Chapter 14:

Johnathan brought Nancy a cup of coffee from the kitchen, setting it on the table in front of her since the mug was still hot to the touch and he didn't want her to burn herself. She looked tired, and she was staring into space like she was deep in thought about something.

"You okay?" He asked her quietly, trying to keep the conversation private despite the three boys eating cereal in the kitchen. Lucas had just gotten there that morning, and the lanky boy insisted that they get something to eat. The drive, he said, had made him awfully hungry.

"Im fine," she lied. Her eyes finally refocused on his, and she could see the concern behind them. "I just... dont think I'm ready for this. Marriage and all... Its supposed to be for life. My mom doesnt believe in divorce, so if I backed out later she'd be so mad. She's already going to be upset that I don't want to settle down..."

"I remember a Nancy that didn't care so much about what her mom thought," Johnathan commented with a small smile. "I wonder what happened to her."

"Everyone had a lot of expectations for her," Nancy admitted honestly. "She got tired of rebelling against it all."

"It's okay to make your own decisions. Its your life, and you're the only one who has to live with them." He put a hand on her shoulder, and she nodded. Nancy grabbed her coffee mug and sipped at it carefully.

"I always wished I had chosen differently. I figure... you wouldn't have pushed me to get married and have babies and be a stay at home mom and trophy wife. That's what Steve wants. You never wanted that."

"I just wanted you. As you are."

"Do you still?" She asked, looking up at him questioningly. Johnathan blinked at her, a little caught off guard by her question. He knew he had to answer carefully.

"I thought you weren't interested."

"If I was?"

"Then yes," he admitted, staring directly into her eyes. "If I still have a shot, I will let myself want you again. As badly as I did before." He looked at his feet. Nancy admired him for a moment. He really had grown into a handsome man. His hair was shorter now, more maturely styled, and his facial features had sharpened, his jaw more defined, his eyes a little darker.

"I want to leave Steve."

"I want you to leave Steve."

"But where will I go?"

"Here. Until we can get a place together." He'd thought about it so many times. "You want a job. When you get one, we could afford a house like the one youre in now. Mom wouldn't mind if you stayed with us for awhile." Nancy smiled at that. She adored Will and Joyce, especially after everything they went through together. She nodded. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes," she beamed, and Johnathan grinned excitedly. "I'll talk to Steve later tonight."

Johnathan leaned forwards to kiss her, but a loud, frantic knock on the door startled them both. The chatter from the boys in the kitchen quieted, and Johnathan got up to answer the door. When he pulled it open, a frantic Eleven came through the door. Her feet were bare and dirty, and her footsteps left blood in their wake. It was obvious she had run all the way to their house and her feet were raw.

"Eleven?" Nancy stood, smoothing her skirt quickly before walking to the panicked, sweaty girl. "What's wrong?" The three boys hurried from the kitchen, and they all stared at her with wide, worried eyes.

"Mike," she panted heavily, her chest heaving so hard that she nearly doubled over, completely out of breath. "Demogorgon. It took Mike."

"Mike's in the Upside Down?" Will asked, stepping forward, pushing his way past the other boys. He of all people know how dangerous it was there, how little time they had before he became affected like Will. Eleven nodded.

"Help. Please," she begged, tears falling down her dirty cheeks. Johnathan knew what it meant. One of them would have to go in after Mike. "Blood," Eleven added, laying her hand over her shoulder where Mike was shot. "He's hurt."

The others all looked amongst themselves, but the solution was obvious. Johnathan and Dustin were the strongest. They had to go in after him, and Nancy and Lucas had to be waiting outside of the gate for them, ready to pull them all out.

"Bath," Eleven said. "Will, help me." The sickly boy nodded. Eleven wanted to find Mike, to lead him back to the others, to comfort him while the rescue was going on.

"Is there an opening somewhere in the woods?" Johnathan asked Eleven, and she gulped.

"Near Mike's. In a tree."

"I better go," Nancy said. "Dustin cant fit in a tree, and I've been there before. Dustin can wait with Lucas. Im going in with you Johnathan."

"I dont want you going in there."

"Johnathan, its my brother. Dustin is built like a truck. He won't fit through," Nancy said, propping her hands on her hips. "Dont waste time arguing with me. Get your gun, and bring me my bat. You still have it right?"

"By my bed," he told her. "Be right back." He left to go retrieve the weapons from his room, and Will took Eleven by the wrist and walked her into the bathroom. He started the water, and she waited by the edge of the tub impatiently.

Lucas and Dustin went to the kitchen. Dustin, who had gotten into some trouble in his first year at college, quickly grabbed the bottle of liquor from the night before. He stuffed a rag down into the bottle, then headed back into the living room.

