Disclaimer: I don't own Stranger Things, obviously.
Intro: When Steve finds Eddie in the Upside Down, half-eaten by Demobats and bleeding out in Dustin's arms, he can't accept that this is the end. After all, he promised to keep Eddie safe, didn't he? Fix-it fic for Stranger Things Vol. 2, featuring Steve/Eddie and a fair bit of angst.
Steve had hoped that Eddie's brief moment of consciousness had been a sign for the better, but he was proven wrong. Robin returned some time later with two packs of Tylenol, holding them aloft in victory as she charged back into the room, and Steve had to admit that he was relieved that at least something had gone well. But trying to get Eddie to swallow them was another thing entirely. Whilst Eddie was now somewhat responsive, he still didn't seem fully aware of what was happening or what they were saying. Steve had to sit on the edge of the bed and lean right forward for Eddie to even focus on his face, his eyes still confused and heavily lidded.
"Come on, it's just two tablets," Steve coaxed desperately, squeezing his hand. "Over in a flash. Come on, Eddie, you can do it…"
It didn't help that Eddie could barely move. When he finally did seem to understand and tried to shift up onto his elbow, a violent spasm of pain rolled through him and he sank back down, letting out a strangled moan, his eyes squeezing tightly shut. Steve's heart leapt in his chest.
"It's okay, it's okay – look, I'll come to you, you don't have to move."
Eventually, Steve settled for cupping a hand behind Eddie's neck, lifting him only the slightest amount until he could take the pills and a swig of water. He laid him back down as soon as he could, wincing as Eddie coughed slightly, his face screwed up with pain and his breath hitching. Steve reached for the washcloth, pressing the cooler side against Eddie's neck again, his other hand smoothing back his sweat-streaked hair.
"It's okay, you did it…"
Steve glanced over his shoulder to find Robin watching from the end of the bed, his own fear reflected back at him in her eyes. She was gnawing anxiously on her bottom lip, one foot tapping away on the ground, her arms folded tightly. She offered him a short nod, expressing that she understood – it was going to be hard to get Eddie to do that over and over. Steve took a shaky breath and sank back into the chair beside the bed, trying to focus on the task at hand. They just had to stick to the plan and hope Nancy could come up with something stronger.
Their biggest problem was that the Tylenol band aid they were trying to stick over their lack of medical supplies didn't seem to be working. When evening began to draw in, Eddie's temperature was warm enough that his fringe began to stick to his forehead and a thin sheen of sweat was glistening on his chest. His breathing sounded worse, too – it was growing shallow and tight, a horrible reminder of how bad he had sounded when they had found him in Dustin's arms back in the Upside Down. Nancy arrived as Steve and Robin were swapping the duvet out for a light sheet. She took in the sight of them with a worried frown, hanging back.
"How is he?"
Steve hesitated, glancing down at Eddie, but the other boy hadn't reacted to Nancy's entrance. His eyes were shut tightly, his hands fisting in the sheets. Steve swallowed hard.
"He's… kind of in and out," he said finally.
"How did it go?"
Robin's question was too hopeful, too keen – Steve could see at once from Nancy's face that it hadn't gone well. Nancy's face twisted slightly.
"Not… not quite a success. I found out what drugs we need, but no one would give them to me without a prescription."
Steve's heart plummeted into his stomach. He turned away, focusing on pulling the sheet straight. Eddie shivered slightly, his hands scrunching up again, his jaw clenched. Steve picked up the washcloth again and pressed it lightly against Eddie's cheek – his eyes were roving under their lids, but didn't open. He heard Nancy moving forward, speaking quietly to Robin.
"Is there ice in the freezer? We should get a bowl of ice water on the go, try and keep him as cold as we can."
Robin agreed and hurried out of the room. Nancy hesitated for a moment longer before speaking again.
"He'll be okay, Steve. We'll find a way."
"Yeah? How do you feel about breaking into the hospital again?"
He knew he sounded too bitter to carry it off as a joke. Nancy sighed.
"Well, not great. But we'll figure it out." And then, after a beat, "I mean, it's got to be easier to steal a box of pills than it is to sneak a full person out, right?"
Steve tried to smile, but he knew it wasn't quite convincing enough. Nancy remained standing beside him, picking at a loose thread on her jacket.
"I checked in on Max. There's no change."
Steve paused, glancing up at her briefly, suddenly realising how little he had thought of the rest of their group that day. "How are the others?"
"They were all there. Dustin wanted to come back here with me, but I told him to wait until tomorrow."
"He seem okay?"
She shrugged slightly, and Steve understood at once. Of course he wasn't okay. Only a couple of days ago, he had watched one of his best friends bleed out in his arms in the Upside Down. But still, Steve felt that Nancy had made the right choice – he didn't want Dustin seeing Eddie like this, not when they didn't know how to help him. It was already tearing Steve apart to know that their efforts might have been for nothing, that Eddie still wasn't out of the woods. He didn't want Dustin to have to go through that too. He looked at Nancy again, realising how troubled she looked, noticing the way her eyebrows were pulled tightly together in concern.
"What about you? Are you okay?"
"Me?" Nancy gave him a wry smile. "Steve, I'm fine. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You look…" she trailed off, as if searching for the right words. "You look tired. Have you slept?"
