"You sleep at all last night, darlin'?" Wayne asks, watching as Sadie perches on the edge of one of the chairs grouped around the kitchen table, the dark shadows beneath her eyes answering the question long before her slight shake of the head, "Made some coffee if you're interested."
"Thank you."
Sadie doesn't meet his gaze as she says the words, her attention fixed instead on the idle patterns her fingertips are sketching against the table top. And Wayne can tell she isn't completely with him. That her thoughts are obviously focused on something else altogether.
If Wayne were a betting man, he'd say it had everything to do with what she had told him when she came back home with Nancy the previous day. And half in an effort to confirm that suspicion, he leans forward in his own chair, the movement finally garnering Sadie's full attention as he speaks.
"This Vincent fella. You don't want him here, do ya?"
"We need him here," Sadie says, picking at a bit of loose thread at the hem of her shirt, her teeth digging into her lower lip in response to Wayne's almost immediate reply.
"Ain't what I asked."
"I don't—I don't not want him here. I just—"
"Just what?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Got a particular reason why it don't matter?" Wayne asks, frowning as Sadie shifts on her chair before rising, busying herself with leaning up on tiptoe to pull a coffee mug from a nearby cupboard rather than providing an immediate reply. And he can see the tense set of her shoulders. The slight tremble of her hand as she pours a cup of coffee.
She's nervous. On edge. A blind man could see it from a mile away, and he is definitely not blind.
Sadie doesn't say a word though. Not until she returns to her seat at the table, and manages a sip of coffee, her expression guarded, as though she honestly thinks Wayne would judge her for anything she has to say.
"The reason why it matters is—selfish."
"Considerin' what you've been goin' through, a little selfishness probably ain't all that bad."
"It is when it puts everyone else at risk."
Wayne doesn't say anything to that right away, because he suspects he knows Sadie's reasoning for not wanting Vincent around, even if she hasn't said anything directly to him about it at all. In the days after everything in Hawkins went to hell, the Harrington kid had hinted at tension between Sadie and her uncle. At how the man's decisions leading up to the moment everything changed seem to have given Sadie reason to believe he is at least partially to blame for Eddie's death.
For Wayne's part, though, even if he wanted to, he didn't feel like he could judge one way or another, not having been there himself. But one thing he did know was that if someone like Sadie was reluctant to have anything more to do with the man, family or not, then maybe at least a part of her reasoning was sound.
"Want some advice, kiddo?"
"I would love some advice," Sadie admits, managing a faint smile for Wayne's benefit, the warmth from the coffee mug seeping into her chilly fingertips while he replies.
"Always trust your gut. Selfish or not, it'll never lead you wrong."
Sadie frowns as she mulls over the words, wondering if she can ever be bold enough to give it a try. Every time she thought she could trust herself in the past, she'd been wrong. Wrong about her parents, thinking they would never deliberately try to keep her from a friend. Wrong about Andy, because clearly he had been more than willing to use force to get what he wanted. Wrong about Jason, because he was obviously ready to do more than just talk to Eddie when he, Patrick and Andy showed up at Rick's lakehouse.
She had been wrong about Vincent, too, at least in some ways. How many more chances did she have?
What happened to Max is still staring her in the face, direct proof of her failure, so trusting herself probably won't be happening any time soon.
"Any idea when the man's plannin' on comin' around?"
"I don't—I don't really know," Sadie admits, managing another sip of coffee, her stomach giving a muted rumble of protest over how the liquid doesn't seem to have much impact on her gnawing hunger at all.
"If you get any sort of notice at all, let me know. Kinda like to get eyes on this guy, myself."
"You don't—you don't have to do that."
"Know I don't have to. I want to," Wayne assures, not entirely certain Sadie believes him, given the wariness that is so apparent in her expression, though it isn't exactly like he is any less determined to persuade her otherwise, in spite of that, "You got people in your corner, Sadie. Just don't want you forgettin' that."
"Vincent really isn't the enemy, Wayne—"
"Think you know I meant it as more than just with him."
