TITLE: Tiny Dancer

SUMMARY: Jackie finds out she has cancer. The doctors are saying that she could be dead in six months. Can the gang help Jackie find the will too live? Or will this tiny Dancer leave this earth never to dance upon it ever again?

AUTHOR'S NOTE: For the sake of the story; I had to move up and drastically change season four; and the first part of season five.

TIME LINE: Eric and Donna had broken up; but they have gotten back together all ready. (Just moved the California up a few months). Michael and Jackie had broken up after Christmas; (due to the whole kissing another guy thing). They got back together when Jackie said that they should get married. Kelso runs off to California with Donna. Jackie and Hyde had not hooked up during the whole California storyline.

Steven had actually fallen quite hard for Jackie on their 'first' date; and kiss. But he allowed Jackie to believe that he also felt nothing after their heavy kiss. But he had grown jealous when Jackie got back together with Kelso. He had thought out ways on destroying their time with one another – they all worked. He had had to careful on ways to destroy their alone time. He had succeeded every single time. But then Jackie tells him that she's engaged to Kelso. His heart is broken.

Jackie; once Michael had run off to California instead of staying to marry her – knew then that Michael Kelso was never meant for her. She had written the break up letter – and started on planning on how to to get Steven Hyde as hers. So far she had no luck with the lone rebel – but she wasn't going to give up this time.

Jackie's father has been arrested. Her mother has abandoned her – and Steven had allowed her to bunk with him in the basement; once he learned her living situation. Jackie is now staying in Donna's room.

CATEGORY: Family/ Friendship/ Hurt/Comfort/ Angst/ Drama/ Romance/ Suspense/ Tragedy/ Spiritual

RATING: T

PRELUDE:

PLACE: FOREMAN'S BASMENT

TIME: 4:18 P.M.

DATE: MARCH 12TH, 1978

Hyde lifted the joint to his lips, and he took a deep breath. Closing his eyes he allowed the smoke to blow from his nose, and mouth. "That's the stuff." He put it back to his lips for another deep breath.

"Hey no double hit." Kelso rocked back in his chair in shock.

"My stash." Hyde blew another long smoke ring. His eyes slowly opened. "I want you out of the circle man."

"Hey, hey, hey there." Eric laughed waving his hand in front of him. He had to force himself to focus on the conversion that was going on right then; instead of the awesome color wave that was coming out of his finger tips. "I get to decide who is out of the circle. And, I have decided; that no one is allowed out of the circle."

"Then tell Kelso that in order to smoke in the circle from now on – then he has too bring his own stash!" Hyde replied putting the joint back to his lips for an third deep inhale. "He's no longer allowed too have any more freebies from mine."

"What is your problem!" Kelso frowned darkly into Hyde's shades. "You have been trashing me for the past month all ready. What have I done to piss you off."

"Nothing." Hyde passed the joint over to Fez to take a hit.

"You know forget it." Kelso stood up, and stormed out of the basement.

Eric sobered up. "Seriously man, what's up with your anger with Kelso?"

"I'm not angry." Hyde leaned back in his chair. His back was against the brick wall. His arms folded across his navy blue sweater.

Fez put out the joint.

"Hey man, never ever put out a joint." Hyde spat at Fez.

"It was done. You didn't even leave one last good smoke for Fez." Fez looked straight face back at the older boy. "Not my fault that your love -"

"Shut the hell up." Hyde snarled. "Don't even talk about love around me."

Eric leaned forward, "Fez, it's time you went home now. I'm sure your house parents are wondering where you are."

"I can't go home like this." Fez shook his head. "My house parents will just make me read scriptures every single second for the rest of my time here in America." He shook his head, "No way."

"Fez, get out of my house now." Eric firmly said.

Fez looked over at Hyde, he knew that he had gone too far. "I'll be at the Hub if you need me." He stood to his feet.

"I won't need you." Hyde said.

