Good evening. My pen name is WadeWells and I've been writing fanfiction on this website since 2008. This, however, is my first Jonny Quest fic. It is completed and I will be posting chapters every week. I know that this isn't a huge fandom, but this fic had been on my mind for two years and well…from my brain it travelled to paper. I hope that those of you who read it will enjoy it as much as I loved writing every moment.

This was a great cartoon and I hope that this story does it justice.

I tried very hard to keep the grammar mistakes to a minimum, but if you find one, please let me know and I will correct.

Thank you for your time! Enjoy!

Note: Music is always in my mind when writing and I'll sharing my playlist for each chapter with you. You can find the music and lyrics on YouTube. Just search for the name of the artist and the song.

Playlist:

Helen Jane Long: Expressions

Helen Jane Long: Willow

Epic: Take Down

One Republic: What you Wanted

Machu Picchu-Peru

Jessie Bannon slipped the olive green backpack over her shoulder with a feeling she never thought she'd experience in her lifetime-butterflies in her stomach. Her friends at school informed her of the famous "butterflies" with exaggerated dread as they shared their stories with her. Whenever they were attracted to one of the boys at school, the annoying little creatures left their cocoons to fly inside their bellies and wreak havoc on their nerves. The momentum of those butterflies became worse when the "cause" for their existence made an appearance.

Jessie always laughed at them, never thinking that such an idiotic cliché would ever affect her personally. But now, as she walked around her tent, carrying the backpack her mother had given her for her birthday a few months earlier, she felt the annoying little critters in the mouth of her abdomen flapping their wings in rhythm with one another. And it wasn't just a few aimlessly flying around, but a swarm of them making her nauseous and quite annoyed.

Even worse, the cause of these "butterflies" was the one person she had practically known most of her life!

"Really Bannon!" she muttered to herself. "What is wrong with you? It's only him!" She shook her head as she walked around her current living quarters‒ a tent smack down in the middle of the greatest archaeological sites in Peru.

The large seven foot tall tent Jessie had been living in for the past several weeks was by no means extravagant, but it was waterproof and had a heavy duty heat sealed PVC floor which allowed her to walk upright without the worry of tearing the floor with her work boots. The tent also had side and rear windows which allowed light to filter in, providing comfort and, more importantly, ventilation for those rainy days when Dr. Quest cancelled fieldwork. The tent also had an awning that protected her from the sun's rays on the rare days she had the opportunity to relax outside to read a book or just watch her surroundings.

It was a comfortable setting for the current investigation the team led. But, truth be known, that at this particular moment, Jessie would have liked to have had the luxuries her room at home offered before meeting him. She was by no means vain but, lately, it was becoming more evident to her how she presented herself in front of him. Part of her knew it wouldn't have mattered in the long run. Not with him. She never had to pretty herself for him in that fashion. But, the girl in her, the other part that wasn't into hiking boots or outdoor activities, couldn't help it.

Jessie never pictured herself as the type of girl who would let her nerves get the best of her, not by any sorts. She was always cool and in control of her emotions. This characteristic made her even more efficient, especially at work. Yet now, she couldn't help it; her nerves hit like daggers. She took off the bag, walked back to her cot and sat down. Then, placing the bag on her lap, she opened it and retrieved her compact and gave herself one last look. Breathing in and then out, she felt satisfied that neither her nose nor eyes had anything that could potentially leave a questionable impression.

"Jess," a sudden voice made her look up to the entrance of her tent. "You ready?" she knew the voice, even when it was as low as a mere whisper.

Closing the compact, she threw it inside the backpack and quickly slipped on the bag again before walking out. Smiling to the person in front of her, she whispered, "Morning, Hotshot."

"Good morning, Ace," Jonny Quest answered returning the gesture with a smile of his own. God, she loved that smile. It made her weak in the knees. Get a grip. Get a grip. Get a grip! He awkwardly moved toward Jessie and gave her a peck on the lips, "Sleep well?"

She nodded, blushing a little but keeping her smile, "We better get moving. They'll be up in about two hours. We won't have much time."

"Then, let's make the best of it," he said, gently taking her hand as they began leaving the campsite.

XXXXXXXXXX

They had decided not to climb up too many of steps of Huayna Picchu since it would probably take them some time to climb back down. They needed to get back to the campsite before the others woke. Once they arrived to a step high enough for them to see the landscape around them, Jessie and Jonny sat down and rested their backs against the stone that composed the next level. The two were quiet for a moment, enjoying the scenery despite the dim lighting.

Jessie sighed as she rested her head on his shoulders while he held her close.

