Author Note: ….just some fluff and stuff!

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Chapter 13 – Busted

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"…I think I was chasing the wrong girl this whole time."

"…Maybe I was chasing the impossible…when you were right here the entire time."

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The dawning realization that these two were just possibly more than friends was like a brick to the head. Why hadn't either one of them seen this coming? Eric tugged on her curls. Jackie was funny and sarcastic and a big flirt – he knew all that and now he was seeing it. It was there all along and he was the blind one!

Eric slid a hand down her arm and entwined fingers with her, "This is going to be difficult you know."

She looked up and grinned, "What, having sex with a blind girl? Trust me, I know where everything is." Eric chuckled and was glad she couldn't see him blush. He kissed her temple, "No, getting around my mom and Red. I swear, she has radar and will know something's going on."

Jackie snuggled against his chest. "I won't tell if you don't tell."

Eric groaned. "Okay, this is going to be really hard."

Cheekily, she replied, "Well, not now….but later!"

Eric was shocked. "That's not what I meant." Jackie giggled, "I was playing with you. Eric, I like you. I mean I really… really like you and if you ever don't feel the same, let me know before the heartache okay?"

Eric stroked her back as she cuddled, "I would never give you heartache Jackie. I promise."

"Eric, honey, your dinner's getting cold." Kitty's voice carried up the stairs. He groaned. "Say, you want to take this pity party downstairs and get some dessert?"

She smiled, "I'd really like that!"

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For the rest of the evening, Eric was Jackie's constant companion. Kitty was glad to see the girl smiling and even her son was happy. It had started getting late and the pair wanted to watch/listen to the Friday night television shows. Eric explained that he would tell Jackie what was going on between the dialogue and Kitty bought it.

However, Red looked at his son and pointed his finger. "I'll be checking on you!

Jackie laughed, "Mr. Forman, we're just going to listen to Mr. Roarke and his guests."

Red cleared his throat. "Well, make sure that's all you do." He said as a warning. Eric replied, "Yes sir. Good night."

Jackie counted Red's steps up the carpeted stairs. "Okay, he's gone. Tell me who the actors are." Eric obliged and they settled in together to watch the show.

Red buttoned his pajama top. "I keep thinking about that doctor suggesting we send Jackie to a blind school and it chafes my ass. On Monday, let's find an eye doctor that's not a part of the hospital. If he agrees with this dumbass Johnson, then we'll talk to Jackie about the Braille and things."

Kitty plumped her pillows and made sure her pink foam rollers were snug against her head. "I think that's a good idea. This other doctor needs to be reported! He gives one diagnoses and when he runs out of options he doesn't even refer us to another physician. He wants to put her in a home! That's just awful."

"Listen." Red said suddenly.

Kitty looked at her husband. "Listen to what?"

"It's too quiet." Red said. He opened the door and shouted, "I know what you think you want to do. DO NOT DO IT."

He heard laughter floating upstairs and smiled. Mission accomplished.

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The middle of March morning dawned with chirping birds and sunshine filtering through the blinds. Jackie stretched and reached down for her cane. If she hurried, she could get a shower before Eric took all the hot water. She gathered her clothes and hurried to the bathroom just in time to hear the door snick shut and the lock turn. Eric beat her to it. Damn.

She went back to her room and threw on her robe and made her way downstairs. Kitty was already cooking breakfast and smiled a welcome at the messy haired young girl. "Didn't make it to the bathroom first did you?" she laughed.

Jackie smiled ruefully, "No, I need to set the alarm. I swear Eric showers until it goes cold!"

Kitty laughed, "Well then, you get his hot bacon. Easter's coming. Would you like to help me decorate eggs?"

Jackie looked perplexed. "Er, how exactly?" She couldn't see colors so dyeing them was out – how does a person decorate a basket? Kitty replied, "I'm using glue, glitter and some colored beads on Styrofoam balls. I'm taking these to the Ulsner's Nursing Home for the older women. They get a kick out of seeing homemade baskets.

"Oh! I can do that. Do you have rhinestones?" Jackie asked eagerly. Kitty chuckled, "I have buttons and marbles….anything you can think of. I'll get everything set up in the dining room this afternoon."

