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Author's Note: Thanks SO much for reading and reviewing! I get a kick out of seeing what you're thinking. :)
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Warning: Language
Frames
Chapter 6
November 29, 1986, Point Place, Wisconsin
The guilt had eaten at her as lustily as city-dwelling pigeons feasted on tossed bread crumbs, but Donna Pinciotti had stayed true to her word. She told no one, not even her husband, about Hyde's appearance at gathering after Bradley's funeral. But as she hung up the phone in her mother-in-law's kitchen, the shake in her hand so violent it almost made the task impossible, she wished she had. Wished she'd insisted he come to the basement. Wished she'd stuck to her "fuck William" attitude rather than freaking out when the bastard returned. If what Jackie had just so hysterically told her was true, it might have been everyone's last chance to see Hyde for a long, long time.
"Donna? What's wrong? You look all pale. I haven't seen you like this since you caught me playing with my Star Wars action figures in the shower. Not that we have to talk about that again or anything. I learned my lesson."
She couldn't smile. Could hardly think. "I…uh…I think we better get everyone together. That was Jackie, and she told me…" Her eyes closed briefly. "Just get everyone down to the basement." She turned and strode out of the kitchen, into the living room, clasping her hand over her mouth as tears began to fill her eyes.
Just when she thought it couldn't possibly get any worse…
Half an hour later, the basement
The basement had never been this quiet, even on the rare occasion it had been empty. They'd joked about jail. Joked about breaking the law, almost every time they'd shared a circle. They'd all committed a fair amount of activities that were technically criminal, from vandalism to indecent exposure, and even, if one counted the physical fights they got into one another, assault.
Never murder.
The silence seemed active. It seemed to rip away the group's last vestige of innocence, that last shred of belief that certain things would never, ever touch them.
Only one of the four gathered didn't seem shocked. Fez sat on the lawn chair, his arms crossed over his chest, a disdainful scowl on his face. "Why is everyone so surprised? Hyde has always been violent." He looked at Kelso, who sat on the couch. "Don't you remember how he used to punch you every chance he got?"
Kelso shrugged slowly, his face pale. "Yeah, but…" He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling.
Eric cleared his throat and gripped his wife's hand, looking for a strength he didn't feel. "Um, Fez, Hyde punching Kelso isn't exactly the same as…" He licked his lisp. "Killing a baby. Jackie's baby." He stared at the floor. "He didn't do it. He couldn't have done it. He just couldn't have done it."
Donna squeezed his hand. "Of course he didn't do it. There's just no way."
Fez stood up. "How do you know? None of us even know what Hyde's been doing!"
Eric glared. "We know Hyde."
"No we don't. That is the point, my very foolish, sentimental friend." Fez began pacing the room, his olive-toned cheeks flushing.
"Fez, whatever's happened to Hyde the past few years, he would never hurt Jackie this way." Donna shrunk back against Eric, startled by the look on Fez's face. She'd never seen him this way; his eyes were dark with something that could only accurately be called rage. "She doesn't think he did it."
"Hyde never did anything but hurt Jackie, Donna. Shall I list all the times he broke her heart? And Jackie has never been smart when it comes to Hyde." He walked over to Hyde's traditional chair, still in its proper place, and stared it down, disgust now coloring his face, his words. "He did not even come to her baby's funeral."
"Yes, he did."
Her face flamed as three pairs of eyes suddenly landed on her, each pair demanding explanation. She tried to smile, tried to come up with some way to deny, to paint her words so the truth was hidden. "I….uh, well, I mean, he came in spirit, I'm sure. Yeah. You know, I even thought I sensed him here." The eyes remained on her, completely disbelieving, and she sighed. "Okay, fine. He did come. Remember when William went for a walk? And then I told Jackie someone wanted to say goodbye? Hyde was outside, and he wanted to see her."
Eric frowned. "Why didn't he just come down to the basement?"
"I…I think he only wanted to see Jackie."
Fez turned and pointed at Donna. "You see? He is obsessed with Jackie." He began pacing once again. "Remember your wedding? He got drunk, and we had a circle. He kept going on and on about how beautiful Jackie was, how sexy Jackie was, how he wished she wasn't married." He wanted to say more, but closed his mouth. No. it was his secret. He would tell no one, unless he absolutely had to. It was too risky, and could ruin his life.
Eric shrugged, but his normally easy going expression was beginning to tense and darken. "So? He was drunk. And high. Drunk and high makes Hyde a little…crazy."
Kelso sighed. "Yeah. But he also told us that he kept all those newspaper clippings and magazine articles about her." He shrugged uncertainly. "It just…I mean, that's just not normal."
Eric stood up. "Donna does that! So does my mom! Doesn't mean a damn thing!"
"But this is Hyde, Eric! Why else would he keep those things if he wasn't creating some sick alter to her? He's never cared about her!" Fez swallowed hard, unable to contain his emotion. "He's never been good enough for her, the bastard!"
Donna shook her head. Five and a half years had not given Fez any sort of perspective, and it angered her. "Look, Fez, it wasn't Hyde's fault you and Jackie broke up, okay? Accept it. Move on!"
