Cirroc Lofton gives an emotional tribute to his TV father, Avery Brooks, on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. As Jake Sisko, Lofton starred alongside Brooks’ Captain Benjamin Sisko for all seven seasons of
Appearing as a guest on The Transporter Room podcast, host Chris Garis asked Cirroc Lofton about his relationship with Avery Brooks on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. An emotional Cirroc spoke beautiful words about his TV dad, who he remains close with today. Read Lofton’s quote below:
I love Avery and I always will. He’s like a father to me, and always will be. And I’ll always love him like a father. He’s been there through my ups and downs in life, through my immaturity and maturity, and through all the in betweens. And he’s been a steady rock for me, a foundational pillar, and somebody who has led by example just by how he lives his life.
Cirroc Lofton expanded on his relationship with Avery Brooks, agreeing with Chris Garis that his TV dad came into his life just when Cirroc needed him:
I was a vulnerable point at that particular point in my life, going through stuff personally with family, but he stepped in and filled those shoes, steered me right, and was always being a guidance to me. Both in regular life and professionally. In every way that you can be a guidance to somebody. He was for me. I will always love him [and] we’ve maintained our connection.
Watch Cirroc Lofton’s full interview on The Transporter Room below:
Cirroc Lofton was 15 when he became a series regular on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Avery Brooks treated Cirroc like a son off camera, and made him part of his family. That real life relationship and dynamic between Brooks and Lofton is visible on-screen in the loving relationship between Ben and Jake Sisko.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was also groundbreaking and important in its positive depiction of a Black father and son. Captain Sisko may have had the fate of the Alpha Quadrant on his shoulders, but Ben always made time for Jake, supported his career as a writer, and gave Jake an example of courageous and compassionate masculinity to emulate.
Cirroc Lofton hasn’t portrayed Jake Sisko since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended, but from how he interacts with fans on The 7th Rule and at Star Trek
conventions, it’s heartening that Avery Brooks helped raise Cirroc from a fine boy into a good man, just like Captain Sisko did for Jake Sisko.
The 9-1-1 fandom has been buzzing with one wild idea: what if the next season started with Athena waking up next to Bobby, realizing everything that happened before was just a dream? Forget waiting for next season—let’s write that episode
right now.
In this article, we’ll dive into how this plot twist could unfold, what it means for our beloved characters, and why this could be the most talked-about episode in
9-1-1 history.
The idea of Athena waking up next to Bobby isn’t just fan fiction—it’s poetic. It’s a full-circle moment that could redefine everything we know about their journey. Imagine Athena blinking awake, the morning sunlight spilling across the sheets, Bobby peacefully asleep beside her. For a second, everything feels normal—until she remembers
the dream.
What if Athena’s “dream” wasn’t just random scenes from her subconscious, but a detailed vision of an alternate reality—the chaos, the heartbreak, the rescues, the losses—all part of one long, vivid dream?
This kind of twist isn’t new to TV, but 9-1-1 could execute it with unmatched emotional depth. Think of it as Inception meets Grey’s Anatomy—only with more sirens, sweat, and raw human emotion.
Athena wakes up in her Los Angeles home, her heartbeat still racing from the dream. Bobby stirs beside her, and she can’t help but stare—relieved to see him alive, healthy, and safe.
She whispers, “You won’t believe the dream I had,” her voice shaky. Bobby, ever the calm soul, smiles and says, “Try me.” That’s when it begins—the unraveling of what felt like another life.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
As Athena recounts her dream, flashes of “memories” return. She remembers losing people, facing disasters, and questioning her purpose. It’s almost too real. The audience sees glimpses—quick cuts of past episodes—but something’s off.
The emotional tension builds as Athena questions what’s real. The dream felt too vivid to dismiss. Could it be a warning? Or something deeper—a sign she’s been ignoring?
Bobby listens with patience and compassion, grounding Athena in the present. His calmness contrasts her storm. He tells her, “Dreams remind us of what we fear losing. But they also remind us of what we love most.”
It’s a line that could easily become one of the show’s most memorable quotes.
As they prepare for the day, Athena’s perception of everything changes. The coffee smells richer, the air feels lighter, and even the smallest moments seem sacred.
But, as always in 9-1-1, peace doesn’t last. The radio crackles. A call comes in—a massive emergency downtown. Athena and Bobby exchange knowing looks. The dream might be over, but duty calls.
The emergency scene eerily mirrors something from Athena’s dream. The same location, the same chaos. She freezes for a moment, déjà vu flooding her senses. Could this be coincidence—or something more?
Despite her shaken state, Athena takes command, channeling her instincts and experience. Her dream gave her insight—and in a shocking twist, it helps her save lives.
Meanwhile, Bobby backs her up completely. Their teamwork—steady, intuitive, and full of quiet love—reminds viewers why they’re one of TV’s most iconic couples.
The dream wasn’t just a plot twist. It’s symbolic. It’s a reminder of mortality, of gratitude, of second chances. 9-1-1 has always balanced thrilling rescues with deep emotional storytelling, and this concept fits that balance perfectly.
At the end of the day, Athena and Bobby return home. She looks at him, a soft smile on her lips. “I think the dream was trying to tell me something,” she says.
Bobby turns to her, curious. “What’s that?”
Athena’s reply? “That no matter what happens… I always find my way back to you.”