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jennickelsIt 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]
Chapter 12: It's Not What You Think
Hyde sat the plate of cookies on the counter next to the cash register.
"Oh, you brought me a present," Missy cooed.
Hyde frowned. Missy was almost acting normal now and he didn't want her to all Jekyll and Hyde on him now. "Mrs. Forman," he explained, "she thought I could use something more then just a peanut butter sandwich for dinner." He smiled his little half smile as he thought about how insistent she was about the cookies.
"They smell good. Can I have one?" Hyde shrugged. He didn't think he could eat two dozen cookies himself. Missy sat chewing, thoughtfully. "You know, I was thinking. That Jackie chick just ain't right for you. She's too stuck-up and conceited. You need someone more down to Earth. Someone who isn't going to try and drag you to the mall or ruin Charlie's Angels for you by yapping about how much cuter she would look in each of the costumes."
Hyde was amazed at how well Missy pegged Jackie The old Jackie, he thought. She wasn't like that anymore. Well, not all the time, anyway. "She's not stuck-up," Hyde mumbled, defensively. He still had this desire to protect Jackie. It was one of the strongest feelings he had towards her. His history of protecting Jackie went back years, back before they were together, heck, before they were even friends. He never understood why he wanted to defend her honor all the time.
At first he just felt sorry for her because Kelso was always screwing around behind her back, but then…he kind of started like how it felt, to be the strong protector. He hated to admit he had liked it when she would cry into his shoulder whenever Kelso did something wrong. He would pat her back, awkwardly, and tell her Kelso was a jerk. She would smile and feel better. Then she would turn around and go right back to him.
He had been really shocked with himself at the Forman's barbeque a few years ago. Jackie had brought some jerk and when the guy admitted he just wanted to sleep with her Hyde had gotten really mad. Then he had called her a bitch. That had been it. Before he knew what he was doing, he decked the guy, right in front of everyone. Jackie thought it was so romantic. Hyde had just been confused. Mrs. Forman said that he liked her, but he denied it. But maybe he had even liked her back then. He still remembered that kiss later that night. He thought about it a lot lately.
"Really," Missy said, absently. "She seemed pretty stuck-up when she was telling me how she lowered herself to be with you. She said it was just so embarrassing to be seen with you most of the time and hoped she could at least get you to dress a little nicer."
Hyde didn't know what to say to that. He wasn't sure if she was telling the truth or playing one of her crazy games. HE was pretty sure, though, that he was going to fire her in the morning. The door opened making Hyde jump. Two giggly junior high girls walking. They searched through one of the crates, occasionally pointing and laughing at Missy.
"She ain't coming," Missy told him. "You're just not worth the effort for her."
"Then why did she come back?" He was trying to trip Missy up, make her see her logic was flawed.
"I dunno. Maybe she just wanted to rub it in. I bet she brings that guy I saw waiting for her outside."
"What guy?"
"I didn't really see. They just walked off together. I told you she's no good for you. If she is causing you this much grief then it isn't worth it. You need a girl that will let you be, just come and go when you need her for, you know…" Missy moved in close to Hyde and ran her finger down the side of his face. Before he could push her away he felt her other hand slide across the top of his belt. She started to slide her fingers into his pants, causing him to jump.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Just giving you what you need, boss man. That bitchy cheerleader would probably never let you do it in public." She inched closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and one leg around his back. Hyde surprised himself and wasn't even interested. He tried to push her away. Missy grabbed his shirt collar and planted a hard kiss square on his lips. He struggled to free himself, but Missy was stronger then she looked. Her tongue forced it's way into his mouth. She spun him around so he was backed against the counter. He kept pushing her away and she kept pulling him closer. The two little girls screamed and ran from the store. Hyde watched them go and to his horror saw someone standing in the doorway. With all his might he forced Missy off of him.
"Jackie," he gasped.
Her face was completely white and he could see tears glistening down her cheeks. She ran out of the store. Hyde moved to go after her, but Missy pulled him back. Hyde broke free and ran for the door. He could hear her laughing as he left. It was an evil laugh that sent a chill down his spine. Outside, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. The sun was going down and the street lights hadn't gone on yet. He pulled off his shades, searching the surrounding blocks for her. Then, he caught sight of her flowery skirt going around the corner. He ran after her.
"Jackie, wait," he called. She either didn't hear or didn't want to stop, he was pretty sure it was the latter. "Jackie!"
She stopped dead in her tracks. As he got closer he could see her muscles tense up, but that couldn't hide the small movements in her shoulders. She was sobbing, or tying not to, without much luck. He went to put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She smacked it away and whirled around.
