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Take 91: Hallucinations

Category for this take: Angst / Romance

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"This is great."

"I told ya!"

"I can't believe we didn't do this years ago."

"Yes, well, let's not dwell."

"Didn't that tape say there were no fish in your pond?"

"Close enough."

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"I feel I need to apologize, Sir."

"Apologize? What for? You never need to apologize for anything to me."

"Well, maybe not apologize, but explain."

"I don't know what you need to explain, but explain away."

"It all started with the Prometheus and my massive concussion. The concussion and my lack of sleep made me hallucinate."

"I don't remember you saying anything about that."

"I didn't. I was on medical leave no matter what so it didn't seem relevant. The hallucinations were very personal."

"In what way?"

"They represented the most important people in my life: Dad, Daniel, Teal'c, this little girl, and you. Each person wanted something different from me. Daniel wanted me to explore. Teal'c told me not to trust what I saw and to be cautious. The girl wanted me to give up and play with her. She was blowing bubbles, which actually gave me the idea to get myself out."

"That leaves your dad and me."

"Dad wanted me to be happy. He said it's time to let go of the things that prevented me from finding happiness. That I deserved to love someone and be loved in return."

"You do."

"He said almost the same thing just before he died. My real dad, that is, not the hallucination."

"I got that."

"On the Prometheus, I thought it meant I needed to let go of my dream of us. I thought he meant that dream was holding me back from being happy. Your hallucination told me you were a safe bet."

"I am."

"Well, at the time, I thought that meant I was using you as an excuse not to find happiness with someone else. Two weeks later, I went out with Pete."

"Ah."

"I over thought it. I didn't realize that my dad did not mean you were in the way of my happiness. It was the freaking regs that were in the way."

"Well they won't be for much longer. Just thirteen hours, twenty-two minutes until your transfer is official."

"Thank God for that."

"So this subconscious version of me-"

"-wanted me to call him Jack."

"That explains the infirmary."

"He was a really good kisser, too. I'm looking forward to a full comparison tonight."

"You kissed him, huh? Well, I happen to know you won't be disappointed."

"You know?"

"Well, since you are coming clean about secret kisses with imagined versions of me, I figured I should come clean about Groundhog Day."

"You didn't."

"Oh yeah I did...right in the middle of the control room...right in front of Hammond."

"That's why you looked so smug!"

"Ohhhh yeaaahhhh. I did resign first."

"I still don't understand why that is the only regulation you insisted on following."

"I didn't trust myself otherwise. I cared more about your career than mine. I still have a question about your hallucination team. Who was the girl?"

"I never figured that out. She said her name was Grace."

"Really? That was my mom's name. Funny that."

"So, Jack, do you forgive the heartache that I caused because of some misinterpreted advice from my subconscious?"

"You mean do I forgive your fantasized make-out session with me and do I forgive your dreams of a girl with the name I imagined for our daughter, if we ever have one? Think nothing of it. You're forgiven."