Steve ducked into an empty store as a roar shattered the quiet. He slid down behind the counter and watched through the stained window as a Demogorgon stalked by. His grip tightened around the bat, waiting for it to notice his scent or something and turn but it didn't. After a few minutes, he finally worked up the courage to get up.

Avoiding the shattered glass littering the street he crossed the intersection at a run and ducked into an alley. It cut out a good block of the town centre and would save him at least ten minutes, as long as there wasn't anything creeping in the shadows.

Feeling eyes on him, Steve ducked low to crouch through a ripped-open fence. He was careful not to cut himself, remembering how Barbara died. No blood.

He hadn't been able to shake the feeling of being watched since leaving the Creel house. If someone - or something - was following him they had decided against attacking for now. Steve desperately hoped he could find Eddie at the trailer park, it was his only lead.

How long had it been since he promised to save Eddie? More than a few hours surely. Not that he was currently in a position to sleep or go into a trance or whatever.

With the town behind him and only the road to follow, Steve relaxed slightly. Sure, there was still a chance something could attack him from the woods but he felt marginally safer out here. Still, nothing happened. Keyed up on adrenaline and anticipation, the silence was making him twitchy. At the sound of a tree branch snapping, he whirled around and spent a long time staring into the darkened tree line for something, anything to make an appearance.

Was Vecna playing him?

If he had Eddie... Steve shuddered at the thought and quickened his pace.

It was bad enough that Eddie wasn't at his house but the thought of Vecna using him like bait was terrifying. Because if it was true and Steve was being led into a trap, what would happen to Eddie afterwards?

Finally, the Welcome to Forest Hills Trailer Park sign rose in the distance. Steve forced his weary body into a jog, only slowing as he reached the entrance. The silence felt like a blanket shrouding the place, his footsteps too loud and his breathing giving away his position.

Steve continued on, searching the gloom for anything out of place. He weaved between trailers, heart thumping loudly in his ears. It was when he stepped into the clearing at the centre of the allotment that he saw it. A large form on the ground across the lot.

Cautiously he crossed the open space, bat raised in case it was a monster. It fell from his hands when he recognised the curly brown hair peeking out from one end of what looked like a cocoon. Steve dropped to his knees and hesitantly touched the wrappings. It was sticky, like spider webs but there were no vines in sight.

It tore as easily as tissue paper. Steve ripped it away, hands shaking as the signature Hellfire Shirt was revealed. "Eddie..." His voice came out quiet, hushed as if any loud noises would break the calm of this place. His hands were freezing as Steve grabbed one and he fumbled for his wrist, waiting with bated breath. Elation filled him at the slight thrumming, a pulse.

Eddie's face was so pale, almost translucent in the blue-grey light as Steve cleared away the last of the webbing. Steve touched his lips, relieved to feel warm breath ghost across his fingers. Carefully pulling up his shirt he found the bat wounds were closed. Whatever had happened to Eddie, the cocoon thing had been protecting him, healing him.

"Eddie?" He dared to ask louder, tapping his cheek.

No response.

Steve sighed and bowed his head, considering his options. There was no chance he could make it back to the Creel house. He couldn't protect them both, especially with Eddie currently unconscious. His head snapped in the direction of Eddie's trailer where another gate lay waiting. All he had to do was figure out a way to get him up there.

The new rope they'd attached after Eddie severed the first was still there thankfully. Steve wrapped it around Eddie's chest, securing it under his arms and then shimmied up. After the stomach-churning flip, he wound the rope around his hands and pulled.

It took every ounce of strength he had but inch by gruelling inch he pulled Eddie out. Steve stumbled back as he caught Eddie's falling body, hitting the counter with a loud bang that sent things crashing to the floor. It took only two seconds for the place to be flooded with a confusing mess of lights and shouting.

"Wait, wait!" Steve flattened on the floor, protectively covering Eddie. "I'm with Hopper, Jim Hopper!"

The noise died down and the single beam of a flashlight shone on his face. Someone crouched down next to him and sighed. "You've really made a mess of things, kid. Hopper called me, said to keep an eye out for you and your friend coming through one of the gates."

The man helped him to his feet and as soon as Steve was out of the way people in hazmat suits rushed in to take Eddie away. He tried to stop them but was barred by the guards who forced him back with their guns. "Where are you taking him?!"

"Quarantine. How long has he been in the Upside Down, several weeks? For all we know he could be contaminated. It's safer this way, for everyone." The man held out his hand. "General Campbell."

"Steve Harrington," He replied distractedly, craning his head to keep Eddie in his line of sight. "I need to go with him."

"No," Campbell said firmly. "You need to go through decontamination and wait for Hopper to come collect you."

