Chapter 10
Envy
~Hyde's comatose dream~ 1979 Eric's bedroom
Hyde stood in the doorframe the picture of late '70s cool as he watched Eric pack his suitcase. He and Donna were so busy lately getting ready for college. A part of him envied them, another part of him thought he was finally out of high school he got his diploma and that was good enough if your last name was Hyde. Forman's and Pinciotti's went to colleges and became business people while people like the Hyde's stood in the line for free Government blocks of cheese. He knew he disappointed the Forman's especially Kitty that he didn't apply to any colleges even a junior college but they knew he wasn't college material. Yeah, he was smart, probably smarter than Forman in a great number of ways, but another key factor was wanting to go in the first place and he didn't. He still had his job at the Photohut which for a Hyde was the longest time in a job.
"Hey, Hyde." Eric said as he turned around getting another sweater out of his drawer.
Hyde was about to say something when Donna came in
"Eric, aren't you done packing yet?"
"He's letting Erica out again." Hyde quipped. Somehow feeling different.
"You don't have to bring your whole closet!" Donna rolled her eyes as she closed Eric's suitcase and took it to the car so he couldn't put anymore stuff inside. "I think Eric wants to talk to you about something."
Donna whispered in Hyde's ear as Eric's back was turned.
The room got very cold as Eric turned around grabbing his trophy off the shelf hitting it on his own palms.
"What to do, what to do, what to do-Hyde. These four years with Donna will probably be the happiest of my life-yet she will want you-and abort your baby-Meanwhile resenting me as if I were the bad one in all this. and I think she will tell me because of the abortion she won't be able to have my baby but that's after my stint at a rehab center-Who could imagine Eric Forman strung out on Cocaine? Instead of trying to kill you then maybe I should kill you now? Either way our lives as we know them will be pretty much over."
Eric was about to stab him clear in the heart as Kitty walked in with a tray of milk and cookies.
"Now, Eric, if you are going to kill Steven could you please do it outside and not dirty up my carpet?"
Hyde just stood there waiting to die.
"Can't you even use a rifle you dumbass?!" Red came in with his old Army rifle taking the trophy out of Eric's hands and giving him the gun.
"Eric it took you twenty minutes to pack and you can't even kill Hyde in ten minutes, what am I going to do with you?" Donna asked.
"Ten bucks says he won't!" Kelso came in with Fez
"It's sad that my friends are fighting-but I'll still take that bet." Fez replied as they went to the other side of Eric's room.
"How come no one pays attention to me anymore?" Laurie came in, in a wedding dress and an eighth month pregnancy bump.
Eric clicked the rifle as Jackie burst in carrying flowers in a vase,
"NO! Steven aren't you going to stand up for yourself?"
"If Eric is afraid to do it, I'll kill him myself for what he did to my baby Donna." Bob came in and stood next to his daughter.
"Steven Hyde is one useless mother f***er." Eric said and everyone in the room sans Jackie started chanting it over and over again, a twisted mantra.
"Steven, can't you hear me?" Jackie said squarely in his ear, he didn't move.
"Come on, Eric, we haven't got all day are you going to kill the useless mother f***er or what?" Donna moaned looking at her watch.
"It's been a long, strange trip in teenage wasteland, Hyde."
"NO!" Jackie screamed as she put her body in front of Hyde's to take the bullet for him.
"Jackie!" Hyde put his arms out to catch her and they fell to the floor as she died in his arms.
"I never liked the bitch anyway," Donna raised her fist in the air as everyone else was still chanting, "Come Eric, finish the job." She said
"Anything for you, Donna. Now our lives will be perfect. Say goodnight, Hyde."
Eric clicked the rifle again..Steven Hyde was ready to die.
~End dream~
Jackie sat on the head nurse's chair and sobbed uncontrollably as the janitor cleaned up the broken pieces of vase and flowers.
"Jackie..Jackie." The nurse said. She started to feel close to this young woman she reminded her of when she faced a similar personal experience.
She looked up her face a mess, her head pounding.
"Oh you poor dear." She handed her some tissues from the box next to her computer.
"I can't say it---is he-?" She asked with baited breath.
"No, dear. He started breathing again. It was a quite a miracle."
Jackie stood up, "What?! Really? THANK GOD!"
"Jackie, the next 48 hours are very critical. He's still unconscious. If you'd like to wait in Dr. Reginald's office he'll be in to talk to you in a few moments."
To Jackie they were just words most people would have certainly died under those circumstances, but NOT Steven Hyde he was fighting it. For her? For himself? She wasn't quite sure. If he could breathe, he could open up his eyes, she was certain of that. It was only a matter of time.
She blew a kiss to the closed room door as all of the doctors, nurses, and technicians were gone now.
"I love you, Steven and I know you can hear me." Jackie said as she walked to Dr. Reginald's office.
Donna was ready to curl up and try to fall asleep when there was a light knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," She tied her robe.
It was Kitty who also looked the picture of exhaustion. She closed the door and talked softly.
"I think you lied to your Father and me earlier."
"What?" Donna knew that Mrs. Forman knew what she didn't want everyone to know about. However she slightly hoped that she was wrong about that.
"Red won't talk for some reason but there's no way that you fell. My son did this to you, didn't he?"
"I did fall," Donna whispered back, "After Eric punched me. You of all people should realize that wasn't 'our Eric'. Don't be angry at him for that. He didn't realize his actions. Be happy we found him, that we at least know where he is, and he'll be getting the help he needs. Would you like to come with me tomorrow, Mrs. Forman? We can't visit with him but I wanted to meet some of the staff."
"Yes, I would like that, Donna," She gave her a hug, "Goodnight- and thank you for finding Eric." They never would have found him without her help.
"It was a good thing he left behind his cell phone," Donna replied, "By the way how's Hyde doing?" Donna asked not knowing how Jackie felt about her at the moment.
Kitty sighed, "The same. We'll have to stop at the hospital tomorrow before we go to the---" Kitty did not want to utter the words 'rehab center' but that's where her son was.
"Rehab center. It's not a bad word, Mrs. Forman." Donna reassured.
"Yes, but it's a place I never thought Eric would be in." Although her and Red thought there might have come a time when Steven might have needed a treatment center.
"Neither did I." Donna stifled a yawn.
"Okay, it's time to get you to bed." Kitty had to repress the urge to tuck her in, she missed it so much when Laurie and especially Eric were little.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Forman." Donna said getting in the warm blankets wishing Eric was in the bed with her.
Next day:
Demons in the cage
Donna stood in front of the bathroom mirror and brushed her wet hair, smelling like manufactured strawberries and cream. She thought of a commercial that aired on the college TV station they showed a wine glass and asked the viewer how do they perceive the glass? If you saw it half-full you were optimistic bright, open, and ready for new ideas. If you saw it half-empty you were a pessimist who never wanted to go down the untravelled path and were fearful of new ideas. Was Eric's glass half-full or half-empty? What if he got out of rehab and like so many others (most notably the most famous and loose cannons of the world) relapsed? What if he ended up a tragic footnote to a once promising life? Whose fault would that be? Hers? His? His Father? Donna wanted to see the glass as half-full. She put on a light blue shirt that she got on her local shopping trip. You can't beat the style at the Point Place mini-mall (and that was the actual radio jingle!) Her eye looked terrible. Good, she thought. She didn't want to cover it she wanted Eric to see it to realize just how far he went for the sake of the drug. What he did to her was nothing compared to what he did to Hyde. It's not that she wasn't concerned she was just too busy to call Jackie and her and Kitty were stopping by before going to Highpoint, but that was Kitty's idea if she were by herself she probably wouldn't have gone to the hospital and if that made her a bad person so be it. Eric had to be her main concern. They were adults. Surely, Jackie could understand that. It's not like Jackie was phoning inquiring about Eric. It went both ways. That was both petty and logical at the same time Donna thought as Kitty gently knocked on the door asking her if she was ready.
"Yeah." She wasn't wear to wear much make-up, her name wasn't Jackie, just some earth-toned colored lipstick and she was out the door.
"I got you a tea." The head nurse said to Jackie, she admired her for wanting to stay here for this Steven Hyde person.
"Thank you. You didn't have to.."
"Andrea."
"You didn't have to, Andrea, but thank you." Jackie drank the tea, it was terrible from the vending machine but the gesture was sweet.
Nurse Andrea took a bunch of folders and went down the hall as Donna and Kitty entered.
"Hello, dear, how is Steven doing?" Kitty asked
Jackie was taken aback by Donna's presence and the black eye but almost didn't care considering the lack of communication.
"He almost died last night." Jackie replied matter-of-factly.
"What?" Kitty gasped, Donna didn't know how to reply to that.
"But he's okay, for now," She sighed, "They say the next 48 hours are critical."
"We've all been praying for him." Kitty replied, after that she excused herself to go the ladies room leaving Donna and Jackie alone.
"I'm too drained to fight with you, Donna."
"What?"
"You haven't returned my calls and I don't think you wouldn't be here if Mrs. Forman didn't drag you here first."
"Excuse me, Jackie? I never said I wasn't concerned for Hyde. But I have my own problems."
"Eric." Jackie twisted her face as she said his name.
"Do you have a problem with Eric?"
"Yeah as a matter of fact I do. I won't say it to Mrs. Forman as she's been supportive since day one, but you Donna--!"
"For someone who is too drained to fight you certainly have a lot to say. But hell, if you have something you want to say TO
ME about Eric well you go right ahead."
"It's his fault Steven's in here fighting for his life. He almost died last night, Donna.you were NOT here to hear everyone shouting "Code Blue"-he almost f***ing died! And if he did I swear to you I would personally rip Eric's heart out with my bare hands."
"Stop being melodramatic, Jackie. I'm sorry Hyde almost died- But my priorities lie with Eric and if you can't handle it well that's just too bad. Maybe there was a reason why we weren't in contact for twenty years."
"You know everyone said Steven was the bad one all these years. How about that fight OVER YOU? And Steven got arrested. Who started that one? I think that was Eric, too."
"You know what? This argument is done. Tell Mrs. Forman I'll be in the car."
Donna turned her back on Jackie and walked away.
