Title: Experiencing the Future 1/? Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: February 7, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt, Adventure/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 Micheal Garbrelli (the baddie) so you have to ask my permission if you want to use him. Experiencing the Future It was a beautiful day in early fall. The leaves were just changing color, and the weather was perfect: not too hot, not too cold. Who knew that the fabrics of time and space would rip open and send Race hurtling into the future? He was out with his wife, Vanessa, who'd come for a visit. They were having dinner at a very expensive restaurant called La Vie. Vanessa was beautiful in her sequined green evening gown. It was ankle length with a slit in the back to her knees and was held up by spaghetti straps. Race wore a tuxedo trimmed in red. When they returned home, they didn't go inside, but for a stroll on the beach. The autumn moon hung low, surrounded by stars. But, Race only saw the stars in his wife's eyes as he kissed her. "There are times when I miss you so much," Vanessa said. They walked with their arms around each other. Vanessa leaned against her husband's shoulder. "I know. Last night I had this dream, in which you came to live with us permanently," Race told her. She looked up and smiled at him. He kissed her forehead, then she returned to leaning against his shoulder. "I hope Jessie marries someone as perfect as you," Vannie whispered. "With the way her and Jonny's romance is going, I'm sure she will," he assured giving Vannie a squeeze. Then it happened, all at once. There was a sound like the roll of thunder. The couple looked up expecting to see dark clouds, but the sky was still clear. Then a flash of orange and a strong wind pulling at them. Race blocked Vannie with his body, but there was no one to save him. Vanessa could feel him slipping. She held onto him with all her strength, but it wasn't enough. The anomaly sucked him in then closed himself. "RACE," Vanessa screamed. She fell to her knees crying, not knowing what had happened to her husband. She didn't notice the group coming up behind her. The beams of light from their flashlights bobbed as they ran to her. "Mom, what's wrong?" Jessie asked. Vanessa looked up at her daughter. She watched as worry spread across Jessie's face. "Mom, what happened?" she asked in a shaking voice. "Where's Race?" Jonny asked looking around. "I don't know," Vannie told them. "I don't know." 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 JQ JB Once she was calmed down, Vanessa told what had happened. She hugged her daughter for both of their comfort. Benton listened with awe. Hadji pondered the event in his mind. Jonny had a blank, shocked look on his face. 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 JQ JB Race woke up on the beach. He sat up and wiped off the grains of sand stuck to the side of his face. Then, he stood and brushed himself off. He looked around and knew exactly where he was. He only had to climb the steps carved into the nearby cliffs to reach the compound. But something was different. He looked around again. The green trees and grass were exactly the same. Except, it was fall last he remembered. The trees had already begun to turn. Where he was it happened to be summer. Race climbed to the compound. He entered through the back doors into the kitchen. He removed his jacket and placed it on the back of a chair. He paused to listen, but the house was quiet. "Iris, where is everybody?" Race demanded. "Dr. Quest is in the lighthouse," the computer answered. Race headed out that way. His mind worked, trying to figure what had happened, why it was summer all of the sudden. He figured it had something to do with what had happened the night before, but he still wasn't sure exactly what had happened. 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 JQ JB Dr. Quest looked up when the door of the lighthouse opened. To his amazement, Race walked in. "Hey, Doc," Race greeted. "Race, you're-" Benton stuttered. "What?" Race asked confused at his friend's behavior. "Alive," Benton finished. 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 JQ JB Race couldn't believe what Benton was telling him. He was supposed to be dead. The doctor told him he'd been shot while trying to protect them. He hadn't lived long enough even for the ambulances to arrive. "And Jessie-" Benton began. He paused, then stood and grabbed some keys off a key rack. "Come on," he ordered Race. "Benton led him out to a car he'd never seen before. Of course, he was supposed to have been dead for umpteen years. Neither man said anything as they sped down the highway. 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 JQ JB Jessie was reading when the doorbell rang. She put the book down and answered the door to find Benton standing on her front porch. She hugged him as a greeting. "We have to talk," he said very seriously. "Of course," she agreed. She stepped back to let him in. Another man followed. Jessie's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when she saw who it was. She stepped back a few steps, feeling like she could faint. Her hands groped around behind her looking for a source of support. Her right hand found the corner of a small table in her front hall and she leaned on it heavily. Race froze at seeing Jessie. She was so grown up, so beautiful. She was everything he'd hoped she would become. "How can this be?" she whispered. Benton led father and daughter into the living room and sat them down. There was a lot of explaining and catching up to do. 