Disclaimer: I do not own 'That 70s Show' or 'In Your Eyes'. I've borrowed the concept of both to create this story. The title was taken from the lyrics of "Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin. I bow to the greatness of Zeppelin. (In addition- the song in this chapter is called "Heroes" by the great David Bowie.)
Authors Note: Thanks to those who are reading or reviewing. I know there are not many of you and that's okay. I'm enjoying writing this and will continue for those reading now and those who might want to read it in the future. :) Also, this chapter is somewhat dedicated to David Bowie. Because we lost him too soon.
Just over the Illinois border…
Jackie found the photograph shortly after they crossed the Illinois border.
"Hey Jacks, hand me the card."
Steven was referencing the credit card they'd stolen a couple states back. She pulled open the glove compartment and pieced through the mounds of receipts, rolling papers, and other random junk.
"Ew, Steven." Jackie displayed an empty condom wrapper and scrunched her nose.
Hyde sighed and grabbed the offending trash from her fingers. "Hey, that condom went to good use, young lady. Remember that first night?" He smirked. She blushed. He tossed the wrapper into the trashcan. "Now, would you stop going through my trash and hand me the damn credit card?"
"You're lucky I have a trust fund, Steven." Jackie dug the Visa out of the mess and placed it into his open palm. He turned towards the gas pump and she continued. "See, once we're married, we can just hire a maid to go through our trash for us."
"Nuh uh." He fiddled with the pump. "No more marriage talk on this road trip, Jackie. You promised."
She side-eyed him as she struggled to close the open glove compartment. "No Steven, I promised not to talk about weddings." In the process, a wrinkled photograph fell into her lap. She turned it around in her lap and examined the familiar faces.
"I don't see the difference." Hyde walked around the back of the car towards the gas tank.
Jackie failed to respond. Instead, she traced the faces of the people she'd gotten to know through Steven. The boy with the Gilligan haircut and Styx t-shirt caught her eye and she smiled. He sat atop an ugly old couch. Next to him stood the tall redhead with the granny panties. The foreigner sat in the middle of the couch and held a red Popsicle. Next to him sat the tall one. He gave bunny ears to the foreigner and wore a dorky grin. He would have been attractive if not for his stupidity. On the other end of the couch sat Steven. He laughed like she'd never seen before.
"Jackie?"
She thrust the photo under her blouse and looked up to her approaching boyfriend.
"Uh, no. I mean, yes?"
He leaned on the open window ledge and studied her with mild suspicion. "Okay, what's up with you?"
She bit her lip. "Nothing! I mean…" She searched her mind for any excuse. "…I must be low on sugar! You know, I could really go for a slurpie."
Hyde remained in position with narrowed eyes. Her wide-eyed pout didn't convince him at all. Still, he didn't feel like getting into it in the gas station parking lot. With a resigned sigh, he met her stare head on. "Red or blue?"
Jackie smiled in that cute way she did. "Red, please." He moved towards the gas station but was pulled back by Jackie's hands. She hung out of the passenger side window and kissed him with everything she had. His entire body responded at once. Forgetting their rules on public affection, he held her cheeks between his hands and gave it all back to her. When she pulled away they were both panting.
He rested his forehead against hers and smirked. "Red, it is."
As soon as Hyde disappeared into the gas station, Jackie retrieved the photo from beneath her blouse. She studied Steven's carefree expression. She'd been so preoccupied with her own problems that she hadn't even considered how their sudden departure had affected Steven. He had lost his best friends because of her. They were practically his family. A sour feeling entered her stomach.
Meanwhile, Hyde watched the bubbly red liquid ooze from the machine and into the cup. Bowie's new hit, "Heroes" played between interference on the store's speakers. It put him in an annoyingly reflective mood. He could feel Jackie's sadness but he couldn't pinpoint the cause. She'd been hiding something and it was pissing him off more by the minute. He thought back to her comments about marriage and his anger built. They were too young. She had to understand that. It's not like it would make their current situation any better. Couldn't she just be grateful that they were finally together and away from their shitty home lives?
He blinked his eyes in rapid succession just as an image appeared.
