Authors Note: Whoa that took entirely too long. Sorry about that. Nope it wasnt writers block holding me back. It was a lil thing called life. Finally got a new job...that i love more than i can even describe! I swear it is so awesome and my boss is awesome. LOL. Ne ways been so busy with that and a massive final paper for my english class that killed me. Anyways so this chapter is going to jump kick the jackie/hyde stuff. This is just a filler chapter really to get the good stuff goin. Anyway the whole slave thing is going to come back up. Now that i've set up what i have in this chapter its going to come back. It's gonna be funny as hell when it does too. LOL So please review and thanks so much to those of you who have been reviewing. OH and listen to stairway to heaven when you're reading that part because it works better that way. Pretty please! Thanks guys!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except maybe the title of this chapter. Led Zeppelin owns stairway to heaven.

Chapter Three: Why do you Even Care?

Donna watched Hyde as he stared at the TV with a scowl permanently attached to his face. After three days of Hyde being MIA from the basement he'd finally managed to come back, more pissed off than he was before he disappeared.

"Is something bugging you Hyde?" Donna asked as he looked over at her.

Hyde stared at his red headed best friend trying to figure out how to answer her question. "Nope I'm fine. Why?"

"Well you just seem more pissed than usual is all."

"That's true man." Eric chimed in from his spot next to Donna.

"I just think this whole thing between Red and I is stupid man."

"What thing between you and Red?" Eric asked as he turned towards his friend.

"I tried to come over after I saw you guys at the hub."

"What happened?"

Flash back

Hyde crossed the street as he headed towards the Forman's driveway. He had a plan all worked out. He was going to go down there and tell them that living with Jackie was just temporary until he found another job, and the second he had the money he needed he was out of there. But before he could go towards the back door he was stopped by what he liked to call the voice of doom.

"Steven, could you come over here for a moment?" Red asked as he walked out of the garage.

Now Steven Hyde didn't scare easily. It usually took quite a bit to make him shake in his boots. But when he looked over at Red and saw the older man had an almost pleasant smile on his face he knew that he was doomed, and that was when the shaking began.

"Yes sir." Hyde said as he walked into the garage and found the place completely dark except for one light on in the middle with a chair underneath it.

"Sit down Steven." Red said as he closed the overhead.

Hyde sat down as he watched Red walk around the garage.

"Um Red what's this about?"

Red laughed as he looked at Hyde. "This is about your little habit son."

"My habit?"

"Yes your very illegal habit."

"Oh," Hyde said as he looked down.

"Now I know that you're good friends with my son and that my son is somewhat of a dumb ass. But I'm not going to let you go down there and make him a dope headed dumb ass. I just won't have it. I don't like that stuff Steven and I don't want it in my house. Do you understand me?"

"I understand you sir. But I don't have any of that stuff. I'm clean; ever since I got put on probation I've been clean."

Red studied the younger man and saw that was indeed telling the truth. "Alright but for the next few days I'd like you to stay away from Eric."

Hyde sighed as he nodded at the older man. "Alright,"

"Thank you, now where are you staying?"

Hyde looked up at Red. "What?"

"Kitty is worried about you and I want to be able to tell her that you're alright so where are you staying?"

"Um, with a friend, a very sober friend I promise you."

"Good, now if you stay clean for a few months then you can move back in, but just remember this Steven," Red said as he leaned down, "I'm watching you."

Hyde watched as Red left the garage and tried to calm himself down. He knew that Red had every right to be pissed but this was ridiculous. Red wasn't his father and he couldn't…well there was that foot in the ass thing that Hyde sometimes wondered if it was more of a promise rather than a threat. And with that thought in mind Hyde got up and walked home.

"He really said all of that?" Donna asked.

"Yeah and man Forman your dad is scary when he wants to be."

"I know, I've been trying to tell you guys that for years but no!" Eric said as he crossed his arms.

"Oh I believed you honey." Donna said as she touched Eric's arm.

"Okay I'm out of here if you two are going to get all lovey dovey." Hyde said as he glared at them.

"Fine," Eric said as he put his arm around Donna, "So Hyde what's it like living with Jackie?"
"Its fine, I mean when I first moved in there I thought I'd have to listen to her bitch and whine for hours on end, but I hardly see her."

"Really?" Donna asked.

"Yeah and when I do see her she's quiet and doesn't ask me a ton of questions."

"That's not very Jackie like." Eric said.

"I know man it's just weird." Hyde said as he turned his attention back to the TV.

Donna looked at Hyde and realized that this was her chance to make him see that Jackie had in fact changed. "You know Hyde Jackie has changed a lot over the last few weeks."

"Really now, and how has she changed Donna?" Hyde said as he turned back to Donna.

"Well she isn't asking you dumb questions is she?"

"No she isn't but maybe she just doesn't care." Hyde said.

"True, but wasn't she following you around, and saying how in love you were just a few weeks ago?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well she isn't doing that anymore is she?" Donna asked.

"Well…actually no she isn't. Why isn't she doing that anymore Donna?"

"How should I know? She's been different these past few weeks though. She doesn't yell at me about my clothes or my lack of makeup much anymore. It's like she's a totally different girl."

"You know I noticed something too." Eric said.

"What did you notice Forman?" Hyde asked.

"I came down here the other day and I saw Jackie, but she was listening to the Rolling Stones, and I figured I was dreaming or something so I just went back upstairs and never really thought about it until now."

Hyde looked at his friends as he thought about what they were saying. "Okay this is just too weird." Hyde said as he stood up.

