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WHAT IF BY KATE WINSLET
"Mom?!" Joyce jolted awake tiredly reaching her hand out reaching for Jess but she wasn't there. "Mom!" Jonathan hovered over her.
"Wh-what time is it? Where's Jess?" She stuttered.
"We have to go."
"Go where?"
"To see Will."
Jonathan drove Joyce to the place where they were doing Will's autopsy. Hopper waiting in the reception part. "Hey you okay? Did you get enough sleep last night?"
"Where's Jess?" Joyce asked.
"She can't be here. Well she wanted to but I forced her to go to work."
"Why?"
"She's not a cop Joyce she's a photographer for the newspaper. This has nothing to do with her."
"It does if I want her to be here!"
"Joyce please I know this is tough for you but you need to see Will to put your mind at ease. I'll tell Jess to go round yours later."
"Okay." Joyce hesitated as someone led her into the room as Hopper spoke to Jonathan in the waiting room, before they knew it Joyce was storming out.
"Ma'am! Ma'am I need you to sign!"
"I don't- I don't know what you think that thing in there is, but that is not my son!"
"Joyce wait a second." Hopper tried to reason.
"No!" Joyce stormed out walking in the opposite direction to the car. Jonathan chased after her in the car trying her to get in.
"Mum just get in the car please!"
"No. I- I need to think- just go home I'll be fine- I'm gonna go see Jess I think I'll get her to drive me back."
"Jess can wait Mum!" Jonathan pulled off getting out of the car. "Why are you so obsessed with her anyway?! You're always talking to her, when you should be talking to me about what you want to do about Will's funeral!"
"Wills funeral? A funeral for that thing in there?! No way, while I'm still living and breathing while I hold a funeral for that thing! And I will keep those lights up till I'm dead! I know what I say sounds crazy! I know that! It is crazy but I heard him Jonathan! He talked to me. And he's out there, and he's alone, and he's scared, and I... I don't care if anyone believes me! I am not gonna stop looking for him until I find him and bring him home. I am going to bring him home!" She yelled storming off but turning back around.
"Any u wanna know why I stay with Jess most the time?!"
"No so please enlighten me!"
"She's the only goddamn person who believes me. She saw the monster in the walls too. She doesn't think I'm crazy. And you can call her crazy too but I bet she doesn't give a shit because she has my back!!! And I don't care what you say about me but I'm going to spend the rest of my days with people like Jess until my boy is home!!" Joyce stormed off again this time not turning around.
"Yeah, well, while you're talking to the lights, the rest of us are having a funeral for Will! I'm not letting him sit in that freezer!" Jonathan yelled after her as she tried to ignore him rushing to the newspaper.
"Um hi hello my names Joyce I'm looking for Jess is she here?"
"You're Just in time she's off for lunch in five minutes. Just through there sweetie." Maureen at the reception desk pointed to the room labelled 'Darkroom.' "You might wanna knock hun she's processing photos."
"Thank you." Joyce smiles knocking on the door.
"Hang on a Minute!" She hears Jess's voice come from the other side before the other side. "Joyce. I uh- are you okay?" Jess notices her expression.
"Uh the lady mentioned that you get off at work now, can we grab some lunch together?"
"Um yeah sure." Jess close the door grabbing her coat from the hanger. "I'll probably see you in the morning Maureen."
"See ya sweetie, make sure to get some rest." The receptionist, Maureen yells after Jess after everyone noticing the bags under her eyes.
"Right where do you want to go?" Jess got in the driver seat of her car.
"I don't mind."
"I've got an idea." Jess took Joyce to a fast food drive in driving back to the Hopper and Jess's trailer. "Sorry it's disgusting in here, after all it's still Hopper's home more than mine." They both chuckle as they sat down on the sofa helping themselves to the food.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Jess broke the silence.
"It wasn't him Jess. It wasn't my boy. It wasn't my son. They all looked at me like I was insane. And Jonathan he- he just flipped out like he was holding it in and had finally let it all out. He was so angry it scared me sort of. Like I was back in my bad old days with Lonnie."
"Hey those days are long gone. And Jonathan is nothing like his dad. It's just tough for him. His in between it all, he feels all alone. He's kind and caring and love you to bits."
"He doesn't believe me though."
"I do. Will is still alive and we're gonna find him okay." Joyce nodded silently. "C'mere." Jess put the food on the table scooting closer to Joyce as she bought her into a hug. Joyce resting the Sid elf her head on Jess's chest as Jess rested her chin on top of Joyce's head. "I promise you he's going to be home by Christmas so he can open up all his presents."
