Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own any of the characters blah blah
blah. Oh yea cept for Mackenzie of course.
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Chapter 9~ Stripes Become You
Hyde, Kelso, and Eric packed into Eric's Vista Cruiser, and began their search for Doug. None of them knew where to look or even where to begin to search. What he had done was beyond unacceptable to the guys; he had disrespected one of their own, and not just any of them, it was a girl, and Hyde's girl at that. This was cause for extreme punishment. In Hyde's mind Doug would be lucky if he limped away after he was done with him.
Finally, as they passed the Hub, Eric spotted Doug's black pickup truck parked outside in the parking lot. Hyde got out of the car before Eric had even finished parking, and slammed the door behind him. Eric turned the car off and Kelso followed Hyde into the Hub while Eric went to go slash Doug's tires. Normally Eric wasn't the type for confrontation, however, lucky for Eric, slashing someone's tires in a dark alleyway on the side of a bad fast food place, with no one around to see him, wasn't exactly confrontation.
When Hyde entered the Hub he immediately spotted Doug sitting at a table surrounded by a couple of his football goobs and their cheerleader dates. He was telling them this fantastic tale about how he gotten into a fight with a biker guy who was watching him and Mackenzie fuck in the back row of the movies.
Hyde's blood boiled over "Really, that's funny Doug," He said walking up the group, "you know I could have sworn it was Mackenzie who beat your sorry ass at the movies tonight."
Doug stood up and put his face close to Hyde's, "I don't know what you're talking about, but if you don't want to get hurt, you better get out of here punk." He pushed Hyde slightly and Hyde clenched his jaw tight.
"Wrong answer, man." And with that Hyde grabbed Doug by the collar of his varsity jacket and pushed him up against the wall. "Shouldn't have fucked with her." Hyde punched him hard across the face.
Outside the Hub, Eric was enjoying vandalizing the jocks cars. He was busy smashing the quarterback's headlight when police pulled up the front of the Hub. "Shit" Eric muttered under his breath and ducked behind a nearby car. He watched as a cop took Hyde out in handcuffs and an ambulance pulled up. Eric sat, holding his breath as two more people came out in handcuffs and one very banged up Doug was wheeled onto the ambulance, which quickly pulled away.
After the ambulance set off and most of the cops left, Eric emerged from his hiding place, and Kelso found him. "Fuck man we are in so much trouble." Eric said staring at the taillights of the cop cars fading in the distance. "Red is going to kill Hyde when he finds out he got arrested again." Kelso said. His nose was bleeding slightly and he was holding his elbow in pain.
"Yea, unless we don't tell Red." Eric answered, and the two boys got into the Vista Cruiser and headed home.
Donna and Jackie sat at the kitchen table with Red and Kitty as Mackenzie paced back and forth telling them what had actually happened that night. After hearing Fez's version of what had happened, Jackie came upstairs yelling, not noticing that Red and Kitty were also standing in the kitchen.
Mackenzie told them about how Doug had tried to cop a feel and how she had slugged him, causing both Kitty and Red to get very upset. Then she explained how she had found Fez and Rhonda in the lobby and asked them for a ride home, but before she could get them to say yes, Doug came out yelling at her. He grabbed her by the arm- which had left a bruise in the shape of hand- and tried to drag her away from Fez. Mackenzie then explained how she had done the only thing she could think to do, which was kick him as hard as she could in the crotch, after which Fez and Rhonda ushered her out of the movie theater very quickly before Doug had a chance to recover. "And the stupid jerk didn't even take me to see Rocky Horror. He punked out and made me go see Superman 2. Ugh." She finished, crossing her arms in front of her and rolling her eyes.
After hearing Mackenzie's explanation Kitty only got even more upset and began to fuss over her all the more. Red, on the other hand, was very proud of Mackenzie for defending herself and congratulated her on being more of a man then Eric.
Eric and Kelso entered the basement to find Fez and Rhonda making out on the couch. He didn't bother explaining anything, but instead went straight to his Candyland stash to see if he had money for bail. Someone had apparently been tight for cash again and Eric was missing 50 dollars, leaving him with only 70 bucks. He knew Kelso didn't have any money neither did Jackie, and although he really didn't want to do it, Donna and Mackenzie were his only options.
