She was going home today. She had been in the hospital for seven days. Two shouldn't have counted; she was so out of it. Five days of crappy food and bad clothes, but she was going home.

Where was home? The apartment, the basement? She wanted to get out of the hospital, but she wasn't entirely sure what was next.

"Miss Burkhart?"

Jackie turned around to see a young woman standing in her doorway. She was older than Jackie, but younger than Mrs. Forman. "Yes?"

"Before you are discharged, the hospital usually has me meet with patients who have been through similar situations."

"You're a therapist…"

"Yes, do you have a problem with meeting with me?"

"No, I just want to go home"

"Sometimes people who have been through a suicide attempt don't want to leave the hospital. They're often afraid that what drove them to try to take their life will do it again. So they want to stay."

"You don't understand, everything that was upsetting me is okay now."

"From what I've reviewed in your files, that could change."

"What!"

"Miss Burkhart, I can't make you stay here. But the problems you had before are still there."

"No, everything's different. You don't understand."

"So, your dad's out of prison, your mom is sober and taking care of you at your home, your ex-boyfriend didn't run off with another woman and your friends are being supportive of you now. You have a successful career and know how you're going to be spending the next few years of your life?"

"Bitch" Jackie angrily spat at the woman. She should be grateful she doesn't kick her ass.

"What I mean is…"

"No, you don't understand. Things are different. Donna's apologized and Steven & I have…"

"You're back together?"

"Well, yeah……I guess…..we haven't really discussed it yet…"

"Don't you think you should?"

"Listen ugly girl, I know he told me he loves me. And that he's not leaving me ever again. And he's going to fight for us, not drive me away."

"Well, I'm happy for you. Now what are you going to do after the guilt wears off."

"Huh"

"The people who are left behind when someone tries to take their life often feel guilty and make promises if someone survives."

"Yeah, I know they feel guilty. But you don't know my friends. They don't apologize just for the hell of it. You have to really work to earn their apologies. Their trust. Their friendship. And as for my relationship with Steven, no, we haven't exactly talked about EVERYTHING. I had a tube down my throat and couldn't speak well for days. But we're going to be there for each other. Take things slow. And I'm going ask for help from people instead of trying…"

The woman smiled at Jackie. "That's what I wanted to hear."

"I'm confused. You pissed me off and I called you a bitch"

"If you hadn't, you wouldn't be ready to go home yet. Here's my card, if you ever want to see me for an appointment, just call. I know you're going to discuss things more, but I'm here. Just the same."

With that, the therapist left Jackie her card and left the room. God, did that woman piss her off. But she was right about a couple of things. She was the one that had to change things inside herself. She knew she had Steven, Donna & Bob, the Forman's support. But she still needed to be proud of herself. Who she was.

Hyde came into the room just as Jackie closed her suitcase.

"Hey"

Jackie smiled upon seeing Hyde "Hey yourself"

"Um, can we talk for a minute?"

"Yeah, sure"

"I talked to Red & Mrs. Forman. If you want to, you can stay with me in the basement."

"Are you asking me because you feel guilty about what happened?"

"No"

"Steven, I tried to kill myself. Partly over you and what we had become. And now, you guys are afraid for me to be by myself. In case I try again."

"No. I mean, yeah, I feel guilty about what I did to you over the past few months. But I just thought it'd be easier for you to figure out what you wanted to do next. In a safe environment. With people who love you. Not because we're afraid to have you be alone"

"You know, I'm never doing that again."

"I know. You promised."

"I'm just taking things slow right now."

"Slow is good. I like slow"

"Steven…"

"Hey, I never said I was a saint, innocent of a lascivious thought"

"Some saints were sinners you know"

"Well, that'd be me. Can you handle staying in the same room as a sinning saint?"

"Just look at me as a fallen angel…"

"Oh babe, you say the nicest things"

With that, Hyde moved towards Jackie. They had held each other, professed their love, apologized for the past pain, their actions and hurt feelings. But he hadn't kissed her. Not a real kiss. Lots of sweet pecks and gentle caresses. On her lips, her forehead, her hand – but not an earth shattering, mind blowing, feel it in your knees passionate kiss. He was going to change that right now.

Hyde put his arms around Jackie's waist and pulled her tight to him. He leaned into her, guiding his lips towards her mouth. That beautiful mouth. She anxiously parted her lips, ever so slightly and closed her eyes in anticipation of what was going to happen. Hyde moistened his lips and the moment they touched Jackie, it was like a thunderbolt had struck them both. Soon, they were both clutching each other in a desperate attempt to remain vertical. All the passion, the pain and the love they felt for each other was coming out of their lips.

Needing to come up for air, Jackie slightly pulled away from Hyde

"We've got a lot of work to do yet"

"Yeah….I didn't want to do it in a hospital bed anyway."

"I might have." With that, Jackie took her purse and opened the door to the hallway and stared walking away, but not before giving Hyde a wink and a hair flip.

Hyde shook his head, trying to shake the cobwebs loose and remain focused on "taking things slowly." Things weren't going to be easy. They were going to be very, VERY hard – especially with Jackie staying in the basement. He smirked to himself as he picked up Jackie's suitcase and started after her. He wouldn't have it any other way.

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