I figured since the first chapter was so short I'd post another that actually y'know, has some plot. We finally understand the title, we finally meet other characters, we finally have pizza... wait no that's just my dinner. This update is because carrymehome very kindly gave me a review and I feel that should be rewarded.

Chapter 2:

When the gate was closed and Steve had driven everyone to the Byers for an emotional reunion, he kept in touch. Mainly with Dustin because Lord knew that kid needed help. He was going about things so wrong. And maybe Steve had a soft spot for the dipshit. Dustin caught him up on everything. He knew about Eleven, or Jane. About what she could do. He knew about Barb, the whole story from a year ago up until he started beating up Demogorgons with baseball bats. He felt terrible for Barb, for how callous he'd been. He felt worse for Bob. Honestly, he didn't know how everyone coped so well. Or at least they looked physically alright. Steve had bruises from his run in with Billy and yet the blood that had trickled down his face had felt cold not warm. But Dustin had said something, just in passing. Which was why he was currently sat in his father's study, looking through old newspapers. When Dustin had mentioned Hawkins lab and Doctor Brenner, a shiver had run down Steve's spine. He couldn't explain it. So, there he was looking through old newspapers and thanking his parents for being paper hoarders. He didn't even know why they kept the stupid things. When he finally found something with Doctor Brenner, Steve froze. And memories long forgotten came leaking through.

Steve had never been able to remember much of his childhood. He knew what he'd been told. He'd been home-schooled because his parents wanted him safe. When he'd turned eleven he had been allowed to go to school. The problem was Steve didn't actually remember having a home tutor except for a few months before going to school. He just figured the memories weren't that important. Seeing Doctor Brenner's picture however, changed his mind. He knew he'd seen the man before. He couldn't quite place it but he knew it empty. Scary. And that he hated the man. He was also certain that he'd seen Dr. Brenner at his house at some point. Maybe he'd worked with his father. He didn't know. He did know that the man experimented on people with little restraint.

Steve dropped the paper and stormed out of his house, grabbing his keys on the way. He started driving, going anywhere that wasn't his house. He ended up at Dustin's and the little shit roped him into games. Steve didn't care though. He needed to be out of his house and somewhere warm. Somewhere alive. Dustin didn't ask why he was there but did ask for a ride to the Wheeler's place later. Steve agreed, guessing, correctly, that it was for D&D. Steve still didn't know how to play the game but he didn't begrudge the kids playing it all the time. He happily dropped Dustin off at the Wheeler's, asking if the kid needed to be picked up too. Dustin told him it was a sleep over and started off towards the house. Steve stayed to be sure he got in when he saw Jonathan there. With Nancy.

He knew he and Nancy were done. Knew that she and Jonathan were probably better for each other. But god it fucking hurt. It hurt like a son of a bitch. Steve stared, letting his heart ache and wishing that some kind of freak accident occurred to separate them. He sighed and turned back to drive. And holy shit his hands were frozen! Steve stared at the icicles forming along his hands and the steering wheel. He freaked out mentally before slamming his foot on the gas and getting the hell away from civilisation. He ended up in the middle of some woodland road desperately trying to remove his hands from the wheel. The more he panicked the worse it seemed to get. Ice was forming on his car. Steve started taking deep breaths.

"Come on Harrington. It's just a bit of ice. Breathe you idiot. Breathe." He muttered. When he calmed a little he managed to pull his hands free. He stared at his hands in bewilderment. "That's... new. Oh man, is this a side effect? Oh no way man." Steve groaned, thumping his head against the wheel. "I am not developing ice powers like those losers' comic book freaks." But he knew, he somehow knew that this was not a recent development. He knew that he'd done something like this before. Well maybe not freeze his hand to his car but something similar. Steve concentrated hard, trying to find the memory. He got flashes, glimpses of a hand, his hand, stuck to some kind of pipe. Steve was jolted out of his memories by a tap at his window. Rolling it down, he saw Chief Hopper, Jane standing by his side, frowning at him.

"Harrington? What the hell are you doing here?" Hopped asked. Steve gave a weak smile.

