Chapter 2
Red sat in the hospital waiting room, watching the kids across the room.
Jackie had come into the emergency room just as Kitty was coming off her
shift. She had called Red at the Price Mart and he had come to the
hospital right after calling Bob. Red arrived at the hospital in time for
Kitty to tell him Jackie's Dad had given her and Red guardianship over
Jackie so they could make any decisions that might need to be made. The
papers arrived to be sign about an hour after that, maybe her Dad wasn't
such a dumbass. During that time Jackie had gone in for surgery for some
internal bleeding but that wasn't the real worry. The real worry was the
extent of head injuries she had due to the car accident
Jackie had been on her back from visiting her dad in the prison when a drunk had run a light, ramming straight into the passenger side of Jackie's car. The only thing that had saved her life was the seatbelt as the car had pretty much buckled around her. It had taken the firemen 20 using the Jaws of Life to get her out and Jackie had been unconscious for the entire time.
It had been over 5 hours since the operation. The doctors had told them that it would take about 2 hours for the anesthetic to wear off then after that it was dependent on how long she woke up. The longer it took the worse it was. She should have woken up over an hour ago but hadn't. Right now Red would give anything to call her the loud one. He remembered all the times he had told Steven to shut the long one up or ask why the loud one was at his breakfast table. She needed to wake up. The doctor had told Kitty and him the longer she was unconscious the worse possible damage could be. They hadn't told the kids that, deciding it was better to wait a bit and see what happens.
Red looked at the kids sitting on the other side of the waiting room. Eric was being fairly responsible; he had been trying to get a hold of Steven since they had arrived. He had been at work but when they had called, he had left at for the day. Eric had been calling the house every 15 minutes or so with no luck until now it seemed. From the looks of it, Eric had gotten a hold of Steven as he had seen him talking into the phone. The foreign kid and Kelso were doing okay. Fez seemed to have calmed Kelso down, largely by feeding him large amounts of ice cream but whatever worked. Red was always amazed at that kid's stupidity but he did occasionally have good intentions. Couldn't carry them off but that wasn't the point. Donna was worrying. She had been very quiet since arriving; not saying much to anyone and crying quietly at times. Eric had been seating with her and one time Kitty had taken Eric's place and just held Donna. It was ironic how important Jackie was to all of them now when originally no one had liked her.
Red was still sitting there when Kitty came over.
"Oh Red, she hasn't woken up yet." Kitty said as she sat down beside Red and he put his arm around her shoulder. Red felt Kitty sign. "Maybe we should tell them Red."
"Soon Kitty, let's just wait a bit longer. We'll give it another hour and if she's not awake then we'll tell everyone. That will be over 3 hours then since she could have woken up."
Just then there was a commotion as Steven arrived at the nurses stations. "I need to see Jackie Burkhart, where is she?" "Are you family sir?" The nurse asked. "No, yes, I mean I just need to know" "I'm sorry sir but we can't give that information out"
"What!! I-"
Just then Red came up behind Steven and took his arm. "Son, calm down. Being a rude dumbass isn't going to get you anywhere. Come over here and we'll talk." The two walked over to where everyone else was. Mrs. Foreman gave him a hug.
"Steven, Jackie was hit by a drunk driver on her way back from visiting her dad at the prison. They brought her in just as Mrs. Foreman was getting off her shift. She had some internal bleeding which they operated on and fixed. The problem now," Red took a deep breath then continued, "is she needs to wake up. They won't know if there was any brain damage until she wakes it. The dumbass needs to wake up." Red was getting upset now and really had no other way to express himself.
"Kids, what Red is saying is well basically if Jackie wakes up soon if not then- then we don't know" Kitty said trying to appear strong. Then she laughed that high pitched laugh when she didn't know what else to do.
