Authors Note: Okay i want to open this chapter up by saying that this was one of the hardest chapters i've had to write for this story so far. The next might be harder but this one was the hardest so far. It's so sad that i might recommend tissues at one point. I'm doing exactly what i didnt want to do but i felt it needed to be done. On another note i want to express a huge thank you towards relic yuy...thank you so much for your review last chapter. I realize that Eric pushing Hyde out the window then getting off scotch free was a lil careless on my part as this is such a serious story. I guess i took a chapter from October Road and just brushed it off like Nick did with Eddie . Anyways 5 reviews. God i was so excited when i got all those. Thank you guys so much. The title for this chapter is a song by Cobra Starship. you should listen to their new album. Okay enough of that. Please let me know what you think about this chapter. Oh yeah to clear something up. Jackie still lives with the Forman's but she's been staying with her boyfriend sometimes. Yeah okay that's that. Enjoy!

Chapter Six: The City is At War

"Careful Red," Kitty said as Red helped Hyde walk up the stairs and into Eric's old room.

"Mom I'm fine."

"Honey you are not fine," Kitty said as Red helped Hyde to the bed, "You just had surgery so you are in no way fine." Kitty said as Hyde sighed.

"Alright I'm not fine…but I'll be fine. You don't have to baby me."

"Nonsense I can baby you if I want too…I mean it's not like I have anything else to do. All my babies have grown up and left." Kitty said as the tears came to her eyes.

"Oh Steven just let her take care of you or I'll be have to listen to her cry all afternoon. And if that happens then you'll have to deal with my foot in your ass."

"Yes sir. Its fine you can baby me Mom."

"Oh good, is there anything you'd like me to bring you."

"Actually I think I'm just going to sleep for a while."

"Alright Steven," Kitty said as she walked over and kissed his forehead, "If you need anything just yell."

"Will do and thanks guy." Hyde said as they both nodded then left the room.

Hyde sighed then slowly moved up towards the pillows and let sleep take him.

"Hey Hyde are you awake?" Eric said as he slowly opened the door.

Hyde opened his eyes as he saw Eric walk in. "Yeah man I'm awake."

"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to see how you're feeling."

"Like a million bucks man."

"Yeah I can see that." Eric said as he stood by the door.

"You do realize you can walk in the room right."

"Yeah I just…I cant stay long I just wanted to check up on you that's all."

"Uh yea…well I'm fine. I've just been sleeping. I couldn't sleep in that hospital at all man."

"Yeah I get that."

"Yeah,"

"Well I'm gonna go. I'll let mom know you're up so she can bring you some soup or something."

"Alright." Hyde said as Eric bolted from the room.

Hyde stared at the door with a frown on his face as the door closed behind Eric.

"Oh hey Jackie," Donna said as she opened the door and found her best friend on the other side of it.

"Hey can I come in?"

"Sure," Donna said as she moved to let Jackie in then shut the door behind her, "What's up?"

"I wanted to ask you what's going to happen."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know that Eric is the one that pushed Steven. I know what happened because Michael told me."

"What exactly did he tell you?"

"That they took Eric to meet Steven at this building that Steven bought to open that comic record store that they always talked about when they were teenagers and that Eric wasn't happy all."
"Did he tell you that Hyde said that Eric was taking his anger about Red out on him?"

"Yes he told me that and frankly Donna I think he is too."

"He isn't."

"Donna he is. He isn't dealing with it and instead of just handling it like an adult and talking to his father he took it out on Steven. He could have killed him."

"But he didn't!"

"He could have!" Jackie yelled as she glared at Donna.

"It doesn't even matter because Hyde forgave Eric."

"What?"

"Yeah Hyde told Eric that he deserved it because of all the horrible things he did to Eric."

"This is so typical. Donna, Steven screwed up, but even you know that doesn't give Eric the right to throw him out a window." Jackie said as she walked towards the door.

"Jackie, let it go. Everything is fine now. We can finally get back to normal."

Jackie opened the door and stared out at the street as she answered Donna, "Nothing is ever that easy when hatred is involved." She said before she walked out the door.

"I just took some soup up to Steven and his coloring looks a lot better." Kitty said as she sat down at the table.

"Oh he'll be fine Kitty. Just give him a few days." Red said as the screen door opened and Jackie walked in.

"I need to talk to you two." Jackie said as she sat down between them.

"Honey what's wrong?" Kitty asked as she looked at Jackie.

"There's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. Eric is the one that pushed Steven out the window of that store."

"What?" Red asked as he turned to face Jackie.

"Steven bought a building so that they could open that store they always talked about and it got ugly. Steven told Eric that he wasn't dealing with your cancer and that he was taking it out on him. Eric didn't like that so he pushed Steven out the window."

"Oh my god," Kitty said as she covered her mouth with her hand.

