Chapter 9
Rebuilding Eric
Red and Kitty told Bob and Donna that they were welcome to stay at the house for as long as they needed to. Donna crashed in Eric's old room and woke up at 2:15 in the morning. She put the light on the "low" setting and put her head against the pillows. Sh*. She "forgot" about
Jackie! She didn't mean to. She was concerned about Hyde and Jackie both. She was just tired from driving around looking for Eric that getting some sleep was all she wanted to do when She got back to Point Place. Where could Eric be? She went downstairs in the kitchen to make some tea when the phone rang. "Please, let it be Eric." She thought
"Hello?"
"Donna, is that you?"
"Yeah. Laurie, is Eric at your house?"
"He was but that was hours ago. Mom called me before she went to bed asking me if I got her message, well I didn't cause Eric deleted it. How's Hyde doing?"
"The same."
"Eric wanted money, but I wouldn't give him any. I figured he was high, so as soon as my back was turned he stole two of my bracelets."
"F***. He could be anywhere by now." Donna turned off the kettle.
"Is Mom up?"
"She probably is, but she isn't downstairs. Do you want me to check?"
"No, her and Dad are probably talking. You know I may kind of hate my brother, but I don't want anything to happen to him," Donna rolled her eyes as Laurie continued. "Of all the things. What made Eric turn to Coke?"
"Me." And with that Donna gently hung up the phone.
~Donna's flashback~ 1983
University of Wisconsin Girls Basketball Championship
It was all up to Donna Pinciotti number 19 to make that winning basket. In high school Donna never would have been on a sports team but she wanted to try as many diverse and new things in college. She loved writing for the University newspaper but writing was always done by yourself or with your fiancée trying to make out with you instead of doing his own assignments. Basketball was awesome. Everyone was focused and wanted to win, some wanted to win more than anything but most of the girls on the team just wanted to play their best and wouldn't beat themselves over it with a stick if they lost. She briefly turned knowing Eric, who was the official photographer for the sports department would be snapping her picture. Donna took a deep breath hoping it would all be over. She made the basket and then the buzzer went off. UofW 74 their rivals 72.
All of the girls gathered around Donna for congratulation hugs and high fives. When she was given room she ran to the sidelines Where Eric greeted her with a big hug and kiss.
"I knew you could do it, Donna!"
"Thanks, Eric. I'll meet you at the diner in a half-hour."
"Okay. That'll give me enough time to develop the film."
They shared one last kiss then Donna went in the locker room with her teammates.
~End flashback~
"I didn't see you standing there, Mrs. Forman..would you like some tea?"
"Have you eaten at all, Donna?"
"Not really just drinks mostly. Laurie called awhile ago."
Donna watched as Kitty entered a state of semi denial and went about cooking a big breakfast that probably no one would be able to finish.
"I'll call her later. You have to eat something. I'll make pancakes."
"We'll find, Eric, we will." Donna replied uneasily.
"If I have to bury my son they might as well bury me too!" Kitty slammed her big mixing spoon down and went back upstairs. The mood to cook gone.
Donna didn't know what to so she decided to cook breakfast she was sure Red and her Dad would eat something. She went to the refrigerator as she kept on dreaming.
~Donna's flashback~ 1983 Betty's diner
"As always you get to see them first," Eric handed Donna a big envelope that contained the pictures, "Do you like them?"
"Yeah! These are great, Eric. Oh-Oh, how did that one get in there?" It was one of them making out and they decided to take a picture of the moment.
"It was on the roll." He replied innocently
"Well, I'll take this for safekeeping." Donna folded it and put it in her pocket.
"I'm very proud of you, Donna. That was a great shot. All my life I wanted to make shots like that!" Eric drank his soda.
"Thanks, well scrawny boys don't athletes make." Donna replied in wisdom stealing his French fries.
"But lovers they do." He raised his eyebrow
"Eric, you are so terrible at being subtle!"
"So, does that mean 'yes' or 'not tonight dear I have a headache'?"
"It means you'll have to wait and see."
"Hey, you ate all my fries!"
"You gotta be quick, Forman."
"Apparently, Miss French fry stealer." Eric smiled
~End flashback~
Where was everybody? That was Jackie's first question when she finally got to the hospital. She tried fixing herself up in the taxi on the way from the airport but it didn't work she still looked a mess. She went to the admissions desk.
"Hello. Can you tell me what room Steven Hyde is in?"
"Visiting hours are over." The woman didn't even type his name in the computer.
"Look, I came all this way from New York and I'm on my last straw, so can you please just tell me the room? My friend Donna told me he's in ICU."
"Are you related to Mr. Hyde?"
"No."
"Then you cannot see him. Only immediate family is allowed in."
This did not make sense to Jackie. Edna and Bud who abandoned him had the legal right to see him but she who loved him very much could not? That was the most inane thing she had ever heard.
"But he's my boyfriend." Jackie replied softly
"I'm very sorry, Miss."
"I'm sure you are. I want to know how his parents have the legal right to see him when they abandoned him and they wouldn't care if they knew he was here and I love him with all my heart and I cannot see him because I'm not immediate family. Well, that is a terrible f***ing policy that your hospital has. And I'm not going anywhere until I get to see him."
Jackie sat across from the admissions desk and grabbed a magazine off the small cube table for effect. Within five seconds Jackie got up again.
"Well, you can at least tell me what happened? Please."
All Jackie heard was the phrase, "Stabbed just below the heart." Eric? Did Eric the sudden Coke addict do this?! No. Not Eric Forman. But it all tied in didn't it? Steven's in the hospital and Eric's missing? Eric did it? Eric stabbed his best friend? Jackie was numb and sat back down. There was no question about it-Eric did stab Steven. Jackie started to cry again.
Donna didn't want to deal with the roundtable discussion that was her Dad, Red, and Kitty. After she made the breakfast she went upstairs to sit on Eric's bed. She didn't feel much like showering. Her and her Dad didn't pack clothes, she was going to have take a shopping trip in town before they started to look like addicts. Eric Forman an addict. How did it even get to that point? Donna slid her fingers across the complete 1976 version of the World Books, Point Place High and UofW yearbooks. She grabbed the college one off the bookshelf. That's all she could think about lately was when they weren't kids anymore and carving out their adult identities.
It was like the perfect four years. Eric was totally different then when he was in high school. He was more secure of them as a couple and her as a woman. Yet as soon as they got their diplomas and threw their caps in the air it all went wrong. When Hyde visited just after they had an argument about wanting to start a family. Donna hated herself for that. When Eric got older that's all he wanted. And she couldn't give him that because sleeping with the mystical Hyde was just what she needed and when she got pregnant Hyde knew that would crush Eric and he said he didn't think he'd make a good Father which Donna knew was bull****, just because his parents hurt him didn't mean he'd do the same to his kid. Donna had her career ahead of her and a baby just would have "messed it up" then Hyde met a new girlfriend before he got his job in London. Of course, it wouldn't go on to last. She flipped to the page Eric's picture was on. The president of the senior class thought it'd be cool for the writing department to write funny hobby captions under the official ones.
Forman, Eric Nickname-Foreplay Clubs-Audio-Visual Photographer-Sports Department Hobby-Donna Pinciotti
Then she went to her page Pinciotti, Donna Nickname-D.P. (Donna hated that nickname, it was given to her by someone on the newspaper staff and it stuck) Clubs-School Newspaper Clover-Creative Writing Quarterly Basketball team UofW Radio personality Hobby-Eric Forman
She tried not to cry much during this whole ordeal, but one single tear found its way on the semi formal spread where they were voted All American Couple, it landed on Eric's face.
"Oh, Eric, you didn't fail me, I failed you." Donna didn't realize Kitty was in the doorway and heard what she had said. Donna could feel someone in the room and she quickly turned around.
"How long have you been standing there, Mrs. Forman?"