Not fully trusting herself to speak, Sadie simply nods, swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat as best she can. She knows Wayne doesn't see her wayward emotions as a sign of weakness, but that doesn't mean she isn't starting to think of them that way, herself.
And as much as she appreciates his willingness to be with her when Vincent is around, a part of her wants to limit the number of people that are able to have a front row seat to a moment that may break her in two.
…
"So—you found him."
"Yeah," Steve confirms, sinking down on the sofa, and running a hand through already tousled hair in both exhaustion and exasperation, "I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of hoping he'd just—"
"Leave?"
"Yeah. Something like that."
"Sadie needs him," Dustin states, his expression clearly indicating that he is not entirely thrilled with the idea, whether or not he understands it on the whole, "Nance said—"
"I know what Nance said," Steve interjects, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, and leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees with a heavy sigh, "I just wish she wasn't right."
"Nancy's always right."
"Trust me, I know."
Steve can't help the soft snort of amusement that escapes in response to the remark, shaking his head as he leans back against the cushions again, and tries to frame his next question as carefully as he can. Nancy had told him about Vincent's insistence on leaving Eddie's body behind. About Dustin's reaction to that.
He knows seeing the guy has to be about the furthest thing from what Henderson wants right now, and more than anything, Steve just wants to make sure the kid is going to be okay.
"You uh—you don't have to be around him if you don't want to, okay?"
"Why wouldn't I want to?"
"I—think the answer might be kind of obvious, dude."
"Not really."
"Yeah? You wanna maybe explain that logic to me?"
Dustin does not immediately reply, and Steve wonders if he has somehow pushed too far, particularly knowing the gist of what Dustin endured in the Upside Down while he and Robin were busy trying to relocate Sadie. Knowing what Dustin and Eddie went through, even prior to that moment. But before he can say or do anything to attempt making amends, Dustin is shifting just a bit, a sigh escaping before his soft spoken reply.
"I told Eddie I'd—that I would look after Sadie. And I—I'm going to do that."
"You know, that's a cool sentiment and all, but honestly, if he really wanted to, Vincent could probably take all of us out in like—a heartbeat," Steve counters, risking a look at Dustin as soon as he says the words, and allowing himself to feel some small hint of relief when he earns a skeptically raised brow in response, "So if you think you're actually going to get between them if he tries anything—"
"You really think I give a shit?"
"Dustin—"
"No, seriously, Steve, do you really think I give a shit?" Dustin repeats, the familiarity of the exasperation in his tone almost provoking a laugh, in spite of how Steve is still at least a little frustrated to be on the receiving end of it for what has to be the hundredth time since this entire ordeal began, "You said it yourself. You didn't trust him."
"You weren't even in the room when I said that."
"Um, I have ears? Pretty good ones, actually. And, it was kind of obvious you didn't like him when he first turned up."
"Woah, how are we making this about me right now?"
"Isn't it always about you?"
"Yeah, okay funny guy," Steve sighs, pleased to see the faintest hints of a smile tugging at Dustin's lips, even if it never quite reaches his eyes, "You're sure you really want to be there?"
"I told you, Steve. I promised Eddie—"
"I know. But I don't think he'd want you torturing yourself like this. Sadie wouldn't, either."
"I'm going. End of story," Dustin persists, the determined look he wears giving Steve every reason to believe there will be absolutely no talking him out of this, no matter how much he may want to. And he has to admire the kid for that, even if it worries him…
Steve can only hope that whatever happens with Vincent's reappearance in their lives, it doesn't end up placing Sadie or Dustin in a situation even more difficult to bear than the one they already suffer, now.
…
When Vincent arrives at Wayne Munson's new home, he isn't entirely surprised to see Steve Harrington's car already in the drive, near the front porch. In fact, the only thing that does surprise him is that no one else appears to be present, given how it is more than a little obvious how quickly Sadie managed to earn the ragtag little group's support. Their trust.
