Its been too long and Im sorry! Author note at the end! Reviews or flames or welcome I don't bite!
Thank you to my fairy reader who helps me check my story but cheered me up on a really tough day! Thank you tons it means alot to me!
Jackie inhaled a deep breath and grabbed Steven's t-shirt not for the fear of being worried of what the doctor would say, but out of the fear that he would bolt with the news. In reality she was really afraid, herself.
The brief stare down between her and Donna had been forgotten for now, but she knew it was far from over between them. She braced herself and clung tightly to Stevens thin shirt she could swear she could feel his heart racing.
Steven had not seen Jackie this upset even at Pam's small informal funeral that no one knew about.
He watched at a distance in the cold rainy graveyard where there was just Jackie and a preacher saying kind words. Not once did Jackie shed a tear but when the priest left she lost it. Jackie was screaming at the casket, Hyde wanted to run to her and drag her away from this horrible place but he stopped because he did not know how she would take it.
Hyde had found out about from dear sweet Lizzie who had been helping Jackie hire a crew of bodyguards when Jackie got the call.
Pam Burkhart-whatever-her-current-last-name, had died of an overdose in a trailer in the bad part of Point Place. Jackie had paid a lot of people to keep it quiet and have her mother buried quickly.
Hyde could still see bruises on her face and arms she had tried to cover but it did not work well. He hated seeing her so broken so alone and closed off from everyone. Right when he started to take a step towards Jackie, dear sweet Lizzie got out of the car and gently pulled her inside and they drove off.
Hyde was brought back to reality by Jackie who was shaking and clutching his shirt with a death grip. He took his arms and pulled her into him, he was just as scared as she was, that almost everything he held dear might be gone.
The worn out doctor sat down next to a pale looking Eric by then a sleepy Kelso and Fez had sat up and stood behind waiting.
The doctor slowly pulled off her surgical cap, "Eric, your father is a fighter after hours he has pulled through. But what has taken me so long to get in here… right after your dad's surgery we rushed your mom back. Right now your mom has 50/50 chance on making it. We have worked on her and with her but she is not breathing on her own. We have a few medications and other things we are going to try but right now it's up to your mom..."
Eric put his hands up to stop the doctor from talking and bolted down the stairs headed straight into a sea of reporters.
Jackie was not expecting Eric to be the runner that was not in him. Soon she felt the warmth of Steven's body let her go to go to his bodyguard help Eric, who was about to run into a sea of hungry reporters who were circling the hospital like sharks at meal time waiting for anyone to come out. Eric was not use to that kind of attention and he should not have to deal with the animals when his parents were fighting for the lives.
Without Steven by her side she suddenly felt vulnerable to the gang. Except Fez who seemed to have a soft warm look at her like he wanted to run and hug her.
The doctor looked around, "This with Eric is common, do not to worry he will be back, but Mr. Forman is awake and asking for someone called the loud one?"
Jackie straightened, "That's me I'm the loud one, Jackie Burkhart."
She looked around Donna now was glaring at her more than ever Kelso had a hurt look on his face just at the site of her but Fez walked closer to her and gently put his arm on hers. He wasn't Steven but his touch was comfort. Steven was still giving instructions to his crew not paying attention to the zoo around him.
The doctor sighed," Normally I would not let visitors go back but he threatened to put his foot up my ass if I did not let you come back. He is kind of scary when he's awake. I will bring a nurse out here to get you but you have 5 minutes then you come back out here."
Tears were in Jackie's eyes but she would not break down in front of these people, she would not give them the pleasure of seeing her loose it. No one will see her loose it, she was Jackie Burkhart she just needed to get out of here. Mr. Forman wanted to see her, she was so happy he was awake but Mrs. Formans diagnoses was weighing on her heavily.
Jackie lost in her own thoughts did not see Donna approaching, " So Jackie you think you can show up here after all these years..."
