Impossible to Reassemble. Will Byers - Byler and Mileven

Chapter 8- The Dark Days

"So as you see that is what we are going to do."  During breakfast that Agent Simmons brought from the Cafe, Ethan and Dr. Owens were discussing how to question the teens.  The answer was to start with Jane and work around to the two boys.  Will noticed Jane coming down the stairs with puffy, swollen eyes and she tentatively looked at Will before shrinking in on herself.  She pulled up to the table as all eyes sunk in on her.  She ate her breakfast but pushed her fork through the hashbrowns instead of shoveling them in like Dr. Owens was doing.

"Jane, would you join Mr. Ellis, Agent Vinegar and I in the basement so we can question you."  Jane looked sceptical and Will saw this.  "I would like to talk to Jane alone if I could before you all talk to her."  Mike  looked at Will like he was crazy.  "I don't know Will, we would like to talk to her first."  Ethan told Will.  Will gave Ethan a look that made him acquiesce.  "Ok, you have 5 minutes to talk to her."  Jane and Will went to the basement to talk.  A video camera and lights were set up with a table so the agents could question them.  Will sat on the old couch in front of the TV and motioned Jane to sit with him.  She sat on the far end was was quiet.

"Jane, did you try to erase me from the timeline?"  Will went for the one question she didn't want to answer.  With their limited time she figures he skipped ahead to what he wants to know.  Since everything went to shit anyway she will tell Will what he needs to hear.

"Yes I did."  She stared at her feet while she quietly spoke the words.  "I was jealous of you and Mike dating.  I wanted Mike back as a boyfriend and he wasn't about to break up with you.  He was the only guy who understood me and he cared for me.  Now everyone hates me and I hurt you so bad Will that no apology can ever fix what I destroyed."  Jane started to sob.  "Jane, yes you did hurt many people but why didn't you tell me that you still loved Mike?" 

"Because you wouldn't of broken up with him!"  Jane yelled at Will.  She felt embarrassed to yell at her victim but she knew Will.

"That is true, I spent most of my life in love with Mike.  If we knew we could of not tamed down our affection toward each other around you.  Made it so it wasn't as painful for you.  Now people are hurt and angry and we are in a major crisis because of this."  Will was going to say more but he was cut off.

"002 told me erasing you would make Henry go away and free Max from her coma along with everyone else in his mind prison.  I missed Max so much I went for it."  Jane was crying now.  Will wanted to hold her and reassure her but couldn't find a way to do that.  "Well I guess that is a positive in this situation.  Are you and Mike dating?"  Will needed to know.  "Not anymore.  He broke up with me yesterday after he found your note."  Jane went silent and Will gave her a few moments to cry.  "Do you hate me Jane?"  Will needed to know.  "No I don't but you probably don't believe me" was all the answer he recieved.  The agents called up Will upstairs while they questioned her downstairs.

°°°•••

Three hours later the agents finished their interviews and compared notes on the situation.  Ethan was in contact with the Preservation Society and they found that two important people were born in this new timeline that wouldn't of been otherwise.  "So Agent Ellis, you are saying that the Preservation Society doesn't want to reset the timeline?  What do they recommend we do?"  Dr. Owens was hoping that they wouldn't reset the timeline because the Upside Down sounded like a huge security threat to the US and the world and he didn't want that alternative dimension to rear its ugly head.  "In light of the situation, the Preservation Society thinks we could do more damage if we reset the timeline vs if we just let things run their course.  They never dealt with this circumstance before so anything we do is pure guesswork.  We will lose 1 important event/ relationship  vs 2 important people and the lives of hundreds or thousands if we reset because of the alternative dimension.  We are not going to do anything."  Those words from Ellis were music to Owens's ears.

"Sounds good Agent Ellis.  All we need to do is get these people to sign NDAs and then our business is concluded."  The Agents got all the Hoppers, Mike and Will to sign.  Owens and the Agents left leaving Ethan.  "Mike, can I talk to you please."  Will wanted to reach out to his boyfriend so they found the guest bedroom upstairs.