"What's going on in that mind of yours?" Jonny asked as she snuggled against him. "You were quiet on the way here."

"Nothing, really," she shrugged still leaning on him. "It's just that part of me can't believe we are here." She looked at the world around her, content filling her. The sun had not emerged from the horizon, but there was a little light coming from the impending dawn and both of them could make out the trees, other ruins and mountains surrounding them. The early morning mist enveloped them.

"Yeah, I know the feeling. I still can't believe we lucked out of Mr. Perusi's history test," he joked. She shoved her elbow on his side. "Ouch!" Jonny laughed.

The group had spent weeks studying the terrain after the Peruvian government called Doctor Quest in to investigate certain unexplained tremors around the area. Nothing had happened since the last quake three weeks prior to their arrival. The renowned scientist was baffled that he hadn't found anything despite the time they had spent there.

Since Jessie, Jonny and Hadji attended a private school for the gifted, the three had been given a leave for a month. They would eventually have to turn in a project to get their passing grades, along with the homework assignments they missed. Even with the endless amount of work they had waiting for them back home, they would have never given up the opportunity to travel and be part of the investigations Quest Industries was hired to do.

Everyone had been given assignments. Dr. Quest spent most of his time interviewing and meeting with Peruvian officials, scientists, as well as, witnesses of the accounts. Jessie and Jonny were assigned to mark the areas reported to have had the highest concentration in seismic activity and Hadji was busy crunching data and reading past reports. Race, of course, spent his time working with the agency making sure everyone was safe. After all, when the clan was together, Race worked double time trying to make sure he knew where everyone was at a particular moment.

The long days on the field caused Jessie and Jonny to spend a lot of time together. Since everyone was occupied in their own worlds, no one paid much attention to what had been happening between them. The two had had an unspoken attraction to each other for almost a year, but neither acted on it. They valued so much their friendship that they were afraid to complicate things. But with each passing day, their feelings grew stronger. The signs were always there, even if neither admitted them to one another. Jonny never asked anyone out on a date and Jessie never accepted one when asked. They always had an excuse; but both knew the real reason why, even if they never said anything each other.

The trip to Peru, and the fact that they spent hours alone together had somehow awakened and pushed their feelings to the surface. Maybe they had grown tired of playing the "Ignorance is Bliss" game; maybe they were afraid that their only opportunity to speak would cease just like the quakes had. Either way, they finally confessed their feelings to one another one rainy day out on the field. It had been a week since their first kiss changed the world they lived in.

"You fake pain very well Jonny Quest," she said after Jonny yelped. "And you know exactly what I mean. Don't bring up Mr. Perusi to our conversation," the red head answered laughing as well. "As I was saying…we've been here almost a month trying find where these tremors are coming from and during this entire trip, not one has occurred. But you and I...the one thing I wasn't expecting, the one thing we were preventing from happening, happened. You and me…us."

"Us," Jonny repeated hugging her tightly.

Jessie nodded, "Us."

"I know," Jonny finally confessed after a short pause. Then, very gently, he pulled himself back to look straight into her green eyes, "And I'm really glad us happened, Jessie."

"Me too," she whispered to him with a smile. The sun hadn't risen but they knew it would soon emerge. The breezes swept around them like gentle hugs. Jessie, feeling the urge to touch him, caressed his cheek ever so softly, "I can't believe I'm with you. I can't believe this is happening."

"I can't believe I fell in love with my best friend," he answered as he gently pulled back a strand of her long red locks away from her face, "My beautiful best friend."

Jessie smiled again before moving closer and kissing him deeply. And just like that, the world around them completely disappeared and she only felt him.

XXXXXXXXXX

Before they even became aware, the sun rose. Jonny looked up at the sky. It would be a good, sunny day. "We better get going."

Jessie showed her disappointment as he held her close one more time before releasing her, "How long were we here? It didn't seem that long."

Her boyfriend laughed, "We've been here for over an hour."

"Doesn't seem long enough," she repeated with a sigh. "I wish we could‒"

"I know," he interrupted her, knowing what she was going to say. "But Jess, if our fathers find out…"

"They'll think we're making a mistake," she finished the sentence for him. "We've been friends for so long they won't think we're serious about being together."

Jonny looked at her concerned, "Do you mind waiting? If you want to say something now, we will."

She immediately shook her head, "Of course, I don't mind. You're right. Let's just give ourselves a little time before we tell the rest of the family. Besides, adding the element of mystery in our relationship is actually kind of fun," Jessie replied as Jonny helped her up while picking up her backpack and putting it on. He kissed her once more before descending the terraces holding hands.

