This is my second attempt to write about Jonny Quest, but the first one I finished. If you aren't much for angst or HR (yes, they CAN be mixed) this isn't for you. All you others, give me critic, comments, anything. A reaction of any kind is a good thing. Indifference is the worst danger in this world, ya know.

It was a just a regular morning at the Quest Compound. Or was it?

For Jonathan Quest, it was all but regular. The young adventurer sat at the kitchen-table, eyeing a letter in his hand, reading the content over and over again, not really able to grasp it.

  "It's not possible. It's NOT possible!" He repeated to himself again and again.

She was gone.

How many times he repeted those words, he still couldn't believe it. He looked up from the letter, and any spectator would draw a surprised breath, because there was tears glimmering in his blue eyes. He - who always showed a strong and happy face, no matter what happened around him - he was now crying, crying like he hadn't cried since his mother died. And that was a long time ago.

"God, I miss you" he whispered as his thought dwindled back to the day when they first had met.

 His father, Dr Benton Quest, had recently decided to hire a life-guard, in case there was a real danger behind those letters of hate and threats that he had recieved the last couple of weeks.

Race Bannon had proven to be a good choice; physically in ultimate top-shape, his mind and will strong and quick.

When he had moved in, he had brought his daughter, Jessica, with him. At first, Jonny found it strange to have the girl around all the time, and he preferred to play with Hadji, the indian boy that Dr Quest had adopted. But in time they had become friends, him and Jessie, and their friendship had been tested many times, but in the end it had always stood the test.

He remembered when she had almost been killed, that time back in Cairo. He had been outside himself of rage and sorrow, furious at the thought of his incapability to do anything for her. That time, she had pulled through, but it had been close, so frightening close.

And during the last six months of their life, their relation had changed. He couldn't quite set his finger on it, but something was different. It could be just a change in her tone, or a quick glance when she didn't think he saw it.

And slowly, his mind cleared up, and the mist that was dimming his eyes had been lifted.

Last night, they had been sitting out by the cliffs, high above the water below. It was a clear night, and the stars filled the dark sky with it's numerous lights. Just been sitting there, not speaking, not moving. Just being. Being together.

His hand had moved, slowly and hesitating, and finaly come to rest on her hand on the ground. She had just kept starring straight forward, like she didn't noticed. But he felt, more than saw, the tiny trembling that shook her body by the touch.

"Hey" he said softly. "Are ya cold?"

She had looked down, and nodded silently. So he had moved in closer, putting his arm around her waist and pulled her back so she leaned against his shoulder.

A millenium years past.

Then a sigh had shook her beautiful frame, and still looking up at the stars, she spoke for the first time since they came.

"Jonny? What is happening?

"What?"

She shrugged a little. "You know."

He sat silent for a while.

"I... I don't know" he said. "But I don't think it's anything bad."

Her mouth wrinkled into a weak smile. "I guessed you would say something like that."

Then she shifted, uncomfortably and turned her head, looking straight at him, with her deep green-colored eyes.

"But I'm serious. I'm scared, Jonny."

"Scared? What for?"

She met his gaze a long time before she answered.

"You. I'm scared of you" her voice was trembling.

He leaned his face away from her, looking at her confused.

"Of me?" he said in wonder. "But you... I... You know you have no reason to... I..."

He stopped, not being able to found the words. But before he could rephrase, she interrupted him.

"Yes, you. I... Well, it's not really you. It's me too. And what you make me feel."

He could really not find the words this time.

"The way...? You... Jeez, Jess, what are you saying? Do you... I mean... " His voice trailed off to silence.

She looked at him and smiled that weak smile again, very softly running her finger down his cheek.

"I... I don't know... I'm so confused, Jonny." A tone of pain cut through her voice. "I just..."

She took a deep breath, then shrank back. "I just want to sit here for a while, okay?" With that she turned away and looked out in the dark again, her back leaned against his chest, his arms around her waist.

Jonny tried to clear the fog that was gathering in his head.and dulling his mind. He had always seen Jessie as a friend, a really good friend. In fact, the best friend he had.

Sure, he had sometimes imagined what it would be like if there had been something more between them, but he had never really thought that it would happen. He knew that their friendship would be endangered, and that was the one thing in the world that he really feared, the one thing he didn't want to loose, not for anything, not even... He yanked his thought away. No. No way. It just couldn't happen to him.

But as he silently argumented with himself, the knowledge that he had tried to suppress for so long kept struggling up to the surface of his mind, and finaly he had to admit to himself what he had tried to ignore. He had feelings for her, strong feelings. He had not been willing to admit them, because he simply was certain that she would never return them. But now, of what she had said...

He leaned his head forward, smelling the sweet scent of her fiery, glowing red hair. He touched her neck with his lips, and again, he felt how she trembled. Then she turned around, looking into his eyes, and her emerald eyes were filled with divided emotions.

Then, with the faintest sigh, she leaned forward, and closing her eyes, her lips opened and met his in the softest of kisses. The kiss lasted for several seconds, and then she drew back.

He leaned forward to kiss her again, but she shrank back, and shook her head.

"No..." she whispered, looked at him with tears in her eyes. "It's not right... not like this. I... I'm sorry." There was pain in her voice, and it cut Jonny right in the heart. She rose to her feet, still holding his hand in hers.

"I'm sorry."

She walked backwards, away from him, and disappearing into the night.

His whole being was crying out after her, and he was overwhelmed by a desire to run after her, catching her and kiss her deep and long. But he didn't. He just stayed at the cliffs, blindly looking out in the void, his head swirling chaotic with emotions and thoughts. Not until the several hours later, he rose and slowly walked into the house and to his room, where he fell into a uneasy and restless sleep.

The next morning, when he had eaten breakfast, and went upstairs to se if Jessie was awake, he found the letter. It was one of those white envelopes with flowers on, that she frequently used, and on it was written his name with that flowing, elegant handwriting that he knew so well.

And now he sat in the kitchen, reading the short letter over and over again.

 Jonny Quest starred blindly straight forward. *I never had a chance to tell you*, he thought. *I didn't know how...*