"Don't you dare, Steven Hyde. Don't you dare try to comfort me. Don't even touch me," she spat the words with such intensity that Hyde backed away. Her eyes pierced into his very soul and he felt very small right then. He didn't know what to say to her. She stopped crying, her misery replaced with blinding rage. She just kept staring at him.
"It's not what you think," he started.
"Argh," she said, throwing up her hands. "They all say that. Do you know how many times I heard that from Michael?"
Hyde felt ashamed, a feeling he didn't like. It sounded so lame, but it was the truth. But, Jackie saw what she saw. How was he going to explain this to her? Then he remembered Kelso in the towel. This was her fault, he told himself. None of this would have happened if she hadn't been so…clingy, so demanding, so… He felt the anger build. After all of that with Kelso she was now trying to turn this around on him, make it his fault. Well she wasn't going to get away with it.
Jackie glared at him then started yelling again. "I can't believe you would do it with that freak. She's such a slut. But I guess you like your girls that way, huh?"
That stung. She, of course, had to bring up his one infidelity. Okay, he thought, she wants to play this game. He needed something clever to say in return, but before he knew what he was doing he had opened his mouth and was surprise at what came out. "Well, at least she wants to do it with me. And she liked it, too. Why don't you just go back to Kelso. God knows it was always easy for you to give it up for him." Hyde's heart stopped. Did he just say what he thought he said? He immediately regretted it. What the hell was he thinking? Apparently he wasn't thinking at all. Slowly he met Jackie's eyes. Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes glistened with welled up tears. Hyde felt sick again. His hands were clammy; his mouth felt dry and he was having a hard time breathing.
"Well, maybe, I would have slept with you if I wasn't so afraid of getting some disease from one of your slutty escapades," she hissed.
Hyde bit his lip, trying to keep himself from saying anything else he would regret. It didn't work. He felt humiliated and hurt. He stepped closer to Jackie, grabbing her arm. "Year, well, the only reason I stuck around this long was 'cause I wanted to see if you were really as good in bed as the wall in the locker room said."
Oh crap. Hyde, you dumbass, he yelled at himself. Jackie's eyes went wide. She slapped him hard across the cheek and stormed off. Hyde refused to rub away the sting. He deserved it. Heck, he was ready to hit himself. He just stood on the street watching her walk away. What did I do? His whole body trembled. Why do I always have to be such an ass? he wondered. He hadn't meant any of that stuff. He just wanted to make her hurt as much as he did, but he went overboard.
He had never pressured Jackie into sleeping with him. He had tried more then a few times, but she always said she wasn't ready. Or, that she wanted it to be more special. He never pressed the issue. The truth was he kind of wanted it to be more special then on his tiny cot in his smelly bedroom, or in the back of his El Camino. Jackie deserved better then that. He had never gone out with someone that long and not slept with them. And it really didn't bother him. It was nice to be in a relationship that wasn't only about sex.
"Oh God, what did I do now?" he asked the empty street. He slowly made his way back to the store. He felt tired and old, worn down by life. He had just sunk to an all time low. How could he tell Jackie those things. Sometimes his mouth had a mind of it's own. He was thinking, "I love you, Jackie," and "I'm sorry, Jackie," but instead his mouth went off on it's own. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. He guessed he would have to go find her and try to convince her that he had a seizure or something. She'd never understand. It was hopeless. I need a drink, he thought.
Hyde marched back to the store and announced that everyone had to leave, startling several young kids in the corner.
Missy smiled seductively at him. "Come back for more, boss man?"
"You," he yelled. "Get the hell out of my store. You are damn lucky I don't hit girls, although, I am certain I could make an exception for you."
Missy didn't seem fazed at all by his threat or the fact that she had just lost her job. She picked up her magazine and grabbed another cookie from the place. Hyde tried to leave plenty of room for her to get around him, but she didn't take the hint. She purposely moved in close to him, jammed the cookie in his mouth and pulled his face close to hers. She locked eyes with him, then put her lips close to his ear. "You don't know what you are missing. I could have fulfilled your wildest fantasy." She ran her tongue up the side of his face before grabbing his earlobe between her teeth and biting down. Hyde stood there in disgust, waiting for her to finish. It took all his will not to slug her. She let go and bounced away.
"So, I'll stop by next week to get my paycheck, okay?" she asked cheerfully.
"I'll mail it to you," Hyde growled.
"Oh, okay then. I guess I'll see you around then." She blew him a kiss and left.
"FREAK!" Hyde yelled after her. What a frickin' psycho, he though.
Chapter 13
