After several years, I have finally gotten around to rewriting this story. I hope it appears a lot better than the first time around. I really enjoy this story and hope you will as well.
If you notice any miss spelling or grammar, please give me a shout. I am willing to take on an editor if anyone is interested, as most of this is already written I'm just re editing most of it.
Father and Dr. Quest left earlier that morning with the boys for a planned weekend fishing trip, giving me free rang of the air condition house. Even Iris, the household computer was down for maintenance, leaving me in almost completely alone. Every girls dream, when you are living among a group males.
So when I heard the door rang for the first time, rolled over on the couch knowing we weren't expecting any visitors. The second time was accompanied by knocking. Groaning to myself, I got up to answer the door.
There were two suite standing on the porch, both in black accompanied by black sun glasses. Great agents, just want I needed.
"Jessica Bannon?" The one asked, removing his glasses. Differently an agent, but he wasn't military nor Intelligence One, he would have know me without hesitation.
"Who are you?" I asked, not giving any information.
"I am Detective Johnston." He pointed to himself.
"I need to see your papers." I told him holding out my hand, receiving them I looked over the sheets quickly, as my father had shown me, to see if they were real.
"And this is Mister Ericson, your Mother's lawyer." The second man didn't smile as he was introduced, which caused me to instantly not trust him.
"Is Mom alright?" I asked softly, worried something bad had happened.
"She's fine." The Lawyer nodded, handing me some paper. "She has been granted full custody of you."
I looked down to the paperwork, custody papers, in bright red bold letters it read 'child endangerment.'
"What is this about?" I looked unsure, as I looked over the paperwork, not understanding what was going on.
"You are to come with us." The Detective told me.
"No. I can't just leave; my family will be back shortly." I told them, holding on to the door handle. Dad had prepared me for exit strategies for almost every situation- but not this one. Unsure of what to do next; part of me wanted to run the other part was pure anger.
"We need to leave now, in order to make the plane." The lawyer demanded of me as he looked almost through me.
"Why isn't my mother with you?" I demanded, surely she should have been here if she thought I was in trouble.
"She's was in court until an hour ago, getting this paperwork though." The lawyer showed me the time stamp.
"I need to pack some clothing," I shook my head, racing for a way to escape.
"Your mother has some at her house." The lawyer shook his head, "We need to get going."
"What about turning off the tv at least, Dad will be upset if I leave the lights and television on."
The Detective grabbed my arm, rather roughly as I went to turn off the TV, hoping it would buy time.
"Don't touch me." I pulled away from him.
The Detective was a larger man and easily grabbed a hold of me, pulling me into the car. I fought back screaming with all my might, but it wasn't enough, I really wished IRIS wasn't down.
I had been tossed to the back of the car where the doors where all child lock preventing me from escaping. I watched as the lawyer taped the paperwork to the front door, closing it before walking to the car.
"My Father will have you both arrested." I told them trying to keep calm, as I thought of a way to get out of this.
"This is for your own good." I was told, causing me to lose my patients kicking at their seats, it felt good to release the anger I was feeling.
What would cause my mother to file for custody, I have always been able to make my own decision on who I wanted to live with? why would she file for child endangerment, Father and Doctor Quest had never done anything to hurt me.
I watched as the car drove to a nearby airfield, even for a small airfield it was often busy, but today it was dead which worried me even more.
Once the car stopped the detective grab me forcing me out of the car.
"Will you sit still, or do I have to handcuff you to the chair?" The Detective asked, as he dragged me on to the plane. I could feel a bruise forming under his painful grip, as I tried to pull away from him.
Where was the staff for the airport, someone had to be here to see me.
"It would be safer if you did." I told him, kicking him in the knee cap, causing him to fall back. I attempted to make a run for it. I forgot to take the lawyer into account as he pulled out a taser gun.
"Sit down." He called to me.
I froze, scared, unsure of my next move.
"Your mother said you were well-behaved." The Lawyer shook his head, tossed the door open as he said something to the driver, a code between them maybe.
