Happier With You
AN: Hi everyone :-) I just wanted to say thank you for sticking with chapter 10. I know it was a difficult one to write, so it was probably a difficult one to read! I hope you all enjoyed chapter 11 and will enjoy chapter 12.
Please let me know by review or private message if you enjoy the story or like what you read. Your feedback is amazing and keeps me going. Thank you! :-)
Chapter 12 – Putting Things Right
The news that Mike was in the hospital didn't stay quiet for very long. Before he knew it, he was being bombarded on by his mom, dad, Holly and the party.
The nurse had insisted on only family and so the party had mumbled that they'd go get a coffee and come back whilst Mike dealt with his very stressed mother.
El had left an hour earlier to go and tell her dad what had happened and make sure Hunter and Emma were okay. Mike immediately missed her but knew she needed to get everything sorted and tie up loose ends.
"And do they know the reason for this unexplained anaemia?" Karen asked with deep concern whilst she brushed the hair out of his face and did all of those mom things that made Mike roll his eyes.
"No mom. That's why it's called unexplained anaemia…" Of course he knew the reason but he couldn't really tell his mom he had got shot, almost died, been healed and lost a lot of blood in the process.
"And who got you to the hospital son?" his father asked, sat in a seat and watching his son curiously.
Mike felt a little blush come up his face as he tried to remember his cover story. "Er…me and El were on a walk and I just felt really faint all of a sudden and collapsed. So she helped to get me here."
"Is El your girlfriend again?" Holly asked with excitement from where she was sat at the end of Mike's hospital bed.
He smirked at her, knowing she was going to be thrilled. "Yeah, she is." he said happily, feeling his heart sing.
As expected Holly squealed with delight causing their mom and dad to both shush her and remind her they were in a hospital.
His mom stopped stroking his hair and instead started to fluff his pillows. There was a warm smile on her face as she spoke. "That's wonderful news sweetie. Will we see her before we leave? I want to invite her for dinner."
Mike rolled his eyes at his mom's eagerness but he had to admire her warmth. She didn't know exactly what had happened between him and El but she had seen him broken. She had heard him crying, refusing to come out of his room, refusing to eat. Mike knew that his mom had always known how happy El made him.
He looked over at the clock and remembered El said she'd try and be no more than 2 hours, which it was now coming close to. "You might do. She should be back in a bit. She er…had to go see her dad." Mike said calmly.
Just then the doctor came in and introduced himself to Mike's parents. He looked down at his notes and gave Mike a polite smile. "Well from your last blood test it looks like your blood groups are looking much better. But we'd still like to keep you over night and give you another blood transfusion."
Mike nodded solemnly, annoyed that he wouldn't be out the hospital. Now he had El back he just wanted to spend every minute with her.
"Do we have any ideas about what has caused all of this doctor?" Karen asked with worry.
"Nothing as of yet. But we'll do a CT scan in the morning to make sure we aren't missing anything." The doctor said looking between Karen and Ted.
Mike noticed his mom's eyes widen with panic. "CT scan?" she said confused whilst the doctor explained they just wanted to cover all bases.
Mike felt immediately guilty knowing that his mom and even the doctors worried it might be something serious that had caused such low levels of blood, but he knew better. He knew Hunter had healed him but couldn't replace the blood he had lost. This wasn't something he could admit to the doctors or his parents though.
"Mom it's going to be fine. I feel much better after that first blood transfusion." He told her seriously, hoping to at least calm her down. She gave him a fleeting smile and squeezed his hand.
The doctor did his usual 4 hourly checks on Mike and then left the room. Mike sighed getting a bit more comfortable on the bed and looking at his mom who was taking a steady breath and planting a smile on her face.
"Well I hope you're out by tomorrow evening because Nancy is coming from New York with Jonathan to visit and see how you are."
Mike rolled his eyes, "please don't tell me they're coming just because I ended up in the hospital."
"Well they weren't going to come for a few weeks but when I told them they wanted to come. She's your sister Michael." His mom said sternly to him and he nodded slightly, knowing he'd do the same for Nancy or Holly.
Mike lay back on the pillows and listened with a smile whilst Holly talked avidly about the things she'd do with Nancy when she was back and her plans of going to the cinema with Ben.
"Ben? Whose Ben?" his father suddenly blurted out from his chair.
