A/N: I love all of you!
Point Place Medical Center 1989
"How is your wife?"
Hyde sat back in his chair and sighed. He looked around the room trying to formulate a response. He knew she would ask him. He was surprised it had even taken her this long. He didn't know exactly what to tell her. Should he tell her the truth or sugar coat it so everything seemed okay? The last thing Hyde wanted to deal with was a gloating Jackie. He turned to her and decided to just be straight, after everything the least she deserved was the truth.
"Diana is great, she's… well... actually I'm not sure where she is right now, off spending my money somewhere probably. We don't see much of each other, I'm always traveling expanding the business and she's off spending the profits."
Jackie nodded. She had already known that. Donna made sure to keep her abreast of the happenings of Mr. and Mrs. Hyde. She had just wanted to hear him say that the marriage was the disaster she had told him it would be. She was just surprised that after what had happened he had stayed married to her.
"I'm sorry I didn't call when Diana had the miscarriage. You have no idea how much I wanted too but I wasn't sure you would want to talk to me and I didn't want to place anymore burdens on you." Jackie whispered earnestly.
Hyde lowered his head and stared intently at the table. "Jackie, I wish you would have called then, hell I wish you would have called anytime during the past five years." Hyde stated as he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "The miscarriage was hard. It was harder on Diana but I would have liked to talk to you about it. I really needed someone that really knew me, that would understand why it hit me the way it did and the best person for that was probably you but I wasn't about to call you after well…" Hyde motioned awkwardly with his hands.
Jackie looked into Hyde's eyes and took hold of his right hand. She looked down and brushed the gold band that was supposed to signify his life long devotion to another woman and felt a tear slip down her face. Hyde reached over and brushed it away letting his fingertips pause on her cheek a few moments longer than necessary. Jackie raised her head and smiled softly at Hyde. "I'm sorry. I should have called. No matter what happens now or in the future I want us to keep in touch. We were friends once you know Steven. I really miss my friend." Jackie choked out.
Hyde raised his hand again and brushed his knuckles down her cheek. "I miss you too Jacks." Jackie was about to reach up and caress his hand when a loud voice made her jump. Jackie turned around just in time to see a harried Kelso walk into the room followed by a woman who was obviously a Playboy Bunny judging by her outfit. Jackie rolled her eyes as she stood up.
Kelso ran to them breathing heavily. "Jackie, what happened? What's going on? Are they okay?"
Jackie raised her hands. "One question at a time. Eric is going to be okay, I'm sure Donna is going to make it as well although the doctors have their doubts. They were in a car accident; everything is going to be alright." Jackie brushed her hands up and down his arms trying to soothe him. She looked past him and saw Michael's companion, who looked ridiculous in these surroundings twirling what looked like a foot of gum on her finger. "Michael, who is that woman, why did you bring her, and what the hell took you so long to get here!"
Kelso shrugged, laughing nervously. "It was the bunnies, that one…Candy…" Kelso pointed his thumb at the gum popping woman. "She came out after closing time and told me that some foreign guy had called and said something about an accident. I figured that must have been Fez, I mean how many foreign guys are there in the world right? She couldn't remember much else so I dragged her along trying to get details. But she was useless!" Kelso yelled turning towards the woman.
Jackie looked at the woman and saw her shrug before she started playing with her gum again. Great she thought, now not only did she have Michael and his stupid ness to deal with, she had to deal with some ditz named Candy who seemed to be absurdly interested with her gum. Jackie shook her head and pulled Kelso to the table. "Sit down Michael. Can I get you something to eat?" Jackie knew thathe was pretty shaken and while she would normally not wait on people she really needed him to calm down. She had enough to deal with between whatever was going on with her and Steven and worrying about Eric and Donna.
Michael's face lit up with a smile. "Wow, Jackie that would be great. Umm, could you get me a burger, fries and a milk shake? Oh and I don't have any money on me so?"
Well this was familiar Jackie thought. She shook her head in annoyance. "Fine Michael, I'll get it." Jackie turned around and walked towards the serving counter.
"Hey lady! I'm hungry too…get me a chocolate shake." Jackie stopped mid stride and glanced at Michael's 'friend' "Oh, I don't think so." She said angrily before she continued to her destination.
Hyde grinned watching Jackie's hip sway as she walked towards the snack bar. He had to give her credit, she looked better than she did when they were in high school and he hadn't thought that was possible. If they had been forced together under any other circumstances he would have swiped the table clean and taken her releasing ten years of pent up desire.
"So Hyde… fancy seeing you here Mr. I'm all high and mighty big shot and don't have time for my friends anymore."
