Good evening. Not much to say tonight. Here's the next chapter. Editing was brutal. The original chapter lacked so many things in my perspective, I had to add more to close out the gaps. I hope you guys enjoy it.

CubbiesFan1: You know, you motivate me to write. I have to say I love your writing and I adore your plots. I very much enjoy reading your work. That motivates me to write better and stronger. Thank you for that. I'm glad you enjoyed this fic. I hope you enjoy my future fics. Ever read Voltron? Is there a way to persuade you to read? LOL! No pressure!

TJ12398: You've been so loyal from the beginning. Thank you. THANK YOU! So appreciative of your reviews and your feedback. Your writing is soooooo suspenseful. OMG. I bite my nails as I read. Yeah, gross I know, but it's the truth. I hope you continue writing. You rock!

DotNetDemon: I have a love/hate relationship with you my friend. I love your story! It's so up my ally, but you know how I feel about who you paired Jonny with! Seriously! Killing me! Twist, turns, double meanings…my kind of writing. So looking forward to keep on reading!

Goddess Evie: I'm torn between hugging you or yelling at you. Woman where is the next fic! I'm dying to know what happens in that courtroom and you have been stuck in freaking fandom purgatory. Your series is amazing! I hope I can be just as good with my future fics.

JdCocoagirl: Well…let's see if you are correct my friend (based on your last review). Thank you sooo so much for taking the time to reading my first JQ fic. It means so much to me.

Alright gang! I really think we have one to two more to go after this chapter. And then…on to the next adventure.

Playlist:

Zack Hemsey: The Way

In Reverence: David Tolk

Chapter 28

He waged war on his eyes as pushed them to open. Although, for the life of him, he didn't think he could keep them open for that long once he did.

"Hi," he heard a sweet whisper coming from his side.

Moving his gaze to the direction of where he heard the voice, Jonny found Jessie smiling at him.

"Hi," he answered back groggily. "Are you safe?" he whispered. His voice was so hoarse, it was hard for him to speak. He fought even more to keep his eyes opened.

"I'm fine," she replied, caressing his hair gently. "Don't talk too much. You were on a respirator for a few days. The doctor took it out yesterday morning."

Jonny closed his eyes.

"Are you in pain? Do you want me to call the nurse?"

When he didn't answer, Jessie thought that Jonny had fallen back asleep. But, Jonny opened his eyes and looked at her, "No. Just…How long?"

"How long what?" Jessie curiously but gently asked him.

"I'm…the assignment," he answered, now slurring his words as his eyes began closing again, "Master…has…"

"Shhh," Jessie soothed him back to sleep, "It's alright. Don't worry about the assignment. Just rest for now, Jonny."

"Are you safe?" he whispered.

"I'm safe," she answered with small smile. "I'm safe Jonny. Go back to sleep." Jessie didn't think he heard her last words, for Jonny was out again, breathing deeply.

"He is out again," Jessie suddenly heard Hadji's voice. Turning around, she saw him standing by the door.

"Yeah," she nodded. "The doctor said he was going to be in and out for the next day or so."

"You should take a break, Jessie," Hadji suggested. "You have not left the room since last night for dinner and even then, you were not gone for too long."

Jessie shrugged, "I don't like leaving him. Besides, there's a chance he may wake up again."

"It is not going to be any time soon, Jessie," Hadji reminded her with sympathy. "Go now. Have something to eat, maybe take a walk to get some fresh air. Claire is outside trying to gather some clean blankets for tonight. When she comes back, just go. I can stay with Jonny until you come back."

Jessie thought about it for a moment and nodded. It would be good for Hadji to spend some time with his brother, "But you'll call me if anything goes wrong?"

"You know I will," he agreed with a smile. "Now, go."

XXXXXXXXXX

The drive back had been quiet. Race drove as Benton gazed silently at the landscape from the passenger seat. He thought of what to say, but what could he say to a man who just found out that his wife was raped over twenty years ago and that his son could possibly be the product of that rape?

Race couldn't put his thoughts together to come up with words that could ease Benton. He was even surprised that his friend had been so calm…well, so far.

"I need to go home, Race," Benton suddenly whispered without bothering to look at the driver.