Johnathan came back, and he handed Nancy the bat with nails jutting from all directions. She twirled it gracefully in her hand, taking a deep breath to ready herself for the fight she knew she was going to have to face.

"Let's go then."

Once they were gone, Eleven slowly lowered herself into the tub. Will put his hands on her shoulders, empathy and concern in his expression. He slowly pushed her back into the water, submerging her up to her ears. He pulled his arms back, resting his palms against the cold tub, anxiety starting to flood through him.

"Find him," he told her. "Hurry."

She nodded, then closed herself and let herself drift into the silence, into the dark, little by little becoming emerged in it. She felt like she was sinking and floating all at once, until her eyes shot open, and a familiar little fort sat directly in front of her. It was where she found Will seven years ago. Mike must have remembered.

She approached it slowly, not liking the cold water against the raw bottoms of her feet. Her discomfort didn't matter, not when Mike's life was at stake. She bent down, then crawled into the little fort. Mike was sitting there up against the back wall, his face pale and nearly drained of all color. His lips were blue, and his hand was holding onto his shoulder. If his chest wasnt rising and falling rapidly, she would have thought he was dead.

"Mike," she frowned, reaching out to touch his arm. His eyes fluttered and opened slowly. He reached back to her, brushing hair from her face.

"You shouldn't be here."

"You made me promise. I said I'd come. Id find you." She frowned at him. "I promised." She crawled until she could sit right at his side, taking his hand in hers. "They're coming. Hold on."

"They?"

"Nancy and Will's brother."

"Eleven, no," he shook his head tiredly. "Stop them. Don't let them come in here. Its still out there. Don't let Nancy come." Eleven said nothing else. She just sat there, then laid her head on his uninjured shoulder, holding onto his arm and rubbing it gently.

"Stay, Mike. Don't sleep."

"I can't. If it finds me, I have to run."

"They will help. I need you," she sniffed, holding onto him a little tighter, a knot forming in her chest. "I love you."

"I love you." His voice was hoarse and quiet, but it still retained the same sweetness he always spoke to Eleven with. "I won't leave you. Ill keep fighting."

"I should come."

"Id rather you didn't."

"I can fight." She closed her eyes, relaxing against him as tears fell down her cheeks one by one. "I can help."

"You are. Even if youre not really here... I'd be much happier if I died with you by my side."

"No." Her eyes shot open and she looked at him. "No, Mike."

"You have to understand it's a possibility, El. Ive lost so much blood. The cold made it stop quicker, but... I may not make it. If I don't, you need to stay with Nancy or Will. They'll look out for you, and Nancy knows how to help you with girl things. She knows you like eggos, and she'd make you some every morning."

"Stop," Eleven pleaded softly. "Mike, stop it."

"I hope you don't find someone else to love, but if you do, make sure he treats you right. Dont let anyone hurt you anymore, but dont break anyone's arms okay? Boys can be stupid sometimes when it comes to pretty girls. I know I can." He smiled half-heartedly. Eleven shook her head,

"Only Mike. I won't find another boy. You'll make it." She clung to him a little harder.

"But if I don't--"

"You will," she cut him off. Mike sighed.

"Just know I love you. Every moment with you was... amazing. With Cathy I wasn't really happy. She didnt love me, not really. She loved what I did for her and what I could give her. The sex wasn't good. She was... boring in every way. But you... Youre just so amazing and beautiful and you always make my heart race."

"Stop," she begged again, squeezing her eyes shut. "Stop it."

"I want you to know."

"Tell me when you get back."

"I may not get back, El. I have to say it now. I love you," he put it simply so she wouldn't argue anymore. "So much." She said nothing. All she could do is sit there, hold onto him, and wait until Johnathan and Nancy came through, until they found him. The knot in her chest grew with every passing moment of silence, the only sound was Mike's rugged and increasingly slowed breathing. Eleven was starting to panic. Time moved so slowly. Mike was coming in and out of it. Her world began and ended with him. She couldnt lose him. She just couldn't.

"I can't lose you," she cried against his arm, though he was a little out of it and couldn't respond. She still needed to say it. "I need you. Mike, please don't go. Please." She got as close as she could to him, holding onto him tightly as her body shook with her quiet sobs. "Please, dont leave me all alone." He couldn't answer, and she wasnt sure he could hear her. But it was true, so so true. The idea of a world without Mike terrified Eleven. It seemed dark and lonely. "I need you," she said one more time, "I love you. Don't go."

I got into a better mood and my muse came back. :) I know it's a bit of a cliffhanger, but there's a lot more so I had to split it up between two chapters. Hope you guys enjoyed! Keep letting me know what you think :D you guys certainly helped me get to feeling better today, so thank you. Your reviews never fail to make me smile. Til next chapter, my lovelies!!