This chapter is rated M for sMut. You can find it in the Eric/Donna scene, so if you're uncomfortable with that stuff, then skip the end of that section.
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CHAPTER 14
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Sitting on the edge of the bed in a towel, Hyde watches Jackie move around the bedroom collecting clothes for him. She pulls another pair of black sweatpants from the Walmart bag, rips the tag off with her teeth and tosses them to him.
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She then rummages through her bottom drawer and produces a tank top from ABBA's "Voulez-Vous" album tour.
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Hyde lifts the shirt, takes one look and raises an eyebrow.
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"You're welcome to bend over and look through that bottom drawer for something you like better" she says flatly.
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He stares her down, then slowly and painfully dons the shirt. "I can even make ABBA cool."
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"Well, I for one, am loving what you do for that shirt" she smiles evilly.
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"Yeah, just you wait until you get shot by a drug addict and see which t-shirts I make you wear" he taunts.
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She laughs. "I think we both know you wouldn't be taking care of me if I got shot" she remarks as she finishes putting on her shoes.
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His face gets serious. "You really don't think I'd take care of you if you were hurt?"
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"I really don't" she says calmly. "But you know what, it doesn't matter. I'm doing this for Kitty" she assures herself and him as she puts her coat on.
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"Where are you going?" he wonders.
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"Does it matter, Hyde?" she asks, exasperatedly.
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He starts to get angry. "Can you tell me what's going in here please? Was it the shower? I thought things were fine, but now you're acting all mental."
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"You thought things were fine?" she laughs. "Whatever" she mumbles as she grabs her keys from the dresser.
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"Jackie!" he says sternly.
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"Look, I'm doing my good deed for the holidays, okay? Can we just keep things simple and avoid chit chat?" she questions.
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"I think we need to talk" he suggests.
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She looks at him and shakes her head sadly. "Talking is for people who have something in common, Steven. I'll be back in an hour. The phone is near your head if you need to call an ambulance while I'm gone." she informs him.
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She leaves the house and closes the door behind her, then slumps against the outside of it crying.
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Jackie walks to the nearest payphone, pulls a number from her address book and dials.
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It rings four times, and just as she's about to hang up, a familiar voice answers. "Hello?"
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She smiles in thanks. "Hi" she answers.
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The phone jostles a bit like the person is moving to the next room and then they hover close to the receiver. "Is this Jackie?"
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She starts crying with happiness and wipes a tear from her eye. "Yes".
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"I never thought I'd hear from you again" he says.
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"I was too ashamed to call you" she responds.
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"I'm ashamed too" he admits. "The way I treated you was...I'm so sorry."
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She laughs through her tears. "I'll forgive you if you forgive me" she offers.
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"You've got a deal, goddess" Fez smiles as he closes his eyes in relief.
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"It's good to hear your voice" she sighs, happy for the first time in days. "It's been a rough week."
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He nods to himself. "I've heard" he bites his thumb nervously. "So you're doing it then? You're actually taking care of that bastard?"
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Her breath catches. "Yep."
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"That's got to be weird" he guesses.
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"Understatement of the century" she exhales. "Look, it's the holidays and I don't want to keep you. I just needed...I just wanted to hear your voice."
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"I miss you princess" he ventures.
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She smiles widely as tears fall from her eyes. "I miss you too, Fezzy. More than you know. Do you think I could call you sometime?"
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"Of course you can. Look, Jackie, you should know something. I was upset back then but it wasn't a shock. I knew you didn't love me, not the way I wanted you to. I'm not angry anymore, okay? I just miss my best friend" he confesses to her.
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Now crying hard, she tries to calm down to speak. "I really love you, okay? And I am so sorry if I hurt you. Believe me, you're the absolute last person I ever wanted to hurt" she sobs.
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"I know my darling Jacqueline. We're okay. Just tell me what's going on. Is he being a prick?" he questions.
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She shakes her head. "No actually. He's being nice. He wants to talk about what happened, but I just can't. And I...I still have all of these feelings. So much time has passed that I didn't think I would, you know, but I do" she says, spilling her guts.
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"He doesn't deserve your feelings - or your forgiveness. He's being greedy, what you're doing for him is enough," he insists.
