Chapter Text
Consciousness pooled in his body, she touched him softly in a way he never thought he would feel, her fingertips covered in blood, he saw, but she was still here.
Still breathing.
His Joyce, the person who saved him.
"Joyce" he croaked, his eyes opening once more, he raised his hand and she shook her head over and over, she took his hand and placed it down by his side, she didn't want him to move
She didn't want him to be in pain.
"Close your eyes" she whispered softly, looking into his pain-filled tired blue eyes, her brown ones softly and comforting making him feel at ease "That's it, keep them closed"
"It hurts" he whimpered, squirming away on the gurney, Joyce hushed him softly, taking his hand, holding it in her soft palm "Joyce, it hurts"
He winced when he felt a sharp press of a needle piercing his skin, he whined and Joyce hummed softly to him her hand creeping around to his cheek, she cupped it and brushed her thumb against his skin.
"Keep them closed honey" she murmured and he squirmed again, looking up into her eyes "Jim, keep them closed, just feel..."
His eyes fluttered shut and she smiled softly, running her fingertips up and down his arm soothingly as he slipped into a drug-fuelled sleep.
"I'm here for you Hop, I'm here-"
"Mrs Byers, they need to take him to surgery now" he tried to tug her away, she sniffled and shook her head "He's going to be just fine"
He tugged her away from Hopper, tears in her brown eyes, they were drowning them and all she could see were the blurry lights from above. Joyce stood there in the middle of the corridor hugging herself unable to comprehend the events that happened.
She spat out words when Sam Owens spoke to her, he asked her what happened but she just said random things in an attempt to get him off her back, she didn't want this, she didn't need this and the whole situation forced her to just contain her feelings for another day because right now if she broke then he would break too. Joyce smiled slightly when a hand was placed on her back, her legs shaking, fingers trembling, tears staining her eyes and hair sticking to her face. That's when Owens noticed the blood pouring from a wound on her head so he offered to stitch her up, she nodded and went off with him into another room.
"I'll give you some local anaesthetic" he explained, she winced as he pierced her skin with a needle "Sorry"
She closed her eyes and winced as he began to stitch up the gash on her head, she tapped her foot on the floor and he noticed immediately.
"He'll be okay Joyce, the best case scenario will be he'll be out in a couple of days, he had some brutal injuries, some of the worst I've seen-"
"Is that meant to make me feel better?"
"Okay, maybe not" he faltered and sighed "Sorry"
She shook her head and closed her eyes, breathing out and shaking her head.
"You need to stay still for me," he told her, holding her head in place so he didn't mess up the stitches
Her fingers played with a frayed piece of material on the hospital scrubs he gave her so she didn't have to be in the goddamn military uniform she snatched from some lifeless Russian.
"I think that'll do" Owens sighed and looked into her eyes "You look tired, you should go home and rest-"
"I'm not leaving him" she slipped off the chair and left the room, she somehow managed to find the operating theatre and looked through the door
"Ma'am you can't be here-"
"I need to see him so either you move or I will move you myself!" she snapped at the young male doctor who noticed her standing there "Try me! Fucking try me!"
"Don't worry kiddo, I've got it from here" Owens nodded at the man, he walked off and he sighed "I told you Jim is in the best possible hands here-"
"I don't care!" she snapped "I need to see him, I have to be with him!"
Doctors and nurses wheeled Hopper out of the operating theatre, Joyce glued to the side of that bed, holding onto his hand as they walked back onto the ward. They got to a room and she sat down on the chair, immediately taking his hands into hers, she stared at his body, at the fresh stitches and at the nurses briefly as they hooked him up to a drip and gave him pain relief. She stared at him and watched as his hand came up to remove the oxygen mask on his face, Joyce hushed him softly and took his hand to stop him, her touch ever so gentle and soft, it was like a dream to him. She was a dream.
"Joyce" his voice was small, she shook her head, she didn't want him to speak, she didn't want him to talk "Joyce you're okay?"
"I'm just fine Hop, you got out honey" she whispered and closed her eyes "You got out..."
"I got out?"
