Chapter Text
“Oh. God. You don’t know.”
Mike felt the panic rise in all three of them as they processed Dustin's words. He, Will, and El had only just made it back to Hawkins, making Argyle break enough speeding laws on the way to land him in prison (even excluding their earlier… predicament with the government) to get there before the night was over. The dread in the van had been palpable; horrible possibilities skipping through their minds. And now…
Not Lucas, please not Lucas…
“It’s Max. We don’t know if…” Dustin trailed off, clearing his throat. Mike looked around at El.
She looked so afraid.
A loud screech of tyres cut the tension, causing all heads to whip around. Mike stared suspiciously at the sleek black vehicle as it parked in the Wheelers' driveway, squinting through the dark to see who had arrived. Two figures, one tall, the other tiny, unfolded themselves from the car. Gasps were unleashed behind him. So was a small sob from El, whose eyes were fixed on the taller figure- the man.
“Hey kiddo.”
——
Hopper drove them to the hospital. After the tearful reunions of the Hoppers and the Byers –through which Mike had awkwardly stood to the side before being pulled into a hug by Hopper (weird)– they had been desperate to go see Max and Lucas. Dustin hadn’t joined them, as he, the Wheelers, and some of the others were pulling a night shift at the relief centre.
So Mike found himself in the back of Hopper's car with Will and Joyce, El sitting anxiously in the front. Her arm on her dad's as he updated her quietly on his trip to Russia and the whereabouts of Dr Owens, who had somehow made it out of NINA alive.
Mike barely paid attention. He was too busy trying to remind himself to breathe– something he didn’t achieve until Will put a hand on his knee to stop the bouncing, looking up at Mike with a small smile.
The appearance of the presumed dead ex-chief Jim Hopper combined with the fatigue of the overworked staff was enough for them to smuggle El into the hospital. The three of them hurried up to Max’s room.
——
“I’ve asked the hospital staff to be the one to tell Max’s mom. They haven’t been able to contact her because the house is destroyed. Lucas, do you have any idea where she’d be?” Hopper crossed the room to see the redheaded girl lying, broken, in the bed.
“I do. She’ll be with her friend Monica– Maybe I should come with you. Susan is– she might take it better if someone who isn’t a cop is there.” Lucas replied.
“Alright. You sure you want to leave her here?”
Lucas bit his lip, looking down at Max. “I don’t-”
“I can go,” Mike volunteered. “Susan knows me, and then you can stay here with Max.” Lucas looked up at him appreciatively but Mike had already rounded on Hopper. “What are we telling her? We have to tell her something, and it needs to line up with what the hospital staff are saying. And obviously you’re not gonna want to tell her about all the weird shit.”
“No. None of the weird shit. Here’s what I was thinking…”
——
Mike sat in the passenger seat this time. It felt wrong– like he and Hopper were on the same level, when clearly Mike ought to be several rows behind. The silence seemed to stretch, writhing and twisting the air between them.
Did Hopper feel it too?
“I’m glad you were there.”
It took Mike a moment to realise Hopper had spoken. “Sorry?”
“With El.” Hopper’s eyes hadn’t left the road. “And the Byers’. I’m glad you were there. That you found her.”
“Same. I’m glad I could help get her out, too, I mean. Will and Jonathan… they did most of it, but…” Mike trailed off. Hopper finally glanced at him. Mike looked away.
They pulled into a small, dimly lit driveway. Mike’s door creaked as he clambered out of the car, trailing behind Hopper as he strode up the narrow, overgrown path toward the front door.
Susan had answered before the second knock. “Oh my god, I’ve been trying to contact someone for hours, Monica has gone down to the relief centre, but the phone is dead, I-”
Hopper cut her off. “Susan. Can we come in?”
“Of course, of- Mike, were you with Max? Is she alright?” Susan rambled on as she led them into a cramped, cosy sitting room. Max sat down next to her on the little couch.
“We were just with her, Ms Mayfeild. She’s in hospital. Lucas is with her.” Mike told her gently. “In a minute, we’ll take you to see her. We just wanted to catch you up to speed first, okay?”
Susan clamped a shaky hand over her mouth. “What happened?”
“Well, I wasn’t here, I was on my way back from California. But the party– mine and Max’s friends– were investigating tremors right before the earthquake it. They got caught right in the middle.”
“Max was incredible, from what I’ve heard.” Hopper told Susan. “Made sure everyone else had the best chance they could, and got trapped in a collapsing building herself. Lucas pulled her out eventually, but she wasn’t in a good way. But she’ll get good care in the hospital. She’s in a coma. That much trauma to her body and mind isn’t easy to bounce back from.”
Susan stood up abruptly. “I need to go see her. I’ll take Monicas husbands car. I’ll want to be able to stop by the centre and tell her where I am at some point.” Hopper began to argue, to suggest that now isn’t a good idea for Susan to be driving on her own, something about stress and distraction, but Mike cut him off.
“I’ll ride with you, Susan, I can answer any questions you have and show you where her room is when we get there.” Susam smiled tearily in thanks, and Hopper eventually nodded his agreement.
——
“Max is tough. The toughest person I know.” Mike told Susan over the grumble of the cars Engine as they sped along behind Hopper. “If anyone can pull through this, it’s her. She’ll wake up. She’ll wake up.”
“Thank you, Mike,” Susan whispered.
Come on Max. Come on. I don’t want to be lying.
——
Mike sat in the chair by Max’s bed. Lucas could only be convinced to go home a few times a week. The party had begun to take shifts, making sure Lucas got sleep and Max always had company and music. Mike volunteered as often as he could.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” He murmured. “I wasn’t much use in California. Maybe I could have done more here.” Max seemed to be telling him to shut up and stop bringing the pity party to her bedside, So Mike apologised quietly, sat back in the chair, turned on her Tape, and began to tell Max about his day. “I finally took some of your advise.”
Our table at school seems so empty without you. More than it did before.
——
“Do you think she’ll wake up?” He asked.
“She will,” Dustin said. The confidence in his voice didn’t quite reach his tired eyes. One of them was heavily bruised. They turned back to the blackboard. This radio wouldn’t design itself.