Mike wasn't too sure about the plan. Sure, he believed in El and knew she was capable of protecting herself, but why did she have to? He remembered seeing the demodogs swarming the place, taking the life out of Bob, and killing anything in their sight. And now Eleven was supposed to march in there and close the gate amongst them all? He couldn't let that happen. Mike felt all the emotions he had been feeling for the past year creep up again, and just thinking of the prospect of losing her again made him want to throw up. He couldn't do it. They had only been reunited moments ago and now he was supposed to just stand here and let her sacrifice herself again?

Mike was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice someone join him outside until a small voice said, "Mike." He looked up and saw El crossing the porch to stand right in front of him. She gazed into his eyes, and he could tell she was thinking along the same lines he had been. They stood there for a second, not saying anything, just staring at each other, still taking in the fact they were here, together. Finally, Mike couldn't take it anymore.

"Just be careful alright? I can't lose you again." He voiced the fears that had been plaguing him, needing her to understand just how much she meant to him. He wasn't sure if he could truly convey how he felt, but not being able to lose her was the one thing he could put to words.

She stared up at him, her intense gaze only deepening, then slowly shaking her head. "You won't lose me." Could that be true? She sounded so confident, so sure. He wanted to believe her, but he was so scared of the alternative.

"Do you promise?" He muttered. Mike thought about all those months ago when he taught her that word, and he prayed she remembered it. A promise is something you can't break.

"Promise."

With that single utterance, Mike couldn't help the gravitational force pulling him towards El. He wanted to kiss her, to convey with his touch how strongly he felt for her, how relieved he was to have her back, and how badly he needed her to stay safe. It had been way too long since they had kissed, and suddenly that was all Mike could think about. It seemed El felt the same way, as she stole a glance at his lips, then slowly began leaning in herself. It was as if they were moving in slow motion, savoring the moment, but just before their lips connected, Mike heard a booming voice mutter, "El, come on, let's go. It's time."

Shit.

They quickly separated, both of them sporting a blush at the prospect of being caught in such an intimate moment by the Chief of Police. El looked at Hopper, then turned back to Mike, silently asking if he was going to be okay. Mike simply nodded, knowing it was time for her to leave. He felt Hopper looking at them, but Mike still couldn't meet the man's gaze, overcome with so many conflicting emotions about this new parental figure in El's life. Could he really protect her? Mike watched as El opened the car door and climbed in, meeting Mike's eyes through the windshield. As they slowly drove away, Mike just stood there, feeling like his heart was being ripped into shreds. She promised, he reminded himself. She's going to come back to me.

The mindflayer was relentless in its grip, not showing any sign that it would release its hold on El. Mike held on to her with all the strength he could muster, his heart pounding relentlessly as the words I can't lose her again played over and over again in his brain. He couldn't. He couldn't lose her. After what felt like an eternity, the limb holding Eleven was severed, and she fell into Mike's arms. "El, El are you okay?" he cried, but one look in her eyes and he had his answer.

Suddenly, in that moment, he almost let the words out, the ones that had been lodged in his throat since the moment he first laid eyes on her. But when he sat up and saw the ghastly remnant of the monster attached to her leg, his thoughts dismissed and he ripped the thing away. Afterwards, a lot of chaos and pandemonium distracted Mike from his declaration, but nothing could ever take the words away from his heart.

I love you.