"Open your mouth," The Detective brought over a bottle of water.
"Why?" I demanded, as he opened the bottle. "What is it?"
The Detective showed me the label, it was Valium prescribed to me by a doctor I never meet before. It was an extremely high dosage for someone of my size.
"I don't know that doctor." I told him, "I am not allowed to take meds without my Father's permission."
"Your mother had these order for you." The Detective told me, holding me still.
"I am not taking them." I shook my head.
"Trust me," The man shook his head, "Take them or I will force them down your throat."
I spit at him, as he grabbed me forcing the pills into my mouth before dumping the water down my throat, I fought him off as best I could being tied down to the chair. But my effects were in vain as I was easily overpowered,The pills quickly took effect knocking me out.
I was pulled along by the Detective from the plane into the airport, my mind was still fuzzy as I found it hard to stand on my own as I was dragged to where Mother and a man I had never meet before; Mother in a sundress, well the man in khakis and button down shirt. I looked to Mom angry with this situation. I bit my inner cheek as I was dragged to where my mother was.
"How was the flight?" Mom asked as the Detective lead me to her. I pulled back, but I didn't want to get near Mom as I couldn't find myself to trust her at this moment.
"Well let's see, first I am pulled from my home, not allowed my clothing, or personal items.-"
"Jessica-" Mom walked closer to me.
Mom went to say something, but I continued on anyways, upset that she would do this to me. "I wasn't allowed to say goodbye to my father or family!"
I attempted to distance myself from her as the unknown man approached mom, claiming his spot at her side.
"Your Mother is speaking to you." The man spoke up, he seemed overly tan for spring. It was easy to see his hair was short and slightly brown. I don't remember ever seeing him on the digs.
"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded, looking to the new person angry with the situation at hand.
"Jessica." Mother snapped.
"This is kidnapping, you know what dad's going to do?" I demanded. The unnamed men seem to give the Detective a sign of some sort, for the Detective held onto me tighter my one shoulder was beginning to feel the stress.
"Jessica, you need to calm down." Mother stepped closer to me, placing her hand on my arm.
"No, I need my Father." I demanded as the man beside my Mother walked over to me. I started attempting to the Detective as the man pressed something sharp into my neck. I felt myself fall as the darkness took over.
I awoke feeling slightly dizzy. I was unsure where I was as I sat up, looking around.
The bed was a canopy bed something in any other situation I would have loved. White netting hung softly along the sides, I pulled them as I sat up on the bedside.
The bedspread was a bright yellow and blue pattern. It seemed to match the yellow curtains that waved slowly from the large bay window. I looked around before heading to the window to see where I was. The house seemed to be in the county, as I could see grass for miles, along with a large stone fence running where I guess a road would be. There was no way I could get past that wall if I wanted to from this end anyways.
I turned around defeated.
There was a large photo of roses above my dresser, I looked at its blank screen, before noticing a few photos of me and mom at the beach last year. There were older ones of me as well; none of them were of my father or the Quest. I know a lot of these photos would have been taken off my facebook page.
Getting off the bed, as I attempted to move feeling groggy as I moves around the room as I discovered a walk closet was full of new clothing and shoes. I had given her my size a few months ago when she bought my spring formal dress, but it seemed a little creepy that all these clothing were here.
"You're awake." Mother smiled softly as I left the closet open.
"What going on, mom?" I asked, leading agent the dresser, I was scared and unsure. I wanted to know what drugs they gave me, I have never been this messed up before. My breathing was fast and uncontrollable as I began to panic.
Mom rushed to my side, as I fell on the floor gasping for breath.
"Here let's get you back into the bed. "She whispered softly, helping me to my feet. I shock as she helped walk leaning on her for full support.
She brought out from pills somewhere as I sat on the bed gasping, shaking. I took them with easy, hoping it would make me stop; I know the color of Valium and hope that this was what I was taking.