Donna sat back down in her seat with a thud. Oh god. Oh god. OH GOD. Donna felt the tears start to come again and she didn't know what the hell to do. Jackie was the one who cried in their friendship not her. She was the strong one. The one everyone turned to when they had problems. And she never cried. The only time she cried was when her mom left or Eric said he wouldn't take her back but it wasn't in front of anyone. It was in the privacy of her bedroom. But Jackie, Jackie was laying there almost dead after going to see her dad. At prison. Donna had never gone with her even though Jackie was her best friend. Donna hadn't even offered to go because it was just too hard. Plus she didn't know what else to do. Or how to support her. Since the break up with Steven, Jackie had been staying more on her own, coming around the basement less. Though she still lived in Donna's house, Jackie had become quieter and more involved with her cheerleader friends.
In some ways Donna had been mad at her for that. She had felt deserted kind of. When her and Eric had broken up, Jackie had supported her. Donna had tried to do the same for Jackie but after a while she got tired of being pushed away and called a lumberjack. The last conversation they had had was a fight with Donna calling her a selfish skinny bitch and a bad cheerleader. Jackie had just left and the two hadn't talked for 2 days, it was amazing how you could ignore someone who lived in the same room as you. Oh God, what if she never woke up? Then the last conversation she would have with her best friend was a huge fight. Donna felt the tears coming back.
Steven sat down in a chair off to the corner and put his head in his hands. All the way to the hospital the only thought going through Steven's head was please don't let her be dead. If she's okay then it would be okay. Fuck, please don't let her be dead. Steven was not a man to pray but he did then. He wasn't sure if it worked or even if anyone listened but he did it anyway.
Steven remembered the first time she told him she loved him. Right after the whole "get off my boyfriend" episode. It had been awful that but when she had said she loved him, his world had rocked. This wonderful, beautiful girl was saying she loved him. The guy whose own parents didn't love him enough to stick around. It was an amazing feeling and against everything in him, he said they were going to the dance. Then she looked so happy and hugged him, with that big smile on her face. He had actually felt worth her love. Then she had started coming to the basement at night to sleep with him because she didn't want to stay in the big house by herself and had wanted him to keep her safe. Sometimes during those nights they would make out or talk but mostly he would just hold her when she cried from being so strong all day in front of everyone else. He had felt privileged that she felt he was worth not being strong around, as weird as it sounded, she felt she could just deal with things in front of him. During those nights he felt worthy of Jackie and her love.
One of Steven's favourite memories was when he had shaved off his beard. He remembered the way the smile had lit up Jackie's face, realizing he had done it for her. The way, afterwards when they were alone, she had told him it meant more to her then anything he or anyone could say. That he, Steven, had made her feel so much better. Steven thought about that moment a lot after they broke up. How it had felt and the way Jackie had squeezed him hard as they hugged and he had kissed the top of her head cause she was small and he liked that. That night they didn't really fool around very much, he just held her as they watched TV and he walked her home holding hands. It had been a great evening.
Now-now they didn't even know if she was going to wake up.
Eric looked up at the clock and realized that another hour had based since Red had told them. He had sat holding Donna's hand and watching Steven. Remembering all the times he had yelled at Jackie and called her the devil. Which, he always thought, she got a kick out of. It was weird how time past in the hospital. On one hand, it felt like he had been there for days but on the other it was passing so quickly already an hour. He felt like he just sat back down. Soon, she had to wake up soon. Just then he saw the Doctor approach his parents and begin to talk.
Red started to smile and Kitty was crying again. Everyone stood up and quickly walked over.
"Is she awake?" Steven asked.
"Yes, she's awake now." Kitty said with a smile "and they think she's going to be okay" Donna felt the tears begin again in her eyes.
"We won't know for sure until tomorrow and can do some more tests but she seems fine. She's asking for Steven. Is he here?" The doctor asked looking at the collection of adults and kids who were all now crying to some extent. Kelso sounded like he was going to hyperventilate and the Doctor looked at him worriedly as Fez patted his back.
"I'm Steven."
"Well, you should come with me. I told her I would bring you if you were here. Kitty, Red I would like you to come as well. The rest of you can see her tomorrow. She shouldn't have too much activity right now." The doctor started to walk away with the three trailing behind him.
