Author Note: after some unprecedented delay, I'm back to finish the saga - thanks for hanging in there

Chapter 27 – Notables

She covered his large hand with her small one. "Thanks Eric."

He lifted a brow, "You're thanking me? For what?"

Jackie simply replied. "For believing in me.

T7S

January flew by as the days blended into weeks and strange New Year's Day events became vague memories. Kitty's back problems were almost non-existent these days, but the Forman household still held vigilant to potential situations that could harm the much loved earth mother.

Steven "borrowed" his adopted mom several times to get his kitchen in order, pick out some swag that made the bachelor apartment seem more like a home than a hotel room. Kelso "borrowed" Kitty to babysit little Betsy while he tried to woo Brooke into a more meaningful relationship. Fez "borrowed" Kitty's baking skills as he offered a free brownie with a full wash and set in the salon. (That was his way of enticing new clientele.)

Eric didn't mind "loaning" his mom out to his friends. Red wasn't riding his ass as much these days and Kitty was happier than he remembered. Well….at least since he had made that absurd decision to go to Africa to have a future with Donna. Donna who?

Actually with Donna safely tucked away at school in Madison, Eric finally made peace with his ex-girlfriend, ex-lover, ex-confident and ex-neighbor. Of course, this occurred over several late night telephone conversations.

"God Eric, if we could only have had this talk while you were in Africa!" Donna had exclaimed.

"Well, you know Donna, you wouldn't accept the long distance toll charges and I could only get so many Congo quarter for the phones…" Eric had joked.

"….and you know how my dad likes to pinch the penny….you could have written me a …..wait, you did and I didn't like it – this is much better." Donna admitted.

"Yeah…I'm a poor letter writer…but I intend to improve so yeah, you'll just have to get used to crappy birthday cards and stuff."

Donna's laugh was light and carefree over the telephone line. "Thanks Eric, I think we'll be good friends – I mean we've always been friends but now – its better."

Eric had hung up the receiver feeling a little like a load had been lifted from his shoulders. Donna. His teenage crush. The cute little (tall) redhead of his dreams. She was his first and he would never forget her, just as Eric was sure Donna would do the same. Damn, it was hard growing up!

-o-

Sounds from the hallway were muted by his bedroom door. He lifted his head and could actually tell from the whispered footsteps that Jackie had worked another double shift and was trying to sneak in without waking anyone up. Eric had a half grin on his face as he crept over to his door and cracked it open a bit. He could see she was carrying her shoes in one hand and struggling with a huge tote bag that kept slipping from her shoulders.

The book, Cruelty of Casualty, weighed heavy on her thin shoulder. "Required reading, my ass," Jackie muttered as the door knob slid round and round under her hand. Didn't she tell Red that this handle was broken? A warm hand touched her bicep and she startled just a bit.

"Eric! Don't sneak up on me." She admonished lightly.

He grinned, "Let me get that, you have an arm full." Jackie stepped back and watched as Eric pressed his sock covered toe against the bottom of the door and pulled on the brass covered knob while turning at the same time. Miraculously, the door opened. Jackie smiled, "Didn't know about that trick."

Eric grinned, "Laurie has slammed this door so many times I think the jamb just wanted to be important."

Jackie allowed her tote bag to slide to the floor and the heavy book made a muted "thud" in the gold carpet. She tossed her handbag onto the bed. "Thanks Eric, this day was exhausting. Did your mom need anything?"

Eric cantilevered himself away from the door frame. "Mom's doing real good. She left you some dinner on the stove." He watched as the brunette sat carefully on the edge of the bed. She didn't seem to be much interested in food. Or conversation.

"Jackie, I think mom said that some dude armed with scissors sabotaged all your clothes."

"That's nice." She replied lying backwards on the bed.

Bemused, Eric continued the charade, "Yeah and then after he slashed your cashmere sweaters, he broke the buckles on your boots."

Jackie put the pillow over her face. "Okay."

As a last resort, Eric pulled the last trick out of his mental hat. "Oh. I forgot to tell you that he kidnapped your unicorn."

That worked! Jackie sat straight up and her mouth fell open. "What did you say?"

Eric laughed. "Your unicorn is fine. What's up with you?"

She patted the bed next to her. "Sit." Well, it was more of a command than a request but Eric complied.

"Okay." The youngest Forman sighed. "Talk."

Jackie took a deep breath and said, "Do you remember when I told you about my new job and you asked what I would do if someone was going to…do the deed?"

Eric vaguely remembered that conversation but it did sound like something he would say, "Well, did they?"

Jackie looked down at her shoes and in a small voice uttered, "…almost…they saved him." She looked up at Eric, "I panicked. We were talking…he calls every week….a sweet old man. A lonely widower." Jackie's eyes were filling with tears. "He told me that today was the 15th anniversary of his wife's death and he didn't want to go on living anymore."

Eric leaned sideways giving unspoken support while she continued. "I asked him – I asked what was he planning on doing? I mean I thought he was going to the cemetery or something and he said he was going to join her."

Eric spoke softly, "Were you worried?"

She nodded. "Mr. Price had never been so serious on the phone before, you know? He always had a corny joke to tell, like Bob Pinciotti, and he liked to laugh…but today it was different."

Eric turned and used his knuckle to lift Jackie's chin. "You want to talk to my mom about this?"