Before anyone could respond there was a gentle knock at the semi closed door and Mike felt the biggest grin appear on his face as he saw El standing there. She had changed her clothes to a pair of jeans and a pink tank top and looked incredibly beautiful.
She gave him a shy grin but before Mike could even say come in, Holly had jumped off the bed, "El!" she had shouted before rushing over to her and giving her a hug.
"Hi Holly," El said giving her a squeeze. She closed her eyes when hugging his little sister and Mike couldn't help but get the impression that El look incredibly relieved, like she was with her family again. It melted his heart.
After Holly moved away his mom replaced her, bringing El in for a warm embrace. "Oh El sweetie it's so good to see you." She pulled away just enough to look at his girlfriend and she gasped, "you're even more beautiful!"
Mike watched the blush on El's cheeks with love, knowing he must have heart eyes going on right about now. He knew she still got embarrassed and awkward about people complimenting her and her shyness was so cute.
"Thank you. You look beautiful too." El said grinning at Karen who waved her hand in a "oh stop it" gesture. "El do you want to come over for dinner tomorrow night? Nancy and Jonathan will be there too." His mom asked eagerly.
Mike wanted to tell her to stop, he hated El being put on the spot. Thankfully his girlfriend had a genuine smile of interest that matched the expression on her eyes and she nodded. "Yes, I would love that."
"Oh wonderful!" His mom said happily before turning back to Mike. "I think we best get going now sweetie, I need to get Holly's dinner. Will you be okay?" she asked him with concern.
Mike turned to El, not taking his eyes off her as he answered. "I will be now…"
Karen knew where his gaze had fallen and she grinned. "Yes I can see you're in very capable hands."
His mom and Holly gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, his dad patted him on the shoulder and then walked awkwardly to El and also patted her shoulder. "Nice to see you again Eleanor…" he said nodding his head is acknowledgement making Mike roll his eyes.
Once his family had left, Mike let out a sigh of relief and reached his hand out for El's. "I missed you…" he said in a needy voice.
El bit her lip, her eyes bright and sincere. "I missed you." She breathed out whilst Mike tugged on her hand and brought her over to him, so that she sat on the bed beside him.
He put his arm around her and felt immediately whole with her pressed up to his side. His heart started hammering in his chest and his skin felt super sensitive knowing she was so close.
El sighed and laid her head on his chest, keeping her fingers entwined with his hand that held the cannula in his arm.
They stayed in silence for a moment and Mike lazily stroked her curly locks with the hand around her shoulder as he shut his eyes and exhaled in contentment. "I could happily fall asleep like this." He admitted.
Mike could practically feel El's grin. "Well don't…" she warned him. "I've got to fill you in on what I've been doing the last two hours."
He opened his eyes with interest and looked down at her form tucked up to his body. "So what have you been doing?"
El sighed, "well to start with I went to the station and told dad. He was mad. He said we should have taken him with us…"
Mike shrugged slightly, "I mean, I guess…but we were just in the moment. We didn't think about it."
"So he rang Doctor Owens and they are heading to Indianapolis to clean up…" El said her voice tinged with guilt which confused Mike.
"Clean up?"
"Well yeah…we left ash and a lot of blood behind." El said like it was obvious and Mike immediately felt embarrassed. How could he have even forgot about all of that?! He guessed being shot and then brought back from near death had kind of distracted him.
"Oh…shit."
"Exactly. So dad was really mad but he's already left for Indianapolis and said we'd talk later." El said regretfully.
Mike squeezed her shoulder gently, "El don't worry. He won't be that mad at you. Once he's seen what we left behind, he'll see that we didn't have a choice but to go and help Emma."
"I guess…" El mumbled.
He reached over and placed a kiss on her forehead, he saw with a smile that it brought a little grin to her face.
"So how is Emma?"
"She's doing okay, still a bit shaken though. I said to Hunter it might be best for them to stay at the cabin tonight, I just think she wants some privacy. And Joyce…"
"Would be all over her, mothering her." Mike finished for her with a smile.
"Yes. So Hunter's going to stay with her and I'm going to visit them tonight. I took your car…I hope you don't mind. I got them groceries for today and tomorrow. Then I went home, got dressed and came back here." El concluded, nuzzling her head slightly into his chest which shivered from the gesture..
"Well I'm happy you're back…" Mike whispered against her ear. El smiled and turned her head to him, shuffling up the bed slightly so they were eye level with each other.
