This is it for Can I lay back into the dark, thank you again to anyone who took the time to like, follow, or review this story. to anyone who took the time to read this whether you enjoyed it or not, THANK YOU! This is the first thing I've ever written that I actually finished, literally ever. I usually begin to doubt myself or lose direction but every reader here helped guide me and I can say thank you enough.

The big news I mentioned in the last chapter...!?
10 one-shots of the time between this story and the sequel that will be coming closer to the date of ST3! you will see the first one on the 17th of this month so keep an eye out for the alert I'll pop onto the end of this story in two weeks. I've already written 5 of them and I just have to say they are pretty damn cute, I can't wait to share them. I'll probably be sifting through this story at some point soon and fixing errors and such as well.

Thank you, shit-heads I love you x
Nikki

Innocent or guilty, will you save me if I stay?
See the world in color, tell me everything's okay, ooh
Can I lay back into the dark? (In your arms, baby, in your arms, baby)
Do you wanna be a hero?
Can I lay in your arms?
Can you tell me it's alright, even though I know it's not?
Ooh
Can I lay back into the dark? (In your arms, baby, in your arms, baby)

Hero - George Maple

It was a week later that Hawkins Lab closed its doors for good. The Monday after Allison was released from hospital found two black cars parked out the front of the Edwards home. With shaking hands, she had descended the stairs with Daniel's help. She could hear Mary Edwards wailing before she'd even left her room. They had identified Richard Edwards from his dental records, they told her Mother, his remains had burned in an explosion on one of the upper levels; a miscalculated amount of nitro-glycerine and an unidentified fault in the gas line during an experiment Richard was overseeing and the entire room went up in flames. Allison had long brushed off the idea that the flames had come from her. The further removed she became from the night the less that seemed like a viable reason. She had pleaded temporary insanity, she was completely normal she had reasoned, and she had a head injury. Steve had frowned when she told him what the representatives from the lab had said. They hadn't spoken about it again nor had they talked about Mary's involvement.

The men who had delivered the news to Allison's Mother had stated that her Father was a hero and that effective immediately the Lab would be closed. Indefinitely. No one questioned why Richard Edwards, a geneticist was overlooking a chemist experiment. Allison was the only one who really knew it was all strange anyway, maybe her Mom; but Mary Edwards hadn't been in the right frame of mind since the hospital.

Nancy had been over the moon, a large smile stretching from ear to ear once the news had spread of the labs shut down. Finally, she had justice for her best friend; Barbra Holland could rest in peace. The Edwards family had held a small funeral for Richard last Friday, despite the fact that no one really knew where Richard fell in the categories of good or bad. The whole party (as Dustin had taken to calling them) had watched as an empty coffin was deposited into the ground. Daniel had held Allison's left hand so tight during the proceedings that she felt her joins crack, but she refused to shake him off. Besides, her right hand had been held in Steve Harrington's and she was sure she clung with just as much force.

She had stood before that hole in the ground with an ache in her heart and a pit in her stomach. As the icy rain of Fall pelted down on them, her heart told her that it was okay to be sad, that she deserved to mourn her Father. Feeling guilty over not finding him was acceptable. Her stomach told her he was a bad man and remembering him otherwise made her as horrendous as him.

Steve had stood beside her the entire time. Nancy, Jonathan, and Melinda not too far behind. The younger teens minus Jane huddled around Daniel. Jane wasn't able to leave Hopper's house for her safety, a glance back at the grim Sheriff made Allison feel guiltier and guiltier for missing the man that had been a part of what had happened to the girl he loved like a daughter.

Nicole was flying in for Christmas break. Her parents were disappointed to be missing her last Christmas at home but eventually, they agreed. Allison wished it wasn't something like this that brought her best friend to her, but she was delighted she would get to see her before they went to college together next year.

Steve, of course, had been her lifeline. They had spent as much time together as possible during her stint in the hospital. Her Mom was convinced they were dating. Those teasing moments were the only times she'd seen her Mom act with just a hint of normalcy, so she let it go. Allison supposed if Mary knew what they had really been through together she would understand why they were so close and why they were voluntarily hanging out with six middle-schoolers.