She shook her head in the negative. "No. When Mr. Price started talking about swallowing all of his pills, I contacted the Watch Commander at the police department like I was taught, and they got to him before he could kill himself."

Eric recognized that this was a critical moment in the young brunette's life and he could convince her to quit and find another career or tough it out and succeed. A vague wisp of a memory (?) popped into his brain. "Eric….This was a pivotal point in your life. You had less than two seconds to put your priorities in order … What was that? When was that? He looked Jackie square into her lovely eyes, "Jackie you have the choice right now to change jobs and never have to deal with this kind of situation again or…."

She looked at him like he was crazy, "What? You want me to give up? I'm not a quitter. Well, at least I'm not anymore." She stood up, "You know what? I am kind of hungry and you said your mom left some dinner?" She put a hand on Eric's shoulder, "Thanks for lending an ear….I appreciate it."

Eric blinked. "You're….welcome?"

Her laugh tinkled. "Go to bed Eric, it's late and you have to get up early. I'll talk to you later." He watched her leave the bedroom and head for the stairs before going to his own room. At least in his job, his clients didn't talk – that would be horrible!

T7S

The Hispanic maid stood with her hands on her plump hips and her eyes were lit with anger. Eric stepped through the threshold and was shocked at the sight before him. This was one of Point Place's more expensive houses and it looked like it had been burglarized by a zoo! Colorful feathers still floated in the air, bloody paw prints had trod on the varnished piece of redwood that sat as a low coffee table. A large wrought iron bird cage lie on its side, as a sad Chihuahua licked tentatively at its mangled tail. There was a piece of a bloody fuzzy ear lying on the credenza under the silver mirror as Eric set down his cages and the Tomahawk Catch Pole. "What in the hell happened here?"

The maid sighed loudly, "Marco hates the cat and the dog hates Marco and while I was cleaning the kitchen, the dog came in through the patio and knocked over the bird cage, the door flew open and Pepe screamed. I come running out with my soapy gloves on and Marco was riding Pepe's back while the dog was chasing them both."

Eric blinked. "Who is Marco? The pool guy?"

The maid spoke like Eric was dim. "No mijo, Marco is the bird. Pepe is the cat and this little rat dog doesn't have a name. He's new."

Eric followed the bloody paw prints across the carpet to find Pepe hiding behind the drapes and hissing. "Hey little fellow…I won't hurt you. OUCH!" The cat took a swipe at Eric's outstretched hand and snagged flesh. Mentally, Eric was counting back to the last time he had tetanus shot and figured he was good. "Okay Pepe, I'm getting my animal stick, you stay right there so I can get you to a vet."

Eric turned his back and Pepe quickly clawed his way up the expensive drapes to crouch on the top of the curtain rod. Meanwhile the maid started screeching at the cat and ran towards it with a broom intent on removing the feline from his new perch.

Pitiful yaps were issued from the corner where the injured dog was curled up around his tail. Eric looked back as the dog coughed and feather flew out of his mouth. Mother fucker! Did that dog eat the bird? Eric twirled and heard moaning coming from inside the toppled cage. He knelt down to see a beautiful blue parrot looking at him with one eye open.

"Marco boo boo." The bird pointed his beak in the direction of an injured wing. The red and yellow feathered arm was definitely broken and the bird sighed. Nothing in his training prepared Eric for this kind of bird recovery.

He shut the latch on the birdcage so the dog wouldn't take advantage of the parrot and went about gathering the animals into the portable carriers. To the maid he said, "I'm taking the dog and Pepe to the animal control center. They can tend to the wounds. This bird I'm taking to a veterinarian. I don't know if the wing can be fixed or not."

The maid stood with her hands still wrapped around the stick of the broom. "I don't care. The owner will just buy more animals. Just get them out of here so I can fix the damage. Estúpido perro y gato!"

And this was just the beginning of his day!

T7S

Jackie felt good about helping Kitty roll her hair for the afternoon date with Red. The older woman was nearly like a replacement mother in the few short weeks she had been living there. There was always a great breakfast and family conversation and Jackie realized that this "morning routine" had been missing from her life and she liked it.

"Oh honey, if you want, I can have Red bring you some of my pot roast for your dinner break."

Jackie smiled and sprayed Aqua Net over Kitty's "do" and replied, "That's okay Mrs. Forman, I was planning on studying at lunch. I made a sandwich last night from the leftovers."

Kitty looked at her reflection and liked what she saw. "You made me look so pretty dear." She tugged the young girls arm and pulled her down for a kiss on the cheek. "Now you hurry up so you're not late for work! You have lives to save and people to talk to!"

Jackie swallowed hard and hid her discomfort behind a smile. "Thanks and I'll see you later. Maybe."

With her tote bag, lunch bag and purse in hand, Jackie unlocked her car and tossed everything in the front seat. She slid in only to find a damp envelope tucked under her windshield wiper. She plucked the white packet from its place on the window and carefully opened the letter.

Hey Jackie

I know you're probably thinking about Mr. Price but I wanted to tell you that you did good last night. You saved his life and he's probably going to thank you for it.

So when you go in today, remember that you have an important job and people depend on you (besides my mom)

Your friend

Eric.

Jackie smiled as she refolded the letter. How thoughtful was that? Just a few 50 words brightened her day and made her feel better. Eric. He was a good friend wasn't he!

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