"Eric could have killed him and Steven….Steven forgave him."

"He did what?" Red said as he stood up.

"Red," Kitty said as she looked up at Red.

"No, Eric could have killed him and that boy just up and forgave him. Kitty our son needs to grow up and start acting like a man. He needs to take responsibility for what he's done. Ever since Steven came back Eric has done nothing but punish him for a book he wrote a long time ago. He needs to get over it and-"

"Red," Hyde said as he walked in the room and Kitty quickly got up and ran to his side, "I hurt Eric and he hurt me back."

"Steven, its one thing to hurt someone emotionally but to hurt them back physically is unthinkable. He could have killed you. Have you even thought about that?"

"But I-"

"Steven, Eric had no right to hurt you like that and you know it. You're just quick to forgive so you can get your friend back." Jackie said as Hyde looked up and for the first time realized she was there.

"Fine I'm quick to forgive, but is that wrong?"

"No not normally, Steven he could have killed you and then what?!" Jackie said as tears came to her eyes.

"Steven, I understand that you feel horrible for what you did to Eric, but Steven that stuff…it's so tiny compared to everything else. You shouldn't have let him get away with it." Jackie said.

"Look the truth of it is. I'm not going to do that to you. I'm not going to press charges on him and take him to court because that's how his last moment with you on this planet would be. He'd be behind bars and you'd be out here. I'm not going to do that to either of you. I just wont." Hyde said as he looked at Red.

"Fine," Red said as he sat down and Jackie walked outside.

"I'm fine Mom I'll be right back." Hyde said as he quickly followed Jackie outside.

"Steven, why did you follow me?" Jackie said as she stopped in the middle of the driveway.

"Jackie about that note-"

"Steven that note was the end…I know how you feel and I'm fine with it." Jackie said as she started walking away.

"Jackie wait," Hyde said but it came out a whisper because the pain in his back was too intense for him to really get the words out. He looked up and watched her walk away as Kitty came to his side and helped him back into the house.

"Red," Donna said as she opened the door and found her father in law on the other side.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Eric said as Red walked in and motioned for them to follow him.

"I know what happened between you and Steven the day of his accident."

"Dad,"

"No Eric I expect more from you. If you are having trouble dealing with the fact that I'm dying then you need to talk to me about it. You don't need to take it out on your friends."

"Dad,"

"No if you have a problem because Steven knew before you well that's too bad. He found out because he paid attention. He's not dumb alright. I wanted to tell you first but he beat me to it. That's why he knew before you. Not because I love him more or because he's more important to me. He knew because he paid attention."

"Dad, I get all of that. And I'm sorry that I pushed him. But Hyde forgave me."

"And he's an idiot. He shouldn't have forgiven you but because he believes that my final days are better spent with you around me than in a prison cell he decided not to do anything about it."

"That's his decision."

"He shouldn't have had to make it because you shouldn't have pushed him out a window. You're a dumbass Eric. You're a dumbass who needs to just grow up already-"Red yelled as he grabbed his chest.

"Dad," Eric asked as he slowly walked over to his father, "Dad?" Eric said as Red quickly grabbed onto his arm before he passed out in Eric's arms.

"Donna call 911!" Eric yelled as he held onto his father.

Hyde slowly walked up the Jackie's boyfriend's house with a look of determination written plainly on his face. He knocked on the door and waited until she answered it.

"Steven, what are you-"

"No for once I'm going to say what I have to say first before you open your mouth and stop listening to me. Jackie I love you. I've always loved you. I don't know why I never noticed how I felt or why I never really embraced it but I realize it now. This whole time you've been walking around loving me and wanting to be with me and all I've ever done is treat you like shit. I didn't mean to ever hurt you and I'm sorry if I did. I know this is sudden and you probably don't really believe me but it's true. I do love you. I realized it when I was sleeping…as stupid as that might sound. And I know I'm turning into Eric as I say this but I really do love you and I want to be with you more than you know. So if you'll give a chance I promise I'll never hurt you and I'll always love you no matter what happens."

"Steven-"Jackie said as Randy came to the door.

"Oh hey man what are you doing here?" Randy asked as he looked between Jackie and Hyde.

"He was-"

"I was just leaving." Hyde said as he took one final look at Jackie before he walked away.

Jackie watched him walk away as Randy turned back inside.

"Steven," She said before she closed the door and the phone began to ring.

Hyde walked in the front door and looked around for Kitty or Red. It was still early so he figured they be awake. He walked in the living room and sat down on the couch as he again looked around for any signs of his adoptive parents. He looked to his left and saw the answering machine blinking. But before he had the chance to press the button Donna walked in.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hyde, we need to go."

"What's wrong? Did something happen to Eric?" Hyde said as he slowly got up.

"Not Eric…its Red. He's in the hospital. We have to go." Donna said as Hyde nodded.

