"Agent Stinson," the woman said, outstretching her hand. Jonathan hesitantly took it.

"Jonathan Byers. Oh, uh, and this is Will and Mike."

Mike awkwardly waved.

"May we come inside?" she asked. "It's about Eleven"

Gesturing for them to enter the house, the group settled in the living room. He, Will, and Jonathan sat on the couch while the agents stood across from them.

"We've come to let you know about something going on back in Hawkins," Agent Stinson said." There's been a string of murders, but they aren't from any average human. The US government believes Eleven is involved in these killings. Currently, she's in hiding. We're trying to get her powers back to stop whatever is happening. To keep you safe, you need protection. Harmon and Wallace have been assigned to do just that."

Mike stared at them in confusion but also with fear.

His family was in Hawkins. His friends were in Hawkins. Were they in danger?

"Wait, so we're under house arrest," Will scoffed.

"As I said before, you're under protection."

"I'm sorry. I'm having trouble understanding any of this," Jonathan said, a flare of anger in his voice. He must be worried just like Mike." I mean, what exactly is going on in Hawkins? What's doing these killings."

"That's what we're trying to ascertain."

"Where is El, like, right now," Mike asked.

"For her safety, it's best you don't know."

Mike flipped out, shouting, "This is insane! This is insane."

"So this training to get El's powers back, how long is it gonna take" Jonathan questioned.

"Could take weeks, could take months."

"Months?" Will said.

"Until then, agents Harmon and Wallace will stay with you."

"We're not in danger," Mike pointed out.

"Our friends live in Hawkins," Will told them.

"My family lives in Hawkins," Mike added worriedly. He feared for his sisters and parents.

He knew that Nancy would be investigating. He just knew it. What if something terrible happened to her? What if she got hurt? And what about Holly? She was too young for her to deal with this.

"I'll work to contain the situation until Eleven is ready," she responded." In the meantime, it is of vital importance you do not speak to anyone about this."

Mike scoffed. "No. No way."

"I know this is difficult to understand."

"It's not difficult. This is impossible."

"There are factions within our government who are working directly against Eleven, who are, in fact, searching for her as we speak. We can't risk contact," Agent Stinson retorted." If they learned about any of this, it will jeopardize Eleven. And if Eleven is jeopardized, so are your friends. And so is your family."

Mike glared." So, what? We're just supposed to trust that you're the good guys? Whoever you are."

"We're friends of Owens. Eleven trusted us. Now we're asking the same from you."

Sighing, agent Stinson handed him a letter. "For you."

It was from Eleven.

Rushing upstairs to read it, he slammed his door behind him. As he sat on the bed and opened it, his heart dropped.

Dear Mike,

I have gone to become a superhero again.

From, El.

From, El.

Shit. He had messed up.

The next day, Harmon and Wallace watched over them. The general rules were not to leave the house, no contact with their friends, and no sneaking off.

So, as Will paced his room, playing with a rubber ball, Mike could see the annoyance in his friend's eyes.

Meanwhile, he was barely paying attention. All he could think of was Eleven's letter that he held in his hands. He'd read 'From, El' a dozen times now.

"I… I mean, I don't think they've thought this through," Will huffed." If this goes on for a month or months, and if people can't get a hold of us, they're gonna totally freak out. Meanwhile, my mom's probably having a panic attack. And what about Hawkins? That lady's supposed to keep it "contained," Like you can contain any of this without El. I mean."

"Yeah," Mike mumbled.

Will sighed.

"If you keep staring at that, it's not gonna change. You know"

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right," Crumpling the piece of paper, Mike threw it in the trashcan.

Will sat next to him on his bed, and Mike explained everything to Will. "Before the cops came, me and El, we… we had a bad fight. We never fight. I mean, we fought before, but just, like, silly fights, stupid fights. But I don't know; this one just felt more adult. Like, it… it just felt more real," he uttered." Like, a fight you can't come back from. Maybe I should've said something, and if I would've said that thing, then maybe she'd want me there with her, wherever she is."

Will shook his head." No. Look, Mike, you're gonna see her again, and whatever you didn't say, you can say it to her then. Okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah."

"She's gonna be okay. She's not in Hawkins. That's what we should be worrying about."

"You don't trust Owens."

Will shrugged." No. I don't know. I mean, he's been good to us and good to El, but he wasn't able to protect me. That was you guys who saved me. That was you guys."

