Sunday, 12:03 PM

The wind tore at his body as he tried desperately to regain control of the small craft. Wind and rain poured into his eyes, waves wrested the boat from him and tossed it to the wind. Again he pulled it back at the last instant, keeping it from capsizing.

Drops fell from the sky, pelting his body and tearing at his clothes. He couldn't see twenty feet in front of him. The boat slid again, was thrown into air. Jonny gasped as he came down hard, his tiny ship far away.

He never had the chance to swim there anyway.

As his body hit the cold water waves washed over, pulling him under. His mouth opened, filling with fluid and the world went black.

***

Sunday, 2:04 PM

Benton Quest's hand was shaking as he put the phone down. Race and Jessie looked at him with worry in their eyes. Benton smiled weakly and put an arm around the girl. "Jonny and Hadji were caught out in the storm."

Race looked at him, putting a hand on his daughter who had been forced to stay home due to a late school project. "Are they. . . ?" He left the sentience open, afraid to ask.

"They have Hadji in a hospital off the shore." Dr. Quest forced back tears and turned to pick up what he would need to go there.

"And Jonny?" Race asked, fearful of the answer.

Benton's back was still to them, but the slight shaking of his shoulders was unmistakable. "He hasn't been found."

***

"There, there. Take it easy. You're going to be fine." She smiled at him, then looked away. Her voice wasn't familiar, neither was her face. His shook his head (or tried to), his vision was still blurry.

"Jess?" His voice was hoarse, he noticed quickly, and his throat was sore. Someone lifted his head, put a cool glass to his lips.

"No, Jess isn't here right now. She'll come later. You sleep."

The liquid was cool and slid down his parched throat. He found himself suddenly unable to stay awake, and wondered briefly if they had given him something other than water. Then he was out.

***

Monday, 7:00 AM

Hadji took a deep, painful breath and looked up at his foster father. His eyes were dark, circles deep underneath them. He hadn't slept well. He'd been dreaming of Jonny. His best friend was yet to be found. Race was out looking for him now in the helicopter they'd rented. The authorities thought there was very little chance he'd survived. The boat had been found, smashed to little more then splinters. Other then a broken rib, and a bruised body, Hadji was all right. He was leaving today.

He smiled up at Benton, trying to be cheerful. There was no cheer in the smile though, and it only served to bring more pain.

***

The first thing Jonny was aware of was noise. A lot of it. Opening his eyes he looked around, found himself in a room filled with teenage boys and girls. His throat wasn't nearly so sore today, and he felt clear headed.

A young man walked over to him, smiled down. "Hey. You look a lot better. Now you look like death warmed over, instead of just death."

The man had a shock of silver hair which seemed to constantly fall in his face and piercing blue eyes. He was wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, and his nose was red. Turning, he sneezed then looked back at Jonny.

"Gray, I can't believe you! Telling him he looks like death warmed over! I swear, if you weren't sick . . ." The threat wasn't finished as a tiny thing came bustling over, wielding a wooden spoon.

The young man, Gray, laughed and caught the thing as she tried half heartedly to hit him, then bent way down and kissed her before laughing at her squeal and dodging another blow. He moved away and the girl looked down at him, smiling.

"Would you like something to eat? You must be famished!" She turned and walked away, tossing over her shoulder, "Gray, Tuck, help him sit up. A body can't eat on his back."

The first man walked over, still smiling. "I'M SICK! I'VE DONE ENOUGH FOR THE LITTLE BLONDIE!" He shouted, then smiled and winked at Jonny. Bending, he helped the boy sit up, a teen Jonny's own age putting some pillows to keep him there.

Gray plopped down on the couch where Jonny lay, making himself comfortable. Reaching out he took Jonny's hand, shaking it roughly. "I'm Gray. That's Tuck." He pointed to the other boy and Tuck smiled, brushing brown hair out of his eyes. Hazel eyes looked at him, bright in the dirty face. "Tuck can't talk, so don't ask him to." Gray said, leaning over so he didn't have to shout.

Jonny looked at the older boy, measuring him up. He might've been in his late teens, early twenties, tall, at least six foot, and strong. He acted, however, like he was much younger. He was one of those few men who can be ten years old one minute, and a lady killer the next.