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 JQ JB "What about Vannie?" Race asked. Jessie looked at him, then at the floor. There was an uncomfortable silence. "I haven't seen mom since the funeral seven years ago," Jessie finally answered. "She disappeared. I didn't know how to reach her. She didn't even come to my wedding." "Wedding?" Race asked raising his eyebrows. Jessie smiled and blushed, then the door opened and closed and someone called out, "Jessie, I'm home." Jessie rose and went out to the front hall to meet that person. Race was confused. He'd assumed when Jessie had mentioned her wedding Jonny had been the lucky guy. But, the voice he'd heard wasn't Jonny's unless it had remarkably changed in nine years. 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 JQ JB "Hi, honey," Jessie said smiling at her husband. She kissed him quickly on the lips. "What's for dinner?" Michael Garbrelli asked. Jessie gasped and put her fingers to her lips. "I've been so busy, I haven't had time," she admitted. "Haven't had time? What have you been doing?" Michael asked his voice rising. "Let me show you," Jessie said. She led him into the living room. Two men stood when they entered. Michael recognized one as Benton Quest and the other one, he'd only seen pictures of him, as Race Bannon. "But, you're dead," Michael stuttered. "It's a long story that we don't have time to tell. Good day, Michael," Benton said coolly moving to leave. "Bye, Jessie. I'll be back soon," Race promised giving his daughter a hug. He was more than a little confused at Benton's sudden coolness as well as his eagerness to leave. "Bye, daddy." Benton led the way out to the car. Race paused in the doorway to look back at his not-so-little girl. She was watching and smiled at him. Michael grabbed her arm, startling her. He hissed something at her and she left, her head bowed. 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 JQ JB "You don't seem to like Michael," Race commented when they were in the car. Benton glanced at Race, then glued his eyes to the road. His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. Race decided to change the subject. "So, what about Jonny and Hadji?" he asked. "Hadji became full time Sultan after you died. Then, when Neela died, he up and disappeared. He now lives in another dimension," Benton informed Race. "Another di-," Race began shaking his head. "That's also what I think happened to you last night. A space/time anomaly occurred dragging you into the future. It's the same dimension, just a different time," Benton explained. Race nodded at the speculation. "So what about Jonny?" he asked. "We can go see him right now," Benton answered turning a corner. 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 JQ JB At Jonny's apartment they went through the whole amazement process again. Then Benton left with some excuse about running errands. Race had a feeling that Benton just wanted Race and Jonny to talk alone. From Jonny, Race found out that he died when the kids had been nineteen. Jesse had broken up with Jonny during their second year in college for no good reason at all. Then she'd begun dating, as Jonny referred to him, "Garbrelli." After graduating from college, he'd proposed she'd accepted and Jessica Marie Bannon became Jessica Marie Garbrelli two months later." "I'd hoped she'd marry you from the first time you'd told me you loved her," Race admitted in a whisper. "We both did until your death. Then her mother shunned her and her whole world came crashing down around her. Now, it's a mess because of Garbrelli. The way he treats her…" Jonny trailed off. But, Race hadn't heard his last sentence for his mind was on his wife. "I wish there were some way to reach her," he said. "Who?" Jonny asked. "Vannie." Jonny shook his head. "She hasn't contacted anyone since, well, you know." "Yeah, I know," Race affirmed. "So what you have you been up to?" he suddenly asked. "Other than trying to convince Jessie to leave her husband?" Jonny asked. "Nothing." "Why would you want her to do that?" Race wanted to know. Jonny opened his mouth as if to answer, but then closed it. "No," he said instead, "I better let Jessie tell you." Title: Experiencing the Future 2/3 Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: February 8, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt/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 Micheal Garbrelli (the baddie) so you have to ask my permission if you want to use him. Experiencing the Future "What have I told you Jessie?" Micheal asked. She didn't say anything. Just stared at her plate of untouched food. Micheal sighed. "You can't trust them. Not when they're trying to take you away from me, and I love you," Micheal continued. "But, my father…alive," Jessie tried to reason. "Just another lie, like the one about Hadji's disappearance. There are no such things as parallel dimensions, and people don't come back from the dead," Micheal told her his voice hinting at agitation. "Do you understand?" Jessie looked up at her husband. "But I saw him wi-" "Do you understand?" Micheal asked again with more authority. Jessie nodded, her gaze falling back down to the plate full of food she was too anxious to eat. "We've both got work to do," Micheal said as he rose from his seat. Jessie gathered the dinner dishes as her husband left for his office to get some work done. She knew from the change in subject that the topic was closed for discussion…forever. 