Chapter Text
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Lee wasn’t supposed to be looking down into Wilson Wilson’s fallout shelter only minutes after returning home to 2013 via a time travel portal after his two months’ stay on HMS Erebus in 1847, and Harry Goodsir was not supposed to be lying there on the floor now and looking up at him, smiling and waving. Lee was supposed be putting Harry out of his mind forever – grateful, of course, that the man had saved his life by removing that damned bullet from his gut and helping him to convalesce – but still, that episode in his life was supposed to be over.
But now it seems that Harry Goodsir is back in his life. The man is still lying on his back, and now he’s laughing. “I did it! I’m not sure of exactly how I did it – but I found the portal! Isn’t it wonderful, Lee?”
“Yeah. Wonderful. Now, go back!”
“No!” Harry scrambles to his feet. “I don’t want to go back! I’ve only just arrived!”
“I don’t have time for this, Harry!”
Harry looks as if Lee’s just slapped him in the face. “Two full months we’ve spent together, and now you’re saying you don’t have time for me?”
“That isn’t what I fucking said! Don’t twist my words around!”
“Then what exactly is the problem? I don’t understand.”
Lee heaves a mighty sigh. “You know, I have half a mind to just leave you standing there. I could so easily close this hatch, lock it so you can’t get out, and you’d just have to figure out for yourself how to get back to Erebus.”
“But if I know you like I think I do, you won’t be doing that,” Harry says with a tiny smile. “You would never do such a thing to me, Lee.”
Damn. Harry’s right, of course. Another approach, then. “When you were going down that ladder on Erebus, do you remember slipping on one of the steps?”
“Yes! I slipped, found my footing again, ended up here, and fell to the floor from the shock of it all!”
“And that’s exactly how you’re gonna go back. Climb up this time, angle your body, slip on the fourth rung with one foot, then place that same foot on that rung again, and you’ll be back on Erebus. Simple!”
“One day, Lee. That’s all I’m asking.”
“We’ve already talked about this, Harry. I don’t belong on Erebus, and you don’t belong here.”
Harry nods, and then, without a word, he steps onto the ladder with great difficulty, likely because of its being nearly flush with the wall and lacking the incline of the steps he’s accustomed to climbing on Erebus. He presses his lips together, apparently in deep concentration, takes another step, another, one more step – and then another.
“Harry, no! You needed to slip on that fourth rung!”
“No, I didn’t need to do that,” Harry says, “because I’ve decided I’m coming up all the way!”
“Don’t,” Lee groans, shaking his head.
Harry continues up the ladder, grinning all the while. “I’m so excited to see the Future!”
The man looks beyond thrilled, but Lee has so many things he wants to do today – and none of them should involve Harry. “Please, don’t do this,” Lee says – but his voice is weak, and so is his resolve.
“I am doing this,” Harry insists, continuing his ascent. “So if you’d be kind enough to help me up and out of here, please?” He’s nearly reached the top and is extending his arm.
Lee slaps his working arm against his thigh in exasperated surrender. “Oh, all right, then!” He sinks to his knees and offers his hand.
“Thank you,” Harry says, ever his polite self.
His center of gravity sufficiently lowered, Lee tugs and pulls, leaning backward and groaning from the effort of dragging someone his own height and weight up and out of what is, essentially, the ground.
Harry holds on firmly while clawing at the earth with his other hand, grunting in tandem with Lee until he’s finally made it out of the shelter. Once on land, he promptly flops to the ground on his stomach, collapsing into a new round of laughter.
Lee’s not laughing. He’s stuck with Harry now. But not for long; he’ll make sure of it.
Harry rolls slowly onto his back and gasps like a child who’s just been presented with a Christmas puppy. “Ooh, will you look at the sky? What an exquisitely beautiful blue! And look at those voluminous clouds!”
“It’s only London, Harry. Nothing special.” Then Lee considers how Harry has recently spent his time: stuck on a ship surrounded by ice, snow and grey-white skies more often than not. Now, the expression on his face is all wonder, and he looks close to tears from it. Lee can’t rightly begrudge him. After what Harry’s been through, of course this would all look beautiful to him.
But they can’t stay here all day looking at the sky and the clouds. “Harry, your turn to help me up now, right?”