As Race drove, he looked at his friend, "Sure. May I ask why?"

Benton was quiet for a while before he answered, "I need to check on something."

"On what Benton?"

"Damn it, Race! Just take me home," he yelled.

Nodding, Race continued driving. This was definitely not the time to reason with Benton.

XXXXXXXXXX

Once the two arrived home, Benton ran upstairs and locked himself in his bedroom. Race, knowing his friend needed ample time to cool off went to the kitchen to get something to eat. He wasn't hungry, but he himself needed something to do to process all the events from a few hours earlier.

Taking his cellphone out, he dialed his daughter, "Hey Jessie."

"Hey Dad, is everything okay?"

"Yeah," he answered trying to sound as normal as he could, "Benton and I finished our visit at I-1 headquarters and we are home for a little while."

"Are you sure everything is alright, Dad?"

Race nodded, "Yes, honey. We're alright. It's just been a tough morning for Benton. He needed a breather."

He could hear his daughter's hesitation, "I'm not convinced."

"Just give him a little time Ponchita," Race answered. "We'll be there later today. Is Jonny doing alright?"

"He's doing well," she answered. "He woke up for a little bit almost an hour ago. Hadji is with him now. He kind of ordered me out of the room."

"Good," he smiled a little, "You need the break. Hey, listen, I'm going to check on Benton. I'll see you in a while."

"Okay, Dad. See you soon," she answered. "Love you."

"Ditto kid," he answered before hanging up.

Race then went upstairs and when he saw the door closed he thought of going in, but hesitated. He needed to give his friend time. No matter how anxious he was to talk to Benton, he couldn't hurry him. Making his way downstairs again, Race made a pot of coffee and a sandwich. He ate quietly in the kitchen, looking at the clock from time to time.

After about a half hour or so, he made his way to Benton's quarters. Knocking on the door, he asked, "Benton? Benton, can I come in?"

When he didn't hear an answer, Race walked in anyway and found Benton sitting on a sofa looking at baby pictures of Jonny on the television screen, "What are you doing?"

"What do you think?"

"I'm not sure," Race answered getting frustrated as he walked toward Benton, "Enlightened me."

"Look at Rachel, look at Jonny….Ethan…"

"Don't go there," Race interrupted. "Don't let him get to you."

Benton shook his head and continued, "The resemblance between the three of them is uncanny, Race. Even you have to have noticed it."

"Please," he snorted, "You can't possibly believe the crap he fed you earlier. He may have the hair and the eyes, but that doesn't mean anything."

Tears began running down Benton's cheeks, "There's nothing in Jonny that's mine. In the past, I thought that Jonny had gotten most of Rachel's genes. Everyone had always said so and to tell you the truth, I didn't care. I knew that he inherited most of her genes, but I knew that there was something, something from me and that made him mine too. But now…"

"Now what?"

The doctor looked at his friend with total devastation in his eyes, "I may not be his father, Race."

"That's total bull and you know that Benton," Race seethed. "Who rocked that kid to sleep when he was a baby? Who read to him bed time stories every damn night until he turned six? Who was there during all the nightmares and panic attacks after Rachel's death? His father, Benton. You! Not Ethan, you! You are the one who made Jonny who he is. His sense of adventure, of passion for the world, his never ending quest to find the truth in life, his desire for helping others. You taught him that. Benton, you are the only father that boy has ever known."

"Except that boy you described no longer exists," Benton reminded him. "And, I no longer exist for him, either."

Race looked at his friend completely astounded, "So you are giving up on him? After so many years of searching, you are giving up on him?"

"No!" Benton shook his head, "I mean…Race, everything that I had always known in my life…it's now gone. Please don't doubt my love for Jonny. He is my son, I raised him, cared for him. That love would never, ever go away. But what Ethan said? Jonny doesn't know who I am. I am no different than Ethan to him. Can he even love me as he once did? And," he paused for a moment, "Can I get past this?"

"I don't know Benton, can you?" Race asked as he sat down next to his friend, "I can't fathom what you are going through, right now. But, what I can tell you is that at this moment, there is a young man lying in a hospital bed completely lost. He has no idea what's been done to him, who his family is or who really he is. Benton, your boy needs you. He needs you just as much as you need him. Maybe what Ethan told you is true, or maybe it's a bunch of crap, but who cares? You raised that boy, he is yours. You don't need to be Jonny's biological father to be a father to him. All he needs is your love."

