Miracle || A Lumax Short Story

Part 2

    A  knock came from the door.

    Erica had been by Lucas' side since he got the clearance to go into Max's room a few hours ago. She had stepped out to get them some food from the cafeteria. It must've been her. Lucas looked up at the figure at the door. It wasn't his younger sister.

Steve Harrington.

He was wearing all the same clothes he was when they parted earlier that day. He looked dirtier though. Like he just went through battle. Which he did. They all did.

He walked in with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. He made eye contact with Lucas on Max's bedside, just before placing his eyes on the figure on the bed. Lucas could have sworn he heard Steve gasp.

Max's full body was in casts. Her arms. Her legs. Her neck. Everywhere.

Steve set the flowers on Max's bedside table and pulled up a chair on the opposite side of the bed, across from Lucas.

"Hey Sinclair, how is she doing?" Steve finally spoke.

"She's in a coma. The doctors said there's not much they could do right now. She's stable."

"And you? How are you doing?"

"I'm still shaken up. She was dead, Steve. He got her. But then....but then she pulled through and she's still here. That's all that matters."

"What's this?" Steve was pointing above Max's bed at the drawing of Lucas and Max at the movies.

The original drawing that Max had made to show to Lucas earlier that day was destroyed and lost. As soon as Lucas got to the hospital he asked Erica to track down a pen and paper so he could recreate it to liven up her hospital room. Lucas explained this all to Steve.

"I should've been there." Steve mumbled. "Always the Babysitter. Always the Goddamn Babysitter!"

"What?" Lucas was genuinely concerned.

"It's my job to look after you kids and I should've been there."

"Steve, she made her choice and you know that. There was nothing either of us could've done to stop her. Robin and Nancy needed you."

Steve rested his elbows on the bed next to Max's body. Resting his head in the palms of his hands. He seemed scared almost.

"Steve, are you okay?" Lucas finally asked when Steve gave no indignation of speaking again.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Steve said, running his fingers through his hair anxiously.

"What about the rest? Are they okay?" Lucas started to become frantic that something had happened to his best friend in the Upside Down.

"Yeah. Dustin, Nance, and Robin are okay." Steve had missed out on a name.

"What about Eddie?"

"You haven't heard?" Lucas shook his head confusingly. "He didn't make it, Lucas. He died trying to save us all back there."

"No." Lucas found himself saying that more and more. He couldn't believe this. First Max. Now Eddie.

Steve's emotions on his face were transparent. He was still thinking of Eddie but he was also now looking up at Max. He looked like he was almost about to cry. Lucas was sure he did see a tear escape the boy's eye, but he didn't say anything. Lucas felt what Steve was feeling.

Loss. Grief. Love.

Although Steve didn't have the same type of love for Max that Lucas had for her. It was still just as strong. Steve always complains about being the Babysitter. But Lucas knows that not even deep down, but at the surface level, Steve enjoys looking after them.

He cares for every single one of them as if they were his own.

Max clearly knew this. Steve did receive his own letter from her and all. As if almost reading Lucas' thoughts, Steve spoke.

"Sinclair. I cannot wait to not read our letters Max gave us." Lucas was concerned for Steve once again. "She's going to come right out of that coma and tell us everything herself!"

This put a smile on Lucas' face. Steve always knew how to take care of his kids.

"Alright. What do you need me to do? Do you need a change of clothes? Does Erica need some too? I thought I saw her on my way in?"

"That would be great. Thanks Steve." Lucas was honestly grateful for this older
boy. "Wait...actually do you think you could do me one more favor?" Steve cocked up his eyebrow.

    Steve came back later on, wearing clean clothes, with everything Lucas had asked for. Getting clothes for both of the Sinclair siblings and the special purchase Lucas requested Steve make.

    Lucas took it from Steve and placed it on Max's ears and clicked play.

    Lucas knew that getting her a new Walkman and headphones and playing her favorite song wouldn't work in this case anymore but he still wanted to give Max everything he could, Even if she wasn't exactly conscious to know it.

    Steve smiled at Lucas patting him on the shoulder, giving him the reassurance he needed.