"Long enough. I brought you up some tea and toast, you need to eat."
"Thanks."
As soon as Kitty put the tray down she started to leave the room then she turned back around to face Donna.
"You didn't fail, Eric, honey."
"I appreciate you saying that, Mrs. Forman." Donna got up and hugged her.
'He could be dead in a ditch somewhere and whose fault would that be?' Donna couldn't help the thought.
"I'm still here!" Jackie exclaimed from her chair, "And I'm not going anywhere until I get to see Steven."
"Jackie Burkhart?" Called out the voice of an older man
"Dr. Hadley?" He used to go golfing with her Father many moons ago.
"Wow. You've grown up very pretty."
"Thank you."
"What seems to be the problem?"
"I've been here for hours and no one is letting me see my boyfriend Steven Hyde, just because he's in ICU. The parents that abandoned him though have all the legal right in the world if they came in through that door right now. And I've gotten to the point in my life where I don't want to pull strings anymore, but if you'd let me see him, it'd mean so much."
Dr. Hadley sensed that she really did love this Steven Hyde person it was more of a genuine feeling then when she proclaimed to love that what's his name?
Michael Kelso.
"Let me get his file and I'll walk you to the room."
Jackie breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you so much." All she wanted to do was kiss him and tell him that she loved him.
"This is pretty bad," Dr. Hadley glanced over his file, "Are you sure you want to go in, Jackie?"
"Yes, I do."
Jackie bit her lip as Dr. Hadley escorted her into Hyde's room. She wasn't going to go into hysterics, but she couldn't help but cry over seeing him hooked up to all the tubes and machines.
"Can I be alone with him for awhile?" Jackie asked.
Dr. Hadley agreed but only for a few minutes.
Jackie could not believe this was Steven. He was about as white as fresh pure fallen snow. She quietly put a chair by the side of the bed and held his hand.
Later that afternoon
Donna came back from her shopping trip and after giving her Father his change of clothes, she found the energy to take a shower and change into hers as well. Kitty was going to the hospital to check on Hyde and Red was (reluctantly) entertaining her Dad. Donna was buttoning up her shirt when her bracelet got caught on the sleeve and it fell off and went under Eric's bed.
"Damn," Donna noticed something else under Eric's bed. "Wait a minute..!" It was his cell phone. During his skirmish with Hyde it probably fell under the bed. Donna didn't want to get her hopes up but if someone recently had left Eric a voice mail they might find out his whereabouts.
"Password?" Donna said out loud. She tried a bunch of combinations EricandDonna, DonnaandEric, DPEF, and EFDP but none of them worked. Even ILoveDonna didn't work-nor ILuvDonna.
Donna needed a computer. When Eric was recuperating from his broken leg he had mentioned the company putting a computer here in the den. She finished getting dressed and was thankful that Red and her Dad were in the kitchen because she didn't want to get anyone's hopes up, especially her own. She put on the computer and went to the cell phone companies website to click on "lost password"-then she went to his Yahoo account she knew his password there, sometimes she would use that account.-She just hoped he didn't change that password on her. Nope. It was still 'ericforman'. There was no real email except from Fez, an old one obviously read by the light visited link color from Jackie, and the usual advertising spam. She clicked the refresh button and there was the email she was waiting for. Your password is-DonnasDreamboat which made her slightly laugh despite the circumstances of it all.
She opened up his phone and typed in the password. His voice mail was full and he could not accept any new messages until he deleted the old ones so she had no choice and went through them all. Erasing as she went with the exception of the last one. Hoping one of the messages could lead them to Eric. There were 20. (The max that his cell phone could hold) Some of them were very old-messages from Kitty (with Red yelling in the background), friends from work which Donna was convinced probably introduced him to the stuff, some business calls, and then the last message a girl from Indianapolis telling Eric she could stay with him if he needed a place to crash. Now she was going to have to call this unknown woman and hope that Eric was there. It was the only lead she had. She wasted no time as she turned off the computer and ran upstairs back to his room and got her number off the caller ID. She had an uneasy feeling that time was not on their side. Not being able to stop her mind on remembering how Eric used to be.
~Donna's flashback~ 1981 Family restaurant
"Please don't laugh." Eric wanted to hide.
"Lime green stripes! Very nice."
"Table for one?" Eric gave Donna an I-hate-this-stupid-job-look
"Sure. Do I get a free soda?"
"It's people like you that eat into the profits." He led Donna to the a small seats-two booth.
"Forman! Stop lollygagging!" The manager yelled in a Red-esque tone.
"I'll get you a free grilled cheese, too." Eric whispered in Donna's ear as he forced his legs to move and take the order of these two old ladies that came in everyday that had two coffees and shared a key lime pie. They tipped well enough but the one lady said she was going to pinch his cheeks someday.
8 Minutes Later
"I'm on break." Eric sat down across from Donna as he put her sandwich plate on the table.
"I think it's cute that, that old lady likes you!" Donna laughed
"She says I look like her grandson Norman..I hate this job, Donna. I saved money from Pricemart why does Red want me to work while I'm at college?"
"To teach you responsibility."
"I think I've learned that lesson by now! Your Dad's not making you!" Eric drank his soda.
"That's because my college work load is heavier than yours. I'm also in more extra curricular activities."
"I know."
"You aren't going to say that cuts into your 'Eric time'?" Donna asked eating her chips.
"Eric has no time anymore."
"Hey, we're away from home, we have more time than you realize."
"Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Forman! Your break is over, McDermott called off sick, so you have to fill in."
Eric mentally rolled his eyes.
"I get off at ten, Donna."
"I have to go to the library and finish something. You want to meet there?"
"Sure. Oh god, a family with four screaming kids.They'll give a lousy tip!"
He kissed Donna on the cheek. He smelled like the deep fryer. By the time he met up with her later on, he fell asleep while they were parking with his head on her shoulder.
~End flashback~
Jackie was never one to get angry. She always thought she was the temper-tantrum type of person but what was building inside her like bricks in her soul was anger. She didn't want to leave but obeyed the doctor's orders and gave Hyde a light kiss on the cheek. She paced in the hall such as a father waiting for his pregnant wife to deliver the new baby. Jackie called to check on her daughter. She felt she was a bad mother. She was spending all this time away from her only coming home for short visits and she was back on a plane again. She hoped her daughter wouldn't resent her when she got older. She also prayed that Steven would be getting out of ICU soon and she could fly her daughter in and they could finally meet. Every moment he didn't open his eyes the anger swelled up inside, a deep livid anger that she didn't even knew She had. Anger towards..
"Hello, honey, how's Steven?" Enter Mrs. Forman. She gave Jackie a big embrace. Jackie needed it.
"No change," and yet how could she divulge her anger to Mrs. Forman?
It wasn't her fault. "I keep hoping he'll wake up soon. You were a nurse do people usually pull out of these situations?"
"Some of them do." She tried to remain optimistic herself, but if he was going to recover he was going to have to wake up soon.
"And you know Steven's tough, he's bound to pull through." Jackie grasped at the straws in her mind.
"Of course he will, we're all praying for him."
"Would you like some coffee or tea?" Jackie asked
"I was just going to ask you that, dear. Between you and Donna.I bet you haven't eaten either?"
"Not much."
That was another thing-how come Donna hasn't returned her calls? Jackie knew she was worried About The Reason Why Her Steven Was Fighting For His Life but after her promised call, she never called back, returned Jackie's voice mail, or even stopped by.
That was very rude to Jackie Burkhart and she had no reservations on telling Donna just that.
Donna felt her stomach cramp up as the phone rang.
"Hello?" asked a girl in a very quiet voice. She sounded like she was in her twenties.
"Is Marcia McAdam there?"
"What do you want?" She whispered, quiet as the proverbial rodent.
"My name is Donna Pinciotti. Is my ex-husband Eric Forman there? And don't say you don't know him, your voice mail is on his cell phone."