Jackie cut her off and gently removed Fez's arm from hers. "Listen up here you fat lumberjack, you don't know anything about my life or what's going on. So shut up."
Jackie went to turn to Steven to let him know but Donna grabbed her so they could finish their talk.
Jackie lost her Zen, Donna didn't know and had no right to grab her like that. Jackie took her loose arm and decked Donna. Donna did not see it coming but did not loosen her grip on Jackie and they both hit the floor. Donna got a punch in hitting Jackie in the lip busting it open.
But Jackie used the down time to get on top of Donna and began hitting her multiple times screaming at her," I will never let you hurt me again!"
She felt his arms go around and gently pull her off Donna she instantly knew who it was and sagged in relief.
Stevens crew had already grabbed Donna and sat her down. His crew was already into working shutting the area they were in down where no one could get in and get a picture.
Steven had known she would react like that to fight, but Donna did not see it coming. There were too many secrets among them. He held a sobbing Jackie and looked over at a shocked Donna who looked like she had been in a war zone.
Hyde caught Kelso's eye, as an ex-cop he could easily see that Jackie had been someone's victim before. Hyde gave Kelso the look which meant no questions right now or I will kick your ass. Kelso took in the scene before him and the look being sent his way and then turned to see to Donna's wounds.
When Jackie's fame had begun to rise she had a brief relationship with a guy named Josh. Jackie had been so into her work she did not realize that he was a bad person. He began to lash out at Jackie and hit her a lot.
Steven had found out from Mr. Forman, who had called him with worry and anger over Josh. Red knew something was off with the guy when he saw pictures of him with Jackie on an awful tabloid when he had made a quick run to the grocery store for Kitty.
Steven felt responsible, he was the reason she was rising to fame and she had no one around to protect from creeps like this guy. Steven did background checks and found out he had multiple arrests for fights and abuse.
Josh was a drinker someone Hyde could navigate like the back of his hand. He went to the same bar every night like his mother Edna, he also had a growing tab just like his mother, and a growing record.
Steven had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and famous shades to hide himself. By the end of the night Steven had beaten the crap out of Josh paid him to leave to Jackie alone before he left him in the alley.
Not long after that pictures had appeared in the tabloids of Josh in a bar and he was arrested for breaking his probation being in a bar. Jackie never knew what Red and Steven had done to get Josh out of her life. Not long after that she had started seeing the Formans more and took some self-defense classes.
"Jackie, hey doll it's me Steven look at me we're in Point Place, we aren't in the dark place. He is not here and he cannot hurt you okay." He felt the sobs stop.
She looked at him trying to figure out how he knew. But she did not get the chance to ask him when a worried nurse called her name. She untangled herself from him to go back into the swinging doors to see Red.
The nurse gave her a few napkins to attend to her lip which was bleeding and bruised. She wiped her tears and tried to mentally prepare herself to seeing Red. The nurse opened the door but nothing could prepare her to see such a strong man lying there so helpless with wires and tubes running everywhere.
He opened his eyes, "Loud one whoever gave you that lip better have gotten worse I don't care what the fight was about but I hope you popped whoever it was back. You got back here so I guess I don't have to get up and put my foot up someone's ass!"
This made Jackie crack a smile and she sat down next to Red. "Mr. Forrman what did you teach me? Always fight back and never be the helpless victim." she grabbed his hand and held it.
"They tell me Kitty, is not doing well but we both know that woman will outlive us all. I want you to check on her; make sure they are treating her right, till I can get in there and be with her. Tell Eric to keep his head. We are going to be okay we are just a little older and don't bounce back as easily. Steven is running the show isn't he? I always knew he would be the strong one. Kettle hopped head or not he is strong. Be the tough girl I know you can, and next time don't let them get the sneak attack on you." Reds voice was groggy because the nurse was giving him meds.
"Oh, and loud one I love you like you were my own, so I think it's time you get your shit together huh?" He smiled as he drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
Tears were streaming down her face," I love you too Mr. Forman, and I promise I will get my shit together."