"I'm not leaving Eddie!" He hissed.

"No choice I'm afraid, guards." With a wave of his hand, the two men forcibly removed Steve from the trailer and into a makeshift tent where he was handed off to people in hazmat suits.

Steve found himself stripped of his weapons and clothes, doused in steaming water and some sort of chemical spray before being blasted dry. On the other side, he was given a set of standard-issue army clothes. He only relaxed when he was allowed to take his bat again and held it loosely against his side. Not that it'd get him very far against a compound full of guns and trained soldiers. Still, it came in handy against a Demogorgon or two.

He was put in a room and told to wait for an indeterminate amount of time. It could've been minutes or hours, he didn't know. Finally, he settled on the makeshift cot and forced himself to lie down, running his thumb obsessively over Eddie's necklace. When his eyes started to get heavy he didn't fight it, just closed them and relaxed.

"Steve!" His eyes snapped open at Eddie's voice.

"Eddie?" He fumbled in the darkness, flinching at the sound of a click and the blinding light of a flashlight. "Not at my face!"

"Sorry." The beam swept away to point at the wall and dimly illuminate the room. Eddie was sat on the bed with him looking apprehensive. "What's happening? Why haven't you come yet?"

Steve hugged him tightly, burying his face in his curls. "I've got you, Eds. I got you out."

"Um, I don't think you did." Eddie patted his back then pulled away with a frown. "Still stuck here in case you haven't noticed."

"Yeah, we should talk." Steve guided him to sit on the bed and cradled Eddie's hands between his own. "This isn't real, Eds. I mean, this part of you is stuck in the Upside Down in my house but your body... it was at the trailer park. I found you and got you out. We're in quarantine at the minute."

It took him a long time to process the information. He stood and started pacing at the end of the bed. "Okay," He finally said, turning to face Steve with hands on hips. "Why am I here then? Can I just... wake up?"

"I don't know."

"Well, that's great! I'm just separated from my body, nothing at all to worry about!"

"Eddie..." Steve reached out to him but Eddie stepped back with a shake of his head. "We'll figure this out."

"Easy for you to say. You can just leave. I'm stuck here, Steve! You keep saying 'we'll figure it out' but you have no idea what you're doing, do you?" He ran his hands through his hair and kicked something that hit the opposite wall. He flinched away when Steve tried again to touch him. "Stop it. Stop trying to make it better. You can't save me."

"I can." Steve knelt as Eddie slid down the wall and hid his face in his arms. "Eds, I will get you out of here. I won't stop trying. There's nothing more important to me than this. Please, don't hide from me."

"What do you want from me?" His voice came out muffled but then he lifted his head to look at Steve. "Maybe it's you. Maybe you're keeping me here instead of letting me go. I should be dead, Steve. I was dead."

"Shut up."

"Let me go, Stevie."

"No." He blinked away his tears and cradled Eddie's face. "No, I can't. I'll do anything but that. Not that. Please, Eds... We'll figure it out and you'll wake up and it'll be fine."

Eddie smiled and it broke Steve's heart. There was an acceptance in his eyes, in his face that couldn't be real. Steve's fingers tangled in his curls and brought him closer into a kiss. Eddie let him but didn't return the gesture.

"I love you, Eddie," Steve whispered then sniffed, laughing wetly. "I love you so much it's unreal. I know you feel the same. We can't just give this up."

"It's not real, it never was."

"Steve?" He turned at the sound of Hopper's voice over his shoulder and frowned. "Steve, wake up. It's time to go."

"Um, Hopper's here," He told Eddie. "I have to go. I'll be back soon and... I'll have a plan."

Eddie grabbed his wrists in a bruising hold as he stood. "Don't come back."

"What?"

"Don't come back. I don't want to be here anymore so let me go." He wiped his face as tears rolled down his cheeks but his expression didn't falter. "You let me go, Steve. That's all I want, to be free of this place. So don't you dare come back here and act like you can save me. We both know you can't."

"Eddie-"

"Steve, wake up."

Panicking he grabbed hold of Eddie's hand. "You don't mean that."

"I don't want to see you again. This is goodbye, Steve." Eddie's breathing hitched and he squeezed Steve's forearm. "I love you too."

"Steve!" He was back in his cell and Hopper was staring down at him in concern. "Had me worried there for a second."

"Ed... Eddie?"

"I don't know yet. Thought I'd get you first before seeing the doc." Hopper helped him to his feet and handed him a tissue. "This way."

Steve trailed after him through the labyrinth of corridors. Eventually, they stopped outside a room with free swinging doors and Hopper pushed through, Steve on his heels. The plastic strip curtains felt cool and slippery as he walked in and Steve scrunched his nose at the awkward feeling. On the other side, he paused.

