Eddie POV

Eddie drove the spear into the bat that launched at his face. The swarm continued to circle them, but he would not run, not this time. He was done running. He felt Nat behind him, he could still hear her screams echoing in his ears when he'd left her. The sound had almost killed him, but he needed to buy them time. He couldn't let her get hurt, he just couldn't. But it didn't matter, she came for him anyway and now she was here, back pressed up against his, stuck in this cyclone with him.

"Eddie! Nat!" The call came as Eddie slammed his shield into a bat that had dove at him. He glanced over, Dustin was hobbling towards them as fast as he possibly could. Eddie swatted at another bat that made the charge when he heard her cry. He turned just as the bat collided with her shoulder, sending her sprawling to the ground away from him. Her spear had gone, cast off to the side. He started forward to her, his heart beating rapidly in his chest, but they cut him off. They converged in the centre, blocking his path to her. A bat had latched itself around her other wrist, pulling her shield away.

"Nat!" He cried, beating furiously at the bats in his path. He had to get to her. His breath caught in his lungs when one of the Demobats she'd been furiously thrashing against bit into her side. She screamed as it tore at fabric and flesh, the sound vibrating horridly in his ears. Yelling with rage he attacked them, he beat and slashed till his arms were numb. His eyes were wide with desperation as another bat landed, sinking its fangs into her hip.

"Nat!" Pain shook up his arm as he swung the shield into one of them, but he didn't stop, he wouldn't stop. "Nat!" He cried, feeling burning fear rising like a tidal wave in his chest. They bit and clawed and scratched and tore at her, and through it all she screamed, a horrid gurgling scream that left him hollow. "Nat! Nat! Just hold on, I'm coming!"

His breathing was ragged, throat raw. "Eddie!" She screamed his name as one landed on her chest, digging its talons deep. Something in him snapped. He cried out a raged, painful sound and dove into the barrier of creatures that were keeping him from her. Just hold on, I'm coming. I'm coming. He held the shield tight, if he ran at them fast enough he would be able to break through them, he'd be able to reach her. He took a step back, ready to run, ready to reach her, but then with a shrill cry the bats fell.

One by one, they dropped, crunching as they hit the ground. Nat's arms fell at her sides as the ones holding her dropped too. Eddie chucked the spear and shield to the ground, running to her, landing hard on his knees at her side. Her eyes were wide open at the sky as she took laboured, painful breaths.

"Nat!" His hands found her face, touching her cheeks lightly. There was so much blood. "Oh my God… Shit. Nat? Nat you gotta talk to me." Her eyes flicked to his, they were glazed, distant. He moved his hands from her face, gently lifting her up onto his lap, she whimpered at the movement, tears welling in her eyes.

"Hey…" She whispered, he took in a shuddering breath at her voice. She was so pale.

"Hey… hey, you're okay." He said, eyes flicking over her, her Hellfire shirt was tattered, covered in blood, a large gaping wound was on her side. He felt the tears in his eyes fall, leaving tracks down his dirtied face. "You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be fine… okay?" She moved her hand up to his face, holding it there. Her palm was cold on his skin, he trembled. Eddie looked up, Dustin was standing a little way away, his eyes wide, mouth slightly open. "Dustin! Call for help!" His voice broke.

"I'm- !'m saying… the word." She got out between gasps. She smiled briefly and a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Okay…" He choked out. "Me too… We're done, okay. It's all over now." Her thumb stroked the side of his face, her breathing slowed, chest barely rising. He had to get her out of here, to the hospital, she saved him, now he had to save her.

"Eddie…"

"Yeah," he said, eyes scanning every inch of her face, taking everything in. His throat was tight.

"D-Don't blame yourself…" But he did… he did and he would for the rest of his life. He dragged her into this, he was the reason she was dying. If he'd have just come back through the gate, if he'd have made her stay in Hawkins, if he'd sent her away when she first found him at Reefer Ricks… If he'd just taken her home. He should have just taken her home. "Do it for me. Please."

Her eyes fluttered, closing… No. "Nat…" He shook her gently, they opened again, but she was barely keeping them open. She was rasping now. The walkie crackled off to the side, Dustin was yelling into it. "You gotta stay with me okay? You gotta stay with me cause I-" His voice cracked, he couldn't lose her now… He needed her. He'd always needed her, he just never wanted to admit it. His stomach panged, he was losing her… and she'd never know, she'd never know what she meant to him. He heaved in a shuddering breath. "I can't do this without you… okay? I need you. I need you Nat, I- I… I love you… And you can't leave me now, I won't let you… okay?"

She let out a shuddering breath, another tear slipped loose from her eye and glided over her cheek. "Ditto…" Her fingers brushed along his cheek as her hand fell, landing on the ground, eyes dropping closed.

"Nat… Nat-" He was shaking her, heart hammering in his chest. "No, no, no, no. Natalie!" She wouldn't wake. "Nat… Nat, wake up! You gotta wake up now." A sob built in the back of his throat. "Don't do this to me! You can't!"

"Eddie…" Dustin was at his side.

"No. No!" He snaked his arm under hers, she was so terribly lifeless. Rising to a crouch, he put his other arm underneath her legs, hoisting her up into his arms, holding her close to his chest.

