Author Note: …..drama all over the place!

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Chapter 10 – Covert Operations Plan

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. "Would you kiss me just one time? I'm missing Steven and this is a sad romantic song and I'm just feeling…"

"…like you're missing part of something really important?" he finished for her. She nodded. "Yeah…something like that."

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Jackie broke the kiss and touched her lips with shaky fingers. "Wow." She stepped back and noticed Eric looked equally shocked. He carefully let her go and stepped back as well. "I…Jackie, I didn't mean…"

"Eric, don't say anything. It was…just… what I needed. Thank you." She marveled at how she didn't notice that all this time he was bulking up and getting stronger…she had to protect him from other women. He was a stud now!

Eric took a deep breath. He hadn't expected to like kissing Jackie as much as he did. Well, he had kissed a couple of girls when he and Donna broke up, but it wasn't anything like this! Why was he still thinking and comparing Jackie's small curvy body to Donna's tall lean form?

He cleared his throat. "So…do you mind if we cut out a little early? I was working in sand all day and I've got sand in places that are a little uncomfortable." Jackie looked almost relieved at his suggestion. "Oh yes, I'll change out of this monkey suit and meet you at the car."

Eric took that moment to notice that half of the crew he worked with was giving him a nod of approval. Was kissing Kathleen Dubois' coordination the key to fitting in with the group? Wes looked a little put out and Eric should have felt bad but hell, kissing Jackie was nice (and hot) and he wasn't going to explain himself to the guys. Let them wonder!

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It started to snow again. Eric looked out of the window at the lamplights pooling on the white sidewalks. It was so pretty and he wished he could take a picture to send to Donna. She would appreciate the beauty he was seeing. Eric could hear the shower turn off and knew his turn was minutes away. All that sand was becoming irritating. Now he wished he had taken up Tony's suggestion of wearing a jumpsuit.

"All yours." Jackie said on her way to the bedroom. She quickly put on her pajamas and climbed into bed. The whole kissing incident put behind her. It didn't happen and she would forget about it. The soap opera script was still sitting on the nightstand so she turned on her lamp and climbed into the warm comfortable bed.

She pulled her reading glasses out of the drawer and picked up the script, locating her bookmark. Randolph Spears was threatening Miss Jones with no dinner.

RANDOLPH SPEARS: Well then, carry on. But if you think I'm going to wait for you to have supper then you are sadly mistaken.

(Elizabeth waits for Randolph to leave the stables then turns to Rex)

MISS JONES: Oh Rex, that was so close.

STABLE BOY: Miss Jones, we can't wait any longer. I have a cousin in New Hampshire. She has a farm. We can stay there.

MISS JONES: I don't know. I have so many cherished belongings. I'm afraid Randolph would have them destroyed.

STABLE BOY: Miss Jones. Belongings are only material things. What I feel for you is real. My heart is heavy with longing. Your happiness is all that matters.

MISS JONES: I deserve happiness Rex, but I'm afraid I want it all. Randolph loves me. I know he does.

STABLE BOY: But he has never told you the words you long to hear.

(Miss Jones tears fall freely down her cheek)

MISS JONES: Can't I have it all? Can't I be Elizabeth Spears and still love you Rex?

STABLE BOY: Miss Jones….Elizabeth….some choices have to be made.

Jackie sighed and closed her eyes. Choices – that was how she felt her life was evolving towards. Would Steven be back next Saturday when she and Eric ventured to Point Place? Would he even be happy to see her? Her choice was to go crawling back and accept him with no future….or become the independent young woman that was screaming inside her to be free. Why couldn't Steven see that?

She picked up the script and continued reading.

MISS JONES: Rex. I need time. This is not a decision to take lightly. You're asking me to give up everything I love and hold dear to move to the country. A town where I don't know a single soul.

STABLE BOY: Elizabeth. You know me. Would I ever let harm come your way? Take a step towards a new future. Trust me.

MISS JONES: Give me time Rex. Randolph is expecting me for dinner. I'll try to slip away tonight when the moon is bright in the garden.

STABLE BOY: Just remember Miss Jones. My love for you is greater than you'll ever know.

Eric was towel drying his hair when he found Jackie sleeping in the sitting position again. Her glasses were falling off her nose and the script was lying open in her lap. He chuckled and saved the eyeglasses and put the script back on the nightstand.

His little roommate was such an enigma. She was so afraid of losing Hyde's love yet she bravely stormed into Chicago intent on making a name for herself. Eric surmised that had Hyde been here instead of himself, Jackie would dumb herself down and never achieve the success she has been capable of.

