The lights slowly turned back on for intermission and Jessie stretched in her seat. Jonny turned to her, reminding her of a small boy looking for approval.

It was wonderful," she sighed, smiling at him. "Thanks again Jonny."

She reached over and straightened his tie. He had been fiddling with it again. Despite his usually askew tie, he looked great. He had brought a dark suit with him for the occassion. On the other hand, Jessie didn't have anything so she'd gone on a quick shopping trip. She was dressed in a sleeveless baby blue dress and strapped baby blue sandals. Jonny had smiled appreciatively at her when he saw her in it and she immediately decided that the exorbitant price she had paid for the outfit was all worth it.

"I hate intermissions," she complained. "They're just lengthier commercials."

Jonny chuckled.

"This was really thoughtful of you," she added. "You even got the best seats in the house. Thanks a billion."

Jonny tugged on a lock of her hair. "Consider this a welcome home present."

"Okay, I will."

The lights dimmed and they both lapsed into silence. The stage became once again a glow of lights, and moving bodies. Jessie stared at the production, once or twice Jonny glanced over at her face. What he saw was good. Two hours later, the people filed out into the street, getting into limousines and hailing cabs. Jonny and Jessie managed to snag a cab.

"The Waldorf," Jonny instructed the cabbie.

Jessie's eyes rounded as large as saucers.

"Are you kidding me? We're staying there?!?" She regarded him suspiciously. "Or just for a drink?"

Jonny feigned hurt. "Jessie, this is me we're talking about. I wouldn't raise your spirits like that and then have them fall."

For the second time that day, Jessie let out a gleeful cry. He laughed as she threw her arms around his neck and his laughter was cut off as he was nearly choked in the process.

"Calm down, Jess. It was nothing."

The cabbie looked at them from the rearview mirror.

"Don't listen to a word he says, ma'am. Those Waldorf people are difficult to talk to. Give him all you got," he sneered, winking at Jessie.

Jonny glared at the jamaican man and put a protective arm across the back of the seat. The cabbie only smiled apologetically and went back to weaving his way through the traffic of Times Square.

The cab stopped in front of the hotel. Jonny paid the cabbie and jogged after Jessie who made her way through the cars stopped in traffic to the sidewalk. He snagged her elbow before she could leave him freezing outside.

"I'm really sorry about that," he said, referring to the cabbie's lewd comments.

She smiled. "That's wasn't your fault." She patted his cheek affectionately. "Besides, I wouldn't let something so tiny and unimportant ruin this wonderful night. Why would you think that I was bothered by it?"

He shrugged, the boyishness in him coming through in the one gesture. "You just walked to the hotel kinda fast..."

She grinned and took his arm, leading him to the dining room. "I was just excited and very hungry," she explained.

He smiled. "Oh. In that case, nevermind."

They were seated quickly by the Maitre'd. Jonny helped Jessie to her seat, and signaled the waiter. He ordered a bottle of Chardonnay and appetizers in the form of calamari. Jessie munched on them, trying to take her time despite her protesting stomach.

"Hungry, Jess?" Jonny asked, grinning.

Jessie smiled a close-mouthed smile to prevent her calamari from being the table's centerpiece. She chewed quickly and swallowed, taking a sip of her Chardonnay.

"Well, maybe just a little," she replied.

"So, how did you like tonight?" he asked, leaning back in his seat, relaxed.

Jessie raised her glass in salute. "To you, my friend. For an almost perfect night."

Jonny mirrored her action, with a raised eyebrow. "Almost? Then what would be perfect exactly?"

"I'll let you know," she answered cryptically.

They ordered and ate, taking their time. Jonny told her of the adventures he had gone on while she'd been gone and Jessie asked all the questions he knew she would. All in all, it was the perfect end to Jessie's almost perfect evening.

When Jonny started to show signs of fatigue, Jessie urged him to go to bed. She was still reeling from the night's activities and was far from sleep, but Jonny had been up since five that morning. They picked up their keys from the front desk; their rooms were right next door to each other. She walked him to his, and waited for him to unlock the door before pouncing on him again.

"Goodnight, Jonny." She tilted her head back and smiled up at him. "Thanks again."

Jonny stared down at her and felt his pulse quicken. An urge to kiss Jessie filled his whole being, and a muscle in his jaw twitched as he fought it. It was fortunate that Jessie had taken that moment to dig through her purse for her room key and didn't see it. It would have taken some quick thinking to explain himself.

Jessie hand closed around the key and she smiled triumphantly. Jonny smiled back stiffly. She was surprised at his response, but chalked it up to exhaustion. He waited for her to unlock the door. Unexpectedly, she got on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. She felt his indrawn breath and the tensing of his shoulders.

"There's a first," she joked, wanting to lighten the moment. She definitely hadn't expected that reaction.

Jonny nodded again and pulled out all the stops to be able to smile normally at her. It must have worked because she smiled back, obviously relieved.

"Goodnight, Miss Bannon," he said formally, his voice low.

"Goodnight, Mr. Quest," she said just as formally, curtseying.

You're in big trouble, Jonny-boy.

Jessie sat in a warm bubblebath. It had been a great night. She never thought she could have this kind of fun with Jonny. Was it because the play was excellent, dinner was superb, or was it because she let herself enjoy his company so much? It was almost...datelike.

