Right Side Up - A Stranger Things Season 4 Fanfic (incomplete)

Chapter 8

Joyce banged her fist on the metal door in front of her, and took a few steps back. She had never really noticed that the door had the words "Keep Door Closed" spelled out with graffiti on it, and quite frankly, she never really cared either.

"Jesus Christ, what's taking him so long!", she thought and banged on the door again. This time she heard a faint voice cursing something, and then multiple locks opening.
Within seconds, the door swung open, and a shotgun was pointed towards Joyce's forehead. She instinctively put her hands up and looked at the man in front of her in fear.

"Really, Bauman? You knew I was coming!"

"Yeah, sorry Joyce, just making sure." Murray said, lowering his gun, and stepping aside for the woman to come in his home.

Joyce gave Murray an eye-roll, and stepped in the home, which looked more like a basement desperately trying to become an apartment.

"Sit down, Joyce. Vodka?" the man said, already pouring two glasses, without waiting for her answer

"N-no thanks, I don't really drink.." Joyce mumbled, sitting on one of the two couches.

"Believe me, you'll need lots of it today." Murray assured her, placing a glass in front of her, and sitting on the couch facing her.

"Did you bring your kids?" Murray asked.

"Yes, I dropped them off at their friend's house, and told them I'd go check on the offers for my old home."

"You still haven't sold that old thing? I thought you'd have been done with that by now."

"Well, not a lot of people want it because of its condition, but that's not the point right now. What did you want to tell me that's so important you had to bring me here all the way from New York for?" Joyce said, and took a sip of her drink.
Her nose scrunched, as she struggled to swallow the bitter spirit, and she coughed once she managed to do so.

Murray leaned forward in his seat. "I've been doing some research for the past 5 months, along with Dr. Owens, considering Jim's death."

Joyce felt chills run down her spine. She took a deep breath and looked into the man's eyes "Look, Murray, I know you're trying to help, and I really appreciate that, but Hopper's dead, and there's nothing-"

"Joyce. Just, listen to me. Please."
Murray got up and went in another room. Joyce heard papers ruffling, and a few seconds later, Murray came back, holding a bunch of maps, notes, and other miscellaneous papers.

"Look at these." Murray said, spreading his paperwork across the table. "These are recorded conversations between Russian guards, that Dr. Owens helped translate to English. They refer to an 'American prisoner', and they're saying he has useful information for 'The Alternate Dimention' " the man said, giving the paper to Joyce

"The Upside Down.." Joyce whispered, reading the paper Murray handed her.

"And this," Murray said, opening a Manila folder, and showing it to Joyce "This is a set of coordinates that lead to a Russian prison."

"S-so you're saying that.."

"I'm saying that Jim is alive somewhere in Russia, and we need to find him."

"Wait, wait, hold on a second! How are we sure that the 'American prisoner' is Hopper? It could be anyone!" Joyce still didn't believe what Murray or El had suggested. Or maybe she didn't want to allow herself to believe it.

"Joyce, don't you see it? Who else would have information about an alternate dimension? You told me that you and Jim signed a bunch of confidentiality documents to keep what happened in the lab a secret, so the only people who know about the Upside Down are you, Jim, and the children. Joyce, think about it, everything connects! He is alive!"

Joyce downed the entire glass of vodka in front of her without hesitaion, and buried her face into her palms.
El was right. She was right all along, Hopper was alive, and she tried to tell her, but all Joyce did was push her away, just because she was afraid. She was afraid of facing the truth. Although she wanted to see him alive and well more than anything in the world, she was afraid of the guilt. In her mind, shs was the one that started all of this, if she hadn't turned those keys, maybe he would've been there.

"I-I don't.. Murray are you sure-"

"Yes Joyce, for the millionth time, yes! Why can't you accept it?" he cut her off.

"I-I don't know! I don't know Murray, I just-!" Joyce sobbed, her voice breaking with every word. She let her head hang low, and quiet sobs escaped her lungs. She was feeling lots of emotions at the same time. Happiness, relief, anger, sadness, guilt, all at once. She had been through so many hardships, so she couldn't understand why this pushed her past her breaking point.

Murray immediately rushed to her side and sat next to her. "Hey, I'm sorry I yelled at you.. It's okay Joyce, we're going to find Jim, and we're going to bring him home, okay?"

Joyce nodded, and wiped her tears away. "S-so, do we just go to Russia or..?" she sniffled.

"No, we're not going to Russia just yet, I've spoken with Dr. Owens, and he's got his team on the go. They're going to get in the prison disguised as real guards, and they're going to help Hopper regain some of his strength, while setting up an escape plan for him. Once Owens gives us the green light, we book the first flight to Russia, and we get there as soon as possible. Sounds good?"

"How long has Owens been working on this?"

"About 3 months maybe? I can't remember exactly how much time has passed."

"3 months?! You've known that Jim is alive all this time?! And you never thought to tell me sooner??" Joyce stood up, fueled with anger. How could they keep this from her? Owens, maybe, but Murray? He knew how much Hopper meant to her, he knew better than anyone.

Murray shook his head "Joyce, I know you're upset, but we weren't sure if he was actually alive then. If we were to tell you, and something went wrong, ypu would be crushed! I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but it was for your own good."

Joyce let out a sigh. She had the right to know from the start. Maybe she could've done something to help them if she knew sooner."Fine, I have to go now, it's getting late and I need to pick up the kids-"

"Joyce, you can't drive all the way back to Hawkins alone! It's too dangerous and you're unarmed. Stay here for the night, and tomorrow morning, you can go home."

"I'm not a kid, Murray, I can protect myself. Plus, I know this place better than the palm of my hand, I think I can manage." Joyce said, and went for the door, but got blocked by Murray.

"Things have changed since you left Joyce. Illinois never really was a safe place to begin with, and ever since Hopper and Alexei, the government has grown suspicious of me. If they see you anywhere near here, you'll be taken in for questioning. Please, just stay here and leave tomorrow, okay?"

Joyce closed her eyes and took a deep breath "Okay."

_______________________________________

Joyce was turning in her bed, unable to sleep. She kept thinking about the "green light" Owens was supposed to give them. Shs couldn't just wait around until the right time came. What if there was no right time? Would Hopper just rot in that cell forever?
She wondered if she should tell Murray about the vision/nightmare she had seen the night before. "No, it'll stress everyone out even more." she thought. If he saw in what conditions Hopper is living under, he would pressure Owens into speeding up the plan, and that could bring serious consequences.

She was just glad to see him alive.
"I'm coming, Hopper. Don't worry.", she whispered to herself, and rolled to her side, falling into a deep sleep.