Knowing fully well what Race meant, Benton sighed and nodded, "I love him more than my life."

"That's what a real father would say," Race smiled. "Benton, Ethan can't say that. He's cared about himself this entire time. And he's put Jonny in danger from the moment he met him. He's not his father Benton, you are."

For the first time, Benton smiled, his eyes were no longer burning with anger. Sighing, he nodded as took in his friend's words, "Thank you Race. I guess I needed that."

"Any time," he responded patting his friend's back. "So, you want to go see your son, now? Jessie says that he's starting to come around."

Nodding, the doctor replied, "Yes. But first, let me gather a couple of things. Give me some time?"

"Sure," Race nodded, "I'll be in my room resting for a bit until you call."

"I won't take too long."

"Sure thing Doc," the white haired man answered as he stood up and walked to the door.

"Oh and Race," Benton called out seconds later.

"Yeah?"

"How did you get so smart?"

Laughing, Race answered, "Must have been from hanging out with this egghead that I work for."

XXXXXXXXXX

Hadji was beginning to doze off when he heard his brother's hiss of pain. Instinctively, he rose from the chair he was in and went to him. He noticed Jonny's haunting eyes and the wildness in them as he looked around the room. Hadji deduced that his brother had probably had a dream, or a nightmare by the looks of it, "It was only a dream Jonny."

"Where am I?"

"The hospital, do you not remember?"

Jonny closed his eyes and groaned in pain as he fought to put together his thoughts. Finally, after a second or two, he nodded and asked, "Where is Jessica?"

"She and Claire went for a walk by the hospital gardens," he answered, "She needed to take a break from being in the room."

Understanding, Jonny nodded again and groaned in pain.

"Here," Hadji picked up a manual injector connected to the machine that pumped Jonny's meds, "This pumps morphine into your system. I am going to click on this twice, it will relieve the pain."

"Fine," Jonny nodded as tears ran on the side of his left eye.

"This means that the initial drugs that were introduced are leaving your system," Hadji said in a gentle voice as he took his brother hand, "Hold my hand. It will take some time for the morphine to begin working. We will get through this together."

The pain must have been great, for Jonny held his brother's hand tightly and Hadji felt the pressure as well. Swallowing hard, he then said, "How..how long have you been here?"

"Since you were brought in," Hadji answered. "I have been helping father by driving back and forth getting things from home."

"Doctor Quest? He's been…here too?" Jonny looked at Hadji somewhat surprised.

"He has not left your side," Hadji answered.

"Where is…he…now?"

Hadji didn't want him to know where he was, it wasn't the time to worry Jonny, so he evaded the question, "Stepped out for a moment as well. He will be back."

Nodding, Jonny gripped his brother's hand tighter, "Damn it. It…hurts."

"It will soon go away, Jonny," he covered his brother's hand with his other. "I'll be right here until you are better again."

"When I'm hurt…Master is…by my side," Jonny stated, "He'd talk…to me."

"What did he talk about?"

He shook his head, "Don't know." He sighed heavily, "Can't remember. It just made me forget the pain."

"Well, what do you want to talk about?" Hadji asked, "Ask me anything and I will answer. It may help."

His hand loosened a bit from Hadji's hand, but he was still in pain as his eyes focused on the ceiling above him, "What…what can you tell me about you? How…how did you…become my brother?"

At this Hadji smiled, "Well, let me tell you how we first met."

He began telling the story about the trip to India that changed both their lives. How Doctor Quest had found him wondering the streets and how he had saved Jonny's life when some goons that were after him. He also told him how the scientist wanted to adopt him and how Doctor Quest fought the Indian government to allow him the adoption.

Jonny took in as much as he could. Soon, the pain lessened and he listened intently before the yearning for sleep took a hold of him again.

"He's cared for you since then?" Jonny asked after listening to his brother's account.

