Title: Love and War, 3/28

Author: Goddess Evie

Date: October 8, 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: This is one place where cubbiesfan1 made a huge difference. The original scene was nowhere near as good before cubbiesfan got her hands on it. Her suggestions rocketed this chapter into awesome! Thanks, friend! Also, to those who have followed and favorited this story, thank you so much for the support! It's very appreciated!

Chapter 3

Jessie dragged her mom and Reznicek to the cold, wet sidewalk behind the baron's car. Their shopping bags scattered across the ground. More gun shots sounded. People up and down the street screamed and ran for cover. In the café, patrons and workers ducked beneath tables and behind counters. Already multiple people had their phones out.

Jessie searched for Jonny frantically until she spotted him crouching just inside the doorway to the café. He was still on his phone. He caught her eyes and she saw her own concern and fear reflected in his gaze.

Jessie took a deep breath. Her heart stilled.

She looked up over the hood of the car, but all she could see was sky. Taking another deep breath, Jessie inched herself up toward the top of the hood.

"Jessie, what are you doing?" Estella asked, panic in her voice.

But Jessie ignored her. She waited a single heartbeat, then peeked her head above the car to search the rooftops across the street.

She ducked down again after three seconds while another few shots roared out, but it had been enough time to spot the shooter.

Estella knew her daughter well. "Jessie, just let the police handle it."

"It'll take them too long to get here. People could get hurt."

If her mom said anymore, Jessie didn't hear. Her focus was on the baron's body guard just in front of her, lying on the sidewalk in his own blood. She couldn't see his fire arm, but he had to be carrying one.

Jessie counted to three, then lunged forward. Her mom cried out, but Jessie ignored her. Resting on her hands and knees, she flipped open the man's coat. A silenced MP5 was secured under his arm. Unclipping the quick release on the weapon's combat sling, Jessie pulled the gun from the dead man's body. Weapon in hand, she pressed herself back against the baron's car just as another few shots rang out.

Jessie pulled back the charging handle to check for the round, verified the switch was set to full auto, then flipped off the safety. Opening up the adjustable stock, she tucked the butt of the weapon against her shoulder.

"Jessie, please think about this." Estella's voice shook as she tried once more to reason with her daughter.

"I promise, mom, I have."

It was only half a lie, but Jessie still found herself praying for forgiveness.

Jessie took a moment to inhale and exhale a number of times, regulating her breathing while also attempting to calm her did her dad make these types of scenarios look so easy? She briefly ran through the time she had spent on the range with her dad and everything he'd taught her, as well as the tactical scenarios she'd had the chance to run at the I-1 compound once or twice. It was moments like these Jessie was grateful her dad had convinced Director Corbin to let her test her skill on the ranges.

"You'd better not let anyone with any real decision making power, or anyone who dislikes you, see what she can do," Phil commented to Race as Jessie broke down her weapon.

Jessie blushed at the compliment. But she also felt her dad's gaze on her, contemplative and concerned.

"That's not what I trained her for," Race replied softly. "I just want her to be able to protect herself. If she has to."

Corbin's voice lost its teasing. "I know that, Race. She's one fifteen-year-old girl I wouldn't worry about. But I won't lie and tell you there aren't some higher ups who wouldn't see the opportunity here."

Race didn't acknowledge the director's statement. "Thanks for letting us come use the facility."

Corbin didn't even flinch at Race's sudden change of subject. "No problem. I don't get to see you or Jessie very often, anymore. I figured if this is one of the rare chances I get, I'd better take it."

Jessie straightened from replacing the tactical gear she'd worn on the range and watched her dad and Corbin shake hands. They exchanged a few more words, but too low for Jessie to hear. Finally, both men turned toward Jessie and approached her.

"It was good seeing you, DJ Jazzy Jess. That was some impressive shooting. Keep your old man in check," Corbin joked, holding out his hand for a high five. "He's not getting any younger, but he seems to forget that."

