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Hawkins, IN

May 30, 1986

All too soon, dawn broke once more over Hawkins. Eleven half-opened her eyes and soaked in the warm morning rays of sunshine streaming through her window. For a few blissful moments, all felt right with the world. Sadly, the comforting fog of morning amnesia never lasts as long as it should. As she sat up in bed, she noticed immediately that she was still wearing yesterday's clothes, now stiff and gritty with sweat; the front of her shirt still crusted with dried blood, now beginning to flake away. With a resigned sigh, she allowed the memories of last night the freedom to bubble back into her consciousness. She knew there was a lot to sort out in regards to Papa and this new girl, in time, but for now she erected a barrier around those thoughts and kept them off to the side. Instead, she decided to focus on things that made her happy; things like Mike. He had been there for her in a way no one else could, as he always seemed to be.

Deciding she felt grimy from sleeping in her clothes, Eleven reasoned a shower would be the best way to start the day. Peeling off yesterday's clothes and pulling on her bathrobe, she left her room and headed to the bathroom. As she reached for the doorknob, she jumped back in alarm as it suddenly turned on its own. She gave a small scream of panic and fell into the wall behind her as the door swung open.

"Mike?" she asked in disbelief.

"El, are you alright?" he asked, crouching down in front of her. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

As the wave of relief washed over her, she rocked forward on her knees and threw her arms around him.

"It's okay," he soothed, patting her back and pulling her tighter into his embrace.

Drawn by her cry of alarm, Hopper came pounding down the hallway. "Are you alright?" he hollered ahead, holding back his own panic. "What's wrong?"

He pulled up short as he spotted the two of them kneeling together, their arms around one another. They looked up and separated, guiltily.

"Sorry," Mike said. "I was coming out of the bathroom and startled her. She didn't know I stayed over."

Hopper turned with an exasperated sigh and walked back toward his own room to continue getting dressed. Mike and Eleven turned back to one another and shared a small laugh at how ridiculous they must have looked just then.

Taking her hands in his own, Mike asked the question that had been burning in his mind since he awoke, "Are you actually okay? How are you feeling?"

She gave a half-shrug in response. "Okay, I guess. Confused. A little scared."

"I understand," he consoled, "that was a lot to discover in just a few minutes last night. You know I'm here for you, right? Whatever you need, I'll be right here."

Pulling him into another hug, she whispered, "Thank you." Standing once more, she planted a quick kiss on his soft lips before turning to go into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Twenty minutes and a hot shower later, Eleven was feeling much more like herself again. She walked into the kitchen and found Hopper hard at work at the stove, whipping up scrambled eggs while Mike worked a line of bread slices through the toaster. On a morning like this, she would have preferred Eggos, but having not eaten since lunch yesterday, she wasn't about to be picky.

"Hey!" Mike said, smiling as he looked up to see her walk in. "I thought you might be on your way out. Here you go."

He picked up a plate off the counter and passed it over to her. She broke out into a wide grin. Centered on the plate were two Eggos, freshly toasted, with smiley faces drawn in whipped cream. Before taking the plate, she threw her arms around him and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. At the stove, Hopper focused intently on the eggs, doing his best to ignore what his fatherly instincts told him was going on behind his back.

"Thank you," she said, taking the plate and settling down at the table. After finishing up plating the toast and eggs, Hopper and Mike walked over and joined her. They attacked their plates eagerly, having all skipped out on dinner the night before. As they poked at the last remains, Hopper got down to business.

"Okay, here's what's going to happen and I don't want any objections. I have to go into the station today since we are still a man short. Jane, you're staying home from school today. I've already called and told them you don't feel well."

"No objections," she replied with a half grin. "I just want to go back to bed anyway."

"Mike, you ARE going to school. I can give you a lift into town so you don't have to bike the whole way."

Mike of course wanted to object to that. He didn't think it was wise to just be leaving her alone all day after last night. He also knew an objection would get him cut out of this newfound inclusion, so he bit his lip and kept quiet.

