Hopper shouted in terror and lunged towards the bank. " JOYCE!"
He threw his jacket off, sprinting along the bank as the river roared, anxiously scanning for her. Joyce emerged finally, taking a chocked breath through the water before plunging back underneath in the turmoil.
She was freezing and her lungs burned with cold and already flu. She broke through the unforgiving water to breathe as firm arms yanked her up and into the cold wind.
She couldn't hear what it was saying as she felt herself be pulled into a carry position and laid on the ground.
" JOYCE! Can you hear me?" Hopper shouted as her eyes focussed. His face was filled with fear and worry .
She coughed violently, clearing her already congested lungs.
She took in a breath. " I, I'm okay." She coughed again.
Hopper sighed in relief. " You're freezing to death hang on. " He grabbed her tee in her stomach and violently ripped it off. She stayed frozen, her breaths raspy. She didn't even care that he was seeing her In her black bra. She was too frozen to care.
He quickly pulled his dry jacket around her and zipped it up, rubbing her shoulders furiously.
" Let's get you outta this cold. You're hypothermic ."
He pulled her upright standing and continued to hug and warm her shoulders through his dry jacket.
" Than-thank you Hopper." She said weakly. He hugged her tight.
"Can you walk?" She shivered slightly . The weight of her chest and spinning head became too much as she took a few steps faultered, Hopper steadying her.
" I've got you Joyce." Before she could protect he picked he up as if she weighed nothing and half jogged to his truck.
He sped to his place and put her in the shower fully clothed. He actually had some of her clothes from their last stake out he'd been meaning to get out of his truck. He placed a pile of her jeans and long tee on the counter.
"Let me know if you need anything." He said kindly. He shut the bathroom door.
Joyce sat in the shower, breathing heavily as she warmed up, grateful for every warm drop of water. She coughed heavily. The freezing river would not have been ideal for her flu.
She smiled as she warmed up and began peeling off her heavy clothes, thinking of how lucky she was to have Hopper.
She got dressed quickly, slipping on her jeans, socks and black long sleeve. She still severed, not fully warmed up.
She went out into the cabin. Hopper placed a warm cup of tea in her hands and handed her his hoodie. She slipped it on and smiled. The two sat by the fire shoulder to shoulder.
"You scared the hell out of me today Joyce." Hopper said without humour, staring into her eyes.
Joyce smiled. " Thank you for helping me Hop."
He relaxed into a grin. "What am I gonna do with you Joyce you're gonna be the death of me. " He chuckled and pulled her into a one armed hug.
He got up to make another tea.
He stood over her small frame.
" Now you are going to stay here so I can keep an eye on you, understand?" He said ready for a fight.
She rolled her eyes and agreed half heartedly. She coughed again as he frowned, before going to make more tea.
She sat herself on the cough near the fire and suddenly found herself drifting to sleep. The last thing she remembered was feeling a heavy quilt be dragged over her sleeping shoulders.