The Real Adventures of Jessica Bannon
TONYA (1/3)
by Laura Fort
(All of the following applies to all parts of TONYA)
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Quest Team or anything in relation. If
I did, there would be more JQ episodes on the way. Don't own Time
Magazine, or ABC, or any of the songs or singers. I especially don't own
any of the Mlers. Ya'll know the rules and the routines.
Archivers: Have at thee!!!!!!!!!
Categories: HR, A, ML, F
Summary: Jessica must learn to overcome and face her fears. No matter
what the cost.
TONYA
Part 1
"Okay. That's it for the week. I will see everyone at nine o'clock
Monday morning." Jessica Bannon stood up. "Until then, good luck on your
research."
Jessica walked out of the second floor's east conference room of the
law firm building where she worked to her car.
At age 30, she was already a successful prosecuting attorney. Not just
successful, but also famous and widely respected.
Every once in a while, she would take two weeks off from work and would
travel to an economically poor country. She would work in a village,
trying to help them get back on their feet. Jessica had donated millions
of dollars to individual organizations which helped needy children in
different areas: clothing, food, shelter, learning, diseases, the list
went on.
Earlier this year, she won the Nobel Prize for finding the vaccine for
AIDS and HIV. Jessica founded the Tonya Angel Bannon AIDS Research and
Rehabilitation Center, named after her daughter who died earlier. The
Center had room to house two thousand children, and a wonderful research
facility. The Center still received lots of publicity for their
accomplishments. In fact, they were coming close to reaching their goal
of finding the cure for AIDS and HIV.
Jessica gave birth to Tonya when she was seventeen. Tonya died three
years later from AIDS due to a contaminated blood transfusion.
Ever since her baby daughter died, Jessica devoted much of her time,
money, and skill to finding a cure for AIDS and helping children.
As she drove to her Chicago home, Jessica recalled the tragedy that
started the chain reaction of events.
Jessica had been living at the Quest Compound in Maine with her father,
Race Bannon. Race was bodyguard and friend to Dr. Benton Quest, his son
Jonny, and adopted son Hadji Singh. Jonny was a year younger than
Jessie, and Hadji was a year older than Jessie.
Jessie left school Friday evening and was walking home. She had just
finished working on her science fair project.
She had barely reached the Compound's security gates inside the forest
when a man sneaked up on her and raped her. When he left, he took her
clothes with him.
Scared, ashamed, and freezing, she sneaked up to the house. There
weren't any lights on, and she remembered that everyone had left earlier
to go on a fishing and camping trip for the weekend.
Jessie ran inside and showered, still feeling like a dirty rag that
just wouldn't clean. There were bruises all over her body, and one large
bruise on her cheek where the rapist slapped her.
The bruises had pretty much healed by Sunday evening when the guys
returned. The only noticeable one was on her cheek. She lied and said
she had been looking for something in the attic and a box fell and hit
her.
She wasn't sure if they believed her, but no one pressed the matter.
Except Hadji. He could sense that something more was wrong. But Jessie
stuck to her story, and Hadji finally gave up.
Two months later, after school was out, Jessie found out she was
pregnant. She called her mom and explained everything to Estella. She
also said that none of the guys, especially Race, knew about the rape or
the pregnancy. Estella promised she wouldn't say anything.
Estella talked to Race, explaining that she was wanting to spend some
mother-daughter time with Jessie and vice versa.
Race finally agreed to send Jessie to South Colombia where Estella was
working.
Five months later, the baby was born. Tonya weighed four pounds, and
was losing blood. She was given a blood transfusion.
A year later, baby Tonya started showing signs of being HIV Positive.
Tests proved she was, and approximately two years later, she died of
full-blown AIDS.
There was a private funeral held for Tonya Angel Bannon. Dr. Quest,
Jonny, Hadji, and Race were not notified of the funeral since they were
unaware of the baby.