By comparison, he knows his own welcome will be significantly less warm, but what he is not expecting is the wary look on the face of the older man who actually answers the door in response to his knock. The way his body blocks the entry into the home, while he inclines his head toward the far end of the porch, instead.
"Mind if we talk a bit 'fore goin' inside?"
"I get the feeling I don't actually have a choice in this."
"You've got the right feeling, then," Wayne Munson confirms, the blunt honesty behind the words causing Vincent to lift a brow in response, "Won't take too long."
Vincent follows after the older man without comment, taking up a position leaning against one of the posts connected to the awning overhead with both arms folded against his chest. He has a feeling he knows what is going to be said. That this has something to do with Eddie's death. But when Wayne speaks, it isn't to mention Eddie at all, Vincent's curiosity only growing as he waits for the older man to speak.
"Just thought you should know Sadie ain't doin' this for you. Not even for herself," He begins, his expression unreadable as he looks Vincent over, as though trying to get a better read of his character within the limited time they have available to them, "Got it in her head that they need ya."
"Unfortunately, they do."
"Way I see it, you run out on 'em again, they're better off on their own."
"If this is about what happened to your nephew—"
"That ain't what I'm talkin' about," Wayne interjects, his posture straightening a bit as he shifts to look Vincent Creel in the eye, "I wasn't there. Don't know what happened to get you to make the decisions you did, and honestly I don't think I want to."
"Then what is this about?"
"The fact you're only here 'cause the Harrington kid found ya. Way I see it that girl in there needed ya long before that."
"She didn't want anything to do with me," Vincent explains, somehow already knowing the words will do him little good, even before the older man moves to speak again.
"Somebody who cares for a person usually doesn't let that stop 'em."
Vincent doesn't have anything to say to that, because as much as he does not want to admit it, a part of him realizes it is true. He is the one who chose to stay away. Who allowed his inability to face Sadie's heartbreak over Eddie to keep him from being at her side, regardless. Steve had told him she was struggling. That should have been enough to bring him back days ago.
Maybe he had hoped to keep her hating him. Maybe it was easier that way.
If Sadie never wanted him around, it would be easier to go back to how his life used to be. Easier to pretend he hadn't been given another shot at not being so alone.
And then there's the matter of how he still hasn't managed to find a way to undo the link between his niece and Henry, and he stands less of a chance of being able to do that without anyone else becoming aware of it now, than he would if he had simply been left on his own.
He knows he can't tell Sadie. Not until the link is already broken, because he knows somehow that she would see it as a reason to be reckless. To launch herself headfirst into a fight that will only get her killed if she is not prepared. But he also knows there is absolutely nothing that will stop some of the others who seem so protective of her from viewing this as a betrayal, when Vincent knows it is truly anything but.
"Got nothin' to say to that, huh?"
"I'm not here to give an explanation for anything," Vincent declares, his features remaining impassive beneath Wayne's steady gaze, "What's done is done, so if you'll excuse me—"
"Hold on," Wayne cuts in, once again blocking Vincent's progress toward the door, one hand poised against the younger man's upper arm, "Not quite done with you yet."
"Oh, well pardon me then."
Ignoring the sarcasm that is so apparent behind the remark, Wayne turns to look out at the property line instead, his hands resting against the porch railing as he takes a steadying breath. The younger man is certainly abrasive. Somewhat arrogant. Definitely not a person who is easy to work with.
He doesn't know if Vincent's behavior stems from an actual personal flaw, or from some other reason entirely. From some hardship he endured along the way.
What he does know is that whether the man's behavior is justified or not, he isn't about to allow it to compromise Sadie, or any of the other kids she is involved with, even if they do have a tendency for piling into his home at all hours of the day…
And he is more than a little determined to make sure Vincent knows that, before he takes one more step inside his home.
"If you're actually plannin' to help Sadie an' her friends, go right ahead. But if you leave 'em again, don't think I'll be lettin' you come back."
