Title: Cortez's Collection 3/4 Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: February 14, 1999 (Happy Valentine's Day) Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Future/PG Archivers: Have at it, you've my permission. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the JQ-niverse or any of it's affiliates. I do own Jared Cortez (the baddie) so you have to ask my permission if you want to use him. Cortez's Collection Race watched Jessie head toward the house. He had witnessed the scene in the pool with Jared's nephew. Even though he knew that Jesse could and would take care of Tony if he was too persistent, even though he knew that Tony was literally playing with fire, he still worried about his not-so-little, little Ponchita. "She is a beautiful woman, isn't she?" Jared asked. "I have to agree you've hit the top with this one, Mr. Cortez," Race answered. "Please, call me Jared," he requested. "Okay, Jared," Race agreed trying it out. "Now back to business. Shall we go in and have something to drink?" Jared offered. "I don't see why not," Race accepted. "What would you like?" Jared asked as they entered the house. "Some ice water and a good deal," Race answered. Jared laughed. "You can't be too careful when it comes to selling women on the Black Market. I think though that I will be keeping Marie for my own pleasures, my own private collection, much to your disappointment I'm sure," he said. Jared didn't know how angry, not disappointed, Race was. He also laughed inwardly at the joke that was being played on Jared, and continued to form the plan that would get his daughter out of here and out of this creep's reach. This creep and his nephew. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie had showered and was just finishing dressing. She wore filmy, yellow, billowy pants and a cream shirt. She was running a comb through her silky hair when she saw the door open in her mirror. She turned around expecting Jared, but got Amanda, Amy, Julia, and the tall girl whose name was Sandra. Jessie heaved a relieved sigh and smiled. "Glad to see us?" Amanda asked. "You bet," Jessie confirmed. "Better us then Jared," Julia huffed. "You can say that again," Sandra agreed. "You guys make him sound worse than he is," Jessie defended. "He hasn't tried it yet, has he?" Sandra asked. "Tried what?" Jessie asked hesitantly. "It," Amanda emphasized. Jessie understood what the girls were saying. "No, he hasn't," Jessie admitted. "Then he will soon," Amy assured. "Well, he won't get very far," Jessie promised. "I hope not. Look, we'd better get back. We've got to change," Julia apologized. The girls all said good-bye and left. Jessie stood there thinking about what they had said. It scared her in a certain way, but she knew she could handle it. She was strong. Jessie jumped when the door opened. Jared walked in and Jessie watched him carefully. "I hope you've been having fun. I saw you seemed to fit in well with the girls," he commented. "I want you to let me go," Jessie demanded. "I'm sorry, Marie. But, I can't do that," Jared apologized. He moved closer to her and Jessie tensed up. Jared noticed. "What's wrong, do I scare you?" Jared asked lightly laughing. Jessie glared at him. He was enjoying her fear. She hid it, but couldn't seem to release her tenseness. Jared moved behind her and began to rub her shoulders. "Relax Jessie. I would never hurt you," Jared promised. "Get away from me," Jessie warned moving forward away from him and turning to face him. Jared laughed lightly again. "You don't want me to do that now do you?" he asked. He moved his whole body closer to hers. "Do you?" he whispered. Jared leaned close to kiss her. Memories came back to her, memories of one of her stepfather's named Jared. Jessie ran out of the room with tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran to her father's room, which was on the next floor up. He was just coming out of his room when she got to it. Jessie fell into Race's arms sobbing. Race looked down the hall then pulled Jessie into his room. He sat her down in the chair at the desk. "What's wrong, Jessie?" he asked when her sobbing had subsided. "I want out of here," Jessie requested in a shaky voice. Race looked at her. She was definitely hurt over something. "I promise to get you out as soon as possible," Race agreed deciding not to pry. Jessie nodded. Then she stood up. "I better go," she said. "Be careful, Jessie," Race said. Jessie gave her father a smile before she left the room. Race stared at where Jessie had just left. He puffed out his cheeks and ran his hand through his hair. Then he sat down on the bed and wondered what Jared had done to Jessie. