Disclaimer: I don't own characters.

Warning: Mild language

AN: Thanks so much for the reviews! And for just reading this! I used some quotes from the show here, I'm sure there are more and probably better ones that I could have used, but oh well! I'm expecting this story to go about three more chapters. But then, sometimes I don't do what I expect, so I guess you never know!

Reawakening

Chapter 6 – This Can't Be Heaven

Jackie stood in a dark and cold, narrow hallway. She looked around herself in disgust; it smelled musty, dirty, and everything was black. The walls, the floor, the benches that lined the walls. Only a few small lanterns mounted on the walls lit the hall, but even so, she could see that it stretched out for seemingly forever in both directions. "This can't be heaven," she muttered, making a face. Heaven would never look so dreary. Heaven would be full of rainbows and unicorns, pretty things just like her. And Donny Osmond would be serenading her. Here, there wasn't even anything pink.

She shivered. Where in the hell was she? And what was she doing here?

Wow, you look beautiful.

She whirled around and peered down the hallway. Was that Steven? Had she really heard Steven's voice? Her heart raced, and to her amazement, a small circle of glowing pink began to open in the blackness.

What are you doing man? Come on, cheerleader, dirtbag…

The pink circle grew bigger, and she smiled. Maybe that's where heaven was. She began walking towards it.

Jackie, get your car. We're going on a freaking date!

"I'm coming," she called excitedly. She began to run, and the circle continued to grow larger.

You're really cute, so no one ever told you to shut your piehole…I sicken me because you're supposed to sicken me but you don't…Look, all I'm saying is if you're gonna be my girlfriend, you can't go running around shooting off your big, fat cheerleader mouth…I thought it might cheer you up…It's my favorite one. Look, you're with me now so I want you to have it…I am liking you more and more…

She started laughing joyously. Obviously Steven was waiting for her. And when she got to him, they'd be together and everything would be okay. He'd realize that she was all he'd ever desired, and that they had a future together.

Jackie. I love you.

"I love you too, Steven!" she called. Her entire body felt energized and warm, and the pink light seemed even more brilliant and beautiful. She was almost there; she could sense the light reaching out to welcome her, and she ran as fast as she could.

But just as she was about to step into the beautiful glow, a strong force from behind her began tugging her backwards, away from the light that promised her every dream. "NO!" she screamed, struggling and squirming her body against her unseen captor.

It didn't help. She was turned around and pushed towards an increasingly dark blackness.

Look man, you and I, don't have anything in common. You're like, a square you know. A cheerleader. So just roller-disco on out of here…Get this through your little easy bake oven head. I don't love you. I don't like you. I can barely stand to look at you. Okay?

It was his voice, but this time brutal and harsh, and getting louder with each horrible word. Jackie closed her eyes and tried with all of her might to stop moving, but she couldn't. She tried to block out the sounds, but the words wrapped around her and forced her brain to listen. Her mouth opened to scream, but her voice was gone. Dead.

Don't worry. I'm over it. In fact, I'm over you…This is my date. You didn't think I was gonna wait around for you all summer, did you…Forget it, Jackie. Maybe you're just not my type.

Her head shook back and forth. "No," she mouthed soundlessly. "No!"

An abrupt push, violent and rough, and suddenly she was falling.

Steven's voice mocked her as she fell into a pit of black.

Why can't you just be happy with what we've got…Jackie, I don't know…I don't know…Okay. Well, I guess you've always got Kelso to fall back on. Or Fez…Leaving so soon? I'm disappointed…I don't want YOUR company, Jackie…Well, the thing is, I never loved you.

I never loved you.

I NEVER LOVED YOU!

Her head kept rolling back and forth as she continued the free fall. "No...no…no…."

"Jackie."

"No…no…." Something clutched at her hand, but as much as she tried, she couldn't shake it off. Her body was drained and cold and useless.

"Jackie?" Hyde stood next to her bed and stared down at her. Her head was moving back and forth on her pillow, and her whimpering was becoming faster and slightly louder. He could see her eyes moving underneath her closed lids. He held her hand gently. "Jackie…"

He'd thought he wanted to stay with her until she woke up, so she wouldn't wake up alone and scared. But now, as he watched her eyelids begin to flicker, threatening to open, he panicked. His face was the last she'd want to see when she woke up. And it might even hurt her somehow if she got upset immediately after waking up. At least that's what he told himself.

He dropped her hand and walked towards the door. She'd never miss him because she'd never know he was here. He could leave and pretend that he hadn't stayed in her room all night, hiding in the bathroom when nurses came to check on her. And since she'd never know, she could never read more into it than there was.

Hyde closed the door softly behind him and was startled to find Donna and Eric standing across the hall. And from the looks on their faces, they were just as shocked to find him coming out of Jackie's room.

Donna stared at him. He looked exhausted and was in the same clothes he'd worn yesterday. "Have you…have you been here all night, Hyde?"

He stared impassively at her. "No, of course not," he lied. His face felt hot. Damn, he had to get out of her before he actually turned red. Turning red was just not cool, not Zen, and at the moment, he was too tired to be in control. "I was just in the neighborhood."

Donna looked at Eric, who was in turn looking curiously at Hyde. "O….kay," she answered.

Hyde rolled his eyes. "I think she's waking up, so…"

Donna arched an eyebrow. "Don't you want to be with her when she wakes up?"

He glared at her. "Get bent."