"We'll talk when you're better," Mom kissed my head softly, as she tucked the blankets around me.
I awoke the next time to find Mom was sitting on the edge of the bed when I returned to the land of the living. Reading a old looking book, as she watched over me. Mom smiled down as I moved slightly.
"Why don't you have a shower, get dressed and I'll make you some pancakes." She told me softly. "We got fresh fruit from the market yesterday."
I nodded, feeling crappy and in need of that shower.
"You have your own bathroom," Mom pointed to the door beside the dresser. "I got you that flower soap that you like."
I nodded getting out of the bed, my arm was still sore, from being held roughly by the detective. I rubbed at it as Mom led me into the light blue bathroom.
"You have a separate shower and bathtub," She seemed as if she was trying to cheer me up, as she opened the blue cupboard beside the shower stall.
"Towels are in here. Along with fresh soap, shampoos, I got several." Mom turned to me. "I didn't know what you liked, so there are a few kinds to choose from."
I nodded, sitting on the rim of the bathroom.
"Fresh clothing are in the dresser and closet." She told me, walking over kissing my forehead, before leaving me. "The kitchen is at the bottom of the stairs, to the right."
I nodded, watching her leave.
I smiled to myself after living with 4 men sharing a bathroom with two of them, it seemed nice to have my own. At least I don't have to worry about the toilet seat being left up. Hidji learned quickly about that issue, well Jonny, even after almost 6 years, was still had trouble remembering
I looked through out the bathroom cupboard, noticing mom had gotten me all new makeup, brushes hair pieces. My life went from being odd to just creepy. She was definitely planning on me staying with her.
I picked up the soap getting it up in the shower the way I like before entering it, turning on the water as hot as I could get it, hoping if this was a dream the pain would wake me.
Once I was dressed, I headed down the stairs to where my mother told me the kitchen would be, I smiled softly watching her cook, It had been awhile since she had cooked anything for me.
"When do I get to see dad?" I asked,
"You're not." She told me turning around, the look in her eyes scared me. "Not if I can help it."
"What?" I was incomplete shock.
"It's not safe with your father, Jessica." Mom spoke.
"Dr. Quest has enemies." I shrugged my shoulders, "That's never been a problem before."
"You were kidnapped."
"It wasn't the first time," I reminded her, leaning on the kitchen cupboard. Two in and a half weeks ago, Jonny and I had been used as leverage as a German Doctor Helenber, attempted to gain access to a project Doctor Quest had been working on.
"That's the problem- you been kidnapped more than once it's not safe for you to be with them any longer." Mom spoke up. "You were in the hospital!"
"With a headache from hitting my head against the car roof, I got in too quickly." I explained, "It was dark when we had escaped the compound. I was excited and not thinking,"
"It was a concussion!" Mom shook her head. "I will not bury my daughter."
"I want to go home." I demanded, this was getting ridiculous.
"This is your home now."
"This is kidnapping!" I turned to her "This isn't my home, I don't even know where I am!"
"Your daughter is awake, this is great news!" the man whom gave me the needle yesterday walked into the room.
"Who are you?" I asked, turning away from mom, glaring at the man. Wasn't this the guys I had told off not that long ago?
"This is Dr. Michel Keller." Mom told me as she walked over to him. "He will be staying with us,"
"That's nice," I spoke up, "I want to speak with my father."
"I am afraid I can't allow that." The Valium pusher spoke up. "You see I am trained psychologist, I believe you are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-"
"Well I was just kidnapped from my home." I snapped, looking up from my drink watching the man closely. Mother would never do this to me, why was he even here. If mom was dating him why hadn't I been told before now? I thought we talked about everything.
"Your Mother believes it's not safe for you." I glared at the shrink, unsure of him.
"You know nothing about me." I told the shrink, before turning to mom. "Even prisoners are allowed one phone call."
"Perhaps, you should sit down and have some orange juice." The doctor told me softly pouring me a glass.I stared at the juice, unsure of what to do next.
