The first time I submitted this to FanFiction.net was right before they changed their formatting.  I'm resubmitting to line my chapters better for easier reading.

Author Warnings:

I Do NOT own the Quests and I use them without permission. I DO own Claire, Micah and all other original characters.

This has some violence in it so I rated it PG-13 to be safe.  There is also some mild J&J HR.  VERY mild so if you don't care for that sort of thing it won't bother you. 

I hope you like it. ^_^

   Freeing The Angels

                     By

                    Irene

            He stood under the oak tree and looked around.  His eyes, shielded by black sunglasses, moved slowly from one person to the next as they hurried by.  He looked at the girls with special interest.  His eyes liked their soft hair and smooth sun kissed cheeks.

            That one.   The voice hissed.  It is that one.

            His blue eyes fell onto long red hair and small petite frame.

            Pretty. 

            He sighed heavily. "Not Jessie."

            Jessie. The voices filled the air and swirled around his head.  I need Jessie.

            He could not deny them.

            Jessie Bannon stood impatiently on the sidewalk, just in front of the two-story high school.  She sighed, irritated that Jonny was making her wait. She wanted to go home and take a nap. She was still tired from being out last night attending the big football game.

            "See you tomorrow Jessie!"

            "See you, Claire!" Jessie waved as the tall blond walked by.  Looking around she noticed almost everyone was gone.  She was alone.

            "Come on Jonny," she mumbled out loud.

            Strong arms and firm hands in circled her from behind, swallowing up her small frame in a tight embrace. The strength was overwhelming as Jessie realized her arms were pinned down and she was unable to move. Jessie instinctively started to fight the hold when a familiar voice stopped her.

            "Miss me?" Jonny laughed at her attempt to break free from him.

            "You idiot," she fumed, slightly flustered. She could feel the heat rise up in her cheeks as she shook herself free from his grip. "I almost flipped you over! I could have broken your neck."

            "But you didn't," Jonny grinned at her. "Sorry I'm late."

            "Figures," Jessie muttered more to herself then to Jonny.  Not that he would have heard her anyway.  His attention span was about that of a three year old.  With that thought Jessie smiled to herself.

            "I almost left without you." She started walking and Jonny fell into step beside her as they made their way home.

            "You wouldn't leave me behind," Jonny replied knowingly.

            "Don't push it Quest," she warned as she pulled back her dark red hair into a loose ponytail.

            Jonny stretched his arms over his head and took a deep breath.  He knew when to keep his mouth shut and not push any further.

            I want Jessie.

            He watched her closely.  He watched as the sun touched her beautiful hair and set the colors on fire.

            Pretty.

            She was strong and extremely intelligent.  He would have to take special care of how he handled her.  She would be his greatest victory.

            "Tomorrow," He whispered softly.

            The voices were silent.

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            Jessie wrestled with her math problem as Jonny, just across from her on the floor, played with Bandit.  His books laid scattered and a half-hearted attempt was made on an English essay, but as far as she could tell he was done for the evening.

            I guess I better ask Dr. Quest for help.  She clutched her blue notebook to her chest and stopped.  She used to ask Hadji, but he was in Bangalore with Neela and Pasha for the next month.

            Jessie bit her lip and leaned back against the couch.  There was a deep pain in her chest when Hadji was away.  She missed being able to talk to him.  Email and the telephone could only go so far.  There is not a substitute for a person.  Especially when the person is Hadji.

            Bandit barked loudly as Jonny continued to play keep away with Bandits favorite ball.  Jessie watched them with little interest.

            Hadji is always on time.    Jessie sighed as she eyed the bleach hair and bright blue eyes.  He wouldn't have kept me waiting.

            He also would never grab her from behind as Jonny had.  She turned her attention from Jonny and Bandit as she remembered how she blushed. She was still extremely upset with him.  When she thought about it now, she didn't know if it had to do with him keeping her waiting, or the tight grip he had on her and held for just a little too long.

            What am I thinking?  Jessie rolled her eyes and rose to her feet.  She made her way down the hall and into the conference room on the other end of the Quest Compound. She knew her dad and Dr. Quest would be there drinking coffee and studying files. 