This adventure only confirmed what Eric had been thinking: Outside of Point Place, he wasn't a twitchy nerd. He was a skilled craftsman competent enough to earn a living his dad would be proud of. Then again, Jackie wasn't the spoiled princess everyone thought, but rather a hard working young woman in a responsible position – and succeeding. Point Place and their friends expected them to be twitchy and spoiled. How sad.

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"Eric, I'm gonna DJ at the radio station full-time. I've decided to rededicate myself to feminism." Donna gave him a look that dared him to argue. Eric was confused. "At the radio station? Is that…what about….Are you gonna play more harp?"

Donna pulled her hair into a ponytail, "Whatever…I'm blond now. Eric, I can do whatever I want. If I want to go to school I will…you made your sacrifice…I don't think I should have too."

Eric tried to pull her into his arms and she shoved him away. "You were always telling me to do what I want. That you would support me. Well, support Hot Donna because that's what I want."

"Donna, you are so much better than a radio station jock. You were going to be a writer…"

She leveled her gaze at him and Eric could feel an icy chill in his heart. He was losing her. "Eric, I am never leaving Point Place. My dad is here and you will never amount to anything. Go to Africa. Leave me. When we meet again, I will be a different person.

Eric sat up in bed. The dream seemed so real! Donna hated Point Place yet she leased that damn trailer. The redheaded girl he loved was changed by the freedom of being a blonde. She found the power of blonde-dom to be intoxicating and it gave her a confidence she didn't have before. She was settling for him. This year apart would not impact her in any way because she expected Eric to pick right up where they left off. She was the alpha mate in this relationship. They were doomed.

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Eric was hunkered down in a fleece lined sleeping bag. The antenna was aimed across the street at the basement. Bravely, Jackie had thrown a rock at the streetlight so her black Nova would be camouflaged in the night. She was standing in the street putting on her cherry blossom lip gloss.

"Okay Eric, I'm going in the basement. Turn that green switch to the ON position and move the antenna base around until you pick up the conversation. When you get it, you can adjust the volume."

Eric looked at the controls. "Okay, seems easy enough." Jackie grinned, "Okay, what's the code word again?"

"Unicorn." he said in a tired voice. "Right. When you hear me say that, it means Donna is coming outside so use your binoculars but stay quiet."

"I got it. You have the camera right?" he answered back.

Jackie patted her pocket. "Yep. I won't spend a lot of time because you're going to be freezing out here. Wish me luck!"

Eric smiled. "Good luck." He watched as Jackie crossed the snowy street towards his parents house only to come running back. He rolled down the window. "What now?"

"How do I look?" she asked excitedly. Eric laughed, "You look gorgeous. Now go so we can get Operation Donna and Hyde underway!"

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Jackie slowly walked down the steps to the basement. She knew it was exactly 13 steps from the driveway to the door. She could hear her friends talking and she smiled. It had been a long time since she saw them all together. The Sonny and Cher trip was not the same thing and was only a drive by.

Jackie pushed open the door and there was Steven sitting in his favorite chair. Her heart bumped in her chest. Donna and Kelso were on the sofa watching TV and Fez was in the lawn chair with his back towards her.

"Hi everybody!" she said cheerfully. "I just came by for a visit!"

Eric had easily zeroed in on the conversation and could hear everything crystal clear. Donna was exclaiming how nice it was to see the midget and Jackie was squealing that Kelso was hugging too hard.

Steven's voice came across the cold night air. "So…you're back."

Jackie replied, "No. I'm visiting."

Eric could hear Fez's voice, "Oh Jackie, this basement has been lacking such beauty while you were gone. Oh, Donna, not that you aren't beautiful…I just miss the Jackie beauty. Ow! You hit hard you big…woman!"

Jackie's laughter chimed through the antenna like a bell. "So Jackie, how long are you staying?" Donna asked.

"Oh, I was just in Kenosha and I thought how cool it would be to see my old friends. Steven, how are you?"

"Whatever." He replied in his Zen voice.

Eric heard some traffic and ducked lower in the seat. A strange car pulled up in the Forman driveway and a woman climbed out and ran down the basement stairs. There was a knock at the door and then an unfamiliar female voice. "Hi, I'm looking for….Hyde! Hey baby!"

Hyde's voice clearly said "Hey…Sam." Eric heard the alarm in Jackie's voice when she asked, "Who the hell is that!"

Eric wondered the same thing when Hyde's voice came back through the antenna, "This is Sam. She's an….exotic dancer I met in Vegas with W.B. I'm sorry, what are you doing here?"

The voice named "Sam" replied, "You don't remember? We got married."

Eric heard Jackie cry; "OH MY GOD!" then he heard the basement door slam shut. Hyde shouted, "What?" and at the same time, Jackie was running for the Nova, tears streaming down her face.

Eric pushed open the driver's door and she looked at him through tear filled eyes "Eric….can you please d-drive? My heart is breaking."

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