Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or related characters.

A/N: This was inspired by the line in Undersea Urgency where Jonny tells Jessie: "Race once told me that real courage was about fighting back, especially when you're scared.". Also, this one is on the "re-write at some point" list.


Though they were home safe and sound Benton was still on edge after the attempted kidnapping that had occurred a few hours earlier. The would-be kidnappers target had been Jonny, Benton's eight-year-old son. Despite being injured Race Bannon, the I-One agent assigned to protect the boy, had managed to chase the kidnapper down and rescue him.

Still, Benton couldn't help the jolt of panic that went through him when he turned and saw his son was no longer sitting at the kitchen table. Forcing himself to stop and think logically he though, where would Jonny go? The answer to that came in the form of another question, where is Race?

The scientist left the kitchen, heading up the stairs. He stopped before the ajar door to Race's room and peeked inside.

Though the kidnapper had failed to stab him, Race had ended up with a bad gash on his side that had required stitches and he was ordered to stay off his feet as much as possible to lessen the chance of him tearing open said stitches. Unable to really do anything and bored out of his mind, the bodyguard had decided to go to bed early.

Now however, he was sitting up in bed, leaning back against the headboard with Jonny in his lap. "I was scared too." The bodyguard murmured.

"You?" Jonny leaned back to look up at his friend and guardian, "B-but you're not scared of anything!"

Race chuckled, doing a fairly good job at hiding the pain the action brought, "I'm only human Jonny. Everyone's scared of something."

"But you're so brave." Jonny sounded completely confused.

"Courage isn't about lack of fear. Real courage is about fighting back, especially when you're scared." Race answered.

Jonny leaned against the bodyguard's chest again as he considered those words. "Then... I can be brave to?"

"As far as I'm concerned, you already are kiddo." Race answered.

"But I..." Jonny began.

"You were fighting against that man weren't you?" Race interrupted.

"Yeah..." Jonny answered.

"Despite your fear you still fought. That's bravery Jonny." Race explained.

A smile came to Jonny's face as the I-One agent's words sank in.

Benton slipped away, smiling.