"Yeah I know." Eric said as he looked at Donna.

"You guys its not that weird. Jackie changed okay. Maybe this is a good thing."

"Change is never a good thing Donna. Change is bad." Eric said.

"No Eric some changes are good. I mean I for one love that Jackie is being different. It means no more lectures about my clothes being too lumberjack like."

Hyde walked towards the door as he listened to Donna. "No this is weird and I'm going to go figure out what's going on." Hyde said as he walked out.

As soon as the door closed Donna hit Eric in the shoulder. "Damn Donna what was that for?"

"Thanks a lot you dill hole!" She said before she got up and walked out.

"What'd I do?" Eric said as he rubbed his shoulder.

Hyde walked into the house and closed the door. He listened for any sounds of the home's current owner but only heard music. He walked towards the stairs as he tried to figure out exactly what song was playing. Then it hit him. "What's going on with her?" He said as he listened to the song.

There's a lady who's sure

All that glitters is gold

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

He smiled as he listened to the song. "I knew she'd come around." He said quietly as he kept listening.

When she gets there she knows

If the stores are all closed

With a word she can get what she came for.

Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

Hyde stared at the door as he heard Jackie's tiny voice coming from the other side of it. She was singing along to the song perfectly. Almost as if she'd listened to this particular record millions of times and he'd missed it every single time.

There's a sign on the wall

But she wants to be sure

'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.

He just couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe that Jackie, the same Jackie who had just told him the other day that Zeppelin wished that they could be ABBA was singing along to one of his favorite Led Zeppelin songs. He had to see this with his own eyes, so he quietly opened the door and peered in.

In a tree by the brook

There's a songbird who sings,

Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,

Ooh, it makes me wonder.

He watched her as she swayed her hips to the song, her back turned to him the entire time, as he thought about the things that Donna had said to him. 'She is different,' He thought to himself as she continued to dance and he continued to watch her.

There's a feeling I get

When I look to the west,

And my spirit is crying for leaving.

In my thoughts I have seen

Rings of smoke through the trees,

And the voices of those who standing looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,

Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon

If we all call the tune

Then the piper will lead us to reason.

And a new day will dawn

For those who stand long

And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow

Don't be alarmed now,

It's just a spring clean for the May queen.

Yes, there are two paths you can go by

But in the long run

There's still time to change the road you're on.

And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go

In case you don't know,

The piper's calling you to join him,

Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,

And did you know

Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

And as we wind on down the road

Our shadows taller than our soul.

There walks a lady we all know

Who shines white light and wants to show

How ev'rything still turns to gold.

And if you listen very hard

The tune will come to you at last.

When all are one and one is all

To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

Jackie turned around once the song was over and gasped when she saw Hyde standing in the door way. "What are you doing in here?" She said as she quickly turned off the record player as Misty Mountain Hop began to play.

"I wanted to talk to you, but then I heard that." He said as he pointed to the record player.

"It's nothing Steven, I just wanted to see if they were any good or not and they're not. They're horrible." Jackie said as she quickly pulled the record off and slid it back in its case.

"Really…well that's interesting considering you were singing all the words."

"I wasn't singing."

Hyde slowly walked over to her as she glared at him. "It's okay if you were doll. It's not that big of a deal."

"So what if I was. Is that a crime?"

"Nope, it's a damn miracle is what it is."

"Shut up Steven. So I like Zeppelin and so what if I know the words. I just like that song okay. It clears my head."

"And your head needs clearing why?"

"Oh why do you care Steven? I mean really. You never ask me how my day went or where I'm going you just sit there and do nothing. I'm the only one that ever asks and even when I do you barely answer. So really Steven, why do you care if my head needs clearing?" Jackie said as a tear slid down her face.

Hyde reached out and brushed the stray tear from her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that I was bugging you. Do you want me to just go?"

Jackie shook her head as she looked down. "No I want you to stay Steven. It's the least I can do."

"What do you mean?'
Jackie looked up with tears in her eyes. "I'm the reason you got kicked out and I'm the reason you're on probation now. It's all my fault. I just…I wanted so badly for you to like me and I thought that was the only way. But when you didn't….Steven I'm so sorry." Jackie said as she began to cry.

Hyde pulled her into his arms. "No Jackie, don't cry…uh…doll listen I know I was a jerk and I'm sorry, for everything. I just…I'm not use to this. I'm not the one that girls just want to be with. I'm the one that has to go out and get the easiest girl I can find because I'm not the relationship guy. The only time I ever wanted a relationship with a girl, she chose my best friend over me. I just…I'm sorry that I…I'm just sorry Jackie. I just I cant be that guy…okay? I'm sorry I just can't."

Jackie looked up at Hyde and noticed that he'd taken off his sunglasses during his little speech to her. 'God his eyes are so blue,' she thought as she continued to stare at him.

"It's okay Steven. I'm alright with it. At least we're friend right?" She asked as she pulled away from him.

"Yeah we're friends Jackie," Hyde said as he put his glasses back on, "You know Donna was right."

"Right about what?"

"You are different…I just haven't decided if that's good or bad yet." Hyde said as he smiled at her.

"Really now?" Jackie said as she laughed.

"How about you and I go get a burger or something okay? Because I don't feel like cooking."

"Me neither." Jackie said as she grabbed her purse and walked out of her room.

Hyde watched her walk out as his heart finally started to calm down. 'I'm not falling for her…am I?' Hyde thought as he followed Jackie out of the house.

AN: What'd you think? Please review. It only takes a second but it leaves a smile on my face that lasts for days!