Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 6

 Becca was not looking forward to this. How was she supposed to explain to them, particularly Ivy, that she had agreed to work with a vampire, to trust a demon? They already questioned her sanity, her ability to think rationally. This was only going to cement their belief that she was completely losing her mind and maybe she was. All she knew was that if there was even the slightest chance of saving Eddie, she had to take it, no matter the consequences. No matter how insane the plan might be. No matter if she was working with a psycho. If she could bring him home, there was nothing she wouldn't do.

Her mind was a scary place these days, full of twists and turns, a labyrinth of fear and self-hatred and guilt. Becca wasn't sure she could trust herself anymore. She knew her desperation to save Eddie was clouding her judgment. Was she leading her friends into danger? Was she risking their lives just because there was a slight chance she could release Eddie from the prison she'd left him in? She really hoped not but they had so little information to work with. There was no way she could be certain of anything and she could no more leave him in that godforsaken nightmare than she could allow anyone she loved to be hurt. Her choices were awful no matter how you looked at it. She just had to have faith it would all turn out okay in the end and everyone would walk away.

She hit the button for Robin and Ivy's apartment and heard the buzz that released the door. Pushing it open, she headed up the stairs, taking a deep calming breath before lifting her hand to knock on the door. It opened before she had a chance, Ivy standing there. Becca paused. She had known Ivy for a long time, long enough to know her facial expressions. Right now she looked a little guilty, like she did something shady and she was worried about how Becca would react.

"Ivy, I know that look. What did you do?" she asked nervously.

"Before you get upset, just remember, I love you and I only did it because I think it's what's best," Ivy explained, holding her hands in front of her, begging Becca to understand. "We need all the help we can get if we hope to go back into that place and get Eddie out."

"What do you mean by all the help?" Becca questioned, her nerves feeling like they were on a pogo stick, bouncing up and down like crazy. What did all mean? Who did Ivy call?

Ivy pushed the door all the way open and Becca soon found out. When she said all, she had meant all. Ivy had called in the whole damn calvary. Hopper, El, and Mike sat on the couch. Joyce, Will, Lucas, and Max sat at the kitchen table. Dustin, Robin, Steve, and Jax were sitting on the floor in the living room. Becca's jaw dropped as she took them all in, so many who she assumed hated her. Had they really come to help or was this some kind of intervention?

"Uhh...hey," she said anxiously, biting the inside of her cheek and keeping her gaze firmly on the floor. "What are you all doing here?"

"Well," Hopper replied, standing up. "Ivy told us you're about to go off and do something stupid." Oh, here they were about to go. It was an intervention. They were all going to try to talk her out of it. "And we're not about to let you go do that without all of us."

Becca's head shot up, her eyes finding his. Slowly, her gaze moved around the room, meeting each person. They smiled at her and the relief that flooded through her was palpable. They weren't here to talk her out of it. They were here to help. Even after she had been such a bitch to each and every one of them, they had all shown up, ready to have her back. She couldn't believe it.

"Yes, it appears that you are dead set on risking your life to save this vampire, so I suppose we all have to tag along to make sure you don't kill yourself," a voice said from the corner of the room and Becca turned, tears instantly filling her eyes. Malcolm stood there, arms folded but the warmest smile on his face as his eyes found hers. "You really didn't think I was going to let you do this without me, did you?"