Donna watched him turn and stalk off. She shook her head. "Well, what do you know? He was here all night. In Jackie's room." She looked at Eric. "First the crying, now this. I'm beginning to think he cares."

Eric gazed at Hyde's retreating form. "You'd be surprised, Donna," he answered with a slight shake of his head. "You'd be surprised."

Donna arched an eyebrow at her boyfriend. "What do you know?"

Eric's eyes widened. "What? No! I don't know anything!"

Donna grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Eric, what…do…you….know?"

Eric coughed slightly as she twisted the shirt, and he pulled her hands away from his neck. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you. But you can't tell anyone."

She grinned and let go of his shirt. "Deal."

Forty minutes later

Donna smiled down at Jackie. She looked worn out and beat up, but alive, and Donna was startled by how grateful she was for that. "You look…good."

Jackie rolled her eyes. "If I look so good, then why won't you get me a mirror?" She reached up to smooth her hand over the top of her head and groaned. "God, my hair hasn't even been brushed! It's all ratty!"

Donna chuckled. "Jackie, you're in the hospital. No one expects you to look good."

Jackie frowned. "I expect me to look good!"

"Same old Jackie," Eric said from the opposite side of Jackie's bed. He put his hand on top of hers. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's good to know that the accident hasn't affected your attitude."

Jackie turned and smiled up at him. "Thanks for the flowers," she said softly.

He smiled and squeezed her hand. "I'm really glad you're okay, Jackie." He glanced at Donna. "I uh…I think I'm going to go see if Hyde is still…"

Jackie's heart skipped a beat. "Steven's here?"

Eric and Donna stared at one another for a long moment. "Uh…I'll be back later." He patted Jackie's hand and then left.

Jackie looked at Donna. "Donna…Steven's here?"

Donna nodded. "Yeah." She really should lie and make it seem like Hyde didn't care; after all, Hyde was the one who had hurt Jackie so much she had to go driving in the worst rainstorm Point Place had had in twenty years. But then again, he'd cried. And he'd stayed in Jackie's room all night. "He's really upset about this, Jackie."

For a few seconds, Jackie felt happiness and excitement, and she smiled slightly. "Really?" Steven was upset? That meant he cared. That meant he hadn't meant….And then she remembered what had driven her out into the rain in the first place. Those horrible words. Her expression cooled. "Good. He should be."

"Do you want to see him? Maybe talk?"

Jackie shook her head, even though a huge part of her did want to see him. She was scared; she was hurting, physically and emotionally, and Steven had always made her feel safe. Like when her father had been arrested and her mother was gone, how he'd insisted she sleep in his room at the Forman's instead of alone in her big, empty house. But that was a long time ago, in the past. Over. She swallowed back tears. "No. I just…I just want to know he's miserable."

Donna heard the catch in Jackie's voice, and she knew that Jackie was lying. She'd rather know that Hyde cared than that he was miserable, although she'd probably equate one with the other. Probably with good reason. Jackie rolled her head away from Donna, and Donna decided to change the subject. "Well, hey," she started. "You must be in heaven. People bringing you flowers, food, stuffed animals, doing your every bidding."

Jackie turned back to Donna and found her friend grinning at her. She smiled, too. "Donna, this can't be heaven. I mean, look at the wallpaper! Sea green and yellow? Huh uh! Not even heaven could pull that off!" She started to giggle, but a sharp, biting pain shot through her right temple and lodged there, cooling into a painful ache. She winced and rubbed her fingers on the spot.

Donna frowned. "Jackie, you okay?" she asked worriedly. "Should I get the doctor?"

Jackie shook her head, her eyes closed. "No, I just…" She was exhausted, and having her eyes closed felt so good. "Maybe I should just sleep for awhile."

Donna nodded and gently rubbed her best friend's hand. "Okay. I'll be back later." She got no response; obviously Jackie was half asleep already, and so she turned and left the room quietly. As she closed the door behind her, she noticed Hyde standing across the hall, now in new clothes. He must have gone home and changed and come right back here. She smiled.

"Is she asleep?" he asked.

Donna rolled her eyes. "Are you only going to visit her when she's asleep?" He looked away, and she shook her head. "I think that's stupid, Hyde. The least you could do is apologize to her while she she's conscious."

Hyde stared at Donna. Damn Forman. He was such a girl. "Forman told you," he bit off.

Donna nodded and stepped towards her friend. Yeah, he was suffering, but not more than Jackie. "Look, the least you can do is tell her you're sorry. Even if you really meant what you said, which I don't think you really did." She raised her eyebrows. "Unless, of course, you just don't give a damn." With that said, she turned and walked away.

Hyde shook his head and stared at the floor. She was probably right. It was stupid to avoid Jackie, and eventually he'd have to see her when she was awake. He looked at he closed door and walked over to it. Through the window he could see Jackie. Her eyes were closed, and it looked as if she was sleeping, but maybe she was just resting her eyes. He took a deep breath. Maybe she'd wake up if he went in there. And if she didn't, that was fine too. He could put off the inevitable apology that he had to, even wanted to make.

Damn it, why was it so hard? Why did he feel so…out of control and uncertain?

He should just turn around and split. This wasn't worth it. He should go get drunk or stoned….anything to numb himself. He didn't like feeling, and it seemed like that was all he was doing lately.

Instead, he reached out and opened the door to Jackie's room.