AN: Sorry about the cliffhanger. I couldn't resist.
Chapter 2- Discovery
Mike again woke up in an unfamiliar location. He was covered in thick blankets. He looked around and realized he was at Hopper's cabin. He noticed he was in one of Hopper's massive flannel shirts. His back was killing him. Mike remembered the couch wasn't very comfortable.
"How did I get here? Did I go to Hell?" Mike asked out loud. Mike felt the massive footsteps before he saw Jim Hopper walk out of his room. He was out of his uniform and now dressed like a massive lumber jack. "Yea, I did go to hell." Mike said as he laid back down.
Hopper grimaced as he went to check on Mike. "What the hell were you thinking Mike?" Hopper said as he checked to make sure he wasn't to cold. "I dunno, after chemo I am out of it a lot." Mike lied. He knew if Mike told him what his dad told him, there would be hell to pay. "How am I even here?" Mike asked.
"On a dare twenty years ago I once jumped in that river in similar conditions. I did it again and thankfully you got caught on a fallen tree." Hopper said. Mike just nodded. "Now, you hungry kid?" Hopper asked. Mike never felt like eating but he needed something so he agreed and Hopper made some food. "Is El around?" Mike asked. Hopper shook his head. "She is spending the night with Max at Billy's place. She does that sometimes." Hopper said.
"So, are you going to tell me what happened with you and Kline's boy or are you going to keep lying?" Hopper asked. Mike shrugged. "Didn't the mayor threaten you?" Mike asked. Hopper nodded. "Off the record. I am not Chief Hopper right now. I'm just Jim." Hopper said. Mike hoped that was the case. "He attacked me and Will. He has had a crazy hate boner for me through high school. I guess he hated that I dated El for a short period." Mike said.
Hopper nodded, putting that away for later. Hopper sat in his chair while Mike tried to get comfortable on the couch. "You want me to tell your folks your okay?" Hopper asked. "They might be worried about you." Mike thought about it, on one hand his dad did want him dead, on another he didn't want his mom to worry more. "Yea. I don't want mom to worry about me." Mike said. Hopper nodded and headed for the phone.
El and Max sat on the couch at Billy's place, trying to concentrate on the movie they were watching. Billy was out getting some food for them and Max could feel how tense her friend was. "You okay?" Max asked. El shook her head. "I feel like a world class bitch. Just being with that scumbag for so long. And how I never tried to at least talk to Mike. Fuck this is frustrating." El said getting up and pacing.
"Why didn't you talk to him? You mentioned a few times you missed him but never made a move." Max asked. El sighed with frustration. "Eric, he has the worst jealous streak. Mean bastard loved to talk about how he ruined some kid's college acceptance because he cut him off." El said. She sat back down next to Max and began sobbing. "I'm scared Max. I tried to break up with him last year and he said he would make my dad pay. I dunno what to do." She said. Max never heard this before from her.
"Look, you dumped him and he an whine to his dad he didn't get what he wanted, but hopefully his dad isn't that much of a psycho." Max said. El just looked at her. "Eric is a scary guy. He might also take it out on Mike." El said. Max nodded, that was also a possibility. "Well, I guess we need to watch out for him. Hell, I think people will now that everyone knows he's dying." Max said. At mentioning Mike's condition, El began sobbing more.
"Oh fuck." Max said as she wrapped her arms around El to comfort her. "It's okay. Hey he might make a full recovery." Max said, trying to sound hopeful. "I dunno. He looked bad." El said. As they sat together, Billy returned with food from Benny's. "Okay, I have chili cheese fries, some wonderfully greasy burgers, and what passes for a salad." He said pulling out bags of food from a larger bag. Both girls smiled as he handed them their meals. "So, Ted is a bastard." Billy said. El nodded, remembering his general demeanor when she used to hang with Mike. "While you were talking with Mike in his room, that lazy bastard was talking about how much of a burden he was. Like, oh yea if I had someone I cared for dying, I would work all the overtime to make sure they were okay." Billy said, growling. Max was not that surprised by that. Her talks with Lucas revealed how his dad and Mr. Wheeler had a falling out.
