Disclaimer: I don't own.

Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews! I love them, so keep them coming. :) This chapter is long...I couldn't stop the fluffiness at the end. I thought we all deserved it.

And a note of correction in the last chapter...When Kelso said a person couldn't be reported missing for 24 hours, he should have said 48 hours. That's what I meant to type...and yet I didn't. Grrr. :)

Hope you enjoy!!!!

Warning: One bastard of a father.

For Her Sake

Chapter 23 – This Is Love

If I Find Out

Jack Burkhart's mansion

Red Forman looked around him in disgust. The office was full of decadence; a dark wood desk with gold hardware that Burkhart had pointed out was real gold, a bookshelf full of books Red was sure had gone unread, fancy things that did no service but to make the occupant feel good about himself. And Red was also sure that all of these trappings of the rich had been gifts…or rather, bribes. The entire house was likely the product of ill-gotten gain. He cleared his throat. "So, Jack, we thought we should let you know what was going on."

The others, now changed into more comfortable clothing, huddled around Red, as if he could protect them all from the big bad wolf. Who, of course, was sitting behind his desk and looking at them all as if they were the scum of the earth.

Jack gripped the edge of his mahogany desk. "I suppose you want me to thank you? Pay you some reward? Is that what you're after?"

Red crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin, not backing down from the hostile glare Jack was sending him. "Don't be ridiculous. Look, we're concerned about your daughter and your granddaughter…"

"Don't…." Jack stood suddenly, pointing at Red, his voice turning to threatening ice. "Don't mention that child to me. Ever." He shook his head, his eyes closing. "That bastard shouldn't even exist."

Donna opened her mouth to say something, but just in time, Eric clasped his hand over her mouth and smothered the cuss words.

Red shook his head, clenched a tight fist. What he wouldn't give to beat this asshole into a pulp. But that wouldn't help Jackie, or that precious baby girl. "Do you even care that your daughter can't be found?"

Jack looked them all over, accusation in his eyes. "Why was she at the cemetery? Why did you take her to see that…that…scum who ruined her life?" He began to pace, mumbling to himself. "If he's come back…if I find out that he's come back to get her…someone is going to pay. Someone is going to die."

Red felt Kitty's hand on his arm, her nails digging into his skin, and he winced, but kept his attention on Jack. He wasn't quite sure what the jerk had said; he'd heard a few phrases, a word or two. If I find out…he's come back…going to pay…die. "If who comes back, Jack? What are you mumbling about?"

Jack snapped his head towards the interlopers. "Nothing." He heaved a breath, reminding himself to keep calm, to never let anyone see his nerves. Luckily, the phone rang. A distraction. He walked back to his desk and picked up the receiver. "Excuse me." Turning his back on those people, he closed his eyes and spoke a gruff greeting. "Jack Burkhart." His eyes closed. "What do you want?"

Kitty looked at her husband. "Red," she whispered. "Do you think that's a ransom call?"

Red shrugged, his eyes focused on Jack. "I don't know." He frowned when Jack said a single word, "Fine", then turned and hung up the phone, his face blank. "Was that a ransom call? Has Jackie been kidnapped?"

"That's none of your business." Jack smoothed down his tie and the breast of his suit coat. "Look, I appreciate you bringing my daughter's situation to my attention. But now that you have, you can just get back to your own lives. I'm her father, and I'll take care of it."

Kitty stepped forward, unable to contain herself. "But the police will want to talk to the kids, won't they? They're the last ones who saw Jackie and…" Her voice cracked. "Stephie." She turned away, nestling her head into Red's chest when Jack glared at her.

Jack sat down and began shuffling with papers on his desk, all but ignoring the presence of others. "I won't be involving the police. It's unnecessary." Sensing he was about to be rebuked by less than worthy opponents, his head darted up, and he looked at Red. "Do not tell me how to handle this, Mr. Forman. And if you go to the police on your own, you'll get nowhere. I will take care of this. Now." He stood up and walked around his desk, standing in front of the group and smiling sarcastically. "If you'll please see yourselves out. I'm a very busy man."

