A/N: All right, so I'm thinking this story will have 9 or 10 chapters, so I've got a few more to go. Oh, also, this is not the chapter where Sam leaves. I know, I promised she'd be gone, and I'm really sorry, but this chapter turned out longer than I'd expected and I decided to split it up into two. However, she's not actually in this chapter, she's just mentioned, and she will be written out of the story completely by the next chapter. So yeah, please don't hate me again! I really appreciate all the reviews, they really keep me motivated, so thank you everyone who reviewed!

Chapter Seven – Convincing Steven Hyde: part I

Hyde sighed heavily. "God, Kelso, not you too."

"Not me too, what?" Kelso replied, momentarily forgetting his anger in his confusion.

"I see you have a letter from Jackie," Hyde said, indicating the crinkled letter in Kelso's hand.

Kelso eyed him suspiciously. "How did you know it was from Jackie?"

"I'm psychic," Hyde retorted sarcastically, and then demanded, "Give it to me," as he reached out for the letter.

Holding the letter just out of Hyde's grasp, Kelso taunted, "Well, if you're psychic, then why don't you just tell me what the letter says?"

Hyde rolled his eyes. "Because I'm not really psychic, you moron. Donna was just here; she had a letter from Jackie, too."

Kelso set his jaw. "So you already know she's gone." It wasn't a question, or really a statement; it was more an accusation; Kelso was blaming Hyde for Jackie leaving.

"Yeah," Hyde said quietly and sat back in his chair. "I know she's gone."

Taking a seat on the couch, Kelso said, "And you know this is all your fault right?"

A corner of Hyde's mouth quirked upwards in a half-smirk. "Yeah, that's also been brought to my attention."

"Good," Kelso stated firmly and crossed his arms over his chest.

"So let me see the letter, man," Hyde said, holding out his hand again.

Kelso turned his head in Hyde's direction, made a face and asked snottily, "Is it addressed to you?"

"Kelso…" Hyde warned, glaring at him.

Sulking, Kelso shouted, "Fine!" and practically threw the letter at Hyde.

Hyde rolled his eyes, but took the letter anyway. Unfolding the wrinkled paper, he saw her familiar loopy handwriting, the I's all dotted with smiley faces, and he suppressed his own smile, thinking how strange it was that something so childish had grown on him and now seemed endearingly sweet. He was always amazed by these little things that reminded him of Jackie, or reminded him why, even when she could be insufferably shallow and bitchy, underneath she was vulnerable and innocent. It was times like these when he remembered why he'd fallen in love with her, why he felt a strong need to protect her and care for her. He shook his head at his own musings and focused on the letter. It read:

Dear Michael,

I should be extremely pissed off at you right now, but I just can't be. After everything we've been through together, it seems wrong to throw it all away because of a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, may I remind you, that you could have avoided. Anyway, I'm writing this to you because I'm leaving. I'm going back to Chicago, and I don't want you to come after me. I need to start my life and stop moping around about Steven. And I've forgiven you, Michael, for not telling him the truth right away. Like I said, I just can't bring myself to hate you, even though I totally have every right to. I'm sorry for telling you this way, but I couldn't risk seeing everyone in person; it would be too awkward to face Steven again. But on the bright side, now when you visit Brooke and she kicks you out, you can come and stay with me! I will always be here for you, Michael, and even though I think we both know we're better off as friends, I will always love you.

XOXO,

Jackie

Hyde handed back the letter and shrugged. "So I guess you really didn't nail her." Of course, he already knew that, he was just too stubborn to actually admit it until the words were glaring him in the face.

Kelso folded up the letter and grinned at his friend. "Well it wasn't because I didn't try," he said slyly, and then grunted when Hyde frogged him on the arm. "Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying," he grumbled as he rubbed the sore spot.

"Kelso, she was my girlfriend!" Hyde cried.

"Yeah, well," Kelso huffed, "why do you care anyway? You've got a hot blonde stripper for a wife! And, I mean, Jackie was pretty feisty in the sack, but a stripper's gotta be like…well, I don't know, like something that's better than Jackie!"

