Chapter 36 - Shhhh…Don't Tell!

T7S

"I love you too Steven." Jackie smiled over Eric's shoulder. Hyde exhaled through his nose and shook his head while quickly pushing kidnapper and kidnap victim out of the sanitized room and towards freedom.

T7S

Donna waited impatiently by the El Camino tapping her foot and looking at her watch. It had only been 13 minutes but hanging out in the dark of the employee parking lot was like waiting for a mugger to come attack her. Should she honk the horn now?

The door suddenly burst open a laughing, whooping trio of musketeers rolled out into the parking lot. As they rolled to the El Camino, Donna pushed off the door and leaned down to give Eric a hug. "You owe me big time Forman." Eric could tell she was kidding but Jackie's arms wrapped around his neck told him that without Donna's help, this little hoist could never have happened. The loud blarp of a police siren and a spotlight shining on the foursome startled the group. A door opened and a uniformed officer stepped out of the car.

"Excuse me folks but what are you doing in parked in a private driveway? I'm gonna need to see some identi….freaking A – its big D!"

Kelso's most welcome face appeared in headlights. "What are you guys doing?"

Hyde waved his hands at the wheelchair. "We're busting Forman out of Ortho Jail. You never saw us okay?"

Kelso grinned big. "Can I call in a kidnapping report?"

Donna kissed Kelso's cheek then swatted him on the arm. "No you doofus. You'll get the kidnapping call and you can investigate. Just pretend you never saw us."

Kelso put a hand on his utility belt where his handcuffs were clipped. "I don't know….it's kinda dishonest and I'm a cop…."

Hyde poked at the cloth star embroidered on the uniformed chest. "You're not even a cop. You work for that pyro guy."

"Cameron? Yeah, fireworks are the best but…well...it's a slow season…so I'm doing a little reserve moonlighting and I'd appreciate it if you DIDN'T say anything okay?

Jackie changed the subject with a bribe, "I'll get you a puppy. I bet Betsy would love a little Australian Shepard!"

"Awww…you guys are the best. Get out of here while I wait for the call!" He shooed them towards the car. Hyde opened the passenger door as Eric hoisted his body into the middle of the bench seat. Jackie climbed into the passenger side and Donna got in the driver's seat.

"Hey, I'm not riding in the bed." Hyde protested.

Donna leveled a glare. "You are going to make sure the wheelchair doesn't scratch your precious paint job."

Hyde rolled his eyes. "Good point but I'm still protesting."

In the background more sirens could be heard and Kelso slapped the side of the Camino. "Go! I'll see you back in Point Place!"

T7S

The ride home was extremely liberating. The windows were rolled down and fresh air blew in the cab of the car. Eric's skin hadn't felt wind in a long time. Hyde's protests as Donna drove over potholes were like music to his ears. Jackie turned the radio up loud and Eric's arm draped over her shoulder. She leaned her head against his shoulder and they shared a chaste kiss while smiling at each other.

Donna groaned, "C'mon, you guys have one long car date and now I get to watch you make out? No way, not here, not now."

Simultaneously, Eric and Jackie replied, "It wasn't a car date, it was a favor!"

Realizing what they said, the pair laughed, sharing the private joke. It was odd but this felt like something teenagers would do – something they could have done if Eric and Jackie had knew and cared for each other back in high school. But they weren't teens and those painful lessons and relationships endured brought them to this place – this point where they were now. Eric reveled that Jackie loved him with the mature love of a woman that didn't care if his body wasn't perfect. It was perfect for her.

Eric loved her for her quiet caring and generous spirit. She kept him grounded and well; she freed him from the hell hole that Dr. Fontenot thought would help him! Well, it looks like the Forman family would be lodging a major complaint with that business!

He whispered, 'Marry me?"

Jackie blinked. "What?"

Donna almost swerved onto the sidewalk which resulted in Hyde rolling around in the bed of the El Camino swearing his ass off. "What the hell? Cut it out you guys! Jeez!"

Hyde leaned his head into the passenger side window and shouted, "Damn Donna, if you can't drive my car good, you get your ass back here and ride the wheelchair train!"

Jackie laughed at the commotion, "Eric proposed you guys, it was spontaneous – live a little."