Jackie, to her credit, had failed to mention that the three boys had gone out to find Doug. Just when Jackie began to really get upset about the guys going out, Eric popped his head out from the basement door. His cheeks were red and his hair slightly wet, he had obviously been outside in the cold but Red and Kitty who were busy attending to Mackenzie didn't seem to notice. "Hey, um Donna could you come here for a sec?"
Donna got up and walked over to him, slightly annoyed. He whispered in her ear what had happened to Hyde and Donna's eyes got wide. She walked back over to Mackenzie, "Um, Mac, I think we better get you home, it's getting kind of late and you must be tired."
Mackenzie looked at her like she was nuts but Kitty agreed and shooed Mackenzie out the door with Donna and Jackie closely behind her. Once outside and at a safe distance on their way back home Donna explained to both Jackie and Mackenzie where Hyde was. "Mac, you're the only one with money, Eric says that Doug isn't pressing charges so Hyde can get out of jail tonight with bail."
Mackenzie glared at Donna, and Eric who had caught up with them after sneaking back out the basement door with Kelso who had cleaned himself up. Mackenzie was amazed and was at a loss for words. She silently took out her wallet, counted her money and motioned towards Hyde's car. "I'll go alone, you guys don't have to come." Eric went back to the basement and got Hyde's car keys for her, while she went to get more money from her room. When she came back and got in the car, she did not close the door, "Um, you guys just go back to the basement, keep up appearances with Red and Kitty, you know don't let them think anything is up." Mackenzie told the others what to do but she seemed oddly pulled away from what she was doing. She stared blankly, not looking at any of them, and talked slowly, almost as if she had trouble remembering how to move her tongue to make the sounds she wanted to get out.
Mackenzie drove straight to the police department, getting even madder as she got closer. As she drove she talked herself into being angry with Hyde, for treating her as a child, like she was incapable taking care of herself. She had done what she needed to do, she took care of the bastard herself, and she didn't need anyone to treat her otherwise.
When Mackenzie reached the station she asked to see Hyde before she would give them any money. Mackenzie walked back towards the holding area, clutching her purse strap tightly and gritting her teeth. The officer that had led her back to Hyde announced her presence, "Mr. Hyde, you have a visitor."
Hyde stood and came to the bars, expecting to see Red, ready to beat him, but instead there stood Mackenzie. Mackenzie avoided his eyes, and thanked the officer shyly before he left them alone aside from the one other person in the cell with Hyde. "Mac," Hyde started. He sounded a little shocked but was still smiling. He had been proud of himself for sticking up for her. She deserved it, and he had finally begun to realize how much she meant to him He got to rescue her and be her strong savior. "Mac, oh man, am I glad to see you. Are you ok? I can't believe you didn't tell me. You should have told me. We just need to get my jacket and stuff then we can go. You should have seen that little fucker tonight it was great. He."
Mackenzie held up her good hand, "I don't want to hear it." She looked him right in the eye and stepped forward. Her glare was cold and one that almost frightened Hyde. "You fucking prick. The only reason I came down here tonight was to tell you I'm not here to save your ass. In fact, you will be spending the night. And maybe in the morning, depending on what kind of mood I'm in, I'll tell Red to come down a get you."
Hyde stepped back, he couldn't comprehend what he was hearing. "M-Mac..."
"Fuck you. How dare you go and pull some stupid shit like this? I expected better from you. Honestly what did you think you were doing!" Mackenzie's voice was beginning to rise. She had practiced this speech in the car before she had come in, but this was not what she had thought she was going to say, "YOU PUT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL! You fucking bastard. I took care of it; I didn't need your goddamn help. I'm a big fucking girl. I dealt with it. And now look what you've done. Yea you've really fixed things now. He's in the fucking hospital and you're way down in the shitter. I just hope you're happy." Mackenzie turned to leave but halfway to the door, she spun around on her heel. She walked quickly back to Hyde, making sure not to look him in the eyes. Mackenzie put her hands through the bars, and placed them gently on either side of Hyde's head. She pulled him close to her and kissed him softly on the lips. She whispered faintly, "Thank you," before turning again and running out of the door.
"What the fuck was that?" Hyde wasn't sure whether he should be really upset or really happy. He walked back to the small cot and punched the wall. His hand was already sore and bleeding from his little encounter with Doug but hitting it again didn't bother him. His mind was on other things. Not only had he completely messed up with Mackenzie he was going to get his ass kicked by Red the next morning. Hyde looked wearily at the drunken man passed out in the corner of his cell. "Fuck."
