Author Note: ….everything and everybody is finally coming together…..

T7S

Chapter 19 – The Last Weekend

T7S

Jackie weaved her fingers through Eric's. It was early Sunday morning and this was the last day they would spend together for some time. Eric brought their entwined hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. "I know you're scared. I would be too. I mean this is eyeball surgery. I wish I was half as brave as you."

Jackie squeezed his fingers, "You know…if I didn't have you for a friend, I don't think I could do this. I might have just let them ship me off to that blind school."

"Don't think that. Jackie, you are so loved by this family. Dad would kick some major ass if they tried to make you go." Jackie rolled over onto Eric's chest. "What if I have the surgery and still can't see? I don't want to go through all that pain a second time."

Eric threaded his fingers through her silky hair. It was odd, but he was so used to seeing her in the dark now that the thought of their being together in the light was going to be downright strange! "What if you didn't have the surgery and always wondered what if you could?"

She kissed his chest and turned her head to listen to his heartbeat. "You always know the perfect thing to say."

"Hey, the sun's coming up. I don't want dad to catch me running naked across the hall." He kissed her lips and hurried to the door. Jackie heard the small snick of the door opening and closing and then the creak of the floorboard outside his room. She sighed. This was her last day before her life changed completely.

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Jackie was about to bite into the delicious smelling brownie when Kitty smacked it out of her hand. "No you don't. You have to fast until after the surgery."

Jackie rubbed her hand. "It's not like I was going to eat it. I just wanted to hold it in my mouth and oh hell, I wanted to eat it."

Kitty tousled Jackie's hair. "Okay, Red and I are getting up at five o'clock tomorrow morning. We need to have you at the Kenosha hospital at 6:30 sharp. Dr. Bobbie said to have you pack for at least three days. Do you need help?"

Jackie replied. "I don't know where my suitcase is but I can get my clothes ready." She bit her lip. "Mrs. Forman, you're a nurse. What do you think my chances really are?"

Kitty sat down at the table and patted Jackie's hand. "Honey, it's natural to have anxiety. I believe your chances are good otherwise they wouldn't have scheduled the surgery this soon. It's important for you to remember that you'll be wearing the gauze bandages again while you heal."

Jackie sighed, "I just don't want to get those painful drops again."

Kitty laughed softly, "We're going to make sure that if you take them, the doctor has to also!"

"Thank you!" Jackie smiled. She lifted her head up at the smell of roses, Fatso burger and pot. "Steven?"

Kitty looked over, "Steven, I didn't even hear you drive up!" She walked over and gave her adopted son a hug. "Would you like Jackie's brownie?"

He looked at the square of chocolate deliciousness that sat all alone on the plate. "Hey Jackie….I brought you some good luck flowers. I heard that you're having your surgery tomorrow and thought…..well, I wanted to make sure everything was cool."

Hyde pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down, carefully laying the bouquet of roses in Jackie's hands. She reached out and touched the velvet soft petals with her fingertips. "They're lovely thank you."

Hyde coughed, "I…I uh, I had them remove the thorns so you wouldn't hurt yourself."

Jackie smiled at him, "That was so sweet of you Steven. I appreciate the thoughtfulness. What color are they?"

"Red. Those were the blooming ones and smelled the best. I know you have a good nose for smelling things and people."

Jackie laughed. God he missed that laugh! Mrs. Forman was right; it was easy to treat Jackie as a real person if he forgot about her sight. They were talking! The mood was relaxed and he really missed this.

"So Kelso said the doctors are replacing your eyeballs like in that old movie."

Kitty watched with glowing eyes. Her little chickadees were friends again. Steven could finally come home. It was a hard lesson for him but listening to them talk, Kitty was confident it made him a better man.

"Jackie, honey, let me put these in water and you two can chat until Red comes and gets you for bedtime."

She looked at Steven and smiled, "Make sure this young lady does not eat anything. She's fasting until after the surgery." Hyde looked at Kitty and grinned, "I can do that."

"Okay! I'm going upstairs to find Jackie's suitcase." Kitty declared before leaving the room.

Hyde turned back to Jackie. "Is it too late for apologies?"

Jackie looked at him, "Apologies are always welcome. Why are you apologizing again?"