After the baby's death, Jessica worked steadily, day after day, to
prevent more young children from the same fate as Tonya.
Over the years as Jessica grew more successful, the Quests never heard
from her. The only time they did was through news or from interviews on
TV or in magazines and newspapers.
Breaking out of her reverie, Jessica pulled her sleek silver Mustang
Convertible into her circular driveway. She got out of her car and
walked up to the porch.
She punched in her code to disable the front door security system.
Jessica walked inside and shut the door. The click of the door
reactivated the system.
Jessica poured herself a glass of wine and sat in a chair at the bar.
She considered eating something, but she really didn't have the energy
to fix anything. Estella's face flashed through her mind. Estella was
constantly on her case about eating properly.
"Jessica, you have got to eat. Starving yourself won't get you anywhere
except in a hospital." Estella had told her a few weeks ago after
noticing how thin Jessica had become.
"I'll eat." Jessica said out loud. "Later."
"TV on." she commanded.
The television set automatically turned on to the local news. Donna
Warren, one of Chicago's best anchorwomen, was about to give her daily
report over rising companies.
"This is Donna Warren here with the founder and owner of Quest Tele and
Space Communications, Jonathan Quest."
Jessica sat up straight. *What is Jonathan doing in Chicago?* she
thought.
Jonathan still had the same bleach-blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
When he flashed his lopsided grin at the camera, Jessica realized how
much she really missed him.
Jessica listened to the interview as Jonathan explained how his new
Youth Space Exploration Program would benefit all types of young
children and teenagers in their "quest for knowledge."
Jessica smiled sadly as her thoughts drifted to Tonya. She would have
loved to watch Tonya grow up. *Of course, Tonya would have turned
thirteen this year.* she thought sadly.
Abruptly, Jessica came back to the present.
"...and it's only a few days away, Mr. Quest. Have you decided who you
are going to take to the WorldWide Children's Charity Banquet in Paris?"
Donna asked, pointing her microphone at Jonathan.
Jonathan smiled at the camera. The same smile that made so many of
Jessica's female employees swoon.
"Well, Ms. Warren. I am currently without a date, but I am pursuing a
certain young woman."
Donna smiled slyly. "Can you give us a name or any details?"
"Sorry. I have no further comments." Donna turned to the camera.
"That's all for..."
"TV off."
The television obediently clicked off, leaving Jessica in silence.
Jessica, too, had been invited to the Banquet. After all, she was one
of the largest donors. To be precise, she was the third largest.
She briefly wondered who the lucky woman was that Jonathan was looking
for. She wished it could be her, but that probably wasn't the best
thing.
Jessica was pretty sure the Quests, Race, and Hadji knew she was living
in Chicago. If you watched the news or read the newspaper often enough,
you would know. But, if they read some of the magazines articles, they
probably even knew some information about Tonya.
She hoped not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was another hectic day at work. The latest shipment of files hadn't
arrived yet, and it was already twenty-six hours late. Jessica frowned
into the phone. "Well, tell Michael that I needed those files
YESTERDAY!"
She paused long enough to catch her breath. "Fine, but he'd better
HURRY!" She slammed the receiver into its cradle and sat down at her
desk.
*What a day. It's only eleven on Tuesday, and I'm ready for the
weekend.* she thought.
*BEEP* Jessica glanced at her intercom.
"Yes, Jaci?"
"Ms. Bannon, there is a young man here to see you."
Jessica sighed. The last thing she wanted right now was to meet with
another person. But duty calls. "Send him in, Jaci."
A few minutes alter, the door opened. Jessica glanced up into a pair of
clear blue eyes she would know anywhere. Her mouth dropped open as she
stood up. For a moment, she couldn't move.
He smiled and opened his arms. "Jess-"
She rushed into his arms, enjoying being in his warmth once again after
thirteen years.
Jonathan Quest felt her tears through his black polo shirt. He just
held her. "It's great to see you again."