"Do you think we'll find something today?" Jessie asked changing they subject as they headed back to camp.

"Who knows," Jonny shrugged. "Dad keeps saying there is no evidence of quakes anywhere around the site."

"But tourists have been witnesses to as many as ten in the last two months," Jessie reminded him.

"Hundreds of tourists can't be wrong, but neither is science," Jonny replied firmly. "I'm sure there is an explanation, we just have to find out what it is."

As they continued walking, the two felt a sudden tremble from the ground they walked on. They stopped. "Did you feel that?" Jessie asked looking at him.

Jonny nodded, but his gaze peered on the ground. Suddenly the ground shook harder and they stumbled trying to keep themselves from falling. "Jessie, run!" The two began running as the tremor grew stronger, "We need to get to Dad and the others!" Jonny yelled as he gripped Jessie's hand tighter and the two began running away from the area.

Suddenly, the trail where they ran on cracked open, yet the area around the structures stayed intact. "Jonny!" Jessie screamed as she tried not to fall between the wide cracks.

Seeing what was about to happen, Jonny stopped for a second and began to look around, "We need to get to one of the structures. There's no way we can make camp at this point!"

"But what if…"

"It's our only chance Jessie!" The ground was opening, making huge holes and the two ran the risk of falling down within them.

"What's happening?" Jessie cried out.

"I don't know!" Jonny continued. "No one ever said anything about the ground opening."

Running, they reached one of the structures and began to climb up. Jonny quickly pushed Jessie up first. But, when he was about to pull himself up, the step they were on began to crumble and he lost his balance. He would have fallen if Jessie hadn't quickly grabbed a hold of his arm. "I got you!" she yelled as she held him, "Jonny, try to pull yourself up!"

"There's nothing to hold on to!" he yelled back fighting to hold on to something.

"I can't…hold on… to you for too long," Jessie yelled trying desperately to maintain her grip on him. The stones where she stood began to crack. She looked down horrified, "Jonny!"

He quickly looked around him. The structure was greatly compromised, and worse, a hole had opened right below him. His blue eyes bore at her, "You got to get higher!"

"But…"

"Go!" he yelled more forcefully "Jessie, you've got to go!"

"Not without you!" she yelled as she tried to pull him up. But Jonny was too heavy for her. The ground below her shook and the cracks grew wider. The ground around split apart. Her usual cool and collected self dissapeared with the horrors around her. His hand slowly began slipping away from hers. She tried to hold on to him, but her own hands shook massively from carrying his weight. Jessie closed her eyes, using all her strength to help Jonny. Then, unable to hold any longer, his hand slipped from hers.

"Jessie!"

"Jonny!" she screamed as she watched him fall down a huge dark hole by the structure. "Jonny!" she shouted as she heard his screams.

Seconds later, the shaking stopped and the ground began closing again. Jessie watched with a combination of awe and agony as each crack and each hole fused itself together again. Before she knew it, there was nothing around her, but clean greenery and no signs of anything broken apart. Worst of all, there was no sign of the man she loved. The breezes mocked her and the strong eerie silence everywhere disheartened her.

"Jonny!" she screamed, her eyes widening in horror.

Without caring or thinking of her safety, Jessie quickly climbed down the steps that were still strong. She desperately moved around the area shouting his name. Then, she dropped on her knees trying to search for what she knew she wouldn't find. Raking the grass with her fingers, she screamed, "Jonny!" once again, but received no answer. "Oh my God," she whispered to herself in shock, "Jonny!" she screamed again before realizing that she was the only one in the area.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Five years later….

"Jonny!"

A blond young woman quickly rose from her bed and ran over to roommate's bed located on the opposite end of the room, "Red! Wake up. Jessie, wake up girl!"

"God no!" she continued screaming.

"Jessie! Wake up!"

Jessie sat up, wildly looking around the room, trying to decipher where she was, "Claire?" she asked the woman in front of her when she finally recognized her.

"It's me honey," the blond haired girl answered as she pulled Jessie into a hug, "It's okay. You had another one."

The red haired girl sighed, her heart pounding hard, "I'm so sorry for waking you up Claire."

"You don't have to apologize, Jess," the girl replied still hugging her friend. "Let me get you some water." She stood up and walked over to the small refrigerator by the corner of their room to retrieve a bottle that she took over to her friend. Jessie opened the bottle and took a huge gulp before sealing the cap and placing it on her night stand, "Better?" Claire asked.

Jessie nodded, "A bit. They always feel very real to me. I relive that day over and over every time."

