. Then he took a quick step back, moving his hands to her hips to keep her pressed against the door.
“What’s wrong?” she panted.
“Not a damn thing,” he said quickly, not wanting to take her out of the moment. He had an overwhelming urge to look at her. “I just want to check out my girlfriend. She’s kinda hot,” he smiled and then began scanning, in his opinion, her perfect body. Her little shorts and tank top did not leave much to the imagination. “Did you wear this just to drive me crazy?”
“You have great legs,” he continued with a shake of his head and then persisted with his appraisal. It surprised her how much this was turning her on. The longer he looked at her, the more labored her breathing became, the more slickness she felt between her thighs and the harder her nipples strained against her shirt. She felt like they could cut glass, and it did not help that Jonny was now focused on them too. “Your breasts are unbelievable.”
Her breathing hitched when he moved back toward her, but it was only to plant a kiss below her ear…still no friction for her. He laughed softly at her obvious frustration.
“If you don’t touch me soon…I’ll just have to do it myself,” she then blurted out, surprising even herself.
“That’s not much of a threat,” he whispered in her ear. “I would love to see that.”
“Really?” she asked, taken aback for a moment.
“Most definitely… but not tonight. Tonight, you are all mine,” he sighed, pulling her over toward his bed and then flush against him. He continued to assault her neck, while removing her clothes with one hand. His other arm was planted firmly around her waist. She moaned softly at the brief moments of contact that this provided against her sensitive skin, but it was not nearly enough. “No underwear?” he questioned quietly.
“Didn’t think I’d need it for whatever you had planned,” she shot back. “… and I love you in just yours by the way.”
“I approve,” he told her and then lifted her by the backs of her thighs and onto the bed. “You are so beautiful,” he settled between her legs and sat back on his knees to admire her again.
“Jonny,” she gasped as he ran his hands up and down her legs a few times from ankle to hip bone. She tried to arch her hips, focused again on the friction, but he would not let her touch him. Instead he pressed her hips into the bed with his hands to keep her still and grinned when she mewled a little in annoyance. When he leaned down to kiss her bent knee, she tried to slip her hands into his boxers, but he pulled out of her reach just in time.
“I want you inside me now,” she demanded, breathing heavily and sitting up to meet his gaze. “I can’t get enough.”
“Best invitation ever, but not yet,” he said patiently, flipping her around so she was facing his head board. “Lay back,” he ordered quietly and she complied immediately. She noticed that he had slide back slightly also.
“What are you doing to me?” she asked as he dipped down to kiss her stomach. He was not sure if the question was rhetorical, but knew that she no longer cared when he ran his hands up her body to palm her breasts as he continued to tease her navel with his tongue. She let out a strangled noise and curved into his touch when he finally ran his thumbs over her nipples. The noise was one part pleasure and two parts relief, but either way he felt the tension in her body begin to slip away so he decided to keep his hands where they were as he carefully made his way lower.
He was excited, but nervous….more nervous. He had never done this before and the thought did cross his mind as his nose skimmed over her pelvis that this would be easier if she was the one focused on her nipples. He groaned a little at the thought of her touching herself, but the door was slammed shut on his racing thoughts and instinct took over when he felt her hips begin to tilt toward his mouth and her whispered, “Please…don’t stop. I’ve been thinking about this all day. I’ve fantasized about it for years.”
He kissed her tentatively to gauge a reaction and smiled against her when he heard that same strangled noise again. It took him a few tries to work his tongue inside her, while trying to keep focus on her breasts too, but once he was there she seemed to enjoy it when he ran the flat of his tongue along the length of her.
“Jonny...” she moaned and arched further off the bed and toward the motion of his tongue.
He rather enjoyed it himself, but was finding it increasingly difficult to continue without the use of his hands since she refused to keep her hips still.
“Christ…why are you stopping?” she whisper yelled, sitting up on her elbows to look at him.
While contemplating his next move, he took a moment to sit back slightly and enjoy the sight of her again. Spread out before him…mouth open and the slight bounce of her chest as she tried to catch her breath…a light layer of sweat covered her entire body. ‘Fuck…I’m a lucky man,’ he thought as another memory assaulted him.
“This reminds me of all those times I let you win on our long Saturday runs,” he smiled down at her and then began rolling her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers before she could respond.
“You…my god that feels good,” she whimpered distractedly as he tugged a little harder than she was expecting and it shot right to her core. “You…would never let me win,” she finished.
“That’s true,” he admitted thoughtfully. “…but I wasn’t trying to beat you either,” he told her as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Let’s just say that I enjoyed the view.” Then he began kissing his way down her body again and this time he took his hands with him.
“What a little perv you were,” she teased.
“Still am,” he mumbled against her skin, planting his hands firmly on her hips to keep them stationary and moving his lips right to where she wanted them. “…but the pervy thing was how much I enjoyed the view,” and then he shot his tongue out to flick lightly against her. He knew he found the right spot when her legs involuntarily closed around his head and it sounded like all the breath left her body.
“Jonny,” she half moaned and half begged. She really liked the vibrations that shot through her when he spoke, but wanted more. “Please stop teasing me,” she choked out and did not think her fingers could grasp his comforter any tighter.
“Nothing has ever made me harder than watching you on those afternoons. I’ve missed them,” he trailed off and then settled in between her legs. It was much easier now that he was in total control and he enjoyed the taste of her more than he could have ever expected or described.
“This… Jonny…this is a better way to relieve stress than running…oh,” she yelped when he pulled his hands forward and used them to spread her wider and give him more access. “…maybe this should be…our new Saturday hobby,” she panted between the shockwaves he was sending through her body. “Oh Christ.”
