Author Note: …was this what you were expecting?

*

Chapter 36 – Strep Throat or Flu?

Eric was the last to climb off the boat and was stunned to find his legs wobbly. He hadn't realized he developed sea legs overnight! Jackie laughed and wrapped her hand around his arm. "Come on Popeye. You'll be walking fine later."

Kelso had fallen in the parking lot. "Dude! It feels like I'm drunk and I'm not even hung-over. How AWESOME!'

The group agreed that Hyde and Laurie 'played nice' and if there was another get together, they would be invited. Brooke hugged everyone good by and Laurie got in the car with Hyde. Fez hitched a ride with the Kelso's.

Eric started the Mustang and Jackie turned to him. "Eric, don't you think it's a little silly that we're engaged and you live in a rental when I have two perfectly wonderful bedrooms…"

Eric leaned over and kissed her mouth. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

She smiled. "Well…only if you want to. I mean you did ask me the BIG question…and I have the room…"

"Well, how about we go by my place so I can get my clothes and car and just do it?"

"But we did it at your place and your bed is like a rock!"

Eric laughed, "That's all rental furniture. I only have my clothes. I don't own that stuff."

"Oh! Oh, that's great then, and we can get your phone unlisted too!" Eric kissed her back. "I like the way you think."

*

The cold February weather led the way into a bright and early spring. March saw Kitty Forman's flowers blooming. Red was bringing out the barbeque for its seasonal cleaning and Laurie and Hyde's business was booming. Eric was quietly working his way up the Company ladder and 1986 was proving to be a very good year.

Jackie and her new assistant Amy were working more events than at the club. The convention was such a success that Rafe was inundated with requests for costumed bartenders for such occasions as bachelor parties, poker tournaments, Monte Carlo night at the local Lodge, and the biggest money maker was weddings.

Eric adored coming home from work to a warm inviting house and sometimes Jackie would be there to greet him, other times he'd be home to welcome her. They proved their love for each other more every day and finally decided that 1986 would be the year they get married. They just had to narrow it down to a month and the day.

*

Jackie had spent the morning with Susie getting the VA home ready for a surprise party for Bear's birthday. Bear would never tell anyone how old he was, he would just say he was older than dirt and leave it at that. Susie found out and planned a party.

Jackie made the punch and helped bead some of the decorations. Kitty stopped by to drop off her cakes. "Hey sweetie, how are you doing with those cards?" Kitty wanted to be asked to help. Jackie looked up and smiled, "Mrs. Forman, hello…Is it hot in here?" Jackie wiped her brow. "I feel like I have a fever."

"Did you work the late shift last night?" Kitty asked.

Jackie nodded. "I usually get six hours of sleep on a Friday night."

Kitty smiled. "Did you eat anything yesterday?"

"No. It was busy at work; Maggie's been out with the flu. Oh my gosh! I might be contagious. I shouldn't be making the punch, I could get someone sick."

Kitty felt her forehead and Jackie barely had a fever but she was sweating. "Sweetheart, I think you should go home and get some sleep. You don't look good and you haven't been eating. You're trying to do too much. Let me drive you home and you can come back later for the party."

Eric pulled up outside the garage when his mom drove up. "Honey, Jackie is feeling a little under the weather. Make sure she gets some sleep before the party."

"Mom, my tonsils are swollen, can you have a look?" Kitty acted flustered but she loved that Nurse Kitty was needed. She reached into her purse for a pen and said, "Open wide!" She used the pen as a tongue depressor and replied, "You definitely have swollen tonsils. Let's get both of you inside and I'll make soup!"

*

After the nap, Jackie still didn't look too good. Kitty sat on the side of the bed and took her temperature again. "Honey, you are running a low grade fever which isn't anything to really worry about but you are so pale. Have you been taking vitamins? You look a little anemic."

Jackie struggled to a sitting position. "I've been real busy at work and just haven't had the time to stop and eat. I just finished two events and worked a couple of late shifts. Mrs. Forman, it's no big deal."

Kitty looked at the young girl and she looked pale and unhealthy. "I'm taking you and Eric to the Urgent Care Clinic. I want you to get a blood test for anemia and I promise not to lecture you. I also want Eric tested for Strep. If you have the flu and he has a cold, let's get you both fixed."

Jackie opened her mouth to protest but Kitty gave her that "mother's evil eye" and she caved. "Okay."

Kitty smiled. "Good. The doctor on call owes me a few favors I can get both of you in and out in a jiffy. You get a shot of B12 and you'll be back in time for the party."

Eric was standing in the doorway. "Mom, I don't need a shot do I? I mean, I'll swallow a couple of pills…"

Kitty hugged her son. "Let's see what Dr. Rowland has to say okay? Let's go - everybody in the Toyota!"

*

Eric was sent to one exam room and Jackie to the other. Kitty assisted in swabbing Eric's throat for the strep test and chuckled when he gagged a bit. "I'll be with you in a minute honey. Miss Claudia is going to give you an antibiotic."

Kitty dropped off the specimen and hurried to Jackie's room where the doctor was taking a blood sample. The poor girl was squeezing her eyes shut and Kitty tried to distract her. "I made sure Eric was getting a shot."

Jackie opened her eyes. "He hates needles." Kitty smiled. "I know. But if he's got Strep throat, he's going to need to sleep in the guest bedroom." Kitty winked. "He'll be contagious."

