Havers had been back at Button house for only half a day now, but it was safe to say that for him it had been one of the longest days he'd ever experienced. And he'd lived through a war so that was certainly saying something. He was currently in Button house's library, hiding from the safety inspector guy, combing through the books he hadn't seen in such a long time, gently running his right hand along the old spines as he walked past them. As much as he loved reading, he never did have much time off from his duties at the house. A shame, for the books that graced the ageing shelves at Button house were some of the most intricate and detailed pieces of art he'd ever seen. The previous owners of the house must have cared about books a great deal. He abruptly stopped his hand as it slid onto the spine of a small, leather-bound book that through its size stood out amongst the rest of the books like a sore thumb. He pried the small book off the shelf with wonder, the old green leather and gold pressed familiar letters greeting him happily, as if 75 years hadn't passed at all. The Wizard Of Oz. the Captain's favourite book...
He stood for a moment, reminiscing. He wondered what had become of the Captain. Of his friend. Had he settled down after the war? Found a nice girl? Moved to the countryside and started a flower shop? He always did seem to have an eye for floral arrangements, even if he couldn't name a single flower. Havers found his eyes welling up a bit as he opened the book, noting that despite it looking fairly well on the outside, that the pages were quite delicate and had yellowed quite a bit. It seemed like last week that Havers had spent his day off in the villages' bookshop, browsing for Christmas presents for the Captain. His eyes had found the green and gold book immediately, and he'd had the sneaking suspicion that it would be perfect for his Captain. He didn't like to show it, but he would always be a kid at heart, like the way Havers would see his eyes light up with excitement as he would receive a new batch of prototype guns to test, or when he would find a particular new song that he would love. Or, of course a good book filled with wonder and excitement. He had been right of course, the Captain had loved it. On slow nights, after all they'd finished all their official duties, they would sit at The Captain's desk and read it, often until it was just a little too late, but neither of them would mind. They just loved the others' company. A lot of memories were bound to this little book, and he couldn't actually believe it was still there. Right there between a very old and battered copy of Little Women and strangely, a thick volume of French medical studies.
A few rooms over he heard Alison and Mike stumble inside from their meeting with the inspector. The way in which they were talking told him the meeting probably went well, and that was his que to make his way over the sitting room, where he found only Alison, sitting on the sofa near the fireplace, muttering to herself. "Alison! Look what I found in the Library!" He called, getting her attention immediately. He instinctively smiled with excitement as he prepared to tell her all about the discovery he'd just made. He moved forward to stand next to her and show her the book, but as he did, he stepped through what felt like an icy cloud that made him shiver to the bone and made his heart clench. Alison was watching him with wide eyes however, so he straightened his back and shook of the shivers, continuing his sentence.
"This used to be my favourite book. I must have read it tens of times over the years." He said as he stroked the spine with a fond smile, remembering his Captain. "I can't believe it's still here after all these years..." He glanced over at Alison again, who wasn't paying him any attention at all, instead she was looking just behind him, a horrified look on her face. Havers could feel his own face start to form a frown, was he not supposed to take any books from the library? He was just about to open his mouth and ask her that exact question, when he heard a voice behind him. A voice that, judging by Alison's reaction, belonged to whatever, or whoever- she'd been staring at. A voice that he knew. A voice that he'd missed so dearly.
"...Havers?"
The Captain's voice was small, uncertain. As soon as he heard the name leave his mouth he knew that he probably sounded pathetic. But the man looked just like his- just like Havers. Down to the missing button on his right shoulder that he had apparently never bothered to fix since his departure from Button house. But how was that possible? He'd died. The Captain took the message himself. He'd spent hours just looking at the pitch-black ink, mourning and wishing away the words as if that would make their message less real. His Lieutenant had died in battle. So how was he here, standing in front of him? in the year 2019? Holding a book? Breathing? Living? He saw the soldier tense up at his voice.
