#it'll be billy staying at that rescue centre thing because he's not leaving without max

[cherrydreamer]

More S4 thoughts about Billy chilling in his little house on the beach in Cali (the one he bought outright with his government hush money, of course), until he hears the news of the whole 'earth opening up and a ton of weird shit' happening again in Hawkins. And at first he smirks, glad that he's out of it, glad that all he has to worry about is how many entitled little shits he's gonna have signing up for surf lessons this month, and whether or not he set the VCR for Knight Rider.

But then he hears about Max. And it's mostly whispers and rumours, but it's enough to have him jumping in his car and racing the whole way back, barely stopping to sleep or eat, screeching into Hawkins and then storming right into the emergency centre, asking anyone and everyone for information on his sister, getting more and more worked up as he hears nothing but the same repeated lines about the 'proper process' from people who call him 'sir' and wave him away with pitying smiles.

And it's been a while since Billy got angry. He hasn't needed to, for the last few months. But it soon comes back to him, the familiar red mist falling over his eyes, as he stands in the middle of a row of cots and bellows at some poor soul brandishing a clipboard and a sign-in form.

And that's when Steve appears from out of the makeshift kitchen, summoned by the commotion. He's got a ratty dishtowel slung over one shoulder, and a smear of peanut butter on his cheek, but there's a calm, authoritative confidence in the way he rests a hand on Billy's shoulder, and says,

"C'mon, man, yelling at Gloria's not gonna get you anywhere. You got it all outta your system now? Good. So how about you come with me and help me finish up these sandwiches and I promise I'll explain everything."

And Billy does. A little sheepishly, he follows along and sits in a snug little backroom where Steve hands him a sandwich and a steaming mug of cocoa and, true to his word, he explains it. Everything. And Billy takes it all in, wide eyed but without saying a word -although he can't stop himself from gasping in shock when Steve talks about what happened to Max- and he's damn near shaking by the time Steve's finished, so Steve takes hold of his hand and squeezes it and says, so firmly, "She's getting better. She's fighting, every day. And you know how stubborn she is. Hey, must be something in the Cali water, man, cause, uh, you're also in damn fine shape for someone who died."

And there's no tact there, no gentle easing into it, but that's exactly why Billy's next gasp is one of laughter.

#harringrove #ish #oh it will be you know me! #it'll be billy staying at that rescue centre thing because he's not leaving without max #and seeing how competent and mature steve is now #watching him entertaining a toddler while her mom collects food parcels #or comforting an old man who still can't find his wife #things like that #and of course steve takes billy to the hospital every day after his shifts #goes with him and encourges him to talk to max #doesn't sugar coat how much she was grieving #makes sure billy knows he messed up by not letting her know what happened to him #tells billy to make it right #but helps him do it too #cherrywrites #st spoilers #s4 spoilers #(yes i forgot the word for the refuge thing they set up in the school and google is not helping!)