"He had cared for the three of us without reservations, without prejudice and without anything in return other than our love for him," Hadji answered without hesitation. "I know you do not remember him, but I promise you brother, our father has searched years for you. When everyone told him you were dead, he fought to keep the case open. He did not give up. There is still so much to tell you, but I see that now is not the time. Rest."

Sighing, Jonny closed his eyes, "I'm tired of sleeping."

"It will make you better," Hadji answered about to let go of his brother's hand.

When Jonny felt the action, he immediately gripped it, and looked at Hadji, "Thank you."

"No thank you is needed," he answered, "That is what brothers are for."

Closing his eyes again, Jonny relaxed and breathed deeply before feeling the effects of the morphine. The last words that Hadji heard his brother whisper were, "Thank you, brother."

XXXXXXXXX

Sitting on a table by the hospital gardens, Jessie enjoyed the cool afternoon breeze and the sunny day around her. It felt strange. For the past couple of years she had felt a dark shadow around her, covering any feelings of happiness. Despite her friends, her family, and even an upcoming prospering career, she never felt quite happy. There was always a heavy burden that she carried over her shoulders. But, today, she didn't feel that way at all.

There was no heaviness, no dark shadow hovering over her. She felt at peace. Her life was finally back in order because Jonny was now back in her life.

"Why are you smiling?" she heard Claire's voice as she sat across from her. Handing her a Starbuck's Venti Shaken Sweet Tea Lemonade, her friend continued, "I don't think I've ever seen you smile like that Red."

At this Jessie laughed as she took her drink, "The universe is aligned Claire. At least my universe is."

"I'm really glad you're happy, Jessie," her friend answered as she put her straw on her lemonade drink, "You amaze me."

"Why do you say that?"

"You never gave up on him," Claire answered. "Never. I respect you so much more now. I just thought you showed so much character and perseverance despite it all. And you were so brave."

"You're reading too much into this Claire," Jessie tried to joke.

"You don't get it, do you?" the blonde looked at the red head with a serious look in her features, "Jessie, what you did? Not many would do. And then, to see how much Jonny changed from the person that you knew to the person he is now? And still, you won't give up on him. There's a reason he loves you. Deep down he saw everything that I'm telling you too. That man will love you forever."

Jessie's eyes watered a little, "I hope so. Because I am desperately in love with him."

"It really has been him all this time," Claire processed.

Jessie nodded, "Always him."

"You know something Red," Claire said as she took her friend's hand for a moment, "He's lucky to have you."

At this Jessie smiled, "You know something else? I'm lucky to have you."

"Me?" Claire's brows furrowed in question.

"Claire, you've been an amazing friend to me. I couldn't have imagined being where I am right now if it hadn't been for your help. Thank you. I could never repay you for what you did for me." Jessie squeezed her friend's hand gently.

Shaking her head, Claire answered, "You shared your family with me. You took me in and loved me not only as a friend, but a sister. Jessie, it is me that can never repay you." At this point, Claire's eyes began to water.

"Oh God! What are we doing?" Jessie laughed. "This was supposed to be a break to relax not to get all emotional again. I've had nothing but emotion for the past week!"

"This is your fault!" Claire giggled wiping away the tears, "You know I hate this wishy washy crap!"

"Okay, let's stop. Finish our drinks and go see the guys. Hadji's been cooped in that room for the past hour and a half. I think he needs the break."

"Really? I think you just want to go back to see Jonny."

"Yeah," she nodded. "I can't help it. I feel that there is so much time I've wasted without him, I don't want to miss anymore."

"Well then," Claire stood up, "Let's get back to that hunk of yours. Hopefully, we'll get to see those baby blues again."

Smiling, Jessie stood up and hugged her friend, "You're the best!"

"Ditto Red," the blond answered. "Ditto."

XXXXXXXXX

When Benton walked in to his son's hospital room later that day, he found his son exactly like he expected, completely asleep. It was no surprise to him, who was by his side, either—Jessie.

He found her asleep in a chair next to his bed. From what Race told him on the way there, she been kicked out of the room for a while, but he didn't think that lasted too long. Jessie rarely left the hospital room. She would shower and sleep in the room, and never left Jonny's side for very long periods of time.