In the coming weeks leading to Thanksgiving, survivors guilt plagued her at every waking moment. She had resolved that not knowing if what the lab had said was the truth about her Father was for the best but as the weeks went on and she watched her Mother spiral, she wondered if she could have saved him. Did he die while she was there searching for him? Or worse did he die because she left to help Daniel, Steve, and the others? It was Hopper who finally told her to let it all go the last time she had run into him at the Byers house, "When it all comes down to it Kid, you did exactly what any of us would have done, you went to help a bunch of clueless kids. No one, especially your Dad could ever fault you for that."

The first day back

A tap on the passengers' window of her Mom's car had Allison jumping in her seat the first day she returned to school. Her hand instantly reaching for something to use as a weapon; a new habit she doubted she'd be dropping anytime soon. She relaxed slightly when she saw Jonathan standing beside the car awkwardly, his hand clenched tight around the strap of his black bag and an apologetic look on his face. Allison leaned over with a sigh, unlocking the door for the younger teen, and greeting him quietly when he settled in. Hands resting against her pale jeans, Allison's eyes refused to lift to the boy. She felt uncomfortable and out of place in the jeans, she'd pulled from the back of her closet and a cropped navy jumper that ended where the jeans began. Her Mother had faked an attack when she saw her daughter in something other than those 'raggedy jeans you've worn to death' before the funeral. The mood had soured immediately. Understandable, considering her bloody clothes, favourite jeans included, currently sat in a garbage bag awaiting a proper burial or cremation in the garage.

"How you holdin' up?"

Jonathan's quiet voice makes Allison's shoulders tense again, pulling her from her thoughts. "Fine, I guess. My Mom is devastated. Thanks for coming to the funeral." Allison rests her forehead against the steering wheel in defeat. "Two weeks ago, we were fighting for our lives, I was like literally in a freaking explosion and now I just have to pretend like that didn't happen? Like everything is ace and we're all supposed to act like this," She wildly gestures to the students milling around her, laughing and preparing for the day. "Is important? How do I do that?"

Jonathan watches the older girl with a grimace, his hands twisting in his lap. "Honestly? We do the best we can. It's not an answer or a solution but I think it's all we have to offer." Jonathan pauses, sitting a little taller and hesitantly resting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Do you remember when I said that no one normal ever accomplished anything? All these people around us, the ordinary people who have no idea the burden we carry? They have a chance to be something because of what we did."

Allison finally meets Jonathan's eyes, hers filled with unshed tears. "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else." She says quietly, the Charles Darwin quote was a favourite of her Father's and made more sense to her in the last few weeks than it ever had before.

"Yeah, something like that."

Allison rests a hand over her friends gently, a small smile gracing her features. "Thanks, Jonathan." He gives her shoulder one last squeeze before letting go with a half-smile of his own. "Hey," Allison calls when he pushes himself from the car, Nancy coming to stand beside him. "I may be like totally black and blue right now but if you ever need me to help you carry your burdens, I'm always here. For both of you." She says with a grin, her eyes darting between the couple.

"Hey, that reminds me; how are you driving right now?" Jonathan raises an eyebrow at her crutches in the back seat.

"A gnarly cast isn't going to stop me, friend," Allison replied with a grin.

"No, I think that's Steve's job. See you round, Alli." Jonathan says with a rare smirk, closing the door with a small wave. Nancy nods her head toward the older girl, a cautious smile on her face. Allison returned it, they hadn't really spoken since the hospital, but she knew she didn't want to lose the younger teen as a friend. Nancy had mentioned she felt the same.

With some careful manoeuvring, Allison manages to grab her bag and crutches from the backseat, stepping out gingerly with a grunt of frustration. Slamming the door in frustration when a familiar blue car skidded into the parking spot next to her recklessly. Hoisting her bag on her right side she prepared to fight with the blond moron who had threatened Lucas and beaten Harrington to a pulp but was pleasantly surprised when Max launched from the car before he could, gentle as she wrapped her arms around the older girl's waist.

"I was going to come to see you this weekend, but my Mom wouldn't let me cause I had homework," The young red-head rolls her eyes in annoyance. "Are you feeling any better?" Allison remembered the last time her young friend had seen her was at her Father's funeral on Friday. She nodded reassuringly, leaning against the car and lifting her jumper slightly to show the white bandages that the doctor had loosely wrapped around her abdomen. Yellow and green discoloured her entire right side and crawled to her back, now that her movement wasn't so limited, she had been able to take a look in the mirror. It was pretty cool, she'd made Jonathan take photos.

