"Ah, I see it is an emotional time," Dr. Owens says as he looks in-between them, as tears have started rolling down Will's cheeks and he rubs them away harshly, embarrassed.
Jonathan notices as well as Nancy, and whilst Nancy looks confused, perhaps explaining it away as Will having just woken up and he's had a heart-warming, heart-breaking, whichever, conversation. Well, Jonathan? Jonathan thinks differently, and his eyes zero in on Mike's guilty expression, his hands that he can't seem to keep still in one spot, as he wipes them on his pants, reaches up to rub his neck, picks at the skin of his wrist; but most damning: the fact that his eyes never stray back toward Will.
"But if I could have just have a moment of your attention," Dr. Owens clears his throat uncomfortably, "Will, now that you've woken up, I've heard all about how desperate you are to get discharged." He throws quite the wearied look to Jonathan, who looks back at him, uncontrite, "but, see. That'll be difficult. I've had the rundown of what happened, and the, well. The behaviours you displayed," he looks to Mike's bruised throat, "personally and, quite a few others have expressed this, as well, we think it best to keep you for observation."
Will tries to butt in, face appalled, thinking desperately that he was no longer a threat, to anyone, now that Vecna was gone. Or, was he wrong? The gates were still open, the link was still fresh and still there. In the back of his mind, he could feel it, dormant, but alike to a waiting nightmare to be unleashed when he falls asleep, when he becomes complacent. Unbidden, thoughts of Vecna haunt him once again.
That his friends would think of him as a threat, as a monster, someone they couldn't trust for fear he could… do something. Harm them.
But the doctor continues, "ah, ah. None of that, please. I think it is fairly understandable we ask this of you. It won't be a long observation, and we'll of course run a few tests. But once we deem you clear of any… influence, then we'll let you go without any more hassling."
Dr. Owens claps his hands, "and if that's all. I have something of other importance to tend to. Alright boys, and young lady." He nods at Nancy, and then turns to leave.
As the door shuts, Jonathan goes, "sorry, buddy. I did try to convince him." He looks sheepishly at him.
"It's okay. At least you tried." Will accepts his plight in life, at this point.
"I'm so happy to see you well, Will." Nancy says, as she walks up to him and grabs him into a hug carefully. She brushes his hair, "at least in that other place, you're going to be allowed as many visitors as possible at whatever time of day or night, right?"
"I suppose so," Will cheers up a little, less despondent, "yeah. That's good." He smiles at her.
She smiles back and steps back from the hospital bed.
Elsewhere, the group had assembled at Hopper's cabin to visit El and Eddie and to continue fixing up the joint. El and Eddie had to be hidden, after all, and what better place than to do so? The duo, as unlikely as it seemed, had grown fond of each other. El found Eddie amusing, especially when he told her stories about Mike; funny ones. Eddie found El odd, but in a good way, a way that was endearing, and if weirdos couldn't get together and rejoice in their shared weirdness, then what was the point of this wretched old life?
They'd spent the first day collectively cleaning the place up, and intermittently visiting Will so he wouldn't be alone when he woke up, if he woke up anytime soon, and also going back home to meet the wrath of mothers and fathers, but mostly mothers, of course.
The police had been leveraged off with the forceful effort of Dr. Owens' people. So, they at least were safe from that. Questions from family, another thing entirely. But they'd gotten good with lies and building a semi-believable story.
The sheriff did remain uniquely suspicious despite the influence Dr. Owens provided, but he did not have the support from his fellow officers. Particularly, in fact, from his partner in crime, or definitely not partner in crime, as such is the case. Officer Callahan in question, seemingly intended to ignore the whole situation in favour of a relaxed posture in his chair at the station, holding up and shaking a packet of crisps to his open mouth.
"You are eleven, Erica. What part of that don't you understand?"
"So what? I could still have kicked butt better than you." She pushes a finger solidly into his chest.
Lucas huffs, "please, you'd, you'd have gone crying home to mom! Because you're a big, diaper-wearing baby. Wah-wah." He mimes himself crying.
"Excuse you."
Lucas abstains in defeat, raising his hands in a panic, fearing the worst.
But after a short silence with Erica crossing her arms moodily, glaring him down, she, with a huff, mutters, "I'm glad you're okay, anyway. You dork."
"What was that?" Lucas says, his voice excited, and he gestures as if to say, 'go on'.
She stomps his foot sullenly.
"ERICA!" He shouts, hopping on one leg and reaching for his foot, throbbing in pain, but she just runs off, flipping him a finger.
"That's what you get, bird-brain!"
El and Max both giggle at him from the couch.
"I don't know what you guys are laughing at. Make yourselves useful, maybe?"
"Hey, bird-brain, shut up." Max says, mockingly.
"Yeah, bird-brain. Shut up." El reiterates, sent back into a fit of giggles.
Lucas rolls his eyes at them.
Outside the cabin, Steve and Eddie are lugging back some essential materials and supplies to fix up the house a bit more. They'd managed to clean it quite thoroughly the day before, but Steve didn't want El and Eddie both to sleep in a place with a hole in the ceiling. Steve had actually stayed in the house with them, as well as Jonathan, of course. So, really, he was doing himself a favour, too (Steve didn't have much to go home to, unlike the others).
Steve kicks at the ground, and before they go to enter, he has the forethought to mention something that had been on his mind. Since, well. The Upside Down.
"Hey, man."
Eddie raises an eyebrow, "hey, man." He teases.
"Shut up. Seriously though. I've kind of just thought about it. Y'know, with everything my mind's been kind of, everywhere lately. But, when we were planning, well, the plan. Wasn't your group, you, plus Will and Mike? Because of the music?"
"Uh, yeah. And?" He waves one hand, as if not understanding exactly where the conversation was going.
"Well, I mean. You could've died."
"We all could've died, Harrington. Welcome to the world of hypotheticals, and 'what ifs'. It's no biggy." Eddie starts to go for the door, but Steve stops him.
"Wait." Steve breathes in, still sort of confused.
"Then why did you stay with us? When it put you in danger, you didn't really have to, so,"
"Didn't you know? Ol' Eddie is tired of running away. The trash didn't want to take himself out again for once, the trash instead wanted to step up and be the hero! Who knew?" Eddie says, scoffing lightly at himself in amusement, "but hey, lighten up Harrington. We made it. No point in wondering about what could have been, right?" He pats Steve on the back, seemingly appreciative, nonetheless.
"Okay. But what I'm trying to say is. Is that, even at the expense of yourself, you were there. And I've got to thank you, because without you, Munson... Well, you distracted Vecna, when he had me. So, yeah. You saved my life, probably." Steve shrugs, feeling awkward.
"Oh, Steve Harrington. You touch my sweet little metal heart. You are dearly welcome, by the fact that I potentially saved you your life. However could you repay me?" Eddie smirks, and Steve looks on at him as if he's a loon, and he continues, leaning in, "I surely know one way…" Eddie looks down, and flagrantly raises both eyebrows.
"What?" Steve says, voice careening into a high-pitch, and blushing scarlet (though he would absolutely deny so).
"Ha. You should see your face." And Eddie finally goes through the door, leaving Steve staring after him in disbelief for a moment, before he follows, shaking his head.