Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

Warning: Mild language.

Reawakening

Chapter 2 – The Same Old Thing

Two weeks later

"No pushing Styx albums on people, Forman. And none of that crap you used to roller disco to, either." Hyde shook his head when Forman just smiled back at him from the cash register of the record store he managed. After Forman had somehow convinced Donna they should get back together, Randy left, no notice, no goodbye, nothing, leaving Hyde in need of a clerk. Mrs. Forman pleaded with him to hire Forman so he could save for college. He'd given in even though he was sure it was a bad idea. But too late now. The deed was done.

"Hyde, what difference does it make what people buy?" Eric questioned with the same uncontrollable grin that had been on his face since he and Donna reunited. "A sale is a sale."

Hyde groaned. "No, man, why do you think I got rid of all the Andy Gibb? A sale of Andy Gibb is NOT a sale!" He threw his shoulders back. "You'll make me look bad. So don't." He grabbed a clipboard from the counter and walked away to take some inventory.

He busied himself by checking out some bins, counting records, jotting down notes. He managed to concentrate enough to only barely notice when Donna walked into the store, passing him with a short "hi". He mumbled a greeting but kept working, until the quietness of the store began to bother him. He looked around and sighed. No customers. Of course, it was early, but business had been a little slow lately, and it worried him.

"No, YOU are the sexiest little…"

Hyde rolled his eyes at the cooing coming out of Forman's mouth. "Shut the hell up, Forman," he growled. "You're bugging the customers."

Eric drew away from his girlfriend's lips and looked around. "And what customers would you be referring to?"

Hyde grinned sarcastically at Forman. "Fine. You're bugging ME." He shook his head and walked towards the counter.

Eric pulled Donna in closer to him, and he smiled adoringly at her. "So, Donna, isn't love grand?" He turned over his shoulder. "Hyde, don't you think love is grand?"

Donna rolled her eyes. "God, Eric, that's so cheesy!" Her eyes softened. "I've missed you so much!"

Hyde again rolled his eyes while the two sickeningly sweet lovebirds hugged. "God, knock it off, man," he said tightly. "Seriously, you're both sick freaks."

The door of the store opened, and Hyde glanced up to see Kelso, Fez and Jackie walk in. They were all laughing at something, and called out chirping hellos. His fingers tightened around the clipboard for some reason, and he stared at the three of them as they sat down in the listening pit. "They're like the Three Musketeers lately," he said, unaware of the almost biting tone his words had. He watched her take off her coat and make herself comfortable on the couch.

She was wearing that off the shoulder, creamy colored dress she'd worn the day Kelso came back from California. The day he'd had to watch for the first of so very many times as Kelso hit on her. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a slight smile, and he turned away from it.

Games. She was always playing games, and this dress was just another ploy.

But she looked incredibly beautiful. As always. And it bothered him. As always.

Donna and Eric exchanged looks, and she moved slightly away from him towards Hyde. "Hey Hyde," she said. "You know that Brooke is moving back to Point Place to be with Kelso, don't you? He and Jackie are through for good. And Fez…well, he's just Fez."

He shrugged and gave her a scoffing look. "Doesn't matter to me," he said.

Donna looked at Eric, and he nodded. They both knew better. Hyde was lying, whether he would admit it or not.

Jackie hesitated slightly before pulling the door to Steven's record store open. She was nervous; this plan depended on Steven having some degree of sentimentality. Unfortunately, he wasn't exactly known for it.

She took a deep breath and reminded her of that t-shirt he'd given her. And not just any t-shirt, his favorite one. He'd smiled when she asked if she had to wear it, and he'd smiled even more when she actually had worn it on one of their dates. Yeah, somewhere inside of him there was something soft. She used to be able to reach it. And she'd do it again.

With a smile, she opened the door and walked in. The store was empty again, she noticed, and Steven stood at the counter looking a bit perturbed. 'I'll cheer him up,' she thought. "Hey Steven."

Hyde glanced up. "Hey," he said. Damn. He was in no mood for her. After she and her two lapdogs left this morning, he'd hardly been able to stop thinking about her and that stupid dress. And her shoulders. And her hair. Her lips and eyes. He wanted to look away as she pranced up to him, but he couldn't.

"So, I was thinking that if you're not busy….maybe we could go have dinner at the Sizzler. My treat." She smiled sweetly. "Maybe I'll even buy you some new boots."

He blinked. "Look, Jackie," he started slowly, trying to keep his temper in check. She was really going all out to try to get to him. But she wasn't going to. "You gotta stop this, okay?"

Jackie bit her lip nervously. "Stop what?"

He gestured at her. "Bringing up the past…that dress… asking me to go to the Sizzler." He shook his head and looked at her harshly. "I don't want to remember it, and we're sure as hell not going back to it. So just cut it out."

She swallowed hard and brushed her hair off her shoulder. "You're growing a beard again," she pointed out, flicking her hand up towards his face. Funny, she thought, how that hadn't started again until after that evening in the basement when he'd commented about her outfit.

