A/N: And finally, Chapter Eighteen! Thank you so much to everyone who stuck around for the sequel. I know, with the news of Will's confirmed sexuality, his relationship with Doc kinda lost me some readers, but I promise that I'm working on that. You'll see a lot of changes for them in S3. I'm not ignoring it, I promise.

This sequel was written at a very weird time for me. I had a lot of personal things going on (as per usual) and writing was a really good outlet for me at that time. So, there was a lot of love that went into these 18 chapters and I hope y'all see that. I'm not sure when exactly the third installment will be out. I'm very stressed at college right now and I'm finding it hard to make time to write, but I can surely tell you that it won't take forever because I won't allow that.

For now, though, thank you so so so so much and enjoy this final chapter of "Break and Mend"! Much love to you beautiful people ❤️❤️

Warnings: violence and guns, mentions of seizures, blood and death/dying

Word Count: 9702

Steve was the last to drop down into the hollowness of the tunnels. He had geared up the same as the kids with protection over his eyes and mouth from the toxins in the air. "Holy shit." He whispered to himself, taking in the sight of the tunnel with what light the kids provided with their flashlights. Mike's light was directed to the map of the area he had drawn.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's this way." He called out.

"You're pretty sure or you're certain?" Dustin asked as Steve hurriedly made his way to the bag on the ground and picked it up. Mike quickly whirled on Dustin with his light.

"I'm one-hundred percent sure. Just follow me and you'll know."

When he began further down the tunnel, Steve was right on his heels, his own flashlight turned on now. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, hey, hey, hey! I don't think so," He stopped the boy, coming up to stand in front of him. "Any of you little shits die down here, I'm getting the blame. Got it, dipshit?" He took the map from Mike and turned to the kids behind them. "From here on out, I'm leading the way! Come on, let's go!"

Steve turned around and began down the direction Mike had started, and the kids went marching one by one right behind him.

-------------------------------------------------

El briskly kept up with Hopper's pace as the two quietly and hurriedly made their way down the hallways of the lab, Hopper leading her with his flashlight and gun in front of him. It was exactly how they left it, except for the Demodogs no longer around every corner. Still, they remained alert just in case they were proven wrong.

Hopper turned and led El down a stairwell, but he froze at the blood smeared on the railing of the next flight down, trailing down the steps and onto the floor. "Stay here." He commanded her before cautiously walking down the steps. When he rounded to the next flight, he spotted a very familiar body slumped to the ground.

"Oh, shit."

Dr Owens sat against the wall, his shirt and pant leg bloody with the nasty wounds given to him presumably by the Demodogs he had tried to escape. "Hey, doc." Hopper whispered out as he set his gun down, slowly crouching in front of him. He shone his light on his still-bleeding leg as Dr Ownes sighed out. "Those suckers got you pretty good, huh?"

Owens opened his mouth to reply, but he was too exhausted and in pain to let out any words.

"It's okay, don't talk," Hopper unzipped his jacket and moved to take off his belt. "Don't talk. I got you. I got you... I got you."

Just past the Chief's shoulder, Dr Owens had spotted someone. When Hopper noticed his stare, he turned his head and nodded at the sight of El, who hadn't stayed behind. "Oh, yeah, I've been meaning to tell you," He turned back around and fastened the belt around the doctor's leg to stop the bleeding. "This is Eleven. Eleven, Doc Owens. Doc Owens, Eleven."

El narrowed her eyes at the man. She wondered why he had the same nickname as (Y/N). She wouldn't be very fond of calling him 'Doc', but she wasn't sure if she would be calling him anything at all. Still, she would have to ask Mike or Doc about it sometime.

"She's been staying with me for about a year, and she's about to save our asses." Hopper continued, stopping what he was doing to stare Dr Owens in his eyes. "Maybe when all this is said and done, maybe you could help her out, too, you know? Maybe you could help her lead, like, a normal life. One where she's not poked and prodded and... treated like some kind of lab rat, you know? I don't know, just a thought."

Hopper suddenly tightened the belt on Owens's leg for emphasis, the man groaning out in pain. Hopper reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

"But, uh... think about it." He smiled. When Owens tiredly nodded, he pulled his gun out of his holster and handed it to the doctor. "Don't go anywhere."

Dr Owens chuckled very weakly with a smile just as weak as Hopper began down the next flight of stairs with El in tow.

-------------------------------------------------

Steve and the kids journeyed through their path within the Upside Down, Steve's head snapping up and down from the map to the path ahead. When they all flashed their lights up at the ceiling (if you could call it that), they shivered at the spores that pumped with life, blowing the white particles in the air.

"God." Lucas shuddered.

"What is this place?" Max quietly wondered aloud.

"Guys, come on. Keep moving." Steve called ahead of them. He led them through a tunnel in front of them without a word of protest from the kids. That was until they heard Dustin screaming bloody murder.

"Shit! Help! Help! Help!"

The four of them rushed to their friend worriedly, who was hurriedly making his way up to them with his equipment in his hands. "Shit!" He cried out and fell to the ground.

"Dustin!" They tried checking him for any wounds or anything, but he was frantically moving around too much. "What happened?"

"It's in my mouth!" He whimpered. "Some got in my mouth! Shit!"

Mike shone his light above, assuming that he meant the spore above had sprayed him in the face. His light moved back down to Dustin with the others as the boy sat on all fours, hacking his lungs out on the ground. They had no idea what to do, so they watched until anything changed for the better or worse.

After a moment, Dustin spit and then turned his head up at them. "I'm okay." He softly said. At that, everyone sighed out in annoyance and continued on their journey, but not before muttering their distaste for Dustin's overdramatic panic.

"You serious?"

"Very funny, man. Nice. Very nice."

"Jesus, what an idiot."

Dustin was quick to gather himself and scrambled to keep up with them. "Hang on. Wait. Wait."

