Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wednesday, January 1st 12AM

“Happy New Years!!”

I was the loudest in the room that day. I couldn’t help myself.
My desire to make sure this year won’t be like the last.
unforgettable...

*ring*
“Hey Mom, someones calling”

“Well you better pick it up Sam, I have my hands full right now
and your father is setting up the grill!” she yelled from the kitchen.
It smells heavenly, moms cooking is always the best.
I made my way to the living room heading towards the phone on the table. “Huh? It's Uncle Phisto. Is he finally off work? ”
This better be a good excuse.
“On second thought, I better take this outside” I muttered
I pressed the green button once I stepped foot out.

“Hey Uncle phisto.”

“HEeeey, nephew, how's it going?”

“So far so good. I got to sleep yesterday without any interference.”

“Good that's-that’s good… uhm hey Sam sorry I couldn’t make it over there man.”

I couldn’t help the smirk etching onto my face.

“Nah it’s all good Uncle Phisto. Though you’ll be missing out on this lovely bbq, its
a real shame that all this lovely cooked food will end up going into containers...”

“Not cool Nephew, not cool. AS A MAtter of FACT! You know I’m a busy man...ever thought of that? huh?No? Or do you think I'm making another excuse?”

I Laughed nervously “No waaaay why would you think-of course not…Bouquet Days. ”

“Oh no no no no, not you too. Do not bring that one up! You know how long it took to clean all those flowers out of that closet? I swear those two hellions are a bad influence on all people that are in their radius.” he always gets embarrassed over that incident.

“Oh yeah, speaking of those two hellraisers, are you going to at least celebrate New Years with them? You can't stay holed up in your office all the time.”

“With Helios and Rovin? Well I mean no. wellll kinda, sorta- yeah no can do buddy I rather come out with all my limbs then get sent to an early grave.”

“Really?! You know dad would be disappointed”

“My brother has no say. All he does is ramble about Great this, Great that.
Oh yeah and that stupid piece of jewelry you own. Ron is worshiping a rock, A rock Samual” Huh I didn't expect his reaction to be this bad. I guess they did talk. Before I could say anything
he continued his angered filled ramble “ I mean that thing, it gives me heebie jeebies I swear.”

I frowned at that statement dad went against his uncle's wishes and instead gave it to a jeweler. It was special to me. I felt a wave of offense roll off me “Dads always loved to keep history, he may be intense about it and yeah you two can barely get along but he cares about you” I hold myself back saying more, no need to get angered
Uncle Phisto always said he hated it before it was even gifted to me.

"Of course he would with how much he praises it, I’ve doubted he would’ve given it away to anyone, in his words “ if you want it, you'll have to pry it from my cold dead body.” his uncle sighed “ Anyways nephew Happy New years too you”

“Ugh fine if it makes you happy. I mean guess it wouldn’t be too bad to try and celebrate with those two-but no fireworks. I rather they send me over the edge not into an coma”
I couldn't help but laugh, my earlier anger and offense was replaced with amusement. I’ve met those two multiple times and for the lack of better
word they were weird and uniquely entertaining if you weren’t their target for a prank, that is.

“Of course…Uncle Phisto they just care for you in there own way”

“Hmph”

“And don’t think I didn’t notice how quiet it is in the background, where are they?
you aren’t hiding are you? ”

“Uhhh would you believe me if I said no?”

“No, not really you've done this too many times to for me to remember the number
Maybe dad has a more accurate score.”

“oOuch not the scoreboard you’ve fatally wound me NPC”

“HEY!! LOW BLOW! I Thought we were over with "Not the Problem Child. I'm in my 30s for crying out loud.”
“Sam, we're about to start the grill, start heading your butt on over here !”
Huh that was quick. I ducked inside and yelled “Yeah mom I’m coming, Hey Uncle Phisto I have to go grilling is starting I’ve got to go over there and help ”

“ Alright then Happy New Year's nephew…. May your trouble pass to begin a new you.”

The endless nights of restlessness, the mountain of stress, the nightmares,
Nights I lie paralyzed hearing screams-ugh those screams. It sounded like a massacre thinking about it makes him sick and anxious-calm yourself Sam they’re just nightmares nothing more.
I took a deep breath “likewise. New Year, New Me.”

“ Oh and Sam, have you noticed your father being more strange than usual lately?”
I mean think on it before you answer nephew but i’ve been getting this gut feeling as of late,
but Ronald seems off to me more intense than usual”

I cut myself off before i say anything well now that he says it out loud yeah his father has been more weirder, but it could just be sleep deprivation tricking his mind.
“No, not really but I'll keep an eye out if you're worried.”

“Hmph, don’t extend your stay. I'll end up visiting him in a few weeks or whatever Goodbye nephew.”