Hyde ripped his eyes from Jackie's form and turned to Kelso. "Kelso buddy, look we're adults now. I'm trying to run a business. It keeps me pretty busy." Hyde glanced at Kelso and saw him frown. Hyde sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry. I should have kept in touch."
"That's better" Kelso nodded his head. "Hey you know it's hard to be mad when Jackie's back. I mean damn! She looks better than some of the bunnies! Do you know how hot those women are?" Michael turned towards the direction Jackie had gone and licked his lips. "I'm definitely going to get a piece of that while she's here."
Hyde reached over and frogged him on the arm. Michael howled in pain. "Damn Hyde! What the hell was that for? Man, that hurt more than it used too...have you been working out or something?" Hyde expelled a breath and rolled his eyes. Some things just never changed he thought. "Kelso man, leave Jackie alone alright? She's got enough shit on her plate without having to deal with you bugging her."
"What the hell Hyde. You're married. What do you care if I chase after Jackie?" Kelso exclaimed.
"I don't care... I didn't say that. I just... Kelso just do what I ask." Hyde ordered in a tone that allowed no argument. Kelso's shoulders slumped dejectedly. "Oh fine, just take away all my fun!"
Hyde rubbed his forehead. "Moron, this isn't a fun trip. We're here because Donna and Eric are hurt. Jesus you're 29 how can you still be such a dumbass!" Hyde said as he stood up and pushed away from the table and headed over to help Jackie with the tray of food she was carrying back.
"Man, you lived with Red too long, you sound just like him." Kelso yelled after him
Hyde ignored Kelso and grabbed the tray from Jackie's hand; she looked at him in surprise. "Oh, thanks Steven." Hyde looked down at the tray and saw much more food then what Kelso had asked for. "Did you get your appetite back?" Hyde asked nodding towards the food. "Oh well no, not really. I thought you might still be hungry so I…" Jackie trailed off. Hyde smiled inwardly as he placed the food on the table. "Thanks Jacks, I appreciate it." She really had changed Hyde thought. When they were kids she wouldn't have thought to do something like that. Not because she was mean, but because she was so into herself she didn't think about what other people would want.
Jackie smiled and sat down at the table between Michael and Steven. As they were eating she glanced between them. She had fallen in love with both of them. Granted she had been much younger when she had met Michael but she had loved truly loved him, it had been an innocent teenage love but it had been love. The same could not be said for her feelings for Steven. She had loved him with a passion she didn't know she possessed. At her age she knew that what they had had was not something she was going to find again. She had tried, over the past five years she had gone on so many dates and met so many men that their names and faces just blended together but none of them could make her feel even close to the way she had felt when she was with Steven. She had compared every guy to him and all of them had been lacking on one way or the other. Now that he was admitting that his marriage was pretty much crap, maybe they could reach out to one another again and find that bond that she missed so much.
"Jackie?" She looked over at Steven. "What? I'm sorry." She asked coming out of her reverie.
Hyde stood up and looked down at her. "Maybe we should go check on Eric and Donna. We left poor Fez up there alone and he looked like he was about to crack earlier." Jackie nodded as she stood up. "Are you coming Michael?"
"Yea, lead the way baby." Michael said as he stood up and grabbed the discarded food wrappers off the table. Hyde looked over at him and narrowed his eyes. Michael threw up his hands. "Yea, I know."
Hyde, Kelso and Jackie followed by Candy who was still playing with her gum walked over to the elevator in silence. Jackie felt something and glanced behind her. "Michael!" Jackie yelled pushing his hands off her behind. "What is the matter with you! Don't touch me!"
"I didn't mean too... my hands just kind of fell there…" Michael grinned at her. Jackie rolled her eyes. Hyde stepped between them. "Man, Kelso don't make me hit you. I would really hate to do that." He said menacingly as he stepped closer to Kelso. Jackie looked between the two of them wondering what the hell was going on. Kelso stepped back and sighed. "Okay, fine. I won't do it again. Happy now?" Hyde tensed his jaw. "Yea, just make sure you don't."
Holy crap Jackie thought still looking between them. They were fighting over her? What the hell? Get them back together again and they regressed to 16 year olds! "Enough, the two of you, grow up and act your ages. Remember two of our best friends are lying in hospital beds. We can deal with this petty shit later. Now get into the elevator." She ordered. They all stepped in and waited in silence for the elevator to reach the ICU waiting room. When the elevator dinged Hyde was the first one off followed by Kelso, Candy and Jackie.
Hyde scanned the room for Fez and stopped short as what he saw causing Kelso to bump into him. "What the hell, man?" Kelso exclaimed as he stepped around Hyde. Candy sat down in a chair as Jackie walked into the room. She drew in a quick breath and glanced over at Steven who stood there with a look of shock on his face. He shook himself. "Diana, what are you doing here?"
