Chapter Forty-Seven

Wooden Spoon

All around her people's voices began to overlap with fear and panic, making the air around her move with a frantic vibration. Veronica could still feel the heavy fatigue deep in her bones. All her limbs felt heavy – even as she knelt in front of El. But getting a read on everyone's emotions was making it hard to concentrate. But the moment El let out a cry of pain, the movement starting up again beneath her skin, Veronica snapped back into focus. Quickly shutting down her powers and making her mind locked on El.

"El, El!" Veronica spoke louder, reaching to grip El's hand tightly, "I need you to breathe for me."

"It hurts," El cried out in pain, a weak whimper coming from her split lip. Her head fell heavy onto the linoleum-tiled floor beneath her head.

"What the hell is that?" Erica spoke from somewhere behind Veronica.

"Whatever it is, we need to get it out!" Nancy spoke, her voice rising at the end slightly from the panicked anxiety she was starting to feel.

"We can get it out," Jonathan nodded, before pushing back up to his feet, "Keep her talking! Keep her awake!"

Veronica reached down and pushed back the dampened curls away from El's face, her stomach twisting as El let out another scream of pain. The grip that she had on her hand tightened to nearly painful, but Veronica ignored it, instead pushing through a feeling of comfort and safety to her little sister. Veronica didn't care that she was already weakened. She didn't care that it was mostly a bad idea since she'd had zero recovery time from waking. But Eleven needed her – and she wasn't going to stand by and let her be in pain.

"Shhh," Veronica spoke, her voice a little shaky, "We're going to get it. Ok? We're right here."

"S-Seven…" El spoke, her brown eyes connecting with Veronica's. "P-Please…"

Veronica closed her eyes tightly for a moment, "Remember the first day we met? When Papa brought you into the Rainbow Room at the Lab?"

El stared up at Veronica for a moment, her brows pinching together tightly before she weakly nodded her head. "I-I remember,"

"You were so small; I remember how you hid behind Papa's legs when he tried to introduce you to everyone else."

El concentrated on her sister's words, flashes of the memory playing through her mind like a movie, and soon she forgot about the pain shooting up her leg. Mike sat knelt on the other side of El holding her other hand as he listened. He could see El's face relaxed as Veronica continued to speak. The others stood around the three as the sound of Jonathan rifling through some of the stands echoed through the nearly empty mall courtyard.

"…and when he left you wouldn't move from the spot. All the other kids were mean," Veronica frowned "None of them were nice to me, but with you, I-I had hope…hope for a friend…for someone to be nice to me."

Steve's frown deepened with every word he heard. It wasn't often, nearly never, that Veronica spoke about her time at Hawkin's Lab. Steve always waited for her to tell him something. Always afraid that asking would trigger something or upset her. He had to cross his arms at his chest to keep from fisting his hands, angry at those that were mean to his girl.

How could anyone not be nice to Veronica? he asked himself, she was the nicest person he'd ever met. She was kind and always put others before herself.

"Y-You came and t-talked to me," El spoke, sniffling slightly "You showed me how to play the disk game."

Veronica laughed lightly. "Yeah, the disk game."

Veronica's fingers continued to move through El's hair when Jonathan came back to join them.

"Ok," Jonathan panted slightly, wrestling with a pair of plastic cafeteria gloves, and slipping them on. "El? This is going to hurt, ok. I'm not going to lie to you."

El nodded her head quickly, as Veronica moved to sit behind El more. She placed the younger girl's head into her lap, keeping the soothing motion of her hand through her hair, and pushing the soothing, calm emotions to her. She completely ignored the small trail of blood dripping from her nose.

"You're going to want to bite on this," Jonathan spoke, pulling a wooden stirring spoon from his back pocket.

"Jesus Christ," Dustin stressed as he stood behind Veronica, rubbing his hands anxiously across his face.

"What are you going to do?" Veronica asked, her eyes widening, staring toward him.

"We're going to cut it out of her," Jonathan answered quickly – and it was then Veronica noticed the sharp kitchen knife in his hand.

Jonathan hesitated for a moment, his eyes shooting up to El for a moment, before moving back down to the wound pulsating on her leg.

"Do it," Mike spoke, grabbing tighter to his girlfriend's hand, knowing it was going to hurt.

Jonathan took a few deep breaths before nodding his head and moving to tip of the blade down the center of the cut. Almost immediately Eleven let out a muffled scream but the spoon between her teeth. Veronica moved to grab her shoulders and keep her down as Eleven moved to sit up and squirm away from Jonathan. She pushed harder with her powers to pull back Eleven's pain and push forward a happier, calmer, or even soothing emotion. Anything to get her sister to stop screaming.

Others moved in to help keep Eleven down. Nancy grabbed onto the top of her thigh while Dustin and Lucas grabbed at her uninjured leg.

