Jonny sighed as the phone for the thousandth time that day. The well doers
were still calling now, a month later. Two rings, three.
"Will someone get that?!" he yelled as he tried to refocus his attention to the movie.
Four…five.
He growled as he got up. "Stupid phone all it does is ring, ring, ring. I wish it would just shut up," he muttered as he picked up the phone. "Hello?!" Annoyance was evident in his voice.
"Mr. Quest?"
"Yes?" More annoyance. He just wanted to go back to his movie.
"Hi, this is Phil Corvin. First, let me give you my deepest sympathies concerning your father."
"Join the club."
Corvin ignored that comment. "However, that's not what I'm calling about. I have an offer for you. One I think you may like."
"And that offer is?"
"I'd rather not talk about it over the phone."
"Oook," he leaned against the table. What was this guy up to?
"Can you meet me somewhere, say in a half an hour?"
He sighed, there went the movie. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Great, there's a small Italian restaurant called Alferdo's, it's—"
"Yeah, I know where it is."
"Good, see you in 30 minutes." The line went dead after that.
Jonny flipped the T.V. off before he scribbled a note that he'd be gone for a while. He didn't feel like dealing with questions of where and with whom right now. He tacked the note on the refrigerator, grabbed his keys, and left.
Jonny pulled into the parking lot about 20 minutes later. The restaurant was never very crowded, although there wasn't room for many people. The building itself was a small square, which probably couldn't hold more then 30 people at the most. Jonny wasn't quite sure how they had been able to stay open for so long. Walking in he spotted Corvin and sat down. Corvin glanced up, placing his menu on the table.
"Glad that you could join me, Jonny."
"What's this all about Corvin?"
"Ever thought about being in the agency?"
"What?"
"The agency. Ever thought about being an agent."
"No, not really."
"I can't believe that."
He shrugged as the waiter placed a menu on the table for him. However, Jonny pushed it aside for the moment ignoring it.
"Well, let me get straight to the point. You have the skills to be a great agent Jonny. We'd like you to join the force."
"The agency recruiting. Now there's a new concept."
"We make exceptions every so often."
"And I'm one of them? Why? Scared to lose Quest contact now that my father is gone?"
"This has nothing to do with your father. I've seen you in action. You're a man of smarts and action. We need someone like you."
"Uh-huh, if this has nothing to do with him, why only ask now that's he's dead?"
"We tried before. You're father refused."
Jonny looked a little shock. He's father had never said anything to him about it. "So what's in it for me?"
"Adventure? Something different everyday?"
"I've had that all my life. Why would I want more?"
"So what are you going to do instead Jonny? Go to Yale; get a nine to five job? Can you tell me you will seriously be happy with some business job? Doing the same thing day after day after day, where the most interesting thing that may happen is you get a new stapler?"
Jonny was silent for a while. He pretended to look at his menu a little. "No."
"Well then."
"When would I start?"
"This fall, or I'm sure I could slip you in, say a week. There are a couple of courses about to start. It's up to you."
He nodded thinking it over. He idly ran his finger around the edge of his water glass. "I guess there's really no reason to wait till fall."
"Then I'll see what I can do about getting you in. I'll be in touch." Corvin moved to get up.
"Aren't you going to eat something?"
"I don't like Italian that much."
"Then why pick it?"
"No one to bother us. I'll talk to you soon."
Jonny watched as he walked away. He didn't regret the decision he had just made, but he had a feeling the others wouldn't be so happy. He rubbed his face; this was not going to be fun.
"YOU WHAT?!" Raced yelled, although he hadn't meant to, as he looked incredulously at the boy. He had nearly flown off the couch when Jonny had told him.
"I'm joining the agency."
"You are not."
"You can't stop me."
"Like hell I can't." Race folded his arms over his chest.
"I'm eighteen and you're not my father. There's nothing you can do. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh, you better believe there is. You're father didn't want you to be mixed in with that life."
"So I heard. Looks like it's too little too late."
"Damn it Jonny, Corvin is just using you. The agency is not the life you want!"
"It'll be better then being in some stuffy corporate job everyday."
"It's worse Jonny. Never being home, never being with your family. You're constantly moving…..you'll have no life outside your job. Or what you do have is so pathetic it would have been better off if you hadn't had one."
"I have no family and no life. So I suppose none of that matters."
"You have family Jonny, you have us."
"A bodyguard, his daughter, and an adoptive brother that spends most of his time in Bagalore now." He shook his head as if the idea was ridiculous. "That's not a family."
Race looked hurt as if his words had thrown a knife into his heart. Neither one had notice Jessie walk in the room.
"That's funny," she said softly, "we were under the impression it was."
They both turned to look at Jessie. She trying to hide how much his comment has hurt her behind a very cool and calm expression.
"I guess impressions can be wrong. I have no one."
