milliways_bar | (no subject)

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After he and Ben return to the bar, Dan makes a quick trip upstairs to settle Bogart back into his room.

Once the pig is safely in his crate, Dan changes his clothes and returns downstairs, heading straight for the Bar, looking for his son. He has to be here somewhere, and if Dan has to tear the bar apart at dinner hour to find him, then so be it.

[Open 'til his next one.]

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After William talks to Ben, he waits near the stairs for his father to come downstairs. Horus picks up on his nervousness and settles in his pocket as a comforting weight.

When Dan finally comes downstairs, he meets him close to the counter and can't seem to find words, it's like when he came back from the war. Though then he hugged his father as he was smaller, now he wants to hug him but he's supposed to be a man now.

"William-"

William doesn't have to worry about wanting to hug Dan; Dan takes the initiative on that front, careful not to crush the kitten he spots in his son's coat.

He buries his face in his father's shoulder as he returns the hug and whispers,

"Thought you'd faded."

Edited 2012-03-25 02:48 (UTC)

"I wasn't goin' to stay out long 'nough for that," he promises.

Dan lightly strokes a hand over William's hair, smoothing it back against his neck.

"I tried t'find you, 'fore we left."

"I got lost in another world and it's been a month,"

It's been a long time since his father stroked his hair and his voice trembles as he tries not to cry.

"Another world?"

He leans back slightly, searching William's face for injury; he spots the faded bruises but for the most part William looks to be unhurt.

And then:

"...a month?"

"Yeah, a month and I lost another month in Gotland with Teja's people. Wade said it'd been two days for you,"

Tears are shining in his eyes and he's trying to be good and just say what happened, but he's been scared.

Dan nods.

"Yeah, just two days. I don't know Teja. Are you all right? Did you get put out 'fore this all happened?"

"Before the worst of it, yeah, and came back a little after it got sorted out. I saw your not after. He runs the forge and I'm fine,"

There was a fight in Gotland and here, but those weren't too different from what normally happens.

"I'm glad you got out and were safe."

He motions to the counter and two glasses of Woodford appear. Dan hands one to William.

"I was worried."

"It was hard watchin' it happen. I didn't know what to do. Things are better here. The ground's back to lookin' like it should,"

He takes the glass and takes a long drink of it, the burn is reassuring. His father is here in front of him.

Dan also downs a bit of the glass, before motioning at the lump in William's pocket.

"I see you got a friend, there."

Horus pokes his head out and William reaches down to take him out and Horus settles in his hand,

"He's Horus and from Gotland. He'll be a good mouser, we ain't been able to have any good ones since the fire."

He thinks back to the fire - to the screams of the horses and the smoke choking his lungs.

He drinks again.

"Horus," he murmurs. "S'a good name."

"His mother's named Isis so that's what he got named,"

It wasn't something he picked but it fits the little cat and it will be nice to have a barn cat again.

"Have you been home, since everything?"

"No, I was waitin' for you,"

He didn't want to miss a chance to see him not when it felt like he'd lost him forever.

He bites back the question he was going to ask next: how's your mother, and instead looks to his bourbon.

"I'm glad for that. Is there anything you need, here?"

"No, I'm fine, better. You're here,"

That's the part that counts and he keeps coming back to. In those days in Gotland when it seemed like he'd lost not only a way home but a way to Milliways, he kept going over things he should have done or said.

"Well," Dan points out. "I'm not going anywhere."

He offers a small smile.

"I know but you weren't and it seemed like Milliways was falling apart. Then I didn't know if I was even goin' to get back here. Just don't leave without sayin' goodbye next time,"

It might not be possible and Milliways will probably mess it up again, but it'd be nice if it could be true.

"I won't," he promises.

He looks towards the counter.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, I had somethin'. When did you last eat?"

Horus meows in his hand and he sets the kitten down on the counter.

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