Title: Red Headed Goddess, 5/?
Author: Goddess Evie
Date: Reposted on September 23, 2007, Originally posted on March 23, 2007
Category: JJHR, Angst
Summary: Jonny and Jessie fight and Hadji steps in to do some healing. Is it effective? Plus, another package comes.
Disclaimer: I do not own JQ. I am only using the characters for my own unique story. I am using lyrics for the song "Cold" by "Crossfade." I do not own it, either.
Author's Notes: I guess this really isn't an eventful chapter. And I really can't promise when the next chapter will be out. Sorry guys! Maybe I'll have a new, possibly finished, fic to tempt and distract you all with! We'll see! As always, let me know what you think.
Chapter 5: Looking back at me I see that I never really got it right. I never stopped to think of you. I'm always wrapped up in things I cannot win.
"You completely overreacted!"
"I did not! It could have been him!"
"But it wasn't."
"Luckily. But if it had been…"
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
"That I don't need you protecting me from paparazzi!"
"I'm sorry I care!"
"Care all you want. Just don't go around trying to be a hero. I can take care of myself."
Jonny started to reply, but Race was cutting in. He and Benton stood in the hallway leading from the front entrance to the rest of the house, intending to settle the argument. "What's all the yelling about?" Benton eyed both teens, his arms folded across his chest. Race stood with his hands on his hips.
Neither teen answered for a second, eyeing each other and expecting the other to speak. After a moment Jessie sighed. "Jonny tackled a reporter."
Jonny's eyes widened at her answer and he turned to his guardians, who were now looking at him, silently demanding an explanation. Quickly he began to go into better detail than Jessie, shooting her an annoyed look as he did.
"We were leaving the hospital when I saw a flash in the bushes and I-"
"Tackled a reporter," Jessie cut in.
"Who could have been your photo happy stalker," Jonny added with venom, in a last attempt to make her see his point.
Race cleared his throat, sending the two back to their corners to angrily glare at each other. He and Benton had a good system worked out, Benton doing all the talking while Race handled the muscle.
"Are you sure this reporter was taking pictures of you?"
Both teens nodded.
"Why?"
They shrugged in unison. "Jessie took the liberty of destroying his film. He wasn't too happy about that," Jonny tattled.
"He wasn't too happy about being tackled either," Jessie sneered.
"And I'm not happy about you guys sitting here arguing about it. Now will you both stop attacking each other?" Benton demanded, causing the teens to finally look a little guilty. He continued. "Jonny, perhaps you should have shown a little restraint and assessed the situation more before taking action."
Jessie smiled smugly.
"Although, I understand why you did what you did."
Now Jonny took on the smug smile.
"And Jessie. I don't believe it was necessary to vandalize another person's property, despite recent events."
She scowled, avoiding Race and Benton's looks.
"Now both of you go up to your rooms. We've all had a long day and I think it's time everyone got some sleep," Benton finally finished, he and Race moving aside to let their children through.
Jonny and Jessie filed by them silently, heads hung as they headed for the stairs. They could feel their fathers' unhappy gazes boring into the back of their heads as they passed. Everyone's nerves were starting to get taut.
"Look, Jess," Jonny began when they were at the top of the stairs, knowing he'd have to apologize for this one and instill peace between them once more.
"I don't want to talk about it anymore. I just want you to remember that I don't. Need. Protecting."
Her door slammed angrily and Jonny snarled. Fine, if she wanted to be angry he could be angry, too. He'd just see how well she fared when he wasn't there to tackle the hidden people trying to photograph her. He stomped into his own room and slammed his door closed.
JQ
Sleep did not come easily for Jessie, but it did come: in fits of restless tossing and turning and bouts of nightmares that woke her shaking from the vivid imagery still fresh in her mind. Each time she would squeeze her eyes shut and force the images from her mind as well as the shadow that seemed to cling to her. She imagined her fathers arms once again wrapped around her, his embrace tight and protecting. It also helped to picture his reassuring smile and love filled gaze. Race never let her down, not even when he wasn't really there.