“Wai-”
*Beep*
Huh? What was that for?

1/1/2030 12:30 AM

“Hey mom, uncle Phisto called”

“Huh, really now? Did Helios scare him into hiding again?”
She says this as she stirred the stew , I took the chopping board in my free hand and set the phone down on the kitchen counter.

“I think so? He said he was hiding out but never said where and who got him to” She gestures
For me to start cutting the vegetables and meat.

“They better drag him out of that damn office it's no good for him” She says sternly as she goes into the fridge to grab some onions out.

As I cut the potatoes down to size my face turned smug. “They don’t need to. I managed to convince him to celebrate willingly.”
I said proudly, what it's not every day uncle Phisto leaves his office on his own.

She stops what she's doing to look at me again but with surprise this time “You did? Really now? Usually it takes an army to get that man out of his office to reconnect with his relations.”
She heads over to the table to grab the spices as I continue to cut and add the ingredients to the boiling stew.

“Yeah but I managed to convince him! Though he kind of hung up abruptly at the end.”

“Well at least you got him to do something. You know you're just special like that Sammy.”
she smiles at him while he stirs the pot.

“Hah, yeah. I guess I'm just that good at being convincing” I said with uncertainty.

“HEY SAM GET OVER HERE I NEED YOU TO MAN THE GRILL!” My dad shouted from the backyard.

“YEAH I'M COMING OVER JUST GOT TO FINISH CHOPPING!” I yelled back but then looked at my mom who grabbed my shoulder
“I’ve got it Sam, your dad wants to tell you something important. It might help you calm your mind.”

I turned to my mother
His health hasn’t been the greatest lately. It's a miracle that he managed to get to sleep in the first place. But what could this be? I don't think anything can top sleeping pills.
My mother noticed my hesitation and gave my shoulder a firm squeeze. With her support I made my way outside.

1/1/2030 1:19 AM

It was silent all you can is the sizzle of steaks being cooked on the grill i've been out here for
At least 17 minutes and he hasn't said a word. My father just gave me metal tongs to flip the steak and that's it really.

I finally break the silence between us“Say dad mom told me you had something to say to me, something important.”

“Ah yeah that, sorry I got carried away” his dad puts down the steak knife
“Ok, so Sam you're not here for the grill your here for answers and I know exactly what will help you with your situation drumroll please” I dramatically bang the table with my hands
“a Witwicky special from your great great Grandfather.”

I try not to let the disappointment show on my face. “Actually dad, I think I'm gonna have to pass on that.”

“Oh you're going to love what I have to say. Arachnibald Witwicky created this book you see, and It describes that beauty you call a necklace in detail. Where he found the thing and more”
I cross my arms in annoyance. How was a book going to help my condition if it only talks about my necklace not exactly useful?

“Uhm, I’ll just stick with the sleeping pills. But thanks for still trying dad”

“Hold off a moment, Sam, wait before you blow me off, at least hear what I have to say. I'm not mocking you for your condition. I'm being genuine, that necklace of yours is the key but you need to understand its intentions.” his father says with the straightest face, like it was a fact, not at all a bizarre thing to say.

I look at my dad with a weird expression maybe uncle is right dad is being weirder than usual
Why didn't he just suggest therapy? “Are you ok dad? Were talking about a rock not a sentient being or AI” maybe i'm not the only one who needs sleeping pills.

“Enough about me Sam this is about you, once we finish eating we’re going to find the book you must head to the attic and your mom and I will search the Archive Closet.” His dad did not leave any room for argument or agreement with his statement.

“ okay.” Whatever, it's better to just agree then to get another headache over this.
Well isn't this year excited to show me where it’s headed.

Chapter Text

1/1/2030  4:30 AM

"Blah blah not important, Mr.Witwicky joins the USNO, Astronomer Archnibald Captures a 

Wondrous Sight” he couldn't help but drag a hand over his face “Metal giants? Seriously? Great great grandpa really did lose it. Seriously, what does dad expect me to find?” Sam sighs

 He throws the newspaper onto the growing pile of discarded articles, frustration seeping out. He gets up to start his pacing. There must be something that can help him, maybe 

this would help… oh who is he kidding insomnia can’t be solved by reading a book, this will 

be a waste of his time. But then again 3 hours earlier dad wasn’t really talking about sleep he was talking about his necklace. Sam makes a grab for his neck, oh yeah, he forgot that he left it at home. He continued his prayer not caring of the missing piece “May luck preside me,” he did this dozens times “ and aid thy healing to whatever ails thee.”

this will be no different.

