This is a one-shot based on the episode "The Mentor". I do not own the characters. Paxson Entertainment, Pebblehut Productions, and the Johnson Brothers do - I simply enjoy playing with them. Please read and enjoy! If you can, please also review - I find that a great encouragement to keep writing! Now have fun reading - I have to go prepare for writing the next story!

Jack held the badge of his fallen comrade, friend, and mentor. He stroked the leather cover of Wes Kenner's badge.

He's gone. He's really gone. The thought pounded through his head again and again, filling him with blinding emotional pain. If only I had seen that sniper. If only I had been faster. If only I been a better agent. The thoughts were torturing him.

"Jack," Bobby said, coming up next to him. "Hey, mate, you've been standing here for a long time." Jack did not say anything. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing," Jack said out of habit.

"Hey, mate, I know you better than that," Bobby insisted. He paused, giving Jack a chance to respond, but when no response came he continued. "Don't blame yourself, Jack."

"I'm not," Jack lied.

"Oh, yeah," Bobby replied. "You're standing here with a ferocious frown for no reason, then?"

Jack turned his scowl on his best friend to no avail.

"See what I mean?" Bobby said with a grin, motioning at Jack. He lowered his voice to a gentler, more confidential tone. "I've struggled with it too, Jack. Trust me, I have. Remember, it's me he was trying to save."

Jack blinked hard. He did not want to remember. He did not want to think about that day when Wes was shot right next to him.

Bobby continued. "I've had to spend a lot of time thinking about it, but I know that Wes would not want me - or you, for that matter - to be blaming ourselves for his death. He would be saying, 'I made the choice, so don't be taking it upon yourselves to be responsible for me'."

Jack grudgingly accepted the fact in his brain, but he had a hard time accepting it in his heart.

"Think about the good parts," Bobby encouraged.

"Such as?" Jack said bitterly. What can possibly be good about this situation?

Bobby seemed surprised by that remark. "Think of his badge." He reached out and took the badge. "Think of what it stands for. Wes gave most of his life to upholding the laws of the good old USA. He's upheld the traditional 'fidelity, bravery, and integrity'. That's quite the legacy."

Jack nodded. His throat was too tight to trust himself to speak.

"You know, he's left us that legacy to uphold. It's an awesome responsibility." Bobby handed the badge back to Jack and slapped him on the back in a show of friendship.

"Never again, not on my watch," Jack mumbled, quoting Wes' most memorable speech to the two young men. This time it was Bobby who was struggling against tears, but he still said what needed to be said.

"And not on our watch either."