Havers' mouth fell open in shock as he turned around so fast it almost gave him a whiplash. For the 100th time that day he asks himself if he really isn't dreaming. If he was hallucinating and he'd wake up in the mud-filled trenches later. If he'd died and this was his own personal heaven. He looked right into the absolutely terrified face of his Captain. He wasn't saying anything anymore, not that William would have heard it if he had. He was in a state of shock, frozen to the spot as he stared into those sad, aged blue eyes. Eyes that held his gaze for what felt like years before finally flicking to Alison, who was still standing next to him. The Captain was the first one to snap out of it, which made William snap back to reality a second later as well.
"Alison? What the bally hell is this? Is this some kind of joke? Where did you find this-"
"Captain" Is all he managed to choke out.
He felt his throat tighten as he did, where had he come from all of a sudden?
"You- You can..." He trailed off, almost daring to let himself hope that Havers might actually see him. To hope that he wasn't seeing things. That his most beloved Lieutenant was actually here, in whatever way that might be. He heard the other ghosts murmuring softly, all quite shocked that this Havers guy actually was able to see the Captain.
"How is this possible, Sir? Did you teleport here as well? Am I not the only one who survived?" Havers asked, having come over the initial shock of seeing his Captain and stepping closer and closer. All The Captain could do was shake his head a little. This was one of very few situations where he had ever found himself at a loss for words. What do you even say to guy you've been mourning every day for the last 75 years?
"No. Not teleported I'm afraid-" He cut himself off, trying to think of a subtle way of bringing the news to his friend that he had in fact, not survived at all.
"It's great to see you again Captain. I missed you." Havers said again, stepping even closer until he was standing so close that Havers could see every individual freckle on the Captain's face. The Captain could see that his eyes were slightly red and he could hear his voice crack ever so slightly at the end. If he were able to feel, he would be able to feel the Lieutenant's breath on his skin. But unfortunately, he was still very much not alive. A fact that Havers seemed unfortunately unaware of, as became apparent when he stepped forward without warning and tried to throw his hands around the Captain in a teary hug. He went right through him of course, even despite the Captain's best effort to move out of the way. The Captain heard the other ghosts gasp softly in pity as he doubled over in pain again, though this time it seemed to hurt even more. Strange.
"Alright everyone, I think it's time we give these two some privacy." He heard Alison say in a hushed tone, shooing all the curious eyes out of the sitting room. The Captain thanked her in the back of his mind, but as he made eye-contact with a very shocked Havers, who was now standing on the other side of him, he forgot all about the others in an instant.
"I'm afraid I can't say we both survived Havers." He said in a strained but blunt tone. He supposed the gist was up now, at least this was easier than telling him anyways. Havers said nothing for a short second, before breathing out in disbelief.
"No..." His face had gone as pale as a sheet, his hands slowly moved up to his head in a sign of defeat and realization. This day was going to be the death of him, he wasn't sure how many more surprises he could handle today. He felt dizzy and he felt himself stumble, losing his balance in the process. He saw the Captain move forward instinctively, raising his arms as if to catch him. But as he saw before, it likely wouldn't be much help. Luckily he felt his back hit a doorpost, and he leaned against it as he once again as his scared gaze found The Captain's eyes again. They were wide with concern, fear and above all, an underlying sadness that looked like it had been there for over 75 years.
"I don't understand" Havers mumbled, pressing his palms onto his eyes. He couldn't look at the Captain, seeing him standing there and knowing he had died. He hadn't changed at all since the last time that he saw him. Not a single millimetre to his hair, not one wrinkle added to his face, not one grey hair more. He'd died not long after he left for the front-lines. And he was still here.
"I must say I'm confused too." He heard the Captain say. Those were words he'd never thought he'd heard him say, ever. He would have laughed about that if the situation wasn't so damn shocking.
"How are you here, Captain? Have you been here all along?" He asked, finally raising his head to look at the Captain, who was shaking his head feverishly.
