Chapter 4: Catching Up
"NO!"
"Jonathan-"
"No, El! No. You just got your powers back. No way. We aren't risking it," explained Jonathan.
"We need to know if Hopper's alive, Jonathan. For El. For Mom. For us. She knows her limits better than any of us," replied Will.
"Nope. No way," Jonathan said, shaking his head.
"I can do it," said El.
"El-"
"I need to do it. I already found Mom in the void. I can find Hopper. I need to find Hopper and then we need to tell Mom where he is. I need my dad, Jonathan. I miss him. Mom needs him. Mom misses him. If there is a chance he's alive, I need to find him," firmly replied El.
Will said, "I miss him too, Jon. He went to every doctor's appointment with me and Mom. He was always around when Mom needed him to fix something around the house. He has been the only father figure we have had in a long time. If there is a chance he's alive somewhere and El can find him, we need to take that chance. Please."
Jonathan paced El's room, running his fingers through his hair. "Why can't we let Mom look for Hopper first without using your powers? What if worst comes to worst and she'll need you to save her and you used up all your powers? I don't want to risk it."
"I won't stay in the void long. I promise. Just long enough to find where Hopper is and I'll get out."
Jonathan groaned. "If I say yes, what are the chances you won't lose your powers again? What if by going into the void twice, you exhausted all your powers again?"
"When I think of Hopper, I smile before I cry."
Will smiled knowingly.
Jonathan's eyebrows furrowed. "What the hell is she talking about?" he asked Will.
"When we first moved here, El and I talked. She wondered why she hadn't recharged. I told her it was her grief over Hopper. I said when she finds herself smiling before crying over Hopper, that's when she would recharge. I was right. Recently, she found herself smiling before crying. Her powers came back. And now, there's a good chance Hopper is alive. Let her go in the void, Jonathan. Or you know she'll do it behind your back. Wouldn't you rather us stick together during this? We work better as a team," said Will trying to convince his brother.
"Ugh! Alright! Only if you promise you get out of there the moment you locate Hopper. Understood?"
Will smiled and El nodded. "I promise," she said.
"Well, what are you waiting for. Will, fire up the radio. El, tie your bandanna. Let's find Hopper," Jonathan replied with a grin.
El sat in front of her bed and tied her bandanna and Will found the static station. Jonathan squeezed El's shoulder. "Good luck, El. Get out as soon as you find him. I don't want anything to happen to you. If you get scared, I'm right here. I got you," he whispered.
El grinned. "You are a good brother."
"You make it easy," Jonathan replied.
"Hey!" Will exclaimed.
"You go missing and get possessed, she just has super powers. She's easier, kid," Jonathan joked.
Will and El laughed.
"Ready?" Will asked El.
"Ready," she replied.
As El went silent trying to find Hopper, Will and Jonathan shared a worried look above El's head. "She can do it," mouthed Will.
Jonathan crossed his fingers and held them up.
A few minutes went by and El has said nothing. "El, are you okay?" asked Jonathan.
"It's hard to find him," she replied.
"Do you want to quit?" he asked.
"No."
Focus, El. Focus. Focus on Hopper. Focus on Hopper. Focus on finding your dad. The first person in a long time who loved you. He found you. Now, find him. El thought to herself.
"I found him!"
"Where is he?" asked Will.
"He looks tired. And sickly. His beard is past his shoulders. His hair is long. He lost weight."
"Where is he, El?" questioned Jonathan.
"His surroundings aren't showing up yet. All I see is him. He's lying down. He's humming."
"What's he wearing?" asked Will.
El replied, "A dirty uniform. A Russian uniform."
"He's in Russia. Get out, El," said Jonathan.
Will said, "He was wearing a Russian uniform when he disappeared. He could be anywhere in that uniform. It doesn't mean he's in Russian, Jonathan."
Jonathan groaned in frustration.
"His surroundings are showing up."
"Come on, El! You can do it!" encouraged Will.
"He's lying in a bed. He's lying in his bed from the cabin."
"He can't be back in Hawkins. There is no way he would disappear from all of us," Will said.
"Unless…" Jonathan muttered.
"Unless what?" Will replied.
"He's in the cabin! The cabin is covered in vines. He's.. He's.."
The siblings all exclaimed, "He's in the Upside Down!"
