Chapter Text
There's this guy.” Jim Hopper said. Simply. Like the plain, vague proposition was anything that Eddie had been expecting to hear. Or had any idea what to do with.
They both sat in matching wooden rocking chairs on the porch of Hop's cabin. Handmade. Hickory. He never liked very dark woods, so the hickory with its lighter color and striking grain was the option he'd turned to when he started making his own stuff a few years earlier.
Woodworking seemed old and boring when he used to watch his grandfather do it, but as Hop got older himself, he liked the activity. The repetition, the focus, the skill. The strength and gentleness. He grew into it. And now his little plot of privacy out in the woods, nowhere important, was covered in things he made to keep busy. To escape idle hands and all that.
Jim brought his coffee mug to his lips under his graying mustache. He sipped on the un-sugared, un-sweetened hot drink and watched Eddie. Waiting for his response to what he considered to be very pertinent information.
“There's this guy?” Eddie repeated the man's words back to him. Because… what was he even going on about?
Hop just smiled and nodded his head. Turning his eyes on where the sun was trying to peak over the tree line and cast the two of them in shades of yellow and orange. They were so deep in the woods and tucked in the mountain ranges that it usually didn't reach the house very well until almost noon. Just how Jim liked it. He was pretty particular about a lot of things.
Jim Hopper was never much of a people person. Not in his earlier decades, not on the ones he was living in then. He liked the quiet and seclusion of his own place where almost no one could find him. Very few people were on the list of exceptions.
But Eddie Munson and his uncle Wayne were.
“Yeah, there's this guy,” Hop answered.
Eddie had to roll his eyes. Was he being deliberately obtuse or just trying to be annoying? Either was an option when it came to spending some time in Jim's company.
“And does this guy have a name? Or a reason why you're talking about him on a Saturday morning? You've never been much of a gossip, as long as I've known you.”
“He's a kid I knew back when I was still an officer,” he finally started to provide some context,” We came from the same town, the two of us. He's grown up now. Has his own kids. Has a lot of kids, actually.”
But why did it seem like he was still dodging the point? Or trying to ease Eddie into it? Whatever it was. He was acting weird about it, to say the least.
“That doesn't really answer either of my questions, Hop.”
The man leaned forward in his chair and perched his elbows on his knees. “His name is Steve and he's got seven children. And he's looking to hire help to watch that houseful of kids.”
And then it started making sense.
“Wait- Hop- Are you…?”
“You said you were looking to get back out into the world,” he pointed out. “Wanted to do it gently. Make a plan. Keep a little space from stuff, but start giving yourself some responsibilities and find a routine again. Start living again.”
Eddie started to shake his head,“ Hop…”
“You were a teacher-”
Eddie interrupted him quickly,“ I got my degree in education, but you know I barely used it.”
“You have talked at length about how much you've always liked kids,” Jim urged him to consider.
“I talked about running clubs when I was in school and that time I thought I could be a kids gymnastic coach for my first job.” He rubbed his temple and sighed,” And, yeah, for a while I thought my career would be in a classroom while I invested in a personal life to get a few kiddos of my own. But this is not even remotely the same thing, Hop, and you know it!”
He shrugged,“ So, it's taking on a little bit more responsibility than you first imagined you'd have while you open back up-”
“Seven kids is not a “little bit more responsibility.” Seven is an honestly ridiculous number. What? Does this guy think this is the ye' olden days when folks just pumped out babies en masse for free labor on the farm or in the factories?” Eddie joked and criticized to try and distract from what Hop was saying.
The older man just closed his eyes and tried to brace against Eddie's hesitation, his resistance to the idea.
“I know it's a lot.”
“I'd like to see you manage seven kids. Try and tell me you wouldn't be ready to take a long walk off a short pier after the first day.”
“You're not me.” Hop said it with a hint of affection. The kind that said it was a good thing Eddie wasn't too much like him. Maybe they were of a similar pattern, but weren't cut from the same cloth. Eddie was meant for different things than Hop was.
”And I think it'd do you good,” he added, when Eddie didn't talk back fast enough.