"I don't plan on leaving them. But I think you and I both know I'm not really the one that gets to choose if I stay," Vincent advises, aware of Wayne's answering nod as the older man finally steps aside, giving him leave to go through the front door. And it isn't a lie. Not really. If Sadie does end up turning him away, he will still do whatever he can to rid her of the link to Henry, so that she and her friends can end him for good.
Whether Wayne believes him capable of keeping a promise or not, Vincent knows he owes the girl absolutely nothing less.
…
"So—let me get this straight. She tells you she's struggling to control her abilities, and your solution is—to avoid working on them at all?"
"Avoidance isn't a part of the plan."
"Dude, you just said—"
"I would have said more, if you would let me finish," Vincent quips, regarding Steve with a raised brow, even in spite of the kid's challenging glare that comes about in response, "What she and I are both capable of is something highly tied to emotions. So, logically, if we can control the emotions—"
"Then everything else falls into place."
"In theory."
"In theory?" Dustin repeats, narrowing his eyes as he leans forward from his position on the sofa seated beside Sadie, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means there's a chance it may not work."
"You have to understand, what aids one person in channeling whatever emotion they are feeling in a more productive way may not aid another," Vincent says, ignoring Steve and his remark made in doubt of his plan in favor of looking toward Dustin as he speaks, instead.
"But you'll keep trying, right? You won't just give up?"
"If she'll allow me to, then yes."
Vincent is aware of how Sadie tenses in response to the words. Of how her fingers flex against the fabric of her jeans. And he can tell almost immediately that she doubts his ability to actually make things better. That she isn't entirely willing to trust that this will work.
He can't fully say that he blames her, but she needs to do this. To try, at the very least, if she wants any hope of progressing further.
"How—how will what you want me to do help?" She asks, finally meeting Vincent's eyes for the first time since he arrived, "I don't—I suppose I just don't understand how—"
"How shooting at something, or practicing some ridiculous version of kung fu is going to help you feel better? Yeah, I'm uh—I'm right there with you," Steve interrupts, favoring Vincent with something that is not all that far from a glare, "Seems like it's just another way to avoid the problem."
"That is because you do not understand the problem at all."
"Oh, right, because you know enough about me to be able to tell what I do and don't understand."
"Steve—"
"What?"
"Let him explain."
Steve is half-tempted to protest, but the almost pleading look Sadie gives him forces him to remain silent, regardless, his posture deflating as he tries to ignore how she is still hardly able to hide the tension running rampant through her frame, even with how obvious it is she is trying with all she has. He hates that she is even going through this at all. That any of them are, for that matter.
But there is nothing that he can do to change that. Nothing that any of them can do. That fact has never been more apparent than it is right now.
Even with Vincent's attempt at explaining how he thinks he can help Sadie, Steve still has doubts, and it is taking everything he has to avoid letting them all out in the open.
"It never harmed anyone to learn alternate means of defending themselves. And in Sadie's case, it will function as both a means to give her another outlet for her emotions, as well as a way to reduce the drain using her abilities will cause."
"And if that doesn't work?"
"Then we find something else."
"You really think it's gonna be that simple?" Dustin questions, clearly just as unwilling to simply buy everything Vincent is saying without comment as Steve is, himself, "Because pretty much everything we've been dealing with lately has been the exact opposite of simple."
"If this is your way of trying to ensure I won't leave before Sadie is in full control of her abilities, I can assure you that I won't."
"You'll forgive us if we don't just sit back and take your word for it, right?"
"Believe me, Harrington, I never would have believed you capable of doing that in the first place."
"Really?" Steve scoffs, dragging a hand through his hair in exasperation as he steps just a bit closer to Vincent, even in spite of Wayne's restraining hand on his shoulder, "We're going there?"
"Steve, please," Sadie intervenes, her tone colored with obvious exhaustion, though whether that is from the ongoing discussion, or something else, Steve honestly cannot tell, "Don't do this."
"Do what? Try to protect you?"
"Yes. Look, I—I am so grateful you care. Really. But all of this, it's just—it's too much."
"How—Jesus, Sadie, how is it too much?"