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 JQ JB Jessie knew she shouldn't, but she had to see her father again. He'd called her, said he'd wanted to spend some time with her. So, here she was at the agreed upon spot, waiting for him, but he hadn't shown up yet. However, someone else was there waiting for her. He had blond hair and blue eyes and she smiled habitually at seeing him. As risky as it was, she had to see him again. It had been so long since there last meeting. He was softly singing something in his beautiful tenor voice as she sneaked up behind him, another no-no. She tapped him on the shoulder and he spun around, startled. However, when he saw who it was a huge smile spread across his face and he grabbed her up in a huge bear hug, lifting her from the ground. "I've missed you too," she laughed as he swung her around. "Then why do you stay with him?" Jonny asked his tone turning serious as he set her down and took her hands in his own. Jessie looked at the ground, no longer smiling. She knew he was right, but she couldn't leave her husband. She didn't know why, had no clue whatsoever. All she knew was she couldn't leave him. "He's hurt you too many times," Jonny began to reason before he was attacked. Jonny easily freed himself from Garbrelli who was red faced and breathing hard. "I told you to stay away from her," he yelled spittle flying. "I've never been to good at following orders too well," Jonny remarked as he shook with anger. Usually, a statement like that from Jonny would have made Jessie laugh. But, instead, she stood frozen with fear. Micheal turned on his heel and began to stalk away from Jonny. As he past Jessie he grabbed her by her wrist, scaring her from her trance, and pulled her along with him to his car. "What did I tell you?!" he yelled angrily as he slammed her into the automobile. She began to make excuses through her tears. Micheal stopped her with a backhand, which sent her to the ground. Jonny wanted so badly to help her, but she had ordered him no to. He looked away instead. "Get in the car," Micheal ordered Jessie through clenched teeth. She pulled herself to her feet and mead her way painfully to the passenger side of the car. As soon as the door was closed on her side the car sped 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 JQ JB "What did you think you were doing disobeying me? Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?" Micheal yelled. He drove recklessly down the road. Jessie sat staring out at the road, hoping that she wouldn't be killed. Micheal suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road by a cliff that overlooked the sea. He exited the car and went around to the other side, opened the door, and pulled Jessie violently from the car. "I didn't know he was going to be there. I was supposed to meet my dad," Jessie sobbed. Micheal backhanded her harder than before, sending her reeling towards the cliff. "I also told you not to see HIM anymore. What made you think you could go against my will?" he yelled kicking her. "He's my dad. I haven't seen him for years," Jessie replied. "Micheal pulled her to her feet and shook her violently. "He's a lie. Just another big lie like all the others you've been fed all your life!" He pushed her closer toward the edge of the cliff and she screamed when she almost fell with the rocks that had been pushed over. Jessie shook her head as blood ran from her nose. "No, no," she pleaded. Micheal smiled and pulled Jessie away from the edge of the cliff. He not so gently escorted her back into the car and slammed her door shut. His smile grew bigger as he climbed in on the driver's side and restarted the car. "No, there's an easier way to teach this lesson," he said to himself. Jessie sat in the passenger's side curled up into a ball, shaking and crying as Micheal put the car into gear and continued down the road. 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 JQ JB "Jonny, where's Jessie?" Race asked walking toward the blond. "He took her," he answered blankly. "Who?" Race demanded his apprehension growing. "Her husband," Jonny answered. Race was now confused. Jonny's eyes suddenly brightened. "Go visit her right now Race," he ordered. Confused as he was, Race followed Jonny's orders without any more questions. He wondered what, exactly, he would find at he daughter's house. 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 JQ JB "I'm to have to do this Jessie. But you have to learn that you can't go against my word," Micheal explained. "You did bring this upon yourself." "He finished tying her gag, then pushed her into the closet. Her hands having been bound, she fell in a heap on the floor. Micheal closed and locked the door. Muffled screams came from inside, but he ignored them as he headed to his office to catch up on some work. It wasn't ten minutes when the sounds from the closet ceased. 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 JQ JB "Well, hello Race," Micheal greeted cheerfully. "Hi, is Jessie here?" Race asked hopefully. "Oooh, sorry, just missed her. She left about ten minutes ago to run some errands," Micheal lied. Race sighed and looked past him into the house, hoping to see some sign of his daughter. "Can you tell her I stopped by?" he finally asked. "Sure," Micheal smiled. 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 JQ JB Jessie awoke on the couch in her living room. The gag and ropes had been removed and she rubbed her wrists wishing she were still asleep. She'd been having the most wonderful dream. In it she'd been with Jonny and Micheal Garbrelli hadn't even been a memory. "Hi," Micheal greeted breaking her from her reverie. "I've made dinner reservations for us tonight. Why don't you go shower and dress?" Jessie nodded, then rose and slowly began to make her way up the stairs to do as he had asked. "Wear that one green dress that brings out your eyes," Micheal called to her. Standing on the top step, Jessie paused and nodded to no one, then continued on her way. 