He sputtered for another reason,“ But- but what about my work?”
“Don't even try to make this about how “you need the time for your songwriting.” I won't hear it.” Hop immediately dismissed him.
“Hop!” he scoffed, honestly a little offended by the line.
“Eddie. Don't look at me like that. I've seen you come out here day after day for months - looking like a whipped dog, bags under your eyes, back all bent out of shape - and all you have to say for yourself is that you can't come up with anything that you don't send straight to the trash.”
Eddie crossed his arms and looked away,“ That's rude. It-It's a process, Hop. And I- I-”
“You're stuck. You've been stuck for a little while, but you want to figure it out. And I think taking some time away from things, getting out of your own head, could help you clear up. And then you might feel fresh and ready to get back into it again.”
Eddie held the eye contact for a few seconds before the turned away. He fixed his gaze on the muddy tires of Jim's truck. Where gravel and grass that was torn from the ground would stick to molded black rubber in caked-on chunks. He tried to tell himself he was watching to see if a particularly suspect bunch was going to fall off, but really he was just trying to avoid the trained lie detector sitting across from him.
He knew that asshole would see whatever he was trying not to say and pull it out of him. One way or another.
“You really think he wants an addict as a babysitter?” Eddie asked doubtfully. Almost sounding… scared? Insecure? Somewhere in the middle?
“You'd be more like a live-in nanny, technically.” Hopper told him with a huff. But that didn't seem to brighten him up much, if at all. Eddie kept his eyes on the muddy tires.
A guy with seven kids. Seven. “Looking to hire help” translated to money. People who don't have money look for babysitters and daycares, or just let the oldest siblings handle the smaller ones. Even sending the rugrats off to sleep-away camps would happen sooner than hiring full-time help and giving away a room in their house. A live-in nanny? That meant serious, serious money.
Eddie's had money. Even got in with the sort of people who made themselves more than a comfy nest egg too. Not that he kept in touch with any of them anymore.
He's had money himself, point is, and knew how to live in a world with people who had money. But sometimes that environment still felt foreign. Growing up in the trailer park with his uncle before he got the money, and spending time either alone or with Hop in his little cabin in the woods after he stepped away from it… some part of him wondered if this “Steve” would smell it on him. The “poor” in his behavior, in his mindset, in his habits - even if it wasn't in his bank statements anymore.
“And I didn't tell him you used to be an addict.” Hopper added, sincerely.
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him I might know a guy.”
Eddie huffed,“ It's always “a guy” with you...”
“A guy who's tough as nails and could do with a change of scenery. One who likes kids, but doesn't have any of his own. Single, so he won't have a spouse to make a fuss about him moving in for work. And that you don't scare easy.”
Okay, that last part stuck out.
“Scare easy?” he questioned.
“Apparently the kids are a little unruly.” Hop was clearly down playing it,” They're good kids, I've known them myself for years. Just, hitting that age, you know? Insistently independent. March to the beat of their own drums. Don't like the idea of strangers coming in and playing authority figures. Sounds like your type anyway.”
“Ha ha.” Eddie mocked.
“Come on. He's moved them all out to a big house in the country for the summer while he deals with some work stuff. You'll be in a quaint little town. Out there surrounded by nature. Think he mentioned a farmer's market in the city, a big lake behind the property, farmlands all around. It's a real storybook kinda spot. Just gotta focus on making sure they don't run off, get hurt, and give 'em something to keep them busy. You can do that.”
“Hop… Okay, I get seven kids is a lot, but if he and the missus don't wanna take care of them, why not just 'em send off to a camp - or multiple camps - or something? Why does he want a nanny to run the show?”
And then Jim's face fell. His eyes went to the floorboards and his shoulders went tense. It was only a few seconds of silence before he revealed…
“The missus died, Ed.”
“Oh…” and now Eddie felt like a dick.
Hop nodded and continued,“ It wasn't yesterday, but recent enough. 'S been a few years, and it's still a bit of a fresh wound for him. He wants to keep the kiddos close while he's dealing with business that apparently got dumped into his lap in this last year.”