"Eric Forman?" She raised her voice a notch.
"You called him and you need to think about this?" Donna tried not to lose her cool.
"Eric Forman? Is he skinny?"
"Yeah." Hey, if that's all it took.
"He's one of my brother's friends. I think he stayed with him at Joey's house."
"Joey?" Donna had a pen and paper by her side to write all of this stuff down.
"They all work together at that office in Kenosha." Was she a dim bulb or what? Donna thought. She sounded like she was on some downers.
"That's right."
"They might be coming back around three or so. Do you want me to tell him you called?"
Donna thought about it. "No." He might try to run if he knew she knew where he might be, so it was best to say no.
"Okay, then."
"Wait don't hang up. How did he look, Marcia?"
"Like a person."
Donna wanted to thrust her pen in her thigh. "What I mean is-Was he using?"
Donna could feel Marcia rolling her eyes through the other end of the phone in a "yes-of course-we-all-do" way.
"You aren't a cop are you?" She saw shows like this all the time on cable.
"No, I'm not a cop. I'm Eric's ex-wife. I'm going to call you back at three." She said in simple sentences so this dim-wit could understand her.
"Whatever." Marcia hung up.
It gave Donna a small window of hope that at least he wasn't on the streets. She had a few hours before three and decided she was going to do some research on rehab centers because like it or not, fight it or not, that's where Eric was going once they found him. She was going to personally see to that.
~Donna's flashback~ ~After returning Eric's promise ring~ 1978 (note-my own take on this.)
Donna was happy that no one was around when she entered her house trying to stop her wet warm tears. She hated crying. She was tougher than this! What in the hell just happened? On one hand she felt like a woman, but on the other hand she thought 'we're just kids, really.' Stupid high school promise. Okay, the words didn't come out like she wanted them to. She sat at the kitchen table, hands in her face. Why did he buy her that ring in the first place? So he could own her like some kind of property? She hated how her Dad and Mr. Forman would sometimes say "The Wife" in a condescending way like property. Couldn't he accept it as a charm on a necklace? This was almost like a teenage version of a proposal. Donna didn't want to get married! She wanted to experience all that life had to offer and to get out of Point Place and she wasn't sure if Eric wanted those same things. No more Eric? She made it a question. No more Eric with his scrawny body and gawky smile. How could she go back there and hang with her friends (his friends, too) at his house? No more Eric. No notes in her locker, no lunches in the school caf, and no holding hands in the halls. School was really going to suck. She heard motioning from the living room and without thinking went right back outside. But made sure not to be seen by the Forman's.
She sat on the small stoop and liked the sounds of the crickets chirping. Then she heard Red yell at Eric to get in the house, but Eric wouldn't answer.and she was so tempted to peek. She was so tempted to run to him and tell him "No, she'd promise him whatever she was supposed to f***ing promise him." and they'd be DonnaAndEric again. But no-it was for the best. They were just high school kids. Kitty came out to see what was the matter and they were all going to hate her. Everyone was going to think Donna was the bad one. Eric wasn't bad, either. But they'll start choosing sides. That's how situations like these always unfold. Red and Kitty were the loudest on the block next to Bob and Midge. She didn't have to move to hear them.
"Eric, are you deaf?" Red asked him
[Kitty saw the ring lying on the Vista Cruiser] ,"Where's Donna?"
She didn't hear Eric. But she knew he probably said something like, "Donna and I broke up."
Within two minutes they all went inside their house. Donna sat outside waiting for her parents to go upstairs. She didn't want to tell them just yet. She walked closer to where the Forman property started and saw the lights on in the kitchen. Kitty trying to soothe Eric's heart with tea and sympathy. She knew that's not where he was. He probably muttered something along the lines of "I want to be alone" and probably was on his bed crying. That made her feel so awful. How would Hyde, Jackie, Fez, and Kelso react to this? Her parents? Would the Forman's now hate the Pinciotti's?
"Good night, Eric." She whispered, "I love you."
This was the worst night of her life. She had the urge to runaway, but dismissed it and went inside her house. The coast was clear to a getaway to her bedroom for her too to be on her bed crying.
~End flashback~
Donna read the last of what could only be described as a chore.like one minute she was sitting with her Grandmother having fun on Christmas day when she was seven and the next minute her Father told her Gram was in a "better place". This was almost the same thing she couldn't believe she had to look for a rehab center to send Eric to. It really wasn't supposed to be how things were destined to go. She did like as far as one could actually use the word 'like' in situations like this one place with the ironic name of Highpoint. (Great name for a rehab center she thought). They had a more alternative approach with their treatment and policies. It was just outside of Point Place before Kenosha. She looked at her watch it was three o'clock, she dreaded having to call this idiot Marcia, but if Eric was there, she had to find away to keep him there so she could go get him. Which in the back of her mind she knew was easier said than done.
"Hello?"
"It's Dina right?"
Donna was in no mood to argue, "Yeah."
"Eric isn't here," Donna's heart sank to be this close, no way! She refused to accept it, "He and my brother were here but they went to..to."
"Please it's very important that you remember."
"What's the city they work in?" Marcia asked
"Kenosha.are you saying they went back there?" That was about a four hour drive from Indianapolis. What if Eric or his companion were high? What if they got pulled over by the police? What if?
"Yeah."
"Thanks. Bye." Donna hung up put some papers in her pocket, grabbed her bag, and as she left the room bumped straight into Red.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Forman, I think," She whispered, "I found Eric. And if I leave now since my drive will be shorter, maybe I can get there before he does."
"You're not going alone. I'll go with you."
Donna weighed it over. "Fine. What do we tell your wife and my Father?"
She didn't want to get their hopes up especially Kitty.
"Kitty's at the hospital and your Father fell asleep on my sofa."
"I'll write a note that just says we went out."
Red nodded in agreement.
6:00PM
Eric Forman was blind. His life of late was one huge blur. The only goal to get high. To rid his heart of a pain so deep that he couldn't remember what started it. When he started to come down he made sure he got right back up. He and his friend Rich McAdam were going back to Kenosha, Rich was sober enough to drive. He was still in the recreational stage. Eric thought He, Joey, Abe, and the rest were a bunch of recreational wusses who were better off in a basement of fog than do be doing something as 'grown-up' as Cocaine. Each day melded into the next as if someone took down all the calendars and clocks as if you were in a Las Vegas casino. You didn't need to know the time because the time [to get high] was always the right time. He was glad to have gotten rid of the family they were always, always interfering in his life they never really had a clue of what made him tick. Red was always on his case even as an adult which made absolutely no sense and his Mother was too clingy. They were an hour away from Kenosha as Eric requested a special detour.
"Now?" Rich seemed annoyed, while he was driving he liked to make good time, stopping so Eric could get numb again even though Rich was no choir boy was annoying.
"Fine," Eric snapped, "then I'll just do it right here then.."
"No," That's all he needed was for the both of them to be pulled over by the police. "There's a rest stop up ahead."
"Good." Eric replied as long as everyone saw it his way.
Rich decided as soon as they were in Club Sapphire he was going to leave Eric there. F*** it this guy was more trouble then he was worth.
Jackie sent Mrs. Forman home as her wait dragged on. She was afraid to do anything other than call home to check on her daughter. She didn't want to eat, sleep, or take a shower. Jackie was very afraid that something would happen if she left Steven for just one minute. She would stay here for one hundred years if she had to.
"Are you still here, Miss? Go home there isn't a change to tell you." One of the nurses said to her.
"Don't talk to me like that. I happen to LOVE that man in there and if I want to stay here you have no right to stop me!"
"I didn't mean to sound rude to you, Miss..."
"Jackie."
"But you aren't doing the patient any good. You need to keep your strength up for him," She looked at his file, "Steven wouldn't want you to starve yourself or deny yourself sleep."