"Could always be worse, Kid. A few more weeks and I'll be back to normal, I have to miss a few track-meets which sucks though, I was excited to make them all eat my dust. The doctor says I should have my cast off before Christmas." Max grins, tosses a glance behind her to see her Step-brother watching the pair with a scowl.

"Scram."

Billy's scowl deepens as he slams his door and stomps away, adjusting his hair as he goes. Max turns back to Allison with a grin, whose eyes are still on her classmates retreating figure. "Stuck a syringe full of Will's medicine in his neck and threatened his balls with Steve's bat if he didn't leave me and my friends alone, tell me if he bothers you." A disbelieving chuckle bellows from Allison's mouth, causing her to grasp her side in pain.

"Okay no laughing." She winces, pushing her hand through her hair. "Good job kid." Max glows with praise and steps toward the middle school, spotting Lucas and the others waving her over.

Max waves back turning to Allison with a grin, "Bye, Alli!" Allison waves, watching her red hair flutter behind her as she runs over to the boys who all greet her with grins, even Mike, who nudges her shoulder with his own when they walk toward the middle school.

Daniel's sandy hair stood out amongst his group as he talked to Lucas and Dustin animatedly, Will listening on quietly a big smile lighting his young face before he turns away. It soothes Allison seeing them all carry on as before, able to just be carefree kids, she had said she would carry the burden for her friends, and that included those kids.

The bell rings behind Allison, jolting her from her thoughts. She crutches toward the high school at ease, trying to remember if she had any homework due today.

Late November

"You doing okay, girl? You're totally out of it today."

Allison tucked a flyaway strand of her dark hair behind her ear, meeting her friends concerned hazel gaze. "Yeah, I'm just… can you believe Thanksgiving is already here? I feel like it's still my first day here sometimes." Resting her hands against her crossed leg, The other stretched out before her, her formally white cast now covered in colourful writing and drawings; her favourite was the little gremlin right on her ankle that Daniel had spent his afternoon drawing on the weekend after their Dad's funeral. Allison's gaze found the dense forest that surrounded them and the running track. It was still early; the pink and orange of the sunrise filled the ominous wood with warmth. It felt safe, she always liked this time of day. "I don't mean to be a downer," She continues with a rueful smile, eyes darting to her lap. "I guess it just hit me today that this would be the first holiday without my Dad, Thanksgiving was his favourite, He loved the parade."

Melinda's tan hand slipped into Allison's, squeezing lightly. "I'm so sorry, babe. Are you guys going to watch together?" she asks, her grip firm on her friend's hand. Allison shrugs, her eyes never leaving their entwined fingers in her lap.

"Daniel and I are, I haven't really spoken to my Mom, she doesn't leave her room much anymore." Mary Edwards hadn't spoken to either of her children since the funeral, Allison couldn't deny it hurt not hearing her Mother's carefree laugh or the high-pitched way she lamented their names when they were doing the wrong thing or just being smart. She had pushed all her worry about what her Mother knew about the lab away before she had left the hospital. She voted in favour of being a support for her, but it had been Mary that pulled away after that. Daniel and Allison understood and worked as a team to make life in the house more bearable. They both sat by her room when they came home from school and told her about their day.

"My Mom always says it's important to be with family on Thanksgiving because they are who you should be most thankful for. A family is a blessing, no matter what form it takes, we're family, Alli. If you and Daniel want to come over and attempt to deal with the chaos that is eighteen people in one house, you are more than welcome."

Allison squeezed the blonde's hand one last time before pulling away, a grateful smile on her face. "Thank you for the offer, Mel, and thank you for being here for me these last few weeks." Melinda became someone she could trust implicitly, she was a reprieve from the Upside Down and the rest of her friends who knew her burdens. The blonde reached out during her time in the hospital, it had been unexpected. They spent a lot of their time together on the track; Allison doing gentle stretches and cheering Melinda on as she ran. Sometimes Steve joined them. They laughed about Carol and Billy and all the stupid popular kids. The blonde had quickly become one of her closest friends, they had much more in common than both had previously assumed, a love of lemonade, running, making fun of Harrington, and Fleetwood Mac had started their friendship and aspirations to attend college in Boston cemented it.