It wasn't long before Steve slowed his steps to a stop. "Alright, Wheeler. I think we found your hub." He turned to the Wheeler in question as the kids all stopped to see where they now found themselves. They had finally come upon an area where several tunnels met, their entrances surrounding a great space covered in vines that they would all have to be careful of.

"Let's drench it."

At Mike's order, everyone had begun covering every inch of the area with their flammable substances, including the cans of gasoline and pesticide that Steve and Lucas were spraying the walls and ceiling with. They worked in tandem and didn't spare a square inch of the area or single drop of their substances.

They were going to burn it like the hellhole it was.

-------------------------------------------------

Jonathan thought he might pass out if he had to continue to watch his little brother writhe and scream in agony on the bed. Nancy stared in shared worry and heartbreak beside him, but Joyce was a different story. She stared at Will with a fury that she had never directed towards him. Because she knew this wasn't him, so there was absolutely no reason to act like it. Right beside him was Doc, who was still holding a hand out towards him. She would flinch every time he would nash his teeth at her hand, but she never completely pulled away.

"It's not working," Jonathan cried. "It's not working. Mom, are you listening to me?!"

"Just wait!" She hollered.

"How much longer?! Look... Look at him!"

"Jonathan, wait!"

"You're killing him!"

"(Y/N), now!"

Instantly, Doc attached her hand with Will's cheek, the both of them crying out. Nancy stared in horror as her sister's eyes rolled into the back of her head, her eyelids fluttering in front of them. She called out to her, but Doc didn't answer. Because she wasn't with them anymore.

When Doc opened her eyes, she found herself in a clear, open space. A space that felt like home, but darker and colder. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at the presence she felt behind her, like someone breathing down her neck. She knew this was no person, though.

Spinning around, she was met with the shadow monster. It towered over her in all its faceless glory. She cocked her head at it, not in need of words to know that it was challenging her. Once again, she stepped forward with a new-found confidence fueled with the determination to save her friends and family. To save Will.

The Mind Flayer stretched out one of its limbs and touched it to the ground, forming into a tornado of sorts. Doc felt her heart rate rapidly speed up as it headed straight for her. She was terrified. Mike was right, she didn't know how to defeat this thing. It could kill her right now and it would be her fault, because she took this thing on without a single plan.

"You don't let yourself feel. How are you to control emotions you do not allow yourself to feel?"

Remembering the words of her sister, Doc closed her eyes, focusing her mind on all of the things that angered her. All the things that sent fire through her A fire that she had to lock away. A fire she never let spread in order for it to be extinguished. A fire she never let burn her. But now she was going to burn brighter than she ever had.

    "Guards stormed the building and your mother was killed on sight."

She inhaled deeply and clenched her fists.

"They killed Dr Hill right there."

Black veins began peeking through the skin of her arms, spreading down to her wrists, to her hands. The feeling was like snakes sliding through her skin, but she welcomed it.

"Don't worry, Private," Brenner whispered. "We've found you now. You can finally come home. Where you belong."

"No! Let go of me! No, I don't wanna go back!"

The tips of her fingers became a smudged black, like charcoal staining her skin.

It was a darkness, a shadow that rushed around past her and to Will. It entered him through his mouth, through his ears, through his nostrils, through his eyes.

Her breathing became more labored as the veins spread up her neck and across her face, her eyes burning as they snapped open, an icy and venomous stare at the swirling storm that threatened to swallow her.

Will, at first, stood there in stunned silence, as if he was figuring out what was happening. Then, when he blinked and took one look at Doc, his eyes turned cold. Before she could do anything, he shoved her in the chest, the girl falling back.

Her eye twitched as she lifted both her hands up to the monster.

Doc slowly reached out to touch his shoulder. She opened her mouth to speak, but Will had harshly flinched and smacked her hand away just as her fingertips brushed his shoulder. All three of them froze, Mike and Doc staring at Will with startled looks. Will had only been glaring at Doc, offended.

She felt tears sting her eyes, adding to the burn she already endured.

"He looks at me like he doesn't know or love me... like I'm a threat."

"I feel like me being here is only gonna make things worse. He doesn't want me here and I'm upsetting him."

(Y/N) touched her knuckles together with her hands in a clawing position.

"You... are an abuser, a criminal! You ruined my life!"

With a grunt, she began pulling her hands apart.

"Papa is gone." Jane tearfully spoke.

Ray shook his head. "No, he is alive."

The black ashes of the shadow broke away from the storm, the monster screeching from above. (Y/N) groaned loudly as she pried her hands farther apart, her face scrunching, her eyes widening.

When her eyes snapped open, she saw that she was still laying beside Will, who was soundly sleeping still. Only now, his hand was no longer in hers.

It was gripping her throat.

A loud sob was released from deep within as she pulled the storm apart and inside out, parting like the red sea. Her anger and sadness worked together as her support.

On the outside, they watched as black veins that matched Doc's spread up Will's throat, the boy arching his back. She was clearly making some progress. Still, Will looked like he was in pain. Jonathan went to turn off the heaters with Joyce's protests behind him, but Doc, still in her dazed state, mechanically climbed on the bed and straddled Will, placing her other hand on his other cheek.

Will shook uncontrollably until his wrist freed itself from its binding, flying to the other one. Joyce hurried to wrestle his arm away, but he had succeeded anyway, both his hands now wrapping tightly around Doc's throat.

The girl gasped out for breath, her eyes remaining the way they were. Nancy gasped loudly.

    "(Y/N)!!!"

Doc could hear her sister's scream echo throughout the world she was in. She faltered a bit, praying that Nancy wasn't in trouble. This allowed the Mind Flayer to get the jump on her, bucking up suddenly and pushing her back a bit. She cried out, but held her ground, her feet sliding where she planted them firmly. "Shit! Oh, shit!" She choked out through the constriction of her throat.

