Disclaimer: I own my characters and places. HB owns everything else. = :) Oh, I also own the stuff I create - you know, Dr. Q's devices and = such. Intro: never, never, never, go on a plane alone! (I think that with that = and the title, it is rather self explainatory.) =20 Cat: ALT, E. Anything else? Hijacked by Ashleigh Quest "Hi Dad!" Ashleigh Quest called as she dropped her backpack on the = floor. Dr. Quest came out of the library. "Hello, Ashleigh. How was school?" he asked with a smile. Ashleigh = looked excited. "It was great - you know how they had those auditions for the musical = today?" Dr. Quest nodded. "Guess what - I made the LEAD!" she bubbled. = Her father grinned.=92 "Wonderful! I=92m so happy for you. When is the play?"=20 Ashleigh=92s face darkened. "Well, the play is on June 3rd - you know, = do the play the last day of school type thing. However, I have to be = present for all the rehearsals - meaning that I=92m going to have to = join you guys late in Sydney for Spring Break," she said glumly. Then = her brother walked in. "Hey, cheer up, Ashleigh!" Jonny said. "This way, you don=92t have to = ride with us and be annoyed by Cate=92s constant airsickness!" Ashleigh = grinned. "Or your piloting skills!" Dr. Quest walked out of the room, laughing.=20 Those two always tease each other, he thought. However, Ashleigh does = have a point on Jonny=92s flying=85 "HEY YOU TWO!" Sam shouted down the stairs. "You still have to pack!" = The siblings looked at each other. "Oops!" they called as they ran up the stairs. Dr. Quest continued on = into the kitchen. "Something wrong, Doc?" Race asked, coffee mug in hand. Dr. Quest shook = his head. "No - I just can=92t believe that this Ashleigh is the same Ashleigh we = brought home from Atlantica." Race nodded. "She sure has opened up. But then again, you have to consider her = childhood=85I wouldn=92t exactly be very loud and energetic like Jonny = or Jessie is if that was my life." Estella nodded. "We were just looking over our scrapbook of Jessie=92s childhood=85she = most definitely did not have that much intrigue - only kidnapped once, = but released the next day. And she slept through the whole thing, too. = We=92re just lucky we have the Ashleigh we all love now. Some people = would stay closed up for years=85" "True," Dr. Quest said, pouring himself some tea. "Oh - Race, do you = think it=92s safe to leave Ashleigh here alone for one day? She has a = play rehearsal the day we leave for Australia, and she can=92t miss it. = Anyway, she could catch a regular flight. I=92d stay but=85" "But you are the guest speaker, Benton. You can=92t do that," Estella = pointed out. "She=92ll be fine, Doc - consider that all of her Quest Team training = came from those three monkeys=85" he trailed off, pointing at the = picture of Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji. "I know she=92ll be fine Race - I=92m just worried about the house!" All = of them laughed. "Don=92t worry, Dr. Quest. What could happen?" Race turned to his = ex-wife.=20 "With this family=92s history? NEVER ask that question!" *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "I=92ll be fine, Dad," Ashleigh said assuredly. "Thanks for taking my = luggage and Patches with you - I don=92t think I could manage that. Now, = you manage yourself and get on that plane, okay? You don=92t want to be = late, you know." Dr. Quest smiled fondly. "Okay - but call us if there=92s trouble, and only use your gun if = necessary, all right?" he said, ruffling his daughter=92s hair. "*Dad!*" she complained. Pointing to the plane she said, "MARCH!" = Hugging her one last time, he walked towards the plane.=20 "Parents," Ashleigh muttered. "Who knows?" Waving until the plane was = out of sight, she walked back inside.=20 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Flight 223 for Sydney now boarding at gate 5," an announcer droned. = Ashleigh shook her head, wishing she could remove that hat and = sunglasses.=20 No, silly, she chided herself. Celebrities wear disguises, remember? = Picking up her carry-on, she walked up to the boarding agent, handed her = the ticket and =91diplomatic=92 passport that allowed her to be = incognito, and boarded the plane.