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The phone beeps asking for another $1.20 for the next three minutes.
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"Shit! Fez I'm on a payphone and I'm out of change, but I'll call you from home soon" she tells him.
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"Promise?" he asks, holding her to it.
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"You bet" she smiles as it disconnects her and she hangs up the phone while wiping her nose.
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Jackie walks back into her apartment two hours later carrying a small Christmas tree and stand and a bag of decorations.
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Hyde sits up slowly as he hears her walk in and tries to peek around the partition. "Jackie?"
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"Yeah. It's me" she says as she drops everything on the floor.
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"Are you okay?" he asks with concern.
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"Yep. I'm good" she tilts her head around the corner to see him.
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He sees her cheeks flushed from the cold and her rumpled hat hair and smiles. Even when she's a mess she's adorable. Especially when she's a mess, actually. He can't deny how hot she looks when she's ready for a night out on the town, but when she's just rolled out of bed and she's tooling around the city in her snow pants and mukluks, she's the world's sexiest little ragamuffin.
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"I got a tree" she smiles enthusiastically. "I wasn't going to bother for just me, but I figured since you're here...I mean, the Formans aren't coming home until New Years, so I'm afraid you're going to have to wait out Christmas with me."
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"I always liked our Christmases together" he says remembering their sex marathons and Chinese take-away. "I wish I could help you set it up the tree" he grimaces as he tries to sit up straighter.
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"Don't move! It's okay. This one's only 5 ft. so I've got an inch or two on it. She lifts the tree and drags the edge into view. "I'm going to set it up now. Just let me know when you want dinner."
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"You're cooking?" he asks curiously.
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"Ha. There's a Jewish deli down the street and I bought you some chicken soup with matzoh balls" she chuckles.
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Hyde scoots to the edge of the bed to watch Jackie erect the tree. In theory, she shouldn't be able to lift something so large, but being as resourceful as an ant, Jackie sets it up easily.
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If he squints hard enough, Hyde can almost pretend this is their home together and a normal Christmas for the two of them, other than the fact that he's been shot and she hates his guts.
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She spends 30 more minutes trimming the tree and then turns the lights on. "It doesn't really look that great unless the overhead lights are off" she says turning off the living room lights and then the ones in the alcove bedroom before sitting next to Hyde on the bed.
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Her hair is in a messy pony tail now and he stares longingly at the side of her neck. She turns to him and wrinkles her brow. "What?"
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"It's beautiful" he says, clearly referring to her and not the tree.
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She smiles placidly at him, leans back next to him on the pillow and rests for the new few minutes.
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"I miss you" he whispers under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear.
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"I think maybe you hit your head harder than they thought" she says calmly, refusing to turn her head to the right to face him.
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"Don't do that, Jackie" he sighs.
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"Steven, I just don't want to talk about it." she shakes her head no. "There's nothing to say."
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"Fine" he snaps.
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"Come on. I think you're just injured and confused. Maybe you need to eat something" she suggests.
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"I was confused then. I'm not now." he insists.
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"Steven, I've had a long day, will you'll just drop it" she pleads while staring at the ceiling.
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He fists ball up. "Fine. But we're not done with this."
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She closes her eyes and wishes to God that they were.
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Eric knocks a few times at his cabin door, then opens it. "I didn't realize it was unlocked."
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Donna, reading a book, refuses to look up. "I wasn't sure when you were planning on coming back, so I figured I should leave it open for you."
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He sighs and grabs the end of her foot and squeezes. "I'm sorry I ran off, I was pissed and just needed a little space."
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She places the book next to her and meets his gaze. "I'm sorry too. I know I'm confusing you a lot lately...or always, but I guess it's just because I'm so confused about things myself."
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He nods. "Yeah. I see that now."
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"What? Did you call Jackie about it or something?" she asks with a slight edge to her voice.
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"I did actually" he admits. "She helped me to see your side of things."
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"She's always doing that, isn't she?" she sighs.
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"That upsets you?" he wonders incredulously.
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"No Eric. It's not about that. It's just...why are you always going to her with all of our problems?" she wants to know.
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"You used to to the exact same thing" he counters.