Claire looked at her friend with a mixture of sympathy and sadness, but also resolve, "Jess, I know this is going to be hard to hear, but tomorrow is supposed to be a happy day. Don't let the past overshadow the happy memories tomorrow will bring to you and your family. You've worked too hard. Give yourself tomorrow."

"I know," Jessie's eyes began to water, "I know. I promise I will."

"Okay," Claire whispered. "Go back to sleep. We have a big day ahead." Going back to bed, Claire pulled her covers, "Try to get some rest Jessie. I'll wake you up if you have another nightmare."

About to close her eyes, Claire suddenly heard her friend whisper to her, "I miss him Claire. I miss him so much."

"I know you do, Red," Claire whispered back sympathetically.

And with that, the two roommates went back to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXX

The sun's rays welcomed Jessie as she opened her eyes. She rose from bed, instinct made her look at the clock on her nightstand, "Damn!" her eyes widened, "Seven thirty!"

Quickly, she rose and ran to her closet, taking out the few pieces of clothing, she had not packed. She picked out a black pencil skirt and white polo long sleeved blouse. She had walked over to her dresser when she heard the door open. Turning around, she watched Claire walk in, "Thank you so much for waking me up. Do you realize it's past seven!"

The young girl smiled, "Hey, you barely slept last night. I just wanted to give you an extra hour, that's all. Besides, I was actually on my way to wake you up. We don't have to be at the convention center until ten."

"Did you pick up your cap and gown?" Jessie asked as she pulled out the undergarments from her dresser drawer.

"Yes, and I also picked up your tassel. You know, the one you forgot to pick up yesterday because you were too busy trying to get away from Connor Stevens who has been trying all semester to ask you out," Claire answered as she walked over and handed Jessie the little gizmo that would go on her cap. She smiled sarcastically.

"Thanks," she answered with a small smile. "I told him a number of times this semester that I wasn't interested." Walking past her friend, Jessie sighed, "I better take shower. Dad told me he would pick us up."

"Your dad is picking us up?" Claire asked with a huge grin, "Nice! We haven't officially graduated and we're already riding in style."

Jessie shook her and rolled her eyes mockingly, "You're incorrigible. I'm sure he's on a rental. Dr. Quest is not going to go all out…at least not during graduation."

The two girls laughed as Jessie began heading out the door, "I'll be back soon. You want to grab coffee at Starbucks before leaving?"

"Absolutely," Claire answered, "Hurry up, will ya? I'm excited about today, but I still need to wake up."

"You always need to wake up!" Jessie shouted as she walked out the door.

Claire shook her head. At least her best friend had woken up content. Since she met Jessie four years earlier during their freshmen year at George Washington University, she had known her to have these nightmares every May. Jessie also grew depressed and detached as well. It was as if each May since they met, she was another person.

As Claire began getting dressed, she thought more about what this month meant for Jessie. She knew that her boyfriend Jonathan Quest, had disappeared this very same day five years ago. Jessie barely spoke of the mysterious event; the only thing that Claire knew (from what shed read online) was that he had disappeared on a trip they took to Peru a few weeks before concluding their junior year in high school. Since then, his father Benton Quest, continued his search to find him. As of yet, they hadn't found one single clue that aided the search.

Jessie once told her that the ground had swallowed Jonny. She didn't know what that meant, she still didn't. Jessie wouldn't say and Claire never pushed it out of her. Walking over to her closet, she picked out a burgundy spaghetti strap A-line dress she had purchased at Neiman Marcus a few weeks before. She laid it on her bed before walking over to the small vanity at her side of the room. Sitting down on the chair, she began applying her makeup. With a small smile she thought that this would be the last time she be doing anything in the room. After four long years, she and Jessie had finally closed the book on DC. It felt bittersweet.

"At least I won't be on my own," she whispered to herself.

Now employed at Quest, Industries, Claire and Jessie had a future set-Jessie as the lead Systems Engineer for Quest World and she as Doctor Quest's Site Research Assistant. Who knew that her background in Anthropology and Archaeology would prove useful? Claire sighed unconsciously. Before really knowing Jessie, she thought her future involved teaching high school or college if she was lucky. Now, she would be working with the world renowned Doctor Benton Quest. Sometimes life surprised her in ways she never even dreamed of.

XXXXXXXXXX

"I hate you," Jessie told her as she watched her friend eat.

Still chewing the blond hair girl asked in disbelief, "Why? What did I do?"

The two girls sat on a table near the window of the Starbucks across from their dorm overlooking the students that walked by. Claire took a sip of her coffee before picking up the pastry she had also bought and took a bite out of it with pure delight.

