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Lucas’s head dipped farther to his chest, and he raised a hand to his cheek, slapping it once, twice, three times, trying to stay awake. Weeks of sitting in the same plastic hospital chair had made his back stiff and sore, and his polo shirt rode up slightly, the bare skin of his lower back pressing to the rubber of the seat cover uncomfortably.
He always ended up staying later than the visiting hours, and often found himself at the hospital until midnight or even later sometimes, just to be driven home and to do the same thing the next morning. The nurses were so busy that they barely noticed the boy at the back of Max Mayfeild’s room, sometimes reading to her, sometimes talking to her, sometimes just sitting with her.
He talked as if she could hear him. He didn’t know if she could, but if there was a change, he wanted to be there for her, make whatever she was going through better.
He missed her. It was excruciating, seeing her like that. Sometimes, when he was really tired, he would imagine her talking back to him. But it was just his mind playing with him.
And the worst part? This was all his fault. All his fault.
If he’d never gotten involved with Jason, he wouldn’t have ended up at the Creel house, he wouldn’t have ruined Max’s walkman, destroyed the only way to get her out of Vecna’s mind. Maybe she would have been okay. Maybe Hawkins would’ve been okay.
These spirals were the reason his friends wanted him to get the hell out of that hospital for a few days, but he couldn’t leave Max. Leaving felt like giving up. Leaving felt like giving up on her and he’d never do that.
It had been four weeks. Four weeks since the gates had been opened, four weeks since Max had been put in his coma of sorts, four weeks since Eddie had died, four weeks since the Byers and Mike had returned to Hawkins, four weeks.
It felt more like four years.
Right now, everyone was working together to get Hopper’s cabin in tip-top shape again, focusing on that instead of the more pressing issues. Lucas still felt guilty for not being there. Especially since his friends had been so amazing recently. His friends had taken countless shifts watching Max for him, so he could go home and get some rest.
Will kept Lucas company more than anyone, catching up about everything. Will made the hospital more lively, letting Lucas just forget for a little while. Will talked about California, mostly, but when he wasn’t talking about that (or art), he talked about Mike. Talked about the stuff they’d done that day, or whatever stupid argument over slushie flavors they’d gotten into. Lucas wasn’t an idiot. He saw how Will melted a little bit when talking about his best friend. He saw how his expression changed when Mike walked into a room.
Will and Mike’s relationship had been strained for a while, but recently, they’d been hanging out more than ever, almost trying to see each other at every possible opportunity.
It had been like that since Mike and Eleven broke up apparently, according to Dustin.
El was also at the hospital often, during any free time she had. She’d been training with Hopper, building up her powers, becoming as strong as possible. Lucas and Eleven hadn’t been close before, but now they had something to connect over. Or, rather, someone to connect over; Max.
El tried to get into her mind. She tried every time she visited. It was always to no avail.
She’d always look at Lucas, an almost guilty expression plastered over her face, and he’d always feel horrible.
Lucas surveyed the room. His mom was supposed to pick him up in forty-five minutes, after making him promise he’d be home for dinner that night. No one would be with Max, and that worried Lucas. Max’s mom rarely showed up in the hospital, which Lucas found rather depressing. Max’s ex-boyfriend showed up for hours at a time, but her own mother couldn’t bother to come more than once a week.
Max lay still as always. She was pale, her red hair had lost its shine, but Lucas thought she was beautiful, even when she wasn’t talking shit.
He remembered all the good times- that night at the abandoned school bus, the Snow Ball, the countless dates at Starcourt, Mike and Will dragging along behind them. Even the night at the Creel house, with the little drawing she’d done. Lucas still had it. It was a little crumbled, but he still had it.
They’d never gotten to go on that date. It was all Lucas wanted, one movie night with Max. Then he’d be satisfied.
He remembered the bad times too- Max’s resistance to talk to him, or, well, anyone during the last year, her fear of ending up like her brother, the way she’d looked while in Vecna’s trance…
He loved her even through all those times. And he hoped beyond hope that she had loved him too.
The Talisman by Stephen King laid on the empty hospital chair next to Lucas, sitting on top of a pile of his stuff- a hoodie, for when the air conditioning got chilly, a walkie, and an empty coke can.
He’d been reading The Talisman to Max almost everyday. It was about a boy named Jack who has to travel between dimensions to save his dying mother, and was slowly becoming one of the best and most freaky books Lucas had read. The Territories, while also completely different, were creepingly similar to the Upside Down. But Lucas was hooked.
He reached for the book, rubbing his eyes one more time. The book was second hand and dogeared all over, the coverslip half falling off. Lucas found his page and began to read.
