Behind Steven Hyde's Blue Eyes

By: Tokoyami

Author's Note: I am so sorry it took me so long to update, but I just got back from vacation yesterday. Sorry I made you all wait so long, but finally here is the fifth chapter of Behind Steven Hyde's Blue Eyes. The title of this chapter is based on a song by The Grateful Dead called 'Box of Rain.'

Disclaimer: I do not own That 70's Show or any of its characters. I do not own any of the songs that I am using for my chapter titles.

Chapter Five

Box of Rain

Sadness and numbness was mostly all he could see. But he could faintly see betrayal and hurt and a tint of angry hidden behind them. His eyes held all these emotions many years ago…first when his father left, then when his mother left. When the only ones who he had ever trusted and maybe loved had abandoned him forever. Frozen motionless…everything had seemed to stop, even the beating of his heart, as he had watched them leave. He had stood in the doorway just like she did now, with the same emotions painted on his eyes. Those emotions had been what were behind Steven Hyde's blue eyes many years before now. And now he stood to the side of Jackie Burkhart, whose eyes were now expressing the same emotions. Hyde just gazed into them, remembering every painful feeling…and he felt her sorrow. He wasn't feeling her pain right now, but he was hurting with her because of memory.

Jackie Burkhart was experiencing the same emotions he had once felt so long ago. Except it pained him more, for some peculiar reason, to see her feel these emotions. He hated the sadness in her eyes and how she just stared numbly. But most of all he hated Kelso. This especially startled him because he had never even cared when Kelso had cheated on Jackie before with Laurie or any other girl. But now he utterly loathed him. What had happened? It's Jackie…the Jackie who you supposedly "hate." He looked at her again and his thoughts stopped.

She had started to frown and tilt her head. She didn't even look surprised that Kelso was currently making out with another girl. Jackie just gazed at them, looking like she had known all along. And back in the car, when she asked where Kelso was, it seemed like she was just asking "Where is he cheating on me with another girl, now?" His fist clenched. He began to anger, which was not a good thing.

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Why? Why did he have to keep doing this to me? Was I not enough to satisfy him? Why did he have to keep breaking my heart?

These thoughts flashed through Jackie's head after she had finally let the scene before her sink in. It looked so familiar, and it should have. Just when she was beginning to get over the last time he cheated, he would run off and cheat again. It was beginning to wear Jackie down. She knew that she no longer loved him the way she had used to. But still it hurt her to see her first love in front of her kissing another girl. She was sad that it had to be this way. She had always dreamed herself with Michael in the future, married, and with children. But her dreams had been broken and she had been crashed back to reality. She had even tried to make this relationship work. She had been less demanding and more loving. But it seemed Michael had cheated even quicker this time.

She looked once more and frowned. She tilted her head. He was so predictable…then why did her heart still hurt. Would she always feel like this towards Michael? She sighed. She didn't want to hurt anymore. It was so tiresome and even though she should be used to it by now…each time Michael cheated she hurt more and more.

Suddenly she felt someone grab her arm. Startled she slowly looked up. It was Steven. He was looking at her. But it wasn't his usually cold, indifferent look. He was looking at her with understanding and sympathy. She couldn't see his eyes, but she knew they were holding these same emotions. And turned and pulled her away from the room…away from the hurtful scene…away from Michael. He never once let go of her arm until they reached the car. He opened the door for her and she got in his car. He then went around and got into the driver's seat. He started the ignition and sped away from the house…from the party…from Michael.

What had he done? Why had he done it?

Hyde drove home as he pondered the actions he had just committed. He had taken Jackie by the arm and led her out of the house. He had done it because he felt like punching Kelso. He had to get away. Then why had he taken Jackie with him? Because she looked just like he did when his loved ones left him. Shut up! That's not the reason…she looked so sad…and…and I hated to see her sad. But why…why had I even cared? I am not supposed to care.

It began to rain. Why did the weather have to match the mood? God damn weather…probably the government's fault again. He angrily thought of what to do next. He glanced over at Jackie. She was staring out of the window again.

I'm so confused…Why…why did he take me…why didn't he leave me…why was everything so confusing.

Jackie was contemplating over what had just happened. She had gone from heartbreak to gratitude…and some other feeling she had never felt towards Hyde before. All of these events had happened so quickly and she was beginning to tire. All this thinking was causing her to become fatigued. So Jackie decided to stop thinking about what just happened and look out the window. Great, it was raining. But, it wasn't the hard raining…just a light drizzle.

Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -

Soft lyrics were filling her ears. I guess Steven turned on the radio. She continued to listen to the gentle music. It was talking about dreams and a box of rain. She was too tired to try to understand the lyrics. But she did notice that the third verse was matching her life.

Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land
Maybe you're tired and broken
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through

Jackie looked over at Hyde and smiled a soft smile. Hyde saw her and returned the smile reassuringly. He had chosen the right song to play. For the rest of the ride home, the two sat in silence while listening to The Grateful Dead. There were many excellent songs, but Box of Rain fit the moment just right. They arrived at Jackie's house. Jackie thanked Hyde and exited the car. She walked slowly toward her door.

She was about to enter when she suddenly felt a presence behind her. She turned around and came about three inches from Hyde's chest. She looked up at Hyde's face, the position felling all to familiar.

"Jackie…"Hyde began, "Are…are you going to be all right? Because…because you can always come to me if you need help or whatever…" Why hell was he saying this?

"Thank you Steven," Jackie smiled, "It might take awhile, but I'll eventually get over it. And Steven?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being there for me…it really helped."

"Whatev-…any time."

Neither knew who moved first, but somehow the heartbroken princess ended up in the "emotionless" Hyde's arms. And they stood there embracing each other in the rain.

Author's Note: I hoped you like the chapter. Again sorry the update took so long. I hope you all like love triangles because I am hoping to have one in the next few chapters. Please review and criticism is always welcome.