"Not because I'm trying to manipulate you. I'm just too lazy to shave."

She looked down. Sure, she was trying to manipulate him. It was what she did. But he made it sound so evil. It wasn't evil. It was motivated by what she'd finally come to accept she still felt for him; love. "Look, Steven, I just thought that you'd like some company. I know the store isn't doing so well right now…"

Hyde pursed his lips.

"And you've been alone a lot again. I just…"

He shook his head and spoke before she could say they should be alone together. "I don't want your company, Jackie, okay?" His chest felt tight as he spat the words at her, and yet, he knew for the sake of his sanity, he had to. He and Jackie just didn't work together. Yeah, there'd been some good times…some great times…but it always ended up badly. Yeah, he' been happ…less pissed off. But it always went wrong. He didn't need to go through that again.

And neither did she.

Tears pierced her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. And she refused to look away from him, even though her face began to feel hot. She summoned her pride. God, what had she been thinking? He was just a jerk! A heartless jerk! "You know what? That's cool," she said as haughtily as she could. Her eyes narrowed into a glare. "The Sizzler is too good for you anyway. You belong in ratty bars and nasty strip clubs full of cheap whores. After all, cheap whores are your type, right?" Her eyes flashed fire at him for a full ten seconds before she turned away from him.

Hyde's Adam's apple bounced in his throat as he watched her turn and flounce out of the store, and his eyes bored holes into her retreating form. "Bitch," he mumbled angrily.

He hadn't missed the pain in her voice, though, and that stung. She was still hurt. He'd thought she was long over his marriage to Sam, but apparently she wasn't.

He shook his head and turned to head back to his office. No. He wasn't going to feel guilty. After all, this was just a game. She was probably just trying to work some angle, to play with him in order to yank Kelso's chain.

And he wasn't going to let her.

That evening, the basement

"Why are we watching this? God, I think this is the stupidest show I've ever seen." Hyde shifted in his chair. He just couldn't get comfortable. He was antsy, restless, but there wasn't anything in particular he wanted to go do.

Eric smiled and put his arm around Donna's shoulders as they sat on the couch. "Ahhh, it's so good to be home," he mused. "Hyde's back to being a pissed off guy in my basement." He looked at Donna. "And I like it!"

"Get bent, Forman," Hyde snapped, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at the show he detested. He shook his head. This night was not shaping up well. The only good part about it was that Jackie wasn't here.

Fez stood in back of the couch, as usual eating candy. "You know, Hyde, I was going to offer you some of my candy. But I don't think I will, since you started growing that beard again me without consulting me." He shook his head. "To mask such a beautiful face is just wrong."

Everyone gave Fez weird looks, and he held up a hand. "I said wrong!"

Hyde rolled his eyes and muttered something incomprehensible.

Kelso, sitting on the couch nearest to Hyde's chair, laughed. "Aw, Hyde's just mad cause his hot stripper wife left him for another man." He winced when Hyde's fist pounded his arm, and immediately began to rub it. "Damn, Hyde! I'm just SAYIN'!"

Hyde stood up. "Whatever," he said. And without another word, he quickly walked to his room.

Just as he did, the basement door opened, and Jackie walked in.

Fez smiled and stood up. "Ah, Jackie," he cooed. "Would you like to go to the Hub? We could share a milkshake." He stared at her thoughtfully. "And you can take your top off."

Jackie looked at him in disgust. Fez could be so creepy, even though he was her friend. "I don't think so, Fez," she said, her voice unusually quiet. She looked around. "Is Steven here?"

Donna nodded. "He's in his room."

Jackie nodded back. "Oh." She gave Donna a pleading look. "I uh…I kind of want to talk to him."

Kelso shrugged. "Good luck with that. He's all grumpy because his hot stripper wife is gone."

Jackie sighed impatiently. "Look, could you guys please leave? I want to talk to Steven and I want to do it in private."

Kelso pouted as the others stood up. "But I wanna stay and listen!"

Donna rolled her eyes and pulled him to his feet. "Lets go, King of the Idiots." She pushed him towards the basement door and glanced back at Jackie. "Good luck"

Jackie watched the others leave, standing in the basement until Fez closed the door behind them, and then she took a deep breath. Her eyes were sore, but she'd managed to mask their redness and puffiness. She just hoped that he would be willing to listen to her.

She started to walk back towards his room, but stopped when he came out. "Steven," she breathed, her heart instantly beating faster. Just the sight of him did that to her. It always had.

"What do you want, Jackie?" Hyde asked coolly. He fixed his face in his best Zen mask. This wasn't bothering him. He was just going with the flow. Nothing could penetrate.

She noticed, and twisted her fingers together. "I just…I just want to talk to you for a few minutes." She licked her lips. "Please." All he did was stare at her, and she frowned. "Steven, please."

Hyde closed his eyes for a moment. "Fine. Talk." She smiled, and he raised an eyebrow. "You've got five minutes."