He raised and lowered one shoulder, and was rescued from answering more questions by Robin coming back in, carrying a bowl of ice-filled water in both hands. She slopped some out as she set it down on the bedside table and shot Steve an apologetic look.
"Sorry. Do we have a plan?"
"Not yet," Nancy sighed. "But I don't know how much further we'll get tonight. Robin, why don't you head home? I can stay tonight."
"You can? I thought your mum was being super strict?"
"She was, but I told her a friend was scared and that I'd promised to sleep over. Managed to convince her eventually."
And so it was decided. Robin would go home, long overdue for a check in with her parents, and Nancy would stay. Robin left slowly, looking back at them, her face lined with worry, and Steve tried to smile for her. But all the talk of parents set off a niggle in the back of Steve's mind, and he pulled himself away from Eddie's side, seeking out the answering machine in the kitchen. Laying eyes on the fridge reminded him how long it had been since he had last eaten, and he stopped for long enough to pop a few slices of bread into the toaster before checking the machine. There was a red flashing light on it and he hit the play button.
Sure enough, his hunch had been right. His parents were planning to travel back from their conference in the next few days, apparently goaded into returning by the other parents of Hawkins. His father's disembodied voice rattled off a long list of things that Steve should check around the house – the boiler, the water pressure, the car, any potential cracks in the walls… Steve gritted his teeth in frustration. It seemed like they wouldn't be able to stay for long – they'd need to find a new hideout. He screwed his thumbs into his eyes, and then focused on the toast.
One problem at a time.
He ate the toast, glaring angrily at the answer machine, and then headed back upstairs.
The night was difficult. Eddie didn't wake up again, but he remained shivery and restless, his face sometimes creasing with pain, his hair soaked through with sweat and sticking to his neck. Steve kept the washcloth as cold as he could, tried talking to him now and then, but he was rapidly running out of ideas of how to help. He felt supremely useless, not able to do much more than sit and watch. His eyes were beginning to ache with tiredness, his body heavy and clumsy around him. He scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair, trying to stay alert, and then felt Nancy's hand on his shoulder.
"Steve, please, just get some rest."
"I'm fine."
"You can't help him if you don't sleep."
He hesitated, but he knew she was right. As she always was. His hands were shaky, his head pounding, and he couldn't deny it any longer. He needed a break. He took a deep breath, glancing down at Eddie. It felt wrong to leave him, and he found himself reaching out to squeeze the other boy's hand.
"Will you stay with him then? For a couple of hours?"
"Of course. Why do you think I'm here?" Nancy gave him a light nudge. "If you promise to get some sleep, I'll do whatever you ask."
Steve shut his eyes for a moment, debating just setting up the makeshift bed on the floor again, but he had a feeling that Nancy wouldn't agree to that. And so, finally, he climbed to his feet, giving Eddie's hand a final squeeze before stepping away.
"If anything happens–"
"I know. I'll come and get you. Go."
He went, pausing in the doorway to look back. Nancy was already taking up his position beside the bed, dipping the washcloth in the bowl of ice water and laying it carefully over Eddie's forehead, her gaze serious. He watched for a moment longer before finally leaving the room and heading down the corridor to his parents' bedroom. The sheets were still rumpled from Robin's stay the night before, but he didn't care. He set the alarm clock for two hours time, squinting through tired eyes at the red flashing numbers, and then dropped down onto the bed, not even bothering to clamber under the duvet.
He felt like he had barely blinked, but instead the alarm was bleeping and the short hours had flown past. He scrambled heavily out of the bed, slapping blindly at the bedside table to turn off the alarm's incessant noise. He forced himself up to his feet and made for the bathroom to splash some water over his face, trying to shake himself back into awareness. He faced his own bloodshot eyes and pale, washed out skin in the mirror. He felt with certainty that he was looking at someone very different to the hopeful teenager who had jumped into the Upside Down to attack Vecna only a few days ago. The difference between how their band of friends had been then and how they were now was stark – Max in a coma in hospital, Eddie almost killed by Demobats, Hawkins torn apart by the gates… He tried to force the thoughts out of his head, but when he returned to his bedroom and Nancy looked up at him from her chair, the bleak reality of their situation stared back at him in her own tired face.
They passed the night like that, taking a few hours of sleep each, until the morning rolled around. The last shift had stretched longer than Steve had meant it to, meaning that he had managed to sleep through his alarm in sheer exhaustion, and he woke to find the red numbers flashing 10:00am. He swore and climbed out of the bed, making for his room. As he slipped through the door, he could see with a swell of disappointment that Eddie's condition hadn't improved – his breathing was still shallow and fast, his skin waxy, his jaw tight. The washcloth was sitting on his forehead, and Steve glanced quickly at the chair – Nancy was asleep, curled into the corner of it, her eyes ringed with dark circles. He slipped around her and dipped the flannel into the tepid water, pressed it against Eddie's face. He held the back of his hand against the other boy's arm, wincing at the heat that met his skin. His fever hadn't gone down.
He heard Nancy stirring and spared a quick look over his shoulder at her. She was rubbing her eyes, blinking hard.
"Steve? Damnit, what time is it? Did I fall asleep?"
"It's okay. He's the same."
Nancy was squinting at her watch. "I think it was only an hour or so… I'm sorry, I didn't–"
"You should've come to wake me up if you were tired. I said a couple of hours, remember?"
She shot him a glare. "You needed it."
