Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 14

 "How is he doing?" Ivy asked.

It had been a week since they had rescued Eddie from the Upside Down. In that time, Becca had barely left his side both because he still seemed anxious and concerned and also because she couldn't bring herself to leave him. She'd just gotten him back and she hadn't been ready to let him go, even for a short time. He didn't seem ready either. The two of them had clung to each other as if they were each other's lifeline to this Earth.

It had taken a lot of convincing for Becca to be willing to come out with Ivy and Robin today. Rick's house had been a revolving door of friends throughout the week, checking in on the two of them and bringing food for Becca and blood for Eddie. They knew the two of them just needed some time and they were so kind to make sure they got it.

But this afternoon, Ivy, Robin, Dustin, and Steve had shown up together and they were on a mission. Ivy and Robin asked Becca to come out and grab a coffee with them. She'd been hesitant at first, but Steve and Dustin had assured her they were going to hang out with Eddie. There was all kinds of talk about girl time and guy time. She had the feeling that Ivy and Robin felt she needed a break. She also had the feeling that Steve and Dustin genuinely wanted some time with their friend. So, here she was, sitting at the coffee shop downtown, enjoying a latte with her friends.

Honestly, it did feel nice to get out of that house for a little while. Those same walls were starting to make her go insane. Guilt instantly roared up inside her at that thought. Eddie had no choice but to stay in that house. They'd simply moved him from one prison to another, for now.

Becca startled, remembering her friend had asked her a question. She shrugged, saying, "I honestly don't know. He seems okay most of the time. I mean, when we're both awake and together. Sometimes at night he has nightmares. I wake up and he's...whimpering almost. It's an awful sound. I know those things didn't hurt him while he was there because he was King of Bats or something but just being trapped in that place, on top of everything else he's been through...I worry it's just a bit too much for him. I worry that he's broken and he's not talking about it and that I'm not going to be able to help put him back together."

Robin offered her a small smile. "Eddie has definitely been through hell these last months." She paused, her eyes wide. "I mean, clearly not the couple weeks he had with you...well, until he got trapped in the nasty void of the wrong-side of all things creepy and nasty. That definitely wasn't a highlight." She shook her head. "Sorry. What I'm saying is, he was pretty damn traumatized even before all of that. Of course he's going to have some lasting effects from this shit. Who wouldn't? I know I do and I've only spent a handful of hours in that place, not six whole months. I didn't see anyone snap like a twig in front of my eyes. He saw it twice. I'm also not wanted for murder...or believed to be dead. I'm not hated by everybody in the town. I don't have to hide from my family. And my heart is still beating and I can still enjoy this delicious muffin in front of me instead of the life force of other living things."

Ivy's hand shot out, covering Robin's with her own, "Baby, you're rambling again." She laughed, turning to Becca. "What I think she is trying to say is, the guy has literally been to hell and back. He just needs a little time."

"I know that," Becca agreed, picking at the cardboard

Wrapper on her coffee cup. "I know he's been through hell. I just want to help him. I want to make it all better and I feel like I'm failing him all over again."

"Hey, no," Ivy insisted, shaking her head. "Absolutely not. You do not get to do that. You never failed him. You didn't leave him in there by choice. From what Jax told me, you fought everyone like hell to stay in there. You fought harder than anyone. If El hadn't blasted your ass out, you probably would have been stuck in there with him. I thank her for that, by the way. I would have been so pissed at you if you would have trapped yourself in there. You never failed Eddie and you're not failing him now. Just be there for him. Becca, that's all you can do."