AN: WOW you guys, I am so sorry it has taken me almost half a year to update this story. I really have no excuse for it, other than your typical, run-of-the-mill case of writer's block (I rewrote this chapter an embarrassing amount of times). I'm crossing my fingers that by finally posting, I'm over the "block" and can start updating more regularly... especially now when I'm stuck at home and have all the time in the world to write! (I hope you all are staying safe and well!) As always, thanks for reading.

"Henderson."

Dustin turns, sees Lucas walking toward him with his bike. He parks his on the rack next to Dustin's.

"Hey, Lucas." Dustin stands up from his spot on the stoop in front of the school.

"What do you know?"

"Nada. I couldn't get ahold of Steve," he answers, jams his hands in his pockets. "Did you talk to Max? Will?"

Lucas shakes his head. "Radio silence," he sighs.

"Mike'll have the scoop," Dustin says calmly, because he can see the concern on Lucas's face, for Max, no doubt. Dustin is worried for her, too. And for Steve. Maybe even a bit for Billy.

All they know is that Steve had joined Hopper on a call to the Hargrove place last night. They didn't hear much after that. Mrs. Byers made Will go to bed before he could relay any more details.

Fortunately, they don't have long to wait. Jonathan's Ford LTD pulls into the lot with Nancy and Mike riding passenger just a few moments later. Dustin and Lucas practically jump them for news.

"Alright, c'mon," Jonathan sighs, like he'd been expecting it.

xxx

They sit on the picnic tables between the two schools while Jonathan gives them the lowdown.

"Hargrove is in the hospital," he tells them. "He and his dad got into it pretty bad last night. Max was involved, too. My understanding is that Billy protected Max; knocked his dad out with a frying pan."

"Damn," Dustin breathes.

"So Max is okay?" Lucas asks hopefully.

"Yeah. A little rattled, but she's okay."

"And Billy?" Dustin asks. "You said he's in the hospital?"

Jonathan bites down on his lip. "Yeah. After the fight, Billy ran. I guess at the game last night, Steve gave Billy a key to his house. That's where Billy went and where Steve found him. Steve said he was in shock and his wrist and hand were badly injured."

"So you've talked to Steve?" Dustin says.

Jonathan nods. "Hopper brought Steve and Max back home - to our place - around 2:30 last night. Susan stayed with Billy at the hospital. I guess Billy's going to need surgery on his wrist."

"What happened to Mr. Hargrove?" Mike asks.

"He was taken in an ambulance after the fight, unconscious. That's all Steve and Max knew."

"How was Steve?" Dustin asks, because Steve is still the number one priority on his list.

Jonathan's face clouds like he doesn't want to say, but what Dustin loves about Jonathan is that he's honest. Almost to a fault. "He was quiet," Jonathan says and rubs at his forehead a little. "I think he's exhausted. And all of this that's going on with Hargrove on top of… everything else… I just… I'm not sure how much more he can take." He lets out a deep breath, glances sideways at Nancy like he wants her to chime in.

She nods. "I don't really understand Steve's new camaraderie with Hargrove - and I don't know if they're friends exactly - but I do know the kind of guy Steve is. We all do. And he's involved with this now - whatever this is, with Hargrove - and he's going to want to see it through."

"It's twisted though, right?" Mike hedges. "After what Billy did to him?"

"Maybe," Lucas says thoughtfully. "But what Billy did to Steve… I don't think it actually had anything to do with Steve."

Dustin feels himself nodding, because he realizes what Lucas is saying is true. Hindsight is 20/20, and Dustin can see it, clear as day. Billy was out of his mind with fear that night.

"So we're just going to let this happen?" Mike asks incredulously. "We're going to keep letting Steve run himself into the ground for Billy Hargrove? Billy is like… Troy on steroids. Like, asshole amplified."

Lucas sighs. "I hear what you're saying, Mike. I do. But I think Steve is trying to give Billy a second chance. And I know it seems like he doesn't deserve one after what he did… but… I think that's kind of the point of a second chance."

Jonathan smiles softly, and puts a hand on Lucas's shoulder, squeezing gently. "No one deserves them."

Mike lets out a deep breath, meeting the eyes of each one of them. "And you're all on board with this?"

"We just need to have Steve's back. No matter what," Dustin says. It's simple to him, really, though he understands where Mike is coming from. Mike has always tried to see things in black and white. But Billy Hargrove is about as gray as they come.

Nancy bobs her head up and down in agreement. "I think if Steve can give Billy a second chance, then so can the rest of us," she says, shrugging slightly at her brother.

"It sounds like Hargrove needs some real help right now," Jonathan says.

"And by extension, so does Max," Lucas adds quietly.

Mike visibly softens at that. He lets his hands drop down to his sides while he soaks in what everybody is saying.

"So what's going to happen?" he asks finally. "With Billy's dad?"

"I heard Hopper and my mom talking last night," Jonathan says. "Susan and Max have already given him a statement. If Billy cooperates and does the same, it's enough to at least get a restraining order. Keep Mr. Hargrove away from him."

Lucas scoffs. "He should be in jail."

Jonathan nods. "Hopper said he's going to do everything he can to put him away, but that will depend on how much Billy can tell him about…" he breaks off, swallows. "About past abuse. He suspects there has been a lot." Jonathan runs his hands through his hair, then shakes his head a little. "I-I maybe shouldn't have told you that. It's Billy's business a-and I don't know if I should've…"

Honest. Almost to a fault.

"It's okay, Jonathan," Dustin assures him, as his stomach somersaults with overwhelming sympathy for Billy Hargrove. "It's not going to leave the Party."

"Yeah," Lucas and Nancy echo. Mike nods, too.

Jonathan licks his lips, relaxes ever-so-slightly. "They're gonna stay with us. Susan, Max, and Billy. My mom insisted. S-She knows about this kind of stuff; she can help Susan."

Dustin reads between the lines of what Jonathan is saying. If Mrs. Byers knows about this kind of stuff and can help Susan, that means that Jonathan knows about this kind of stuff, too. That means…

"Jonathan…" Dustin says unsurely, his heart breaking all over again, because he knew Mr. Byers wasn't in the picture, but he was never clear on why.

Nancy catches on, too. She reaches to squeeze Jonathan's hand. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be fine," Jonathan tells her, but his voice wavers and Dustin isn't convinced.

"Jonathan…" he says again, but he's cut off by the school bell ringing shrilly.

"I'm fine, kid. It's fine," Jonathan says hurriedly as he stands, reaches to mess up Dustin's hair. "I'll… I'll keep you posted on what I know, yeah? Have a good day at school, guys." He slings his bag over his shoulder, and everyone else follows suit.

"Get to class," Nancy says over her shoulder, her arm wrapped around Jonathan as they head into the high school building.

And Dustin, Lucas, and Mike are left staring after them.

"You wanna know why I think our Party ended up being the unsung heroes of Hawkins?" Mike says after a brief moment, a grave sort of tone to his voice.

"Why?" Dustin asks.

"Because we have some damn tragic origin stories."

Lucas huffs what could pass as a laugh. "You read way too many comic books, man," he says.

And with that, they head into the school.