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  BROOKE AND PAISLEY LET go out the tight grip they have around the Byers oldest.

"You got this. You'll get that thing out of him," Paisley reassures Jonathan. He's shaking under her touch. Jonathan puts on a smile for them and walks away with Joyce and Hopper who has really Will in his arms. As the door closes, Brooke can hear Hopper shouting directions to them but she takes a deep breath and walks away. She needs to find Danny.

Brooke wanders throughout the small house wondering where he could be. She swings the back door open only to find Steve and Nancy rummaging through the junk pile.

"I might be a shitty boyfriend," Brooke faintly hears, "But, turns out I'm actually a pretty damn good babysitter." Steve lets out an airy chuckle. Brooke can't hear the words said after that but Steve walks away and Nancy's eyes flicker from him to Brooke.

She gives her a smile from the back door and a small wave which Nancy returns. Steve gets to the back door and looks up to see Brooke with an almost apologetic look.

"Followed me out here?" He says as he moves past her. Brooke raises her eyebrows and laughs a bit, "I'm looking for Danny, jackass." Tension that had built up over the years seemingly gone for the small second they glanced at each other.

Steve nods, "Not out there. Just...Just Nancy." He walks away and into the living room where everyone else is. Hopper comes out from the hall and spots Brooke. "How's the leg?" He asks.

Brooke puts her leg out and tries to ignore the pain that shoots up it, "Fine." She throws him a thumbs up.

She thinks about it for a second, "Can I come to the lab?" Hopper gives her a double take and scoffs, "Brooke, no. Danny already tried to escape with the Byers. You both need to stay here." Brooke lets out a huff of air through her nose but is relieved to know that Danny has really got to be here now.

"You're taking Cory and he just started to believe us! We've been telling him for months and he thought our weed was laced!" Brooke points to Cory who is happily annoying the other teens. Hopper sighs, "That's for extra arms, alright? He was in the military."

Brooke stomps a bit because she knows he's right. "Brooke, El will be okay. I promise you but we really need to go," Hopper calmly says. He waits for a nod or some sort of answer from Brooke to let him know she understands. The shrug and whatever, fine that leaves her mouth is enough for him.

They all gather outside. "Just be careful, okay? I can't lose you again," Mike tells El. Brooke would normally gag at the affection and sappy words but she's happy at least someone she loves has a proper relationship. It feels like everyone around her just crumbles in that area.

The two lovesick kids look like they're almost going in for a kiss but Hopper stops them. "El...Come on, let's go. It's time."

El looks back at Mike and then her friends. Brooke knows she can do this but it's still anxiety inducing watching her walk away and into Hopper's truck. Nancy gets into Jonathan's car and both vehicles drive away.

Brooke takes deep breaths the further and further they get away. A hand laces with hers and she knows it's not Paisley's because she doesn't feel the chipped nail polish.

Her heart speeds up when she realizes it's Casey. Brooke's head gets swirly from the affection. She's never held hands romantically—wait, no, this isn't romantic either, Brooke thinks. She gives him a comforting smile and he gives one back. Casey doesn't think he'll regret being nosy now.

"Alright, kids. Inside," Paisley directs them like a mother. They listen but Stella feels paralyzed watching Casey's thumb glide over the back of Brooke's hand. She can't decipher why she feels so mad. Maybe it's the possibility of this sudden crush taking away her best friend.

Stella manages to move back inside when Brooke gently pulls away from Casey and they go inside.

As soon as they're in the house, chaos ensues. Brooke wanted to talk to Danny who is currently slouching in the corner but now she's watching Casey and Steve struggle to pick up the dead Demodog.

"This is so gross, Dustin," Paisley says as she looks disgusted at the corpse. "It's amazing!" Dustin says excitedly.

"Steve, it's not that hard to pick up—it's legs," Casey complains. Steve glares at the other boy, "Can you walk away? I got this!" Casey scoffs and drops the Demodog completely. Steve doesn't catch it and it lands right back onto the floor with a loud squelching noise that makes Brooke gag.