"Yes. I've been here for quite a while now" He said, bouncing on his heels as he used to do when he was nervous before a big operation. Though his posture was rigid, William could see the emotion in his face. It seemed he wasn't alone in his state of utter emotional shock. For a moment there it seemed the Captain wanted to stop talking, but he continued.
"And I think I should be asking you that, Havers. How did you get here? How are you-" He faltered, his voice breaking as his eyes turned red and watery. He'd never ever seen The Captain this vulnerable in the entire time they'd known each other.
"How are you still alive?" He finally managed to get out.
"I don't know Sir, I seem to have trouble remembering the last few days. Last thing I remember I was in combat Sir, but then... Nothing. Next thing I know is I'm standing at the front door of Button house." He was beginning to talk faster and faster, all the stress of the last few hours finally catching up to him. "And then this strange woman tells me it's 2019, and that everyone I knew is gone, and I've apparently missed the last 75 years, and she tells me we've won the war and apparently she can talk to-"
"Havers." The Captain interrupts him, having calmed down himself a bit and realizing his Lieutenant had had a very long and hard day. Havers stops talking immediately and crumbles to the ground, sliding down against the hard wooden doorpost and letting his head fall into his hands in despair. "I don't know what's going on, Captain."
He heard an all-too familiar cracking of knees as The Captain sat down next to him in mournful silence. He'd never been the best at talking, especially about serious topics. Both of them had been terrible at it actually. But he tried anyway, he needed to.
"Havers... I'm sorry." There was a beat of silence as Havers failed to find the words to reply. The air around them grew thick, both of them not quite knowing how to proceed. Not knowing how to find the right words. It was then that The Captain spotted the green book, still clutched in Haver's hand. He immediately relaxed a bit at the sight of it. Havers remembered.
"Ah, The Wizard Of Oz... Quite the thrilling read, if I remember correctly. We used to read it together, didn't we? I was always quite fond of Dorothy." The Captain said, trying to lighten the mood. Maybe it would be easier to talk about good memories first. Havers nodded.
"Yes Sir, I bought you this as a present. Though I must admit I was quite happy when you asked me to read it together, I was very excited to read it myself as well." He replied with a grin. He continued,
"I remember you promising me to show me the Motion Picture at its premiere in London." He said with a teasing smile as he set the book down on the floor next to him.
"Yes... January 26th. We got held up by an airstrike if I remember correctly. Such a shame, I would have loved to see it." The Captain replied.
They both fell silent again, and The Captain decided it was time to just get it over with.
"This is a very confusing situation, and I'm afraid I have as many questions as you have, if not more." He gave a slight chuckle, but it sounded bitter, sad. He glanced over at his Lieutenant, who was still holding his face in his hands, cheeks wet from a few fly-away tears he hadn't managed to hold back anymore. It brought tears to the Captain's own eyes. He sniffled a bit, trying to keep his composure. This made Havers look up.
"I'm-... I'm incredibly happy to see you again Captain. I don't know why-or how you got here, but I do know that- now we're both here- we can find out, right? Together?" He was speaking softly, voice full of emotion, stumbling over his words like he had so many things to say but failed find the most meaningful words. The right words to express how happy he was to finally have his friend back.
"I missed you too, Havers. Incredibly so. And you're here... and even if I wake up tomorrow and find you gone again, that this has all been some kind of dream- which I'm still not convinced it's not-, I'll still be glad, because I have been wish-hoping for over 75 to see your face again, even for only a moment."
It took everything in him to not bury his head in the Captain's shoulder as he heard him say those words. The 75 years had apparently done a real number on him. He had, by military standards at least- lost most of his rigid demeanour and strict rules. But he supposed you wouldn't really need those if you were already dead anyways.