Hyde was silent. Sure, sex with Sam had been fun, but there was just something about being with Jackie. He didn't know what it was, nor did he care to examine the issue too critically for fear of uncovering a deeply rooted emotion at the source, but something had always made sex with Jackie far better than anything else. And despite the number of girls he'd slept with before her, he'd never felt that, and somehow he knew he'd never find it again after her.

"Besides," Kelso continued, breaking Hyde from his reverie. "You stole her from me first, so I was just getting you back."

A small grin formed on Hyde's lips as he glanced at his friend. "Yeah, I guess I did have that coming."

Kelso pointed a finger at him. "Although, to be fair, you only stole her from me because I took off for California. If I hadn't gone, Jackie and I would probably be married right now." He chuckled. "Man, think of how different things would've been if I'd stayed!"

And Hyde did. He thought of how he and Jackie never would've kissed again, how they never would've begun their little fling and how it never would've gotten so out of control and turned into something much more than either of them thought they had been looking for. He thought of how he never would've been able to hold her or touch her, how he never would've been able to make her laugh or make her furious, how he never would've fallen in love with her despite his best efforts not to.

He suddenly realized Kelso was looking at him, waiting expectantly for some kind of response to his last comment. Hyde stood up and clapped his friend on the back. "Actually, by now, you probably would've been divorced."

Ignoring the jibe, Kelso said, "Speaking of divorce…"

But Hyde cut him off, knowing exactly what was coming. "Look, man, things are complicated. Jackie clearly wants to move on, and I pretty much already have, so why go back?"

Kelso sighed. "Listen, Hyde, Sam's hot, I'm not gonna lie, but you and I both know you don't love her. And even if you still claim you don't love Jackie, you can't deny that you were happy when you were with her; we all saw you two together," his tone changed, becoming bitter as he continued, "with the touching, and the kissing, and the big googly eyes…"

"Hey!" Hyde shouted, offended and trying to save his rapidly disintegrating reputation. "I did not make googly eyes at Jackie, ever!"

"Yeah, well I miss the googly eyes," Kelso pouted.

Hyde just shook his head.

The newsroom was crowded; people were bustling all about carrying papers, clipboards, folders, and all other manner of office supplies. Some were standing in groups; their heads bent low over files as they crossed out and rewrote phrases on their memos. Most barely noticed Jackie as she wound her way through them, carrying a Styrofoam drink holder with six plastic cups of soda in one hand and a bag of sandwiches in the other, but a few that she had become close with before she'd left called out greetings or waved as she dodged past. She didn't have time to stop, however, as she made her way through the labyrinth of people to Mr. Ackerson's office at the end of a long corridor and knocked softly on his door.

"Come in!" came the booming voice from within, and Jackie obediently pushed open the door and stepped into his large, oval office.

Setting down her supplies, Jackie smiled at him. "Good afternoon, Mr. Ackerson." She glanced around at the six others in the office and smiled a greeting at them. This was the WBBM news team: the anchor, Daniel, nephew of Mr. Ackerson, his co-anchor, a woman Jackie vaguely recalled was named Cheryl, the weatherman, Roger, the sports castor, Tom, and Linda and Jerry, two of WBBM's top reporters.

"Ah, Ms. Burkhart," Mr. Ackerson greeted with a smile. "I see you've brought lunch." He stepped forward and dug around inthe bag, pulled out a sandwich, and then looked around at the others. "Dig in, everyone."

The others got up from their seats and headed toward the refreshments, each pausing to offer Jackie a smile or to ask how she was doing since they'd last seen her. Even Cheryl, the woman Jackie didn't really know, offered her a little wave as she grabbed her drink and a sandwich and sat back down at the large mahogany table.

"Oh, Jackie, it's so great to see you!" Linda cried as she stepped forward, enveloping Jackie in a big hug.

Linda had always been one of Jackie's favorite people at the station. She was an incredible journalist, and only two years older than Jackie, serving as the perfect role model for the aspiring reporter. The two had immediately bonded when they'd met and had formed a fast friendship.

"Linda, how have you been?" Jackie squealed as she hugged the slightly taller blonde.

"Busy as usual," Linda replied with a roll of her eyes as she stepped back. She glanced over at the table where Cheryl was picking the tomatoes off her sandwich and commented, "I see you've met the new co-anchor."