Her suggestion seemed to make him even more enthusiastic in achieving his goal…not that she was complaining in the first place. “I love the way you taste. I could stay down here for hours,” he breathed directly against her.   It was not much longer before the beginnings of a full orgasm loomed.
“God…right there…just keep doing that,” she felt herself begin to unravel. “Harder.” She wanted to close her legs around his head and keep him there forever, but settled for burying her hands in his hair and trying to pull him closer. She knew he could not physically get any closer, but the instinct was still there and her heels dug into his shoulder blades roughly.
She almost wanted to cry in relief when she finally felt her muscles clenching around his mouth and he did not let up until her entire body went completely slack on the bed. “That was amazing…fuck that was so amazing,” she declared and laughed a little. Then her attention shifted back to her man, who was crawling slowly back up her body. She saw him wipe discreetly at his face and then lick his finger, which made her want to jump him even more.
Jessie quickly pushed him back onto his knees and then climbed into his lap. “Please feel free to go down on me anytime…anytime,” she grinned and then kissed him passionately, grinding into him roughly until she had him grunting into the kiss. She wanted to know why he was so good at that. She wanted to make him feel the same way. She wanted to tease him…wanted to make him beg, but she was never as patient as him. “Boxers off,” she then ordered.
“Yes ma’am,” he drawled, jumping off the bed to comply, but never taking his eyes off hers as she shifted back to watch him.
“What do you want?” she asked as he knelt back on the bed. She was kneeling too and he quickly pulled her as close as possible. His now massive erection the only thing between them.
“You,” he answered smoothly, but she could tell he was having trouble staying in control now. He tried to close the small distance between them and kiss her, but she wouldn’t let him.
“How do you want me?” she clarified and his breath caught. She found the slightly nervous look on his face to be adorable. “This isn’t a test,” she promised and then leaned in closer to whisper in his ear. “There’s no wrong answer.”
It took him a few moments to get his bearings, but he eventually whispered back. “Turn around.”
Then it was her turn to catch a breath, but she did as he asked. She trusted him completely.
“Stay upright and kneeling. Don’t bend over,” he added quickly and almost lost it when she smiled at him over her shoulder. Then she felt him flush against her back, kissing her shoulder and moving her hair aside to gain better access. He also took advantage of the access he had to her chest and stomach, not neglecting a single spot with the path of his hands. “Scoot forward and hands on the head board,” he directed. He moved forward with her and kept his hands on her hips. As soon as she was in position, there were no more games. “Sit back onto me,” he ordered with a noticeable strain in his voice. Her man was ready.
He breathed heavily into her neck as she took him inside her. “You’re perfect.”   She was going slowly to adjust to the new position. He let out a satisfied grunt once totally sheathed, but did not let her stay still for long. With his hands on her hips, he helped her create a steady rhythm. The slow burn they were creating was welcomed.
“This feels incredible,” she whispered and then he surprised her by moving a hand to her clit so he was rubbing against her each time her hips pushed down on him. “Especially when you do that,” she added. “…but I have a feeling,” she panted. “… that you have a lot more energy to burn after the stress of the last few days and hours,” and then she surprised him by letting him slip from inside her and jumping off the bed. He at least took comfort in the fact that her legs were unsteady.
“Baby?” he questioned and the frustration in his voice was palpable. He just watched as she made her way over to his desk at the other end of the room and then leaned over it and onto her elbows. Her back was arched and she looked amazing. By the time his eyes made it to her face, she was biting her lip to hold back the grin. “Get over here, Hotshot.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. He was behind her before she knew it, running a finger down the length of her spine and then entering her slowly from the new position.
“Mmm…” she moaned at the penetration and let her head fall forward onto the desk. She was still so sensitive and it felt amazing as he filled her. “You can go faster. It doesn’t hurt,” she panted and took a relaxing breath. He continued to move slowly, however, enjoying every inch of her to the fullest.
“Still ok?” he needed to know once fully inside. She spread her legs a little further in response and he just smiled. “Hold on tight, angel,” he advised and that turned out to be a good idea because the amount of energy and passion he expended into his thrusts quickly became mind altering. She was having trouble focusing on just one thing…her nipples against the desk…the renewed feeling of him inside her…his firm hands on her hips, but she knew that it all felt good.
“So deep,” she heard him mutter incoherently and then he braced one arm against the desk and wrapped the other around her midsection to keep her still. An enthusiastic “fuck” quickly followed that brought a smile to her face. He was close. “Jess?” he questioned.
“Let go,” she ordered and then his thrusts became more frantic and his computer went flying. The next thing she felt was his lips against her shoulder. He groaned unintelligibly into her skin after a few more strokes and then orgasm rocked through his body.
“Holy shit,” he exclaimed, breathing heavily into her neck and then falling to the floor and pulling her with him. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed,” she smiled. “I quite enjoyed myself.”
“You didn’t come,” he noted distractedly, still consumed with how fantastic he felt.
“FYI,” she shot back and then rolled on top of him so that every inch of her body was level with his. He liked that. “That doesn’t mean it didn’t feel good…. I had a pretty intense orgasm myself a few moments ago that made me very sensitive to everything going on down there. You may not remember, but I certainly do,” she finished playfully.
“Point taken,” he smiled back, looking satisfied and mighty proud of himself at the same time. “Did I relax you?”
“Should I be worried that you’re so good at that?” she asked.
“No,” he grinned. “Should I be worried that you are?” he shot back.
“We’re on the floor again,” she giggled into his neck. “…making a mess.”
“Mmm…” he hummed, kissing the side of her head. “I love this.”
“What?” she asked sleepily.
“All of it…everything you make me feel … even when you’re driving me crazy,” he teased.
“Oh please…I am always a delight to be around…even when you are driving me crazy,” she retorted and then received a hard smack to the ass.
