Shoving the Lab
Mike and El had planned it out. Before their initial trip, the one without the Chief. Mike would use multiple, different Nudges.
Some he would Nudge to call in sick the next day. Some he would Nudge to take a few days vacation. Some would have non-existent family emergencies. Some would drive to work, but remember they'd forgotten something and have a hard time finding it at home. Some would lose their car keys for a day, others, like security guards he would lose their guns for a week.
Mike was careful to only Nudge simple things. He didn't want to over complicate it. It was important that the Nudges worked.
They worked for hours. Any locked doors, El would open, Mike would Nudge or Shove depending on how many people were in the room.
"I think we got everybody," Mike said.
"I think so, even the off limit areas. I almost forgot about those. I didn't see...P-Dr. Brenner, " Her face darkened.
"Let your dad handle that, it's probably a good thing you didn't see him...you would have been tempted." Mike said.
El nodded, "let's go before I change my mind and try to find him myself."
Mike had stayed at the cabin on the sofa. El was told to stay in her room, but ended up on the sofa with Mike, curled up against him, arms around his waist and head on his shoulder.
Hopper hadn't bothered to wake them when he'd gotten up, he left with a smile. He was back a few hours later and Mike was making some Eggos for the both of them.
He put a folder on the table.
"Any guess on what's in the folder?" Hopper raised his eyebrows.
"Search warrant for the lab?" Mike said.
"And a cease and desist, for activities in certain parts of the lab." Hopper gave El a quick glance.
"What my favourite part of the day is going to be though, is executing the arrest warrant on Brenner. That where you guys come in. I need you to get me to his lab."
El and Mike smiled at each other. "Shouldn't be that hard to do Chief."
"We're going to be met there by a couple of state troopers. Let's go."
"You two in the back seat."
"Can I see some identification, sir?"
Hopper handed over his Sheriff's ID to the man at the gate. "Thank, you, right away Sheriff."
El and Mike looked at each other, hiding their smiles.
Hopper parked closer to the gate. There were plenty of parking spaces. "Seems awful quiet for a Monday. Ok let's go, if Brenner isn't here we can find out where he is."
They walked through the front doors. There was nobody at reception, except two state troopers.
"You Chief Hopper?"
"That's me."
"This Brenner guy going to be a problem?"
"Probably, he's a psychotic son of a bitch. I don't think he's going to cooperate."
"I'm not waiting around for anybody, to tip him off. You know where his lab is El?"
El's eyes were dark, she nodded and led the way, MIke close behind her. Hopper and the state troopers followed.
"We have to take this elevator," El said,
When they were inside Hopper said, "this is too easy. You guys have something to do with this?"
"Yes," Mike and El said at the same time. The state troopers looked at each other and shrugged, they were only really there to assist if there was resistance.
The elevator opened to a long hallway. They hadn't run into any security at any time while making their way to Brenner's lab.
They were about halfway down hallway when doors opened at the end, Brenner, and several security guards stood at the end and waited for them.
"Chief Hopper. I see you've brought my property back to me. I should thank you. You've saved me a great deal of trouble. Come on Eleven, we have more work to do."
Hopper almost shot him on the spot. Too easy, he thought.
"Shoot all of them except the girl." Brenner said in his raspy voice.
The security guards raised their weapons.
"Put down your guns," Mike Shoved.
They immediately placed their guns at their feet. El crimped the barrels once they were on the floor, then slid all the guns to the far end of the hallway.
"Turn around and put your hands behind your back." Mike Shoved again.
Hopper read Brenner his rights, put handcuffs on him extra tight, nodded towards the troopers to deal with the guards.
"What did you two do to make that go so easy?" Hopper wasn't mad, he was relieved and more than a little curious.
"We went there yesterday, spent a few hours there, talked to some people, Nudged some, Shoved others."
"I'm sure there are going to be some people there a little interested in the two kids who walked around the building."
Mike shook his head. "Today was an ordinary day for all of them. I was very specific about the Nudging I did."
"You need to be careful from now on when you use that…ability. Do me a favour and only for good ok?" Hopper gave him a look. "I don't want to be slapping handcuffs on you years from now…" He looked at El, "I'd never hear the end of it from this one."
El gave her dad a large happy smile. "Mike doesn't have a mean bone in his body."
"Call me paranoid, but I've arranged for you to stay here for a week or so Wheeler, in case there is anybody too interested. I'll drive you two to school, and pick you up…." El and Mike's eyes got very wide.
"El sleeps in her room, and you on the sofa, just like last night...right?"
"Just like last night," El said nodding her head but her smile got wider.
"I'm glad we have an understanding." Hopper couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes.
Mike was trying run a comb through his hair after his shower. El snuck behind him with every intention of nuzzling his neck and kissing him behind the ear.
She had managed to do that, then pulled away quickly.
"What's wrong El?"
"Mike," she said in a quiet voice, I think I just found your tattoo."
"What?! I don't remember any time at the lab, I can remember almost to the time I was four years old. Um, what number is it? Where is it?"
"It's on your ear, very close to your head. The numbers are small and anybody could miss it, especially with your hair, but they are pretty clear. SP-011." El said sounding a little angry.
"011, that's a little bit of a coincidence. Ok, I guess we have more work to do at the lab."
"We do Mike, can it wait till Dr. Brenner is put away? Maybe longer? I want us to have some kind of normal life for awhile."
"I want to find out for sure, but it can wait El. I want a normal life with you too. No more training, trips to the mall should be fun for us not work. If I don't eat another banana for a few years it'll be too soon." Mike turned around to look into her eyes.
"So, uh, will you be sneaking out to the sofa tonight? There um, could be kissing involved."
"Every night this week," she smiled up at him.
A/N: Sequel to come later. I have other AU's I want to write first.