Bring over the freshly made pancakes, Mom sat down beside me taking a drink out of the glass. "See, it's okay to drink."
"I believe it's a nice day to head out for a nice walk, show Jessica around the property." The shrink drank from his coffee cup, passing mom a cup.
"I would rather call my family," I stared at the butter slowly melting on the hot cakes, I was no longer hungry. "I am 16 now mom, I have rights!"
"Perhaps we should talk, Jessica and I,"
The doctor spoke up as I looked to mom. I didn't want to talk to a man I didn't know, nor be in the same room as him. Was mom dating him or something? What was his story anyways?
"Perhaps it would be a good idea." Mom agreed with him. "Perhaps you can calm her down."
"I could give her something." The shrink suggested, as if drugging me was the answer.
"I am right here, and I am not taking anything." I stood up, kicking my chair back.
"Jessica, that's enough." Mom spoke up,
"No, it's not!" I had enough, I got up from the table quickly, the chair fell to the floor quite loudly, as I left the room, running up to my room. I slammed the door loudly, unsure of how to calm down. I paced around the room, attempting the breathing Hidji had taught me when I was panicked.
I jumped when the door opened suddenly.
"I will only tell you this once," The doctor came in to the room without knocking. "There is no slamming door in my household."
I glared at him, sitting up on the bed. I didn't want to speak with this stranger.
"Your mother is quite worried about you." The doctor begin his speech. "She is trying to help you."
"Of course, she is," I told as the stranger who sat down at the makeup table. "By removing me from my father?"
"Did your father teach you respect?" The doctor walked closer to me, he had placed the pad of paper down on the dresser.
"Only to those that deserve it." I snapped back, I didn't notice his hand raise until it slapped my face. I cried out in pain holding my sore check.
"You will respect me in my household." The doctor demanded, standing in front of me. "And if you ever told her I hit you, I will make sure you pay for it."
"My father will not allow this." I held my cheek, fighting back my anger.
"You will do as you're told in my household or you will be punished. And you don't want that to happen." He threaten me before leaving me alone in the bedroom, before locking the door as he left.
I automatically decided I hated Michel, after spending the day before and night hiding in my bedroom, i woke up to find out I had been locked in to my room from the hallway. I defeated, I climbed back to the bed hugging my legs tightly to my chest.
I wonder how everything going back at home, the boys had come back from their fishing trip? Did they even know I was gone yet, or will they learn about that when they go to wake me up. How was my father going to react, who would break the news to Jonny and Hadji, did anyone remember to feed Bandit?
"Good morning." Mom smiled, as she walked into my room.
I watched her as if she had grown another head, did she not remember anything from yesterday? How could she allow me to be treated like this? Why had I been locked in to my room?
"Why was I locked in here?" I demanded, standing up on to my feet.
"Michel was worried you would try to run away during the night," Mom spoke softly, as she opened the curtains letting the sunlight in. I turned to her in shock, how could my own mother not trust me?
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." I growled, moving away from her.
"Jess, please. This is for your own good." Mom shook her head moving closer to me.
"No. I was fine." I cross my arms around myself.
"Its early, Jessie, lets not do this now." Mom turned me before she walked over to a door I learned was a closet as she grabbed a set of clothing for me. "Get dressed, the housekeeper is downstairs making us breakfast."
"I'm not hungry." I shook my head, sitting down onto the bed.
"You will be joining us." Mom told me, as she placed the clothing down on my lap. "This is not an option."
I quickly decided I had no choice, as Mom dragged me out into the gardens where a large framed Mexican women was serving breakfast on the patio.
I had to admit the garden was beautiful, full of summer flowers in full bloom as I followed mother to the table as Nana introduced herself pouring my coffee. Michel rudely interrupted her, dumping my coffee onto the ground demanding she give me juice instead. I looked over to mom for an explanation but she was too busy reading her phone.
I eat a little bit of the oatmeal, Nana seem like a nice women and I didn't want to offend her by not eating her cooking.
