"Shit." Sidney's thoughts repeated as she sat by Joyce for at least the entire day. No way in hell that Sidney was leaving her friend, not after what just happened.

"You should be heading back," Joyce suggested. "Jesse and Wyatt are probably worried."

Sidney frowned, "Jesse's missing too."

"What?" Joyce's head lifted, her eyes stunned in worry over the sudden news. "But....how?"

"I don't know but that's what we're finna find out. Perhaps what's happening to her, is happening to Will. By the looks of it, my guess is that Will's held somewhere else. Like a pocket dimension that Wyatt and Will's friends would usually think."

"And...and you think that this is connected with Jesse?"

"Perhaps," Sidney sighed, relaxing her body a bit on the couch as she thought of what her next move should be now. "I think she's trapped there too...."

Before Joyce could say something else, they both heard a honk outside the house, Sidney believed it was Jonathan, probably back after school and grieving for what he thought was his brother.

"I'll look to see who it is. You continue getting some rest, okay?" Sidney told her, Joyce nodded as she watched her walk outside.

Sidney saw an unfamiliar car, at least that's what she thought at first. It clearly wasn't Jonathan but rather facing a —--

"Fuck," Sidney muttered as the last person on earth she wanted to see step out of the car.

Lonnie Byers came back to Hawkins. And she wasn't pleased.

Sidney stood in front of the porch. So much shit was happening and yet this fucker had to come up and most certainly make things worst. Questions started to rear her head. Why did he come back? Or what did he want? She could expect that he's trying to get into her pants again, that's all the dumbass ever hoped for. But she supposed she have to do this quick, then continue finding her and Joyce's kids.

Sidney kept her polite and warm facial expression, not revealing her other side when needed.

"Well. Well. Well. If it isn't Hawkins' Superhero?"

"Lonnie."

"Ah, Sidney, Sidney, Sidney.....still fine as ever I remember. It's good seeing you."

"And it's terrible seeing you too." Sidney smiled sarcastically.

Lonnie chuckled but Jess could tell he was trying to keep his anger in. "So uhh....is Joyce inside?"

"Why?" Sidney glared, her stance never once moving.

"It's just...I heard about Will and everything, and....just want to see my wife again eh? Imma be inside and tell my part, make her vulnerable and at ease, then she'll be in my grasp again. Pretty clever right?"

'Wyatt would feel offended having that be called clever'

"So uh, if you don't mind. I appreciate it if you back off right now."

"Excuse me?" Sidney crossed her arms.

"Back down!" Lonnie rolled his eyes. "Like fuck off! I don't need you putting these ridiculous ideas into her mind and encouraging them."

"No," Sidney spoke up, her feet in one place, blocking Lonnie's path.

She hated at most when she had to watch him talk down his family before, and even her kids in the past. She wasn't gonna let the same mistake twice, especially like this.

"No?" Lonnie asked questionably.

"They don't want to see you," She replied coldly, standing on her ground. "Neither does Jonathan or my kids. Now leave."

"Don't get me that, Sid! Come on, I want my family, I want-"

"Watch what you say next," Sidney said, annoyingly rolling her eyes as her hands were silently clenching. "They aren't your family Lonnie. Not anymore. Joyce never wants anything to do with you, so leave."

"It's my son!" Lonnie exclaimed, "And my wife needs me-"

"Bullshit," Sidney snorted, "You don't care about Will. You never did. I know you're here for his insurance to pay off your stupid debts and don't you dare use Jonathan as an excuse. I've known you for years, long enough to know the person you are. My only regret was that you weren't out of their lives soon than you did. My kids included. We were fine without you and we still are."

Lonnie stepped right in front of her, bristling with bits of rage but he don't realize that Sidney saw worst. This guy was nothing but an ant.

"So this what she's been doing huh? What the Chief's been doing?" Lonnie smirked, "Wrapping you and Joyce around his fingers, bet he'd want you-"

"Leave Hop out of this," Sidney's eyes furrowed, "And I'd advise that you leave as soon as possible. You don't care about Will, you never did!"

"Oh please, now Will may be a little queer and weird but he's still my son. He belongs to me!" Lonnie spits out queer like it was a curse word.

Sidney winced a bit as Lonnie continued, "And hey besides....you knew just as much as I."

Sidney started to lose her patience, "Yeah I do..." she replied, "...and I didn't have a problem unlike you. Will's different and a good parent would accept that. But you can't."

"So you'll just allow that under your roof?" Lonnie exclaimed.

"Yeah, and what's more I'd encourage it. If it made him happy, so I'd be happy. And I was an idiot for not saying anything before."

Lonnie grinned, "Good riddance to him I'd say, good thing you're son isn't even a queer even if he's a retarded little shit who can't even explain or speak right-"

Lonnie was met with a twist in a lock and a knee right in the lower sides, Sidney lost all her patients as soon as he said 'your son.'

She can easily tell Lonnie was never a hard person to smack around, he was the type of person to pick on weaker prey but never someone with Hopper's experience and most certainly not Sidney's experience.

Sidney lowered down while he was on the ground, grabbing him by the collar of his front shit and gripping it tightly, "Now a few things I want you to do. You will leave town, you'll never come back, and you are going to never contact them or any of the other kids ever again."