"We've got it open, Eleven, it's almost over," Nancy spoke trying to give the girl some encouraging words.

Eleven dropped back into Veronica's arms, her whimpers and cries continuing to be muffled with tears streaking down her face.

"Jonathan, hurry!" Veronica shouted, watching as he moved his finger beneath El's skin and he searched for the foreign substance – or whatever it was that was moving beneath El's skin.

"Stop talking!" Jonathan spoke, trying to keep his focus on the task in front of him. He didn't like that he was causing Eleven pain. He wanted it to be over just as much as everyone else around.

"This isn't working, this isn't working," Nancy repeated over and over again.

"Stop!" Veronica spoke, her voice rising with a tone of anger causing everyone to stop and freeze for a moment.

Jonathan looked up at her and could see the paleness settling into her skin with the blood against her plump upper lip.

"I-I'll get it for her," Veronica spoke softer, feeling El tiredly settling against her, her sister's labored breath being the only thing she could truly hear. "I'll get it."

Steve stepped up quickly, "Ronnie…a-are you sure."

Her eyes snapped up to him, causing him to cut his sentence short. "She's my sister, of course, I'm sure."

"S-Seve-en," El slurred in words.

"I've got you," Veronica whispered, giving a small smile down to El, before moving away slowly, till she was down closer to El's leg.

With the opening the Jonathan had created it would be easy to pull out the object with her powers. Everyone waited with bated breath as Veronica reached a hand forward and the lights around them began to flicker and buzz once again. Beneath the surface of El's leg, a movement began to start again, but it was like it was stuck.

Whatever it was, it was not letting go easily.

Veronica pushed harder, pushing away the screams that Eleven was letting out behind her. The buzzing of the lights was loud enough for everyone to hear the frequency vibrating around them. Steve stepped forward to stop her. It was obvious and evident to see that Veronica was once again draining herself to empty.

But as quickly as he moved the building beneath El's skin began to move. A screeching, squelching noise could be heard along with everything else. It sounded like something was being strangled as the top of it broke through the cut that Jonathan had created. A small, round, flesh-like substance with a tail at the end broke through El's leg and let out a screeching sound – as if it was in pain and suffering.

Veronica kept her grip on it before moving her hand back and throwing it far from the group. Everyone watched as it smacked with a heavy, wet sound against the white tiled floors before coming to a stop. It sat still for only a few passing seconds before it let out a noise again. A chittering noise before it began slowly moving across the field floor.

But no one had time to react or move when a heavy, brown boot came down on the unknown creature stopping it in its tracks. Veronica looked up, clearly exhausted, panting heavily as her eyes moved up and up till her eyes locked with her father's.

"Dad?" Veronica whispered with relief clear in her tone.

Joyce quickly ran from behind Hopper and raced toward Will and Jonathan, grabbing the two of them, and pulling them into her arms. Hopper rushed behind her and moved to El and Veronica. He grabbed Veronica's face and quickly scanned over, looking for any signs of injury. But the blood, sweat, and tear tracks he saw on her face, caused his brow to pinch with worry.

"What the hell happened to you, kids?" Hopper asked, looking down behind Veronica to look at El, who was slowly sitting up from the floor. She leaned against her sister for support.

"We have a lot to catch you guys up on," Veronica spoke, before moving to launch herself into Hopper's arms.

He froze for a moment before grabbing onto her and pulling El into his arms as well. Hopper couldn't help but sag with relief as he held onto his two girls. The entire drive through Hawkins all he could imagine was coming into the mall and finding them dead. It was a thought and image he never wanted in his mind ever again.

One by one everyone moved toward the area of the courtyard where there were places to sit. Steve helped Veronica up from the floor and hugged her tightly against his chest. His hand moved to the back of her head and fisted her curls tightly before pulling back to stare down at her.

"I should be really fuckin' pissed at you right now." He whispered, so only she could hear his words. Steve's thumb moved down to wipe away some of the stray tears on her cheeks.

"But you're not?" Veronica asked with confusion on her face.

Steve shook his head, causing his long, brown curls to dance around his head slightly. "No. No, I'm not mad. Worried…you're really pushing yourself here, Ronnie. I don't want anything bad happening to you." Steve held her face as he talked, making sure her focus was on him as he spoke. "I can't….I can't lose you ok?"

Veronica felt an emotion smack and hit hard into her chest as she looked up into Steve's eyes. She reached up and grabbed at his wrists as he held her face, not to pull him away, but just to hold him there. Like she needed to touch him and feel him to steady herself.

"You're not gonna lose me," Veronica spoke firmly, "You're not."

Steve opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. The three words he wanted to say were once again stuck in his throat and not wanting to come out. He also wasn't sure if this was the right time to tell her how much he was in love with her. Instead, he nodded his head slowly, before bending down and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips and led her over to everyone else.

