Author Note: ...look at this...two chapters in the same week! I must have been inspired or something!

Chapter 03 – Goodbyes and Hellos

T7S

Donna showered and changed to meet the group at the hospital. Once she collected all of her belongings and got the smell out of her hair she felt human again. How did Hyde sleep in that stinky room? Egads! Eric and Red were at the nurse's station as she rounded the corner.

"Hey, how's your mom?"

Eric smiled and replied with a chaste kiss on the lips. "Doctor said she has static and slipped on a disc with her back when she fell. They're going to release her this afternoon after doping her up pretty good."

Red looked at his son with an expression that made Eric blanch. He quickly turned Donna away from his dad. "I mean they are going to give her some pain killers and stuff…like that….so hey, hi! How are you doing?"

She put a hand on his arm. "Can we talk?"

"Sure. The waiting room is down by the vending machines – everyone is there."

Donna paused, "No, I meant can we talk. You and me"

"Oh. OH! Yes of course." Eric reached for her hand and pulled her into an empty room. He left the door open enough so as not to arouse suspicion. Long lanky fingers entwined with soft ones. "So milady…what did you want to talk to me about?" He waggled his eyebrows and made her laugh.

"You doofus. Not that! Get your mind out of the gutter." She lowered her voice and asked, "Do you remember our conversation last night?"

He smirked, "Oh you mean the one before that outrageous party that resulted in Jackie nearly killing my mother?"

She smiled, "Jackie didn't try to kill Kitty. No, I meant when I told you that everything had changed."

"I remember but Donna, I was thinking about you. Us. Every single day and I'm sorry I left."

She sighed, "Eric, my dad has already paid tuition for my first semester. I can't not go."

"…and I can't afford to go. You know what pisses me off?"

She raised a brow. "Your dad had a heart attack the first time?"

"You know me so well. Now my mom has some disco thing and I'm needed at home. Again. Donna, I'm not going to ask you to stay. I know how important this is to you. I think you know I love you and I'm not going to make you feel miserable just because I am."

She slugged him in the shoulder, "Of course you would!"

He laughed, "Yeah, I would …but seriously, go to college….come home on some weekends and maybe we can reevaluate our on again off again relationship…again."

Donna pressed smiling lips against Eric's, "I love you too. Tell your mom I said goodbye. My ride is coming in an hour and I have to go."

-o-

Jackie paced the length of the waiting room floor for the tenth time. She could feel Fez's eyes on her and she just felt like such a fake and a fraud. Wringing her hands anxiously, she realized she was going to break his tiny island heart. That kiss on the water tower really was actually pretty awful. Okay, maybe it wasn't awful but…. different and it felt like he wanted to swallow her but then he makes that comment about her tongue being strong? Oh, gag me!

Jackie had thought she loved Fez but really she only loved him as a friend. Fez loved her like she was a giant chocolate Easter bunny and the sooner they could "do eeet" he would be happy….but that was never, never ever, did she say never (?) going to happen. She had to move out. Jeri's Fresh Hair was going to lose a floor sweeper!

Jackie Burkhart was changing careers and moving out.

Donna was going to college….could she stay with Bob until his house sold?

Good bye Fez!

-o-

Hyde kicked his booted food up on the coffee table spool. What the hell happened last night? That little circle never got him that fucked up before! Was there something in the booze they all drank at midnight? Steven Hyde never in his life slept under a kitchen table – it was…ludicrous! Lude-a-cris…..cool word. Still, who did he kiss at midnight? Fez was trying for a lip lock with Jackie but she wasn't having it and he didn't kiss Mrs. Forman….oh man, please don't let it have been Leo!

Hyde lit the end of a roach and inhaled deeply. He felt like he was outgrowing this little basement. W.B. gave him the store and now he had real responsibilities – felt kind of nice. Maybe one day he'd get a suit and show up at the corporate offices just to piss Angie off. Steven smiled – that would be a good burn.

Maybe it was time to say goodbye to the basement and get his own place.

Some good times were had here.

Very good times!

