CHAPTER SIX: SOMETHING FAMILIAR

The drive had been a long one, and Caroline had found the motion of the car journey to be a comforting one. With the presence of her friend close to her, at long last, she found her mind and body relaxing. It seemed as though it had been a long time since she was able to truly fall into a peaceful sleep. Though her dreams and sleep were short, she was still aware of the dreams that welcomed her. She dreamed about a place far away from Hawkins, and the Lab she had been confined in, kept against her will. She dreamt of home, a place which she had always wanted to run to but could never get to.

She was aware of Hopper's watchful gaze upon her; his eyes skimming across her face, the burn of a trail left behind as he tore his gaze away from her and focused on the road ahead. Her skin tingled at the knowledge and realisation that, though she was still far from home, she had the one person who had been at the forefront of her mind for so long right beside her. She knew from the intensity of the burn to her scarred hand that it was real, a sign that she was, at that moment, away from imminent danger.

As the vehicle came to a gentle stop, she woke slowly though her consciousness was lost on Hopper. She turned her attention to Hopper who stared ahead at the trailer in front of him. She noticed his attention was elsewhere, and as she moved her gaze onto the trailer, she tried to read his mind. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath in, she worked her energy around him.

After a moment, Hopper gasped in pain. He clutched at his own scarred hand in discomfort. "Gah…" he released, his eyes narrowed at his jagged scar.

Caroline snapped her eyes open and as she did, the pain to his hand disappeared. He moved his gaze accusingly towards her, and she glanced at him guiltily.

"You?" Hopper asked. "What the hell was that?!"

"You're sad," Caroline explained. "I wanted to know why."

"There's something called 'asking'," Hopper seethed. "How… what is that?"

Caroline swallowed the lump in her throat. "I didn't know it was going to hurt you," she whispered apologetically. She glanced down at her own hand. "I don't know why it did."

"You have some explaining to do, girl," he replied, and after a moment, he softened his voice. "I'm sorry. I'm tired. I'm confused as hell. I shouldn't take it on you."

Caroline shrugged. "It's fine. It's understandable."

"Is this a safe place?" he asked intrigued.

Caroline watched the house for a moment, closing her eyes and tilting her head slightly to the side. She moved her gaze back to Hopper before she nodded. "It's safe."

"Come on then," Hopper said, opening his door. Caroline slipped out of the vehicle, and waited for Hopper to take the lead before she followed him. He pulled out a key and with a gentle click, he pushed open the door. It was quiet except for the ticking of a clock somewhere in the trailer. Hopper switched on the light and the entire room was engulfed in an orangey glow of light; the open living, kitchen and dining room becoming visible to Caroline as Hopper motioned for her to enter.

Though it was small, furniture was scarce from the open plan room. A kitchen was made up of a microwave and a fridge, and the lack of a cooker was something she raised her eyebrows at. The dining table was covered in paperwork and boxes of unread information. Caroline observed a two-seater couch with one armchair and a coffee table making up the living area. What was startling to her though was the amount of empty beer bottles scattered across the surface of the coffee table as well as the surrounding area of the wooden table.

Hopper took his hat off, and moved quickly around the living area where he picked the bottles up. The sound of the glass bottles clinking into each other caused her to close her eyes in pain, the sound reverberating throughout her mind. Hopper ushered an apology, noticing her move closer to the wall almost in fright.

Once he was done, he offered her a seat on the couch. She took it quietly and sat with her hands upon her lap. Hopper took the single armchair.

"I need to ask this…" Hopper began, after a moment of searching his mind for the right question. "Why… why do you look like how you did the last time I saw you?"

Caroline softly smirked. She observed his body language; the way he wrung his hands with anxiety spoke volumes. "There's a place where time doesn't change. I've spent a long time down there."

Confusion caused Hopper's brow to furrow. "I don't get it."

"It's a place that looks just like this," Caroline explained further. "They run tests on you before you go down there. They inject you with this thing… that, was so painful… your whole body is on fire, and you feel like you're dying. And part of you… wishes you did."

