Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or related characters.
A/N: This is fairly early in Race's assignment. He's literally been there just long enough for a father/son type bond to start to form between him and Jonny. This is more or less Race's first time comforting Jonny after he has a nightmare.
Race's eyes shot open, not yet aware of what had awoken him. He could feel someone curled up against his side, trembling violently. With the thought that he was going to kill who ever dared to wake him, he pulled back the blanket. His anger at being woken at God knew what time faded at the sight of the frightened six-year-old. "Jonny?" He mumbled. "What's wrong?"
"I h-ha-had a b-ba-bad d-d-dream." The boy stammered, his voice trembling. Even in the darkness it wasn't hard to tell the boy was crying.
Wondering why the boy had come to him instead of going to his father, Race wrapped an arm around the child and pulled him closer, "What happened in the dream, Jonny?"
Jonny just shook his head, whimpering as he buried his face in the bodyguard's shoulder. Alright, he didn't want to talk about it. On to plan B then.
"It's alright Jonny, it was just a nightmare." Race murmured. "It wasn't real. Shh, it's okay. It wasn't real, Jonny." He continued to murmur words of comfort until the boy's cries quieted and then faded all together as he fell asleep.
Dr. Quest leaned back in his chair, stretching his sore muscles. He really had to stop hunching over his desk like that. He looked down at the completed blueprint with tired eyes. That was enough work for the day, it was time to go to bed. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was three in the morning. Three am? Benton could have sworn it was only two hours or so ago Race had come into the lab to let him know dinner was done (only to return a few minutes (an hour?) later with a plate of said dinner when Benton didn't leave the lab). Shaking his head the scientist stood and made his way to the door. He turned off the lights and then went to head for bed.
He stopped at his son's room, intending to check on him before going to bed. The scientist felt a jolt of panic shoot through him when he found the room empty. "Jonny?" He called softly. He looked around the room quickly to determine if the boy was hiding somewhere, he wasn't.
Benton whirled around and headed to the next door over. The door was ajar, he pushed it open and entered the room. He was relieved to find his son curled up against the bodyguard's side sleeping peacefully though he wondered why his son was here. Ice blue eyes shot open suddenly, locking on to him. Race was tense, ready to act if there was a threat approaching. Recognizing the doctor, he relaxed instantly.
"He had a nightmare." Race explained quietly. He shifted slightly, moving so Benton could pick up his son and take him elsewhere if he wanted. The doctor shook his head. He knew if he tried to move his son the boy would wake.
"How often has he been having nightmares?" Benton asked softly.
"I don't know." Race answered. "This is the first time he's come to me with one."
Dr. Quest nodded. Honestly, he should have thought about that. After what happened with Rachel it was to be expected that Jonny would have nightmares. Benton suddenly began to wonder if the boy had been having nightmares all this time but had simply kept them to himself. "Something to keep an eye on." He murmured.
Race nodded in understanding.
"Goodnight Race." Dr. Quest said, ignoring the fact that it was morning.
"Goodnight Doctor." Race replied.
Benton sighed as he made his way to his room. Perhaps tomorrow he should stay out of the lab. He was certain him working in the lab all the time was doing Jonny no good at all. Deciding he would take a break from lab work the next day, he prepared for bed and then went to sleep.