The doctor removed the rubber band that was tied around Jackie's arm and pulled the needle out. "I'll run the tests and be right back."

Kitty sat down next to Jackie. "Sweetie, have I told you how happy you made my son when you agreed to marry him."

Jackie smiled. "I love him Mrs. Forman. He's everything I could ever want in a man and I want to spend the rest of my life with him." Kitty patted her hand. "Well, between you and me…I've always thought of you as a daughter. Let me go check that stick and give Eric the news."

*

Eric was waiting in his room and Jackie was waiting in hers. Kitty looked at the strep results and Dr. Rowland looked at the results of the blood test. "Well Nurse Forman who would you like to break the news to first? Kitty looked at the tests again and shocked said, "Oh my…"

Eric looked up as Dr. Rowland and his mother came in the room. "Honey, you have Strep throat." Eric grabbed his throat as if he could touch his tonsils. "What happens now?"

Dr. Rowland explained, "I'm going to prescribe some extra antibiotics in addition to the one Miss Claudia gave you and I recommend bed rest for three to five days. You may spread the virus to others." Kitty smiled and handed Eric a paper mask.

"Put this on honey so we can go see Jackie." Eric slipped the mask over his face and followed his mom down the hall to the next examination room. Jackie was sitting on the table wearing the exam gown, her legs swinging over the edge. "Eric, what happened?"

"I'm contagious. I have strep throat." Kitty pushed her son down into a chair in the corner while Dr. Rowland approached the table. "Miss Burkhart, have you been feeling fatigued or overly tired lately?"

"Well, yes. I've been working a lot."

"Any dizziness or difficulty concentrating?" he asked again.

"Yes. Not bad." Jackie was starting to get worried about this anemia. Dr. Rowland took her blood pressure and removed the stethoscope. "Miss Burkhart, you are displaying all the classic signs of iron deficiency or anemia, but that's not your underlying problem."

Eric spoke up from the corner, "Can't you just give her the same shot you gave me?"

Dr. Rowland laughed and Kitty smiled. "No honey he can't. You and Jackie are going to have a baby." They heard a "thunk" and Dr. Rowland and Nurse Kitty turned around. Jackie had fainted on the bench.

Jackie woke up with Kitty patting her hand. "Wow… I just had the most bizarre dream. I thought you said I was pregnant."

She looked at Kitty who was grinning from ear to ear. Dr. Rowland pulled up a stool. "Would you like the baby's father to remain in the room while I exam you?"

"What? I thought the blood test was all you needed to do. You thought I had anemia. I'm pregnant?"

Kitty squeezed her hand. "Honey, we need to find out how far along you are. Let the doctor do the exam okay?" Stunned, Jackie could only nod her head. "Could I get something to drink?"

Kitty looked at Eric. "Get her some water and do not remove that mask." Eric's eyes got wide over the blue face mask. He was going to be a father? His own knees felt wobbly.

By the time Eric returned, a history had been taken, the exam was finished and the doctor announced that Jackie was approximately six or seven weeks along. An ultrasound machine was wheeled in and Eric was encouraged to sit beside Jackie while the doctor confirmed his findings.

"You may not see much but it's better to check and not worry." Eric held Jackie's hand as the doctor rubbed a liquid over her stomach and started passing the wand. He pointed to a small moving object. "That's your baby's heart." The doctor clicked something on the keyboard and made some measurements with the machine. Kitty wiped off the goo while Dr. Rowland declared, "Looks like you're going to have a little early Christmas present folks."

Eric was stunned. Kitty kissed the top of his head and wheeled out the machine while the doctor left so Jackie could get dressed. "Oh my god Eric…we were so careful! When did this happen?"

Eric was trying to think back six or seven weeks. "I think it was on the boat."

"I actually was drinking that night so I don't remember a lot. We used protection right?"

Eric could feel his ears turn red. "Well the first time I'm sure…"

Jackie smacked herself in the forehead. "Oh no…I remember….we just crossed our fingers when I should have crossed my legs…."

Eric wanted to take the mask off but he couldn't risk making Jackie sick. "Jackie, this is a good thing."

She looked at him. "Are you serious? I can't work in a bar if I'm pregnant! Eric, we didn't plan for this!" Jackie tugged her pants on and buttoned the waist. "That's why my boobs have been hurting." She muttered. Eric handed her blouse and she slipped it over her head. "This is terrible!" Without meaning too, she started to cry.

"And don't tell me this is some hormonal thing. My whole future has just been sideswiped."

Eric pulled her down into his lap and brushed her hair from her face. "Jackie, our future has just taken a little detour. We can make this into a wonderful thing…it's not a disaster. How could something that's a part of you and me be a bad thing?"

She hugged him harder and just cried in his shoulder. "I wasn't ready yet."

Eric cupped her face. "Look at my mask. I'm sitting here with strep throat and you're pregnant. What could get worse than this? Were we ready for this? No. But you know what? We'll take care of each other and come out better for it. We have friends and people that love us…we're going to be great."

Jackie wiped her eyes. She hated crying. "I guess the guest room would make a good nursery."

Eric smiled even though Jackie couldn't see it. "Bear would make a great godfather."

Jackie laughed. "You're dad is going to freak."

"My sister is going to be an aunt."

"We need to set a wedding date."

*