"Well, I hope you dipshits appreciate what I do for you. I rented Streets of Fire." Billy said. Both girls grinned as he pulled the video out. Billy hated the movie, mostly because he was into hard rock heavy metal, while Streets of Fire had the songs of Jim Steinman, and Billy hated Meat Loaf. But his sister and her friend were upset, he would put up with it.
Karen Wheeler was on edge. She felt she should not have left Mike at the hospital with just Ted When the door opened, Karen rushed to the door and only Ted was walking in. "Ted, where's Mike?" Karen asked. Ted shrugged. "Ran away when I went to the bathroom. I can't find him in this storm." Ted said, way too casually.
"What? You are telling me you lost our son?" Karen demanded. Ted shrugged again. "Hospital staff didn't see him leave and he must have slipped out." Ted said as he went into the kitchen. "What's for dinner?" Ted asked. Karen's rage began building up. "How the hell can you think about food when your child is missing?" She yelled. Ted rolled his eyes. "He didn't want to be around anymore, what do you want me to do?" Ted said, grabbing a beer from the fridge. "I want you to take care of our son you lazy sack of shit!" Karen yelled.
Ted rounded on her. "Look, Mike was a broken and useless kid anyway. He was straining our finances and if he decided he didn't want to be around, I won't stop him." Ted said. "Now what's for dinner?" Ted asked again.
Karen was furious and went upstairs, leaving Ted confused. Karen walked down the hall to Holly's room and found it empty, she then realized she was probably in Mike's room. And sure enough she was laying on his bed, reading one of Mike's old Dungeons and Dragon's campaign notes. "Sweety, get dressed, Mike is missing and we need to go to the police station." Karen said. A horrified look came on Holly's face as she quickly jumped off the bed and ran for her room and quickly put her shoes on. "Did Daddy leave him somewhere?" Holly asked. Karen's face softened at the question. "I dunno baby, but we are going to go look for him." She said. Karen barely made it down the stairs when the phone rang.
"Karen, get the phone." Ted called from the living room. Karen barely suppressed a snarl as she grabbed the phone. "Wheeler residence." She said, a little harsher than normal. "Karen, it's Jim." Came the voice of Jim Hopper. "Oh, Jim, sorry. I was heading to the station, Mike is missing." Karen said.
"Well, glad I caught you, Mike is at my cabin. I found him wandering the streets about ready to pass out." Hopper said. He wasn't going to tell her how he really found him. From his memory of Karen, the woman was overbearing at the best of times. "I'm going to have him stay here, he was kind of a drowned rat." Hopper said. Karen breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I am coming over. I need to bring him some medicine." Karen said. "Okay, yea, I forgot he needs mediation." Hopper said. "See you in a bit." And Hopper ended the call. "Change of plans honey." Karen said, relief in her voice. "Mikey is okay?" Holly asked. Karen nodded. "Yes, Mikey is okay. Lets go bring his medication." Karen said.
Ted sat on his chair, wondering about the phone call. "Karen, who was on the phone?" He yelled. Instead of an answer, he heard the door open and a moment later, the car starting. Sometimes Ted wondered why he kept his marriage to her.
The ride to Hopper's cabin was short but Karen felt like it was taking forever. She was worried about her son. Not for one minute did she believe Larry about how his son was just rough housing with Mike. She had half a mind to drag that hooligan by his ear and make him pay for hurting her son.
As they drove down the trail, Holly looked around, fascinated by the trees. Karen felt guilt, she must have neglected her daughter in favor of Mike. She reached over and held her daughter's hand. They slowed when Karen saw the small cabin. Karen remembered many times picking up Mike from here, he never wanted to leave, then he started dating Hopper's daughter and things got complicated. Karen never noticed a change in his attitude, but then again she was busy with her own crisis of her marriage. But it appeared when El dumped him, the hits kept coming to her son as he collapsed in the basement. Karen sometimes has nightmares of Will Byers telling her about Mike's fall.
