Jeopardy- Stranger Things

Chapter Fifty Two

November 12th, 1983

George and the others were still huddled in the bus. They didn't dare leave in case there was more than one helicopter that hadn't followed Nick. They couldn't risk losing El to the bad men. They sat in tense silence that was only broken by the crackling of static over the radio as someone on the other end tried talking.

"Mike," the voice rang out. Mike lifted his head, eyebrows touching. Everyone looked to him, also frowning, "Mike, are you there?"

"Is that...?" Dustin began and looked at George who just shrugged.

"Nancy," Mike said and scrambled to get his radio out of his bag. He raised the radio up to his ear then stopped.

"What are you doing?" George asked.

"Answer!" Lucas prompted exasperated.

"What if they got Nancy?" Mike said as Nancy's voice continued prompting him to answer, "They were at the house. She could be there too. They could be using her."

George nodded slowly and the others relaxed, even Lucas stopped waving his arms around so much to get Mike to do something.

"Mike, it's an emergency," Nancy continued, her voice wavering making George think for a second that it might actually be real. What if something bad had happened. What if something bad had happened to Nick?!

"Listen kid, this is the chief," Hopper's voice came through the radio, "If you're there, pick up."

Everyone looked at each other worriedly. If the chief of police was now talking that either meant everything was fine and the police would be able to sort it all out if they just answered. Or that the police were in on it and they definitely should not answer.

"We know you're in trouble and we know about the girl," Hopper continued and the boys all stared wide eyed and Mike and shook their heads, "We can help you, we can protect you. You just have to pick up."

"Why is Nancy with the chief of police?" Dustin whispered, staring around at the others with wide eyes.

"You know they can't hear us, right?" Lucas chided, "You don't have to whisper."

"Not if they really do have spy equipment and they've tapped into the radio," George shrugged.

"Then why would they be asking us to pick up and talk if they could already hear us?" Lucas quipped again.

"Double bluff?" George shrugged again and Lucas frowned.

"Wouldn't it just be one bluff?"

"I don't know!" George scoffed, "But they could still be tapping into the radio."

"Are you there? Do you copy?" Hopper's voice sounded, snapping them out of their pointless argument.

"What do we do?" Mike asked the others. Dustin looked at the floor and George simply shrugged whilst trying to smile. Lucas shook his head and shrugged his shoulders and El looked nervously over Mike's shoulder as he nervously put the radio back down.

*

"Anyone got any other bright ideas?" Hopper asked, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose as he set Will's radio down on Joyce's coffee table.

"Yeah, I got one," Nick said bluntly, reaching for the radio and lifting it up to her ear.

*

"George," Nick's voice came over the radio, "It's me. I got away. I don't know where the bad men are but they haven't found us yet. But I really need you to trust me." She said, putting emphasis on 'trust me'.

George lifted his head, looked briefly around at the others who still looked apprehensive about answering but he didn't care. He had no doubts anymore. He trusted her.

"Joyce is here and she believes me about Will," Nick continued, "Please, trust me. Let us help you."

George scrambled over Mike's lap to reach the radio before anyone could stop him answering. He trusted Nick and he knew Nick was going to help them.

*

"You can't come back," George's voice answered and Nick grinned. Nancy smiled and turned to Jonathan who smiled back. Joyce covered her mouth with her hands and looked to Hopper who nodded at her in response.

"They'll recognise your car," George continued, his voice wavering a little.

"I know, I know," Nick said, trying to sound reassuring as she tried to come up with a solution, "Hopper's going to come and get you," she said looking to Hopper who looked mildly confused and very annoyed that Nick had decided that for him, "I'll drive off in the opposite direction to buy you some time," Nick said, still looking at Hopper who had now realised that her plan was probably the best option they had. He nodded in confirmation.

"No, they'll catch you!" George protested, the others around him nodding at him to show they supported him in protecting Nick's plan. Nick didn't respond in a while and George's heart pounded. What if she'd already gone? She could be in trouble, real trouble!

"It'll buy you some time to get El away and find Will," Nick said, sounding like he'd had trouble getting her words out. She sighed deeply as George protested again.

"No!" He said firmly, trying not to sniffle and undermine his argument, "What about you?"

"I'm doing this, George," Nick's voice came. George's lower lip wobbled, "Trust me?" she asked, her voice soft and low and apprehensive. George's eyes pricked.

"No..." he managed to croak out, his voice breaking and tears spilling from his eyes.

"See you later alligator," Nick said softly, laughing although not sounding the least bit happy.

"No. Nick. No!" George said as best as he could without his voice breaking but he didn't sound convincing at all. He wasn't even sure if his voice was understandable anymore.

"I'm coming to get you," Hopper's voice came over the radio and George whimpered, "Hang tight."

"Nick?" George sobbed, "Nick!"

"I'm on my way," Hopper replied. George slammed down the radio. Without caring about the looks everyone else was giving him, he stormed off to the very back of the bus and sat alone, tucking his knees her to his chest and resting his chin on his arms that were wrapped around his legs. He didn't care about the others seeing him cry anymore. He just wanted Nick to be alright.