Notes:
Hi there!
The character of 'Auntie'/'Tina' is based upon the woman I think was called Connie (who was Brenner's second-in-command), so I'll say that she, along with the other characters, don't belong to me. (Phew, that's the disclaimer out of the way.)
Secondly, I've rated this 'teen and upwards' purely for the references to the cold war, which, without a basic knowledge of, the story may not make as much sense. Leading on from that, I'm not trying to be politically offensive, just historically accurate and true to the series. And no, the Russians are NOT meant to be the baddies. (Hi to anyone from Russia, by the way.)
O...kay then. I think that's everything. So, without further ado...
...
Chapter 1
Hopper turned fitfully.
He was in the middle school. He was running, gun in hand, desperate to protect Eleven, Joyce and the kids.
Then all was chaos.
He saw the Demogorgon advance on El's Papa, then the scene shifted and he watched El's 'Auntie' point a gun at the kids. She's going to shoot them…
…But then the Demogorgon rushes for her and the blonde woman is carried, screaming, through the wall to die in the upside-down.
But then El…
El was advancing on the monster, giving all the power she could.
It disintegrated… but took El with it-
Hopper woke with a start, the phone was ringing. Who the hell called at eleven at night on a Friday? He wondered whether there had been a car accident, he assumed it was a police call. That's why he was surprised when he heard Joyce's voice on the phone.
"Er…Hopper," she said, with a note of hysterics. "I know it's late and I'm sorry, but…you…please could you get down here…we…we're having a bit of an emergency."
"Hang tight Joyce," he replied calmly, guessing that this was a Will emergency and so she couldn't speak openly on the phone line. "I'll be right with you."
He walked to where Eleven was sleeping, still in front of the TV. He felt a twinge of guilt and carried her to her bed instead.
"Hey, El?" he said softly, shaking her a little.
She grunted sleepily.
"I just have to go and help Will," he continued. "You stay here and I'll be back soon."
"When?" asked El.
This was always important.
"At the latest, when the big hand points to the twelve and the small hand points to the one, okay, so that's two hours."
"One o'clock?" she asked sleepily and Hopper nodded, proud.
She was learning.
She nodded her agreement to this time and Hopper rushed out of the door.
Joyce practically pounced upon Hopper as he entered the Byers' house. He saw Jonathan, Will's older brother, standing anxiously in the corner of the room next to Will.
"Joyce," Hopper said in his clam baritone. "What happened?"
"It's Will!" she gasped. "He's…he's having some sort of nightmare and we can't wake him up."
As if to demonstrate her point, the boy started whimpering.
Hopper strode over to him.
"Will!" he said loudly, shaking the boy.
"Hopper!" shouted Will.
"Will, yes! It's me! Talk to me buddy what's going on?"
Seemingly in response, Will's eyes snapped open.
"Have to find Hopper!" he panted desperately.
"Will I am right here," said Hopper urgently. "Look at me!"
Joyce was weeping.
"Hopper help me!" shouted Will, writhing. "I'm trapped! I'm trapped!"
Hopper could see how much anguish was in Will's un-seeing eyes. Anguish that shouldn't have been there.
And then as soon as the thrashing started, it stopped again and Will went limp in his mother's arms and started snoring softly in time to his mother's terrified sobs.
Hopper shook him awake.
"Hey bud, it's Hopper. You okay? You were having a bot of a moment there."
Will looked around with alarm.
"M..mom?" he said softly.
"Yes," sobbed Joyce, leaping upon her child. "Yes, I'm here for you honey!"
Hopper got up and turned to Jonathan.
"Hey, c'mere", he said, leading the teen out of the room. "So Jonathan, how long's this been going on for tonight?"
"Er…it started…" began Jonathan shakily. "…Must have been about three minutes before mom called you. He was fine before bed then we…we heard all this shouting. At…at first it wasn't distinct but after about fifteen minutes he suddenly shouted "Hopper's car" and … "He knows," and stuff like that. It…it hasn't happened before, not like that I mean."
Hopper put his hand to his forehead to think.
"It could have been a flashback," he reasoned. "I'm sure something in the autumn would have matched up to that."
Jonathan shook his head.
"No!" he said earnestly. "He knew where you were, he shouted out when you turned not the driveway, before any of us heard the car. He was…he was somewhere else."
Hopper considered this. Gah…Goddamn it!
"Kay," sighed the Chief. "It seems to have stopped now but keep an eye on him. Maybe he could sleep in your room tonight or something."
Jonathan nodded, still spooked.
"Just watch that kid," said Hopper gravely, jabbing his finger in Will's direction. "I'm serious. I don't think his diagnosis is completely accurate."