After breakfast Michel started drilling me about my life, my school, my friends and of course my parents. I had a hard time not getting angry as I threatened to leave the table several times.
"Take these." Mom looked away from her phone to pass me a bottle of pills.
"Lithium?" I asked reading the label, not understanding why I needed to take them. I wasn't depressed or bipolar.
"Just take them." She told me, leaving no room for argument. I swallow the bitter pills, to settle the argument, i wasn't in the mood to fight with her.
"Where am I ?" I asked, drinking the juice.
"South America." Mom spoke, as she returned to her buzzing phone.
"There are 12 counties in south America!" I shook my head, my mind raising. How could I possibly know which one I was in.
"We should have a session to day." Michel changed the subject.
"We should call my father." I told him, standing up.
"The lawyer has spoke with him," Michel told me, as I crossed my arms.
"I want to speak with him." I turned to mom, expecting some help.
"He's unfit to care for you." Mom looked up from her work, as if she truly believed it. getting up from the table as her phone began to ring. "I have to get this."
"She is really busy." Michel looked to me smiling.
"With what? She's a anthropologist, everyone she studies is dead." I growled back.
"Sit down." Michel demanded, grabbing my arm once as mom was out of view.
"Let me go." I demanded, pulling my arm away from his grasp.
"Sit down." Michel demanded, grabbing my arm as he forced me to sit down. I rubbed my arm, as I noticed the red mark beginning to swell. "We are going to talk."
"I have nothing to say." I narrowed my eyes, turning away.
"You will do, as we tell you." Michel moved closer to me making me feel cornered. "You will take your pills when told. You will not challenge your mother, you will not challenge me in my own house."
"What can I do?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"School work." Michel smiled softly, "You're mother says you're smart."
"Smart enough to know its summer."
Michel reached over grabbing my hair pulling on it roughly. "You will stop with the smart ass comments"
"Now, you will tell me about your father." The doctor asked, as he sat down in his chair almost blocking me in to his office.
"He's my dad," I shrugged, as the doctor placed glasses over his eyes.
"Your mom says he's a bodyguard."
"I am not allowed to say," I shook my head the doctor glared at me as if demanding more.
"Alright," the doctor looked over some notes that had been written out.
"What are those?" I asked, watching him.
"Notes from the detective." He said quickly, looking down at me. "Now, You told the detective, and I quote 'Dad will be upset if I leave the lights and television on.' What does your father do when he's angry?"
"What all fathers do," I shrugged, looking out the window. "Send me to my room, and take away my cell phone for a while."
"Has he ever hit you?" the doctor asked.
"No!" I jumped up from my spot, "Daddy has never hit me."
"What about Dr. Quest?"
"You have no right to ask." I told him, shaking in anger.
"Has Dr. Quest ever hit you?" The Doctor tried again.
"Never, my family has. Never. Hurt me." I was unsure of what to think, why would anyone ask that question. The Doctor wrote down some things, shaking his head.
"What did you wrote down?" I asked,
"Clearly you're covering up something." He told me.
"You don't know my father or Doctor Quest,-"
"What I know of your Father and Dr Quest is that they take children into dangerous situations."
"It's not always bad.- It never starts out like that." I shook my head, "Dr. Quest has lots of enemies… I've been kidnapped while working at moms sites to!"
I had begun walking around the room holding my necklace close tightly, a gift from my father for being top of my glass.
"Because they want to use you for access to your father,"
I shook my head, "They had used mom to once or twice to get to my father."
"Your father is unable to provide you a safe place, your mother and I can do that." The doctor walked over to be softly taking my arm.
The man that backhanded me the first time I am alone with him tells me it's safer with him. I shook my head unsure of what to say.
"Just give us a try?" I could hear mom though I don't know when she joined us. She didn't notice I was crying, the pain from being slapped still stung.
"I don't have much of a choice." I barely whispered, wondering how I would ever find my way back home to Maine again.
I cried out in pain, as I reached for my hair.
