There's No Place Like Hawkins//Stranger Things. SH

SEVENTY NINE

The Piggyback

After taking Eddie's body back to the real Hawkins and driving him to the hospital (and admitting him under a false name and quick make-shift disguise), Steve dropped them all off home. Robin had elected to stay at the hospital and keep an eye on Eddie. Both Cat and Steve had also had their injuries attended to, although they didn't have to stay overnight.

Nancy had been dropped off first, the girl making sure to pass out quick hugs to her friends before running inside to her family. When they made it to the Henderson household, Cat paused at the Winnebago door and turned back to Steve. "Do you wanna stay? I don't really want to be alone, and I know your parents won't get home for at least another week."

Exhausted, and also not in the mood to be left alone in a big, empty house, Steve agreed. He switched off the engine and followed Cat into her house, where she was immediately pulled into a tight hug by her mother. "Where have you been?!" Claudia cried, squeezing her daughter's shoulders. "There's a serial killer on the loose and you just disappear for days? Not to mention an earthquake!"

Cat let out a tired sigh. "Eddie- Eddie didn't kill those kids, Mom. You've got to believe me."

Claudia pulled her daughter into another hug. "Of course, I believe you. That boy doesn't have a bad bone in his body. He was always so sweet to you and Dusty." At her mother's words, Cat burst into a fresh wave of tears and excused herself to the bathroom to shower away all the blood and dirt she was covered in.

"Cat didn't mean to worry you Mrs. Henderson." Steve told her, the older woman's attention turning to him. "We were just trying to help Eddie and couldn't get to any phones. At least, none that worked anyway. Sorry Mrs. Henderson."

Shaking her head, a soft smile appeared on Claudia's face. "It's okay Steve, I know you kept the both of my babies safe. Thank you, Steve." She stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you for always keeping them safe."

***

Later that evening after cleaning themselves up, Cat lay curled up next to Steve in her bed. She wasn't sure how long she'd been lying there with her eyes open, but it was long enough to know that she wasn't going to be sleeping that night- at least not without any nightmares. Each time her eyes fluttered closed, all she could see was Vecna killing her friends. Watching Max and Eddie die over and over again, unable to save them.

After a little while longer she decided to give up trying to sleep and sat up in bed, reaching for the book on her nightstand. Feeling his girlfriend shift positions, Steve opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Can't sleep?"

Cat shook her head. "No. And every time I try, I'm just plagued with nightmares. I was going to read for a little bit. Would it bother you if I turned the lamp on?"