As they stepped into Hawkins ICU, El observed everything around her.
She watched as the doctors hurriedly walked by and she even noticed the kids in the waiting room with their parents. She had never been here before but it gave her an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was something off here and also the sight of patients in hospital gowns made her shudder as she had flashbacks to the time she was with papa.
She shook her head desperate to clear those awful images from her mind.
"And how may I help you?" asked the elderly woman working the front desk
"We're here to see Will" Mike uttered clearing his throat "Will Byers"
The woman shuffled a stack of papers before stapling them, not even so much as glancing at the teens "No, visitors allowed. Family only"
Mike looked back at the others and shrugged
"But we're his family!" Dustin blurted, completely catching everyone off guard
The grey haired woman suddenly stopped what she was doing "So.. you're family?" she questioned, pulling her glasses down slowly and shifting her gaze towards Lucas.
Lucas faked a wide smile "um yes ma'am.. I'm his uh.. third cousin.. twice removed?"
The old woman blinked slowly as a frown grew on her face
"Ha, What can we say? The Byers family isn't like most" Mike chuckled uncomfortably
"Please leave before I call security"
"Well can we at least get a room number?" Max asked in annoyance
The woman glared, picking up the phone "You all have until the count of three to leave"
Max huffed "Geez grandma so much for customer service"
"One…"
"Oh, You really think I'm scared of security? Bite me"
"Two….."
"Max!" they cried in unison
"She didn't mean that! She's slightly out of it, she didn't get much sleep last night" Lucas called back, rushing Max away from the desk
Dustin tossed his arms out "Have you lost your mind? We can't help Will from behind bars!"
"Well, not my fault she was being a total bitch"
"Alright chill okay! We still have to find some way to see Will" Mike exclaimed
Lucas sighed "You heard her though, we're not allowed. So what are we gonna do now?"
"We take matters into our own hands. so did you guys bring..?"
Dustin opened his backpack "Yeah it's all here"
Mike motioned the group to come in closer "Okay so here's the plan. We split up and sneak in, That way we'll cover more ground and have more of a chance of finding him. I'll go with El and Dustin you can go with Lucas and Max"
"Hey that's no fair! why do you get to go with El? We need a bodyguard too ya know" Max retorted
"Because you guys have.." Mike cautiously peered around the room "the goods" he whispered
Max lifted an eyebrow "The goods?"
"SHH don't speak so loud! But yeah he's right, lookie here" Dustin smiled, quietly opening up his bag once more
Lucas grinned "Certified demogorgon killer right there"
Max looked confused "Guys what's the big deal? It's just a"
"SHHHH" they chorused
Max put her hands up in surrender "Fine, Fine.. Whatever. But okay, Let's just do this already."
"Alright, So El and I will head to the east wing while you guys see if you can access the west wing. Let us know if if you find Will first " Mike said handing Lucas a supercomm
"Wow it's sure been awhile since we've used these" Lucas smiled, cradling the device
Dustin grinned "Just like old times"
"How does Mike expect us to get in? these doors that lead to the rooms are bolted" Lucas groaned tugging on the handle
Dustin nodded "Yeah somebody would have to be dying or some shit to get through there"
Max eyes light up "That's it!"
"What?" the boys asked simultaneously
"One of us pretends to be on the verge of death and we'll be able to get in, piece of cake"
Lucas waved her off "Drama class wasn't my forte, count me out"
"Ohhhh Dustin" Max rang out in a sing song voice
"Why me?"
"Well you already have cleidocranial whatever"
"Clediocranial dysplasia" He corrected
"Yeah yeah that. So you're way more believable! Just act.. sick" Max exclaimed
"How do I act sick?"
"I don't know, moan in pain or something" Lucas added
Dustin began to make quiet moaning sounds "ugh.."
"No no. You have to be louder!"
"UGHH" He yelled out
People suddenly began looking at Dustin strangely
"It's working. Come on yell more" Max whispered
"UGHHHHHH"
This suddenly caught the attention of some doctors
Lucas waved his arms "Help! We don't know what's wrong with our friend!"
"UGHHHHHHHHH" Dustin yelled once more this time gripping his stomach
"I think he's dying! Please help us!" Max called out
The doctors rushed to his side, holding Dustin's arms "Are you okay? What's wrong?" they asked
"UGHHHHHHH My stomach!" He yelled dramatically
The doctors looked around worriedly "Your stomach? What happened?"
Lucas turned to them "I warned him not to eat that two month old tuna sandwich, but guess he didn't listen"
Dustin played along, now falling onto the floor in exaggeration
"Oh no! We have to get him to a room stat! Martha go get the stretcher" The doctor called back to the nurse
She quickly rushed back with the bed on wheels
"Don't worry, we'll make sure your friend is well taken care of" said the doctor, helping place the boy onto it
Dustin squinted his eyes "I-I think I see.. the light.. Jesus is that you?"
A team of doctors quickly pushed the stretcher through the double doors with Max and Lucas trailing behind
Mike smiled "Great going El! Using your powers to unlock the doors like that"
"Which room do you think he's in?" She asked, her eyes growing wide at the sight of the many doors along the wide hallway
"Um. That's a good question. We'll just have to read the names on the doors and maybe we'll get lucky"
As they made their way to the 20th door, they grew weary
"Another Anderson? Geez how many Andersons are at this hospital" Mike mumbled
El just shrugged apathetically
"Hey you two! You're not supposed to be here!" a loud voice rang out
Mike quickly looked back "Oh shit! El we gotta go!" he said grabbing her by the hand
"Get back here!" The doctor yelled as he began running towards them
Mike and El sprinted as fast as they could, dodging stranded wheelchairs along with patients who were in the hall
The doctor grew hot on their trail
Mike blocked his face as he ran past a nurse "Whoa!"
The papers she had held flew up quickly, dispersing everywhere
As the papers hit the doctor in the face, he began swatting them away rapidly
"Quick in here!' Mike motioned, leading El into a random room
They crouched down watching as the frantic doctor passed by them
Mike laughed "That was a close one huh?"
"yeah" El softly giggled
"Looks like we only have a few more rooms to go. One of them are bound to be Wills" Mike suddenly stopped in his tracks as he felt an icy hand grip his shoulder
"Well, Well, Well.. I really don't think you kids are supposed to be in here"
Mike and El turned around slowly gritting their teeth
"Since it looks like we're going to be acquainted today, You can call me Jones. Doctor Jones."