Jackie mulled it over, she was starving and she was extremely exhausted.
"All right.but I'm only going to be gone for a few hours. Don't think I won't be back, and here's my card," She took one out of her purse, "You call me if there's the slightest change. I'm going to go in and say goodbye for now. Don't try to stop me." Jackie replied.
7:15PM
Donna and Red took turns driving although Donna thought he was driving too slow and absolutely hated his idea for a dinner stop. She believed that they could find Eric and didn't want to waste any time. They must have driven down every street in Kenosha. Donna figured it was worth a try to go to Eric's apartment even though she knew he wouldn't be there. She had the key still on her key chain she hated when life was ironic like that. Donna didn't mean to ignore Red as she scanned his apartment. His apartment. There used to be a time when it was THEIR place. With silver letters on the wall by the bookshelf "E" & "D" That was his idea. She found a few stacks of magazines some older ones in the mix about drugs in the suburbs and the one that was underlined in dark ink about the Normal Drug Users of the United States of America. Eric was trying to justify his Coke habit? She noticed all the pictures were gone. They were divorced after all but it still made her cringe that he took them all down every single one. She looked at the top of his dresser loose change, comb, deodorant, a pack of condoms and a matchbook for Club Sapphire. She didn't know if it was intuition, sheer luck, or faith but the words that came out of Her mouth were, "Red, I found Eric. Let's go."
Jackie had to admit that she felt physically great after taking a power nap followed by a shower and something to eat. She stopped by the hospital gift shop before heading back to her regular spot in the ICU waiting room. She was told she couldn't bring flowers in ICU but Jackie said she wanted to put them on the nurse's desk across from his room and they said that was "fine". She also purchased a chintzy vase to put them in. She didn't have aspirin and didn't want to spend five dollars for a pack of three to put in the water so she scrounged through her purse and threw in a Pamprin. She walked the halls feeling optimistic. She knew Steven would be okay, he always got in tight spots before and he was always okay. What mattered is that she wanted to be there when he opened his eyes. She wanted her face to be the first face he saw. They'd be married by now if she hadn't screwed it all up. She was still very angry on WHY he was in the hospital but she didn't want to carry around the negative vibes she wanted to be upbeat so she could send out positive thoughts to him. She thought she sounded like a tuned in, dropped out hippie guru but she only wanted her Steven back. She would do anything in this world to make it happen. Maybe after this quick stop she could up to the fourth floor and see the newborn babies there was something so precious about a new life she was so happy when her daughter Tiffany was born. It was the labor she wasn't so keen on! She envisioned their lives together. It was all she ever wanted and hated those Michael Kelso years when it was Steven Hyde that she should have been with in the beginning. But hey, they were only kids then really. You don't care about long term commitments especially if you are a guy. She just wanted to be there for him because everyone in his life bailed on him. With the exception of maybe Mrs. Forman, but that was different, she was like a Mother to him. Not a Soulmate. Jackie took a deep breath as she walked along the corridor, it was all going to be okay. He might stall the relationship in his usual way of putting up walls and such but she was just going break them all down and show him that he couldn't be happy without her, it was really that simple. There was a loud noise around her and she didn't want to think anything of it as she kept walking down the hall to the waiting area across from Steven's room. Then she heard an even louder voice yelling over the buzz aching from her ears.
"Code Blue!"
"Code Blue!"
"Code Blue!"
They were rushing into...NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Jackie stood there in the middle in pure shock the vase falling from her hands crashing into a zillion pieces.
Donna drove this time and had parked the car across the street from an empty parking lot across the street from the Club Sapphire.this was the building where..she didn't have time to reminisce anymore and it was her reminiscing that got them here. Donna ran across the street and heard what was to be a homeless guy moaning and groaning as someone was beating him up for the five dollars in his pocket. Was it? She was afraid to go to the other side of the dumpster. But she had to, her knees remaining steady. Eric Forman was beating up a homeless guy for petty cash.
"Eric!" Donna grabbed his arm and before Red could stop it and before Donna could realize what was about to happen to her Eric struck her.
"Stay away from me you BITCH!" and he punched her so hard in the eye that she fell over and landed on her side on the unpaved ground.
"This f***ing bullshit stops RIGHT NOW!" and although it would haunt him later and he dreaded telling Kitty, Red had no choice but to knock him out cold.
"N-o..no.." Donna rolled over, trying to see out of her one good eye "E-Eric."
"I'm sorry Donna, but it had to be done. Look what that," He didn't want to say the word 'son' he was too ashamed. "Look what he's done to you."
"I'm all right. Let's get him in the car." Donna took the five dollars that was sticking out of Eric's pocket and stuck it in the homeless man's shirt pocket. She hated leaving him here, but what could she do?
Her only concern was for Eric.
"They've been gone an awful long time." Kitty said washing the dinner dishes. Bob dried them.
"I'm sure they're all right, Kitty." Bob tried not to worry, but he knew Donna was going through a great deal even though she didn't want to talk about it.
The phone rang as Kitty washed the last fork. "Hello? WHAT?! You did?!" She started crying tears of relief. "Oh, thank god! Drive safe! We'll see you two soon."
"What is it?" Bob asked
"That was Red. They found Eric! They found my baby!" Kitty hugged Bob. She knew he was going to have a long rehabilitation period to go through but THEY FOUND HIM and he was ALIVE! Thank god for that.
She picked up the phone to call Laurie.
Highpoint/Lowpoint
Donna wanted to sleep for 100 years as she sat on one of the doctor's tables getting her eye cleaned up.
"I just want you to know that Eric doesn't hit women. That was the demon inside of him. Ouch." She flinched
"All done. You were lucky to find him when you did. From what you told me, Ms. Pinciotti."
"Donna."
"Okay, Donna. He certainly was on the road to overdosing. I'm surprised he.."
"It's all right. We all realize he was this close to dying. May I see him?"
"As you know we have a liberal visitation policy anything that can help the patient have a successful transition to a drug-free life but for the first 48 hours it's something we don't allow."
She sighed. "Do you have a spare t-shirt?" Hers was all vomit streaked from when Eric woke up in the car and tried to open the doors getting sick all over her before passing out once more.
"Sure." He went to a drawer by the sink and pulled out a plain black t- shirt.
"Thank you. I really like what this place stands for. I know you will all help Eric."
"Yes, we're all here to help, Eric and everyone else, Donna, but he's also got to want to help himself. You can use the shower if you'd like."
"No, I just want to go home and sleep. And even though I can't see him I'm still going to come by tomorrow if that's okay?" She wanted to know the staff and talk to the person who would be his counselor.
"That's fine. He's lucky to have a wife like you."
"We're divorced," She put her head down, "I wish we weren't..."
"I'll let you freshen up. It was nice meeting you." They shook hands
"I just wish it was under different circumstances." Donna replied.
Red thought the idea of rehab was part of what was wrong about this country. Half of the people here would probably have relapses when all they needed was a kick in the ass. His son included. It might have seemed simplistic but in his and Kitty's day there were no rehab centers. There was no self-awareness, give yourself a big happy hug, gold star, crap.
"Are you ready to go, Donna?" Red stood up. The waiting room was circulating cold recycled air and he could feel the chill through his shirt.
"Yeah. I'm so relieved that we found him." She put her hand over her bad eye.
"Don't touch your eye."
"Sorry, it's a habit. I just want to say again Mr. Forman that you know that the Eric that hit me is not the Eric we both know."
He led them out as the automatic doors swung open. Donna about to get another shock before the night was over.
"I beginning to think I don't even know my own son. Infact, I don't have a son."
"Wh-at?" Donna opened up the car, "You don't mean that. You're just in shock." Donna reasoned.
"As far as I'm concerned," Red hated wearing a seat belt just because the government said it was 'the law', "I don't have a son anymore."
Donna swallowed as she drove in silence neither herself nor Red speaking to each other the whole time as they made their way back to Point Place.