Another nurse came in to lead her out.
Jackie was standing next to the nurse's station when alarms started going off in Reds room and all the medical staff took off running. A nurse rushing into the room stopped Jackie who was in a dead sprint to go back to her adoptive father. They closed the curtain where she could not see what was going on.
She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her as she walked to the exit when she stopped. In the next room she seen Kitty laying there so small and helpless a machine helping her breathe. Jackie went straight toward her room knowing she needed to be with her, she could still see the curtain closed where they were still working on Red.
Jackie sat down among all the machines watching the machine breathe for Kitty. Jackie had read in an article talking to someone who was in Kitty's position helped and that they could hear you.
So Jackie held Kitty's hand and began her tale...
"Right after it became 1980, after the whole Fez sleeping with a guy in our bed I went to Steven. I was lost confused hurt and went to Steven we… did the thing you don't like to hear us doing unless we are married. I found out I was pregnant and Steven took me straight to the courthouse and we eloped and that very night which was supposed to be a happy occasion but we were at a local hotel and I started bleeding so bad we raced to the hospital, only I was so early in my pregnancy that I lost the baby. I made the nurses lock Steven out and not let him in the room. I had my old maid Rosa come and pick me up from the hospital then I went and filed for divorce the next day and we never talked about it.
"I feel like I did something to make me lose our baby, then we rushed into a marriage. I swear we were going to go the next day and tell everyone but instead I chose to be alone and I still choose to be alone. I never told you I was hurt and embarrassed because I could not even keep our baby alive. Steven and I both hurt each other and we can never go back to the way things were. There was that guy Josh but all he did was hit me over and over again. I feel like my miserable life is a cruel punishment for losing our baby, for running from my problems and locking out everyone in that waiting room.I have messed up with Steven he wants family,something Im not ready to give yet. We had did the thing you don't like to hear before marriage, before we got here. It was not the first time in the last few years have we met up and left quickly into the early morning hours never saying a time at a nice banquet in the coat room,but that is not something you would want to talk about with me. Thats something I should be telling my best friend who just punched me in the face. But this time with Steven it all feels different. Im so lost and confused I do not have a biological mother anymore she died and left me. Kitty please, I need you now more than ever, please wake up Red needs you I need you."
Jackie finally let the wall she had been holding up fall down and cried that horrible ugly cry; she was holding Mrs. Formans hand and soon Jackie was startled by a small hand gently squeezing hers. Jackie jerked up to see an awake Kitty looking at her, she raced to go get doctors to attend to Kitty.
Jackie ran to waiting room flung the door open to see the gang in various places all holding vigil.
She stopped dead in her tracks Monica had arrived and was talking to Steven she was crying saying something," about why did he leave not tell, her why was he here the Formans were not his family!" Steven was talking to her he looked mad but Jackie could not hear what he was saying.
Jackie had enough she marched over to Monica rared back and punched her right in her fake nose.
Then she bolted but she swore she heard cheers from Kelso, Fez and even Donna. She ran to the first door she could find it was the mens bathroom, there was a familiar smell in the room a cloud of smoke was coming from a stall .
She locked the door trying not to cry went to the last stall and found Eric having a lone circle crying. Jackie sat across from him and he passed her the joint. They both sat locked in the bathroom together bawling for the different reasons.
So I leave you with a few cliffhangers(thats really mean of me) sorry promise more will be solved soon. How much did Mrs. Forman hear? Will Red make it? The passing of the joint between Jackie and Eric a passing a friendship torch? Seems as if the whole gang does not like Monica! So Jackie and Hyde have see each briefly through the years but only for one thing they never have talked. How will everyone feel about the secrets and lies? Is anyone else hiding something?
Im so sorry I have had this ready to be updated but a very sick grandmother and they a aunt who was put on hospice. I have not been home at all but I think its going to be a little calm before the storm.