Nancy Wheeler to the Rescue
A/N: An AU where instead of Hopper, it is Nancy who finds El.#
Chapter 1
Switching off the engine of her car, Nancy Wheeler could barely believe that she actually made it home. It was late night, and she was terribly exhausted, making the girl doubt that she would reach home, after what she was recently doing. Something, that caused her to arrive home later than expected.
It was a cold winter day with snow and frost, and today, Nancy was visiting the Hollands, the parents of Barb. Her friend. Her best friend, from who she just turned away on that November night. If she didn't do that, Barb would still be alive. With her. But she was dead, taken away by that monster from another dimension, the Demogorgon, as her brother Mike Wheeler and his friends called it. Sorrow and pain filled Nancy, but also did guilt, shame and anger at herself. Angry that she ignored Barb's pleas to leave. Angry that she turned away from her. Angry that she was back then more interested in her selfish desires to get with Steve, and allowing Barb to perish.
After being arrogant and proud to ignore it, Nancy finally admitted to herself; she was a horrible person, and a horrible friend. Also, a horrible sister. No wonder she and Mike constantly fought for the last couple of years. His best friend since preschool was missing and God knows what was happening to him, and all she cared about was hanging out with Steve. She didn't even come to comfort him when they found "Will's" body or at the funeral. Mike was mentally hurt.
Now, he was hurt even more when that girl with powers, El, whom her brother was hiding during that crazy week, was missing, just like Will was. Their parents could not understand, neither did they want to. Holly was too young to understand.
Wiping out her tears, Nancy got out of her car, closing the door behind her before running towards the house. Locking the door behind her, Nancy expected for her mother to stand there, waiting to reprimand and lecture her, but the girl did not care anymore. She was deeply hurt that when it was obvious that Barb went missing, Karen was only worried that Nancy slept with a guy.
Yet to her surprise, her mother was nowhere to be seen. Ted Wheeler, as usual, slept on his chair, in front of the television, with a can of beer in his hand. Nancy rolled her eyes at him. Yawning loudly, she headed upstairs towards her bedroom. She knew she had to tell Mike. He had to know, but right now Nancy was so tired that she could barely stand. Literally collapsing onto the bed in her pyjamas, Nancy slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Mom, please! You can't do this!" Mike Wheeler pleaded. It was at this moment, Nancy came down to see what the ruckus was. She was finishing packing some bags when she heard yelling. She saw Mike, who looked terrible, and Karen, facing each other, with their mother holding Holly in her arms. Their father was on his couch, as usual.
Karen shook her head. "You know pretty well, Mike, that you cannot curse out your father like that."
"Did you hear him?" Mike incredulously asked his mother. "What he just said? He's an asshole!"
"I don't want to hear it anymore, Mike." the woman continued. It was then Nancy saw that Karen was holding the walkie-talkie in her other hand. Nancy's eyes widened in shock and fear. It was shortly after El's disappearance, Mike was hiding under the blanket fort he made for the girl in the basement every night, trying to contact El using his Supercom. If he would lose it too, Nancy feared that her poor hurting brother would be totally lost.
"P-Please, mom" Mike pleaded. Nancy noticed his despair as he was barely holding himself from breaking down. "I-I need it. I c-cannot l-live…"
"No, Mike" Karen simply answered. "Since November, you've been causing nothing more but trouble. Not to mention the trouble that you caused with that Russian girl which made government agents searching our house back then. Your father suggested to send you to a boarding school for troubled children! It is time you learn your lesson. You are grounded. No friends, no Dragon Dungeon, or whatever it is, and no walkie-talkies."
Mike was about to say something, apparently to lash out at the woman, but stopped himself. Instead, he just passed her mother and headed towards the basement, ignoring Karen's demands to comeback. The boy just glared back at her.
"And I really believed you saying that we can trust you." he spat before entering the basement and locking the door behind him after slamming it.
"Mike! Mike, come back!" this time it was Karen pleading, knocking at the door, but she was met only with silence, with Mike apparently ignoring her pleas. Distraught, Karen collapsed on the nearby chair. She was on the verge of crying as he eyes were watering. Seeing all this, Nancy approached her mother.
"Well, he is somewhat right" the girl told her mother. "You said that we can trust you, and tell you our problems, but apparently we cannot." Karen looked at Nancy with shock. "When we discovered that Barb, my friend, was missing, I was worried for her. You were rather worried that I slept with Steve and you didn't even listen to me. You did the same with Mike. He's hurting, but you already made up your mind and believe that he is just acting out."
Hearing no response from a shocked Karen, Nancy continued. "Anyway, he will not definitely open up to you, so why don't you take Holly to bed, while I'll take care of Mike. I have some place to take him to."
"But…"
"Don't worry, mom." Nancy assured her. "I know what I am doing. It will help him."
Finally understanding that there was nothing she could do now, Karen nodded and took the scared Holly to bed. Nancy, meanwhile, went off to find the spare key for the basement and used it to unlock the door. As she descended, Mike heard her steps.
