When everything had settled down a little, Doctor Quest called Race's cell phone and explained the situation to him. Jessie's father was immediately on his way back to the compound. After terminating the phone call, Doctor Quest walked briskly to the intercom and paged Jonny...Who still happened to be asleep. Due to being groggy, Jonny didn't quite comprehend what was going on, but informed his father that he would join them in the lighthouse after he got dressed.
The entire time, Hadji didn't leave Jessie's side.
Jonny entered the lighthouse about fifteen minutes later and again the situation was explained to him. He joined his brother at Jessie's side and the two began to speak in hushed voices. It would be another half hour before Race arrived.
After a few minutes, Jonny turned to face his father.
"What's wrong with her, Dad? I mean-What caused her sugar to get so low?"
Before he would answer, Doctor Quest finished cleaning up the broken glass and chemicals from the beaker he had dropped earlier.
"I'm not quite sure, Son. But, have you noticed that she's been acting strangely as of late?"
Jonny shrugged.
"Yeah, but I just figured that it was hormones or something."
Hadji made a small tittering sound and spoke softly.
"I do not believe that she has been eating properly as of late. She simply picks at her food throughout supper, and she does not join us during any other meal."
Jonny blinked in surprise...He hadn't noticed.
"So that's what's causing her low blood sugar?"
"Yes," Doctor Quest said, "That's the only reason I can think of for her fainting like this. Have either of you boys noticed anything else strange about her lately?"
Once again, Hadji answered.
"She has been acting quite withdrawn these past couple of weeks. Jessie is not acting like herself...Even her walk has been different..."
He trailed off and turned back to Jessie and spoke in a near whisper.
"I should have made an effort to determine what it is that is bothering her."
Doctor Quest and Jonny went silent, but the silence was soon broken by the sound of hurried footsteps coming up the stairs, then the door slamming open. Race entered, worry etched into his features.
"How is she Benton?"
Before the older man could answer, Race stalked across the room to his daughter's prone form. Doctor Quest joined him and again pricked Jessie's finger.
"We'll have to see...Hopefully the Glucophage was enough to raise her blood sugar to safe levels." He waited for the glucose monitor to signal that the reading was done, then read it aloud. "75...We're nearly back to normal..."
The tension in the room dissapated at the information.
Again, Doctor Quest spoke up.
"We're just going to have to wait until Jessie regains consciousness before we find out what's been bothering her."
The others nodded, then went about the laboratory listlessly; Doctor Quest putting away his supplies, Race pacing, and Jonny playing a gameboy. Hadji, however, remained at Jessie's side. It was not very long before she woke up, causing all of the men to gather around her, concerned.
Crowding a disoriented person like that was not very wise.
Jessie cried out and tried to get up out of the chair. Race put a placating hand on her shoulder and murmured to her.
"Shh...Ponchita...It's going to be okay..."
She relaxed a bit, then attempted to get back her bearings. Her voice was slightly slurred as she spoke.
"What...What happened?"
Hadji decided to answer.
"You collasped at the top of the stairwell, my friend...You have not been eating enough lately to remain heatlhy."
Jessie's face paled a bit more.
"Then...I fell down the stairs!"
Race shook his head.
"Luckily for you, Hadji was there to catch you. Thank God..."
"You gonna be okay, Jess?" Jonny inquired.
Jessie nodded slowly. "I...Think so...I'm going back to my room and lay down awhile..."
She started to stand, shakily. Hadji again caught her.
"Here Jessie, allow me to help you."
A slight blush crept across her cheeks when she realized exactly how close his face was to hers.
"Th-thank you," she stammered.
"It is not a problem."
Hadji led her toward the door, but paused when they reached it.
"Would it be all right if I were to carry you?"
Jessie nodded, in a daze as Hadji picked her up gently and began to escort her down the stairs.
"Jessie! Be sure to get something to eat!" Race called out before they got out of earshot.
He turned to face Doctor Quest, a look of confusion on his face. The other men's expressions mirrored his own. Jonny voiced what all of them were thinking.
"Is it just me, or was Hadji acting a bit weird just now?"