I do intend on updating "Face Down" very soon, so thank you for all of your reviews. This story kind've came to me last night when I was watching reruns of the show.
Going Home
"Have a good trip" were the last words Steven Hyde spoke to her. That was nearly six years ago. Then she was gone. Chicago became her home. She never completely got over him, but she dated. Mostly though, she buried herself inside her work, and being a single mother to her daily reminder of the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She'd taken the job she'd been offered in Chicago, and a month and a half later she discovered that she was pregnant. She continued to work as an assistant to the star of Chicago's highest rated morning show. In the summer of 1980 Jackie gave birth to Emma Katherine Burkhart. She eventually moved up to being the co host on her morning show, and was now a very well known face in Chicago.
Jackie had never returned to Point Place, and she rarely ever spoke to any of her friends. She sent a Christmas card to Donna and the Formans every year, but never left a return address. Basically, she had cut everyone out of her life. She always wondered what would've been, what if he had asked her to stay, what if she had never gotten pregnant, but for the most part, she was happy. She loved her daughter more than anything, and Emma was worth everyone in her life.
Chapter One-News
Today was like any other day for the twenty five year old girl, after dropping Emma off at her babysitters, she was off to the station for her read through, make up, and then the show. Walking in, a few people waved and smiled.
"Morning Jackie" Rosalie, Jackies assistant smiled from her desk.
"Any messages?" Jackie questioned, stopping in front of the young girls desk. A few months ago, her last assistant had quit, and Jackie had taken a chance on the nineteen year old girl who reminded her of herself at that age.
"Actually, you got a call about twenty minutes ago" Rosalie told her, looking for the piece of paper, "a lady named Kitty Forman" the blonde smiled, "she said its really important.. and she wouldn't call unless it was an emergency" she finished, handing her the number. Jackies stomach dropped at the mention of the name. She hadn't seen Kitty Forman since she'd left Point Place almost six years ago. Everyone from her home town had given up calling the station after the first year of Jackie rejecting their phone calls.
"Did she say what was wrong?" Jackie finally choked out, but the girl shook her head.
"No, she sounded pretty upset though..Wanted you to call her as soon as you could" Rose told her.
"Thanks Rose" the now blank faced brunette said, walking into her office and closing the door behind her. Sitting at her desk, Jackie sighed. She looked at the pictures she had on her desk, mostly of herself and Emma. But there was an old photo taken seven years ago taped to the edge of her desk. It was Thanksgiving at the Formans, and Kitty insisted on getting a family picture. It was Red and Kitty Forman, crowded around them was all of the Formans children. Of course, Eric was the only one that was theirs, but they claimed the rest as their own.
She smiled running her finger tips across the photo before dialing the familiar number, they'd never changed it. It rang, and rang, it felt like an hour before Jackie finally heard the tearful voice of her adopted mother.
"Mrs. Forman?" she said quietly.
"Jackie?" the older woman asked, as if she was completely shocked, "I didn't think you'd call back.."
"Rosalie said it was an emergency.. I wanted to make sure everyone was okay" Jackie said honestly, the silence on the end of the line made her heart almost stop.
"I wish everyone was" Kitty told her honestly, "sweetie, its Fez"
"Wh.. what happened? Is he going to be okay?" Jackie asked nervously, it suddenly felt like it was hard to breathe.
"We're not sure..its not looking good though" she said tearfully, "he was going home from the bar the other night, it was Michaels engagement party" she rushed to explain, "he'd been drinking and hit a tree.." Jackie forced herself not to swallow the lump in her throat.
"Oh my god" she sighed, not knowing what else she could say.
"I figured you'd want to know.. I'm sorry I didn't have better news dear"
"I.. I don't know what to say.. you don't know if hes going to make it?" Even if Jackie hadn't seen the boy who once worshiped the ground she walked on in years, she couldn't imagine him not being alive.
"They're doing another surgery to try to repair the damage tonight.. but if it doesn't go well, he won't make it through the night" Jackie knew how hard it was for Kitty to even say those words.
"I'm on my way" Jackie finally said after a moment of silence.
"Oh dear.. I wish it was under better circumstances, but it'll be so good to see you" the older lady was now in tears.
"I know, I'll see you later Mrs. Forman" Jackie promised before hanging up the phone.
Jackie sat in silence for about five minutes before Rosalie came through the door.
"Jackie, they're ready for you to do the read through" she said, but had a concerned look as soon as she saw the pained look on her bosses face, "are you okay?"
"No" Jackie answered honestly, "I'm not doing the show today"
"What, is everything okay?" Rosalie was in full panic mode now.
"No, its not" Jackie sighed, not meaning to take things out on Rosalie, "call Mrs. Heartford and tell her I'm on my way to pick up Emma"
"But what about the show..?" the blonde was clearly confused.
"Rose, I trust you, you've watched me for months, you do the show until I get back.. I'm not sure when that will be, but I need to go now" Jackie was trying to stay calm.
"Um, okay.. but what do I tell the others?" Jackie shook her head.
"Tell them if they have any problems with who I've chosen to take my place why I take my first vacation in over five years than they'll deal with me when I get back" she spat, and Rosalie was off to make her phone calls.
After packing bags for both her and Emma, and going to get Emma from her babysitters, Jackie was on the road and on the way back to the place she never wanted to step foot in again. But she knew if she didn't go, and Fez actually died, she'd feel guilty for the rest of her life. She needed to be there for her friends, for her family, even if it meant causing herself pain.
"Mommy, where are we going?" A small voice in the backseat asked, Jackie looked in her rear view mirror at the five year old and faked a smile. She looked so much like him, even with Jackies dark long hair, those eyes were his. Those baby blue eyes.
"We're going home baby" she said quietly, seeing the confused look on her daughters face. The car ride was mostly silent, and seemed to drag on. Finally though, by noon, Jackie finally saw the "Welcome to Point Place" sign. Being back on the all too familiar streets of her hometown seemed like a dream to her, she wished all of this was just a dream. Jackie figured that everyone was probably at the hospital, so thats the first place she went.
"Is someone sick mommy?" Emma asked once she'd gotten out of the car.
"Yeah baby" Jackie said sadly, "a really good friend of mommy's is very sick right now" she told the little girl.
"Are they gonna be okay?" the blue eyed girl asked, taking Jackies hand.
"I hope so" Jackie said quietly, walking with her daughter through the doors. "You've got to be really good here okay? You're going to meet a lot of new people.. so be nice"
"Okay" was all the little girl said.
"Can I help you Ms.?" a nurse questioned, it was then that it occurred to Jackie that she didn't even know Fez's real name.
"I.. um" Jackie started, "I'm looking for someone.. is Kitty Forman here?"
"Shes with her family" the nurse said sternly, "her sons friend isn't out of surgery yet.. I'm not sure they want to see anyone"
"No, she wants to see me" Jackie promised, "I'm.. part of the family"
The nurse frowned, looking at Jackie and then at Emma but finally caved.
"Its on the third floor, they're in the waiting room" she told them. Jackie smiled sadly before walking towards the elevator.
"Mommy, are we seeing family?" Emma questioned, looking a bit nervous.
"Yeah sweetie, these are the people who helped take care of mommy when she was a kid" Jackie explained, picking up the little girl as they entered the elevator.
"Will they like me?" her daughter asked, and Jackie couldn't help but smile, even with everything going on in her mind.
"They'll love you, I promise" and she knew that was true. Everyone would love her, except maybe Steven Hyde.