His face hurt. There's no question as to why, since he'd just gotten his ass handed to him not so long ago. The adrenaline of being in that gross tunnel and running from monsters had masked the throb for a while, but now that the danger seemed to be over, it was back in full force.

Stupid Billy. Steve had been a dick once upon a time, but Billy was a whole different level. There was rage there and Steve's face was intimately aware of that fact now. And he wasn't really sure why so much of it had been directed toward him. The stuff tonight sort of made sense, but all the stuff before was pretty unnecessary. Steve wasn't trying to be the king of the school anymore. Billy could have the title all he wanted.

Steve's new title was babysitter and he still wasn't sure how that happened. One minute he was trying to figure out how to win Nancy back and the next he was setting traps for monsters and protecting a group of kids with his life. Kids he barely even knew. He knew Mike through Nancy, but it wasn't like they were close. And he kind of knew the others from the last crisis they dealt with. The girl was new, but at a certain point, it didn't matter. They'd all fallen into his lap and that was that. They were his responsibility until he could get them back to their homes.

"Who's got the keys?" Steve asked, pressing his fingertips into his temples. This was so much worse than after the fight with Jonathan. At least he hadn't used any weapons.

"Uh, I don't think you should drive," Dustin said, looking up at him with a grimace on his face.

"Why not? I'm the only one with a license, remember?"

"Because you're so out of it that you don't realize the headlights are still on," Mike scoffed, tossing some of their leftover supplies back in the trunk.

"Whatever," Steve grumbled. "Still doesn't change the fact that I'm the only one who knows how to drive."

"I don't know, I think Max did a pretty good job," Lucas pointed out.

"I remember it differently."

"You were unconscious for most of the drive."

"I was awake for enough of it."

"Can we just go? If everything went to plan, they could be on their way back by now," Max huffed, cocking her hands on her hips. Dustin's crush was a little spunky. Steve could appreciate that. He still didn't want her driving though.

"Everyone get the rest of your crap and get back in the car, which I will be driving," Steve said firmly, accepting no arguments this time. His brain wasn't quite mush, so he could handle it. The kids moved around the field, gathering up their stuff. How it all got so spread out, he had no idea. Kids were messy.

Steve shoved his bat back into the trunk, contemplating keeping it in his lap for the drive. He felt better when it was within reach, but it probably wasn't the smartest thing to have in his condition. The last thing he needed was to hit a bump in the road and take out his junk.

"Where are you going?" Dustin called out suddenly from beside Steve. He winced as the loud noise stabbed into his brain. Good thing he hadn't had time to eat in all the chaos or he'd be puking his guts out. Steve leaned around the open trunk, checking to see where everyone was.

"I'm getting the flashlight!" Max yelled back, walking out past the opening of the tunnel.

"How did it get all the way over there? Jesus, I'll buy you a new one," Steve groaned. He wanted to get home, take some painkillers, then take a nap, in that order. Normally the thought of going home to his empty house was depressing, but now he was aching for the quiet.

"It'll only take me like two seconds to grab it," Max scoffed. Steve was just about to threaten to leave her when there was an ominous rumbling sound coming from somewhere in the field. In fact, it sounded like it was coming from underneath them. Steve's head shot up, thinking of the fire they'd just set in the tunnels beneath their feet. That couldn't be good.

Steve took off, ignoring the startled questions from the boys surrounding him. He leapt over the hole in the ground, unwilling to take the extra second to go around it. His instincts were screaming at him and after a day like today, he was not going to ignore them. Right before he got to Max, he saw the ground shake underneath her, and then it was gone. She let out a tiny shriek of terror as she fell and Steve dove, knowing he would only have one shot at this. Somehow he got her and he twisted at the last second, landing roughly on his back as he cradled her to his chest.

They were both panting harshly as they sat for a moment, realizing what had almost happened. Steve could feel the new bruises forming on his body, but his current adrenaline rush was helping him brush that aside for now. Max was staring at the hole she'd almost fallen into in shock, but as the ground shuddered again, Steve knew they didn't have time to waste. He jumped up, pulling Max with him and throwing her over his shoulder.

"Get in the car!" Steve shouted, sprinting back toward where the boys were watching the scene with wide eyes. He glanced at the hole as he passed, seeing the glow of the flames down below. Steve wasn't sure if it would go out on its own, but that was someone else's problem to deal with. He deposited Max in the passenger's seat, then darted around to his own side. If the car fell in, they were screwed.

Steve slammed the car into reverse, jostling the kids in their seats as they vaulted over the uneven ground. He jerked the wheel to the side, spinning the car and shifting into drive. Even though they'd almost died again and Steve's head felt like it was going to explode, he had to admit he was a bit impressed with this car. He breathed a tiny sigh of relief when they were finally back on the road, headed back toward the Byers house.

"Dude," Lucas murmured from the backseat.

"What?" Steve asked, glancing around at his passengers. They were all staring at him with their mouths hanging slightly open. He didn't have the mental capacity to worry about what was going on this time. Home, painkillers, sleep. "Put on your seatbelts." Surprisingly, the kids listened to him. Better late than never, but hopefully this would start a new trend of them not flinging themselves into danger while on his watch.

They drove the rest of the way in silence, which helped his pounding head. If those flickering lights earlier meant what they thought, the fight was over and they'd finally be able to rest. Steve wasn't looking forward to all the secret government cover up shit they'd have to deal with again, but hopefully that could wait until tomorrow.

He fought the urge to pass out in relief when he finally turned onto the Byers' driveway. It wasn't his home, but it was close enough for the time being. They wouldn't mind sparing a corner for him to crash in, would they? Steve didn't even need a blanket.

"Shit," Max whispered suddenly from beside him as he parked.

"What?" Steve asked in confusion, glancing over at her. She was staring straight ahead, so he followed her gaze. "Shit." Billy Hargrove was standing in the doorway.