"Sounds like fun." Jackie replied eagerly. She could create a beautiful egg even if she couldn't see it! Kitty was thinking along the same lines. Keep the fingers busy and the eyes wouldn't worry. This was also a way to talk to Nurse Green about vision therapies.

"It's a beautiful day. No more rain predicted for a week. How about letting Red show you the way to the mailbox and you can check the post everyday? It's part of giving you independence from the house."

Jackie shrugged. "He's not going to growl at me is he?"

Kitty laughed, "No honey. All of us are working towards your rehabilitation. Even Red."

"Okay. Oh, I need to talk to you and Mr. Forman about finances and stuff. Can we do that this morning?"

"Yes, whenever you feel like it.." Kitty answered putting a plate in front of Jackie. "Bacon at three, French toast at six and nine. Syrup is just to the right of your plate."

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Eric sat on the patio chair in the warm sunshine watching his dad sweeping away all the rocks and pebbles in the driveway so Jackie wouldn't slip or trip. When she overshot the mailbox, Red grabbed her arm and swung her back around. She grinned when he cursed the Anderson's dog for laying a pile of waste on the grass.

"Okay, did you count the steps?" Red asked patiently.

"I tried, but we stopped so many times for the rocks, I lost count."

"Okay, we're going back up the driveway and there are no rocks this time. You keep count." Red watched as she tapped her way back to the patio door. Fifty steps and not one damned skinned knee. He felt like that was a major success.

Red turned, "Okay son, you sit there, watch her go down again and if she heads for the street, run."

Jackie turned and started tapping her way back down the driveway. She paused, "Eric, I can hear you behind me. How can I do this myself if you're stalking me?" Eric scuffed his shoe on the pavement. "Dad did this same thing when I first rode my big wheel in the driveway. What number were you on?"

"Fifteen. I have….some more to go. Now stay right there!" she admonished lightly. She seemed to glide to the mailbox, opened it, waved her hands in triumph and made her way back up the driveway. "I would call that a success."

Kitty came out of the patio doors. "Jackie honey, I have a couple of letters here, make sure you put the little flag up." Jackie turned to where she remembered Eric was standing, "Okay, now this is becoming a chore." She headed back down the drive with Eric laughing behind her.

A car drove down the street, honking and slowing and Jackie lost count. It sounded like Bob's old gas guzzler. It was pulling into a driveway and Jackie turned. "Heidi-ho Jackie!" Bob greeted loudly.

"Hello Bob!" she hollered back and then realized she didn't know if she was facing in the right direction and had lost count of her steps. Jackie decided she would just wait a few minutes and listen for traffic.

Eric looked up at Bob's greeting and saw the soft red hair of Donna emerging from the passenger seat. He forgot Jackie was standing in the middle of the driveway. Was this Spring Break already? He waved and Donna smiled and waved back. Bob walked over while Donna carried her suitcase into the Pinciotti house.

"Hey Eric. Why is Jackie standing in the driveway?" Bob asked. Eric looked at the stricken expression on her face. She was lost. Shit! He sprinted down the drive where she was frozen. "Eric?"

Eric stood in front of her. "You got distracted. It's okay." She blinked back some tears and took a deep breath. "Can you point me back in the right direction?" He took her arms and swung her towards the street. "I think you're about 20 steps away."

"Thanks, I was lost and scared even though I knew you were watching me." She admitted.

Eric didn't want to tell her that he was distracted by Donna! Bob invited himself down the drive, "Hey Jackie, I got another joke for ya!"

Jackie didn't move from her position and said, "Yeah? What's this one?"

Bob chuckled, "This blind guy goes in to a supermarket and starts swinging his cane at all the magazines. The clerk rushes over and says, "May I help you sir?" and you know what the blind guy says?"

Jackie grimaced because she knew this would only be a horrible punch line. "No, Bob, what did the blind guy say?"

Bob nearly giggled. "The blind guy says….I was only looking! Get it? He's just looking…oh…you have your cane…that was a bad joke."

Eric glared at Bob. "You think?" Bob lowered his head. "Man I got a bunch of laughs out of it at the Lodge. Any who, Donna's home and I'm sure she'll be over later. Toodles!"

Jackie waited until she could hear Bob's footsteps receding. "He has the worst sense of humor!"

