A.N. Hey you guys! Thanks for the reviews. The more I get the more motivated I am to write a quicker update. So bare that in mind. Anyway, some of the story(not necessarily this chapter) is kinda sad, Jackie has been through something traumatizing. Which you will find out about later on in the story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Oh, and if anyone wants to Beta for me (proof read and give me ideas), email me, I would appreciate it. Also one more thing- I am planning on this being a long story (if it is popular), so if the chapters seem kinda slow at first, that is because I want to have the proper build up for my story. So bare with me lol.

She gripped the ticket tightly in her tiny, pale, sweat drenched hand. Her things were packed neatly and settled by the front door. She swallowed, the sting of her throat challenging the dull throb in her head. She sat down shakily on the ugly, out of date couch and placed her unoccupied hand against her forehead.

Inhale…Exhale…inhale…

...1..2...3...4...

That's what you had to do to get over your fear. Or so her therapist had repeatedly told her. She really hoped she wouldn't have another one of her anxiety attacks. She couldn't believe she was still having to do this after two years.

'This is getting ridiculous Jackie.' She groaned as she got up and looked out the front window.

She always got like this when she was afraid and had to experience something new. But she had to do this. She had to move on with her life. She couldn't let the past take control of her.

No, make that…

Wouldn't. She wouldn't let the past take control of her. Jackie Burkhart was not controlled by anything or anyone! The only counting Jackie Burkhart had to do was counting the number of new pairs of shoes she wanted this week, or how many times she had to brush her hair at night. She didn't have to rely on counting to keep her stable. She let out an angry sigh and quickly walked back and huffed down on the couch. She looked down at her watch.

10:23 a.m.

"Where the hell is he?" '3 minutes late. 3MINUTES!'

Didn't he know what this could do to her? She had a flight to catch for gods sake. If he didn't show up soon, she was going to freak out. She would wring his scrawny little-

Knock Knock Knock 'oh thank god'

She rushed to the door, swung it open and crossed her arms angrily.

"Where have you been Eric? My plane leaves in thirty five-no thirty SIX minutes! You said you would be here at 10:20!" she exclaimed while waving her arms around.

"Whoa whoa whoa--Jackie-look …I..I..had to stop at the store and get s-something, please stop freaking out, I will get you there on time, I promise." he countered genuinely and a little afraid.

Pause. She just stared at him for a second, she gave in, "okay Eric…I trust you…lets just go." she whispered as she bent down to pick up her suitcases, but Eric stopped her.

"No no no, I got it Jackie, you just get settled in the car. Leave this kind of work to the much stronger man" he proudly said while taking them out of her hands.

"I would Eric, but do you see a big strong man around? -- No, so that leaves me" she replied teasingly.

"Har. Har. Tell me something I don't know. …No.. wait…I do..uh…know… strong I am" he replied confused and dejected, wondering if he just burned himself.

Jackie shook her head and laughed, "I do not like them here or there, I do not like them anywhere, I do not like Green Eggs and Ham." She said in a Mother soothing voice

He sighed, "I walked right into that one didn't I?" He rolled his eyes at her

"Afraid so" -she replied in faux pity as she began to walk out the door and towards his car. She was almost certain she heard a muttered 'damn' too. She smiled. If one thing could put her in a good mood, it was burning Foreman. It made her feel in control. And control was every women's best friend. She had lost that control years ago when she had least expected it. But by bantering with Eric, she was able to remember that control. And that gave her hope. She settled herself in the passenger's seat and looked in the mirror to check if anything was out of order. Everything needed to be in order. Her appearance needed to be flawless. If it wasn't perfect, then people could see her, they would know, no doubt about it, they would know that she could not be made right again, and they would put a name to the face.

'--Jaclyn…such a little tease…a beautiful tease…I know what you want…I'll give you what you--'

She shuddered. No. She couldn't go back to that. She REFUSED to go back to that. That was long ago. She was in the now. Waiting for Eric to take his sweet old time.

"ERIC! Would you hurry the hell up? We are on the clock here!" she yelled out the window.

"What the hell women? Have some patience. …Damn! I am the one… loading …your entire room …into…. my car." He said exasperatedly while trying to pick up one of her suit cases.

She impatiently sighed while staring blankly out the front window and watched a kid playing hopscotch in the street. She didn't know what the big fuss was about. She only had eight or nine suitcases. She had definitely packed a lot lighter that she could have.

"OWWWW!" Eric yelled from the back of the car.

Jackie just rolled her eyes. He probably dropped one of her stuffed animals on his foot or something. 'Girl' she thought as she heard him close the trunk and walk to the front of the car. Damn, she was going to miss him.

A lot.

"One of your suitcases BIT me, it opened up and actually bit me.." he explained with his usual hand gestures.

"Eric, quit being such a baby, it just pinched you, I am sure you will suffer no long lasting damage." she sneered.

"But it really…hurt…it was like…alive…or someth--"

"My plane leaves in 22 minutes, I can NOT miss it, so DRIVE.!" She interrupted irritably.

"Fine fine, you don't have to be so mean" he said grumpily but with good nature all the same and shifted into gear and drove off.

Jackie just stared out the window. Soaking it all in. She just stared past all their usual hangouts as they drove by. The Hub. The Water Tower. The reservoir. She was going to miss Point Place. She would come back and visit, but this was her first home, it was hard to leave behind. Eric broke her thoughts.

"So, did you say goodbye to everyone?" he asked while glancing over at her.

"Yep, they all stopped by this morning. With gifts and everything." she said with a nervous laugh and tears in her eyes.