Kitty could tell something must have happened between Donna and Jackie but did not want to press the issue as they were in the waiting room in for a Dr. Shaw.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Shaw. You must be Donna Pinciotti and Kitty Forman."
They all shook hands as Dr. Shaw went to sit at his desk and took out a manila folder with a green tab on it that was labeled-Forman, Eric
"How's Eric today?" Kitty asked
"I can see by my notes here that we tried calling your house earlier, Mrs.
Forman, but no one answered the phone. I'm afraid I have some bad news."
"What?" Donna was ready to jump out of the chair.
"I apologize for this as I was not aware of what happened last night. There was a new hire who did not have the authorization to deal with admissions. There's a man who has been here four times and he got away from her and hid in the room assigned to Mr. Forman."
"Just say it, Doctor." Donna felt herself feel sick all over as she held Kitty's hand who was about to turn as white as a sheet.
"He had Cocaine on him and decided to share it with Eric before any of us knew what was going on."
"Is that all?" Donna sighed, "I mean, it's terrible, but if he had to get high I'm glad it happened here."
"I'm afraid there's more, Ms. Pinciotti."
Dr Shaw went on to explain that Eric slit one of his wrists with the other guys Swiss Army knife.
"What?!" Donna stood up as Kitty started to cry.
"We had to move him to the fifth floor."
"Is that where you keep the psycho drug addicts?" Donna snapped
"We should sue this place," Kitty said between her tears, "But I'm a retired nurse and I know these unfortunate things can happen, but I'm also that boys Mother and furious as Hell."
"I want to see him. I don't care if it's not allowed. I demand to see Eric." Donna commanded.
Jackie was able to sneak in to Hyde's room when the nurses changed their shifts. She quietly walked up to his bed, she was afraid the slightest noise would kill him. She talked quietly.
"Steven, I have to go for awhile. My friend from work is going to bring my daughter in for a visit, and I miss her so much. I know you'll understand. I'm going to come back around midnight when there's only one nurse on call. I love you," She kissed his cheek, as she walked away, missing the twitch.
"I hope I didn't sound like a bitch," Donna said to Dr Gold as they rode on the elevator together. He was the one who treated her eye when she and Red brought Eric in.
"It's okay. We understand. Although we are more liberal minded compared to other rehab centers we are conservative when it comes to family and close friends seeing their loved ones in states you will be witness to. Are you sure you want to see Eric now, Donna?" He remembered her telling him to call her by her first name.
"Yes, I have to. You say he's all right from last night?"
"Physically, yes."
The door opened and all Donna saw when the elevator opened was a big window and to the right were huge doors and an intercom box and numerical keypad.
Dr. Gold typed in his code and the doors opened. Donna did not want to admit her knees buckled at the harsh sound of them opening.
"He's in room 4, would you like to me to go in with you?"
"No."
"Okay, I'll give you ten minutes."
The ward was remarkably silent as Donna opened up the door. She thought it was useless to knock.
"Eric," she whispered at the sight of seeing his hands in restraints, she was relieved that Kitty was not interested in coming up here even with her medical background he was still her son. It would have killed her to see him like this.
His eyes were closed and Donna didn't know if he was asleep or not. She walked over slowly as if she were in a movie and waiting for the climax. She held onto the bars on the bed.
"Eric," she bent over and softly brushed the hair out of his face, "We are all worried about you."
That's when something wet hit her in the good eye. She couldn't believe it. He spit in her eye. She stood back shocked, as soon as it happened it was over with.
She turned around to leave as only two minutes went by.
Chills went up her spine when she heard Eric's faint voice.
"All I want is to die."
She turned around and there was Eric head on pillow, not moving. She quickly left the room.
"Dr. Gold, I-I'm sorry.The reason Mrs. F-Forman and I came today was to meet the staff.b-but," She wanted to slap herself across the face or have someone throw a bucket of cold water over her head. To her that image of Eric was much worse than the one behind the dumpster at Club Sapphire. "I need some air. We'll b-be back later."
Donna quickly left the fifth floor opting to run down the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
"How's Eric, honey?" Kitty asked waiting by the exit, nervously thumbing through a newspaper.
Donna couldn't reply she just ran to the car as Kitty trailed behind.
"Stupid traffic lights!" Donna banged on the steering wheel. The only other thing Donna said in the car was that she wanted to go to Eric's apartment to pick up some clothes for him.
"Donna, what happened up there?"
"I really don't want to talk about it, Mrs. Forman," Then Donna thought it was selfish not to tell Kitty, "I'm sorry. I just don't want you to see what I saw. His hands were in restraints."
"Oh my lord." She covered her mouth.
"He spit in my eye, the good one. And he told me he wanted to die. I'm going to go into denial about this any minute now." Donna concentrated on the traffic. Kitty wanted to remember how Eric used to be.
~Kitty's flashback~ 1973
"Eric stop moping! If you aren't going to eat your breakfast you are going to help me with the gutters." Red ordered over his morning paper.
"Leave him alone, Red. Here, honey have some more pancakes." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Thanks, Mom." Eric was so tempted to stick his tongue out at his Father but he bet Red could see through the paper.
"You won't have time to clean the gutters anyway, Red. We have to go shopping today."
"What for?"
"The Pinciotti's invited us to their cabin next weekend," That made Eric drop his fork in his syrup. "And we're going."
"I don't want to go." Red and Eric said in unison.
"Well, too bad we're going!" Kitty laughed as she poured Red another coffee as Eric sulked through his pancakes.
"And why are you the gloomy face, son? Donna will be there and you like her."
"MOM! I don't like her."
"That's it. We're cleaning the gutters now, Eric."
Eric rolled his eyes as he dragged himself outside.
~End flashback~
"This place needs a cleaning!" Kitty said as soon as she walked through the front door.
"I know. I'll be in Eric's room." Used to be 'Our Room' Donna thought.
She closed the door as she knew Kitty would probably lose herself in at least cleaning the kitchen area. She threw herself on Eric's bed and felt something on the sheets. Four viles. One had the cap still on she opened it and poured the powder into her palm. Crushing it between her hands watching it get finer and finer until they were microscopic flecks on the floor. She took the viles and flushed them down the toilet. She took his suitcase out of the closet. He still had the tags on it from all the trips they ever took. Donna opened up his drawer and started packing. At the bottom of the drawer were some pictures not the framed ones that were missing but just some loose ones that didn't make it to any photo albums.
She decided to bring some pictures with the clothes anything that would bring the real Eric Forman back to Earth. Were they really that young at The Hub? She thought she looked terrible in that picture. She remembered having her period that day and felt very chubby. But Eric had her arm around her as if she were the most beautiful person in the room.
"Eric," Donna kissed the picture, "You've got to pull through. You just have to."
A ramble of the Jackie kind
12:00AM
Jackie was able to sneak into Hyde's room as planned when the nurses changed shifts. She took off her shoes so they couldn't hear her click down the hall.
"Hi, Steven. I'm afraid I have some very bad news," She kissed him softly on the lips, "My daughter got sick, nothing serious just the flu, but needless to say I have to go back to New York. So, I've been spending all this time on the phone and packing and closing up the house again. But you can't get rid of me because I'm going to the Queen of the Weekend Flights." Jackie walked towards the window and opened up the blinds to let the moonshine in and continued on talking. "I can't believe how rude Donna was this morning. I suppose she has to justify that drug addicted idiot. Eric is the reason you are here, and I will never, ever forget nor forgive that. We were just starting to connect again, Steven and it was beautiful," Jackie looked out the window resting her head against it. "I love you. You have to know that. I don't want to cry, but I can feel it coming again, because I'm so worried you won't make it. You have to. You were the only true love I ever had," Jackie couldn't help but to go into other topics as if Hyde lying in bed was just like a girlfriend on the phone who couldn't get a word in edgewise. "I hope I remembered to turn off all the lights. I always leave that one on by the back gate. I have so much paperwork to get caught up on at work, but I don't care. I'm rich! I don't need that career for financial reasons. And that's another thing, I'm paying for your care, you didn't have any medical insurance so you don't have to worry about that. I also have to go to a totally boring dinner next week and I don't want to do that. Even if I get to wear my hair up and get a brand new frock," Jackie started walking around the room, "What good is it going to a party if you aren't there with me, Steven? There's a lot of idiots to burn there, let me tell you. Mrs. Pennington would think you are a criminal because of how you look. She's a closet alcoholic who should join Eric in rehab. Remember when you told me a few times that you were envious of that jerk? You had it backwards. He should have been envious of you! Just because Eric went to college, got a job where has to wear a suit, and married a f***ing lumberjack doesn't mean he was a better person. He lost the lumberjack, became an addict, and tried to kill you over drugs. You are the better man, Steven. You were the King of that basement and I love you," She kissed his cheek and walked to the window again. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I think my cell phone batteries are dead. Damn it. I think I'll see the babies before I leave. I like seeing the babies, Steven. But I won't pressure you for a baby. I don't even know if you want to stay in Wisconsin or live in New York with me? I hope you want to live in New York. There's lots to do and that means-shopping! You would love it, there's a music scene that you'd love. It's not my kind of music, but I know it's yours. We can take walks in Central Park and go to dinner at the 21 Club. We can dance on top of the Empire State Building and see the whole City from up there! The view is breath taking. Steven, I'm not cut out to be in Wisconsin, I don't want to be a dairy-babe. Besides, I don't want to pull Tiffany out of school in New York," Jackie picked up a penny that she saw from the moonglow hiding in a corner by the bathroom door, "Look what I found and it's heads so it means good luck,"
Hyde opened his eyes, "J-ackie." He replied in a very weak voice and in his mind he finished the sentence (do you ever stop talking?)
"I think I'll get this penny framed for you.."
"J-ackie." (hello-can you hear me over yourself?)
"OH MY GOD! Steven, is that you talking?" Jackie ran up to him and kissed him on the lips, "You're awake! I'll get the Doctor!" She was so excited she ran out of the room forgetting to put her shoes back on.