"Me too…" she mused, looking at his face with an intense sincerity. The look was so powerful that he felt himself immediately drawn into her, his throat going dry and his heart pounding so much he could hear it vibrating all over his body.
Mike placed his hand at the back of her incredible hair and slowly pulled her to him. He closed his eyes and kissed her deeply, relishing every moment. The kiss moved from innocent to passionate very quickly and she ran her hand down his jaw and slowly down his neck giving him goose bumps.
When her hand planted on top of his erratic heart, Mike opened her mouth with his own and stroked her tongue with his, before it became even more intense, their breathing ragged as they refused to break their kiss.
"Hey Mi- JESUS they're boning in the hospital bed!" Dustin voice suddenly boomed making El and Mike jump away from each other, their eyes wild and their breath uneven.
Mike went immediately crimson as he took in Dustin, Lucas, Max and Will all stood by the door, surprise and humour etched on all their faces.
"No we weren't!" Mike said mortified. His friends all sniggered as they came into the room and closed the door behind them."Yeah sure…" Lucas teased making the party all laugh again.
"We weren't. El tell them." Mike said turning to his girlfriend with pleading eyes.
El rolled her eyes in amusement, "we were just making out." She told them happily, entwining her fingers with Mike's again.
Their friends faces went suddenly comical, all wide eyes and big grins. "So you're back together then?" Will asked with enthusiasm as he took one of the seats.
"Yes." Mike said with relief as a big proud smile appeared on his face. He looked down at El and gave her a dreamy smile which she returned.
"Oh look heart eyes has returned…" Max smirked pulling out the other chairs and handing one to Lucas.
Dustin plopped himself onto the end of the bed and looked at the couple expectantly. "So how did this happen? Who asked who?" He asked with excitement.
"Jesus Dustin you sound like a girl…" Lucas snorted before catching Max's stare and faltering. "Er…I mean most girls."
"Oh come on, aren't you lot curious?" Dustin said turning to the others who reluctantly smiled and nodded.
Thankfully for Mike, El piped up. "Well it was a combination of a lot of things. We love each other…we always have. And when Mike got shot I realised-"
"Woah woah wait! You got shot?! That's why you're in the hospital?!" Lucas gaped.
"Your mum just said you fainted!" Will added.
Mike and El looked at each other for a moment, reluctant to have to go through all the details of the day. But they knew their friends weren't going to let this go, so they begrudgingly explained everything. From Emma's phone call, to Mike getting involved, to the 20 last scientists, to Mike getting shot trying to shield El and Hunter healing him.
"Well shit…I guess proving your love for El by jumping in front of a bullet for her pretty much sealed the deal." Dustin said rubbing at his forehead, shaken up from the story.
"Yeah that's what we were going to suggest for mission three." Will teased softly making the boys laugh.
"Mission three?" El and Max both said in unison, confusion written all over their faces.
Mike immediately went red, his eyes wide as he looked at the boys, praying they see that he wanted them to stop talking right now. Dustin didn't seem to get the memo. "Yeah mission three of Mike winning you back. We called it the boyfriend trials!" He said eagerly.
Max crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Man you are such dorks…"
El snorted. "There were missions? What were they?" She asked with amused interest looking between a very embarrassed Mike and the boys.
When it seemed clear that she wasn't going to get an answer out of her boyfriend, Dustin piped up again. "Well mission one was to get Mike and you to talk. That didn't go exactly to plan seeing as he fell out of the clothes rack rather than strutting over to you as we had planned…"
Everyone laughed except Mike as they all recounted that particular memory. He kept his eyes on the bed, feeling mortified. He really had sucked at every attempt of trying to get El back.
"And what about mission two?" Max asked surprising them all. "What? You've got me interested now that it involves humiliating Wheeler…" she teased.
Mike gave her a little glare, knowing that he pretty much deserved her being an ass to him, even when she was joking. He had been a dick to Max when she had joined the group and she never let him forget it. But Mike had gotten used to her humour now and he knew her sarcasm was in good faith.
"Well for mission two Mike was supposed to be nice to Hunter and show you that he was the good guy…" Lucas said unable to contain the mischievous grin.
"But that didn't work either as Mike and Hunter ended up fighting in the water." Will said with an amused smile and shake of his head as if he still couldn't believe the petty fight.
Mike huffed, "so what you're all saying is I'm crap."
They all laughed, El included who squeezed his hand. He scowled at her with amusement knowing she was enjoying this.
