Healing ||mileven||

The plan

Mike's POV

OMG, OMG, OMG, he felt like his chest was tightening, his heart was racing, he needed to calm down. It's stupid, how can it be her, she'd come back here, back to me, why would she hide from me? I miss her so much, I have to know, is it her? He sat on his bed, rubbing his head with both hands, he was trying not to hyperventilate, before he knew it he was in tears, he'd held it in for so long now, since he last felt any hope that he'd ever see her again, it'd been a long time.

There was a soft knock at his door, "Mike?" Nancy let herself in, concern etched on her face, "Mike, what happened?" I just looked at her and shook my head, letting more tears fall, my whole body shaking from head to toe. She walked over and wrapped her arms around me, it was comforting. Since last year we had gotten really close, she was the only other one who really knew how I felt, she'd lost Barb, her best friend, I'd lost Eleven, my...I didn't even know...my world is how she felt at the time and how she still felt now.

I told Nancy what Max had said in the basement. "You really think it could be her?" asked Nancy. "I don't know...if it is why is she hiding, why didn't she come to me?" I barely held it together with that last statement. "Maybe like you say Mike, maybe she's hiding from someone...or something..."

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General POV

Mike and Nancy went down to the basement together, they'd been talking about what to do, forming a plan. "Listen" said Mike, when they'd all sat down together, "we think it might be a good idea to check out that box tomorrow, find out who's leaving the food. We don't want to scare this girl by making assumptions, she might be telling the truth about her father, we need to know more facts". They all agreed. "So, you don't think it's Eleven then?" asked Will. Mike shrugged, looking like he was trying to hide his true feelings and failing miserably. "Even if it is, we need to know what's going on, she's clearly hiding, maybe we can find out why and help her" he said.

Nancy called Jonathan, wanting both a ride and backup...and to see him of course, she smiled to herself.

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Mike woke up as soon as the first rays of sunlight sliced through the gap in his curtains. If truth be told he'd barely slept a wink all night, what if it is her, what will I say? What will I do? Is she ok?

They'd agreed to meet in Mike's basement after breakfast and all packed into Jonathan's car together, it was a tight fit for sure, but it didn't matter, they were on a mission and a bit of discomfort strangely made them feel ready for whatever they might find. They left the car out of sight behind an old roadside diner that had shut last year when the owner, Benny, had been killed by the bad men. Max lead them to the unremarkable box with ease and checked inside; it still had yesterday's empty Tupperware in it that she and the girl had deposited the day before on their daily walk. "It's the one from yesterday, we haven't missed whoever it is" said Max. "We'd better find someplace to hide...there's a lot of us, maybe split into 2 groups" suggested Jonathan. Jonathan, Nancy, and Mike went left behind a group of large rocks, the rest went right behind a close group of bushes, they all tried to make themselves comfortable, not knowing how long they'd have to wait...turns out they got there with minutes to spare.

The silence was broken by the sound of a large vehicle pulling up, they heard the door shut, the crunching of feet on the gravel road turning to soft rustling as they entered the woods. Into view came none other than Hopper, what the fuck? thought pretty much the whole gang. Mike and Nancy just looked at each other, silently trying to ask each other what was going on, they could see the rest of the party the other side doing the same. They watched as Hopper went straight to the box, taking the old Tupperware, and replacing it with a new one, some more eggos, and a chocolate bar. He stood back up, but didn't walk away, he was looking at the box like he was contemplating something. He rubbed his hand over his eyes, shook his head sadly and walked away. They all waited till they heard the Chief's car drive off and emerged from hiding, they stood around the box not really knowing what to say. Finally, Will broke the silence, "why would the chief be leaving food for the girl?"

Nancy looked at the gang, I guess I need to take charge here, "guys, we need to find out what's going on with Hopper, me and Jonathan will go talk to him, he's more likely to talk to us rather than a bunch of kids. Jonathan, we should get your mom, I feel like we're in over our heads right now, and she'll get him to talk if we can't", Jonathan nodded in agreement. "You guys follow the rest of the plan, go with Max to find this girl."

"Will, you come with us" said Jonathan, "I'm not letting you out of my sight until we know what's happening", Will rolled his eyes but knew he had no choice, and nodded.

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Nancy, Jonathan, and Will pulled up at Hopper's cabin, along with Joyce who they'd picked up and filled in on the way. Nancy banged on his door, louder than you'd think given her size, calling his name. "What? Coming! Alright!!" Hopper opened the door to find three serious looking visitors at his door, "can I help you?" he said gruffly, with a sinking feeling in his chest, shit, they know, why else would Nancy and Jonathan come here?

"I think we have some explaining to do" said Joyce, Jonathan and Nancy glanced at each other, what the fuck?

"What are you talking about?" said Hopper, feigning ignorance. Nancy told him the she knew about the box, the food, and the girl in the cabin. She wanted him to believe that she knew more than she really did, but Hopper wasn't buying that, and now knowing that Joyce was in on this with Hopper she knew it was a pointless bluff. However, he was sick of pretending, the deception, it was time to come clean, and with Joyce here too, Nancy, Jonathan and Will were probably the best people to hear it.

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