Jackie glanced over her shoulder at the small woman with short auburn hair and nodded. "She doesn't seem too bad."

"No, she's all right," Linda conceded, and then leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially, "but she's no Jackie Burkhart. Believe me, we're all pushing for your return to the team. It just isn't the same without the Jackie magic." She winked at her friend and took her lunch back to the table, seating herself next to Roger.

Jackie's face flushed at the compliment, but she couldn't help the swell of pride she felt. At least they weren't bitter at her for leaving; that had been her biggest fear. On the contrary, it seemed now that she was back, the whole team appeared grateful for her return, and apparently, very anxious for her to be back on the set with them. She felt a slight twinge of guilt for Cheryl because she seemed a decent person, but she shrugged it off. If she wanted to regain her place on the WBBM news team, she was going to have to be a little bit ruthless.

"Jackie, it's good to have you back," said a voice from behind her, and Jackie whipped around.

"Oh, Daniel," she said and smiled at him. "Thank you. I'm certainly happy to be back."

Daniel was a very handsome man, with sandy brown hair and dark green eyes. He had also taken an immediate liking to Jackie, and had enjoyed working so closely with her. In fact, he had a bit of a crush on her, and had asked her out for coffee on more than one occasion. Jackie had always declined, and he understood; she'd told him about her horrible break-up with her boyfriend, Steven. When she'd left the station to return to him, Daniel had been disappointed, but his uncle assured him that Jackie had no intention of returning to Point Place this time, and Daniel couldn't help but hope that this time she wouldn't dismiss him so easily.

"I've been putting in a good word for you," he said with a wink. "Sometimes it helps having a friend with connections."

Jackie gave him a shy smile. "Well, I appreciate that, I really do, but I've already explained to your uncle that I'm totally prepared to climb my way up the ladder, one rung at a time."

Daniel nodded. "That's very admirable, Jackie." He flashed her a charming smile. "I'm sure it'll take you no time at all to win back everyone's hearts."

Another blush crept up Jackie's cheeks, but thankfully, Mr. Ackerson's voice saved her from having to reply.

"All right, everyone, let's get down to business," he called and the chatter immediately ceased.

Jackie took her cue and quietly slipped out of the room as Daniel turned back to his uncle and began his presentation. She closed the door quietly behind her and exhaled slowly, leaning her back against the door. She was attracted to Daniel, hell, anyone with eyes would be attracted to him, but she so wasn't ready to start dating again. All she wanted was to concentrate on work and finding a decent apartment. Maybe then, after she was completely settled back in Chicago, maybe she would try dating again, maybe.

She glanced at her watch. It was a quarter past noon, time to take her lunch break. She hurried through the throng of people milling about the station and into a back room where the coats were kept. Pulling hers on, she quickly snatched up her purse and dashed out the door. She told one of the station managers that she was going to lunch, and then headed out into the chilly autumn air. The motel where she was still staying wasn't too far from the station, but it was cold, so Jackie hailed a cab. She directed the driver to a quaint little restaurant she'd seen while apartment hunting, and hurried inside to order while he waited. Then, with her lunch ready to go, she directed the driver back to her motel.

Once inside her room, Jackie set her lunch on the little table by the door, sat down on the bed, and picked up the phone. She had decided it was time to call Donna. The former redhead would have undoubtedly gotten her letter by now, and Jackie was extremely nervous; she didn't want a confrontation. She wanted to call Donna because she wanted to make amends, to make sure that they could still be friends even after her abrupt departure from Point Place. Truth be told, Jackie was lonely in Chicago. Sure, she had her job, and she had Linda and a few others whom she'd come to like, but she missed the talks she and Donna had always had, the closeness they'd shared. She didn't know anyone at the station well enough to feel that kind of closeness, and she found herself missing the lumberjack desperately.

Taking a deep breath, Jackie dialed the familiar number and waited, holding her breath, for the answer.

"Hello?" came Donna's voice on the other line.

"Donna, hi, it's Jackie."

A/N: Okay, sorry for the slight cliffhanger there, but like I said, this chapter just got to be way too long! Next chapter should be up the beginning of the week, so stay tuned and please review! Thanks!