Babysitter With A Bat

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then I don't own it.

A/N: For 2021 Whumptober #14 Beaten

He'd had the shit beat out of him… again. He had the fight, he was gonna win until Hargrove had pulled his dirty little trick.

The kids around him talked excitedly, recounting the events of the evening even though they were all present throughout them. Their voices swirled around him like static as he picked out words here and there

The plate to the head had left him reeling. He never recovered, the fight was over, his body just didn't know it yet. When the other boy got him to the ground and started pounding his face in, it was just an added insult to injury, when a kid had to save his ass. Although he was a little disappointed he didn't get to see Max almost take out her stepbrother's balls with his spiked bat. That would have almost made the pain he was in worth it.

As it was now that the adrenaline high of fighting in the tunnels was wearing off, the pain was crashing down on him in full force. If he thought it had hurt when the injuries had occurred in the fight it was nothing compared to now. His face throbbed, his back ached and his head was a constant wash of agony. The field was getting a little fuzzy as his vision swam in and out of focus.

"Woah, Steve, easy," Dustin called out as he tried to keep the older boy on his feet.

"I'm fine," He slurred, pulling away from Dustin's concerned grasp. He stumbled over to the car. Leaning his head against the roof as he gripped the metal until his knuckles bleached of color, just trying to stay upright. He rubbed his forehead vigorously back and forth against his arm trying to knead out the pain. All his efforts gave him was puking his guts out.

"This is crazy," He mumbled under his breath, over and over again.

"I can drive," Max volunteered.

"That's a no," Steve straightened his spine before climbing in behind the wheel. The grumbling kids climbed in behind him as he ignored their complaints. Dustin gave him a worried look as he climbed into the passenger seat. He opened his mouth to argue. Steve winked at him. The pain of the action was worth it when he got a smile in return. They were all alive and Steve intended to keep it that way. He turned the key in the ignition and set off at a slow and mostly straight drive back the way they'd come.

They arrived back at the Beyer's home miraculously in one piece. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat, trying to stop the dizzying vertigo. Breathing deeply to steady his churning gut; he tried to build up the energy to actually get up. His job was not completed yet; he still had work to do.

His eyes shot open when he heard the car doors open and the kids empty from the vehicle. He jumped up, falling out of the car to the ground when his body was not ready for the abrupt movement.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dustin asked grabbing his arm, helping him back to his feet. He stood swaying for a moment before his vision mostly cleared.

"I'm gonna clear the house. You dickheads stay here. Do I make myself clear?"

"We just fought demon dogs from the upside-down, we don't need you babying us," Mike mouthed off with a sneer.

He didn't have time to deal with any Wheelers. They always seemed to make him feel like an idiot and question what he was doing. He was in charge here, even if it didn't feel like it. The kids did what they wanted and he tried to keep up to keep them alive.

"I promised I'd keep you shitheads safe and that is exactly what I plan on doing," He said, not remembering saying the same thing earlier before it all went to shit.

Max stood in his path with her arms crossed. "I'm the one who saved your ass," Her harsh words tried to drown out the guilt and worry in her eyes.

"Out of the way," He ordered, as he shouldered his bat, ready for any threat to the kids be it human or monster, "I got this."

It took him a few times to clutch the right door handle, out of the three he saw, before he pushed open the door. The house was empty save for the paper map of the tunnels. The bastard that had beaten him was long gone. He trudged back to the front door after checking the whole house to wave the kids back inside. They entered and together they took over the task of waiting for the two varsity teams to return once more.

He sunk into the old saggy couch with a sigh. He laid his bat across his lap, ready to keep watch until a real adult arrived to relieve him of his responsibility of making sure the stupid ass kids didn't die.

The melted ice pack was again resting on the right side of his head. He opened his eyes, not even realizing he'd closed them, to meet Dustin's concerned look.

"You need a hospital," The kid mumbled, mostly to himself.

"How do you know?" Steve slurred, trying to reassure the boy.

"How do I know?" Dustin asked sarcastically, "Maybe because you puked all over, can't walk straight, and your face looks like shit."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not," He poked at the worst of the wounds, "Billy beat your ass."

"Stop that," Steve grimaced in pain, swatting the probing fingers away.

Dustin held up his hands in surrender before moving back to join his friends. The kids started into an argument. Gesturing widely and whispering harshly at one another. He tried to tune them out but his pounding head couldn't take it.

"Hey guys," he called, trying to draw the kids' attention as they argued over him about his own health.

"What?" They turned towards him as one at his third attempt to get their attention.

"Is this really necessary?"

"Yes!" Dustin argued passionately, making his way back to his side.

"I'm good until the others get back," He promised Dustin quietly.

"You sure?" Dustin studied him closely, looking for signs that he was lying or gonna pass out again.

"Yeah, man, I'm good," Steve smiled through his bruised face, "Nothing a few aspirins won't fix."

"I'll get some," Lucas jumped to help the guy that had taken a beating for him. Max followed him to the kitchen to get a glass of water for the one that had stood up to her stepbrother and helped her find the courage to do it herself.

"You tell anyone and you're all dead," Steve warned tiredly. His reputation was already trashed, but he didn't need people to know kids had to take care of him after Hargrove beat the shit out of him.

"You're still pretty badass with that bat," Dustin grinned.

"Don't you forget it," Steve tussled Dustin's curls through his hat.