He opened his mouth to argue, and then rolled his eyes and shut it again. Nancy got up out of the chair, stretching her arms and neck.
"Breakfast?"
He did have something of an appetite, and the ice water needed replacing anyway. He checked Eddie over once more before slowly following Nancy down to the kitchen. He slumped into a chair at the kitchen table, rubbing sleep out of his eyes while Nancy cobbled together a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches from the fridge. They ate them in silence, each lost in thought and foggy headed.
"So what do you think?" Steve asked at last. "What's the plan?"
Nancy took a bite of her sandwich, shrugging slightly. "Back to the hospital, try to find a supply closet that isn't locked? I mean, I don't know what else we can do at this stage."
"Right." Steve watched the bed, turning the crust of his sandwich over and over between his fingers. "Well, maybe you could go? Or Robin? Someone needs to stay with him."
"Yeah, figures."
He glanced over, frowning at Nancy's tone. She sounded almost frustrated, although her face wasn't angry when she looked up at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, I just… You're kind of his watchdog, aren't you?"
"Watchdog?"
"I just mean…" She broke off, and then looked back down at her sandwich, picking at the edges. "I didn't know you were that close, that's all."
"We're not."
"Okay, fine."
An awkward pause stretched between them, and Steve felt the back of his neck prickling uncomfortably, as if with guilt. He wasn't sure what was suddenly so uncomfortable between them, or what to interpret from Nancy's averted gaze. He pushed his plate away and stood up, reaching for the coffee machine, keen to occupy his hands with something. Nancy didn't speak as he set a new pot to boil and collected some mugs from the kitchen cupboards. He set them down on the counter, finally managing to get some words out as he poured the coffee.
"I just think you guys are better at talking your way into places than me. I've tried charming the nurses at the hospital – they're not interested." He glanced over his shoulder at Nancy, who was still studying her breakfast. "I'm a good watchdog, though. Always the babysitter, right?"
She looked up, meeting his gaze, and offered him a thin smile. "Right."
"Okay. Thanks."
She shrugged, and he had the distinct feeling that something was going unsaid. It was strange that Nancy was the kind of person who could break into a hospital with him in the dead of night to free a wanted fugitive, but not the kind of person who could speak to him directly. But he didn't have the energy to draw it out of her – even though he'd got a good few more hours than he was used to the night before, he still felt like he was running on fumes. And they weren't done. He downed his coffee and poured himself more before refilling the water bowl with more ice from the freezer. He turned, coffee in one hand and ice water in the other, facing Nancy. She was watching him, still with that thin, sombre smile.
"I'm sorry," he offered. "I know it's been a long night, and the last thing you must want to do is go sneaking around a hospital–"
"Steve, I'm fine," she said, her voice tinged with defiance. "I just want to understand what's going on with you, that's all."
He offered her a nod. "Yeah, okay. I'm fine too. So… Good luck, I guess."
It didn't seem to be the answer she wanted, but she didn't pursue the matter further. Eventually, he dropped her gaze and headed for the stairs. He hadn't been gone long, but it still felt like a relief to settle back into the chair at Eddie's bedside, to have eyes on his patient again. He looked down at the other boy, frowning, taking in his flushed face and his tightly shut eyes. He reached down for his wrist, feeling the flutter of his pulse against his fingertips. It was too fast, too irregular, and he felt his heart sink in his chest. He dunked the washcloth into the icy bowl and laid it over Eddie's neck, wincing as the other boy whimpered slightly.
"I'm sorry,' he muttered. "You'll be okay, alright? Just hang on, just a bit longer…"
Eddie just turned his head away, shuddering slightly. Steve couldn't be sure if he was fully conscious or not, but he still felt that familiar feeling of failure biting at his stomach. He sat back in his chair, having another sip of coffee, and then flinched violently as a low roar from outside reached his ears. He deposited the mug down so hastily that coffee sloshed across his bedside table, lurching to his feet before the cup was even flat. His feet carried him at once to the window and he peeked through the blinds.
If he'd been hoping to be comforted by the sight outside, he wasn't. A car was pulling up in his driveway – worse, an unfamiliar car. His mind went everywhere at once as to who it could be – detectives, the police, his parents, a nosy neighbour… Someone had figured out where they were. He swore under his breath and took off towards the hallway. Nancy was already halfway up the stairs when he rounded the corner, her eyes wide.
"Car, I know," she hissed. "Is it your parents?"
"It's not their car." He gripped the banister tightly as the distant roar of the engine shut off. "You think it's the police? Government?"
Nancy was staring nervously at the front door, her lips pursed. "I don't know. I'll get rid of them."
"How?"
"I don't know. Go, hold the fort upstairs."
Steve took a few steps backwards, his hand against the wall. "Okay. Say whatever you have to, just… just get them to leave."
She nodded, and then flinched violently as the doorbell rang. Steve threw himself back up the stairs, sparing one last glance over his shoulder as he went. Enough time to see Nancy take hold of the door handle, her shoulders rising and falling as she took a deep breath. He hurtled back along the corridor and into his bedroom, shutting the door tight behind him. He headed at once for the window, but all he could see was the car – whoever had been in it was now standing on his doorstep, out of sight. His ears straining, he heard the front door open, heard voices downstairs.