Fez shook his head, balling his fists, the memory of his broken dream still very much alive in his heart. "He ruined my relationship with Jackie, Donna. She was my only dream, and he destroyed it."
Kelso nodded. "He's always been good at doing stuff like that."
Eric gave him a disgusted look. "Fez, your only dream involves a candy factory and all the girls who've ever been in Playboy."
"He ruined my chance to marry Jackie!"
Donna rolled her eyes. "He did not. Jackie ASKED you if you would go to Chicago with her. And YOU said no. If you wanna blame anyone, blame your own frickin' self and your stupid, perverted 'needs'!"
Fez stared her down. "I said no because I knew she was going to Chicago because he was there." He pointed at the others, each in turn. "We all knew that, and I wasn't gonna become another Kelso." He looked at Kelso with a slight, guilty smile. "I am sorry, Kelso, but it is the truth."
Kelso just shrugged. "Can't blame you, man."
"And now he has killed her precious baby. I hope he FRYS!"
Eric stood up with so much energy, he knocked the coffee table over. Magazines, beer cans, soda bottles, a bowl of chips, all spilled to the floor, but no one paid any attention. His face reddening by the second, he gestured wildly towards Fez. "Shut the fuck up, Fez! Hyde could never do anything like this, and if you're gonna talk like he could, then get the HELL out of my house!" Donna stood and took his arm, but he didn't move.
Something in the room, in the group's relationship, something always present, always felt, but never seen, ripped.
Fez stared coldly at the couple. "Fine. I will leave."
He stormed out, without his traditional angry farewell, and Donna shook her head. This wasn't just another fight. This was big. Huge. Life-altering.
Friendship-ending.
The door slammed shut, and she jumped.
"Kelso, for the love of God, go talk some sense into him!"
Kelso stood up slowly, his mind and body dull with confusion and no direction whatsoever. "I…I don't know if I can, Eric."
Eric's eyes widened wildly. "What do you mean by that? Oh, god, don't tell me that you believe that Hyde could….Dude, he's our best friend! We've known him since we were all in diapers!"
Kelso threw up his hands and walked across the room to the deep freeze. He slapped his hands down on it angrily, trying to breathe. "I know, I know! But you gotta admit…" He turned and shook his head, giving a helpless shrug. "What Fez was saying makes sense."
Donna's eyes burned with tears. Crying was something abhorrent to her, something she always did her best to avoid, but she couldn't. Not now. "So you think he did it? Is that what you're saying?"
Kelso shook his head, his eyes downcast, his jaw tensed, and slowly walked towards the basement door. When he reached it, he turned, and looked ruefully at his friends. "What I'm saying is that I don't know that he didn't."
This time, the door closed almost silently.
Eric looked at his wife. "Donna." His voice cracked. "How…how can they…"
She quickly put his arms around him, not sure if she was trying to comfort him or herself. "I don't know, Eric." She buried her head in his shoulder. Bony, as Jackie never failed to point out – or at least used to – but warm. Him. Everything she loved. His thin body trembled, and she tightened her arms.
"Donna, he didn't do this. Hyde did NOT do this."
She nodded. "I know, Eric."
Because he couldn't have.
There was just no way.
That afternoon, Chicago, Illinois
Jackie stared with a misty smile at the glass unicorn she held in her hands. Funny, he'd given her this exact same one when she was twelve. He probably didn't even realize that, but her bitterness was gone. Prison had changed him, and since he'd been released five years ago, just in time for her wedding, they'd grown closer than they'd ever been. She was enjoying being Daddy's little girl, and even William seemed to approve.
"Do you like it, princess?"
She nodded, and met her father's eyes. "I love it, Daddy."
Jack Burkhart smiled and reached for her hand. "I saw it in the airport, and I thought of you. I knew you had to have it. Plus…" He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm just sorry I couldn't be there for the funeral." He squeezed her hand. "So sorry, sweetheart."
Jackie smiled weakly. "It's okay. I know you're working hard."
Jack glanced across the coffee table at William. "Yes, well," he started, his voice shaking slightly. "It's going to take me awhile to get back on my feet." He let go of Jackie's hands and twisted his own together. His daughter didn't know that he hadn't, in fact, lost all his money when he'd gone to jail. His daughter, God bless her, was naïve to financial matters, except for how to spend, and had no idea about the joys of Swiss bank accounts. "But I should have been there. I promised you at your wedding that I'd never put you second again, and I still…"
"Daddy, stop," Jackie said, leaning forward and putting a manicured hand on his knee. "I understand." She glanced at her watch, withdrew from her father and stood. "I need to go. I told Steven that I'd be there at four."
Jack frowned, his eyes darkening. "Jacqueline, I don't understand why you're going to see him. He killed Bradley." He looked at William, who simply raised an eyebrow. "Honey, I just…"
Jackie's eyes flashed. "No, Daddy, he did not kill Bradley!" Her voice rose, heat in her cheeks revealed itself in a deep flush, her fists clenched. "The police are wrong, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to prove it. We're going to hire a private investigator to find the real murderer."