When they arrived at the room, Steven waited outside while Kitty and Red went in with the Doctor. He heard them discuss with her that they would be back tomorrow and that her Dad would call then. Then they left after each giving her a gentle hug.
Jackie had been on her back from visiting her dad in the prison when a drunk had run a light, ramming straight into the passenger side of Jackie's car. The only thing that had saved her life was the seatbelt as the car had pretty much buckled around her. It had taken the firemen 20 using the Jaws of Life to get her out and Jackie had been unconscious for the entire time.
It had been over 5 hours since the operation. The doctors had told them that it would take about 2 hours for the anesthetic to wear off then after that it was dependent on how long she woke up. The longer it took the worse it was. She should have woken up over an hour ago but hadn't. Right now Red would give anything to call her the loud one. He remembered all the times he had told Steven to shut the long one up or ask why the loud one was at his breakfast table. She needed to wake up. The doctor had told Kitty and him the longer she was unconscious the worse possible damage could be. They hadn't told the kids that, deciding it was better to wait a bit and see what happens.
Red looked at the kids sitting on the other side of the waiting room. Eric was being fairly responsible; he had been trying to get a hold of Steven since they had arrived. He had been at work but when they had called, he had left at for the day. Eric had been calling the house every 15 minutes or so with no luck until now it seemed. From the looks of it, Eric had gotten a hold of Steven as he had seen him talking into the phone. The foreign kid and Kelso were doing okay. Fez seemed to have calmed Kelso down, largely by feeding him large amounts of ice cream but whatever worked. Red was always amazed at that kid's stupidity but he did occasionally have good intentions. Couldn't carry them off but that wasn't the point. Donna was worrying. She had been very quiet since arriving; not saying much to anyone and crying quietly at times. Eric had been seating with her and one time Kitty had taken Eric's place and just held Donna. It was ironic how important Jackie was to all of them now when originally no one had liked her.
Red was still sitting there when Kitty came over.
"Oh Red, she hasn't woken up yet." Kitty said as she sat down beside Red and he put his arm around her shoulder. Red felt Kitty sign. "Maybe we should tell them Red."
"Soon Kitty, let's just wait a bit longer. We'll give it another hour and if she's not awake then we'll tell everyone. That will be over 3 hours then since she could have woken up."
Just then there was a commotion as Steven arrived at the nurses stations. "I need to see Jackie Burkhart, where is she?" "Are you family sir?" The nurse asked. "No, yes, I mean I just need to know" "I'm sorry sir but we can't give that information out"
"What!! I-"
Just then Red came up behind Steven and took his arm. "Son, calm down. Being a rude dumbass isn't going to get you anywhere. Come over here and we'll talk." The two walked over to where everyone else was. Mrs. Foreman gave him a hug.
"Steven, Jackie was hit by a drunk driver on her way back from visiting her dad at the prison. They brought her in just as Mrs. Foreman was getting off her shift. She had some internal bleeding which they operated on and fixed. The problem now," Red took a deep breath then continued, "is she needs to wake up. They won't know if there was any brain damage until she wakes it. The dumbass needs to wake up." Red was getting upset now and really had no other way to express himself.
"Kids, what Red is saying is well basically if Jackie wakes up soon if not then- then we don't know" Kitty said trying to appear strong. Then she laughed that high pitched laugh when she didn't know what else to do.
Donna sat back down in her seat with a thud. Oh god. Oh god. OH GOD. Donna felt the tears start to come again and she didn't know what the hell to do. Jackie was the one who cried in their friendship not her. She was the strong one. The one everyone turned to when they had problems. And she never cried. The only time she cried was when her mom left or Eric said he wouldn't take her back but it wasn't in front of anyone. It was in the privacy of her bedroom. But Jackie, Jackie was laying there almost dead after going to see her dad. At prison. Donna had never gone with her even though Jackie was her best friend. Donna hadn't even offered to go because it was just too hard. Plus she didn't know what else to do. Or how to support her. Since the break up with Steven, Jackie had been staying more on her own, coming around the basement less. Though she still lived in Donna's house, Jackie had become quieter and more involved with her cheerleader friends.
