Help Me Understand [mileven]

Chapter 5: Road to recovery

Mike began to panic again as they climbed into the Hawkins police van. He wasn't ready to tell them, he wasn't even sure if he would be able to form the words. Mike politely asked Hopper if he would, he just nodded and smiled in sympathy.

El held his hand the whole car journey, watching Mike as he tried to regulate his breathing. They both agreed to go down to the basement while Hopper talked to his parents, she wanted to distract him, she knew he wouldn't be able to sit and listen to the conversation.

The car journey went way too quickly for Mike, he swore he was in the car for two minutes.

"It's going to be okay kid" Hopper smiled at Mike in the mirror as he pulled up to the Wheelers house.

Hesitantly, Mike got out of the car, never letting go of El's hand.

Hopper knocked on the door, his spare hand was on Mike's shoulder in reassurance. El squeezed his hand and leant her head on his shoulder, she didn't say a word, she knew she didn't need to.

"Hopper hi come on in" Karen smiled. "What's all this about, you sounded serious over the phone."

"You might want to sit down for this Karen" Hopper managed a small smile. "El, take Mike to the basement".

El nodded and gently guided him down the steps into what was her first ever home. She sat down into the fort and motioned him to sit with her.

"El" Mike's voice sounded squeaky.

"Yes?" El already knew what he was going to say, but she didn't want to interrupt.

"I-I'm scared". He began to sob.

El gently pulled Mike into a hug and kissed his cheek, "I know but they are not going to hate you or think of you any differently. You are their son and they love you".

Mike nodded slowly, letting all his emotions come flooding out.

Meanwhile upstairs Hopper took off his hat and sat opposite Mr and Mrs Wheeler at the dining table.

"What I'm about to tell you is going to be very hard to hear, I need you to promise that this will not change the way you see your son and the way you act around him." Hopper shifted his glance between the parents as their eyes widened at his seriousness.

"We promise". Karen said, worry in her voice.

"As you know, your son experienced a lot of trauma the past few years and it's really taken a toll on him..." Hopper continued to explain everything that El had told him and included what happened this morning.

El was sat in the fort with Mike leaning on her shoulders while she stroked his hair, leaving kisses on his head every so often. Mike managed to slow his crying, only silent tears rolling down his face now which El kissed away.

"I love you Mike" El whispered, stroking his cheek.

"I l-love you t-too El." His voice was still shaking.

At that moment the basement door opened and Karen rushed in crying, she ran down the stairs and scooped Mike into an embrace, causing him to cry again. "Sweetie I'm so sorry, we should have been there for you. We should have known, I should have known. I promise you that we will do anything we can do help you get better. I love you sweetheart, I love you." She cried.

All Mike could do was nod and grip onto his Mom tighter while he sobbed.

"Son we've called Dr Sam Owens, Hopper recommended him seeing as he already knows about all the...stuff that's gone on in this town. Your first session is Friday straight after school." Ted stated with no emotion in his voice whatsoever, but he gave a sympathetic smile, reassuring Mike that he does care.

Mike just nodded and El squeezed his hand.

"Can El come with me?" Mike asked quietly.

"Of course she can." Karen smiled through her tears.

Friday:

Mike woke up feeling anxious, despite it being one of the rare nights where he didn't have a nightmare. He knew that after school he would have to go to therapy, the one thing he dreaded most about all this. The only thing which kept him relatively calm was the thought that El would be there.

The school day went way too fast for Mike and before he knew it he was in the car with his mom, Hopper and El on the way to see Dr Owens. Since the closing of the lab, Owens decided to open his own small office just outside of Hawkins, he decided it was best to stay close in something happens.

Once they arrived and eventually managed to get Mike out of the car, Dr Owens came out to greet them.

"Hi guys how we all doing today? Don't look so worried Mike, you are in good hands." Sam smiled.

"Thank you for seeing us Sam we really appreciate it." Karen smiled back.

"My pleasure, I'm happy to help." They walked into the building and stopped right outside his office. "I'm sorry guys but only Mike and one other from here please, I don't want him to feel overwhelmed and I need to make sure he is comfortable talking to me." Sam turned to Mike. "Who do you want in with you?".

"El." Mike answered quickly.

"Okay, I will need to speak with you and your mother at some point though." Sam smiled as he opened the door and motioned for them to enter.

"Why doesn't he want me in there?" Karen said, looking upset.

"I think El is the one who can only really match his trauma and really understand what he went though, there's no separating those two." Hopper smiled.

"I know, they love each other but I'm his mom, I need to be involved. I have to help him get better, I can't lose my son." She began to cry.

"You won't lose him, I'm sure El will see to that before anyone else has a chance." Hopper chucked lightly.

"You're right, I'm sorry." Karen sniffled.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, it's stressful, all of it is. I just hope we can get him on the road to recovery." Hopper patted her back.

Karen just nodded and stared out the window, trying to calm herself down.

Meanwhile in the office...

"Okay Mike, tell me how you are feeling right now." Sam said, grabbing his pad and pen.

"Um, I feel nervous." Mike mumbled.

El grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. Her little gestures like that seem to make him feel 10x better.

"I feel nothing." Mike looked down at the floor.

El's eyes began to water, she couldn't imagine how Mike was feeling in this moment. How he's been feeling this whole time. She didn't know if she would be able to sit and listen to this, but she knew she needed to, for Mike.

"Okay Mike, so tell me exactly what's happened over the last few years. Obviously I know some but the personal stuff I'm completely in the dark as your dad didn't really tell me much."

Mike stared at him, not knowing where to start.

"It's okay, take your time." Sam smiled reassuringly.

"It all started when El got taken away from me.." Mike began.

As Mike talked, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders, he never realised how much talking about his problems could do to help. This was a step in the right direction and he knew it.