 Sam's hand makes a mess of his hair in obvious stress. He shouldn't have made that pile this is going to take awhile. Regardless he hurries over to mess on the floor and begins to pick up his mess and stack it back onto the already paper filled desk.

He couldn't find a single thing.

At least nothing important that is.

*Creak*

“Sam, are you done giving yourself a headache? I mean look at your eyes, they look so dull these days, it's like someone stole the sun out of them.” Sam's mother calls from the attic stairs. Judy climbs up to the attic continuing her sentence “Jeez loweez it's dusty in here isn't it?”  A few coughs escaped her esophagus.

“Your father is still in the Archive and maybe I'll get Ron to help touch up this place, I can barely breathe.”

  Sam turns to his mother as “Mom this is really important to me. I've been having these strange dreams nonstop, I was really hoping to find some type of answer here but all dad gave me was a book!” He groaned out in frustration

“ And dads acting weird too. I can't tell if you're joking or if you're serious.

 A heavy sigh escapes Judy as she walks up to her anxious ridden son. Judy glances over the news articles then raises a hand to her chin

“Hmm with all that stress you'll go grey before me.”

“Mom..”he says, sounding defeated.</p>

He faces his mother, her eyes feel as though they can peer through his soul. “Well Sammy I think I've got a solution to your problem,stay right here.”

Sam watches as his Mother takes hurried steps towards the entrance of the attic. She raises her hand then shouts “RON! DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT ONE JOURNAL!

“OH FOR THE LOve of- Judy you don't have to yell, I'm right down the hall, for crying out loud!” Ron yells back.

"AND STOP CALLING IT A JOURNAL ITS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FIVE COPIES THAT HAS YET TO BE TOUCHED!! ” 

Judy rolls her eyes “I see no difference.” she muttered.

Sam barely manages to stifle his laugh, but seeing the look on

his mothers face lets him know he failed.

Finally his father head peaks into view at the attic’s entrance,

“Guess what I got,”  Sam pretends to think “hmm the journal you two keep bringing up?” 

He smiles as his dad lights up.

“Right on bud, I believe this is what you were looking for, one BOOK coming right up.”  He says with a smug look on his face.

“Oh for goodness- give me that!” Judy snatches the journal out of Ron's hand, then

 proceeds to make her way to Sam.“Here Sam this should help you out, it's a journal or in your fathers words; one of the original copies that has never been fiddled with.”

she says it with a mocking tone under her breath, knowing Ron's bad ears he wouldn't pick up the last few words.

“BOOK!” Ron corrected.

Unfortunately it seems like his hearing is selective.

Sam looks at the journ- book quizzically. It's definitely seen better days. It looks worn out and the material is well obviously leather.

Though the amount of dust might be enough to collapse someone's lung. He begins to swipe off the dust, coughing some,  the title reveals itself, Pulsating… something? The last word seems to be scratched only making out an S and K. What a weird name, though not surprising considering Archibald's state of mind.

“Now that is a Witwicky original, I'll tell yah, your great great grandfather was a great astronomer. Though it was quite  unfortunate what happened to his mind...” Ron looks as though he wanted to say something else but backtracks.

“But enough of that, you need to hurry on up, this should help you figure out what's been going on with…those dreams you’ve been having” Ron looks down at the necklace that adorns his neck.

“May luck be bestowed Onto you Sam, cause you're going to need it” Sam looked at him confused, ready to retort.

“Wai-”

“And also let it guide you back to home. Time stops for no one lets get a move on”

his mother interrupted then starts to push him out of the attic

“Mom the newspap-” but is abruptly cut off again.

“Don't worry yourself Sam, your father and I needed to clean

that dirty place anyway, this is just the perfect excuse to do so.”

They go down the stairs onto the first floor. Sam tries to find his voice but to no avail, with a begrudging acceptance he allows himself to be dragged around the house passing through the kitchen, then the dining room, all the way to the front door.

Finally he speaks up

“Mom what was that all about? Both you and dad are acting strange  ” Sam questions his mother, genuinely concerned at his mothers dismissal.

But instead of answering they make their way outside to his parked car.

“Ah, such a lovely car, don't you remember when you sent that picture? It was like someone put that poor thing through a grinder, take care of that car Samuel and it'll take care of you.”

He was stunned into silence, he takes it as his cue to unlock his car

with a click the beeps a tune of welcome to its owner.

he couldn't find the words he wanted to say as they all fell flat from his tongue.

his mother finally breaks the silence..

“Samuel, if anything happens, just call us.” Before he could say anything she already is heading back into the house.

Maybe he should read the book? he was thinking of storing it away and leaving it 

To collect dust as the suggesting of reading this book would help him but now 

Something in his gut is telling him to give it a shot.

He starts the car. Better head on out back to Nevada it is.