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

Chapter 11

"Oh my God.."

Those were the only words Joyce could say, before she threw herself in Hopper's arms, bursting in tears. She pulled him as close to her as she possibly could, and buried her head in the crook of his shoulder, letting out muffled sobs.

As soon as she fell into his arms, he held onto her for dear life. He had missed her so much, he wasn't going to let go anytime soon. He wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could, making sure she wasn't just another one of his hallucinations.
He looked at Murray, who was standing in the doorway of the cell, smiling at the scene. Hopper gave him a grateful look, and rest his head on her shoulder.

"I thought I'd never see you again, Hop! I felt so guilty, it's my fault you're in here, if I hadn't turned those keys, you would've returned home!" Joyce said, in between sobs.

He hushed her and ran his fingers through her hair, "I'm right here now, Joy, that's all that matters.", he said, unable to keep his own sobs in.

Joyce let go of Hopper, and placed her hands on his cheeks, looking into his eyes. "Don't ever scare me like that again, James Hopper.", she said, sniffling.

He instinctively ran his hand on her cheek, and wiped away a tear with his thumb. "I promise.", he said with a smile. It had been 5 months since he last smiled, but now, after all this time, he finally had a reason to.

"Uh, guys?" Murray said loudly, and immediately got their attention.
"Sorry to ruin the reunion, but I think we've got bigger problems here.."
Joyce and Hop rushed outside of the cell, to see a group of armed soldiers, blocking their way back to the elevator, with their guns pointed at the trio.

Hopper immediately stood protectively in front of Joyce, and pulled a hand knife out of his pocket.
"Where did you get that?" Joyce whispered, with a concerned look on her face.

"I found it in here, and I managed to keep it in my pocket without anyone noticing."

"Nobody moves, or we shoot!", one of the guards said in broken English.

At that moment, all five of the soldiers froze in place, and a few seconds later they fell to the floor.

"What the-"

A small drop of blood fell to the ground from El's nose, and her eyes filled with tears, as her eyes fell on the man at the end of the hallway.

"Dad..", she breathed out, and ran towards him.
Hopper kneeled down to the girl's height, and opened his arms, letting his own tears stream down his cheeks.

El grabbed on her father for dear life, gripping onto his shirt, and letting out painful sobs.
"Please, don't ever leave me again..", El managed to say in between her sobbing.

"I'm sorry kid.." Hopper cried, running his fingers through the girl's hair, "I'm so damn sorry.."

"Mom, are you okay? You're not hurt are you?" Will said, running to his mother, followed by the rest of the party.

"I'm fine, sweetie, don't worry." Joyce said with a smile, that quickly faded away. "I told you all not to come here, it's too dangerous! What if anyone got hurt?", she said, placing her hand on her son's cheek.

"Don't worry, Mrs. B, we had El with us, and she's a walking killing machine!" Dustin said, earning a smack by Mike, on the back of his neck.

El, who had over heard the conversation, let out a giggle and went to her mother. "Don't worry, Mom, we had a plan so nobody would get hurt."
Suddenly, static came from Joyce and Murray's earpieces, and a muffled voice echoed in the hall.