Title: A Nightmare in Point Place
Disclaimer: Don't own, ain't getting paid. That 70's show, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. I'm just borrowing them momentarily.
Pairing: J/H, D/E
Rating: PG-13
Archive: If you want just ask – I will freely give.
Summary: Jackie is having nightmares – so are other members of the basement gang. Freddy wants them all dead. Who is next?
Credit: Wes Craven –mad props –love the universe I'm borrowing.
A/N: Hello guys. Okay most of you seemed okay with the idea of some killing. Just trust me it will be fine. But again if this chapter changes your mind tell me.
Point Place Jail **************************
"What do you mean you didn't see anyone?" Jackie asked incredulously.
"I mean I didn't see anyone." Kelso demanded.
"But Michael, you were right there. How could you not have seen the person who …who did that to her?"
"I don't know." The boy whined.
Fez came up behind Jackie and leaned against the bars to look at his friend. "Kelso, just tell us what you remember."
Kelso sat down heavily on the small cot in his small jail cell. Point Place was a pretty peaceful town. The jail wasn't used much. The cops didn't really deal with anything worse than drunk and disorderly bar patrons or kids vandalizing the water tower. "I told the cops already."
Jackie hit the bars in frustration "Well you didn't tell us, and our lives may depend on it, Michael!"
He couldn't deny that tone. "Fine, I woke up to screams and she was just there – on the bed – and cuts were just happening."
"How could they just happen?" Fez asked.
"I don't know Fez" Kelso looked to Jackie "They just did. All at once, like…like" he broke down crying.
Jackie frowned, wanting to cry herself.
"And the bad thing is I might have been able to save her. If I had just done something sooner. But I just thought it was another dream." Kelso sobbed.
"A dream?" Fez asked before Jackie could.
"Yeah I've been having these bad dreams. With this creepy dude, who has these knives on his fingers."
Jackie did cry this time. "I'm sorry Michael. I'm so sorry."
Pinciotti house –bathroom – later that night ************************
Jackie soaked in the relaxing hot bath. It was the only place she could be alone. Bob was still watching the girls like a hawk. He had finally taken Donna and Joanne out for ice cream. She had refused, telling him she was going to bed early. To get some sleep- ha – yeah right.
Softly Jackie began to sing to keep her eyes open. A children's jump rope song that she couldn't get out of her head. "One –two Freddy's coming for you"
That was the guy's name. The guy in her dream, the one that Michael said killed Pam. "Three –four – better lock your door."
She had left Michael with Fez at the jail earlier that afternoon. There was nothing they could do. The cops wouldn't believe them. They thought she was just a nice girl making up stories to help her homicidal ex-boyfriend. "Five- six – grab your crucifix"
Jackie swirled the bubbles around soaping her leg distractedly. Maybe if Donna and Steven told the cops as well. But no – they were his friends. No one was going to believe them. "Seven –eight better stay up late"
She didn't know what she was going to do. This guy could kill any of them. And she couldn't shake the idea that it was her fault. "Nine – ten – never sleep again"
Jackie's eyes closed against her will. Sheer exhaustion set in and her body gave up. From beneath the bubbles Freddy's glove shoots out of the water between her legs.
"Jackie?" Hyde's voice called out from downstairs.
Jackie sat bolt upright in the tub, realizing that she fell asleep. "I'm in the tub".
Steven knocked on the door. "Can I come in?" he asked "innocently".
"NO!" Jackie squealed laughing.
"Well hurry up. I want to talk to you about today."
Jackie sighed. She knew someone would tell him about that. Closing her eyes she tried to go back to enjoying the hot water.
Drifting back asleep, the hand returns. Freddy drags Jackie under the now bottomless bath.
Struggling Jackie kicked pulling out of the grip. Her head broke the surface and she screamed "Steven"
"Jackie?!" Hyde yelled alarmed.
The water choked her, burned as she was pulled back under.
"Jackie!"
"Steven – help!"
The door wouldn't budge. Hyde threw his shoulder into it again harder in his panic.
Finally Jackie got free. Struggling out of the tub she tried to catch her breath, wrapping a towel around her.
Hyde stared in shock at the very wet but thankfully safe Jackie. "What the hell?" he asked hugging her.
Jackie secured the towel and laid her head on Steven's chest. She was tired of being scared out of her mind.
*
"What the hell was that?" Hyde asked again as they walked into Donna's bedroom. Jackie slipped a oversized sleep shirt over her towel.