"Yeah, you did" she smiled at him, it was the softest yet comforting look she had given me "I didn't lose you, I didn't...but you need to keep this on"
She gently took the mask out of his hand and placed it over his face again, he held onto her hand and brought it to his chest, placing it flat over his heart. Joyce closed her eyes and smiled to herself as she felt it thump under her touch, she was so thankful for that, too thankful for that.
"That's it" she murmured gently, looking into his eyes as he stared up at her almost starstruck
Joyce softened when his thumb brushed back and forth over the back of her hand.
"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere"
His eyes shut after that, she smiled at the nurse putting more painkillers through his system, the concoction of drugs was obviously wiping him out.
Joyce fell asleep in the chair next to the bed, curled up, legs brought up to her chest, her eyes shut. She closed her eyes and then she was fast asleep, dreamland wanted her this time so she let it happen. When she woke Hopper was sitting up in bed, staring straight ahead so she immediately sat up and yawned. A nurse entered the room and took his breakfast order but he shook his head, Joyce rolled her eyes.
"You have to eat," she told him, he rolled his eyes "Hopper you are eating...toast will be fine"
She nodded towards the nurse who left, she sighed and looked at Hopper who was still staring straight ahead, she reached out and placed her hand on his but he flinched, snapping it away from her grasp. Joyce rubbed her lips together a little hurt but she tried not to let it get to her.
The nurse arrived with a plate of toast, Hopper stared at it and then pushed it away but Joyce picked up the plastic knife and started scraping butter on it. He passed it to Hopper, he grumbled something inaudible under his breath, took a bite, scrunched his nose in distaste and then chucked the toast back on the plate.
"Hopper" she scolded, he wriggled his nose "Stop acting like a child, you need to eat"
He rolled his eyes and then folded her arms over his chest, she huffed and pulled her legs up to her chest, she wasn't going to fight with him over this as she didn't have the energy.
"Shouldn't you be getting back to the kids?"
"Jonathan has it covered" she commented swiftly, she just wanted to be here with him "You don't need to worry about them, focus on yourself, focus on getting better"
"I have a broken leg, burns on my arm, a mild concussion and several broken ribs Joyce, not to mention the internal bleeding" he grunted, annoyed "It's not like I'm going to be running a half marathon any time soon"
"Why are you being like this?" she asked him "I'm here trying to support you and you're just throwing it back in my face"
"I'm sorry" he sighed and rubbed his head "Are you okay?"
She softened a little.
"I'm okay apart from the stitches in my head," she told him, he nodded and still couldn't look her in the eye "You'll be allowed out either later today or tomorrow so you're coming home with me-"
"No Joyce"
"Yes Hopper" she snapped at him, he was taken aback by her tone "I almost lost you, you're coming home with me, both you and El. You're going to need someone to help you"
"There's barely enough room at your place for the both of us" he commented, he just didn't want her pity right now
"We will make room" she stated and shook her head, he huffed "Don't do that-"
"Do what?"
"Do that!" she rolled her eyes and shook her head "Why are you being like this Jim?"
"I-"
He stopped himself.
"Fine, I'll move in with you until the ribs are better at least"
"I'm more worried about your leg" she stated and looked at the cast, he rolled his eyes and she threw her hands up in defence "Okay, I'm sorry, I won't..."
She sighed.
"I won't go on about it any longer, try and get some rest okay?"
"As long as you check on the kids?"
She faltered and looked at him, she fucking hated compromising sometimes.
"Fine"
The best she could bring herself to do was ring Jonathan, that's all, she knew she should do more but she couldn't leave Hopper, she just couldn't. Jonathan said that everything was fine, that El had spent most of her time asleep in her bed and Will had been with his friends. That at least filled Joyce with relief, she went back into the room and Hopper rolled his eyes at her.
"Go home" he told her softly, she shook her head and sat down on the edge of the bed, she took his hand "Please Joyce, go home and be with the kids, they need you more than me"
"You need me too" she murmured softly, he closed his eyes "Hop, you've been through so much-"
"You've been through so much too" he whispered "More than me"
"That's not the point" she brushed her thumb over the back of his hand, he sighed softly and held onto her hand with weakened strength You can try and push me away but I'm not going anywhere, Hopper"
He closed his eyes and breathed out.
