Authors Note: In the midst of one of the most stressful days of my life i managed to finally finish this chapter. Now i got sort of a threat by a certain reviewer of mine. LOL You know who you are. And i had to make sure i kept her happy. I dont need her spending money she doesnt have to come kick my butt. Ne ways this chapter is my all time favorite because of a certain scene towards the end. Also this chapter has a special appearance by one of my favorite characters in the whole game. Okay just as a point in the first scene, if you've ever played final fantasy 10-2 imagine the scene in the beginning something like When yuna fell into that hole. Okay...okay. The song in here is 'Sleeping with Giants' by the academy is. I have the rest of the story planned out and it'll all be out soon.
Chapter Sixteen: Sleeping with Giants
Jackie slowly opened her eyes as she felt a soft breeze hit her. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes and she looked around. She looked around at the field full of dandelions that she had woken up in and tried to figure out how she'd gotten there.
"Steven!" She yelled as she stood up. "Donna!" She continued to look around when she suddenly heard music.
I've noticed, people, they all have motives.
Different, yet all the same.
I fumble through every word that was spoken,
And I barely knew your name.
I'm tongue-tied; it runs through my blood and my insides;
Some things we can't escape.
But if we try, if we try, we can leave this behind.
"Steven," Jackie called as she tried to follow the sound of his voice but it sounded like it was coming from every direction. Finally she stopped and just listened to the song, hoping that it would give her some clue as to where she could find him.
It's been a lifetime, a lifetime we waited for.
A simple question, kid, "are you with me or not at all?"
Your eyes wide, always ahead of the curve tide,
Quiet, and confident.
Oh, we stood there, awkward and youthful, we tangled;
A piece of my soul escaped.
Oh, we are restless and tired of sleeping with giants,
A modern mankind with their egos of fire and it seems like
It's been a lifetime, a lifetime we've waited for.
A simple question, kid, "are you with me or not at all?"
Are we wasting time or is it wasting us?
It's been a lifetime waiting for now, now.
Well, you've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way before you fold.
It's been a lifetime, a lifetime I've been waiting for.
A simple question, kid, "are you with me or not at all?"
It's been a lifetime, a lifetime we waited for.
I need an answer, kid; you're either with me or not at all, no, no.
Are we wasting time or is it wasting us?
It's been a lifetime, a lifetime, a lifetime, lifetime, yeah.
Well, you've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way.
Son you've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way,
You've got to find a way before you fold.
Jackie smiled as the music drifted off. She stared out into the field hoping to find Hyde somewhere when she realized something about herself. Her stomach was back to its naturally flat shape. "Where's my baby?" She asked as she looked from side to side. She looked up when she heard a noise and saw a shadow approaching her. "Steven?" She asked as the shadow got closer and she realized it wasn't Hyde but someone else…someone who looked very familiar.
"You don't know who I am do you?" The shadow said when it stopped in front of Jackie.
"You're Red Forman, Eric's dad." Jackie said as she looked up at him.
"We never met…its weird how this place just lets you know things…things you never knew on your own." Red said as he smiled at her.
"Is this heaven? Am I dead?" She asked as Red shook his head.
"This isnt heaven and you're not dead…at least not at the moment."
"What do you mean?"
"This place…it's like a waiting room. Only the wait is to see whether or not you're ready to die."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you have a choice Jackie. You can either choose option A or B."
"What's option A?"
"You come with me to the other side and you learn why everything in your life happened and what your true purpose was to be, without ever having fulfilled it."
"What's B?"
"You go back to your life and along the way I'll show key moments in your life that'll help you to find your purpose so that when you go back you can fulfill it."
"I want option B."
"Alright then lets go."
"Wait…I have a question."
"What is it? We don't have a lot of time."
"My baby…did he live?"
Red just turned around and started walking as Jackie stood there staring at him backside. "Are you coming?" He asked as she nodded and ran to catch up.
"Where are we?" Jackie said as the scene suddenly changed.
"You don't remember this?" He asked as she looked around.
"Wait…this is…this is the day I left the tour."
"Yep…there's something important that happened on this day."
"Something important?"
"Yes…do you know what it was?" He asked as Jackie shook her head. "Then look around."
Jackie turned around and saw Hyde standing there talking to Eric. "Wait…does…does my purpose have something to do with Steven?"
"Just pay attention."
"I have no idea."
"You will in time. Lets go." Red said as he begins walking again.
The scenery around Jackie changed again and this time she instantly knew where she was.
"This is the day Steven found out."
"Yes and you're a dumb ass. But I understand why it happened. Just Kelso…that kettle head is completely worthless."
"He isn't like that anymore."