She looked at Eric and said with a smile, "I'll give you the answer….later. AFTER we have our first date." Eric thought she was kidding but knowing Jackie Burkhart, she was going to make sure she had that very first real date!

T7S

The El Camino pulled into the Pinciotti driveway and the cohorts in crime made extra care to be silent. This little midnight maneuver couldn't be over before it started! Hyde dropped the wheelchair outside the passenger door and Jackie locked the brakes so Eric could slide in. Donna was look out and when the group was ready, she led the way to the kitchen door which had no steps and easily accommodated Eric's chair.

Once inside the familiar kitchen Eric reached for Hyde's hand and shook it hard. "Thanks man, I really appreciate you putting your reputation on the line like that."

"Pfft…hey … you're….you are family. What kind of guy would I be if I couldn't do a little felony like breaking you out of prison?"

Eric laughed and Donna shooed Hyde towards the door. "You have to be there to explain this to Red and Kitty when it hits the news."

"Oh shit! We left Kelso at the scene!" Hyde slid his glasses on and was surprised when Jackie limped over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Steven, I really appreciate this."

Hyde scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed by this display of affection in the Pinciotti kitchen. "Well, hey….we go way back and I guess this is just something one friend does for another. Let's call it even okay?"

Her eyes were twinkling. "Whatever." She said it in that damn Zen tone and Hyde couldn't help but grin. "I'm outta here!"

Eric managed to shout out, "Bring me some pants!"

A single hand flipping a bird appeared through the kitchen door and the remaining trio just laughed.

T7S

Red was watching the late night news in bed when a special bulletin flashed across the screen. Kitty heard the beep-beep-beeping of the alert and ran from the bathroom with only half of her pink foam rollers in her head. "What happened? Did someone rob that car wash again?"

Red held up his hand as the familiar face of news reporter Anna Cantana appeared on the screen. The backdrop of the newscast was the Kenosha Ortho center and Red sat up against the headboard.

"Good Evening. This is Anna Cantana reporting to you live from Kenosha where one of last spring's storm survivors has been allegedly kidnapped from this facility."

Kitty looked at Red who shrugged his shoulders and motioned for her to remain quiet as the story continued. "With me is eyewitness Mr. John Baker." Anna turned the microphone to John, "Sir, can you tell me what happened."

John, the previous irritable giant, looked cowed. "My roommate was kidnapped by Han Solo and Princess Leia from Star Wars." He held up his bruised knuckles for the camera to see. "Look, that chick hit me with her light saber!"

Kelso chose that moment to walk up to the reporter. He had his hands on his utility belt and his chest puffed out and interjected, "Yes….I investigated this scene and there was no reported Millennium Falcon or other UFO craft in this vicinity. Clearly, the witness is a boob."

The telephone rang and Kitty picked up the line. "Hello? Eric? Where are you dear?"

Red reached over and snagged the telephone from his wife's hand," What the hell is Kettle head doing on television and why are you reportedly kidnapped?"

Eric laughed at the other end of the line, "Dad, I'm fine. I'm next door and I'll see you and mom tomorrow."

Red hung up the phone. "Dumbass is next door. Turn off the TV and let's get some sleep." No sooner had Red closed his eyes than there was a loud rap on his bedroom door.

"Steven we know! Go to bed!"

T7S

Eric was surprised to find that Jackie's bed in the den had been covered with a sleeping bag. A dim light was set aglow in the corner and the room was chilly. He looked at her with an unasked question in his eyes and she only smiled as she parked the wheelchair next to the bed. "Climb in and I'll explain later."

Donna poked her head in the doorway. "You need anything before I go to bed?"

Jackie smiled and shook her head, "Nope. You've helped more than you know."

Donna nodded, "Just remember what we talked about." With that said, the door slowly closed until the latch clicked. Eric looked at Jackie from the plaid flannel bed. "You and Donna are talking?"

Jackie rounded the other side of the queen bed and climbed on, "Yes and it was about you and NO I'm not telling. Let's just get some sleep and we'll chat in the morning."

Eric grinned, "Yes ma'am. And I'm supposed to sleep wearing all my clothes?"