The three girls stare in disgust when Steve finally gets the thing into his arms and blanket. "I hate it. I hate it so much," Stella says and fakes a shiver going down her body. "Hey, Stella, it's science!" Casey mocks Dustin playfully.

"It is science! Let me clear out the fridge," Dustin yells and runs to the kitchen. Dustin throws the contents of the Byers fridge onto the floor as Steve struggles to hold the covered Demodog.

"Okay, it should fit now," Dustin points to the fridge. Steve looks at the kid like he has 12 heads, "Is this really necessary?"

Brooke steps over a shelf from the fridge, "No, it's not. Do we even know these things rot?"

"It's dead. Everything dead rots," Paisley gives her an are you dumb look. Brooke flips her off.

"This is necessary! It's a groundbreaking scientific discovery. We can't just bury it like some common mammal, okay? It's not a dog!" Dustin yells. Steve complies, "Alright. Alright. You're explaining this to Mrs. Byers, alright?" Steve just kinda shoves it in the fridge, in the process knocking over more things.

It's entertaining to watch him struggle, especially to Casey. "Christ. Help me out!" Steve says. "The hell do you want us to do?" Brooke asks with a giggle.

"Just get the door!" He yells. Sneakers squeak as Steve shoves it deeper into the freezer. Dustin tells him he's got the door but when Steve lets go of the body it starts to slip. They quickly shut the door before it can fall again.

Paisley claps, "What a show, Harrington!" She laughs at him. "Thanks for the help, Slora," Steve says between pants. Paisley curtsies her fake skirt and Steve just walks away with a dramatic eye roll.

"Mike, would you just stop it already?" Lucas yells at his anxious friend. Brooke turns and sees Max stopping her movement from cleaning the glass on the ground, Danny now next to her with another broom.

"You weren't in there, Lucas. That lab is swarming with hundreds of those dogs. Danny, tell Lucas!" Mike brings him into this because he feels like his word isn't enough for the kid. Danny rolls his eyes, "Yeah, Mike. There was a shit ton."

"Okay, but, the chief and Mr. Slora will take care of her!" Lucas says. That's the only reassuring thing for Brooke. "Like she needs protection," Max faintly whispers.

Brooke cuticles are currently being ripped apart as Steve starts his speech. The pain isn't anything to Brooke when the thought of El and Hopper and Cory in that building cycles through her head. But, once again, her knowing Hopper is there is bringing her comfort so every now and then she stops the destruction of her nail beds only to think of another shitty scenario and get right back to it.

"Listen, dude, a coach calls a play in a game, bottom line, you execute it. Alright?" Steve says. The cheesy advice earns him an eye roll from all the older teens. "Okay, first of all, this isn't some stupid sports game. And second, we're not even in the game. We're on the bench!" Mike retorts. If Brooke wasn't so irritated with him from before she would've let the laugh she hid come out.

"So, my point is.....," Steve stammers as he looks over the judges faces from the kids, "Right, yeah, we're on the bench, so, uh, there's nothing we can do." Steve swings the dish towel over his shoulder. Brooke knits her eyebrows in confusion as to why he even has the damn thing.

"That's not entirely true. I mean, these Demodogs, they have a hive mind. When they ran away from the bus, they were called away," Dustin says. "If we get their attention...." Lucas starts.

"Maybe we can draw them from the lab," Max finishes. "In the process, clear a path to the gate," Danny adds on. Stella wiggles her finger in the air frantically and then points it at Dustin, "The last time we followed one of Dustin's plans, Brooke got fucked up and we nearly all were—Demodog food!"

Dustin narrows his eyes and slowly turns to her, "Who are you again?" Stella deadpans but doesn't bother to argue with the child. It's not the time nor her business to start an argument with him. "We do this, yeah, and then we all die!" Steve yells.

Brooke chuckles, "It's a possibility."