Benton lost count of how many times he thanked God for his son. At first, he wasn't sure that Jonny would survive. The ambulance ride to the hospital was proof of that. But, Jonny was stronger than many thought. And Jessie, didn't give up on him. During the last few days, she kept speaking to him, telling him that he couldn't leave her again. Dr. Quest had heard every word she whispered to Jonny, seen every shed tear and felt her pain.

Claire confessed to him and Race what she worked on for over two years and during the weeks she after graduation. She told them about Phoenix and how it worked, along with how Questworld found Jonny.

Her actions proved more of what he already knew, that Jessie was in love with his son. He had known for years as he observed them, specially the months prior to Jonny's disappearance. He guessed that being a scientist and all, he noticed and observed more than the superficial. As the years passed, however, Benton thought that Jessie's feelings for Jonny would fade. Never had he thought they stayed and lingered with her. It made him static with joy. He loved Jessie like his own daughter and knowing that she and Jonny were together, it made him feel at peace.

The jury was still out on Race. He was still dealing with the fact that his little girl was not so little anymore and was not a girl, but a woman. Benton knew he was happy she had chosen Jonny, but there was still an air of insecurity. Jonny had been gone for so many years and was so different now. Benton understood his friend's concern. But, he also knew that only time would take those away.

As he closed the door, Jessie opened her eyes, "Dr. Quest," she whispered.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he said his voice low and gentle.

"No," she shook her head and sat up, "I must have dozed off for a minute."

"How is Jonny?" he asked as he took another chair in the room and sat down.

"He's been awake for longer periods of time," she answered as a smile crept in her features. She held Jonny's hand and squeezed it lightly, "He's in pain, Hadji told me that it started this afternoon. Every time he wakes up, he's painfully aware of his injuries and is more lucid. The morphine helps, but it takes a while to kick in. Anyways, after speaking to him for about ten minutes or so about two hours ago, he went back to slumber land. The doctor said the medications are starting to wear off. It will still take some time before he is fully off of them."

"At least he's out of danger," Benton said as he looked at his son, who still looked too pale for his own taste.

Neither said anything for a moment, until Jessie sighed heavily and asked the question, both knew would come, "How was the meeting this morning?"

"It was a very hard conversation," the doctor acknowledged as a haunted looked crept up in his face. "Probably, one of the hardest ones I've ever had." He then looked at his son, "Well, maybe not the hardest."

"He won't give you a hard time, Dr. Quest," Jessie smiled sympathetically, "Every time he is up, he asks for you."

"He does?" Benton's eyes sparked up.

She nodded, "Hadji told me about a conversation they had earlier. Ever since then, he asks for you whenever he wakes up. He still calls you Dr. Quest, but the important thing is that he asks."

Benton sighed, "I guess so. It's a start."

"Tell me," Jessie continued, "What did that bastard say?"

The doctor proceeded to tell Jessie everything that Ethan divulged, even what he had said about Rachel and the idea of him being Jonny's real father. By the end, Jessie felt sick to her stomach. Ethan Grant was not only crazy, but a rapist as well. He had no remorse, the only thing he wanted was to satisfy himself with what he couldn't have, a family that belong to another man.

"It's a blessing Rachel never found out," was all Jessie could say.

Benton just nodded, "In a way, it's something I wish I would have never known."

"I'm sorry Dr. Quest," Jessie went to hug him and he appreciated the gesture.

"There's nothing we can do about that. Your father helped me realize that." he offered. "But there must be something we can do for Jonny," he replied as Jessie looked at him.

"But I thought you said that whatever Dr. Crawford gave him is permanent."

"Maybe," Benton sighed, "I've been toying around with an idea, but I'm not sure if it will work or if Jonny will be able to stand it. I need to do a bit more research before I tell you. For the moment, all I want is for Jonny to get better and to acclimate to this new life."

"You're right," she said with a smile.

"And, I'm glad that this life is with you Jessie," Benton added. "Thank you. You've brought my son back to me. Thank you for loving him so much. I will forever be grateful to you." He hugged the young woman with such emotion that Jessie's tears of joy began to run down her cheeks.

"Our family is back Dr. Quest," she whispered in his ear. "We are finally back." And so is my love, she thought as she closed her eyes.

