AN: I am so sorry for how long this took. I had been working 70-80 hour weeks. I finally had a moment to finish the story.
Chapter 14
The ride back to Hawkins was quiet. The only sounds came from Harrison asking his father several dozen questions about things. Mike smiles as the small child would point and ask "What that?" in his toddler voice. This time he pointed at Mike's bruises.
"Well little man, your daddy played a little rough today." He gently said to him. Harrison still looked confused. Mike smiled at the child as he decided to find El fascinating again. El was still unsure around the child. He climbed on her lap and just stared at her. El tried to smile at the small child but she was nervous.
Max walked up to her and claimed the child back. "Yea, he usually is shy as all hell. I would take it as a good sign he likes you." She said. El shrugged. "I don't have a lot of experience with kids." She said. Max smiled at her. "Yea, you should have seen me when he was even smaller. I swear I almost killed Karen. Every five seconds she was criticizing me." Max said. Mike shuddered at the memory.
Mike's mother was excited to be a grandmother but hated the fact that it wasn't proper. Mike and Karen had many shouting matches the first few months of Harrison's life. Luckily after Ted privately told Karen to calm down and after a few heart to hearts with Max, did Karen start behaving like a normal person.
Harrison kept an interest in El, before snuggling with his mother. Max kept a slight death grip while she had a relaxed expression on her face. She was glad that her boy was home and the next asshole who tried was getting a closed casket funeral.
El looked over and saw Hopper resting, Suzie had already patched up his wounds. The bullets were in and out in non vital areas. El had been worried but she trusted Suzie to treat him. She walked over to him and saw him open his eyes at her.
"Hey there." Hopper said, a smile forming on his face. El smiled back at him. "Hey yourself." She said. Hopper moved out of the way so El could sit next to him. "Young lady, you have been out WAY past your curfew." Hopper said. El laughed. Hopper's face then became serious. "I never thought I would ever see you again. "Hopper said. El saw tears were welling up in his eyes.
El snuggled up to Hopper, careful not to agitate his wounds. Hopper wrapped an arm around her. "I can't even begin to imagine what you went through in there." Hopper said. El began feeling all the emotions she kept suppressed for the past fifteen years and began crying into his arms.
Mike watched them, feeling the sadness and relief come over the both of them. He felt the seat next to him get occupied and he looked over to see Jericho sitting next to him.
"You know this isn't over right?" He said. Mike nodded. He remembered the President authorized this mess. "I dunno what we are going to do." Mike said. Jericho leaned back, his leg was wrapped and the slash above his eye was stitched up. "If you know a pretty good lawyer and maybe some way to lay low, I got a plan." Jericho said. Mike smirked. "I might know a guy."
October 5th 2001- a few months later- Washington DC
A blue Camaro parked in the visitor spot outside the Pentagon. A man in a suit stepped out. He had brown wavy hair that seemed to glisten with the sun. He smirked as several women looked his way as he passed, heading into the visitor entrance for the Pentagon. He stopped by the receptionist and smiled to her.
She looked up, warmly smiled at the handsome man leaning on the desk. "May I help you sir?" She asked, her voice higher than normal. The man smiled. "William Hargrove, I have a meeting with General Fletcher." He said. The woman looked at her computer and checked the appointment section. "He is expecting you, head through security." She said, directing him to the extensive security protocols.
Billy mused that two months ago this wouldn't be necessary, but since the events last month, even he had to admire the amount of security that sprung up overnight. Getting to Washington from California was a bit of a hassle by plane, so Billy got in his car and drove the whole way. His wife groaned at the idea of him driving, but Billy said he needed to get there without being noticed by a few interested parties.
He remembered in July he got a phone call in the night from Joyce Hopper about them finding El, and how they were going to rescue his nephew from those same dirtbags who took him. Billy wanted to fly down very quick to help, but a few hours later he got a call saying they were all safe and relatively unharmed. They did though, need his legal expertise. Billy flew to Indiana and interviewed the mercs and their prisoner, a disgraced doctor who helped with the experiments at Project Argus. Billy felt sick about what he read in the files they stole from them.
With the facility destroyed, they waited to see how long before agents would come to reclaim their weapon. Jericho's contacts in the NSA though told them that they were in the dark. Brenner had been keeping people in the dark and did not want to alert people to his plans. Billy mused that the Government was glad he was dead. Jericho seemed to agree but they still couldn't let their guard down. They still were looking to silence witnesses.
Billy was preparing to go to Washington, then the events of September 11th happened. It put the Government on high alert, and sent their troops to fight in Afghanistan. It bought them some breathing room. But a month later, Billy got into contact with someone who he could get the Government off their backs. He just needed a little incentive.