Next to her, the phone rang and she gratefully stopped her train of thought to reach over to answer it. That was not how she wanted to think of Jonny. As a date. He was...well he was...Jonny.

"Hello," she answered.

"Uh, hello. Is Jonny Quest there please?" the caller sounded very, very uncomfortable.

She sat up quickly, and the water swished around her.

"Hadji?"

"Jessie! What are you doing in...oh dear, I'm so sorry, I didn't--"

"No!" she interrupted. "It's nothing like that at all. You got the wrong room number. We must have mixed up the keys."

"Oh," he said, sounding, strangely enough, disappointed. "So, how are you?"

"Pretty good. We had a great night. I'd tell you all about it, but I'm sure Jonny would want to. Are you at the compound?"

"No. I"m staying at the bed and breakfast nearby."

"Why didn't you just go home?"

"I--um--brought someone with me."

"Then, why din't you take them...ohhhhh." She felt like an idiot. "I see." Jealousy choked her and she didn't say anything. She couldn't.

"I took her to the house when we arrived and Dr. Quest and your dad seemed to like her," he was saying. "I hope you will too. I better go. I'll see you tomorrow, Jessie."

"Bye, Hadj."

Jessie held on to the receiver even when the dial tone came on. Her knuckled turned white from her tight grip. Her mind wrapped around the fact that Hadji had a girlfriend and she felt as low as she possibly could.

Jessie sighed and let herself breathe slowly. She sank deeper into the foam. She tried to relax. It didn't work. She just kept on thinking about Hadji and his girlfriend.

You're in trouble, Jess

The phone ran next to where Race sat in the large living room and he picked it up without taking his eyes off the television..

"Hello," he said.

"Hi, Dad," said a much missed voice.

Race sat up and grinned. "Hey, darlin'. How are you?"

Benton hurriedly paused the movie they had been watching and turned to Race.

In her hotel room, Jessie bit back a flurry of words and replied simply.

"Fine."

"Just fine? I've heard dead men more excited than you. I thought you'd have had the time of your life over there."

Jessie frowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Race was taken aback. "Nothing at all." A tiny smile appeared on his face. "What's going on, Jess?"

He heard her sigh loudly.

"Nothing that I can't fix."

Race let it go at that.

"How was the show?" he asked.

Jessie launched into a detailed description of her night, a touch of excitement back in her voice.

"It was wonderful. I owe Jonny big time," she finished.

"That's great, sweetheart. Well, I better go. You need your rest."

"Okay. I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Ponchita."

Benton began to gesture frantically and Race added hurriedly, "Hang on. Someone over here wants to speak to you."

Jessie's breath was suspended as Race handed the phone over. She let it out in a rush when Dr. Quest's voice came on the line.

"Hello, Dr. Quest," she greeted. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. And how about you, my dear?"

"Things are going smoothly."

"Would it be too much to ask for me to speak to my son?"

"Of course not. Anything for my favorite archaeologist."

Benton laughed and when Jessie went to get Jonny he whispered to Race, "She's getting my son."

Race frowned, then looked positively thunderous. "I swear, Benton, if they..."

Benton waved him quiet when Jonny came on.

"Hey, Pop," he greeted cheerily. "Jess went across the hall to get me in her pajamas, so I hope you said thank you."

Keeping his eyes on Race, Benton replied, "Why don't you tell her for me?"

"I will."

They spoke for a few more minutes, then Benton let him go. Seconds after he hung up, Race picked the phone up and got connected to the front desk of the Waldorf.

"Is there a Jonny Quest in your guest book?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Is there a Jessie Bannon in a separate room?"

"No, sir," said the amused concierge.

Race redenned with rage. Benton calmly took the phone and asked, "It there a Jessica Bannon there?"

"Yes, sir."

"In a separate room?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you." Benton put the phone down and glanced at Race.

Race smiled ruefully.

"Benton, I think age is getting to me. I was acting like a horse with a burr in his saddle. I should be able to trust those kids. God knows, I trust them with my life so I should trust them with theirs."

Benton have a sharp nod.

"You're right, of course, but neither of us can help worrying. They may be adults, but they're still our children."

Race sank deeper into the armchair.

"Yeah." He rubbed his eyes. "How about telling me about that trip your friend invited you on."

"His name is James Bernard, an old college buddy of mine. He's a professor in the University of Tokyo and I haven't seen him in years. He asked me if we would lke to visit and see Japan. I thought it would be a fun vacation to take. We don't need to investigate anything and we can spend some time with our kids. If they want to go that it, but I doubt that they won't want to."

Race rubbed his chin. "That is a good idea, Benton. What about, Hadji? He's just been there."

"Eiko is only staying here for two weeks. Maybe he'll go wtih her and meet us there. We'll be staying in Japan for almost a month, unless you have any objections."

"None at all." Race smiled. "Can you believe Hadji? He's so in love with Eiko. Watching them makes my teeth ache. She's a smart little thing, too. I was putting together a little chemistry experiment the other day and she helped me out. Said she used to dabble around chemistry, even poisonous substances. She even discovered an interesting way to use morphine, she said, but she wouldn't tell me exactly what."

"I'm not even going to ask what that 'little chemisty experiment' was. I suppose it had something to do with that little explosion in the field the other day," Benton said.

Race looked everywhere but him.