Anger flashed across his face and he moved his gaze away from her, but just for a moment.

Caroline cleared her throat. "I've spent so long down there that to be here, above ground, seems surreal."

"Down there? Where's down there?"

Caroline felt panic course through her veins, and she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "It's called the Upside Down. It's just like this but it's not. No souls are down there. Just monsters," she fell silent. "They inject you with this thing that keeps you young so that you can fight them. Because time doesn't mean a thing down there, age doesn't either."

"Will you ever age?" Hopper found himself mentally cursing himself at a question he never believed her would ever ask.

"Yes," Caroline whispered. "Though it might be delayed. I have monthly injections solely for that, to 'keep me fit and healthy enough to defeat them'. It must wear off but I'm guessing once it's out of my system that everything will go back to normal. Or at least I hope it will."

"I'm sorry," Hopper's voice was low.

"Sorry for what?"

"Not looking for you harder," Hopper replied. "You were right there, and I didn't know."

"It's not your fault, Hop," Caroline whispered. "You weren't to know. No one did."

"But still," Hopper responded quietly.

"I always wondered if I would ever see you again," Caroline said, her voice soft and sad. "And after a while, hope fades."

"Did you ever give up hope?" Hopper asked.

Caroline remained silent but shook her head. It wasn't entirely true, and Hopper knew that she was avoiding the truth within her heart. She had, and he understood that.

"Did you?" Caroline asked.

"I started to, yeah," Hopper replied honestly. Caroline nodded softly. "I wondered where you were. I thought that maybe you'd gone to New York to start your new life, and I hoped that if you did, that you were safe."

Caroline moved her gaze to the floor. She picked at the skin around her thumb anxiously. "I wouldn't have left so soon after… what happened."

Hopper nodded. "I know. That's why I never left this place."

They both allowed the silence of the room to speak for them. Hopper wanted to ask her questions, but he could tell that she was exhausted. It was getting late into the night, and even though the moment of her being just there in front of him, he didn't want to leave this moment. He had dreamed about her many times before, and he was scared that as soon as he would open his eyes just a few short hours away that she would be gone again.

"I want to ask another question," Hopper began, his voice filling the silence. "This 'Upside Down'… why don't we know about it? What goes on down there?"

"It was a mistake," Caroline replied. "It's always been there, I guess. It's another dimension, which saying that out loud now, seems weird and crazy, and as if I'm making it up. But underneath us right now would be this exact trailer. The world is darker down there, and unspeakable things roam that world."

Hopper noticed the fear in Caroline's eyes. "What things?"

She scoffed and shook her head, wiping a tear that had fallen. "It roams this world. It takes people with it to feed on," she said before continuing. "And I was there to stop it from taking another daughter or son from a family."

Hopper stared at her for a moment, sadness clutching at his heart. He allowed her to have a moment where emotion and tiredness overwhelmed her in that moment. Caroline wiped the silent tears from her face, before looking up at him.

"My parents…" she began, her voice full of sadness and uncertainty. "Are they…?"

Hopper took a deep breath before he shook his head slowly. His eyes filled with tears as he saw her battle with her emotions, her lip quivering as she tried to process the information he gave her. He moved next to her and pulled her into his chest. She sobbed into his chest sorrowfully, her hands clutching at his uniform. He held her tightly, feeling the warmth of her tears upon his skin, and he rocked her gently into the night. Her howls of grief unheard of from the rest of Hawkins.

Once her cries fell silent and her body was heavier than what it had been, he slowly and carefully lifted her up into his arms. He carried her down the small corridor and kicked open the door to the bedroom where he gently laid her down upon his bed.

He glanced at her for one last time before he placed a blanket over her still, sleeping form before he left the room, closing the door behind him. As he settled down on the couch, his bed for the last few nights, he thought about the years without her. And he believed her; everything she had told him was taken in as the truth and nothing but the truth. After finding out the information he did about MKULTRA, it seemed that everything she told him was regarding them. The tests, the drugs, the secrecy… it all made sense, strangely.