Demons in the cage (con't)
After Donna and Kitty dropped off Eric's suitcase and met with the rest of the Highpoint staff, Donna couldn't bring herself to visit Eric for a week as she was physically drained and needed to go back to Chicago with her Father. She literally had nightmares about Eric with his hands in restraints telling her he wanted to die, talking through her not to her, as if it could've been any one in the room. She didn't wake up screaming like a character in a b-movie but she'd sometimes feel herself shiver under the covers. She'd talk on the phone with Kitty who was under immense stress herself as neither her husband or her daughter seemed to care about Eric. Donna also went back to work she needed to occupy her mind, her superior told her she better be back for good this time as she didn't take her full leave of absence before, came back and then left again. Donna was relieved to know that Eric was back on what she called the "normal" floors. Room 156. The staff welcomed family members and friends once they signed in and took a visitors badge to just go up to the rooms without any special announcements or contrived touchy-feely therapy moments. Donna knocked softly, but of course, Eric didn't tell her to come in. She opened the door to find Eric sitting up in bed wearing a blue sweater, black jeans, and socks his head back on the pillow.
"Eric?" Donna asked
He lifted his head up and opened his eyes. "Oh." Was all he said. She tried to take it in stride because he didn't talk to Kitty nor Red (when Kitty could drag him) and the doctor's described his therapy sessions as "listless".
"How are you?"
Silence. It cut through her like a knife in soft butter. She pulled a chair half way to the bed as she didn't want to upset him.
"Fine. You don't have to talk, Eric. I'll just read a magazine, okay?" She felt the "Eric, what the hell?" volcano bubble in her stomach.
All he did for fifteen minutes was blink and stare at the ceiling, although he would've turned on the TV if there was one in the room.
The silence was starting to get to Donna and she stood up, putting the magazine on the chair. She thought should she get in the bed with him like the other time? But the other time was not like this. They were about to build a future together again and she stomped on it, she couldn't help but blame herself as the root cause as the reason why he was in a rehab center to begin with.
She hoped she was doing the right thing as she found the level to fold the bar down. Eric did not budge an inch as she sat next to him. Kiss him? She decided to put her arm around his shoulder, to see If it'd get a positive response, it got nothing it was if he were a marble statue. Rodin's addict.
"I love you, Eric."
Something had to give.Eric broke the gauntlet.
"Go away," he curled himself to the farthest side he could go on the bed without falling off.
Donna kicking herself in the mind got out of the bed and Eric went back to his spot.
"F***ing pity bitch."
And at that moment her inner volcano burst.
"Excuse me, Eric?"
That's when he looked her squarely in the eyes. He wasn't high, was through most of the physical withdrawl, and anything that came out of his mouth could not be airbrushed away with the "He's high, it's not the real Eric." verbiage. Whatever he said he was going to mean.
"Go away." He droned, didn't even look at her when he said it. He stretched his underweight body and pulled the covers to his neck.
"Eric."
"I don't want your pity, Donna." It was the first time he said her name again. He kept his eyes on the ceiling.
"What are you talking about?" 'That's it' she thought 'try to reason with him' it won't work for sh**, but try it anyway.
"Oh grow the f**k up, Donna. Please leave me alone and stop acting like you give a damn about me." Still not looking at her.
"How can I take you seriously when you can't even look me in the eyes?"
Eric tried to jump out of bed, but was still a little weak.
"Okay, Pinciotti. There I'm looking you right in the eyes." Donna was torn between wanting to push him and call him a name with a bunch of swear words thrown in and still wanting love to him to help him through the demons that were in the cage.
"Say it, Eric." But either way she wasn't going to back down.
"You couldn't-wouldn't wear my promise ring," Oh f***ing Christ Donna thought not that again. "Insulting me with Casey Kelso and Hyde.-Our farce of a relationship. Need I go on?"
Donna backed away and put her magazine in her bag.
"Oh, walk away now, who's the coward now? Who's the f***ing coward now? Who's just like her Mother? You are, Donna. So now, I'm supposed to bow to you cause I'm in this place? Now you want me? Because I'm in rehab? Come on. It insults me and it insults you, too. We're divorced remember? Because you wanted it. Our marriage was a complete joke. I wish I started doing Coke sooner maybe I'd be rid of you that much quicker."
"Goodbye, Eric." She put her hand on the doorknob. She felt numb all over.
"Bye!" He replied like an over enthused child.
"Goodbye, forever." She replied.
"And that's supposed to crush me? Look where I am for gods sake. I don't want your f***ing pity rebound love."
"By the way," She turned around for one last look at her former husband and former friend, "I hope this comes to haunt you in therapy. YOU DID
THIS TO MY EYE and YOU ALMOST KILLED HYDE for a bag of Coke. You stole off your sister and you caused all of us much grief and worry on your whereabouts. You ungrateful bastard." Donna forcefully opened the door and slammed it shut. Not caring who heard her. Her face was all red, her nostrils naturally flared as she ran out of the building and to her car.
Eric looked at himself in the mirror and threw himself back in the bed. 'Who's the King?'
Donna went to the only place she could for solace and that was her office. No one was around but she still locked the door and sat down in her chair. She had a City view just like Jackie except hers was the Windy City ---Never in a million years did she picture Eric rejecting her attempts at helping him. She had to make a phone call it was the only right thing to do.
"Hello?" said Kitty
"It's me, Donna, Mrs. Forman and there's something I need to tell you."
(note-This is getting lengthy so I'm going to save Eric's total rehab experience for another separate entry on FF net)
TWO MONTHS LATER Jackie's apartment
Jackie had her head on Hyde's chest listening to his heartbeat, she was very grateful to hear that sound.
"I wish you didn't have to go back, Steven. You can do your job in New York." She whispered.
"I'm going to miss you, too, Jackie. But, you'll be flying in next week." He kissed her head.
"When does your plane leave tomorrow?"
"Nine AM."
"Well then," She smiled deliciously, "We still have all night!" as she threw the covers off her body and onto the floor.
Chicago, IL
"Mr. Forman, Mr. Jenkins will see you now." said a pretty young secretary, giving him a come-hither wink.
After a roller-coaster ride at the fun land known as Highpoint through his counselor Eric was given the opportunity for an entry-level job in a St. Louis marketing firm. He looked good, still about five pounds underweight, and most importantly he was sober and went to his twice a week support group meetings. He was sent to Chicago to meet up with a prospective client over lunch.
"I hope you didn't mind meeting me at the office before lunch."
"That's okay. Hey-I think our meeting was arranged." Something on Jenkins desk caught Eric's eye. He took his car keys out of his pocket and threw them on Jenkins desk.
"I swear they tag us like endangered wildlife." Jenkins replied.
"So if you don't mind me asking what was your vice?"
"You name it, I've done it all, but I've been sober for two and a half years. What about you?"
"Cocaine-I'm still trying to figure out if the all the weed I smoked DECADES before I put anything up my nose other than straws counted?"
"Oh it counts, Eric. It counts." Jenkins threw him back his keys.
When you completed the Highpoint program you were given two smaller than the normal size keys one was red that signified your past life and the other one was green and it represented your life off substances. As each day went by Eric was also starting to feel mentally better.
"Are you paying for lunch?" Eric asked
"We should send the bill to Highpoint!" Jenkins quipped as Eric couldn't help but to laugh, even though they had an alternative approach they were still a rehab center.
40 minutes later
Eric was signing his credit card receipt when he looked over and happened to see Donna at another table having lunch with a man that wasn't him. He was almost transfixed thinking over the possibilities of going over there and telling her he was more than sorry, it was the one wound still open, even Red was getting more accepting that his son had a dependency problem, and Hyde didn't matter anymore. He wanted to run to her, wrap his arms around her and kiss her like she never was kissed before. Eric wanted to make it all right, but maybe you couldn't. Maybe, you had to accept that these things happen in life and you lose people. People you loved with all your heart, people you thought would always be there for you as you would them. Maybe promises and forever was all a dream. Still he could picture her lying next to him on the Vista Cruiser looking at the constellations in the Wisconsin sky, where their future consisted of going to the basement hanging out with their friends. Donna got up to use the ladies room and she saw Eric their eyes locking for a minute, neither one of them wanting to talk and ruin it. 'I'm so sorry for how much I hurt you' was on the tip of Eric's tongue. She seemed emotionless as she went in the restroom entrance.
'I'll always love you, Donna'.
"What's the matter, Eric?" Jenkins came up to snap him out of dreamland. He wasn't sure if Eric was having a craving or not as those can be triggered by pretty much everything.
"Did you know that woman?"
"Once," Eric whispered putting his receipt in his wallet, a gift from Donna, Christmas 1982. "Miss," Eric said to the cashier
"Yes?" She thought he was cute, a little skinny, but nothing that her Mother's home cooking couldn't fix.
Eric opened up his wallet and took out the old crumbled up business card, "I'd like to buy a number 4 and send it to this address tomorrow, you can put it on the card you have on file." He knew what tomorrow's date was, he knew it, before he saw her again.
"Would you like to enclose a card?"
Eric thought about it, "No."
"Sounds like there's a story there."
"There is, but I really don't want to tell it anymore. Come on, did you say you are a Nintendo fan? There's some cool cartridges on sale." Eric knew she was waiting for them to leave upon reentering the room.
"Sure, Eric. Whoever she is must have meant a great deal to you." Jenkins replied as they put their coats on and left the restaurant.
Donna's office
"Thanks, Dad for the necklace. Jeff will pick you up at six thirty because our reservations are for seven. Love you, too. Bye."
Donna thought she had the best staff who decorated her office with balloons, streamers, and banners. Her best writer even baked her a homemade cake and four of the girls were taking her to a strip club before she met up with her new boyfriend and Father.
"It's a busy day for you, Donna, another package arrived for you." Her secretary came in with the plain white box.
"Thanks." Donna smiled. When she left she opened the box and it was two dozen heart shaped chocolate chip cookies.
Donna opened up the tin and took out a cookie, she knew exactly who these were from.
"Thank you, Eric," She let her eyes water, but be damned if she were going to cry. She wanted to tell him she was proud of him for being sober and getting a new job. She knew lying on the sofa with Jeff was a hell of a lot different than being with Eric. But her Dad transitioned Midge with Joanne. She was going to have to do the same. She didn't want to put she was going to have to.
Her phone rang briefly scaring her. It was Jackie. They started talking a month and a half ago. Donna understood that it was Jackie's anger and worry if Hyde was going to make it or not as to why they fought.