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie got back to her room and saw that Jared had already vacated it. A silver metallic dress was hanging on the post. Below it were matching silver heels and pinned to it was a note from Jared. It informed her of the dinner date they had with her father that night at eight. Jessie threw the note away. She still had the whole afternoon to blow away before she needed to get ready. She spent it listening to CDs and trying to forget what Jared had tried that afternoon. At seven Jesse started her preparations for her dinner date. She dressed, did her makeup and combed her hair. The dress was low cut at the top with two straps that hooked together back behind her neck holding the dress up. It was cut high at the hem and Jesse kept tugging at it. It was almost seven-thirty when Jesse heard a knock at the door. She watched Jared enter dressed in slacks and a sports coat. Her father was behind him. "Shall we go?" he asked offering his arm. Jessie reluctantly took it and walked down the steps and into a limo with Jared, her whole body tense. Jessie wondered if the limo was the same horrible one that had brought her to this awful place. "I'll follow in my car," Race promised motioning to the sleek black car that was his pride and joy second only to Jessie and Vanessa. "Deal, Robert. See you soon," Jared agreed. He rolled up the window and they were off. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie sat by Jared in a very fancy restaurant. Everywhere people were either serving, dancing, or dining. Jessie listened mostly to the music being played by the live band, but every now and then she would listen to what her father and Jared were talking about. "If you'll excuse me for a moment," Jared apologized just as they were finishing the main course. He got up and left. "Shall we dance?" Race asked Jessie. Jessie accepted and they got up and moved to the dance floor. They danced around quite a bit until they were out of sight of the bodyguard. "Take my car," Race said handing Jessie his keys. "Park five blocks down toward the mansion around the corner." Jesse accepted them thankfully. "But, what are you going to tell Jared?" she asked. "You let me worry about that," Race said. "Now go." Jessie hugged her father then quickly left looking back only once for reassurance. Race made his way back to the table. Jared had returned. "Where's Marie?" he asked a little alarmed. "She said she had to use the lady's room," Race excused. "Oh," Jared said sitting down and inviting Race to do so also. Five minutes later he had one of the waitresses check the bathroom. She came back with a negative answer, as Race knew she would. "She's run away. She does it often," Jared reasoned. Race laughed on the inside knowing Jared was lying. "I'll help you," he offered. "Great, why don't you take Ernie and I'll take Vic," Jared proposed. "Okay, I'll go this way. ", Race suggested. They were now outside and he was pointing toward the way Jessie was parked five blocks down. Jared agreed and he was off being trailed by Ernie. Race took off the way he'd indicated with Vic right behind him. Race pretended to be looking for his daughter. They were silent the whole way. After they had gone three blocks Race stopped. "Why don't you check down that way?" Race suggested pointing down a side street. "I'll keep going this way. " Ernie protested. "Do you want me to tell your boss that you don't follow orders very well?" Race asked threateningly. Ernie started down the side street grumbling. Race started walking again casually. When he couldn't see or hear Ernie anymore he ran to the car. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie waited where her father had told her to, leaning against the car. A few times guys walking by had whistled or made some remark about her beauty of even tried to pick her up. She had ignored them all and waited tensely for her father. Finally she saw him and unlocked the doors just as he was reaching the door on the driver's side. They got in and relocked the doors. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked at her. Jessie smiled. "Let's go, which way to the hotel?" he asked. "It's on Broadmore," Jessie answered. Race started the car then put it into gear. The car smoothed forward and was soon speeding down the highway with the other cars. They didn't seem to notice the vehicles that followed theirs a few cars behind. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Race took a long, maze like route to the hotel. "This one," Jessie said pointing to one of the hotels in a line of them. Race drove around a little more before finally turning into the parking lot and parking. They got out of the car and went into the hotel. They wandered around before finally heading to their rooms. Jessie knocked on Jonny's door. She didn't have to wait long to see his face light up in surprise and relief at seeing both her and Race. He pulled them in and closed the door behind them. 