On her way out Mackenzie had started to cry. She couldn't be mad at Hyde, he was only trying to help her, and it really did make her feel good to have someone to do that for her, someone who cared enough to risk their own ass for her. It was something her friends back home would have done for her. Then again none of this would have happened if she were back at home. She wiped the one tear she had allowed to fall with the back of her hand. Mackenzie hated crying, especially in public.
Mackenzie waited her turn to speak to the man at the desk behind a woman with a crying baby. When it was her turn she gave the officer Hyde's bail money. She instructed the officer to wait one hour before releasing Hyde. After all she had told Hyde she wasn't going to bail him out at all, and although she wasn't exactly livid with him anymore, she still felt he deserved to rot in jail for at least a little while. Mackenzie left the police station and went to wait outside in Hyde's car.
One hour later, as he had promised, the officer at the desk went back to let Hyde out of jail. Hyde was confused but he was just happy to get out. He walked to the front but he didn't see anyone there to bring him home. The officer handed him his coat told Hyde to get out. Hyde didn't know what to do. He couldn't call Eric, that risked Red and Kitty finding out. He couldn't call Mackenzie, he had fucked with her enough that night, he didn't need to push her any further and make her hate him even more. So, Hyde wrapped his coat tightly around his body and prepared to walk home. It was only a 4-block walk he could deal with that.
Hyde stepped outside. It had started to snow again. He walked down the steps and onto the sidewalk, starting his journey home. As he rounded the corner of the building he saw his car parked under one of the streetlights. Mackenzie was leaning against the hood smoking a cigarette and shaking slightly. "You don't smoke." He said as he approached her.
"And you don't belong in jail." Mackenzie flicked the cigarette down on the ground and it sizzled as it hit the snow-covered sidewalk. She stood up straight, facing him, and just stared at him.
Hyde stared back. Her words had been some of the only he could remember ever hearing that didn't imply he was a complete screw up. She didn't hate him. It dawned on Hyde his plan had backfired. He suddenly realized why he was so confused. It wasn't Mackenzie that needed to be rescued. She didn't need help. She was the strong one. She had rescued him. And he desperately needed to be saved. He smiled at her, "Let's go home."
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Chapter 9~ Stripes Become You
Hyde, Kelso, and Eric packed into Eric's Vista Cruiser, and began their search for Doug. None of them knew where to look or even where to begin to search. What he had done was beyond unacceptable to the guys; he had disrespected one of their own, and not just any of them, it was a girl, and Hyde's girl at that. This was cause for extreme punishment. In Hyde's mind Doug would be lucky if he limped away after he was done with him.
Finally, as they passed the Hub, Eric spotted Doug's black pickup truck parked outside in the parking lot. Hyde got out of the car before Eric had even finished parking, and slammed the door behind him. Eric turned the car off and Kelso followed Hyde into the Hub while Eric went to go slash Doug's tires. Normally Eric wasn't the type for confrontation, however, lucky for Eric, slashing someone's tires in a dark alleyway on the side of a bad fast food place, with no one around to see him, wasn't exactly confrontation.
When Hyde entered the Hub he immediately spotted Doug sitting at a table surrounded by a couple of his football goobs and their cheerleader dates. He was telling them this fantastic tale about how he gotten into a fight with a biker guy who was watching him and Mackenzie fuck in the back row of the movies.
Hyde's blood boiled over "Really, that's funny Doug," He said walking up the group, "you know I could have sworn it was Mackenzie who beat your sorry ass at the movies tonight."
Doug stood up and put his face close to Hyde's, "I don't know what you're talking about, but if you don't want to get hurt, you better get out of here punk." He pushed Hyde slightly and Hyde clenched his jaw tight.
"Wrong answer, man." And with that Hyde grabbed Doug by the collar of his varsity jacket and pushed him up against the wall. "Shouldn't have fucked with her." Hyde punched him hard across the face.
Outside the Hub, Eric was enjoying vandalizing the jocks cars. He was busy smashing the quarterback's headlight when police pulled up the front of the Hub. "Shit" Eric muttered under his breath and ducked behind a nearby car. He watched as a cop took Hyde out in handcuffs and an ambulance pulled up. Eric sat, holding his breath as two more people came out in handcuffs and one very banged up Doug was wheeled onto the ambulance, which quickly pulled away.
