Again, thanks for the reviews. Had an especially large influx of the "Update Now" variety. Hope you find the climax to your satisfaction – could not escape a bit of melodrama with this type of story but tried to keep it in character. Stay tuned tomorrow for the final chapter.
Chapter 18 – Both Hands
The shot went wide as Jackie's elbow connected sharply with Dex's solar plexus. She had woken up from her drugged state ten minutes ago but had pretended to still be unconscious, waiting for the right moment. She turned around to try to wrestle the gun from him but she was still weak and he was much stronger. At least I saved Steven, she thought as Dex pushed her to the ground and then cocked the gun at her.
What happened next would replay in Jackie's nightmares for the rest of her life. As Dex pulled the trigger, his face twisted with hate, Steven threw himself on top of her body. She felt a shudder ripple through him as the gun cracked, and then felt his dead weight. Not until she reached around him and felt the warm stickiness of his blood did she understand. As she rolled Steven over, she was consumed with such fear for his life she did not even notice Nick tackle Dex to the ground, sending the gun flying.
"Steven," she screamed, trying to shake life into his inert body. His eyes were closed and his face was growing paler by the second. "Steven, don't leave me – Oh God, help me, please," she sobbed. The very thought of Steven not being in this world made her want to die with him. All their problems, all the wrongs they had done each other were small and petty compared to the finality of death. A gut-wrenching sorrow overwhelmed Jackie, as she begged Hyde to stay with her and kissed his clammy face repeatedly. "I love you, Steven. I love you so much. Oh God, at least let him hear me say that." she weeped brokenly. Then Nick was at her side, his hand on her shoulder.
"Jackie – God, I'm so sorry." Blood was pooling underneath Hyde's body at a sickening rate. As he witnessed Jackie's deep grief, he felt such compassion for her that it pushed out all jealousy.
Jackie turned to him, her face suddenly fierce. "We have to get him to a hospital. Quick, help me get him into the car." Nick obeyed, although he did not see much hope for Hyde. He then threw a knocked out Dex into the trunk of the Saab and tore back to the city at a furious speed. Jackie sat in the back seat with Hyde's body stretched along its length, his head in her lap. As her tears washed his face she whispered words of love, begging him to stay with her. She thought she felt a faint pulse in his neck but was so agitated she could not be sure.
After what seemed an eternity they finally drew up outside of the hospital, screeching into the emergency bay. Paramedics pulled Hyde out of the car and strapped him onto a gurney, rushing him into the ER. Jackie was about to follow when Nick spoke.
"Jackie, I really hate to leave you but I've got to get Tanner to the police and set things in motion. I'm sorry – I'll be as fast as I can." He felt guilty as she stared at him, too numb to comprehend. "It's just – there's more than one life at stake here."
"Sharon," Jackie said as she finally took in his words. "Of course. She needs you. You have to put the person you love first." She said this with no reproach, just as a statement of fact. "I have to be with Steven now."
"I understand," Nick said with a sad smile. "Go to Steven." His words were a benediction to her. With a small nod, she turned and ran into the hospital.
The next four hours were the longest Jackie had ever known as doctors fought for Steven Hyde's life on the operating table. When the chief surgeon finally emerged, he told her that they had successfully repaired the damage the bullet had done to Hyde's organs but their main concern was his loss of blood. Twice he had needed to be resuscitated during the operation and his body had undergone a lot of trauma. In short, it was critical that he wake from his coma within the next 12 hours.
"Can I stay with him?" Jackie asked shakily.
"You will have to wear sterile scrubs but I think we can allow that." Poor kid, the doctor thought. No harm in letting her say goodbye to her boyfriend.
So Jackie stayed by Hyde's bedside all that night, stroking his hand and talking to him – words of love, promises of the wonderful life they would have when he woke up, threats that if he didn't come back to her she would smash all his Led Zeppelin records and paint his car pink. She talked until her throat was hoarse and her eyelids heavy, until her exhausted body finally gave out on her and she fell asleep in the chair. She woke as the dawn light crept into the hospital room, opened her eyes and looked into Steven's sky blue eyes regarding her steadily from the hospital bed. They stared at each other for a good 5 seconds before Jackie blinked.
"Steven!" she cried gladly. She wanted to throw herself on top of him but contented herself with holding his hand tightly.
"Jackie – are you OK?" he rasped from a dry throat.
"Me? I'm not the one with tubes sticking out of me," Jackie chided, reaching for a glass of water. After he had drunk from it, he said wonderingly, "You look terrible."
"And they call me tactless," Jackie griped but she could not stop smiling.
"I just mean your eyes are red. You've been crying?" She nodded. "Over me?" Another nod. This inspired his smug know-it-all smirk that under any other circumstances she would have slapped off his face. But now his typical Hydeness only filled her with thanksgiving. "I'm starting to think you must still have feelings for me, doll."
