Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or related characters.
A/N: This one is probably going to get re-written at some point but I thought I'd go ahead and post it now so I don't forget about it.
"Daddy!" His five-year-old daughter's gleeful cry brought a tired smile to Race's face. He knelt down and caught the red head, doing his best not to wince when his ribs and back protested the movement.
Race Bannon, an Intelligence One agent, had just finally gotten home after week long mission that left him exhausted and sore. At the moment, all he wanted was a strong dose of pain killers and a good couple hours' worth of sleep.
"Hey Jess," He murmured as he hugged her. "Aren't you up a little late?" As he spoke he glanced at his wife, Estella. There was no way she could have known he was coming home tonight, hell he hadn't even known until about two hours ago.
"I still need a bedtime story." Jessie said with a pout, then her pretty face lit up, "Will you read to me?"
How could he say no to a face like that? "Sure, Panchita." He smiled. "Why don't you go pick out a book? I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay!" Jessie shot off towards her room.
Race stood up slowly, grimacing slightly.
"You don't have to." Estella murmured. "I can read to her if…"
Race shook his head. Due to the nature of his job he didn't get to spend much time with his daughter. Which made every moment he got to spend with her precious… even if it meant enduring soreness and exhaustion a little longer.
Before heading to his daughter's room, Race entered the master bedroom. He took his gun from its holster and then took off the holster that had kept the weapon concealed at the small of his back. As comfortable as he was around guns and other weapons he wasn't exactly comfortable with the idea of his five-year-old being around them, even when he was the one carrying the weapon.
After making sure the gun was locked where a child couldn't accidentally find it and play with it, he took two pain pills then headed down the hall to Jessie's room. The emerald-eyed red-head was already sitting in bed holding her favorite book. It was a fairy tale of a princess locked away in a tower that needed to be rescued from a dragon.
Jessie always liked comparing herself to the princess in the book, but Race knew if Jessie ever did end up in the princess's place she would most likely end up rescuing herself – if he didn't get there first.
It was almost fifteen minutes later when Estella peeked into the room. She smiled seeing Race sitting on the bed, his back resting against the headboard, with Jessie curled up against his side. Both the I-One agent and the girl were asleep, the book almost sliding out of Race's hands.
Moving quietly, she gently took the book from Race – briefly she wondered if she should be concerned or relieved that he didn't even stir. Typically, he would at least wake up enough to see who was there – and set it on the nightstand. She tucked the blanket around the two, giving them each a kiss on the forehead, before she turned out the light and quietly left the room.