"Donna! OHMYGOD! You are never going to believe it!"
"What?"
"Steven asked me to marry him! Isn't that fantastic?!"
Donna swallowed hard. "That's great."
"I want you to be my maid of honor. We had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Forman last night and they're very happy for us. Will you be my maid of honor?"
"Sure." Donna replied. They weren't the ones that were supposed to get married!
"I'll call you with the details as they come in and give me your fax number, too! I have to go. I have to take Tiffany shoe shopping! By the way Donna, Happy Birthday! I hoped you liked my present."
"Yeah. The spa gift certificate. Thanks."
"You're welcome. Bye!"
Donna hung up the phone and as she did she got another call.
"Hi, honey."
"Hi, Jeff."
"What's wrong you don't sound okay?"
"I am. Just a deadline I'm working on." She lied.
"Just phoning to wish you a Happy Birthday and tell you-you are in for a big surprise tonight! And I don't mean dinner, either."
Donna sighed; this wasn't how Eric would have done it. But moving on means to move on. It was better this way.
"Sounds like fun, can't wait."
Eric typed on his keyboard trying not to think of seeing Donna yesterday. He was thankful the urge to stick something illegal up his nose did not come back.
Eric picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello, Eric what do you need?"
"Nothing like that, Dr. I'm fine," Eric knocked on his desk, "Um, I am getting an urge back, but not the urge you think."
LATER THAT NIGHT
Donna twisted her pasta in her fork. This birthday sucked. The strip club sucked. Jackie's news that she was marrying Hyde sucked. She was secretly envious that they were the ones that were getting married. This new boyfriend sucked, he had the personality of cardboard. He was like a grown up Kelso, grown up chronologically only.
The hostess came by with a card.
"Donna Pinciotti?"
"Yes?" She replied tiredly.
The hostess snapped her fingers as a trio of violinists played one of her favorite songs classically.
"Thanks, Dad." She drank her wine
"Wasn't me, sweetie."
"Thanks, Jeff."
"Wasn't me either, sweetie."
A woman came by dressed in a red sequined dress said, "The next part of your present is to come with me."
"Okay." She needed the adventure.
Bob and Jeff were bewildered but stayed at the table as the violinists and the woman in the red dress led Donna to the private room. Rose petals were thrown on the floor and room smelled fragrant and wonderful.
A chair was placed in the center of the room for her.
The candles were lit on all the tables and the violinists changed their tune to the Star Wars theme.
"Long ago in a town far away called Point Place," enter Eric in a tux carrying a dozen long stemmed roses.
"There was a girl named Donna Pinciotti who moved next to the house of the boy named Eric Forman-and they had many ups and downs together. I'd like to think they were mostly ups." He handed her the roses and softly kissed her on the cheek.
"Donna," He got on one knee, "I love you very much and I know I've hurt you and for that I'm very, very sorry. Will you marry me?" He traded in his Trans Am for a Honda so he could buy her the ring she deserved.
"Eric-yes, I will marry you!"
He slipped the ring on her finger. They embraced each other, two lost souls reconnecting. They shared an intense kiss before realizing where they were.
"One thing though."
"Yeah?"
"Tell them to stop playing Star Wars."
"Stop playing like the best movie theme EVER!" They went back to the first song. "Let's dance, Donna."
"I love you, Eric. I love you so much!"
"I love you, too Donna, and words cannot express how much."
"Um, did your Mom tell you about Jackie and Hyde?" She didn't want to think he only proposed because Hyde proposed to Jackie.
"No, why? You know Hyde and I don't speak to each other anymore. I haven't talked Red and Kitty since last week. What's up?" He asked out of sheer curiosity.
"They're getting married."
"Oh, really? Did you think I only proposed----" He let the sentence drop. He wasn't angry, he understood her point of view. A woman wants this day to be special, but in this case the man wanted it to be just as special too.
"A little." She whispered in his shoulder, he smelled so good.
"Hyde did not invent proposing. And I'd have asked you to marry me when I was seven."
"You did! When we played house don't you remember?"
"Is that when Red caught me gluing paper dolls to the TV and he carried me upstairs and yelled about sending me to military school?"
"Yeah," She laughed. "Oh-there's a problem."
"What is it?"
"Jeff is at the table with my Dad."
"We'll just have to take care of this," Eric held Donna's hand as they walked out of the private room.
Eric walked over to the hostesses podium and tapped the microphone with his finger.
"Hello. This is Eric Forman. I asked Donna Pinciotti to marry me and she said 'Yes'!"
The crowd clapped. Bob smiled, looked at Jeff's dumbstruck face and tried to pretend he wasn't smiling.
3AM
"Red! Wake up!!! Wake up!!!"
"What is it, Kitty?"
"There's going to be a wedding!!!"
"I know that," Red grumbled, "Steven and Jackie." Was Kitty getting Alzheimer's? Red thought.
"Not them, well they are getting married-ERIC and DONNA are getting married, too!!! YAY!!!! Oh, we have so much to plan. I'm too excited to sleep, I'm going to start making a list."
"You do that, Kitty, I'll sleep on it." Red put his head back on his pillow and fell back asleep.
When Donna came to work the next day all the staff was gathered by her office,
"What is it?" Donna asked
"Congratulations, Donna! You and Eric made the paper!" Cheers and applause abounded the room as all the girls oohed and awed over her ring.
There was a small article and picture of them at the restaurant. The headline read-A Second Chance At Love. There was no mention of Eric's drug problem as it was no one's business. The paper just thought they were a divorced couple getting back together nothing more.
When they left Donna alone with her thoughts she took out a cookie and called Eric.
"Hi,"
"Hi, Donna. What'cha doing?" He said in his cute gawky way, she missed that something awful.
"We made the paper. I'll scan it for you. How's work going?"
"Donna, I'm worried about something."
"Eric, you wouldn't be Eric if you didn't worry about something what is it?"
"Where are we going to live? I can't ask you to uproot your life and I just got this job in St. Louis that I like, that's tied into my rehab."
"Relax. Deep breaths. We'll work those details out. I hated putting you on that plane today."
"I know. Last night was great!"
"Yes, it was rather nice, wasn't it?"
"Donna, I have to go, My boss is coming down the hall. I love you."
"I love you, too, Eric."
They hung up. Donna looked at the ring. My god, this was quite the rock!
Donna opened up that article that she was typing when her and her Dad were on the way to Point Place.
Eric By Donna Pinciotti
Eric is a wonderful man and a lot of people wouldn't expect me as of late to write that. Although, I don't know why. I love him and a lot of people would turn their heads and gasp, "Why Donna, I thought you hated his guts!" Just because our marriage failed and that was more my fault then his does not mean I don't have feelings towards him. I can barely type without shaking so that is why my Dad has to be driving. I still don't know what's going on. I just know that no one is answering their phones. I was writing something before and I erased it, but I'm not going to erase this. I did not see Eric do drugs. I only heard it from a mutual friend who works at the same company as him-so it really is hearsay. We came of age in the '70s and the only thing we touched was pot and some booze. I haven't had a joint in a long time and I don't want to write about the legalization of marijuana. I just want people to know that there is a difference between that and Cocaine. You would all like Eric if you knew him, sweet and kind. I killed his spirit. This was a guy who drew pictures for me when we were in elementary school, who loved his Mother, and worked part time with his Dad while still in school. I think it's easy to canonize people as soon as you hear about their problems. While Eric is a great guy he has his flaws. He could be a tad sexist, but then not as bad as his Father who in turn probably wasn't as bad as his. Eric would be the last guy you would suspect to develop a cocaine habit. Which is probably why it was enticing to him. I don't know what me and my Dad are going to find when we finally get to Point Place. I'm more scared then I've ever been in my whole life. Even when I got my abortion. Please God, if you exist, please make Eric be okay. We'll all make sure he gets the help he needs. I can see him on Jackie's piano with a candlestick as a microphone singing off-key to me. I was so embarrassed back then. Now I'd love to hear him sing any song. I don't know when or if this will be published, I might just keep this is a diary, but I LOVE
ERIC with all of my heart. Our wedding was so beautiful. His Mother who now thinks I'm the Queen Bitch because I had an affair with Hyde, made me my wedding dress. Eric wore.Interrupted Thought (note-Fan Fiction Thought That Was Actual HTML code. Donna was saving her document)
"I need to start over," So much had happened since Donna wrote that piece. Donna deleted the whole thing and started over.
The Story of Eric and Donna By Donna Pinciotti
Introduction
My name is Donna and I just turned forty years old. age is just number and forty isn't the death sentence that it used to be. I'm engaged to great guy named Eric. We were married once before and what I'm going to write is the most difficult thing I probably ever will write. I'm not writing this for the general public to see, I'm writing it for Eric and I. Eric is a great guy who is overcoming many hurdles every day and I admire him for staying sober. It all started many years ago when I was just a little girl and we moved to a suburb of Wisconsin called Point Place. I made him eat dirt. Eric was the scrawny neighbor boy and I was going to turn into the jolly red giant. Some people thought we were a mismatch. I thought we fit perfectly. A friend in college asked me what could I possibly see in "That Eric"? She said it in a tone and matching facial expression that I could have clocked her over. You know what I saw in "That Eric"? I saw a care and concern that was and still is missing from many guys. Sure, if you put him in a room full of men, the ingrown sexist thoughts could come out from time to time. This didn't make him a bad person it only made him flawed, made him human. What I saw in "That Eric" was the most beautiful man in the whole world. Our highs were high (yes, sometimes literally speaking) and our lows were low. We both made each other symbolically eat dirt over the years. In this book, that will never be published, I hope whoever reads this in the future realizes never give up on your true love. Whether you are a man or a woman. "That Eric" is the sweetest man ever. Don't get me wrong there were times when he was a real bastard. But his sweet side always remains victorious in the end. When you find a guy who wants to lay on the hood of a car with you and look at the moon and the stars. He is heaven on Earth. I love "That Eric" body, mind, spirit, and soul. We were teenagers of the 1970's and there was nothing to do but talk to each other and grow up together. We finally made it. It took us long enough but we finally got to the mountain. We're all all right.~D.P.-1999
THE END.