Gray smiled, opened his mouth to ask a question, then quickly turned away and sneezed again. Shivering he looked at Jonny, and tried to ask him his question again. "Who are you?"

"Jonny Quest." His voice was rough, his throat dry.

The young woman came back with food and water, handing them to Gray and Jonny.

"Spike--"

"Don't call me that." Was the automatic reply.

"--This is Jonny. Jonny, this is Rache."

Jonny smiled at the girl, who grinned happily back. She was short, shorter then either he or Jessie, and small boned. Brown hair was pulled loosely off her face, into a pony tail though it was falling out. Her eyes were deep green and her smile radiant. Jonny smiled back and looked around the room. Gray was the oldest one there.

"You'd better eat up! You're going to need your strength to get back home," she was saying as she smacked at Gray, who was trying to pick pieces of food off Jonny's plate.

"Where am I?" He asked after taking a drink, and found his voice far more stable.

"You're on an island about fifty miles from the nearest shore. You'll be able to go home soon, if we do this right." Gray winked and stole a chip as Rache's back turned.

As if psychic she turned around and slapped his hand, then smiled at Jonny. "You'll be home in no time!"

***

Wednesday, 4:38 PM

Benton frowned. It would be getting dark soon. There was no sign of Jonny. Picking up his radio he fingered it, calling Race.

"You find anything?" Came the younger man's voice.

"Nothing. I take it you haven't either?" Benton's voice sounded tired, weary.

"Nope. I'll call you when I do. Race out."

The line went dead again and Benton put the radio back, turning to make another sweep.

***

"No, dummy. Like this." Pav showed him again and Jonny obediently pulled the branch like he was shown, then plucked the green of it's fruit.

"Better?" He asked, half joking the young boy.

Pav nodded. "Okay. Say, you going back to your family?"

Jonny nodded. He knew these children were orphans, living here for almost all of their lives, some of them.

"Would you do me a favor?" Pav was suddenly shy, and looked around, making sure no one could hear them.

Jonny smiled. "Sure. What is it?"

The boy chewed his lip. "Well . . . see, your family will probably find you soon. But it's not very likely that I'll ever get off here." He rolled his eyes as Jonny tried to tell him that he'd be adopted, waving the blond off. "Listen, I want you . . ." He stopped again, looked around. "I'm not supposed to do this. When you get back, could you . . .maybe . . . " He fished around in his pocket for a minute, then pulled out a picture. "Could you put this on the ground? Or better yet, cast it to the sea for me! I'm sort of trapped here, and I'd like to at least have my picture be able to see the world. And don't forget us, no matter what people say, okay?"

Pav's eyes were pleading, and Jonny nodded, taking the photo. "Sure, kid. But you'll get off here one day, just wait. If you're not adopted, they have to let you go when you turn 18."

Pav smiled and shook his head. "You don't know what you're talking about Jonny." He turned and walked away, not bothering to wait for Jonny to climb out of the tree and follow.

Jonny was shocked at how fast he was getting better. Other than his sunburned face, that was. He could've sworn that his leg was broken, but this morning it was fine. He could even jump on it. So much for that theory.

Climbing out of the tree he ran after Pav, racing back to the beach. The kids were all out, playing in the sand and gathering food. He'd been surprised at all the food they took from the island. They hunted and picked fruit, grew their own vegetables and even made bread from scratch.

At the tree line Pav stopped him again, whispering, "You won't forget about my picture, will you? Or us?"

Jonny smiled. "Guy, you saved my life. The least I can do is put your picture to the wind, and I couldn't forget you people if I tried."

Pav grinned and walked out onto the sand.

***

Friday, 5:43 PM

Benton refused to give up. Even if everyone else had. Race flew the 'copter, he was in the mini-jet, checking father distances faster. He couldn't land in this though. The sun dipped below the sea and he was forced to turn back, despair overwhelming him. He'd lost a wife, he wouldn't lose a child.

"Race, anything?"

Race Bannon flinched at the sound of the man's grating voice. Benton needed something else to think about. "Nothing. We found a fire on the horizon, we'll check it out in the morning. They don't think it's anything."

"I'll check it out now." Benton started to throttle, and was stopped by Race's words.

"You have more then one son, Quest. The other one needs you right now." The radio went dead, and Benton looked at it for a minute, forcing back tears. Slowly he turned around and headed back.