            "This is pretty serious Benton."  Race's voice came to Jessie as she stood outside the door. "I don't like it."

            "I know Race," Dr. Quest replied.

            "What's going on?"

            Race and Dr. Quest turned, stunned, and looked at Jessie as she stood framed in the doorway.

            "Come in Jess," her father pulled out a chair and Jessie slid into it.

            "Did you know a girl named Stephanie Hughes?" Dr. Quest looked down at the shiny table and rested his fingers down on a folder.

            "Not personally," Jessie looked over to her father and searched his ice blue eyes for answers. 'Did?' That was past tense.  Jessie felt her stomach tighten "She's a senior. I didn't have any classes with her."

            "I got a call from a friend on the police force this afternoon." Race maintained eye contact with Jessie and kept his voice calm. "I trained him years ago before I left.  He wanted me to give him some advice on a case he was working on."

            "What happened to Stephanie?" Jessie looked over to Dr. Quest, who just leaned back in his chair.

            "She was murdered" Race said evenly.

            "Oh- No!" Jessie could feel the color drain from her face.

            "It will be on the eleven o'clock news tonight.  They were trying to keep it quiet." Race sighed and rubbed his chin. "They now believe that the person who murdered Stephanie also killed a girl at the Kensley High School last month."

            "This is awful," Jessie looked down at her blue notebook that rested in her lap. "When exactly did this happen?"

            "Stephanie was murdered around nine and midnight. She went to the Fall Festival game that you went to at your high school.  The few they questioned remembered her arriving but no one remembers her leaving."

            "I can't believe this." Jessie felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her. "I was at that game and I remember seeing her.  She was pretty popular. I can't believe that she would just disappear and no one would even notice."

            "The person did the same thing to Julie Matthews.  Kensley High had their homecoming game last month.  Her friends remember her showing up but they don't recall her leaving.  She was a sophomore." Dr. Quest opened the folder and Jessie looked down at two young faces." Their homecoming game was against your and Jonny's high school. They think it's someone connected with your school. The media is going to have a field day."

            "Why do they think that they were killed by the same person?" Jessie felt that her dad and Dr. Quest were avoiding telling her something.

            "They were killed execution style.  Hands taped together and wearing only a white sheet.  Who ever did it shot them at point blank range in the back of the head."     

            Jessie picked up the two photos and looked over it for any similarities that the two girls may share.  Both were roughly around the same age. 

            The picture was of Julie and whom Jessie assumed was a younger brother.  He was almost as tall as she was with the same light blond hair and bright blue eyes. 

            Stephanie had long dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.  Both had a small frame and were actually very attractive in one-way or another but there wasn't anything more distinctive then that.

            "I don't want you out any where alone," her father broke her concentration. "I mean it."

            "Sure dad," Jessie smiled slightly. "But I can take care of myself."

            "I know Ponchita, but I'm not taking any chances." Race put a firm hand on her shoulder. "I know you can use your head."

            "Son?  Are you all right?" Dr. Quest sounded surprised and concerned at the same time.  Everyone turned to see Jonny standing in the doorway with an indescribable look across his pale face.  His blue eyes stared blankly down at the pictures Jessie held in her hands.

            "Jonny, did you know Stephanie Hughes?" Dr. Quest asked.

            "No," Jonny took a step back. "I didn't know her or Julie."

            "Are you all right Jonny?" Race stood up and started towards Jonny.

            "I'm fine Race." Jonny cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from the glossy photos. "I'm going to bed."

            Jonny turned slowly and they heard him walk up the stairs. Jessie looked back down at the photos in her hands.

            "I didn't think he would re-act like that." Race spoke in a low careful whisper just incase Jonny was listening, as he obviously had been before from the doorway. "That kid was more nervous then a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

            "I should have told you two at the same time," Dr. Quest replied as he looked over to Jessie. "It's very tragic but the attacks have only been on two high school girls so our first reaction was to speak to you."

            "I understand. Don't worry, I'll be careful," Jessie assured them. Forgetting her math homework, Jessie rose from the table and started towards the door. "Goodnight."