"Well….just for the general crap I put on you. I did treat you horribly and I'm not proud of that. I know that we were a good couple but we really had no future together. I can't give you what you need as a person. But…" his voice sort of choked up a bit, "….but that doesn't mean I can't be a friend that supports you."

Jackie reached across the table and patted his hand. "Thank you Steven." Jackie's face turned towards the kitchen door, "Eric, come see the roses Steven brought me."

Hyde looked at Eric who was leaning against the doorframe. "How does she do that? I didn't even know you were there."

Eric pressed two fingers to his temple. "She has an excellent command of The Force. That and she can smell better than a bloodhound. I swear she should get a job with Kelso and sniff out criminals."

Jackie laughed. "You guys are just jealous." Eric walked over to the table and broke the brownie in half. He offered Hyde the other half and Jackie protested, "Not fair! I didn't even get a taste of that!"

Eric and Hyde grinned and stuffed the brownie in their mouths. Eric moaned, "Oh….so good." Hyde groaned in appreciation laughing at the expression on Jackie's face.

Hyde felt good to be back in the Forman fold. "Best brownie ever." Jackie threw her hands in the air in frustration, grabbed her cane and stomped out of the kitchen. Eric looked at his adopted brother and the two laughed at the brownie burn they shared.

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Jackie was getting ready for bed when the telephone rang. Kitty was starting to administer the drops when Red called for Jackie. "Jackie! Telephone! No one should be getting calls this late at night!" he grumbled from his bedroom.

Kitty patted Jackie's hand. "Why don't you pick up the extension in Eric's room honey? Let me know when you're done and we'll finish the drops." Jackie shrugged and made her way to Eric's room. The squeaky floorboard let her know she was there. She stood in the doorway and pondered. Where was the telephone?

Problem was solved when Eric came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leant into him, twisting her head to give him a quick kiss. "I have a telephone call." Eric took her hand and led her to the other side of his bed where the phone sat on the night stand.

She sat down on the mattress and said, "Hello?"

"Hey midget. I wanted to call and wish you good luck."

"Donna? Hey….thank you."

"I was such a bitch to you and I'm sorry. I know you're having your surgery tomorrow and wanted to let you know that I still want to be your friend."

Jackie smiled. "I'd like that too Donna. Actually, I'd like to be able see my friend some day."

Donna's voice sounded a little hesitant as she asked, "Jackie? I have a thesis paper coming up and I'd like to write about you and how you are coping with blindness and the events that happen after your surgery. Would that be okay with you?"

"Donna, you know you can always ask me anything and I will always give you my opinion whether you want it or not."

Donna laughed, "Same old midget."

"Same old lumberjack. I missed you."

Donna choked up. "I missed you too. Good luck tomorrow."

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Jackie fumbled to hang up the receiver. Eric touched her arm, "Are you alright?"

She smiled. "She really missed me. I heard it in her voice. Can you believe that she remembered to call me?"

Eric helped her off the bed. "I think that was a very nice thing for her to do. It would really be nice for all of our friends to be supportive of each other."

Kitty stood in the doorway. "Jackie, these drops aren't going into your eyes all by themselves. Eric, don't you have work in the morning?"

"Yes mom. Good night Jackie."

Jackie headed towards Kitty's voice. "Okay, let's get this over with!"

Kitty gave her a one arm hug. "Let's also say our prayers tonight!"

Precisely twenty minutes later, Eric was kneeling by Jackie's bed. "Hey you." He whispered.

She rolled on her side. "Hey back. What are you doing in here?"

"I wanted to just be with you for a few minutes. You'll be in the hospital again and I'm gonna miss you." Eric said honestly. Jackie's hand stroked the stubble on his chin. "I'm gonna miss you too. Promise to visit everyday?"

"I will. I'll smuggle you some good food too."

Jackie chuckled. "Good because hospital food sucks."

Eric held her palm against his cheek. "It may be too soon, but Jackie….I love you. I really love you and if you don't feel the same way, let me know before the heartache okay?" He remembered when she asked him the same question weeks ago.

"Eric…I love you too. I could never cause you heartache. You are truly the only person that gets me and I love you so much for it. Don't make me cry cuz I've got drops in my eyes…"

"I'll see you tomorrow afternoon even if you can't see me. Yet." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Get some sleep."

Jackie squeezed his hand. "I'll be seeing you soon!" She really hoped that was a promise she could keep!

T7S