Alright, we're getting down to the wire! Only one more chapter after this! Stay tuned for a sequel, I should be starting that sometime in the near future! As always, leave me a review and let me know what you think!
"How long do you think they'll be gone?" Max asked, quickly growing impatient that she couldn't one of the people be waiting at the motel.
"Hell if I know. I'm just in charge of keeping you dipshits out of trouble," Steve said, running his hands through his hair. Jonathon, Nancy, Joyce, and Hopper had headed to the motel to figure out where Jane and Mike could possibly be. Hopper had called a half an hour ago saying that based on what was in the room, there weren't any leads. They figured they should just wait them out, at least for the night. Joyce had called Karen, explaining that Mike and Will wanted to have a sleepover. Karen was skeptical, so Joyce had to really pull on the whole 'sympathy for Will' thing.
"I knew we should have told Hopper from the start," Will muttered.
"It doesn't matter now," Lucas said, looking down at his hands.
"I'm sure they'll be back soon," Dustin said, looking up at Steve hopefully.
"Yeah, buddy. I'm sure they will," Steve replied, ruffling Dustin's hair, but Steve had his doubts. They really had no way of tracking Jane and Mike down… He just hoped they returned to the motel soon.
Jane was asleep for most of the ride back to Hawkins. She was drained, but not nearly as bad as when she'd killed the Mindflayer. Mike didn't really want to sleep. Not that he didn't trust Kali's friends, but Mike felt much more comfortable being awake. When they were entering the familiar scenery of the neighboring towns, Mike guessed it was sometime around 9pm. They had been gone for almost 13 hours.
"Mike," Jane said, shifting in her sleep.
"I'm right here," he responded, pulling her into his arms. Mike's side was still very tender, but thanks to Kali, the gauze was thick enough for the wound not to feel irritated by movement. Mike hoped his mom wouldn't notice it before it was healed up, though. He'd have a hard time explaining that.
"Hi," Jane said dryly, opening her brown eyes widely.
"You're up," Mike noticed, smiling. He was so glad she was alright. Looking down at her now, Mike almost couldn't believe that someone so soft and sweet had killed dozens of men merely hours before. Jane seemed to notice Mike's change of expression.
"Are you scared of me?" she asked. She looked to be near breaking point. Mike made an effort to soften his expression.
"No Jane, I could never be scared of you," he told her. "You're practically a hero to me. Like… Superman or Luke Skywalker," Mike explained. Jane's anxious expression melted away. She nuzzled her head closer to his and closed her eyes in content.
"Uh… guys," Funshine said, breaking the couple from their spell.
"Oh no," Mick said as they pulled into the motel parking lot.
"What is it?" Mike asked, trying to see out the windows of the van. As they pulled closer, he got a better view.
There was a large car that read 'Hawkins Chief of Police' on the side. In the cab, Mike could see what looked like Hopper, Joyce, Jonathon, and Nancy.
"Not good," Jane agreed.
"Hey, isn't that your adoptive dad, Jane?" Axel asked.
"No shit, Sherlock," Mick said, giving him a light punch from the driver's seat.
"I'm guessing you didn't tell him about our little field trip today?" Kali synthesized.
"Well someone did," Mike said, wondering which one of the party had sold them out. Mouthbreather.
Mick parked in the front row of the lot, while Hopper's car was in the back. Kali got out, followed by Dottie. Funshine helped Mike get out of the van, and Jane, who was feeling much better, walked out without help.
Kali pulled Jane into a hug before Hopper could make his way over.
"Thank you, Jane. I could never have done this without you. You will always be my sister," Kali said, leaning out of the hug to look Jane in the eye. "Now we can close this chapter of our lives in peace."
"Thank you, Kali," Jane said simply. Mike saw the empathy in both of their eyes and felt an honest bond between the girls.
"I guess this is goodbye," Dottie said. Each of Kali's friends pulled Jane into a hug. Axel ruffled her hair. Even Mike got a hug from Kali and Dottie. Axel gave him a light punch and Mick gave him the awkward side hug. Funshine went to grab their bags from the motel while the others filed back into the van.
"Where will you go?" Jane asked Kali.
"We don't know. But I have a feeling that if you ever need me, you'll be able to find out," was her reply. Jane couldn't help the grin that spread onto her face.
"Okay, now who's going to tell me what the HELL you've been up to?!" Hopper asked, completely ruining the moment. With perfect timing, Funshine came down the steps and threw the bags into the back.