Walking to the office, he saw it was a special operations insignia on the wall. Before he could knock, the door opened and he was greeted by a tall Marine Corps. General. His hair was grey in a high and tight cut. He was wearing his Class A uniform, and he was annoyed at the visitor.
"You were expected twenty minutes ago Mr. Hargrove." Fletcher said. Billy flashed him a smile. "Sorry, but I was a little late, security and such." He said as he walked past the general. The general was annoyed at this arrogant lawyer stepping in before he was invited.
"Let's get down to business General." Billy said as he took a seat. Fletcher walked around and sat at his desk. "Yes, lets. I hope you appreciate that we have a war going on." He said. Billy smiled at the man. He then opened his briefcase and handed him a folder. "I know about Project Argus." Billy said. Fletcher looked up, shocked. "How do you know about that?" He demanded. "When you and your cronies authorized a strike in a small town and took a teenage girl." Billy said, a hard edge in his voice.
"That was authorized by the President." Fletcher countered. Billy smiled again. "Yes, I found that nice little authorization form. But Brenner is dead, and all that dirt he had on powerful people is no longer holding over them." Billy said. Fletcher felt his mouth go dry. "I also have Dr. Ryan. Did you know he sings very easily?" Billy said.
Fletcher looked around, he needed a drink and he walked to his cabinet and pulled out a glass and some bourbon. He quickly poured himself a glass. Brenner seemed to have everything under control, and with Fletcher's help, they were going to change things around. He saw his other gun and he grabbed it.
Whirling around, Fletcher found himself face to face with Billy, who grabbed his arm and slammed him to the ground, twisting the gun out of his hand. "You think I didn't know the gun was in there?" Billy asked. Fletcher looked at him with astonishment. "I have a friend who can look in your office. She warned me about that." He snarled.
"GUARDS, HELP ME!" Fletcher screamed. At that moment, several armed Marines entered the room. Billy got up and stood back, still smirking. "This man attacked me and is trying to blackmail me!" Fletcher declared while pointing at Billy. The guards looked at Billy then focused on Fletcher. "General Fletcher, we were given orders to place you under arrest." One of the guards said. Fletcher looked at the men in shock as they lifted him up and handcuffed him.
"This can't be happening. It went perfectly." Fletcher said as he was escorted out. One of the guards walked up to Billy. "Thank you for keeping him busy." The man said, shaking Billy's hand. "I do love to serve my country." He said with a smirk.
Hawkin's- Hopper's Cabin- 1 week later
Mike sat on the recliner reading the newspaper. They had been in hiding for months, keeping themselves out of sight for the most part. Luckily the news of his manhunt was largely forgotten and he was glad for the peace and quiet of Hawkins.
El largely kept herself busy, relearning the world. Her hair grew back within a month of being in the cabin, she vowed to never let it get short ever again. Largely she was happy to find herself not in a sterile white lab.
The pair went on lots of nature walks, keeping to the old rules. The others were also in hiding, but in plain sight. Max was staying with her mother with Lucas, Will and Chad were living in the Mayor's house, while Dustin and Suzie were keeping an eye on things in Indianapolis.
Jericho assured them that the blowback is being contained, but Mike still had the old paranoia in him. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Mike was reading about more security measures when a small hand tapped his leg.
Mike looked down and smiled as his son looked up at him. "Whats up buddy?" Mike asked his son. Harrison pointed to El's room. "Need help" Harrison said. Mike smiled as he picked his son up and walked into her room.
El was sitting cross legged on her bed in deep meditation. Mike wondered what she did in these trances. Mike sat down at the end of the bed and Harrison climbed out of his grip and moved to sit with El.
In the few months they had been in hiding, Harrison grew attached to El. Despite being unsure of the small child, El began getting comfortable with him. It also helped she could make him fly with little effort. Harrison liked El, and Mike was glad for that. The two still danced around whether they were together or not. Mostly due to the psychological strain El had been under for years.
Harrison climbed to El's face and kissed her cheek, making her get out of her meditation trance. She opened her eyes and saw Harrison's smiling face. "You are lucky you are adorable." El said as she lifted him with her mind. Harrison began giggling. "You know he does that just to get you to do that?" Mike asked teasingly. El smiled at the giggling boy. "Yea, but I find it to be a better use of my powers than spying on China." El said. Mike nodded as he moved to sit next to her.
"Find anything interesting?" He asked. El nodded. "Billy is on his way. He is getting Dad to come over here." El said. Mike nodded. Hopefully the hiding will end.
El lowered Harrison onto the bed and he crawled between them. El smiled and put her head on Mike's shoulder while Mike put his hand around her waist. El let out a content sigh. The months were great, especially the amount of time she got to spend catching up with her family. Hopper sometimes called the cabin to verify they were still there, almost like this was all a dream.