The car stopped and Karen pulled out a massive bag of medicine and she headed for the door with Holly. She barely got to the door when Hopper opened the door. "He's in here." Hopper said as he let her in. Karen rushed over to her son, bundled in blankets, weakly eating chicken soup. She began fussing over him as he began taking several pills. "Oh baby, why did you leave the hospital?" Karen fussed. Mike was having a hard time looking at her, feeling incredible guilt. "I…. didn't want to be a burden." Mike said. Karen's eyes narrowed. "That's your father talking and you listen to me Michael Theodore Wheeler, you are not a burden." She said pulling him into a hug. Mike had tears in his own eyes as his mother gently, yet firmly, hugged him. Holly sat to the side, she was worried about her brother, and she asked a question that she never thought she would ask.
"Mommy, why does Daddy hate Mikey?" Holly asked. Both Mike and Karen looked at each other, not sure how to answer. Hopper looked confused as well, not knowing how to answer her question. "Sweetheart, daddy is having a hard time with accepting Mike's illness." Karen started, hating to lie to her. "He is just… he shows love a different way." Holly didn't believe that. "No, daddy never looks at Mikey. He just ignores him. It's like daddy doesn't want Mikey around." Holly said, tears in her eyes.
"Holly, come here." Mike said, opening the blankets. Holly rushed in and Mike pulled her into a hug. "Holly, dad has always had a hard time showing me any affection. I don't think he hates me." Mike said, trying to comfort the child. Karen stood up and motioned to speak with Hopper in the next room. Hopper nodded and led her in.
"Ted absolutely hates Mike." Karen said when the door closed. Hopper nodded. "You know what he asked for when he came home without Mike? Where's dinner?!" Karen said, slightly raising her voice. Hopper put his hands on her shoulders. "Look, if you want, I'll have a talk with him. You guys stay here for the night." Hopper said. Karen nodded, she didn't want to leave her son alone or deal with her husband.
They both left the room and Hopper went to the pair on the couch. "Your mom and sister are staying here. I have some errands to run." Hopper said. Mike nodded as Hopper gently squeezed his shoulder. Hopper then grabbed his keys and headed out.
El and Max were enjoying the movie, while Billy was annoyed while watching when the door knocked. Billy went to answer and on the other side was Eric Kline. Billy stepped out and closed the door. "What do you want?" Billy demanded. Eric glared at him. "I want my woman out here explaining herself." He said. Billy scoffed. "Little lesson tough guy. You don't own her, and if she doesn't want to talk to you, just accept it." Billy said. Eric made a move to shove past him, but Billy shoved him back. "You may be the tough guy in school, picking on weaker kids to make your pecker seem large. But you come here and think you can start shit with my sister and her friend, buddy you got another thing coming." Billy said.
Eric wasn't stupid, he had another way to deal with people he couldn't intimidate. "You'll get yours Hargrove. Count on it." He said as he walked off. Billy smirked at him as he left. He then went back in and sat on a chair while the girls looked at him curious. "Eric came by, I told him to leave gently." Billy said. Both girls laughed. El silently got worried. Eric always bragged about things he could get his dad to agree to. And Mayor Kline usually went along with what he said.
"Mike, come in. Seeing if your all right." Will said into the supercomm. He was worried, Mike always contacted them after he got home from chemo. Joyce stood by his door, watching his son worry about his friend. "Sweetie, maybe he was tired. You saw how he got after those sessions. He is always exhausted." Joyce said. She took a seat next to Will who was still jittery. "Yea, but I was worried. He got beat up earlier. Joyce nodded as she stroked Will's back. "He will be at school Monday. And if need by, I'll go to the Wheeler's and check on him." Joyce said.
"What's going on?" Nancy asked as she entered Will's room. The past year, she had been living with the Byers after a fight with her dad. "Is Mike, okay?" She asked again, worry in her voice. Will was stunned, he thought her and Jonathan left. "Nancy, listen. Mike was in a fight at school." Joyce said. Nancy's eyes went wide and wild. "WHAT?!" She shouted. Joyce shushed her and put her hands on her shoulders.