~Hyde's comatose dream~ 1979 Eric's bedroom
Hyde stood in the doorframe the picture of late '70s cool as he watched Eric pack his suitcase. He and Donna were so busy lately getting ready for college. A part of him envied them, another part of him thought he was finally out of high school he got his diploma and that was good enough if your last name was Hyde. Forman's and Pinciotti's went to colleges and became business people while people like the Hyde's stood in the line for free Government blocks of cheese. He knew he disappointed the Forman's especially Kitty that he didn't apply to any colleges even a junior college but they knew he wasn't college material. Yeah, he was smart, probably smarter than Forman in a great number of ways, but another key factor was wanting to go in the first place and he didn't. He still had his job at the Photohut which for a Hyde was the longest time in a job.
"Hey, Hyde." Eric said as he turned around getting another sweater out of his drawer.
Hyde was about to say something when Donna came in
"Eric, aren't you done packing yet?"
"He's letting Erica out again." Hyde quipped. Somehow feeling different.
"You don't have to bring your whole closet!" Donna rolled her eyes as she closed Eric's suitcase and took it to the car so he couldn't put anymore stuff inside. "I think Eric wants to talk to you about something."
Donna whispered in Hyde's ear as Eric's back was turned.
The room got very cold as Eric turned around grabbing his trophy off the shelf hitting it on his own palms.
"What to do, what to do, what to do-Hyde. These four years with Donna will probably be the happiest of my life-yet she will want you-and abort your baby-Meanwhile resenting me as if I were the bad one in all this. and I think she will tell me because of the abortion she won't be able to have my baby but that's after my stint at a rehab center-Who could imagine Eric Forman strung out on Cocaine? Instead of trying to kill you then maybe I should kill you now? Either way our lives as we know them will be pretty much over."
Eric was about to stab him clear in the heart as Kitty walked in with a tray of milk and cookies.
"Now, Eric, if you are going to kill Steven could you please do it outside and not dirty up my carpet?"
Hyde just stood there waiting to die.
"Can't you even use a rifle you dumbass?!" Red came in with his old Army rifle taking the trophy out of Eric's hands and giving him the gun.
"Eric it took you twenty minutes to pack and you can't even kill Hyde in ten minutes, what am I going to do with you?" Donna asked.
"Ten bucks says he won't!" Kelso came in with Fez
"It's sad that my friends are fighting-but I'll still take that bet." Fez replied as they went to the other side of Eric's room.
"How come no one pays attention to me anymore?" Laurie came in, in a wedding dress and an eighth month pregnancy bump.
Eric clicked the rifle as Jackie burst in carrying flowers in a vase,
"NO! Steven aren't you going to stand up for yourself?"
"If Eric is afraid to do it, I'll kill him myself for what he did to my baby Donna." Bob came in and stood next to his daughter.
"Steven Hyde is one useless mother f***er." Eric said and everyone in the room sans Jackie started chanting it over and over again, a twisted mantra.
"Steven, can't you hear me?" Jackie said squarely in his ear, he didn't move.
"Come on, Eric, we haven't got all day are you going to kill the useless mother f***er or what?" Donna moaned looking at her watch.
"It's been a long, strange trip in teenage wasteland, Hyde."
"NO!" Jackie screamed as she put her body in front of Hyde's to take the bullet for him.
"Jackie!" Hyde put his arms out to catch her and they fell to the floor as she died in his arms.
"I never liked the bitch anyway," Donna raised her fist in the air as everyone else was still chanting, "Come Eric, finish the job." She said
"Anything for you, Donna. Now our lives will be perfect. Say goodnight, Hyde."
Eric clicked the rifle again..Steven Hyde was ready to die.
~End dream~
Jackie sat on the head nurse's chair and sobbed uncontrollably as the janitor cleaned up the broken pieces of vase and flowers.
"Jackie..Jackie." The nurse said. She started to feel close to this young woman she reminded her of when she faced a similar personal experience.
She looked up her face a mess, her head pounding.
"Oh you poor dear." She handed her some tissues from the box next to her computer.
"I can't say it---is he-?" She asked with baited breath.
"No, dear. He started breathing again. It was a quite a miracle."
Jackie stood up, "What?! Really? THANK GOD!"
"Jackie, the next 48 hours are very critical. He's still unconscious. If you'd like to wait in Dr. Reginald's office he'll be in to talk to you in a few moments."
To Jackie they were just words most people would have certainly died under those circumstances, but NOT Steven Hyde he was fighting it. For her? For himself? She wasn't quite sure. If he could breathe, he could open up his eyes, she was certain of that. It was only a matter of time.
She blew a kiss to the closed room door as all of the doctors, nurses, and technicians were gone now.
"I love you, Steven and I know you can hear me." Jackie said as she walked to Dr. Reginald's office.
Donna was ready to curl up and try to fall asleep when there was a light knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," She tied her robe.
It was Kitty who also looked the picture of exhaustion. She closed the door and talked softly.
"I think you lied to your Father and me earlier."
"What?" Donna knew that Mrs. Forman knew what she didn't want everyone to know about. However she slightly hoped that she was wrong about that.
"Red won't talk for some reason but there's no way that you fell. My son did this to you, didn't he?"
"I did fall," Donna whispered back, "After Eric punched me. You of all people should realize that wasn't 'our Eric'. Don't be angry at him for that. He didn't realize his actions. Be happy we found him, that we at least know where he is, and he'll be getting the help he needs. Would you like to come with me tomorrow, Mrs. Forman? We can't visit with him but I wanted to meet some of the staff."
"Yes, I would like that, Donna," She gave her a hug, "Goodnight- and thank you for finding Eric." They never would have found him without her help.
"It was a good thing he left behind his cell phone," Donna replied, "By the way how's Hyde doing?" Donna asked not knowing how Jackie felt about her at the moment.
Kitty sighed, "The same. We'll have to stop at the hospital tomorrow before we go to the---" Kitty did not want to utter the words 'rehab center' but that's where her son was.
"Rehab center. It's not a bad word, Mrs. Forman." Donna reassured.
"Yes, but it's a place I never thought Eric would be in." Although her and Red thought there might have come a time when Steven might have needed a treatment center.
"Neither did I." Donna stifled a yawn.
"Okay, it's time to get you to bed." Kitty had to repress the urge to tuck her in, she missed it so much when Laurie and especially Eric were little.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Forman." Donna said getting in the warm blankets wishing Eric was in the bed with her.
Next day:
Demons in the cage
Donna stood in front of the bathroom mirror and brushed her wet hair, smelling like manufactured strawberries and cream. She thought of a commercial that aired on the college TV station they showed a wine glass and asked the viewer how do they perceive the glass? If you saw it half-full you were optimistic bright, open, and ready for new ideas. If you saw it half-empty you were a pessimist who never wanted to go down the untravelled path and were fearful of new ideas. Was Eric's glass half-full or half-empty? What if he got out of rehab and like so many others (most notably the most famous and loose cannons of the world) relapsed? What if he ended up a tragic footnote to a once promising life? Whose fault would that be? Hers? His? His Father? Donna wanted to see the glass as half-full. She put on a light blue shirt that she got on her local shopping trip. You can't beat the style at the Point Place mini-mall (and that was the actual radio jingle!) Her eye looked terrible. Good, she thought. She didn't want to cover it she wanted Eric to see it to realize just how far he went for the sake of the drug. What he did to her was nothing compared to what he did to Hyde. It's not that she wasn't concerned she was just too busy to call Jackie and her and Kitty were stopping by before going to Highpoint, but that was Kitty's idea if she were by herself she probably wouldn't have gone to the hospital and if that made her a bad person so be it. Eric had to be her main concern. They were adults. Surely, Jackie could understand that. It's not like Jackie was phoning inquiring about Eric. It went both ways. That was both petty and logical at the same time Donna thought as Kitty gently knocked on the door asking her if she was ready.
"Yeah." She wasn't wear to wear much make-up, her name wasn't Jackie, just some earth-toned colored lipstick and she was out the door.
"I got you a tea." The head nurse said to Jackie, she admired her for wanting to stay here for this Steven Hyde person.
"Thank you. You didn't have to.."
"Andrea."
"You didn't have to, Andrea, but thank you." Jackie drank the tea, it was terrible from the vending machine but the gesture was sweet.
Nurse Andrea took a bunch of folders and went down the hall as Donna and Kitty entered.
"Hello, dear, how is Steven doing?" Kitty asked
Jackie was taken aback by Donna's presence and the black eye but almost didn't care considering the lack of communication.
"He almost died last night." Jackie replied matter-of-factly.
"What?" Kitty gasped, Donna didn't know how to reply to that.
"But he's okay, for now," She sighed, "They say the next 48 hours are critical."
"We've all been praying for him." Kitty replied, after that she excused herself to go the ladies room leaving Donna and Jackie alone.
"I'm too drained to fight with you, Donna."
"What?"
"You haven't returned my calls and I don't think you wouldn't be here if Mrs. Forman didn't drag you here first."
"Excuse me, Jackie? I never said I wasn't concerned for Hyde. But I have my own problems."
"Eric." Jackie twisted her face as she said his name.
"Do you have a problem with Eric?"
"Yeah as a matter of fact I do. I won't say it to Mrs. Forman as she's been supportive since day one, but you Donna--!"
"For someone who is too drained to fight you certainly have a lot to say. But hell, if you have something you want to say TO
ME about Eric well you go right ahead."
"It's his fault Steven's in here fighting for his life. He almost died last night, Donna.you were NOT here to hear everyone shouting "Code Blue"-he almost f***ing died! And if he did I swear to you I would personally rip Eric's heart out with my bare hands."
"Stop being melodramatic, Jackie. I'm sorry Hyde almost died- But my priorities lie with Eric and if you can't handle it well that's just too bad. Maybe there was a reason why we weren't in contact for twenty years."
"You know everyone said Steven was the bad one all these years. How about that fight OVER YOU? And Steven got arrested. Who started that one? I think that was Eric, too."
"You know what? This argument is done. Tell Mrs. Forman I'll be in the car."
Donna turned her back on Jackie and walked away.