"Eddie..."

Eddie was laying flat on an examination table, several tubes and wires connected to his body. The only comforting thing was the steady beeping of a heart rate monitor that could be heard over the low murmur of several doctors crowded around him. Steve took a step forward but Hopper grabbed his arm.

One of the doctors broke away and came over. "How is he?" Hopper asked when Steve failed to speak.

"We're still running tests but for now it looks good. His body is healing remarkably fast but... there's no sign of brain activity yet."

Brain dead.

The word surfaced from some memory buried in his mind. The doctor at Hawkins Hospital after the fight with Vecna. "Ms Mayfield is unlikely to wake up from the coma. Patients who are brain dead have a low chance of recovery."

Eleven had saved Max.

Steve would save Eddie.

"Let me..." Steve whispered and he stepped towards Eddie again. Several people held him back. "Please, please let me help him!"

"It's too dangerous. You're not wearing any protection."

"I dragged him out of that hell hole! If he was contagious I'd already have it!" Steve was starting to struggle, the same panic from back in Vecna's attic building inside him. "He needs me!"

"Steve, you need to calm down," Hopper spoke calmly, waving the doctors back. As soon as they let go Steve stumbled and fell to his knees. Hopper knelt next to him and murmured, "If you show them what you can do they'll never let you leave."

"I don't want to," Steve whispered, eyes fixed on Eddie. "I need him."

There was a sudden commotion between the doctors, their voices rising with surprise. As they stepped back Steve could see Eddie again. The fragile wisps of webbing were wrapping around his fingers, travelling up his arm. But he wasn't worried. These weren't the vines and bindings of Vecna. It was protective and it would keep Eddie safe.

Something sharp pricked the side of his neck and Steve's eyes rolled back as the world went dark.

When he came back to reality he could already tell some time had passed. The world was rolling beneath him, bouncing now and then with an underlying vibration. Steve opened his eyes to see the houses streaking by and realised he was in a car. Rolling his head to the side he found Hopper was driving and he was sitting in the passenger seat.

"Wha-"

Hopper glanced at him and his frown deepened. "You're something else, Steve."

He blinked slowly, the words floating in his head. "Where are we?" He slurred, voice and brain still heavy with the drugs.

"I'm taking you home. Surprised they let us leave after the stunt you pulled."

Stunt? Steve squeezed his eyes shut and tried to think. All he could remember was wisps, almost like silk, wrapping around a hand... Eddie's hand.

Eddie!

Steve sat upright and fumbled with his seatbelt. Hopper immediately stopped the car and grabbed his hand. "Stop, stop it, Steve!"

"We left him there! How could you do that?!"

"Because you were doing... something to him! I had to knock you out and get you away before they realised!" Hopper exhaled slowly and let go of Steve's hand. "Do you want to be locked away for the rest of your life and treated like an experiment? My first priority was getting you out of there. Eddie will be fine, he's in the best place right now."

"I promised I wouldn't leave him!" His voice hitched and he fisted the seatbelt tightly, yanking on it in frustration. "You made me leave him."

"Let me go, Stevie."

Hopper sighed but saw he wasn't fighting anymore so started driving again. Steve turned his head to look out the window, so Hopper wouldn't see the tears spilling down his face. "I'm sorry, kid." He spoke softly, Joyce's kindness echoing in his voice. "We'll save Eddie but to do that we need to stop Vecna. Because he's not really there, is he?"

Steve didn't answer because what could he say? Eddie was trapped in the Upside Down version of his house, unable to escape. That Steve had put him there and wasn't letting him go? Was he really trapping Eddie? There was so much he didn't understand about himself or what he was capable of. And if he was he had to figure out how to let Eddie go.

Would Eddie die?

The thought hurt so bad Steve pressed a hand to his chest.

"I don't want to be here anymore..."

What was he supposed to do with that information?

They didn't speak for the rest of the drive. It was only when Hopper pulled up at his house that he finally turned to Steve again with a sigh. "You gonna be alright? Robin's waiting for you so you won't be alone."

"Thanks." Still, he made no move to get up, just continued staring unseeingly out the window. He was surprised when the door opened and Hopper helped him out.

"Sorry, I gave you something strong. It won't have left your system yet. Let's get you to bed so you can sleep it off."

"I don't wanna sleep." Steve wasn't sure what was more terrifying, going back to Eddie when he specifically said not to or finding an empty house. "I want-" His breath caught in his throat and to his horror and Hopper's discomfort, he started to cry.

"It's okay, Steve. Let's get you inside."