"What happened? Is he okay?" Nancy demanded, looking at Will. "He was taken to the hospital after Eric Kline and some of his goons jumped him at lunch. Also, it kind of let the cat out of the bag about his illness." Will said. Nancy began pacing and getting frantic.
"Fuck, this isn't happening." Nancy said. She hated that she had to leave her siblings after her argument with her dad, but he forbade her from coming to the house, and the times she tried to see him at the hospital, Ted would remove her. Now she was scared she wouldn't ever get to see him.
"Relax, I'll call Hop and see if I can get him to look into it." Joyce said. Nancy nodded as she sat down next to Will, who was also a pile of nerves. Nancy put an arm around him to support him, also trying to support herself.
Jonathan entered the house a moment later, exhausted from his shift at Post. He worked both as a photographer and as the night janitor. Nancy worked at both the Post and waitressed at Benny's. Working both jobs put a strain on their health, but they were trying to get their own place while also helping Joyce out.
He waved to his mother on the phone as he headed to his room when he heard Nancy in Will's room. He made a tired detour in his room and found Nancy and Will sitting together. "What's going on?" He asked. Will and Nancy quickly got him up to speed, which only enraged him. "I am going to kill that kid." Jonathan said, sitting on the floor.
Joyce then walked in. "I called Hop and Karen answered. Mike is staying at the cabin." She said. Nancy quickly scrambled up and headed for the room she shared with Jonathan. She quickly got dressed and headed for the door.
"Nancy, its getting late. I think Mike needs his rest." Jonathan said as he saw Nancy trying to open the door without the key. "Also you need to sleep babe." Jonathan said. Nancy kept trying to open the door. "It won't open Jonathan. I need to see him." She said as tears came back to her. Jonathan grabbed hold of her as they collapsed on the ground.
Nancy then fell asleep once she was done and Jonathan carried her inside. Will helped him with his door and placed her on their bed. The rest of the family was sitting in the kitchen. Jonathan looked frustrated and exhausted. "When was the last time you ate honey?" Joyce asked. Jonathan shrugged. "I eat when I can. Hardly get a lunch break anymore." He said. Will got up and started heating something on the stove.
"Hey buddy you don't need to do that." Jonathan said. Will then turned to him fiercely. "I can't help my best friend but god damnit you are going to sit and eat something or so help me I will kick your ass!" Will said. Jonathan and Joyce both blinked at the frustrated teen and both sat down while Will fried some omelets.
They ate in silence, with Will putting an omelet away for Nancy in the morning. "Now you make sure she eats in the morning." Will said, pointing a finger at Jonathan. He nodded, scared of his little brother. Will then walked to his room and shut the door. "Where the hell did that come from?" Jonathan asked. Joyce smiled at her eldest son.
"I think he is frustrated that he can't do anything. I am glad he is coming into his own." Joyce said as she went to her room. Jonathan followed suit and went to his room. He got out of his clothes and laid down next to Nancy, falling asleep instantly.
Hopper hated going to the Mayor's residence. Once upon a time, he and Larry were good friends but the past decade put a strain on that. If it wasn't for him covering for his son, it was also how Hopper tended to feel restrained by the job. Many times Hopper had to get Larry from his mistress's home, or from an out of town brothel. That was not the job of the Chief of Police, that was a job for his underlings.
Hopper rang the doorbell and he was greeted by Winnie. Hopper smiled at the woman. "Jim, why you are here late. Come inside." She said, letting Hopper in. She was a woman maybe five years Hoppers junior. He remembered when Larry met her. Hopper thought she was working at a club in Indianapolis. "Yea, 'fraid I need to talk to Larry about something." Hopper said. She nodded and escorted Hopper to the study, where Larry was reading.
"Winnie, I asked not to be disturbed." He said, frustrated. "Well, I insisted." Hopper said, walking in. Larry looked up, shocked. "Jim, what brings you here late in the evening?" Kline asked. He motioned for Hopper to take a seat and Hopper gladly took it. "We need to talk about your son." Hopper said.
