"We're going to face an army of monsters. We need to arm ourselves better than marines," she informs the group.

Jonathan nods in agreement, she knows they're on the same page since she of course talks through things with him first, before the others. He's the best to talk to. Slowly, the others nod too.

"Back to the military surplus store?" Robin asks.

"Yeah, that's our best bet. But we seriously need to be armed to the teeth, way more than last time."

"Uh, is that really a good idea given how we left the place last time? We ran out of there without paying, I doubt they'll have us back," Steve cuts in.

"Well there's ways around that. Jonathan, Argyle, Mike and Will weren't with us that time, they can go in no problem."

The quartet nods, of course they're up to it, they all know what's at stake.

"Okay then," Steve concedes.

"Right, so lets talk funds. Even if it's a surplus store it'll be expensive given how much stuff we need. I can maybe get some cash from mom and dad, but Steve if you can talk to your dad that would be the best, he could easily bankroll this mission, without knowing what he's bankrolling."

"What? Why?" Steve looks at her like she's crazy.

"What do you mean?" She replies, confused.

"Why do I have to get the money from my dad?"

"... because you're rich? I mean, like I said I can try to get some from my parents too but definitely not enough to cover it all. Come on, your dad is loaded and he'll give it to you. And where else are we going to get it? I mean, Robin and Lucas I don't know, you can try your parents too I guess? But like, everything the Byers has is in California, Argyle doesn't have anything with him either, Dustin and Max I know your moms don't have that much to spare."

"Yeah, definitely not. Just come on Steve, cough it up," Dustin agrees.

"Hey, this isn't fair. It's not like my dad will just give me anything-" Steve calls out affronted when they all turn to him expectantly.

"Steve, he gave you a BMW, come on," she sighs, losing her temper a bit. "We don't have time for this. Literally it's like the apocalypse is coming, what's the point of a fat bank account? Let's go get the money."

"You don't understand, my dad's a total hardass and he's been all over me about making my own way in life, he won't just give me a bunch of money now."

"He's really not a hardass, Steve, I've met him, like a lot. He just doesn't want to spoil you anymore, but just go to him and say that you need a check because you've decided to move to Indianapolis and branch out on your own or something. He'll definitely support you, especially since this town's gone to hell."

"I just don't think it's that simple."

She can't help but roll her eyes in frustration. The world might end and Steve still doesn't want to deal with his weird daddy issues, which are barely even issues since all Mr. Harrington wants is for Steve to do something with his life.

"You know what, screw this. Jonathan, let's go stake out the place," she shakes her head and starts to march away, Jonathan without hesitation going with her.

"Stake out?" Robin asks.

"Obviously we're going to have to rob it then if we won't have any money," she explains.

"You want to rob it?!" Robin's eyes widen.

She just shrugs in response.

"We can't just steal, can we? That's not like… nice," Steve comments.

"We already stole from them last time," Lucas points out.

"Yeah, but that wasn't intentional, it just happened because we had to make a quick getaway…"

"Who cares, it's not like we're taking money out of the collection plate," Max interjects.

"Yeah, it's run by a Republican gun nut," she chimes in.

"You're a gun nut," Steve points out.

"Yeah but I'm not a Republican."

She catches Jonathan's grin at her answer out of the corner of her eye and she could jump his bones right here and now for it.

"I don't know about this…" Steve hesitates.

"We need to stock up, let's go," Jonathan says and looks instantly ready to go. Another thing she loves about him. She smiles at him and is ready to head to the car when he continues. "We could use some more eyes though."

"True. Max, Lucas, wanna come?" She asks.

"Hell yeah!" Max answers immediately.

"Cool. The rest of you stay out of trouble, we'll get back to you later. Go help Joyce and Hopper or something. And keep El out of sight," she instructs.

"Will, you come too, we need you buddy," Jonathan adds.

Will looks a bit surprised but eagerly joins them. Jonathan puts an arm around his little brother.

"We should draw up a good floor plan of this place," Jonathan explains and Will nods.

"Oh, of course, good thinking. I've got pen and paper in the car, let's go," she replies.

She gets behind the wheel of the station wagon with Jonathan by her side, the other three pile into the backseat and she takes off for the military surplus store. It feels so good to be on a mission with him at her side again.

They plan on the drive. Jonathan suggests he and Will go inside and "browse" so they can get a feel for the place and Will can map it out. She, Max and Lucas will wait and scope it out from the outside in the meantime. Then rendezvous and make up a plan for how they'll get in once it's closed for the day.


"There's the backdoor," Max points out.

"And no neighbors with windows this way, that's good for us," she notes after looking around.

"So we'll go in through here?" Lucas asks.

"Probably our best option yet at least. The front is a no go at least. So unless the boys have found another way inside I guess this is it."

"But how do we get it open?"

"Can try picking the lock with a hairpin. Or Jonathan with his flick knife, he has a good technique with it."

"What about the alarm?" Lucas wonders.

"I don't know yet. Hm. See that wire going out from over the door, that must be it right? Let's follow it, maybe we can cut the power or something."

"This is awesome. I've always wanted to plan a heist," Max chimes in.

