A/N: All right, I have this story planned out to 13 chapters now, but you all know me, so don't be surprised if it's longer ;) I highly doubt it'll be more than 15 chapters though...at least, I hope not because I have other ideas for stories that I'd like to start writing soon. Anyway, as always, I greatly appreciate all the feedback! I love you all - thanks for keeping me going!

Chapter Eleven – Locked Out

Donna and Hyde emerged from Jackie's room and wandered back toward the kitchen where the others were still busily unpacking. Flashing Hyde an encouraging smile, Donna left him and headed over to Eric, reaching into the box he was currently unloading and pulling out some dishes. Hyde took a deep breath and made his way over to Jackie, who was thankfully tackling a large box of kitchen utensils by herself. He noticed Daniel glance up as he entered, pausing as he pulled bubble wrap off a frying pan, but Hyde ignored him.

"Hey," he said as he came up beside Jackie. He pointed at the box. "Need any help with that?"

Jackie straightened, a box of knives in her hand. "I think I can handle it, thanks." She turned away from him, setting the box on the kitchen table and opening it.

"Come on, Jackie, what'd I do now?" Hyde complained, irritated.

"What did you do?" Jackie cried, whipping around to face him, a large butcher knife gripped tightly in her hand.

Hyde immediately backed up and held up his hands in supplication. "Whoa, Jacks, calm down."

Jackie lowered her voice, but still retained a firm grasp on her weapon as she hissed, "What do you think you're doing sleeping in my room?"

Still eyeing the knife cautiously, Hyde replied defensively, "I figured I was doing you a favor. Would you rather have Kelso sleep in there with you and wake up with his tongue down your throat? Or Fez and listen to him complain about his needs, and possibly try to relieve them by using you? I'm the safest option for you, Jacks."

"Stop calling me that!" Jackie shouted, glaring furiously at him.

Hyde smirked, noting triumphantly that she hadn't questioned his motives because she knew he was right, and more importantly that the pet name he'd given her when they were together still apparently had an effect on her. She was still brandishing a sharp metal object at him, however, so he wisely chose not to reveal those little details to her and instead said, "Come on, Jackie, it won't be that bad, I promise."

She pointed the knife at him threateningly and warned, "You had just better behave yourself, Steven Hyde."

He held up a hand in Scout's honor. "I swear."

Eyeing him skeptically for a few more moments, Jackie finally decided he was being truthful and turned back around to take out the rest of the knives from the box and slip them into the silverware drawer.

Hyde smiled to himself at his victory and reached into the box, pulling out a container of forks. The two of them continued unpacking in silence, but Hyde did not miss the furtive glances Jackie kept shooting his way, nor did he miss an opportunity to bump into her while maneuvering around the crowded little kitchen. He was enjoying himself thoroughly with their little game when Daniel appeared.

"Uh, your friend Michael and I have finished unpacking our box," he announced uneasily, his eyes narrowing as he watched Jackie scoot quickly away from Hyde.

"Good for you," Hyde remarked, sneering.

Daniel's jaw clenched, but he ignored the comment and addressed Jackie as he said, "The rest of the kitchen boxes are pretty much unpacked, so we were wondering what you'd like us to start with next."

Jackie glanced around. "Well, I suppose we should get the boxes in the living room cleared away since Michael and Fez will be sleeping on the floor in there."

It was said innocently enough, but the implication of her words was not lost on Daniel, whose gaze turned to Hyde and darkened. "I see. And I assume that means he will be sleeping…"

"In Jackie's room," Hyde finished smugly.

Jackie threw him a warning glare, but he continued to smile arrogantly at Daniel, almost as if daring the other to say something against his statement.

"Jackie, could I speak to you alone, please?" Daniel asked calmly, his eyes still locked on Hyde's.

Shooting Hyde another angry scowl, Jackie followed Daniel from the kitchen and out into the hallway.

"Looks like you've got some competition, Hyde," Kelso commented as he watched the two leave.

Hyde scoffed. "From that guy? Please."

