I keep remembering the scene in Home, where not-General Hammond told John he'd done good in Atlantis. And I'm certain that's the point where John began to doubt the reality, because nobody had ever done that before, and my heart breaks more than a little. That kind of damage has to come from somewhere, so a troubled homelife (without being abusive or anything) seemed to fit. I'm glad to know that the writing worked for you on that account.

And about the ending too. Thank you for reading!