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Chapter 02 – Trust Issues

April 1986

Eric was welcomed into the Kelso household with open arms. Kelso had developed a little bit of a paunch that he was rather proud of, but beyond that he was still the same funny guy Eric grew up with. Brooke was lovely as usual and gave Eric a hug and greeted with a smile.

Kelso gave Eric the same just because you divorced your wife you didn't divorce your friends' speech that Fez did. Eric smiled and endured it. Kelso and Brooke were so blissfully happy and he had that once. Don't torture yourself! Eric broke away from the place where is brain was headed.

Brooke brought him a beer and Eric walked around the living room looking at the family photos on the wall. There was one of the old basement gang – Eric smiled ruefully at his 17 year old self - the teenager who had the perfect life and didn't recognize it. There was some pictures of Fez rolling Betsy's hair, a couple of family portraits and a group picture with the Kelso's, Fez and a woman wearing black clothes, with dark glasses and a hat.

Kelso came over to see which picture Eric stopped at. "Oh that's Jackie. She didn't want anyone to see her in that photo."

Eric looked puzzled. The Jackie he remembered would have been in the foreground with a dazzling smile hogging all the attention. "Was this a Halloween picture?"

Brooke stepped over, "Oh…she um…she had been in the hospital." Brooke lied just a bit. The dark glasses were actually covering a black eye and the hat was covering the nine stitches in her forehead.

"Oh, she had plastic surgery?"

Kelso laughed and then Brooke glared at him. "Dude, that was funny, but we don't talk about that picture. Maybe some other time – let's get some food from the kitchen, the game is about to start."

Eric looked back at the picture – there was something peculiar about it – it bothered him for a moment then he shrugged and followed Kelso into the kitchen.

*

"Goddess, I just want to cut the split ends – you're looking fuzzy." Fez said gently. Jackie looked at herself in the mirror. Fez was right, her hair was getting raggedy. Her face still looked as white as a sheet. "Okay, you can give me a trim but don't butcher it okay? My hair is all I have left."

Fez looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. His poor beauty had been through so much in the name of love. She was just a mere shadow of her former self. Fez missed her fire and spark. She was like a Jackie-ghost. "I can give you some highlights…"

Fez had to laugh when she scrunched up her nose. "I don't do highlights! Ugh!"

There she was – Jackie was in there somewhere and Fez hoped she came out soon. He missed her biting wit and criticisms. He missed his Jackie.

*

"Brooke, I don't know. I'm still not comfortable around groups of people."

"Sweetie, it's just us, Fez and Eric Forman. There's no big group - just a dinner. We want Eric to feel comfortable too. Just stay for dinner - you don't have to visit if you don't want."

"Can I think about it?"

"No. You're either coming or not. I have to shop so I need an answer. Jackie, this is a step forward. Don't go backwards on me."

Jackie sighed into the phone. "You're right. I'll be there. Can I bring a salad?" She heard her best friend chuckle in the phone. "As if you had to ask - just be here on Sunday okay?"

"Yes mother." Jackie joked. "Tell Fez I got some candy flowers for him."

*

"Dude, just so you know, Jackie's gonna be here. But don't get her upset or Brooke will kill both of us."

"Kelso, I don't plan on upsetting anyone. In fact, I haven't seen Jackie since I got back from Africa. It might be nice as long as she's still not the bitch she used to be."

"Oh dude, right there. That's gonna get you in trouble. See ya Sunday!"

Eric hung up the receiver wondering why Brooke was so concerned about upsetting Jackie. Did her plastic surgery come out horrible?

*

Jackie sat in her Mustang and looked at the Kelso house. It was a cute little Cape Cod wannabe with a small front yard and two cars in the driveway. She checked her makeup in the rear-view mirror and pasted on a smile. Okay, now she looked Jackie-ish. Grabbing her purse and the salad, she walked up the drive to the backdoor.

Brooke was peeling potatoes and waved Jackie inside. "Hey sweetie, how are you? Just set the salad on the table. Michael's watching the game in the living room." Jackie set her bowl on the dining room table and pulled a chair into the kitchen. "I've stopped taking the medication."

Brooke stopped peeling and looked up. "Really? Has it been okay?"

Jackie smiled. "I still feel panicky, but yeah, it's been okay. I just have to remember to watch out for situations that would cause anxiety. Dr. Palmer says I'm making great progress."

"Sweetie, I'm proud of you. It's been a long road but you did it. You should feel proud of yourself."

Jackie blushed. "I should... but I'm just glad that I can finally take care of me. I have moments when I feel like I'm going to break into pieces but its getting better."

Brooke handed Jackie a potato and peeler. "Give me a hand. I know you like to keep busy." Jackie smiled, it helped that she had friends that understood what she had gone through and her long road to recovery.

Fez came through the back door and stopped so he wouldn't startle his friend. "I heard you had candy..."