"Eddie…" Dustin offered again. "She's-"

"No!" He growled. "No- she isn't." He was looking down at her, she was so fragile in his arms. The blood from the wound at her side was seeping into his Hellfire shirt. There. He saw it, just brief but it was there, the small rise in her chest. Life. Gravely hurt, but alive. "She isn't. I need to get her out of here." He adjusted her in his arms, her head lolling against his chest. "Stay with me… I've got you. I've got you."

"The gate," Dustin said, he pulled out the walkie, "Guys! Guys come in!"

"We can't wait." Eddie said, starting forwards, trying to be so gentle in his strides. The spear tapped on the ground as Dustin followed behind him. Eddie looked down at her as he walked, every now and then her chest would rise and the panic in his chest would ebb slightly. Dustin hobbled ahead of Eddie as they reached the trailer, climbing the steps one at a time. As he reached the door, the ground began to shake violently, it was almost as if the world was being cleaved in two.

Eddie stumbled back, trying to keep on his feet but failing, he dropped down to his knees cradling Nat closer to him, shielding her body with his own. Dustin had stumbled back down the steps of the trailer as the world split. "What the fuck, man." Eddie cursed, he lifted his head slightly to see the wreckage. The trailer was split in two, an angry crevice, glowing red ran across the length of the trailer park, growing with every shake of the ground. Then, as soon as it started, it stopped. Dustin was gasping on the ground, hand pressed to his ankle. He looked to Eddie. "You good?" Eddie asked him. A nod was his response.

Eddie looked down at Nat, he brushed a lock of auburn hair from her face and held his hand to her cheek. The walkie at Dustin's side crackled into life.

"Dustin? Nat? Eddie?" It was Robin, "Come in, where are you?"

"Robin! Holy shit, we're at the trailer but. Shit Robin, it's bad…" Dustin was stammering. Eddie moved his hand down to the wound on Nat's stomach. Pulling the remains of the shirt away. The wound was angry, jagged, purple bruises surrounding the area where the skin was torn.

"What's bad? We're coming, just stay there…"

"Nat's hurt, really bad." The walkie crackled…

"We're coming."

Eddie looked over to the split in the world. Dustin had got to his feet, hobbling over to them. "Mothergate." He muttered, causing Eddie to look at him.

"Mothergate? You mean we can go through that?" Eddie asked. Dustin nodded. "We need to go through." He stroked a thumb over Nat's cheek. "It's over, okay… Let's go home." He gently laid her down on the ground, her head lolling to one side. Standing, he walked to the edge of the gate and looked down at it. Time to go. He crouched down, pushing his hand through the gate, it squelched, gel like and then cool air met his palm. He stood again, turning, as the sound of rustling met his ears. The trio emerged from the woods, eyes hollow. Eddie watched as Robin's eyes fell on Nat's body, she choked back a sob as she moved forwards.

"Nat…" She whispered. "Is she…?"

"No." Eddie said, his throat tight. "I need to get her to the hospital." He bent down, lifting her effortlessly into his arms again though he was exhausted. They didn't need to say any more, they just moved.

Steve took Nat into his arms so Eddie could go through the gate first. He climbed through, pulling himself up back into Hawkins. Robin followed him and then slowly Steve passed Nat through the gate, slow, carefully. Robin helped Eddie lift her through. The rest of them followed, moving quicker now that they were back in Hawkins, they got to the Winnebago in minutes. Robin grabbed the door, pulling it aside so Eddie could get in with Nat. He went straight to the back of the RV, laying her down across the sofas. He knelt down beside her, lacing his hand through hers, eyes scanning over her face. Her chest still rose and fell weakly. Steve didn't care how fast he drove, Eddie turned his head as cupboard doors opened and closed.

"We need something to help stop the bleeding." Robin said. She pulled a towel from one of the drawers and crouched down next to Eddie, she pressed it onto the gaping wound on Nat's stomach. The white cloth began to turn red almost instantly, but it stemmed the flow of blood.

"How?" Robin whispered. Eddie looked at her, she had tears in her eyes.

He swallowed harshly. "It's my fault… I tried to be the hero, but she came after me… she saved me and I-" He closed his eyes, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead. "I couldn't save her."

"Of course she did…" Robin's voice was soft, her hands still pressing the towel into the wound. "But you're wrong, Eddie." He looked back at Robin, questioningly. "You're wrong… You did save her, more than once. You saved each other." Eddie gripped Nat's hand tightly, God he wanted her to squeeze it back. "She wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

"I know." He said. Robin reached a hand over, placing it on Eddie's arm, she gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"She's gonna be okay."

When Steve screeched the RV into the parking lot of the hospital, Eddie was on his feet in an instant, pulling Nat into his arms. He turned, heading towards the door. Steve was in front of him, hands up. "Woah, Eddie. You can't go in there."

"What?" He said, "Move Harrington."

"Steve's right." Dustin said, "You're still a wanted man, Eddie. You can't just go into the hospital."

"I can't leave her." He whispered, looking down at Nat.

"It's okay man." Steve said gently, walking towards Eddie, arms outstretched, he reached under Nat, taking her weight. "We've got her. She's gonna be fine." Steve pulled Nat into him and Eddie felt the loss of her in his arms. He bent down, towards Nat's ear and whispered gently.

"I'm gonna be right here until you wake up." Moving back slightly, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, closing his eyes against the tears that welled.
Standing, he watched as Steve turned from him, Nat limp in his arms, and made his way from the RV, the others hot on his tail. Eddie watched through the window as they disappeared through the doors of the hospital and Nat vanished from his sight.