She smiles at the giddiness.


"This place is super weird," Will notes soon after they've gone inside.

"Yeah," he agrees, looking around at all the guns, rifles and equipment. What the hell do people need all this for, when they're not fighting a monster apocalypse like they're about to do. "Well, let's… browse, I guess. Pretend it's a record store."

"Right," Will gives a small chuckle in response.

Slowly they make their way around, aisle after aisle, making sure to go along every wall, every corner they can. He makes sure to look interested in random products to provide cover while Will slyly draws up the place, taking particular note of every door and passageway. They pay attention to where the staff can disappear into the backroom.

When they're near the register he holds up two different army jackets to Will, like he's getting his opinion, when really Will is just getting a look for the area around and behind the register. Meanwhile he observes that it seems fairly easy to get into the back area behind the counter, the staff goes in and out a lot and doesn't close doors really.

"See that?" He asks, knowing his brother's observant too.

Will nods.

"You ready to go?"

"I think so, how's this?"

"That's great Will," he informs his little brother after viewing the sketch he's made. "Let's go meet the others."

"I have an idea," Will whispers to him as they walk towards the exit.

"What?"

"I think I can hide in there. The back room."

"What?"

"I'm good at hiding."

"You are. But… are you sure?"

"Yeah, that way I could let you guys in later."

"True… you're brave, Will. Let's talk through everything with the others first. I bet Nancy is buzzing with like 50 ideas for how we're gonna pull this off," he answers with a smile. Will nods and chuckles.


"This is perfect Will, awesome job," she has to gush when they rendezvous and Will shows the floorplan he's drawn up. It's incredibly detailed with every entry and exit, passageways and a layout of where different goods are located in the store.

"Thanks."

"So, the back door obviously seems to be our best way in. None of the neighboring buildings have windows facing it, and we haven't seen any foot traffic there so far, so I don't see a reason anyone will happen by there after dark. I think we can park the car right up by the door so we can load it quick as we can and be off."

"Sounds good," Jonathan says and the others nod in agreement.

"Now, actually gaining entry is obviously tricky. We can try picking the lock or maybe-"

"Actually, Will had a good idea about that."

"Oh, what is it?"

"I can go back inside before they close and hide in the staff area and then let you guys in when they've all left. I'm good at hiding."

"Oh, that's a much better idea! If you're sure you're up for it…?" She asks to make sure.

"Definitely," Will confirms. Jonathan nods.

"If they find you just act confused and scared, like you got lost and didn't mean any harm. Maybe cry a little. That worked when I was busted shoplifting," Max advices.

"Right," Will nods. "I guess I can do that. But they won't find me."

"We should have some signals though. So you can let us know if you run into any trouble," she ponders.

"Walkies," Lucas cuts in.

"What?"

"We can use these," Lucas continues and digs out two walkie talkies from his backpack. "I always carry an extra now, just in case we'd need one. We can use it to signal, Will can just hold down the button for a second, but doesn't have to say anything so he can stay quiet."

"Smart, we'll do that," she nods. "Will, when you're set in a good hiding spot, hold the button down twice in quick succession to signal that. If you run into trouble or they find you, hold down the button once for a bit longer and just try to hide the walkie on you or get rid of it."

"I'll come and get you. I'll go banging on the front door shouting that I think my brother got lost inside, you act scared like Max says and tell them that you were with your brother and got lost," Jonathan lays out. Will nods.

"If there's no trouble, just wait until you're sure you're the only one inside, tell us on the walkie, stay still and wait for us to cut the alarm and then let us in."

"Okay, sounds good. Cut the alarm with what?"

"We'll cut the wire, it runs along the back wall. I have bolt cutters in the trunk, that should work I think."

"You have bolt cutters in the trunk?" Lucas questions.

"You're not the only one who comes prepared," she smirks at him.

"So, Will lets us in, then what?" Max asks.

"We need to work as fast and efficiently as possible. We need a lookout, Lucas I think you'd be the best for that. Stay on the walkie and let us know if there's any trouble outside. The rest of us go inside, get a shopping cart each and split up in the aisles. Jonathan and Will, you should hit this section where they have melee weapons, axes and stuff, then over here where there's kerosene and what not, stock up. Some way or another I just know this will all end with fire. Max, you go here to explosives, grab as much as you can, and different stuff, grenades, shells, hell, landmines I don't know, not sure how any of that stuff works but I bet it'll come in handy."

"Awesome."

"I'm gonna stock up on rifles and guns first, then I'll go grab ammo. That's closest to our exit so meet me there when you've filled up your carts, can probably fit some more ammo into yours then too I bet. Everyone clear?"

"Sounds good," Jonathan affirms and gives her that look she loves, the one that lets her know he'll walk through fire with her.


It's been over a half hour since Will signaled them that he's found a hiding spot. Since then it's been radio silence. The store closed ten minutes later, and soon after that employees started to leave. They've been following it all from their vantage point, waiting for Will's next signal before they can get to work, cut the alarm and get in. Jonathan's foot is going a mile a minute in the passenger seat next to her.