He always kept his baseball bat with the nails in the boot of his car, ready for action. But since first discovering the Upside Down, Steve had made a point of also keeping a bat in his wardrobe. He wasn't sure if it was the nightmares that had started just after his first encounter with the Upside Down, or perhaps the knowledge that any flickering light could be a signal of an approaching Demogorgan, but he felt much safer with the bat there. Perhaps now it was the lack of sleep that urged him to tear open the cupboard door and seek it out, but its familiar weight in his hands gave him some reassurance. His mind was still rushing with all the potential people that could possibly be at the door – with any luck, it was just some community watch representative checking that everyone was okay after the earthquake, or a neighbour sent over to check on him by his parents. But then he heard footsteps on the stairs, heard voices in the hallway outside, and Steve felt his heart lurch. Multiple footsteps. Multiple voices. Whoever it was, they were inside the house. Barely realising what he was doing, he lifted the bat. If the police had found them, it was fair to say that attacking them with a bat was not the best idea – but he couldn't just stand there and do nothing. He couldn't let Eddie be taken away, carted off to some cell in a prison miles away from them. He braced himself, got ready to strike as the door creaked open…
"Wow, some welcome. Happy to see you too, kid."
He let the baseball bat drop, heaving out a shaky breath, crumpling as a cocktail of shock and relief hit him. And yet, still, what he was seeing didn't make any sense. He could only surmise that the stress of the last few days had finally led to some bizarre hallucinations, and that he was finally losing his mind. He scrubbed the back of his hand across his eyes, blinking hard, trying to convince himself that what he was seeing was real.
"Hopper? You're… you…"
Jim Hopper took a slow, cautious step into the room, his hands raised in mock surrender. He looked significantly different to the way he had last time Steve had seen him – his face was thinner, his body leaner, his skin weather-beaten and bruised. His head was shaved and his eyes wearier than they had been before, as if he had aged considerably in the short time since he had disappeared in an explosion in Hawkins lab. There was movement behind him, and Steve suddenly realised that Joyce Buyers was hovering in the doorway, her eyebrows pulled together in motherly concern, a sad smile pulling at her lips. Nancy was at her side, the exact same expression of startled relief etched over her face as Steve was sure was on his own. He swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words.
"How did… We thought you were…"
"Dead?" Hopper shrugged, offering a wry smile. "Not yet, it seems. You planning on hitting me with that thing?"
Steve realised he was still holding on to the bat and shook his head, tossing it away towards the corner of the room. He settled his hands on his hips, still unsure of exactly what was happening.
"Sorry, sorry. We're just a little on edge, I guess."
"Yeah, we've heard about your little expedition to the Upside Down."
Steve hesitated, looking quickly at Nancy. He was sure he was missing several key pieces of information here, and there were almost too many questions to ask. Like where Will, Eleven and Jonathan were, or how Hopper and Joyce had known where to find them, or how they knew what had happened. He didn't know where to start. Joyce stepped forward, appearing to take pity on his confusion. Her face was as kind as ever, her eyes encouraging.
"We're not here to tell you kids off. Nancy said that you might need a bit of a helping hand."
Hopper's gaze moved pointedly towards Eddie, and Steve found himself automatically stepping forward, blocking him protectively from sight. He stared Hopper and Joyce down, his mind racing, his hands clenching into anxious fists.
"He's not a murderer," he said, his voice stony. "I don't know what you've heard, but–"
"It's okay, Steve." Joyce was moving closer, side-stepping Hopper, her face full of concern as she peered over Steve's shoulder. "We've seen the others. Dustin already explained everything."
"The kid thought you guys might be a little in over your heads," Hopper added. "We're just here to check in on you. All of you."
Steve hesitated, but in the doorway Nancy was nodding, her wide eyes clearly agreeing with them. There were still so many questions that needed answering, but Steve could settle for putting them aside for now. After all, their efforts to help Eddie so far hadn't been very successful so far – Hopper was right, they did need help. He looked at Joyce, taking in her earnest, encouraging gaze, and reluctantly stepped aside.
Hopper and Joyce approached, moving past him. Steve could tell at once from their faces that it wasn't good news. They shared an anxious look before Hopper crouched down, placing a careful hand on Eddie's forehead.
"How long has he been like this?"
"Maybe since yesterday afternoon?" Nancy offered. "He seemed okay when we got him out of the hospital, but then…"
"Then the drugs wore off," Hopper offered. "It lines up."
"So, what can we do?"
Nancy's question was met with a distinct pause as Hopper exchanged a tight glance with Joyce, his brow furrowed.
"Well, we get him some antibiotics. And we're gonna need some pretty heavy duty painkillers too."
"We know which ones he was on," Nancy offered hopefully. "We have his chart. We just can't get them without a prescription–"
"Well, perfect," Joyce said, earning a raised eyebrow from Hopper. "My old friend Eloise still works down at the pharmacy in the general store. I'm sure she can get us those."
"Don't you think she'll wonder who it's for?" Nancy said, glancing nervously at Steve. "We're kind of trying to keep a low profile. We don't want the police finding out where he is."
"So, I'll tell her we're supporting elderly members of the community who lost their homes in the earthquake and can't find their meds."
Steve couldn't help staring at her. Sure, he hadn't seen all that much of Joyce in the past year or so, but he didn't remember her being quite so flippant about lying, nor so quick at thinking up ways to deceive old friends. She noticed the expression on his face and sighed, shrugging slightly.
