Disclaimer thingie: I do not own the quest people, and am not making any money, so don't sue.

Archivers: Just tell moi.

Rating: It is sad, but not angst. Its basically an HR story, but there's very little romance right now. Just hang in there okay? There's no bad language, but to be safe, 10 and up can read.

Jessie Bannon was very happy. Her mother, Estella was coming to the Quest Compound. Dr. Quest and Race had been in Colombia for a conference, and upon their return, Estella had decided to join them. It was 11:30, and the flight would land at 12:00. Hadji had gone to the airport to collect them. They'd probably be back around one.

It was so cool. Jessie hadn't seen her mom in ages. And she suspected that her dad was beginning to care about her mom, and vice versa. If only they could get remarried!

It was 7 o' clock. Jessie had waited and had involuntarily fallen asleep a few hours back. Now, as she heard the front door open, she got up and ran down the stairs. Hadji was standing there, looking crestfallen.

"Hadji, what took so long? It's seven!" Where's Mom?" she asked, unable to contain the huge smile that was breaking out on her face.

"Jessie," he replied. "Why don't you sit down."

"Why-"

"Jessie please. Something very tragic has happened. You must calm yourself. I know it'll be traumatic, but please-"

"What happened?" asked Jessie in a small voice.

Hadji swallowed before continuing.

"Their plane crashed."

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Jessie standing up. "How are they, where are they? Are they going to be fine? When-"

Hadji put his hands on Jessie's shoulders and sat her down.

"They did not survive."

Jessie's head began spinning. For a minute, her whole world went upside down.

No, no, no, she thought. No this can't be. No way. He's lying.

"You're a liar, Hadji Singh!" she screamed. "You're lying to me! You stupid jerk! You liar! You liar! Liar! Liar!"

She collapsed onto his chest.

"You're a liar, a liar." She said softly, weeping into his chest. Just then, Jonny came in.

"Jess, what's..." he said, surprised. It wasn't everyday that Jessie Bannon wept hysterically.

"Jonny!" she said, running to him, and holding him." Hadji's a liar. A big, big, big liar. I hate him. " She mumbled incoherently.

Jonny stroked her head soothingly and threw Hadji a quizzical glance.

"There is bad news, my friend." Hadji said, pulling Jessie away from Jonny and putting his arm around Jonny.

"Jonny, there was a plane crash. I am extremely sorry, but no one survived."

Jonny did not cry. He did not scream. He just stared at Hadji, as if not accepting his presence. His mind couldn't accept this news. It was impossible.

He just pushed Hadji aside and staggered up his stairs mumbling "Later".

Jessie was running. She didn't know where she was going. She was just running as fast as she could. She couldn't see anything. There was so much fog. She wanted to stop, but her mind told her to go on. For the first time in her life, she was terrified. There was something behind her. She didn't know what it was, and she didn't want to know what it was. Then abruptly, she came to a halt. There were shapes. Forms in the mist. It was a boy, and she knew he was beautiful beyond human measure, even though she couldn't clearly see him. And she suddenly knew that he was as lost as she. Her intuition told her that they were looking for the same thing. What it was, she didn't know.

Jessie woke up with a start. She was drenched in sweat. She was also breathless.

Water, she thought. I need water.

She quietly tiptoed down the stairs, not wanting to disturb Jonny, who had disappeared into his room when Hadji had told him the bad news, and hadn't shown his face since. Jessie suddenly felt guilty. In her grief, she had forgotten all about his anguish. Maybe should have gone to his room. But she couldn't. She had lost both parents in one accident. In one moment, her entire world had collapsed. One second she'd been planning her parents' marriage, the next minute she was told that they were dead.

What'll happen to me? she wondered, tears filling her eyes, making them look like the clearest blue-green lakes. Where will I go? She had no relatives. Jonny would probably go to his Grandpa Doug, but what would happen to her.

As she reached the kitchen, she heard muffled sobs. Jonny was sitting on the table, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Jonny..." she whispered, pulling a chair and sitting beside him. He turned away, unwilling to exhibit his weakness.

"Go...to...bed, Jess." He mumbled, between rapid breaths.

"Jonathan," she said, softly. "I'm your best friend. I know how you're suffering Jonny, and I can understand, because I've lost my parents too." She felt the lump rising in her throat.

"Jonny, please don't turn away from me." She whimpered, crying now. "I need you."

"Jess."

They held each other as they cried. They felt like lone crusaders, fighting against the whole world. Jessie's grip on him tightened as she thought about what would happen next. Jonny would go to his grandfather's ranch. She would be sent somewhere she didn't know. Nothing else mattered anymore. There was nothing to worry about, since there was nothing left in her life. Nothing made sense, and nothing was real. In Jessie's life, there was only a mist that made everything else unclear.

Doug Wildey arrived at the Quest Compound the very next morning. He was here to take Jonny with him. Doug couldn't understand what Mother Nature had against the poor boy. First his mother had died, leaving him to Benton Quest, who had also been devastated at the loss of his beloved wife. He had been almost killed several times in his youth. Now his father had died.