“Baby,” she half screeched and half laughed as he encircled his arms around her and rolled them over so he was on top.
“Want me to kiss it better?” he asked with a grin, looking down at her with love.
“I should make you,” she scowled and then wrapped her legs around his waist.
“My apologies, ma’am,” he professed in his best southern accent. “Forgive me?” he asked directly against her ear.
“Only retribution will suffice,” she laughed and began fighting and wrestling him so she could return the smack.
“Don’t,” he laughed, pinning her to the ground with her arms above her head. “You’re more mature than me.”
“No…I’m not,” she pushed her chin out and then her hips roughly into his.   “…and I want you to fuck me again,” she whispered and bit her lip suggestively.
“Umm…OUCH,” he yelled as she spanked him hard upon his distraction. “I hate you.”
“You love…”
“JONNY,” they were interrupted by a loud knock on his door and froze.
“Oh shit… not again,” Jessie freaked out. “Do you think she heard us…shit,” and then she threw Jonny off her and scrambled to her feet to find the first available article of clothing.
In the meantime, Jonny had calmly replaced his boxers and made his way to his mother. “Mom,” he smiled and came out into the hallway to preempt any attempt on her part to enter the room.
“Working out?” she asked, taking in his appearance.
“Yeah… I always do before going to sleep,” he brushed off. “What’s up?” he asked, hoping for a change of subject.
“I just wanted to say goodnight,” she smiled. “You sneaked off before I could.”
“I believe you and dad were the ones that sneaked off actually…”
“Oh…that is beside the point,” she interrupted. “C’mere, sweetheart. I love you so much…and thank you.”
“You never have to thank me. I’d do the same thing a thousand times over to have you back safe,” he told her. “I love you too, Mom.”
“I’m making you my famous chocolate chip pancakes tomorrow for breakfast,” she promised.
“I can’t wait for that,” he smiled broadly. “I still remember how much I loved those.”
“Good…goodnight,” she pulled back and cupped his face. “…and tell Jessie I said goodnight too,” she nodded toward his bedroom.
“Yeah,” he scrunched up his face a little. “I might keep that one to myself. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re happy,” his mother commented as he made a move back into his room.
“I’ve never been happier,” he sighed.
“Me too,” and Jonny knew with the smile on her face that his parents were going to be alright and a weight lifted from his mind.
“All is clear,” he called out when he walked back into the room and didn’t see her. She peaked out of the bathroom a moment later and still looked nervous.
“You are so sweet, baby.”
“Don’t make fun of me. If our positions were reversed, you would feel the same way,” she argued, coming out of the bathroom and making her way towards him.
“No I wouldn’t,” he said, distracted by the sight of her in his shirt. “If our positions were reversed, I wouldn’t have the chance because both of your parents would beat the shit out of me.”
“That is probably true,” she murmured, running her fingertips down his chest and abs to hook in the waistline of his boxer briefs. “You…are so sexy in just your boxers.”
“Right back at...hmm,” she cut him off with a searing kiss. “Have I told you yet how much I love seeing you in my shirt?” he mumbled between kisses.
“How much?” she couldn’t help asking.
“Makes me want to do very dirty things to you,” he breathed.
“Please do…my body is yours.”
“I LOVE the sound of that,” he exclaimed, picking her up to wrap her legs around his waist and carrying her back into his bed. The laugh she let out was so carefree it made his heart melt all over again. “Swear you will always be mine?” he asked sweetly once they were settled under the blankets.
“I swear,” she promised and then laughed when he leaned back and stuck out his pinky. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she teased. “We are heading into some pretty serious territory with the pinky promise.”
“Positive,” he grinned, hooking her pinky with his and then kissing it. “Stay,” he whispered.
“My parents though,” she sighed.
“Stay,” he insisted, cupping her face. “I still have a promise to keep.”
“…and if one of my parents comes banging on the door?”
“…you’ll protect me,” he finished confidently.
“You know I will,” she mumbled sincerely and then kissed him soundly. He deepened the kiss and rolled on top of her before she could pull back and protest again. His lips travelled to her neck only once he felt her body relaxing and her hands move into his hair.
He could not help but groan against her skin when she began pulling lightly at his roots. She pulled a little harder in response, which helped to accelerate his eagerness for round two. He moved back to her mouth then and pushed his tongue and hips deliberately into hers for several minutes until she was just as eager.
“Stay with me,” he demanded fiercely, switching to the other side of her neck and breathing heavily. “Please?” he begged a few moments later when she had not responded.
“Jonny?” she questioned out a breath and tried to push him back so they could talk. The shift in his mood was sudden and it concerned her, but she was distracted when he ran his hands up her sides and then down between them, grazing her still covered breasts. “Take the shirt off,” she ordered, wondering why he had not done so already.   “Mmmhh…” he silenced her with another kiss and continued to rub his growing arousal against her. It was driving her crazy because she was still so sensitive and the way he was moving turned her on even more. “Jonny,” she panted, wrenching away from his lips and taking two large gulps of air. Her hips continued to move with his though. She did not try to increase their pace and it almost felt good enough to continue without removing their clothes…almost. She knew too well now, however, what he was capable of making her feel without any barriers and was not willing to settle for less.
He did not hesitate when she reached between them to remove his boxers, but would not let her remove his shirt. “Leave it on…you’re mine,” he growled out and then moved to hover above her with his arms fully extended on either side of her head. She knew that if anyone else said something like that to her it would make her feel angry and used, but coming from him it made her feel cherished and safe.
She waited until his eyes met hers and then mouthed ‘Yours,’ cupping his face gently.
