Disclaimer: I do not own Dawson's Creek or any of the characters, the show was created by Kevin Williamson.

Chapter 4

John Witter stood frozen by the nurse's station in the ER watching his son being pulled away from him by the doctors and nurses that were working on him. They were listing off his injuries and some possible injuries, but he didn't understand half of what they were saying. The gist of what he understood was that his son had some burns on his arms and back, but while they were first degree burns they would heal. The more severe injury seems to be a head injury. The doctors won't know how bad the damage is until they operate.

This was a freaking nightmare; no parent ever wants to image something so horrible, like this, happening to their child. He has worked so many cases like this, but seeing it happen to your child is different. He never image something like this would happen to one of his children. The worst part is that he hasn't been the father his son deserved. He has neglected him, been too harsh with, critical of, and often verbally abusive towards his son. He has wrongly made his son feel like he was a loser. He wouldn't be surprised if Pacey felt unloved all these years. I guess the saying, you don't know what you have until it's gone, is true because he didn't always appreciate his son, and now faced with the possibility of losing his son forever does he realizes just how much he means to him. God please watch over my boy; don't let him die, he silently prayed.

He was broken from his thoughts by hearing his wife's and oldest son calling out his name as they rush up to him. "John what is going on?" "Dad what happen to Pacey?" His wife and son started asking him at the same time.

"Pacey was at the Ice House, which was closed for reconstruction, with his friends studying. Well I don't know how much studying Pacey was doing since he blew two of his finals so far by not writing anything down on either of them, but that is beside the point. Some unknown person set fire to the Ice House probably because Mike Potter is dealing again, so this is some kind of retaliation against him, and our son, and your brother, is paying the price. I just can't prove it right now, but I will, and that SOB is going to pay. Anyway, when the Ice House was set on fire, Pacey and his friend Jen were in the restrooms when it happen; they were trapped because the fire spread very rapidly in that area of the restaurant until the fire department came, and were able to extinguish the flames enough so Pacey and Jen could get out. Pacey let the firefighters take Jen first, and when he was on the way out of the restaurant he was struck by an flame piece from the roof, and he hit his head. He has some first degree burns on his back and arms and an unknown head injury that is all I know right now. The doctors just took him to surgery right before you two arrived here," John told his wife and son.

Beth (I don't recall the show ever telling us what Pacey mom name was so I am going with Beth) Witter covered her mouth after hearing her husband recant the details of what happen at the Ice House tonight leading to youngest child being in this hospital fighting for his life. She couldn't believe this was happening it was like a freaking nightmare, one she can't wake up from. Why did this have to happen to her son? Why? He might be a slacker, a wise cracking clown, and get into mischief from time-to-time, but he was still a good kid. He was her baby, and he did not deserve to be nearly burn alive. She was worry and scared for her son, but also angry. She is angry that no good drug dealer, Mike Potter, was release, free to walk the streets of Capside, which caused someone to retaliate against him. She is angry her son was trapped for a while waiting to be rescue thinking he was going to die, angry he has sustain serious injuries, and is fighting for his life right now; and angry her son life was put in danger in the first place. She looked at her husband and oldest son Doug and said, "I really hate Mike Potter, he belongs behind bars, not walking free here, in Capside. Whether he lit the match that cause the fire, or not, he still is directly responsible for what happen to our son. It should be him in there not our son!"

Doug couldn't agree with his mother more about Mike Potter. They never should have let that man out. He obviously didn't learn anything in all that time he served caused he went right back to dealing. What is wrong with that man! Seriously, he really wanted to know? He feels really bad for Bessie, her son Alexander, and Joey they deserve so much better then Mike Potter for a father and grandfather. As if all discriminations and hard times those girls had to face because of him getting arrested for drug dealing the last time wasn't enough,p he has to come back right when they are getting everything together, and put their lives in jeopardy, ruin their source of income, and almost killed his kid brother. He doesn't want to even think Pacey won't pull through this. He may act like Pacey is an annoyance to him and quite often he is, but with the possibility of losing his brother he is finding himself missing the banter between him and brother. He would even settle for one of Pacey gay jokes right about now if it meant his brother was ok. He also wished he spent more time with his little brother instead of being so focused on himself.

Doug has been so focus on himself that he really has no idea what has been going on in his brother life over the last 6 months. He didn't know he had a girlfriend, or that he was actually doing good in school. He didn't know that said girlfriend had some kind break down, and is recovering in another state right now, which put his brother into an state of depression causing him to blow two of his finals. He really was out of the loop, and when his brother pulls through he was going to spend more time with him. Someone probably should notify his girlfriend what happen because it would be horrible if she found out some other way, like on the news. His sisters Carrie, Sara (the show never gave Pacey's third sister a name so I went with Sara), and Gretchen and let them know about their brother especially Gretchen those two are really close she would want to know.

Doug turned to his parents, "Mom, Dad, I am going to call Carrie, Sara and Gretchen and let them know what happen."

"Thanks Doug," his father said to him. Doug nodded then walked away from his parents in search for a payphone to call his sisters. Then he was going to find Pacey friends, and see if any of them have a way of getting in contact with Pacey girlfriend. I don't know all the details of what happen with her, but I do know she has a right to know, and that his brother needs her right now. She might just be the only person that can reach Pacey, and give himself something to live for. Another thing Doug plans on doing when Pacey pulls though this horrific ordeal, is to get know this girl that has made such an impact on his brother life better. Doug found a pay phone, put in a quarter, and dial a familiar number, it rang a few times before the person pick up. "Hello," Doug listened to the familiar voice of his youngest sister, "hey Gretchen, I have bad news about Pacey. It may be a good time to come back home to Capeside"

Hope everyone enjoys this chapter and is enjoying this story so far.