"You truly believe that Jonny Quest?" Her eyes narrowed a little.
"Yes."
"If that was true why the hell would we still be here? If dad was just a bodyguard why didn't he leave after Dr. Quest died. Why is he still here? "
He shrugged. "Maybe he wants money."
Anger flashed across Jessie's face. "Jess," Race warned seeing that his daughter was about to explode.
However, she ignored his warning. "The money? THE MONEY?" her face was turning flushed as her anger grew.
"I believe that's what I said."
"When did you become such an asshole Jonny Quest? We're here because we love you and care for you. I know you're hurting, but that doesn't mean you have to shut the rest of us out. You're ready to turn your back on the people who would die for you. Can't you realize that?" By now she was inches from him face to face. Unshed tears were forming in her eyes.
He looked at her. There would have been a time where he would have been kicking himself because he had upset her, but now he just didn't care. "The only thing I realize, Jess, is that you're trying to hard. Blood makes family—"
Her hand landed soundly on his left check, his head snapping to the side. The outline of her hand could be seen visibly. It took a couple of long silent minutes before he turned and looked at her with a shocked expression.
She looked back at him immediately regretting her move. She had let her anger get the best of her. "I'm sorry," she muttered. She turned her back and started to walk away, but she stopped after a couple of steps. "Family is more than blood. I hope you're able to understand that again someday." Jessie didn't wait for a response before she walked out of the room.
Jonny sat his blue traveling bag on the floor as he knocked on Jessie's door. She was his last goodbye.
"It's open."
He walked in. "Hey."
"Hey." She looked up from her cleaning and spotted his bag. "Leaving I see."
"Yeah, I just came to say good-bye."
"That's nice." She went back to stacking her books on her bookshelf.
"Aren't you going to say good-bye back?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because, good-bye is so final."
"Ok, how about farewell."
"Nope."
"You're not going to say anything? I'm leaving Jess."
"You want me to say something?"
"Yes."
She put the last book she had on the self. She was running over what to say to him without getting angry. She finally turned and looked at him "Why are you doing this Jonny? Why? Why are you turning on everyone? This is NOT you! The Jonny I knew wanted to go to Yale! He didn't want to go off and risk his life every day for some stupid job! You're father had bigger dreams for you! He was so proud!"
"Don't bring my father into this Jessie."
"It's true and you know it, Jonny! They've been trying for years to get him to agree to let you in. He refused! He wanted something better for you! He knew you could be something so much more!"
"What like him?! Like you?! I tried I was never to be like that. It's not me! I'm the one who likes to get into mischief, adventures! I tried to be what my father wanted, but I can't be that."
"He never wanted you to more than you."
"Then he shouldn't have tried to keep me from this. If he was proud of me no matter what, then it shouldn't matter that I'm not going to Yale."
"There's nothing that will change your mind?" She bit her lip lightly. She didn't want him to leave.
"I've already agreed, I can't turn back now."
"Nothing?"
He looked at her; azure eyes meeting emerald. His heart skipped a beat for a second. He could see in her eyes what she was feeling. She wanted him to stay, for things to return back to normal. He had a feeling if she voiced it, he wouldn't be able to say no to her. He waited a few moments to see if she would before he finally spoke.
"No." He shifted a little, breaking eye contact with her.
She closed her eyes and turned away. She dropped her head allowing her fiery red hair to cover her face; hiding the tears that were about to fall. "Good-bye Jonathan Quest."
*****
"It would be years before the full impact of Jessie's words would hit me. We would be miles away and worlds apart. It would be even longer before I saw and spoke to any of them. I left that day as planned, Corvin had indeed pulled several strings and got me in as promised. Although, I can't say that anyone actually complained. I rose to the top of my class and graduated there, too. I know you never approved of this, but dad I've made one damn good agent." He knocked his fist on the ground a little.
"My partner, Fox Baxton." He laughed. "She's one kick ass chick. I think you would have liked her dad. She's the no nonsense do it or else type. I think she's wanted to kill me a few hundred times, but amazingly we really make a good team. The moment we met we sort of had this connection, like we were destined to be partners or something. Most of the time we don't even communicate verbally, we know what the other is thinking and just do it. She's truly amazing, too, dad. I don't know how many times she's saved my ass. I would have died if not for her; or at least had a serious break down. I couldn't have a better partner.
But, before I ramble too much more about Fox, there's someone else I want to tell you about. Her name is Claudia. We met during training school. I always thought she seemed so out of place. In the midst of all these rough and tumble people was this petite, fragile looking girl. I should have known looks could be deceiving though, which is what gave her an advantage over others. They expected her to be an easy opponent, only for her to wipe the floor with them. " He paused for a moment a smile crossing his face briefly. He brushed back his blonde hair. "She became my ladylove. She was so perfect to me; for me. I can still remember the first day I met her…."