At the lab, everywhere was becoming much more familiar to Hopper. It was where he and Joyce had gone a year ago to venture into the Upside Down to find Will. Only this time, it was empty and silent, save for the distant sound of Demodogs roaring from the room down the hall. "Stay here." He quietly ordered and walked further down the hall, El watching him go with labored breathing.

Slowly and quietly, Hopper stepped to the entrance of the room where the growling came from. He hid off to the side and flashed out his knife, angling it so he could get a view of the Demodogs without being seen. To his dismay, there were so many more gathered together than he thought.  Their way to the gate was blocked by them.

Within the tunnels, Steve held up his lighter, crouched in the entryway of the hub with the kids behind him. "Alright, you guys ready?"

"Yeah."

"Ready."

"Ready."

"Light her up."

He flicked the lighter open, sighing as he turned back to the drenched hub. "I am in such deep shit." He panted and ignited the flame.

In Will's mind, Doc was still trying to gain her footing once again, but it had retaliated too strongly for her to bounce back so easily. That, and she was trying to focus on not passing out from her airflow being cut off.

On the outside, Jonathan and Joyce were trying to pull Will off of Doc, who hadn't even outwardly reacted to being choked to death. But Will was too strong and had a grip far too tight for them to break. Nancy knew how to end this, though. This bastard tried to kill her sister right before her very eyes and she would be damned if she sat there and watched it succeed. Marching over to the fireplace, she picked up the poker, bright orange with the heat it held, and pressed it into Will's side. With a deadly yelp, he freed Doc.

Outside the room where the Demodogs grouped, Hopper readied himself to storm in.

"One... two... three."

He rounded the corner, gun at the ready.

In the tunnels, Steve threw the flame, setting fire to the vines. They screeched and wriggled in pain.

Will being burned gave Doc the perfect opportunity to get the upper hand. The Mind Flayer had drawn back a bit and she acted immediately. With a deep gasp for breath, she pushed forward and planted her feet completely. Since she was knocked out of focus momentarily, she had to focus again on her emotions. Her anger. Her pain.

"You can't remember what life was like before, but since you wouldn't have me or Carrie with you, it would be hell."

(Y/N) stepped closer and closer to the storm as she continued to rip it in half. The Mind Flayer screeched as she dusted its limb, moving up to the rest of its body. A long scream burned her lungs as she ran forward, forcing her arms wide when her hands couldn't go any further.

"You don't get in my head. You can mess with the heads of your enemies. You can mess with the heads of your friends all you want. But don't you ever, ever get in mine!"

The monster tried to advance, but it was being torn apart. Doc showed no signs of stopping, tears cascading down her face as she clawed its body in half, the ashes blowing away in a wind she created.

In the lab, Hopper grew confused when the Demodogs shrieked and cowered away, as if in pain.

At the panic of the vines and spreading of the fire, Steve began urging the kids out of the tunnels. "Go, go, go!" He shouted, quickly leading them away from the fire. "Let's go, let's go!"

"Oh, my god. Oh, my god." Dustin chanted as he tried to keep up with everyone.

At the lab, the Demodogs began to flee down into the hole leading to the gate like moths to a flame.

Doc wanted this to be over. She wanted all of it to be over. The fighting, the danger, the fear. She wanted to no longer be haunted by her past. No longer wanted to be locked away. She wanted to live her life in total bliss, like any child deserved.

"Your mother... she was in so much pain. She just wanted to live a normal life with her daughter... a-and I tried to supply her with that. I tried. But as always, he had to come in and destroy any source of what could've been a normal life for you."

She didn't want monsters, human or not, to dictate how much of her life she could live.

"I know that you would rather die-"

"No!"

She sobbed. "Let me live..."

"I know that you have wanted to die-"

"No! No, no, no!"

"Let me live." She glared up at the monster with so much hatred. "Let me live! You piece of shit! Let! Me! Live! You life stealer!!! Let me fucking live!!! I wanna live!!! Do you hear me?! I! WANT! TO! LIVE!!!"

With a voice-shattering cry, Doc clenched her hands into fists and swiped them down through the air. The monster dusted into millions of ashes. The black ashes scattered all around her like snowflakes in the winter. A strangled groan tumbled out of her throat as she directed the shadow up and out of Will's mind. Once it was silent again, she released short puffs of air through her mouth and she closed her eyes as she fell to her knees. Her head felt a lot more clear now.

On the outside, Will and Doc's screams filled the room as the dark entity flooded out of every place in the boy's face it had entered before. It swirled up to the ceiling as a way to collect itself, and when it was done, it bolted out of the cabin, crashing through the door. Nancy followed after it to see where it was heading to, but it only disappeared into the sky and vanished into thin air.

Her work done, Doc collapsed off the bed and crashed to the ground. Jonathan unplugged the heaters and Joyce hurried to the unconscious Will's side, urging him to wake up. "Will, baby," She cried. "Will... Will. Please, Will."

"Come on, buddy." Jonathan shook him.

"Please, can you hear me?"

"Come on. Come on."

"Please... Will..."

Joyce gasped when Will's eyelids fluttered open to reveal the lightness of his eyes. "Mom...?" He croaked out. Sobbing, Joyce pulled her son into a hug with Jonathan joining in.

Doc's groan from the side of the bed caught Nancy's attention. She watched as her sister slowly peeled herself off the floor, blindly making her way over to her. "Oh, (Y/N)!" Nancy sighed out in relief, allowing her to fall into her arms. Her heart warmed as she held her tight, swaying her a bit as her tears dripped down her face. "Oh, my god... Thank god..."

In the lab, El joined Hopper's side. The way to the gate was clear now. They just needed Jonathan's word. As if on cue, the teen's voice crackled from Hopper's radio.

    "Chief, are you there? Chief, do you copy?"

Hopper reached his radio up to his mouth. "Yeah, I copy."

    "Close it."

And as the two of them were lowered underground to the gate, El grabbed a hold of Hopper's hand.

