Forbidden Kiss Chapter 13: The Circle Game, a that '70s show fanfic

Chapter 13

The Circle Game

Bonded

It was the wee hours of the morning of March 20, 2016 when Hannah woke up, still dressed her field hockey uniform, school colors blue and gold, Hyde #7 on the back, the clock on read 2:45 in big red numbers. Her eyes started to water. 'No-'. She jumped out of her bed and ran to her parent's room. She didn't knock on the door; she just opened the door and turned on the light.

"H-Hannah," Jackie rubbed her eyes," What's wrong?"

"It's Hunter! He's in trouble!"

The telephone rang before either Jackie or Hyde could respond. The date was March 20, 2016.

Megan woke up freezing cold and shaking at around a quarter to three in the morning. She put her hearing aid in and her glasses on. Something WASN'T right. She felt like she was the only person in the house. She picked up her picture of herself and Hunter off her end table. It was from the Thanksgiving dance last year, Jackie had it matted and framed for her and mailed it to her a month ago. She kissed his sweet face and put it back on her table. She got into her wheelchair, which was always fun to do when you were groggy but she made it and headed up the ramp. No one was in the kitchen. Her Mother never moved to the guest room and was back in the master bedroom as of New Year's Day. They didn't talk about the in house separation and Megan never did get to have that serious talk with her Father about her Mother, but it all seemed like a moot point now. She wheeled herself to the telephone and picked it up and then she put it back down. Not two seconds later she picked up the telephone again and dialed her Father's cell phone; she didn't feel like wheeling herself up the ramp.

"H—hello?" Eric asked half-asleep

"It's Megan from downstairs. Will you keep me company, Daddy? Don't wake up, Mom."

"Okay, lollipop. I'll be down in a few minutes."

If his daughter needed him, he'd always be there for her.

"Thanks, Dad."

Megan picked up the phone and dialed Hunter's cell phone. 'That's strange' she thought, as she got a pre recorded error message from the phone provider saying she couldn't be connected to that number. "Hunter—" Megan whispered as she hung up the phone.

"What's the matter, Megan?" Eric came downstairs in his Green Bay Packers sweatshirt and jogging pants that he had to put on at the last minute because he must have been good to have been rewarded with sex with his Wife.

"Hunter-Dad, I need a hug, I'm scared." Megan tried not to cry in her Father's shoulder.

They got the phone call at 3:15AM

NYC

Tiffany sometimes would have normal bouts of insomnia and hated being in bed if she couldn't sleep so she would use the time to wallpaper her bathroom. There was no sense in going to bed, as she had to get ready for school soon anyway. It was cool to take the subway in her Columbia sweatshirt and jeans; she didn't look like 'the typical rich kid' with her hair in a ponytail, and her Nikes. She supposed she had her Father-no he was her Dad-Steven Hyde to thank for that. But she had to get this apartment back and the moment she turned eighteen, it seemed to be a matter of fate because the single couple who had bought the place when they moved out, hardly ever used it as the Husband worked for a bank conglomerate in Zurich, Switzerland and they didn't change the décor or anything. Tiffany made a polite offer and they took it. She was grateful that they didn't sublet the place. She had her apartment back and was happy. She loved living in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Her phone rang and she didn't get off the stepladder at first thinking if it was that d***wad Craig then it could ring off the hook for all she cared. But the rings wouldn't stop. She put the wallpaper square down and jumped off the ladder. The caller ID said—Hyde, Jackie

"Mother, what's wrong?"

"It's not Mom, it's me," Hannah was on the other end and she was crying, "You have to come home right away. I'm going to be si-ck—" Hannah dropped the phone and ran off.

"Hannah? Are you still there?!" Tiffany hung up the phone and ran to her room to pack a small suitcase and hail a taxi to JFK.

"Did she eat or drink for you, Eric?" Donna asked as she brushed her hair.

"No."

He threw his clothes in his suitcase. It tore at him to know that his daughter was in immense pain.