Eddie didn't say a word though. Just turned his attention back on those tires.
“It just sounded like he's been coming a little underwater and needs a nanny that'll stick around long enough he can bail it all out and get the family back afloat. He is a good guy. A good kid that I've known for nearly three decades now.”
He was speaking earnestly. He really believed it. Wasn't just trying to get free of Eddie for a couple months.
“Eddie. Look at me,” and finally he did,” If this is really too much, or too scary, I'll tell him my guy said no. But I really do think this would be good for you.”
He tucked his arms around himself and asked,“ You think I'm ready for all of that?”
“I think you've been ready for it but you've been extra careful-”
“Are you saying I've been a coward?”
“I said extra careful!” he swore,” You've been… waiting - maybe a little too long, who am I to say - to make sure of it. But I really do think you'll be fine. And if it ends up not working I will drive out there myself and pick you up before the sun rises and you have to look anyone in the eye on the way out. Promise.”
“You'll oversee a midnight escape? Very first time I call?”
“Minute you ask me to. If you ask me to.” There was a barely-there sparkle in Jim's eyes,” But I don't think you will.”
Hop smiled at him, and Eddie watched the clump of drying mud fall from the tire.
“Alright, old man. You drive a hard bargain.”
Jim knew that meant he agreed, but he wanted Eddie to say it himself.
“So?”
“Tell him I'll be there. Monday morning soon enough for the rich bastard?”
“Don't be mean to him before you've even walked in the front door. But yes, he was hoping for someone to fill in by Monday.”
Hop was pretty satisfied. Happy to think about Eddie getting out of his house and not just to see either him or his uncle. He'd been on the road of recovery for a long time. Sometimes Hop worried he was still punishing himself for “fucking over his big chance”. So he would just lock himself away until he decided he composed something good enough to make up for it. And he really needed to let that idea go.
Wayne has told Hop how many calls and messages Eddie still avoided. Ignoring people who cared about him. And not because he actually didn't want to talk to them, but because he felt like he was some kind of disappointment or stick in the mud.
On top of everything else, Hop knew that Eddie needed to be around people again. He shines around people. And he specifically needed people who don't know and didn't hear rumors that circulated and weren't wrapped up in the same temptations he's had to learn how to live without. He needed to be convinced that he could exist with people again. And Hop felt like they were in the moment to make it happen.
“So… he really doesn't even know I'm an addict?” Eddie eventually broke the bit of silence and came up between them. He was picking at the skin of his fingers. Saying the words like he was trying to figure out what to do with them.
“No. He doesn't.”
“Do I need to tell him? Like when I get there, before I meet the little ones, am I supposed to run it by him really quick, or call ahead and mention it, or try to take a couple minutes to talk about it first if he has questions?” Eddie started getting himself anxious.
“Not if you don't want to,” Jim simply told him.
But Eddie didn't really believe it,“ I'll be the caretaker of more than half a dozen children, Hop-”
So he asked him, rather bluntly,“ Do you plan to indulge your addiction around them?”
“No!” Eddie shot up. Of course, he wouldn't. Absolutely not.
“Then you don't have to say anything about it. Not unless you want to.”
Jim seemed pretty decided on it. Totally sure that Eddie and his privacy were to be respected. It was the kind of thing he held in high regard.
“What if I slip?” he worried.
“You haven't in a long time-”
“But what if I do?” Eddie sounded really, really scared.
He just looked at him with gentle blue eyes. Brought his voice soft and kind. “If you feel it really coming on, you call me. And we try to work through it. If it happens, you call me. And we'll get you back on the saddle from there. You just gotta call me, and I'll make sure you're okay.”
And the way Hop kept making it all sound so simple… Eddie didn't feel like it was simple, but Hop kept talking about it like it was. Short sentences. Easy solutions. Promises and assurances. Hop swearing that he'd be there if Eddie needed him.
“Does he know you were?” Eddie asked.
And Hop nodded and sucked in some air between his teeth. “Yeah. He knew me back then. Knows some of what I went through getting clean.”