She was going to miss them. They had all come by earlier and gave her presents . Kelso and Fez were sad she was leaving and hugged her goodbye and gave her candy and balloons (jewelry would have been nicer). Kitty had cried and hugged her so tight. Kitty was Jackie's mother. Maybe not biologically, but in her heart, she was her real mother. Donna and Bob cried as well and hugged her goodbye and made her swear to call every day. They told her to write and tell them everything about New York. She promised them everything. They were all supportive and composed.

Go team.

"Didn't Bob and Donna want to drive you to the airport?" He asked, never taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah, yeah they did, but I told them I wanted you to drive me" she replied staring out the side window as a tear slid secretly down her cheek.

He looked over at her and smiled. He was going to miss her so much. They were best friends now. He didn't know what he was going to do when she was gone.

She wanted to cry. Eric was her best friend. Ever since Donna and Kelso had run off to California for the summer two years ago, they had formed a bond, especially after it happened. He had been the one to take care of her, and took her to all of her doctors' appointments, and made sure she didn't have to do anything uncomfortable. She loved him. No, no not in love with him. Just as a friend. That horrible summer, he had been there for her. The summer when everything had changed.

"You are being awfully quiet." Eric intervened, looking at her.

'--be quiet,… you don't want them to hear you, do you?…hold still…you little--'

"Jackie!" Eric asked louder to get her attention.

"what?" she asked, turning to him confused.

He looked at her in concern, "Are you okay? You spaced. "

"Huh..oh OH yeah, no I was just thinking about how much I am going to miss this place and all of my friends….especially you…" She said with tears in her eyes, and very embarrassed with herself.

"Well, then…maybe you just stay. New York is a scary place. And I really don't feel comfortable with being there all by yourself…" he said with a hopeful heart

"Eric…I wont be alone, there will be like 15 million other people there too" she replied sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes. "YOU KNOW what I mean….what if something happens, anything could happen." He said nervously.

Jackie sighed angrily, "Eric, we have had this discussion a BILLION times. I need to do this. I have to move on. I have to get over what happened. Can you understand that.?"

Can anyone?

Eric just remained silent for a few minutes. So Jackie went back to staring out of the window. She saw a poor person walking down the street carry a brown paper bag.

'Gee…I wonder what is in there, you cant just walk around with that in the open.'

Jackie learned that lesson a long time ago. She had been trying to impress Steven.

Steven…

But then that stupid cop showed up and busted them and he heroically took the rap for it all. 'How romantic'. It didn't matter though, Red had kicked him out and then he just vanished. He didn't even try to get in touch with anyone. Not to let them know he was okay or where he was. Or to let them know whether he was lying in a ditch somewhere.

Inconsiderate Bastard.

Poor Poor …Steven Hyde.

There were, of course, rumors about his whereabouts. Some say he lives in New York. Some say he is in California. And some even say he lives here in Point Place Wisconsin with a new identity and look. 'What a load of crap…' If he was here, Jackie Burkhart would know it. There was no one here she didn't know. She wondered if she would ever see him again….

"…before" Eric said looking straight ahead.

"What?" she asked completely confused.

"I said….I couldn't protect you before, and you only lived 3 blocks away from me. How the hell can I protect you when you live more the 3000 blocks away from me.?" He said shakily

She waited. Inhale…exhale… "I will miss you too Eric, I love you, but this is what is best for me right now. Can you please understand that?" she whispered, while putting her hand over his.

He looked at their and hands and slowly nodded. The rest of the trip was in complete silence. Both just enjoying each others presence.

They arrived at the airport and Eric helped her with her bags. He walked with her to her assigned departure gate number 4. She was getting more nervous now.

"Do you have your ticket?" he asked in a fatherly way

"Yes." she held it up.

"Do you have your medicine?"

"Yes"

"Do you have the list of numbers and contacts in New York"

'Can you ride without your training wheels, you're such a big girl now' she thought sarcastically.

"Yes." she said while rolling her eyes.

"Do you have your--"

"Eric! I will be fine, I will call you if I need anything. You can visit me in a few months, and I will be OKAY…" she said shaking his shoulders.

"I'm gonna miss you Burkhart." He smiled.

"Im gonna miss you too, but I have to go, they just called my flight."

"Yeah sure okay, …oh ..wait, I brought you something….from…my house…and..well…here." he said a little reluctantly and shoved and white bag her way.

She tore it open. Jackie Burkhart loved presents.

"Its…and a ….Stars Wars …doll…" she looked up at him questioningly

He rolled his eyes, "ACTION FIGURE!"

"Whatever…why did you give me this. You are the nerd here, not me." she smiled.

"HA. HA. You're real funny, um NOT! Anyway, Its my favorite one and well I wanted you to have…you know…..to remember me…when you…get scared.." he finish hoping he didn't sound to cheesy.

"Eric, I Love it! Thank you!" she said touched, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"No problem Jackie" he replied sheepishly.

She smiled. "well I had better get going, or else I will miss it. Goodbye Eric. Thank you for everything." She said misty eyed and gave him a huge hug.

Goodbye.

"Bye Jackie, Remember to call me when you get there." he reminded her while hugging her back.

She just pinched his cheek and nodded.

Point Place. She was going to miss it.

On the plane, she took the seat closest to the window. She wanted to see the city as she came in. It was New York for gods sake. The BIG APPLE!.

Oh God.

She was really nervous now. What if Eric was right? What if something happened? It was so far away too.

Cant think like that.

She was letting go of the past. That is what she needed to do. She felt the airplane take off the run way. She closed her eyes tight.

5 hours till a new life

2000 miles away from possibility.

Inhale…Exhale…Inhale…

1...2...3...4...

Counting was such a stupid concept.

A.N. I know, that was really long. And don't worry, J/H coming up. And there no J/E romance, just friends. The next update will probably take a little longer. Sorry. But if you review… I will try to make it as fast as I can. This may be alittle confusing, but dont worry, Jackie will get better. with help..lol.