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"Yeah, when we were kids! I don't know. I guess I just wish you would come to me with your complaints and not her" she remarks sadly.
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He looks at his beautiful girlfriend and notices for the first time how vulnerable she is to his whims. "You're right, Donna. I should be talking to you about this stuff and not her - -and I will, from now on. I promise."
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The corners of her mouth turn up slightly as she lowers her eyes. "That means a lot. Thanks." She leans over to the ashtray next to her and re-lights a joint she smoked half of earlier.
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He slides in next to her on the bed and places his head on her pillow. "It's kind of funny how every time we argue it seems to be about a stupid ring. We don't do so well with rings, huh? Maybe we should try a bracelet?" he smiles as he takes her hand, she holds the joint to his lips with the other hand for him to take a drag.
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"I guess you're right. The promise ring incident was a fun several months. Oh and there's the infamous man-ring, which I still think is stunning, by the way" she chuckles. "And of course, there's the first engagement ring with the .025 carat center stone, paid for by Jackie." She takes another puff.
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"I made up for it though, didn't I?" he asks.
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She smiles. "Yes you did" she lifts her hand to check out the new ring.
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His brow raises. "You're wearing it?" he asks hopefully.
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"I'm...just seeing how it feels" she admits. "I'm still not sure about marriage."
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He turns to face her and strokes the side of her face. "Look, I love you. You know how I feel about getting married, but I'm not going to be that same idiot who broke up with you because you wanted to wear the promise ring around your neck instead of your finger. I don't want to keep making the same mistakes over and over again, hoping to have a different outcome."
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She giggles. "That's the definition of insanity, you know" she says turning to him, before letting him shotgun the rest of her drag.
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He exhales. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time you accused me of that" he says smirking.
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"Eric, I want to marry you so badly, but I just...this has nothing to do with you, okay? There's nobody else I would even consider marrying. I just have to get through my own shit before I can do it, you know?" she looks into his eyes, hoping for a glimmer of understanding.
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"I'll wait for you, Donna. I mean, I've waited 15 years, so what's another...year?" he shrugs.
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"Four" she suggests.
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He scoffs. "I'd like to still have a full head of hair at my wedding."
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"How about we meet in the middle and say twoish?" she asks.
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He thinks for a minute and takes a pull of the joint. "I can do twoish, as long as you wear the ring the whole time and don't make me wait until marriage to have sex like you did the last time."
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The statuesque beauty laughs hard then takes the last drag of the roach before stubbing it out. "What the hell was I thinking?"
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"Seriously. It must have been absolute torture for you to deprive yourself of all of this" he gestures to his lanky physique.
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"It was" she coos as she wraps her arms around his neck. "I happen to like all of this" she looks him up and down.
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"Yeah? How much?" he grins, his green eyes flashing dangerously.
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She runs her finger down the front of Eric's shirt, flicking the buttons open as she goes, then opens it, exposing his newly-suntanned chest.
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"Very. Very. Much." she tells him, punctuating each word with a kiss to his chest.
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He holds her face with both hands and plants a gentle kiss on her lips that quickly turns heated. He pulls the string of her bikini top, exposing her breasts and works his way down.
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Donna runs her fingers through his hair and moans softly as he teases her nipples with his mouth. She's never been with anybody else this way except Casey Kelso, and he never made her feel like this. Oh, and there was also Randy, but the fact that she has to keep reminding herself she was even with him only highlights how forgettable it was. Maybe she was just one of those few lucky ones who meets their perfect match without having to slog through a series of bad boyfriends. Unlike most girls her age, she craves stability not excitement. Excitement is for a job not a partner.
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A partner needs to make you feel warm and safe, and Eric does that in spades. He also gives her butterflies, makes her laugh more than anyone else and tries to please her more than she has a right to ask.
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He peppers her belly with kisses and makes his way back up to her face. "Has anybody ever told you before how sexy your bellybutton is?"
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"Uh just you, every time you see me naked" she replies.
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He yanks down her swimsuit bottom and makes gentle circles with his fingers on her core, which speeds her breathing up and makes her flush all over. One of the curses of being a redhead is never being able to hide your arousal, not that she'd ever want to with him, but it makes for an interesting family brunch after an early morning 'wake up' call.