When she finally calmed herself, she would lie down again, pulling her cream-colored sheet and soft, downy comforter over her shoulders and will herself to sleep. She used a trick Hadji had recommended a few years back, and that she had found worked for her. Starting with her feet, she would make herself believe that each part of her body was so heavy, so weighed down that it was actually sinking into the bed. From her feet she would move to her ankles, her calves, her knees, her thighs, hips, stomach, moving up and up until she felt so heavy that sleep would come easily. Some nights she didn't get past her lower extremities. Other times, like now, she sometimes had to go through the process two or three times before it would work for her.
And then she would sleep, but not peacefully. At times when she awoke she could fault it to nothing more than an intense sense of foreboding. Often enough the visions her mind created were more than enough to rend her violently from sleep. And each time she was glad to be awake again, so she could tell herself that it was only a dream, that she was safe in bed, and that she really needed to get some real sleep.
Periodically, as she lay awake, she could hear movement outside her door. Dr. Quest and her father speaking quietly as they walked by. Hadji moving around in his room finishing some small chores before he caught some sleep, and most likely debating if some light meditation or yoga would be beneficial. Jonny was restless on her other side. She could hear him tossing and turning in his bed, though whether it was from fitful sleep or the inability to find it, she couldn't be sure. She knew he was worried about her, but she didn't want to think about that. She was too worried about herself to add another's pain for her onto the load. Especially one she was still angry at.
Her alternating periods of consciousness and unconsciousness lasted through the night as the compound quieted and her alarm clock ticked by the hours. She alternated between awake and asleep many times before she finally rose from her bed again, defeated. It was still early, her clock said five thirty. She walked to her window and peeked out through the curtains. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting the sky in glowing hues of reds, oranges and golds as it appeared over the trees of the small wood that still covered much of the island the Quest Compound had been built on. Jessie suddenly felt the urge to do something active, go out for a run along the tree line of the forest, the cliffs over looking the sea, even the small private beach. She'd often enjoyed the variety of scenery the compound offered.
However, after what happened the last time she had gone for a run out on the grounds of Quest owned property, she opted instead for a treadmill in the exercise room of the mansion. It did face an eastern window, so she could watch morning break in all its glorious colors until the sky finally settled down to a calm blue. A few wispy clouds played in the otherwise uninterrupted sky. The hum of the treadmill, constant movement of her body, and beautiful scenery before her helped to distract her for a short time. She also found the time to reinforce her mind and set her determination against the inevitable stress of the next few days. She couldn't let it get to her. She couldn't let HIM get to her. No matter what. Life HAD to go on. It always did.
Jessie was only slightly surprised to find she had let herself run for an hour. Really, it wasn't long enough. She needed to find something more to distract her for a few hours before her day really began. Something to take her mind off yesterday and keep those images from popping into her mind. Perhaps a nice relaxing bath paired with the last of her summer reading for her Senior English class.
She toweled at the sweat she had built up as she jogged up the steps, thankfully without running into Jonny, and back to her room. The morning sunshine filled it now, lighting it up with a cheerful glow that didn't have the usual effect on Jessie as it usually did. She loved the mornings, the peace and serenity, and the feeling that something great could happen that accompanied every sunrise. That feeling seemed empty and false this morning.
Snap out of it, Bannon, Jessie ordered herself mentally. Stop moping around. You've been in worse situations. So what if a guy took a thousand or so pictures of you in the last couple of years? You've teetered on the edge of life and death. This is nothing.
She grabbed clean underwear and clothes from her drawers and slammed them shut with finality. She wasn't going to let this small inconvenience ruin her day, or her mood. Jonny had managed that enough. I'm going to enjoy my day today, she promised herself in a quiet but determined mutter as she made her way to the bathroom, holding her head high with resolve. I won't even let Jonny ruin it.
JQ
Hadji waited for just the right moment to approach Jessie. He knew that with her he had to act tactfully and, more importantly, strategically. If she thought he was coming to her in an attempt to soothe her feelings, she would just push him away. Instead, he had to act like all he wanted was to offer an afternoon activity.
He had, of course, heard the fight between her and Jonny the night before. Those two never had silent brawls. Both were too passionate and stubborn to fight subtly. Of course, that made Hadji's job easier when it came to fixing the hurt feelings. At least he always knew what the issue was.
He'd approached Jonny the night before, soon after both had retired to their rooms per their fathers' orders. Jonny was the easy one. He and Hadji had been family for so long that Jonny immediately opened up, no matter the problem. All Hadji'd had to do was take a seat on Jonny's desk chair and Jonny had begun his tirade. After ten minutes of ranting and raving, Jonny's chatter had finally turned to reasoning. As Hadji listened, he could tell that Jonny was still frustrated, but at least he wasn't just mad.
