DISCLAIMER! I don't own the Quest types. Please don't sue me, I'm not making any money off this. I *do* own January and February, Kit, Dana, Colin, Pterydactle and Poseidon. So leave 'em alone!

Shadowy Domain, ch 8

The flight back to Risk's building was quiet, Kit, Colin and Dana huddling in a corner, unresponsive even to Jessie. Jessie felt guilty, like she had gotten them into this. And she had. But she kept thinking of January blowing up the island, and the fact that they would've been on it. She still felt bad. And when she realized that the cats had no home to go to, she felt worse.

Her father and Risk talked quietly, explaining how it was that Risk was alive and sharing old memories. It was strange to see her father talking and laughing with a woman besides her mom. Especially since they were at such ease with each other. Using the power she'd been given she closed her eyes and looked for her mother, seeing her at a dig somewhere, discussing something with a dark haired man. She opened her eyes and sighed, earning a look from Jonny. She smiled and looked back out the window.

***

Jessie took a deep breath and waited while January took the head gear that let her use her power off. She looking for her mother again, but felt nothing.

"So, those cats can stay here if they like." Risk was telling Race.

"That'd probably be a good idea. After all, this place was built to cope with things like them." It was a slip of the tongue, but Jessie saw Dana cringe. "Things like them." As if they weren't even human.

Colin sidled up to Jess, whispering. "We don't want to live here."

"Dad," she spoke up, "couldn't they stay with us?"

Race gave her an odd look.

"After all, they don't like it here and they did save our butts."

Hadji nodded. "It would give you a chance to study how they live, Dr. Quest." He pointed out helpfully.

Jessie nodded gratefully.

"And it's not like they'd be a bother--right guys?" Jonny piped up.

"No, we wouldn't bother you at all!" Kit assured them.

"I don't know . . ."

"Please dad? Dr. Quest? If it doesn't work out they could always come to live here! I mean, if we hate each other . . ." Jessie trailed off, not sure where she was going with that line of thought.

"Look at 'em dad! They're homeless, and a way to further science! They're not human, maybe they could help cure things or something like that!" Jonny chirped.

"Yeah!" Jessie agreed.

"Well . . ." Benton wasn't sold on having *more* kids in his house.

"Please?" The voice was plaintive, tearful. Dana's lip trembled and she sniffed.

"If they come live with us you three will have to take full responsibility for them. Their education, discipline, food, clothes, everything." Benton said strictly.

Jonny swallowed. "Uh, okay."

Jessie and Hadji nodded.

"You guys won't be that much trouble, right?" Jessie asked, ruffling Kit's hair.

He shook his head. "No!"

Benton smiled. Riiight. At least this would keep them from wanting kids, and therefore doing something stupid, until they were. . . oh . . . fifty.

"Then it's a deal. They can stay."

"YES!"

***

January pursed her lips. Finally, she bent and wrote something on a piece of paper, then handed it to a triumphant Jonny. "You are not to call this number unless you have to, got it?"

He nodded.

"Good. We don't want the program people to find us, and calling is the easiest way to let them trace us."

Jonny nodded again.

"Come on boy, we're all waiting!" Risk shouted from the plane.

Jonny turned and ran, jumped up inside and flopped down next to Hadji. "I got it!"

"What my friend?"

"January's phone number." Jonny grinned. "But we're not supposed to call unless we have to."

Hadji nodded. If anyone was trying to find the girls still, they could trace the calls.

The plane flew up and out, back to the Quest compound.

***

Benton smiled as he watched the five kids out the window. They were enjoying themselves. Somehow, the fact that Kit, Colin and Dana had never been out of that building hadn't really registered, and he was shocked to find that they had never even seen grass. After being home for only a few hours the cats could still find plenty to be surprised at.

"What's this?" Colin asked Jessie, falling to his knees in front of the picnic blanket she sat on with Jonny.

"That's a black rock." She said patiently. So far he had asked about all sorts of different rocks, grass, trees, and a fly. She had no idea there were so many different types of leaves.

"Oh." He handed it to her and ran off, looking for something else.

"Whatcha got there, Kit?" Jonny hollered.

"I dunno."

"Let me see."

Kit walked slowly over, bent to watch the thing he held. Halfway there he started shouting, jumping up and down and shaking his hands. "OOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUCH! OUCH! TAKE THAT YOU STUPID THING!" he tried throwing it to the ground and Jonny watched as a bee flew up and away.

"Ooh! Kit, are you okay?" He stood up and walked quickly to the boy, taking his hand and looking at it. The stinger had only partly touched him, most of it getting stuck in his fur. "Come on, lets get that out."

Jonny started leading him back to the house when he heard Jessie.

"Colin! You can't touch that! NO! I said NO! That's poison ivy!"

Jonny chuckled and led Kit inside.

Hadji stood by the phone, watching as Jonny doctored Kit's hand. After they left he pulled out the number January had given to them, looking at it. Slowly he picked up the phone and dialed.

"{BEEP!} I'm sorry. The number you have just dialed is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please hang up and try again. {BEEP!} I'm sorry. The number you have just dialed is no longer--"

Hadji hung up the phone and smiled. Smart girl. He hoped January and February stayed free.

Throwing the paper away he turned and, using the crutches* the doctor had given him, walked outside, listening attentively as Colin told him about the flying flower he'd seen.

--END--

*'Member? He got shot in the leg when they were escaping.
--shotkeeper Shakti--

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