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 JQ JB Jessie was ready and waiting to go to dinner. Micheal hadn't yet finished readying himself yet. Jessie wore an ankle length green dress with a slit in the back to mid-thigh. The spaghetti straps were lined with rhinestones and the collar of the dress followed the curve of her breasts. She wore diamond jewelry to match her outfit and she had decided to just leave her hair down. When the telephone rang Jessie answered it immediately. "Hello?" came a frighteningly familiar voice. "Jonny, what are you doing?" Jessie hissed into the phone as her eyes darted around paranoidly. "I just wanted to know if you're okay," he told her. "I'm fine," she assured. "Don't lie to me," he pleaded. "Look, I've got to go," Jessie excused upon hearing footsteps. "That's right," Micheal agreed throwing her to the floor. 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 JQ JB After yelling Jessie' name into it futilely, Jonny hung up the phone. He grabbed his keys and flung open the door to his apartment planning on rushing to Jessie's aid despite her order not to do anything to help her. However, Race stood in his way, posed to knock. After a short pause, Jonny slipped past his mentor pulling the door closed behind him. "Come on," he ordered. Once again confused, Race followed Jonny down the hall wondering what he was missing. Title: Experiencing the Future 3/3 Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: February 9, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt/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 Micheal Garbrelli (the baddie) so you have to ask my permission if you want to use him. Experiencing the Future Micheal kicked and beat his wife mercilessly. As he did he yelled at her, asking her if she enjoyed disobeying him. She tried to tell him that it hadn't been her fault, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Finally, he stopped, breathing hard from the exertion. Jessie lay on the floor in the fetal position, her breathing labored and her eyes shut tight with pain. Micheal's eyes scanned the room and finally came to rest on a pair of scissors. In one fluid motion he grabbed them and stabbed them into Jessie's back. Her body went limp as she slipped into unconsciousness. "NO!" came the yelled objection. Micheal looked up toward the entrance of the kitchen to see Race and Jonny standing there. Race had a shocked unbelieving look on his face. Jonny rushed forward immediately, scooped Jessie up into his arms and took off with her. Micheal tried to go after him, but Race stopped him one good blow to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Then he followed Jonny and accompanied his daughter in the back seat. Race wasn't sure they'd reach their destination the way Jonny was driving. During the drive, which seemed to be taking forever, Race phoned the police and informed them of what had happened. When they arrived safely at the entrance to the ER Race released the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. "Go get the doctors," Race ordered. Jonny obeyed and Race gently took his still unconscious daughter from the car. The doctors arrived to intercept him just as he was turning to head inside. They put Jessie, stomach down, on a stretcher and rushed her into the building. Race didn't follow immediately. Instead, he leaned back against the car and began to breath very deeply trying to calm himself. Jonny had rejoined and seemed to be doing the same thing. Race glanced at his friend and their eyes met. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "Because that was Jessie's job, not mine," Jonny replied. Race closed his eyes and nodded. He wiped his face with one of his hands then pushed it back through his hair. The scene from the Garbrelli kitchen played back to him against his eyelids. It was hard to believe that his daughter would ever let herself get into a relationship like that, especially after the one she'd had with Jonny. He'd always thought she was too smart for that. I guess I was wrong, he thought to himself. "Where's my wife?" the sickening voice of Micheal Garbrelli asked startling both men. Race fought the urge to hit SOB again. "That's really none of your business." "Of course it's my business, that's my wife in there," Micheal insisted. "And you're the reason she's in there," Jonny growled. "Leave," Race said trying to avoid a conflict. "No," Micheal defied crossing his arms over his chest. "You want me to leave my wife?" You have the gall to call her that after what you've done to her?" Jonny asked incredulously. "I love her," Micheal insisted in an insincere tone. Jonny suddenly lashed out and punched Micheal square in the face. He looked down at him where he was now sprawled on the ground, blood running from his nose. "Love you," he said sarcastically. Then he turned and rushed toward the hospital. Race glanced at Garbrelli, then ran to catch up with Jonny. 