XXXXXXXXXX

The afternoon at the hospital was rather uneventful. Truthfully, for the entire family, it was a godsend. By around eight o'clock, Jonny was still asleep. Benton had not moved waiting for his son to wake up. Hadji and Claire were downstairs in the hospital cafeteria getting some coffee and taking a break from the vigil. Jessie had completely fallen asleep on the fold out sofa in the corner of the room. The only ones awake were Benton and Race.

Neither had said much, just light conversation here and there. Finally, after a while, Race asked a question that had been lingering in his mind, "Hey, Benton?"

"Yes," the doctor turned to his friend sitting on the chair next to him.

"Have you given more thought about the conversation we had earlier?" the white haired man seemed uncomfortable asking the question, but he need to know that his friend had a completely clear mind at this point. The next months would be critical in rebuilding his relationship with his son. Race just didn't want him to have any thoughts flying in the back of his head.

Benton smiled, "Yes I have. To be honest, it's been hard to put those thoughts aside. What happened all those years ago with Rachel…Jonny was born almost a year after that trip to Borneo. The timeline is pretty much accurate."

Race became very quiet. He didn't want to think of the possibility of Ethan being Jonny's biological father. He had to admit the hair color, the eyes…

"But, then, after our conversation. I began looking at my family pictures and I remembered something my mother said the day she came to visit Rachel at the hospital. Jonny had been born the night before and my mother, God rest her soul, came to visit the next morning anxious to meet her grandson." The doctor smiled at the memory, "Charles, this boy looks exactly like your father."

"Charles?" Race was somewhat confused for a moment.

The doctor shrugged, "She liked my middle name better. Benton was my father's idea according to her."

"Ahh," Race nodded as he smiled.

"Anyways, now looking back, my mother always said that Jonny took after my father," he continued. "Her words, for some reason came to mind after speaking to you. My mother's word, somehow, put me at ease."

Race's brow knitted, "You are taking the words your mother said to you over twenty years ago as fact?"

"Race," Benton said seriously, "Mothers never lie." Then, the doctor smiled.

Understanding, Race laughed a bit and nodded, "Damn right."

Benton laughed too, "You are right, about everything you told me. I've saw that boy born to the most beautiful woman I'll ever know. A woman who loved me until her death. I was there for Jonny's first steps, his first words, his first achievements and his failures. It's me. It's always been me. There's no doubt in my mind that Jonny is and has always been mine. I don't need a test to tell me what I know is the truth."

"What about Ethan?"

"I'm not going to worry about Ethan," Benton replied shaking his head. "Let him live within his own delusional mind. Right now, I rather spend my energies on rebuilding my relationship with Jonny."

Somewhere between the words "Mother" and then "Charles", Jessie woke up and heard the rest of the conversation in silence. With her back turned to both men, they wouldn't have noticed that she woke up and heard the rest of the conversation.

Listening to both her father and surrogate father's gentle laughter, she smiled. Her family was almost ready to move on.

XXXXXXXXXX

Later that night, Jonny finally opened his eyes. He didn't feel his lids heavy or the yearning to sleep, but, he still feel unbelievably tired. The room was dim and he could hear the soft breathing around the room. Slowly looking around, he found Hadji and Claire sleeping on one corner of the room in the large sofa that sat by the floor to ceiling window that overlooked the city. Hadji laid on the recliner covered by a blanket. Claire lay on the rest of the sofa, she used her boyfriend's lap as her pillow. Next to them another man with white hair lay comfortably on the recliner, fast asleep. The man he had seen at the airport. He looks like Jessica's father.

Moving his gaze further right, he found Jessie on a similar recliner also asleep with a blanket covering her. He hated to wake her, but he had woken up so thirsty, it was unbearable. "Jessi…ca," he whispered so softly, but she didn't stir. Taking a breath, he tried again, "Jessic…a". He swallowed, feeling the dryness of his throat. She was completely gone.

"Son?" he heard another voice.

Turning around to his other side slowly, Jonny found his father looking at him intently, "Thirs..ty," was all he could manage to tell him.