Mike sighed." Looks like it's gonna be up to us again."

"It always is, isn't it."

They laughed.

Suddenly, Jonathan appeared in the doorway." Which is why we can't stay here/" He pulled up a chair in front of them, sitting backward on it." Listen, let's assume these friends of Owens are telling the truth. We can't call Hawkins without alerting the military, putting El in danger. Fine. Then we'll just go to them."

"Go to Hawkins," Mike asked.

Will shared the same concern. "How?"

"What are you worried about? Ponch and Jon out there? They're half-asleep now watching golf."

"No, Jonathan. I mean, we don't have a car or money," Will pointed out.

"Then we'll hail ourselves a ride. A cheap one," Jonathan replied, and he held up a 'Surfer Boy Pizza' slip.

"Argyle," they responded in unison.

Running downstairs, Mike called to Wallace," "Excuse me, sir? Excuse me, sir?"

"What?"

"We're hungry," Will said, holding up the slip.

Wallace turned to Harmon. "I could eat."

So, as they called Argyle, Mike, Will, and Jonathan went to pack.

Mike only had to grab a few items, before entering Will's room with his bag.

"You're packed already?" Will asked.

"Yeah, I mean, I never really unpacked." Then, sitting on the bed, Mike said, "Thanks, by the way."

"For what?"

"For knocking some sense into me. I was being a total self-pitying idiot."

"Oh, I didn't say it."

Mike shook his head." You didn't have to," He chuckled." Hey, also, about the last few days-"

"You don't have to say anything," Will cut him off." I… I was being a total jerk to El. I deserved it."

"No. No, no, no. You didn't deserve anything. Listen, the truth is, the last year has been weird, you know? And I mean, you know, Max and Lucas and Dustin, they're… they're great. They're great. It's just… It's Hawkins. It's not the same without you. And I feel like maybe I was worrying too much about El, and I don't know, maybe I feel I lost you or something. Does that make sense?"

Will nodded, prompting Mike to continue." I have no idea what's gonna happen next. But, whatever it is, I… I think we should work together. I think it'll be easier if we're… we're a team. Friend. Best friends."

He could see tears welling in Will's eyes.

"Cool," he said.

Mike smiled." Cool."

They heard tires screech on their driveway, and Mike said, "That was fast."

"Thirty minutes or less."

Jonathan entered the room." All right. You guys ready?"

"Yeah," they said together. Then, as the doorbell rang, they were just ready to leave out the window when….

Bang!

"What the hell was that?!" Jonathan yelled, startled." Stay here!"

They watched him run out the room, and about five seconds passed before he was back down the staircase."-Listen, we gotta go right now!"

Suddenly, the window was smashed open, and gunfire rained down. Mike wasn't quite sure how they managed to escape the room, but not a single bullet hit them.

Harmon called them forward as everyone cursed." Move! Move!"

Shooting what appeared to be a soldier at the door, Mike and the others rushed to the wall, sticking beside the agent.

Jonathan put a protective hold on both boys, trying to bring them out of harm's way.

Suddenly the glass sliding door shattered, and Mike screamed," "Shit!"

Somehow he was able to take both of the soldiers down.

Damn, this dude was like a one-nation army….

"Follow me!"

Holding each other's shoulders, they were forced to round the corner as more soldiers burst through the doors.

They huddled on the opposite side of the wall, throwing multiple curse words around.

"What the hell is going on?" Mike shrieked.

"Just stay there," Harmon commanded. Rounds of bullets headed their way, causing him to order them to duck.

Mike's heart was racing faster than he'd ever experienced. Even more than with the mindflayer or the demogorgan.

"I shoot, you run!"

Sprinting out the door as the agent fired his handgun, Mike abruptly noticed how Harmon was wounded, a bullet to his abdomen. Helping the man stand up properly, Mike was relieved as Jonathan joined them.

He was beyond grateful to see Argyle pulling up, and Jonathan ran to smack on the window.

Opening the van and shoving Harmond inside, they yelled, "Go, go, go!"

"Whoa, is that real blood, man?!"

"Drive!"

"Okay, alright!" Argyle called back. He suddenly noticed a soldier walking out of the house, his gun drawn at the van.

"But… Oh my God. Why is that guy holding a gun?!"

"Drive!"

"Okay!"

Speeding away, all Mike could hear was the blood rushing to his ears and 'Pass The Duchie' playing over the radio.