Chapter 6 – The doctor, the healer and the girl

"… I apologize, Ms. Mayfield, but I have to insist!"

"And I already said no! I want to leave, and you can't keep me in here against my will!"

"Actually", Dr. Stevenson said furiously, "since you are underage, I can!"

Max was steaming. She stood in front of the medic, arms on her hips, and gave him a withering look. "A hospital is for the sick!", she snapped. "And do I look sick to you? I. Want. To. Leave!"

Her enraged voice sounded like music in Will's ears. Max was back. The old Max, they all loved so deeply, the unconventional girl with her raw charm, quick temper and an unconditional loyalty to her friends. He was so happy to see her again, a sight he had dared not hope for. They were whole again.

A few minutes had passed since Max came out of her room, literally stunning everyone with her sheer presence. Minutes filled with hugs, greetings and lots of tears (and some kisses, but they were reserved for Lucas only). When the first surprise had worn off, the quarrel began. Dr. Stevenson didn't want to let Max leave the hospital. He justified his decision with medical concerns and the possibility of a sudden deterioration in her condition. Will suspected, he was actually planning to run as many tests as possible hoping to be on the trail of a medical sensation.
Max though didn't intend to stay a minute longer than necessary.

"Doctor", Hopper finally said after listening to the argument in silence for a while. "I think you should let her go."

Stevenson made a fake surprised look on his face. "Ah, so you're Ms. Mayfield's legal guardian then?" His expression grew serious. "No, you're not! So please mind your own business."

For a moment, Will thought that Hopper would knock Stevenson out, but the chief inhaled deeply, took a step closer to the medic and addressed him in a low voice.

"Okay, Dr. Stevenson, I fully understand your scientific interest in Ms. Mayfield's case. And I appreciate everything you did for her. But I would strongly recommend reconsidering your decision."

Stevenson frowned. "And why would I do that?"

"Well", Hopper continued and made a conspiratorial face. "Because if you keep the girl in here, you put yourself as well as all employees of this hospital in great danger."

The colour drained from the doctor's face. "Are you threatening me?"

Hopper laughed. "Me? No, doctor. I'm completely harmless." Then he leaned forward to get closer to Stevenson's ear. "But there are people who aren't." When the medic just looked at him blankly, the chief spoke on: "In case you didn't notice: There are things going on in Hawkins for quite some time now. Strange things. Things that can hardly be explained scientifically. And I can assure you, Dr. Stevenson, that those people I'm talking about are very interested in all of those things."

"What are you talking about?", Stevenson asked, his voice now lowered too.

"I'm sure you read the newspapers", Hopper just replied. "About all that stuff, you know. Missing kids, teenage murders, a girl with telekinetic abilities, Russian spies and now that earthquake and the red sky. There are forces at work that you can't even begin to imagine."

Stevenson's eyes widened. "The Russians?"

Hopper smiled grimly. "Not only them."

"What do you know about all that?" The doctor whispered now.

"If I tell you all I know, I'm sure few days from now your dead body would be pulled out of some car wreck in the lake", Hopper mumbled. "All I can tell you is that I'm on your side. And that the last thing you want is to draw these people's attention to a girl who just has risen from the dead, so to speak, in your hospital."

Stevenson's face went completely pale. But then he shook his head. "And you expect me to believe all that?"

Hopper sighed. "No, I don't." Then again, he leaned forward and looked Stevenson right in the eyes. "What I expect is that you trust me. And that you consider my following offer." He pointed at Max. "You let the girl go and let me take care of her. In return I promise to bring her back to you at even the slightest sign of a medical problem."

Dr. Stevenson looked from Hopper to Max and back and it was obvious that he was thinking hard. Then, finally, he took off his square glasses and turned to the red-haired girl. "I swore an oath when I took up this profession, Ms. Mayfield. Therefore, I don't take this decision lightly, but you have my permission to go. Don't make me regret it."

Max just nodded while Hopper gave the doctor an approving slap on the back. "Thanks, Dr. Stevenson. I assure you that you just made the right choice."