"…The Mindflayer built this monster somewhere in Hawkins. He created it as a way to stop El and Veronica, to kill them and pave a way into our world." Mike was explaining as the couple drew closer.

Veronica moved to sit down beside her father, leaning onto his side and reaching over for El's hand. Steve sat in a chair not too far from her and beside Robin.

"…he's pissed about the gate being closed last time." Mike finished.

"And it nearly did!" Max spoke up, "The cabin is destroyed from attacking her and planting that…thing into her leg! That was only a small piece of it."

"How, exactly, big is this thing?"

"Big," Jonathan mutters slightly. "Crashed through the cabin like it was nothing. Thirty feet tall at least."

"So let me get this straight," Steve spoke up, "This thing is a weapon essentially?"

"Yes," A majority of them answered at once.

"Except with it being created with metal, nuts, bolts, and screws…it's created with our melted neighbors?" Steve questioned again.

"Yes, exactly," Nancy confirmed, reaching up to anxiously rub at the back of her neck.

Steve pursed his lips and nodded his head "Yeah…ok, yeah, cool…just making sure I'm understanding correctly."

"Are we sure this thing is still out there, and still alive?" Joyce asked.

"El beat the shit out of it, don't get me wrong, but that thing is still very much alive," Max answered.

"We just need to get to the gate and close it again," Will spoke up, "If we cut the brain off from the body…it dies."

"But we did that last time," Veronica spoke up, her eyes looking around at her family and friends, "How can we be so sure it's going to work, again?"

"We have to at least try." Hopper sighed, reaching to caress her face gently, "There was a group that opened the gate up enough for him to get through. We take care of that; we take care of the gate. I'm not going to let him get to you, do you understand."

Veronica nodded her head, "I understand,"

Hopper pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her, and El, tighter to him.

"I found some water, sodas, and a couple of bags of chips," Steve spoke as he walked toward Veronica and El. "Hopefully this will help with…recharge and whatnot."

"Thanks, Steve," Veronica said with a small smile, taking bottled water and a chip bag from his grasp. El grabbed something for herself as well, before eagerly opening the bag and eating.

Veronica drank a little of the water, but her stomach twisted slightly. She was too anxious to eat or drink anything. She wasn't sure if that anxiety was coming from herself or everyone around her. Steve frowned as he watched her place the top back and set them both to the side.

"You've gotta get something into your system," He spoke, sitting down beside her.

"I-I know…I just…can't, it feels more like throwing up than anything." She looked up at him.

Steve sighed, "This is all intense, and if I know you…if it gets more intense, you're going to do anything to help. And to do that, you need to eat something."

Veronica frowned but knew he was right. She reached over and grabbed the bag once more, opened it, and slowly began to eat away at the barbeque-flavored chips. She didn't miss the slight smile on Steve's face as he watched her eat, before opening a bag for himself.

Across the courtyard, the three of them could hear the bickering of Erica, Dustin, Murray, and Hopper. Veronica couldn't hear what was being said outside of the insults Erica threw Murray's way. At one point Dustin and Erica walked away from the other two before Hopper walked over to the deceased Russian agents that El had killed earlier. Grabbing the walkie-talkies and weapons off their bodies.

"I can't believe we have to do this all over again," Veronica sighed heavily. "I thought we were done with this."

"I know, baby, I'm sorry," Steve spoke sympathetically.

Veronica got through half of the chips before pushing them off to the side. The rushing sound of footsteps caught Veronica's attention. When she looked up, she saw Dustin and Erica rushing toward her and Steve.

"We gotta go," Dustin rushed out, before tossing a set of keys in Steve's direction.

Steve caught them quickly but looked confused toward Dustin. "Go? Go where?"

"Hopper needs us to navigate him through the underground Russian lair, so we have to take Cerebro out so that we can get a signal. The fields are right outside of Hawkins. You're driving us."

Steve's back straightened. "I'm not leaving, have Robin drive you."

"Robin doesn't have a license." Veronica spoke up, "Go with them, Steve."

He looked at her quickly and shook his head, "I'm not leaving you."

"I'll be ok." Veronica rushed out, "You can get them out there, and you can protect them."

"Whose going to protect you, hmm? Who's going to be there for you?" Steve asked, feeling a pressure building up in his chest. "If I'm miles away, Ronnie, I can't be here when you need me."

"I'll have my dad, Joyce, Jonathan, and everyone else here," Veronica explained. "I know you're worried about me, but I'm going to be ok."

Steve sat there and stared down at her; she could see the struggle clear on his face before his shoulders sagged with defeat.

"I promised you wouldn't lose me," Veronica whispered, holding his face so he looked at her. "And I'm going to keep my promise."

