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El sat in an ambulance with Max, a blanket wrapped around both of them. She looked up when she noticed Will run past them. He hugged his mom tightly, both of them crying. El stood, looking around for Hopper. She didn’t see him. When she caught Joyce’s eyes and saw her look, she knew. She knew her father hadn’t made it.
El’s lower lip wobbled and she felt tears prick her eyes. Her legs felt weak.
Before she knew what was happening, El was being held up by a warm body. She could barely register Will’s voice telling her it was okay, his mom would take care of her.
Will was leading her to his mom’s car and helping her buckle her seatbelt, because El was crying too hard to do it herself. She attached herself to her friend, refusing to let go. Joyce offered to stop at Hop’s cabin so she could get her pajamas and anything else she needed, but El didn’t want to go. It was too soon, too painful. Joyce decided she’d go another time to get the girl’s stuff. She could borrow a pair of her pajamas for the night, and she had spare toothbrushes for her kids’ friends.
They got back to the Byers’ home. El’s cries had tapered off, finally. Silent tears still dripped down her face, but she wasn’t sobbing anymore.
Will led her inside to the couch where Joyce tried to take over comforting her, but El still refused to let go of Will’s hand.
“It’s okay,” he told his mom. “I can stay with her.”
“If you’re sure.... I’ll find some pajamas for you, sweetie. And if either of you need anything, don’t hesitate to wake me up, okay?” Joyce kissed both of them on the top of their heads.
“Come on, El,” Will said softly. “Let’s go get ready for bed.”
Once they were both dressed for bed, had their teeth brushed, and cleaned their faces, they sat on Will’s bed together.
“Thank you for staying with me,” El finally said.
“Course,” Will smiled. “What are big brothers for?”
“Big brother?”
“Sure. You’ll stay with us and Jonathan and I will be your brothers. And...I know how you’re feeling right now. Not quite like a teenager. Younger. Right?”
El nodded. It wasn’t the first time she’s felt like this, but it was the first time Hopper wasn’t there to take care of her when she did. That was scary. “How do you know?”
“I’ve felt like that too. After I got stuck in the upside down, when I came home, I needed to be younger sometimes. I needed to feel how I did before monsters came to Hawkins, and being younger helped. Is that how you feel?”
“Yeah,” the girl croaked. “Hop used to take care of me when I was like that.”
Will smiled sadly. “I bet he was a great caregiver. My mom and brother take care of me. And they’ll take care of you too if you’ll let them.”
El nodded. “Big brother,” she whispered.
Will gave her a hug. “We should try to sleep. I’ll be here if you need and Mom is just across the hall.”
Another nod and El laid down. She watched as Will stood and walked to his dresser, taking a stuffed dog from where it sat on top of it. He handed it to his new sister.
“This is Merlin. You can borrow him for tonight.”
“Thank you.” El hugged the dog tightly. “Goodnight, Will. Goodnight, Merlin.”
“Night, El.” Will got in the bed and wrapped an arm around her.