A/N: Ok, yeah, this a little unrealistic here. But I needed to get Jackie into the story, and this was most realistic way I could think of. But it will get better, I promise!

Added Note: OMG SO SORRY. I accidentally posted my Four Brothers chapter here. Oops. : (


Hyde groaned as he clawed his way back to reality, the pain in his body hitting him like a ton of bricks.

"Oh shit," He moaned, trying to rub his head, only to find his arm held in a sling.

"Oh my God! You're awake!"

"Shit!" Hyde swore, nearly throwing himself off the bed in panic, before he seen the owner of the voice, a small, pixie like little brunette girl who sat in the chair next to his bed. "Who the hell are you?"

"You shouldn't cuss like that," She said snobbishly. "Especially when there's a lady around."

"Well, I don't see no 'lady', I just see a little girl who I don't know sittin' by my bed. Care to explain, princess?"

The girl broke into a huge smile. "Why, thank you! Usually, only my father calls me princess! Oh, anyways, right. I'm Jacqueline Burkhart. I'm here as part of my parents charity work."

"Oh, great so I'm a charity case," Hyde said, struggling to get comfortable.

"No, not you, you loser," She said, honestly seeming offended that Hyde had thought her low enough to be giving him charity. "The hospital. My dad donates tons of money here, then once a month, my mom and I come here to visit the sick people."

Hyde sighed. "Aren't there any other sick people you can go and bother?" He asked, pushing himself into a sitting position.

"No, you're the only one my age, and... what are you doing?" She asked suspiciously.

Hyde grinned at her as he swung his feet over the edge of the bed, ripping the IV out of his hand at the same time. "What's it look like, princess?"

"You can't be getting up!" She practically shrieked. "Nurse! Nurse!"

Hyde was stunned into stillness, as the girl threw herself on him, forcefully shoving him back down onto the bed.

"What the hell you doin', you crazy bitch?" He swore. "Let me up!"

"No! You're not supposed to be moving! Nurse!"

Almost without thinking, Hyde's hand snaked out from underneath her, and clamped down around her mouth. Almost instantly, he regretted it.

"Ow! I can't believe you just freakin' bit me!" He growled. At that point, he wasn't sure who was holding onto who, as they each struggled to get a better grip.

"I said let. Me. Up!" Hyde grunted.

"And I said you're not supposed to be moving! Nurse!"

He watched in horror as she managed to reach around, and slammed her small fist down on the call button.

"Dammit! What the hell?"

"Yes?" Came Mrs. Forman's voice. "Steven, are you up?"

"Nurse, he's tryin' to ge-"

Hyde's hand slammed down over her mouth again. He grunted in pain as she bit him again, but held on tight.

"Steven?" Finally, the red light on the button went off, and Hyde knew she was making her way down from the nurse's station.

Disgustedly, he practically threw the girl off of him.

"Thanks, you crazy psycho," He spat, glancing at his hand. Damn, she'd actually drew blood.

"It's your own fault," She said smugly, sitting back in the chair. "You're not supposed to be up and moving until the doctor tells you you can."

"Yeah, well, you just blew my chance of gettin' out of here without somebody noticing me."

"Good."

"Bitch."

"Dick," She threw back.

"Oh, shut up. Seriously, isn't there somebody else you can go bother?"

Her retort was cut off by Mrs. Forman entering the room.

"Oh, Steven! You're finally awake!" She cried, rushing over to hug him. "We were so worried!"

"Yeah, uh, Mrs. Forman, you're crushing me," He wheezed, gentling trying to loosen her grip with one hand.

"Oh! Oh, sorry, Steven. I'm just so glad to see you finally awake. How're you feeling?" She asked, teary-eyed. Hyde frowned as Jackie slide out of the room, sticking her tongue out at him as she closed the door.

"Sore as hell. What do you mean, 'finally' see me awake?" He asked suspiciously, putting the little brat out of his mind. "How long I been here?"

"Almost five days now, honey."

Hyde's eyes bunged out of his head. "Five days? Edna's gonna kick my ass," He muttered, throwing his feet over the side of the bed again. "Where's my clothes?"

"Steven, you lay back down this instant, you hear me? I'll have them restrain you if you won't lay there and behave," Mrs. Forman threatened.

Then she winced.

And Hyde knew she knew.

Oh.

Oh shit.

"Uh... uh, where's Edna?" He asked nervously, not moving from where he sat.

"Steven, honey... she... Well, we're pretty sure her and her boyfriend dropped you off here. And nobody's seen them, or been able to get a hold of them since."

"So uh... what's gonna happen to me?"

A huge smile plastered itself on her face. And even though she still had that sad look in her eye, he could tell that she was actually excited about what she had to tell him.

"Well, Dr. Alvarez talked to Social Services, and they've temporarily given us custody of you. So you get to come live with us."

"Temporarily though."

"Oh, that's just until we can find Edna. You're gonna stay with us for quite a while," She said, still smiling.

Hyde tried to force himself to smile back. But he couldn't.

She knew.

Had she told Red? Or shit, worse still, had she told Eric or Donna?

"Steven, you need to lay back down. You – Where's your IV?" She asked sternly, hands on her hips.

"Uh... I might've... accidentally... kinda... tore it out," He mumbled, giving her a sheepish smile.

"Steven, you get your little behind back up on that bed. Just look at that, you did tear it out, didn't you? Oh, I swear: you're just as bad as Red is. Now you sit back, lay still, watch some TV, and I'll get you some pudding," She said, winking at him as she put the IV back in, and handed him the TV remote.

"They serve pudding here?"

"I brought it from home. Been saving it in the fridge here for you," She said with a smile.

Hyde managed to return the gesture. "Thanks, Mrs. Forman. You're the best."

She patted his hand. "It's nothing, Steven. Don't worry about it. We'll get you out of here soon, get you back home with us, and we'll get you eating right. Get some meat on those bones." She forced her tone to be jovial, but he could tell.

She knew.

And that was all she could see when she looked at him.


End Note: Yes, there will be more Jackie in the next chapter.