AN: well well well here we go, chapter six, i am overly impressed with myself here. Usually it would take me months to get this far, but i think the quick updates are simply an excuse not to study. Anyway, i'm glad you're all still liking this, it's spurring me on! Anyway, Howard's finally reached the shop, so i think it's time to introduce Naboo to this mix. I'm not too happy with his characterisation. He's pretty AU, i think anyway. But he plays the part i want him to, so there's no arguing from him. I've tied him up and he speaks like a puppet. Anyway, this chappie is dedicated to everyone who's reviewed. you make my day! I was SOOOOO close to telling you what happened in this chapter, but i decided not to. I personally think it was rather cheeky of me. But hey, ill tell you next time, okay? Hope this is still worth the posting.

Captain Jacq

Disclaimer: i'm far too emotionally imbalanced to be male, and far too insecure to be brilliant. So there.

Chapter Six

Naboo looked up, the bell resounding again. It had been weeks since he'd heard that bell. Saboo turned around.

"Who is this berk?" Tony Harrison voiced,

"Naboo." Howard muttered, his small eyes contracting so much into them. Naboo couldn't help but stare. It had been two years since he'd seen Howard, and it almost seemed as though Howard had reversed in time. He seemed younger in his body – but his eyes were so much older. As though he had seen too much.

"What do you want?" he asked, amazed at how much hostility he managed to contract into his voice. It was startling how easily the anger came to him again. He hadn't felt it for so long, but it came back in a rush as he looked at him. Howard.

"I need to talk to you."
"Why?"

"I – I got your letter." He stuttered, looking away.
"So? I told you the fifth, you berk. It's the third."

"I, I got both your letters." He stared at Howard. Howard looked up. Naboo shocked himself, meeting Howard's pleading gaze. Both?

"You didn't read the first one when you got it?"
Howard shook his head. At least he had the decency to look ashamed. No, that wasn't the look. Utterly broken. That was closer. Howard was at odds with himself. Naboo bit his tongue, restraining himself from yelling at the northerner to get out. His mistake had cost Vince his life. Why should he forgive him?

The answer floated into his head lightly, but the destruction it created was certainly nothing light.
He had to forgive Howard because Vince had. It was as simple as that.

"I read it this morning. Tell me how, Naboo. Please. How? I don't understand!"

Naboo remained where he was.

"What's this geeza talking about Naboo?" Tony drawled.

"Yes, do explain Naboo." Saboo added.

"Please tell me." Howard repeated and all Naboo could do was stare. All he could feel was resentment towards the tall man in front of him. Howard's moustache bristled nervously. Vince used to laugh at that. Naboo's frown deepened.

This was who had cost Vince his life.

"Come upstairs."

"Oi! Naboo, what'd ya think you're doing! We 'ave business to attend to!" Tony screeched. Naboo rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, we'll do it later. I got stuff I have to do." He replied impassively

"Dennis will be hearing about this Naboo."
"Go boil ya head, Saboo." Naboo frowned,

"Follow me." He said to Howard, heading up stairs - knowing full well that Howard will follow and that Saboo would get rid of himself and Harrison without much fuss. Naboo was silent, the image of Vince curled up in a ball ingrained in his eyes.

"It came back again, didn't it? The letter."

"Yeah."

"Why wont he listen?"

"I don't know, Vince. I just don't know."

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"You have to tell him, Vince."
"No. He hates me. He should hate me. I said terrible things to him Naboo. Horrible things. I don't deserve to see him again."
"Vince, this is serious. He'd want to know."

"No, Naboo." Vince replied, curled up on the couch, hugging his knees tightly.

He was dying. The thought kept rolling around in Naboo's head. Vince was dying.

"I'm sorry, Mr Noir. There's nothing we can do."

"Vince – "

"No."

"He'll understand."
"No, I don't deserve it."
"He'd want to know."

"No."
"Vince, this isn't something light that you can ignore. You miss him, and I'm sure he misses you."
"Doesn't matter."

"It does matter."
Vince remained silent.

"Vince, tell him. It's, it's not worth it."

Naboo shifted uncomfortably. They'd reached it. Vince was dying. Vince was dying and Howard wasn't there. Howard didn't know. There was no escaping this, but they hadn't said anything more about it since the hospital. They hadn't acknowledged it out loud and Naboo didn't want to be the first to do it. For some reason he wanted to shield Vince from it. But he knew the main reason was the fear he had for the topic itself. He didn't want to have to admit it himself, and if they didn't talk about it then it wouldn't be real. But the fact remained, Vince was dying and the only person who could possibly make it easier was Howard. But Vince was stubbornly punishing himself. He'd pushed Howard away. They'd let it get too far, Howard had left and now they knew.