"Will someone get that?!" he yelled as he tried to refocus his attention to the movie.
Four…five.
He growled as he got up. "Stupid phone all it does is ring, ring, ring. I wish it would just shut up," he muttered as he picked up the phone. "Hello?!" Annoyance was evident in his voice.
"Mr. Quest?"
"Yes?" More annoyance. He just wanted to go back to his movie.
"Hi, this is Phil Corvin. First, let me give you my deepest sympathies concerning your father."
"Join the club."
Corvin ignored that comment. "However, that's not what I'm calling about. I have an offer for you. One I think you may like."
"And that offer is?"
"I'd rather not talk about it over the phone."
"Oook," he leaned against the table. What was this guy up to?
"Can you meet me somewhere, say in a half an hour?"
He sighed, there went the movie. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Great, there's a small Italian restaurant called Alferdo's, it's—"
"Yeah, I know where it is."
"Good, see you in 30 minutes." The line went dead after that.
Jonny flipped the T.V. off before he scribbled a note that he'd be gone for a while. He didn't feel like dealing with questions of where and with whom right now. He tacked the note on the refrigerator, grabbed his keys, and left.
Jonny pulled into the parking lot about 20 minutes later. The restaurant was never very crowded, although there wasn't room for many people. The building itself was a small square, which probably couldn't hold more then 30 people at the most. Jonny wasn't quite sure how they had been able to stay open for so long. Walking in he spotted Corvin and sat down. Corvin glanced up, placing his menu on the table.
"Glad that you could join me, Jonny."
"What's this all about Corvin?"
"Ever thought about being in the agency?"
"What?"
"The agency. Ever thought about being an agent."
"No, not really."
"I can't believe that."
He shrugged as the waiter placed a menu on the table for him. However, Jonny pushed it aside for the moment ignoring it.
"Well, let me get straight to the point. You have the skills to be a great agent Jonny. We'd like you to join the force."
"The agency recruiting. Now there's a new concept."
"We make exceptions every so often."
"And I'm one of them? Why? Scared to lose Quest contact now that my father is gone?"
"This has nothing to do with your father. I've seen you in action. You're a man of smarts and action. We need someone like you."
"Uh-huh, if this has nothing to do with him, why only ask now that's he's dead?"
"We tried before. You're father refused."
Jonny looked a little shock. He's father had never said anything to him about it. "So what's in it for me?"
"Adventure? Something different everyday?"
"I've had that all my life. Why would I want more?"
"So what are you going to do instead Jonny? Go to Yale; get a nine to five job? Can you tell me you will seriously be happy with some business job? Doing the same thing day after day after day, where the most interesting thing that may happen is you get a new stapler?"
Jonny was silent for a while. He pretended to look at his menu a little. "No."
"Well then."
"When would I start?"
"This fall, or I'm sure I could slip you in, say a week. There are a couple of courses about to start. It's up to you."
He nodded thinking it over. He idly ran his finger around the edge of his water glass. "I guess there's really no reason to wait till fall."
"Then I'll see what I can do about getting you in. I'll be in touch." Corvin moved to get up.
"Aren't you going to eat something?"
"I don't like Italian that much."
"Then why pick it?"
"No one to bother us. I'll talk to you soon."
Jonny watched as he walked away. He didn't regret the decision he had just made, but he had a feeling the others wouldn't be so happy. He rubbed his face; this was not going to be fun.
"YOU WHAT?!" Raced yelled, although he hadn't meant to, as he looked incredulously at the boy. He had nearly flown off the couch when Jonny had told him.
"I'm joining the agency."
"You are not."
"You can't stop me."
"Like hell I can't." Race folded his arms over his chest.
"I'm eighteen and you're not my father. There's nothing you can do. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Oh, you better believe there is. You're father didn't want you to be mixed in with that life."
"So I heard. Looks like it's too little too late."
"Damn it Jonny, Corvin is just using you. The agency is not the life you want!"
"It'll be better then being in some stuffy corporate job everyday."
"It's worse Jonny. Never being home, never being with your family. You're constantly moving…..you'll have no life outside your job. Or what you do have is so pathetic it would have been better off if you hadn't had one."
"I have no family and no life. So I suppose none of that matters."
"You have family Jonny, you have us."
"A bodyguard, his daughter, and an adoptive brother that spends most of his time in Bagalore now." He shook his head as if the idea was ridiculous. "That's not a family."
Race looked hurt as if his words had thrown a knife into his heart. Neither one had notice Jessie walk in the room.
"That's funny," she said softly, "we were under the impression it was."
They both turned to look at Jessie. She trying to hide how much his comment has hurt her behind a very cool and calm expression.
"I guess impressions can be wrong. I have no one."
"You truly believe that Jonny Quest?" Her eyes narrowed a little.