Outside of the Burkhart mansion, the group stood, all of them stunned and sickened by Jack Burkhart.

Donna looked at Red. "So what do we do now?" She twisted her fingers together. Her best friend was God knows where, and her asshole father didn't give a damn.

Red shook his head. "First, we get the hell off of this dumbass's property." The group silently headed for the car. As he followed, Red glanced back at the huge, beautiful house. A huge, beautiful house that hid greedy and corrupt, screwed-up people. It was a wonder Jackie had come out of that house alive. "You call yourself a father?" he muttered.

My Father Never Did This

Jackie sat on the bed, her head resting on Sammy's shoulder. She'd stopped crying, but tears were still there, behind her eyes, in her chest, in her heart and soul. After what she'd just heard, she suspected they'd always be there. Sammy's hand gently, shyly petted the side of her head, and she smiled wryly. "My father never did this," she said. "Even when I was little and skinned my knee when I fell off my bike…he never did this."

Sammy nodded. He wasn't surprised. "I used to do this with my little girl. All the time." He turned slightly and looked at Jackie's dark head. "I betcha Hyde will do this with your little baby."

She lifted her head and smiled at Sammy. "Yeah. You should have seen his face when he first held her. He cried. Steven doesn't cry." She blinked rapidly, trying to hold those damned tears in. Sammy probably thought she was a watershed with all she'd cried in the past twenty minutes. "So…" She met Sammy's eyes. They were nice, greenish, and soft. Warm, like a father's should be. "Everything Steven did…it was only because my father…wanted to…"

"I ain't so sure he wanted to, pretty girl," Sammy interrupted, squeezing her shoulder. "Your old man…well, he likes getting his own way. And he was doin' what he thought he had to." He shrugged. "I guess that's what he thought, anyway."

"But he would have. I mean, you and Carl were supposed to have me beat up. He would have had me killed if it had come down to it."

Sammy sighed and looked away. "I wish I could tell you different."

Jackie replaced her head on Sammy's shoulder and scooted a little bit closer to him. He was comforting, so comforting. Ironic. Her kidnapper had become a surrogate father. The tears began to slip from her hold, and she closed her eyes. "I should have believed Steven." He'd tried to tell her…tried to break it to her, and she'd slapped him. God, she'd slapped him!

Sammy glanced toward the door and smiled slightly. "You should'a seen that kids face when me and Carl told him what we were gonna do. Just knowin' that he was gonna see you again…he was so happy." He looked back at Jackie's head. "Every time Jack said something about hurtin' you…That kid woulda done anything to keep you safe."

Again, she raised her head and looked at her surprising hero. "Yeah, well," she choked out, thinking of just what Steven had done, what he had sacrificed. He'd married that whore…left his entire life for over a year…just so she could keep breathing. Even just the thoughts left her dizzy. "I guess he did, didn't he?"

Sammy leaned to her and kissed her forehead. "Yep. He did." He smiled. "You want me to go get him for you?"

Jackie nodded, her voice gone, the tears rushing from her eyes. "Please," she mouthed, unable to even squeak out a syllable. As Sammy nodded and silently left the room, she stood on her shaky legs and went to the bassinet. She looked down and through her tears, saw her beautiful daughter's face. She closed her eyes and summoned the sight of Steven's face when she'd put Stephanie in his arms.

But the sight was ruined when her own father's face replaced Steven's, and the baby, now her, fell. Kept falling. And her father only laughed.

Her chin fell to her chest, and she sobbed.

Just Love Her

Hyde looked up when the door opened, and scrambled to his feet. Clenched and unclenched his hands, and tried to keep his Zen. Sammy walked towards him, and his heart pounded, making that Zen quite difficult to keep. Too much had happened, he supposed with some disgust. "So…" God, why was it so hard to breathe? Had she believed Sammy? Did she understand?

Sammy gave a slight nod, a slight smile. "She wants you in there. I told her everything." Hyde nodded and began to walk past him to the room, but Sammy stopped him, grabbing his arm. "You go easy on her, Hyde. She's heartbroken about her father. You gotta just love her, okay?"