Jackie turned around and smiled. "Hey Fez, I'm so glad to see you and yes I do." She wiped the potato starch from her hands and walked over to her purse. She pulled out a brown paper bag and handed it to her brown friend.

Fez raised an eyebrow and slowly unrolled the top of the bag. He pulled out three delicate rock sugar flowers. "This is candy?"

"Well, I've been experimenting with sugar - it's called Rock Candy. But you can't eat it until after dinner."

Brooke walked over to examine the candy. "Jackie, this is beautiful. I love how the red in the roses sort of fades..."

Fez pulled the candy away from the girls. "Do not fall in love with the candy. This is for Fez and Goddess, I agree that it is beautiful but I will still eat it."

Jackie smiled. "That's why I made it. Just a new hobby I've started." Fez held out his elbow, "Let's go harass Kelso."

"I can't - I'm helping Brooke with dinner."

Brooke grinned, "Girls rule...boys drool - go wait in the living room with Michael. Eric should be here soon."

Jackie visibly tensed up. Brooke touched her hand. "Honey, it's okay. You haven't seen Eric in a long time. He had a bad divorce and it took some convincing to get him to come over. You both had a hard couple of years."

*

Eric walked through the open door. "Hey, I brought wine and beer. I didn't know what Brooke wanted." Fez smiled wide at seeing his friend. "It's the HOR! When are we playing basketball again?"

Kelso looked at his friends. "You guys are playing without me? No fair! I'm the athlete!"

Grinning, Eric replied, "Maybe that's why you weren't invited. I can only take one friend kicking my ass and he's as tall as me!" Eric added, "Looking at your beer belly…."

Kelso brushed back his hair, "But I look better on the court." Fez and Eric laughed. "You wish! Hey where's Brooke. I'm still holding the drinks."

Fez took the beverages from Eric and carried them into the kitchen. Brooke came out and hugged Eric. "I'm glad you came. It's not your mother's cooking, but I come pretty close!" Eric sat on the couch next to Kelso who was cheering as his team scored another point. Eric was barely aware when Fez came back out of the kitchen with someone else. Eric turned his head, he knew Jackie was here and was getting ready to greet her when she just froze. She turned her face towards Fez's chest. "Goddess, it's okay. Just Eric - Everything's good." he said softly.

Eric wasn't sure of what was going on, but the scene before him was disturbing. Jackie Burkhart should have burst through the door and started ragging on him for something, but that wasn't happening. Fez turned her around and her eyes were as wide as an owl's. Finally in a soft voice, she said. "Hello Eric." which confused him even more.

He looked over at the pretty face he remembered from years ago, her blue/green eyes were huge and her skin was pale against her dark hair. She wore some dark colored dress with black leggings - she seemed like a ghost of her previous self. She held out her hand. Not knowing what to do, Eric shook it like he would with any other stranger.

She seemed relieved and Fez led her to an armchair. "Goddess, I'll get you a beer. Kelso's over there."

She smiled at Fez while Kelso shouted a "Hey!" towards her but continued to watch the game. Eric felt like he came into a movie in the middle of the show. Jackie seemed content to sit and watch a sports show. This was too strange. Kelso stood up, "I'm going to see a man about a horse."

When Kelso left the room, the air seemed to chill. Eric looked over at Jackie who was staring at him like he was a stranger. He tried to grin but faltered. "So Jackie...how have you been?"

She continued to stare at him and there was a long pause before she replied, "Fine. Everything's fine. You don't have to worry."

"O-kay." So much for conversation. Fortunately, Fez came back with a couple of beers. Jackie took one and Fez gave the other to Eric. "It's so good to have both of my long lost friends together in the same room."

To make up for the lack of conversation, Fez carried on a dialogue for the two of them. "Jackie, Eric came back to Kenosha and is a substitute teacher at Point Place Elementary. Donna divorced him, that shameless red-head. But now she's a radio announcer in here in Chicago."

Fez turned to Eric, "Jackie has her own business in Point Place and she's a candy striper at Point Place Hospital. See, now you know all the details about each other. Aiiy, when is the food going to be done!"

Brooke popped her head through the door. "Let's eat! Oh heavens… where did Michael go?" Eric pointed towards the hallway. Fez heard the word 'food' and hot footed it through the kitchen door. Jackie stood up and waited for Eric to go first. She wanted to wait for Brooke and Kelso to come back. Eric opened the door and held it for her.

"Come on devil, I'll let you go first." he teased.

He still thought she was the devil? Jackie's eyes brimmed with tears. Another stereotype she tried to stamp out and it came hurtling out of the past. "D-devil?" Brooke and Kelso came back in the living room. "Eric what did you say to her?"

"Hey, I was only kidding. I called her the devil like I always do. What's wrong with her anyways?"

Kelso came over and put his arm around Jackie's shoulder. "We don't call names as much anymore dude. Just be nice."

