Chapter Text
She hadn’t been able to cry about it yet. El was gone. Forever.
The military had dismissed them after an hour-long discussion with Hopper and Joyce. Free for now, they had said. Don’t leave town, they had stated (as if that was possible). They had to return that same week to fill out forms and sign contracts, again. Max didn’t even want to think about it, besides, she was physically incapable. Problems for another day.
She was in the SQWK, lying on a couch. Lucas was sleeping next to her on the floor, but she had too many things on her mind to be able to do so. Mike had just fallen asleep, whimpering like a baby, wrapped in his sister’s arms. She was scared not to wake up if she closed her eyes. She had promised Lucas she wasn’t, that she was so tired she’ll sleep like a baby, it was all lies, the one who actually did was him. On the floor, just next to her.
She loved him.
She didn’t want to talk about the status of their relationship, it was meaningless considering everything. They had just saved the world, their friend had just died, she was temporarily paralysed, she still hadn't seen her mum, she didn’t know where she was going to live,... But seeing him there, curled up on the hard floor, his eyes closed and that disaster of a hairdo sticking in all directions, she couldn’t help but feel like a silly, normal teenager.
That morning, the ever decisive Lucas Sinclair, had helped her eat (well, drink), sent Vickie to clean her up and put new clothes, and braided her hair while he told her details about The Abyss. Everyone’s mood was down, Steve was sitting next to them though, helping Lucas to explain the big monster, and Vecna’s fatal death. Max didn’t know if this was the best topic of conversation, but considering the rest of the people were focused on their own minds, she decided she didn’t care that much about it. The Byers and Hopper had left an hour prior, and after them Vickie and Robin. The children had been left at the military base, where the rest of them were, so they hadn’t had to worry about them, which felt liberating but Max couldn’t help but feel a certain level of responsibility towards Holly. Lucas finished her braids and held her hand.
– We should probably bring you to the hospital.
– I agree. – said Max, still mesmerized by the delicacy in which he touched her.
– I’ll drive. – said Steve, getting up to look for his car keys. Lucas looked at Max.
– Do you want to call your mom?
Lucas had told her about her mom, about how she was fairly good. How she had recovered from her addiction during her coma. Max wasn’t sure how their relationship was going to go from then onwards. They had never been close, and the truth was, that even with her mom fully recovered, she wasn’t sure she could fully trust her. But she nodded, because her mom was her mom, and there were things that only a hug from a mother could resolve. Lucas put the telephone on his ear, it beeped a couple of times.
– Hi, Susan, I’m Lucas. I have a surprise for you.
She noticed the fact that they were on a first name basis, because, as far as she was concerned, her mother didn’t even know she had had a boyfriend. He put the telephone on her ear, and smiled.
– Hi, mom.
She could only hear tears on the other side of the telephone.
They met at the hospital door, Steve said he was going to try to park. Her mother had never hugged her so tightly, tears kept appearing on her eyes.
Once they were settled in what seemed to be her hospital room, Lucas left to talk to the doctors, leaving Max alone with her. She wished she could be happy to see her, but all her mommy issues seemed to be exploding in her chest, and she was suddenly crying inexplicably.
– I love you, baby. – said her mom, hugging her delicately. She smelled like her mom used to, before Neil, before Billy, before alcohol, and she was wearing a beautiful yellow dress she used to wear for events.
She decided not to answer, fully sobbing, her head on her mom’s chest, while she continued telling her how much she had missed her, how happy she was and how deeply sorry she was about everything. Max didn’t want to hear that. She was feeling kind of anxious, she wanted Lucas there, she knew how to feel around Lucas, she knew how she felt about him.
– The doctors are coming in, in a minute. – he said, appearing, leaning on the door. He was tentative, not knowing if he should enter, or if he had just interrupted something. Max wanted to move, to give him a glance, to tell him to stay, but her damn body was paralyzed, and she could barely feel herself, and the doctor was coming, and she just wanted to cry again.
But Lucas always saw her, he walked towards her, and gave her a kiss on her temple. Her mom taking a step backwards at the sight.
– I’ll wait by the door until the doctor leaves, okay? – he was so sweet, and so caring, and he knew her so much. – Then, we can talk. I have to update you on so many things!
She smiled at him, her tears almost disappearing.
– On your new DnD campaign or something?
– Besides that, but it’s true Mike did a new one a couple of months ago that was brutal.
Max let out a little laugh, he was such a dork… He kissed her temple once again, whispered a “see you”, and left the room. Her breath had slowed down, calming herself after being in his presence, almost forgetting everything else.
– He’s such a sweet guy. – said her mom.