They knew Vince's time was ending. But Howard didn't.

Howard needed to know, if only for the fact it was the right thing to do. Simply courtesy one could say. But the truth was, Vince needed Howard.

Whether he would admit it or not.

That was why Howard needed to know.

If Vince was to have any chance of survival, he needed Howard.

But Howard didn't want to be found, and Vince didn't want to be forgiven.

"I don't care."
"Vince you do care. Why else would you be like this?" Naboo muttered, the words coming easily to his lips.
"Like what?" he mumbled,

"Vince you've barely left the window. You need to do something. It's not healthy."
"That doesn't matter, does it?"

Naboo fell silent. It was a helpless battle and it seemed he had to finally accept that.

"Vince -"
"No, Naboo. Just leave me alone." The tiny Shaman sighed and turned away, leaving Vince once more, alone at the window. Watching the sky.

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I was slightly shocked when I came up the stairs. Last time I had been here the room had been cluttered, yes, but it had been a fun clutter. Bright, bubbly – memorable. Now, now the flat was a mess, dust seemed to have accumulated in every space and the contents seemed worn and old, even though most of the items were the same as when I was still here. I shifted uncomfortably. Naboo turned around to face me. He was so blasé about the state of the flat. There're boxes stacked in corners now, amongst the old clutter. Objects from the shop I suppose. The things they managed to save from the fire. I only vaguely remember that. It had been a tiny article tucked away in the paper and I'd been too scared to read it. It would have brought up too much. But maybe I would have known sooner if I'd been bothered to read it.

"So." I say, nervously filling the silence. But it's only to stop Naboo looking at me the way he is. His stare is so blank; I can't help but wonder what's going through his head as he looks at me. Hatred wouldn't be far off the mark I suppose. I'm pretty sure I recognised something along those lines back in the shop. A glint in his eyes he didn't manage to mask. I move my feet, I'm as nervous as all hell. A train could go through the flat and it wouldn't create as much chaos as how I feel right now. It wouldn't cause as much damage as I think I did the moment I walked out of this flat.

"I think I could stay here forever. What about you Howard?"
"No,Sir. Not me."

"Why not? This flat's well genius. You me Naboo and Bollo. We could all stay here for ages. It'd be brilliant."

"It's not right for one man to stay in a single place for a long time, Vince."
"Nah that's not right Howard. Else you would have stayed in Leeds."
"That's what I'm trying to say Vince, for a man such as me you have to keep moving. It's not right to stay in the one place too long. I'm a traveller. Yes Sir. Moving from place to place with my creative genius."
"Like a gypsy?"
"Well, not quite…"
"You couldn't be a gypsy Howard – they wear earrings and bright colours and stuff. You don't do anything like that."

"What I'm trying to say Vince is that one day, I will move on from here. From this place. You will too."
"Nah – I like it here, Howard. I'm gonna stay here forever."
"Yes, but Vince you said that about the zoo as well, didn't you?"

"That was a test run, Howard. 'sides the zoo wasn't my fault."
"A lot of things aren't your fault, but they happen."

Right now, as I'm staring at Naboo all I can do is hold onto that wisdom. All I can do is hope that this, this wasn't my fault. That everything that happened to us, our friendship - me, Naboo, Bollo and Vince – wasn't my fault. All I can do is hope. But somehow I think it's futile.

"Naboo – please. What happened?"

Naboo remains impassive. Why won't he move? Why won't he say anything?

"You're such a ball bag Howard." He mutters, finally breaking the silence before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Cup of tea?
"Tea?" I croak. I know I'm looking at him oddly. But it's such an odd question. The tension's gone. Replaced by something… odd. I can't place it. But it's there, settling around the lump in my throat and beginning to do something that feels strangely like dissolving it.

"Tea fixes everything Howard. Thought you knew that."

"Vince, what can a pot of tea do to fix this mess we're in?"

"Can't hurt, can it?"

"This may take a while Howard. It's a long story." I still watch the tiny shaman as he works. A long story. His story.

Things might have been different if you'd just listened…

"I know." I reply staring at Naboo, trying to tell him.

I'm listening now.

He looks at me. His stare saying one thing.

Too late.