Title: The Full Truth

Author: Jedi Buttercup

Rating: FR7/PG

Disclaimer: The words are mine; the world belongs to SyFy.

Summary: Jack waited longer than Henry'd expected to ask about the letter. 200 words.

Spoilers: Eureka 3.18 "What Goes Around Comes Around" (season finale)

Notes: For Season 3.5, Week 10 at eureka_tag. Also references 1.12 "Once in a Lifetime".

Jack waited longer than Henry'd expected to ask about the Harvard recommendation letter, and when he did, he had only one question:

"Why Zoe?"

Henry's answer was that she deserved it. But that wasn't the full truth, was it?

The Zoe he knew now, of the B- average, part-time job, and still-single father, wasn't the strongest candidate at Tesla. But the Zoe that might've been, the valedictorian with the new brother and mother who'd kept her focus more closely on her schoolwork, had been the best of her class... and Henry had been too obsessed with saving Kim to assist her.

On behalf of the Zoe he'd slighted, he'd written that letter in the here and now.

And on behalf of the Jack who'd left a wife and child behind to prevent Henry from destroying the universe, Henry had another answer for a question not yet asked:

"I know you're wondering what to do now she and Tess are gone. Go to Australia and find out; if you're happy there, stay. You belong in Eureka, Jack. But you deserve happiness more than we need you.

"Hold on to love while you've got it. You never know how long it'll last."

-x-