Jessie smiled as she slapped Phil's palm. "I will. Thanks, Uncle Phil."

As the director walked away, Race put his arm around Jessie and steered her down the hallway in the opposite direction.

"You won't be too disappointed if we don't come here again," he said to her.

Jessie shook her head. "No. I understand, dad."

Race smiled down at her. She saw the pride he had for her, but also the underlying worry. Jessie hugged her dad from the side, wishing there was more she could do to reassure him.

"Jessie!" Estella's sharp cry was hard to ignore.

Jessie looked her mom in the eyes. Green eyes, identical to her own, and filled with fear.

"He's going to kill more people if he's not stopped," Jessie told her calmly.

Estella closed her eyes tightly.

Jessie, her mom and the baron ducked their heads as more shots rang out, shattering one of the vehicle's taillights and pinging against the cars on the street.

The moment the shooting stopped, Jessie popped up and aimed her gun at the spot she'd last seen the shooter. She poppedoff a couple short rounds to get the gunman's attention on her before crouching back down behind the cover of the car. The shooter responded in kind, breaking the glass in one of the windows of the café. The people behind it screamed and scattered.

Jessie waited three heartbeats then popped up once more. She dropped down behind the car before she could even aim. The man had his gun sighted right at her. Bullets hit the trunk of the car with a sharp ting and left pocks in the reinforced glass of the back cursed herself for her foolish blunder.

"Jessie!"

It wasn't her mom protesting this time. Jessie looked back at Jonny. His blue eyes were a little wide as he stared at her. She studied him for a moment, hating herself, but knowing he was the only one she could turn to in this situation.

"I need a distraction," she called to him as loudly as she dared, ignoring the pang in her chest.

His jaw flexed. She watched his eyes flicker up to the shooter, then around the street. Finally he looked back at Jessie and nodded.

"Wait for my signal," Jessie called.

Once she had an affirmation from Jonny, Jessie turned to look at her mom and the baron. "Stay here. Stay down."

Before Estella could protest further, Jessie dashed down the length of the vehicle to the front wheel. Once positioned, she turned and nodded at Jonny. Her heart tightened just before he ducked out of his hiding spot, running for the cover of the cars on the street. Bullets rained down around him, chipping at the sidewalk.

Jessie wasn't going to waste this chance. And she sure as hell wasn't going to let Jonny get shot. She twirled up from behind her hiding spot, sighted the man and squeezed the trigger three times, releasing a barrage of bullets. The man ceased fire with a flinch and grabbed at his arm. A hit, but not enough to stop him. His head swiveled to where Jessie stood with her MP5, but she ducked back down behind the car before he could target her.

A spray of bullets riddled the car she hid behind.

Not that Jessie stayed in the same place. Holding the MP5 close to her body, Jessie darted forward across the gap between the baron's vehicle and the one in front of her, inviting the gunman's fire as she briefly exposed herself.A flurry of rounds pinged against the parked car as Jessie dropped to her knees behind its rear tire. She rested for a moment to see if the man would stop his barrage. When he didn't, Jessie stayed in a crouch as low as she could and continued forward, below the car's windows, until she was able to take up a position at the front tire.

Waiting for a lull in the gunman's onslaught, Jessie glanced behind herself to check on her mom. The baron had pulled Estella close, and though Jessie didn't exactly like that, he was shielding her from the danger. She looked past her mom and the baron to where Jonny was still hiding behind his own car.

Their eyes met just for a moment before Jonny was up again, running behind the cars with his head ducked. The decoy worked like a charm, drawing the gunman's attention away from Jessie once more.

Unfortunately that meant Jonny was once again in danger of getting hurt or killed. From her crouched position Jessie shot up, planted her feet, took aim, and fired off another three round burst.

The shooting spree ended. The shooter's rifle clattered to the sidewalk. The man pitched forward to follow his weapon. The world was blissfully silent for a moment.

Jessie remembered to breathe again just as her mom enveloped her in a hug that almost knocked her over. Estella was muttering in Spanish, half prayers of relief, half scolding Jessie.