In some ways Donna had been mad at her for that. She had felt deserted kind of. When her and Eric had broken up, Jackie had supported her. Donna had tried to do the same for Jackie but after a while she got tired of being pushed away and called a lumberjack. The last conversation they had had was a fight with Donna calling her a selfish skinny bitch and a bad cheerleader. Jackie had just left and the two hadn't talked for 2 days, it was amazing how you could ignore someone who lived in the same room as you. Oh God, what if she never woke up? Then the last conversation she would have with her best friend was a huge fight. Donna felt the tears coming back.
Steven sat down in a chair off to the corner and put his head in his hands. All the way to the hospital the only thought going through Steven's head was please don't let her be dead. If she's okay then it would be okay. Fuck, please don't let her be dead. Steven was not a man to pray but he did then. He wasn't sure if it worked or even if anyone listened but he did it anyway.
Steven remembered the first time she told him she loved him. Right after the whole "get off my boyfriend" episode. It had been awful that but when she had said she loved him, his world had rocked. This wonderful, beautiful girl was saying she loved him. The guy whose own parents didn't love him enough to stick around. It was an amazing feeling and against everything in him, he said they were going to the dance. Then she looked so happy and hugged him, with that big smile on her face. He had actually felt worth her love. Then she had started coming to the basement at night to sleep with him because she didn't want to stay in the big house by herself and had wanted him to keep her safe. Sometimes during those nights they would make out or talk but mostly he would just hold her when she cried from being so strong all day in front of everyone else. He had felt privileged that she felt he was worth not being strong around, as weird as it sounded, she felt she could just deal with things in front of him. During those nights he felt worthy of Jackie and her love.
One of Steven's favourite memories was when he had shaved off his beard. He remembered the way the smile had lit up Jackie's face, realizing he had done it for her. The way, afterwards when they were alone, she had told him it meant more to her then anything he or anyone could say. That he, Steven, had made her feel so much better. Steven thought about that moment a lot after they broke up. How it had felt and the way Jackie had squeezed him hard as they hugged and he had kissed the top of her head cause she was small and he liked that. That night they didn't really fool around very much, he just held her as they watched TV and he walked her home holding hands. It had been a great evening.
Now-now they didn't even know if she was going to wake up.
Eric looked up at the clock and realized that another hour had based since Red had told them. He had sat holding Donna's hand and watching Steven. Remembering all the times he had yelled at Jackie and called her the devil. Which, he always thought, she got a kick out of. It was weird how time past in the hospital. On one hand, it felt like he had been there for days but on the other it was passing so quickly already an hour. He felt like he just sat back down. Soon, she had to wake up soon. Just then he saw the Doctor approach his parents and begin to talk.
Red started to smile and Kitty was crying again. Everyone stood up and quickly walked over.
"Is she awake?" Steven asked.
"Yes, she's awake now." Kitty said with a smile "and they think she's going to be okay" Donna felt the tears begin again in her eyes.
"We won't know for sure until tomorrow and can do some more tests but she seems fine. She's asking for Steven. Is he here?" The doctor asked looking at the collection of adults and kids who were all now crying to some extent. Kelso sounded like he was going to hyperventilate and the Doctor looked at him worriedly as Fez patted his back.
"I'm Steven."
"Well, you should come with me. I told her I would bring you if you were here. Kitty, Red I would like you to come as well. The rest of you can see her tomorrow. She shouldn't have too much activity right now." The doctor started to walk away with the three trailing behind him.
When they arrived at the room, Steven waited outside while Kitty and Red went in with the Doctor. He heard them discuss with her that they would be back tomorrow and that her Dad would call then. Then they left after each giving her a gentle hug.