"Brooke," Steve shakes his head, "It's not a possibility. That's a fact. Stella's right. Who even knows if you're up to running in your condition!"

"I ran towards the lab!" Brooke tries to make a point. "That's true, she did do that," Casey snaps his fingers at her in approval. Paisley side eyes him and shoves Casey's fingers down.

Brooke presses her lips together, "See!" Steve and Paisley go to argue some more when Mike pushes past them with an I got it!

They all follow him to the next room. Mike crouches in front of a couple of the many drawings laid throughout the house, "This is where the chief dug his hole. This is our way into the tunnel. So..." Mike moves again and towards the big drawing in the middle of the house, "Here, right here. This is like a hub. So you got all the tunnels feeding in here. Maybe if we set this on fire....."

Paisley lets out an exaggerated sigh at the thought of kids and fire—and Brooke. "Oh, yeah? That's a no!" Steve tells them but it goes ignored. "The mind flayer would call away his army!" Dustin says. The three, what they have deemed as being rational teens, look at each other annoyed and fed up with the kids and their deadly plans. Brooke, however, wants to burn it to the ground. Not only because she wants everything in there dead but because it means she gets to watch something burn once more.

"They'd all come to stop us!"

Steve and Paisley yell trying to get the kids attention. "We can circle back to the exit!" Danny shouts. "And then by the time they realize we're gone—"

"El would be at the gate!" Max figures out quickly. Steve's sudden claps next to Brooke make her jump. "Hey. Hey! Hey! This is not happening," Steve throws his hands on his hips.

"But—" One of the kids starts but he cuts them off. "No buts. We promised we'd keep you shitheads safe, and that's exactly what I plan on doing. We're staying here. On the bench. And we're waiting for the starting team to do their job. Does everybody understand? Including you, Brooke!" Steve points at the kids and then her.

"Me? I'm a year younger than you!"

"You're also a secret pyro. So, I said, does everybody understand that?" Steve uses the dish cloth to point at them, "I need a yes."

The kids, and Brooke, roll their eyes or throw their head back in annoyance. "Whatever gets you to shut up quicker!" Brooke yells. Just because there's somewhat friendly grounds now doesn't mean Brooke feels comfortable being compliant with Steve's demands.

Her attitude is nothing new to Steve so he just sends a simple glare her way.

A car revs outside the house that makes Max run to the windows. Rock music blares from the car as she watches in fear. "It's my brother. He can't know I'm here. He'll kill me. He'll kill us," Max says rather too serious for Brooke or Steve to think it was just her being dramatic.

The Camaro Brooke once adored revs even more outside the outside as it stops in the driveway. A knowing feeling passes through Brooke, it's like her sixth sense that she just knows when something will end with a fist to the face.

Paisley begins to freak out. "Fuck, I rejected him. What if he sees me? Is he that fucked up?" She starts to speak out loud without realizing. Paisley scoffs at the kids still at the window, "Guys," She pulls them by the back of their coats, "Away! Go!"

Steve clenches his jaw, "Everyone stay here." Brooke steps right behind him, "I'm coming with you." Steve wants to say no but the fire in her eyes keeps his mouth shut. He opens the door and they both step out as Billy leaves his car, cigarette in hand.

A smile Brooke can only describe as evil spreads across Billy's face, "Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?"

"Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants," Steve says flatly. Billy shifts his eyes over to Brooke and a gross smirk replaces the shit eating grin, "And Martel? Let me ask you, is that fine young lady Paisley here as well?"

"No, pretty sure she's off fucking another dude who can definitely make her cum before he does," Brooke says without missing a beat. Billy laughs and places the cigarette in his mouth. His leather jacket comes off as if he came here ready to fight.

Steve and Brooke both step off the porch and get closer to the newest asshole to enter Hawkins High.

"What are you doing here, amigo?" Billy asks, walking closer to them. "I could ask you the same thing—amigo," Steve says. He wants Brooke to stay behind him, out of direct fire with her already messed up leg but he feels like stepping to the side to block her will only end up with her beating him up instead of Billy.