Jessie closed her eyes and relaxed into her mom a moment. The adrenaline in her body was draining away, making her feel shaky and even a little weak. Jessie suddenly wanted to sit down, afraid she might collapse.

Abruptly she opened her eyes and searched over her mom's shoulder.

Jonny stood a few cars down, breathing heavily. Watching her. Again their eyes met. Jessie swallowed the desire to push her mom away and attack-hug Jonny the way Estella had her.

Finally Estella loosened her hold on Jessie, standing back to look her daughter over, her hands caressing Jessie's face.

"Mija preciosa," Estella murmured. She smoothed Jessie's hair.

"I'm fine, mom," Jessie assured gently.

"Miss Bannon, you saved us all," Baron Reznicek said, interrupting the exchange.

Jessie and Estella both turned to face him. He studied Jessie with amazement and wonder.

"You truly are a national hero," the baron praised.

"I just couldn't…" Jessie shook her head. "Jonny helped."

The whine of sirens faded into hearing, coming from several directions. Jessie realized she was still holding the MP5. She pulled out the magazine and placed it on the hood of the car she stood beside. Next she pulled back the charging handle to eject the bullet, leaving the chamber open. She pulled out the pin and removed the stock, placing both of those pieces on the car next to the magazine. Next the bolt came out, and finally the trigger mechanism. All of these pieces she set on the car's hood and stepped away.

"Jessie?"

She looked up to see Jonny had joined the group. Jessie reached out and took his hand, giving it a squeeze and holding on.

The police cars arrived, coming from both directions and meeting in the middle. Police officers piled out, wearing dark navy. They had their pistols in hand as they searched the area for the gunman.

Once they realized the danger was over, they spread out, looking for wounded, rounding up witnesses. Jessie watched in silence as the police officers discovered the shooter's body. Soon after people on the street began pointing in Jessie's direction.

"Here they come," Jonny whispered and squeezed her hand.

Two officers approached, a man and a woman. Immediately they noted the disassembled gun on the hood of the car and exchanged a look. When the woman addressed the group, Baron Reznicek stepped forward to speak with the officers. They stood conversing for many minutes, gesturing around at the buildings. And at Jessie.

"Jessie!"

"Jonny!"

The teens turned towards their dads' calls. Race, Benton and Hadji wove between the cars and people filling Narodni Street, hell bent on reaching the pair. Jessie wanted to run to her dad, but she knew it was better she stay put. Still, just seeing him put her at ease.

"Are you three okay?" Race called out.

"Nobody's hurt," Jonny responded.

But it didn't slow the group's pace.

Jessie exhaled in relief the moment her dad's arms were around her. For a moment she felt like she was five and reunited with her dad after one of his long absences. She held onto him so tight her arms ached. He pushed her back for a moment to look her over, not even bothering to ask if she was okay. Then he pulled her close again.

Next to them, Benton and Hadji were holding Jonny close, the three of them all tangled up in the embrace.

"You okay, Stel?" Race asked over Jessie's head. Just like that morning, she felt the familiar and soothing rumble in his chest.

Estella hesitated a little in her answer. "Yes. I'm…fine."

"I'm sorry to interrupt the happy reunion," Baron Reznicek cut in, "but these police officers will need to question all of us. Especially Miss Bannon."

Race's demeanor darkened.

"I've agreed to act as translator," the baron explained.

"Alena sent a couple with us," Benton said, looking around.

The two men who could only be the translators Benton had mentioned were still trying to make their way through the maze on the street.

"I am happy to help with communication," Baron Reznicek assured.

"We appreciate that, Baron," Race said with a nod of his head.

"It's the least I can do for the young woman who truly saved all of our lives." Reznicek nodded at Jessie.

Jessie looked up at her dad's face. She found no surprise there. Instead he looked at her with a wry expression undercut with pride.

Jessie turned toward the baron and the waiting officers. "I'm ready. Let's get this over with."