"You eat all these million calorie pastries and don't gain an ounce, I take a single bite and I gain forty pounds."

"Oh shut up!" Claire rolled her eyes. "You have the hottest body in the entire university. I don't think that a day goes by when a guy…or a woman for that matter, isn't gawking at you."

"You don't stay far behind," Jessie reminded her. "Except, the only reason I look like this is because I have to pull double duty at the gym. When was the last time you went?"

"Hey! Digging for bones and hiking up and down camp sites is a work out." Claire told her as she took a bigger bite of her pastry for effect.

"Well, I know that once we get to Maine, there's not going to be anything to dig, so you're just going to have to go to the gym with me if you want to keep that pretty little figure of yours," Jessie smiled wickedly. "I'm glad I'll have an exercise partner."

Claire groaned in regret, "Don't remind me."

"The compound has its own gym, so we'll save on the gym fees."

Looking at her friend, Claire's tone grew serious as she asked, "Hey, are you sure Dr. Quest isn't going to mind me staying at the compound?"

"Why would he mind?" Jessie asked as she picked up her cup.

Shrugging, her friend answered, "Well, it's his home Jessie. I can look for an apartment close by."

"Doctor Quest isn't going to mind at all. As a matter of fact, I think he's looking forward to it. With me here in DC and Hadji attending Princeton, I'm sure it's been a bit lonely for him. And, I know he'll love having another person to do extra chores around the house."

"I'm looking forward to that," she answered smiling, satisfied with her friend's answer. Pausing for a bit, Claire cautiously asked, "Is Hadji coming back too?"

Suspecting why Claire asked, Jessie answered her trying to hide her amusement from the question, "Dad told me when I spoke to him last night that Hadji was able to take the summer off. So, he's flying in with Dr. Quest." Her father had come in to Washington a day prior to survey the area prior to Dr. Quest and Hadji coming. Jessie still hadn't seen him. Race Bannon technically wasn't supposed to be in D.C. until today. "He should be on his way to pick them up before coming here."

"He's still not done?" Claire asked.

"He needs one more semester for his dissertation." Hadji was almost through completing his Ph.D. degree in Quantitative and Computational Biology.

"A Doctorate," Claire's eyes widened, "He's a year and a half older than us."

Jessie snorted, "He's a brain. When Jonny and I were high school, Hadji was already on his way to completing his Bachelor's degree along with his high school diploma. A true egghead I tell you."

"Wow," Claire responded in awe before taking a bite out of her pastry.

"Jonny always said that Hadji was more of Doctor Quest's son than he was," she answered with a melancholy smile. "He didn't mind though. He loved Hadji as if he was his blood brother."

The two were quiet for a moment, "Well, at least Doctor Quest will have some company over the summer."

Jessie smiled. Suddenly, she heard the ring tone of her IPhone sound. Picking it up from the table, she noticed it was her father calling, "Hey Dad!"

"Hey Ponchita! Benton, Hadji and I will be on our way to the University to pick you and Claire up."

"Claire and I are at the coffee shop across the street from the dorms. Would you mind picking up us here instead?"

"No, not at all," he responded, "We'll be there in about ten to fifteen minutes."

"Perfect! See you then."

She ended the call and looked at her friend, "They'll be here soon to pick us up in about ten to fifteen minutes." Standing up, Jessie began fixing herself up, "How do I look?"

"You look great!" Claire answered, admiring Jessie's strapless black dress that accentuated her figure and brightened her emerald green eyes. She had made Jessie change from her previous outfit when she came back to the room after her shower. Today was a fun day and Jessie didn't have to look like she was going to go to a job interview. But Jessie, still having a serious side, formalized the attire by wearing a short blazer to cover her shoulders and arms. Her long, waist length red hair complemented her. Jessie was a red haired Barbie doll.

"Do you think I made the right decision by not cutting my hair?"

"I'm glad you didn't," Claire told her. "You have beautiful hair and there was no reason to cut it. Wait till you become a cougar… you can cut it then," she joked.

They had gone to get haircuts before graduation the day before. Jessie sat on the beautician's chair ready to cut away her locks when a sudden a memory of Jonny touching her hair froze her. She immediately stood up and backed away from her decision. Instead, she opted for a small trim of half an inch and a blow dry. When Claire asked why she hadn't gone through it, she answered, "Jonny loved my long hair. It just seemed wrong to cut it."

"So, ready to graduate?" Claire asked her, bringing her back to the present.

"I'm ready," she nodded. Today marked the end of one stage of her life. The other would soon begin and Jessie had waited five long years for it to come.