Title: Love and War, 25/28

Author: Goddess Evie

Date: December 24, 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 Note: Merry Christmas Eve, everybody. I hope you all have a great holiday season. Thanks for the amazing support you guys all show me.

Chapter 25

There she was, coming toward him. Her face was smudged with dirt and covered in tiny scratches. Her red hair was a tangled mess, the soft curls from the night before flattened and snarled, twigs and needles caught in them.

She wore a thin, dirty jacket and heavy hiking boots. The bottom of her dress was frayed and dingy and wet with snow.

She gripped a gun tightly in her hand.

But it was Jessie.

Just as he reached her, Jessie stumbled and fell. Jonny leaped forward to catch her before she hit the ground. They fell to their knees together. Her weight in his arms, against his chest, filled him with relief and joy beyond measure.

And then she cried out in pain.

Jonny backed off immediately, pulling his arms away from her, but hovering them around her still. He studied her for injury, his face contorted with concern and horror that he might have somehow hurt her.

Jessie had one arm wrapped around her waist, her hand holding the gun pressed gingerly to her opposite hip. The left sleeve of her jacket hung down limp and empty. Blood stained the other sleeve on her upper arm, leaving a trail from a hole in the jacket.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Jonny asked, his words stumbling over each other to get out.

Jessie took a shaky breath, inhale and exhale, before she could speak. "My arm. It's broken. And Reznicek grazed the other one with one of his shots."

All the dark emotions that had left Jonny at seeing Jessie alive came crashing back down on him. But he forced them to the background as Jessie shivered violently, causing a whimper of pain. He noticed the blue tinge at the edge of her lips.

"We have to get you out of here," Jonny stated.

He pulled the black skull cap from his head and shoved it down over Jessie's hair, covering her ears. Next he unzipped his jacket and shrugged out of it. When he placed it around Jessie's shoulders, she shoved her good arm through the sleeve, gun first. Jonny zipped the garment up for her.

Jessie leaned forward, pressing her face into the crook of his neck and shoulder. It hurt his bruises, but he didn't care in the least. He was more worried about how cold her skin was against his own.

But Jessie was alive. She was back in his arms. He put an arm around her from her good side, and placed his other hand on the back of her head, dipping his face as well.

"It's gonna be okay, now, Jess. We're here. We're getting you out of here," Jonny assured quietly.

Jessie nodded without lifting her head. "Dad?"

"Probably out here as well, looking for us. I kinda ditched him when we found out what the baron was up to," Jonny admitted.

Jessie raised her face to him, half a smile on her lips. "Well that's not like you at all, Hotshot."

Jonny laughed, not just at Jessie's sarcasm, but at the fact that he was here with her, safe and sound. Almost. But they were reunited. He slipped his hand against her cheek.

Her skin was so cold. He had to get her out of here, get her somewhere warm and safe.

"C'mon," he said, rising to his feet. "Your dad told me if I found you, my first priority was to get you to safety."

With his hand on her good arm he helped her to rise. She was still so unsteady. He guided her to his side but she protested.

"Wait." Jessie held out the gun she held. "Check how much ammo we have left."

Gingerly Jonny took the gun. Carefully he checked the chamber for a round and found one. He ejected the clip. Empty.

"One bullet," Jonny said as he shoved the clip back into place.

Jessie stared at the gun, her eyes a little wide. Jonny didn't like the fear he saw in them. But when she held her hand out for it, he didn't deny her. He handed it back to her.

"Reznicek's still out here," she said solemnly. Her grip on the gun was vice-like. "If he's not been caught, he's still hunting me." Her eyes looked up and met Jonny's. "Hunting us, now."

"Then let's get out of here," Jonny suggested. "We can go back to the house."

"It's been secured?" Jessie asked.

"The goons guarding it are dead or in custody," Jonny assured.

Jessie took a deep breath, releasing a sigh of relief.

"We have to keep an eye out for Reznicek," she ordered. "He's much better armed than we are. If he sees us first…"

She shivered. Jonny pulled her against him and, this time, Jessie didn't resist. She pressed into his warmth. Jonny kept his arm around her, carefully, so as not to jostle her injuries, trying to imbue as much of his own heat into her as he could.

"Let's hurry," Jonny said.

He turned her back in the direction of the mansion and together they set off through the trees.

Race was kicking himself for not giving Jonny a radio. He should have known. Jonny was Jonny. The young man had shown considerable restraint during this entire operation, but Jonny was going to give into his nature at some point.

Now Race was tiptoeing through the forest with no idea where Jonny, Jessie or Reznicek were. If he'd gone ahead and given Jonny that radio they could be communicating, keeping each other apprised of their positions. Now Race had to worry about, when he spotted a potential target, whether it was the baron or the kids before he could take a shot.

Those precious seconds might not seem like much, but in this game, it could be the difference between life or death for him.

