Dreams Come True, Chapter 8
"What the hell is going on here?" asks Sheppard.
"I've returned your real memories to you, so you should understand that this world," the Ancient spreads his arms, "exists only in your minds."
"Wait," says McKay. "We've been in fake realities before. I thought that Sheppard couldn't be fooled."
"That is why this reality was created based on an alternate version of how the Major's life could have turned out."
"I don't get it," says John. "How can you create a reality based on a history that didn't actually happen?"
"Alternate realities are created all the time. Different decisions lead to different realities. There are countless possibilities."
"Isn't it a little convenient that we all still knew each other?" asks Ford.
"Not really. A scientist once found a quantum mirror that allowed us to study many different alternate realities. He found that the different realities were as much the same as they were different. As strange as it sounds, certain lives are fated to intertwine." Marc looks over at Teyla. "You were the only one whose memory I had to change from birth."
"Because in this reality, there is no Stargate," Teyla says. "There would have been no way for me to be on Earth."
The Ancient nods and looks at Ford and McKay. "Your realities were relatively easy to change by removing the existence of the Stargate. John and Lizzie were a little different."
Major Sheppard still has his arms around Dr. Weir. The different memories of this reality and the one they lived are warring in their minds. But the comfort they find in each other is valid in both.
"Afghanistan?" asks John. "This would have been my life if I hadn't acquired a helicopter outside standard channels?"
"It was based more on your CO," answers Marc with a smile. "If he had decided to save those servicemen instead of his own career, this life could have happened. Lizzie actually was at the Academy when you got back from Afghanistan. I took that chance meeting and advanced it a few years."
"But none of that happened," states Sheppard.
"Correct."
"And none of this is real," says McKay.
"Yes."
There's a startled gasp from Elizabeth, who has remained silent through the exchange. Her hands flutter to her abdomen as her eyes fly toward the front of the house. John's thoughts follow hers and he's forced to ask the question she can't.
"The boys?"
"I'm sorry," says Marc. "But they will cease to exist if you choose to leave this reality."
Elizabeth turns in John's arms with a strangled sob and buries her face in his chest. While she knows that none of it is real, she still has all the memories of this world in her mind. The loss of her children hits her like a physical blow.
John rests his chin against the top of her head and strokes her cheek with a shaky hand. He kisses her tenderly on the temple before looking up at Marc.
"What kind of sick game are you playing?" he asks with anger in his voice and pain in his eyes.
The Ancient does look visibly shaken by Elizabeth's tears. "I didn't mean any harm."
"Then why are we here?" ask Ford. Anger also puts an edge to his voice. He still has memories of playing with the Sheppard boys over the years.
"Not all of us agreed with the decision to leave the people of this galaxy to the whims of the Wraith," Marc explains. "But there was little I could do on my own except provide a few with the chance to live a life without the threat of the Wraith."
"So you kidnap people out of wormholes and make them live in a dream world?" asks McKay.
The Ancient bows his head. "Yes."
"What of the families and friends they leave behind? Do you not see that you have also caused great pain?" asks Teyla with vehemence. Her real memories contain stories of Athosians leaving through the Stargate, never to return. They had all been assumed killed by the Wraith, but now she was no longer sure.
"I only intended to save them from the Wraith."
"No matter what your intentions, this has to stop," Elizabeth says, pulling away from John's chest to face the Ancient. Tears stain her face, but her voice is steel. "You have no right to play with people's lives this way."
"Others who have discovered the truth have chosen to stay."
"Well we don't," says McKay. Ford and Teyla nod, but Marc is watching John and Elizabeth. They are both looking towards the house.
"I," starts Elizabeth, then looks up at John and corrects herself. "We would like to say goodbye."
"Of course," says the Ancient, disappointed.
John and Elizabeth walk slowly toward the house and enter. The boys are sitting in the living room playing with some toy cars. Michael looks up when his parents walk into the room.
"Can we tell you about sledding now?" he asks.
"Not right now, Michael," says Elizabeth as she kneels on the floor between the boys.
Marcus looks up and notices the dry tears on his mother's face. He goes over and puts his arms around her neck.
"Why are you crying Mommy?" he asks, causing fresh tears to course down Elizabeth's cheeks as she grips him tightly.
Michael comes over to also wrap his arms around her.
"Don't cry Mommy. We promise we haven't done anything wrong," Michael says, patting her back gently.
Marcus looks up at his brother.
"Um, today," he adds.
Elizabeth smiles and pulls back to look at the two boys. She glances up as John kneels beside them.
"Mommy's sad because we have to go away," John says, his voice tight with unshed tears. The boys have never seen him cry and he thinks that seeing it now would frighten them. "Uncle Marc is going to take care of you. And...and we want you to know that we love you both very much."
Elizabeth pull the boys tight against her as she lets out another sob. John wraps his arms around her and the twins, no longer able to stop his own tears. He focuses on memorizing every aspect of this moment – the last time he held his family.
TBC...