Author Note: Just some filler to move the story along (probably my shortest chapter yet)
Chapter 15 – Nightmares during the Day
"Jackie - wait up!" Jackie turned around with a sigh. Brooke was running towards her across the parking lot. "Hey, are you trying to sneak out of here or what?"
Jackie sat down on the concrete bench. "Brooke, I am so totally exhausted right now, all I want to do is take a bath and sleep for 12 hours."
Brooke gave her a quick hug. "Oh sweetie, what you did here was incredible. Everyone is still talking about it and I heard that a reporter from Madison was writing an article."
Jackie lifted a brow. "Why would they? It's just a family reunion."
"Girl, a family reunion with over 300 people – private jets flying in from Texas – limo's and leather – that's a book! Michael is so tickled at all the money he made that he's thinking of getting a job here in Kenosha. We may be looking for a house!" Brooke said excitedly.
Jackie smiled. "Well, that will make Karaoke Saturday's much easier. Hey, do you mind making sure Mr. and Mrs. Forman get checked out okay? I paid all the rooms but I have to go before I fall down."
Brooke looked at her and she did look exhausted. "Okay, but make sure you go straight home and call me when you wake up. You have a story to tell me."
Jackie smiled, "I promise – now you get home to your daughter. Let Michael show her Kelso the Klown and take pictures!"
"I will and drive safe!"
*
Eric was at the checkout counter to pick up the video tape. "Hey Eric, Jackie asked me to make sure your folks get out okay. Can you do that? I have to find Michael - we need to pick up Betsy."
"Brooke, you saw Jackie? Where has she been?" Eric looked panicked. Brooke smiled, "Relax, she's going home. The poor dear is exhausted. I just saw her in the parking lot."
Eric felt relieved. He hadn't seen her since the pig games and then it was like she disappeared. All the rooms had been paid for and the hotel bill was settled. He saw the pigs being loaded on the truck and the hay was being removed while half of the party guests were in various stages of checking out. But Jackie was nowhere to be seen.
Red and Kitty came down with their luggage and Red was getting ready to pay his tab when Eric stepped in. "Dad, Jackie already paid your bill."
Kitty put her hand over her heart. 'What a dear girl. Tell her thank you for us okay? Your father has a suitcase full of beef so we need to leave quickly!" She pecked her son on the cheek and Red smirked, "Free room, free bear, easy job, good money and 20 pounds of barbeque ribs! That's what I call a good day!"
*
Jackie barely made it to the top of the apartment stairs. Fez was on his way down with a basket of laundry. "Goddess - You've returned! How was your party?"
Jackie grimaced. Her feet were killing her in these boots. "Fez, help me to my door okay?" Fez picked up her suitcase and she leaned against him while she unlocked her door. "I'm going to sleep until tomorrow night. If I don't answer my phone, it's because my message machine is full."
"Sleep well Jackie – we'll see you tomorrow!" Fez shut her door behind him and carried on to the laundry room.
Jackie collapsed on the sofa and the boots came off first. She wiggled her toes and sighed – that was the best feeling ever. She sloughed off the cowgirl vest and propped her feet on the coffee table. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the blinking light of her answering machine. Nah, those calls can wait. This girl had a bubble bath appointment!
*
Eric noticed Jackie's car was in her assigned spot and he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew she had to be tired, the girl was running around endlessly and made it seem like there were three of her instead of just on. The weekend manager had stopped Eric before he left inform him of the amount of profit the hotel made in just two days. It was staggering and Eric wanted to share that with Jackie; well because without her – it just wouldn't have happened.
He climbed the stairs and paused at her door. The lights were off in her living room and he hesitated on whether to knock or not. No, she needed her space and it wasn't because she was avoiding him. Donna would feign tiredness just to avoid talking to her husband – Eric was well trained in spotting the differences.
Fez came out of his apartment. "Eric! My friend! You have much to tell me – yes? Oh, don't knock on Jackie's door she said she's sleeping until tomorrow night. That's a lot of sleep! I have movie tickets. Come with me and I'll pay for the candy."