He must be really upset, thought Doug. There was one more problem. Jessie. Of course he'd take the poor kid with him. There was no other choice.

The funeral took place in the Rockport Cemetery the next evening. There were more than three thousand people. Jonny knew his father had been a great person, but he had no idea that Dr. Quest had touched so many peoples' lives.

It was hard to believe that he would never see his dad again. They'd been through so many difficult and happy times together. Benton Quest had spoiled him, had loved him and had taught him well. And they had been proud of each other. After his mom had died, Jonny's sole comfort had been his dad. They'd made such a great team, him, his dad, Hadji and Race...

Race. Race was gone too. Jonny felt the tears in his eyes. Race had been such a great friend. But now, Jonny would never see Race again. Never again would they go off to some exotic locale, and fight some dangerous lunatic. Never again would Race put his arm around him and give him great friendly advice. There would be no more times when he'd go with Race for a drive. It was impossible. Race was invincible. How could he die?

But then a realization awoke inside him, bringing a fresh wave of sadness and tears. Race and his dad were dead. There would be no more father-son vacations, or heart-to-heart talks with Race. Never again would Jonny sit in the VR lab and expect his dad to come and shout at him (though he softened later) because of the system's breakdown. He would never get to hear the good-natured 'son' and 'kiddo' ever again. It was over. His dad and Race were dead, and so was Estella, Jessie's mom.

Jessie...

It must be so hard for her, he thought. And I haven't been much help.

He turned toward the three coffins, and saw her tiny form in black mourning clothes. She was being brave, trying not to cry, but failing.

I have Grandpa Doug, she has no one.

Jonny also saw Jade standing there. Not in her usual sexy attire, but in a long, plain black frock. She wasn't crying, but close. Diana Cruz stood close by, sobbing quietly. Natasha Rostova was there too, standing perfectly still, as if in a daze. Next in line was Marie Metier, poor woman, she looked like a forlorn dog who'd just lost its master.

Alice Starseer was there too, and the president of Prague. There was the famous captain Havell, the Malaysian Prime Minister and Dr. Zin. Jonny vaguely wondered if Dr. Zin was responsible for this, but he immediately rejected the idea when he saw the acute sadness on Zin's face.

Why is he here anyway? Thought Jonny.

Jonny was surprised to see Irena Kafka there, too. Neela and Pasha stood off to one side.

So many people are here today, thought Jessie. But not one can bring my father or mother back.

How could this be happening, she wondered. Could here parents, could Race Bannon, man of action, and Estella Velasquez, woman of knowledge, actually be lying in old wooden boxes, waiting to be buried six feet under the ground? Had these three thousand people actually come from around the world to say goodbye to her parents? Goodbye? Did it mean that Race and Estella were going away forever? How could her mother die? It wasn't possible, and it just wasn't fair. Jessie hated this world. She hated all its inhabitants.

They're all liars, she thought. Each and every one of them. Since yesterday they've been telling me that it's all going to be fine. Maybe I would've believed them if Mom and Dad had been lying in a hospital, completely broken. Maybe I would've thought that everything was going to be just fine. But now? Now they're dead. Gone. They're not coming back, no matter what these old fools say. These liars. I hate them.

An anguished sob escaped her throat. She'd thought she'd cried herself out. She thought that there were no tears left. But she was wrong. There were more. She was going to cry her whole life.

Jessie tried to stop herself, but in vain, for once scratched, these wounds never stopped bleeding.

"Mommy, Daddy, I need you." She whispered. "Where are you?"

After everyone had left, Jonny stood by his father's grave. It was so fresh. Jonny was amazed. His father was in there. His dad. The guy who'd once carried him around was now lying in the wet earth in front of him. Beside Dr. Benton Quest lay Roger Tomlinson Bannon. No way. Surely, Race would come up behind him, wearing his red shirt. His mind told him to leave. But his body wouldn't comply.

Those times are all gone, Jonathan. All the people are gone.

Race Bannon and Benton Quest existed only in his memory now. Even that would fade away. He'd forget them.

No!

He turned to run, and noticed a small figure, dressed in black standing beside a tree. Jessie. He wanted to go to her. He wanted to reach out to her. She could understand his pain. She was his best friend. He wanted her comfort, and he wanted to comfort her. But he couldn't, because some of his father's friends came up beside him, and took him away.

Jessie was running. Running as fast as she possibly could. As fast as her legs would carry her. There was mist everywhere, and she couldn't see where she was going. Someone was chasing her. The whole world was chasing her. Running after her, telling her to relax. She hated them, she was afraid of them. They were liars. She abruptly stopped. She saw a figure in the mist. It was a boy, now she could clearly see him. It was Jonny. He was lost and scared, just like her. He wanted what she wanted. Comfort. But she couldn't give it to him, because the world stood between them.

Part two coming soon! Hope you liked it. Comments, dirty/clean underwear, to mmmbabe83@hotmail.com