=20 "Would you like something to drink?" a friendly stewardess asked after = they were in the air. Ashleigh shook her head. "Not right now, thank you. Maybe later," she said noncommittally. The = stewardess moved on to the next person. "What=92s your name?" asked the large woman sitting next to her. = Ashleigh groaned inwardly. Great, a busybody - just what I needed. "I=92m Allison," she said. The woman nodded.=20 "I=92m Diane. Do you always travel alone - you look a bit young." "Oh - um, no, usually I go with my dad on his private jet, or with my = older brother, but I had to do something for school, so I=92m just doing = this today." "I see. Who is your father, dear? I mean, with a private jet, he must be = a big shot," the woman said carelessly. "You could say that," Ashleigh said. "But he always says I can=92t tell = my last name - sorry," she said somewhat apologetically. "Oh, I see." Diane settled back into her seat, and Ashleigh went back to = staring out the window. I *hate* flights out of Washington, she thought = grumpily, and settled back to catch some lost sleep. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Attention passengers!" the pilot=92s voice boomed nervously through the = loudspeakers, awakening Ashleigh. "We will be landing on an island = shortly - please remain in your seats upon landing, and put away = everything. We - uh - have some travelers on board who wish me to do = this, and I=92m not going to disagree. Thank you," the pilot continued, = then shut off the radio.=20 The others on the plane acted like it was routine for this to happen, = but Ashleigh knew better. Quickly, she made sure all signs of her being = Ashleigh Quest were hidden - especially the watch, which she quickly = stuffed up her jacket sleeve as the plane descended. Four large men, all in black suits, stood up and walked casually towards = all of the possible exits of the plane. Warning bells went off in = Ashleigh=92s head. Hijackers! She started praying that they wouldn=92t = recognize her - and that she wasn=92t their target. Part 2... "Dad, this is dull," Jonny complained to his father. The team was = sitting around the room, because Race had advised they stay indoors - = you never knew who would be after a Quest team member, or where they=92d = be. "I know, Jonny. This would be, for you, but I can=92t do anything about = it." "But Dad-" "Jonny. Calm down, okay? Ashleigh will be here this afternoon, so then = you can go out - at least, to the airport," Jessie grouched. "So?" "Jonny, you=92re getting on my nerves," Sam said threateningly. "I agree!" Cate added. "HEY!" Jonny=92s outburst startled everyone. "What is it, Jonny?" Bryan asked. "We could call Ashleigh on her watch!" "That=92s something to do!" Arik added. "We could at least try, my friends." "Dad?" "All right, Jonny, but she may be grumpy - she hates having to travel = incognito, you know." "Slammin=92!" Jonny said, and pressed his watch. "Ashleigh?" he said.=20 "I=92m sorry, but this watch has been taken off-line for the personal = safety of wearer," Iris=92 voice droned. "What?" Jessie said. "Even when traveling under aliases we don=92t turn = off our watches, unless we think that someone nearby is after us-" Her = eyes widened. "Oh, gosh - turn on the TV!" Cate said, practically shouting. Hadji ran = over and changed it to a news network. "The top story for tonight: a flight from Washington, D.C., in the = United States, was hijacked enroute to Sydney. The plane has been landed = in the Keeling Islands, and the hijackers threatened that if the plane = was approached, they would execute the passengers, one by one=85" Jonny = turned to call the hotline for =91information=92 listed on the screen, = but Race was already there.=20 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "All right, stay in your seats and take it easy," the ringleader said. = Two kids were crying loudly in the back of the plane, and everyone else = - except Ashleigh - was panicking.=20 "YOU!" another one called, pointing at Ashleigh with his gun.