And so, together with her friends, Maxine Mayfield left the place where she was supposed to die.

It was shortly after midnight when the group was back in Hopper's cabin. Max had decided to come with them. They had stopped at her house first, but there she only found her mother sleeping between a bunch of empty bottles. The girl hadn't wanted to wake her up, especially since in her condition she wouldn't have been able to process the unexpected return of her daughter anyway. Lucas and Max had agreed that the next day was early enough to inform her.
Regardless of that, everyone – including Max – was convinced that it was much safer for the girl to stay with the group. Just in case Vecna tried to finish what he had started.

Considering the late hour, Joyce and Hopper had allowed only a short welcome back party for their friend. While the older ones enjoyed a beer, Lucas just held Max tightly in his arms while they were sitting on the couch together. Dustin tried to give her a summary of all events she had missed.

Will was snuggled into an armchair in the corner, glad that all eyes were focused on Max and no one was paying too much attention to him.

Almost no one.

"How do you feel?", Mike asked smiling, offering him a cold bottle of lemonade.

"Tired", Will answered truthfully and took a sip of the refreshing beverage.

His best friend sat down on the arm of the chair. The curiosity was written in his face. If he hadn't known what surely would follow, Will would have smiled. Mike just wasn't good at hiding his feelings, he never had been. He always could read him like a book. Unlike himself, who spent years and years in practising to hide what was going on in him. Especially that one thing…

"Do you remember what happened?"

Will shook his head. "I just touched her hand and the next moment I passed out…"

He hated lying to Mike, but it was out of question for him to give away anything he and Max had spoken about. Not even to his best friend.

It was their very own personal moment. Their secret. And he knew that she looked at it the same way - since that brief moment, when they left the hospital and their eyes met. Max had almost imperceptibly indicated a shake of the head and he had understood what she meant by that. What had happened in the void stayed between them. Period.

"But wasn't there-", Mike persisted but he was pulled away by El.

"Leave it, Mike." She gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. "You know how exhausted I am after using my powers. Just let him rest a bit."

The moment her lips met Mike's skin, Will felt a sting in his heart. Like he always did, when he saw them kissing. Nonetheless, he was thankful to El for saving him of the questions that would have followed. She shoved Mike, who resisted only half-heartedly, back to the others before kneeling in front of Will's armchair.

"So, we finally know what yours are like", she said smiling at him. "You can fix people."

"I guess, yeah." A little embarrassed, Will returned the smile. "But I don't even know how", he added and made a helpless gesture.

He felt awkward. For him, El was still the one with the powers. The only one. Even if he knew what he had done in the hospital, he couldn't see himself on the same level with her. Not even close.

El nodded understandingly. "At first, it's confusing. But over time you learn to control it. To use it when you want to." She sighed, then stood up and smiled again. "Don't think too much about it, it won't help at all. Instead, you should go to bed, Will."

He just wanted to nod when he felt the tiny little hairs on the back of his neck standing up. For a split second he saw a swirling red mass before his eyes – and then he knew.

He knew that he knew.

That Vecna was aware of what had happened. It was the first time that One reached out to him since the incident on the hill.

When El saw his fearful face, she frowned deeply. "Everything alright?"

Will nodded slowly, feeling relieved as the connection to the Upside Down already seemed to break and the goosebumps started to disappear.

"You feel him, aren't you?" El put her hand over his.

"I think he knows", Will whispered.

El narrowed her eyes. "Don't worry. You're safe here." Then she leaned forward and gave him a short hug. "I'm very proud of you, Will. We all are."

Her words made him feel a little better. For a short while he just sat there and watched the others until Jonathan came to him and they had a short talk. His older brother told him that he and Joyce had agreed not to ask any questions about what happened. That for now, it was perfectly sufficient for them what they had seen with their own eyes. And if Will was ready or felt the need to talk about it, they would be there for him.

Then, after an eventful and – even for their standards - exceptionally turbulent day, everybody went to bed.
And the small cabin in the woods transformed into an improvised night camp, filled with sleeping bags, snoring people – and more than just a glimpse of hope.