"She knows she has to keep HER strength up."

"I'm going to try to get her to drink some orange juice before we go to the airport." Eric tried to stay on autopilot.

"Poor thing," Donna sighed as she went over to Eric to fix his sweater that was half in and half out of his jeans, "Can you finish packing for the both of us? I'm going to go down there and try to make Megan something for breakfast."

"She won't eat it." Eric replied softly when Donna left the room.

~Flashback to March 19, 2016~

11PM Caroline's Diner

Hunter wiped the sweat off his forehead with his arm. Even in the cold months this kitchen always felt like Calcutta in July. He asked his parents since tomorrow was Sunday if he could stay later and work a few extra hours. Jackie was hesitant but Hyde said he could "since the 20th was on a Sunday." He saw the perfect ring for Megan. It was a white gold band with a two karat round solitaire and two baguettes on each side. He was going to sleep in a bit once his shift was over and then go the jewelry store in the mall to put it on layaway. They hadn't been together since the Christmas/New Year's holidays. Their phone calls and Instant Messages were all they had to let each other know how much they missed each other.

"How long are you staying, Thomas?" Hunter asked

He liked working nights, the big boss Mr. Walters wasn't in and they didn't have to listen to the cr*** AM radio feed.

"Until one." his best guy friend replied

"Well, I'll only have one hour by myself and waitress Suzette."

She was a pompous little waif who only took the job as part of her performance art course at one of the local community colleges.

"I feel sorry for you, man." Thomas said, he was the bus boy and Hunter was the dishwasher.

"I'll be okay as long as you stop giving me dishes to wash!"

"Isn't that why you're here?"

All Hunter had to do was stack the dishes and pots in this big silver square and pull the handle down and this even bigger silver box came down on top of the square and washed the dishes automatically for two minutes. But sometimes he had to scrub the soup containers because the automatic dishwasher didn't get all the gunk out especially when the soup of the day was New England clam chowder.

"Don't remind me. I wish this was the Fotohut." His Father was the King of Slacking Off and still got paid for his "work" back in his youthful day.

"What?"

"Never mind." Hunter smiled; he couldn't wait to go the jewelry store tomorrow to put Megan's engagement ring on layaway.

2:30AM

Hunter took his apron off and threw it on the counter. He had to stay an extra half hour because the dishwasher who was supposed to take over for him was late getting to the diner on time. He punched out on the time clock and headed to his car. Hunter Hyde finally had a car, (sort of) he only had a learner's permit, but he was able to borrow his Mother's candy apple red Mercedes. The driver's side airbag was broken and needed to be fixed, but no one gave it a second thought. It wasn't his type of car, but it got him from point A to point B so he wasn't about to complain. He was too tired to put his seat belt on. He drank a can of soda so he'd have some energy for the ride home. He let his mind drift to Megan rather than curse at the idiot in front of him. Some people shouldn't be allowed on the roads. He'd wait awhile and then try to pass the moron. Not only was he saving for an engagement ring but he also wanted to see Megan and didn't want to rely on his parents visiting her parents or vice-versa just to make it possible for them to see one another. He beeped the horn, ready to pass this annoying car out; sure enough it was a jerk HOLDING a cell phone instead of using it as a speakerphone. The last conscious thought he had was of Megan's laugh. It only took three seconds for both cars to collide as Hunter's head hit the windshield before he fell back and the car tipped on driver's side.

~End flashback~

St. Peter's Hospital (fictional)

"Mother," Tiffany ran out of the elevator and into her Mother's shaky arms, "I came as soon as I heard."

"My baby," Jackie cried, she was due because she hadn't cried in five minutes, "My sweet darling baby boy."

Eric was almost afraid to go into Jackie and Hyde's bedroom as he heard the sounds of mass destruction. Hyde decided to crawl into himself once again and take apart the bookshelf; books were all over the floor, the bed, the dresser, and the shelving around him on the floor like a mini Stonehenge.

