afterlife ➳ stranger things [2]

Chapter 20: Healing

Erin's eyes shot open as her breath caught. She squinted her eyes as she adjusted to the bright white lights. She sat up, groaning as her ventilator fell out of her nose. She pushed it back in, moving slowly as her entire body hurt. As soon as she fully adjusted herself, she noticed Dustin sitting next to her bed, Joyce sitting across from her, and Will, Max, and Cassidy leaning on each other, all in chairs.

"Hey, kiddo," Joyce smiled as she realized Erin was awake. "Hopper is in the other room with Eleven, I hope it's okay."

"Yeah." Erin croaked.

"Kids," Joyce shook Will softly. "She's awake."

"Oh sh-" Max woke up first, waking the other two up.

"Five more minutes Erin, school can-" Cassidy groaned in her sleep.

"Cassidy, Erin's awake." Max shook her, her waking up fully.

"What time is it?" Dustin asked, adjusting to the light.

"Cas do you have the time?" Max looked over at Cassidy.

"You think I have the fricking time when my sister is in the hospital?" Cassidy looked at Max.

"Guys can we please stop fighting." Will begged.

"How long has it been like this?" Erin looked over at Dustin.

"Listen Will I don't need your opinion, and Cassidy I don't give a shit now do you have the time?" Max asked.

"For the past two nights. We've missed you." Dustin smiled.

"Can you even read the clock Max? Sometimes I seriously believe you're illiterate-" Cassidy rolled her eyes.

"How long have I been out?" Erin asked.

"Oh my god-" Will hung his head backwards, trying to clear his head.

"Around four nights, Eleven woke up last night. Hopper and Mike refused to leave her side, Nancy staying for her brother and Lucas staying because Mike needed a friend." Dustin explained.

"You know what Cassidy? I'm done with your shit-" Max argued.

"Language Maxine!" Joyce begged for them to stop.

"Her name is Max, mom!" Will defended Max.

"You guys!" Erin shouted, making the entire room go silent. "Just shut the hell up and go visit Eleven's room because I really want to talk to my boyfriend right now."

"So you're not even gonna spend time with your sister?" Max raised her eyes.

"So now you defend me?" Cassidy turned to her as the three stood up. Joyce ushered them out as the three continued their bickering. The door shut quietly, as Dustin scooted his chair up closer.

"I think you should go with Cassidy to homecoming." Erin adjusted herself to face Dustin.

"Why do you think that?" Dustin narrowed his eyes.

"She deserves it more then I do." Erin gave a soft smile.

"I really disagree but," Dustin paused. "For you."

Erin smiled and squeezed Dustin's hand.

In the other room, voices boomed. Steve and Nancy were laughing as Cassidy and Max continued their argument. Mike and Eleven were talking while El was still in her bed, Joyce and Hopper joined each other's side next to Jonathan, Lucas stayed at Mike's side as Will joined the two, Max and Cassidy still arguing. Kali stood next to Cassidy, cautiously and trying not to get into the fight. Sarah was already standing next to Hopper.

"So what now?" Eleven asked, still holding Mike's hand.

"What do you mean?" Cassidy asked, folding her arms.

"Erin's awake, everyone's here, what now?" Eleven asked.

"I have no clue." Hopper shrugged.

"How are the doctors not confused by any of this?" Max asked.

Kali took a deep breath, exchanging looks with Cassidy. "We know a person."

"She helped us when we were back in Baltimore, she's my biological aunt." Cassidy added on.

"How'd you meet her?" Steve asked.

"I didn't," Kali smiled. "Nancy did." Everyone's attention turned to Nancy, who nodded.

"When I found out that Cassidy was alive, I did some digging. Kali told me some information that made me dig further, and I ended up finding her." Nancy explained.

"What was the information?" Hopper asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Brenner being Cassidy and Erin's biological father." Kali explained, exchanging glances with Cassidy.

"Wait you knew that Brenner was my father before you told me in the hotel room?" Cassidy asked, Kali nodding.

"Brenner had a secretary which he impregnated. The secretary's sister was a doctor at the laboratory. The doctor explained to us that he went mad trying to figure out how to give the twins powers, but never found a way he could. During the pregnancy, one of the twins had issues and had to be taken out early. Brenner did everything he could to save the baby, which eventually led to giving the baby telepathy. The other one was born perfectly normal." Kali explained.

"Erin was born with telepathy?" Joyce asked.

"Yeah, she was." Nancy nodded.

"You two make quite the duo." Hopper nodded, almost proud.

"Yeah," Nancy smiled. "We do."

There was a knock on the door behind Cassidy, leading her to open it. It was Dustin with Erin in a wheelchair, everyone making room for them to come in. Dustin pushed Erin in the middle of the room to beside Eleven's bed, turning Erin back around. The couple turned to face everyone, everyone in silence.

"The gang's all together, huh?" Erin joked.

"Now that's the Erin I remember!" Max joked, playfully punching Erin's arm. Everyone looked at her strangely. "No? Not funny?" Erin chuckled at this.

"Does Erin and Eleven get to miss school? Does that mean I get to too?" Cassidy paused. "Only a few days there and I despise it." The room was filled with laughs, before Hopper interrupted.

"School will wait for these two, but for the rest of you." Hopper raised his eyebrows.

"Just one more day, please?" Mike begged.

"Not up to us." Joyce shrugged.

"In case you forgot, Joyce and I aren't actually your parents." Hopper shrugged.

"Yeah isn't there a curfew, Hopper?" Nancy asked.

"Thank you for reminding me." Hopper smiled.

"Who's going to ask for blankets in here?" Dustin asked, Hopper turning towards him. "Hey, it's a little too late to be outside."

Hopper rolled his eyes at this, everyone chuckling. For once in her life, Eleven felt at peace. As well did everyone in that room.