For Will, however, the night didn't bring the recovery he had hoped for. Nightmare after nightmare troubled his sleep. And he knew perfectly well that they weren't just simply bad dreams. It was Him.

He dreamt of El taunting him for not being able to use his powers, telling him that his weakness was the reason that Mike chose her over him.

He dreamt of Max crumbling to dust in her hospital bed the moment he took her hand into his own.

He dreamt of kissing Mike who transformed into Vecna as soon as their lips met…

No power in the world in the world can make you forget who you really are, William. What you really are…

A freak.

A miscarriage.

A mistake.

Disease.

He was snatched from his sleep again, the top of his pajamas clinging damp to his body. Will sat up in his bed (all had agreed to let him sleep as comfortably as possible and so he got one of the few proper places to rest), took a deep breath and tried to get the disturbing pictures and words out of his head.
He looked at his digital watch which showed that it was shortly past five a.m. Much too early to get up, but Will wasn't eager to fall asleep again. He had enough of those nightmares.
He let his gaze wander through the room which was bathed in a dim twilight by the moonshine. Lucas and Max lay huddled together on the floor, the boy snoring lightly - like Dustin who had curled up in his sleeping bag in one corner. In the other bed El and Will slept, spoon position, his arm wrapped around her body – and once more, Will felt that pain in his chest as he saw them that close, that peaceful together. He would have given everything to be in El's place right now.

He quietly pulled back the covers and tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake anyone up. He sniggled between the legs of his sleeping friends, stepped over his brother until he finally reached the front door. As he stepped out of the house the breeze of the morning air made him shudder. It was cold but not unbearable. Just cold enough to refresh his mind and make him think clearly again.

Will sat down on a tree stump, only a few steps away from the house, and listened to the owls hooting. For the first time the situation allowed him to reflect calmly what had happened in the past few hours. And there was a lot that had happened.

He had fended off Vecna's attempt to kill him. Somehow.

He had travelled to the void twice without knowing how he did it.

He had convinced Max to return to life instead of leaving forever and healed her wounds. Not knowing how.

And he had opened up to his brother Jonathan about his sexuality. At least he knew how he'd done that. And perhaps this was the reason why for Will it felt like the biggest accomplishment of all the things mentioned.

But still, there was so much fear in him. Fear to be rejected by his friends for what he was. To lose Mike forever by telling him how he really felt. No. He couldn't risk it. Coming out to Jonathan was one thing. But to the others was something completely different.

Will sighed and buried his face in his hands. Why did everything need to be so complicated?

"Can't sleep either?"

Will turned around to see Max coming out of the house, smiling as she approached him. The red-haired girl pointed on the tree stump Will sat on. "Mind if I join?"

Will shook his head. "Of course not. Sit down." He moved a little to give her some space. Since the seat wasn't big enough for two people to sit comfortably, their sides were pressed together. In any other situation, Will would have found the position a bit awkward. But now he was just happy to have his friend close to him. Something he wouldn't have dared to dream of a few hours ago. Max must have felt the same because after a few seconds of silence she put her arm around him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"What keeps you awake?", Will finally asked after having enjoyed the closeness and warmth for some time.

Max laughed quietly. "Hmm, let me think. Perhaps the fact that a friend visited me in the void, kept me from leaving and healed my body with some kind of superpower? Doesn't happen every day, you know?"

Will smirked. "Okay, okay, I get it."

She raised her head and looked him in the eyes. "Will, I haven't gotten to thank you yet…"

"You don't have to", Will quickly interrupted her. "It just happened, I don't even know how or why, so…"

"Shut up, William Byers, you awfully humble being", Max said laughing again and gave him a friendly punch on the arm. "If there's one occasion in life to say thank you, it's this one. So…" She placed a kiss on his cheek which made him blush instantly. "Thank you for everything you did, and for what you said to me."

He didn't know what to say and just smiled instead.

"I really was about to make a mistake, you know. One that couldn't have been corrected anymore."

