Keep Dreaming

Therapy - Erin's POV

I had just about gotten used to the obnoxiously bright lights in my office - "my office" -  still so new and weird to say, even after two years of having this job.
I clicked my pen and tried to look straight at the man without my head shaking, like it usually did when I tried to concentrate too hard. He had slumped down into the black leather sofa as he always did. He had an air of confidence and suaveness to him, and along with his American accent, he could easily have passed as an old movie star.

You would never have guessed by looking at Jack Harkness that he goes to therapy.

In fairness, he didn't talk about anything that particularly upset him, he just seemed to come in to talk about things that were on his mind; lonely, I thought.
He had sauntered in these doors at 6.30 am and out again at 7.30am on every Thursday for the last year. He specifically asked for someone to see him at that time. An odd request, I thought - most people scheduled their visits between 12-6pm. He later explained to me that his work started early and finished late. I agreed. I didn't mind accommodating his unusual hours, I figured it would make my Thursdays feel more productive. 

"So, Jack."
I began as I clicked my pen again, propping up my notebook.
"How has the week been?"
He looked at me with his shining, bright, white smile.
"Same old."
He said with a laugh. He used his hands to emphasise what he was saying in these sessions. I had often wondered if it was just a quirk, or maybe a nervous habit.
I smiled back softly.
"Jack, remember what we've been over - you don't have to say you're great all the time! It's okay to feel shit sometimes, or tired."
His bright smile was unwavering as he shrugged.
"I'm always great, you should know that by now, Erin."
I shook my head and sighed.
"We'll get there one day Jack. Now-"
I began as I leaned back into my chair and crossed my legs.
"- tell me about those dreams. Still vivid as ever?"
His eyes flickered briefly, as though he couldn't quite remember what I was talking about. It was so minuscule that I would've missed it if I'd blinked.
"Ah, the dreams. Still there."
"And how are all of Torchwood doing? Still some tension?"
I asked with a smile. I loved hearing about Jack's vivid dreams, him and a team called "Torchwood". While I used to be concerned about them, after a while they seemed fairly harmless, and didn't affect his life very much. It meant I could now indulge in the vibrant stories and lifelike characters that his brain managed to conjure up.
"There's been a lot of drama recently."
"Oh, really? Any conflicts that need resolving? I'm sure if we look into it we could find a deeper meaning in your life-"
"It's nothing to do with my suppressed feelings."
He said firmly, steely eyes. I paused briefly.
"Right, if you insist. So, what's going on this week?"
"So, in one of these recent dreams, we went to the countryside. Owen was complaining the whole time about the outdoors and the grass and the smell-"
I laughed. Owen was my favourite character to hear about. A complete lady's man with a fiery temper and dark humour. He would have been an interesting for client - had he been real.
"Ah, good old Owen. Always finds something to give out about."
I chuckled.
"Don't I know it!"
Jack exclaimed, as though these characters were as real as I was to him.
"Anyway, I'm fairly sure that there's something going on with Gwen and Owen."
I thought back to all the characters in these stories so far.
"Wait... but isn't Gwen...?"
"In a relationship? Yes, she is."
"Wow. That sounds... interesting. Couple's counselling might be of benefit!"
"Yep. And Tosh is upset that Owen and Gwen are seeing eachother."
"Oh, of course! Poor Tosh, your heart'd go out to her."
"And Ianto's still grieving his girlfriend."
"The robot... cyberwoman, was it? Lisa?"
"Yeah, he hasn't really recovered."
"Wow. Complex as ever, Jack. Speaking of, how's Captain Jack doing?"
Captain Jack, Jack's dream persona, seemed nearly the exact same as him - bar the fact that he was born hundreds of years in the future, had got stuck hundreds of years in the past, and was immortal, of course.
"Captain Jack's doing alright, I think"
He mused.
"...I think he has a little crush on Ianto, perhaps."
"How exciting! Perhaps another relationship in Torchwood?"
"Perhaps."
Jack smiled, grinning as though he was lovestruck.
"So, what's on in work today?"
Jack shrugged slightly.
"Oh, just some computer stuff, meetings... that sort of thing"
"So, same old?"
Jack nodded.
"Yeah, what can I say. Another day, another dollar, am I right?"
He flashed that pearly-white smile at me. I grinned back.
"Don't I only know too well."
I paused as I tried to come up with a good way to phrase what I wanted to say.
"Just.. make sure you take a break. I feel like these elaborate dreams you have all the time may be your mind trying to escape from the craziness of work. And while there's nothing wrong with the dreams, I think it would help to get out more often and do things you enjoy."
He nodded at me in an almost-militant manner as he stood up and shrugged on his coat.
"I'll keep it in mind."