"El, get out!" Jonathan yelled.
El ripped off her bandanna and Will hugged her. "You did it, El! I'm so proud of you!"
El smiled. "He didn't die," she whispered.
"But…"
"But what, Jonathan?" Will asked.
"You were down there, what, a few days? Mom and Hopper said it's toxic down there. You were in the hospital for a week. You were coughing up slugs for months. You got possessed by the Mind Flayer. Hopper has been down there for seven months. He probably doesn't have much longer left down there," Jonathan said nervously.
"We need to tell Mom! We need her to find him before it's too late!" El yelled running out of her room towards the kitchen.
Jonathan and Will followed. "What are you doing?" asked Jonathan.
El picked up the paper with the phone number Joyce left them. "We need to call Mom. We need to tell her where Hopper is."
"But how is she going to get him? Mom and Hopper closed the gate in Hawkins. Where is there another gate?" Jonathan replied.
"I don't know! I don't care! I'll re-open the gate for Christ's sake! My dad is out there, Jonathan! He's not dead! If I can get him back, I will try everything!" El exclaimed as tears flooded her eyes.
Jonathan pulled El into his embrace and kissed the top of her head. "I know, alright. I know how you feel. I felt that way when Will was down there. I'll make you a deal, okay?"
El nodded against Jonthan's chest and Will looked on intriguingly. "We contact Mom, Murray, and Owens. We tell them what we know. Then, we drive to Hawkins. We team up with Nancy, Mike, and all them. Like Will said, we work better as a team. The last gate was in Hawkins. If Mom and them tell us to open the gate, then we won't waste any time. And I know closing and opening the gate takes a lot of energy, so, I want you to be with people that you need and not just me and Will. Mike and Max too. But, if Mom and
Owens say no to opening the gate, we don't do it. Understood?"
El replied, "Understood."
Jonathan gave her one final kiss on top of her head. "Alright. Go pack a bag. We leave for Hawkins tonight. I'll call Mom."
El and Will ran off to pack a bag and Jonathan dialed the number Joyce left for them.
"Philadelphia Public Library, how may I help you?" a monotone man answered.
"I need to get in contact with Doctor Sam Owens. It's urgent," Jonathan replied.
"Code name?"
Code name? Jonathan searched the note Joyce left. Under the number she gave, her scribble read, If asked, say you are Antique Chariot. I know it sounds weird, but trust me. It will work.
"Antique Chariot," Jonathan said somewhat convincingly.
"I'll let him know," the operator replied.
"NO!" Jonathan exclaimed. "I need to get in contact with him immediately! It is life or death here, buddy!
"Please hold."
"Thank you."
Will reappeared from his room with his book bag packed. "Did you reach Mom yet?"
"No. I'm on hold."
Will frowned. "You want me to pack you a bag while you wait?"
Jonathan nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, Buddy."
Jonathan nervously tapped his fingertips against the wall as he waited. "Sir."
"Yes. I'm here," Jonathan said.
"Dr. Owens is on a plane at the moment. But when he reaches his landing base, I will have him contact you. What number should he call you at?"
Jonathan rattled off the Wheeler's number and hung up.
"El! Will! Let's go!" he yelled.
"Did you reach Mom?" El asked.
"No. They are still on a plane. I gave them Nancy and Mike's number to call us at. The Wheeler's house will be our home base. Let's go!" Jonathan exclaimed as he grabbed his keys to the car and headed towards the front door with El and Will in tow.
"Shit!" Jonathan yelled as they were halfway to Hawkins.
"What?!" Will shouted from the back seat.
"It's Valentine's Day. I have nothing to give Nancy."
"Jesus, Jonathan! She won't care when you tell her we are trying to save Hopper. Jesus."
"But-"
"Shut up, Jonathan," El sassed.
"El, I-"
"We are trying to save Hopper. Nancy and Mike won't care that it's Valentine's Day once we tell them what's going on. Just chill," El replied.
Will laughed in the back.
"What are you laughing at?" Jonathan asked.
"It's Valentine's Day. Mom hates Valentine's Day. Yet, she might get reunited with Hopper on this exact day," Will said chuckling.
Jonathan and El shared a look before they began laughing too.
"Mom will probably start loving this day," El said.