“Jessie,” he exhaled deeply and she felt his breath fan across her face. Jonny’s head dropped between his shoulder blades then to watch as she helped guide him inside her and he loved every second. He loved her so much and was so afraid of losing her that it overwhelmed him in that moment to the point of tearing up. He knew his reaction had more to do with fear and pure exhaustion making him irrational than anything else, but he was having trouble reigning it in anyway and was embarrassed. Her soft moan once he was in position caused him to seek out her mouth again and kiss her deeply.
His unsteady breaths and generally shaky demeanor did not go unnoticed for long, however. “Baby?” she whispered, pulling away and trying to catch his eye.
“I love it when you call me that,” he responded quickly, avoiding her gaze and moving a hand to her hip to angle the rest of his body so he could shower kisses over her chest through his shirt.
“Look at me,” she ordered, still breathing heavily from his assault on her body. “God…baby,” she cried out when he pushed fully inside of her instead.
“Stay with me…forever,” he mumbled in her ear and then set a slow and steady pace above her that felt amazing. He buried his head in her neck and groaned each time she let him bury himself inside her. His firm grip on her hip was guiding them both. Her instincts were screaming at her to wrap her legs around his waist and beg for more, but she knew that Jonny needed this to be unhurried so she just planted her feet into his mattress and her hands in his hair. A light layer a sweat quickly covered them both.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised right against his ear and gripped him tighter. “I’m yours as long as you want me.” He responded by moaning “fucking forever” and moving a little faster. Then she felt wetness against her shoulder. “Let me see you,” she said with the strain of her own tears mixed with desire. “Jonny… please.”
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, shifting so his forehead was against hers and halting the movement of his hips when he saw her tears.
“I’m not,” she breathed back, gliding her hands forward from his hair to wipe the wetness from his face.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t” she smiled and bit her lip. “You overwhelm me in a good way. Please continue. I just need to see you.” That was all he needed to hear and had her writhing below him again in moments. “Feels…even better…now,” she panted into his mouth. It wasn’t easy keeping her eyes open when she wanted to close them and get lost in his embrace, but she did not want to look away.
“Say it again,” he demanded quietly.
“I’m yours,” she assured immediately. “I’m…ugh,” she called out when he lifted her upright and into his lap giving her more control of the pace. She griped his shoulders for balance and came down on him hard as he stroked the soft skin of her back and then her stomach and breasts. One hand remained firmly behind her neck to keep her eyes locked with his. He eventually pulled the shirt from her body and she sighed in relief when they were skin on skin. Her body felt like jelly under his ministrations, but she was close and managed to keep a good pace once his hands planted firmly on her hips to help guide her.
When he made a move to shift their positions again, she braced her thighs against his to stop him. “Don’t,” she breathed heavily, clenching her muscles around him as she sat frozen on top of him. “I’m so close…I know you are too,” she whispered, brushing at his damp hairline.
His whispered words against her ear were the last coherent memory she had of the night.
“I love you more than anything. Just lie back and let me make you come, baby.”
Jessie woke up the next morning to the feeling of hair being brushed back from her face and then a kiss to her ear. "Morning beautiful, how did you sleep?"
"I don't want to get up?" she mumbled and turned her head away from his touch. "It's still dark out. What time is it?"
"I would keep you locked up for days if I could," he chuckled. "…but we are about an hour away from the danger zone. Your dad will be up," he whispered, kissing her shoulder.
"You need to sleep," she admonished. "This is getting ridiculous. Stop making me scold you…and why the hell are you so chipper? You should be dead to the world right now after the last few days."
"I'm chipper because I woke up happier than I have ever been before next to the girl I love," he answered with a smile in his voice and then leaned over to kiss her cheek. "And I promise to take a nap later if you lay down with me."
"Deal, but it has to be a long nap" she smiled, turning around in his embrace to bury her head in his chest and a leg between his. "Did you redress me last night?" she asked in disbelief, noticing that she was wearing his shirt again and a pair of his boxers rolled several times.
"Mmm," he acknowledged against her hair. "It was getting a little chilly in here and you do tend to kick covers off."
"Did we shower too?" she scooted up a bit and smiled into his neck, noticing the slight dampness to her hair.
"Should I be offended that you don't remember?" he teased and she just pulled closer in response. "You were a little out of it," he laughed. "I thought you would feel better in the morning if we cleaned up a bit."
"You were right," she sighed. "…but for future reference I don't mind getting dirty with you either," she teased right back.
"Don't say that shit to me when your leg is between mine and you have to leave," he groaned, but didn't give her any space.
"Now you're trying to get rid of me," she started lightly. "You were pretty insistent on me staying last night…" she trailed off, hoping he would talk about it without her having to prompt him.
"I always want you with me," he deflected. "…it's just not always practical."
"Why did you get upset last night?" she tried the direct approach and felt him take a deep breath.
"Jess… can we..."
"No," she interrupted. "…we can't talk about it later. You always want me to let you in. That can't be a one-way street, Jonny. Not ever."
"I don't think it's a big secret that I'm petrified… petrified of losing you. I've expressed my feelings on that clearly and given the current situation it's not exactly an irrational fear," he cleared his throat, pulling away to throw on a shirt and head toward his bathroom.
"Don't walk away like that," she said, getting up to follow him and standing in the doorway as he brushed his teeth. "I just want to understand. Your emotions were all over the place last night from the moment we got home and right into the bedroom. Don't be embarrassed, Hotshot. It's just me you're talking to here."
"I'm not," he promised after a few moments, finishing up and then offering her an extra toothbrush. She accepted and then waited patiently for him to continue talking. "I just don't like thinking about it... or talking about it. I hate feeling this way," he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Feeling afraid…I'm happy, but I also have this intense feeling of complete dread in the pit of my stomach that makes me lose my breath if I focus on it for too long." he sighed and then moved toward her and pulled her into his arms. "Do you realize that my two biggest dreams… two things that I thought would only ever exist in my imagination… have both come true inside one week?"