Red and Kitty told Bob and Donna that they were welcome to stay at the house for as long as they needed to. Donna crashed in Eric's old room and woke up at 2:15 in the morning. She put the light on the "low" setting and put her head against the pillows. Sh*. She "forgot" about
Jackie! She didn't mean to. She was concerned about Hyde and Jackie both. She was just tired from driving around looking for Eric that getting some sleep was all she wanted to do when She got back to Point Place. Where could Eric be? She went downstairs in the kitchen to make some tea when the phone rang. "Please, let it be Eric." She thought
"Hello?"
"Donna, is that you?"
"Yeah. Laurie, is Eric at your house?"
"He was but that was hours ago. Mom called me before she went to bed asking me if I got her message, well I didn't cause Eric deleted it. How's Hyde doing?"
"The same."
"Eric wanted money, but I wouldn't give him any. I figured he was high, so as soon as my back was turned he stole two of my bracelets."
"F***. He could be anywhere by now." Donna turned off the kettle.
"Is Mom up?"
"She probably is, but she isn't downstairs. Do you want me to check?"
"No, her and Dad are probably talking. You know I may kind of hate my brother, but I don't want anything to happen to him," Donna rolled her eyes as Laurie continued. "Of all the things. What made Eric turn to Coke?"
"Me." And with that Donna gently hung up the phone.
~Donna's flashback~ 1983
University of Wisconsin Girls Basketball Championship
It was all up to Donna Pinciotti number 19 to make that winning basket. In high school Donna never would have been on a sports team but she wanted to try as many diverse and new things in college. She loved writing for the University newspaper but writing was always done by yourself or with your fiancée trying to make out with you instead of doing his own assignments. Basketball was awesome. Everyone was focused and wanted to win, some wanted to win more than anything but most of the girls on the team just wanted to play their best and wouldn't beat themselves over it with a stick if they lost. She briefly turned knowing Eric, who was the official photographer for the sports department would be snapping her picture. Donna took a deep breath hoping it would all be over. She made the basket and then the buzzer went off. UofW 74 their rivals 72.
All of the girls gathered around Donna for congratulation hugs and high fives. When she was given room she ran to the sidelines Where Eric greeted her with a big hug and kiss.
"I knew you could do it, Donna!"
"Thanks, Eric. I'll meet you at the diner in a half-hour."
"Okay. That'll give me enough time to develop the film."
They shared one last kiss then Donna went in the locker room with her teammates.
~End flashback~
"I didn't see you standing there, Mrs. Forman..would you like some tea?"
"Have you eaten at all, Donna?"
"Not really just drinks mostly. Laurie called awhile ago."
Donna watched as Kitty entered a state of semi denial and went about cooking a big breakfast that probably no one would be able to finish.
"I'll call her later. You have to eat something. I'll make pancakes."
"We'll find, Eric, we will." Donna replied uneasily.
"If I have to bury my son they might as well bury me too!" Kitty slammed her big mixing spoon down and went back upstairs. The mood to cook gone.
Donna didn't know what to so she decided to cook breakfast she was sure Red and her Dad would eat something. She went to the refrigerator as she kept on dreaming.
~Donna's flashback~ 1983 Betty's diner
"As always you get to see them first," Eric handed Donna a big envelope that contained the pictures, "Do you like them?"
"Yeah! These are great, Eric. Oh-Oh, how did that one get in there?" It was one of them making out and they decided to take a picture of the moment.
"It was on the roll." He replied innocently
"Well, I'll take this for safekeeping." Donna folded it and put it in her pocket.
"I'm very proud of you, Donna. That was a great shot. All my life I wanted to make shots like that!" Eric drank his soda.
"Thanks, well scrawny boys don't athletes make." Donna replied in wisdom stealing his French fries.
"But lovers they do." He raised his eyebrow
"Eric, you are so terrible at being subtle!"
"So, does that mean 'yes' or 'not tonight dear I have a headache'?"
"It means you'll have to wait and see."
"Hey, you ate all my fries!"
"You gotta be quick, Forman."
"Apparently, Miss French fry stealer." Eric smiled
~End flashback~
Where was everybody? That was Jackie's first question when she finally got to the hospital. She tried fixing herself up in the taxi on the way from the airport but it didn't work she still looked a mess. She went to the admissions desk.
"Hello. Can you tell me what room Steven Hyde is in?"
"Visiting hours are over." The woman didn't even type his name in the computer.
"Look, I came all this way from New York and I'm on my last straw, so can you please just tell me the room? My friend Donna told me he's in ICU."
"Are you related to Mr. Hyde?"
"No."
"Then you cannot see him. Only immediate family is allowed in."
This did not make sense to Jackie. Edna and Bud who abandoned him had the legal right to see him but she who loved him very much could not? That was the most inane thing she had ever heard.
"But he's my boyfriend." Jackie replied softly
"I'm very sorry, Miss."
"I'm sure you are. I want to know how his parents have the legal right to see him when they abandoned him and they wouldn't care if they knew he was here and I love him with all my heart and I cannot see him because I'm not immediate family. Well, that is a terrible f***ing policy that your hospital has. And I'm not going anywhere until I get to see him."
Jackie sat across from the admissions desk and grabbed a magazine off the small cube table for effect. Within five seconds Jackie got up again.
"Well, you can at least tell me what happened? Please."
All Jackie heard was the phrase, "Stabbed just below the heart." Eric? Did Eric the sudden Coke addict do this?! No. Not Eric Forman. But it all tied in didn't it? Steven's in the hospital and Eric's missing? Eric did it? Eric stabbed his best friend? Jackie was numb and sat back down. There was no question about it-Eric did stab Steven. Jackie started to cry again.
Donna didn't want to deal with the roundtable discussion that was her Dad, Red, and Kitty. After she made the breakfast she went upstairs to sit on Eric's bed. She didn't feel much like showering. Her and her Dad didn't pack clothes, she was going to have take a shopping trip in town before they started to look like addicts. Eric Forman an addict. How did it even get to that point? Donna slid her fingers across the complete 1976 version of the World Books, Point Place High and UofW yearbooks. She grabbed the college one off the bookshelf. That's all she could think about lately was when they weren't kids anymore and carving out their adult identities.
It was like the perfect four years. Eric was totally different then when he was in high school. He was more secure of them as a couple and her as a woman. Yet as soon as they got their diplomas and threw their caps in the air it all went wrong. When Hyde visited just after they had an argument about wanting to start a family. Donna hated herself for that. When Eric got older that's all he wanted. And she couldn't give him that because sleeping with the mystical Hyde was just what she needed and when she got pregnant Hyde knew that would crush Eric and he said he didn't think he'd make a good Father which Donna knew was bull****, just because his parents hurt him didn't mean he'd do the same to his kid. Donna had her career ahead of her and a baby just would have "messed it up" then Hyde met a new girlfriend before he got his job in London. Of course, it wouldn't go on to last. She flipped to the page Eric's picture was on. The president of the senior class thought it'd be cool for the writing department to write funny hobby captions under the official ones.
Forman, Eric Nickname-Foreplay Clubs-Audio-Visual Photographer-Sports Department Hobby-Donna Pinciotti
Then she went to her page Pinciotti, Donna Nickname-D.P. (Donna hated that nickname, it was given to her by someone on the newspaper staff and it stuck) Clubs-School Newspaper Clover-Creative Writing Quarterly Basketball team UofW Radio personality Hobby-Eric Forman
She tried not to cry much during this whole ordeal, but one single tear found its way on the semi formal spread where they were voted All American Couple, it landed on Eric's face.
"Oh, Eric, you didn't fail me, I failed you." Donna didn't realize Kitty was in the doorway and heard what she had said. Donna could feel someone in the room and she quickly turned around.
"How long have you been standing there, Mrs. Forman?"
"Long enough. I brought you up some tea and toast, you need to eat."