"Go to your room, and stay in there. You will be called for lunch." Michel dismissed me, as he called for Nana. "Take her to her room."
Nara nodded, as I got up walking away on what felt to be rubber legs.
"Are you alright?" Nara asked softly, as she placed her hand on my lower back.
"No." I shook my head, I was beginning to feel dizzy as my vision began to blur. "I feel dizzy."
I had been living with Mother and Michel, (as I had been told to call him) for a week now, though I was having trouble keeping up with the dates. Whatever medication they had put me on made me tired, causing me to sleep most of the time, Mother promised it would stop once I adjusted to the medication. I was trying to find ways to not take the medication, including throwing it up as soon as I could, but the stuff was quick acting.
"You already know a lot, " I was unsure where to begin, I was still having problems thinking straight. But Michel forced me in to this office with force after breakfast. I didn't have the energy to fight him back as I followed behind him.
"Alright, what's your favorite class in school?"
"Biology and math." I wanted to say more but I was really tired. "and computers."
"Your mom told me you were very bright in those; you're in university classes, right?"
I nodded noticing a small pounding in my head, ignoring it I drank more water, maybe if I throw up all over his tacky looking expensive rug, I wouldn't have to look at it.
"Do you play any music?" He asked, leaning over pad of paper.
"Not really, a little on the piano." I ran my hand through my hair softly.
"You're too pretty to hide behind a piano," He smiled softly. "With those fingers I think you will be great at the violin."
"I like keyboard." I shook my head. "When can I have a computer, its boring here."
"You're not getting a computer." Michel smiled, "Your mother tells me you are a computer genius. I'm not giving you a way to communicate with your father."
"You're an asshole." I narrowed my eyes speaking before I thought.
"You will start to respect my in my own household." Michel warned me.
"A house this big? its inherited." I shook my head feeling slightly proud of myself. I had been with the Quest family long enough to know a self made man, and one that was raised in old money.
This seemed to upset him as he walked over grabbing my hair as he forced me to my feet as he dragged me to the small closet throwing me inside it.
"You can say in here until I call for you." Michel warned as he tossed me into a dark room.
I hit the opposite wall as the door closed behind me, as I noticed how small of a space I was in.
"No!" I cried out, touching all four walls. "No!"
"You have to learn your place." Michel told me though the door as I heard the click of a lock.
"No!" I banged on the door, as Michel walked away
"Please." I whispered, as I sat down on the floor. How could he have known about my claustrophobic? why would he need to know about this? I smashed my fist against the door, as I gasp for air rocking as I hugged myself close.
"Fuck." I whispered, hugging myself as I tried to focus on a meditation technique Hidji had shown me a few years ago. As I grew dizzy gasping for air as the world closed in on me.
I woke up on my bed, with Nana sitting at my side sowing something together.
"How are you feeling?" She asked softly, her accent seemed so soothing to me.
"How did I get here?" I asked unsure, as I sat up.
"Mister Keller said you passed out in his office." Nara spoke softly.
"He throw me into a closet." I growled, as I got up hugging my legs.
"Can I get you anything?" Nara asked, not even a bit surprised at what I said.
"Can you get me a cell phone?"
"There is no reception out here." Nara shook her head. "Even if I could get you a phone, it wouldn't help you."
"I need to get out of here." I whispered softly, running my fingers through my hair.
"Calm down." Nara whispered softly, placing her sowing aside.
"I have to get out of here." I took a deep breath, as I rocked back and forth.
"You have to calm down." Nara spoke softly, as she moved onto the bed.
"Where am I?" I shook my head, taking another breath as Nara opened a pill bottle at her side.
"Valium. It will calm you down." She told me softly, as she placed it into my hand. "Its only Valium, I pick up at the store myself."
"Alright." I whispered softly, taking the white pill.
"Can I do anything for you?" Nara asked softly, running her fingers through my hair.
"Get me out of here." I whispered softly, as I began to realize she couldn't help me anymore then I could.