"I'm not going anywhere," she promised again. "…and neither is your mother."
"I can't help but feel like the other shoe is going to drop," he confessed, closing his eyes and leaning his forehead against hers. "Like there is no chance the universe will let me stay this happy for long. Just hit me like a ton of bricks last night… more than once I know. I'm sorry if I freaked you out."
"Not even a little, Jonny. I just wanted to know what was going on in that head of yours. I love you."
"I love you too. So much, my beautiful girl."
"Meet me in the TV room in five minutes," she grinned, pulling back to go in search of her clothes.
"Why?" he laughed, watching with some regret as she removed his shirt and replaced it with her own.
"Five minutes," she warned, making her way towards the door.
"No goodbye kiss?" he asked with shock and then let out a huge grin as she came barreling toward him and jumped into his arms for a solid kiss.
"Five minutes, baby."
Jonny decided to jump in the shower and wake himself up once she had gone. It did not help much. The warm water made him want to crawl back into bed. She was right. He needed more sleep. He would definitely be keeping his promise to take that nap later.
He cleaned up quickly and then took the stairs two at a time to meet her. It was crazy, but he already missed her a little.
"What is all this?" he laughed, taking in the makeshift bed on the couch and a pile of dvds on the floor.
"Lay down," she ordered. "I'm trying to find Santa Clause is Coming to Town. Remember when we would stay up all night this time of year watching Christmas movies?"
"Of course," he grinned, taking a prone position on the couch and pulling the blankets over himself. "…and we would clean out the cookie jars in the process. Mrs. Evans was never too pleased about that."
"Found it," she squealed, throwing it in the player and then scrambling to get under the covers with him. She grabbed the remote and pushed play once she was comfortable. "Sleep," she told him.
"How does this solve our earlier predicament?" he asked, but did not intend on moving.
"Couch sleeping is totally innocent," she said matter-of-factly. "Besides, do you really care?"
"Not at all," he said lazily. "You're wearing the locket," he noticed, swiping her hair aside and toying with the chain. She had gone to her room to put it safely back around her neck before heading downstairs.
"Mmm," she acknowledged with sleep in her voice. "I love it and I love you."
"Thank you. You always know."
"Never forget that babe," she cuddled closer.
They fell asleep again before the BurgerMeister made his first appearance and that was how Race and Rachael came to find them an hour later. Race shook his head with a disconcerting sigh when he walked into the TV room, simultaneously wistful and a little annoyed. It was not the first time he had woken up to find them sleeping on the couch with the credits rolling on a long forgotten movie, but it was the first time he had done so with them all wrapped up in each other.
"They are so cute," Rachael then interrupted excitedly from behind him and bounded off toward the kitchen. Race followed quietly, feigning for his morning caffeine more than normal.
"They are something," Race muttered and then busied himself with the coffeemaker.
"Still getting used to it?" she asked sympathetically.
"Yes and no," Race answered honestly, leaning against the counter and looking out the window for a few seconds. "I saw it coming a mile away so I was ready for it, but you know," he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I don't like the idea of my daughter sleeping with anyone. Believe me…that makes me the biggest hypocrite in the world, but I can't help it."
"It doesn't make you a hypocrite at all," Rachael assured. "Just a good daddy."
"You seem pretty at ease with it," Race noticed, watching her move around the kitchen with the same comfort as Mrs. Evans. "…but I guess your perspective must be very different after everything."
"That… and I was very young when Benton and I started out," she smiled. "People tend to think that emotions can't run that deep when you are so young…that it's just the hormones doing the talking, but I know different. He loves her. I knew it the second I saw them together and the way he looks at her," she shrugged, moving to pour some coffee for Race.
"You don't have to do that. I'm used to getting my own coffee."
"Let me," she asked. "I've missed this. Besides, you deserve someone to take care of you a little too."
"They have always been like that, you know. Completely in sync," Race steered the conversation back toward the kids.
"Jade said the same exact thing," she responded. "I like her very much by the way. Are you two…"
"It's complicated," Race interrupted.
"Isn't it always," Rachael mused. "The best love stories generally are complicated at best."
After just a few minutes together, Race instantly saw what the Quest household had been missing for years. This woman was intuitive, kind and warm. He felt like he could tell her anything and the wonderful smell of her cooking did not hurt either. She actually reminded him a lot of his own mother. "I'm so sorry," he said quietly after digesting her words. He noticed her back tense over the frying pan and immediately felt guilty for bringing it up.
"You had no idea," she cleared her throat.
"I know," he sighed, trying not to dwell on the fact that he should have known much sooner. "I just wish I could have done more…" he trailed off.
"You took care of my boys when I couldn't," she huffed and then turned to him with tears in her eyes. "I can never repay that debt."
"You don't have to," he shook his head. "They gave me a purpose when I needed one the most and brought me back together with my daughter. They helped me give her a home. I honestly don't think I would be alive today if I had not been assigned here. They are family. I think of Hadji and Jonny like my own."
"I know," she cried and then surprised him with a bear hug to his midsection. He just barely managed not to spill any coffee on her before tentatively wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Her enthusiasm reminded him of Jonny. "Benton told me how amazing and supportive you've been to my son," she cried. "…I'm just so grateful because you didn't have to do that. He was so young and must have been so confused." As she continued to cry softly into his chest, Race flashed back to a young Jonny.
He had been with the Quests for about two weeks and was ready to quit no matter what his bosses tried to do with him. He would even volunteer to go back to Antarctica, which had been his least favorite post until he had been assigned to babysitting duty.