"I fell asleep." Jackie stated simply.
Hyde sighed and sat down on Donna's bed. "And had another nightmare I suppose?"
"Yes Steven, LOOK, I'm glad you are not having them. But that doesn't mean that the rest of us are making them up." Sitting down beside him she began to towel dry her hair. She didn't want to argue with him.
"I heard you wigged out in English class today." He asked obviously determined to discuss it.
"Yeah, I fell asleep." She stated again.
"And had ANOTHER nightmare. Yeah I get it." Reaching over he took her hand. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to not believe you. I just don't like this. You blaming yourself. You and Forman walking around like the living dead because you won't go to sleep because you are convinced that some guy in your dreams is…"
"He is Steven. How do you explain it? Michael says he had the same dream. And he…"
Hyde stood up dropping her hand "When did he say this?"
Jackie averted her eyes. "When we went to see him at the jail today. Fez didn't tell you that when he was ratting me out about English?"
Hyde began to pace. "God the guy is in Jail and you still believe ..."
"Steven this has nothing to do with my relationship with Michael. I've had the dream. I didn't tell him about it. And he knew what that guy looks like."
"Maybe Fez told him." Hyde insisted.
"Who told Fez?" she shouted.
That stopped him. None of them had talked to Fez about Jackie's dreams. Or should he say Jackie's/Eric's/Donna's and now obviously Michael's dreams. Reaching down he took her hand again, noticing for the first time the burn on her arm. "What happened?"
Jackie looked into his eyes and saw his concern. He loved her she knew it. And she loved him. She wanted him to believe her. "I burned it in English class."
Realization dawned in his eyes and he sat down heavily beside her.
"Look, you don't have to believe me. But would you do something for me?" Jackie asked in her sweetest voice.
"Of course." He stated.
She smiled weakly. "I'm going to go to sleep. I want you to watch me. And if it looks like I'm having another bad dream, wake me up."
Hyde rubbed his eyes in one of his upset mannerisms. "Yeah, that's cool – you get some sleep."
Jackie moved to her bed, dragging him behind her. Laying down he sat beside her on the floor. She took his hand and was fast asleep in minutes.
*
Jackie walked down the streets of Point Place. Now that she realized it was a dream she was less scared. Knowing Steven was watching helped as well. But wondering where that mad man was gave her goosebumps.
The dream was very realistic. She could feel the night air, cool on her skin. She was wearing the same clothes that she had on in the real world. The houses all looked the same. Hearing something rustling behind her she whipped around.
"Steven?" she called.
Noticing more noise from behind a nearby tree she was not startled at all when Steven popped his head out.
"Yeah?" he answered. Dream Steven had the same expression of annoyed patience real Steven would display.
"Just checking." She smiled and turned around to continue her search. Jackie Burkhart was hunting a crazy burned guy. What a revolting development?
Coming around a corner she noticed that the Police Station was just ahead. Running up she found herself looking into a lower window.
It was Michael's cell. He lay on his bed asleep. Suddenly the door behind opened and Jackie noticed the man she was looking for enter the cell.
"Michael!" she yelled warningly.
Freddy looked up –smiling evilly.
"Michael!!!!!!" she screamed again, banging on the barred window.
Freddy began to laugh.
"MICHAEL!!!!!!!!!"
*
"Jackie wake up!" Hyde demanded shaking the small girl.
Jackie came awake, already out of bed before Steven could register what was going on. Grabbing her jeans she slipped them on. "Go get your keys" she ordered.
Pulling off her shirt, she pushed him out of the room before he could enjoy the sight. "Go get the car. We have to get to the Jail. NOW!"
Jail ****************************************
"What do you mean we can't see him?" Jackie asked exasperated.
"It is past visiting hours Miss Burkhart" the kind deputy explained for the third time.
"Look, we just need to see him for five seconds" Hyde tried to negotiate.
Jackie looked at him gratefully. But he shrugged her off.
"I can't let you do that young man."
"Then fine" Jackie broke in "You just go down there and look at him. See if he is alright."
The deputy tried futilely to resist Jackie's pleading eyes. "Fine I'll be right back."
Turning back to Steven Jackie turned those eyes on him. "Thank you Steven, I know you think this means something but… it doesn't. The nightmare was just so real. I love you."
Looking over her shoulder as if he wasn't listening, Hyde pulled back running over to the desk and grabbing the keys to the holding cells main door. "I know Jackie." Cuffing her on the chin he grabbed her hand. "You want to see him for yourself? Come on."