Once they were face-to-face with the red-orange of the gate, Hopper pressed the button for the elevator to stop. He and El shared a look before she let go of his hand and faced forward again.

With shuddering breaths, she raised her hand up to the barrier that allowed evil to bleed into Hawkins. Her power reached out for contact until it hit the gate, emitting a glow and blowing back some of the particles.

At the simple touch, a sharp pain stung Doc in the chest so hard that she twitched out of Nancy's hold. She winced and fell to the floor at the sudden loss of feeling in her limbs. Panicked, Nancy dropped to the ground beside her sister.

"(Y/N)? (Y/N), what happened?"

Doc whimpered as her limbs locked.

"(Y/N), talk to me! What's going on?!" She cried as Jonathan rushed over to them.

-------------------------------------------------

"Dart."

The team of five had been interrupted in their escape from the tunnels when Mike had been grabbed and held down by a vine. Steve had saved him in no time with his trusty bat, but they hadn't gotten a moment's peace, for Dart's growling from behind had alerted them.

Dustin began forward, his friends hushedly calling out behind him. He held his hand up to silence them. The fact that Dart hadn't jumped at them yet was a good enough sign. "Shh. Stop. Trust me, please." He removed his goggles and mouth covering to reveal his face to Dart. "Hey. It's me, it's me. It's just your friend, it's Dustin. It's Dustin, alright?"

Dart slowly made his way over to him as the boy knelt down with a gentle smile. He knew that once El closed the gate, Dart would be no more. And while Dustin wasn't ecstatic for his new friend to die, he was a Demodog at the end of the day. He couldn't continue to live and Dustin knew that, but he could at least still be his friend in their last encounter.

"You remember me?" He asked, Dart chittering in response. "Will you let us pass?"

Dart opened up his face and loudly snarled at him.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," He softly spoke, smiling once again when Dart calmed down. "I'm sorry about the storm cellar. That was a pretty douchey thing to do. You hungry? Yeah?"

He began to take off his backpack and reach into it. "I've got our favorite. See?" He fished out a 3 Musketeers bar. "Nougat."

Dart slowly stalked forward as Dustin took off the wrapper, carefully setting it on the ground for him.

"Look at that. Yummy. Here, alright?" Dart bent his head down and feasted on the candy. While he was distracted, Dustin motioned for his friends to quickly pass the Demodog. "Eat up, buddy. Come on. Come on. There's plenty. I've got more."

Once his friends had safely made their way past Dart, Dustin left one last piece of nougat and stood, heart constricting as he heard his beloved friend happily munching on his food. He walked past Dart and turned to look at him one last time. "Goodbye, buddy."

Farewells bidded, he slipped his safety gear back on and hurried out of the tunnels with his friends.

-------------------------------------------------

El's nose had already begun to leak, but she was nowhere near done. She had barely patched up the gate when a large silhouette appeared on the other side of the gate. The Mind Flayer. It seemed to be staring at her, daring her to continue. So, she did.

    "I want you to find something from your past. Something that angers you."

The bad men throwing her into the dark room. Brenner watching as they did so.

Her power worked faster, the gate closing at a quicker pace. Hopper watched in amazement as the Mind Flayer hovered closer to the opening.

Steve and the kids had been fleeing to the exit out of the tunnels when the ground rumbled and shook, throwing them to the ground. The roaring of the Demodogs encouraged them to get to their feet quicker. Mike flashed his light in the direction they all had just come from, the roaring increasing in volume.

"They're coming."

Steve needed no other warning for him to bolt back to where they dropped from, urging the kids to follow. Once they reached the hole, he hoisted up Max, then Lucas, and then Mike out of the tunnels. Right as he went to help up Dustin, the rushing of several footsteps alerted him to take out his bat and defend the child beside him.

"Dustin! Come on!" Mike called from above, he and Lucas holding their hands out for their friend. But Dustin didn't move. He wouldn't leave Steve.

The Demodogs rushed around the corner, heading straight for them. Steve raised his bat, Dustin turned away fearfully.

But surprisingly, they weren't being ripped to shreds.

When Dustin looked again, he saw that all the monsters were rushing past them, their desire to gnaw on their flesh no longer a priority. Meaning there was a threat nearby. Steve held onto Dustin tight as he wondered what the hell they were running for. But Mike knew.

"Eleven."

-------------------------------------------------

She was making great progress now. The gate was repairing itself at a much quicker rate, both her nostrils and ears leaked with blood, and her pupils were dilated. From behind them, Demodogs began running up the walls, causing Hopper to whip around with his gun ready. The closing of the gate was frightening the monsters. They weren't the only ones affected, though.

At Hopper's cabin, Nancy was still trying to speak to Doc, who was breathing heavily on the ground. She was as stiff as a board and didn't move a muscle. Nancy had no idea what was going on with her, but she knew her sister was in pain. Jonathan was at Nancy's side, checking over Doc for any wounds, but the only ones he found were her hands and her leg that had been grazed by a bullet. They were taken care of, though. So, something else entirely was wrong.

Unbeknownst to the pain she was causing Doc, El continued her work on the gate. Dark circles had formed under her eyes and her skin was paling so much that her veins were becoming visible. She let out a choked gasp as she tried to focus, but she was becoming exhausted. Still, she centered herself on her rage.

She thought of when Kali had gotten into her head, when she made her see Brenner. When she made the vision say those things about her.

    "You have a wound, Eleven."

She thought of Mama.

    "A terrible wound."

She thought of the day she made contact. The day she had opened the gate.

    "And it's festering. And it will grow."

From the other side, the shadow that Doc had just freed from Will broke through, heading straight for her.

    "Spread."

But she still held her hand up, taking it head-on.

    "And eventually, it will kill you."

With all of her strength, El reached out her other hand and pushed it back. She was so fired up, she screamed so loud, that she hadn't even noticed at first that she was levitating. This was the most she had ever used her powers, the strongest she had even been.

