Encounter Chapter 3: Can You See Me?

Author's Note: Thanks for all the encouragement…it's appreciated and I love that people are reading and enjoying this. Please review and let me know what you think…

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Flashback, 3 weeks prior

Hyde's pacing back and forth in the Forman's living room, oblivious to the fact that each time he passes in front ofthe couch Kitty and Fez are forced to pull their legs up to clear his path. His trademark glasses are hooked on the front of his t-shirt and his rarely seen eyes are scorching everything that dares to cross his gaze.

"What do you mean she's gone? What do you mean you don't know when she is coming back? People shouldn't just leave without saying goodbye, without having a plan. Of all the selfish and thoughtless, irresponsible shit she's ever pulled, this, oh this…" He barked loudly, as he ignored Kitty's attempts to answer the questions he'd posed.

Finally, Fez stands, a roadblock with his arms crossed authoritatively in front of his chest. "Hyde, you need to calm down. You need to realize that Jackie is a delicate flower. You need to realize that it's your fault my precious girl has ran away to the Caribbean, you and your stupid whore-wife."

Under different circumstance Hyde might have felt the slightest twinge of pride at his foreign's friends assertiveness, but in this case he was already pissed and Fez's pointing out of his failures only fueled a dangerous fire.

"Shut up, Fez." He practically snarled as he frogged his friend, perhaps too hard, on the arm. Recoiling on the couch beside her, Kitty took the opportunity to speak up.

"Steven, I know you're upset. But I'm not so sure I know why. It's not like you've been terribly nice to Jackie, or even civil to her, since you came home from Vegas."

"I know that," Hyde snapped at Mrs. Forman, and then instantly softened. "I'm sorry. I know I have been an ass, okay, but that doesn't mean what I say, or that I didn't, that I don't w-…" his voice tapered off and Kitty realized for the first time how lost he'd been for the last few months. She put her arm around him in a maternal squeeze.

"It'll be okay, dear. She'll be back before you know it. And then you can tell her that you don't mean to act like the ass-word." Hyde nodded, slowly. He looked to his friend still seated on the couch, pouting.

"Fez, you want to go see a movie? My treat…"

"Will there be candy?"

"Are you often creepy and perverted?"

"Oh my, that is a resounding yes! Yay for candy!" Fez's face brightened as he clapped his hands together excitedly, and Hyde, happy to have at least mended one friendship, led the way to the El Camino.

Flashback, Yesterday

Hyde stepped through the sliding door of the Forman kitchen to find it surprisingly vacant for a weekend afternoon. Stopping by the fridge to get a beer, he heard the distinctive laugh of Kitty and the sound of several other voices talking at once in the front room. Taking a sip as he pushed through the swinging door to the living room, Hyde stopped when he saw it full. Red was seated comfortably in his green armchair. Kitty stood to the side of him, smiling nervously. Fez, Donna, and Randy were staggered around the living room with equally apprehensive expressions. And seated on the couch was Jackie, looking more tan and beautiful than ever, with the arm of a smug looking stranger draped around her shoulder. Calling up every bit of his zen, he took another casual sip and a few steps closer before asking, "How was your trip?"

Several pairs of eyes looked in fear from Hyde to Jackie and back again. Red of course sat with a grin on his face, he'd always enjoyed seeing an ass get kicked.

Standing now, the stranger rising with her, Jackie plastered on her fakest smile. "It was good. The Islands are beautiful. It was exactly what I needed." She paused topush a silky strand of hair behind her shoulder."Steven, this," she indicated the man at her side, "is Jacob." Hyde looked at him and gave a noncommittal nod, and as he raised his beer can to his lips another time he heard her add, "My fiancée."

Without hesitation he gulped the rest of his beer down, crushed the can in his grip, then laid it down hard on the coffee table. He stood in front of her, his eyes set stern, their look heavy. She stared right back, without flinching.

"Congratulations." He spat the world out at her with disdainful mocking. Her look did not change, but she didn't say a word. It was Jacob who said a thank you as he extended his hand to Hyde, only to be completely ignored as his fiancée continue to stare down her ex-lover. The tension was filling up the room, everyone felt so tight, like it could pop and explode at any moment. Finally pulling his eyes away from Jackie's, Hyde gave a glare to a confused and oblivious Jacob, before shoving passed him and out the front door, letting it slam loudly behind him.

Hyde sat on his cot, the few tears he'd let slip out long since brushed away. His fists had been clenched so tightfor so long that he couldn't really feel them, and his head was throbbing from rage. He'd been fiery mad for over 24 hours now; without sleep and with more alcohol than any one man should consume. He'd felt the rapid ups and downs that came along with proximity to Jackie and his chest ached from the stress of it all.

He was angry. And though he was tired of being angry, he honestly saw no end to it in sight. Jackie Burkhart could get under his skin, she could claw at every part of him. She had set him on fire and now she'd have to find a way to put it out. Or soonthings would get very, very interesting.