"Look, it's been a weird few of days. This is probably the simplest problem we've had to solve recently." She exchanged a knowing look with Hopper. "Besides, you're probably best suited to helping out here, right?"
Hopper nodded. "I'm not a doctor, but you get some decent first aid training as a cop. I can at least take a look. Your parents got a first aid kit?"
Steve pointed at the one sitting on his desk, and Hopper went to inspect it. Joyce offered him a supportive smile, coming forward for a hug. Steve was almost taller than her now, and certainly didn't know her as well as the others, but her small arms were immensely comforting as they wrapped around him. He hugged her back, feeling some of the tension in his shoulders ease.
"It's good to see you, Steve. I'll go and get those meds – when I come back, I'll get some proper food cooked up. Sound good?"
It did, and Steve couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly relieved that some real grown ups had arrived to take charge. He was no longer solely responsible for Eddie's life, no longer muddling through with whatever he, Robin and Nancy could patch together. Joyce released him, offering his shoulder a final squeeze.
"I'll come with you," Nancy offered from the doorway. "I've still got his notes from the hospital – we can see if there was anything else we need."
Joyce agreed and together they disappeared out into the corridor. Steve tried to catch Nancy's eye as they went, suddenly rather anxious about being left behind with a man who had been inexplicably resurrected from the dead. He'd never known Hopper that well, but at least he was an adult and offering to help. At that moment, Hopper was rifling through the first aid kit, frowning.
"When were the bandages last changed?"
"Huh?"
Hopper gave Steve a calculating look, his eyes narrowed. "You haven't changed the bandages?"
Steve felt like a naughty child being told off, felt like he was shrinking. He shook his head, his mouth dry.
"Not since we got him back from the hospital, no… I didn't…"
"That could be a factor, then. You should really be changing them at least once a day, helps prevent infection."
Hopper seemed to notice the stricken expression on Steve's face and softened slightly. "It's okay, kid, it hasn't been that long."
He pulled out a roll of bandages and gauze from the first aid box, followed by a glass bottle. He nodded, apparently satisfied.
"We can work with this."
"Okay," Steve said, glancing nervously at Eddie. "What can I do?"
Hopper set the first aid kit down on the bedside table. He rolled up the sleeves of his plaid shirt, hesitating, as if considering the best way to lift an awkwardly shaped sofa. Steve waited, his heart pounding, not sure why he was so nervous. Eventually, Hopper seemed to make a decision and gestured to Eddie.
"I think the best thing you can do is prop him up and try and hold him still. We'll try to be quick, but without painkillers this is going to hurt. I'd say we could wait for them, but who knows how long it'll take. So your job is to keep a firm grip on him and watch what I do so that you can do it next time, okay?"
Steve nodded, hating every part of that plan. He wanted to push back, but Hopper was right. Eddie needed treatment sooner rather than later. All Steve could think about was how much effort it had taken for him to swallow the Tylenol before, and how much more painful it was going to be to change the bandages. But Hopper was looking at him expectantly, and there was no way Steve was going to just sit outside and wait for it to be over like a coward. He had to try to be useful.
"Okay."
He turned towards the bed and leaned down, placing a tentative hand on Eddie's cheek. He tapped lightly, wincing at the heat radiating off him.
"Eddie? Eddie, we've got to move you a bit. Promise we'll be quick. Can you hear me?"
It took a few more tries, but he was eventually rewarded with a glimpse of Eddie's deep brown eyes. The other boy blinked lethargically, squinting up at him, and Steve tried to smile encouragingly, waiting until his gaze focused.
"We've got to change your bandages, man," he said, trying to speak slowly and clearly. "We'll be, like, ten minutes, tops. And then you can go back to sleep."
"We'll need him sitting up, Steve."
Eddie was still just looking back at him with that foggy gaze, but Hopper was waiting. Maybe it was better if he wasn't fully awake for this anyway. Steve nodded, hesitating, trying to think of the best way to handle Eddie's fragile body. Eventually, he decided on what seemed like the easiest option and carefully slid one arm around him in a sort of hug, the other hand holding his shoulder. He felt a light, shaky touch brush against his arm and glanced down to find Eddie's shaking hand closing around his wrist. He looked up to find Eddie blinking hard, some kind of clarity returning to his face. He offered a short, jerky nod. Steve could only take it as a signal that he had understood at least part of what was happening. He swallowed hard, steeling himself.
"Okay. Ready?"
Eddie closed his eyes, and Steve lifted.
The noise Eddie made as Steve pulled him upright was heart breaking – a clenched, bitten-back moan that made Steve want to let him go at once. But he forced himself to keep his grip steady. As soon as Eddie was sitting up Steve slipped onto the bed behind him, acting as a pillow, settling Eddie's weight carefully against him. From this position he could feel Eddie's quick breathing, could feel the soft tremors rippling through him, and he wrapped his arms around him as tightly as he dared. Eddie was still holding onto his forearm, his grip weak, and when Hopper sat down on the edge of the bed he gave a sudden flinch, cringing back against Steve's chest.
"It's okay, it's okay," Steve said hurriedly, holding on tight. "This is a friend, this is Hopper. He's here to help."
Eddie mumbled something that Steve couldn't quite catch, but whatever it was made Hopper chuckle. He reached for the first aid kit, picking out some scissors.