"Thanks."
As soon as Kitty put the tray down she started to leave the room then she turned back around to face Donna.
"You didn't fail, Eric, honey."
"I appreciate you saying that, Mrs. Forman." Donna got up and hugged her.
'He could be dead in a ditch somewhere and whose fault would that be?' Donna couldn't help the thought.
"I'm still here!" Jackie exclaimed from her chair, "And I'm not going anywhere until I get to see Steven."
"Jackie Burkhart?" Called out the voice of an older man
"Dr. Hadley?" He used to go golfing with her Father many moons ago.
"Wow. You've grown up very pretty."
"Thank you."
"What seems to be the problem?"
"I've been here for hours and no one is letting me see my boyfriend Steven Hyde, just because he's in ICU. The parents that abandoned him though have all the legal right in the world if they came in through that door right now. And I've gotten to the point in my life where I don't want to pull strings anymore, but if you'd let me see him, it'd mean so much."
Dr. Hadley sensed that she really did love this Steven Hyde person it was more of a genuine feeling then when she proclaimed to love that what's his name?
Michael Kelso.
"Let me get his file and I'll walk you to the room."
Jackie breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you so much." All she wanted to do was kiss him and tell him that she loved him.
"This is pretty bad," Dr. Hadley glanced over his file, "Are you sure you want to go in, Jackie?"
"Yes, I do."
Jackie bit her lip as Dr. Hadley escorted her into Hyde's room. She wasn't going to go into hysterics, but she couldn't help but cry over seeing him hooked up to all the tubes and machines.
"Can I be alone with him for awhile?" Jackie asked.
Dr. Hadley agreed but only for a few minutes.
Jackie could not believe this was Steven. He was about as white as fresh pure fallen snow. She quietly put a chair by the side of the bed and held his hand.
Later that afternoon
Donna came back from her shopping trip and after giving her Father his change of clothes, she found the energy to take a shower and change into hers as well. Kitty was going to the hospital to check on Hyde and Red was (reluctantly) entertaining her Dad. Donna was buttoning up her shirt when her bracelet got caught on the sleeve and it fell off and went under Eric's bed.
"Damn," Donna noticed something else under Eric's bed. "Wait a minute..!" It was his cell phone. During his skirmish with Hyde it probably fell under the bed. Donna didn't want to get her hopes up but if someone recently had left Eric a voice mail they might find out his whereabouts.
"Password?" Donna said out loud. She tried a bunch of combinations EricandDonna, DonnaandEric, DPEF, and EFDP but none of them worked. Even ILoveDonna didn't work-nor ILuvDonna.
Donna needed a computer. When Eric was recuperating from his broken leg he had mentioned the company putting a computer here in the den. She finished getting dressed and was thankful that Red and her Dad were in the kitchen because she didn't want to get anyone's hopes up, especially her own. She put on the computer and went to the cell phone companies website to click on "lost password"-then she went to his Yahoo account she knew his password there, sometimes she would use that account.-She just hoped he didn't change that password on her. Nope. It was still 'ericforman'. There was no real email except from Fez, an old one obviously read by the light visited link color from Jackie, and the usual advertising spam. She clicked the refresh button and there was the email she was waiting for. Your password is-DonnasDreamboat which made her slightly laugh despite the circumstances of it all.
She opened up his phone and typed in the password. His voice mail was full and he could not accept any new messages until he deleted the old ones so she had no choice and went through them all. Erasing as she went with the exception of the last one. Hoping one of the messages could lead them to Eric. There were 20. (The max that his cell phone could hold) Some of them were very old-messages from Kitty (with Red yelling in the background), friends from work which Donna was convinced probably introduced him to the stuff, some business calls, and then the last message a girl from Indianapolis telling Eric she could stay with him if he needed a place to crash. Now she was going to have to call this unknown woman and hope that Eric was there. It was the only lead she had. She wasted no time as she turned off the computer and ran upstairs back to his room and got her number off the caller ID. She had an uneasy feeling that time was not on their side. Not being able to stop her mind on remembering how Eric used to be.
~Donna's flashback~ 1981 Family restaurant
"Please don't laugh." Eric wanted to hide.
"Lime green stripes! Very nice."
"Table for one?" Eric gave Donna an I-hate-this-stupid-job-look
"Sure. Do I get a free soda?"
"It's people like you that eat into the profits." He led Donna to the a small seats-two booth.
"Forman! Stop lollygagging!" The manager yelled in a Red-esque tone.
"I'll get you a free grilled cheese, too." Eric whispered in Donna's ear as he forced his legs to move and take the order of these two old ladies that came in everyday that had two coffees and shared a key lime pie. They tipped well enough but the one lady said she was going to pinch his cheeks someday.
8 Minutes Later
"I'm on break." Eric sat down across from Donna as he put her sandwich plate on the table.
"I think it's cute that, that old lady likes you!" Donna laughed
"She says I look like her grandson Norman..I hate this job, Donna. I saved money from Pricemart why does Red want me to work while I'm at college?"
"To teach you responsibility."
"I think I've learned that lesson by now! Your Dad's not making you!" Eric drank his soda.
"That's because my college work load is heavier than yours. I'm also in more extra curricular activities."
"I know."
"You aren't going to say that cuts into your 'Eric time'?" Donna asked eating her chips.
"Eric has no time anymore."
"Hey, we're away from home, we have more time than you realize."
"Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Forman! Your break is over, McDermott called off sick, so you have to fill in."
Eric mentally rolled his eyes.
"I get off at ten, Donna."
"I have to go to the library and finish something. You want to meet there?"
"Sure. Oh god, a family with four screaming kids.They'll give a lousy tip!"
He kissed Donna on the cheek. He smelled like the deep fryer. By the time he met up with her later on, he fell asleep while they were parking with his head on her shoulder.
~End flashback~
Jackie was never one to get angry. She always thought she was the temper-tantrum type of person but what was building inside her like bricks in her soul was anger. She didn't want to leave but obeyed the doctor's orders and gave Hyde a light kiss on the cheek. She paced in the hall such as a father waiting for his pregnant wife to deliver the new baby. Jackie called to check on her daughter. She felt she was a bad mother. She was spending all this time away from her only coming home for short visits and she was back on a plane again. She hoped her daughter wouldn't resent her when she got older. She also prayed that Steven would be getting out of ICU soon and she could fly her daughter in and they could finally meet. Every moment he didn't open his eyes the anger swelled up inside, a deep livid anger that she didn't even knew She had. Anger towards..
"Hello, honey, how's Steven?" Enter Mrs. Forman. She gave Jackie a big embrace. Jackie needed it.
"No change," and yet how could she divulge her anger to Mrs. Forman?
It wasn't her fault. "I keep hoping he'll wake up soon. You were a nurse do people usually pull out of these situations?"
"Some of them do." She tried to remain optimistic herself, but if he was going to recover he was going to have to wake up soon.
"And you know Steven's tough, he's bound to pull through." Jackie grasped at the straws in her mind.
"Of course he will, we're all praying for him."
"Would you like some coffee or tea?" Jackie asked
"I was just going to ask you that, dear. Between you and Donna.I bet you haven't eaten either?"
"Not much."
That was another thing-how come Donna hasn't returned her calls? Jackie knew she was worried About The Reason Why Her Steven Was Fighting For His Life but after her promised call, she never called back, returned Jackie's voice mail, or even stopped by.
That was very rude to Jackie Burkhart and she had no reservations on telling Donna just that.
Donna felt her stomach cramp up as the phone rang.
"Hello?" asked a girl in a very quiet voice. She sounded like she was in her twenties.
"Is Marcia McAdam there?"
"What do you want?" She whispered, quiet as the proverbial rodent.
"My name is Donna Pinciotti. Is my ex-husband Eric Forman there? And don't say you don't know him, your voice mail is on his cell phone."