"Okay man, it's one thing to be angry at Kelso. But for you to go after Fez is wrong. Just plain wrong." Eric said after Fez had left the basement. "What is wrong with you?" He shook his head, "I'm not going to accept nothing."

"Just let it go man." Hyde said tiredly.

"No!" Eric exclaimed. "Not this damn time. You are going to confront your deeply buried hurt; with the person whom you trust. You are going to receive, and accept the help you crave."

Taking off his shades, Hyde turned his eyes onto his almost brother; "This isn't something that I can admit to you, Eric. You would hate me for a lifetime." He stood to his feet and took the stairs too the upper level.

Eric twisted his head, "I could never hate you brother." He softly sighed.

DONNA'S HOUSE

Donna sighed as she placed her hand on the knob of her bedroom. She frowned slightly – it was no longer hers any longer. No; she was sharing with Jackie. Why couldn't Jackie just take the guest room down the hall was simply beyond her. Her father had said that the room was Jackie's after all. No; Jackie wanted to share Donna's room. Well; Donna made sure that Jackie got the cot, and not her bed. Surprising Jackie didn't complain about having to sleep on a cot – instead of a bed. Donna smirked; seems like Hyde is rubbing off on her. This isn't the first time that Jackie has tamed down after Hyde talked to her – he did teach her how to be zen last year after all.

She actually didn't mind sharing the bedroom with Jackie, She had grown quite fond of the girl in the two years since Jackie joined the 'basement babies'. She had always considered Jackie as her younger sister – even way back when they all met in elementary school. But; she wanted to hang out with the guys – and they didn't want Jackie around them. It wasn't until Kelso had started to date Jackie – that Donna finally was able to have a friendship with the shorter girl. Even though she took great pains on insulting Jackie whenever the guys were around.

Opening the door she prepared for the on slaughter that was Jackie. She was nonplussed to find the girl asleep on the cot. She looked out the window and saw the sun still up. She looked down at the sleeping raven haired girl quizzically. She knew for a fact that Jackie had plenty of sleep the night before. Jackie had been asleep for three hours before she did. Jackie didn't wake up till an hour after she did that morning. Then why the hell was Jackie taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon?

Perhaps Jackie is depressed over her breakup with Kelso. Seeing how this time Kelso would much rather run away than marry her. Donna frowned. That was weeks ago. Sides she read the break up letter that Jackie wrote Kelso. She could tell that Jackie meant that she through with him this time. She secretly was happy for the girl. She had always known that Jackie, and Kelso wouldn't make it for the long haul. They wanted two different things out of life. Jackie wanted safe, and security of knowing that her husband only loved her. While Kelso wanted to be opened to love everyone whom crosses his way.

When Kelso, Eric, and her returned from California; and Jackie and Kelso were face to face – Jackie looked in different around Kelso. Donna didn't see any lingering feelings on Jackie's end. Kelso on the other hand; simply wouldn't grow up and move on all ready. Kelso thinks that he could win Jackie back in time.

A few weeks passed, and she had noticed how worn out Jackie had looked. But the small very out spoken girl never even openly acknowledge it. But, she did notice that Hyde kept a sharper eye on Jackie more so than usual. It actually didn't surprise her in the least when Eric gleefully told her that he, and his parents caught Jackie sharing Hyde's cot in the middle of the night.

It took Jackie until that evening before she confessed to them that her mother abandend her. That the entire staff had quite the day her mother had left town. Leaving her alone in the mansion. Jackie told everyone that she didn't feel comfortable, or safe alone in the huge house. So; she barely slept. When Hyde learned this; he decided to take her under his wing of protection. She had been sharing Hyde's cot in the basement for two weeks before the Foreman's found them.

Donna closed the door softly. She walked around the cot to kneel in between her bed; and the cot. She gently brushed aside some of Jackie's hair from her face. "Hey Jackie, time to wake up." She softly said; so not to startle the girl awake.