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 JQ JB "There's someone out there who needs some assistance," Jonny informed the first nurse he came to as he gestured over his shoulder to the doors from which he had just entered. Race caught up to him just as the nurse was leaving and together they approached the front desk. "May I help you?" the nurse on duty asked. "The red head who was just admitted with a stab wound, can I get the latest on her?" Jonny asked politely. "You seem to know her. May I ask who you are?" the nurse replied. "I'm her husband," Jonny lied, "and this is her dad." "Fill out this form quickly and let you know when I get it back," the nurse informed the two handing Jonny a clipboard. Jonny absently handed the clipboard to Race and they both sat down. A few moments later Micheal Garbrelli entered holding his nose and being led by a nurse. The moment he saw Jonny he went crazy and began to scream and curse. More nurses came to assist the first and struggling they led him away. Jonny acted as if he didn't know who Micheal was. 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 JQ JB Jonny and Race paced the waiting room. They'd been at the hospital for three hours. Jessie had gone straight into surgery when she had arrived and it'd been forty minutes since they had been informed that she had come out and that the surgery had thus far been successful. A nurse poked her head into the room. "She's coming out of the anesthesia. You can see her now" she informed them. Jonny and Race looked to each with relief and hope in their eyes, then followed the nurse down the hall to Jessie's room. Race paused before they entered the room and waited for the nurse to leave. "I want to talk to her alone for a minute," he informed Jonny. Jonny looked through the window into Jessie's room and gazed at her. Then he nodded his head and watched as Race entered the room. Jessie smiled at seeing her father and Race pulled a chair up to her bed and slipped his hand into his daughter's. "Why?" came his simple question. The smile left Jessie's face and she looked away. "You had Jonny who still loved you very much," Race continued when there was no answer. "He reminded me of you too much," Jessie whispered. "That's a bad thing?" Race asked his daughter. "I couldn't handle that. It hurt," Jessie explained. "It would have gotten better with time," Race assured. There was a long pause. "You must be disappointed in me," Jessie finally whispered. Race pursed his lips. "To be truthful, Jess…yes, but you have a second chance waiting right outside that door." At last, Jessie made eye contact with her father, then he gaze went to the door. The smile from before returned to her face and she began to nod. "I do, don't I?" Race rose, now also smiling and very proud of his daughter. He went to the door and opened it. Jonny looked up at him with eyes full of hope. Race motioned to him with his head that he could go in. Jonny smiled his thanks and slipped past Race into the room. Race closed the door behind him after fully exiting the room. 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 JQ JB "I'm sorry Jonny," were the first words out of Jessie's mouth. "For what?" Jonny asked taking the same seat Race had previously occupied. "For all the hurt and pain I put through these past seven years. You didn't deserve it," she explained. Then in a small voice added, "Do you forgive me?" "I forgave you a long time ago," Jonny told her. There was a knock at the door startling the two, then Race stuck his head in. "You've got more visitors." Race opened the door wider and led in quite a procession. First Benton, then Hadji, then finally Vanessa. She was already crying and she rushed to her daughter's side. "I'm so sorry," she cried as she hugged her daughter. Jessie too was crying and so hard that all she could do was smile at her mother to let her know she forgave her. "You two have a lot to catch up on," Race commented smiling himself. "And it is time for you to return to your own time," Hadji said. Everybody looked at each other. They all knew no one wanted him to go, but they also knew he couldn't stay. No one, however, was sadder to see him go than his own wife and daughter. "Right now?" the jewel thief asked. Race drew his wife into his arms and kissed her tenderly. "I don't want to lose you again," she admitted. "You won't," he assured with an encouraging smile. "Take care of Jessie." Race pulled away from his wife and looked at his family gather in the room. Finally, they were all together once again. Hadji was at work producing a portal, and Race knew he should be saying good-bye, but he couldn't seem to get the words out. Finally, he settled on waving, then stepped through the portal. When he stepped out, it was still night, but the air was cooler, like it were autumn. There was sand beneath his feet. Race jogged across the beach, up the stone steps carved into the side of the cliff and into the back door of the compound. He made his way through the compound, headed for his room, but a light in the living room sidetracked him. He entered to find his wife sitting on one end of the couch bundled in a blanket, a blank expression on her face. She looked up, as if she had sensed a presence, and Race watched as her eyes went wide with amazement. He didn't say anything, just moved to her side and kissed like he'd just done a few minutes ago, but wouldn't do for years. 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 JQ JB The next day, Race walked, with his wife and daughter on either side of him, along the beach. This time there were no portals, just a beautiful day early in autumn. He'd not told anyone of his adventure, he had a feeling that wouldn't be the right thing to do. He did, however, have one thing he needed to do. "Jess," Race said. "Yeah dad?" "Promise me something, will ya?" "Sure. What?" "Promise me you will never marry a man named Micheal Garbrelli," Race requested. Jessie looked at her dad, a puzzled look on her face. "Sure dad, whatever." "Say it," he ordered. "Say what?" "Say you promise." Jessie was silent for a second, then in a soft voice said, "I promise." The End