Title: Love and War, 2/28

Author: Goddess Evie

Date: October 5, 2016

Category: JJHR, Adventure

Summary: Christmas in Prague doesn't go exactly as anybody planned.

Disclaimer: I do not own JQ. I make no money off this story. I am only using the characters for my own unique story.

Author's Notes: To those who left me reviews as guests, I wanted to say thank you, since I can't reply to guest reviews. I appreciate every little kind word I receive (and I do try to personally respond to all signed reviews I receive). Now I need to make up for forgetting the people who helped make this fic as amazing as it is (since I should have acknowledged them in chapter 1!). First of all, cubbiesfan1 helped so much with all of the weapons, fight scenes, etc (yes, there will be plenty of those. Don't worry. It's coming.) Without her, those scenes would not have been as accurate or exciting as they turned out. Any inaccuracies (or lack of excitement) are all my fault. Secondly, TJ12398 was a big help with the more romantic, flirty scenes (If you're reading I Would do Anything for You, you know what I mean). Those scenes are immensely more satisfying thanks to TJ. I have a lot to learn from you! Thank you both so much for taking the time to read over sections and give suggestions. I seriously couldn't have pulled off this fic as well as I did without your guys' help!

Okay, on to the fic!

Chapter 2

The car door opened and a blast of icy air rushed into the town car's warm interior, cooling the heat in Jessie's cheeks. Jessie stepped out, nodding and smiling to the driver, followed by her mom. Race climbed out last of all, a very physical presence behind mother and daughter.

"When I was studying abroad here in college, I never thought I'd be invited to stay at Prague castle," Estella murmured, gazing up at the soaring towers.

The driver, currently unloading their bags, had brought them right up to the front gate. Two guards dressed for the cold weather stood in front of blue and white striped guard shacks. The shacks stood in front of two huge, square, stone columns topped by statues depicting men in primitive battle. An arch of gilded wrought iron scrolls stretched between the two columns. Beyond the gate, the castle rose into the blue sky.

"The inside's just as impressive," Race said as he ushered the women through the gate just as a second town car pulled up behind theirs. "President Stasny has been redecorating recently, updating the interior to make it more comfortable while keeping the historic designs intact. I think you'll like it."

"What's she doing about the catacombs?" Jessie asked as they passed under a second smaller and simpler stone gate.

"I didn't ask," Race admitted. "But Jonny did."

Jessie ignored the skip in her heart at the mention of her best friend and focused on her dad's words.

"And?" Estella pressed.

"She's having them very carefully explored and mapped out," Race said with a knowing tone to his voice as the trio finally entered the castle.

"I'm sure if you ask, President Stasny would allow you to take a tour," Jessie said, grinning.

"Who wants my permission for a tour? A tour of what?" Alena Stasny interjected as she descended on the trio.

Jessie smiled at the stately woman. It had been a few years since Jessie had last visited Prague, but President Stasny hadn't lost one iota of her beauty.

The Madame President took Jessie's hands in her own. "It is a treat to have you visiting again, Jessie. I was elated when Angel assured me you were coming for the Christmas party tonight."

Jessie's smile increased at President Stasny's use of her nickname for Jonny. "It's an honor to be in your beautiful city again, Madame President."

"No need to be so formal, Jessie. Please call me Alena. Now introduce me to your mother," President Stasny requested.

Jessie turned to her mom. "Mom, this is Alena Stasny, Madame President of the Czech Republic," Jessie introduced. "Madame President-Alena, meet my mother. Dr. Estella Velasquez. She's an archeologist specializing in South American cultures, but she'd really like to see the catacombs beneath the palace."

"Jessie, she said to introduce me, not give my resume," Estella chided.

"A daughter is allowed to be proud of her mother," President Stasny said, taking Estella's hands in both of hers. "And it is a pleasure to meet the mother of quite a remarkable young woman."

"Thank you, Madame President-" Estella began before she was cut off.

"Jessie, Estella, you've finally arrived!" Dr. Quest boomed.

Jessie couldn't help the way her smile deepened or control her racing heart. She turned to immediately be pulled into an embrace by Dr. Quest. An embrace Jessie whole heartedly returned.

"I'm glad to see you've both arrived safely. I hope your journey was uneventful," Benton said as he loosened his hold on Jessie to give her one of his warm smiles before he released her to properly greet her mom.

Hadji was right behind his dad, pulling her into another hug.

"We have missed you, my friend. The holidays were not the same without your presence," Hadji said quietly into her ear before releasing her.