"Yeah, I used to be a cop," he said. "Come to think of it, you look kind of familiar too. But I'm not here to arrest you, I promise. Just stay still for me, okay?"
He shot Steve a meaningful look. Steve hastily adjusted his grip, taking a deep breath, and Hopper leaned forward and began cutting through the bandages.
It wasn't so bad until he got to the part where he had to peel them off. As soon as the material began to tug against Eddie's skin he sucked in a sharp breath, his jaw clenching and his eyes squeezing tightly shut. His hold on Steve's wrist grew tighter, and Steve fumbled to interlink his fingers with Eddie's, keeping him balanced with just one arm instead. He made a harsh, painful noise through gritted teeth as Hopper pulled back the last of the bandages, and the man looked up.
"Don't forget to breathe, kid. We're going to do this as fast as possible, okay?"
Eddie didn't respond but Steve could hear him trying to slow his breathing, fighting for control. He peered over Eddie's trembling shoulder and took in the state of his torso with a thrill of shock. Even Hopper seemed taken aback before offering a grim smile and reaching over for the bottle. Eddie's chest and stomach were a mess of lacerations, some shallow, some deep, some held shut with a few carefully placed stiches, others still glistening wetly. A couple of the larger ones looked swollen and angry, framed with red, tender skin. Hopper pointed to one, careful not to touch it, glancing quickly at Steve.
"See, that's the kind of thing to look out for. You'll want to keep an eye on those, make sure they don't get any worse."
Steve nodded wordlessly. He felt sick just looking at it all – it was the first time he'd really been able to appreciate how bad Eddie's injuries were. Back in the Upside Down there had been too much blood to see, but now the horror of it all was undeniable. Hopper unscrewed the cap of the bottle and reached for a cotton wool pad.
"Hope you got your tetanus shot, kid," he was saying, his tone jovial. "Luckily girls think scars are cool in my experience, so it's really not that bad."
Eddie didn't reply, perhaps hadn't even heard him, but Steve couldn't help but feel a twinge of indignation at the comment. He knew Hopper was just trying to distract Eddie from the task at hand, cracking a joke to keep things light, but something about the words he chose irked Steve. Eddie's scars weren't 'cool', would never be 'cool'. He found himself wondering if Eddie was the kind of boy who took his shirt off in the summer, if he would ever be that kind of boy now, if the scars would bother him when he caught sight of himself in the mirror. He was pulled from his thoughts by Hopper clearing his throat and glanced up quickly to find Hopper looking at him.
"Okay," he said. "This is going to sting. Just hang in there."
He set to work dabbing whatever solution was in the bottle over the worst of the wounds, and Eddie's body instantly jerked away. Steve held on to him as best he could, still gripping his hand, forcing himself not to look away. He had to be sure he could do this at some point, if it became necessary, had to know he was doing it right. But Eddie was making a tight whimpering noise, and Steve was completely distracted. He started up a stream of encouragement, leaning forward to bring his lips as close to the other boy's ear as he dared.
"Hey, hey, you're doing great, Eddie, it's going to be ok, it's almost over – shh, it's okay, it's okay, he's nearly done, just hang on to me, okay? I'm right here, I've got you…"
Eddie's skin was slick with sweat. Steve chanced a quick look at him and found his face screwed up, tight with pain, saw tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. He was shaking violently, his jaw clenched, and Steve fought the urge to scream at Hopper to stop. He couldn't bear putting Eddie through this, not after everything that had happened, not after promising and failing to keep him safe. He glanced down to see how Hopper was getting on, and let out a breath of relief when the older man put down the glass bottle. His face was dark – clearly this wasn't any more enjoyable for him than it was for Steve.
"Great job, kid," he said, his voice remaining remarkably calm. "Last bit, we're just going to wrap you up again, and then we're done."
Eddie's body remained tense and rigid in Steve's arms. He was close to hyperventilating, and Steve placed his free hand on his chest, careful to avoid his injuries.
"Hey, keep breathing, Eddie. Slow it down, okay? It's okay, you've got this."
He sucked in a few deep, loud, exaggerated breaths, blowing out slowly. He wasn't sure if it helped, but Eddie's breathing did seem to slow somewhat, still shaking and uneven, but a small improvement. Hopper was carefully taping gauze over the worst of Eddie's wounds, glancing up at the small flinches Eddie made when he pressed too hard. At last he reached for the roll of bandage and began wrapping it carefully around Eddie's torso, Steve shifting awkwardly to help where necessary. The relief Steve felt when he finally tied the bandages off was consuming, and he let out a long breath. Hopper met his gaze, offering a reassuring nod, and Steve closed his eyes for a moment. The whole process couldn't have taken longer than ten minutes, but it had been the longest ten minutes of his life – probably of Eddie's, too. He carefully began to lift the other boy again, about to climb out and lay him flat, but suddenly felt the grip on his hand squeezing, and looked down to find Eddie's eyes cracked open, imploring and desperate, still glazed with pain.