A knock on the door startled the pair as El used her powers to see outside. "It's Billy and Dad." She said. She flicked the door open as the group walked out of the room. "Hey kid." Hopper said pulling her into a hug. El smiled at the sight of her dad in his suit. Mike shook Billy's hand as he greeted the group.
"Okay, let's get down to business." Billy said as he sat down at the table while Mike made tea. Billy opened up his briefcase and pulled out several papers.
"The files Suzie took from that base were a huge help for us." Billy began. "I had a few meetings with NSA and CIA officials. From there, I had a few meetings with the White House. Brenner's intel and blackmail caused a lot of grief over the years. Secretly, several high level Government Officials were arrested. And finally, I got this from the Vice President." Billy said as he handed El a folder. El grabbed it and opened it. She was shocked by what she found. One was a birth certificate, declaring her Jane Hopper, daughter of Jim Hopper. The other was a letter from the President declaring her a person and no longer property of the US Government. Finally, a check for one hundred million dollars, for pain and suffering.
Mike held onto El as she cried with joy. "Does this mean it's over?" Hopper asked. Billy nodded. "Anyone who had something to do with Brenner has been arrested, all files about Project Argus have been destroyed. You guys are free to live your lives." Billy said. Mike was also crying in joy. Billy looked over at Hopper and nodded. "Well, I am taking the munchkin for the night. I think you guys could use a break." Billy said hoisting Harrison over his shoulder. Hopper nodded as the man left with the toddler. "Yea, I think you two have a lot to talk about." Hopper said as he left the pair.
That evening, El and Mike sat on the couch, facing each other while they needed to know what to say. "I can't believe it's over." El said. Mike nodded. He was still half expecting Brenner to burst in telling them it was all a trap. El could read it on his face. "I know, I sometimes feel it to. But I know he is dead. And everything else has been cleaned up." El said. Mike nodded, but in his mind, he has been paranoid for fifteen years and that was just habit.
"What do we do now?" El asked. Mike smiled at her. "We take things one day at a time. Just try to rebuild our lives." Mike said. "Will you help me?" El asked. Mike smiled at her and nodded. "I will be there for you, forever if you want me." Mike said. El moved closer to him. "I kept holding hope forever. I missed everything about you, about us. Mike, I love you. I don't think I can truly love another the way I love you." El said. Mike was having a hard time speaking as tears came to him. "I love you to." Mike said and kissed her passionately. They held that until they came up for air. El smiled at him and the pair laid down on the couch, El wrapping her arms around his neck. "I just want to be close to you Mike. Hold me." El said. Mike complied as the pair laid down on the couch, just being in each other's company.
The next day- Waffle house
Mike and El walked in, hand in hand and found the booth where Jericho was waiting. The wound above his eye left a scar but his leg wound healed fine. He was going to be back to work soon. "Hey love birds. Enjoy your nesting?" Jericho said with a smile. Mike grinned back at him. "Just glad we could leave the nest." Mike said as the pair sat down at the booth. A waitress came and took their orders, with El ordering a massive stack of waffles. Jericho laughed at the waitress expression.
"Okay, so now that the work is done, and I collected my fee. It's about time I searched for greener pastures." Jericho said. Mike nodded, while was glad it was over, he was sad his new friend was off on more adventures. "What will you do now?" El asked. Jericho smiled. "Bravo Company still needs to work. Gotta get some new recruits. My little brother still needs care." He said. El nodded. "If he needs help, I can be there for him." El said. Jericho nodded.
"That's mighty kind of you. I might keep that in mind." Jericho said. Their order came in and they ate in peace.
"What will you do now?" Jericho asked as they finished. Mike and El looked at each other. "We are just taking things one day at a time now. But we talked about maybe staying here in Hawkins." El said. Jericho scoffed. "I spent way to long here. I can't wait to get out and back to work." Jericho said. Mike laughed. "Well, I am done with adventuring for a while." Mike said. Jericho nodded. "Yea, you just be a good parent. That's your adventure." Jericho said as he got up from the booth.
El got out and gave him a hug that Jericho returned. "I dunno how to thank you." She said. "Just keep living. Future is yours now." Jericho said. He looked to Mike and shook his hand. "You go back to being a boring nerd. I don't want to take you on again." Jericho said. Mike nodded. "Yea, hate to kick your ass again." Mike said. Jericho pointed a finger at him with a severe look. "We were interrupted." Jericho said.
Mike laughed and the group said their goodbyes. Jericho walking to the steel mill that was being used as their temporary headquarters. "You wouldn't mind living in Hawkins?" El asked. Mike nodded. "I met the best person ever here." He said looking at her. El smiled and the pair walked to the car, going to meet the others, and also to the rest of their lives.
AN: So I reread this chapter and I am going to write another chapter to give it a proper ending. Sorry if this was lackluster. I was burned out and stupid and will fix the problem.