"Hyde—"

"Hey, Forman—"

'hey, forman?'

Two pieces of wood were in Hyde's way and he flung them hard across the wall.

"DAMN F***ING CELL PHONES! IF I HAVE TO BURY ANOT—"

"What?!"

'bury another?'

"NOTHING."

"Hyde," Eric walked through the mess to face his best friend,

"MY SON—" he broke down in Eric's arms

Break On Through (To The Other Side)

"I remember that laugh! You're Grandma Kitty." Hunter said in his unconscious stream

"That's right. You've grown up to be very handsome, Hunter."

Hunter blushed. "Thanks."

"And are you going to propose properly to my granddaughter with a ring this time?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Is that Grandpa Red over there?"

"Yes, but he's busy guarding the gate because it's NOT your time to cross over."

Hunter nodded and waved to Red, who waved back.

"It's nice and quiet here."

"I know. Turn around, sweetie, walk the way in which you came."

(i can see her crying)

(megan—don't cry)

"She can't hear you, no one can. You have to leave now, you can't stay here."

"Can I have a hug before I go?"

"Sure."

"Thanks, Grandma Kitty, it was nice seeing you again."

"Tell Eric and Steven that they are wonderful Father's and that I'm VERY PROUD of the both of them."

"I will. I love you, you were the only Grandma I ever had."

"I love you, too, here's a sandwich for your journey. It's longer to get back than it was coming here. So, you have to leave right now if you want to see them in the morning."

"Okay, bye, Grandma Kitty." He waved before heading back.

"Bye, Hunter."

Megan hid in the handicapped accessible bathroom on the ICU floor of St. Peter's Hospital. She locked the door and sobbed uncontrollably, she had wanted to do that FOR HOURS now. Hunter was in a coma, clinging for his life. It was all because of an idiot couldn't drive and hold a cell phone at the same time. Jackie's car was totaled and Hunter was, in the words of the doctor's, lucky that he didn't die on impact.

"Please don't take Hunter away from all of us that love him." Megan coughed almost choking on her own tears.

There was a knock on the door.

"Go away!"

But the knocking wouldn't stop so Megan undid the lock as the door opened to reveal Hannah still in her worn field hockey uniform.

"I'M SORRY," she hugged her, "You don't have to believe me, Megan, but I am. Sorry for everything."

Megan hugged her back.

"Mother, you have to drink something." Tiffany put the two paper coffee cups and one paper tea cup on the table in the waiting room.

"Thanks for the tea." Donna replied, holding Jackie's cold hand.

"Sure. Mother—"

Jackie was off in her own thoughts.

~Jackie's flashback~

Hunter was five years old and immersed in his Crayola 64 pack with the BUILT IN sharpener as he sat quietly at the kitchen table. Jackie was amazed at how different he and his twin sister were. Hannah loved getting piggyback rides from her Daddy and playing in the hay and Hunter preferred a quiet place to draw in. She sat at the other end of the table just to observe him. He took a red crayon and peeled the wrapping off with his tiny fingers to put the crayon in the sharpener.

"How are you doing, sweetie?"

"Fine." He didn't look up, not because he didn't love his Mommy, but because he was drawing a picture.

"Do you want peanut butter and jelly for lunch?"

"Yeah, with a pickle."

Jackie smiled. He heard that on Sesame Street and always ordered his sandwiches that way when they went out to eat after that.

"You are my sweet pickle!" She kissed him on the head gently; he always backed away from hugs and kisses.

He took the purple crayon and wrote Hunter at the bottom in big letters then proceeded to fold the paper in half, hop off the chair, and present it to his Mother.

"Is this for me?"

He looked at the floor and shook his head, 'yes'.

He drew a picture of Jackie (which was quite good for a five year old's drawing!)

with a red bow in her hair sitting on a tree swing. The writing on the top was also in red it said, "To Mommy" then on the bottom in purple he drew a heart and wrote his name.