Unfortunately for Doc, this was the weakest she had ever been.

She had never felt such pain before. This was worse than breaking a limb, worse than heartbreak, worse than loss. An earth-shattering scream ripped through her throat as she arched her back. Everyone watched in horror as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her skin decorated itself in more veins than she had ever sprouted. Every inch of her body was covered in the black lines and her face was sunken in. She looked like a hollow shell of a person, like someone was ripping her soul from her body.

Little did they know, that was exactly what she felt, and then some. She felt as if someone had reached deep into her stomach, crushing and tearing organs apart as they went, dug their talons deep into every powerful thing that made her, her, and pulled it straight out of her body without any caution. Without any remorse. When she started to seize on the ground, Nancy could do nothing but bury her face into Jonathan's shoulder to save herself from the vicious sight.

Doc's screams strengthened in volume and pitch as all of the lights within the cabin burned brighter and brighter all around them. No one could even guess what was happening. Even Will was confused.

In front of the blue Camaro, Steve and the kids turned to the blinding headlights of the car and shielded their eyes to avoid the burning.

And at the gate, Eleven was still pushing the Mind Flayer back, her screams never ceasing until it was back on the other side and the crack in the wall was completely sealed, leaving them in darkness. Her work done, she fell to the ground. As soon as the gate closed, the Demodogs went limp and fell from where they had been climbing the walls. With no other threat around them, Hopper knelt down and pulled El up into a hug. She weakly wrapped her arms around him the best she could, sniffling the blood clogged in her nose.

"You did good, kid," He sighed in relief, leaning his head against hers. "You did so good."

As soon as the lights went back to normal within the cabin, Doc fell back to the ground with a crack, going completely silent. Nancy pulled away from Jonathan to see what was of her sister now. She was happier than ever to see that she was still alive, her eyes and skin back to normal, but she didn't expect to see Doc staring up at the ceiling, lip quivering as tears fell from her eyes and across her temples to her ears.

"(Y/N)!" Nancy scooted closer to her sister's side, brushing back her hair. "Oh my god... Ca- Can you hear me?"

When Doc felt Nancy taking hold of her hand, she couldn't hold it back anymore. She squeezed her eyes shut and bursted into tears, shaking her head back and forth in agony. This only deepened Nancy's confusion.

"(Y/N), talk to me! Are you- Do you feel pain anywhere?!"

"No..." She blubbered. "I feel empty! I feel so empty!"

Nancy blinked. "E-Empty...?"

"It's gone... I can't feel it anymore, Nancy! It's gone, I can't feel it!"

She had no idea what Doc meant by that. All she could do was pull her sobbing sister into a hug and be grateful that she was still here with her. Jonathan sat beside them, sharing a look of confusion with her. On the mattress, Joyce still held Will in her arms, staring at Doc in worry. Will could hardly keep his eyes open with how exhausted he was, but if he were being honest, he was just happy that Doc was here and safe. The Mind Flayer hadn't taken her, and that was all he cared about right now.

No one could get a word out of her about what had happened. And when everyone regrouped at the Byers home, and when Mike happily ran up to her, she could only fall into his arms and cry into his shoulder. Mike, bewildered, looked up at Nancy for an answer, but she sadly couldn't provide him with one.

-------------------------------------------------

    "Since the release of the incendiary tape, the once quiet town of Hawkins, Indiana, has spent time in a place it never expected. The national spotlight.

"Under mounting pressure, several high-ranking members from the U.S. Department of Energy have admitted involvement in the death and cover-up of Hawkins resident, Barbara Holland, who died due to exposure to an experimental chemical asphyxiant, which had leaked from the grounds of the lab.

"We sent our own April Kline to Hawkins to speak to residents, residents who told us they thought they lived in a safe town. The kind of town where, they say, nothing ever happens."

The television in the local bar, the Hideaway, continued to broadcast the news as Chief Jim Hopper opened the door to the entrance. One month later and the most drastic change of all was the weather, temperatures dropping enough that one could see themselves exhale into the freezing air. The lights hung up near the television were festive for the upcoming Christmas holiday, sure to put some joy into the damp mood that had settled over Hawkins within a few weeks.

Hopper spotted a booth and headed straight for it, taking off his coat before he sat across from Dr Sam Owens. The doctor warmly smiled at him as he chewed on half of his sandwich. "Chief-o."

"How's the leg?" Hopper smiled back.

"Better," He motioned to his wounded, but healing leg. "Pretty sure my football career is over."

They both shared a laugh before Owens picked up the half of the sandwich he was currently eating, pushing the rest over to Hopper. "Want some? No way I'm gonna finish it."

Hopper pushed the plate back. "No. I'm, uh... on a diet."

"Well, you're a better man than me," He shook his head before turning to the side, beginning to look through his things. "Hey, got a little something for you."

The Chief watched with furrowed brows as Dr Owens slid an envelope across the table. He picked it up and took a peek at the paper inside, a feeling he couldn't quite describe spiking in his heart.

    Certificate of Birth

This Certifies that according to the records of the State of Indiana

Name JANE HOPPER

Was born in HAWKINS

Child of TERESA IVES

As if to reassure himself that this was real, he looked up at Owens, who only smiled at him. He frowned in confusion. "I thought-"

"Sometimes, I impress even myself," He watched as Hopper carefully tucked the paper back into the envelope and put it away. "Still, I'd let things cool off for awhile, if I were you."

"How long is awhile?"

Dr Owens thought it over as he picked up his sandwich again. "Want to be safe? I give it a year."

"A year?" Hopper didn't know if he could do another year of hiding Eleven. Another year of restricting where she could go and when she could. The last few months hadn't been too successful for him, but they were better now. He was better now. They could work it out. Still, the thought of it all stressed him enough to indulge in that second half of Owens's sandwich, breaking his diet. "What about one night out?"

