Chapter Six
The bright lights of Main Street stood out like a thorn in Eric's eyes. Although for Eric, it may have been years, It had been only five minutes since he left Jackie Burkhart's small apartment.
After a long, silent, and maybe awkward five minutes, Jackie spoke. "Are you okay?" she asked. A typical thing to ask someone who just recieved bad news about his sick father.
"I'm actually good," Eric replied. It was true, although he felt as if he wanted to feel bad for his father, he didn't feel Any strong emotions building.
The car ride continued in more silence. Am I actually at peace with this already? Eric asked himself. He wondered how his mother was dealing with this family crisis.
Jackie sped up. the street lights blurred together in a mesh of red, green, and yellow. It was absolutely beautiful.
"Here's our exit," Eric pointed out. Sure enough, the enterence to the "First Estate hospital" was drawing closer and closer.
Eric looked at the clock. 7:30.
Jackie put her car into park and the two of them sat in silence for a few moments.
"Jackie, you know what I'm going to ask you." Eric said. he didn't look at her.
Jackie let out a long sigh. "It's okay. I'll lie. Just promise me you'll talk to your father," she stated.
"Deal," Eric replied. He was very relieved Jackie wasn't going to expose him to the family and his old friends.
Jackie got out first. Eric shortly followed suit.
"So how are we going to do this?" Jackie asked Eric as they walked together slowly toward the hospital.
Jackie thought for a moment. "I'll go in first," she said. "Then, I'll get them away from your father and you walk in five minutes later," she commanded. Eric was impressed at her decision. He felt bad about making her lie to everyone, but he just wasn't ready to face his old life in the situation presented.
Once the couple arrived at the hospital doors, Eric took a seat on a nearby bench and Jackie began walking toward the hospital.
Just then, Eric grabbed Jackie's hand as she was about to walk away. She half turned around to meet his eyes when he said "G- Good luck."
She smiled at him and went on her way.
Once she was out of sight, Eric slumped down on the bench. I can't believe I stuttered! Am I in seventh grade again? he thought to himself. Just then, the dark clouds above him gave him a surprise.
Shit, he thought to himself. It was raining.
About ten minutes of waiting in the rain passed by when Eric decided to make a move. He entered the hospital with as much grace possible for a wet guy without a jacket to have.
"Can I help you?" Eric heard these words and spun himself around to meet eyes with a man about his age.
Eric began. "Umm, yes. Are you Red Forman's doctor?"
The man scratched his neck. "Nurse," he corrected. Eric almost smiled.
"Oh. I see. Can you take me to his room? I'm his son. I'm here to see him," Eric told him.
"Oh! I see. Yes, of course you can see him. He's upstairs in room 212. Would you like me to notify your relatives of your arrival?"
Eric made no hesitation. "No, no, that's not necessary. I'll just head up to his room. Thank you very much, sir."
"It's no trouble at all. It's the least I can do for the son of Pneumonia patient."
Eric's heart sank. He hadn't felt this way since Donna broke up with him the first time. He'll be okay. I'm overreacting. It's Red, he lived through three wars. There's nothing to worry about. Eric kept reassuring himself.
He made his way to the elevator with stealth. Jackie and his family could be anywhere in the hospital right now. The thought of running into any of them scarred the living hell out of them. Especially Hyde.
Once he got up to the second floor of the hospital, it wasn't hard to find room 212.
This is it, he thought to himself. Eric entered Red Forman's hospital room.
The room was dark and small. Eric made his way to his father's bed to find a wrinkled, pale, and weak Red Forman lying motionless on the bed. His eyes moved slowly toward Eric.
"Hey dad," Eric said.
Red's voice was hoarse and slow. "Eric," he said.
Eric took a seat on the chair next to his father's bed. He knew he didn't have long to talk before Jackie couldn't hold his family down any longer.
Eric's heart sank at the sight of his once strong father in this position. The feirce lion that dictated his life until he was twenty was now caged and helpless.
Red spoke again. "I know I joke too much," he said before he had a coughing fit. Eric reacted quickly, handing the cup of water next to Red's bed to him. It had only been two days since Red was at home playing horse shoes with Hyde, now he was in a helpless state.
He drank. His shaky hands spilled water on his chest. The wars aged Red beyond his years.
Eric looked at him. He couldn't bear to see his father this way.
Red's words came slowly as he struggled with his next sentence. "man," he said. Eric knew exactly what he was saying. Eric knew at this moment what the right thing to do was.
"I love you, dad," Eric told him. For the first time since he was twelve, he meant that. Sincerely.
Red looked up at him. His eyes teared slightly. He seemed to know that Eric was about to leave him. He accepted that.
He was at peace.
Eric paused for a moment, took a long look at his father and rushed out the door.
Jackie had taken Kitty, Kelso, Hyde, Randy, and Donna to the hospital cafeteria. For lack of a better excuse, she told her friends that she needed a break and she hadn't eaten dinner yet. This gave Eric a perfect opportunity to get a good ten minutes in with his father until The family would make their way back to their sick father.
"Jackie, ya gonna eat that?" Kelso asked, referring to her baked potato she hadn't touched. The truth was, Eric and her had gotten fast food before driving to the hospital.
"No, go ahead," she said. She was relieved to have it off her plate.
"My gosh, this food is horrible. When we get home I'll cook you kids a much better meal, we'll have salad, and pulled pork, and pancakes, and toast, and apple pie,..." Kitty continued to name all the foods she was going to cook. Jackie knew Kitty cooked when she was nervous.
Jackie smiled at her and gave her a hug. She felt bad for the family knowing how scarred they must be. Most of all she felt bad for Eric.
Suddenly, Kitty screamed. Kelso's jaw dropped six feet, and Hyde's eyebrow raised dramatically.
"MY BABY!!" Kitty screamed. A shower of emotions overtook her as she made her way to her only son and held onto him for dear life.
Jackie smiled. She knew Eric would do this. She knew he was a good man.
Randy sat there confused. "Bar guy?" he asked.
Eric didn't even notice him. Donna whispered something in his ear and Randy was so shocked at what she said, his eyes grew three times normal size.
After what seemed like the longest hug of her life, Kitty let go and slapped Eric on the cheek. "Where were you?" she asked.
For lack of anything better to say, and having not planned this out at all, Eric just said, "I can explain."
