I'm sorry this update has taken so long, real life has captured my life as of late. I was tempted to add an epilouge to this chapter but in the end I decided not to as I've already defined this as a trilogy. The recent reviews for some of my other stories have been lovely so thanks to everyone for that. As always all spelling and grammar mistakes are mine and i love reviews.
xx
Haddock hadn't moved, not for several days.
He blocked everyone else out the moment he returned to the bed and breakfast, locking his door from the inside.
He didn't want to talk.
Not to anyone
No one.
Morgan paced relentlessly across the louge as Chester and O'Hannon sat at the bar.
"We can't force him down, It'll only make things worse" O'Hannon exclaimed.
"I know that O'Hannon"
"This isn't an easy time for us either" Chester added.
"I know. I'm sorry I just .."
"Morgan?"
Morgan turned to find Tintin standing at the doorway and pulled him straight into a tight hug. As they did so Snowy bounded in, appearing beside Tintin. Morgan looked down smiling at Snowy who was sniffing away at his shoe.
"I didn't realise you had a dog Tintin"
Morgan knelt down, letting Snowy sniff his hand and after a couple of seconds Snowy was licking his hand. It was at that moment that Morgan felt himself naturally smiling.
"Morgan what happened?" Tintin asked as Morgan stood up.
"We ... we lost O'Rielly"
"Morgan I'm so sorry"
As they continued to talk Snowy's focus drifted off as he smelt a familiar scent caught within his nose. Snowy inquisitively followed the scent managing to travel the gauntlet of steps that led to the bedrooms. Snowy sniffled along the landing to re-trace the scent again, only then did he focus on one particular door. As Snowy hommed in on the door it was slightly ajar so he was easily able to squeeze through the door. Snowy looked up at Haddock. He was sitting on the end of the bed, his head buried in both of his hands. Snowy trotted over in front of him in silence then softly whined. Haddock brought his head up, staring at Snowy in shock.
"Snowy?"
As Snowy licked his hand, Haddock gently lifted Snowy onto his lap, stroking his soft pure white fur.
"What are you doing here?"
-Meanwhile Downstairs-
"Haddock is cutting us out, I've tried to console him but he won't talk to me. He's blaming himself. The only person to blame is the man who killed O'Reilly"
"The Captain has been through a lot these past few years" Tintin replied.
Tintin paused looking around.
"Where's Snowy?"
Upstairs Haddock was still holding onto Snowy but deep down he was begining to realise that he needed to talk to someone, locking himself away wasn't the way to deal with it. As he breathed deeply a soft knock came across the door.
"Tintin?"
"Can I come in?"
Haddock managed a gentle nod.
"What are you doing here?"
"Morgan called me" Tintin replied, sitting himself down next to the Captain. "He's worried about you, we all are"
The Captain sighed.
"I'm not blaming myself. I just feel like everything is destined to go wrong for us. There used to be seven of us, Seven. Now theres only four. I'm sorry Tintin"
"It's going to get better Captain, just give it time" Tintin replied, tightly gripping his hand.
"You're a good friend Tintin" the Captain replied, placing Snowy back onto the bed.
Tintin stood up keeping his hand firmly entwined around Haddocks. Haddock stood up, immediatly pulling immediatly pulling Tintin into a hug as Snowy jumped from the bed.
The following weeks were hard but being surrounded by Tintin and his friends gave him strenght every single day. O'Rielly was brought back to Brixham and buried next to Captain Abel.
xx 2 weeks later xx
The sight of Brixham harbour from the Seven Sailors was surprisingly lovely, despite the time of year. The sun was shining bright but it was still quite cold. The Captain and Tintin sat down on the outdoor seats clutching their coffee's.
"This place is really pretty" Tintin exclaimed.
"You should see it in the summer"
As the Captain took another sip of his coffee a drunken regular staggered out into the street, managing to turn round as Morgan's exceptionally tall frame exited the door. The regular didn't think twice and quickly scarpered, not wanting to test that theory.
"Nicompop"
Morgan abandoned his post at the door and sat down opposite the pair.
"I meant to give you this before"
Morgan placed a saint Christopher into Haddocks hand but not just any saint Christopher, O'Rielly's saint Christopher.
"O'Rielly wanted you to have it"
Haddock gently ran his thumb over the charm and smilied.
"If these stones could talk, they could tell some stories"
Haddock looked out to the Bullers Arms, feeling the memories return.
O'Hannon pulling Abel into the harbour.
Morgan blowing up Farrell's kitchen.
Sort of - Fishing with O'Hannon.
"They could tell the story of my life" Captain Haddock finished.
It's the set of the sails and not the gales that determines the way they go
Ella Wheeler Wilcox