Finally, Jessica pulled away. She sheepishly wiped her eyes. "I'm
sorry."
Jonathan flashed his trademark lopsided grin. "Geez, Jess. You could
call once in a while."
Jessica paled and turned away. "I...I'm sorry, Jonathan. As you can
see, and I'm sure you have heard, I've been a little busy."
"Don't worry. I'm not here to jump down your throat. I mean, you just
traded a few years of Quest life for the AIDS and HIV vaccine. Not bad."
Jonathan commented.
He held her at arm's length and gave her the once-over. "You sure are a
sight for sore eyes."
Jessica blushed and laughed a little nervously. "So, I guess you didn't
have a whole lot of trouble finding me, huh?"
Jonathan gestured to the sign for the AIDS Center. "Hey, don't forget,
the Quest team has lots of resources. But hearing about you in the news
was quite helpful."
Jessica sat down in her chair. She motioned for Jonathan to have a
seat.
"C'mon, Jess." he said as he sat down on her desk. "You know me better
than that."
He gave a skeptical once-over. "Jessica, you look great."
"You're lying." She could hear it in his voice.
Jonathan sighed. "I know. Looks like you've become a workaholic."
"What do you mean?" she asked, although she knew darn well.
He waved his arm at her. "Look at you. You've accomplished so much, and
you're only thirty. And besides, you're as thin as a pencil."
"You sound like my mother."
"Good. I think you need to hear it."
Jessica glared at him, her temper that matched her red hair slowly
rising. "You're here for only five minutes and already you're
criticizing me."
"Well, excuse me, but I'm not the one who left for fourteen years
without so much as a goodbye." Jonathan shot back.
They sat in uncomfortable silence.
Finally, Jonathan spoke up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
"Don't worry about it. I should have been nicer. You come to visit me
just to have me yell at you. I'm sorry."
"Forget it." Jonathan said.
She grinned. "By the way, congratulations on your Space Program. I hear
you're heading for the Charity Banquet later this week."
Jonathan picked up a picture of Jessica and Estella. "Yeah, I know
you're invited too. I love kids and everything, but I don't like formal
parties."
"I remember." Jessica laughed.
"So anyway, I guess one way or another, you've heard that I'm still
dateless."
Jessica opened her mouth to speak, but Jonathan beat her to it. "I want
to ask you something."
Jessica waited patiently for the question she was pretty sure was
coming. "Jess, will you accompany me to the Banquet as my date?"
Jessica grinned. It was all she could do to keep from jumping up and
kissing Jonathan. *Too early for that.* she thought. "Of course, I will.
You should know that."
Jonathan grinned back. "Well, I haven't seen you in years. Besides, I
figured that you were mad at me. Or Race. Or Dad. Or Hadji. Nobody knew
why you never came back."
Jessica's smiled faltered. She sighed deeply. "Jonathan, I can't tell
you why just yet. Although you will probably find out on Friday at the
Banquet. But I promise you this. You guys had nothing to do with why I
left."
She stood up and looked out the office window to the chaos below.
"I had some personal problems and I didn't want to drag any of you guys
in the middle of them."
Jonathan crossed the room and put his arm around her waist. "Jessica,
all four of us would have helped you. We're a family."
Jessica smiled up at him. "I know." She glanced at her feet. "I really
want to tell you, but I'm not ready yet."
Jonathan thought for a minute. He decided not to push it. "Well, what
if I find out on my own?"
"Okay. I'll give you until the day after the Banquet. If you haven't
figured it out yet, I'll tell you. Deal?"
Jonathan stuck out his hand. "Deal."
Jessica shook his hand. She smiled up at Jonathan and froze in his
gaze.
Jonathan put a hand on her shoulder and brushed a stray strand of her
crimson hair out of her face. Without thinking, without wanting to
think, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her.
*******************************
Okay, that's part one. Comments and jazz to me at laff99@hotmail.com
or laugh1999@hotmail.com
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