Beyond the Battle: Action & Consequence (Steddie, Stranger Things)

Chapter 13: Moving Forward

Hopper appeared just before lunch carrying two large dishes of food from Joyce. Steve had sent round a walkie ask earlier to see if anyone needed to go to the store like he did, and apparently that had made up Joyce's mind to make sure the hoard at his house were fed. He made a mental note to pick up Joyce some things at the store when he went later, while he popped the casseroles in the oven to keep warm. 

"Are you staying for some of this amazing smelling food?" Steve asked after he set the temperature and turned back to the ex-police chief hovering in his kitchen.

The kids were all currently in the backyard blowing off some steam since Steve and Eddie had both declared they were done for now. Robin was also outside, supposedly to make sure no one got themselves killed because Lucas was encouraging Dustin to try and climb a tree, but Steve was pretty sure she was egging them on.

"Well, mostly I came to deliver a message, but I could be persuaded," Hopper replied.

"What's up, Chief?" Eddie asked from where he was lounging in a chair.

"I spoke to Owens this morning before dropping in to talk to Powell," Hopper said, which definitely caught Steve's attention. "There is going to be a press conference this afternoon at five where Chief Powell is going to make it very clear, you are no longer a suspect in the murders in this town."

Eddie sat up straight.

"How did you manage that?" Steve asked.

"Owens and his people are coming up with an airtight cover story," Hopper told them, "and we haven't ironed the details out yet, but it's going to be something to do with the undercover angle we were using for me coming back from the dead."

Steve remembered hearing something about that before they had all been allowed back to their homes, but he'd been a bit distracted since.

"I explained to Powell I couldn't discuss the details yet, but how wrong this town was and that he needs to get on the right side of this story before he looks like a complete idiot," Hopper went on. "He agreed when I mentioned the Feds."

"So, I'm going to be free and clear?" Eddie asked, voice higher than normal and full of incredulity.

Steve didn't blame him, after all the police had done nothing to help him so far.

"That's the plan," Hopper replied, "although you probably want to lie low for a while longer until we can get the full cover story out there and everyone gets the message."

"Holy shit," Eddie said, sitting back in his chair and staring into space for a while as if he was having trouble getting his head round that.

"So, Powell and Owens know Eddie is alive?" Steve asked as it occurred to him.

Hopper nodded.

"But they are the only two and it's not going to be made public knowledge," the man told them. "They needed to know so they realise how important this is. Clearing the name of a dead man isn't as much of a priority."

"Can I tell my uncle?" Eddie asked, leaning forward again.

"It might be danger..." Hopper started to say.

"We could bring him here," Steve interrupted before Hopper could say no. "Hop, Wayne thinks Eddie is dead. If it was your kid, you'd want to know that wasn't true, wouldn't you?"

He'd heard the desperate edge in Eddie's tone. While he had no idea what was going on in Eddie's head, he could imagine. If it had been him, while he was in hiding, he wouldn't have wanted to involve those he loved, but Hopper's news changed all that for Eddie.