"Well not exactly Mike…you did pass mission three with flying colours!" Dustin teased with a grin.
Mike scoffed, "I don't remember almost dying being a part of the missions!"
Lucas shrugged, "either way. You're alive and you got your girl. Happy?"
His words flowed through Mike making a big soppy grin etch onto his lips. He turned to El, the most beautiful woman in the whole world who had for some reason accepted him as her boyfriend. "Beyond happy." He said sighing thankfully as he kissed his girlfriend's hand.
"Yeah and you've got Hunter to thank for being alive. How does that feel?" Max couldn't help but ask him sarcastically.
Mike rolled his eyes in amusement and shrugged. "Well let's just say I definitely don't hate him anymore. He's…he's a good guy. A much better guy than me and I owe him." He said honestly.
Dustin shook his head in shock, "well I never thought I'd see the day…"
El finally left Mike's bed side at the end of visiting hours, having to be practically dragged away from the bed by an entertained Max after she gave Mike eight goodbye kisses.
"Do you want some company going to the cabin?" Max asked El as they walked out of the hospital building with Dustin, Lucas and Will.
"No, it's okay thanks. I want to talk with Emma anyway." She said giving her best friend a smile. Max nodded in acceptance and the girls hugged as they parted ways.
El got into Mike's car, smiling to herself when she thought about the look on his face he'd have when he tried to get in and his legs would be immediately squished from where she had pulled the seat closer to the steering wheel.
She started the car and made her way to the cabin, intent on speaking with Emma preferably alone if she could. El had a lot of questions, and now that the dark-haired girl was warming to her, she wanted to know why she had disliked her so much during their time on the run.
Despite it being her dad's cabin, El still knocked on the door and called out that it was her. Hunter opened the door with a smile, "hey," he said brightly as she walked into the room and saw Emma sat on the couch, with a blanket on her legs. They had been watching television by the looks of things.
"How are you both doing?" El asked as she sat down in the arm chair facing the couch.
"Better," they both said in unison. El smiled in relief and leaned back into the chair, feeling comfortable and tired.
"How is Mike?" Emma asked slowly as if she was still nervous speaking to El for some reason. This was exactly why they needed to speak El thought to herself.
"Oh he's being usual Mike. Inpatient and ready to go home. The doctors are doing tests as they don't understand why he had so little blood reserves…but I don't think they suspect anything." El said calmly looking at them both.
Hunter sat back down on the couch next to Emma. "And your dad? Heard anything more?" he asked nervously.
El cleared her throat and shook her head. "No…I've not been home yet. But if he was back already, I think he would have dragged me home from the hospital." She admitted knowing her dad was beyond pissed at their reckless actions.
"We're very lucky to have your dad…" Hunter sighed rubbing at his face. El smiled and exhaled heavily, "we really are lucky. He's the best dad I could have ever dreamed of."
They were all silent for a moment, each of them pondering the families they were born into and what they should have had from birth, what they had been ripped away from.
"Well I'm gonna head for a shower before I crash out." Hunter said productively, smacking his hands down on his thighs before standing up.
"There's spare towels in the bags I brought you." El called to him. She watched him nod and smile in response and as soon as he disappeared into the bathroom, El moved to the couch so she was next to Emma.
Emma looked at her hesitantly. "El…I'm sorry for putting this all on you. For what happened…with Mike getting shot."
El frowned, "it's okay Emma. You can't help the fact that they were chasing after you. In a way…I guess it's good that it all happened because we never would have known there was that many of them left. And we wouldn't have been able to kill them all at once."
"You killed them all. I was ridiculous. As soon as I was lured into that room, all I remember is a sharp pain in my neck and then I was out of it." Emma said clearly angry at herself.
El watched the girl for a moment as more of her walls seemed to break down. "My powers…they are so selective. I can't kick ass with them, I can't heal with them, I can't show people what I want them to see in their mind. I can only change my appearance. It's…it's just a short fix and it makes me mad." She huffed.
"I'm confused…" El said blatantly and Emma continued. "It makes me mad that they took me from my family for this ridiculous power of mine." A tear fell down Emma's cheek and El watched her silently for a moment.
She reached out for Emma's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Both girls looked down at their hands. "When did they take you from your family?" El asked quietly.
"They took me when I was 12. My…my mom and dad put up a fight and they…they murdered them." Emma said numbly, her eyes unfocused as if she was recounting everything.