"Oh, hey Chief." He said. "I was just thinking, y'know, getting my head on straight." Hopper couldn't have looked less like he believed him.

"Right, out of the car Harrington." Hopper said slowly. Steve stumbled out, wondering exactly why he'd been asked to get out. Hopper examined him with a flashlight. Jane looked at him oddly, cocking her head to one side. "And why are you getting your head on straight all the way out here?" Steve gulped.

"Just uh peace and quiet." He muttered. Hopper sighed and looked like he was contemplating checking the car to see if Steve was up to something else. Steve supposed be did have a reputation. The Chief probably thought he'd downed one too many. But Jane tugged on Hopper's sleeve and said something in the Chief's ear that Steve didn't hear.

"Get in, I'm driving you to my cabin." Hopper said. Steve nodded and hopped in the passenger side. Jane got in the back and Hopper drove for about ten minutes before pulling into the cabin. Steve hadn't realised he'd driven that far. He was hurried inside and sat on the couch, facing Jane. Hopper sat to the side and looked at Jane. She pointed at Steve.

"You know Papa?" She asked. Hopper raised a confused eyebrow but said nothing. Steve didn't respond. His mind was a mess. 'Papa' had some seriously negative connotations as far as he was concerned. Steve cleared his throat.

"You mean Dr. Brenner?" He asked. Jane nodded. "Yeah. I think I do. I'm not sure." Jane nodded.

"I understand." She said softly. "Your mind is... weird." Steve cocked his head.

"I might be having some memory issues." He shrugged. "But then I've never been that bright." Hopper gave a half snort behind him. Jane shook her head.

"More like... taken." She said. Steve raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing. She shuffled slightly, pulling her sleeve up. There was a mark 011 just below her wrist. Steve stared at the three black inked digits for what could have been hours before moving. His hands automatically went to his hip and he slightly pulled his jeans down to see the oh so familiar 003 printed onto his skin. Jane stared and a sound confirmed Hopper had moved.

"Lab." Jane said with a sense of finality. Steve pulled his jeans back up and shook his head.

"Can't be." He said. "I've lived with my parents all my life."

"You sure?" Jane asked. Steve opened his mouth but no words came out. To be honest he wasn't sure. He had no idea. Jane looked as if this settled the matter. "What do you do?" Steve hesitated. He wasn't one hundred percent sure but he was pretty sure he could freeze stuff. But it had been an accident in the car. He wasn't sure he could repeat it. Still he should try. Jane was probably the only person who would in any way understand. Steve looked around for something and saw a half-finished glass of water on the table. He picked it up and before Hopper could stop him, tipped it upside down. It fell onto his hand, freezing at his touch. He concentrated hard. He could almost feel the hands on his shoulder, telling him to concentrate, to focus. He's holding ice but it doesn't feel cold. Jane's mouth was slightly open as she reached across to poke the ice. It moved but didn't shatter. Hopper stared at Steve open mouthed, eyes disbelieving.

"Apparently I'm a human freezer." Steve joked, trying to ease the tension if only a little.

"Pretty." Jane said. Steve made a nervous sound before attempting to shove the ice back into the glass. He managed to and set the glass back on the table.

"I wouldn't call it pretty." Steve said.

"You're like me." Jane said. She seemed so happy that Steve didn't comment on the fact that he really wasn't. He was nowhere near as good as Jane. He was worse with his 'powers'. He had no idea what he was doing. Jane noticed his internal melt down and held out her pinkie finger. "Friends." Steve hesitated before extending his own pinkie and shaking. Jane smiled and Steve felt a gentle pat on the shoulder from Hopper.

"I should go." Steve said. Jane stared at him wide eyed. "I mean, this is a lot to process. And I just need some time. I'll... we can talk later." Jane nodded. Hopper offered to take him back but Steve shook his head and practically fled the cabin. Once he was back in his heated home, alone and shaken, Steve choked back a sob. His life was a lie. All of it. And suddenly, the chill of skin, the ice in his bones, had never felt more terrifying.