Chapter 2- In denial .
Hyde ran to Jackie and dropped to the floor next to her. He grabbed her into his arms as she sobbed. She looked up at him and the sight was heart wrenching. Hyde had never seen such pain in someone's eyes before. Suddenly he wanted to hold her forever.
As she desperately clung to him, Hyde looked up to see two police officers standing in the doorway. Ana was hovering nearby, tears in her eyes.
"What happened," Hyde demanded, "what's going on?" Suddenly he felt a sick feeling in his stomach as Jackie moaned "mother and daddy."
"I'm sorry sir, Mrs. Burkhart was killed in a car accident today. Mr. Burkhart is in ICU at Point Place Memorial Hospital." The officers looked pityingly at Jackie who had buried her head into Hyde and began to shiver. Hyde shook his head in shock.
"How is her father?" It was the only question he could manage to ask but there were a thousand more in his head.
"He's been seriously hurt…Miss. Burkhart would you like to come to the hospital?"
Hyde wrapped his arms protectively around Jackie and helped her stand.
"Steven, please come with me…I…I…" Jackie began to shake. Hyde held her tightly and stroked her hair.
"Shhh…Jackie, of course I'll come, whatever you want me to do just ask." He said quietly. "Come on, let's go."
With his arms around Jackie, he walked her slowly to the waiting patrol car outside. She shook her head several times and muttered "I can't believe it," to herself. Then as they were seated in the car, Jackie looked up at Hyde.
"It can't be true," she said firmly, "You don't believe it do you Steven, you know it's not true right?" Hyde saw such a desperate look on Jackie's face, he hated to break her string of hope she hung on to.
"I'm sorry Jackie, I'm really sorry." Hyde tried to say it as quietly as possible. He could see she was getting angry.
"It's not true! You're just saying that because you hate me don't you? You hate me and you want me to be miserable and you know it's not true, you just won't admit it!" Jackie's voice was rising steadly. Hyde was glad the officers were still inside the house talking to Ana.
"Jackie, shhh…come on you know I would never want to hurt you." Hyde tried to calm her down. He knew she never meant the things she said, she was just in denial. He took her hand but she snatched it away.
"No, why do you keep saying it's true! It's not! It's not! It just can't be!" Finally her voice broke and Jackie began to sob. Hyde pulled her into his arms and she struggled against him for a few moments sobbing "no, no, it isn't true" but eventually she gave in and clutched Hyde for comfort.
Minutes later the officers returned to the car and began to drive to the hospital. Jackie was curled against Hyde, her sobs had subsided and she just shook silently in his arms. He tried to comprehend what was happening. 30 minutes ago he and Jackie were sitting on the sundeck, carefree and drinking lemon-aid. Now she was minus one parent, in a police car, a wreck in Hyde's arms.
When the car pulled up to the emergency doors of Point Place Memorial Hospital, Jackie jumped out of the car and raced inside, Hyde at her heals. As she was standing at the reception desk, asking for Jack Burkhart, a doctor came bursting through two doors off to the side and walked over to the officers to address them. Jackie didn't notice him. Hyde watched the look on the doctors face as he told the officers what Hyde already knew….Jack Burkhart had died.