Raising Hel | a Stranger Things fanfiction

Chapter 24

Timeline check: sets during  the 2 days gap at the end of ST4 episode 9, on Friday 28th of March 1986.

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Hellen hastily hangs up the phone and steps away. She hates herself from not being able to speak once someone picks from the number that FBI agent gave her. She's confident she has enough leverage to blackmail them into getting Eddie a new identity or putting him under some protection program until his name is cleared from the murders, but no matter how many times she rehearses her speech, she bails out before whoever picks up finish saying their name.

She comes back to the waiting area of the hospital and slouches in a chair. Part of her shamefully wished she'd never come to Hawkins for Spring break. She's exhausted, hungry and still covered in Eddie's blood. Eddie who has been taken to his second surgery an hour ago, to get some skin graft on his cheek, since the blood transfusion and first intervention got him into better shape.

Their stupid plan seems to be holding on for now, but for how long. Sure, nobody made the connection between the murder suspect whose picture has been all over the news this week and the short-haired, shirtless young man that came in with strange bite wounds. She's been pretending she found him by the side of the road, he's faking memory loss and the emergency nurses bought it.

But at some point they might really ask questions. And when does the hospital start charging for the care you get? She slumps further in her seat and rubs her hands on her face. The digital clock on the wall says it's twelve past two. She closes her eyes, just for a minute. When she looks again, it's over 4 p.m. She bolts up to the nurse desk.

– Oh my god! Are you alright?

Another nurse peaks from behind the desk and seems to recognize Hellen. She smiles at her, quickly fills in her colleague, then turns to Hellen.

– He's fine, the surgery went well. He's probably still sleeping, though, but he's in good hands. You should go home, get some sleep, honey.

Hellen stammers about not living here and not wanting to leave. The nurse must feel pity for her because she walks her to the employee's locker and insists she takes a shower. She gives her fresh scrubs and forces her to eat an apple.

– It's very nice of you to stay for someone you've just met, smiles the nurse. But you need to take care of yourself too, you know?

Hellen nods, afraid she might blow her cover story if she speaks.

– I get it, though, the nurse adds with a wink, even with that nasty wound, he's kinda cute. I'm sure he'll be happy to thank you for saving his life by taking you on a date!

Hellen's throat tightens, she struggles to swallow her last bite. She mustn't cry. She wishes she was still dissociating to stop feeling so overwhelmed by her emotions. But it all came back in the morning, once Eddie was settled in a room after his first surgery. She waited for him to wake up curled up on a chair, shaken by waves of violent sobs, never letting go of his hand. She's still terrified of losing him.

– I just want to make sure he's okay, she mumbles.

She feels the nurse staring at her while she finishes her food. She hates lying to someone who's being so kind to her.

– Come on, I'll show you to his room. You'll be more comfy.

In the small room, the lights are dimmed and a regular beep punctuates the silence. Eddie's face, whilst half wrapped in a thick bandage, is peaceful and Hellen can't resist brushing her fingers on it. He looks so much more like his younger self with his hair cut, yet she can't think of him as a kid anymore. She runs her hand on them. Oh the hurt in his eyes when his locks were falling on his knees. She tried her best to make it look decent but hairdressing is not her forte.