11:19 a.m.
Point Place General Hospital
Hyde lay in the cushiony bed, picking at the huge bandage on his throat. He tried to remember everything that had happened, but found he could not remember anything after the flashback. Despite the pain it caused he concentrated on it, hoping to find some link, some sort of transition between that and the bathroom floor.
The nurse walked in and noticed that Hyde's neck bandage was beginning to unravel from his picking. She gently knocked his hands away.
"Don't touch," she reminded him as she checked his BP and heart rate.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "Itches…" She smiled sympathetically and marked some numbers on her chart before heading toward the door. Hyde glanced over at Kelso, who was sleeping in a hospital chair by his bed. Hyde smiled a little as Kelso murmured something incoherent in his sleep. His hair hung in wisps around his face, and once again that damn sunlight made him shine.
My guardian angel. Hyde thought as he turned away and closed his eyes.
The nurse poked her head back in.
"I forgot to tell you something!" she said. Hyde lifted an eyelid. "There's a dark haired girl named Jamie or Julie or something in the lobby. She wants to know if she can come see you."
"Jackie," replied Hyde. His heart ached at the sound of her name. He couldn't let her see him like this. She wouldn't want to be with him anymore anyway, but maybe if she couldn't see the wounds, they could stay friends. He looked at Kelso again. He'd been there when Hyde was dying, and had been able to call him back. He knew what Hyde looked like bleeding and crying, and said he loved him anyway. Maybe there would be a time for Jackie, but right now, Kelso seemed to be the answer.
"Tell her I'm asleep," Hyde said finally. The nurse nodded and walked away. Hyde shut his eyes and drifted away.
Jackie's P.O.V.
"What do you mean I can't see him?!" I hollered at the nurse. She had on this blank expression and I just wanted to slap her.
"He's sleeping," she replied bluntly.
"Okay so I'll be there when he wakes up." I started to walk toward his room, but the bitch put out a hand to stop me.
"What?" I yelled. Now I was pissed.
"Look, he's in there with his boyfriend and he just wants to—"
"Boyfriend?" I cut her off. "Please, Steven is the least gay person I know! Boyfriend, ha-ha. That'll be one to tell him when he wakes up!" I stormed past her outstretched hand and walked into Steven's room. Presently he was kissing Michael in his hospital bed. I gaped at the scene.
"What the hell?" I said. Michael's head whipped around and Steven's eyes shot open.
"Jackie!" they said in unison.
"What are you doing here?" asked Steven, looking shocked and almost afraid.
"I was coming to see how you were, but that nurse told me you were asleep. I came in anyway and I find this?" I said. I was kind of angry, but mostly just sad and shocked. I thought me and Steven were going to be together. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as he shifted around uncomfortably. Michael avoided looking at me, but I addressed him anyway.
"And you," I said angrily, catching his eye and glaring. "After everything you put me through already, you have to steal my boyfriend too?"
"He wasn't your boyfriend," Michael said matter-of-factly. Steven just turned away when I gaped at him.
"I—well," was all I could manage. "I hope you feel better St—Hyde. Bye." I left the room with tears flowing down my face. Donna and Eric caught me in the hall.
"Is he alright? Where's his room?" asked Eric frantically.
"Second door in this hallway," I replied, pointing in the direction of his room. Eric and Donna headed off.
"Be careful though!" I called angrily. "You might find him making out with Kelso by now!" I stormed out of the hospital and walked the four miles back to my house. I wasn't about to wait and be left to discuss Steven and Michael's condition in the backseat of Eric's car.
"Does I love you mean anything anymore?"