Author Notes: …the next day of life…

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Chapter 03 – Decisions

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Red was released the next afternoon. Most of his wounds were minor and didn't require a lengthy stay in the hospital. Having a nurse for a wife was a bonus on his part. Dr. Crystal provided Kitty with prescriptions for all the oral medications he needed to take for his throat and the burns on his chest, neck and head. The small areas that were stitched were merely inconveniences to the old soldier. He'd done this before and he would do it again if necessary.

Kitty walked Red to the ICU where Jackie had been moved. Her chemical burns were declared very bad first degree but not any less painful. Her eyes were wrapped with gauze and she was receiving an IV to keep hydrated. A little rivulet of saline solution constantly irrigated her eyes.

Red fell into the chair beside her bed. His throat was tight both from breathing some of the acid and the fact that this little girl was his favorite of Eric's friends that shouldn't have been hurt in this way.

Kitty stroked Jackie's hand and looked at her husband. "Honey, she's alive and it may not be as bad as we think. She's going to need help and I know a couple of day nurses we can send to her…."

Red looked at his wife. "She's staying with us. Put her in Laurie's room. She deserves the best and that's what we'll give her. If she does lose her vision, we can help her better than Hajji or Kettlehead. She knows our house, she can get around." Red started to cough and Kitty tried to settle him.

"Okay sweetie. I'll have Eric bring her clothes and belongings from the apartment. You're right, she can stay with us. She saved Eric's life. It's the least we can do."

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Eric looked at all the pink and lavender bedding. How many pillows did one girl need? Fez was standing in the door, "My poor goddess. Do you think her beautiful eyes are ruined? She'll never see me again!" Fez had tears running down his cheeks.

"Let's get her the softest pillows and her favorite blanket." Fez said. He walked to Jackie's closet and pulled out her suitcases. "I'll put her dresser clothes in here and you can take the hanging clothes."

Eric couldn't remember Laurie ever having this many clothes or shoes! He carried three loads down the stairs to Jackie's Mustang. Fez crammed everything possible into the luggage and sat on the top to snap the lock shut. He looked around the bedroom that was now as empty as his heart. Jackie wasn't going to be the same anymore. Jackie wasn't his "girlfriend" anymore – never was but he still loved her.

"Eric, if you know someone that needs a place to stay….I need a renter." Fez said sadly. In the back of Fez's mind was the beautiful raven haired Meredith that came in for a shampoo and condition ever Wednesday….perhaps this was a blessing for Fez!

Eric shrugged. "I don't know buddy. If you see Kelso, can you tell him what happened? I'm going to contact Donna. Mom said it's good for Jackie to hear voices of friendly people." Eric couldn't help but think of how unfriendly he had been to the girl. All the insults and burns…now she was really burned and there was no way he could undo it.

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Red was sitting at the kitchen table with his shirt off. Kitty was applying a topical ointment and every once in a while he would hiss or grimace in pain. "I'm sorry dear, I know it hurts but I'm just glad you're home." Red gripped the back of the chair tightly as Kitty tore off a seeping bandage. She kissed the top of his head and handed him a fresh clean tee shirt just as Eric walked in the kitchen door.

Eric was shocked to the soles of his feet at the amount of damage that had been done to his father's body by the explosion. "Dad….mom….I got Jackie's stuff."

"Okay honey, just leave it in the room and I'll put everything away." Kitty said washing her hands. "Dinner will be ready in a couple of hours."

Eric nodded and continued carrying the clothing through the house. It seemed weird placing Jackie's nice smelling blankets and pillows in his sister's old room. Hopefully his mom would change the sheets! It took two more trips to get all of Jackie's belongings took upstairs. Eric had thought about asking Hyde for help but he had conveniently disappeared.

Red was looking at the newspaper headlines which showed the damaged garage and he hung his head. "My shop." Was pretty much all he could say. Eric sat down at the table. "You have insurance don't you?"

Red leveled a lot at his son. "Of course. Now I have Jim out of work, I have to find some contractors to help rebuild and the fire inspector is still investigating the cause of the explosion."

"Dad, maybe the guy that sold you the batteries could help pay for the damages."

Red looked at his son like he was brilliant. "You know, they did sell me those batteries. That sales guy was hard-pressed to offload that bunch and now I know why." Red looked over to the sink. "Kitty, find me the number of that attorney we used a couple of years ago. I think that if this happened to my shop, I'm thinking it's happened to others."

