( it makes eddie sick, just thinking about it. he knows steve wouldn't hesitate to give himself up if it meant everyone else got to live. and he knows he can't voice that concern in front of the others, because in this reality, he and steve haven't known each other long enough to trust each other that explicitly.

instead, he tries to focus on the positive spin steve is trying to put on this. while he is skeptical this will all work out in the end, he has to hope. he can't have another outcome like with the captain, where no matter what they do the end result is always the same. they have an advantage, and eddie intends to exploit it. )

Well, we know what went wrong with Dustin and me, at least. ( he pauses, as he considers their options. ) What if you stayed back with us at the trailer? Do you think Nancy and Robin would be fine on their own? ( it would certainly be a way to make sure they both lived through this. when steve takes his hand, he smiles down at it, sliding his fingers through steve's and squeezing tightly. )

I'm holding you to that. I will find a way to bring you back just to kill you again if the worst should end up happening. ( or maybe they both would die. at least then they'd be together, hopefully somewhere better than that cruise ship. )