A/N: Here I go again! Just another idea that popped into my head while watching the show. If you haven't seen the end of S7 E16, or the beginning of S7 E17, or just forget what happens during them, I recommend you see them just to have a good idea of what is happening before you start reading. I didn't know I'd be doing a second story on here, but you were all awesome with your reviews of my previous work, so I couldn't wait to get started on this. Thank you all and I hope you enjoy!
A Point Place Production
Chapter 1
Eric Foreman just finished shutting off the television after watching his buddy Kelso's big tv debut on "Slut or Not". He got a chuckle out of witnessing the world's first televised "burn" right before his very eyes. It was a moment of much needed comic relief for him, as this had not been the best of weeks so far.
See, what happened earlier in the day had him extremely worried about his future. The trip over to Stu Bailey's (or to be entirely accurate, his mother's) house proved to be an eye opener. Was it his destiny to be eating sandwiches in the shape of X-Wing fighters made by mommy in another fifteen years? He certainly hoped not. On an impulse, he returned home to the basement to see none other than the tiny devil herself sitting on the couch, seemingly in deep thought herself.
Eric had to admit to himself that when it came to the basement group, Jackie would be about the last person he would want to see after having his latest life epiphany occur just a couple hours prior to now. It did cheer him up a bit to know deep down that his arch nemesis was as human as he was when she told him about her failed television debut. For reasons unknown to him, he was always a sucker for when she looked desperate for help and advice as she did then. He gave her his honest opinion about her latest crisis, which gave her the lift she apparently needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and give her show another try.
Of course, when he started to turn the tables of the conversation back on himself, the ungrateful Ice Queen couldn't get out of the basement quick enough. When Eric really thought about it though, that was the way it always was with them. The geek and the cheerleader never saw eye to eye, and were simply bound together by having the same friends.
So what happened next? Of course, the main topic at the kitchen table for lunch was once again the devil herself! Did the whole world evolve around her or what? He was in the presence of Fez and his surrogate brother and the on again, off again beau of one certain Ice Queen, Stephen Hyde. When Hyde asked Eric for his advice on whether to get back with her, he had to admit that he hated seeing Hyde slip back into his shell he put up. Like her or not, he had to admit he had never seen his curly haired buddy as happy as he was when they were together. After lunch, Fez had to take off for work at the beauty shop, and Hyde decided to go to the tv station and confront Jackie once and for all about their relationship.
Once again, Eric was left alone with his thoughts and knew he had to keep busy or he'd drive himself nuts thinking about his uncertain future. After properly disposing of his comic book collection, he decided to check out Jackie's next attempt at her show, which he thought may provide great comic relief to watch her sweat out being on camera again. Instead, something entirely different happened, the show was actually good!
This led to where he was now, sitting on the couch in the basement contemplating his future once again. Damn it, he thought. Jackie even has set some kind of direction for herself, and she doesn't even graduate high school for a couple more weeks! Where was Donna when you needed her? Oh, even she was helping Jackie on this latest venture of hers too, being the director of her newscast. In fact, not counting Hyde for obvious reasons, he was the only person of the group she did not ask to help out with the show. Eric shook his head. Why would I even want to help out with that project anyway? Would I like being on television? Maybe I should just leave town for...hmmm...leave town...television...camera...bingo! Eric jumped off from the couch with a giant grin on his face and ran out of the basement for the Vista Cruiser and took the family video camera with him. The devil owed him one...and it was time for him to collect!
On his way to the television studio, he passed Hyde in the El Camino driving in the opposite direction, and he didn't see if there was anyone else in the car with him. Damn! They probably kissed and made up already. Normally Eric would care less about the midget's whereabouts, but she was a part of the plan he had formulated. Oh well, I'm almost there and might as well keep going. Maybe I can give Donna a ride. The decision was made to keep going to the tv studio and stick to the plan.
Upon his arrival at the studio parking lot, he laid eyes on his longtime friend Michael Kelso and his current girlfriend, also known as Hyde's half-sister Angie. Kelso ran towards the Vista Crusier with a giant grin on his face, greeting his friend as he exited. "Eric, guess what?"he asked excitedly.
Eric smiled at this sight. "I know, man. You were the world's first televised burn victim. You should be proud. By the way, good going Angie! You finally did it."
"Thanks Eric." Angie responded with a smile.
Kelso looked confused, tapping Eric on the shoulder to get his attention back. "That's not the good news though."
"What Kelso, did you find the bouncy ball that went missing the other day?"
The goofy kid shook his head. "No, man. Turns out the tv people in there liked "Slut or Not" so much when I did it of Jackie's show, that I get my own half hour show for it!"
What is this world coming to? Eric thought on the inside, but patted his friend on the back in reality. "That's...great Kelso."
"I know. We'll be back at the basement rehearsing for our next show after we get a phone book. See you back there." Kelso waved to his friend as he took Angie's hand as they headed for his car, and they drove off.
Eric took a deep breath as he watched his friends leave. Time to get this over with. He then opened the front door and stepped in the studio.
