A Pixie's Promise

El was leaning her head on Mike's shoulder. Her arms were around his waist. Mike could tell that she was really scared because she had a good hold on him and was not letting up.

The band was sitting on the sofa in a cabin out in the middle of nowhere, El had hinted that she'd spent time here, but she didn't have the time to give Mike any details.

Mike was staring at a guy named 'Mack'. He was dressed in a stealth blacksuit with his face painted with black and green stripes. He was bristling with weapons. Mike was sure he had used every single one of them and was deadly with them all.

Her dad was leaning on the counter looking down and fiddling with his hat.

"I want to reassure you kids." Mike felt El cringe. She hated being called a kid. She gone through more than most adults would have in three life times.

"You are safe here. My men are all around. Nobody is getting anywhere within two miles of this place. We had to lie a bit to your parents, you are busy working in secret on a new album. If you do that, it's not really a lie." He smirked a little.

"Are you with the Department of Defense?" Mike asked.

"Those assholes… um, sorry Miss Hopper, those assholes are the reason that Miss Hopper hired us. I have a lot of contacts in the various alphabet agencies, Brenner has no official support. They have told me that he is persona non grata. Of course I'm not stupid. They can say all they want to my face and do the exact opposite behind my back. I don't care, I'm assuming they are all in on it some way or another."

"How can you guarantee our safety?" Lucas asked.

"Good question young man. Let's just say that none of my men are particular fond of abuse of power or authority. And let's just say they are highly trained, that they don't exist, and that they really really pissed at being shot at. Brenner's men did that to the decoy vehicle."

"But if that's not enough to convince you. I'm personally staying in the cabin with you kids."

That cringe from El again.

"I check in every ten minutes. And one of you…" he handed Mike a small futuristic looking walkie-talkie.

"Checks in every our on the hour during the day. I'll do it at night in shifts with my right hand man."

"That's all I can tell you. And that's the end of the good news."

"Hit us with the bad news." Mike's arm was around El's waist and he gave her a little squeeze.

"You are in this cabin until Brenner is no longer a threat. However that works out." Mike didn't need him to say it, but 'Mack' was telling him that Brenner might not survive if he dealt with this guy's men head on.

"Groceries will be delivered on a regular basis, you guys can even order the odd pizza, no deliveries of course, but we'll make sure you get it hot." He chuckled.

"Miss Hopper had me get the equipment you guys need to continue working, so you can keep yourselves busy with that. I'm told that Miss Hopper has some don't be stupid rules. I would ask you guys to adhere to them like your life depended on it."

"Am I clear?"

They all nodded without protest.

"One other thing. Your dad is too high a profile person to be seen disappearing mysteriously for any length of time. So he's only going to be allowed here every few weeks."

El raised her head, tears forming already, "dad?"

"Let's talk in your room"

XXXXX

When her dad closed the door behind him, Eleven ran to him and hugged his middle, crying.

He kissed the top of her head. "This hurts me more than it does you El."

She buried her face in his shirt and lost all control. "We're going to get this bastard. Don't worry about me. I'm being protected… and you know, I'm not half bad and keeping myself alive."

El cried even harder. She was staring to hyperventilate a little.

Her dad hugged her tighter. "It'll be ok, you have your friends here… and you have Mike. I've seen the way he looks at you. He's going to stick with you through this… and probably forever if I had to guess."

"That's not the same, dad."

He sat her on the bed, and crouched down to look at her. "You can visit me if you want. You know how… I won't see you, but I'll know. You'll be able to see that I'm safe."

El nodded tears streaming down her face. "Ok dad."

"I didn't keep you here for over a year just to have you snatched by that psychotic son of a bitch. I love my little girl. He is not taking you away from me."

He leaned forward and put his chin on her head. El could feel the his hot tears trickling down through her hair.

"If it all goes to shit. You have my permission to let loose with your ability. Do whatever you have to do to get back to me…. Ok?"

She nodded and gave him a determined smile through her tears. "I'll do whatever I have to do. We'll see each other again dad, I promise."

"That's all I needed to hear. I'm good with that." The both wiped their eyes.

"Let's get you back to Mike and your friends."

XXXXX

"Everything frosty?" 'Mack' said.

Hopper nodded.

"Ok Miss Hopper, we're going to get your dad back to the station. We're shadowing him twenty four seven now. No need to worry. We are good at what we do. I made you a promise when you hired me. I fully intend to keep that promise."

He clicked his radio. "Phase 3 is go."

Mike watched as a dull black sheet made of some material was put over El's dad. He had two eye holes he could see out of. Once he stepped outside in the night he'd be almost invisible.

XXXXX

They all stayed in El's room. She gave Max and Lucas the bed. Her and Mike would be on the floor in what looked like military grade sleeping bags.

She was lying on her side facing Mike, her head propped up on her hand. She frowned, "these sleeping bags can't be zipped together like regular sleep bags. Why do we have to sleep in these anyway?"

"No heat, remember. Can't have any kind of indication from the chimney that there is anything going on here. They gave us those special heaters for the daytime. But these for night. They can't be zipped together, but they were made for big army guys or something. Plenty of room if you wanted to be in mine." Mike smiled.

El got tangled up quickly trying to get out of her sleeping bag and into Mike's as fast as she could.

She snuggled against him. "This is much better."

"Screw this, I'm doing the same thing." Max said as she got out of hers and in with Lucas.

"I'll just stay in mine then," Dustin laughed.

XXXXX

"Mike are you still awake?"

"Yeah, Pixie, I'm enjoying being this close to you." Mike could feel her squeeze his waist a little.

"I made a promise to my dad."

"I can guess what it is. You will get back to him, using your ability if necessary."

"Yes, but I need to extend that promise. I can't lose either of you. If it gets that bad I know that it will be just you and I here in the cabin. I will keep us safe, until I can get us to my dad."

"Ok Pixie."

"I mean it Mike. I'll bring hell on earth to keep us both alive. Brenner has no idea what I'm capable of. Not now."

"That sounds a little scary El."

"I know something that Brenner doesn't. I have an understanding with… um, hard to explain right now, but it's how I was able to escape."

"I trust you. I'm amazed at what goes on behind those pretty eyes of yours. I'm just scratching the service aren't I?"

"Yes."