Eric kissed the top of her head. "You have 20 left. Go for it."

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Kitty had invited Bob and Donna for dinner. Jackie was feeling a bit insecure so she made sure she picked out a pretty cashmere sweater, felt for a pair of denim pair of jeans and then to be a bit naughty she called downstairs for Eric to help her.

He trotted up the steps and to her open door. "I need you to tell me what color this blouse is?"

He looked at the soft material and replied, "It's like a pastel blue." He was rewarded with a smile. "Good, can you find me a matching bra?"

He coughed and his voice went up an octave, "Do you enjoy killing me like this?" Jackie laughed and opened her dresser drawer. "I don't want the full cup; I want the demi-cup."

Eric choked. "Wha….what's the difference." Jackie could feel his breath against her neck and replied, "Cleavage." Eric stumbled forward and Jackie thought he was going to fall over. "This one." He squeaked. "I'll be downstairs!"

Jackie chucked and closed the door so she could get dressed. She may not see the expression on Donna's face but she would hear Eric's voice squeak and that would be worth a thousand pictures!

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"Oh Donna. It's so good to see you again. Give Kitty a hug." Donna stepped into the familiar green and copper kitchen and it smelled like cookies. She gave Kitty an awkward hug. Bob moved his daughter aside for a Kitty hug. "Oh Bob, you're so silly." Kitty laughed.

Eric came through the living room door tugging on the neck of his sweatshirt. Red looked at his son, "What were you doing? You look like you've been running." Running away from a seductress midget! "Oh, I ran down the stairs."

Red laid his napkin over his lap. "Is Jackie coming down?"

Donna looked up, "Oh, I forgot that Jackie was staying here. How's that working out?"

Eric sat down leaving the chair by the stove open for Jackie. Kitty replied to Donna's question. "She's just wonderful."

Jackie touched the door and could smell Bob's Brut cologne and Donna's cinnamon scented perfume. She quickly fluffed her hair and took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen, eight steps to her chair. "Hello everyone!" She could sense Donna standing by the sink and looked over. "Hey Donna." She said as continued to her chair.

Donna stood a step back. This did not look like a blind woman. This was Jackie Burkhart and someone was playing a good burn right now. Donna looked at Kitty who smiled sadly and shook her head. When Donna found her voice, she walked to the table.

"Jackie. I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner." Donna sat down looking at Jackie's face for some sign that her old friend could see her. Jackie smiled in the direction of Donna's voice. "That's okay. I'm sure you were real busy. Going to college was one of your dreams."

Donna got chills at how unerringly correct Jackie could pick up on voices. Bob laughed, "Hey, I got another blind joke."

Red sighed. "Can it Bob. I heard the last one and it wasn't funny."

"Oh. Okay. Kitty, can I help with dinner?"

Donna leaned forward and Jackie mimicked. "Donna, what's the best part about Madison?"

Donna's eyes slid to Eric looking for help. Eric smiled and shrugged. "Um…the best part…the best part is my professors. My writing is improved and there's a good chance I might get picked up by a newspaper after graduation."

Jackie leaned back in her chair at the same time Donna did. Donna slowly waved a hand in front of Jackie's unwavering eyes and nothing. She waved both hands and Jackie smiled. "I can feel the windmill you're making with your hands. Would you stop? I'm blind okay?"

Kitty came over with Jackie's plate. "Okay, beef at three, mashed potatoes at six, peas at nine and sliced tomatoes at noon." Donna watched as Jackie picked up a fork. How did blind people eat? Donna was fascinated at watching how normal everyone was acting – Jackie was blind and they were letting her handle a knife and fork? We're they insane?

Jackie waited until she heard Kitty sit down and once the cutlery started making noise, she carefully cut her roast beef. Kitty said, "Eric, did you tell Donna about your job?"

Donna barely heard a word Eric was saying. Jackie was eating just like everyone else. Jackie was a part of the conversation, she was still gorgeous and nothing changed about her except her vision.

Eric would talk and Jackie would look at him and smile. Red would say something and Jackie would pat his hand. Kitty would laugh and Jackie would look over and laugh with her. Even Bob seemed to take the blindness in stride.

Every preconceived idea Donna had about blind people was busted.

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