“ At eleven o'clock the next morning, Jack unshouldered his pack at the end of a long playing field covered with crisp brown dead grass,” Lucas read out loud, blinking his eyes back into focus. “Far away, two men in plaid jackets and baseball caps labored with leaf-blower and rake down on the stench of lawn surrounding the most distant group of buildings… ” Lucas trailed off, glancing up. He’d thought he’d heard something, something like a whisper, but that happened a lot. Especially when he was tired. “Ah, jesus.”
He sighed and continued. “To Jack’s left, directly behind the red brick backside of the Thayer Library, was the faculty parking lot. In front of the Thayer School is a great gate that opened onto a tree-lined drive, which circled around a large quad crisscrossed- ”
“ Lucas ?” a voice broke through the silence, and Lucas’s head shot up. He thought he must be dreaming. Max was moving. Her lips were moving, and her milky eyes were blinking slowly and she was shaking her head slightly. “Lucas, Lucas- are you-?” Her voice was rusty from misuse.
Lucas shot forward to the side of the bed, not caring when the book slammed to the floor. Oh my god, she was awake oh my fuck- “Max, oh my god- Max-” Lucas’s body shook as he reached out to touch Max’s cheek.
“ Lucas ,” she muttered again, and Lucas almost burst out into tears. “ Lucas, where- where am I- w here are we? ”
“I- we’re- you’re safe. Oh thank fuck-” Lucas wiped his eyes rapidly. She was okay, she was okay- just hearing her voice had almost been enough to make Lucas cry. “Thank fuck, thank fuck-” He shook a little, tears spilling from his eyes as he tried to blink them away.
Max’s lip trembled. “Lucas I can’t see, I can’t feel my arms… or legs… my ribs hurt,”
( I don’t wanna die, Lucas, I’m not-)
“Where are we? Lucas, I can’t see -” she sounded like she was close to tears herself.
“I know, I know, I know,” He looked around the room in panic, how was he supposed to- where were the doctors- “Max, we’re in the hospital.”
“Oh.” Max’s voice was still shaky.
“Oh my god, oh my god, I need to find a doctor, I need to find...” Lucas cursed under his breath. “Fuck, gimme a sec,”
He dropped the hand from her cheek and ran to the door, throwing it open.
“ Doctor! Someone! I need a doctor!”
-
Lucas sat anxiously in the waiting room, unkept nails digging into his kneecaps through his jeans. He hadn’t been able to see Max since he’d screamed for help, and had been exiled to this carpeted waiting room of absolute hell until further notice. He kept repeating the mantra of Max is okay, Max is alive, in his head. The adrenaline was the only thing keeping him awake. It was nearing eleven PM now. His family sat across the room, Erica passed out on one of the plastic chairs, his parents talking quietly.
“Lucas?” A soft voice cut through the quiet. Will stood in the doorway, flanked by Eleven and Joyce.
Lucas shot up, smiling shakily. Will…” his legs were close to giving out beneath him.
Will didn’t need anything else. He took Lucas into his arms, holding him close, and Lucas buried his face in Will’s shirt. Will had always been there for him, for all of them, and Lucas had missed him so much when he’d been in California. Will was probably the most selfless person he knew.
He didn’t think he’d known how much he’d missed him until Will was back.
“How is she?” Eleven asked, face threaded with worry as Will pulled away and Lucas pulled El into her own hug.
“I… I’m not sure. Last time a nurse came in here I barely got time to ask her anything.” Lucas slowly stepped away. He felt stronger now.
“We came as soon as we could,” Joyce spoke for the first time, setting a motherly hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “And we’ll stay until we make sure she’s alright.”
Lucas felt close to tears again. “Thank you, Mrs. Byers,”
She enclosed him in her own hug.
A few moments later she stepped away from the kids, to go join Lucas’s parents across the room. Will took Lucas by the hand and led him to sit down, Eleven one one side of him, Will on the other.
“Did she… Did you talk to her?” El asked, eyes big and hopeful. “Did she seem okay? Did she say anything about… him ?”
Lucas shook his head regretfully. “She didn’t. We didn’t get to talk much,” His lip trembled dangerously. “I’m sorry.”
Will’s brow furrowed. “Lucy, it’s not your fault.” He said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Lucy?” El asked, frowning.
“Stupid. Old. Nickname , which William will never use again,” He shot Will a glare, grateful for the distraction either way. (because it is your fau-) “Are we clear?”
Will laughed. “We’re clear,” He said with a slight smirk. It evened back into a smile. “And my mom was right. We’re staying here until we make sure Max is alright.”
That ended up being sooner than Lucas expected. About a quarter past twelve, while Will and Eleven were banging around with the vending machine, a nurse with a cropped haircut walked into the room, smiling. “Your friend is stable and as healthy as is possible in her condition,” He told Lucas, and his chest was flooded with relief. “We’re going to watch her for the night, so no visiting is permitted at the time, but come again tomorrow morning,” He spoke as if reading off a script. “I know you’re probably really thankful she’s awake.” He broke character for a second to add that last part.