Jackie's eyes got big. "I forgot! Hang on." She tapped and clomped her way to the dresser and returned with a pair of striped toe socks. "You have to wear these."

Eric laughed, "I didn't think there was two pair of these ugly things in the whole world. Did you get them from the Vista Cruiser?

"Not even. Just put them on while I turn on the radio." Jackie leaned over and pressed the button on a cassette radio very similar to the one she lost in the accident. As Eric looked around the room he started to notice that the inside of Jackie's bedroom eerily resembled the interior of the Vista Cruiser. An Air Supply song ended and the radio personality came over the airwaves.

"Welcome to Love Songs with Lisa….I'll be keeping you company until the witching hour…I have a song request from Donna to Jackie and Eric …this song is for you." The soft mellow voice of Smokey Robinson filled the speakers.

I don't care what they think of me
And I don't care what they say

Eric looked at Jackie's smiled face and twinkling eyes and remembered The Kiss. That kiss where he braved a slap in the face if he kissed her goodnight.

I don't care what they think if you're leavin'
I'm gonna beg you to stay

Jackie leaned forward on her hands and knees, her bulky cast throwing her off balance. "So are you gonna kiss me or what?"

I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do

Eric rose to a sitting position and brushed her hair from her shoulders and bit his lip. "You are too gorgeous. How does a guy like me deserve a girl like you?"

I don't care about anything else
But bein' with you

Her eyes sparkled, "Oh Eric, you know all the right words to say…so just kiss me and shut up. I'm sleepy."

As commanded, a soft kiss was pressed on her lips and it was just a warm and comforting and tingly like she remembered. The air between them was static and electric, and Eric he could almost swear that little sparks were zapping around their heads. One of Jackie's hands reached around the nape of his neck as she pulled him down onto the sleeping bag. Eric smiled against her lips as he thought, "At least that's still in working order!"

Jackie curled up against his chest and he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Just pretend this is our last night before all the bad stuff happened. It's just you and me and the radio. You told me…...and most of all, I just want that feeling back…the way it felt when we shared the sleeping bag. The easy way we could just talk and cuddle and be…and just be together like that…So Eric, we are having that tonight."

He was glad she couldn't see the mist in his eyes as he murmured into her hair, "I love you so much."

She whispered in a sleepy voice. "I know."

T7S

It sounded like soft waves against the breakwater. Whoosh….swoosh….yet oddly soothing. Jackie hugged her arms against a chill. It was gray but yet she could almost see beyond the fog. Wait a minute….why was there fog on Lake Michigan….what was she doing at Lake Michigan again!

"Hello? Eric? Are you there?" She called out to the void. A friendly voice answered back, "Jackie? Where are you?"

Eric had been in this place before but when he was here it was filled with pain. He didn't feel that now and this time Jackie's voice was so close. He turned around and could see a pair of hands in a halo of gold. "Eric, take my hand, I want to show you the water…it's beautiful out here."

Eric took her slim hand and it felt good in his big one and it was warm and filled him with gratification. She pulled on his hand and he almost "popped" out of the dark void and into this one filled with light and the sound of waves. Together they were standing on the shores of a lake.

Jackie looked up at him and he wasn't in his wheelchair. He was standing on his own two legs in a nice pair of black denim. "I want to have our wedding here." She said with a smile, "…and that's AFTER we have our first date."

Eric grinned, "I'll never break a promise to you. Why am I standing? Where's the chair?"

Jackie wrapped his arms around her shoulders while she gazed at the lake. "You don't need it. You know you can walk you just let other people tell you what you could and couldn't do. You have the ability Eric, take charge. Take me dancing."

She turned in his arms and kissed his lips. "This is what you've been waiting for."

Eric returned the kiss and then felt the pull of the void tugging him back. "No, I can't go yet."

Jackie touched his fingertips. "This time you can. Go Eric, do what you have to do. I'll wait for you."

T7S

Eric woke up and it felt like his entire body was going into a seizure. The pain in his back was like two hot pokers burning down his spine. He did everything he could not to scream. Over the searing pain he could hear Jackie shouting for Donna to call Mrs. Forman.

Eric gritted his teeth and opened his eyes. "I'm sorry."