"Dr. Quest is inordinately important to this country," they had told him. "You are not being punished. It has become clear that we need our best man protecting him and gaining his trust… that is you."
"Best man, my ass…" he mumbled to himself as he sat down on the couch. The Doc was in the lab, which he never left and the kid was in his room, which he never left. The kid had not said one word to him in two weeks. Two weeks without seeing any action and he was starting to get antsy. He had not gone that long in years. He had checked the perimeter twice already and all was calm. The security system that the Quests had in place was advanced and made him feel quite useless inside the walls of the Compound. In his mind, you couldn't take a piss without the computer knowing, so what was the point of a live-in bodyguard. He was entirely unconvinced that this was not a punishment. He had been an asset to the government since he joined the marines at eighteen. Being put out to pasture like this when he was barely twenty-five did not seem like the best use of his time. He had already put in three calls tonight with no response so he would be waking Phil up at the crack of dawn to discuss.
Frustrated and annoyed, he decided to do the one thing that always made him smile. It was three rings before she picked up and he always breathed a sigh of relief when she did…afraid that she may have changed the number without telling him or that a man would pick up that his daughter would call 'daddy' instead of him one day.
"Hey Stel," he breathed out.
"Roger," she acknowledged.
"How's my little girl?" he asked with a smile in his voice.
"She would be better if you came around more," she shot back bitingly. She was not wrong and he knew it, but she never seemed to understand that he could not just drop everything to attend a sixth birthday party. No matter how much he wanted to.
"Can I speak with her please?" he tried to ask nicely. He did not want to fight.
A moment later, her sweet voice filled his ear. "DADDY?" she asked with excitement.
"It's me, Ponchita. How are you?" he couldn't help but grin.
"I'm great. I just finished reading this book about rocks. Did you know that when magma gets cool and hard it turns into igneous rock?"
"I didn't know that, baby. Tell me more?" he smiled and then let her rattle off everything she had just learned. He loved her more than anything.
"Where are you, daddy?" she finally asked. She always did.
"I'm in Maine," he told her. "I'm trying to help out a nice family."
"Can I come visit you?" she asked hopefully. "Mama, is going on another dig soon and I don't wanna go. I like school and I don't like the tutor they make me see instead," she whispered into the phone so her mother would not hear.
"I'm working, sweetie…"
"Mom takes me to work with her…" she interrupted logically. She was always too smart for her own good. "I miss you." His heart broke.
"I'll see what I can do," he promised. "I love you."
"I love you too…to the moon rocks and back!" she yelled in his ear.
He couldn't help but laugh. "I'll call you again soon." He felt the hole in his heart grow every time he hung up the phone because he never knew for certain the next time he would be able to call.
"You have a daughter?" his thoughts were interrupted.
"I do, sir," he acknowledged, getting to his feet. "Something you need?"
"Just some more coffee," the Doctor mumbled. "I ran out of the stash in the lab."
"Jonny is in his room," Race offered, but Benton just nodded with distraction and then left in search of his coffee fix. Race did not understand the lack of interaction between father and son. He knew the doc was distraught over the loss of his young wife, but his seeming complete lack of interest in how his son was handling things made no sense and quite frankly rubbed Race the wrong way. 'You are not winning any father of the year awards,' he tried to remind himself.
He was surprised when Benton came back into the room a few minutes later instead of just going out the back.
"Mr. Bannon," he started.
"Race, sir."
"Only if you stop calling me 'sir'," Benton half smiled. "Look, I know you didn't choose this assignment and I know I have not been a gracious host. I am very unhappy with your agency at the moment, but I am thankful that there is someone as qualified as you protecting what is left of my family…" he trailed off and his breath caught. "My son comes first. Do you understand me?" Benton waited to see Race nod before continuing. "This will not work if you can't accept that. I will have none of this bullshit where you are here to protect me first and Jonny as an afterthought. He is the priority or it's over. If you have a daughter, you should understand that."
"I understand," he confirmed. "Do you want me to bring Jonny out to the lab for a visit?" Race offered, suddenly wanting to do something to actually help them like he had told his daughter he was.
"No," Benton answered quickly. "It's too sensitive and he gets into things the second you turn your head. He's far too smart for his own good."
"My daughter is the same way," Race smiled.
"She is welcome here anytime, Race. We have plenty of space to set up a room for her."
"Thank you, sir…Benton."
"Family should be together," he responded softly and was then off to his lab again as quickly as he had come. The irony of that statement was not lost on Race since Benton had been avoiding his own child at all costs.
After speaking with his daughter and then Benton, Race had the overwhelming urge to make sure Jonny was alright. A moment of panic froze him in his tracks when he found Jonny's bedroom empty. He had explicitly ordered IRIS to let him know when the kid left his room.
"IRIS, where is Jonny?" Race barked.
"Ground level. In the kitchen," the electronic voice immediately responded. Race rushed to the kitchen to find Jonny frantically rummaging through the pantry and on the brink of tears.
"Jonny, what's going on?" he asked hurriedly.
"I can't find Bandit," he said quietly and then looked at Race with great worry in his eyes. "He's my 'sponsibility."
Race was taken aback for a second. It was the first time the kid had made eye contact…let alone spoken to him. "I'm sure he is hiding around here somewhere," Race assured.
"He's lost," Jonny cried. "I have to find him. He's just a baby."
"IRIS," Race started.
"I already tried that?" Jonny yelled and then pushed his way past Race and started running through the house calling for his dog and looking in every hiding spot the small animal would fit.
"IRIS…where is Bandit?" Race asked, while patiently following Jonny around.
"Unknown," was the immediate response.