“Oh thank god- thank fuck ,” Lucas muttered. “Thank you so much- how is she, physically?” He asked, voice wavering.
The nurse’s smile dropped a little. “She’s… well, the bones she’d fractured are, as you know, well on their way to healing. It’s going to take a great deal of physical therapy to get ‘em back to what they were like before, but she’s strong- she’ll be okay.”
Thank god.
“And…” Lucas started, heart beating in his throat. “Her eyes?”
The nurse grimaced. “I hate to tell you this, buddy, but her eyesight is almost completely gone.” He shook his head and Lucas bit his tongue. “I know we warned you of this, but we don’t think she’ll be able to see anything but shadows and, well, to describe it non-medically, blurry blobs of light and color,” He sighed at Lucas’s expression. “We don’t know if it’s permanent or not, all we can do at this point,” He said regretfully. “Thankfully, her actual eyes haven't sustained very much damage, which is lucky,” He added. “Whatever happened to her was way too similar to the murders that have been going around.” He shook his head.
Lucas made a face. “Yeah.”
“Hey, have an okay night, okay kid? Get some rest- she’s in good hands.”
-
Lucas slept better that night than he had in ages. He woke up around nine, took a steaming shower and threw on a pair of chinos and a hoodie. Erica was passed out in her room, and Lucas didn’t bother to wake her up. He ate a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, which tasted a million times better than usual, and excused himself to hop on his bike and start towards the hospital. Max is awake. Max is alive.
He just about threw his bike on the rack, and sprinted inside the hospital, making a beeline for the elevators. The receptionist didn’t even bat an eye. She was used to him by now.
He skidded down the hall, adrenaline pumping as he stopped in front of Max’s door. It was open an inch- Joyce was sat beside the bed, talking to Max quietly. Lucas was surprised to see that Will and El weren't anywhere in sight.
Joyce turned and saw him, shooting him a bright smile. She mouthed a “ she’s awake” to Lucas, and he felt his heart swell. Joyce said goodbye to Max, slid through the door and was gone in seconds. Lucas stepped across the threshold, trying to be as quiet as possible.
Max was propped up in a sitting position, eyes open just a sliver. Her hair, which was usually down, was braided in two thick cords, and she looked overall healthier than she had since the night in the Creel house. The milky whites of her pupils did not scare Lucas- he thought she was beautiful. He felt his lips spread wide in an almost sappy smile.
“I know you’re there, stalker.” Max’s voice cut across the room and Lucas jumped, blushing hard. Max was grinning.
“Hi,” Lucas said softly, making his way over to the bed. “How’re you feeling?” He reached out a hand to Max’s. The longer casts on her arms had been cut down a bit recently, so her hands were free to do whatever they liked- well, now that she was awake.
Max turned her hand over slightly and intertwined their fingers. The gesture made Lucas’s heart speed up. Her hand felt the same in his as it always had. The thought made his eyes prickle.
“I’m alright,” Max’s grin dropped a bit. “Uh, it sucks not being able to see, and now that I’ve ‘regained total consciousness,’ my legs and arms hurt, just a bit , but I’ll pull through,” She smiled again. “I always do and you know it, even after being in a fucking coma.”
“Max.” Lucas squeezed her hand gently. “I’m sorry, I’m so-”
“Don’t be,” Max interjected. “Don’t be sorry, you didn’t do anything.”
“But if Jason… if he hadn’t been there, if he hadn’t been on my trail…”
“Something else would’ve fucked it all up,” She finished for him. “Something was going to go astrologically wrong anyway.”
Lucas sighed, feeling like a partial weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Okay,”
Everyone had been telling him the same thing, that it wasn’t his fault, but he hadn’t believed them. But with Max… she didn’t blame him. She didn’t hate him, she was holding his hand.
Lucas found his cheeks heating up again. “I’m… I’m really happy you’re awake. Seeing you like that… It was so scary, Max,” He whispered the last part, not caring how pathetic he sounded.
“I can imagine. I’m…” Max trailed off. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.” She sighed. “I don’t want anyone to have to see me like that,”
“I know you don’t,” Lucas squeezed her hand again. “Hey Max?” He started.
“Yeah?”
“I get if you… don’t want to talk about this right now, but-”
“What happened, while I was in my coma?” Max finished for him. “I saw stuff. Like a dream… I just remember parts. More and more is coming back to me but…” she trailed off. “What I do remember? It was awful. He was there.”
Lucas’s shoulders dropped, and he raised a hand to her cheek. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what you saw… but we don’t have to talk about it. I mean, I assume you’ll have to- whatever it was, it might help us… but right now, we can just… pretend. If you want. For a little,” He knew it sounded dumb.
“Yeah,” Max’s lips flickered into a smile. “I’d like that.”