Will just spent the last hour and a half visiting with his Mom, Jonathan and Hopper.  He felt good reconnecting with them and they were happy knowing him.  When Mike was done being questioned he just stared at Will.  Now he can find out why he is acting so distant.  When they shut the door, Will held out his arms for a hug but Mike just shook his hand.  Will felt rejected and hurt and knew this wasn't going to be good.

"Um, Will is it."  Mike was trying to find the words.  "Yes Mike it is me.  What do you remember?"  Will was holding out hope Mike wasn't done with him yet.  "I remember pretty much our whole shared existence I think.  It's so weird you know that I was a completely different person in your timeline compared to me now.   I can't wrap my head around the differences they are so stark."  Will's hope shriveled up like a grape being turned into a raisin.  "What are you saying Mike?"  Will didn't like how he sounded so needy and desperate but he was afraid of losing Mike and on the verge of tears.

"Will, I know you went through a lot in your life you didn't deserve.  I have memories of us, good and bad, but I have to be honest.  The memories of us together really don't mean much to me now.  I see us together but it is like watching a video instead of living that moment."  Two tears escaped Will's eye and slid down his cheek.  Will felt devastated being told by the love of his life he doesn't mean anything to him.  "I am sorry if I am hurting you Will, but I just don't have feelings for you like I did before."  Mike was ripping this off like a band-aid.  "I don't want to get back together because I'm not attracted to boys like your Mike was.  I am so sorry Will.  In my memories you were so good and supportive of me but I just don't have those feelings anymore."  Will was full on sobbing now.  He just lost Mike for good and it felt like someone ripped his chest apart.

"Wh- wh- why do you not like me anymore Mike?  What can I do to be who you need me to be?"  "Shhh Will."  Mike put a hand on Will's shoulder trying to help him.  "You didn't do anything wrong.  I'm just not romantically attracted to you anymore.  Maybe when I process all of this we could be friends, but for now I need time."  Mike turned around and before he left Will called out to him.  "Are you going to forgive Jane?  She needs you Mike."  Mike turned around and looked at Will.  "I want to forgive her but I can't.  She hurt me and ruined your life, I don't think I can trust her again.  Are you going to forgive her Will?"  Mike looked concerned.  "I will eventually but not now.  We need to work through some things."  Will gave his most honest answer.

"Well we're on the same page.  I have to get home before 4 for Christmas Eve.  Goodbye Will."  "Goodbye Mike"  Will gave Mike a shoulder half-hug feeling Mike's body heat for the last time.  Mike walked away.  Will sat and cried about his loss for a time until he went to talk to Ethan.

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Ethan and Will were driving to their hotel room in Jackson.  After 2 hours talking to Will's family, it was decided that Will was going back to Vancouver for good.  Ethan couldn't blame Will for making that decision because staying in Hawkins would be awkward and painful for Will.  Ethan remembers Joyce trying to get Will to stay.  Will, we are your family.  Don't you want to stay?  We can figure out our issues together and rebuild our relationships with each other.  I need you to stay, please Will.  Will let her know his reasoning.  No Mom I can't stay.  Mike was my boyfriend but now he doesn't even care about me.  I can't be here while he ignores me in school, it would hurt every time I see him.  That doesn't even cover how awkward being around Jane will be.  She tried to erase me from existing!  I just can't forgive her yet.  In the future, yes.  I can't forgive her right now though.  How am I suppose to live here under those circumstances.  Do you want me sad and depressed the whole time?  Joyce broke down and even Jonathan admitted that Will had a point and he supported his decision.  After some debate Will decided his home wasn't in Hawkins anymore, maybe home is not a blood family but sometimes a found family Ethan was thinking.   "For what it's worth, I'm sorry how things turned out Will."  Ethan didn't like seeing the pain Will was in.  "Thanks Ethan.  Do you think we can make Christmas dinner tomorrow?"  "I'll try to get a flight back when we get to the hotel.  I think we will make it in the afternoon for sure."