He was deposited on his couch and a blanket draped around him before Hopper disappeared. Wrapping it around himself tightly, Steve lay down and closed his heavy eyes, hoping when he woke Eddie would be there.

Robin was the first face he saw when he finally woke. It was daytime and he groaned, rolling over to shield his eyes from the bright light, head pounding with a wicked headache. "Steve?" He mumbled, cracking open an eye to see Robin bending over him with a worried expression. "How do you feel?"

"Like someone rocked my shit."

"Yeah, that about sums it up." She laughed softly and helped him to sit. "Hopper said you'd have the worst hangover of your life. I guess he wasn't joking."

"I'm never drinking again." Steve sighed and bowed his head. Robin handed him a glass of water and he downed it immediately. It helped ease the headache and allowed him to think more clearly. "I need to call Hopper!"

"Whoa, whoa!" Robin steadied him as he tried and failed to stand. "He said he'd call if he got news."

"So Eddie..."

"No change."

Steve groaned and shoved a cushion over his face. "He said he doesn't want me to visit anymore."

"What? Steve, I can't hear you through the cushion."

"He told me to let go!" Steve threw the cushion to the floor and fisted his hair instead. "He said it wasn't real, Robs, told me to stay away. I don't know what to do. How do we wake him up?"

"We'll figure it out." She forced him to let go of his hair and held his hands tightly. "Whatever it takes, right?"

"Right."

"Come on, you need to shower because Dustin's on his way over and you look like hot shit. With his brain power, we'll have a plan by lunchtime!" With surprising strength, she hauled him to his feet. "And don't listen to Eddie, he says stupid shit when he gets stressed. I'm sure he doesn't actually want you to stay away."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Steve managed his first smile in what felt like forever. "You're the best, Robs."

"I know. Now upstairs with you."

The shower helped clear his head and Steve felt ready to tackle their latest issue by the time he was dry and changed. Dustin had arrived at some point and was busy working his way through what looked like a second bowl of cereal when Steve joined them in the kitchen. He looked up and smiled around his mouthful.

"I got you bacon and eggs." Robin slid across a plate. "Sit and eat. I've already bought Dustin up to speed and he has a few ideas."

"Christ, how long was I in the shower?"

"Long enough." Dustin swallowed thickly. "Right, let me get this straight; Eddie's body is currently in quarantine by his trailer, under constant guard by the military no doubt so we can't exactly rescue him. But his subconscious is trapped in Steve's house in the Upside Down?" He held out his hands. "He's separated so we gotta put him back together." And he clasped them with a nod. "Can't be that hard, you've been doing it for weeks, Steve."

"Not consciously."

"Well, figure it out. If you can show Eddie how that would be our easiest plan. If not..." He sighed and shrugged. "Perhaps you can lead him back. You know, hold his hand and take him through the gate to his body. If you're both incorporeal it's not like the army can stop you."

"Uh, English, Dustin?" Robin asked gently as Steve choked on his eggs.

"You're basically ghosts." He deadpanned.

"Eddie won't leave the house," Steve explained. "Next plan?"

"Jesus Christ, um... take Eddie's body to his spirit?"

"You just said we can't get to his body."

"I don't know!" Dustin threw up his hands in exasperation. "Maybe Eddie doesn't think he should come back! Maybe he's stopping himself? He died, Steve. Like, full-on stopped breathing with no pulse kinda death. Maybe he's accepted that."

"He's not dead!" Steve took a deep breath when Dustin flinched. "Sorry. What I meant was he's got a pulse, they had a heart monitor on him. If he did die, it wasn't for long. Something brought him back."

"Or someone." Robin squeezed his shoulder.

"I can't bring people back to life," Steve scoffed. "I barely understand the things I can do as it is. That would take an extreme amount of power over something I can't control."

"Eleven got Max back," Dustin said quietly. "So why couldn't you do the same for Eddie?"

"You let me go, Steve."

Steve thought back on that moment, finding Dustin holding Eddie's presumably dead body. They didn't have time to take him back with them, Steve had to carry Dustin out of there and Eddie was too heavy for the girls. But that night... Steve had spent it in his room with Eddie's jacket wishing it could be different, wishing there was some way to save him.

"I had a dream..." Steve whispered, recalling it for the first time. "After the fight with Vecna, that night. I went back to get Eddie and I... took him to my house? I remember being at the front door and then I woke up."

What had Eddie told him, the last thing he remembered was falling through Steve's door?

"Holy shit I brought him back."

"And if you did that, you can get him out too," Dustin said firmly. "Eddie trusts you. Get him to his body and he'll wake up."

It was a plan. Now all Steve had to do was convince Eddie to go along with it.