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THE PLAN, at least in Jackie's mind, had been to stay put in the church and wait for Hopper. The plan, to the others, was to head to the lab. Upon believing this was a bad idea, she voiced this. And upon being in the losing vote, she silently trailed after the group and took her loss heavily.
"Guys, this is stupid," she complained again. Steve was the only one who didn't roll his head back in annoyance. He shot her a look as they walked. "We need to wait."
"If the lab is the center of this, we're one step closer to ending this thing."
"We don't even know if your theory is right," Jackie pointed out. "What we do know is Hopper could be here any minute-"
"Look, Jackie, normally I'd agree with you," Nancy interjected. "But I'm sick of waiting. We have to get something done."
Jackie took the second loss with a narrowed gaze, letting Steve grab her hand to lead her after them. The Upside Down was still creepy and gross, vines everywhere, dust particles flying into her face.
It made her think of the trailer park, the night Vecna had got her, the night she lost Max. The night everything had changed for the worse.
"You agree with me, right?" Jackie asked, voice lowered as she glanced to Steve.
"Hm? What, yeah, babe. 'Course." That didn't convince her, and Steve must've seen it in her expression, because he quickly carried on. "I mean, yeah. Yes. I think we should've stayed put, but also... I mean.. I think that the faster we figure out what's going on here, the faster we get out. The faster you're safe again."
Instinctively, her hand went to her stomach. Steve noticed it, too, because the hand that was holding hers tightened briefly. "I am safe," she said. "And we'd be safer with Hopper and El."
"Keep up, lovebirds," Dustin shouted from ahead. "Or we'll leave you behind."
"This kid, man," Steve sighed, and Jackie couldn't help but snort. "You okay? You tired?"
"I'm fine," she assured him. "I'm pregnant, not dying."
"You said the chances were slim," he pointed out, giving her a knowing look. "I was offering to carry you, but if you're so independent and fine, then..."
"Hey," Jackie started to grin. "I didn't say that."
Steve smiled. Jackie patted his shoulder, and he lowered himself just enough for her to jump onto his back. His fingers caught around the underside of her knees just as Jackie wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Good?"
She pressed closer, burying whatever part of herself she could into Steve. She needed to feel him, skin on skin, face in hair. Jackie ducked her head into the crook of his neck, placing a delicate kiss on his exposed skin and feeling his footing falter in response. "Good," she confirmed.