“So, about our, like, movie date…” Lucas started, feeling his cheeks heat. “Was it going to be a date?”
If she could’ve, Max would’ve rolled her eyes. “Yes Lucas, it was very much going to be a date.”
Lucas felt a warm feeling wash over him. “Oh. Good.” He hummed. “Uh… maybe we could still see a movie, this friday, maybe? To make up for it?”
Max raised her eyebrows. “Lucas, I’m practically blind and I really don’t think I’ll be let out of the hospital that soon. Besides, from what Joyce explained, I doubt any theaters are open.”
“I was actually thinking of bringing a projector in here. Or something. I’ve had a ton of freetime so I’ve been making a list of movies that people with uh, bad eyesight, enjoy.” he grinned. “I think there are a few you’d like. Lots of sound.” he rambled on. “And I’ll bring pizza or something, and coke, but the
good
kind of coke.”
Max’s lips just turned up in a smile. “God, you’re such a dork… That… that sounds great, Lucas. Thank you.” she squeezed his hand.
Lucas felt something inside him snap, and butterflies erupted in his stomach. “Of- of course.” They sat in static silence, and from her expression, Lucas could tell Max was feeling the same electricity he was. “Max?”
“Hm?”
“I really want to kiss you right now.” Lucas breathed.
Max smirked. “What's stopping you?”
“Uh, I didn’t know if-”
“Just shut up and kiss me, you loser,”
Lucas launched himself forward to meet her in a closed mouth kiss. She tasted the same she always had, like strawberries and the cigarettes she had occasionally smoked. The taste never seemed to leave her mouth, but Lucas didn’t mind it. It was so familiar and warm.
He cupped her cheek softly, closing his eyes and kissing her as gently as he could. His chest was exploding with fireworks, and he wanted more , but Max was hooked up to all these machines, and this wasn’t the time or place, so he pulled away, smiling.
Max looked almost blown away for a moment, before she smiled. “It’s good to be back, Stalker.”
Lucas’s eyes filled with tears again, and he sniffed, more loudly than he’d like to have. Max moved her arm slowly across the mattress, interlacing their fingers again. Her hand was strong as always, anchoring them together, though Lucas shouldn’t have been the one to need it.
But he did. He would always need her.
He watched as the door slammed open again and El practically sprinted through it, smothering Max in a big, but incredibly gentle, hug. She grinned, teary eyed, brushing Max’s hair from her eyes and whispering something quietly to her. Max grinned back. “I missed you so much, Max.” El muttered, and Lucas could tell how much she cared for her.
“God, you don’t know how much I missed you .” Lucas wouldn’t mention it if he’d seen Max’s lip quiver a little bit.
Will came bustling back through the door next, holding a box. He grinned at Max, setting the box next to her bed. “Hey Max,” he said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “How are you feeling?” He asked in that way no one else could. Not pitying, not uncaring, but so Will.
“I’m good, Byers,” Max grinned again. “You can hug me, y’know.” Will took that to heart and leaned down to hug her softly, whispering something about a cake into her ear. Lucas felt nothing but love in his heart for the three people in front of him.
He felt himself getting teary eyed, especially as Dustin busted through the door with his old re-booted Walkman. He hugged her maybe a little too hard, before handing the cassette player to Max proudly. “We made this- me and Lucas, I mean. Or, we got it working again.” Lucas rolled his eyes at Dustin’s excitement.
Max thanked the both of them, and if she had tears brimming in the whites of her eyes, Lucas wouldn’t mention it.
Mike was the last to walk awkwardly into the room. Lucas watched as he approached Max’s bed, an almost nervous smile on his face, his eyes darting around the room. Lucas observed how his face softened when he made eye contact with Will. He turned back to Max’s bed.
“Mayfeild.” Mike said simply.
“Wheeler.” Max nodded.
The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the two almost sized each other up (or to the best of Max’s capabilities). Max and Mike had never been on the greatest of terms.
Max sighed and held out her arms (again, to the best of her capabilities). “Jesus, C’mere.”
Mike leaned over for an awkward hug.
The room let out a breath, and everyone went back to their regularly scheduled conversations, but giddier now, more hopeful even.
Dustin detailed each of the tapes he and Lucas had got for Max, handing her each one as he talked about them. El sat on her bed next to her, re-braiding her hair, threading in a few freshly picked flowers.
Max continued on to bully Mike for his hair- which, as Will had explained as he carved out big pieces of his homemade chocolate cake for everyone, had grown out all the way to his shoulders and was now in a messy-looking ponytail. El threatened to braid it next, and Max laughed.
Max laughed. It was the most beautiful thing Lucas had heard, ever he thought. He didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky- the idea of Max still being there, waking up, had maybe saved him. Saved him from giving up all hope. And she was okay.
Lucas would always need her, and so would everyone else. Lucas smiled.
Whatever came next, they had each other.