She still escaped to the dark room with Jonathan sometimes, when it all got too much. Especially in the days before Thanksgiving. Sometimes he would talk with her about books or about Will, other days they would sit in silence. Allison deep in thought while Jonathan tended to his photos. He understood her, he was a level voice in her head and she appreciated it.

"Hey, we've got each-others backs right?" Melinda asks with a grin, rising from the red track with a stretch, her thin top riding up slightly. Rubbing her bare leg with as groan, Allison joined her, when Melinda helped her up. It was growing steadily colder as the snow months approached but both girls still preferred to run (Or in Allison's case, lightly stretch) in the summer uniform. "We better head in, the bells gonna ring soon and if I'm late for English one more time Mrs Simmons is gonna have my head and my captaincy." Melinda walks over to the dewy grass where Allison had thrown her crutches and grabs them for her, passing them over with a concerned furrow of her brow. "Are you gonna be okay?"

Allison nods with a small smile, the pair walk to the gym in silence, opening the door to the warmth inside with a thankful groan, "I think it's time for pants." Melinda laments, looking at her blue-tinged legs. Allison laughs in agreement, Patting her friend's chilly arm lightly. "At least you have like half of one leg covered," She pouted.

"I'd rather freeze, to be honest," Allison jokes looking at her cast. They both wave to the coach as they stumbled toward the blue locker room doors, grinning at the red faces of the basketball team in the middle of suicides.

"You ladies wanna come show these idiots how to sprint? We seem to have different ideas on what speed is." The coach shouts across the court over the pounding and squeaking of runners on the linoleum. Melinda laughs at the grumbles coming from the court as some of the boys pick up speed.

"I taught you better than that, Harrington. I could beat you on crutches!" Allison calls earning a finger and a growled 'go to hell, Edwards' from her sweaty friend. The girls duck into the locker room chuckling and emerge clean and ready for the day just as the morning bell sounds. The boys are all changed and leaving as well and Allison spots Steve ahead of her, bidding goodbye to Melinda who jogs to make it to class in time, she nudges Steve on her way through who slows for his crippled friend. "A morning practice the day before Thanksgiving, what's grinding coach's gears?" she greets, snorting when he glowers down at her.

"Good morning, Steve' is usually how a conversation begins in the morning, Edwards." He grumbles in response, running his fingers through his damp hair. He glanced at her quickly taking in her good spirits with a roll of his dark eyes. Wind sprints were torture, and his friend's cheery attitude wasn't helping him.

"So, A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Stripper walk into a bar…" Allison starts with a straight face, earning a snort from Steve.

"I've heard that one. Weird salutation but okay." Steve lets a small grin play on his mouth despite trying to hold onto his grumpy countenance.

"Salutation? That's a big word Harrington, perhaps you should save some of that for class."

"Some of what?

"Your brain, I don't know if you know this, but people think you're stupid," Allison whispered conspiratorially.

Steve shakes his head with a small smirk, pushing open the door for them and letting her through. "I don't think I've cared about what people think of me for a long time."

"Good morning, Steve," Allison sang happily, pleased to see the yellow of his bruises had nearly faded completely, the artificial lights of the corridor giving him only a slightly pallid look in comparison to last week. She was glad his last piece of physical proof Halloween weekend had ever happened was nearly gone.

"Good morning, Edwards."

The pair were silent for a moment as they make their way to chemistry, Steve fending off teens who nearly walked into Allison or got in the way of her crutches. She rolled her eyes at the furrow of his brow while he concentrated. It had become apparent quickly that Steve was the mother of the group when he had come to look after Daniel the week Allison got out of the hospital. Her Mom was busy making funeral arrangements and had hired Steve to babysit. He refused to let Allison do anything for herself, going as far as to try carrying her places. It had been a nightmare that Allison had gotten through with heavy medication and jokes about buying Steve a candy striper outfit.