Jackie just moaned as she tried to bury her face into the pillow. "I can't allow you to sleep the day away. Other wise you'll have insomnia for a week." She was pretty sure with all the sleep that Jackie had gotten the past few days would result in what she had pronounced. Her fingers lightly ran across the sleeping beauty's cheek. She frowned at the slight heated feel of the skin. "Jackie wake up."

Jackie moaned once more. Leaning forward Donna gently began to shake Jackie's up lifted shoulder. "Not now." Jackie chocked out. "I just want to sleep. Just let me sleep."

Donna was concerned. "Jackie, I'm not going to leave you alone. Not until you wake up." She kept poking, podding, and shaking until Jackie's eyes started to slowly crack open. "Come on mixed matched eyes, I want to see you up, and alert."

"D-don-donna." Jackie sighed as she ever slowly came alert enough to recognize the face right in her personal face space.

"Yep. It's Donna." Donna smirked. She wasn't going to leave the younger girl alone until she was sure she wasn't going to back to sleep. "Come on, time to get up."

"Is it school time all ready? It feels like the middle of the night." Jackie yawned in Donna's face. Her eyes widen in shock, "Oh Sheesh, Donna, I'm so sorry for yawning in your face."

"It's quite all right." Donna's nose winkled. She had smelt something weird on the younger girl's breath. It was more than bad breath. "It's Saturday. No school. Matter of fact it's the middle of the afternoon."

Jackie managed to get herself up into a sitting position, "Wait. What?" She blinked in a daze. "How can it be the middle of the afternoon. It feels like it's the middle of the night."

"Jackie, are you feeling all right?" Donna gently questioned as she stood to her feet. Putting her hands on her hips. "It's just that while I was trying to wake you up; you felt warm."

"I'm fine." Jackie brushed it off. "Seeing how I took a cat nap in the middle of the afternoon." Her eyes looked at the opened window – I must have heated up due too the sun." She shrugged.

"It's not that sunny today." Donna frowned looking down at her friend. "I had to wear my winter coat today." She sat down next to the girl on the cot. Putting her hand on Jackie's forehead. "You feel warm."

Jackie waved off Donna's hand. "I'm fine, Donna." She sighed. "I was just tired is all."

Donna leaned in and placed her lips on the center of the raven haired girl's forehead. Jackie's eyes closed briefly at the feeling of the hot breath on her forehead. Donna pulled away, "101.8 and perhaps rising." She brushed the hair off the warm forehead. "I think it's best that you take a warm bath, to help with the soreness of your muscles. But first, you need to take two Aspirin to help bring the fever down." She stood to her feet.

"I can't be sick." Jackie moaned. "I can't win Steven over if I'm sick." Her right hand rose and placed it on her forehead, she frowned at the slight heat that was coming from her skin. "I don't want Steven to see me sick. It'll scare him off." She very vividly remembered the first time Michael had seen her ill last year. He had literally screamed in her face.

"Don't worry about Hyde." Donna waved a dismissive hand. "He's not like Kelso. He knows better than to run screaming from a sick girl."

Jackie shook her head, but insistently stopped. Her head began to pound like you wouldn't believe. She literally saw stars. Leaning her head against Donna's shoulder. "I don't want Steven too see my sick. Ever." She closed her eyes as she tried desperately not to throw up.

Donna wrapped her arms around the shaking girl's waist. "I won't allow Hyde to see you like this." She softly promised. "Take a few deep breathes." She felt Jackie take shallow, and then slowly deep breathes. "Can you stand on your own?"

"It's just the slightest of all flues." Jackie gently pulled away from Donna. "I'm quite all right standing on my own." She stood to her feet. She blinked away the dizziness. "I think I'm going to take a shower instead of a bath. Easier that way."

Donna stood to her feet, "I'll help you to the bathroom. I do want you to take those Aspirin before you take that shower." She held out her hand for the shorter girl to take hold.

Jackie sighed. "Thanks Donna."