He recognized the photograph in her small hands instantly.
"Jackie?" He said loud enough for the cashier to look at him funny.
"Steven?" Jackie spoke from her seat in the El Camino. She squinted to see the image of the slurpy machine. Bowie's soothing lyrics stroked her emotion.
The guns shot above our heads, and we kissed as though nothing could fall
Tears filled her eyes at the realization of her own selfishness. "Steven, I'm so sorry."
"Wait, why are you apologizing? You never apologize." He blinked down at the overfilled slurpy cup and yanked it away from the machine. "Shit! Jackie, what the hell is up with you?" He took the cup and turned towards the counter. "Alright, I'm coming out there right now and you're gonna tell me what's up."
The doorbell dinged. Two men walked into the store. Hyde froze in place.
Fear overwhelmed Jackie, but it didn't belong to her. Her breath shallow and ragged, she focused through Steven's eyes to see two men wearing black trench coats and facemasks. "Oh my god, Steven!" She reached for her door handle just as Hyde's adamant voice stopped her.
"Don't!" He put his hands in the air as the two men lifted the guns from beneath their trench coats. One stalked over to the cashier while the tallest one came up to Hyde. He snatched the slurpy from his hand. Hyde snarled but kept his mouth shut.
The guy took a long drink from the straw. He exhaled his satisfaction and smirked. "Thanks, buddy." With that, he dropped the drink onto the ground and sauntered towards the counter. A red puddle oozed around Hyde's boots. He barely repressed the urge to punch the asshole right there.
"Steven, no! Don't be a hero. Just let them take what they want." Jackie clutched the open window of the El Camino and watched through the glass doors. She could see Steven. A moment later, he turned his head and met her eyes.
In the faintest whisper, he gave a calm command. "Get down, Jackie."
One of the guys turned towards Hyde. He lifted the gun and aimed it at his general direction. "Who you talking to, buddy? Got a friend I don't know about?"
Hyde called upon his zen. "Got a lot of 'em, actually."
The man chuckled. He circled Hyde like a hyena on the prowl. "Smart ass, I like that." He pointed the gun to emphasize his point. "So, why don't you tell me about the one you call Jackie, huh?"
Jackie shrank against the cold metal of the door. "Please, Steven don't make him mad." Her entire body curled tightly along the front seat. Tears poured from her eyes as she watched the man circle Steven with the gun.
Then, she remembered what else she'd found in the glove compartment.
Hyde gritted his teeth. The sound of her name coming out of this jerk's mouth caused his hands to clench into tight fists. Hyde's refusal to respond only motivated the pacing criminal. "Let me guess, she's a pretty one, right? Maybe she has a tight little body." He smirked and made cupping motions with his hand. "And nice legs! Uh, I love a chick with some sticks, man."
Hyde fumed. His nostrils flared. His pulse skyrocketed. Zen was quickly leaving the building.
Then, the glass of the door cracked. "What the hell?" The man turned only to fall backwards onto the floor. He dropped his gun and grabbed his face. "My eye!"
The other robber turned from the cashier and pointed his gun in the direction of the disturbance. Hyde pounced. He put the guy in a merciless chokehold until the gun fell from his fingers and he collapsed in Hyde's arms. He dropped him and stared at the 95-pound brunette in wonderment.
"What'd I say about going through my stuff?"
Jackie shrugged as she lowered the old BB gun. "As if I would take orders from my boyfriend."
Hyde ambled towards the guy writhing on the ground. He crouched down and picked up the gun. He aimed it at the man's head.
"No, please!" The man forced pressure onto his bleeding eye.
"That's Jackie." He nodded towards the tiny brunette. "She's my chick." He stood and cocked the gun, never adjusting his aim. "And yea, she does have nice legs…"
"Steven!" Jackie protested from behind.
Hyde smirked. He backed towards the unconscious man and picked up the other loaded gun. He flipped the safety back on and slipped it into his back pocket. Sirens rang out from a distance. Slowly, he sidestepped towards the door and grabbed Jackie's hand.
"Come on doll, we gotta run."