“My pleasure!” Harry rises easily to his feet and then looks around, suddenly distracted. “Oh! Trees! Look at all the trees! There are so many, and they’re so… green! And I can hear birds chirping! Listen, Lee! Can you hear them, too?”
“Harry, help me up!”
“Oh! Right!” Harry snaps out of his reverie and sets to honouring Lee’s request. He assists by first grabbing Lee’s good arm and then grasping him around the waist as he helps him to his feet. “Up, up! There you are! Good!”
Lee bends over, locks the shelter door, brushes off dirt and blades of grass from his trousers – more correctly, Harry’s trousers, lent to him months ago – and then stands to full height.
“Isn’t it strange,” Harry says, looking at the fallout shelter door. “One would never think that such a small door that’s flat on the ground might then open up into something more expansive.”
”Like the Tardis,” Lee says with a chuckle.
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.”
“What on Earth are you talking about?”
“Dr. Who.”
“What an odd name for a doctor. I’ve not known of such a surname. And what’s a Tardis?”
“Never mind, Harry.”
Thankfully, Harry shrugs it off. “What are we going to do first? Where’s your home? We should probably go there first, yes? And will we be travelling in a Hansom Cab to go there? Will you show me your spoon collection after we arrive? Oh! Do you know any book shops or libraries we could visit today? Maybe I could help you to procure that rare book you told me about on the day we met? Or should we get something to eat first, and then-”
Lee clamps his hand on Harry’s upper arm. “Hush! I need you to stop asking so many questions!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be discourteous. I’m so happy to be here, I confess I’m a trifle overwhelmed.”
“Listen to me very carefully. You can stay here for one day – and one day only. Do you understand? One day. We’re going to come back here tomorrow morning, and then you’ll be going back to Erebus – and you’ll be staying there. Got it?”
“One day was all I asked,” Harry says simply. “Thank you, you’re quite generous.”
“And while you’re in this century, you have to follow my rules,” Lee says, boring his gaze into Harry’s.
“Rules?”
“Rule Number One: While you’re here, your name is Harry.”
Harry laughs. “Of course it is! What a silly rule.”
“You don’t understand. You’re just Harry. No last name. I don’t want you telling anyone what your last name is. Do you understand?”
Harry nods. “All right.”
“Rule Number Two: We’re going to pretend that we’re identical twin brothers.”
“Well, we do look alike, so yes, I’ll enjoy doing that.”
Lee suppresses his urge to roll his gaze the skies. He forges ahead. “Rule Number Three: Do not speak to anyone – except for me – unless you’re spoken to first. I don’t want you volunteering any information that no one needs to know. Do you understand?” Lee waits, but when he gets no response, he raises his voice. “Harry, you need to nod, or say something so I know that you understand!”
Harry nods. “There’s no need for anger, Lee. I understand perfectly.”
“And one more thing. Do try not to stare so much at everything you see! I know this is all new for you, but please quell your enthusiasm when we’re in public, and keep any superficial thoughts to yourself.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Lee sighs. He’ll be taking on so much responsibility by hauling Harry around with him all day. But if Harry plays by the rules, all should be well. “Good. I think that about covers it.”
“Shall we get our Hansom Cab now?”
“No. We’ll walk a bit until we come upon this century’s version of a cab.” Noting Harry’s confused expression, Lee elaborates. “It’s a sort of motorised vehicle, as far as you’re concerned.”
“Oh, something like how the locomotive engine powers Erebus?”
“Not exactly. I’ll explain it all later.”
“We’re going to your home, then?”
“No, not yet.” Lee yanks his wallet out of his trouser pocket; he had kept it there strictly out of habit while he was on Erebus, even though no currency was required. He flips it open and rifles through multiple pound notes while making cost estimates in his mind. Yes, there should be enough here for everything he needs to accomplish today – and even with Harry in tow. He shoves his wallet back into his pocket. “I’ll be getting a new suit first, and then a haircut. Dinner after, and then to my apartment. Don’t Just stand there gawking! Let’s go!”
Harry salutes and laughs. “Aye aye, Skipper!”
“And stop talking like me!”
“But if we’re going to be twin brothers, why not?”
Lee sighs and shakes his head. He doesn’t know how he’ll do it, but somehow, he’ll manage to get through today, tonight, and tomorrow morning. He’ll do it for Harry’s sake, as a non-tangible farewell gift of sorts.
Then he can finally be rid of him.