Unnatural Disaster #wattys2018

Panic: waiting games

Edited 2020
*WARNING* graphic description/ mentions and references of violence, abuse, and blood.
     Steve sat with max in the waiting room. Hopper had shown up while they were getting pieces of glass removed from their feet. Steve hadn't felt the pain at the time but now his foot had started to throb.

     There they were with bare bandaged feet still damp from the freezing rain covered in small red blankets. Max sat next to him now crying softly hugging her knees her little red blanket tightly wrapped around her shoulders. Steve hummed no song in particular rubbing circles on her back as they both shivered trying to calm them both down. Hopper sat across from him staring at them trying to think of something to say. They locked eyes, Steve cleared his throat as he felt tears beginning to pool, he couldn't cry not in front of her but his adrenaline was wearing off and all that was left was frustration, sadness, nd exhaustion.

     Hopper opened his mouth to say something when the waiting room doors burst open. It was Joyce followed by Jonathan with will mike and Lucas in toe.

     "Jesus!" Jonathan breathed Steve hadn't realized how this looked to them.
     Steve and max covered in someone else's blood, wet, freezing, and barefoot. before he realized he was standing he was swept into a hug by Joyce. Lucas had slipped in next to max who buried her face into his shoulder. Joyce pulled away to talk to hopper and so did Mike and will sitting next to Lucas. Steve nearly collapsing into a hug with Jonathan. He was very tired. Jonathan pulled away quickly placing both hands on Steve's shoulders.

     "What happened?" he whispered, Steve took in a shaking breath looking for a better place to talk. They moved aside, shielded from the view of the waiting room by the curve of the hallway. It was late but the emergency room always held background noise the murmuring of the kids. Steve could faintly hear Joyce and Hopper and the nurse talking quietly on the phone.

     "Fuck man," Steve hunched over breathing unsteady.

     "Hey, alright... it's alright," Jonathan cooed. He was used to comforting people with his mother and will going through what they have. He rested a hand on Steve's trembling back but Steve was too shaken for his usual comfort strategy. Jonathan embraced Steve again, hugging him firmly around his shoulders but he couldn't return it his arms dangling by his side's his breath rushing up into the air near Jonathan's right ear in short puffs. Don't cry.

     "Jesus," Steve huffed.

     "Just breathe," Jonathan ordered Steve's left hand reached up and clutched the bottom of Jonathan's flannel.

     "She was screaming for me and I was so scared," Steve closed his eyes trying to swallow. The now obvious tears in his voice.

     "Okay, okay," Jonathan processed.

     "God he was, there was broken glass and so much blood, there was blood," Steve tried to explain but his brain wasn't working right.

     "Alright, just breathe" Jonathan huffed holding on a little tighter as he could feel Steve beginning to slide from his grip.

Steady. Steve thought as he returned Jonathan's embrace.

Joyce rounded the corner her face immediately weighed with heavy sadness. She opened her mouth to speak then stopped herself turning on her heel and moved to sit where Steve had been. Max had fallen silent eyes closed but still clearly awake, resting her head on a worried Lucas. Joyce gently tucked her rust colored hair behind her ear stroking it and exchanging nervous glances with Mike. will had begun to fall asleep, sprawled over mikes lap.

     "What do we do" Lucas asked worriedly.

     "We wait" Hopper said matter of factly.

     "What about their ass face father," mike retorted angrily.

     "Hey, you kids shouldn't be worrying about this," Hopper said pointedly.

     "They weren't going to be here," Jonathan interrupted rounding the corner.

     "They were near the end of a campaign and I couldn't leave them aline Hop," Joyce interjected.

     Hopper sighed knowingly. It was quiet again as Steve rounded the corner eyes red and telling. Joyce stood walking over to Jonathan engaging in a hushed conversation Steve sunk back into his seat with a heavy sigh rubbing his face with his hands. Jonathan nodded taking the car keys from Joyce and headed out.

     A half an hour passed the kids had fallen asleep except Max. She leaned over onto Steve's shoulder now her hand still locked into Lucas's. He rested his head on top of hers whispering reassurances into her hair. Jonathan had returned with nancy and after a hushed conversation they began to gather the kids who protested at first but reluctantly agreed after some words from Hopper. Jonathan and Nancy took them out to the car, but Joyce paused her and Hopper eyeing Steve and Max. Steve just shook his head at Hopper before he could ask as he stroked Max's hair she had laid her head in his lap finally closing her eyes again. Hop sighed and waved Joyce off. She squeezed his shoulder and shared a worried smile with Steve.

     Another hour ticked by Steve had fallen asleep as well. Hopper watched them both plenty of thoughts buzzed around in his head the most common being poor kids.

     The doctor stepped out then Hop stood and the doctor gestured him over.

     "How is he?" Hopper asked in hushed urgency.

     "He's stable and holding but-" The doctor sighed.

     "But, but what?" Hopper pressed.

     "Jeez, Hop, you said this was a domestic?" the man winced. Hopper cleared his throat.

     "yeah that was the call." He said stiff.

     "This is more like attempted murder, if he didn't get here when he did he probably would have died," the doctor winced removing his glasses.

     "Just tell me," Hop could feel the anger rise in him.

     "The glass in his thigh just missed his artery. I mean there's a list Hop. Broken femur, do you know how much strength it takes to break a femur. Broken arm and wrist, broken ribs punctured lung, broken jaw a plethora of contusions and lacerations and nearly strangled to death." Hopper pinched his temples a sharp breath escaping through his nose trying to unclench his teeth as he struggled to contain himself.

     "I've seen less injuries in a car accident, he really wanted to hurt this kid Jim." The Doc said rubbing his cheek. Hop strained to keep his composure. "and the injuries on that little girl, you need to find this man hop find him and..." The doctor cleared his throat and sighed. Rubbing his forehead with the back of his wrist before returning his glasses.

     "He's stable it will be a long healing process but he'll make it." The Doctor sighed patting Hopper on the arm.

     "Thanks doc," Hopper pinched the bridge of his nose taking a deep breath before turning to the kids. He carefully walked over lightly shaking Steve's shoulder. Steve jolted upright startling Max awake.

     "Hey, hey, relax," Hopper soothed.

     "What happened?" Steve settled in his chair a bit.

     "Is Billy okay?" Max sat up brushing off her blanket.

     "It's alright he's stable it's gonna be a while till he's up on his feet but he'll be okay," They both let out a breath In response.

     "Steve why don't you go home I'll take care of-" Hopper began.

     "No." Steve interjected, waking up a bit more.

     "She can come with me, my folks aren't home and being alone or in a hospital all night won't be good for either of us," Steve sighed rubbing his hands over his face. Hopper looked to max who was fighting the idea even before she spoke.

     "I can't leave, not now!" Max cried.

     "He's stable and you need your rest," Hopper tried.

     "We'll come back, okay Max, we'll come back tomorrow alright. Hopper's right we need to, clean up a bit," he gestured to the blood stain on her pajamas unsettled. She looked at Hop then Steve and whispered out an "alright."