A/N: I’m sorry to those who have been reading this story but I’ve been away this past month taking care of personal business. But now I’m back and we can continue on with the story. Now one thing that has always been a plus for Jackie and Hyde as always been their physical chemistry, so let’s explore that a little.

Chapter 4: Old Flames

“Are you kidding me?”

Jackie rolled her eyes and glanced in the living room to make sure Steven was still sleeping. “Donna he’s just staying for a few days,” said Jackie into the phone. She had to tell someone and who better than Donna.

“Jackie you and Hyde alone together has catastrophe written all over it,” warned Donna.

Jackie sighed loudly and sat down on the edge of her bed. “Well what was I suppose to do? Let him freeze to death out in the cold?”

“Jackie it’s Summer, and he broke your heart remember?”

“But Donna that was ten years ago and we’ve moved on from that whole experience. Besides Michael and I were able to be good friends after we broke out,” said Jackie.

“Yeah but you got back together with him a million times because you thought he would change, I’m just warning you that Hyde isn’t suddenly going to turn into prince charming after all these years. Don’t go making an ass of yourself.”

Jackie heard Hyde groan in the other room. “Look Donna don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself. I am so not gonna make an ass of myself.” Jackie hung up the phone and walked to the living room to greet Steven.

Her breath was taken away when she realized he was sleeping in nothing but his boxers. He had really taken good care of his body despite the beer and drugs. His muscles were still ripped and strong. She could just feels his rough hands running across her skin and making her feel whole. She remember her hands in his hair and his tongue pressing against hers and when he finally hit the spot of her…

“Morning,” Hyde replied scratching his head and stretching.

Jackie shook her head and prayed he didn’t see her blush. “Good morning,” she muttered.

Hyde grabbed his clothes and brushed by her as he made his way to the bathroom. Jackie felt a chill shoot up her spine as his skin grazed hers.

When she heard the shower going she shook herself. Seemed some old flames were harder to kill than she thought. “Damn.”

“Awe dude that sucks.”

Hyde furrowed his brow. Maybe calling Foreman wasn’t such a good idea. “Why does it suck?”

He heard Eric hum for a second before replying, “Because you’re stuck with Jackie, need I say more?”

“C’mon man it’s not that bad, I could be stuck with you.”

He heard Eric laugh humorlessly. “Good one Hyde, good one. Oh by the way…does Jackie still call you by your last name?”

Ouch! That defiantly struck a chord in Hyde. “Man shut up. It’s not like I’m going to be stuck here for long anyway,” said Hyde grudgingly.

“You really think you’ll get your car back?” asked Eric.

Hyde sighed loudly and heard Jackie in the kitchen opening and closing cupboards. She would be heading off to work soon. “I don’t know man, all I know is I don’t want to over stay my welcome. I mean Jackie can be naggy…but well…you know, I don’t want to be an inconvenience to her.”

A pause went by before he heard Eric gasp on the other line. “Oh my god! You still have feelings for her.”

Hyde let Foreman’s words sink in before scoffing. “No I don’t.”

“That’s why you’re in Chicago,” said Eric completely ignoring what he said. “You miss her,” he said in a cutesy voice.

“Hey! Let’s get one thing straight, I don’t have feelings, I don’t love Jackie anymore, and the only reason I was in Chicago in the first place was for beer and strippers. Alright?”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say. I’ll let you get back to your girlfriend,” chided Eric making kissing noises.

Hyde rolled his eyes. “Get bent,” he yelled hanging up the phone.

He couldn’t stand when people thought he had feelings for anyone, especially nice ones. Even when he was with Jackie it was slightly embarrassing to have everyone know, unlike Jackie who wanted everyone in the entire universe to know. Guess that was one of the nice things about having a girlfriend who was the complete opposite of you. She made him more comfortable to be open and nurturing. God knows she was overly open and nurturing, always pushing him into things like meeting his father or making her feel better when he didn’t know how.

No doubt about it, she was a challenge to be with even as a friend.

“Are you done with the phone yet?” asked Jackie knocking loudly on the door. “Whoever you’re talking to isn’t nearly as important as me.”

Hyde smirked. Still a loudmouth narcissist. “Whoever I’m talking to isn’t as nearly as annoying as you.”

He heard her gasp and stomp her foot. “Oh you are so more annoying than me.”

Hyde got up from her bed, opened the door to find her glaring at him. “Whatever,” he said walking past her.

“See annoying,” she said going in her room and slamming the door. God she liked fighting with him. Why was that?

Truth be told Jackie had always seen their fighting as a way of intimacy, it was always a contest to see who had the most control in the relationship, a fight to stay on top. Some days she hated it because she was so use to getting what she wanted, other days she appreciated it because it made her see Hyde was his own person, his own man. He wasn’t going to let himself become so easily manipulated and controlled, even by her. It’s what made him real, and it’s what made Jackie admire him.

She locked her door securely and sat on the edge of her bed nervously. She hoped he wouldn’t overhear the phone call she was about to make. She dialed the number she had already memorized and felt her heart race a million miles an hour.

When she heard the voice on the other line her spirits lifted a little. “Hi Dr. Manning, I was just calling to set an appointment…”

Hyde turned on the TV to find something if anything good to watch. He wanted to occupy his mind with anything other than who Jackie could be calling. He almost let out a laugh when he realized he was watching the Price Is Right.

He remembered that’s when the whole Jackie thing happen, when he first really felt something for her.