"Yes."
"If that was true why the hell would we still be here? If dad was just a bodyguard why didn't he leave after Dr. Quest died. Why is he still here? "
He shrugged. "Maybe he wants money."
Anger flashed across Jessie's face. "Jess," Race warned seeing that his daughter was about to explode.
However, she ignored his warning. "The money? THE MONEY?" her face was turning flushed as her anger grew.
"I believe that's what I said."
"When did you become such an asshole Jonny Quest? We're here because we love you and care for you. I know you're hurting, but that doesn't mean you have to shut the rest of us out. You're ready to turn your back on the people who would die for you. Can't you realize that?" By now she was inches from him face to face. Unshed tears were forming in her eyes.
He looked at her. There would have been a time where he would have been kicking himself because he had upset her, but now he just didn't care. "The only thing I realize, Jess, is that you're trying to hard. Blood makes family—"
Her hand landed soundly on his left check, his head snapping to the side. The outline of her hand could be seen visibly. It took a couple of long silent minutes before he turned and looked at her with a shocked expression.
She looked back at him immediately regretting her move. She had let her anger get the best of her. "I'm sorry," she muttered. She turned her back and started to walk away, but she stopped after a couple of steps. "Family is more than blood. I hope you're able to understand that again someday." Jessie didn't wait for a response before she walked out of the room.
Jonny sat his blue traveling bag on the floor as he knocked on Jessie's door. She was his last goodbye.
"It's open."
He walked in. "Hey."
"Hey." She looked up from her cleaning and spotted his bag. "Leaving I see."
"Yeah, I just came to say good-bye."
"That's nice." She went back to stacking her books on her bookshelf.
"Aren't you going to say good-bye back?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because, good-bye is so final."
"Ok, how about farewell."
"Nope."
"You're not going to say anything? I'm leaving Jess."
"You want me to say something?"
"Yes."
She put the last book she had on the self. She was running over what to say to him without getting angry. She finally turned and looked at him "Why are you doing this Jonny? Why? Why are you turning on everyone? This is NOT you! The Jonny I knew wanted to go to Yale! He didn't want to go off and risk his life every day for some stupid job! You're father had bigger dreams for you! He was so proud!"
"Don't bring my father into this Jessie."
"It's true and you know it, Jonny! They've been trying for years to get him to agree to let you in. He refused! He wanted something better for you! He knew you could be something so much more!"
"What like him?! Like you?! I tried I was never to be like that. It's not me! I'm the one who likes to get into mischief, adventures! I tried to be what my father wanted, but I can't be that."
"He never wanted you to more than you."
"Then he shouldn't have tried to keep me from this. If he was proud of me no matter what, then it shouldn't matter that I'm not going to Yale."
"There's nothing that will change your mind?" She bit her lip lightly. She didn't want him to leave.
"I've already agreed, I can't turn back now."
"Nothing?"
He looked at her; azure eyes meeting emerald. His heart skipped a beat for a second. He could see in her eyes what she was feeling. She wanted him to stay, for things to return back to normal. He had a feeling if she voiced it, he wouldn't be able to say no to her. He waited a few moments to see if she would before he finally spoke.
"No." He shifted a little, breaking eye contact with her.
She closed her eyes and turned away. She dropped her head allowing her fiery red hair to cover her face; hiding the tears that were about to fall. "Good-bye Jonathan Quest."
*****
"It would be years before the full impact of Jessie's words would hit me. We would be miles away and worlds apart. It would be even longer before I saw and spoke to any of them. I left that day as planned, Corvin had indeed pulled several strings and got me in as promised. Although, I can't say that anyone actually complained. I rose to the top of my class and graduated there, too. I know you never approved of this, but dad I've made one damn good agent." He knocked his fist on the ground a little.
"My partner, Fox Baxton." He laughed. "She's one kick ass chick. I think you would have liked her dad. She's the no nonsense do it or else type. I think she's wanted to kill me a few hundred times, but amazingly we really make a good team. The moment we met we sort of had this connection, like we were destined to be partners or something. Most of the time we don't even communicate verbally, we know what the other is thinking and just do it. She's truly amazing, too, dad. I don't know how many times she's saved my ass. I would have died if not for her; or at least had a serious break down. I couldn't have a better partner.
But, before I ramble too much more about Fox, there's someone else I want to tell you about. Her name is Claudia. We met during training school. I always thought she seemed so out of place. In the midst of all these rough and tumble people was this petite, fragile looking girl. I should have known looks could be deceiving though, which is what gave her an advantage over others. They expected her to be an easy opponent, only for her to wipe the floor with them. " He paused for a moment a smile crossing his face briefly. He brushed back his blonde hair. "She became my ladylove. She was so perfect to me; for me. I can still remember the first day I met her…."