Brooke does exactly what Steve knew she would and steps to the side of Steve, even closer to Billy than Steve is actually. Billy already pisses Brooke off from even being in the same occasion class as her but now he's at the Byers? Where the kids and Danny are? Her fingernails are digging into her forearms the more she resists just punching him right here, right now.

"Looking for my stepsister. A little birdie told me she was here," Billy says with the cigarette in his mouth. Steve and Brooke glance at each other, shrugging. "We don't know her. You can go home now," Brooke does a shooing motion with her hand but Billy doesn't budge.

"Small? Redhead? Bit of a bitch," Billy describes Max. Brooke clenches her jaw even more as she has to refrain herself from defending Max being called such a thing. "Doesn't ring a bell. Sorry, buddy," Steve calmly tells him.

Billy taps his foot impatiently and takes the cigarette from his mouth, "You know, I don't know, this....." He clicks his tongue and gets closer to the teens, closer to Brooke specifically, "This whole situation. I don't know. It's giving me the heebie jeebies."

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Steve says but keeps his eyes on how close Billy is to Brooke. She doesn't move or flinch though, Brooke keeps her eyes right on his.

Billy shrugs, "My 13 year old sister goes missing all day. And then I find her with you and the delinquent in a stranger's house. And you lie to me about it," Billy talks about Brooke like she's not right in front of him.

They both chuckle when they glance at each other. Brooke shrugs, "She's not here, bro. Get back in your car and go disturb some other neighborhood."

Billy keeps his eyes on Steve, ignoring Brooke once again which pisses her off more. "Man, were you dropped too much as a child? I don't know what you don't understand about what I just said. She's not here," Steve tells him again.

Billy looks up from the dirt and back at Steve, he points his cigarette at the window of the house, "Then who is that?" Brooke and Steve turn their heads towards the window only to see the kids eavesdropping.

Brooke closes her eyes, frustrated that Paisley or someone hasn't pulled them away from the window. They both turn back and Steve knows he's been caught. "Oh, shit. Listen—" He can't finish what he says because Billy pushes him into Brooke and onto the ground. They both land with a grunt. Billy stands over the two, "I told you to plant your feet," He says directed at Steve.

Brooke goes to push herself up but pain shoots through her leg. Billy kicks Steve right in the abdomen which gives Billy enough time to practically break the front door off the hinges behind them.

"Steve, fuck, asshole! Get up!" Brooke tugs him up once she painfully gets to her feet.

Paisley, Casey and Stella stand protectively in front of the kids as Billy steps closer. "Lucas Sinclair. What a surprise," Billy smiles at Paisley, "I thought you were different, Paisley. Move."

Paisley knows what Billy means by that, he called out Lucas and then her, she feels dumb for not seeing him for the racist he is sooner. "I'm not moving," Paisley glares at him. Billy presses his lips together and just looks between her and Casey at Max, "I thought I told you to stay away from him, Max."

"Billy, go away," Max desperately tells him. Billy forcefully pushes Casey and Paisley into the walls on either side of them. Casey smacks into Stella, "You okay?" He quickly asks and she nods a shaky yes.

"You disobeyed me. And you know what happens when you disobey me," Billy says. It's scary—he's scary. Paisley pushes herself off the wall right as Billy hastily grabs Lucas by his jacket collar and shoves him into the shelf of cookie jars.

"Billy! Stop! Billy! Stop!" The kids all yell. Lucas fights against his grip. They can't hear what Billy is saying to him but they see the fear in his face.

"Stay away from her! You hear me?" He yells. Paisley stomps over to Billy but she doesn't get to do anything before Lucas handles it himself. "I said get off of me!" Lucas knees him right in the dick and Billy lets out a loud groan. He backs away and his body collides with Paisley.

He forces himself to recover from the pain and turns to an oddly smiling Paisley. Billy doesn't hear the front door slamming shut, he doesn't hear Brooke Martel's livid stomps throughout the house. All he hears is his own yelling.

