Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or related characters.
A/N: This takes place after the events of Night of the Zinja.
"We need to get out of here." Hadji said, noting the Zinja - as Jonny called the robotic ninjas controlled by the Zin Twins - struggling to get out from under the crates it was trapped under. It also wouldn't be long before the Zin twins regained consciousness. Despite knowing they didn't have much time, Jessie still ran to her father's side. She fell to her knees beside him and pressed two fingers to the artery in his neck, praying she'd find a pulse despite the ninja stars embedded in his chest. "Jessie..." Hadji called after her.
"I have to be sure." The fourteen-year-old's voice was borderline squeaky as she struggled to speak past the lump in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes when she found no pulse. Her father was dead. Dead. Gone. Not coming back.
Hadji grabbed her arm and tugged gently, starting to pull her to her feet when a gloved hand shot out and caught her wrist.
"Dad...?" Jessie whispered daring to hope that maybe...
Race's eyes opened with a literal flash and Jessie gasped realizing that it wasn't her father and it most definitely was not human. She started struggling, trying to pull away as the disguised Zinja sat up. Hadji kicked it hard in the head, dazing it and causing it to let go of the girl.
Both teenagers started running, making a break for the door. There was the sound of ninja stars firing and Hadji cried out in pain. Jessie stopped and turned to find the fourteen-year-old boy lying face down on the floor, ninja stars embedded in his back. He wasn't breathing. "Hadji!" Jessie cried wanting nothing more than to believe he wasn't gone.
She didn't have time to grieve however, for the Zinja was on its feet and approaching swiftly now. She turned to start running only to shriek when the Zinja did a flip over her and landed right in front of her. She started backing away as the Zinja still looking like her father reached out. The gloved hand closed around her throat, tightening slowly.
Her emerald eyes went wide as she looked at the familiar face. "D-Dad...!" She gave a strangled cry. If that wasn't him then he must be around somewhere... right? Right?!
Suddenly everything faded away and she was sitting bolt upright in bed, tears trailing down her cheeks as she was aware something had woken her but she didn't know what - at least she hadn't until her emerald eyes focused on the familiar figure sitting on the edge of her bed. "D-Dad." She sobbed as he pulled her into a hug.
"Shh, it was just a nightmare, Jessie." Her father murmured as he began to rub her back. She rested her head against his chest, still crying even as the memory of what had truly happened in the warehouse came back to her.
Her father was alive (clearly), so was Hadji, and Jonny, and her as well. The Zin Twins and their plot had been foiled. It was over. Everyone was safe and sound.
And yet she couldn't forget that brief period of time in which she had believed her father's luck had run out and he was dead. Her mind kept going back to that moment when she'd looked into the skylight and saw her father lying there, ninja stars embedded in his chest. He hadn't even appeared to be breathing.
She realized she was rambling, stammering about what she had thought earlier and what had happened in her nightmare.
"Shh... it's alright Panchita." He shushed her gently. "It's alright. I'm right here. Everything's okay." He continued to murmur words of comfort as her crying calmed leaving her sniffling and clinging to every word he said. She closed her eyes, just listening to her father's confident voice and the strong beating of his heart.
Yes. It was alright now. Everything was okay.
Race didn't know how long he sat there holding his little girl (who wasn't so little anymore) as he murmured words of comfort before Jessie fell back asleep. He continued for a few moments longer, his voice growing softer until he eventually fell silent. He held her a little longer, just to be sure she was truly back asleep. "I'm sorry, Jessie." He whispered, though it still left much unsaid.
I'm sorry you had to be there tonight.
I'm sorry you, Jonny, and Hadji were put in danger tonight.
I'm sorry I helped the Zin Twins give you nightmares.
I'm sorry I have such a dangerous job.
I'm sorry you have to face the consequences of the job I have.
He sighed and shook his head before gently laying his daughter down. He gently tucked the blanket around her before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Standing, he quietly made his way to the door, stopping to glance back and make sure she was still asleep.
This was the part he hated about Jessie coming to live with him and the Quest Team. She was more exposed to the dangers he faced, she was more likely to have nightmares because of it, and there was nothing he could do to change that.