After the ambulance set off and most of the cops left, Eric emerged from his hiding place, and Kelso found him. "Fuck man we are in so much trouble." Eric said staring at the taillights of the cop cars fading in the distance. "Red is going to kill Hyde when he finds out he got arrested again." Kelso said. His nose was bleeding slightly and he was holding his elbow in pain.
"Yea, unless we don't tell Red." Eric answered, and the two boys got into the Vista Cruiser and headed home.
Donna and Jackie sat at the kitchen table with Red and Kitty as Mackenzie paced back and forth telling them what had actually happened that night. After hearing Fez's version of what had happened, Jackie came upstairs yelling, not noticing that Red and Kitty were also standing in the kitchen.
Mackenzie told them about how Doug had tried to cop a feel and how she had slugged him, causing both Kitty and Red to get very upset. Then she explained how she had found Fez and Rhonda in the lobby and asked them for a ride home, but before she could get them to say yes, Doug came out yelling at her. He grabbed her by the arm- which had left a bruise in the shape of hand- and tried to drag her away from Fez. Mackenzie then explained how she had done the only thing she could think to do, which was kick him as hard as she could in the crotch, after which Fez and Rhonda ushered her out of the movie theater very quickly before Doug had a chance to recover. "And the stupid jerk didn't even take me to see Rocky Horror. He punked out and made me go see Superman 2. Ugh." She finished, crossing her arms in front of her and rolling her eyes.
After hearing Mackenzie's explanation Kitty only got even more upset and began to fuss over her all the more. Red, on the other hand, was very proud of Mackenzie for defending herself and congratulated her on being more of a man then Eric.
Eric and Kelso entered the basement to find Fez and Rhonda making out on the couch. He didn't bother explaining anything, but instead went straight to his Candyland stash to see if he had money for bail. Someone had apparently been tight for cash again and Eric was missing 50 dollars, leaving him with only 70 bucks. He knew Kelso didn't have any money neither did Jackie, and although he really didn't want to do it, Donna and Mackenzie were his only options.
Jackie, to her credit, had failed to mention that the three boys had gone out to find Doug. Just when Jackie began to really get upset about the guys going out, Eric popped his head out from the basement door. His cheeks were red and his hair slightly wet, he had obviously been outside in the cold but Red and Kitty who were busy attending to Mackenzie didn't seem to notice. "Hey, um Donna could you come here for a sec?"
Donna got up and walked over to him, slightly annoyed. He whispered in her ear what had happened to Hyde and Donna's eyes got wide. She walked back over to Mackenzie, "Um, Mac, I think we better get you home, it's getting kind of late and you must be tired."
Mackenzie looked at her like she was nuts but Kitty agreed and shooed Mackenzie out the door with Donna and Jackie closely behind her. Once outside and at a safe distance on their way back home Donna explained to both Jackie and Mackenzie where Hyde was. "Mac, you're the only one with money, Eric says that Doug isn't pressing charges so Hyde can get out of jail tonight with bail."
Mackenzie glared at Donna, and Eric who had caught up with them after sneaking back out the basement door with Kelso who had cleaned himself up. Mackenzie was amazed and was at a loss for words. She silently took out her wallet, counted her money and motioned towards Hyde's car. "I'll go alone, you guys don't have to come." Eric went back to the basement and got Hyde's car keys for her, while she went to get more money from her room. When she came back and got in the car, she did not close the door, "Um, you guys just go back to the basement, keep up appearances with Red and Kitty, you know don't let them think anything is up." Mackenzie told the others what to do but she seemed oddly pulled away from what she was doing. She stared blankly, not looking at any of them, and talked slowly, almost as if she had trouble remembering how to move her tongue to make the sounds she wanted to get out.
Mackenzie drove straight to the police department, getting even madder as she got closer. As she drove she talked herself into being angry with Hyde, for treating her as a child, like she was incapable taking care of herself. She had done what she needed to do, she took care of the bastard herself, and she didn't need anyone to treat her otherwise.
When Mackenzie reached the station she asked to see Hyde before she would give them any money. Mackenzie walked back towards the holding area, clutching her purse strap tightly and gritting her teeth. The officer that had led her back to Hyde announced her presence, "Mr. Hyde, you have a visitor."