For just a moment their eyes met, an intense moment Hadji used to silently convey that by "we" he had really meant…

Jonny. Standing in front of her. His summer blue eyes staring into hers. Wearing the lop-sided grin that made her stomach flip flop. He crushed her to him and her heart stopped for the length of three beats as she breathed deeply of him.

She wanted to stay here forever. Or at least for a few moments longer. But her heart needed to start beating again. And she hadn't forgotten that President Stasny, her parents, Dr. Quest and Hadji were all standing right there. Neither had Jonny. They let each other go at the same time, their arms dropping to their sides, but not before he whispered, "It's good to see you, Ace," oh so softly.

They took just another moment to stare at each other, sharing a secret smile, before Jessie turned and Jonny moved past her to greet her mom.

And all Jessie wanted to do was pull him back to her, leave their families and friends behind and run off to spend the day with him. Just him.

Instead she reveled in the lesser but still filling joy of having all her family together. It wasn't often her mom visited, and though she knew there was the chance her parents would ruin it with their petty fights, it was a risk Jessie was always willing to take.

It also helped that as Jonny joined the conversation between Estella, Hadji and Dr. Quest, he kept glancing over at her. And every time he did Jessie had to fight the blush threatening her cheeks.

"Madame President, a moment please," a heavily accented voice interrupted the happy conversation.

President Stasny turned, along with the combined Quests and Bannons, to the man who stood stiffly awaiting her.

"Baron Reznicek has inquiries as to his lodgings," the man stated at the same moment a group of people entered the door accompanied by a cloud of winter air.

In the lead was a man in his early twenties, olive skin smooth over an attractive face, eyes glittering darkly as he looked about the hall, dark hair perfectly coifed. He was striking, for sure, but noting that was more of a fact for Jessie than an opinion. Those around him were more like the man who had interrupted the conversation: stiff, alert. Bodyguards.

"Baron Reznicek, I didn't think you were going to make it back for the celebration tonight," President Stasny greeted as she shook the man's hand.

Jessie stepped forward to stand by her dad as she watched the exchange.

"I was fortunate enough to get away earlier than I thought. I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something? Kladivo, where are your manners?" the baron chided.

"My apologies, Baron, I meant only to serve you," the man replied with a slight bow.

"It's alright, Baron. We were just catching up. These are dear friends of mine. Benton Quest and his sons, Jonny and Hadji." As President Stasny introduced everyone, the baron shook their hands. "And this is Race Bannon, his daughter Jessie, and her mother, Dr. Estella Velasquez."

Jessie noted with a small frown the way Reznicek paused as he shook hands with her dad. A frown that was gone when he turned to her.

"And my friends, allow me to introduce you to Baron Jarek Reznicek," President Stasny said.

"A title that is little more than a courtesy, I assure you," the baron deflected.

"Baron Reznicek is invaluable as an ambassador to our neighboring countries," President Stasny countered.

"And since we already have good relations with our neighbors thanks to Madame President Stasny, I have an easy job. But Quest, Bannon, these are names I've heard before," Reznicek said, looking the crowd over.

President Stasny lowered her voice. "If you remember the incident with the golem, it was Mr. Bannon, Dr. Quest and his young sons who saved our country."

The baron's eyes lit up. "And the life of our beloved president."

President Stasny returned to a normal volume. "And Jonny and Jessie were the two who discovered the deception pertaining to Franz Duncek and Anna Kafka a few years back."

Baron Reznicek smiled as he looked between the two teens. "Ah, yes. All of Praha remembers that incident. I wish you would have let me know sooner I was in the presence of national heroes."

"Please, there's no need," Dr. Quest assured.

"There is every need," Reznicek stated.

"You had inquiries about your lodgings?" President Stasny stepped in.

"Yes, indeed," the baron replied.

Jessie felt herself relax as Reznicek moved a little way off with President Stasny. But she felt the need to keep an eye on him. There was something about the man…

"Hey, Jess, what are your plans this morning?" Jonny asked, startling her.

He'd managed to sneak up on her, she'd been so focused on Reznicek. It wasn't often he got the drop on her.

"After you and your mom get settled, of course," Jonny amended

Jessie smiled at the possibility of a morning with Jonny, then immediately deflated. "Mom and I need to go shopping. At the expense of sounding like a total girl, we've got nothing to wear to the party tonight."

Jonny's face fell a little too.

"But maybe we could meet for lunch," Jessie suggested.

Jonny perked up. "Yeah, let's do that. How about Café Louvre?"

Jessie nodded, smiling once more. "Sounds great."

"Jessie, we can head up to our suite now," Estella called. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah, mom," Jessie called back. She turned back to Jonny. "Café Louvre at noon."