"You know, sometimes it's like totally okay to be more Bugs than Sam." Allison spouted randomly earning Steve's eyebrow rising in annoyance, "I'm just saying Harrington, your gnarly attitude is a drain on my positivity man."

The corner of Steve's mouth kicked up as he opened the door to the chem room. The first time coming back into her chemistry room had been surreal. It turned out Bunsen burners were a trigger for her. Her teacher had seen the distress in her eyes and began a long-winded and panicked speech about her readiness to return to school that had oddly calmed her down. School was nothing in comparison to what she had faced, so she crutched to her seat, sat in her assigned stool, and dutifully took notes.

"Hey, how does that joke end?" Steve asks as they take their seats.

"They all get eaten by sharks and no one dared boo at Eurovision ever again."

Steve frowned, pulling his books from his bag, "I thought they were in a bar?"

"That's your problem with the ending of that joke?" Allison raises her eyebrow disbelievingly.

"Why not." Steve shrugs, attempting to keep a straight face.

"Well, the bar is in Australia." The brunette replies taking down the morning notes.

"Ah, Sure."

By the end of the day, Allison was more than happy to be heading home for a break. She had said goodbye to all her friends, wishing them a happy Thanksgiving. Nancy had given her a hug and Jonathan had given her a picture he had processed of her and Daniel hugging from a few weeks previous. They had all gone out for a picnic to get Allison out of the house and Jonathan had snapped a few happy photos. Allison had hugged the awkward boy tightly much to his amusement and wished him a good holiday.

Allison glanced up from watching where here crutches landed to cross the road noticing Daniel leaned against the door of the car, watching her crutch toward him. "It makes me nervous getting in a car with you when you have that thing on you." He says as she nears, gesturing toward her pretty cast.

"I mean, you can always walk home."

"How strange, my nerves are completely gone."

"That's what I thought wastoid."

Allison slides into the car, tossing her crutches into the back seat with both their bags. "Steve found out I drove today, so you don't have to worry, after Thanksgiving he'll be picking us up again. He told me he can't believe he was stupid enough to believe me when I lied and said I would get us a lift with Nancy and Jonathan."

Daniel smirked, clicking his seat belt into place. "I still don't know how you made him believe that."

"I'm a pathological liar, he just doesn't know that yet."

"I was thinking we could go to the cinema tonight? 16 candles is still showing." Daniel suggested, grinning at his sister's disbelieving look. Allison had been trying to drag Daniel to see that movie for weeks and he wouldn't have a bar of it.

"What are you planning?"

Daniel shrugged, waving to his friends as they drove past the biking group. "Nothing planned. I just want to get out of the house and the last few movies we've seen were my choices. Also, Steve asked if you wanted to hang out tonight and it would totally bring me the most joy to watch him have to sit through that movie.

Allison cackled at her brother who joined in, a big grin on his cherub face. "You are like totally evil, dweeb. I love it."

"You like me, you really like me." He quotes emotionlessly earning another round of laughter from Allison.

"Stop! I can't laugh, it hurts," The girl wheezed, clutching her side lightly. The tension of the past few days melting away as they fall into their usual bantering rhythm. "Oh my God, can you imagine his face?" Allison continued, trying to focus her breathing to stop the pain in her ribs. Daniel grinned switching on the radio much to Allison's relief.

They had pulled up at the house, both hopping out still singing along to Wham! "I reckon we've made it home in time to watch cartoons, it would be pretty ace if we didn't miss Superfriends."

Daniel snorted, opening the front door and dropping his bag in the corner. "We aren't watching that. Transformers is so much better.

"Not even!"

"Even." Daniel plunked onto the couch, "Alli, sometimes I wonder what went wrong with you."

"Because I think Superfriends, a show about the Justice League is better than Transformers there has to be something wrong with me! I think you just aren't mature enough to understand the entertainment value my cartoon holds" Allison finishes primly. Remembering a similar conversation, they had had in a pink diner weeks ago. Allison set herself down next to Daniel settling in for a few hours before Steve came around. Grabbing the remote, she switches the television on. "I'm older than you, so that means that my choice like outdoes your choice." Daniel just raises his pale eyebrows, watching his sister with a shameless expression.

"I'm a very charismatic child, Allison."

"You're something." Allison grunts, roughly placing the remote into his open palm.