– He is. – she said dreamily. She would have liked to see their first interaction, how they had first met, by the time they were dating racism was very present in her household, and she never felt really secure to show her mom that, how precious that relationship was for her, how she valued it more than anything.
– You know, we fought very badly this one time. He told me to put my life together, basically. He told me to quit drinking, or he would call the authorities to get another person as your legal guardian.
Max looked at her deeply, her words shattering her. Why was she telling her all of this now?
– That Steve guy had offered to do so. To be your guardian. I was really close to accepting. Then I just deeply repented, I went to rehab for a month, and I haven’t drunk since.
– I’m glad, mom.
She didn’t want to hear any of this.
– What I'm trying to say is, this boy loves you so much he shouted at me to get better for you, he never lost faith, and I… I barely even knew who he was, I didn’t even know you had had a boyfriend and I… I’m sorry I was never there for you to tell me. I’m sorry you couldn’t feel like I was there for you…
Waterfalls started cascading through her mother’s eyes, and she wished she could feel the pain, but she was struggling to grasp what she was telling her. Lucas had shouted at her, to get better, to be able to be there for her. Steve had offered to be her legal guardian. And instead of them in that room, there was her mother.
The doctor came, checked her vitals, congratulated her for “being a champion”, whatever that meant, and told her she was surprisingly great. That, if nothing went wrong, in a couple of weeks she could be at home. Another question arose of course, where was home? She assumed her mother was still living in the trailer park, she could not go with her wheelchair there.
Steve and Lucas leaned on the doorframe as soon as the doctor left, Lucas immediately going to her side and holding his hand on hers. Her mom and her explained the doctor’s good news, Lucas smiling at them widely.
– We’ll talk about the living arrangements when we’re able to, I am still living in the trailer park, and I don’t know how… – her mother started talking.
– She can come with me. – said Steve.
Max stared at him with huge eyes. What was he even talking about? She knew she probably wasn’t able to go to Lucas’ house as much as she would have wanted to. He didn’t have any bedrooms on his ground floor, and as much as Max could sleep literally wherever, she did need privacy.
– I don’t know. – added her mother. –I wouldn’t want to bother you or your parents or…
– That’s nonsense, I live in an apartment my parents used to rent before the lockdown. On my own. With an elevator. I have a spare room. Mayfield, you're coming with me. Case closed.
– Thank you. – Max said, because this was a solution she was actually comfortable with.
– Always a pleasure. Now, I’m leaving. Ms Hargrove, do you want me to give you a ride?
Susan looked at her, her hands intertwined with Lucas’.
– I have to go to work, so I’ll appreciate that.
She didn’t even have to ask to know that Lucas was staying with her, she knew he was. There was something in her mother’s gaze, a gaze that was recognizing that she was in love, that was difficult to ignore.
– I’ll come tomorrow morning as soon as I finish my shift. – she kissed her cheek repeatedly. – I love you, I’m so happy that you’re with us again.
– Me too, mom.
– And… why don’t you give a call to your father? I’ve called him before, but I think he’ll be grateful to hear your voice.
Max nodded. She had almost forgotten about her father if she was being honest. She wondered what could have happened to him during that time, she hadn’t seen him in ages. She hadn’t really known about him in ages either.
– Look, I wrote down a lot of things to tell you for when you wake up. I have the notebook stacked here, along with some of the comics I used to read to you.
He was so great. So careful. He had been lying next to her on her bed, answering any lingering question she may had. She was tired, it had been a long day, but she didn’t want him to leave. She was sure he wasn’t going to do so. Her chest was still tense by before, and she knew that he deserved honesty, he deserved knowing what was on her mind.
– I don’t want to go to my mom’s.
Lucas stopped showing her the notes he had taken, and looked at her, caressing her temple.
– I know. You’re going to Steve’s, though.
– But when I get better…
She started crying again. Max had never been much of a crier, it seemed like her new persona was. She didn't even want to think about El.
– When you get better, we’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about that now.
– I want to go with you…
She started whimpering, and he hugged her tighter.
– You know I’d love that, but… We’re sixteen, Max, I…
And that thought was truly jarring, because she hadn't really realized it. She wasn’t fifteen anymore. One year of her life, completely lost. Lucas seemed to be trying to figure out the words that would calm her.
– If that’s truly what you want I’ll talk with my parents, but we only have bedrooms upstairs and…
Max wanted to hug him, and kiss him so bad, but instead she only cried, because she couldn’t move.
– We’ll figure it all out together. The most important thing is that we are a team, we tell each other everything, and we don’t get closed off on one another. Alright?
Max nodded, her head still on his chest, his hand tracing a road on her arm.
– I won’t. We are a team.
He kissed her hair, and started to read to her one of the comics he had brought. She fell asleep peacefully in his arms. By his side, all was well.