I'm SO glad that you are enjoying this. I'm enjoying writing it. It's been a long week. Sometimes inspiration strikes you in funny ways. And this seems to help. Keep reading & reviewing! I love it.
Hyde had finished giving Jackie her ice chips and went to get her some magazines from the hospital gift shop. On his way there, he met Eric & Donna in the hallway.
"Hey buddy, you taking a break?"
"She's awake"
Donna looked at Eric and he smiled at her. Donna gave him a quick kiss and took off for the elevator to see Jackie. She could use a moment alone with her best friend. Just like she knew Eric could.
"I'm glad she's awake, Hyde"
"Forman, remember when you were in Africa and you broke up with Donna because you thought that was the 'right' thing to do."
"Unfortunately, I do."
"And you didn't know when you would see her again"
"Please tell me you have a point…I've been nice lately"
Hyde was perusing the magazines while he talked, looking for something that he thought Jackie would like. "Imagine that feeling, except instead of not knowing when you weren't going to see her again, you weren't going to see her again. Ever. You'd never hear her voice or get her hair caught in your mouth when you're sleeping"
"That was only one time"
"Focus, Forman!"
Eric smiled at his slightly frazzled friend, who he knew had been through a lot in the past 24 hours.
"I get what you're saying. I can't imagine what you've been through. So, you guys are back together?"
"Yes….well, no….but….I don't know"
"Can I suggest not using that phrase with regard to Jackie?"
Hyde laughed. "Yeah, not the best choice of words. She just got the tube out of her throat, so we haven't really talked. Not like we need to. That would be a little challenging at this point." He found a Vogue and headed towards the counter.
"Any conversation with Jackie is challenging"
Hyde frogged Eric in the arm. "What I mean is, we haven't been able to talk about what happened. What will happen…But I covered the basics with her. She knows how I feel. And that things are going to be different now. Better. For both of us."
"I don't want to bring you down, but there are probably a lot of reasons that Jackie did what she did. And those reasons were more than your breakup."
"I know what you're saying. 'Don't think that us getting back together will fix everything.' I've thought the same thing. I know she probably has. But the other stuff, I know that. The parent thing, the alone thing. That I get. What's different is that I'm not…This time I'm going to do the girly crap. Whatever it takes. This isn't about building walls anymore. It's about tearing them down."
"Forget Oz man, you went and had your heart grow three sizes too big, like the Grinch"
Hyde smirked "I know, Red's gonna kill me."
"Nah, he likes Jackie. He'll be proud of you….again….Crap"
"We should get back there. Jackie still can't talk much and Donna can't carry on much of a conversation without Jackie trying to pipe in about something. It'll drive them both nuts."
"Sounds like a plan."
Meanwhile, in Jackie's hospital room….
Donna was so happy to see her friend alive and sitting up that she actually "hugged and jumped" Jackie when she entered the room. None of the other gang saw it, so she didn't think she'd have to hear about it for the rest of her life. Although, Jackie did seem to have a particular gleam in her eye. Oh who cares, she has a gleam back in her eye, Donna thought. After exchanging pleasantries, Donna knew what she had to say.
"Jackie, I want to apologize to you."
Jackie grabbed Donna's hand and squeezed it. Very softly, she whispered "you don't have to"
"Oh yes I do. And I would have to, even if we weren't in a hospital….I wasn't there for you. I was so wrapped up in my own crap that I didn't see how bad you were hurting. How I was just a…I'm sorry Jackie. I'm sorry for everything."
Jackie leaned forward and hugged her best friend. No matter what she said, she needed to hear those words from her. After struggling to get by for so long alone, she needed to hear the words. Forgiveness was easy. Living was the hardest.
Just then, Hyde & Eric returned to the hospital room.
"Now this is interesting"
"Yeah, is this the 10:30 show, or do we have to come back later."
"Skeevie Pigs"
Everyone was laughing. Eric came over and gave Jackie a hug and then put his arm around his fiancé. It had been a while since they'd been this happy. Took near tragedy to do it. They really did need to communicate better.
Eric watched as Hyde slipped gently behind Jackie on the bed. His arms gently circled her waist, as he'd seen them do so many times before. Jackie leaned back into his arms and closed her eyes. Just that little exchange was so intimate, that Eric felt that they were intruding on some of their personal time. Eric remembered his conversation from earlier with Hyde, and gently nudged Donna towards the door.
"Hey, we'll come back later. You could probably use some rest"
"Thanks." Hyde looked at his friends and smiled at the gesture. As the door closed, Hyde leaned back on the bed, pulling Jackie with him. Soon, they were curled up together, like they always did when they were sleeping. His arms around her. She nestled against his chest, loving every breath they took together. Together.
"I love you" Jackie murmured
Hyde gently kissed the top of Jackie's head "I love you too"
They could talk in a while; right now, they both needed this.