Downstairs Kelso was sleeping soundly. But not for long. Laughter, low and malicious filled the empty cell. The sheet wrapped loosely around the boy began to gather. It took form, twisting snake like.
Kelso shifted, something in his dreams disturbing him.
The sheet began to slide. It slipped underneath Kelso's neck, coming around to the front and coiling around itself.
The knot tightened and Kelso's eyes opened.
"Aahhh" he struggled to scream, but all sound was cut short by the sheet rope cutting into his larynx.
More laughter from the unseen foe.
"Help me" the boy whispered scratchily as he was lifted up off the ground.
The rope tied itself around the higher bars, securing the tall boys heavy body off the ground.
Kelso felt the world go black.
Keys rattled against the door and the deputy stepped into the small room. "Oh my god! He screamed, grabbing his walkie talkie for backup. Running to the cell to open the door.
Hyde and Jackie were right behind him.
"Kelso" Hyde yelled rushing forward.
Jackie felt the air rush out of her. Hanging from the ceiling by a make-shift rope was her first boyfriend. Her first love. And he was dead.
"Open the damn door". Hyde screamed at the fumbling deputy.
The deputy finally got it open.
Hyde ran in lifting his friend up uselessly as the deputy cut him down. Falling to the floor with the released body, he frantically looked for a pulse.
Jackie knew he wouldn't find one. They were too late.
"God Kelso – No!" Hyde shouted pushing off the floor and slamming his fist into the wall.
"Freddy got him" Jackie said quietly, knowing the deputy, the world, would think it was suicide.
Hyde came out of the cell and enveloped her in his arms.
The crazy guy was going to kill all her friends. Michael had been the first. Pam had just been a tease. She shivered burying her head in his strong arms. I can't lose Steven. I can't lose Steven. I can't…, she chanted to a god that she was beginning to think hated her. Hugging him tighter she felt herself begin to crumble.
"Cry baby," Hyde instructed. "Cry enough for both of us."
Next day - Point Place cemetery ****************************
The funeral was beautiful. All of Point Place High seemed to be in attendance. Jackie sat next to Steven and Kitty. Red stood behind them, arm wrapped around Eric who was bawling like a baby. Donna had her hand in his crying her own silent tears. Fez just looked lost.
The Kelso family stood on the opposite side. They looked ashamed. And it broke another piece of Jackie's heart to see that. Michael deserved better than this. He didn't kill Pam. And he didn't kill himself.
Looking over at Steven, she felt a stir of inner strength. He had been so tough since this had started. He was holding everyone together. Fez and Eric, her. When she felt the hopelessness and the fear begin anew she would think of him. She was not going to die. And she was not going to lose him.
"Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust." The preacher ended.
Jackie stood and placed a white rose on the cold wood. How did this happen? She thought for the millionth time. How can I stop it?
"Jackie how are you holding up sweetie?" Kitty asked coming up to the young girl as she was going to get into the Vista Cruiser.
Jackie smile didn't reach her very red eyes. "I'm holding up."
"Have you gotten any sleep?" Red barked, hiding his concern behind thin disapproval.
"Um, I slept some on Steven's shoulder on the ride over." She offered.
"She hasn't slept more than two hours a night in the past week." Bob announced coming up behind to join the adults.
Hyde got out of the car and put his arm around Jackie as a sign of support.
Red noticed and rolled his eyes. "She can't just quit sleeping because Kelso went nuts."
Eric jumped out this time. "Kelso did not go nuts." He shouted.
"Then how do explain all this crap that is going on?" Red asked.
Jackie felt herself losing it again. She began to mumble "it's this guy, in our dreams, he is burned. And he has these knives."
Kitty gasped and Bob took a step back. Red shot them both a look. "Jackie," he stated placing a comforting hand on the arm not around Steven. "You just need some rest that is all. We've all had a bad week."
Kitty stepped up. "Jackie I want you to come with me tomorrow, to the hospital to see somebody."
Jackie shook her head, tightening her grip on Steven. "No, I don't want to see some Quack, I'm not crazy. Just ask Eric."
Eric nodded his head in support.
"He is not a quack. Please Jackie, just come with me." Kitty insisted.
The older woman looked so concerned, the way a mother should. Jackie sighed. Hearing herself agree, she hoped maybe she was wrong. Maybe she had gone insane.