"One night?"

"Yeah. How risky would that be?"

"What's so important about one night?"

Hawkins Middle Snow Ball '84 was the most important, and most anxiety-inducing event the Party had been planning to go to. With everything they had been through together, they figured they could treat themselves to one care-free(?) night. They had saved the world from an interdimensional demon, after all.

    "Jingle bell, jingle bell

    Jingle bell rock

    Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time"

In the Byers home, Joyce had been 'teaching' her son a few dance moves, dance moves that Will was sure he hadn't seen anyone do before. As embarrassed as he was to be dancing in his living room with his mother, Joyce was just as amused.

"Yeah, you got it! See?"

"Mom!"

"Wow!"

    "Jingle bell, jingle bell

    Jingle bell rock

    Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time"

Will turned to the side to look at Jonathan, who was recording the whole thing on Bob's old video camera. "Do you always have to be filming everything?"

"No, no," Jonathan chuckled. "Just the good stuff."

"Are you sure people still dance like this?" Will timidly asked his mother, who nodded and continued to move across the floor with him.

"Yeah. It's just what's happening."

Will turned to his brother again. "Is it what's happening?"

Jonathan nodded when Joyce gave him a look. "Yeah, yeah, it's what's happening."

The boy decided not to question the two of them anymore as Joyce spun out of his arms with a wide smile. "Come on! You're doing great, honey. You know, (Y/N)'s really gonna appreciate this."

"Mom!"

-------------------------------------------------

"Alright, that's enough."

Mike sighed for about the thousandth time as Karen held up her camera again and again to take more pictures of her children. How could she not want to capture endless memoirs of them? They looked absolutely adorable. Mike with his knitted sweater pulled over his buttoned shirt and tie, a brown suit jacket over it all was about the cutest thing she had seen on him yet.

And Doc, her sweet little girl. She wore a black blouse with puffy quarter-sleeves and white polka dots, accompanied with a flowy, dark orange suede skirt that stopped just past her knees. What pulled the whole outfit together was the matching suede bow that was tied on the side of her neck. She didn't have much makeup on, just as much as Karen allowed with the help of Nancy, but she still looked stunning.

Karen couldn't handle it. "Oh, just please, one more? Just one more."

"Why?" Mike protested as he shifted his arm around his sister's shoulders.

"You look so handsome..."

"Mom!"

"Mike." She teased right back.

Doc snickered at the pout her brother gave the camera, her smile threatening to twitch the longer she stood in this position on the stairs. After what felt like a lifetime, Karen freed them to drop their arms and faces in order to get ready to leave. With a deep exhale, Doc hurried away from them, her boots clamping against the floor as she made her way to the kitchen.

She resisted the urge to wipe at her face as she leaned against the counter. She placed a hand over her stomach and gulped down the rest of her water she had left there. Ever since her fight with the Mind Flayer, Doc had been drinking as many fluids as she could get into her body. Not because she was parched, but just as a way to fill the hole left there. She tried anything, really, but no matter what, she always felt empty.

That part of her that she always had, that she may not have always understood, but she still had, was gone. There was no longer any pressure when she was around El, she couldn't hear a car engine from miles away, couldn't rip a hole in a fence with the flick of her wrist. That part of her was gone.

Someway, somehow, when the gate was closed, it stole her power from her. Doc supposed that she could make light of the situation, as she would no longer have that weight on her, another piece of baggage lifted. But she would always remind herself that her power was no baggage. It was a piece of who she was, a part of her whole being. Now, she felt incomplete. So very hollow.

It didn't mean she couldn't pretend, though.

Once she had joined her family at the front door, that smile was back. The one she continuously stretched across her face just to get through a day. Now, she had to get through the night, as well.

Arriving at the dance, after happily greeting Mr Clarke, Mike and Doc found that Lucas and Max were already there, chatting it up at a table. Doc had made her presence known to them for a brief moment before disappearing into the crowd of students on the dance floor. The Party hadn't minded, of course, until Will arrived. He had greeted his friends with a small smile before his eyes scanned the area for his girlfriend.

"She's dancing right now." Lucas informed.

"What? Where?"

Max snorted and pointed. "How could you miss that?"

Will felt his heart warm and nearly burst out of his chest when he spotted Doc, wildly dancing with Brenda and Sheriece. She certainly had the rhythm down, but he couldn't decipher any type of dance move she was doing. Or trying to do. Either way, he thought she looked lovely. And he suddenly wasn't worried about his dancing as much.

"(Y/N). Hun." Sheriece tried to catch her friend as she spun in circles, chuckling when the two of them bumped into each other. "Boyfriend. Three o'clock."

At the mention of Will, Doc spun in the direction her friend told her. They immediately locked eyes past the sea of dancing students. She could make out a bashful smile and a tinge of red blooming on his cheeks, which sent heat to her own face. The look on her face had Brenda and Sheriece rolling their eyes in amusement.

"Go to him, (Y/N)."

Doc turned to her friends with wide eyes and raised brows. "A-Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Go see your man." Sheriece joked. Doc calmed the raging of her pounding heart and gently took one of their hands into each of hers.

"Sheriece... Brenda... You two are the best friends a girl could ever have. I know I've been a shitty friend to you guys lately. And I'm so, so sorry. So, from here on out, I will be spending so much more time with you guys. Because I miss you and I don't wanna lose you. Okay?"

Brenda pouted and gushed at her. "Oh, (Y/N)..."

"You're such a sap." Sheriece pulled her friends into a hug. "You won't lose us. It's the three of us forever."

"Forever..."

Doc slithered past classmates to get to the other side of the gym, where Will had been patiently waiting for her. She threw her arms around him and pulled him into a warm and tight hug, the boy immediately reciprocating. "Hi." She giggled.

"Hi." He grinned as they pulled away from each other. "You... look beautiful."

Absentmindedly, she fiddled with her bow. "Thank you... And you look very handsome. I love your tie."