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She grabs him by the hair and crashes her lips on to his, as she slides down his swim trunks with her feet and begins to stroke his erection, which has been pressing up against her like a pleasant reminder.
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He kisses and sucks his way down her neck to her collarbone and then whispers in her ear "We're total badasses. We're doing it on a boat."
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She perks up. "I know! Right? We're like Mick Jagger!" she giggles.
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Eric smirks and starts singing in his 'sexy Mick Jagger' voice "I can't get no...satisfaction. I can't get no..girl reaction..."
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Donna laughs again as he rolls on top of her and enters her slowly.
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Hyde and Jackie lean against the couch while sitting on the floor finishing dinner.
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"Ah yes. The traditional eating of the matzoh ball soup in front of the Christmas tree" Hyde jokes as he finishes his bowl and puts it aside. "Hey, at least religion got two things right."
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She smiles then twists her bottom lip nervously. "I can probably attempt eggs or something if you're still hungry" she offers.
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"No, it's alright. I still don't have much of an appetite from the painkillers" he says.
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"Oh" she responds, before allowing an uncomfortable silence to fall upon the room.
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Hyde feels frustration building in his core and does all he can to keep it from igniting his bad side.
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"I can put on music" she suggests, feeling self-conscious from the lack of ambient noise. She stands up and retrieve's Hyde's bowl, then drops them both on the table as she heads for the 8-Track player.
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"I don't know how I feel about you playing DJ" he snarks.
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"How about I give you veto rights?" she offers.
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"I can live with that, as long as you can live with me vetoing half of your collection" he explains as he catches a glimpse of a Saturday Night Fever soundtrack tape. "Make that two-thirds."
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She rolls her eyes. "Please. Ever stop to consider that you may be the one with bad taste?"
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"How do you figure?" he asks, cocking his head toward her.
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"Well, considering I just got a job working for MTV as a correspondent, I think I might just have some authority on the matter" she brags.
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"The new music channel that's starting up?" he questions, impressed with her accomplishment. "That's amazing, Jackie" he exclaims with a proud smile.
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"Um, thank you" she responds, caught off guard by his naked display of kindness.
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The song "Woman" by John Lennon starts playing.
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Woman, I can hardly express
My mixed emotions and my thoughtlessness
After all, I'm forever in your debt
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Hyde looks up at her quizzically.
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"December 8th. He was shot the same day a year ago as you. Or vice versa, I guess" she says sadly. "I thought you might want..."
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"I do" he assures her. "I didn't realize it until you pointed it out" he admits.
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He looks at her for a moment, pissed that she acted so surprised to hear him compliment her, but touched by her Lennon tribute. How Jackie manages to provoke all of his different emotions at all times is beyond his understanding.
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Was he really such a jerk that she's shocked to hear him say something pleasant to her? Then he remembers New Year's Eve, and realizes that he was.
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And woman,
I will try to express
My inner feelings and thankfulness
For showing me the meaning of success
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"Look, I know you don't want to talk about our problems or anything like that, but can you at least let me apologize for being the world's biggest asshole to you on New year's Eve? Please?" he pleads with her.
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She takes a deep breath. "Fine, we can talk about just that night and nothing else. Certainly not Chicago or our relationship or Sa...your whore. Okay?"
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He nods. "I was drunk and feeling lousy. I knew I was the one who had fucked everything up but I was having a tough time admitting to myself, you know? So I just lashed out at you, I guess."
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Her brow furrows. "You're actually admitting you screwed things up?" she asks, shocked.
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"I didn't mean any of those things I said to you. Not one of them" he insists.
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"Then why'd you say them?" she wonders. "You really messed me up. That was just...I've never even had anybody who hates me talk to me like that, much less somebody who once...liked me."
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"I didn't just like you, Jackie" he looks at her pointedly.
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Ooh, well, well, doo doo doo doo doo
Ooh, well, well, doo doo doo doo doo
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"Well, I can only read into the things you say Steven, not the things you don't" she looks at him sadly.