"I don't want to see you, mom!" Mike began.
"It's not mom, it's me" Nancy immediately told him as she found him sitting inside the blanket fort. Nancy's heart broke as she saw his eyes red, apparently he was crying.
"What do you want, Nancy?" the boy asked rather rudely.
"I came to help, Mike." the girl honestly answered. "You are hurting, and I can see that."
"Why do you care?" Mike almost yelled. "Shouldn't you be with Steve now?"
"Um… no, not really." Nancy simply answered. "You're far more important."
"And again, why do you care?" Mike yelled again.
"Cause I am your sister." the teenage girl told him as if it was obvious. "And I care for you."
"Yeah, you were a good sister for the last few years" Mike grumbled in response. Nancy froze, but she did not feel offended. She really regretted the latest fights they had as siblings, and she was going to fix that.
"Still, I am your sister, and I am going to help you, whether you like it or not." she explained. "Right now, we're going to a special place with a surprise that will make you feel better."
"Nothing will make me feel better!" Mike yelled at her, standing up from the fort. "No one understands! Mom, dad, you, and the guys! Dustin and Lucas as if completely forgot everything!"
"I understand, Mike." Nancy assured, putting a hand on one of his shoulders.
Mike shoved it aside. "No, you don't."
"I do."
"No. You. Don't."
"Well, that doesn't change my mind." Nancy remained firm. "You're going and that is that."
"No."
"I said you will go with me to that fucking place, Mike." Nancy spoke in a deadly tone.
"Make me."
"I'll tell mom what you were doing this Tuesday after school." Nancy immediately threatened. "And don't try to fool around. I know you and your buddies tried to smoke a few cigarettes. Not to mention, I have proof; I asked Jonathan to capture you on camera."
What happened next was that Mike glared at her straight into the eyes, breathing rapidly as he was barely holding his rage at his sister. Oh, how he wanted to hit her now, but the fact that she knew that he was smoking out of depression stopped him.
"Agreed." Mike finally answered, giving up.
"Wonderful!" Nancy exclaimed. "Now, to calm down, I want you to go my room. There are a couple of bags on my bed. Bring them to my car."
Mike only grumbled something to himself before heading upstairs. Smiling, Nancy grabbed her coat and scarf, and went to her car. Soon, Mike came, puffing as he carried the bags.
"Oh come on, they're not that heavy." Nancy chastised him as he pushed the bags into the back seat of her car.
"Well, if you say they are not that heavy, then why don't you carry them yourself?" Mike asked in frustration. Nancy only ignored his words as the two siblings sat into the car. Starting the engine, Nancy drove her vehicle, leaving the Wheeler residence.
Holding the steering wheel, Nancy glanced at Mike. Since they left their home, the two siblings rode in dead silence. It was a winter evening, and already dark outside, so they weren't many cars driving by, while they weren't any pedestrians on the streets. Snow was falling down, and the wiper blades were doing their job, wiping the snowflakes off the front glass.
Glancing at her brother while trying to continue watch the road, Nancy saw that her brother was deep in thought, staring at his window, completely not caring of where they were going. The only time he showed interest when Nancy glanced at the mirror a few times with a concerned look. As if, she was checking if anyone was following them. Mike was then confused when they passed the outskirts of Hawkins and were apparently driving away from the town.
"Nance, where are we going?" he asked as the houses were replaced by the woods.
"It's a surprise." Nancy answered, causing Mike to roll his eyes in annoyance. Soon, they turned to a small countryside road, deep into the forest. The road's surface was not as flat and smooth, and as a result, Mike almost bounced at every bumping. After a couple of minutes, he saw that they were arriving to a wooden house near a river. Mike immediately deduced that it was a hunting cabin, and not just some cabin.
"Why are we in dad's old hunting cabin?" he asked his sister with suspicion. "I thought that place was knocked down a long time ago."
"As you can see, it's not" Nancy answered with a smile as she turned off the engine of the car along with the lights. "Now, wait here. I'll quickly carry the bags in, then I'll call for you."
"Whatever."
Not replying, Nancy came out of the car. She then opened one of the bag doors and pulled out the bags. Mike continued to sit, watching as his sister entered the cabin. Soon, lights were turned on inside, though the boy could not see who was inside. It took for a few minutes for Nancy to come out. Mike felt sick at the girl smiling to herself.
Once Nancy closed the door after she got into the car, she faced her brother. "When you come out, Mike, I want you to close your eyes and do not open then until I tell you so."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Like hell I will." Mike declared.
"I still have the photos, you know." Nancy immediately threatened. "So do as I tell you."
"Alright, alright!" Mike gave up. "I'll make you pay for this."
Nancy only chuckled in response as they both left the car. As he was told, Mike closed his eyes and hesitantly walked towards the cabin. It was at that moment he felt Nancy holding his shoulders.
"Don't worry, I'll lead you." she assured him and she did. Soon, Mike heard the door opening and Nancy giving him a slight push of encouragement to enter. Mike did so, his eyes still close. He then felt Nancy leaving him.