Will chuckled and looked down at his attire with an even darker blush. Doc went to say something else, but she noticed that he was now staring in shock over her shoulder. She turned to see Dustin approaching the Party, spinning to show off his look.

"Holy shit," Mike gawked. "What happened to you?"

Dustin's grin was wiped right off his face. "What do you mean, 'what happened'?"

"What?"

"Dude."

"Your hair."

Lucas reached up to touch Dustin's styled hair. "Is there a bird nesting in there?"

Dustin moved his hand away. "What do you mean, 'what's wrong'? There's no bird nesting in here, asshole, okay?" He lifted his hand to fix his curls. "I worked hard."

Doc sniffed with a scrunched-up nose. "Is that... Farrah Fawcett spray?" She whispered, Dustin whirling on her with wide eyes.

"How do you know about the Farrah Fawcett spray?" He whispered back.

She raised a brow. "Uh... because Brenda uses it? Like, everyday?"

Just as he began to start an argument, Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time began to play. The Party watched as students began to either pair up for the slow song or make their way off the floor. Lucas sharply exhaled and turned to Max with a confident smile.

"Max..." He gained her attention. "Hey. Um, it's nice, right? You want to, um... You want to, like... You know? Like, just you and me?"

Max narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to ask me to dance, Stalker?"

He frowned. "No. Of course not. Unless you want to."

"So smooth." She chuckled, grabbing hold of his hand. "Come on."

The Party watched as the two went onto the dance floor, Will and Doc smiling, but Dustin longingly staring. Lucas looked like the luckiest boy on earth as he smiled dumbly at Max, slowly bringing his hands up to her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. That could've been him...

"Hey, Zombie Boy." A girl that Doc had hardly ever seen before walked right up to Will without even batting an eye at her. "Do you wanna dance?"

Will's palms became sweaty as he thought of what to say. He couldn't say yes. He didn't want to say yes. His girlfriend was right there. But that would be so rude to say no to this girl. Who even was this girl? Anyhow, whatever decision he made, he would have to make it soon because both girls were staring at him expectantly.

"Um... Sorry. I-I was gonna dance with (Y/N)." He grabbed hold of Doc's hand and brushed past the girl. "Sorry..."

Doc tried to hide her triumphant smile as they came to an empty spot on the floor. Their shaky hands found their places on shoulders and sides before she began to move them to the music. There were so many unspoken topics between the couple that it made talking to each other so much harder. It was easy when they were with the others, but when they found themselves alone, they always fell into a sort of guilty silence. A silence that could only be broken by apologies. Much like the one they were in now.

"(Y/N)?"

"Yeah?"

Will nervously looked away for a split second before locking eyes with her again. "I'm sorry for... everything I did a-and said when the Mind Flayer was... w-when he was-"

"It's okay, Will," She smiled, gently rubbing his shoulder. "I know you didn't mean any of it."

Another, much lighter silence passed before Will timidly spoke again. "Well... there was one thing that was true... I-I meant that I love you, (Y/N)."

Her heart leapt into her throat.

"I don't think anything could change that."

"I hope not," She grinned with teary eyes. "Because I meant it, too."

"Really?" His brows shot up, causing her to giggle.

"Yes, really... I love you, too, Will."

He grinned widely at her before she dropped her smile into a smug look as they continued to sway. "I like your moves, by the way."

Will snorted. "Thanks. I, uh... I practiced for you."

"Awe! For me?"

"Yeah. I knew you'd appreciate it."

Once again, Dustin found himself staring hopelessly at the girl that could've been his. He watched as Max and Doc bashfully talked with their dance partners with wide smiles as they moved to the music.

It wasn't fair, he thought. He had tried everything. He was super nice, he included them, he acted like he didn't care, he used the damn Farrah Fawcett spray. But it seemed like it took a certain someone to woo Doc Wheeler and Max Mayfield. A special someone. Someone he was not.

His hope had almost diminished completely, but he looked off to the side to find Stacy, a pretty and fairly popular girl, surrounded by her friends and talking amongst them. Fixing his jacket, Dustin exhaled and turned to his friend.

"Wish me luck, Mike. I'm going in." He winked and clicked his tongue before walking away.

Millions of thoughts ran through his head as he marched right up to Stacy, who hadn't even noticed he was approaching. Even when he stood in front of her, she couldn't have been bothered to look his way. He cleared his throat.

"Stacy."

"He just broke up with Jennifer. Plus he's, like, not my type-"

"Stacy."

Finally, she flicked her eyes over to him as the conversation fell. "Yeah?"

Dustin cleared his throat once again and held his hand out with a smirk. "Shall we?" He quirked his brows. Stacy looked between his hand and his face with furrowed brows.

"Um, no, thanks." She chuckled, her friends laughing at her rude decline before they all left, leaving the Henderson boy alone and embarrassed. He watched them go, his heart breaking a little until he spotted two girls talking alone. He exhaled once again and started toward them, but they walked away as soon as they noticed him.

He froze in his tracks as his stomach and heart dropped simultaneously. He desperately began looking around for a lone potential partner, but everyone was either paired up or showing absolutely no interest in slow dancing.

So, there he was, standing still and alone on the dance floor. To save face, Dustin fled to the bleachers that were blocked off by blue streamers. There weren't many kids back there, so he found it the perfect place to silently let the waterworks run their course.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a sun-kissed hand parting the streamers and he quickly wiped at his face to rid himself of the tears, deeply inhaling some of his dignity back into his lungs. When the person stepped through the curtain of streamers, his brows furrowed at the last person he expected to see.

Brenda Holloway. Her unnatural curls were teased up into a wild hairstyle that oddly suited her. Her hot pink dress was great against her skin and the smile she wore was even greater. She stopped in front of Dustin and held a hand out.

"Do you wanna dance?"

Dustin blinked rapidly to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "U-Uh..."