"I remember it like it was yesterday…" she added solemnly. El's heart clenched painfully for her and on instinct she leaned in and hugged Emma tightly. She could hear her sniffling on El's shoulder.
"I'm sorry…" El whispered in support. "They took me at birth so I don't remember anything. My…my mama did though." She said quietly, seeing her mama in her mind, the images she had shown her all those years ago.
"What happened to your mama?" Emma asked in a shaky breath as they pulled out of the hug and looked at each other.
"She…she never gave up trying to find me, to save me. They caught her when she tried to rescue me and they did something to her with electricity, forcing it into her head." El said heavily, that particular image at the forefront of her mind as tears swam in her eyes.
Emma looked stunned and disgusted. She shook her head and her jaw set. "I hope to god we've got justice for them. I hope we have killed each and every one of them." She said through gritted teeth.
El sighed, "I think we have. But if by some miracle we do find out there is more…then we will take them down, the way we always have. Together." She said squeezing Emma's hand and getting a rare smile out of her.
"El I am so sorry about how I treated you on the run. I was so mean to you…" Emma said with remorse.
"Why were you mean to me?" El asked curiously, already having forgiven Emma a long time ago for her reactions, but wanting to know where her anger had come from.
Emma exhaled a pained breath. "I was just…jealous. You had this amazing power and you were able to do so much and help everyone. I just felt…left out I guess." She said before biting her lip and averting her eyes. "And there…there was another reason too." Emma added sheepishly.
El watched her curiously. "What was the other reason?" she said with interest having accepted the rest of Emma's explanation.
The dark-haired girl seemed very hesitant to answer. Her green eyes went from El to the bathroom door and then back again. "I…I like Hunter." She finally concluded with a heavy sigh.
"Oh…" El said smiling as if finally everything suddenly made sense about Emma. El knew what jealousy was, she had felt it herself over the news and to an extent felt it with Jennifer Hayes.
Emma immediately blushed. "I've liked him for a long time. Before you even joined us in fact. He was just so different from any guy I'd ever seen. He's so…pure. He's so kind and caring and it completely threw me and my emotions." She admitted.
"But he never saw me like that…he only saw you. And it kind of hurt." Emma said giving El a bit of an apologetic smile.
El couldn't help but shake her head. "Me and him were close but I only ever wanted to be friends with him. And…he gets that now." She said kindly.
Emma didn't seem so convinced so El continued. "You kind of had this mean…exterior, I think is the word? Which I now understand. But now that you are being yourself Emma, I think he'd really like you." She said reproachfully.
El smiled as she watched Emma bite her lip and go back and forth with what she wanted to do. She deserved happiness and Hunter did too. El hoped there would be reciprocating feelings there.
They were interrupted by Hunter coming out of the bathroom, back in his clothes and towel drying his blonde hair. El couldn't help but smirk at the blush that crept back up Emma's cheeks.
El stood up and cleared her throat, "well I'm sorry it was only a short visit but I best get home to the wrath of my dad." She sighed before looking over at the television. "Hey why don't you two watch a movie or something?" she said with excitement.
Emma gave her a look which she knew meant "what the hell are you up to?" Hunter smiled and sat back down on the couch. "Yeah that could be cool…" he said resting into the seat.
"Cool…" Emma repeated, averting her eyes nervously. "Aha! I've got the perfect one." El said picking Dirty Dancing out of the video pile she had left here. She loved that film and it had caused many a make out session between her and Mike. Hopefully it'd have the same effect on Emma and Hunter.
El put the video in for a rather bemused Hunter and Emma and then turned to them with a big smile. "Well I best go! Emma fancy meeting me and my best friend Max tomorrow for some shopping?" she asked with enthusiasm.
Emma looked taken back but nodded slowly. "Er…yeah. Yeah that'd be great."
"Brilliant. I'll pick you up at 10. Well I'll see you both soon then. Bye." El said giving them both a wave.
"Bye El!" Hunter called.
"Bye. Thanks El." Emma said before El gave her a knowing smile and left.
El grinned to herself as she drove home, maybe she could give Dustin a run for his money and try her own matchmaking operation.
AN: I hope you liked this chapter! Spoiler for you, next chapter may have the appearance of Jennifer Hayes! Also I'm starting to wrap up the story now :-( So it looks like there will be about two more chapters and an epilogue (maybe two parts to the epilogue depending on how big it is)