Kitty could tell something must have happened between Donna and Jackie but did not want to press the issue as they were in the waiting room in for a Dr. Shaw.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Shaw. You must be Donna Pinciotti and Kitty Forman."
They all shook hands as Dr. Shaw went to sit at his desk and took out a manila folder with a green tab on it that was labeled-Forman, Eric
"How's Eric today?" Kitty asked
"I can see by my notes here that we tried calling your house earlier, Mrs.
Forman, but no one answered the phone. I'm afraid I have some bad news."
"What?" Donna was ready to jump out of the chair.
"I apologize for this as I was not aware of what happened last night. There was a new hire who did not have the authorization to deal with admissions. There's a man who has been here four times and he got away from her and hid in the room assigned to Mr. Forman."
"Just say it, Doctor." Donna felt herself feel sick all over as she held Kitty's hand who was about to turn as white as a sheet.
"He had Cocaine on him and decided to share it with Eric before any of us knew what was going on."
"Is that all?" Donna sighed, "I mean, it's terrible, but if he had to get high I'm glad it happened here."
"I'm afraid there's more, Ms. Pinciotti."
Dr Shaw went on to explain that Eric slit one of his wrists with the other guys Swiss Army knife.
"What?!" Donna stood up as Kitty started to cry.
"We had to move him to the fifth floor."
"Is that where you keep the psycho drug addicts?" Donna snapped
"We should sue this place," Kitty said between her tears, "But I'm a retired nurse and I know these unfortunate things can happen, but I'm also that boys Mother and furious as Hell."
"I want to see him. I don't care if it's not allowed. I demand to see Eric." Donna commanded.
Jackie was able to sneak in to Hyde's room when the nurses changed their shifts. She quietly walked up to his bed, she was afraid the slightest noise would kill him. She talked quietly.
"Steven, I have to go for awhile. My friend from work is going to bring my daughter in for a visit, and I miss her so much. I know you'll understand. I'm going to come back around midnight when there's only one nurse on call. I love you," She kissed his cheek, as she walked away, missing the twitch.
"I hope I didn't sound like a bitch," Donna said to Dr Gold as they rode on the elevator together. He was the one who treated her eye when she and Red brought Eric in.
"It's okay. We understand. Although we are more liberal minded compared to other rehab centers we are conservative when it comes to family and close friends seeing their loved ones in states you will be witness to. Are you sure you want to see Eric now, Donna?" He remembered her telling him to call her by her first name.
"Yes, I have to. You say he's all right from last night?"
"Physically, yes."
The door opened and all Donna saw when the elevator opened was a big window and to the right were huge doors and an intercom box and numerical keypad.
Dr. Gold typed in his code and the doors opened. Donna did not want to admit her knees buckled at the harsh sound of them opening.
"He's in room 4, would you like to me to go in with you?"
"No."
"Okay, I'll give you ten minutes."
The ward was remarkably silent as Donna opened up the door. She thought it was useless to knock.
"Eric," she whispered at the sight of seeing his hands in restraints, she was relieved that Kitty was not interested in coming up here even with her medical background he was still her son. It would have killed her to see him like this.
His eyes were closed and Donna didn't know if he was asleep or not. She walked over slowly as if she were in a movie and waiting for the climax. She held onto the bars on the bed.
"Eric," she bent over and softly brushed the hair out of his face, "We are all worried about you."
That's when something wet hit her in the good eye. She couldn't believe it. He spit in her eye. She stood back shocked, as soon as it happened it was over with.
She turned around to leave as only two minutes went by.
Chills went up her spine when she heard Eric's faint voice.
"All I want is to die."
She turned around and there was Eric head on pillow, not moving. She quickly left the room.
"Dr. Gold, I-I'm sorry.The reason Mrs. F-Forman and I came today was to meet the staff.b-but," She wanted to slap herself across the face or have someone throw a bucket of cold water over her head. To her that image of Eric was much worse than the one behind the dumpster at Club Sapphire. "I need some air. We'll b-be back later."
Donna quickly left the fifth floor opting to run down the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
"How's Eric, honey?" Kitty asked waiting by the exit, nervously thumbing through a newspaper.
Donna couldn't reply she just ran to the car as Kitty trailed behind.
"Stupid traffic lights!" Donna banged on the steering wheel. The only other thing Donna said in the car was that she wanted to go to Eric's apartment to pick up some clothes for him.
"Donna, what happened up there?"
"I really don't want to talk about it, Mrs. Forman," Then Donna thought it was selfish not to tell Kitty, "I'm sorry. I just don't want you to see what I saw. His hands were in restraints."
"Oh my lord." She covered her mouth.
"He spit in my eye, the good one. And he told me he wanted to die. I'm going to go into denial about this any minute now." Donna concentrated on the traffic. Kitty wanted to remember how Eric used to be.
~Kitty's flashback~ 1973
"Eric stop moping! If you aren't going to eat your breakfast you are going to help me with the gutters." Red ordered over his morning paper.
"Leave him alone, Red. Here, honey have some more pancakes." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Thanks, Mom." Eric was so tempted to stick his tongue out at his Father but he bet Red could see through the paper.
"You won't have time to clean the gutters anyway, Red. We have to go shopping today."
"What for?"
"The Pinciotti's invited us to their cabin next weekend," That made Eric drop his fork in his syrup. "And we're going."
"I don't want to go." Red and Eric said in unison.
"Well, too bad we're going!" Kitty laughed as she poured Red another coffee as Eric sulked through his pancakes.
"And why are you the gloomy face, son? Donna will be there and you like her."
"MOM! I don't like her."
"That's it. We're cleaning the gutters now, Eric."
Eric rolled his eyes as he dragged himself outside.
~End flashback~
"This place needs a cleaning!" Kitty said as soon as she walked through the front door.
"I know. I'll be in Eric's room." Used to be 'Our Room' Donna thought.
She closed the door as she knew Kitty would probably lose herself in at least cleaning the kitchen area. She threw herself on Eric's bed and felt something on the sheets. Four viles. One had the cap still on she opened it and poured the powder into her palm. Crushing it between her hands watching it get finer and finer until they were microscopic flecks on the floor. She took the viles and flushed them down the toilet. She took his suitcase out of the closet. He still had the tags on it from all the trips they ever took. Donna opened up his drawer and started packing. At the bottom of the drawer were some pictures not the framed ones that were missing but just some loose ones that didn't make it to any photo albums.
She decided to bring some pictures with the clothes anything that would bring the real Eric Forman back to Earth. Were they really that young at The Hub? She thought she looked terrible in that picture. She remembered having her period that day and felt very chubby. But Eric had her arm around her as if she were the most beautiful person in the room.
"Eric," Donna kissed the picture, "You've got to pull through. You just have to."
A ramble of the Jackie kind
12:00AM
Jackie was able to sneak into Hyde's room as planned when the nurses changed shifts. She took off her shoes so they couldn't hear her click down the hall.
"Hi, Steven. I'm afraid I have some very bad news," She kissed him softly on the lips, "My daughter got sick, nothing serious just the flu, but needless to say I have to go back to New York. So, I've been spending all this time on the phone and packing and closing up the house again. But you can't get rid of me because I'm going to the Queen of the Weekend Flights." Jackie walked towards the window and opened up the blinds to let the moonshine in and continued on talking. "I can't believe how rude Donna was this morning. I suppose she has to justify that drug addicted idiot. Eric is the reason you are here, and I will never, ever forget nor forgive that. We were just starting to connect again, Steven and it was beautiful," Jackie looked out the window resting her head against it. "I love you. You have to know that. I don't want to cry, but I can feel it coming again, because I'm so worried you won't make it. You have to. You were the only true love I ever had," Jackie couldn't help but to go into other topics as if Hyde lying in bed was just like a girlfriend on the phone who couldn't get a word in edgewise. "I hope I remembered to turn off all the lights. I always leave that one on by the back gate. I have so much paperwork to get caught up on at work, but I don't care. I'm rich! I don't need that career for financial reasons. And that's another thing, I'm paying for your care, you didn't have any medical insurance so you don't have to worry about that. I also have to go to a totally boring dinner next week and I don't want to do that. Even if I get to wear my hair up and get a brand new frock," Jackie started walking around the room, "What good is it going to a party if you aren't there with me, Steven? There's a lot of idiots to burn there, let me tell you. Mrs. Pennington would think you are a criminal because of how you look. She's a closet alcoholic who should join Eric in rehab. Remember when you told me a few times that you were envious of that jerk? You had it backwards. He should have been envious of you! Just because Eric went to college, got a job where has to wear a suit, and married a f***ing lumberjack doesn't mean he was a better person. He lost the lumberjack, became an addict, and tried to kill you over drugs. You are the better man, Steven. You were the King of that basement and I love you," She kissed his cheek and walked to the window again. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I think my cell phone batteries are dead. Damn it. I think I'll see the babies before I leave. I like seeing the babies, Steven. But I won't pressure you for a baby. I don't even know if you want to stay in Wisconsin or live in New York with me? I hope you want to live in New York. There's lots to do and that means-shopping! You would love it, there's a music scene that you'd love. It's not my kind of music, but I know it's yours. We can take walks in Central Park and go to dinner at the 21 Club. We can dance on top of the Empire State Building and see the whole City from up there! The view is breath taking. Steven, I'm not cut out to be in Wisconsin, I don't want to be a dairy-babe. Besides, I don't want to pull Tiffany out of school in New York," Jackie picked up a penny that she saw from the moonglow hiding in a corner by the bathroom door, "Look what I found and it's heads so it means good luck,"
Hyde opened his eyes, "J-ackie." He replied in a very weak voice and in his mind he finished the sentence (do you ever stop talking?)
"I think I'll get this penny framed for you.."
"J-ackie." (hello-can you hear me over yourself?)
"OH MY GOD! Steven, is that you talking?" Jackie ran up to him and kissed him on the lips, "You're awake! I'll get the Doctor!" She was so excited she ran out of the room forgetting to put her shoes back on.