"I told you I already tried that," Jonny yelled again and then pushed at Race's leg angrily. "Why don't you listen?" he heaved.
"Jonny, we will find him," Race promised, kneeling down to his level and grabbing his shoulders. "I will help you."
"You don't even like me. Leave me alone," he screamed. "Bandit! Come here puppy. Don't be scared. I'll take care of you," he coughed out hysterically.
"Jonny, please calm down," Race begged. He was not equipped to handle this reaction.
"BANDIT! BANDIT!"
Race was not sure what to do next so he did the same thing he did when Jessie threw tantrums every time he said goodbye. He grabbed Jonny by the shoulders again and pulled him tightly against his chest.
"NO," Jonny tried to fight him, but Race just pulled him closer and let him break down completely. "I WANT MY PUPPY…I WANT…MY…PUPPY…please," he then trailed off softly.
"It's gonna be alright, buddy. It will be," he tried to soothe, pushing the hair out of his face and rubbing his back until his breathing started to even out.
"I want my, mama," he then muffled into Race's chest.
"I know you do," was the only thing Race could say and then just let him cry it out as he continued to run reassuring strokes up and down his back. 'Jesus Christ,' Race thought. This little boy really had been dealing with this all alone. The urge he felt to help was growing stronger by the second, spurred on by the thought of his own young daughter.
"I bet Bandit got out and is down by the water," Race jumped in to try and refocus Jonny's attention. "He likes the surf, right?"
"Yeah," Jonny squeaked, slowly extracting himself from Race's embrace and wiping at his eyes.
"Let's go check," Race smiled, holding his hand out to Jonny. Jonny did not accept his hand, but instead made his way to the door with Race following. Jonny was too small to reach the handle, but there was a step stool close by clearly meant for his use. Instead of waiting for Race to just open the door for them, he pulled the step stool over to do it himself. Race could not help the smile that came to his lips. The kid was really cute.
"Buddy… wait for me," Race jogged to catch up. It was a nice evening and Race took a moment to appreciate the ocean breeze. Maybe slowing down for a few months would not be the worst thing. He could help Jonny and spend more time with his daughter. "So what do you and Bandit like to do for fun?" he tried to ask as they made their way down the steps and onto the beach
"We fetch and I brush him and he likes to give kisses a lot," Jonny responded distractedly.
"Maybe I can play fetch with you guys tomorrow," Race suggested.
"Why… you don't like us and we don't like you," Jonny mumbled and then took off running into the dark when the small pup's squeal reached both of their ears. "Bandit!"
When Jonny reached the water, he saw his dog struggling to stay above the surface and rushed into the water himself to help. "Don't be scared. I'm comin'."
Race's heart dropped into his throat at the sound of Jonny's voice and then the splashing of water. He had lost him for a second in the dark.
"Jonny stay where you are," Race ordered. The tide was strong and high. He did not want to take any chances. It only took fifteen seconds for him to have both Jonny and Bandit safe in his arms, but it felt much longer. "Please don't do that again, kiddo?" Race asked.
"I had to protect him," Jonny justified.
"…and I have to protect you," Race teased, tickling him a little and then tucking him against his side to protect against the light wind blowing off the water. "That was brave though," Race smiled…almost proud.
"I'm not afraid," Jonny jutted his chin out.
"You remind me of my daughter," Race laughed. "… and just to be clear, I do like you," he clarified.
"No," Jonny shook his head. "You I-one lackeys all hate me."
"Lackeys?" Race chuckled.
"That's what daddy calls you people."
"You don't like us?" Race prompted.
"No." Race knew that the Quest family had been through several agents. They all briefed him that the experience and the people would be unpleasant and difficult, but for the first time he was starting to think that his fellow agents, and even himself for the last few weeks, were perpetuating the problem instead of being the solution.
"Why?"
"You're all mean," Jonny responded without hesitation.
"You haven't even talked to me. How do you know I'm mean?" Race asked softly.
"You called me a brat and you haven't even talked to me…and I can walk on my own," Jonny insisted, trying to wriggle out of Race's embrace, but Race held firm.
"I don't think you're a brat…"
"Liar! I heard you on the phone…"
"How…"
"I'm better at IRIS than you," Jonny interrupted.
'Well that explains why I wasn't alerted to Jonny leaving his room,' Race thought.
"Mr. Johnson is meaner than you though," Jonny conceded.
"Why?" Race wanted to know, suddenly feeling protective. Jonny did not respond, but Race felt him relax in his arms. "Can we start over?" he changed gears. "I'm Roger, but my friends call me Race," he offered.
"Ok," Jonny responded softly.
"Do you want to watch a movie with me before your bedtime?"
"Can we watch 101 Dalmatians?" Jonny asked excitedly. "Bandit likes that one."
"Sure," Race laughed. "I will set it up and make some popcorn. Can you please get some dry clothes on? I will get Bandit warmed up."
Jonny gave Bandit a quick rub of the ears and then ran for the stairs. Race got everything set up and started a fire in the family room to help keep Jonny and Bandit warm. "Let's go, pup. You have caused enough trouble tonight," Race laughed, patting the blanket he had set up in front of the fire. Bandit obediently curled up by the warmth and then Race sat down to stroke him a few times. After a few more minutes passed, Race saw Jonny's head peeking through the doorway tentatively.
"Buddy, you ready to get started?" Race asked quietly. "Come sit with Bandit. I'll start the movie." Race sat behind them on the couch and watched Jonny more than the movie. He was lying on his stomach with the dog pulled protectively under his arm. To be honest, he was surprised that Jonny was still awake after all the excitement and his breakdown.
"You got a kid?" Race's thoughts were interrupted and Jonny's expectant head turned his way.
"I have a little girl about your age, actually."
"Where is she?" Jonny asked curiously.