"Because I know I haven't done much to prove it, but I'm—I'm not made out of glass."
"No one is saying that you are."
"And you don't have to be this way to Vincent just because you think I'm uncomfortable with him being around."
Sadie can hardly stand the stunned look Steve is giving her, because she knows he is only trying to help. That he is probably feeding off of her own reluctance, and reacting accordingly.
But she is also beyond tired of feeling so torn up. So uncertain. Maybe even afraid. And, half in an attempt at giving herself at least the faintest bits of hope that it will all be over, Sadie turns to Vincent, chewing on her lower lip for a moment before summoning the wherewithal to speak.
"When do we—when do we start?"
"As soon as you're ready, and that cast comes off."
Sadie nods in response to the information, dropping her head into her unimpeded hand and exhaling in a rush, the sudden sensation of Dustin's hand resting against her back causing unexpected tears to prick at the corners of her eyes. It feels as though she is constantly vacillating between extremes. Overwhelming sadness, and something more akin to being extraordinarily numb.
She is so focused on hoping that whatever Vincent has in mind will give her a way out that she almost misses Wayne adding to the conversation, the reluctance he seems to feel nearly palpable as she risks lifting her head to look him in the eye.
"Anyone tell ya what happened the other night?"
"What do you mean?" Vincent asks, his brow furrowing as he looks from Wayne to Sadie in time to note how a strange sort of apprehension is flickering across her features before she replies.
"I think that's something you and I should—should discuss alone."
"Woah, Sadie, hang on a minute—"
"I'll be fine, Steve. It isn't like I'll be telling him anything the rest of you don't already know," Sadie assures, ignoring her friend's obviously skeptical expression in favor of moving to stand, her progress only slowing as Wayne steps into her path to place a hand upon her shoulder.
"You need anything, just holler."
"I will."
Sadie does her best to offer Wayne an appreciative smile as he moves aside, her hand reaching out on instinct to give his own a squeeze before she follows Vincent outside. Goosebumps break out against her skin as she shuts the door behind them, a cool breeze blowing stray tendrils of hair in front of her face.
Vincent has already cleared the porch steps, and Sadie moves to follow after him, taking what she hopes will be a steadying breath just as he turns to face her head-on.
"I don't suppose you'd like to explain what the hell that was all about?" He demands, the hardness in his tone causing Sadie to flinch, her breath leaving her in a rush before she forces herself to simply cut to the chase and come clean.
"Would there be—any reason at all, really, why—why Vecna—Henry—would have another person with him in the Upside Down?"
"What makes you believe that he does?"
"There was—the other night, there was this sudden—pain," Sadie explains, shivering a bit against another chilly gust of air, and trying not to dwell on the fact that she can almost feel dull echoes of that pain reverberating through her from the reality of the singular memory alone, "Will experienced it too, and at first we—we thought it was just Henry. But it felt like there was something—or someone else there, too."
"Someone else?"
"Another presence. I know it sounds ridiculous but it was—it was as though whoever or whatever it was, they were suffering too. And it was familiar, somehow."
"Any familiarity you felt is likely because Henry is trying to trick you. To guide you on a wild goose chase so you are distracted from ending him for good," Vincent surmises, Sadie's almost immediate shake of the head prompting him to raise a skeptical eyebrow, his disbelief only growing as she replies.
"That isn't—that's not it."
"Explain."
"I haven't told the others this part, yet," Sadie admits, swallowing past the sudden knot of apprehension that lodges in her throat, and taking another breath before going on, "It—I'm not quite sure what to think of it myself, and they'll probably think I'm—"
"Insane?"
"Possibly."
"Well, fortunately for us, insanity just so happens to be a family specialty," Vincent quips, aware of how the remark hardly seems to provide the amusement he desired just from Sadie's frown alone, "What do you think this is, then? If not Henry."
"I think—I think you already know."
"Sadie—"
"I know. Trust me, I know. It's—"
"Not possible."