"I think we all will, El. We all will," replied Jonathan with a hopeful grin.
"Oh My God! Jonathan! Will! El! What are you doing here? Come in!" welcomed Karen Wheeler.
The three stepped inside as Karen yelled, "Nancy! Mike! Get down here! I have a surprise for you!"
"Coming Mom!" the two oldest Wheeler siblings replied.
"Where's your mom? Is she in the car?" Karen asked as she took their coats.
El and Will looked at Jonathan to answer. "Uh. No. Since it's a friday, we decided to take a little weekend trip and surprise Nancy, Mike, and the other kids. Mom's busy at work."
"Aww. That's too bad. I would have loved to see her. It's not the same around the PTA meetings with your mom not around to joke with. She was always a hoot, even in high school," Karen replied.
"Yeah. She misses you too," said Jonathan.
"Oh My God! Jonathan!" "El! Will! Is it really you?" Nancy and Mike exclaimed as they approached the living room at the same time.
Nancy wrapped her arms around Jonathan's neck. "I missed you so much! What are you doing here? We weren't supposed to meet up until spring break."
"Surprise!" he exclaimed, but then whispered, "We need to talk. It's urgent."
"About us?" she mumbled.
Jonathan shook his head. "Hopper," he whispered.
Mike kissed El and then hugged Will. "Dustin, Max, and Lucas are going to shit when they hear you guys are back!" Mike said delightedly.
"Michael!" Karen scolded from the doorway observing the reunions.
"Sorry," Mike mumbled.
"We need to talk. You, me, Will, the Party. Everybody. It's important," El muttered into Mike's ear.
He nodded. "Let's go to the basement."
Mike grabbed El's hand and threaded their fingers as they walked down to the basement with Will, Jonathan, and Nancy close behind.
The younger teens sat on the couch and Jonathan and Nancy knelt on the floor. "What is going on?" Nancy questioned. "You said it's about Hopper."
"Mike, radio the rest of the Party. Tell Dustin to call Steve and bring him along," said Will.
Mike nodded. "Lucas. Do you copy? Over." Mike radioed.
"I copy. Over," Lucas replied.
"Call Dustin and Max. Meet at my house ASAP. It's urgent. And tell Dustin to bring Steve along. Over."
"Alright. Max is with me. So, let me call Dustin and I'll be at your house in ten. Over."
Lucas, Max, Dustin, and Steve arrived at the Wheelers' and joined the gang in the basement.
"Alright! What is going on? The Byers are back in town. Oh shit. Is that Mind Flayer thing back?" Steve questioned as he took a seat on the floor.
"Hopper is alive," El announced.
"What?" Max replied. "I thought Mrs. Byers said there was no way he could have survived the explosion."
Will responded, "We don't know the facts. All we know is our Mom went off suddenly and El tracked her in the void. She's with Murray Bauman and Dr. Owens. They are on their way to find Hopper in Russia."
Max looked at El wide eyed. "El! Your powers are back?"
El smiled a toothy grin and nodded.
"Okay. Okay. Okay. That's great, but why are you guys here? Not that I'm complaining one bit," Dustin said.
"El then tracked Hopper in the void. He's not in Russia. He's in the Upside Down," Jonathan replied.
The group all nervously looked at one another.
The group all nervously looked at one another.
"Well, Hopper and Mrs. Byers closed the gate. How are we going to reopen it?" Nancy questioned.
"Well-" Jonathan began but was interrupted by the phone ringing.
Mike went over to answer. "Hello. Yes. He's here," Mike replied. "Jonathan, it's for you."
Jonathan jumped up and took the phone from Mike. "Hello. Dr. Owens! Is my Mom there?"
In the airport in Russia, Owens gave the phone to Joyce. "It's your eldest," he said.
"Jonathan!" Joyce said into the phone panicking.
"Mom! I've got news."
"What? Are you okay? El and Will? Are they okay too?"
Jonathan said, "Mom! We know you are in Russia looking for Hopper. But he's not there."
"What? How did you know I was...El? She has her powers back, doesn't she?"
"Yeah. She went in the void to find you. She heard you say Hopper's alive. Then, she went into the void to find Hopper. He's not in Russia, Mom. He's trapped in the Upside Down."
Joyce cussed into the phone, "Oh shit!"