-o-

Fez knew Jackie was ignoring him. The one true beauty he had pined for all these years; watching her break up with Michael and get back with him again….watching her break up with Hyde and get back with him again….was she like yo-yo? He wasn't the brightest bulb in the group but he could definitely tell that Jackie was moving on.

Without him.

Fez decided to make it easy for her. Her room would be packed and he would treat all of her belongings with the love they deserved. Jackie had the uncanny knack of finding someone to take her in so Fez didn't worry too much about where she would live.

Only that she would live a happy life.

And still be his friend.

Goodbyes didn't need to be painful.

-o-

Eric unfolded the wheelchair while his dad cautiously maneuvered Kitty out of the backseat of the Vista Cruiser. The drive home from the hospitable was done at a respectable 15 miles per hour because every pothole or bump in the road caused Kitty to gasp in pain. Red cautiously set his wife in the ugly piece of metal and placed her stockinged feet on the foot rests. She seemed to be in less pain sitting in that chair – might have been the painkillers.

"Mr. Forman, a slipped disc is not uncommon in women of your wife's age…er lifestyle." Doctor Martin quickly corrected his age related comment and continued, "Kitty here will require a short period of rest with medications for the pain to be followed by physical therapy. I'm writing a prescription for steroid injections for the sciatic pain…I heard your son call it static and that is incorrect."

"Yeah and he's a dumbass sometimes. Go on."

The doctor continued, "… and once the swelling goes done, she will recover on her own."

Red asked how long that would take because he was getting hungry and New Year's Day dinner hadn't been cooked and his wife was out of commission. Well, that and he loved his wife of course!

"It could take weeks Mr. Forman. Remember to apply ice for the first two days and perhaps invest in a heating pad for pain. Do not let her lift anything heavier than a cup of coffee and no twisting her back."

"What about surgery?"

Dr. Martin shook his head, "Not necessary at this time. Mostly soft tissue damage and the X-Rays didn't reveal any broken bones. She is going to be in pain and I'm recommending a nurse stop by daily for the injections and just to see how she is doing. There are some muscle relaxers we can give her at bedtime to help her sleep but she is going to need help."

Red's brain overloaded when the doctor handed him pamphlet and leaflets and procedures and instructions and prescriptions – his wife's illness was going to give him a stroke! Good thing Eric came home when he did!

Red shook the thoughts from his head and leaned down to kiss Kitty's cheek, "We'll take care of you sweetheart. Just leave it to me."

Kitty smiled in her painless cloud of happiness. "I love you too honeybunch! But I really need to go to the bathroom."

Red rolled his eyes and muttered, "And now it starts."

T7S

Bob scratched his head and closed the lid of his trunk. "Well Jackie honey, I know what you're saying and I wish I could help, but Escrow is closing and the new owners will be here any day. You want to come to Florida with me?"

Her eyes got big, "No! I mean no, thank you. I need to stay in Wisconsin because…." Because maybe my dad will get out of prison or mom will come back or Steven will love me again? "…I need to stay here because….it's my home."

Bob nodded, "I understand kiddo and I wish I knew someone that had a place for you to…." Bob was interrupted by the sound of the Vista Cruiser pulling into the Forman's driveway. "Say, I think I might have just the place for you to stay…temporarily of course."

Jackie looked at the scene where Red and Eric were trying to get Mrs. Forman out of the wheelchair and she covered her mouth and silently screamed, "NO! I can't live there! It's against everything I believe in!"

Bob bumped her shoulder, "I think Laurie's old room is still empty and I'm pretty sure Red would let you rent it cheap, you know, after you find your job."

Jackie felt like crying. It was sad but this just might be her only escape plan. Rent from the Forman's or stay with Fez. What could possibly be worse? Bob gave her arm a squeeze. "Go back to your apartment and get your stuff and I'll talk to Red. He'll listen to me."

What was she going to say to her mortal enemy, "Hello Eric. I'm moving in so stay out of my way?"

Oh why oh why did Fez have to have all the requirements on her "Perfect Man" list? It was so much better when they were just friends. It was perfect when everyone was friends and no one slept with each other. Sex just ruined the relationships.

Good bye sex life!

Oh well!

T7S

•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸¸¸.•*¨*• •*¨*•.¸¸