It felt surreal having her in front of him, to know that his eyes weren't deceiving him anymore, and that she truly was just a few inches away. As he allowed sleep to welcome him like an old friend, this time without the aid of alcohol, he understood that she needed him now more than ever.


As she allowed sleep to slip out of her fingertips, the last remnants of unconsciousness falling through the gaps and plunging her back onto a conscious earth, she took a moment to appreciate the sounds of a new day surround her in those quiet moments. Caroline kept her eyes closed, fearful that if she opened them, she would be back in the Lab once more. She had always wondered what it would be like to no longer have the four white walls surround her at every twist and turn.

Birds tweeted just off to her right, the true volume of their songs dulled by the thickness of the window. She listened to them, her closed eyes becoming wet with tears as she tried to remember the last time she had heard birds around her. It had been a long time, too long in fact. She heard the distinct sound of a woodpecker, and as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, she allowed her mind to guide her to the exact location the sound was coming from. Just as she had reached it, a clatter of sound drew her back to the trailer she was in.

Caroline opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She looked around the room finding nothing but a bed, a bedside table and a wardrobe filling the room. She furrowed her brow at the sight. As the clattering continued, she pulled the blanket from her body and stood from the bed. She carefully traipsed towards the door, where she pulled it ajar enough for her to see him in the kitchen. The distant sound of the radio filled her senses.

She moved out of the bedroom and stepped into the main area. The darkness of the corridor allowed her to watch him for a moment; and with the music filling the room around them, she observed him. She couldn't quite believe just how different he looked; he looked the same but there was the change that came with age. He was broader than he had been the last time she remembered, his hair was darker and messier, his facial hair had been all but missing, and his voice was deeper than she could remember it to be.

The creak of the floorboard gave her location away, and he met her gaze.

A smile etched across his face, almost beckoning her towards him. "I was just about to wake you," he began. "I made you breakfast. Waffles still your favourite?"

"No…" she said. "I hate them now."

"You're lying," he smirked at her. "After all this time, your nostrils still flare when you lie."

Caroline let out a small breathless laugh.

"They should be done soon," Hopper replied. "Took me ages to find the waffle iron so they better come out good."

"I'm sure they will," Caroline replied. "You always did make excellent waffles."

"Good," Hopper sighed. "Took me long enough to perfect them the way you liked them."

"See, you were always a good friend to me," Caroline responded warmly. "Does it feel strange that I'm back? It must've been weird."

"It doesn't feel strange," Hopper replied honestly. "I don't know. I guess I've always wondered about this day, and whether it would ever happen. And the fact it is makes me happy."

They smiled at each other for a moment. Caroline's smile faltered after a moment, and Hopper watched as she moved her gaze from him.

"I want to visit them…" Caroline whispered, her voice sad. "I want to say goodbye properly."

Hopper nodded, sadly. "Of course, I'll take you."

"Thank you," whispered Caroline, gratefully.

As he continued to cook her breakfast, she took a moment to look around at the trailer and the little knick-knacks he had around the place. There weren't many, and she could only guess the ones he did have on show meant the world to him. He watched her from where he was, his eyes narrowing as she hesitated over one memento of his.

A photograph of him, Sara and Diane.

He felt sadness pierce his heart as he remembered that day. They had been on vacation and had spent all day on the beach making sandcastles and running in and out of the sea. Sara's giggles had filled the entire beach. He remembered she hadn't wanted to go home, wanting nothing more than to stay on the beach until morning. He treasured it after she died, knowing that in that moment, they were all at their happiest.

He watched as Caroline's brows furrowed as she gently ran her thumb against the screen. A soft smile formed on her face, tears filling her eyes.

"That was my daughter, Sara," Hopper said, his croaky voice filling the trailer. "She… she died…"

Caroline glanced at him sadly. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You know, it doesn't get easier," Hopper replied. "They say time is a great healer, and it isn't. You just become numb and you don't feel anything else."

"It was her favourite memory of you all," Caroline said, her voice trailing off. "She doesn't want you to be sad anymore."