"Come on." She pulled him up and led him onto the dance floor. He watched the room that now watched them as the beaming Brenda found an empty spot on the floor. They faced each other for a moment before she chuckled and guided his hands to her waist, resting her hands on her shoulders. Dustin's smile grew as they awkwardly began moving to the music. "You're Dustin, right?"

"Ri- Uh- Yeah. Dustin Henderson." He stammered, inwardly cursing himself for it.

Brenda smiled even softer, if that were possible. "You're always wearing a hat, huh?" She asked, receiving a nod in answer. "I thought so. You look so different without it, I almost didn't recognize you. I would've asked you to dance a lot sooner."

He was taken aback at this. He and Brenda had never spoken to each other outside of classes. And they only spoke if it were necessary. She had always offered a smile in passing, but never any words.

"You, uh... Really?"

"Yeah," She smirked. "Me and Sheriece were fighting over who would ask you first."

Dustin looked to the side to find sandy brown curls staring at him from the punch bowl that Nancy operated. Sheriece gave a tight-lipped smile and waved at him with her free hand. Her baby blue dress looked amazing on her. He smiled back as Brenda leaned close to his ear.

"She's got the next dance."

Outside the school, Joyce leaned against her car, left alone to her own thoughts. Her own sad, dark thoughts. Things had been a lot more quiet without Bob and she wasn't sure if she liked the quiet. It was lonely and suffocating and she was afraid it would swallow her whole one day.

"Hey."

She turned to see Hopper smiling at her.

"Hey."

"Thought I might find you out here."

"Will wanted me to give him some space, so... I'm giving him a few feet."

They shared a chuckle before Hopper held up a box of cigarettes with a mischievous look in his eye. "What do you say? I'm pretty sure Mr Cooper retired in the '70s, so..." He stuck a cigarette between his teeth and leaned on the car beside her. "...we might be okay."

Joyce watched as he lit his cig and playfully looked around for anyone as he handed it to her. She smiled and took it from him, taking a drag. She coughed and handed it back to him before she fell silent again. She had been doing that a lot lately.

"How are you holding up?"

"You know..."

"Yeah," He took a drag. "That feeling never goes away. It is true what they say, you know. Everyday it does get a little easier."

Joyce defeatedly accepted the cigarette again and inhaled. She knew that one day she would heal from this loss, but for right now, she didn't want to think about that. She just wanted to feel this, to remember Bob as he was before he only became a memory. He was a Superhero. Her Superhero. And she just wanted to remember him for that. She would heal later on.

Hopper saw this and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his side as he stared up at the sky, wondering how such terrible fates could be sealed for such good people.

Mike had already sat through one slow song alone, but now he felt actually pathetic, sitting alone at the table, another slow song playing, waiting for the one person he wanted to dance with.

His heart skipped several beats when he looked up, finding Eleven entering the gymnasium and looking around for any familiar faces. When their eyes fell on each other, they were suddenly the only two people in the world. The girl in the woods, and the boy who found her. And yet, so much more than that.

They met each other in the middle with shy smiles and innocent looks. Mike couldn't hold back the compliment he wanted to give. "You look beautiful." He smiled, proud of the shy smile that widened on her face, the girl looking down at her attire nervously. "Do you wanna dance?"

Her eyes widened as she watched the crowd of pairs on the floor.

"I... don't know how."

"I don't, either. Do you wanna figure it out?"

When she nodded, he gently held her hand and guided her onto the floor. They easily found their place and faced each other. Mike directed her hands onto his shoulders and then placed his hands on her waist. El watched him in curiosity, but when she realized their close proximity, it was replaced with a content smile.

The night was perfect. Dustin was now dancing with Sheriece, who was actually not as scary as he once believed. Max and Lucas stared at each other with so much adoration, Max's eyes falling to his lips. Mike and Eleven were inching closer as they shuffled their feet. Doc felt her heart thumping harshly against her chest when she caught Will staring at her lips. She fought the urge to lick them, not wanting him to know she caught him.

Dustin, without warning, twirled Sheriece around, causing her to squeal in surprise, the two bursting into laughter. She shook her head at him in amusement as she steadied herself with her hands on his shoulders again.

Max, no longer able to wait any longer, pulled Lucas into a short kiss. His eyes widened as well as his smile. She smiled back before resting her head on his shoulder, Lucas smiling wildly into thin air.

Mike didn't even feel himself moving forward, but he couldn't catch himself even if he wanted to. He pressed a kiss to El's lips. It didn't last long, but it certainly was enough for them. Pulling away was too much for them, so they rested their foreheads against each other, nothing in this world able to keep them apart.

Will had just witnessed both kisses and tried to calm his racing heart as he turned back to (Y/N). It was now or never.

Doc felt her world tilt as he began to lean forward. A fluttering feeling in her tummy was the first thing she had felt in a month. For once, there was no emptiness, there was no loss. It was just Will and the certainty that this was real. He was back and he was better. He was her Will that she knew and loved, and she now knew that he truly loved her the same.

So, she welcomed the kiss. Like the others, it didn't last long, but it was everything she hoped for and more. When he pulled away, his face was bright red and expectant of a reaction from her. Words felt like they would ruin the moment, so she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Will leaned his head against hers and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

Had someone asked the two of them in early November a year ago if they would believe this was where they would find themselves, they would believe it to only be a dream. To be in each other's arms at a school dance, as their true selves. Who they've always been to each other. Rug Bug and Gator Bait...

No, they wouldn't have believed it.

Now, though, it was perfect. Everything was perfect.

And in another world below this one, almost identical besides the lack of light and warmth, another factor they wouldn't have believed.

The shadow monster, the Mind Flayer, banished, but not defeated, looming over Hawkins Middle. A promise for another meeting. A promise that nothing was truly over between this group and this monster.

They wouldn't have wanted to believe that.

The third installment "Wax and Wane" is in progress!