Eric almost declined the offer but his plan of talking to Jackie was put off until tomorrow. "Sure, I'll catch a movie with you. Let me change my clothes."
*
Fez ended up taking Eric to see Caveman starring Ringo Starr. He was sure the premise of the movie was good but about 15 minutes into the film he dozed off.
Donna was dressed in her favorite polyester pant suit and some low heeled sandals. In her arms were some college catalogs. She set the catalogs down on Bob's old kitchen table and smiled at him. He remembered that smile – she was expecting something or had a surprise. He walked towards the table to look at the books and found they were actually magazines covered in pictures of butchered pigs. Donna said, "Look what I sacrificed for you. I mean for us. Aren't you happy now?"
"Donna, what is all this about?" She turned and picked up a Forman family picture and used a razor blade to cut her face out of the picture. She held it up for his approval. "Are you happy now? "
Eric woke up with a start – what the fuck was that about? The movie credits were rolling and Fez was smiling. "Now that was a funny movie! Did you see when they were rolling around in the big pile of dyno-doo…Eric, what's wrong with your face?"
Eric blinked. "Fez, man I have to quit hanging alone with you – I keep getting the weirdest dreams! Let's go get something to eat so I can go home." But not sleep – that was for sure!
*
Jackie refilled the bathtub three more times until her skin looked like a prune. The soft scented bath oils and lavender candles really helped her to relax. She wrapped her fluffiest towel around her and padded to the bedroom. Her sanctuary – soft lamps and downy pillows covered the satin comforter of her queen bed.
She grabbed some of her new magazines and sat cross-legged to see what new ideas she could scrounge from the pages. She noticed that some of the bridal dresses were getting shorter and sexier. Hmmm – could be interesting. The wedding rings were becoming matched sets and the grooms were getting more interested in colored tuxedos. Yep, the Chicago Wedding Consultant convention was definitely something to attend.
She never realized that she fell asleep with her bedroom lamp on and the magazines in her lap - at last Jackie Burkhart was tired out.
*
Eric was lying in bed having a difficult time dissecting the disturbing Donna daydream he was having. First she's destroying his mom's garden and now she was using a razor to cut her face out of the family picture. The picture destruction he actually understood – she was removing herself from him – the Forman's – yeah he got that - but why did each dream have so much blood and include cute little animals? Oh, and when she asks "Are you happy now?" What was that about?
Eric often wondered if perhaps they had attended marriage counseling – maybe the divorce would have been less painful. He wondered if she was happy and when he really thought about it, he hadn't wondered about her in weeks. Maybe he was finally letting go? He was definitely happier and more successful and hell, he was getting along with his Dad. All in all, it looked like the divorce was a good thing!
He crossed his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. If he kept working hard and doing well at his job, maybe he could upgrade this little bachelor unit for a one bedroom apartment. Eric Forman was ready to move up in the world!
*
Monday and it was back to work. The hotel seemed to have lost some of the weekend energy since the party was over and the staff seemed happy for it. Eric collected the weekend receipts and night auditor, Vickie's ledger – then he locked himself in the office. The reports and paperwork were completed rather quickly leaving him plenty of time to ponder the events of the weekend.
Neither he nor Fez had seen Jackie emerge from her cocoon. Fez warned him about trying to wake her up if she was sleeping – something about a death threat if he tried. The two men carefully avoided her apartment at all cost.
But last Friday night. Damn! Jackie was so hot and he was so captivated with her that if she asked him to run naked down the hallway he just may have done that. Still, in retrospect, the fact that neither of them were actually prepared for sex was a wake up call. This practice date stuff of Jackie's was a good idea, but he didn't want to date anyone else but her.
Was there maybe a possibility she could feel the same way about him? Being in like or lust with Jackie had nothing to do the girl he knew back in Point Place. That young girl was a shadow of the woman who lived down the hall from him. And he wanted her and had no idea of what to do next.
*