Hyde nodded again, and Sammy began to walk away. Hyde turned towards the door, but then, propelled by some deep need for Sammy to understand and know, he turned back. "Sammy." The man stopped and turned, looking at him curiously. He cleared his throat. "I, uh…I do." He lifted a shoulder, his face heating. "You know…love her."

The hint of a smile danced the corners of Sammy's mouth upwards. "Yeah, I know, kid. You just make sure that pretty girl in there knows it, too."

Hyde smiled. Funny how protective Sammy was of this girl he hardly knew when her own father didn't give a damn about her. As he turned and started to open the door, he thought of his daughter. Stephanie Heidi Hyde.

And he made a vow to himself, one he'd keep come hell or high water. No man would ever love his little girl more than her father did.

My Little Camaro

Hyde opened the door, and his heart stopped. She was sitting on the floor in front of the bassinet, her knees curled to her chest, her head laid on them. She was shuddering, and he could hear the tiny sounds of her stifled sobs. The ache in his chest became a tear, and for a moment, he could only stand there and watch, helpless. Nothing he could do would really help, or take away the pain. No matter how much he loved her, it wouldn't change the fact that her father had threatened to kill her. It wouldn't change the fact that she now had to live the rest of her life knowing that.

Maybe whatever he could give her was just pointless.

His right foot moved backwards, urging his body to turn and walk away, go back to Kansas, start a completely new life, forget her.

But when she uncurled herself and looked at him, her teary eyes directly locking with his gaze, he moved forward instead of backwards. One slow step at a time. To her. He cleared his throat. "Hey," he said huskily. He closed the door behind him.

Jackie tried to smile, and her hands worked furiously to rid herself of the tears. Steven's expression was soft, no accusation, no anger, and that made her guilt loom larger inside of her. "I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly. She stumbled from her knees to her feet, still brushing away the wetness on her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Steven. I should have…I should have believed you."

Hyde shook his head. "You don't have to apologize, Jackie. I mean, I know that…" He smiled wistfully. "I didn't exactly give you a chance to…absorb it, or whatever." He took a step towards her as she stepped towards him, and when close enough, he put his hands on her shoulders. Her eyes, red and blurry, stared up at him, and he lowered his head, putting his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry, kitten. You're father is a complete bastard, and I'm…I'm sorry." She made a little noise, a small sob, and her body collapsed into his. He caught her and held her, closing his eyes as she cried against his shoulder. Fuck you, Jack. Fuck you, and damn you to hell!

Steven was so warm, his arms so strong around her, his hands gentle on her back. She could have stayed there forever, but something made her lift up, sniffing, the tears slowing a bit. "Did he…" Her voice cracked. "Did he really shoot a picture of me?"

Hyde nodded. Might as well be truthful. Nothing he could say could hurt her anymore. And she deserved the whole truth. "Right through your forehead. I…I kept it." He lifted his shoulders. "Every time I wanted to back out of the whole Sam thing…I looked at it, and…"

She gave him a tiny smile. "You married her because he told you to."

He took a deep breath. Wasn't entirely sure how this would go over with her. "Actually…it was my idea to get married."

"What?" She started to back away from him, her heart suddenly on fire again, but those strong hands, those limber fingers gripped her fiercely.

"Look, I knew that when I went back to Point Place, you'd have an excuse for the whole Kelso thing."

"Steven…"

"And I knew that we'd get back together. I knew you'd manage to convince me to try to get over it. I knew that…" He stared at her. "I knew we'd get back together, Jackie, and this was…it was the only way I could think of that we wouldn't."

Jackie pulled away and turned, but stepped back into Steven's body. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she leaned her head back, angling it to the left so he could rest his chin on her shoulder, his temple touching hers. Her eyes closed and she inhaled deeply, savoring the sensations of his chest against her back, his thighs against her rear end. He was the only thing keeping her sane. "And then you gave up your entire life for me. You…you gave up everything for me." She turned and looked up at him, her eyes misting, but this time because of an overwhelming realization. He hadn't died for her, not truly, but essentially he had. He'd given up the only family he'd ever known, his friends, his job, his life. Just to keep her alive. It was the ultimate…the ultimate declaration.