"I have a feeling I'm not going anywhere, Sir. I don't even know what it is that brought me here. People don't just teleport, and certainly not through time. It's absolutely ludicrous. What if I just go back without warning?" He said, throwing any and all thoughts out there. Truth was, he'd been struggling with those thoughts all day. He'd been eating himself up over whether he'd be able to stay, or go back, or what it was that had brought him here in the first place. If only he could remember the last few days before he turned up at Button house...
"Do you want to?" The Captain asked sharply.
"What?"
"Go back?"
Havers fell silent for a few seconds before replying. A new opportunity had just presented itself to him. If he could control his travel, he might be able to fix everything. "I don't know how to go back, I don't even know if I can go back. But if we can find out what it is that brought me here, maybe I can learn to manipulate it, Sir. I could go back... To before I left I mean. I can stay at Button house, keep you safe!" Unspoken words fell between them. You wouldn't have to die-.
As he was talking his voice became more hopeful, and he scrambled to his feet in his excitement. But as the Captain followed him up, knees protesting heavily- he saw him shake his head. He was having none of it.
"Havers, it could be dangerous." He said in reply.
"So what? It's not like the war wasn't dangerous! I could stop-"
"No." Said The Captain suddenly, in a tone that Havers had heard so many times before. The soft-spoken man from earlier had temporarily made way for the rigid, stern war Captain Havers had come to know so well. He still had it in him to be strict then.
"You died! Havers. I got the letter. You were caught in an ambush, and you died! You died, alone in Tunisia. And I never got to see you one last time." He yelled. Havers stood back in surprised shock. He had never heard his Captain yell like that before. Sure he'd bark military commands but never yell with such emotion. The information he was yelling was by no means ordinary as well, it was a lot to take in for the poor Lieutenant.
"I... died?" He asked slowly. The Captain didn't reply. He could see it had obviously been a touchy subject, and The Captain's outburst had obviously been years in the making. Havers swallowed thickly trying to process the information. The older man cleared his throat as he tried to do the same.
"That's what I was told, yes. So-so I will not have you talking this- this silly nonsense about going back, when I have spent every day for the last 75 years mourning you. I will not have it. Not when I've only just got you back." He said, his tone not so much demanding but more pleading. Then he seemed to realize he had let his emotions get the better of him- perhaps sharing more than he ought to have shared and he broke eye-contact with his lieutenant immediately, opting to stare at his shoes instead. Havers' heart broke. For him it had only been a few weeks, but for The Captain it had been nearly 8 decades. And now, for reasons neither of them had yet to figure out, they were once again standing beside each other. One of them was technically dead, but for now that didn't matter.
"Captain. I apologize, I hadn't realized..." He trailed off as the room fell into silence once more. The Captain did not make a move to speak again, so Havers continued. "I don't intend to leave at all, Sir. I'm so very happy to see you again, but I was speculating that should the opportunity present itself..." He let the ending to his sentence open, not wanting to say it again. He was quite sure The Captain got the point anyways. The Captain let out a tired sigh, he sounded exhausted. Could ghosts even get exhausted? Lord knows Havers was... He couldn't stifle a short yawn. The Captain raised his eyebrow, in that very Captain way he had seen a million times before. The gesture made William smile, a smile that the Captain returned- in his own way of course, which consisted of a miniscule twitch of his moustache and that distinct twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, well... It's quite all right. I suppose I got a bit too carried away there. You must have had a long day. We can talk more tomorrow, hopefully." The last word was a mumble, but William managed to catch it. He nodded.
"Yes, I suppose I am quite tired. Thank you, Sir. Goodnight." He moved past The Captain towards the door, but halted when he heard his name. He turned around and saw The Captain with a worried look on his face.
"Have you got a room yet?" He asked. Actually... he hadn't picked a room yet. They'd all been so busy with the fuse box, and then the safety inspector...
"No, Sir. Mrs. Cooper hasn't had time to give me a proper tour yet. She's been so busy." He replied, hoping, praying that he would get the hint. He was doubtful, the Captain he knew would never catch up on to his hints, and Havers had dropped some hints
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