So, in this chapter, you're in for a couple shockers. No Jackie or the Gossip Girl gang, but I figured our That '70s Show gang needed some attention. It's a little on the short side, but the last update was super long. I hope you guys like it! Reviews are always welcomed. I don't own this show. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fan-fiction. Enjoy!
Fez and Kelso walked through the hospital looking for someone who could tell them where Jackie was. Fez hadn't seen his goddess since he'd delivered her to the hospital. The doctor had refused to let him see her, stating that he wasn't family. Fez had been angered by that statement. Jackie didn't have any family besides them, or so he thought.
Kelso watched Fez pace around the room looking for someone who could lead them to Jackie. The pretty boy felt overwhelming guilt for what Jackie did. If it wasn't for him, Jackie and Hyde would be together right now. Jackie wouldn't have had a reason to want to kill herself. "Hey, Fez. This is all my fault, isn't it?" Kelso asked, bitterness in his voice. Fez studied his friend's face before responding.
"No, it isn't. Sure, you being there probably didn't help, but Hyde could have heard Jackie out before leaving. He could have acted like a man. Instead, he ran off to Vegas and married a stripper. That wasn't your fault." Fez reasoned comfortingly. "Besides, would Jackie have gone to visit you and Brooke after that happened if she was mad at you? No, she wouldn't have. Jackie forgave you, man. She told me that herself," Fez added, hoping to ease his friend's guilt. He felt the same kind of guilt. His was related to not being there for Jackie more. Sure, he'd let her cry on his shoulder, but he hadn't gone off and yelled at Hyde until today.
Kelso took a deep breath. "Okay, little buddy. Let's go find Jackie." Finally, they found a nurse. She was blonde with huge boobs, and Kelso had to mentally remind himself that he was with Brooke. "Miss, could you please tell us what room Ms. Burkhart is in?"
The nurse glanced at her clipboard. She looked at the two worried men. "Sorry, Ms. Burkhart checked out this morning." She tried to walk away, but Fez stopped her.
"Wait, who checked her out?" Fez asked, slight panic in his voice. Where was his goddess?
"A Mr. Charles Bass," the nurse responded casually. "Wait, are you Fez?" she asked curiously. Fez nodded. "She left these for you," the nurse said, handing him two letters. She walked away, and Fez opened the envelope with his name on it. He opened up the letter and read it aloud so Kelso could hear it.
"Dear Fezzie, I'm really sorry you had to find me like that. Just so you know, I didn't plan on killing myself. It was something that just happened. I lost everything: Steven, Donna, my job… Without Eric and Kelso in the basement, our group wasn't the same. I just got sick of being alone, you know? I just wanted to let you know that you're a great friend and that I hope you forgive me for what I have to do. I'm going away for a while, but I'll come back eventually. Tell Michael he's forgiven. I don't know if I'll be in touch, but I'll always be thinking of you guys. Give the other letter to the Formans and don't read it. Your friend, Jackie." Fez finished reading the letter and looked over at Kelso. Both were in complete shock. Neither of them had realized the hell Jackie had been going through.
A few days later, everyone was hanging out in the basement. Hyde noticed that both Fez and Kelso were giving him the cold shoulder. He suspected it had something to do with Jackie. "Okay, what did I do now?" he asked, receiving silence. Kelso looked like he was trying not to punch the crap out of Hyde.
With perhaps the worst timing ever, Sam walked in and sat down on Hyde's lap. Kelso and Fez both glared at her. Donna got fed up with the tension. "Okay guys, what the hell is going on?" she demanded to know. This set Kelso off.
"You know, we've been friends a long time, Donna, and I've never seen you be this fucking clueless," he spat out, eyeing the former red-head with disdain. "Look around. What's missing?"
Sam caught on quickly. "Oh, you mean the annoying midget? I did realize her shrill voice was missing. Good riddance," she replied haughtily.
"Shut up, you blond whore!" Fez screamed angrily. Adding flames to the fire, Kitty and Red ran downstairs. They had just read Jackie's letter.
"Where are the dumbasses?" Red's voice boomed as they came down the stairs. He found the dumbasses in question. "You two," he started to say, pointing a finger at Donna and Hyde. "You two have clearly stolen the dumbass cake. I'm going to put my foot so far up your asses that they'll be at your head!" Red shouted furiously. Hyde and Donna kept their heads down, not wanting to look him in the eyes. Red's rant was only interrupted by Kitty.
"Is she really gone?" the kind mother hen asked Fez. Kitty couldn't believe Jackie would try to kill herself. She felt so awful that one of her babies had to go through all that pain.
"Yeah, someone came to pick up all of her stuff yesterday," Fez answered sadly. It had only been a few days, and he already missed Jackie.
"Wait, Jackie's gone?" Donna asked for clarification. Everyone rolled their eyes. The blonde was really starting to get to Donna's head.
Hyde ignored the blonde's question. "Where did she go?" he asked worriedly. He knew Jackie had been depressed, but he never thought she'd just get up and leave. That was for quitters, and that wasn't Jackie Burkhart. Then again, Hyde didn't know what Jackie had been through. The Jackie he knew and the current Jackie were two very different people.
"We don't know," Fez responded bitterly. He knew Jackie had her reasons for not telling them where she was going, but it still hurt.
Hyde noticed how Kitty looked down at her feet and knew she and Red knew where the tiny brunette was. He also knew that, if they weren't going to tell them, they must have a good reason not to. Kitty and Red walked up the stairs, leaving the gang to take in the news.
Donna was completely shocked. Why would Jackie leave and not say a word? Then again, she knew things had changed since Sam showed up, or even since Eric left and Kelso moved. The group had changed and not for the better. The old Donna would've kicked Hyde's ass for going off and getting married to a stripper and then let Jackie cry on her shoulder. Instead, the new Donna befriended the stripper wife and shut out Jackie. "This is all my fault," she stated sadly.
Fez smiled at the return of the Donna he knew, the one he had hoped was still there. "No, it's not completely your fault. You played a huge part in it, but I think Hyde and his little stripper wife over there deserve the bulk of the blame," he reassured her.
"I don't see what the big deal is. The girl's gone. So what?" Sam said snottily. "None of you seemed to like her anyways. And why would you? She was a bitch." Hyde couldn't take anymore. He stood up, causing Sam to fall off his lap. Everyone laughed as the stripper stood up and yelled, "What the hell, Hyde!"
"I want a divorce. Get your shit and get out," Hyde said with no emotion in his voice.
"What?" Sam asked, clearly in shock.
"I said get your shit and get out. I'll have my lawyer call yours." Hyde repeated.
"We're not really married. I'm still married to my first husband." Sam added, hoping to get some kind of reaction out of him.
"Good. Then get your shit, get out, and never contact me again," Hyde stated, a scowl on his face.
"You'll regret this," Sam snarled at him as she grabbed all her stuff.
"Trust me, this is probably the smartest thing I'll ever do," Hyde replied, watching her walk out the door. He smiled for the first time in a month. Hyde was finally free. He could try to find Jackie and get her back. Sure, that would probably be a long and hard process, but he was willing to put in the work. Hyde loved Jackie, and he was finally able to admit it. Nothing could stand in his way from getting his girl. Not even Red Forman.