"Now do you need any more painkillers?" she asked him, he shook his head "I'm going to go to the cabin and get you some clothes and El some things too as you'll both be staying with me-"
"Joyce I don't need to stay with you"
"Jim" she warned, shaking her head "You're staying with me whether you like it or not"
"You know I'll never get bored of your stubbornness or bossiness, right?"
She narrowed her eyes and folded her arms over her chest.
"You're high on those drugs of yours you are" she pointed to the drip, he rolled his eyes "I'm going now, please don't give the nurses such a hard time yeah?"
"Yeah, yeah" he rolled his eyes "Whatever Joyce"
She shook her head and then walked away, he smiled to himself and bit his lip.
His eyes never left her until she was out of sight.
Joyce went to the cabin and looked around, the place was a mess but she bundled up the majority of El's things and Hopper's loading them into her car and taking them to her place. She sighed knowing he would have to get this place repaired, she knew he would always have a home with her though. She smiled at that thought alone. When she got to the house El smiled at her from the couch where Jonathan had propped her foot up on a cushion, Joyce sighed in relief that he was looking after her leg and making sure it got new dressings on it.
She got dressed and then went back to the hospital almost immediately with a bag of Hopper's things. Joyce managed to pick up a t-shirt and some sweatpants for him so he had something to go home in. She put the bag on the end of the bed and smiled at Hopper sleeping there peacefully.
"Hi"
"Oh hi" Joyce smiled at the young blonde nurse that was treating him "Is he okay?"
"We gave him more pain relief, he was reluctant to have it. Don't worry though we'll send him home with plenty of painkillers too...does he have somewhere to convalesce?"
"Uh yeah he'll be staying with me" Joyce smiled and the nurse passed over the clipboard to her so she could fill in the address "Is he staying in for one more night?"
"We want to keep him in to make sure he's okay but tomorrow he'll be discharged, it's just a precaution really"
"That's fine" Joyce confirmed and sat down on the chair, she stared at Hopper with a small smile on her face as he rested
Joyce closed her eyes and breathed out.
She couldn't risk losing him again.
She was never letting him out of her sight.
Joyce was sure she was going to get a bad back for sleeping in this hospital chair with a ratty old blanket Owens gave her when he dropped by to visit Hopper to check on him. Joyce slept through the entire commotion, it was probably for the best, Hopper knew she wouldn't be able to bite her tongue over some of the things that were said so for her own sanity it was probably best she stayed asleep. When she woke he smiled softly at her rubbing her eyes, removing all traces of sleep from them. She sat up and frowned at him as he was already dressed, she asked how and he said that he had a pretty blonde nurse helping him.
Joyce rolled her eyes, he never changed.
"Here are your discharge papers for you to sign, you need to take it easy, absolutely no pressure on that foot"
Joyce raised her eyebrows when the nurse from yesterday pushed a wheelchair towards him, Hopper grumbled something unsavoury under his breath, and Joyce bit back a snort and watched him sign.
"In you get" Joyce rested her hands on the handles, he looked at her and shook his head "In, Hopper"
He huffed and got up using his crutches, he sat in the wheelchair and Joyce picked his feet up and rested them on the footrests. The nurse passed her the prescription bag so Joyce put it in her purse whilst Hopper rested the crutches over his legs.
"Let's go to the car" she announced and pushed him, he huffed in annoyance and clenched his jaw
"Do you have to go this way?"
She paused and frowned at him.
"Yes Hopper, my car is this way" she rolled her eyes, he groaned and shook his head "What is it? Do you need more painkillers?"
"No just...just get me to the car" he huffed, she rolled her eyes and smirked at how annoyed he was "Ow!"
She drove the wheelchair over a bump.