"That's not a promise you can keep. Not for sure, not with this." Steve argued.

"Then I'll promise to do my best, how about that?"

Steve's brows pinched together before he nodded his head and turned to Dustin. "Go and tell Buckley she's coming with us."

Dustin grabbed Erica's hand and pulled her along as they rushed over to Robin, animatedly talking to her the moment he was close enough. Quickly, Steve grabbed Veronica's hand and pulled her away from the others. That tightness he'd felt in his chest was growing tighter and tighter with each breath he tried to take.

"Steve, what are you…" Veronica started to ask before he grabbed her face and kissed her deeply.

Veronica's breath stopped short as she froze in Steve's arms before relaxing into him more. She let out a small noise, that was muffled by his lips, as his lips moved against his. The couple had shared many kisses between them, but most were gentle and soft like Steve. A few make-out sessions here and there too, but nothing like how Steve was kissing her now. It was harder, desperate, and consuming. The way Steve held onto her felt like he was trying to press their bodies into one. And Veronica liked it. It made her heart flutter and beat in a way that made her feel like she was full of electricity.

The two of them pulled apart when their lungs ached for air. Steve pressed his forehead to hers and stared into her dark eyes with their panting breaths being the only sound between them.

"Well," Veronica blushed, feeling the heat travel up her chest before settling into her cheeks. "That was…"

Veronica couldn't find the words but instead found herself giggling slightly.

"I love you," Steve rushed out, making sure to not take his eyes off hers.

"W-What?" Veronica whispered in astonishment.

"I love you," Steve said firmly, pulling back only slightly to stand straighter. "I know this is probably a really shitty time to tell you. But I…I couldn't hold it in anymore."

"Steve…"

"And don't feel like you have to say anything back to me, I just had to get it out." Steve rushed out again, cutting Veronica off. "But you mean so much to me, Ronnie. And the thought of leaving you here and not being with you is making me panic inside…I know you can take care of yourself; I mean…shit…you've saved nearly every single one of us at some point. But that doesn't take away from the fact that I feel the need to protect you and keep you safe. I thought I knew what it was like to love someone, but no…not till I met you did I find out what love feels like. Cause…I do…I love you, Veronica, so much."

"Steve," Veronica whimpered softly as she watched tears water in Steve's eyes.

"Steve! Let's go, man!" Dustin shouted from the other side of the mall, his voice echoing toward the couple.

Steve cursed under his breath before stepping forward and pressing a kiss to Veronica's forehead, before taking a small step back, "I'll be back, ok?"

Veronica nodded her head quickly, his hand slipped from hers, but she found herself following after him at a slower pace. Like she was floating and in a daze.

Did Steve just say he loved me?, she thought to herself.

After a few steps, she stopped and watched Steve jog after Dustin, Erica, and Robin before disappearing out of the mall's front doors. She didn't pull her eyes away even as she saw the taillights of the car disappear from view.

"Hey," Jonathan walked up to her with concern on his face, "Are you ok?"

"How do you know when you love someone?" Veronica asked, turning to look at him.

Jonathan's eyebrows shot up in surprise, not expecting that to come out of her mouth. "I-I…uh…I think you just know. I-I don't really know how to explain it."

"Don't you love your mom and Will?"

"Yes, of course!" Jonathan answered quickly. "Loving your family is different than being in love. Being in love with someone…it's…just being around them makes you happy. They are the people you always want to be with and go to when you need someone. They make you feel safe. You can't see yourself being without them for the rest of your life. They are just…your person. Your home."

Veronica felt a warm move through her as she understood Jonathan's words. She always said and thought there was something different about Steve, something she felt different than anyone else. Was that love? she wondered.

"I-I think I love Steve," Veronica blushed, a look of surprise coming over Jonathan's face again. "Everything you said…and then whenever I'm with him I get this feeling I never get with anyone else. He makes everything…go quiet. Like the buzzing and noise that's always going on just…stops. He's all I focus on and all I think about."

Jonathan smiled slightly and nodded his head, "I would say you are most likely in love with him. And that's a good thing, Ronnie."

"A good thing," Veronica whispered, mostly to herself.

"It's a great thing," He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. "Everyone should know what it feels like to be in love."

"I didn't get to tell him," Veronica gasped, "He told me, but I didn't get to tell him."

"Hey, hey," Jonathan spoke quickly, calming the panic he could see come over her. "When all of this is over, you will get to tell him. But first, we have to take care of this. Mom and Hopper want us to go and hide out and Murray's – so we're far from this."

Veronica pulled her eyebrows together tightly, "What?"

"The Mindflayer wants you and El, and you're both too drained to go up against any of this. We have to be smart, Ronnie. We have to be smart about this."

Veronica sighed heavily, understanding what Jonathan was saying, but that didn't mean she had to be happy about it.