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"I know. I'm sorry, doll. I really am" he says sincerely, with labored breathing, She can tell that moving him from the bed to the other room has taken a lot out of him and this conversation's only taking more.
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She nods. "Are you finished now? If I forgive you for that night can we just move on and never speak about it again?"
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That isn't what he wants, but he's not in any position to bargain. He shrugs. "If you're done, you're done, I guess. I just wanted you to know how bad I felt about it, and it's not just because you're taking care of me. I felt like this before, you get it?"
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Despite her desire to remain zen, the corners of her mouth curl up. "Yeah. I get it."
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Woman, I know you understand the little child inside a man
Please remember, my life is in your hands
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She kneels down by his side and places the back of her hand on his forehead to check for a temperature.
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"Are you feeling okay?" she inquires, concerned by his ragged breaths.
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He looks up into her eyes and he's in paradise. Her velvety skin is touching his face and she's so close he could reach up and kiss her. She's everywhere around him and it's intoxicating.
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And woman
Hold me close to your heart, however distant don't keep us apart
After all it is written in the stars
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"You sound like a pervert, Steven. Why is your breathing so heavy?" she wonders, debating whether or not to phone Kitty.
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"Part of it could be the fact that I've been shot" he shrugs, mocking her. "Or maybe I am a pervert."
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She scowls. "It's not funny. You look like you're suffering. Did you- - you didn't take the pain pills I gave you." she accuses angrily.
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"Man, I just don't like being that out of it unless it's by choice. Plus, they made me groggy and I'd kind of prefer being awake, you know?" he admits as he rubs his head.
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"I'm not going to be able to move you back to the bed if you don't take something" she warns.
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"That's okay. It wouldn't be the first time I slept on the floor" he remarks flippantly.
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"No. It's not okay. You have to take something" she insists.
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"Well, unfortunately I don't have my stash here on the account that I didn't plan to get shot and all" he winces as he shifts his weight.
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"Stay right here" she orders firmly as she crosses to her stereo and rummages through her 8-track collection.
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Ooh, well, well, doo doo doo doo doo
Ooh, well, well, doo doo doo doo doo
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"I don't think Sergio Mendes is gonna cure what ails me Jackie, but if you have Santana...?" he stops short as she approaches him carrying a baggie of weed.
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"Huh" he nods approvingly. "And here I thought that I corrupted you."
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"You can't corrupt what's already spoiled" she says as she quickly rolls out a joint and lights it for him, pulling a huge drag and holding it in her lungs.
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She hold the cigarette aloft for him to take a puff. He places one hand on top of hers and slips his mouth over the end of the joint, his lips pressing up against her fingers softly, his blue eyes looking directly into her own, making her swoon.
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Woman, please let me explain
I never meant to cause you sorrow or pain
So let me tell you again and again and again
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Jackie closes her eyes and exhales.
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Her world starts going fuzzy almost immediately. The weed is strong and she can feel herself relaxing into the high. "Is it good?" she asks as she takes another long drag.
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He exhales and leans in for another. "It's perfect."
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Jackie leans up against the couch next to Hyde and smiles. "Remember how many hours we used to spend in the basement getting high and listening to music?" she recalls fondly. "I think I spent my entire senior year of high school doing that" she laughs softly in her reverie.
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He remember one other thing they used to do in the basement a lot while they were high. His insides stir at her proximity. He's so close to her now that he can smell her skin and her hair and feel her arm rubbing up against his as her body shakes with laughter. He puts the joint out in the ashtray.
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"I feel really old. Like I've lived way too much" she frowns and looks at him.
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He runs his fingers gently down the side of her face and lightly back and forth over her lips. "I hate to see you sad, dollface."
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She nods. "Me too."
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He leans toward her and lets his lips touch hers. Tentatively at first, but then with hunger and want. He pulls the elastic band out of her hair and runs both hands through her chocolate curls. Hyde pushes past the pain and eagerly strains closer, letting his lips glide over and under hers with the pent up passion of a man deprived for two years of the one thing he wants most in this world.
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I love you, yeah, yeah, yeah, now and forever
I love you, yeah, yeah, yeah, now and forever
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A/N – Sappy! There's going to be another time jump in a bit.
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Please review!