"Dr. Owens is going to be coming by, hopefully before we have to leave. He is bringing some boxes of paperwork. Jane, you are to leave those alone today. I know you're going to want to snoop."

He paused and eyed them both for a second, still unsure of the offer he was about to extend. Finally, he decided it was the right move.

"If you guys can both agree to keep all of this under wraps," he turned his glare to Mike at this, "even from your friends, I will pick Mike back up tonight and bring him here for dinner, and to go through the boxes all together."

He let them mull the idea over for a minute, although the pleased look they shot each other told him all he needed to know; they would keep quiet for now. Finally, he turned his gaze at Eleven.

"Jane. I know I promised that I would never force you to not use your power, as long as you were being safe. So I'm not telling, I'm asking. Nicely." He softened his voice, pouring all his concern into the plea, "Until we know what is going on, please, don't go looking for Brenner or this other girl."

She was startled at the tenderness in his voice, though not surprised at the request itself. She looked to Mike and saw the same look of concern. He gave her a half smile and nodded his head, signaling he was in agreement with Hopper. She looked from one to the other, before nodding her head as well. "Yes."

"Okay, good. Thank you," he replied, throwing her a grateful smile. He wasn't sure she would be able to resist the temptation, but at least she would try.

The silence that followed was broken by the sound of tires coming down the gravel driveway. Dr. Sam Owens pulled his dark green sedan to a stop next to Hopper's Blazer and climbed out. The trio inside abandoned the breakfast table and rushed out to the porch to see just what he had brought. Dr. Owens walked around to the trunk, leaning on a cane and favoring his good leg. He opened the trunk, pulled out a large file box and tucked it under his arm, before looking up to spot the audience that had gathered.

"Good morning," he shouted up to them with a smile. "Mike, want to give me a hand with the other one?"

Mike was a little surprised Owens could remember his name, with all that had happened in their brief day together in the lab. Though perhaps a near death experience like that solidifies those kinds of details in the mind.

"Sure," he replied, as he started down the steps. He joined Owens at the rear of the car and pulled out the second box, surprised by the weight of all the papers inside. Though he knew Hopper didn't want them snooping before tonight, Mike couldn't help glancing at the printed label affixed to the end of his box:

D.O.E. Hawkins

Project Wildfire

Box 2 of 2

He had already guessed the mystery boxes must be related to the lab, though his curiosity only grew now that it was confirmed.

"Thanks," Owens said, slamming the trunk lid and starting toward the porch. Mike snapped back to reality and followed behind. Hopper started down from the porch to relieve Owens of the first box. Eleven followed close behind, curious herself at these boxes. She couldn't help but remember finding another box like these, under the floor of the cabin in the woods. That time, the contents had led her first to Mama and Aunt Becky, and then on to Kali. She had been furious at Hopper for keeping so much a secret from her. They had later talked it over, among many other things, and she understood why he had done it. It didn't make the betrayal sting any less, but she understood. It had been one of their "make or break moments" as Hopper liked to call them. So far, they had made it.

Hopper turned and handed his box to her and said, "You guys take those into the kitchen and leave them on the counter. Dishes in the sink. Jane, you don't have to wash them today, I'll take care of it tonight. Mike, be ready in five minutes. If you're not at the Blazer ready to go, I'm dragging you out by your feet and your biking to school. Clear?"

They both grinned and nodded and ran inside with the boxes.

He turned to face Owens then. "Thanks from bringing them over so quick, Doc."

"Please. Like I told you last night, I don't want these boxes any more than you do. When they shut down the lab, I only saved them from the shredders because I had a feeling they would be important someday. I had hopped I was wrong, of course." He paused and then went on, "So how is she taking it?"

"Better than I would…than I am. As always."

"She's a remarkable girl, I'll give you that," complimented Owens.

Hopper waited a moment, afraid to ask the question burning in the front of his mind. Afraid both of knowing the answer and not knowing. "Did you look at the files?"

The smile slowly faded from his face, revealing the ravages that years of stress had left behind. "Yeah. It's not pretty, but it's all there. And yes, she is."

