All I See Is You [mileven]

Gone

4th July 1985:

Red and blue flashing lights were all that could be seen as they were rushed out of the mall. The sound of helicopters whirring and shouting filled the air. Everything was happening so fast, paramedics rushing around and the Military were gearing up as the kids were directed towards the ambulances that were situated just outside the exit.

Mike instinctively grabbed a blanket from the back of the vehicle and wrapped it around his girlfriend before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead, careful to avoid the injury caused by Billy a little while ago.

"Thank you." El gave him a small smile as she sat down beside him in the ambulance.

"Do you need anything else? Water? Another blanket? I can-"

"Mike I'm fine." El giggled, lacing her fingers with his. "Are you okay though?"

"Me? I-I'm fine." Mike stuttered, feeling slightly dizzy as the consequences of getting up and running after being knocked unconscious finally kicked in. But for El, he wouldn't have done anything differently.

Shortly after they were somewhat settled, the paramedics came over and bandaged up their injuries. No one had yet emerged from the Russian base and El began to feel more and more anxious by the minute.

Every time she heard someone walk towards them her head shot up and she felt her heart sink each time it wasn't them.

"Hey, they'll be here soon okay?" Mike reassured her, though on the inside he was freaking out.

"I- I know." She mumbled, chewing her nails out of her nerves.

El's legs were shaking and she felt sick. The fear that Hopper, Joyce and Murray didn't make it out alive began to consume her with every passing moment. So, the minute she spotted Joyce walking through the crowds, El got up from her spot next to Mike and threw the blanket off herself as she frantically looked around for her father.

El saw Joyce reunite with her youngest son from afar and felt a sense of relief wash over her, but froze when she realised she was alone. Murray was already speaking to a policeman, but he was nowhere to be found. El's heart stopped as she watched Will embrace his mother who was struggling to keep it together.

Though Joyce was holding Will, she was looking at El, both having a conversation with just their eyes. One look was all El needed for her to confirm the worst. He was gone. The man who took her in and cared for her, the man who protected her, the first man she called Dad.

In that moment El's world stopped and her healing heart shattered a little. She began to sob loudly as she felt her body give up. Her legs weakened beneath her and before she knew it she was crashing down to the floor.

All sounds around her quietened and the world spun, she was convinced she was going to throw up right there and then.

This can't be real, this can't be happening, she thought to herself.

Her mind was spinning and her breathing was frantic. El felt a part of her shatter in that moment, like a part of her died with him.

"El?"

"El?"

"El!"

She could barely hear the worried voice of her boyfriend from behind her as she clutched onto her chest, feeling an excruciating pain.

Heartbreak and loss.

"El? What's wrong?" Mike frantically asked as he wrapped his arms around her.