Immediately, Benton turned to the small nightstand sitting next to his recliner and filled a cup with water from the pitcher laying next to it. Taking a straw, he placed it inside the cup and held the cup close to Jonny. He put the straw in his son's mouth, "Drink slowly."

Jonny did as told and drank very slowly, despite the desperation he felt. He did it very precisely as if he knew how much and when to drink. Benton wondered how many times was Jonny in similar situations in the past that he'd know how to behave.

When he was done, he stopped, "Thank you."

"How are you feeling?" Benton spoke low so as to not disturb the others.

"Tired," Jonny answered and then asked with a curious gaze, "Why is…everyone here?"

The doctor smiled, "We spend the evening together, talking and hoping you'd wake up again. We hadn't done that in a while, talking all together as a family. Before we knew it was two the morning." Benton shrugged, "They decided to spend the night."

Jonny didn't say a word. This seemed so strange to him.

"Where's my Master?" he suddenly asked.

The question shocked Benton slightly. But he knew that Jonny was much more alert now that the meds were wearing off. "He's detained at I-1 headquarters."

Jonny nodded gently. Benton could tell he was slightly satisfied. "Will I be detained…too? Once, I'm…well?"

"No," his father immediately shook his head.

This time, it was Jonny who was surprised. Looking at him questionably, Jonny asked, "Why? After all that we've done? I'm as…guilty as he is."

"You were under his influence," Benton answered, "Jonny, you, along with the others who Dr. Crawford…did things to, are victims. No harm will come to you or them…once they are found."

"There are many of us," Jonny said softly as he closed his eyes. "How will you…find them?"

"Let's not worry about this now, son," the doctor replied with a soothing voice. "Right now, what's important is that you get better. We will deal with the rest when the time comes."

There was a silence in the room for what seemed to be a long time. Benton thought Jonny had fallen back asleep when he suddenly spoke again, "I don't remember you. I don't… remember any one of you."

"I know." Benton responded with a sympathetic tone, "And the truth of the matter is, you may never remember Jonny. But, what you can work on starting today is build new memories with a family who loves you and wants nothing but the best for you."

Jonny looked at his father for a moment. Benton's eyes almost watered when he noticed a small gentle spark of hope coming from his son's eyes before it was gone again, "He said…you are not my father."

"Let me show you something," Benton said in a relax voice before he retrieved his wallet from his pocket. He took out three pictures and handed them to his son, "This is your grandfather when he was young."

One of the pictures was of James Quest at 3 years old. The second was of James at fifteen, and the third was of him at 24. Although the pictures were black and white, Jonny could see the light colored hair and eyes. He could also see that there was some similarities in features between James and himself.

"You look like your grandfather, from my side of the family," Benton smiled. "Your grandmother always said so, but it wasn't until earlier today when I pulled the albums out that I truly believed your grandmother's words." Then, Benton handed Jonny another picture. This one was in color and it had a young two or three year old boy smiling at the camera, "That's a picture of you when you were three. Take a look at your grandfather and take a look at yourself."

Jonny studied both pictures, the resemblance was eerie. At least to him it was.

"You have so much of your mother," Benton's smile was one of love as he spoke of Rachel, "Your eyes are hers, but the shape of your eyes, come from my side of the family. Your hair is as blonde as your mother's. But, your smile," Benton smiled sweetly, "That's mine. I hope I see that smile once again."

Benton looked at his son. Jonny's features were softer but his eyes showed somany uncertainties. Still, one in particular that he already knew the answer to, but still wanted to hear it.

"Jonathan Benton Quest, you may not look at all like me, but you are my son. You came from a family full of love. Rachel loved you until the moment she died. She made me promise to always take care of you. And I always have, because I love you, son. I will love you even after I leave this Earth. I spent an eternity trying to find you, please allow me the chance to prove how much you mean to me."

A ghost of a smile entered Jonny's lips. It was exactly what he wanted to hear. "I will do my part as well…Pop? Hadji told me… I used to call you that."

Benton's eyes watered as he nodded silently. He took his son's hand and squeezed it gently, "This is a new beginning for us Jonny. It will be challenging at times, but it is worth it!"

Jonny sighed in relief. He appreciated that his father was so open and realistic about the situation. It lessened the pressure. Yes, it would be challenging. But, very much worth it.