Hyde stood and came to the bars, expecting to see Red, ready to beat him, but instead there stood Mackenzie. Mackenzie avoided his eyes, and thanked the officer shyly before he left them alone aside from the one other person in the cell with Hyde. "Mac," Hyde started. He sounded a little shocked but was still smiling. He had been proud of himself for sticking up for her. She deserved it, and he had finally begun to realize how much she meant to him He got to rescue her and be her strong savior. "Mac, oh man, am I glad to see you. Are you ok? I can't believe you didn't tell me. You should have told me. We just need to get my jacket and stuff then we can go. You should have seen that little fucker tonight it was great. He."
Mackenzie held up her good hand, "I don't want to hear it." She looked him right in the eye and stepped forward. Her glare was cold and one that almost frightened Hyde. "You fucking prick. The only reason I came down here tonight was to tell you I'm not here to save your ass. In fact, you will be spending the night. And maybe in the morning, depending on what kind of mood I'm in, I'll tell Red to come down a get you."
Hyde stepped back, he couldn't comprehend what he was hearing. "M-Mac..."
"Fuck you. How dare you go and pull some stupid shit like this? I expected better from you. Honestly what did you think you were doing!" Mackenzie's voice was beginning to rise. She had practiced this speech in the car before she had come in, but this was not what she had thought she was going to say, "YOU PUT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL! You fucking bastard. I took care of it; I didn't need your goddamn help. I'm a big fucking girl. I dealt with it. And now look what you've done. Yea you've really fixed things now. He's in the fucking hospital and you're way down in the shitter. I just hope you're happy." Mackenzie turned to leave but halfway to the door, she spun around on her heel. She walked quickly back to Hyde, making sure not to look him in the eyes. Mackenzie put her hands through the bars, and placed them gently on either side of Hyde's head. She pulled him close to her and kissed him softly on the lips. She whispered faintly, "Thank you," before turning again and running out of the door.
"What the fuck was that?" Hyde wasn't sure whether he should be really upset or really happy. He walked back to the small cot and punched the wall. His hand was already sore and bleeding from his little encounter with Doug but hitting it again didn't bother him. His mind was on other things. Not only had he completely messed up with Mackenzie he was going to get his ass kicked by Red the next morning. Hyde looked wearily at the drunken man passed out in the corner of his cell. "Fuck."
On her way out Mackenzie had started to cry. She couldn't be mad at Hyde, he was only trying to help her, and it really did make her feel good to have someone to do that for her, someone who cared enough to risk their own ass for her. It was something her friends back home would have done for her. Then again none of this would have happened if she were back at home. She wiped the one tear she had allowed to fall with the back of her hand. Mackenzie hated crying, especially in public.
Mackenzie waited her turn to speak to the man at the desk behind a woman with a crying baby. When it was her turn she gave the officer Hyde's bail money. She instructed the officer to wait one hour before releasing Hyde. After all she had told Hyde she wasn't going to bail him out at all, and although she wasn't exactly livid with him anymore, she still felt he deserved to rot in jail for at least a little while. Mackenzie left the police station and went to wait outside in Hyde's car.
One hour later, as he had promised, the officer at the desk went back to let Hyde out of jail. Hyde was confused but he was just happy to get out. He walked to the front but he didn't see anyone there to bring him home. The officer handed him his coat told Hyde to get out. Hyde didn't know what to do. He couldn't call Eric, that risked Red and Kitty finding out. He couldn't call Mackenzie, he had fucked with her enough that night, he didn't need to push her any further and make her hate him even more. So, Hyde wrapped his coat tightly around his body and prepared to walk home. It was only a 4-block walk he could deal with that.
Hyde stepped outside. It had started to snow again. He walked down the steps and onto the sidewalk, starting his journey home. As he rounded the corner of the building he saw his car parked under one of the streetlights. Mackenzie was leaning against the hood smoking a cigarette and shaking slightly. "You don't smoke." He said as he approached her.
"And you don't belong in jail." Mackenzie flicked the cigarette down on the ground and it sizzled as it hit the snow-covered sidewalk. She stood up straight, facing him, and just stared at him.
Hyde stared back. Her words had been some of the only he could remember ever hearing that didn't imply he was a complete screw up. She didn't hate him. It dawned on Hyde his plan had backfired. He suddenly realized why he was so confused. It wasn't Mackenzie that needed to be rescued. She didn't need help. She was the strong one. She had rescued him. And he desperately needed to be saved. He smiled at her, "Let's go home."