Future Quest
"Part Two"
by Montage

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em...unless you don't recognize the name; then
their MINE!:)

"Jessie?" Hadji glanced around as he called her name.

"Over here," her reply was so quiet it was nearly lost in he breeze.

She sat nearby, leaning against a tree.  He sat down next to her and
they were silent for quite some time.  Jessie stared out at he ocean and
Hadji looked with concern upon his tortured friend.

"Jonny used to love to surf," Jessie broke the silence.

Hadji just nodded.  Her voice wavered when she spoke again, "What am I
gonna do Hadji?  I mean, without Jonny, I have no reason to stay here. 
But what else can I do?"

She turned to him with a helpless expression.  He noticed she was
holding a picture.  It was of Jessie, Jonny, and himself just before
they'd found out that Jonny was sick about five years ago.

"Jessie, I can not tell you what to do; but I *can* tell you that Jonny
would most certainly not have wanted you to give up on this place simply
because he was no longer here to help you run it.  It is important. 
This is where the cure for the virus was found.  You helped millions of
people."

"It didn't help Jonny, he's dead!" she cried.

"He *knew* it was too late for him when he took the antidote.  He kept
going though...to save others the pain of what he went through," Jessie
looked away and didn't respond.

"And he was in a great deal of pain, but he never let on; not when you
were around at least.  He didn't want you to suffer knowing that *he*
was suffering," he placed a hand tentatively on her shoulder, "I know
how you feel; he was my friend, too."

"Yeah," she spun on him, "Well, he was my husband.  I loved him!"

Hadji held her as she began to cry, "Why did it have to happen to him?"

"I don't know, my friend," he said softly, "I simply do not know."

They were both blissfully unaware of the person watching them from the
bushes nearby...and smiling.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Jonny, we're gonna be late!" Jessie yelled through his bedroom door. 
He didn't reply.

"Jonny," she was growing irritated, "that's it, I'm leaving without
you."

She waited a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh and walking
down the hall.

"Where's Jonny?" Race asked as she entered the kitchen.

"I dunno, I tried to get him up but he didn't answer me,"Jessie replied.

"Are you sure he was in his room?" Benton Quest asked.

"No, Jessie admitted, "but I always see him around; and Hadji said he
hadn't seen him either."

"I think I'll go see if he decided to sleep in," Benton said.

Jessie grabbed her backpack and headed for the door.

"Why don't you wait and see what's going on with Jonny?" Race said.

"I'll be late for school."

"I'll give you a ride if you're late,"her father promised.

She sat down at the table and picked up the comics from the morning
paper.

Dr. Quest came back about 5 minutes later.  He didn't say a word, just
grabbed a thermometer and a glass of water and left.  Jessie and Race
looked at each other before getting up and following him.

They found him in Jonny's room looking at the thermometer and shaking
his head.

"I'm afraid you're not going anywhere today, young man.  You have a
temperature of 110."

"110?  Are you sure that's right, Benton?" Race inquired of his friend.

Jessie looked at Jonny.  he was sitting up slightly against the
headboard.  Jessie decided he probably would have fallen over backwards
if it hadn't been there.  He looked like death warmed over...no, more
like just dethawing.  His eyes were dull and tired; his face was flushed
and his cheeks were a bright shade of crimson.  And he looked all
together weak and sickly.

"Unfortunately, it is.  I'm going to call Dr. Mason and see if he'll
come check over him."

"He was fine yesterday, I wonder why it hit him all of a sudden.?" Race
wondered aloud.  He shrugged," Come on, Ponchita, we better get you to
school."

"See ya later, Jonny.  Hope you feel better," Jessie called as she left.

Montage
montage@geocities.com