Larry knew this was coming. He was always prepared for this discussion, but hoped Jim would never come to him. "I am guessing he did something else?" Larry asked. Hopper shook his head. "Larry, you can't keep covering for him. Look, I turned my head on a few things because you got me this job, but damnit he thinks he can get away with assaulting a kid with cancer." Hopper said.
Larry sat back and listened to Hopper. "I know. God he sometimes is more trouble than he is worth. I think I spoiled him to much." Larry said. Jim poured himself a drink. "Look, I gotta say this. He does something else, I am coming down on him. Hard. This isn't right. Hell he's lucky I didn't beat him to death when I threw him out of my cabin." Hopper said.
"What?" Kline asked. He was confused. "Yea, El had him over. I told him the rules about boys over and he closed the door and I heard he was pressuring her to do things she wasn't ready for. I grabbed him by the back of his neck and told him to never come back. He said you would fire me if I touched him again." Hopper said.
Larry was fuming. All he asked of Eric was to just keep his nose clean and play football. "Okay, your right Jim, no more protections." Larry said. "I'll hold you to that." Hopper said, shaking his hand.
Eric then walked into the study, with Winnie not far behind. "Dad, that Hargrove asshole won't let me see my girlfriend. Can you see if he can be arrested or something?" Eric said not noticing Hopper. "Well Eric, if she doesn't want to see you, then you need to wait till she wants to talk." Larry said, weary from speaking to the boy already. Eric noticed Hopper and faced him. "Look, you go and arrest him so I can talk to that bitch." Eric said. Hopper gave him a stare and walked towards him, only to be stopped by Larry.
"Ignore him Jim." Larry said. Eric got a smug look on his face. "Now you young man. You are on thin ice here. One more fuck up like you did today and I will not only let Hopper arrest you, but I'll turn you in myself. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" Kline demanded. Eric slowly nodded his head, never seeing this side of his father. "Now go to your room, your grounded for the month." Larry said. "But…But…" Eric stammered. "NO BUTS! NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM!" Larry shouted. Eric nodded and ran out of the study. Winnie nodded to her husband in approval and left.
"Well, that works. Listen, I would love to stay and keep trying this brandy, but I have one more thing to do." Hopper said. Larry smiled at the larger man and shook his hand again. "Don't be a stranger. I'll see you at the meetings on Monday." Larry said. Hopper nodded and headed out.
Hopper drove to the Wheeler house. Ted was still awake. Hopper could tell by the lights still on. Hopper got out of his truck and banged on the door. Ted opened the door after a moment. "Jim, what are you doing here?" Ted asked. Hopper didn't respond, he just punched the man in the face. Ted fell back, surprised. "What the hell?" Ted was confused. Hopper grabbed him by his shirt and punched him a couple more times. "Jim, what are you doing?" Ted asked. Hopper stood him up and slammed him to a wall. "Listen here. You are going to keep paying for Mike's treatments. You are going to be civil with him. He doesn't need some of the bullshit you give him as he dies." Hopper growled. Ted nodded. "I…I'll try." Ted said. Hopper pulled him towards his face. "You better, or next time I won't come alone." Hopper said, slamming him against the wall.
"You want help with him, you call me. I'll arrange for it." Hopper said as he walked out of the house. Hopper got back in his truck and contacted the cabin. "Hopper, is everything okay?" Karen asked.
"Everything is fine. I am staying at the station tonight. You guys use the beds. My daughter might stay the weekend at Billy's" Hopper said. "Okay, thank you Jim." Karen said and Hopper ended the call.
Karen looked to her kids, both bundled up on the couch. "C'mon Michael. You are sleeping in a bed." Karen said, helping him into Hopper's room. Mike was assisted by Holly, who named herself his personal nurse.
Once the kids were situated on the bed, Karen grabbed some pillows and blankets and laid down on the couch. She didn't sleep till she could hear her son's breathing in the other room. Then Karen fell asleep herself.
AN: I know, slow chapter, but if it's a drama I tend to take things slow. As always I look forward to feedback.