"She lives in Colorado," Race smiled.
"With her mama?" Jonny persisted quietly.
Race just nodded and then sat back in surprise when Jonny crawled up the couch to sit next to him. "Feeling ok?"
"I just don't like the part where Lucky almost dies," he whispered.
"Me neither," Race agreed. "…but I like the happy ending where they all go live on a farm. I grew up on a farm."
"Really?" Jonny asked eagerly. "Did you have a horse?"
"A few," Race smiled. "… and cows, chickens and goats."
"I guess you're not so mean," Jonny smiled and inched a little closer.
"Thanks, little man," Race grinned and ruffled his hair. Jonny's smiled dropped immediately and then he ran from the room. Confused and concerned, Race followed slowly and found Jonny crying in the middle of his bed. "Jonny… what's wrong?"
"Go away," he muffled into the pillows.
"I thought we were gonna be friends?" Race asked, rubbing his back again. It seemed to work well the first time. "Tell me what happened?"
"Don't call me, little man," he whispered. "That's what mama calls me."
"I'm sorry," Race hung his head and sighed. "I didn't know that. It won't happen again, ok?" Race apologized.
"'kay," Jonny mumbled.
"You're a really brave kid. Do you know that?" Race asked. "Do you want to finish watching the movie?"
Jonny gave a small nod and Race carried him back down to the living room. They finished watching the movie with Jonny tucked into Race's side sleepily. Race felt himself warming up to Jonny by the second. Maybe it was the way that he reminded him of Jessie or maybe it was the kid on his own. Race was not sure, but he knew it was true.
"Are you ready for bed, buddy?"
"Not tired," he mumbled.
"Well…let's just go lay down," Race laughed and then picked him up to head upstairs. Jonny's room did not resemble that of a typical boy his age. There were no dinosaurs or race cars, but rather plain walls and monochromatic furniture. There was one stuffed animal. A tiger in the center of his bed, but everything else indicated an adult's room.
"Do you want to get changed?" Race asked, but Jonny just shook his head no. Race tucked him in and rubbed his back until his breathing steadied.
"Are you staying or leaving like the others?" Jonny asked, surprising Race.
"Do you want me to stay?" Race asked curiously.
"Yes… you're nice."
"Ok," Race smiled and he swears he felt something shift inside him. "Do you want to tell me why you think Agent Johnson is mean?" Race could not stop himself from asking and hoped that Jonny's exhaustion would open the flood gates. He knew that he would need to learn Jonny's emotional triggers to best help him.
"He said I was bad, but I didn't even talk to him. I was just playin' wit Bandit. And then he locked me in mommy and daddy's room for a really long time and said he would spank me if I was bad again. He was mean…and I don't like being in mommy's room without her." Jonny trailed off and then fell asleep a few minutes later. Race sat there for at least an hour just watching him…and missing his little girl…and thinking about scenarios in which he could punch Agent Johnson without disciplinary action.
The next morning, while drinking his coffee and reading the paper with Dr. Quest, Race looked up to see Jonny barreling toward him like an airplane. He had a piece of construction paper in his hand, which he slammed in front of Race unceremoniously and then kept going without looking back. It was a drawing of the two of them and Bandit.
"This just might work out," Benton mumbled and then was out the door again heading toward his lab.

Race was brought back to the present when a bleary eyed Jonny stumbled into the kitchen with a tired grin. "Do I smell pancakes?"
"Sit," his mother ordered excitedly. "They will be ready in a minute. How did you sleep?"
"Not too great. I haven't been able to sleep much the last few days. I'm thinking it won't be an issue tonight though," he yawned. "I'll try to take a nap later."
"Where's Jess?" Race asked.
"Showering I think" Jonny shrugged nonchalantly.
"Don't make a habit of it," Race ordered.
"What are you talking…"
"Don't play dumb either, kiddo."
"Sir," Jonny conceded and held his breath a little until Race focused his attention back on Rachael.
Jonny tried not to think of Jessie in the shower while waiting for his pancakes… he really did… but his mind wandered nonetheless. He did not seem capable of letting her stray far from his thoughts or embrace for long. He had some serious concerns about being able to heed Race's warning, especially considering how much he enjoys waking up with her in his arms.
"Morning," she mumbled against his chest.
"Good morning, baby."
"I could seriously get used to this," she smiled. "Only a few more months," she then whispered.
"I can't wait," he admitted. "This couch is good practice for those tiny dormitory beds. Will we drive your roommate crazy?"
"We'll figure it out. I just know I want to be with you more often than not."
"I love you, woman."
"I don't want to move. Can we stay in this bubble?"
"I'd love to, but I smell chocolate chip pancakes with my name all over them."
"Alright," she sighed. "Go on, I'm gonna get cleaned up," she jumped off the couch.
"Love…" and the smirk she hit him with was full of it.
"Pancakes are up, smiley."
"Thanks Mom."
"Jonny... leave some for the others," his mother immediately scolded when he placed every ounce of food on his plate.
"I'm hungry," he said with his mouth full. "...and Race only eats protein in the morning. Dad... only coffee. Hadj... his meditative thoughts..."
"What about Jessie?" his mother challenged, assuming she had him.
"She's on her own," he shot back without missing a beat.
"Thanks a lot," she called out dryly from the door and then proceeded to grab a fork and dig right into his plate.
"Hey…"
"You brought this on yourself. Get over it, Hotshot."
Hadji joined them a few moments later and then Dr. Quest strolled in looking better than he had in years.
'My family,' Jonny thought with contentment and shared a smile with Race who was standing back and observing the scene too. He knew they still had several obstacles to overcome before being completely free, but he felt so much hope in that moment.
- 30
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Love is Strong