"I'm glad you changed your mind", Will said. "It wouldn't have been the same without you."

For a moment, Max looked deeply sad. And Will noticed.

"I'm sorry I could only heal your physical wounds. I wish I could've done more."

The girl shook his head. "Will, you don't have to be sorry. You were right about the fact that we have to fight the demons in here ourselves", she pointed to her forehead. "But that doesn't mean that we're alone. I learned that now."

He looked at her confused.

"When… he attacked me for the first time", Max said and Will could see her hands begin to shake, "when he pulled me into his world, Lucas and the others helped me by playing my favourite song." Her eyes lowered to the ground as the memories of that day came back. "The music opened a gate for me, and I could see them gathered around my body. How they tried to motivate me, giving me strength. But they couldn't get me out there."

She looked at Will. "I had to do it by myself. I had to start running. It was my choice, Will." She smiled. "Like it was my choice to let you fix me and come back."

Will nodded. "You mean, I just opened up a gate for you to go through - like back then. But I couldn't have forced you to do it."

"Exactly. And that's what I understand now. There are problems that cannot be solved by others. Our friends can only help us by opening gates. By supporting."

"But what if they wouldn't?"

Max frowned. "Hm?"

"What if the problem itself caused your friends to stop supporting you?"

"Why would they do that if they're your friends?", she asked blankly.

Will straightened in his seat and looked up to the sky. Then he sighed. "Never mind… it's complicated…."

Max smiled and gave him a strange look.

"Maybe you just underestimate them."

Will stared into the woods. "Maybe…"

There was an uncomfortable moment of silence between them until Max changed the subject.

"Well, the boys told me about the incident on that hill." She put her hand on his knee. "So, he attacked you too, right?"

Will just nodded.

"But you were able to fend him off. Is that true?"

"To be honest, I don't know. I mean, yeah, he couldn't pull me to him completely and finally I was able to shove him away." Will shuddered. "But I don't know for how long. I feel him all the time. And he tries to reach out to me again. That's why I couldn't sleep."

Max stayed silent, just grabbed his hand more tightly. He could feel her tremble a little.

"I know that there is something in me, Max. A potential. A power, if you will. And I know everyone is expecting me to use it. To fight him. But I feel so helpless. I have no clue what to do."

"I'm sure you will have", Max said comfortingly. "Just give it some time."

"But how much time do we have left?"

Now it was Max' turn to sigh. "Hard to say. But what I know is that my time will be over soon if we don't get inside. I'm freezing. And that would be a really stupid punch line, wouldn't it? Maxine Mayfield who just had been brought back from the dead, frozen to death in the early morning while chatting with her friend."

They both laughed.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's get inside", Will agreed.

While they headed back to the cabin, Max turned to him, grinning widely. "Speaking of coming back from the dead. I think, Zombie Boy has just found his female counterpart." She rolled her eyes back in her head and gave a funny impression of a walking dead which made Will giggle.

Just before they opened the door, Max expression turned serious again.

"One last thing, Will. And please don't freak out…" She placed a hand on his shoulder. "When you hugged me in the void, for a moment it was almost like I could reach inside your feelings, like we became one. And I could feel your pain. The pain about what's haunting you."

Will froze as panic rose in him.

"Relax", Max said and pulled him into a hug before she continued. "I don't really know what it is. It's more like a suspicion, nothing more."

He still looked deeply frightened.

"All I wanted to say is that after all that has happened, there is a bond between us now, Will. I can never repay what you did for me. But if you ever feel the need to talk to someone about what's troubling you, I'm there. That's what I want you to know. That I would be glad to be the one to open a gate for you. Okay?"

He just nodded as he felt a lump in his throat and a familiar burning in his eyes. She smiled.

"And now try to find at least a few hours of sleep."

Together they sneaked back to their room where the others still slept peacefully. Max snuggled up to Lucas as Will crawled back under his covers. He closed his eyes trying not to think too hard about her words. And indeed, a few minutes later sleep overcame him.

It was a dreamless and refreshing one.