"You're so dead, Sinclair! You're dead!" Billy stares at Lucas, this child, like a goddamn maniac. Brooke grabs Billy by his stupid red button up and then pushes him.

Steve pushes him, "No. You are!" He punches Billy right in the face and he shakes his hand in pain.

The others stand back stunned but Brooke has a proud look on her face whether she realizes it or not. Billy's psychotic laughter fills the house. Paisley looks around for a weapon. Her eyes land on the shotgun in the corner of the room and she runs over to it. "Shit, one bullet?" Paisley panics and struggles to load the gun up, constantly looking over her shoulder.

Brooke's nose twitches like an angry bunny. "Looks like you got some fire in you after all, huh?" Billy yells. Stella notices Paisley's presence gone. She rushes over to a shaking Paisley. Loading the gun is what's scaring her, not all bark no bite Billy.

"I've been waiting to meet this King Steve everybody's been telling me so much about!" Billy dramatically opens his arms. His chest is red from getting tossed around. Blood trickles down from his nose to his smile as he steps closer to Brooke. Billy gets in her face, "What about you? Everyone's scared of you, Martel. Or is that a facade to make sure no one hurts you like daddy?" Though the insult is old and seems to be the only thing people can bring up, Brooke still gets pissed and shoves Billy right into the counter behind him.

Casey steps right behind Brooke, prepared to fight as the other girls get the shotgun ready. Billy laughs but quieter this time. He walks right back into Steve's face.

Steve puts two fingers to Billy's chest and just barely pushes him, "Get out," He says. Billy stares at him and then Brooke and back at Steve. Brooke knew it. Her sixth sense is always right. Billy swings but Steve dodges it. It stuns Billy for a second so Brooke kicks him in the stomach which lands him right against the dining room table.

"Yes! Kick his ass, guys!" Dustin yells at the teens. Danny nervously stands back, watching his sister and the dude she claims to hate team up on Billy.

Paisley and Stella share a look when there's another loud crash from Steve punching Billy into the counter. "It's ready!" Stella yells.

"Okay, well, I can't just fucking start shooting, Stella!"

"No shit, Paisley!"

Brooke watches Steve land multiple punches on Billy. Her adrenaline is pumping through her. Grandma was right, Brooke thinks, adrenaline is the worst kind of fucking drug.

A smile that Steve has never seen before forms on Brooke's face. Red Converse strides over to him and she lands an even harder punch than Steve did right into Billy's nose. More blood spews from his definitely broken nose and Brooke holds back her gag.

Billy just keeps laughing even as he's cornered against the kitchen sink. Steve goes to take another swing at him but Casey gets in the way and gets smacked with the plate that was meant for Steve. Billy doesn't give a shit who he hits though because he just steps over a collapsed Casey and lands a punch into Steve.

"Casey!" Brooke yells. She has no idea who to go to. Steve stumbles into the living room. "Go, I got him. Get Steve!" Stella gently pushes Brooke out of the way to comfort Casey.

Brooke stomps into the living room. "No one tells me what to do!" Billy headbutts Steve and he falls to the ground. A sick feeling starts in Brooke's stomach as Billy stands over Steve and just lands punches on him. Anger like she hasn't felt in a long time reaches her head. It's a headache—Brooke is so mad she has a headache.

Billy is just yelling and continuously landing punches on Steve. Brooke takes a deep breath, pulls Billy up by his shirt and away from Steve.

"What? Didn't want me to kill your pathetic, stupid, boyfriend—" The same move that Billy did to Steve comes back to bite him in the ass. Brooke had head butted him—hard. The headache now stems from her rage and whatever the hell she just did to Billy. Brooke isn't even thinking straight, she's just doing.

Billy runs at Brooke and he tackles her to the ground. He pins her hands above her head and digs his knees into her legs. Brooke lets out an accidental scream when he digs into his wound.