"I love it, sweetie—and I love you, and you're getting a hug," she picked him up and kissed him, watching his little legs run in the air.

"I love you, too, Mommy." He said quietly as he went back to the table to put his crayons away in a neat and orderly fashion.

"Do you want some chocolate syrup in your milk, Hunter?" She put his drawing on the fridge with the others.

"Yes, please."

He was such a cute little gentleman. He would always be her darling baby boy.

~End flashback~

Eric picked up the books and placed them in a few empty boxes that he found in the stables and put them on the floor away from the bed and put all the shelving in a back nook area so that no one would trip over it. Jackie didn't need to come home to that mess. He convinced Hyde to finally go to the hospital and see his son. He was in the bathroom washing his face and putting on a clean shirt.

"I'll start the car, Hyde." Eric took Hyde's keys off the dresser.

"I'm right here," He wore his mint green button down shirt, which was approximately borrowed 100 times by his son. "I'll do my own driving, Forman. Thanks for cleaning up the room though."

Eric slightly smiled. He knew Hyde was in a lot of pain. You never want to outlive your children, that's just wrong and not part of the galaxies rules. Even just the thought of it was enough to devastate any parent. Eric tried to reassure Hyde that Hunter was "going to be okay". Eric was happy that he got Hyde to just go to the hospital, hiding out at home and destroying the bookshelf was not what Hunter needed right now. Hyde needed to be with his family.

Megan and Hannah sat in the coffee shop. Hannah kept going on and on about how sorry she was about everything and Megan told her in a nice voice to "please, be quiet". All she wanted to do was see Hunter. But ONLY immediate family was allowed in the ICU. Which was a terrible rule that only worked best on paper. The Forman and Hyde families knew each other for eternity; they were part of the circle game. They WERE ALL family. Megan could only drink half of her 7-Up.

"I want to see Hunter."

"I have an idea, come on."

Megan threw her soda cup in the trash and let Hannah push her chair. She wondered what she had up her sleeve? Hannah dropped Megan off outside Hunter's hospital room door. Megan watched as Hannah faked a stomach pain in front of the nurse's station and Megan knew that was her cue to go into his room. No one saw him yet because they were all told to "wait for the doctor" and Jackie was going to punch someone in the mouth soon if she didn't get to see her son. Megan was grateful for the handicapped accessible wide doors and was able to open the door and wheel herself in there quite easily.

Hunter was breathing on his own but he was still hooked up to other beeping machines, tubes, and general devices.

"Hunter," She wheeled herself as close as she could get, "Your IV is in the way, and I'm going to try to move it, so I can get closer to you." She tried not to cry. It amazed her how calm she actually was at the moment.

It was easier to move the IV off to the side as it was on wheels.

She held his hand and kissed it. "I LOVE YOU."

She was about to move her upper body forward to kiss him on the lips, when the door swung open.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to leave, Miss. You are NOT allowed in here."

"He's my fiancée!" She shouted out, not caring if a parent was present to hear it or not.

"The patient needs his rest."

"Don't you even think of TOUCHING my wheelchair! I'll run you over, you heartless bitch of a nurse!"

"leave megan alone." Hunter replied with closed eyes, in a weak voice.

"Hunter! You spoke! I'm right here, honey." She held his hand as the nurse went to get the doctor.

"megan—"

"Ssh," she went back to what she was going to do before, before Nurse Ratchet came in and stopped her, "I love you, Hunter." She kissed him on the lips.

"wh-at happ-ened?"

"You were in a car accident. Ssh, stop talking."

"love. you. megan. going. sleep. now."

She caressed his face and kissed his lips for one last time today before the doctor came in to kick her out of the room. She had to tell everyone that Hunter spoke!

(yay! he arrived back safely, red.)

(thanks to our beautiful granddaughter, kitty.)

Megan unknowingly saved Hunter's life on March 20, 2016. Keeping the circle unbroken.

The Circle Game
by Joni Mitchell

[song lyrics removed]