“How does he think you know me then?” he figured,” I'm pretty sure you don't have a very thick rolodex of thirty-year-olds you keep up with.”
“Oh sure. Keep acting like you're still thirty years old and not closer to forty. I can see your crows feet.” Hop motioned at his face to make his point,” And no one has a rolodex these days, not even me. As old as you think I am, Edmund.”
“Jesus Christ- shut up. Fine. How many people in their thirties do you know?” he corrected, quickly getting wound up at the mention of his full first name.
“Not many. But I just told him I was friends with your old man Wayne.”
“At least that's true.” Eddie sighed and leaned back in his chair. Pulling his hand up by his face and worrying his bottom lip between his front teeth.
Jim reached over and smacked a hand on his knee, shaking it lightly,“ Calm down. It's not even going to come up unless you bring it up. Why don't you just head on home and pack your bags? I'll send you an email with directions.”
“The rolodex comment was offensive, but you can't bother with a text like the rest of the modern age?” Eddie huffed under his breath, though Jim easily heard and scowled at him. “Fine. You know, you could work on your attitude while I'm out of your hair for a little while.” Eddie stood up from the porch and started down the stairs.
“Goodbye, Edmund.” He called after him.
“Stop calling me that.” Eddie turned around and kept stepping backwards away,” You're gonna make me wanna get a whole new birth certificate with just “Eddie” on it this time.”
“Shouldn't 'a picked the name if you didn't want anyone to use it.” Jim just commented with a shrug and a sip of his cup.
“I was a teenager who still dreamt of keeping an air of professionality. Give me a break,” he groaned and protested.
“Your uncle just let you read too much Narnia.”
“I think the way a kid crash landed into a magical journey had a pretty cool parallel to me one time, and now I'm paying the price for it for the rest of my life.”
“Yes, you are. Now get outta here. Before I have to shoo you off my property.” Hop's faux-threat didn't even land a little bit.
“Yeah, yeah. You'll wave your fishing pole at me, so scary.” Eddie teased and climbed into his car door,“ See ya, Hop. Try not to get even more grouchy by the time I chicken out of this thing.”
“I believe in you!” the old man yelled at him from his chair on the porch.
“Yeah, yeah. 'Course you do, you old sucker.” Eddie called back, before he backed out and began to drive away.
“He'll take the gig.” Jim spoke from the phone.
Steve sat deeper into his office chair and pulled his glasses off to press the palms of his hands into his face. Thank god he didn't have to go tracking down another one himself. Steve shook himself out and reset his eyes on the computer screen, scanning over documents in the dark of the room since Jim decided to call after 10 pm to share the good news.
“Thank you for looking into that for me, Jim. I appreciate-”
“Cut the shit,” the man immediately countered,” Stop yapping at me like I'm some stranger you need to be short with. It's me, Steve. Loosen your tie and talk to me like you know me.”
A small sigh escaped his lips as he turned on the hinges of the chair to look out the window to the barely lit up yard. Taking a second to find himself again. Away from work and the way it made him… someone else.
“Thank you, Hop.” Steve corrected,” Really. I don't know what I would've done if you didn't have someone in mind on such short notice. I feel like I've run through everyone that’s willing to come all the way out here and I'm losing my mind.”
“Don't sweat it. He's going to get all packed up tomorrow and drive up Monday morning.” Hop assured him,“ You won't be short-staffed long. But I really do have to ask, what happened?”
Steve scoffed,“ This last one just turned right around almost as soon as she got here. I- I don't get it. I honestly don't.”
“What? Was she screaming bloody murder on the way out? What do those kids do when your back is turned, kiddo?” Hop was laughing, but Steve didn't feel like it was very funny.
“When the first one left, I assumed it was just because she was old and didn't realize how much work seven kids can be. Then after the next, I thought that maybe the young one was too young and didn't know what she was getting into. One's too soft, the next tries to be a drill sergeant, one shows blatant favoritism, one doesn't like a single one of them. I… I don't understand how it can be this hard for someone to just do their job for a couple weeks.”
