Dallas, Texas
September 1978
Valene and Gary were back, but even that couldn't dampen JR's mood. Sue Ellen was coming home. Someone, though apparently not Doctor Conrad, had prescribed her maprotiline. He didn't know what it was, only that it worked. Over the past few weeks, his wife's mood and demeanour had noticeably improved.
Doctor Conrad had called him last week, asking him to come in for a talk. When JR arrived, he found Sue Ellen looking brighter than she had in months. She'd shown interest in him and John Ross, and shockingly, admitted she hadn't been thinking clearly before her admission.
Every afternoon, he'd bring John Ross to Brooktree Psychiatric so they could spend time together as a family. He'd noticed real changes in her. While she never mentioned what might have been, she no longer crumbled at the idea of being a family again.
This afternoon, she'd broached the subject of coming home, something he was more than ready for. She said she felt better, ready to start living again, and he believed her.
He wasn't going to push her to have more children. The fact that they had John Ross at all was enough for him. He'd make sure no one brought up the subject, instil fear in anyone who did, and hope everything would be fine, though he knew that at Southfork, nothing was ever certain.
His wife was coming home, his family was going to be back together, and neither Gary nor Valene could ruin that for him.
"Can you say Mama? John Ross? Can you say Mama? No? That's okay; we have plenty of time now that I'm back."
Holding John Ross in a standing position on her knees, bouncing him as Pamela had shown her a few weeks ago, Sue Ellen realised she felt happy. For so long, she'd been unable to access those emotions, her mind overtaken by darkness. But now, she felt whole again.
"If it helps, he doesn't say much yet. I think he's still a little too young for that," Pamela said.
"I keep thinking I've missed too much," Sue Ellen replied.
"No, you saw him every week. You were there."
Sitting opposite her on the picnic blanket they'd spread out on the balcony, Pam's reassuring comment felt genuine. A few months ago, she might've taken those words as a slight, implying she didn't care enough about her son to know what milestones to expect. But her mind didn't work like that anymore. The comment was friendly, comforting, not malicious at all.
"My mind wasn't right," Sue Ellen admitted.
"The past is the past."
"I'll be here for the future."
She intended to stay at Southfork, to remain part of the family. Her time at Brooktree Psychiatric had helped her figure out how to do that without falling apart. Doctor Conrad had been helpful, and the fact that no one had mentioned the reason for her admission since she'd returned home was also beneficial. However, the most valuable outcome of her time away was the prescription Doctor Brooks had provided. She'd initially been reluctant to take the pills, partly because she hated the idea that something was fixing her when she felt there was nothing wrong, and partly because of the patronising way the staff handled medication rounds. Yet she couldn't deny the results. It had been a long time since she'd felt this good, and if that was because of the pills, then so be it.
"Yes, you will," Pam said, smiling.
October 1978
Ellie cared deeply for Gary; Jock did too, though he cared more for his other three sons. So, while Ellie was heartbroken to see Gary leave so soon after he'd returned, Jock's own feelings were far less intense.
He was much happier to see Sue Ellen home. She was finally bonding with John Ross, using his full name, holding him, caring for him for longer stretches, and doing so without the miserable, sulky demeanour she'd had months earlier. At last, she had what he'd always hoped she would with their son.
This time last year, he'd made an effort to connect with John Ross as he grew. It was a move that had offended Sue Ellen and earned him a reprimand from JR. Looking back, Jock wondered if he should have arranged a prescription for her back then. He couldn't imagine her resisting his friendly advances now.
The girl JR had brought home to meet the family in 1967 had been friendly yet reserved. The Sue Ellen who now shared their home was similar, though perhaps a bit more open. Since returning from Brooktree Psychiatric, he hadn't seen her sulk, cry, or look disinterested. The original Sue Ellen was back, and both she and JR had him to thank for it. It was another thing on his long list of secrets, one he couldn't mention, but it didn't matter, he knew, and that's what counted.
Dallas felt like a revolving door for old acquaintances lately. First JR's younger brother and his ex-wife had shown up, then left again. No sooner had they gone than Jenna Wade's name started being mentioned.
Sue Ellen felt terrible for Pamela. Jenna's existence was clearly something Bobby hadn't covered in detail before, and now it was a topic he didn't want to discuss. Bobby was a good man; she didn't think he'd make the first move to stray from his marriage vows. But Jenna could be very persuasive, and that was dangerous. Pamela was strong, though. She'd make it through, even if she had to fight for what was already hers.