The realization took her breath away, and for a moment, her chest struggled to move. She reached up and cupped his scruffy cheek, the five o'clock shadow wonderfully itcy on her hand. "You love me." She began to laugh, shining dots of salty tears clinging to her lower lashes. "You love me so much you would fake your own death, Steven!"

He smiled. So quickly the anguish in her eyes, on her face, had turned to joy. Because of him. It left him feeling odd, out of control, but so, so damn good. "Shut your piehole, Jackie," he said for the sake of Zen.

She giggled and stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his. "Shut up, Steven. You love me." Another kiss, and she dropped back to her feet. She rubbed his chest. "You once told me that I'd be lucky to get a dead rabbit from you, and look at what you did for me." She cocked her head. "I always knew you could be romantic, Steven." Her smile fell, and the tears rushed again. "Oh, god, Steven, you just…I love you so much, and you…"

Hyde leaned down and smothered her words with his lips, giving her a deep, slow kiss. Pulling away just barely half an inch, he breathed against her upturned lips. "So now you know," he whispered. "Now you know that I'd die for you. Now you know that I can see a future with you. Now you know that I want you." He squeezed her body tight against his, his eyes closed as he spoke the words that had always freaked him out. Now they seemed natural. Right. And everything she deserved. "Now you know that I love you." He kissed her again, deeper and slower.

She kissed him back, hard, with all of her heart, all of her love and energy, and began pulling him back towards the bed without breaking from the embrace.

Stephanie began to cry. Loudly. Demandingly.

Hyde groaned, just as he was about to push his woman to the bed, and he drew away. "Damn it," he muttered, glancing over at the bassinet. A half smile played on his lips. It was the first time his daughter had interrupted his plans to seduce her mom. He was disappointed, but at the same time, kind of amused.

Jackie giggled. "Welcome to parenthood, Puddin' Pop," she chirped. She looked down at her chest. "I need to feed her."

He watched her as she lifted the baby from the bassinet and settled down in the rocking chair. For some reason, the fact that she pulled the top of her dress down and placed Stephanie at her breast took him by surprise. "You…you're doing….that…" He pointed at his own chest. "Thing?"

Jackie smiled, amused by the look on his face; half disgust, half curiosity. "I'm nursing her, Steven. Breast milk is better for her."

Hyde grimaced, then grinned as he backed up to the bed and sat down. "Is it sick that I'm kind of jealous of her?"

"You want to drink my milk? Come on over here. I've got two." Jackie laughed when Steven made a face.

Hyde shook his head, but kept watching as the little girl had her meal. The idea of breastfeeding was rather sickening, and yet, seeing it, it was something else entirely. Almost fascinating. He wanted a closer look, to see his daughter's tiny lips working Jackie for nourishment. The thought made him feel weird, and he looked away.

"You wanna come closer? See her?"

He looked back at Jackie, keeping his face Zen and lifted a shoulder, though his stomach was turning somersaults. "Whatever."

She rolled her eyes. "Get over here, oh mighty Zen master."

He held in the chuckle and glared at her, but nevertheless, stood and went to her. He stood to the side and looked down at Jackie's half-exposed breast, and the little girl who suckled. The rhythmic motion of Stephanie's lips held his attention, and he watched, utterly captivated by the way Stephanie looked at Jackie and the way Jackie looked back at her.

After a while, Stephanie had obviously had enough, and Jackie stood with a grin. "You get to burp her."

Hyde shook his head, backed away slightly. "Wait, but I don't know how."

"It's easy, Steven. Here. Just put her…" She handed Steven the baby and guided Stephanie to his shoulder.

He held the baby nervously, his eyes fixated on Jackie.

"Put her on your shoulder. Now wait, let me get a burp rag."

Instinctively, Hyde bounced the baby a little bit while holding her, and was startled when she cooed in his ear. He smiled and looked at her. "You like that, huh? Figures. Your mom is a bouncer."