Sidney used her knee to stomp on his other arm, "And if I catch you. If I see you. There will be hell to pay. Nod if you understand?"

Lonnie nods, and Sidney smiled innocently.

"Good, now back in your car. I'm sure you can drive with your hands, even if they're sore."

Sidney released him and demanded off their territory. She made sure Lonnie was off towards the driveway and back inside his car.

Sidney sighed, rubbing her head. A rough day this was. First initiating the investigation of Will's body, then arguing with Hop, then finding out that Will was alive, now she had to deal with this piece of shit. One of these days it'll be the death of her.

She stepped through the door and back inside, meeting with Joyce who was laying on the couch. Sidney sat beside her and motioned her to scoot over, allowing Joyce's head on her lap.

"W-what was that?" Joyce silently asked.

Apart of Sidney wanted to tell her what happened but after what had transpired today, she didn't want to add more stress to Joyce. She knew had she didn't do what she did, Joyce would fall into Lonnie's game while she was distressed and like hell it did.

"Nothing, just some early carols. You know how people just for some reason celebrate Christmas a month before December hits." Sidney annoyingly sighed, using her back finger to rub the left side of her friend's hair, attempting to cool her down.

"Oh..." Joyce frowned, not really worrying about that now that Sidney told her. "You didn't tell them off did you."

Sidney let out a small yet silently awkward chuckle, "You must mistake me for Hopper. You know I mostly rely on a polite diplomat."

"Are you going back into your house?"

"Soon," Sidney gave her a small smile, "But I'm gonna stay here, watch over you and make sure nothing happens."

"Thanks, Sidney," she said sincerely before eventually falling asleep with Sidney sitting by her, eventually sleeping as well.

The wind whistled over the dark grounds of Hawkins Lab as two scientists left through the main entrance.

An alarm sound was heard.

Hopper quickly snuck through the glass door that hadn't closed all the way yet as he crept through the halls, checking around corners and peeking into empty offices to be sure the coast was clear.

However, flashes started to move quite violently as she noticed Hopper draw back his right fist and punched one of the security hard in the face then pulled the man's gun from his belt before he reached the ground.

After forcing him against the wall, Hopper grabbed his badge and took a few steps back then swiped the badge through the door keypad afterward.

After a buzz, the doors opened.

Hopper scattered through the corridor beyond. One on the other side, the doors closed and he found another keypad then shot at the system as the halls went dark.

"Will?"

Hopper's voice shouted as the constant noise in the dark abandoned laboratory echoed through the room though there was no sign of the boy.

"Will? Will?"

Making his way through the halls he continued to call for the missing boy until he found himself in a tiny room which contained a small bed and bedside table.

Looking up, they both noticed a security camera in a ceiling corner trained directly on the bed.

It was a stuffed lion that sat on the gray covers.

And met by it on the wall, was a child's drawing.

Two stick figures,

One tall.

One short.

Labeled, "Papa" and "11"

Suddenly as Hopper continued through his journey, lights seemed to flicker violently into that of a red light as walls morphed differently.

Names and numbers were scattered and drawn across the room as blood was stained on the walls.

"2"

"3"

"4"

"8"

"10"

Followed by more images with a voice,

"You have been met with a terrible fate haven't you...."

Jones

Sidney sprung up, taking huge heavy breathers as she opened her eyes. The detective looked around the room, she was in Joyce's room. She found Joyce sleeping calmly beside her.

She quickly sprung out of the couch, taking a glance at the walls and lights before she took a few stretches.

She sat by the kitchen table, rubbing her forehead to process what she just saw in her dream...or nightmare whatever the hell it was.

She remembered the things she'd witnessed. Jesse held by whatever this dimension was, strung up with her eyes gone and slug coming out of her mouth. The sight made her want to throw up at the thought of Jesse....

'No' Sidney shook her head, she wasn't gonna fail her kid. She needed to find her next move quickly.

Because Jesse wasn't just the only one she saw. But Wyatt, Will, Barbara, Nancy, and even Hopper.

'They will all die'

She felt a ringing in her head, letting out a wince of pain before feeling something wiggly in her nose.

'The hell?'

Sidney felt the need to beg if this was a dream. She hated feeling vulnerable. Like there was nothing she could do. Never again.

RING

Sidney felt a buzz in her pocket, taking it out, she found someone calling her on the phone. She let out a sigh before calling whoever it was,

She looked at her friend who was currently sleeping, letting out a sigh of relief that some possible lousy phone call did not wake her. That was the last thing she needed.

"Hello?" Sidney muttered, rubbing her eyes. "This is Sidney Jones."

"Miss Jones?"

It was Nancy. Sidney raised an eyebrow, curious about what this could be. As if things didn't get weirder and more complicated than last night.

"Nancy? You know this is my phone and-"

"I know, that's why I called," She explained.

"What's up?" Sidney asked, making herself some coffee.

"It's about Barb....and Jesse."

Sidney stood silent, her eyebrow furrowing. "What?"

"I'll explain with you and Jonathan at the funeral. Just please don't tell anyone. We just need you to trust us on this if we want to have a chance of saving Barb and Jesse."

"Okay, Nancy what are you talking about, tell me now," Sidney demanded before the phone instantly hung up before she could even bring her demanding tone out. Sidney stared at the phone, hearing the line cut.

"Shit." She muttered.