Kelso shrugged. "I don't know, man, he's a pretty guy, and we all know how much Jackie likes pretty guys. I mean, just look at me, I'm living proof of her good taste in men!"

"Whatever," Hyde snorted and pretended to continue unpacking, but he couldn't help but glance up to watch them, an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Meanwhile, out in the hallway, Daniel pointed a thumb over his shoulder and said, "You know, if you want, I could stay here with you tonight. Just to make sure Steven doesn't try anything on you."

Jackie smiled kindly at him, but declined. "He won't try anything; he knows if he did I'd have Donna kicking his ass in an instant." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "But thank you."

Daniel's eyes softened as he looked at her sympathetically. "It must be really hard seeing him again after everything, huh?"

Jackie let out a little laugh. "You can say that again." She sighed, removing her hand and glancing past him as she added, "I don't even know why he's here. He hasn't spoken to me since his wife showed up, and now all of a sudden he travels hours to come down and help me move in? It just doesn't make sense."

Daniel smiled wryly. "Oh, I don't know, I think it makes perfect sense." Off of her confused look, he clarified, "He's obviously still in love with you."

The words caused an instant lurch in her heart, and Jackie frowned at the sensation, knowing it was only false hope. She shook her head and said derisively, "For Steven to still be in love with me would mean he was actually in love with me at some point, and I've come to realize that was never the case."

Taking a step nearer, Daniel bent his head down closer to her and said quietly, "I don't think you give yourself enough credit, Jackie. I don't know how any man could be around you and not fall in love with you."

Before she had time to react, his lips were pressing urgently against hers, his arms slipping around her tiny frame and pulling her into his body. Her mind barely had time to register what was going on when he was roughly yanked away. Eyes widening in surprise, Jackie barely had time to shriek, "Steven!" before her ex-boyfriend's fist collided with Daniel's nose, sending him sprawling to the floor.

The commotion caused the others to come racing out into the hallway, where they all stopped dead in their tracks upon witnessing the scene. But as Daniel struggled to get up and Hyde took another step toward him, Eric, Kelso, and Fez rushed forward, each grabbing a hold of him and backing him up against the wall. Donna knelt down beside Jackie at Daniel's side and helped her lift him into a sitting position. Daniel was cupping a hand over his nose, and blood was dripping from between his fingers.

"Oh, God," Jackie moaned as she stared at him, her face ghostly white. "Sh-should we take him to a hospital?"

Donna's eyes raked over Daniel's face, mentally assessing the damage. "Yeah, I guess. His nose is probably broken." She glanced over her shoulder at the three boys who were still restraining Hyde and called, "Kelso, Fez, one of you come help me. We're taking him to the hospital."

"Donna, hello?" Eric said, obviously annoyed that she hadn't asked him. "Uh, why can't I help?"

Rolling her eyes, Donna shoved her arm under Daniel's right shoulder and propped him up against her. "Eric, Jackie can barely lift him, so you definitely won't be able to."

Eric laughed nervously. "Come on, Donna, I could so lift him."

"Eric!" Donna snapped, straining under Daniel's weight. "This is not the time to be a stubborn jerk, okay?" She gestured with her head towards Kelso and Fez, who hadn't moved away from the wall. "Now, one of you please come help me lift him up."

Kelso hurried forward, muscling an arm under Daniel's shoulder and helping Donna lift him into a standing position. Daniel was weak and unsteady on his feet, and it took the both of them just to stand him up straight. "How're we gonna drive, Big D?" Kelso asked once they had him steady.

Eric stepped forward and triumphantly held up the keys to the Vista Cruiser. "And Eric Forman comes to the rescue in the clutch!"

Donna rolled her eyes again, but remained silent as she and Kelso hobbled down the hallway, Eric trailing happily after them.

Fez glanced quickly between the seething Jackie and the fuming Hyde and called after them, "Ai! Wait for me!"

Eric whipped around and stopped him. "Uh, Fez, I think you should stay here." He pointed over Fez's shoulder to the pair of silently raging ex-lovers and said, "I think one of them might kill the other one if we leave them alone."

"And how am I supposed to stop them from killing one another, jump in the way and sacrifice myself?" Fez snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.