At least Reznicek was leaving a nice trail for Race to follow. In this snow he didn't have much of a choice.

Neither did Jessie.

The thought made Race tense up and he forced his muscles to relax. He had to stay loose and ready. Reznicek was obviously armed. And he had home turf advantage. The forest was unfamiliar territory to Race that afforded way too many hiding places. He had to be absolutely alert and careful.

Jessie was counting on him.

So Race moved forward slow and steady, eyes roaming the landscape back and forth, searching for anything out of place, any movement. He kept his breathing steady, walked as quietly as possible, both to conceal himself and listen for any indicating sounds Reznicek might make. Race held his rifle close against his body, the barrel pointed at the ground. He gripped it firmly, ready to pivot it into position at a moment's notice.

Reznicek's footprints in the snow trailed off ahead of Race between bare trees so that he couldn't see the end of them. How fast was the baron moving? It was tempting to pick up the pace, but Race stilled the urge.

Slow and steady.

The footprints ran between two thick evergreens and Race paused. There was enough room to fit between them, but it was impossible to see the other side. Reznicek could very well be lying in wait. Better to go around.

Race raised his weapon to the ready position and veered off to his left, side stepping around the pines. He moved slowly, stepping carefully and quietly as he rounded the tree. He didn't want to trip or make too much noise. If Reznicek was waiting for him, Race wanted to take him by surprise. Dispose of the man quick and neat.

Then go find his daughter.

The front of the trees came into sight and Race searched the branches for signs of the baron, but Reznicek was nowhere in sight. Race lowered his weapon again, tight against his body, barrel pointed to the ground. The footprints in the snow led forward without a break or a deviation.

Race grunted to himself, then stepped forward to take up the trail again.

"I knew you'd do that."

Race turned at the sound of Reznicek's voice. The man was bearing down on him, the glint of a wicked hunting knife in his hand. Too close to get off a shot, Race used his rifle to block the attack, pushing the baron back.

But Reznicek was fast, and the wicked glint in his eye was scarier than the knife in his hand, or any of the other weapons holstered on his body. The baron shot right back at Race, slashing with the knife, and Race was forced to defend or take the blow. Rebuffed once again, the baron circled, slipping behind trees, forcing Race to spin to keep the man at his front.

The baron attacked again from behind a tree, his knife held high. Race put his rifle up then kicked at Reznicek's stomach with a snow-encrusted boot. Reznicek twisted and the blow glanced. The baron spun off again between the trees, circling.

Every time Reznicek attacked and Race fended him off, the baron pushed back in again. The man was no dummy. He knew if he gave Race enough time and distance, Race would get a shot off, and he'd only need one. He wasn't even giving Race enough time to grab his own combat knife for the encounter.

Race had to get control of this fight.

"Where's Jessie?" Race barked the next time he threw the baron away.

The man laughed and didn't answer, just struck again, coming in from Race's rear right flank. Race ducked and then shoved the baron's exposed torso with his shoulder. The Czech man huffed as he stumbled back, but then came right at Race again with a roar.

Race let go of his weapon so it hung by the strap and grabbed for Reznicek. The force of the baron's attack shoved him back against a tree, but Race had a grip on the man's wrists. Reznicek pressed in, the point of his knife aimed at Race's throat. Race pushed back, struggling to keep the knife away.

"Your daughter is a very clever, very resilient young woman, Mr. Bannon. I'm sure she takes after you," Reznicek said, increasing his pressure against Race's hold.

The knife inched nearer.

"What have you done to her?" Race growled. He redoubled his effort against Reznicek and the knife's progress halted.

"Nothing, yet, though not for lack of trying. She has been an excellent player in my game," Reznicek assured.

"You're sick," Race stated, every muscle in his body straining. "And you're not getting away with this."

"I've been getting away with it for years. And now you're here, the game has become even more interesting. I have two prey to hunt and kill. My biggest challenge yet."

"That's your biggest mistake," Race responded, "thinking a Bannon is ever prey."

Race pushed with his entire body, shoving Reznicek back. The man stumbled and fell into the snow, but he used the momentum to somersault backward and come up at the ready on one knee. In the time it took the baron to complete the maneuver, Race had his combat knife in hand and was lunging for the man.

Reznicek was quick, though. He rolled off to the side and up to his feet, leaving Race on his hands and knees in the snow. Race scrambled to get off the ground before Reznicek took advantage of his position. But when Race finally found his feet again, Reznicek was gone. Race spun around, looking for the baron's next attack. He finally spotted the Czech man running off between the trees.

Race sheathed his knife and took his gun to hand again. But before he could get Reznicek in his sights, the man disappeared behind a stand of pines. Race lowered his gun, staring at the spot where Reznicek disappeared.

After a moment of deliberation, Race started running toward the pines, following Reznicek's trail once more.