He let his eyes look back over his shoulder at the computer screen, and maybe he did get it a bit. But he didn't understand it from a caretaker's point of view.
“I remember you being a handful yourself,” he mused,” You sure you aren't raising a little army of demons out there in the country?”
He rolled his eyes and focused back out the windowsill. Over the expanse of a lush green lawn speckled in firefly lights. “Yeah, yeah, you pulled me over a couple times in high school, we both remember. One day you'll let me live that shit down.”
“Don't count on it.”
“And the kids are great. For the record. I just-” Steve stopped himself. As honest as he could be with Hop, the man who's always looked out for him a little extra since he was still a teen, he couldn't get into certain stuff. He just couldn't. “I just cannot spend all my time watching them if I want to deal with what I need to deal with.” he said instead. Hopefully being just vague enough the man on the line wouldn't notice.
“You're busy. I understand.” Crisis averted. “Which is why I recommended my guy.”
“You think he'll seriously be up to the task? I don't think I can take another one quitting on the same day.”
“She didn't even make it through the first night? Steve, have you had them all checked over for supernatural abilities to drive away nannies?”
“They're just kids. I swear.”
“What about that shy girl of yours? That one seems a little suspicious.”
That thought at least got Steve to laugh,“ If you can catch El with magic powers, I'll double your retirement fund right then and there.”
“I'm just trying to watch out for my guy,” he excused,” If he comes home radioactive or something I might have to have an argument with you.”
“You'd pick him over me?” Steve asked, feigning betrayal.
Hop quickly explained,“ His uncle hosts poker and I am not getting kicked off the table.”
“If your guy can do the job, he'll be fine.”
“Eddie's a tough cookie. He'd do great.” Hop tried to assure him.
“Eddie…” Steve repeated. Trying out the name for the first time since Hop didn't offer it over their last call.
But just saying it irked something in him. It felt mean. To be so bothered by some guy's name. But he couldn't help it. It just felt wrong to say.
”That- That can't be his full name,” he thought, looking for something else to call the man.
“Edmund's the long version, but he'll give you shit every time you try to use it.”
“Well, I'll be meeting Edmund on Monday.” Steve reiterated. Sounding pretty sure
He could hear Jim's smile over the phone. The kind where he was probably shaking his head to himself. “That you will. Have a good one, kid.”
“I'm not a kid.” Steve pointed out,” I have a few of them myself now, you know.”
Hop just argued,“ You'll always be a kid to this old-timer. Now go check on your babies. Since you got so many of them and I know how much teenagers with your DNA like ignore their bedtimes.”
“Why don't you just make the drive then and relieve me of all the responsibility yourself?” he challenged him.
“I'm sorry?” Hop pretended like he couldn't hear it,” What did you- I can't- You- Breaking Up- Sorr-”
“You can just say no. Don't need to put on the whole dog and pony show.”
“Well, in that case: No. Have a nice night.”
“Night.”
Steve hung up the phone and shut his eyes for just a moment. Resting them after so much use. And he tried to imagine some man named “Edmund” that would arrive shortly on Hop's recommendation.
What sort of guy was that? He wondered about it. About his age, about the kind of family he must have that Hop would get along with, about how he went to school to teach but isn't doing that at the time for some reason, about how he was apparently one “tough cookie”… Just who exactly was going to show up on his doorstep at the beginning of the week? What does that guy look like?
And then his computer dinged. Steve's eyes opened up with a small startle. He slipped his glasses back over his nose and looked at the bright screen burning into his retinas from the desk. And he set aside the part of his brain that could focus on his household, returning to the part that could focus on work.
Tommy H. : Sandra found another box of files that got stuffed away forever ago
Snatched them up before she started digging
Already in the mail headed to the house for you to deal with
One day, it was going to stop coming. One day, they were going to run out of shit left behind by a demented old man who should've stepped away from the company a decade earlier. One day, he was going to be done cleaning up the mess.
But until then…
Steve C. : Send the tracking info so I know when to expect it