=20 "Yes?" Ash responded, making her voice sound shaky. Good thing I was = getting drama lessons because of the play, she thought silently. It=92s = letting me look like I=92m also panicked and scared. "The stewardess said that those kids are traveling alone. You look like = a kid who baby-sits, so go shut them up - or I=92ll do it myself." = Ashleigh got up quickly and made her way back. "Calm down, guys. Maybe I can read you some stories, okay?" Ashleigh = said calmly. The men with the guns stared at her. She turned to them. = "How else can I calm them down?" she asked, shrugging. The leader = nodded, and she grabbed the books the stewardess handed her. "Three little pigs?" the littlest one, a girl, asked. Ashleigh smiled = and nodded, and settled down for a long day. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It was dark outside before Ashleigh could get the little girl and little = boy, whose names were Jaci and Jason, (twins) to go to sleep. "Finally," = she muttered. "Okay, everybody, go to sleep!" the ringleader said angrily. Ashleigh = pretended she was asleep. Good thing these sunglasses are tinted so that = they can=92t tell I=92m asleep, she thought. Time to observe these guys. = "You - girl!" he added. Ashleigh was wary of what would happen next. "Hm?" "You had to stay with those kids all day, so we didn=92t give you any = breaks for the bathroom or to get a drink. You want to do that now?" "Uh - sure. Thanks," she said quietly. She had an idea=85 "What would you like?" the stewardess asked. "I=92d like a coke, please - but I=92m going to go to the bathroom = first, okay?" The men nodded warily, and Jill (the stewardess) started = pouring her drink. Once inside the bathroom, Ashleigh started the sink, then re-activated = her watch. Please be listening, Jonny! she thought. "Jonny! It=92s Ashleigh - I=92m on the hijacked plane. We=92re on West = Island. Hoping that men - six; all armed - haven=92t recognized me. = Don=92t call me; I=92ll call when I can," she whispered, then shut it = off and turned off the sink. Then she went back outside. "Here=92s your drink," Jill said, and scuttled back to her chair. = Ashleigh noted the man watching her. "Is something wrong?" she asked. The leader looked at her. "Well - you look familiar." "Oh." Outwardly, she was calm and sleepy, but on the inside, both her = heart and mind were racing. Don=92t recognize me! she thought anxiously. "Hey, boss, can we turn on the news?" one of the men asked. "Sure. Maybe we=92re on, huh?" The men turned on the TV, which showed a = reporter standing outside one of the buildings at the airstrip on a = different island. "And tonight=92s top story - Dr. Benton Quest anxiously awaits news of = the hijacked plane, which his daughter, Ashleigh, is reportedly = traveling on-" Ashleigh tried not to choke on her drink as the leader = whirled around.=20 "So, is it true, girlie?" he threatened, pointing his gun straight at = her. Ashleigh felt another barrel in her back, but didn=92t answer. "I = thought so. Well, well, well, young Ashleigh Quest is on board *our* = plane. Funny, huh, boys?" the others laughed hideously, and Ashleigh = gulped. Now what? she thought. "Boss, I read about this girl in the paper. She=92s tricky - this kid = and her brother got Ezekial Rage put away for good all by themselves," = one of the goons said, awed. Ashleigh smirked. "So? My family does that kind of thing all the time," she said, trying = to anger them. The leader came up and hit her in the face, but she = didn=92t flinch. "Boys, make sure she can=92t cause any trouble," he said wickedly. "Right, boss." Ashleigh heard a gun cock, then fire. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Dad!" Jonny yelled, causing the others to leave their window perches = and come over to him. "Ashleigh just contacted me on her watch!" "What! Jonny, what did she say?" "Ash said she was on the plane, they=92re on West Island, and she=92s = not sure if the six gunmen recognize her or not. Also said that she=92ll = contact us as soon as she can," he said excitedly. "Good." Then the TV started blaring with another newsflash about the = plane.=20 "We are hearing reports that a gunshot was heard inside the plane. We = are told that one of the men will allow himself to be interviewed = outside the plane, so we are sending a crew. It will be broadcasted live = in fifteen minutes," the woman said importantly. "A - gunshot?" Jonny said. "Ashleigh=85" he moaned and sank into a = chair. His friends surrounded him immediately. "Jonny," Jessie said quietly. "If they shot her, she=92ll be okay - even = thugs know how much she=92s worth as a hostage." "I know, but=85" "Jonathan Benton Quest, don=92t be stupid!" Sam said angrily. "Ashleigh would never let herself be killed," Cate added. The others = voiced similar opinions. "Thanks, guys," Jonny said. "It helped me, too," Dr. Quest said painfully. The team waited in = silence. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The other hostages woke up when they heard the gun go off, and saw = Ashleigh lying on the floor. "What did you do to her?" one of the women screamed, as two men ran over = to her fallen form. "Is she?" one asked. The other shook his head. "She=92s alive, but hurt," he said. The men with the guns came forward = threateningly.=20 "Go back to your seats!" one ordered. One man stood his ground. "You may have guns; but I=92m a doctor. I can=92t watch this girl die!" = he said angrily.=20 "Back off, Butch. The doctor can stay with Miss Quest, but the rest of = you stay in your seats," the leader said. Ashleigh was starting to wake up. "What happened?" she asked weakly. "You were shot in the shoulder, Miss Quest," the doctor said. Then it = dawned on him. "As in *the* Quests?" he asked. Ashleigh nodded, gritting = her teeth. "I see=85come on - you need to sit down," he said. Ashleigh = did as she was advised, then fell asleep again. "This girl needs surgery - you have to let her go, or she=92ll die = before morning!" Dr. Felps (that=92s his name) said. The gunmen turned = to their leader. "Only if her father pays the ransom. Butch - here=92s a little something = I wrote for you to read to the reporters. If they ask you why there was = a gunshot, or who was shot=85just say Ashleigh Quest. Understand?" Butch = nodded.=20 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Look - it=92s on!" Jessie exclaimed. Everyone sat down quickly as a man = in a black suit emerged from the plane and picked up a piece of paper. "Okay, people, I=92m only reading this once," the guy said. "We have = taken control of this airplane, and we aren=92t leaving until we get the = ransom for the plane and 49 of the people on board - which is 5 million = dollars - and there=92s another ransom, too - another 5 million for = Ashleigh Quest, who is on board. You got questions, then ask them now," = he said. Everyone in the room paled slightly. "There=92s rumors of a gunshot. Did someone shoot?" "Yeah, you could say that," the guy said, smirking. "in fact, when the = gun was fired, someone was hit." The Quest team looked like they were = all going to be sick. "Who?" all the reporters asked anxiously. "The Quest girl. And if we don=92t have the money by morning, she dies." Part 3... "Oh=85" Ashleigh moaned. Her shoulder hurt horribly, and she felt very = weak. She tried to sit up, but found she couldn=92t. "Lie down, Ashleigh," a man=92s voice said. She took his advice. "What happened to me? I=92m so weak I can=92t even open my eyes," she = complained. "You were shot about five hours ago, and you need surgery, and blood = transfusions, or you=92ll die. Unfortunately, the hijackers won=92t = release you. I=92m a doctor - Dr. Felps - and I=92ve been taking care of = you." "Okay=85is everyone else asleep?" "Yes, except the gunmen, but they=92re stationed at the doors." "Oh=85listen, can you help me get to the bathroom? I feel better, but = I=92d like to splash some water on my face and stuff=85" "Sure. Will you be all right alone?" "Worse things have happened to me - have you had bombs explode in your = face? Believe me, that=92s worse," she said.=20 "And you=92re still alive? Good grief," the doctor said.=20 "I know - everyone thinks that. Thank you for helping me," she said as = she walked into the bathroom and opened her eyes for the first time. = Ashleigh stared at her reflection. "No wonder," she marveled, and turned on the water. "I do look pretty = bad - I think it=92s time to call the team," she added quietly, and = grinned. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Jonny, it=92s Ashleigh!" The team sat up quickly, and Jonny grabbed his = watch. "Ashleigh! We=92ve-" "Shut up and listen, because I can=92t stay on my feet long. Listen, the = gunmen are all stationed by the doors, waiting for you guys, but if I = can make a door with my laser, while they think I=92m unconscious, then = we can take them off guard. It=92ll be in the wall by the first window = in the first class section - that=92s where they=92re keeping me. Break = into two groups; you=92ll need a distraction. I think that they=92re = going to take three of us by boat with them to escape - my and five year = old twins. This=92ll probably happen within the hour, so get here. I = have to go." The transmission ended before any of them could say a word. "Ashleigh," = Dr. Quest whispered sadly. Then he got a strange glint in his eyes. = "We=92re going to do as she says, got it? Get your stuff - we have = reporters to avoid and a helicopter to catch!" "Slammin=92!" *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Hotshot and Ace to Beaker and Muscles! Over!" Jonny whispered from the = hiding place he was sharing with Jessie. "This is Muscles. You see the door?" "You bet. Just start distracting them, okay? We=92ll move in with the = others," Jessie said. "Good, Ponchita. Be careful," Race, or =91Muscles=92 said. "How can we be?" she asked and terminated the call. "Ready, Jonny?" "That=92s my sister in there, Jess. Go!" Both crept towards the plane, = and they saw Bryan and Cate moving towards the boat. Quietly, Jonny = opened the panel his sister had opened with the laser in her watch and = sneaked inside, Jessie on his heels. Jessie couldn=92t help but gasp when she saw Ashleigh=92s condition, but = luckily all of the gunmen were outside to find out what the commotion = was. "All right Sam and Arik!" she whispered.=20 "Hi Jessie. Hi Jonny. I=92m going to help," Ashleigh said quietly, = opening her eyes. The other two looked skeptical. "Don=92t debate it, we = have to move! Who=92s in the boat?" "Bryan and Cate." "Good. Let the leader take me out into the boat, but don=92t let him = take Jaci and Jason here," she said, motioning at the two kids beside = her. "They=92d be in my way. Go hide; they=92re coming!" she added, and = the other two crept away. Ashleigh pretended to be escaping through the = hole. "What!" the leader shouted, running towards her. "How=92d you do that?" = he growled, then pulled out his gun and held it to Jaci=92s head. "Go to = the boat out there or she dies," he threatened. Ashleigh=92s eyes = widened, and she nodded, then jumped out. The leader followed, then = holstered the gun. "You were going to try to escape even though you can=92t stand on your = feet? Smart, kid," he said as though he couldn=92t believe it. It = worked! Ashleigh thought triumphantly. "Get in the boat," he ordered, = and shoved her onto the deck. "Ouch!" she cried from where she landed, then stood up shakily. "You = won=92t get away with this, you idiot!" "Yes I will - thanks to you. They don=92t want you to die, so I=92m = going to hold your life in my hands. Do you know how much power I=92ll = have?" he crowed. "The whole world will do as I demand, because of you! = And you and your family are so stupid you don=92t use this incredible = power! The whole world will bow to me, James Surd!" Ashleigh gasped.=20 "Surd!" she yelled, her eyes wide. "Of course - why do you think he had Lorenzo along? He was too stupid to = use for most things; he botched Dad=92s plans! The only reason Lorenzo = was there was because he=92s my uncle! My mom, Julia, that was her = brother!" he exclaimed. "Oh, brother!" Ashleigh said. "Another lunatic!" James hit her hard in = the face, and she fell to her knees, but still wouldn=92t give in.=20 "We need to help her!" Cate whispered from her hiding place. "Not yet, Cate - if we go in we might startle her, and then he=92d have = a clear shot at all of us," Bryan said. Cate hoped they could get there = in time. James pulled something out of his pocket and waved it under Ashleigh=92s = face, causing her to collapse. "Finally - I thought chloroform worked = faster than that," he muttered. Cate gasped, and burst out of the = ship=92s locker. "Hold it right there, Surd!" she yelled. "You won=92t hurt my friend!" = Cate=92s outburst surprised him - he=92d thought he was alone, now. "What the-" James started muttering, but Cate attacked him, making him = back towards the lockers she had been hiding in. She kept backing him = until he was in front of Bryan=92s locker. "BRYAN!" she shrieked, and Bryan burst out of the locker. The door = caught Surd in the face, and he slumped to the ground. "Tie him up - I = have to help Ashleigh!" she shouted, and ran to the deck. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The remainders of the Quest teams sat silently in the waiting room. = Jonny held his head in hands, and didn=92t budge from the bench. Dr. = Quest wouldn=92t move at all, and Race and Estella were afraid to leave = him alone. Jessie, Cate, and Sam just started at the wall, while Hadji = meditated and Arik and Bryan paced the floor. "Sir?" a doctor asked timidly. Jonny answered. "Dad won=92t talk to anyone right now. What is it?" he snapped. The = doctor stepped back with a surprised look on her face. "Well, we=92ve gotten your sister out of surgery, but=85we don=92t think = she=92ll last through the night," she said sadly. "I=92m so sorry=85um, = I know that this is against hospital policies, but I=92ll let you go = talk to her if you want to. Just have them page Dr. Nelly Devlink, = okay?" she said, and went back down the hall. Jessie jumped up and ran = after her. "Wait! Dr. Devlink - what=92s Ashleigh=92s condition?" she asked = painfully. The doctor looked at her sadly. "Comatose." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Ashleigh!" Hadji said, acting like he was surprised. Ashleigh got up = from the grassy field and smiled at her friend. "Hi, Hadji. You look worried - what=92s wrong?" Ashleigh asked. Her = voice sounded childish. "Well=85you were shot. I=92m seeing you on the astral plane," Hadji = said. Ashleigh=92s eyes got wide. "What! Oh, gosh=85you mean, I=92m unconscious?" she choked out. Hadji = nodded.=20 "Yes, my friend - you have been for a long time=85Dr. Quest is suicidal, = Jonny doesn=92t respond to anything, and the others just stare at the = walls or pace the floor=85and I meditate." "Oh=85Hadji?" "Yes?" "Please=85tell them to come in and talk to me=85all of them=85and," = Ashleigh said, drawing a long breath. "And, if I don=92t make it, will = you tell them I love them?" She was crying now. Hadji smiled through his = own tears. "Of course, Ashleigh. But please, try to pull through, all right?" = Ashleigh wiped away her tears and smiled.=20 "Hadji, I=92m a Quest. I always do my best," she said, and disappeared. = Hadji snapped himself out of his trance and ran over to Jonny, scaring = everyone. He didn=92t notice, and continued whispering to his adopted = brother. Jonny got up and ran to the nurses desk. Dr. Devlink came through the door a minute later. "You want to see your = sister?" she asked slowly. Jonny nodded. "She told a friend of mine that we all needed to come and talk to her," = he said knowingly. The doctor looked at him like he was crazy. Jonny = grinned. "My friend=92s a yoga - he saw her in the astral plane." "Uh, sure=85this way." Part 4... "Hi, Ashleigh=85it=92s Jonny. Hadji told me that you talked with him, = and I just wanted to say how sorry I am that this all happened. I should = have stayed behind and then I could have protected you=85I=92m so sorry, = Ash. Especially since it seems that whenever something happens, it = happens to you. Please, Ash, get better=85there=92s no telling what will = happen if you don=92t." "I think the team would disband - Estella and Jess would go to Colombia, = Race back to the agency, Hadji to Bangalore for good, Cate and Sam to = that children=92s home, and Arik and Bryan back to their families. And = Dad=85would end up as crazy as the real Surd, Zin, and Rage all rolled = into one=85so I=92d probably end up with Sam and Cate at that home for = kids. Please get better!" That was funny, Ashleigh thought. What a weird thing to dream - just as = weird as seeing Hadji here. Gotta remember not to eat these airline = peanuts. Then Race and Estella=92s voices came into her dream. "Ashleigh, please get better. I=92m your bodyguard; I=92m supposed to = keep things like this from happening. Wouldn=92t look good for my = resume, ya know," Race said. Then Ashleigh heard Estella chiding him, = and she stifled a laugh. "I agree that you need to get better, Ashleigh. We all need you," was = all that Estella said. "I=92d say more, but there=92s a bunch of kids = out in the hallway who are acting like monkeys. I think we=92d better = let them in." "Hi Ash=85it=92s Jessie. I=92m sorry you=92re so sick, but you need to = get better so that we can finish that