Even Stranger Things

Attempt #2

One smiled as she watched Eleven and her make-shift family. When her smile faltered, she quickly walked away. She went into the kitchen and finished putting the lunches she made when she couldn't sleep last night in a bag.

"There you are."

One turned around and smiled at Steve. "What are you doing?" He asked, nodding his head toward the bag.

"I made you guys some sandwiches for the drive," One said, handing it to him. "It's a long drive and I thought you'd be hungry."

When Steve took the bag from her, One wrapped her arms around herself. Steve opened his mouth to say something but the others came back inside.

"If you take the 65 it should loop you back to the freeway," One explained to Hopper.

"Thank you," he nodded. "For everything, One."

"Of course," she shrugged. She wasn't used to being in a room full of people who didn't want anything from her. She cleared her throat and added, "You guys should get on the road before it gets too late. The traffic can be bad on the 65 around rush hour."

"Are you sure you can't come with us?"

One walked over and wrapped her arms around Eleven. "I'm sure," she whispered. "You know it could be dangerous."

"Why would it be dangerous for you to be with her?" Mike asked.

"Because," One sighed, looking down at Eleven before at the group. "It's a miracle you guys aren't scared of her. But if there were two of us? We'd be locked up and. . . And I can't let that happen. Not again."

Eleven let out a small sad whimper as she tightened her arms around One.

"I don't want you to leave," Eleven whispered, her voice breaking. 

"Jane," One said gently as she pulled out of their hug and knelt in front of her. She reached forward and moved her hair out of her face. "You know I love you."

"I know," Eleven said barely audible.

"You know that everything I do is to protect you," One added. Eleven nodded, another tear escaping. One reached up and instantly caught it. She stood up, smiling at Eleven.

"Will you visit?" Eleven asked, her voice breaking.

"I'll try," One lied. Eleven sighed as she tucked back into One's side. She laughed as she tightened her arms around Eleven.

"It's safer," One whispered. "Trust me."

* * * * *

As Hop drove the kids back home, everyone's thoughts were on Eleven's mystery old friend.

"So," Hop cleared his throat. "You weren't the only one experimented on."

"No," El said, looking out the window. "One was the oldest."

"Do you know her real name?" Max asked.

"No," El whispered. "Truth is, I'm not even sure she remembers it."

"How could she not remember her own name?" Lucas asked. Everyone was silent as they figured it out for themselves.

"How young was she?" Chief Hopper asked.

"I don't know," El stuttered. "She never told me, but she was old enough to raise us."

"Us?"

"She was the oldest," El explained. "She raised the ten of us. On top of. . . everything else. She even took the brunt of it all. Voluntarily."

"Meaning?" Max asked.

"She took extra," El said, her voice dropping. "She took anything and everything to protect each one of us. If we did something wrong, she was punished. Papa made it her fault because she was supposed to prepare us. And whenever they came up with something new, she was. . . She was the guinea pig."

"What do you mean?" Dustin asked.

"I mean," she hesitated, "when they created a new experiment or test, One was the one they tested it on. On top of raising ten kids, she was constantly dragged to another experiment. She always came back more beaten down than she was when she left. Sometimes. . . Sometimes she couldn't even walk. They'd throw her in our room and we'd have to help her to her bed. We'd have to take care of her for a change. But the next day, she'd go right back to taking care of us. She held our hands during the experiments. She held us when we cried. She calmed us down after a nightmare. All while she struggled with the same things she helped us with."

"Where did they find her?" Chief asked.

"From what he told her–as a form of torture of course–her family didn't want her."

"Didn't want her?" Max asked.

"All she knows is that her mom got pregnant young and when he came around and offered a ton of money. . . They didn't refuse."

"They sold her?" Will asked, barely audible.

"According to Papa," El said her voice breaking, "her mom didn't hesitate."

"Poor girl," Steve whispered.

"Is that why she wouldn't come with us?" Dustin asked.

"She didn't come with us to keep Eleven safe," Hop said.

"But the lab is gone," Lucas said. "What's dangerous about the two of them being together?"

"They're powerful," Mike guessed. "And One was right; it's weird that we accepted El. Most people wouldn't have."

"We'd accept One, too," Dustin countered.

"She's not used to that."

"What do you mean, El?" Will asked.

"She's not used to people accepting her," El said, her voice dropping. "Or people who won't experiment on her."