"Except Eleven was able to bring Max back," Sadie counters, already recognizing the ridiculousness of her logic, though that realization is not entirely enough to persuade her to change course, "And if she can, then maybe Henry—"
"Eddie Munson is dead, Sadie."
"And you left his body in the Upside Down."
Vincent knows he should have seen this coming as soon as Sadie mentioned that other presence. He should have been able to predict her desperation to find some way of avoiding the truth. And honestly, he cannot blame her for doing this, even if it is hardly a productive means of moving on…
A part of him is honestly surprised she agreed to having anything to do with him at all, but seeing as she did, he is more than a little determined to keep her on track in any way he can. Particularly since it would be only too easy for Henry to use this sudden belief in Eddie's survival against her.
"I know you don't want to believe it. That thinking he could still be out there keeps the pain away, but—"
"It doesn't keep the pain away. Not really. And I don't—if this isn't him—if it ends up being just another trick, I don't—I don't think I can do this anymore."
"You need to fight."
"And what if I don't want to anymore? What if I'm tired of waking up every morning with nothing but more proof of how I failed?"
"You didn't fail."
"Tell that to Eddie and Max."
Sadie hates the way her voice cracks over the words, but there is nothing she can do to take them back, now, her attention turning from Vincent to the edge of the trees that line the property instead. A part of her hadn't quite realized how badly she truly wished the presence she sensed while she and Will had been in so much pain could be real. How much she needs it to be true.
She knows it's ridiculous. Insane. Foolish. That Vincent is right, and she should be focusing on the fight ahead, not things she cannot change.
Not surprisingly, her uncle seems to be somehow capable of sensing her line of thought, and Sadie can feel him watching her as he moves to stand just a bit closer to her side.
"I can help you with all of this, Sadie. With your abilities. With other means of defense, like we have already discussed."
"I—I agree with Steve, you know. I don't really see how shooting at things is going to—to change anything."
"There are other means of ending your pain. If you are truly that desperate, I will be able to aid you there, as well."
Narrowing her eyes, Sadie regards her uncle with more than a little spark of apprehension, her gut twisting as she tries to think of any way what he says could possibly be true. She doesn't think missing Eddie—feeling guilty over what happened to Max—will ever go away, even if she somehow manages to end Vecna with her own two hands.
Still, if there is a way to be free of the feelings she fears may eventually drown her, she can't exactly look the other way. Not knowing she's hardly any use to her friends in the state she's existing in right now.
Sadie is still more than a little reluctant to spend more time with Vincent than she has to, but if that is the only price she must pay for the chance to be more useful, she knows she would be a fool to let the opportunity pass her by.
…
Hello there, angels! And welcome (finally!) to a new chapter in Eddie and Sadie's sequel! I'm truly sorry for the delayed update, but I was kind of struggling with this chapter, trying to make sure it would seem like a fitting place to set up a small time jump for either the next chapter, or the one after that, to really get the story going. I've seen various things online that suggest perhaps the start of season five will actually have said time jump, so I've chosen to try and use one here. At least in my mind, given what Will said at the end of season four about how when he felt Vecna he was still hurting, it seems to make sense that Vecna/Henry/001 would take some time to recover after a near-defeat, rebuilding his 'army', so to speak, and preparing new monsters to take over Hawkins as well. Plus, it'll give a reasonable space of time for Sadie to progress with her powers without (hopefully) seeming too fast or unreasonable? So hopefully that makes at least some sense, and doesn't seem too jarring? I promise there's more in store for Sadie, the rest of the gang, and the mysterious 'presence' she's picking up on in the Upside Down! And I can't wait to have all of you along for the ride with me!
As always, my heartfelt thanks go on to each and every one of you that has taken the time to read, follow, favorite and review this story so far! And special thanks to last chapter's reviewers: mistyagami, SailorErinViz95, RoseThorne, and Amazing, for leaving such lovely feedback the last time around! I'm so, so thrilled that I'm not the only one enjoying this story, and I cannot wait to hear everyone's thoughts this time around as well!
Until next time, darlings (sorry for a slightly lengthier A/N!)
MOMM