***

Jonny yawned and sat up. They hadn't woken him for fire duty last night. They were letting him rest. The slight pain he'd felt in his arm the other day was gone. He felt great. It unnerved him. He didn't think he should feel this good after being bashed around the sea and drinking salt water.

A shout pulled him out of his thoughts and he went to see.

"Jonny! There's a ship on the horizon! You can go home! They saw the fire!" Rache was ecstatic.

"Really?!" He found their enthusiasm contagious, and soon everyone was jumping around happily.

Half an hour later the ship was drawing near, and Gray pulled him aside.

"Don't forget us Quest." The older boy smiled and winked, then pulled his necklace off and put it around Jonny's neck. He patted the penny on the small chain and winked again. "A little reminder." Then he melted into the crowd and helped party.

***

"There's someone there." Race announced gratefully.

"Who is it?" Benton's voice was near a whisper.

"I think it's Jonny."

Hadji fell to the seat, a weight lifted off his shoulders. Whether or not anyone had blamed him, he had blamed himself. He should've been able to stay with the boat, help Jonny control it.

The ship stopped and they sent out a small row boat, pulling up to the island.

***

"Don't look back, Quest." Jonny heard Gray's voice. "Have a great life. After I stayed out in the rain, trying to get you to the shelter, you better not die anytime soon."

Jonny smiled. "I won't. And I won't forget your picture, Pav," he whispered. Pav smiled and indicated behind him.

Good-byes had already been said, hugs given. Jonny felt as though he'd known these people for far longer than he had, and didn't want to leave. He did though, without looking back until he was almost to the boat.

His father was there, helping him into the ship. Jessie and Hadji smothered him, his father almost in tears. Race grinned, slapping his back.

"I'm impressed, Jonny. I don't know how you did it . . ."

Jonny looked back at the island where the others still danced at the water edge. "I didn't. They did."

Race looked at Benton, trading glances. They both looked at the empty island, and then Race walked off, getting the M.D. Heat stroke was a definite possibility if Jonny was hallucinating.

***

Jonny furrowed his brows. "But they were there! And don't tell me it's heat stroke. It's not." He was furious. They were still on the ship, only below deck now. The doctor nodded patiently and Jessie finally lost her cool and raced over.

"Jonny, get a grip. There hasn't been anyone on that island for years! The last people who came close enough to come in contact with it was a ship of kids who died at sea in a violent storm. There is no one there!"

Jonny looked at her in shock. "They were there . . ." Pav's words rang in his ears, "I'm sort of trapped here . . ." He reached into his pocket, found the picture there. Pulling it out you could see a shadow of a form, fading away. Looking up he jumped off the table, running up the stairs. Hitting the rail he looked out into the sea, then back at the picture. There was a beautiful sandy beach, trees lining the inside. And no person.

Swallowing, he let the photo go, watching it sail into the wind. Maybe he had been hallucinating.

His father walked up behind him, putting his hand on his shoulder.

"I have to go back dad. I have to go back now."

***

He walked the beach, walked in farther to the tree he had climbed. Fruit had been picked off it recently, so he knew he hadn't imagined that. Walking through the small forest he reached the site where the shelter had been, and found the ribcage of a very old ship. A spider scurried past, spinning it's web there. He took a deep breath and walked to the beach. The only footprints there were his. Again he walked to the ship, the wind blowing over his face and through his hair. His ears strained to catch the soft tunes, and he heard a voice.

"Don't forget us, Quest." He turned in time to see a young man, hair a silver shimmer. Then he was gone.

***

Three weeks later, Thursday, 6:57 PM

"JONNY!!!" Jessie listened again for his answer, then held back a curse. That dork could miss dinner for all she cared!

"I'm coming!" He called, rolling his eyes at the face he saw in his mind. He knew Jess and she would be mad by now. Probably calling him names.

He pulled his shirt on and turned, then stopped and looked at his dresser. Walking over he looked down and slowly picked up the gold chain. He put it on, puling it over his head and settling it under his shirt. The gold coin was cold against his skin, but warmed quickly.

Jonny smiled. They may think he had been suffering from heat stroke, and at first so had he, but he had proof, even if no one believed him. He had Gray's gold necklace. They wouldn't be forgotten. Smiling, he turned and ran down to dinner.

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