That 70s Show fanfic: It Was Only a Matter of Time (7)

[jennickels]

It Was Only a Matter of Time
by jennickels (aka Jen Connelly)
That 70s Show
Jackie/Hyde
rating: PG-13

Jack and Hyde work through their problems after Hyde finds Kelso in Jackie's Chicago hotel room (AU after season 7 finale). [start from the beginning: Chapter 1]

don't own... wish I did, but I don't. No infringement intended.

Chapter 7: The Things We Do For Love

Hyde was sitting in his office doing something he never thought he would do in a million years; he was writing Hackie a letter, and a heartfelt one at that. I'm so pathetic, he thought. Missy bounced in and Hyde covered the paper with his hand. She didn't seem to notice.

"Did we get any of those Aerosmith records in yet?" she asked. Hyde could smell her grape flavored bubble gum and found it soothingly familiar. He pulled a sheet from under his notepad and checked.

"I don't think so, but these idiots keep screwing up the orders so you might want to check in back." Missy did a little pirouette and leaped out of the room. Hyde snorted. The more he worked with Missy the more he liked her. She was a complete nut but she didn't cause him any grief so that was good. He found her so comfortable to talk to that he actually told her about Jackie. She didn't pry for more details or pity him. She just listened and offered some advice. It was on the other end of the spectrum from Donna's, though. She told Hyde to go out and get laid, and fast. Hyde snorted, thinking about it.

Hyde heard Missy talking to someone in the store but hadn't heard the door open. He looked up when she leaned through the doorway.

"There's a cop outside to see you," she said, nervous.

Hyde's eyes darted around the room, noting the dim haze that still filled the upper half of the office. It was a quick circle with Missy and Leo that had got him in the mood to write his letter to Jackie. He quickly sobered, though. "What does he want?"

"He just said he was a friend and wanted to talk to you."

"Oh." Hyde felt a surge of anger rise in him. He had been feeling more relaxed after he decided to talk to Jackie that he had forgotten why he had been so mad in the first place. He balled his fists, ready to give a beating. Kelso was standing in the middle of the store, looking scared. He twisted his police hat around and around. Hyde's anger subsided some. Instead, he just felt pity for his friend. Kelso looked like an overgrown child playing dress-up. He kept looking around nervously, shifting his had and fidgeting with his hat. Hyde tried to will the fury he felt before back into his heart but it didn't work. Kelso looked so damn pathetic. He took a deep breath and walked out of the office.

"You have three seconds to get your ass our of my store," he told Kelso, taking a step toward him. He could at least act furious, even if he didn't feel it.

Kelso jumped in surprise. "Just hear me out, Hyde," he blurted.

"You don't have anything to say that I want to hear."

"Come on, Hyde. We've been friends for too long."

"One…two…thr-"

"Alright, I'm going. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry and I hope we can still be friends." That was it. The anger was back and Hyde used it. It took two long steps for him to reach Kelso. The look of shock on his dumb face was a pleasant bonus. Hyde grabbed him by the collar and hauled back to hit him but just couldn't go through with it. Kelso stood with his eyes closed, waiting. Hyde let go of him and backed away.

"Damn, I can't hit you. You're a cop and I've spent enough time in jail."

"Go ahead, I deserve it," Kelso said.

"You do. But I'm still not going to hit you. Just get out of here." Hyde turned and went back to the office. He was surprised to hear the jingle of the bells on the door as it opened. He actually listened for once.

"What are you!" Missy was sitting on his desk, sucking a blow pop and reading his half finished letter. He snatched the pad of paper from her.

"It's really sweet and honest," she said without a bit of sarcasm. "Jackie is one lucky girl."

"No she's not. She could do a hell of a lot better then me." Hyde sat down in a huff and pushed Missy's legs away. She jumped down and sat in a chair across the room, draping her muscular legs over the arm and spinning it like a child.

"So, she's the first girl you ever loved?" Missy asked thoughtfully. Hyde rolled his eyes. Why did she have to go and start prying? He didn't say anything and pretended to read over what he wrote. "What I don't understand is if you were so sure you couldn't live without her, why did you go out drinking with your friends instead of going to her and telling her?"

Missy finally asked the one question Hyde was dreading. He didn't know why he chose to go out with the guys that night. Free beer was great, but had it been worth throwing away their relationship over? He sure didn't think so now. Missy had stopped spinning and was staring at him, apparently waiting for a n answer.

"I'm a dumbass, that's why.:

Missy laughed and went back to spinning. "Aren't all men?"

Hyde snorted. She was right. "I need some air," he told her as he ripped the used pages from his note pad. He stuffed them in his pocket and headed home.

Chapter 8