"Now, you may open your eyes!" she then happily exclaimed. When Mike did so, he froze. Right in front of him stood the person he feared he would never see. Yes, she was wearing different clothes, and her hair has slightly grown, being of medium length, but it was her.
It was El, alive and standing right before her.
The girl too had a surprised look on her face, as if she could not believe it. With their eyes watering, both Mike and El rushed to each other, pulling each other in a deep hug, as if they feared to lose each other again. Sobs were heard as the two kids broke into tears.
"El…" Mike sobbed.
"Mike…" El replied, also crying. They then broke apart to look at each other. Their faces wet and eyes red from tears.
"I never gave up on you" Mike confessed to her. "I always called you…"
"53 days." El answered, nodding. This shocked Mike.
"You… you knew?" Mike asked. "Where… where were you? Why didn't you come?"
"I can't…." El stammered. "Bad men… were in you… your…" she turned to Nancy. "home?"
Nancy smiled in response. "House, but home is fine too."
"House" El repeated, facing to Mike. "I had to hide. It… cold… so cold… found Nancy. Brought me here."
Mike turned to Nancy. "How?"
"Pure luck." she simply answered, shrugging.
Driving her car, Nancy tried to remain calm. She felt terrible. Terrible for lying to Barb's parents. The poor adults believed that Barb was missing, but Nancy knew the truth. Barb was dead, taken and killed by that horrid beast. However, what Nancy knew was the person guilty. Herself.
Just then, she felt as if someone was following her. Looking at the mirror, Nancy cursed out loud as she saw the recognisable BMW in the back. The last person she wanted to see now was him.
Nancy remembered very well when Steve insulted her. Jonathan gave him some good punches. That, and the monster supposed to change Harrington, knocking some sense into him. Apparently not. Shortly after Will was brought back, Jonathan had full attention for his little brother. Steve, at that moment, entered her life again, apparently trying to have Nancy as his girlfriend again. However, the hunt for the Demogorgon and the latest events made both Nancy and Jonathan closer. This led to Steve one day corner her and ask her about her relationship with Jonathan. Apparently, he was still the jealous and proud jock.
As if that wasn't enough, he began stalking her. Following her around, as if trying to catch her with Jonathan Byers. That really irritated and angered Nancy. The girl was just leaving the Holland's home, and was heading back to the Wheeler residence, but she did not want Harrington stalking her. She quickly came up with an idea.
"Alright, Steve." she muttered. "Let's play a game."
It took a couple of minutes for her to manoeuvre and cause Steve to lose her out of sight. In order to avoid him, Nancy decided to take the countryside road around Hawkins. However, it was at this moment that Nancy heard a suspicious noise coming from the engine compartment, which caused her to stop.
Freezing, Nancy grumbled as she inspected the motor. Having dealt with the problem rather quick, the girl was about to get back into the car as quickly as possible when she felt a presence once again. Turning around, she froze and her mouth gaped in shock and disbelief as she saw El standing at the woods, wearing a fur cap and a jacket on top of Nancy's old dress. From the look on El's face, the girl apparently recognised Nancy, but was still hesitant to approach her.
"Hey there," Nancy spoke softly. "It's me. It's Nancy."
"Mike's sister." El muttered, remembering. Looking at El with pity, Nancy offered the girl her hand, which El accepted.
Mike stared at Nancy in disbelief, but then faced El again. Smiling, Nancy decided to leave the two kids together for now while unpack the bags. Opening them, Nancy revealed to have some of her old clothes with El's size, a bag of Eggos specially for El, and additionally, some old school books, starting with English and simple Mathematics. Also, Nancy decided to give her old toy, Mr. Rabbit, to El. Having the bags unpacked, and filling an empty bookshelf with the books, Nancy saw Mike and El talking.
"Mike?" El then spoke.
"Yes?"
"Nancy told me," she then said. "About the kiss."
"What?" Mike stammered, not believing what he just heard.
"Back then" El explained. "Before bad men came. You put my lips on mine. Nancy said it's a kiss. It… means that… you want me to be your…" she tried to remember the word. "a girl you like more than a friend."
Mike glanced at Nancy who only grinned as she continued working.
"Mike…" El then continued. "Nancy said that it also means that I… I love you."
Mike froze. He had to admit that despite being only 12, he fell in love with a girl. He loved El. The moment he saw her on the rainy November night, that changed his life forever.
"I love you too, El." he answered genuinely. It didn't take long for the two kids to kiss again. Once they finished, Nancy interfered.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we have to go now, Mike. Mom and Dad will be suspicious and attract the authorities." Nancy explained. "We'll be back tomorrow, I promise."
Although it hurt for him to leave El, Mike hugged her once again.
"I don't wanna lose you again, El." he whispered.
"You won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise." El vowed with honesty. She then watched from the window, holding the toy as both Nancy and Mike got into the car. She waved at them, with Mike waving back.