"Eric Forman?" She raised her voice a notch.
"You called him and you need to think about this?" Donna tried not to lose her cool.
"Eric Forman? Is he skinny?"
"Yeah." Hey, if that's all it took.
"He's one of my brother's friends. I think he stayed with him at Joey's house."
"Joey?" Donna had a pen and paper by her side to write all of this stuff down.
"They all work together at that office in Kenosha." Was she a dim bulb or what? Donna thought. She sounded like she was on some downers.
"That's right."
"They might be coming back around three or so. Do you want me to tell him you called?"
Donna thought about it. "No." He might try to run if he knew she knew where he might be, so it was best to say no.
"Okay, then."
"Wait don't hang up. How did he look, Marcia?"
"Like a person."
Donna wanted to thrust her pen in her thigh. "What I mean is-Was he using?"
Donna could feel Marcia rolling her eyes through the other end of the phone in a "yes-of course-we-all-do" way.
"You aren't a cop are you?" She saw shows like this all the time on cable.
"No, I'm not a cop. I'm Eric's ex-wife. I'm going to call you back at three." She said in simple sentences so this dim-wit could understand her.
"Whatever." Marcia hung up.
It gave Donna a small window of hope that at least he wasn't on the streets. She had a few hours before three and decided she was going to do some research on rehab centers because like it or not, fight it or not, that's where Eric was going once they found him. She was going to personally see to that.
~Donna's flashback~ ~After returning Eric's promise ring~ 1978 (note-my own take on this.)
Donna was happy that no one was around when she entered her house trying to stop her wet warm tears. She hated crying. She was tougher than this! What in the hell just happened? On one hand she felt like a woman, but on the other hand she thought 'we're just kids, really.' Stupid high school promise. Okay, the words didn't come out like she wanted them to. She sat at the kitchen table, hands in her face. Why did he buy her that ring in the first place? So he could own her like some kind of property? She hated how her Dad and Mr. Forman would sometimes say "The Wife" in a condescending way like property. Couldn't he accept it as a charm on a necklace? This was almost like a teenage version of a proposal. Donna didn't want to get married! She wanted to experience all that life had to offer and to get out of Point Place and she wasn't sure if Eric wanted those same things. No more Eric? She made it a question. No more Eric with his scrawny body and gawky smile. How could she go back there and hang with her friends (his friends, too) at his house? No more Eric. No notes in her locker, no lunches in the school caf, and no holding hands in the halls. School was really going to suck. She heard motioning from the living room and without thinking went right back outside. But made sure not to be seen by the Forman's.
She sat on the small stoop and liked the sounds of the crickets chirping. Then she heard Red yell at Eric to get in the house, but Eric wouldn't answer.and she was so tempted to peek. She was so tempted to run to him and tell him "No, she'd promise him whatever she was supposed to f***ing promise him." and they'd be DonnaAndEric again. But no-it was for the best. They were just high school kids. Kitty came out to see what was the matter and they were all going to hate her. Everyone was going to think Donna was the bad one. Eric wasn't bad, either. But they'll start choosing sides. That's how situations like these always unfold. Red and Kitty were the loudest on the block next to Bob and Midge. She didn't have to move to hear them.
"Eric, are you deaf?" Red asked him
[Kitty saw the ring lying on the Vista Cruiser] ,"Where's Donna?"
She didn't hear Eric. But she knew he probably said something like, "Donna and I broke up."
Within two minutes they all went inside their house. Donna sat outside waiting for her parents to go upstairs. She didn't want to tell them just yet. She walked closer to where the Forman property started and saw the lights on in the kitchen. Kitty trying to soothe Eric's heart with tea and sympathy. She knew that's not where he was. He probably muttered something along the lines of "I want to be alone" and probably was on his bed crying. That made her feel so awful. How would Hyde, Jackie, Fez, and Kelso react to this? Her parents? Would the Forman's now hate the Pinciotti's?
"Good night, Eric." She whispered, "I love you."
This was the worst night of her life. She had the urge to runaway, but dismissed it and went inside her house. The coast was clear to a getaway to her bedroom for her too to be on her bed crying.
~End flashback~
Donna read the last of what could only be described as a chore.like one minute she was sitting with her Grandmother having fun on Christmas day when she was seven and the next minute her Father told her Gram was in a "better place". This was almost the same thing she couldn't believe she had to look for a rehab center to send Eric to. It really wasn't supposed to be how things were destined to go. She did like as far as one could actually use the word 'like' in situations like this one place with the ironic name of Highpoint. (Great name for a rehab center she thought). They had a more alternative approach with their treatment and policies. It was just outside of Point Place before Kenosha. She looked at her watch it was three o'clock, she dreaded having to call this idiot Marcia, but if Eric was there, she had to find away to keep him there so she could go get him. Which in the back of her mind she knew was easier said than done.
"Hello?"
"It's Dina right?"
Donna was in no mood to argue, "Yeah."
"Eric isn't here," Donna's heart sank to be this close, no way! She refused to accept it, "He and my brother were here but they went to..to."
"Please it's very important that you remember."
"What's the city they work in?" Marcia asked
"Kenosha.are you saying they went back there?" That was about a four hour drive from Indianapolis. What if Eric or his companion were high? What if they got pulled over by the police? What if?
"Yeah."
"Thanks. Bye." Donna hung up put some papers in her pocket, grabbed her bag, and as she left the room bumped straight into Red.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Forman, I think," She whispered, "I found Eric. And if I leave now since my drive will be shorter, maybe I can get there before he does."
"You're not going alone. I'll go with you."
Donna weighed it over. "Fine. What do we tell your wife and my Father?"
She didn't want to get their hopes up especially Kitty.
"Kitty's at the hospital and your Father fell asleep on my sofa."
"I'll write a note that just says we went out."
Red nodded in agreement.
6:00PM
Eric Forman was blind. His life of late was one huge blur. The only goal to get high. To rid his heart of a pain so deep that he couldn't remember what started it. When he started to come down he made sure he got right back up. He and his friend Rich McAdam were going back to Kenosha, Rich was sober enough to drive. He was still in the recreational stage. Eric thought He, Joey, Abe, and the rest were a bunch of recreational wusses who were better off in a basement of fog than do be doing something as 'grown-up' as Cocaine. Each day melded into the next as if someone took down all the calendars and clocks as if you were in a Las Vegas casino. You didn't need to know the time because the time [to get high] was always the right time. He was glad to have gotten rid of the family they were always, always interfering in his life they never really had a clue of what made him tick. Red was always on his case even as an adult which made absolutely no sense and his Mother was too clingy. They were an hour away from Kenosha as Eric requested a special detour.
"Now?" Rich seemed annoyed, while he was driving he liked to make good time, stopping so Eric could get numb again even though Rich was no choir boy was annoying.
"Fine," Eric snapped, "then I'll just do it right here then.."
"No," That's all he needed was for the both of them to be pulled over by the police. "There's a rest stop up ahead."
"Good." Eric replied as long as everyone saw it his way.
Rich decided as soon as they were in Club Sapphire he was going to leave Eric there. F*** it this guy was more trouble then he was worth.
Jackie sent Mrs. Forman home as her wait dragged on. She was afraid to do anything other than call home to check on her daughter. She didn't want to eat, sleep, or take a shower. Jackie was very afraid that something would happen if she left Steven for just one minute. She would stay here for one hundred years if she had to.
"Are you still here, Miss? Go home there isn't a change to tell you." One of the nurses said to her.
"Don't talk to me like that. I happen to LOVE that man in there and if I want to stay here you have no right to stop me!"
"I didn't mean to sound rude to you, Miss..."
"Jackie."
"But you aren't doing the patient any good. You need to keep your strength up for him," She looked at his file, "Steven wouldn't want you to starve yourself or deny yourself sleep."
Jackie mulled it over, she was starving and she was extremely exhausted.