The secretary at the front desk pointed Eric in the right direction and he was surprised at what he saw when he looked in the doorway. There was Jackie Burkhart, sitting at the make-up chair/make shift desk, apparently writing notes about next week's show. Eric knocked at the door softly.
The devil didn't even look up from the work she was doing and just stated "Steven, I'm glad you stopped by and everything, but I have work to fin..."
She was interrupted by another familiar voice "Its not Steven...pudding pop." the voice declared mockingly.
Whoa! I seem to have hit a nerve! Eric thought as he he received a momentary glare from her before she just buried her head back in her work before responding. "If you're here for Donna, she left already and I don't have time for..."
Eric interrupted her again. "Actually, surprise, I'm not here to see Donna. I'm here to see you."
Jackie didn't like the smirk he was wearing at the moment. She stood up , arms folded and sighing heavily. "What is it Eric?"
I better fix what I started here. The heels on those shoes look pretty sharp! "I'm sorry. When I saw the El Camino drive by on the way here, I figured you just left in it, so I didn't expect to see..."
It was Jackie's turn to interrupt this time. "Why would I do that?" the wheels started to turn in Jackie's head and she started to smile..."Unless that means..." Eric grabbed her arm lightly before she got too excited.
"Look, Jackie, I don't know what he was doing or why he came down. Whatever is going on between you guys is your business." he responded with his hands in the air, declaring his innocence.
She looked at the ground for a moment and regained herself. With a confused glance in the geek's direction, asked the obvious question. "So why are you here, Eric?"
Eric smiled and began speaking. "First off, I saw the show and you were great. I was watching in hopes of getting to see you sweat on camera, but no such luck!"
There was a backhanded complement if she ever heard one. She just smiled back at him. "Yeah, well, its your own fault that you didn't see that again. Imagine that, Eric. I actually listened to your advice."
Eric scoffed at this. "That's hardly the first time you've took my advice, lady! You say it like you weren't looking for it. I know better than that. This time, my advice comes with a price tag."
Jackie just glared in response and started to walk back to her table. "Look, like I said Eric, I have all this work to finish, so I guess I'll be seeing you..."
She was interrupted again and Eric spun her around this time. "Look, it could actually be beneficial to your show here."
Jackie flashed him an annoyed look and folded her arms again. "You have one minute."
Eric took another deep breath and began his pitch. " Like I was beginning to say at home earlier when you left me abruptly, I've wasted this entire year here and I certainly don't want to become the next Stu Bailey."
"Is there a point to this, Eric?"
"Believe it or not, I have the next career I'm going to try to explore. I finished reading Jack Kerouac's On the Road the other day and between that and seeing your show, it led me to the perfect occupation."
Jackie rolled her eyes. "Oh I can't wait to hear this brilliant plan."
Eric grinned. "See, I'm going to bee a Traveling Documentary Filmmaker!"
He was greeted with a pair of multi colored eyes staring back at him like he had five heads or something. "A what...what...what...whatter?" she asked confused.
"You see, its great! Each day I'll travel to a new place and people will buy my movies I make with me telling all my tales from the road. Maybe I'll even write a book about it like Kerouac did."
Jackie shook her head. "And this involves me...how?"
"Simple. Everyone needs to start somewhere. I saw Kelso in the parking lot and what he told me makes my idea that much more brilliant! I can go on the road each week and film a piece on a different place I traveled to. Then you can air it on your show!"
"If that's what you want to try, knock yourself out, really. But I'm warning you right now, Foreman, if my show gets dragged down by your little..."
He put her hands on her shoulders in order to stop her speech. "Oh, but I wouldn't dream of interrupting your show with something you don't approve of. That's why the other half the price for my awesome advice is that you're coming with me to produce the piece."
Jackie laughed mockingly at his request. "No can do, Forman. I have this little thing you might have heard of before. It's called school. I know you might have forgotten about obligations like that, but some of us still actually have them!"
Eric pondered what she said for a moment. "Okay, then we'll just do a trip somewhere for the day. We won't go very far since I know how important school really is to you during your last week and everything. All I remember about my last week of school before graduation was figuring out which class I going to show up for before I cut for the day."
"I'm dying of laughter, really Eric. Look, since you did help me out today, I'll give this thing a try with you, ONCE. If it doesn't go well, we call the whole thing off. Deal?" Jackie stuck out her hand.
"Deal." he replied, shaking his rival's hand.
Jackie was about to return to her desk and resume working when another question popped into her mind. "Eric, why don't you just ask Donna to produce for you?"
"Well, she's pretty busy these days with producing your show and the gig at the radio station. Plus, I probably owe her way more than she owes me. Get some rest Jackie. We'll meet in my driveway in the morning for out first assignment. See you then." Eric smiled and waved, turning to leave.
Jackie just mumbled "Bye, Eric." as she took her seat at her table. She tried to resume her work, but instead opted to bury her face in her hands. What have I gotten myself into?
A/N: I may be thinking the same thing as Jackie, as there are a lot of moving parts to deal with at the point where the story starts. Hope you all like the idea, thank you for reading and I hope to hear from you guys with feedback soon!