"Now what gave it away?" Jackie said, trying to control the idiotic smile that would not be repressed. "Was it the way I've been glued to your side since you got hurt? Or the 1,001 times I've told you I love you in the last 12 hours? Or the fact that I've cried so many tears over you your face is cleaner than it's been since swimming season?"
"Come here," Hyde said huskily, pulling on her hand. Gently she bent her head down and kissed him, slowly and sweetly. It was a kiss of love, forgiveness and a new beginning for them both.
"I love you," he said solemnly, holding her gaze.
"I love you," she breathed, stroking his cheek.
No more words were needed.
……………………………
Later that morning Nick poked his head into Hyde's room. The doctors had been so impressed with Hyde's condition that he had been moved from the ICU to the recovery ward.
"Hey Hyde," he greeted. "I hear you're going to make a full recovery. Damn! That's going to play hell with my rep that the guy who steals my girl isn't permanently injured." His hard words were contradicted by his grin as he walked over to take Hyde's hand in one of those manly hand clasp deals.
"Yeah, like anyone would believe a college boy like you could do real damage," Hyde scoffed, returning Nick's grin.
"I never realised until now how much alike you two boneheads are," Jackie remarked as she exited the ensuite bathroom. Nick opened his arms to her and she walked into his embrace for a comforting hug. "What happened with Dex?" she asked.
"The police are holding him for our attempted murders – an officer will be taking your statements today. Good news is that my testimony was enough to get a warrant to search Tanner's house and they found all kinds of incriminating documents connecting him with overseas drug smuggling, including Singapore. The American Embassy will contact the Singapore Government today and are sure they will be able to get a stay of execution for Sharon until Tanner is indited."
"Nick, that's wonderful," Jackie enthused.
"Yeah, I'm happy for you, man," Hyde agreed.
Nick collapsed into a chair, worn out but at peace for the first time in two months. As he observed Jackie plumping Hyde's pillows and Hyde declaring unconvincingly he didn't want her fussing over him, he thought he had never seen such open happiness on her face before. There was something about the electricity that snapped between these two that made him very impatient to get to Sharon and find out exactly what these unfinished feelings they shared meant.
After Nick left Hyde remarked to Jackie, "You're looking more like your usual immaculate self. Enjoy your shower?"
"Mmmm, after all the blood, sweat and tears I never needed one more. Say, what kind of marker did you use on my butt? I soaped and scrubbed at your stupid brand but it wouldn't come off."
"Oh yeah, about that."
"Do I need to use some special kind of cleaning solution? I wonder if this hospital has a dermatologist."
"Well, the thing is…" Jackie regarded his guilty countenance with suspicion. "You see, I thought it was just a regular marker – I'd never even heard of a permanent marker before – "
"Permanent?" screeched Jackie.
"It might not be," he said weakly. "It's never been… er… tested on human skin before."
"Wonderful. Just wonderful," Jackie exclaimed, pacing the floor and gesticulating furiously. "So what, I go through the rest of my life with Property of Steven J. Hyde stamped on my ass like some heifer? Is that what you're telling me?"
"It's not so bad," Hyde argued. "I mean, no-one will ever see it – except me. Its not so unusual if you think about it – the western culture has always been into symbols that signify possession of one person by another. Take engagement rings, for instance."
"Engagement rings?" Jackie repeated, her ears practically lifting upwards like a cocker spaniel that hears its name.
"Say – hypothetically – I was to give you an engagement ring, that would be the politically correct way of saying you're my property. Are you saying you wouldn't want to wear something like that?" For a hypothetical question, Hyde seemed to be pretty anxious about her answer. Jackie suddenly seemed to have a hard time meeting his eyes as she considered her response.
"Well, there's quite a difference between a radiant cut two carat engagement ring in a white gold setting with sapphire brilliants and having you scribble on my ass while I'm sleeping. I mean, I have nothing against engagement rings per se." Jackie peeked at Hyde from under her lashes to find him grinning at her.
"I will keep your position on the matter in mind when I get out of here," he promised.
Jackie laughed joyfully and stretched out on her stomach as close to Hyde as she could without endangering him. He leaned down and kissed her.
"Agreed," she said with sparkling eyes. "On one condition!" He raised his eyebrows. "I'm going to get that marker from Michael and then you, my friend, will be presenting your cheek to me for some matching art work."
"What? No, Jackie, that's going too far." Hyde protested.
"No argument, Steven. If you're going to be my husband, you should start practicing some obedience."
"Yes dear," Hyde said mockingly.
"That's better," Jackie said happily, cuddling her head against his shoulder.