"All right.but I'm only going to be gone for a few hours. Don't think I won't be back, and here's my card," She took one out of her purse, "You call me if there's the slightest change. I'm going to go in and say goodbye for now. Don't try to stop me." Jackie replied.
7:15PM
Donna and Red took turns driving although Donna thought he was driving too slow and absolutely hated his idea for a dinner stop. She believed that they could find Eric and didn't want to waste any time. They must have driven down every street in Kenosha. Donna figured it was worth a try to go to Eric's apartment even though she knew he wouldn't be there. She had the key still on her key chain she hated when life was ironic like that. Donna didn't mean to ignore Red as she scanned his apartment. His apartment. There used to be a time when it was THEIR place. With silver letters on the wall by the bookshelf "E" & "D" That was his idea. She found a few stacks of magazines some older ones in the mix about drugs in the suburbs and the one that was underlined in dark ink about the Normal Drug Users of the United States of America. Eric was trying to justify his Coke habit? She noticed all the pictures were gone. They were divorced after all but it still made her cringe that he took them all down every single one. She looked at the top of his dresser loose change, comb, deodorant, a pack of condoms and a matchbook for Club Sapphire. She didn't know if it was intuition, sheer luck, or faith but the words that came out of Her mouth were, "Red, I found Eric. Let's go."
Jackie had to admit that she felt physically great after taking a power nap followed by a shower and something to eat. She stopped by the hospital gift shop before heading back to her regular spot in the ICU waiting room. She was told she couldn't bring flowers in ICU but Jackie said she wanted to put them on the nurse's desk across from his room and they said that was "fine". She also purchased a chintzy vase to put them in. She didn't have aspirin and didn't want to spend five dollars for a pack of three to put in the water so she scrounged through her purse and threw in a Pamprin. She walked the halls feeling optimistic. She knew Steven would be okay, he always got in tight spots before and he was always okay. What mattered is that she wanted to be there when he opened his eyes. She wanted her face to be the first face he saw. They'd be married by now if she hadn't screwed it all up. She was still very angry on WHY he was in the hospital but she didn't want to carry around the negative vibes she wanted to be upbeat so she could send out positive thoughts to him. She thought she sounded like a tuned in, dropped out hippie guru but she only wanted her Steven back. She would do anything in this world to make it happen. Maybe after this quick stop she could up to the fourth floor and see the newborn babies there was something so precious about a new life she was so happy when her daughter Tiffany was born. It was the labor she wasn't so keen on! She envisioned their lives together. It was all she ever wanted and hated those Michael Kelso years when it was Steven Hyde that she should have been with in the beginning. But hey, they were only kids then really. You don't care about long term commitments especially if you are a guy. She just wanted to be there for him because everyone in his life bailed on him. With the exception of maybe Mrs. Forman, but that was different, she was like a Mother to him. Not a Soulmate. Jackie took a deep breath as she walked along the corridor, it was all going to be okay. He might stall the relationship in his usual way of putting up walls and such but she was just going break them all down and show him that he couldn't be happy without her, it was really that simple. There was a loud noise around her and she didn't want to think anything of it as she kept walking down the hall to the waiting area across from Steven's room. Then she heard an even louder voice yelling over the buzz aching from her ears.
"Code Blue!"
"Code Blue!"
"Code Blue!"
They were rushing into...NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Jackie stood there in the middle in pure shock the vase falling from her hands crashing into a zillion pieces.
Donna drove this time and had parked the car across the street from an empty parking lot across the street from the Club Sapphire.this was the building where..she didn't have time to reminisce anymore and it was her reminiscing that got them here. Donna ran across the street and heard what was to be a homeless guy moaning and groaning as someone was beating him up for the five dollars in his pocket. Was it? She was afraid to go to the other side of the dumpster. But she had to, her knees remaining steady. Eric Forman was beating up a homeless guy for petty cash.
"Eric!" Donna grabbed his arm and before Red could stop it and before Donna could realize what was about to happen to her Eric struck her.
"Stay away from me you BITCH!" and he punched her so hard in the eye that she fell over and landed on her side on the unpaved ground.
"This f***ing bullshit stops RIGHT NOW!" and although it would haunt him later and he dreaded telling Kitty, Red had no choice but to knock him out cold.
"N-o..no.." Donna rolled over, trying to see out of her one good eye "E-Eric."
"I'm sorry Donna, but it had to be done. Look what that," He didn't want to say the word 'son' he was too ashamed. "Look what he's done to you."
"I'm all right. Let's get him in the car." Donna took the five dollars that was sticking out of Eric's pocket and stuck it in the homeless man's shirt pocket. She hated leaving him here, but what could she do?
Her only concern was for Eric.
"They've been gone an awful long time." Kitty said washing the dinner dishes. Bob dried them.
"I'm sure they're all right, Kitty." Bob tried not to worry, but he knew Donna was going through a great deal even though she didn't want to talk about it.
The phone rang as Kitty washed the last fork. "Hello? WHAT?! You did?!" She started crying tears of relief. "Oh, thank god! Drive safe! We'll see you two soon."
"What is it?" Bob asked
"That was Red. They found Eric! They found my baby!" Kitty hugged Bob. She knew he was going to have a long rehabilitation period to go through but THEY FOUND HIM and he was ALIVE! Thank god for that.
She picked up the phone to call Laurie.
Highpoint/Lowpoint
Donna wanted to sleep for 100 years as she sat on one of the doctor's tables getting her eye cleaned up.
"I just want you to know that Eric doesn't hit women. That was the demon inside of him. Ouch." She flinched
"All done. You were lucky to find him when you did. From what you told me, Ms. Pinciotti."
"Donna."
"Okay, Donna. He certainly was on the road to overdosing. I'm surprised he.."
"It's all right. We all realize he was this close to dying. May I see him?"
"As you know we have a liberal visitation policy anything that can help the patient have a successful transition to a drug-free life but for the first 48 hours it's something we don't allow."
She sighed. "Do you have a spare t-shirt?" Hers was all vomit streaked from when Eric woke up in the car and tried to open the doors getting sick all over her before passing out once more.
"Sure." He went to a drawer by the sink and pulled out a plain black t- shirt.
"Thank you. I really like what this place stands for. I know you will all help Eric."
"Yes, we're all here to help, Eric and everyone else, Donna, but he's also got to want to help himself. You can use the shower if you'd like."
"No, I just want to go home and sleep. And even though I can't see him I'm still going to come by tomorrow if that's okay?" She wanted to know the staff and talk to the person who would be his counselor.
"That's fine. He's lucky to have a wife like you."
"We're divorced," She put her head down, "I wish we weren't..."
"I'll let you freshen up. It was nice meeting you." They shook hands
"I just wish it was under different circumstances." Donna replied.
Red thought the idea of rehab was part of what was wrong about this country. Half of the people here would probably have relapses when all they needed was a kick in the ass. His son included. It might have seemed simplistic but in his and Kitty's day there were no rehab centers. There was no self-awareness, give yourself a big happy hug, gold star, crap.
"Are you ready to go, Donna?" Red stood up. The waiting room was circulating cold recycled air and he could feel the chill through his shirt.
"Yeah. I'm so relieved that we found him." She put her hand over her bad eye.
"Don't touch your eye."
"Sorry, it's a habit. I just want to say again Mr. Forman that you know that the Eric that hit me is not the Eric we both know."
He led them out as the automatic doors swung open. Donna about to get another shock before the night was over.
"I beginning to think I don't even know my own son. Infact, I don't have a son."
"Wh-at?" Donna opened up the car, "You don't mean that. You're just in shock." Donna reasoned.
"As far as I'm concerned," Red hated wearing a seat belt just because the government said it was 'the law', "I don't have a son anymore."
Donna swallowed as she drove in silence neither herself nor Red speaking to each other the whole time as they made their way back to Point Place.