Hopper dropped the spatula onto the floor in shock. He found himself move closer towards her. "What?"

Caroline closed her eyes and moved her hand away from photograph, her hand in a loose fist. She breathed in deeply then exhaled slowly, allowing her hand to unravel with her breathing.

Hopper stumbled backwards as he saw the memory hazy in her palm. Sara and him running towards the sea; Sara erupting in squeals as the cold water licked at her ankles; Hopper holding his daughter protectively over the waves; Diane watching on with love and adoration evident on her face.

The memory flickered slightly. Caroline squeezed her eyes tighter and the images of his family becoming clearer and more vivid.

Sara chasing Hopper along the beach; Hopper holding his wife and daughter tight as they watched the sunset; Sara begging for them to stay a little longer; Hopper wrapping his sleeping daughter up in a blanket and kissing her on the forehead

The memory dissolved right before his eyes, and he watched as Caroline faltered afterwards. Her hand remained outstretched, but the memory having faded. Her face paled, and she moved towards the couch where she took a seat clumsily.

"How… What was that?" Hopper asked, his voice more abrupt than he had wanted it to be. "How can you do that?"

It took Caroline a moment to answer, gathering enough strength to speak. "She wanted me to show you that memory. To show you that though you can't see her, she's still here," Caroline said, her voice weak and with tears filling her eyes. "You just have look deep inside of your heart to remember the love you have for her, and replace the pain and anger you feel with that love."

When words all but failed him, Caroline continued. "You don't have to be angry with the world anymore. And you shouldn't be angry with yourself. She never wanted you to feel like that once she'd gone."

"Wait…" Hopper said, in disbelief. "How… is that possible? What… are you?"

Before Caroline could answer him with the darkest secrets of all, she moved her attention onto something else. She felt her energy be pulled elsewhere, and she stood, looking out of the window at something unknown. The sensation was overwhelming, and she closed her eyes to narrow it down. After a small moment, she breathed out.

"I have to go," she said lowly. " I have to be somewhere."

Hopper furrowed his brow at her. The confusion dissipated, and he found himself nodding. "Is everything okay? Do you need a lift?"

"Uh… no, I'll be fine," Caroline said, her mind elsewhere. Hopper watched as she became distant, her entire demeanour changing in an instant. It was only after a short moment that she turned to him with worry etched across her face, and her eyes almost pleading with his. "I need you to stay safe, okay? Promise me, you'll stay safe."

"Caro… what is going on?"

"All the questions you have, I'll answer them honestly," Caroline responded. "I'll come find you afterwards, okay?"

With a short nod from Hopper, Caroline stepped out of the trailer. Hopper followed behind her, feeling the coolness of the wind wrap around him.

"Wait," Hopper said, disappearing back into the trailer. He came back out carrying a jacket and passed it to her. "Here, take this."

Caroline thanked him and pulled it on. As Caroline walked away from Hopper and the trailer, Hopper watched as she disappeared into the distance. He entered his trailer again and closed the door.

He picked up the photo frame that contained the photograph of his daughter. He stared at the face of his young daughter, the still smile beaming at him. And for a long time, he didn't feel numb. He felt happiness, love and pride seep back into his heart.


Caroline found her at the back of Benny's diner, huddled between the bins outside, knees pulled up to her chest.

Caroline had allowed her senses to guide her, slipping unnoticed from the sidewalk, as they became too overwhelming. As soon as she saw Eleven, she dropped to her knees and pulled her into a hug. Eleven tearfully wrapped her arms around her, holding onto her for dear life. Caroline whispered. "You're safe now, El. What happened?"

"Bad people," Eleven said after a moment. "Killed Benny. They knew. They found me."

"Who?"

After a moment, Eleven spoke, her voice child-like. "Papa."

Panic washed over Caroline. "Where are they now?" she asked.

"Gone," Eleven whispered, to which Caroline nodded. "Had to."

Caroline furrowed her brow in confusion. "Had to what?"

"They killed Benny," Eleven said, her voice low. "So, I killed them."