"He's fine," she says to try and ease his worry.

"Yeah, he's real good at hiding," Lucas chimes in from the backseat.

Jonathan nods and his foot slows down a little bit at least.

"Hey. I just want to say, I really love how you're always up to be my partner in crime," she continues with a little smile. It's the truth and hopefully it'll take his mind off worrying about his little brother trying to hide in a store full of weapons they're planning to rob.

"Of course, always. Partner in everything," Jonathan replies with a little smile of his own that warms her heart.

"Hey, how many crimes have you guys committed really?" Max cuts in.

"Oh, um… not a lot."

"All for the greater good," Jonathan points out.

"Sure. How many?"

"Well, he broke into his dad's car and stole a gun."

"And you've probably violated every gun law in the state."

"And you every traffic law."

"Hey, you're one to talk."

"Touché. Also I guess breaking into Mrs. Driscoll's house was technically a crime. And the Holloways house, but you guys were in on that too."

"Crazy that you've never been arrested."

"Oh, well, he was once."

"Ooh, what for?"

"Um… technically, assaulting a police officer."

"Awesome!"

"But that was such bullshit though, you didn't mean to hit him."

"Yeah."

"How do you accidentally hit a police officer?" Max posits.

"Yeah, and which cop was it?"

"Uh, Callahan. It was years ago, back when Will went missing."

"Hah! Awesome," Max cuts in, gleefully.

"It was all Steve's fault. He was being an asshole and started a fight," she explains.

"Oh right, I forgot about that," Lucas responds. "You really did a number on him."

"Of course he did, anyone can take Steve in a fight. Maybe except for Mike," Max muses.

Jonathan shrugs.

"Steve had it coming," she notes.

"Yeah… and I really didn't mean to hit Callahan, he caught an elbow when he broke it up."

"Yeah. And oh, then we had to steal our weapons back from evidence. But I don't know if that counts since it was our stuff to begin with."

"Except for the fire extinguisher you nabbed," Jonathan smirks.

"Well we needed that."

Suddenly they see a man leaving the building through the backdoor, the first they've seen leave in a while, after the initial rush after closing it's been quiet. At the same time Lucas walkie cracks to life.

"Guys, do you copy? It's clear now."

"Copy that Will, the guy who just walked out was the last?" She asks.

"Yeah, I heard him say he was, he told the others to leave, said he'd lock up after finishing the books."

"Great, we just gotta wait for him to drive off then we'll cut the alarm."

"Just have to stay put a bit longer, buddy," Jonathan adds.

"No problem."

Finally the last guy drives off and they're in the clear. Having watched the back of the building from an adjacent shadowy street they can finally pull up next to the backdoor and pile out. She gets the bolt cutters from the trunk and hands them to Jonathan.

"Are we sure this will work?" Lucas wonders.

"Nope," she honestly replies.

Jonathan cuts the wire, Lucas radioes Will.

She's not sure if it takes a minute or ten or an hour, just that it's very tense until suddenly the door rattles and Will pokes his head outside.

"Huh, it worked," she notes as they all breathe a collective sigh of relief. But there's no time to waste. "Okay, let's go. Lucas, radio us if you see any trouble."

Lucas nods in confirmation. As they head inside Max stops by the door and fiddles with something.

"What are you doing?"

"Gum," Max points to the pink goo she's stuck in the lock mechanism of the door. "So we can make a quick exit."

"Oh, good thinking."


She feels like a kid in a candy store when she's loading rifles and shotguns into her cart. If only they had more manpower to utilize.

"What does claymore mean?" Max calls out.

"It means grab some of those!" She calls back.

When they've all filled their carts to the brim and met up by the ammunition section she gets Will to radio Lucas, who gives the all clear so they head out. Lucas eyes widen when he sees the sheer amount of stuff they got, then he's quick to pop the trunk of the station wagon.

"Nice haul," she notes as she looks over Max's abundance of explosives they start loading in.

"I know. I got a lot of grenades for you, you've got a good throwing arm," Max turns to Lucas.

"Cool," Lucas grins.

"Real good work Max. We just have to figure out how to work everything," she adds when she looks at the landmines and everything.

"I think Hopper might know, he was in 'Nam," Jonathan points out.

"Oh right, that's good, should come in handy. Nice work by you guys too, if we get the chance I want to burn down the whole damn Upside Down," she comments as she gets a look at all flammable stuff Jonathan and Will got.

"You and me both," Will agrees.

"By the way I'm gonna have target practice with all of you later, teach you a thing or two," she explains as the others glance into her cart.

"Can't wait," Max answers.

"Finally!" Lucas exclaims.

"He's been practicing with his slingshot for years just for this," Max smirks.

"Hey, it's a wrist rocket!" Lucas corrects.


"That went perfectly as planned," she notes as they've driven off, leaving the store behind them with no traces linking them to the heist. "Nice work everyone."

"You too," Jonathan replies with a smile. She smiles at him.

"We're really good at this," Lucas notes.

"Yeah, we should definitely like, rob a bank or something after this," Max chimes in.

"One thing at a time, let's save the world one more time first then we'll see about that," she replies.