Eric clapped him on the shoulder. "Whatever it takes, man." Then he hurried off after Donna and Kelso.

Fez walked slowly back to Jackie and Hyde, smiling nervously at them as he said, "Okay, guys, how about we go inside now?"

Jackie glared at Hyde. "He is not coming back in my apartment."

"Oh, what are you gonna do, Jackie, make me sleep out in the hallway?" Hyde spat sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Jackie retorted and pointed to the door. "Fez, get inside."

Fez glanced fearfully between the two. "A-actually Jackie, why don't we…"

"Now, Fez!"

"Ai!" Fez yelped and leapt into the apartment.

Jackie entered after him and slammed the door shut in Hyde's face.

"Come on, Jackie!" Hyde yelled, banging his fist on the door. "This is ridiculous! Let's just talk about this!" When she didn't respond, he switched tactics, shouting, "All my stuff is in there!"

The door opened and for an instant, Hyde thought she was going to reconsider and let him come in to talk, but the notion was quickly dispelled when his sleeping bag, pillow, and duffle bag hit him consecutively in the face. "Shit," he cursed as he plopped down heavily on the floor and slammed his head back against the wall.

An hour later when Donna, Kelso, and Eric returned from the hospital, Hyde was lying inside his sleeping bag in the hallway, his arms folded under his head as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Hyde? What are you doing out here?" Donna asked as she noticed him.

"Oh my God, did you kill Jackie?" Eric cried and snapped his fingers. "Dammit, I specifically told Fez not to let you kill each other!"

"Relax, Forman," Hyde replied as he propped himself up on his elbows. "I didn't have a chance to even talk to Jackie. She locked me out."

"Burn!" Kelso shouted, pointing at him and laughing.

Donna smacked him. "Shut up, Kelso." Then, to Hyde she said, "Well, you're lucky Daniel's nose is going to heal in a few days, otherwise, Jackie might kill you."

Hyde snorted and got out of his sleeping bag. "Whatever, man. He's lucky all I did was break his nose."

Eric shook his head. "Hyde, man, you've gotta chill a bit. Jackie's already pissed off at you as it is, I don't think you need to go and make the situation worse by being all macho," he said, gesturing with his hands.

"Eric's right, Hyde. I mean, you haven't even told Jackie about Sam yet, or why you're even here; she's gotta be confused," Donna said calmly.

"Fine," Hyde snapped. "Can you just get me inside already so I can talk to her?"

The other three glanced at each other, wary expressions on their faces.

"I don't know, Hyde, maybe you should let her cool off for the night," Eric suggested.

"Yeah, don't worry about Jackie," Kelso agreed, grinning. "Fez and I'll take care of her for you."

Hyde punched him on the arm and growled, "You and Fez are sleeping on the living room floor, and if either one of you touches Jackie, I'll kill you."

"Damn, Hyde!" Kelso cried, rubbing his sore arm. "Fez is probably already in there touching her! Go hit him!"

"Well, I would, if I could get in the freakin' apartment!" Hyde roared.

"All right, that's enough!" Donna shouted, stepping between the two. "Hyde, I'll go talk to Jackie and if she wants to speak to you, you can come in, okay? If not, well, I'm sure she'll be over it by morning."

Hyde stared at her in disbelief. "Did you just meet Jackie?"

As if to punctuate his statement, Jackie's voice called from the other side of the door, "He is not coming in here, Donna!"

Eric stepped forward then and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Look, Hyde, Jackie obviously just needs some time to calm down. But she's Jackie, so I'm sure by morning she'll be chewing your ear off for an explanation."

Clearly unhappy, but at a loss for a better solution, Hyde nodded silently and slipped back underneath his sleeping bag. He watched with barely concealed resentment as Donna knocked on the door and it opened a crack, Jackie's face peering out. When she was satisfied that Hyde would not be trying to make a run for the door, she let the others in and stuck out her tongue at him before slamming it closed yet again.

"Oh, grow up, Jackie!" Hyde yelled angrily as he slumped back onto his pillow to pout.