There had been the time when Kelso had ditched her for Laurie and she had turned to him for comfort. Back then he was still getting use to her and didn’t feel comfortable with the sudden crush she had on him. If anything he felt he had been a convenient choice for Jackie to cling to because he pushed her away, he was a safer investment because there was nothing he could offer her.

It had been an even weirder moment when he punched that one guy Chip for calling her a bitch. Just the way that guy disrespected her sent his blood boiling. She may have had her bitchy moments but Hyde didn’t like anyone calling her out on it, maybe it was mostly because she was always insisting what a great guy he was, even if it wasn’t true. He liked the way she believed he had a heart when everyone else saw him as a worthless criminal. For whatever reason, she saw someone worth willing to love.

He recalled then taking her out on their actual first date and their actual first kiss. He was a little stunned to learn she felt nothing. He didn’t know what he had felt but it had been something. But it was better to just deny it, better to play it safe. He wasn’t ready for that, it just wasn’t the right time.

Hyde chuckled as Bob Barker walked out with his stick microphone and welcomed everybody to the show. He remembered Jackie being upset with Kelso leaving for California and the both of them just being bored the entire Summer in Foremen’s basement. As soon as she had said, “There’s nothing to do,” it was almost out of pure impulse.

Just one kiss was all it took and soon they couldn’t get enough of each other. She was still technically with Kelso, but that fact made him want her even more. Kelso didn’t deserve her, he was a cheating dog and she needed someone better for her. It was suppose to just be a fling, he never thought he’d end up being the better guy for her. He never thought he’d fall in love with her.

“What are you watching?”

Hyde jumped slightly, he hadn’t even heard her come in the living room, which was ironic since she was wearing high heels and a ruffled blouse. He cleared his throat and said, “The Price Is Right.”

He watched in amusement as her face went red and the memories seemed to be flashing before her eyes. “Oh…” she murmured acting unimpressed.

He only smirked. “Did something just cross your mind?” he asked devilishly.

She rolled her eyes and scowled at him. “No! Don‘t you dare insinuate anything because there is nothing. There‘s nada!” she ranted childishly.

He scoffed and said, “Whatever. Where’s all your beer?”

She placed her hands on her hips and looked at him hotly. “I just bailed you out of jail and you already want to get in trouble again.”

He just shrugged. “Well you know me.”

She sighed and shook her head. “If you want beer you’re going to have to get it yourself, I don’t have any.”

Hyde stretched and got up to his feet. “Fine then give some money and I’ll quit asking.”

She got out her wallet with a small smile, “That’s fine because you will pay me back…with interest.”

He took the money from her hand and started to walk out the door. “Yeah let’s pretend I’ll do what you say and we’ll all just happy.”

Just as was about to go find a nearby liquor store he felt her grab his arm and look at him with those child like eyes. “Hyde please I really don’t want you hurting yourself,” she said genuinely. It was one thing that constantly surprised him, her mean to caring side always switching places when he least expected.

Hyde gently took her hand off his arm and just held it for a while. Her skin was still soft and creamy as it’d always been. He missed how skilled and nimble her fingers were and how she took her time attending to him whenever they were together. Most of the girls he had been with had been so selfish in their love making. It was almost as if she sensed that he needed some attention and nurturing, and she did it well.

He finally let go and just looked at her lazily. “Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself.”

She just huffed out a small breath before shutting the door behind the both of them. “Well at least let me give you a lift before I go to work.”

He wanted to argue with her to not trouble herself with him but he knew it was pointless. Besides he liked that she even offered to give him a ride when he was acting like an ass. The fact that she still acted as if she cared somehow meant a lot to him.

They rode together in silence each consumed in their own thoughts. Finally he asked, “So who did you call?”

He noticed her face looked panicked for a second before she snapped, “What do you care?”

“I don’t,” he said dropping the whole thing all together. It was most likely a boyfriend and if so, he didn’t want to know. The thought of those hands touching someone else… “By the way I like the blouse,” he said ogling her cleavage.

She only raised one eyebrow at him and whipped her hair. “Yeah too bad you can’t have this,” she stated smugly sitting up tall and proud.

He only made a face at her before saying, “You know you have the hots for me, that’s why you even bothered getting me out of jail and inviting me to stay at your house. You want to jump me.”

She laughed lightly before smiling at him. “I busted you out of jail out of pity. Besides if anyone has the hots, it’s you. You could’ve left anytime you wanted, called a cab or jumped a plane, but no. You’re still here because you want to jump me.”

“Hey I just want to jump back in my stolen car, that’s why I’m here.” he replied coolly. “But since we’re talking about revving up our engines why don’t we-”

He was cut off by Jackie sticking her hand in front of his face. “Steven please. Let’s not talk about this anymore.” He noticed she was upset but that observation quickly left his mind when he realized something. His face brightened and he pointed at her laughing. “What?” she asked annoyed.

“You called me Steven.” he said all too proudly. God he had missed that.

She mentally kicked herself for giving into his selfish wants like calling him by his first name. honestly she liked acknowledging him by his first name again, she just didn‘t like how he got so much pleasure out of it. She looked at him with piercing eyes as he continued to laugh at her. “Shut your pie hole!”

They both sat in silence, each one heated for different reasons. Oh yes the flames where still there.

A/N: Good? Bad? I know I’m kind of rambling with these chapters but believe me this story will get better if you keep on reading. I promise to write back as soon as possible. In the meantime Review!