"Let's go." Hyde said as Donna helped him out the door.

"Oh Steven," Kitty said as Hyde slowly walked over to Kitty and she drew him into her arms.

"Is he going to be alright?" Hyde asked as he looked Kitty.

She slowly shook her head no as the tears came pouring out, "He suffered a minor heart attack and because of the cancer…he's not going to survive the night."

Hyde pulled Kitty into his arms and he looked around the room and realized that Jackie was sitting alone in the corner crying her eyes out.

"Go to her Steven. She could use a friend." Kitty said as she pulled away from Hyde before Donna wrapped her arms around her.

Hyde slowly walked over to Jackie who saw him coming and quickly got up and flew into his arms.

"Oh god Steven." Jackie said as she cried and all Hyde could do was hold onto her for dear life.

"Alright kids…you're all going to have to go in one at a time. So um…Jackie would you like to go in first?" Kitty asked as Jackie slowly nodded before she walked into the room.

"Mommy," Laurie said as she walked into the waiting room with Fez, Kelso, Brooke and Betsy in tow.

"Oh Laurie," Kitty said as she pulled her daughter into her arms and together they cried.

Jackie walked into the room and the tears came to her eyes as she took in the sight of her hero lying helpless in a hospital bed.

"It's the loud one." Red said as Jackie slowly walked over to him.

"Yeah it's me."

"Listen kid…this is it. This is that last moment…and I want to tell you that I'm proud of you. You were always my favorite…you're the only one who can work on a car as good as me."

"Only because you taught me." Jackie said as a tear came to her eyes.

"Now I'm going to teach you something else. Don't be afraid to give in. If you want something get it, because life is too short to wonder what if."

"There's so much I want to say."

"I know,"

"Thank you so much for everything…for just…god Red you've been a better father to me than my own dad."

"I love you Jackie."

"I love you too Red." Jackie said as she hugged him.

Finally it got down to the last 3 people that had to say their goodbyes.

"I'll go," Hyde said as he walked towards the room and quietly went inside.

"Well if it isn't my dead beat son." Red said as Hyde laughed.

"Well if it isn't my hard ass adoptive father." Hyde said as Red laughed at him.

"You'll take care of them when I'm gone right?"

"I'll do everything in my power to protect them." Hyde said as Red nodded.

"That's what I wanted to hear. Son, listen to me. I know that you were dealt a rough hand in this life and I don't blame you for being scared. But you have to open up and you have to let others in."

"I intend to sir."

"Good, now I know this isn't going to sound right coming from me but…Steven…son, I love you."

"I love you too…dad." Hyde said as he hugged Red one last time.

Eric walked into the hospital room and walked over to Red as he tried to hold his emotions in.

"Son,"

"Dad," Eric said as he sat down beside his father's bed.

"Listen there's something you should know. I'm proud of you."

"You're what?"

"I'm proud of the man you've become. Aside from what happened between you and Steven…I know that you're a good man. You make me proud Eric."

"Dad, I know I've been acting childish and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have I should have been an adult about all of this and handled it better. But I didn't and for that I'm sorry."

"I know you are. I love you Eric."

"I love you too Dad."

"Take care of your mother and your sister because they're going to really need you."

"I will dad." Eric said as Kitty walked in.

Eric got up and kissed his father's cheek before walking out.

"Oh Red," Kitty said as she broke down and fell into his arms.

"Oh Kitty, don't cry. Sweetheart it's going to be alright."

"This isn't supposed to happen yet. We still had time. We were going to make the most out of it."

"I know we were."

"This wasn't supposed to happen at all. Red you promised me forever."

"And you'll have forever. I'll always be with you Kitty. I'll never really leave you."

"But you won't be here. I'll be alone without you."

"You wont be alone Kitty. You'll have the kids and their kids. And I'll be with you, you'll never feel alone."

"Red, in my whole life I've never been as happy as I've been with you."

"Kitty you've made my life so complete. You gave me everything I ever wanted. You made me the happiest man in the world and I'll leave this world with all that happiness and I'll wait for you until the day you leave this world to be with me again."

"I love you so much Red."

"I love you too Kitty." Red said as Kitty crawled into the bed with him and he wrapped his arms around her.

Kitty slowly walked out of the room as the tears were pouring from her face. Jackie instantly started crying as Hyde pulled her to him. Donna held onto Eric as they cried together. Kitty and Laurie held onto each other as Fez stood next to them. Brooke cried into Kelso's shoulder as he held onto their daughter and tried to hold his tears in. It was a sad day for all of them as their hero and their meteor passed away, leaving them with memories of better times and happier moments.
A/N: I'm gonna get my ass kicked arent I? I had to okay it just...it had to happen to make the story progress correctly. Please forgive me for it alright guys.