"Okay, put this rag on your shoulder…now pat her back."

Hyde dutifully patted Stephanie's back.

Jackie laughed. "A little harder than that, Steven. You're not gonna break her. Trust me."

He rolled his eyes, but followed instructions. And within a few seconds, his daughter burped. A nice, loud one that would have made Kelso and Fez giggle. He gazed at her with a proud smile. "Yep. She's my kid, all right."

Jackie sat down on the edge of the bed and yawned. She rubbed her hand over her face. God, she was tired. "Okay, now just hold her and rock her. Pretty soon she'll fall asleep."

Hyde settled carefully down in the rocking chair, smiling at his baby girl with wide blue eyes. Long lashes, a tiny little pug nose. He began to rock, then looked up at Jackie. "Kind of like you, huh? You look exhausted."

She nodded. "I am. It's been a really long day."

"Go to sleep then." She began to say something, and he grinned. "Check that dresser. Carl and I…well, we stole some clothes for you."

Jackie raised an eyebrow and went to the dresser. She opened a drawer and squealed. "Oh my god, these are mine!"

"Yeah. We kind of broke into your apartment while you were at the wedding. Don't be too excited, though, I didn't take time to pick out perfect outfits, I just grabbed stuff." He watched Jackie as she took her dress off, then looked away. Somehow, it didn't feel right to see her naked. Not yet, even though every inch of his body longed for hers. Instead, he looked down at Stephanie. Her eyes were beginning to drift closed, but she kept blinking them, holding them open, resisting sleep.

"Just put her down after she falls asleep, okay, Puddin' Pop?"

Hyde nodded, not looking away from the baby. "Okay."

"And then come join me."

He glanced over at the bed and found Jackie sitting up, giving him the sweetest smile he'd ever seen. He grinned. "Definitely."

After about ten minutes, Hyde figured Jackie was asleep. Someone else, though, someone much younger and littler, wasn't. "Stubborn kid," he said to Stephanie softly, rocking the chair slowly. He sighed. "So. You're my kid." His throat moistened and burned, and he swallowed a few times. "You're so beautiful. Like your mom." He glanced again at the sleeping Jackie, then back at Stephanie. "I've got so much on her, when you get older, I'll tell you all you need to know in case you ever need to blackmail her." Stephanie's lips curved upwards, and he nodded. That was really cool, his baby's smile. "So what am I gonna call you, huh? A dad's gotta have a nickname for his kid." He leaned his head back against the chair, still rocking. "Red calls Laurie kitten…nope. I call your mom that. Besides, you're not gonna have some girly nickname." He touched the slight nose with his index finger. "Yours is gonna be cool, 'cause you're gonna be cool. Cool and beautiful." He grinned. "Like a Camaro. Yeah. I'll call you my little Camaro. You like that?" He frowned.

His baby had finally fallen asleep, just when he'd found the perfect nickname for her. With a slight smile, he stood up, carefully carrying her to the bassinet. He lay her down and just watched her, his heart all swollen again. Loopy. That was the best way to describe what looking at her was like. "Fine. I'll tell you about your nickname tomorrow." He bent down and kissed the top of her head. "Night, my little Camaro. I…" He closed his eyes. Would it ever get easier? Taking a deep breath, steeling his determination to be a better father than he'd ever known, he opened his eyes and smiled at his beautiful girl. "I love you, Stephanie Heidi Hyde."

"Steven?"

He turned. "What, kitten?"

Jackie's voice was thick and sleepy, but firm. "You're not calling our baby girl your little Camaro."

He laughed and headed towards the bed. That chick was sneaky. And an eavesdropper.

"Now come hold me or I'll kick you again."

"Yes, dear," he said as he pulled the covers down and got into bed behind her. She scooted backwards, and his eyes closed. His arms were finally full of her again, and her hands gripped his just like they used to.

He heard her sob softly, and he brushed a kiss over the back of her head.

For so long, he hadn't known what love was.

Now this…holding Jackie, across the room from the life they'd made together…this was love.