"No, please… I need… a minute…"
Apparently Steve didn't need any further encouragement – he sat back down automatically, not even considering questioning it. If the past few days had taught him anything, it was that his only priority was offering whatever comfort he could, in whatever way Eddie needed. He settled back against the pillows, laying their clasped hands down on the bed and curling his right arm protectively around the other boy. Eddie seemed comfortable enough – his forehead fit perfectly under Steve's chin, long waves of dark, curly hair tickling his neck. Steve stayed as still as he could, encouraged to hear Eddie's breathing finally start to even out, feeling the weight of him relaxing against his chest. He had the distinct feeling that Eddie's body had been through all it could take – judging by the past couple of days, he'd probably be able to get up and leave within an hour if he wanted to, without Eddie even noticing. And yet, one thing he noticed as he agreed to being Eddie's human pillow, was that he didn't want to go. He would be perfectly content to remain there for as long as Eddie wanted him to.
He was so consumed in the feeling of Eddie's body pressed against his own that he had almost forgotten that Hopper was still there. He only remembered when the other man stood up, having packed up the first aid kit, and crossed the room to put it down on the desk. It was as if he wanted to put it as far away from his patient as possible, as if the very sight of it would set Eddie off again. He returned to scoop up the old bandages. If he thought there was anything odd about the sight before him, he didn't mention it. Instead, he caught Steve's gaze and nodded towards Eddie.
"We'll get him on the antibiotics and painkillers as soon as Joyce gets back," he said, his voice a low whisper. "For now, just keep doing what you're doing. I'll give you some privacy."
Steve just nodded, deciding not to look into what Hopper meant by 'privacy'. He watched the older man head for the door, watched his shoulders heave in a silent sigh.
"Hey – Hopper," he hissed, keeping his voice as quiet as possible. "Thank you."
Hopper offered him a short nod and then closed the door behind him. Steve dropped his head, letting his eyes close. He listened to Eddie's soft breaths, felt his lungs inflating and emptying, and silently thanked him for hanging on.
He wasn't sure how it happened, but by the time Joyce and Nancy returned about an hour and a half later, he had fallen asleep. The door clicking open woke him with a start, and he found that Eddie had barely moved a muscle, still leaning against him, his face turned into Steve's chest. Steve blinked up at the door as Joyce came into sight, carrying a small paper bag, peering tentatively into the room.
"Knock, knock. Can I come in?"
Steve nodded hastily, straightening up as much as he could without disturbing Eddie. Joyce headed over and took up the chair beside the bed, shaking out a couple of boxes of pills from the bag.
"See," she said with a smile. "Easy."
There were four pills in total that Eddie needed to swallow, but at least he was pretty much already sitting up. They shook him awake gently and Steve managed to get him to chug them down with a few gulps of water without too much difficulty. Eddie shut his eyes again as soon as he could, turning his face into Steve's neck again, and Steve was only too happy to let him go back to sleep. Joyce read the instructions on the back of the box aloud as Steve settled back against the pillows, adjusting his grip on Eddie.
"Twice a day for the antibiotics. Every four to six hours for the painkillers, although they take about half an hour to kick in. Preferably take with food." She tutted. "We'll have to work on that part."
She tucked the boxes back into their paper bag and placed them on the bedside table, offering Steve a warm smile.
"That's the hard bit done! So, we're having some dinner in half an hour, which makes for some pretty good timing."
Steve hesitated, glancing quickly down at Eddie. "I should stay, just in case–"
"You'll only be gone for a bit. Besides, when's the last time you had a proper meal?"
Steve honestly wasn't sure, and it was clear from Joyce's tone that negotiation was not an option. Eventually he nodded, giving in, and she smiled at him as she left.
He waited the thirty minutes, watching carefully for any change in Eddie's demeanour, but if anything the other boy seemed to have just fallen asleep. His skin was still warm to the touch and damp with sweat, and Steve wondered how long it would take the antibiotics to work. He hoped it was soon. Holding his breath, afraid to disturb him, he carefully lifted Eddie off him and slipped out, gasping slightly as his foot stung with pins and needles. Eddie didn't react when Steve laid him down again, fussing with the pillows, reaching for the washcloth to refresh it and lay it on his forehead. He reached for the other boy's hand, squeezing it briefly before he left.
"I'll be right back." he said softly. "Don't go anywhere, okay?"
Eddie said nothing, which meant that Steve had no other excuse for not heading downstairs. The smell of cooking that reached him as soon as he stepped into the corridor had his mouth watering and softened the blow instantly.
The kitchen was a buzz of activity, a sharp divergence from the quiet bedroom upstairs. Joyce was stirring something in a large pot on the hob, waving a hand at Hopper, who was setting the table in the most minimal way possible – dumping a handful of forks and spoons in the centre and depositing a roll of kitchen towel beside them. The kitchen island was strewn with chopping boards and half-empty shopping bags. Nancy was sitting at the table, holding a mug of tea, stifling a yawn. She glanced up as Steve entered, offering him a tired smile, and he dropped into the seat beside her, heaving a sigh.
"How is he?"
"Asleep, I think. Seems like the painkillers are working."
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll love those, but don't forget about the antibiotics," Hopper warned, retrieving a beer from one of the shopping bags and cracking it open. "Those will be doing the real work."
"Do you know how long it'll take to see a difference?"
"Probably just a few days. But he'll need to finish the full course, even if he's feeling better."
Steve nodded, stashing the information away in his brain for later. Joyce was dishing up – it looked like some kind of spaghetti bolognaise, and Steve's stomach rumbled hopefully. She glanced over at them, offering a smile.
"So, you guys know Eddie too? El told me a bit about Hellfire Club – she said Mike has a lot of fun there."