She wiped the sweat from his forehead with a Kleenex. "Don't be sorry. You are doing exactly what needs to be done."

He grunted as he struggled to a sitting position which only made the pain worse. Jackie pulled off the sleeping bag and he was dismayed to see his calves knotting up in painful Charlie horses. His toes were separating and oh my god, he could feel his toes! Eric pounded on his thighs and yelped in pain. He hurt himself!

Eric laughed above the pain; there was feeling in his legs and feet! Jackie didn't exactly understand what was going on and didn't know why he was crying and laughing.

Donna opened the door, "Did it happen?"

Jackie shrugged, "I think. " The she smiled, "He says he can feel his legs!"

Donna sat on the end of the bed and grabbed one of his feet. "Eric I'm going to bend your foot, tell me when it hurts."

Eric was able to command his previously useless legs to move, albeit shakily but he stopped Donna. "I already have pain so please don't add to it. What happened to me?"

Donna smiled, "It's called Hysterical Paralysis. I did some research and Jackie set up the conditions. Eric, when Red would always call you a dumbass, didn't you always think you were a dumbass?"

"Well…yeah…because I was." He answered truthfully.

Jackie took his hand," But, you aren't. You believed it because you respected him. You believed you couldn't walk because all the doctors told you that you couldn't."

Donna continued. "I studied Freud in a Psych class I was required to take, and basically what the good doctor said is there is a medullary center in the cortex of your brain. Hysterical paralysis is the elimination of the associative accessibility of a particular body part. Which means the less you used the body part, your legs in this case, and the trauma of the accident caused innervation or the repressed idea that you were paralyzed."

Gripping his seizing thighs, Eric uttered, "So you're saying this is all in my head?"

Jack started massaging a cramping calf, "Not entirely, Eric. While they were busy treating your body, no one bothered to treat your mind. They wanted to institutionalize you and your friends….mostly me." She winked at Donna, "We couldn't let that happen."

Excited voices from the kitchen alerted the trio that Kitty Forman, everyone's favorite nurse, had arrived to happily take over.

T7S

Painful baby steps.

That was all Eric could use to describe learning to walk again. His head knew what his legs should do but it was like working with limp noodles. The parallel bars in the new outpatient therapy clinic were brutal but he had Jackie waiting at the end with a smile and a hug.

As the baby steps turned into a walker, Hyde slapped skull shaped stickers on the legs and made it look cool.

As the walker progressed into a cane, Jackie took the tassels off of hers and colored the lightning bolt red.

As Eric weaned off the cane, he kept a weekly visit with a counselor to talk about what happened and why it affected him as it did. His confidence built while his legs gained muscle and tone. He was nearly 100% improved and it was time - finally time for the first official date that had been a long time coming.

She wore black stiletto heels and a red satin dress. He wore a black tuxedo (with shoulders) and looked good enough to eat. His brand spanking new Mustang Convertible pulled into the Pinciotti driveway (it was a short drive) and he got out with sweaty palms and rapped on the kitchen door.

Bob opened the door with a wide grin on his face and smiled, "Jackie...your date is here."

Her smile and glowing eyes was the only thing he could see. She walked towards him with the dress softly wafting behind her. "It took you forever to get here." She teased.

Eric could feel his face redden slightly as was very aware that his mom was in the bushes with her camera. He grinned, "You were worth waiting for."

She wrapped a hand around his elbow and replied with a choked voice, "You say that all the time."

Eric smiled softly, "Let's go dancing!"

The moon was large and luminous and the stars seemed to shine especially low and twinkled softly. The Mustang roared off into the night with a pair of lovers that had been to Hell and back and were finally getting their reward. This was the perfect ending to Eric Forman's old life and the beginning of his new one.

Things could only get better.

As the Mustang neared the edge of the shores of Lake Michigan, Cameron and company (namely Kelso), on cue sent a pyrotechnic message into the night sky.

**Eric loves Jackie**

The End

A/N: Special thanks to those five reviewers that hung it out until the very end - you have no idea of how much your support means to me. This was so hard to write and finish as my last and hopefully one of my best J/E stories. I applaud your fortitude for sticking with me to the end.

THANK YOU!