Demons in the cage (con't)
After Donna and Kitty dropped off Eric's suitcase and met with the rest of the Highpoint staff, Donna couldn't bring herself to visit Eric for a week as she was physically drained and needed to go back to Chicago with her Father. She literally had nightmares about Eric with his hands in restraints telling her he wanted to die, talking through her not to her, as if it could've been any one in the room. She didn't wake up screaming like a character in a b-movie but she'd sometimes feel herself shiver under the covers. She'd talk on the phone with Kitty who was under immense stress herself as neither her husband or her daughter seemed to care about Eric. Donna also went back to work she needed to occupy her mind, her superior told her she better be back for good this time as she didn't take her full leave of absence before, came back and then left again. Donna was relieved to know that Eric was back on what she called the "normal" floors. Room 156. The staff welcomed family members and friends once they signed in and took a visitors badge to just go up to the rooms without any special announcements or contrived touchy-feely therapy moments. Donna knocked softly, but of course, Eric didn't tell her to come in. She opened the door to find Eric sitting up in bed wearing a blue sweater, black jeans, and socks his head back on the pillow.
"Eric?" Donna asked
He lifted his head up and opened his eyes. "Oh." Was all he said. She tried to take it in stride because he didn't talk to Kitty nor Red (when Kitty could drag him) and the doctor's described his therapy sessions as "listless".
"How are you?"
Silence. It cut through her like a knife in soft butter. She pulled a chair half way to the bed as she didn't want to upset him.
"Fine. You don't have to talk, Eric. I'll just read a magazine, okay?" She felt the "Eric, what the hell?" volcano bubble in her stomach.
All he did for fifteen minutes was blink and stare at the ceiling, although he would've turned on the TV if there was one in the room.
The silence was starting to get to Donna and she stood up, putting the magazine on the chair. She thought should she get in the bed with him like the other time? But the other time was not like this. They were about to build a future together again and she stomped on it, she couldn't help but blame herself as the root cause as the reason why he was in a rehab center to begin with.
She hoped she was doing the right thing as she found the level to fold the bar down. Eric did not budge an inch as she sat next to him. Kiss him? She decided to put her arm around his shoulder, to see If it'd get a positive response, it got nothing it was if he were a marble statue. Rodin's addict.
"I love you, Eric."
Something had to give.Eric broke the gauntlet.
"Go away," he curled himself to the farthest side he could go on the bed without falling off.
Donna kicking herself in the mind got out of the bed and Eric went back to his spot.
"F***ing pity bitch."
And at that moment her inner volcano burst.
"Excuse me, Eric?"
That's when he looked her squarely in the eyes. He wasn't high, was through most of the physical withdrawl, and anything that came out of his mouth could not be airbrushed away with the "He's high, it's not the real Eric." verbiage. Whatever he said he was going to mean.
"Go away." He droned, didn't even look at her when he said it. He stretched his underweight body and pulled the covers to his neck.
"Eric."
"I don't want your pity, Donna." It was the first time he said her name again. He kept his eyes on the ceiling.
"What are you talking about?" 'That's it' she thought 'try to reason with him' it won't work for sh**, but try it anyway.
"Oh grow the f**k up, Donna. Please leave me alone and stop acting like you give a damn about me." Still not looking at her.
"How can I take you seriously when you can't even look me in the eyes?"
Eric tried to jump out of bed, but was still a little weak.
"Okay, Pinciotti. There I'm looking you right in the eyes." Donna was torn between wanting to push him and call him a name with a bunch of swear words thrown in and still wanting love to him to help him through the demons that were in the cage.
"Say it, Eric." But either way she wasn't going to back down.
"You couldn't-wouldn't wear my promise ring," Oh f***ing Christ Donna thought not that again. "Insulting me with Casey Kelso and Hyde.-Our farce of a relationship. Need I go on?"
Donna backed away and put her magazine in her bag.
"Oh, walk away now, who's the coward now? Who's the f***ing coward now? Who's just like her Mother? You are, Donna. So now, I'm supposed to bow to you cause I'm in this place? Now you want me? Because I'm in rehab? Come on. It insults me and it insults you, too. We're divorced remember? Because you wanted it. Our marriage was a complete joke. I wish I started doing Coke sooner maybe I'd be rid of you that much quicker."
"Goodbye, Eric." She put her hand on the doorknob. She felt numb all over.
"Bye!" He replied like an over enthused child.
"Goodbye, forever." She replied.
"And that's supposed to crush me? Look where I am for gods sake. I don't want your f***ing pity rebound love."
"By the way," She turned around for one last look at her former husband and former friend, "I hope this comes to haunt you in therapy. YOU DID
THIS TO MY EYE and YOU ALMOST KILLED HYDE for a bag of Coke. You stole off your sister and you caused all of us much grief and worry on your whereabouts. You ungrateful bastard." Donna forcefully opened the door and slammed it shut. Not caring who heard her. Her face was all red, her nostrils naturally flared as she ran out of the building and to her car.
Eric looked at himself in the mirror and threw himself back in the bed. 'Who's the King?'
Donna went to the only place she could for solace and that was her office. No one was around but she still locked the door and sat down in her chair. She had a City view just like Jackie except hers was the Windy City ---Never in a million years did she picture Eric rejecting her attempts at helping him. She had to make a phone call it was the only right thing to do.
"Hello?" said Kitty
"It's me, Donna, Mrs. Forman and there's something I need to tell you."
(note-This is getting lengthy so I'm going to save Eric's total rehab experience for another separate entry on FF net)
TWO MONTHS LATER Jackie's apartment
Jackie had her head on Hyde's chest listening to his heartbeat, she was very grateful to hear that sound.
"I wish you didn't have to go back, Steven. You can do your job in New York." She whispered.
"I'm going to miss you, too, Jackie. But, you'll be flying in next week." He kissed her head.
"When does your plane leave tomorrow?"
"Nine AM."
"Well then," She smiled deliciously, "We still have all night!" as she threw the covers off her body and onto the floor.
Chicago, IL
"Mr. Forman, Mr. Jenkins will see you now." said a pretty young secretary, giving him a come-hither wink.
After a roller-coaster ride at the fun land known as Highpoint through his counselor Eric was given the opportunity for an entry-level job in a St. Louis marketing firm. He looked good, still about five pounds underweight, and most importantly he was sober and went to his twice a week support group meetings. He was sent to Chicago to meet up with a prospective client over lunch.
"I hope you didn't mind meeting me at the office before lunch."
"That's okay. Hey-I think our meeting was arranged." Something on Jenkins desk caught Eric's eye. He took his car keys out of his pocket and threw them on Jenkins desk.
"I swear they tag us like endangered wildlife." Jenkins replied.
"So if you don't mind me asking what was your vice?"
"You name it, I've done it all, but I've been sober for two and a half years. What about you?"
"Cocaine-I'm still trying to figure out if the all the weed I smoked DECADES before I put anything up my nose other than straws counted?"
"Oh it counts, Eric. It counts." Jenkins threw him back his keys.
When you completed the Highpoint program you were given two smaller than the normal size keys one was red that signified your past life and the other one was green and it represented your life off substances. As each day went by Eric was also starting to feel mentally better.
"Are you paying for lunch?" Eric asked
"We should send the bill to Highpoint!" Jenkins quipped as Eric couldn't help but to laugh, even though they had an alternative approach they were still a rehab center.
40 minutes later
Eric was signing his credit card receipt when he looked over and happened to see Donna at another table having lunch with a man that wasn't him. He was almost transfixed thinking over the possibilities of going over there and telling her he was more than sorry, it was the one wound still open, even Red was getting more accepting that his son had a dependency problem, and Hyde didn't matter anymore. He wanted to run to her, wrap his arms around her and kiss her like she never was kissed before. Eric wanted to make it all right, but maybe you couldn't. Maybe, you had to accept that these things happen in life and you lose people. People you loved with all your heart, people you thought would always be there for you as you would them. Maybe promises and forever was all a dream. Still he could picture her lying next to him on the Vista Cruiser looking at the constellations in the Wisconsin sky, where their future consisted of going to the basement hanging out with their friends. Donna got up to use the ladies room and she saw Eric their eyes locking for a minute, neither one of them wanting to talk and ruin it. 'I'm so sorry for how much I hurt you' was on the tip of Eric's tongue. She seemed emotionless as she went in the restroom entrance.
'I'll always love you, Donna'.
"What's the matter, Eric?" Jenkins came up to snap him out of dreamland. He wasn't sure if Eric was having a craving or not as those can be triggered by pretty much everything.
"Did you know that woman?"
"Once," Eric whispered putting his receipt in his wallet, a gift from Donna, Christmas 1982. "Miss," Eric said to the cashier
"Yes?" She thought he was cute, a little skinny, but nothing that her Mother's home cooking couldn't fix.
Eric opened up his wallet and took out the old crumbled up business card, "I'd like to buy a number 4 and send it to this address tomorrow, you can put it on the card you have on file." He knew what tomorrow's date was, he knew it, before he saw her again.
"Would you like to enclose a card?"
Eric thought about it, "No."
"Sounds like there's a story there."
"There is, but I really don't want to tell it anymore. Come on, did you say you are a Nintendo fan? There's some cool cartridges on sale." Eric knew she was waiting for them to leave upon reentering the room.
"Sure, Eric. Whoever she is must have meant a great deal to you." Jenkins replied as they put their coats on and left the restaurant.
Donna's office
"Thanks, Dad for the necklace. Jeff will pick you up at six thirty because our reservations are for seven. Love you, too. Bye."
Donna thought she had the best staff who decorated her office with balloons, streamers, and banners. Her best writer even baked her a homemade cake and four of the girls were taking her to a strip club before she met up with her new boyfriend and Father.
"It's a busy day for you, Donna, another package arrived for you." Her secretary came in with the plain white box.
"Thanks." Donna smiled. When she left she opened the box and it was two dozen heart shaped chocolate chip cookies.
Donna opened up the tin and took out a cookie, she knew exactly who these were from.
"Thank you, Eric," She let her eyes water, but be damned if she were going to cry. She wanted to tell him she was proud of him for being sober and getting a new job. She knew lying on the sofa with Jeff was a hell of a lot different than being with Eric. But her Dad transitioned Midge with Joanne. She was going to have to do the same. She didn't want to put she was going to have to.
Her phone rang briefly scaring her. It was Jackie. They started talking a month and a half ago. Donna understood that it was Jackie's anger and worry if Hyde was going to make it or not as to why they fought.