Eric felt like he was on the set of a Twilight Zone movie. Be nice to Jackie? As if! Eric walked through the kitchen and took a seat next to Fez. Kelso and Brooke followed shortly with Jackie walking behind them. Jackie took a seat on the other side of Fez. Kelso sat down while Brooke brought out the roaster chicken. Jackie smiled, "Brooke, it smells wonderful."

Eric was startled to hear her speak again - another full sentence. He agreed, "Yeah, it does. My nose has gotten used to TV dinner fried chicken. This is great!."

Dinner was awkward but bearable for the five friends. Fez was just tickled to have his old gang back together. Kelso loved the attention. They talked about Betsy and Eric's teaching job. Fez joked about some old women who came in for the shampoo only and the big tips they left. "I've got 30 phone numbers for when I'm 40!"

Kelso laughed, "Dude, when you're 40 they're gonna be like 80 or dead."

Eric grinned. "No, they'll be around 55 - that's not too old for you Fez." Fez didn't get it but everyone laughed. The remainder of the meal turned out to be pleasant. Before she realized it, Jackie looked at the clock and saw the late hour. She excused herself from the table and said, "I – I have to go. Eric, it was nice seeing you again."

Eric looked at the group who didn't find Jackie bolting from a party as unusual as he did. So, when they went to the back door to say goodbye, Eric followed. They watched Jackie drive off and Eric waited until Fez and Kelso went back to the living room. Eric stayed in the kitchen.

"Brooke, be honest with me. Why does Jackie act like that? What's wrong with her?"

Brooke sighed, "Eric do you plan on being her friend?"

"Well, I'm not against it." It couldn't hurt to have an extra friend.

"Well, what I'm going to tell you is not a secret but Jackie doesn't like to talk about it. Are you sure you want to know?"

Eric was intrigued to say the least. "Yes. She's not the same Jackie I used to know. What happened?"

Brooke sat down across from Eric. "You know the disaster after Hyde married Sam."

Eric nodded. "Yeah, but he really didn't get married. Samantha was already married."

"Well, yes, but Jackie thought once the marriage was over, she had an idea that she would have another chance with him….that was until Hyde remarried Sam."

"Whoa - I didn't know about that. I haven't kept up with Hyde since I got married."

Brooke pursed her lips. "Well, Sam came back and Hyde started in with his cruel comments and what you guys called 'burns' just to make Jackie cry. He seemed to get a kick out of that. Anyways, he and Sam moved to Milwaukee. Jackie started to go out with a succession of men that reminded her of Steven."

"Yeah, he could be mean like that. I'm sorry for interrupting."

"About a year and a half ago maybe two years, she was dating this gorilla who didn't like the word 'no'. They were at your folk's house when Jackie told him she was staying to help Kitty and Mark didn't like it. He hauled off and took a swing at her but she managed to duck his fist and crashed into the coffee table. Your dad called the police and your mom, god love her, knocked him out with some huge glass ashtray. Jackie needed nine stitches to close the crack in her forehead and she had a black eye for weeks."

"Damn, I didn't know."

"Well, there's a police report and when the arresting officers came, we found out it wasn't the first time he hit her. He had three other previous girlfriends press charges also."

"The stitches...so that picture in the living room, that wasn't plastic surgery..."

"No Eric, in a way she's lucky this happened at the Forman house. He could have killed her. Your mom stopped the bleeding and your folks took her to the emergency room."

"Is he still in jail?"

"Yes, he got ten years for multiple assaults. Your mom got Jackie to start talking to a counselor about why she kept attracting the wrong type of guy...that's personal and I won't talk about it, but she's getting so much better. She stopped taking the anti-anxiety medication and she's calmer and in a much better place. She still has trust issues."

"I was only kidding when I called her the devil. I mean she used to call me a nerd."

"Well, she hasn't seen you in six years and it probably sounded like an insult."

Hearing the way Brooke put it, yeah, it did sound like a insult of some sorts. "So she's been hanging out with my folks? When? I lived there after the divorce and never saw her."

"Well, Kitty's pretty protective of her so...you would have to ask her. But your mom looks out for her and I think it's been great. Jackie's mom came around after the heart attack looking for money but left."

"What heart attack?" Who had a heart attack?

"Oh, Jack Burkhart had a heart attack in prison. Pam flew in for the funeral and went back to Cabo San Lucas the next day when she learned there was no money for her."

"What a waste for parents."

"Exactly. Jackie needs to feel safe and do for herself. She's nearly there and with Fez helping, pretty soon she'll be a new person."

"Well, considering all that she's gone through, I guess she would have to be new. I don't think she would want to go back to the old days."

"Precisely. She doesn't need to be reminded of how she used to be. Who she is now is the important thing. Remember that if you want to be her friend."

"Well, this has been an eye-opener!" Brook had given him a lot to think about. "I've got a long drive home, but I also wanted to thank you for the great meal. I was serious about those TV dinners!"

Brooke patted him on the arm. "I know Eric. Have a great week and we'll see you later okay?"

*