Chapter Eight

            "How do you feel Jessie?" Dr. Quest asked as she walked into the kitchen.

            "Much better," she smiled at the group of men at the table, all were waiting for her response.

            "Glad to hear it," Dr. Quest returned the smile.

            "Sleep okay?" Race questioned.

            "Fine," she replied.

            Jessie helped herself to some orange juice and toast placed at the small wooden table.  Her lip was still slightly swollen but she was happy to recognize her reflection in the mirror.

            "Your mother will be in this afternoon," Race replied without the hint of irritation in his voice that was all to often present when he spoke of his ex-wife.

            "I'm glad she can come up." Jessie pulled out the chair and sat across from Jonny, who hadn't said anything to her since her release from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

            "It will be nice," her father agreed.

            Jessie smiled at her dad. He must have checked on her five times last night.

            "I received a call from the police," Dr. Quest began slowly.  Jessie knew he was making sure it was okay to bring up the incident.

            "What did they have to say?" Jessie asked.

            "Micah had a brain tumor," he answered. "That's why he heard voices."

            "That is unreal Benton," Race shook his white head and rose to his feet.

            "I know," Dr. Quest agreed and rose from his seat as well. "He was a talented artist and popular boy in his neighborhood. It's a shame this happened to him."

            Jessie watched them leave and looked over to Jonny, who still sat quietly in front of her.

            "Are you okay?" she asked him.

            "Fine," he replied simply.

            "Sure," she smirked. "You natural look like that all the time. I just forgot."

            "Like what?" his familiar smile and glowing eyes returned to her.

            "The appearance of someone with an empty head, that's what." Jessie smiled at the childish statement she made.  Things needed to lighten up.

            "Empty?" He rose up and looked down at her. "I bet I can still beat you in Quest World and THAT must make you pretty pathetic."

            "We'll see!" she chased after him and the two headed towards the lighthouse.

            "Guess you'll be needed at the light house," Race joked lightly as he watched the two teens disappear up the path.

            "I don't mind," Dr. Quest took in a deep breath. "It will help them to relax."

            "Jonny wouldn't let go of her," Race spoke softly after a moment of silence passed. "He wouldn't let go of her when the ambulance came and wanted to take her in and treat her.  He wouldn't let go of her until I pulled him away."

            Race still had the image frozen forever in his brain.  The picture of Jessie: beaten, bleeding and helpless. 

            Then there was Jonny who was clearly lost without Jessie.  Race couldn't remember ever seeing Jonny so 'still' before. It was a dangerous quiet that disturbed him.  If they had been a moment late, Jonny would have strangled Micah with his bare hands- not that Race wouldn't have done the same.

            "He just feels responsible for her." Dr. Quest replied without wanted to address it further.

            "Right," Race smiled. Jonny, who would have been checking Jessie as often as he had, if Race wasn't walking up and down the hallway like a guard. His smile widened.  Right.