As Hadji thought about it he realized that Jonny had gotten to the point where he could go through the entire process without Hadji having to say a single word. All it took was his presence for Jonny to get started. The only thing Hadji had to do was offer a few words of sage advice. Often, and this had been the case the night before, Hadji had cautioned patience.
Although Jessie's door was closed, and that was usually a sign that she didn't want to be bothered, Hadji rapped loudly. He waited for a response and, when he didn't get one, knocked again. Still there was no response, but Hadji was a determined soul. He knocked one more time and finally heard Jessie's muffled voice call out to him.
"It is I, Hadji," he called back. "May I come in?"
There was a pause. "Sure."
Quietly he slipped in. She lay on her bed, reading a Time magazine. At least, she was staring at it.
"I was wondering if you'd like to join me for some movies. I had Jonny pick a couple up from town last night," he asked.
"I'm not really in the mood, Hadj," Jessie insisted.
"Oh, come on. I even rented The Grudge. You have been dieing to see that one," Hadji cajoled, pulling the Time magazine down from in front of her face.
He smiled and winked at the sour expression she gave him. She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly and gave in. Twenty minutes later they were downstairs in the den with sodas, popcorn and Sarah Michelle Gellar on the big screen TV. Hadji allowed himself a little smile as he glanced over at Jessie to see her transfixed with the plot of the movie. She was doing that thing hypnotized movie watchers did, robotically eating one kernel of popcorn at a time. He suppressed a snicker.
The movie progressed in silence, just as Hadji wanted it. He wasn't going to say anything to her. He needed to wait for her to strike up the conversation. She would eventually. She always did. Some times just took longer than others.
As he waited, Hadji found himself pulled into the story. The plot line of the movie was actually decent. The scare factor didn't affect him, nor did it Jessie. They both had seen too many real life horrors to be scared by anything in a movie. But the plot line was handled both seriously and eloquently. It didn't rely on blood and gore to scare its viewers. Which was why Hadji had never really been into scary movies until now.
"Don't go into the house!" Jessie suddenly yelled, throwing remnants of their popcorn at the screen.
"He is going after Karen because he is worried," Hadji defended the character's actions.
"Stupid man. He's only causing more trouble," Jessie objected. "If he read her research, he would know about the house. So why is he going in there?"
"In case she is in there," Hadji repeated his earlier defense. "He truly cares about her."
"If he cared, he'd stay away," Jessie advised. "He's not doing her any good by getting himself into the same boat she's in."
"He wants to save her, protect her," Hadji told her. "He knows about the house and that she has been in it. Now he hopes he can do something to stop it."
"But," Jessie began again, sighing a bit and watching the movie a little closer for a while.
Hadji kept silent, eyes on the TV but ears attuned to Jessie.
"But that means he'll get hurt, too," she finally finished quietly, gaze transfixed on the action before them.
"It does not matter. Not to him," Hadji kept his voice quiet as well, attuning his reactions to her.
"But it does. She wouldn't want him to go in there. She doesn't. But she was too late," Jessie shook her head. "Besides, obviously she's not such a push over. She figured out a lot by herself." She stopped and giggled before adding, "And Buffy's kicked lots of nether worldly ass. What's one ghost?"
Hadji chuckled along with his friend. "But she has left her slayer pals behind. Can she defeat this new evil without them?"
Jessie grinned. "Let's watch the end of the movie and find out."
Detective Dougan arrived at the Quest compound about mid-afternoon. He was greeted, once again, by Race, who led him straight to the light house. Dougan saw the blood vessels standing out in the man's eyes and the dark circles beneath them. But he didn't once let himself believe that Race Bannon was working at any less than a hundred percent.
In the lighthouse lab, Dr. Quest perched on a stool, looking only slightly better rested than Race. He looked up when Race and the Detective entered, offering Dougan a weary smile and a handshake. Dougan shook it firmly, trying to convey his sympathy in a look.
"Anything new?" he asked.
"We've got as much of those footprints transferred and reconstructed into digital format as possible. But we didn't have much to go on. The fingerprints are still running, with no matches, yet," Benton summarized.