Jack sighed. "But sweetheart…"
William stood. "Jackie, darling, why don't you just go freshen up? I know you don't like to go out in public looking anything but your best. Jack, how about a brandy in my office?"
Jackie nodded, but still stared at her father. "Daddy, you have to trust me. I know Steven, and I know he would never…he could never…" She nearly broke into tears, only controlling them by placing her hand tightly over her mouth. After a moment, and a deep breath, she removed it. "I'll see you at dinner, Daddy." She stepped to him and pressed a dutiful kiss on his cheek. "Trust me."
William's office
William sat in his leather chair, sipping very expensive brandy, and looking on mildly while his father-in-law paced back and forth in front of his cherry wood desk. "Jack, please. Just calm down. Drink your brandy."
"Why in the hell are you allowing her to go see that…that murderer?"
William sighed, and ran the tip of his index finger around the rim of his snifter. "Jackie's not well, Jack. She's very volatile right now, and I have to treat her very carefully." He leaned back in his chair and held the snifter up, catching the sunlight in the amber fluid and smiling slightly. He'd always appreciated the glow of sunlight through expensive liquor. "I've told her over and over again that there is no way possible that Hyde is innocent, but she refuses to be reasoned with. If I forbid her to see him, she'll only get worse, and I have no idea what she might do." Another sip, and his chest warmed pleasantly. "She's in deep denial, and frankly, I'm worried."
The older man, his dark hair thin and receding, a handsome face, though lined beyond his years, glared. William noticed veins throbbing in his neck, and found it somewhat amusing.
"This was supposed to be over, William! Jackie's…involvement with this Hyde character was supposed to be over! She was not supposed to ever have anything to do with him again!"
William set down his snifter hard, and leaned forward with his own hard look for his wife's father. "And my son was not supposed to die, but face it, Jack, shit happens!" He pointed at the untouched snifter on Jack's side of the desk. "Sit. Drink your brandy. That's very expensive, and I won't have it wasted."
Jack hesitated, but with a sigh that wilted his body, he slunk into a chair and picked up the snifter. He took a small sip, then shook his head. "I thought we'd solved this problem. We spent all that money. Didn't you tell me she cut all ties to him? Was that money just wasted?"
William lifted a hand. "I thought it had been solved, too, Jack. And no, it wasn't wasted. He's been out of her life for over two years. But this guy is obviously obsessed with her. How was I to know that his obsession would make him do this? Or that she would react this way?" He shook his head and looked away, out the window. He really should have guessed. His idiotic wife had always been particularly idiotic about this asshole. To think, she'd almost left him for the loser.
"Why was she talking about a private investigator?"
William watched a bird fly past the building towards the wide expanse of blue that was the lake. Birds. So stupid. It was a wonder more of them didn't fly right into the sides of buildings. "I'm planning on hiring one." He turned back to Jack's disbelieving expression. "Look, if anything at all, a PI will find more proof of Hyde's guilt. And if this is what it takes to convince Jackie of the truth, I'm willing to do it."
Jack stood up and walked over to the window. His voice was low, regretful, and William rolled his eyes. Regret was pointless.
"When I gave you that money, you promised me that you'd keep her away from him. You came to me and you told me how frightened you were of losing her." Jack turned and stared at the other man. "You convinced me that loaning you the money would solve everything; that Hyde would be out of her life forever."
William took a deep breath, begging the heavenly being for patience, and stood up. "And he will be, Jack. Once she comes into her senses and realizes that Hyde really did take her child from her, she won't have anything to do with him ever again." Jack's expression remained doubtful, and William raised an eyebrow. "Trust me."
He sat back down as Jack again walked to the window. Another sip of brandy, and a slight smile. The best things were always the most expensive, brandy, cigars, as well as other, intangible things.
"I hope you're right." Now Jack's tone was iced. The voice of a powerful man determined to see his will done. "Because if you're not, I'm afraid we're going to have to take drastic action. That scum will not get a grip on my princess again."
William nodded and leaned back in his chair, slipping his hands behind his head. "Don't worry so much, Jack. This is under control. The police have evidence, and the DA is building an airtight case. Drastic action won't be necessary. I got an interesting call this afternoon, from an old friend of Jackie's. Apparently, he has some information that might be useful to the DA. So, see? I'm sure people are going to be coming out of the woodwork with stories about this ass." He closed his eyes and smirked. "He'll be convicted. Sent to death row. Jackie's a star. He's a baby-killer. Juries don't like baby-killers, and they love stars."
Jack turned. "You're very calm about all this, William."
William opened his eyes. "Is that supposed to mean something, Jack?"
"No. I just wonder how you, as a father, can be so in control."
William swallowed the last of his brandy. "I have no choice, Jack." He stood, and smoothed down his jacket and the tops of his trousers. "Someone in this family has to be, if we're to see justice for Bradley." He walked around the desk and headed to the closed door of his office. "Come, now, Jack. Let's go see our sweetheart off."
