Disclaimer: I don't own That '70s show.

I'm working to try to finish this story and I think the next chapter may be the last but I make no promises.

The next day, Hyde knocked on Fez and Jackie's apartment door. Fez answered a moment later.

"Hey, Fez, Jackie here?"

"Sorry, Hyde, I already took her to the bus station."

"What? She left already? She just got the call yesterday."

"The producer wanted her in Chicago as soon as possible. So, she left this morning."

"On the bus? She'd never take the bus."

"She said she didn't want to be a bother to anyone."

Hyde nodded. "Alright, thanks man." Fez closed the door and watched through the peephole as Hyde walked away.

He whispered in to the other room. "Jackie, he's gone."

Jackie stuck her head out of her bedroom. "Are you sure?"

"I watched him leave. Oh, Jackie, I really don't feel good about this."

"Hey, you owe me this, not only for spying on me all those times but for letting it spill to everyone that Hyde and I were together. Mrs. Foreman scalded me for my 'dirty ways' and Donna's been calling nonstop. My bus leaves in a couple hours and you just have to help me avoid Steven until then."

Later that day, Fez came into the Foreman's kitchen where Mrs. Foreman was making lunch.

"Hey, Ms. Kitty, is Hyde here?"

"No, he left this morning for the record store."

"Thanks," he said before walking back out the door and yelling. "Jackie, coast is clear!"

Jackie came in a moment later.

"Hey, Mrs. Foreman." She said. "I have my suitcase in the car. I'm heading for the bus station to go to Chicago and I wanted to say goodbye before I left."

"Oh, no. Jackie, you can't leave yet. I was going to throw you a going away surprise party, and you left so quickly the last time…"

"I know, but I have to take this chance. It's not everyone who gets a second chance at their dream, I've got to take it."

Mrs. Foreman gave a watery, sad smile. "I know, dear." The two women hugged and Jackie felt herself begin to tear as well.

Jackie sniffed a little bit as she pulled away. "Um, is Mr. Foreman here?" she said, whipping a tear from her eye.

"He's in the living room," Kitty said. Jackie walked toward the living room door. "Oh, Jackie," Jackie turned back to Mrs. Foreman. "Don't you want to stay for lunch? You can say goodbye to Steven."

Jackie held her breath for a fraction of a second to compose herself. "No, thanks, Mrs. Foreman, I already said goodbye to Steven and I want to get to Chicago as soon as possible." Mrs. Foreman gave a little nod and Jackie smiled at her before going into the living room.

Mr. Foreman was sitting in his chair watching something on cable. "Hey, Mr. Foreman, I'm leaving for Chicago now and I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you."

"For what?" He asked a little confused.

"For lots of things, but mostly just putting up with all of us."

"Well… your welcome." He said. "Have a nice life."

She smiled, "you too." She headed for the kitchen door.

"Jackie."

Jackie turned around as Mr. Foreman got up from his chair to look at her.

"Look, I just want to let you know they'll be dumbasses no matter where you go and don't let any of them get in your way, especially one particular dumbass." Jackie smiled at his unique show of affection. "Just concentrate on yourself for a while."

"Thanks, Mr. Foreman." She kissed his cheek and gave him a hug, and since no one was around to witness it, he hugged her back. They let go and she smiled at him one last time before she turned and left through the kitchen again.

It was a little while later when Hyde came into the kitchen for lunch. Mr. Foreman was already sitting at the table and Mrs. Foreman was bringing over the sandwiches. He sat down at the table. "Thanks, Mrs. Foreman, looks great."

"Well, thank you, Steven. I wish Jackie could have stayed for lunch. She shouldn't ride a bus all the way to Chicago on an empty stomach."

"Jackie's probably in Chicago by now. I stopped by the apartment and Fez said he'd already taken her to the bus station."

"Oh, well, that doesn't make any sense," Mrs. Foreman said. "She was just here ten minutes ago on her way to the bus station to say goodbye."

"Kitty…" Mr. Foreman warned from his place in the other side of his wife.

"What." She looked over to Hyde in time to see his slightly dumbfounded expression change as his jaw clenched. "Oh," Mrs. Foreman said as she realized what happened.

Hyde, without having touched his sandwich, got up and left the kitchen.

On the other side of town, Jackie and Fez stood beside the bus to Chicago.

"Well, you made it, Jackie. In a few hours you'll be in Chicago on your way to television stardom." He turned to her. "I'm going to miss you so much!" He began to choke up as he hugged her, pinning her arms to the side. She tried to hug him back but only managed a useless flailing of her hands.

"I'll miss you too, Fez" He pulled away and pouted a little, "and thank you for hiding me from Steven today."

"It was no problem. You'll come back to visit, right?"

"Of course."

The two hugged again, this time with Jackie's arms free. They pulled away and smiled.

"Bye, Jackie."

"See ya."

Fez turned and walked back to his car as Jackie went to get on the bus.

"Jackie!"

Jackie turned at the sound of her name to see Steven Hyde running towards her.

"Fez!" she yelled in the direction he'd left.

"I didn't do it!"

Hyde came to a stop in front of Jackie, putting his hands on his knees and panting. He stood up strait as he caught his breath and looked at Jackie.

"Why'd you have Fez lie about you being there."

She looked at him and held her ground. "You know why."

"Jackie, I-" Hyde didn't really want to say it, but he knew it was really the only chance he had. "I don't want you to go. I didn't get a chance to tell you last time, but I want you to stay here. I figured we could try this again without Sam or Fez or Kelso to get in the way."

She watched him, though he didn't show it physically, he was struggling to say these things. Her eyes were sad but her jaw clenched in determination.

"No, Steven," she said, he voice unwavering. "The last time I put a relationship before my career I ended up with neither. I hit rock bottom. I'm not going to do that again."

"Jackie,-"

"Goodbye, Steven." Jackie got on the bus just as the doors closed behind her. The bus roared to life and started moving. Hyde watched it pick up speed and then turn the corner to disappear behind a building on its way to Chicago, carrying Jackie with it.