"Yeah, well, Mike's known him longer," Nancy said, cradling her tea. "We only just met him a few days ago, really."
"Lucky for him you did," Hopper retorted, taking the first two plates from Joyce and carrying them over to the table. "We stopped in at the hospital when we first got back – Dustin had quite the tale to tell."
"Why are you back?" Nancy pressed. "I mean… What happened to you?"
Hopper placed the two plates in front of them and took a seat at the table, nodding a thank you at Joyce as she followed with the final two plates. She offered them a wry smile as she sat down beside him, her eyebrows arching.
"Well, it's a bit of a long story."
Long, and somewhat incredible. Steve shovelled forkfuls of spaghetti into his mouth as he listened, his eyes wide. He and Nancy didn't ask any questions as Joyce and Hopper explained their stories. The timing of it all made much more sense now, and Steve thought again of the hundreds of dead bats scattered around Dustin and Eddie in the Upside Down. At least Joyce, Hopper and Murray had stopped things from going further before it had been too late. He suppressed a shudder and gulped down the last of his food, relishing the feel of a real meal in his stomach for the first time in days. Hopper pushed his plate away and leaned forward on the table, reaching for his beer.
"Still, despite everything that's happened, it looks like we still have a few things to take care of here."
Nancy nodded. "Yeah, the gates… I mean, we haven't seen anything come out of them yet, but it can't be good."
"The end of the world is definitely high up on our list, sure," Hopper said, cocking his head. "But I was thinking more of your plan for Hawkins' most notorious serial killer. Are you just planning on hiding out here indefinitely?"
Steve sighed, his face twisting awkwardly. "Well, we didn't really have time to think about it. We just needed somewhere safe and empty. But my parents are due home in a few days time."
"Right," Hopper nodded. "I'm guessing they won't be on board with the idea of harbouring a fugitive?"
Steve let out a hollow laugh. "That's a pretty safe guess."
"But where else can we go?" Nancy put in, frowning. "None of our houses are really viable. And the cabin in the woods–"
"We're fixing up the cabin in the woods," Joyce said, smiling. "The boys have been working on it today. But I don't know how much space we'll have there, not with Hopper and El both moving back in."
"What about my old place? Down by the lake?" Hopper suggested. "You know if it sold on?"
"Well, no, it didn't," Joyce said, frowning slightly. "I mean, in your will you left everything to Eleven. But she wasn't old enough to make a decision about what to do with it and we left in a hurry. To be honest, it's just been left as it was."
"You kept that place?" Nancy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"When we moved out to the cabin in the woods, I didn't want anything registered there. Didn't like the idea of someone finding out where El was – we were supposed to be in hiding. So all our post, all our official documents, I just had registered to my old address," Hopper explained, shrugging. He glanced at Joyce. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to hang onto it."
"Neither did I," she said. "Jonathan and I talked about clearing it and renting it out, getting a little extra income. But after the lab… Well, we figured it could wait until we next visited."
Steve could understand. Both Joyce and Eleven had been heartbroken after Hopper's apparent death. It made sense that, instead of forcing them to go through all his possessions, Joyce had opted to deal with the problem later. And lucky for them she had. Steve and Nancy shared a quick, hopeful look, and Hopper smirked.
"You see what happens when you ask for help?" he teased. "So, that settles it. When will your parents be back?"
Steve frowned, trying to remember the muffled message left on the answering machine. "Ah… I think the day after tomorrow. Probably late."
"Alright, good," Joyce said, nodding. "That gives us some time."
"Time for what?"
"Well, to let Eddie rest for one," Hopper offered, glancing at his watch with a sudden frown. "Then clear out of here and set up over there. And speaking of clearing out…"
He rose to his feet, tossing his napkin to the table and offering Joyce a nod. Nancy pushed back her chair too, and Steve looked up at them both, blinking owlishly.
"El, Will and Mike are still up in the cabin," Hopper explained. "I'm heading back there. And giving Nancy a lift home."
"What about…?"
"I'll stay here tonight," Joyce interrupted, smiling warmly at him. "Figured you could use an extra pair of hands around."
"You don't have to… I mean, thank you. Both of you."
Steve scrambled to his feet, glancing around at them all, and then found himself looking instead at Nancy. She still looked tired and distant, still chewing on her bottom lip, and he found himself reaching out for her shoulder. The gesture made her smile and she put her arms out, giving him a short hug before drawing away. And then she and Hopper were heading out the door, and Steve heard the car engine start outside. He started to help Joyce clear the table, and then relented as she waved him off and made his way back upstairs.
He'd only been away an hour or so, but returning to the room still made him feel relieved. Eddie was still there, still asleep. He dropped down into the desk chair beside the bed and settled in for the night.
He gently shook Eddie awake when the hands on his watch had crawled around to 10pm, earning little more than a grunt from the other boy. He swallowed down the pills without question and was out again like a light. Steve couldn't help but feel jealous – the chair was uncomfortable and his eyes were aching. He had almost dropped off for the third time when he felt a hand on his shoulder squeezing lightly.
"Go on, Steve, go to bed. I'll watch him for a bit."
Joyce was hard to argue with. Steve let her pull him up out of the chair and steer him towards the door, his eyes already half closed as he stumbled into his parents room next door. He sank down onto the bed and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Hope you enjoyed. Reviews are always welcome.
SUPRNTRAL LVR