Hopper just nodded. "Great. Thanks again for hanging onto them and bringing them out so early. Need any coffee for the road before you go?"

"Nah, that's alright. I was going to grab some breakfast on my way through town. I hear that diner on Randolph finally reopened."

That gave Hopper a quick twinge in his gut; Benny's old place. He had heard it had reopened, but hadn't been able to face the thought of actually trying it after everything that had happened.

"Alright, well, thanks again," he said, extending his arm to shake Dr. Owens hand. "Drive safe."

"Thanks," he said as he started back toward his car. Pausing at the door, he looked back and added, "Call if you need anything else. Really, anything at all, call me."

Hopper nodded once more as Owens slid behind the wheel. He fired up the engine and started back up the driveway. Despite his initial distrust of the Dr., stemming mainly from the fact that he was occupying Brenner's old post, Hopper had to admit he was probably their strongest ally in giving Jane a normal life. He checked his watch and realized they needed to be heading out if he was going to get Mike to school on time. He reached down and grabbed the frame of Mike's bike and walked it over to the Blazer, tossing it into the back before starting toward the house to drag out its owner.

As he reached the front door, Mike and Eleven emerged once more. Mike had his backpack slung over one shoulder and was whispering his goodbye.

"Get some rest and I'll see you tonight. If you need me, call me. I love you." He leaned in and planted a quick, soft kiss on her lips. Then, taking her hands in his, he continued, "Be safe."

She knew exactly what he meant by that; don't go looking. She also knew she had no intention of looking for anything but her softest pajamas and a pillow. She gave his hands a squeeze, "I will. I love you too."

She threw a disapproving glare at Hopper as he groaned in response to their mushy display. "Get in the car," he said to Mike, playfully dragging him backward by the shoulder.

He stepped into Mike's place and wrapped her in a hug. "Seriously, be safe today, okay? If you need anything, call me at the station. I'm going to avoid going on any calls today, but if I'm out, you can get me on the radio." He paused, looking down at her. "You'll be okay by yourself, yeah?"

"Yes," she smiled back.

"Okay then," he said, ruffling her hair in a way she always pretended to hate, but truthfully loved more than just about anything else.

She watched from the porch as Hopper walked down to the Blazer and climbed in. Once they were up the driveway and turning onto the road, she walked back inside, locking the door behind her. Pajamas were calling, as was just one more Eggo.

As they drove toward town, Mike and Hopper were both lost in their own thoughts over everything they had learned. In just 24 hours, the stable, normal life they wanted for the girl they loved had started to crumble and neither knew if they would be able to fix it without her getting hurt all over again. Finally, Hopper broke the silence.

"So is everything alright at home? Do your parents really not care that you just went AWOL during dinner and never came back? Are they going to notice that your not there tonight for dinner again?"

Mike sat quiet for a while before replying. "Things are…okay. Nancy covered for me last night and I'll call Mom later and say I'm going to Will's. Mom is kind of in her own world these days. And Dad, well, Dad is just Dad. He's never really taken much notice if I'm there or not. He decided a long time ago, once he realized I wasn't going to be some star athlete like him, that I was to much of a nerd to get into much trouble. After that, he didn't feel like he needed to take notice of me at all."

Hopper wasn't quite sure what to say to that. As a cop, he was used to dealing with all varieties of terrible parents. He had handled his share of angry abusers and neglectful drunks. "What do you do about parental indifference," he wondered to himself.

A few silent minutes later, Hopper pulled the Blazer to a stop out in front of the school and pulled Mike's bike out of the back.

"Alright, so I assume you want to come back over tonight?"

"Yeah, I mean, if that's alright," Mike answered, nervous that Hopper was about to go back on his deal.

Hopper, sensing Mike's sudden nerves, smiled and continued, "Oh calm down. Jane would kill me if I didn't bring you back tonight. I'm leaving the station at 4:30. Meet me there, or your biking yourself over. Under no circumstances are you to go over to the house by yourself today. Last night was a special case. Just because I'm grateful doesn't mean I like you. Got it?"

"Yeah, I understand," he smiled. "See you this afternoon."