"Have you managed to get any clues about who we're dealing with?" Race asked quickly.
Dougan clicked open his briefcase and pulled out a large sheet from a sketchpad. "The artist's rendition is finished. It's not as good as it could be, but we don't have a professional working for us like the Feds."
He held out the crude sketch to the two gentlemen before him. He could see Race's expert eye drinking in every detail. Unfortunately, the sketch really wasn't going to be much help. It didn't have the realistic features it needed for it to be really helpful.
"We also recorded the conversation between the artist and the witnesses. We stuck to the three who thought they knew what he looked like best. I don't know if it'll help, but I thought I'd bring it along just in case," Dougan offered.
Benton took the tape from Dougan. "I'm going to have IRIS analyze the conversation. We better show Jessie the sketch, in case she can recognize the face. Then I'd like to scan it into the computer, to have something for IRIS to work from."
"Good idea, Benton. Perhaps IRIS can construct a better picture," Race looked a little more eager, with the prospect of new evidence. He looked at Dougan, and with a nod led the man out of the lab and towards the main house.
Jessie was in the den with Hadji, who was just ejecting a DVD from the player. There were a couple of soda cans and an oily bowl with unpopped kernels in the bottom of it. At least Race could be glad that Jessie wasn't spending her time brooding in her room.
"Jessie, we've got an artist's rendition of the alleged suspect based on the descriptions of three witnesses," Dougan told her as he took a seat next to her, holding the picture in his hands but not showing it to her.
"I think I will go, uh, see if the mail has arrived," Hadji excused himself.
Race sat down next to his daughter and they took each other's hands automatically.
"Ponchita, you need to study the picture very carefully and let us know if you recognize the person," Race whispered to her.
"I'm afraid it's not a very good sketch, but it's better than nothing," Dougan added. He took a deep breath and exchanged a look with Race before proffering the picture.
Jessie held it in her hands and stared at it. Her eyes roved over the details just as her father's had, Dougan noticed. She took a long time to look at it. Race and the Detective were respectfully silent.
"Anything?" Race finally asked.
Jessie shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut as she handed the picture back to Detective Dougan. "I don't know this person."
"Alright, I'll get this back to Dr. Quest, then," Dougan began to rise.
"There is another package," Hadji's voice gushed, drawing all three gazes to where he stood in the doorway. He was a little out of breath, and he held the said object up so that everybody could see Jessie's name scrawled upon it in the same flowing script.
JQ
Jessie accompanied the men back to the lab. Hadji had decided to stay in the house after handing over the package. They handled it the same as the first one, donning latex gloves and handling everything gingerly. Jessie picked up and read the letter as the three men looked over the pictures. It was shorter than the last. But the man behind the writing had a way of conveying what he meant in a few words.
My Red Headed Goddess,
When I see you, I understand why Paris seduced Helen into coming to Troy with him. I look for my chance to do the same thing with you. It would be worth any war to have you by my side.
Your Paris
She slid the letter over to her father, who was watching her, and began to look over the pictures. They were from the day before. When she and Jonny were playing basketball. Beautiful pictures, really. Like you'd expect to see in Sports Illustrated. Except, of course, they were of her, taken by an unknown person who was stalking her.
"Some say Helen was seduced away," Benton spoke after he had read the letter. "But some argue she was taken against her will."
His comments didn't help to lighten the mood.
"He works fast," Jessie said, moving the conversation in a different direction. "All the pictures were taken and developed and delivered within a day."
"He does it all himself. Photo shoot and development. He's very good. These could be professional quality," Dougan commented.
"He's got to get his supplies from somewhere, though," Race suddenly reminded. "There are a few camera shops around Rockport, but not a lot that would actually sell the developing chemicals."
I'll get someone on that," Dougan volunteered.
"No, I'll do it myself," Race decided, then amended. "But tomorrow. Let's take our time analyzing this stuff, first."
"I'm going to scan the artist's depiction into the computer and see what IRIS comes up with. She can compare both the original sketch and the 3-D model she compiles with the faces of known criminals. I'll send a copy with you as well for the witnesses so they can suggest changes," Benton left the lab table for a section of computer.
"There's no point in lifting anymore fingerprints or taking more handwriting samples," Dougan sighed. "All we can do is wait."