Eric was slightly pleased that his dad appreciated the help. "Mom, can I help you with anything?"

"No, I'm good honey. Can you see if Steven is going to join us tonight?"

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Forman

Yeah, I'm not the world's best letter writer.

I know Red's going to move Jackie in here.

I can't be around her. I can't bear to listen to her incessant whining and it will only be worse if she can't see.

I know everyone will be pissed at me for leaving but I'm going to stay at the store.

This will be best for everyone.

Good luck man

Hyde

The first word that came to Eric's mind was COWARD. Hyde was running away from something he imagined would happen. What if Jackie recovered her vision in a couple of days? She was no threat to him – they were officially broken up.

Asshole.

Eric went back upstairs with the note. "Hyde's staying at Grooves. Says he can't be here."

Kitty frowned, "Let me see that." She quickly scanned the letter and clucked her tongue. "I don't want to say that he's doing this for Jackie as much as he's moving for himself. I guess that's one more chicken that's leaving the nest!"

Eric took a chair at the table while his mom carried over the chicken casserole. "Eat up – I'm going back to the hospital to check on our patient." Kitty removed her apron and smiled at Red. "Dear, if I'm not back in a couple of hours, don't forget to take that antibiotic."

Red smiled and spooned a helping of casserole onto his plate. After Kitty gathered her purse and coat, Red waited for the doors to close. "I am so glad your mother found another…chicken…to take care of. She's making me crazy!"

Eric bit back a laugh and managed to say, "But Dad, you're a hero. Mom's just taking care of you."

Red scowled, "Hero – schmero. I just did what I had to do. Eat your dinner or eat if off the tip of my shoe. I'm ready for a beer and some TV."

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Kitty's first stop was Groove's. The sign said closed but the lights were still on so she rapped at the glass door with her keys. It took a few minutes before Steven reluctantly came out of the office. His hair smelled like the basement. "Steven Hyde. What are you doing here?" Kitty scolded him like he was nine years old.

Hyde closed the door behind her. "Mrs. Forman, you know how it is…was… with me and Jackie. I can't live there. I heard Red mention that she was moving in after she gets released. I don't want her chasing me again."

"Honey, what makes you think she's still going to chase you? It's been over for months. Until a couple of days ago, she was very happy living on her own."

Hyde pushed his aviators up on the bridge of his nose. "Who do you think she's going to call if she needs something? Forman? He's still so twitchy he'd probably wet his pants."

Kitty frowned, "Steven, you know that's not true. I think you're feeling guilty and I'm going to let you continue to wallow in it. The Jackie you think you know is not that little girl lying in a hospital bed. In fact, I don't want you coming to my house until you can talk to her like a real person."

Hyde hadn't expected to be banished! "Now wait…."

"No, you wait. Jackie saved Eric's life. She's been a big help to Red and she has her own job. She's done very well without you so….so get your head out of your ass and come back when you've grown up!"

Kitty whirled around and her big purse knocked over a display of albums and cassette tapes. "You can pick up your own messes."

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Eric picked up the telephone extension in his bedroom and dialed Madison. He hadn't talked to Donna much since she started college. After New Years there was a distance between them that he couldn't explain.

"Hello?" Her voice sounded so good!

"Donna. Hey, it's Eric. Are you busy?"

She laughed in the phone. "I'm in college, when am I not busy? What's going on?"

"Dad and Jackie and well me, we were in an accident at the garage. A battery exploded and sent Dad and Jackie to the hospital."

"Oh yeah, my dad said Red took a hit to the chest. Is he okay?"

Eric gripped the yellow telephone receiver tightly, "Yeah, Dad's gonna have some scars but its Jackie."

"What kind of drama is she putting on now?" Donna asked impatiently.

"Donna, she's not putting on anything. There's a good chance she's never going to see again. She got sprayed in the face with an acid."

"Huh. That's too bad. Look Eric? I'm in the middle of a study group. Can I call you this weekend?"

"Wait, Donna? My mom thought it would be a good idea for Jackie's friends to come talk to her so she could hear some friendly voices…."

"Tell you what, have her call me and we can talk on the phone. I just can't leave school and run down there. Maybe I'll drop by at Spring Break, oh hey, I gotta go! Bye!' Donna hung up and Eric held the telephone to his cheek.

This was not going well for Jackie. Or Eric.

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