"What?!" she looked at him worried, he grumbled something under his breath again so she just continued to push him "Right! In you get-"
"I can't walk Joyce in case you forgot"
"Yeah well that's what the crutches are there for" she folded her arms over her chest, he stood up and hobbled towards the car door
"Let me get that for you-"
"I can do it myself" he half-snapped, she rolled her eyes and smirked as she watched him struggle, he definitely needed her help
"Hop just let me help you-"
"Joyce!" he snapped at her, she raised an eyebrow "Please stop fussing"
"But-"
"No buts" he breathed out "If I'm staying with you this is going to drive me insane hearing your voice every single fucking minute of every day"
She bit her lip and nodded.
"Sorry" she murmured and looked at him trying to stand there "Would you like any help, Hopper?"
She looked at the car door and then looked at him, he looked at her and sighed before nodding so she held the car door open for him so he could get in.
"Not even a thank you?" she took his crutches and had this irritating smirk on her face, she raised a brow
"Just drive home," he told her, he didn't have the energy for this
All Joyce could do was smirk.
They got home and El immediately jumped off the couch and ran to hug her dad, he smiled and kissed her on the head before Joyce guided him towards the couch. He sat down on it and she put his legs on a pillow. El stared at him and then continued watching her movie with Will, the both of them sharing the armchair together. Joyce offered them food, Hopper said no and the kids jumped at the chance, Joyce reminded Hopper that he needed food to take with his painkillers, he shot her down, she rolled her eyes at his obvious mood. With the kids eating she went to make up the bed and put new sheets on it.
"What are you doing?" he grumbled, she jumped and turned around to look at him "I'll take the couch-"
"Uh not with that broken leg you won't!" she glared at him, folding her arms over her chest "And before you start I'm not budging on that"
Hopper rolled his eyes and hobbled off to the bathroom, she smirked to herself and shook her head when she saw him struggle with the bathroom door.
She went up to it and held it open, she shut it behind him.
Joyce went back to sorting out the bed, she put more pillows on it, put pillows at the end of the bed too. She smiled to herself and shook her head before making sure the fan was set up as it was still hot out, she opened all of the windows too.
"Joyce!"
She smirked to herself and raised an eyebrow, she walked out of the bedroom and to the bathroom door.
"Yes?" she hummed softly, folding her arms over her chest, she reached out and opened the door "Are you okay?"
"Shut the door!" he snapped, she shut it behind her "I can't..."
He huffed, she raised an eyebrow.
"You can't what-"
"Joyce" he groaned and rolled his eyes at her standing there with an irritating smug grin on her face "Joyce I can't pull my sweatpants up-"
"I can help-"
"No!" he cried, horrified at the thought
"Okay...?"
She cleared her throat, looking at him clad in his boxers in her bathroom.
"Why am I here then?"
"Why are you..." he breathed out, she stared at him "I need you to help me pull up my sweatpants-"
"But you just said-"
"I know what I just said!" he snapped, she stared into his eyes confused about what he wanted her to do so she just folded her arms over her chest
She took the chance and pulled his sweatpants up, securing them and he pulled a face at her, she looked up into his eyes and bit her lip.
He stared into her eyes and coughed softly, Joyce quickly stepped back and removed her hands from where they were resting on his waist.
"Thanks"
"No problem" she offered a tight smile and walked out of the bathroom, she looked back as he hobbled back to the couch
Joyce pulled out his painkillers and put them on the side, she also put his clothes on top of her dresser, she then went to the cupboard and got herself some blankets to put on the arm of the couch as she would be taking that, pillows too. She walked into the living room and Hopper scowled at her.
"What?" she pulled a face at him, she looked at El, she bit her lip and then dug into the bag of chips Will was holding "Hopper, why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're taking the couch?"
"Yes," she stated and dumped the pillows and blankets down by the side of it "And?"
"You're not taking the couch-"
"We've discussed this, you need to rest, you need to sleep in a bed and you can't go back to the cabin so you're staying here. Besides, I've already given the hospital my address for your discharge so...suck it up yeah?"
She grinned and sat down next to him, he huffed and shook his head.
"It will be fun" El explained, Hopper stared at her "All of us together, nothing will go wrong"
Joyce grinned at the girl and smiled up at Hopper who looked less than impressed.
This was his idea of hell.