'What are you doing here Race?" Jonny asked. "I'm here on business," Race answered. "Is your dad here?" "Yeah, he's in there," Jonny answered pointing toward a pair of closed double doors. Race headed toward them and soon disappeared behind them. As soon as he was gone Jonny and Jessie kissed. They were so glad to see each other. Jonny put her at arm length and looked her over. "What happened to you?" he whispered his question. "A lot, but I'll tell you about it after I change," Jessie said. "Good idea," Jonny agreed. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie slipped out of the room and into Jared's gang. Vic soon had one arm encompassing both her arms and her waist and the other one cupped over her mouth. Jared stepped forward and clicked his tongue in disappointment. "I'm disappointed in you Marie. Why did you try to run away?" he asked. Jessie kicked and struggled. Vic lifted her off the ground. One of Jessie's shoes flew off her feet and hit the door hard. In seconds Jonny had opened the door and when he did he was pulled out of the room by another bodyguard who held his arms behind his back. "Jessie, what's going on?" Jonny asked her. "Yes, Marie, do tell," Jared ordered. Vic pulled his hand away from Jessie's mouth and held her tightly with it around her shoulders. "How did you find us?" Jessie asked Jared instead. "I'm persistent. I don't let any of my girls go," Jared answered with a smile. "Who are you, and what do you want with Jessie?" Jonny asked. "No, who are you?" Jared asked. Jonny looked at Jessie with questions in his eyes. Jessie looked past him and saw her father walk out of the room farther down the hall. She moved her eyes away, but not soon enough. Jared spotted him. "Mr. Peterson, how nice of you to join us," Jared said. Race closed the door and walked toward them. "Looks like you found her, but who is this?" Race asked innocently gesturing to Jonny. "I don't know, maybe you should tell me, Race Bannon," Jared snarled. "I don't know- " Race began. "Don't play stupid with me," Jared threatened. "Now, I want to know who this is." "My name is Jonny, Jonny Quest. Now you answer my question," Jonny barked. "I am Jared Cortez and Marie," he said gesturing to Jessie, "Is my property. " Jonny didn't know what to say. "Jonny, it's a long story like I said," Jessie explained. "Come, bring those two and tie Race up in the room," Jared ordered walking off. Title: Cortez's Collection 4/4 Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: February 16, 200 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Future/PG Archivers: Have at it, you've my permission. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the JQ-niverse or any of it's affiliates. I do own Jared Cortez (the baddie) so you have to ask my permission if you want to use him. Cortez's Collection Dr. Quest and Hadji listened to the conversation out in the hall. They waited until they were sure the bodyguard had left the other room before they entered it. They saw Race tied to a chair and quickly untied him. "I'm sorry- " Race began to apologize. "No time for that right now. We have to get our kids back," Benton interrupted. Race agreed and they began to ready themselves. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB In the limo Jessie sat beside Jared facing Jonny. Under Jared's command she was telling Jonny the whole story. "Amanda Flint is there also, has been for two months," she was just finishing. "You must be talking about Joanne," Jared mused. "I'm talking about Amanda Flint," Jessie corrected. Jared laughed. "Don't worry Jessie, we'll get out of this. We always do," Jonny assured. "I don't doubt it for a minute," Jesse said keeping her eyes on Jonny. She was so uncomfortable sitting next to Jared. He was like a snake or some kind of annoying, disgusting insect disguised as a prince. But, he was no prince, Jessie knew. He was just a common thief. "You two need to get used to the idea that you will spend the rest of your lives with me," Jared said shaking his head. "You forget who my father is," Jessie reminded. "Your father is over glorified is all," Jared said with a wave of his hand. Both Jonny and Jessie wanted to laugh out loud. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "Put them in Marie's room for now," Jared ordered as they stepped into the house. Jonny and Jessie were escorted into Jessie's former room. The door was locked behind them. Jessie sat down on the bed and sighed. "Are you okay?" Jonny asked. He crouched in front of her and rubbed her upper arms. "I'm just tired," Jessie said, "It's been a long day." "For both of us," Jonny sighed. "I bet," Jessie said smiling at him. Jonny took Jessie's hands and pulled her to her feet. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. Things seemed better just holding her. Jonny could feel Jessie's tense muscles relax. "I would be grateful if you would get away from my Marie," Jared's voice said. Just that one sound made Jessie tense up again. Jonny and Jessie turned toward Jared their arms still around each other. "I'm not yours," Jessie rebelled. "Au contraire, but you are," Jared countered. This remark just made Jonny and Jessie move closer to each other. They weren't about to let scum like Jared part them. "Either get away from her or I will force you away from her," Jared threatened. "Just try it," Jonny challenged. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "The place is lit up like high noon. Things have become more challenging," Race said. "It looks as if they are planning a trip," Hadji commented. "Yeah, to get Jessie and maybe even Jonny to another location," Race speculated. "How will we get them out of there?" Benton asked. "Very carefully," Race answered. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jared watched the two closely. Jessie was barefoot, but she was still wearing the silver dress. She still looked stunning. Next to her Jonny was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. "You know I don't handle things on my own, I hire men to do that," Jared answered Jonny's challenge. "Vic, Hugo, restrain him." Two huge men lumbered into the room and headed toward Jonny and Jessie. The two had nowhere to go. Hugo pulled Jonny away from Jessie and held him. No matter how he struggled he couldn't free him self. "Bring Marie to me," he then ordered. Vic dragged a resistant Jessie to his boss. Jared took her by her wrist. He held her inches from him self. He looked into her eyes. Jonny watched, as Jessie seemed to change into a frightened creature. "We will be leaving soon," he said before dragging Jessie off. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Race slipped up stairs with Hadji and Dr. Quest behind them. They had entered using the expertise they had gained during several similar adventures. It didn't take much to come up behind a man when the house was what might be considered chaos. Race peeked around the corner to make sure the hall was clear. Two of Cortez's bodyguards stood outside a lit doorway. "Let us just hope that this is not just the clean-up crew and Cortez has not already left with Jessie and Jonny," Hadji mumbled under his breath. "No, they're still here," Race assured. He listened as the door opened down the hall, then motioned for them to follow. They followed the wall until they were almost to the end. They waited at either side of a door for something to happen. Then something did. Jared walked out pulling Jessie behind him. Hadji surprised him with a kick in the stomach and Dr. Quest pulled Jessie out of harm's way. She stood there breathing heavily while Race and Hadji slipped into the room. Inside the room two massive men welcomed Hadji and Race. One let go of Jonny to face them. They attacked and Race dodged his. Jonny jumped on the back of the one that was headed toward Hadji. It didn't take much to take down the two brainless lugs. "They always say the bigger they are the harder they fall," Race said. Jessie and Benton walked into the room. Benton saw his son and smiled. Jessie hugged her father, then Jonny. In the distance sirens could be heard. "Finally," Dr. Quest said. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "Home never looked so good," Jessie said plopping down on the couch. She was wearing a pair of baggy cotton pants and a T-shirt. Mrs. Evans came out of the kitchen with a tray that was carrying mugs full of something steaming. "I'm just glad you're all safe," she said. She handed out the mugs and then went back into the kitchen. "Happy Birthday, my friends," Hadji said handing them each a package. They unwrapped them, Jessie being careful and Jonny ripping the paper. Jonny pulled out a new collar for Bandit. Jessie got a journal. They both thanked Hadji who smiled at them. Hadji, Race and Benton got up and went to bed. Jessie pulled out a wrapped box from behind her. Jonny accepted it with a smile. Then handed her a present from himself. "You first," Jessie demanded. "Together," Jonny suggested. Simultaneously they tore off the paper from the boxes. Jessie opened the black velvet box to behold an Emerald teardrop hanging from a gold chain. She gasped and Jonny smiled. "I knew you'd like it," he said. "Now open mine," Jessie ordered. Jonny lifted the lid of the white cardboard box. He pulled out a new watch. He'd been expecting it. "So what new gadgets did you add this time?" he asked turning the watch to look at it from different angles. "Well, there's still the cutting laser, light, com-link, and picture and sound enhancer. However, now there is a high pitch sound generator with earplugs to distract those goons headed for you so you can make a get away. Also, I added the tracking system back on, and a few other surprises," Jessie explained. "Can't wait to try them out," Jonny said. "I wouldn't recommend it now," Jessie said. She kissed Jonny on the cheek and went to bed. Jonny sighed then went to bed himself. The End