personal diary security we were = working on, okay? I=92d say more, but Sam=92s about ready to beat me = over the head," she added, laughing. "Hey, Ashleigh! C=92mon, you gotta get better so that you can keep = teaching me how to use the computer, okay? Then we can have virtual = fights!" "Okay, Sam!" Ashleigh said, but her friend didn=92t answer. Odd, Ash = thought. Very odd. But then again, this is one weird dream=85 "Hi Ashleigh. It=92s Cate. You and I know that I=92ve already taken one = bullet for you; I just wish I could=92ve taken this one. Get well soon, = okay? Patches is going crazy without you!" "Hi, Ashleigh. It=92s Arik=85I=92m sorry you aren=92t getting better. = Please do - I know what Jonny=92s going through, and it=92s tough. = Please, get better, for all of us?" "Yeah, um, basically, I was going to say the same thing as Arik=85oh! = Um, here - I got you one of those little bean-bag animals you like," = Bryan said as he fumbled with trying to set the little bear in his = friend=92s hand. Then he yelped. "What did you do that for?" Arik asked. "Her hand moved! It grabbed the bear-thingy!" he crowed. "All right!" Ashleigh heard the boys high-five. Then everything got = quiet again, and stayed that way for a long time.=20 "Ashleigh." That=92s Dad! she thought. "I never should have left you = home all alone, so that you=92d have to take that plane. None of this = should have happened. It=92s all my fault=85and now you=92re in a = coma=85oh, Ashleigh." I=92m in a coma! Ash thought. Then=85this isn=92t = a dream! "You know, it isn=92t your fault." "ASHLEIGH!"=20 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dr. Devlink eased herself into a chair in the cafeteria. "Hey, Nelly, = what=92s wrong?" Dr. Mabo asked his friend. She sighed. "They brought in a girl from that plane hijacking=85I operated on her, = but I don=92t think she=92s going to make it. I can=92t believe = it=85already two fatalities from that thing, and at least eight wounded = seriously."=20 "Oh, Nelly. I=92m sorry," Dr. Mabo said. "It=92s not your fault, Mick. But then there=92s her family=85they seem = familiar, yet I=92ve never seen them before." "What=92s their names?" "You know, I was so busy trying to keep her alive that I don=92t even = remember. Oh well," she said, and sipped her coffee. "Dr. Devlink and Dr. Mabo to room 318, please," the loudspeaker blared. "Uh-oh - that=92s where the girl is!" Nelly yelled, jumping up and = tipping over her cup as the friends raced for the elevators. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Hi. The nurse said you=92re supposed to find out why I=92m awake - and = alive," a smiling figure said from the bed. Both doctors stopped in = their tracks. "What on earth?" Dr. Mabo wondered out loud. The girl kept smiling. "I=92m Ashleigh. And the nurse said you=92re supposed-" "Uh, yes, Ashleigh we know. We=92re just shocked," Dr. Devlink = stuttered. "Oh, brother=85do you have to figure it out? I just want to go home," = Ashleigh whined. "Um=85okay, we=92ll go talk to your father and get some forms filled = out," Nelly said. "But he=92ll have to get an air ambulance." "No, not really. Our jet is built to be used as one of those," Ashleigh = said uninterestedly, examining her nails. "Your jet?" Mick asked. Ashleigh nodded. "Yeah - the Dragonfly." "Dragonfly=85faces=85I knew I=92d seen you before! You=92re one of the = Quest Team, aren=92t you?" Dr. Devlink said.=20 "You bet - the youngest, most dangerous Quest around," she said = cheerfully. "Now, you mentioned some forms?"=20 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "How do they do it, Race?" Dr. Quest asked. Estella laughed. "Beats me, Benton. I=92m beginning to think they have more lives than = that cat of Ashleigh=92s." Both looked back at the kids, the only = evidence anything happened a sling on Ashleigh=92s right arm. "You two will never understand, will you?" Both men turned to Estella.=20 "What do you mean, Estella?" Dr. Quest said. She smiled. "Easy - you are what you think, correct?" The other two nodded. "Well, = they think they=92re indestructible!" All eight teens turned from their game of cards to find out why their = parents/leaders were rolling on the floor, laughing. THE END (for now=85BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)