"Donna! OHMYGOD! You are never going to believe it!"
"What?"
"Steven asked me to marry him! Isn't that fantastic?!"
Donna swallowed hard. "That's great."
"I want you to be my maid of honor. We had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Forman last night and they're very happy for us. Will you be my maid of honor?"
"Sure." Donna replied. They weren't the ones that were supposed to get married!
"I'll call you with the details as they come in and give me your fax number, too! I have to go. I have to take Tiffany shoe shopping! By the way Donna, Happy Birthday! I hoped you liked my present."
"Yeah. The spa gift certificate. Thanks."
"You're welcome. Bye!"
Donna hung up the phone and as she did she got another call.
"Hi, honey."
"Hi, Jeff."
"What's wrong you don't sound okay?"
"I am. Just a deadline I'm working on." She lied.
"Just phoning to wish you a Happy Birthday and tell you-you are in for a big surprise tonight! And I don't mean dinner, either."
Donna sighed; this wasn't how Eric would have done it. But moving on means to move on. It was better this way.
"Sounds like fun, can't wait."
Eric typed on his keyboard trying not to think of seeing Donna yesterday. He was thankful the urge to stick something illegal up his nose did not come back.
Eric picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello, Eric what do you need?"
"Nothing like that, Dr. I'm fine," Eric knocked on his desk, "Um, I am getting an urge back, but not the urge you think."
LATER THAT NIGHT
Donna twisted her pasta in her fork. This birthday sucked. The strip club sucked. Jackie's news that she was marrying Hyde sucked. She was secretly envious that they were the ones that were getting married. This new boyfriend sucked, he had the personality of cardboard. He was like a grown up Kelso, grown up chronologically only.
The hostess came by with a card.
"Donna Pinciotti?"
"Yes?" She replied tiredly.
The hostess snapped her fingers as a trio of violinists played one of her favorite songs classically.
"Thanks, Dad." She drank her wine
"Wasn't me, sweetie."
"Thanks, Jeff."
"Wasn't me either, sweetie."
A woman came by dressed in a red sequined dress said, "The next part of your present is to come with me."
"Okay." She needed the adventure.
Bob and Jeff were bewildered but stayed at the table as the violinists and the woman in the red dress led Donna to the private room. Rose petals were thrown on the floor and room smelled fragrant and wonderful.
A chair was placed in the center of the room for her.
The candles were lit on all the tables and the violinists changed their tune to the Star Wars theme.
"Long ago in a town far away called Point Place," enter Eric in a tux carrying a dozen long stemmed roses.
"There was a girl named Donna Pinciotti who moved next to the house of the boy named Eric Forman-and they had many ups and downs together. I'd like to think they were mostly ups." He handed her the roses and softly kissed her on the cheek.
"Donna," He got on one knee, "I love you very much and I know I've hurt you and for that I'm very, very sorry. Will you marry me?" He traded in his Trans Am for a Honda so he could buy her the ring she deserved.
"Eric-yes, I will marry you!"
He slipped the ring on her finger. They embraced each other, two lost souls reconnecting. They shared an intense kiss before realizing where they were.
"One thing though."
"Yeah?"
"Tell them to stop playing Star Wars."
"Stop playing like the best movie theme EVER!" They went back to the first song. "Let's dance, Donna."
"I love you, Eric. I love you so much!"
"I love you, too Donna, and words cannot express how much."
"Um, did your Mom tell you about Jackie and Hyde?" She didn't want to think he only proposed because Hyde proposed to Jackie.
"No, why? You know Hyde and I don't speak to each other anymore. I haven't talked Red and Kitty since last week. What's up?" He asked out of sheer curiosity.
"They're getting married."
"Oh, really? Did you think I only proposed----" He let the sentence drop. He wasn't angry, he understood her point of view. A woman wants this day to be special, but in this case the man wanted it to be just as special too.
"A little." She whispered in his shoulder, he smelled so good.
"Hyde did not invent proposing. And I'd have asked you to marry me when I was seven."
"You did! When we played house don't you remember?"
"Is that when Red caught me gluing paper dolls to the TV and he carried me upstairs and yelled about sending me to military school?"
"Yeah," She laughed. "Oh-there's a problem."
"What is it?"
"Jeff is at the table with my Dad."
"We'll just have to take care of this," Eric held Donna's hand as they walked out of the private room.
Eric walked over to the hostesses podium and tapped the microphone with his finger.
"Hello. This is Eric Forman. I asked Donna Pinciotti to marry me and she said 'Yes'!"
The crowd clapped. Bob smiled, looked at Jeff's dumbstruck face and tried to pretend he wasn't smiling.
3AM
"Red! Wake up!!! Wake up!!!"
"What is it, Kitty?"
"There's going to be a wedding!!!"
"I know that," Red grumbled, "Steven and Jackie." Was Kitty getting Alzheimer's? Red thought.
"Not them, well they are getting married-ERIC and DONNA are getting married, too!!! YAY!!!! Oh, we have so much to plan. I'm too excited to sleep, I'm going to start making a list."
"You do that, Kitty, I'll sleep on it." Red put his head back on his pillow and fell back asleep.
When Donna came to work the next day all the staff was gathered by her office,
"What is it?" Donna asked
"Congratulations, Donna! You and Eric made the paper!" Cheers and applause abounded the room as all the girls oohed and awed over her ring.
There was a small article and picture of them at the restaurant. The headline read-A Second Chance At Love. There was no mention of Eric's drug problem as it was no one's business. The paper just thought they were a divorced couple getting back together nothing more.
When they left Donna alone with her thoughts she took out a cookie and called Eric.
"Hi,"
"Hi, Donna. What'cha doing?" He said in his cute gawky way, she missed that something awful.
"We made the paper. I'll scan it for you. How's work going?"
"Donna, I'm worried about something."
"Eric, you wouldn't be Eric if you didn't worry about something what is it?"
"Where are we going to live? I can't ask you to uproot your life and I just got this job in St. Louis that I like, that's tied into my rehab."
"Relax. Deep breaths. We'll work those details out. I hated putting you on that plane today."
"I know. Last night was great!"
"Yes, it was rather nice, wasn't it?"
"Donna, I have to go, My boss is coming down the hall. I love you."
"I love you, too, Eric."
They hung up. Donna looked at the ring. My god, this was quite the rock!
Donna opened up that article that she was typing when her and her Dad were on the way to Point Place.
Eric By Donna Pinciotti
Eric is a wonderful man and a lot of people wouldn't expect me as of late to write that. Although, I don't know why. I love him and a lot of people would turn their heads and gasp, "Why Donna, I thought you hated his guts!" Just because our marriage failed and that was more my fault then his does not mean I don't have feelings towards him. I can barely type without shaking so that is why my Dad has to be driving. I still don't know what's going on. I just know that no one is answering their phones. I was writing something before and I erased it, but I'm not going to erase this. I did not see Eric do drugs. I only heard it from a mutual friend who works at the same company as him-so it really is hearsay. We came of age in the '70s and the only thing we touched was pot and some booze. I haven't had a joint in a long time and I don't want to write about the legalization of marijuana. I just want people to know that there is a difference between that and Cocaine. You would all like Eric if you knew him, sweet and kind. I killed his spirit. This was a guy who drew pictures for me when we were in elementary school, who loved his Mother, and worked part time with his Dad while still in school. I think it's easy to canonize people as soon as you hear about their problems. While Eric is a great guy he has his flaws. He could be a tad sexist, but then not as bad as his Father who in turn probably wasn't as bad as his. Eric would be the last guy you would suspect to develop a cocaine habit. Which is probably why it was enticing to him. I don't know what me and my Dad are going to find when we finally get to Point Place. I'm more scared then I've ever been in my whole life. Even when I got my abortion. Please God, if you exist, please make Eric be okay. We'll all make sure he gets the help he needs. I can see him on Jackie's piano with a candlestick as a microphone singing off-key to me. I was so embarrassed back then. Now I'd love to hear him sing any song. I don't know when or if this will be published, I might just keep this is a diary, but I LOVE
ERIC with all of my heart. Our wedding was so beautiful. His Mother who now thinks I'm the Queen Bitch because I had an affair with Hyde, made me my wedding dress. Eric wore.Interrupted Thought (note-Fan Fiction Thought That Was Actual HTML code. Donna was saving her document)
"I need to start over," So much had happened since Donna wrote that piece. Donna deleted the whole thing and started over.
The Story of Eric and Donna By Donna Pinciotti
Introduction
My name is Donna and I just turned forty years old. age is just number and forty isn't the death sentence that it used to be. I'm engaged to great guy named Eric. We were married once before and what I'm going to write is the most difficult thing I probably ever will write. I'm not writing this for the general public to see, I'm writing it for Eric and I. Eric is a great guy who is overcoming many hurdles every day and I admire him for staying sober. It all started many years ago when I was just a little girl and we moved to a suburb of Wisconsin called Point Place. I made him eat dirt. Eric was the scrawny neighbor boy and I was going to turn into the jolly red giant. Some people thought we were a mismatch. I thought we fit perfectly. A friend in college asked me what could I possibly see in "That Eric"? She said it in a tone and matching facial expression that I could have clocked her over. You know what I saw in "That Eric"? I saw a care and concern that was and still is missing from many guys. Sure, if you put him in a room full of men, the ingrown sexist thoughts could come out from time to time. This didn't make him a bad person it only made him flawed, made him human. What I saw in "That Eric" was the most beautiful man in the whole world. Our highs were high (yes, sometimes literally speaking) and our lows were low. We both made each other symbolically eat dirt over the years. In this book, that will never be published, I hope whoever reads this in the future realizes never give up on your true love. Whether you are a man or a woman. "That Eric" is the sweetest man ever. Don't get me wrong there were times when he was a real bastard. But his sweet side always remains victorious in the end. When you find a guy who wants to lay on the hood of a car with you and look at the moon and the stars. He is heaven on Earth. I love "That Eric" body, mind, spirit, and soul. We were teenagers of the 1970's and there was nothing to do but talk to each other and grow up together. We finally made it. It took us long enough but we finally got to the mountain. We're all all right.~D.P.-1999
THE END.