Jonny smiled. "I'll be there."


"And where is this Milos now?" Estella asked.

Jessie walked with her mom down Narodni Street, both women bundled up against the cold and carrying a multitude of shopping bags. Café Louvre was just ahead and it was about five minutes to noon. Jessie felt like she was vibrating with the anticipation of seeing Jonny again, and seeing him for longer than five minutes. Even if she would have to share him with her mom.

"I think he ended up in an insane asylum," Jessie answered. "Having a ghost brick you up with her skeleton isn't very good for the mind. Not to mention it was a couple of hours before the authorities could break him out again."

Estella shivered and not because of the cold. "I hope we don't run into any ghosts during our stay."

Jessie laughed. "From what I understand, there haven't been any sightings."

"And what about Irina? Have you kept in touch with her? Will she be at the party tonight?"

Jessie frowned. She hadn't considered Irina. And she'd forgotten until now that the girl had asked Jonny to breakfast after the entire incident with Anna Kafka's ghost.

"She and I exchange emails every once in a while. I think she stays in touch with Jonny, too."

How in touch? Do they email more regularly than me?

"We'll have to ask him if he knows if she's coming," Jessie finished, doing her best to tamp down the panic rising in her.

"There's Jonny now," Estella said, lifting one shopping bag laden hand to point to the entrance of Café Louvre. "Lucky me, getting to have lunch with two Czech national heroes."

Noticing them, Jonny waved and walked forward to meet them. Jessie felt her smile involuntarily widen.

"How was your morning shopping?" he asked. "Can I help carry anything?"

"Successful," was Estella's smiling answer. "Jessie's going to look splendid tonight."

"Jessie always looks splendid," Jonny replied with a smile and a glance her way.

Jessie blushed. She stared at Jonny with eyes a little wide, surprised by his forwardness in front of her mom. He just looked back at her, grinning.

"I got us a table," Jonny said as he took half of Jessie's shopping bags from her. "It's a little busy, and I didn't want you to wait long."

"Actually, between the overnight flights and shopping all morning, I'm worn out. I hope you two don't mind if I beg off and head back to the castle to rest for a little while," Estella requested.

Jessie hid her excitement behind concern for her mom. "Are you sure, mom? Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm sure, sweetheart. I'm fine. Just tired," Estella said.

And then she winked at Jessie.

Jessie's eyes widened. Maybe she hadn't been hiding her feelings as well as she thought.

"I'll call and have a car sent down to pick you up," Jonny offered, pulling off a glove and digging for his phone.

"Thank you, Jonny. I'll take all our shopping bags home, as well. That way you won't have to worry about them," Estella said.

Jessie hugged her mom. "Thanks, mom."

"It's not a problem. The driver can help me with the bags," Estella said, suddenly feigning ignorance.

Even before Jonny got off the phone, a town car pulled up to the curb.

"That was fast," Estella joked.

The driver exited, then jogged around the car to open the door for the passenger. Before the person emerged, Jessie guessed who it was just from the pair of body guards climbing out from the other doors.

Baron Reznicek stepped onto the sidewalk and looked up at the Café Louvre. His gaze fell and caught sight of the trio almost immediately. "Dr. Velazquez, Miss Bannon, Mr. Quest, what a pleasure to run into you here. Are you having lunch at Praha's most famous café?"

"That's the plan," Jessie replied a little uncertainly.

"Is any of the rest of your family joining you?" the baron inquired, looking around as if to see her dad or Dr. Quest coming down the street.

Jessie shifted the shopping bags she still held from one hand to the other. "No, it'll just be the three of us."

Did the baron look a little…disappointed? Just for a moment there, Jessie was sure.

"Actually, I'm headed back to the castle," Estella amended.

"I hope you're feeling well," the baron said with a concerned frown.

"I'm just tired," Estella assured. "Jessie and I had a long flight to arrive here this morning."

Reznicek gestured to his vehicle. "Can I offer you my car?"

Jessie stifled herself before she begged her mom not to take the offer.

To her relief, Estella pointed to Jonny with his phone to his ear. "Jonny's already taking care of that for me."

"Well, I'd be honored to have you and Mr. Quest share my table, Miss Bannon," the baron requested of Jessie. "I want to hear all about how you and your friend discovered the truth about the Dunceks and the Kafkas. And you should sit inside with us where it's warm until your car arrives, Dr. Velasquez."

Jessie glanced at Jonny, who was still on the phone, and wondered how she could say no without offending the baron.

Two gunshots rang out in quick succession. The baron's body guards fell to the ground.