"Oh he'll always be a kettle head don't think otherwise. I've seen him when you haven't. He's still as dumb as he was the last day I ever saw him." Red said as Jackie laughed.
"I hurt Steven really bad that day."
"Yes you did. That boy didn't deserve what happened to him but it made him stronger. It gave him the strength to do the hard things in life that needed to be done."
"To help him with his purpose."
"Exactly." Red said as he looked at Jackie. "It also taught you something."
"I know. It taught me to be honest and to never hurt those I love the way I hurt Steven."
"Lets go."
"Why are we rushing?" Jackie asked as she caught up to Red.
"Because we don't have long."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we have to get you back."
"Yeah but."
"Come on." Red said as he continued forward.
"You remember this day don't you?" Red asked as Jackie stared at herself. The younger version was standing at her locker trying to collect her books as quickly as she could when an older boy walked over and began putting his hands on her shoulders and whispering in her ear.
"No I cant see this," Jackie said as she turned around.
"No Jackie you have to see this." Red said as he turned her back around.
"Please don't show me this. It didn't happen. I know it didn't. I was just…it was a dream." Jackie said as she stared up at Red.
"No Jackie it wasn't a dream. It happened and you have to admit that. Your whole life you've been denying this one moment. The moment that made Steven who he is…the moment where you fell in love with him…that's wrong."
"But…" Jackie said as she watched the older guy picked her up and carried her to a corner. Her younger self pleaded with him to stop as the hallway became deserted. He told her not to cry and that she was going to love every second of it. The younger Jackie hadn't seen it, but the older one now did. She saw Hyde looking around near her locker and panicking when he only found her books. She watched him as he ran up and down the hall searching for her before he finally heard her pleas for the boy to stop.
"Does he always look like that when I'm in trouble?" Jackie said as she continued to stare at Hyde.
"Always," Red said as he turned away. Hyde pulled the guy off of Jackie and punched him until a teacher came and pulled Hyde off of him. He pulled Jackie into his arms as she cried her eyes out.
"It happened…and he saved me." She said as she turned to Red. "Can we move on now? Can we stop watching this?"
"Yeah, we have one last stop before you can go back."
Jackie looked around as the scene changed on last time to one she wasn't familiar with at all. Red pointed towards the child sitting on the stairs crying and Jackie slowly walked towards him. "Eric," She said as she looked down at the younger version of Eric.
"It's only been a day since Kitty and I died. They school's guidance counselors just told him that he'd have to go into social services."
"That's horrible." Jackie said as she knelt down beside Eric. "But he didn't go…Steven and his father adopted Eric." Jackie said as she looked up at Red.
"I know." Red said as a younger version of Hyde walked out of the school and sat down next to Eric.
"Hey man what's wrong?" Hyde asked as Eric wiped his eyes.
"The counselor just told me that I'm going to have to go into social services since none of my family wants me."
"Oh," Hyde said as he stared down at the ground, "Wait you know what."
"What?"
"I'll ask W.B to adopt you."
"What?"
"Yeah you could live at my house permanently and be my little brother."
"Would your dad do that?"
"Sure why not. He took me in didn't he?" Hyde said as Eric smiled.
"Yeah we could be brothers."
"Yeah," Hyde said as Eric looked at him.
"But why would you do that?"
"Because you're my best friend." Hyde said as Eric nodded.
After a few minutes the boys got up and began walking to Hyde's house as Jackie and Red watched them leave.
"I didn't want to leave. Leaving my son behind was the hardest decision I ever had to make. But letting Kitty make this journey alone…I couldn't do that. You see Kitty died instantly…I didn't. Like you I had a choice. I chose my wife…I left behind my son. But I think I made the right decision." Jackie began to cry as Red put his hands on her shoulders. "No matter what you think…you made the right decision Jackie. Remember that." Red said as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Suddenly they were in the hospital standing in front the door to her room.
"Do you know Steven's purpose yet?" Red asked as he stared straight ahead.
"Yes," Jackie replied, "his purpose is to guide and protect those he loves."
"Exactly," Red says as he opens Jackie's door.
Jackie opened her eyes and looked around the room. She didn't see anyone with her, but she knew she was in the hospital. Just as she was going to press the nurse's button one walked in a stared at her for a few mintues. "I'm going to go get the doctor." She said before she left the room.
"Miss. Burkhart, my name is Gene Bradley, how are you feeling?"
"Did I lose my baby?"
"No, your boyfriend has him. They checked out a week ago. Now do you remember you name?"
"How long have I been asleep?" She asked as she stared at the doctor.
"You've been asleep for two months."
A/N: do you see why i loved it? Please Review i do update faster when you do. And check out my newest buffy story 'Without a Soul'