Brooke can't move and she's panicking. Everyone is yelling but they're kids, they're not supposed to do anything in this situation.

Steve can see through his blurry vision that Billy is on top of Brooke and he's trying, he's trying so hard to get up but right as he lifts his head up, all the punches come back to him and Steve passes out.

"Billy, get off!" Brooke squirms underneath him. Billy smirks again evilly, "Kinda like you under me, huh?"

His blood from his broken nose drips onto Brooke's face and that's her breaking point. She turns her head and bites down into the flesh of Billy's wrist. She can feel the skin separate beneath her teeth. He lets out a scream and punches Brooke before hopping off of her.

Paisley gasps as she finally gets a handle of the shotgun. She cocks in and all the shouting stops, Billy even looks scared as she points the gun at his head.

"You won't shoot me. You're too nice," Billy smiles. Paisley abruptly fires the shotgun into the wall besides Billy and then cocks it once again, "Try me."

Billy starts to laugh again. He's laughing so hard he's slouched, holding his stomach.

Max notices the needle filled with whatever shit that will put Billy to sleep. She grabs it and right as she's able to, Max shoves the needle into her brother's neck. Billy grunts and stands up to face Max and the others.

Stella instinctively pulls the boys back, an almost unconscious Casey is in her other hand. Paisley stares at the needle that stays in Billy's neck until his bloody fists remove it. The shotgun follows his every move, still pointed at his head. His movement is wobbly and everything is echoing to Billy.

The new King of Hawkins High falls to the ground thanks to his younger sister. Brooke closes her eyes tightly a couple times as she pushes herself up onto her elbows.

Billy's laugh surrounds them again. Paisley takes a look at Brooke and then walks over to Billy. She stands over him with the shotgun pointed at his head which only makes him laugh more.

Brooke watches Max out of the corner of her eye pick up her bat—and Steve's—and walk over to Billy. She holds it tightly in her hands, "From here on out, you leave me and my friends alone. Do you understand?"

Stunned looks are on everyone's faces but Brooke's. A goofy grin is on hers.

"Screw you," Billy slurs.

Max slams the nailed bat into the wooden floor between Billy's legs. He looks up at the part like he has to double check to make sure he didn't just lose something deemed as so valuable by many girls of Hawkins.

Paisley steps back. Max's got it.

Max removes the bat from the ground, "Say you understand! Say it! Say it!" Max yells till she's red in the face.

"I understand," Billy quietly says. "What?" Max asks him so he'll say it louder. "I understand," He slurs out again. A deep breath leaves Billy and then he falls unconscious.

Max throws the bat to the side of her and it clatters to the ground. She walks over to him and takes the keys from his pocket, "Let's get out of here."

Everyone continues to stare at Max in amazement. Paisley carefully places the shotgun on the couch and crouches down next to Brooke, "Can you walk?" Brooke's head is still slightly spinning as she turns towards Paisley, "I can try."

Stella runs to get ice and bandages for those injured now that the show is over. Brooke stands up but limps over to Steve. She looks at the kids, mostly Danny, "Is anyone over there hurt?" Brooke asks. They all say no.

"Okay, help me patch Steve up and get him on the couch," Brooke is right back to being the boss even with the pain in her leg. "Stella is getting the—"

Brooke cuts Lucas off, "I don't care. Help me get him on the couch. We just got into a fight, help our asses!"

"Paisley is fine!" Mike yells. He regrets his words though because Brooke sends a death glare into him. "Paisley is shaking like a leaf from shooting a gun so help me pick up this dumbass or I will have Max do what she just did to all of you!" Brooke yells at the boys. Danny is the first to comply as he walks over to grab Steve's legs.

Max smirks at Brooke. She's a badass, is all Max can think. Little does she know, Brooke is thinking the exact same.

Stella comes back with all the supplies she can find to patch Steve and Brooke up. Cartoon band aids are on every cut of theirs. Brooke finds it comical but she knows Steve will complain.