Time After Time (a Stranger Things fanfiction)

Monday, Monday

"Monday, Monday"

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day

Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way

Oh Monday mornin', you gave me no warnin' of what was to be

- The Mamas and the Papas

Hopper had to admit, getting back to the daily grind had been something of an anti-climax. As far as the rest of Hawkins knew, there had been a gas explosion at the school, and something weird had happened to one of Joyce Byers' kids. The first was surprising, the second less so—although general scuttlebutt seemed to register some surprise that it hadn't been Jonathan to go missing, instead of Will. But all in all, things went back to business as usual faster than Hopper would have imagined possible.

He tried to talk to Larry Kline, the mayor, about Hawkins Lab, but was shut down pretty hard and fast, leading him to believe Kline knew more about what they did there than he was saying—or that he knew enough to know he didn't want to know any more.

The lab seemed to continue its normal operations without a hitch, which gave Hopper some concern. With Brenner's death at the hands of the 'demogorgon', his deal with them might well be null and void, and where did that leave Will and the Byers family? Will's extended stay in the hospital, as well as the time Joyce had taken off work and the advances on her salary, couldn't have been easy on their finances.

He called the lab at least once a day, leaving messages with anyone they would transfer him to, until finally they stopped transferring him at all and just hung up the phone when he identified himself.

"Chief." Flo was in his doorway as he put the phone down for the fifth time this week. "Someone here to see you."

"Somone have a name?"

"He says you'll know what it's about."

He glared at her in proxy. Why would he know what— Then he looked at the phone that his hand was still resting on. Well, he'd better damned well know what this was about. "Show him in, Flo. And—" His voice stopped her just before she disappeared around the door. "Thanks."

Her answering smile told him he should probably appreciate her more. He'd have to work on that.

She showed in an older man with graying hair wearing a rumpled sportcoat, no tie. Hopper got to his feet.

"Chief Hopper?"

"This is my office, so ... yeah."

The man gave a small smile at that. "Dr. Sam Owens. I believe we had a mutual acquaintance, now sadly no longer with us."

Hopper waited until Flo had closed the door. "You here in response to my calls?"

Owens gestured at the chair opposite Hopper's desk. "You mind?" At Hopper's shake of the head, he plopped down in the chair with a muffled groan. "I'm here because I just inherited Brenner's mess, and that includes you. We have some unfinished business."

"The girl's gone. Just like Brenner."

"Yes. We know." Owens sighed heavily. "Probably for the best, poor girl. No one needs any reminders of his ... research. But the boy's still here. How's he doing?"

"All right. He could use some real help."

"And he'll get it."

There was something about Owens, about how normal he was and how tired he seemed, that made the promise seem real. Hopper resumed his chair. "What kind of help are we talking? Because the hospital bills, the lost income ..."

"Yes. We know all that." From the inside pocket of his sportcoat, Owens took a check. He slid it across the desk to Hopper.

It was generous. Not ridiculous, but ... enough. "This'll buy a lot of mac and cheese."

"I hope so. It was regrettable, how that was handled. We hope you'll convey that to Mrs. Byers."

"Some reason you can't tell her yourself?"

"After the video of her interview with Brenner?" Owens chuckled. "I think she'd run me off with a shotgun if I came near the place. And I wouldn't blame her."

He had a point, Hopper had to admit. "And the kid's medical care? You'll take care of that, too?"

Owens nodded. "If you can convince her to bring him to the lab, we'll run some tests."

"I'll do my best. Last thing: the gate. What are you doing about it?"

"Studying it. Trying to get it closed. Burning off all those vine things. No one wants a repeat of what happened here, Chief. Not you, not us. All right?" Owens got to his feet. "I know you and your people have been treated badly by my people, but it's my job now, and I hope we can start off with, if not trust, at least a cautious lack of distrust."

Hopper rose, too, reaching out to shake Owens' hand. "You be straight with me, I'll be straight with you."

"Can't ask for more than that."

You couldn't ask for more than that, Hopper reflected—but would he get it? Owens seemed normal and trustworthy enough, but they were smart enough they wouldn't send someone with an obvious agenda.

Well, he'd just have to wait and see, and keep his eyes open in the meantime.