Chapter Text
After connecting with Dustin and learning of what happened on his end of the operation as well as Max and Lucas’, the three older kids stand in silent shock before trudging onward.
Nancy managed to call home after leaving Vecna’s smoldering ashes. Her mother insisted she come home and prove she was all right. Robin’s parents, apathetic as ever, were appeased by a phone call and accepted Robin’s claim that she didn’t want to leave the group and was staying at Nancy’s; Steve’s parents were out of town and unreachable and seemingly had no idea about the fate of Hawkins yet. So Nancy trudged home, showered, and changed. With proof of life met, she told her mother that she wanted to make sure Robin was okay and promised to go straight to Robin’s and stay there.
So Nancy lets herself into Steve’s unlocked house. At this point, anyone - or anything - else is not going to be deterred by a simple deadbolt anyway. When she opens the door to Steve’s room, she sees Steve asleep flat on his back and Robin curled tightly into his side. It’s clear Robin has left room behind her for Nancy to join. This is made fact when Robin stirs to beckon her to bed, lifting the covers until Nancy slides in and readjusts the covers, throwing an arm over Robin’s stomach. For the first few minutes, Nancy revels in how the back of Robin’s hand is situated in the perfect spot to feel Steve breathing without exacerbating his wounds, but the other takes Nancy’s and threads their fingers together. Nancy almost wants to ask if Robin is all right, but quickly decides that’s useless. None of them are all right, it’s just very likely that Steve’s injuries allowed him to succumb to sleep the fastest. Nancy is afraid of what her dreams will bring. But whether it’s total exhaustion, or the fact that she just barely registers Robin bringing their joined hands to her chest, Nancy is gifted a dreamless sleep.
She does wake with a jolt, though, when she realizes Robin is awake and panicking, pawing at the sheets that currently only cover the two of them.
“Steve? Nancy?” Robin gasps, eyes roving wildly around the room. Nancy quickly takes stock and sees a note on his nightstand.
“Robin!” Nancy tries, trying to wrangle the other’s flailing arms.
“Robin, he left a note. Robin,” She points with one hand, the other moving to Robin’s back to calm her. With shaking hands, Robin snatches the note and holds it out for both to read.
“‘Gone to check on Dustin and Lucas at the hospital. Radio soon.’” Nancy dictates the note, and it seems that hearing it out loud puts Robin at ease.
“Jesus. Fuck.” Robin falls back against the pillows, hands pressing into her face as her heart races.
“Hey,” Nancy leans her body in, takes one of Robin’s elbows in her hand gently, just to soothe. “He’s okay. We’re okay.” Robin pants, trying to get herself under control.
“Shit. Is he okay? Can we call him?” Robin sits upright, throwing her legs over the side of the bed before standing up and looking frantically at Nancy. “Do you have the radio?” Nancy is flustered, still slightly groggy, for a second before shaking herself and nodding.
“Yea. Yea I have it here.” Nancy scrambles to procure the bulky device from her side of the bed and hand it to Robin, who promptly extends the antenna and calls for Dustin. He confirms that he, Steve, and Lucas are at the hospital with Max and that there’s been little change. Steve gets on the horn and asks how they’re doing.
“Just glad you’re okay,” Robin replies shakily, forcing herself to take deep breaths.
“Nice to hear from my girls,” Steve’s voice says over the radio. “Why don’t you have some breakfast and meet us here?” Nancy takes the radio from Robin, who seems to be overwhelmed and spiraling in relief.
“Yeah we can do that. You guys want donuts?” Nancy asks. There is a moment of silence, in which Robin glances between her and the radio and Nancy stares at Robin, then Steve responds.
“There’s too much sugar and caffeine happening here already. I know there’s bacon and bagels and stuff downstairs. Just…” Steve’s voice trails off for a moment. “Just bring whatever looks good from the kitchen. Take your time. We’re in a holding pattern, so just be safe and…” Another pause.
“Got it.” Nancy is firm. “Regroup. Provisions. Be there soon. Hang tight.” Nancy drops the radio at the end of the bed, eyes still trained on Robin. The taller girl seems to have regained her breath, but now appears a little lost.
“Nance,” It comes out strangled and Robin’s face tightens as tears form in her eyes. Nancy moves on her knees across the bed to pull Robin into a tight hug, putting them at about the same height. She stays until Robin stops shaking. Nancy sighs, pulling back enough to look Robin over, even as she feels somewhat unsteady herself.
“Rob,” Nancy wipes the quickly falling tears from Robin’s freckled cheeks. “It’s gonna be okay.” Robin’s eyes close, causing more tears to fall, but she nods quickly and reels back, shaking her hands abruptly.
“Yeah. Yeah. We just need to,” Robin inhales sharply. “To get some food together for the kids. Real food. I mean, Steve’s parents probably have all sorts of shit. We’ll just raid the kitchen and go over there and we’ll just deal. Okay. Yeah, that’s what we need to do.”