FORMAN'S DRIVEWAY

Kelso threw the ball up in the air, and watched it swish through the net. Without touching the backboard. "All right." He grinned. He frowned darkly as he realized that he couldn't share this moment with anyone. Well, anyone that was Hyde.

"Nice shot." A voice said from behind him.

He turned around, and saw the impassive face of Hyde. "I was just leaving." He said in a rough voice. He sniffed. "I don't want to bring you down from whatever high you are on."

Hyde sighed, "Look man, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken my bad mood out on you. You didn't deserve it."

"No I don't." Kelso wrapped his arms tightly across his chest. "You know ever since the barbeque war; you have been distant with me. It seems like you are angry with me over something. Only thing is man, I don't know what I had done to piss you off."

Hyde took his shades off. "You haven't done anything, Michael. I'm just been in a sour mood is all. I'm sorry for taking it out on you."

Kelso sighed. "Look Steven, we have known each other for a long time now. I count you as my best friend. I have to say you aren't like my brother – like how you and Eric are. But you are my best friend. The friend that I truly count on. I don't want to lose that. I can't lose it."

Steven felt his heart drop. "You won't lose it man. I promise you." He held out his hand.

Michael firmly took it. A dopey smile lit up his face, "I'm so happy that we got that settled. Hey, did I tell you that I scored a date with the new hot chick over at Hub?"

"The one with the huge jugs?" Hyde smirked.

"Oh yeah." Kelso's tongue hung out. "I can't wait to get a piece of that. They are bigger, and better than Laurie's ever were."

"What about Jackie's?" Hyde asked in a hard voice. He felt his face heat up. He wrapped his arms tightly across his tensed chest. He had to remind himself not to beat Kelso to a pulp. It wouldn't do. It simply wouldn't do.

"No one beats Jackie's." Kelso said. He walked over, and grabbed the ball. He bounced the ball, "Jackie's are just perfect." He turned, and made an jump shot.

Hyde still wanted too punch Kelso hard. For a whole different reason. "How about we don't talk about Jackie."

Kelso shrugged, "Fine. You know ever since Jackie stayed with you in your cot – you are ever so protective of her." He made another jump shot. Turning back to face his friend, "I want to thank you man. Jackie needs someone to protect her. Like a brother."

"I'm not her brother. I'm just her friend." Hyde stiffly said.

"I know you aren't her brother. You two have different parents after all." Kelso grinned hugging the ball to his chest, "You are like a brother to her."

"She doesn't consider me her brother." Hyde jerked the ball from Kelso. He made a hard slam dunk.

Kelso made a spitting noise, "Sure she does man." He grabbed the ball from Hyde's loose hands. He tossed the ball to him – and when he tossed it back he started to try to get passed Hyde. "I mean come on, she was very comfortable sharing your cot with you. She never expected you to try to get inside her or anything. I mean she doesn't even have any desire to kissing you."

"We have kissed before man." Hyde stole the ball and hit the rim hard, as the ball went in.

"On the cheek." Kelso grinned as he took the ball, and tossed it to Hyde for him to put in play once more. "Many times on the cheek." He stole the ball and missed the shot. But, he made the rebound.

"We kissed the night of the barbeque war." Hyde said tossing the ball hard against Kelso's chest.

Kelso shrugged his shoulders. "So she loved you as a brother back than also." He moved passed Hyde and made the shot. He turned around, and found Hyde still standing in the spot that he had been in for the play. "Hey man, you didn't even try to block that shot."

"I'm done man." Hyde turned and walked down the driveway.

Kelso looked after him with a dumb look on his face. It slowly turned into a deep frown. "Okay seriously what just had happened here?" His eyes turned to Donna's house where Jackie was currently living.

Schatzi waddled up, and looked after the tall blond man making his way down his driveway. He looked up into the tall brunette dopey guy. Rolling his eyes he turned and walked back towards the house.

END PRELUDE