"Bye Jane!" the group chorused as they drove out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
"Mike! Are you alright? Where were you? What happened?" Nancy interrogated,running up and pulling Mike into a bear hug.
"Ow, uh, watch my side. I got a bruise," Mike downplayed.
"Let me see, sweetheart," Joyce said, coming up to Mike.
"Uh…" Mike prolonged, looking to Jane for guidance. This was not going to go well.
"I'm sorry," Jane said, effectively taking the heat off of Mike and his 'bruise'.
"You'd better be sorry! What the hell were you thinking?! You honestly went looking for that PSYCHO!? What if he'd have taken you all in? I thought we were clear! Lay low and stay safe!" Hopper yelled, exasperated.
"I know. And I'm sorry," Jane said earnestly.
"Why are you making it so hard for me to be mad at you?" Hopper exhaled, pulling Jane into a tight hug.
"I have nothing to be mad about anymore," Jane whispered into his chest. Hopper tried to stay mad, but hearing that made his chest tighten.
"You should have told me about this little 'deal'," Hopper said, trying to keep his foot down.
"You wouldn't have let me go," she said simply.
"She's right," Jonathon said. Hopper shot him a look.
"Let's get you guys home, okay?" Joyce said.
They all nodded and started walking back to Hopper's car. Jane took Mike's hand, but Nancy still noticed him wincing as he walked.
"Let me just-," Nancy said, pulling up the side of Mike's shirt slyly. Mike didn't have any time to react. "What is that?" Nancy asked loudly, pulling the attention of the others.
"Really Nance?" Mike said, clearly aggravated. "It's nothing."
"That's definitely something," Nancy argued, looking at the well-wrapped bandage.
"What happened?" Joyce asked.
"Just got cut, that's all," Mike said. "It was bleeding a little, but Kali bandaged me up."
"We'll see. I'll check it out when we get back," Joyce decided, clearly unconvinced.
"I see headlights!" Will called, looking out the front window.
Steve rushed over and saw the Chief's car pulling up. "Hey, don't run! I don't want anyone to trip!" Steve called as the teens ran outside to see their friends.
Once everyone headed back inside the Byers' house, Mike was laid on the couch to get his wound examined. He had his head resting on Jane's lap as Joyce knelt next to the sofa to open up the bandage.
"So, what happened?" Dustin asked for probably the tenth time since Jane and Mike had gotten back.
"Shut up, Dustin! They're busy," Lucas reprimanded.
"We're back!" Nancy called, as she and Jonathon walked back inside with a pizza. Everyone was starving, especially Mike and Jane, having not eaten since breakfast.
Joyce carefully removed Mike's bandage. Mike only winced a little, since the pain was very dull now. The whole area was simply tender, but not striking pain.
"I think he needs stiches," Hopper commented. He was leaning over Joyce's shoulder as she inspected the wound.
"No way," Mike said. "If my mom finds out, I am toast."
"Well, newsflash: Jane is going to be grounded… like forever. And I have half a mind to ground you from seeing her," Hopper said.
"No," Jane said in her scary voice.
"I said half a mind. I know how well that worked out for me last time. And windows are kind of expensive," Hopper teased. "But, really, kid. If you don't get this stitched up it'll scar."
"Ugh, whatever. My mom just cannot find out. By the way, Nancy, what did you tell Mom?" Mike asked.
"You're spending the night at Will's. I'm at Ally's, and Max is at Jane's. Lucas and Dustin are at each other's houses," Nancy explained. "We covered all the bases."
"Thank you," Mike told her.
"Alright. Let's get you kids some pizza. Then I'll take Mike to Dr. Owen's to get him stitched up," said Hopper.
"Are you sure you want to take her home tonight, Hop?" Joyce asked when all the teens were heading to sleep.
"I think it'd be better to head home," he replied. Jane had fallen asleep on the couch and Hopper carefully picked her up and started heading to his car.
"Call me in the morning!" Joyce said as Hopper left.
"Yep," Hopper called as he got Jane in the cab.
"Mike, you have to get up," Nancy said.
"Why?" Mike mumbled, still half asleep. He was suddenly reminded of the day before when he rolled onto his side and felt his stitches.
"If you don't go to school, Mom's going to get suspicious. I know it sucks, but Dr. Owens gave you a doctor's note for gym," Nancy reminded him.
"Fine," Mike grumbled, getting up slowly. This was going to be a long day.