Note: Okay, it's a short chapter but I figured I'd post it anyway as I need to decide which direction I want to take next. I have like three different versions of what I want to happen next on paper so now I just need to decide which one to go with. Lani-I knew what you meant and I'm glad I got you hooked.

Tv-crazy- I'm glad you like the fact that I brought Andie in. I always did like her even though I didn't care to much for her and Pacey together.

Lou- if this gets a little off of the tv-series you'll have to forgive me. I'm a relatively new fan to the show so I don't know everything about it. I'll also tell you right now that its going to take a big deviation from the show by the end so its going to end up being an AU fic. Joey isn't quite as mean though in this chapter.

Lisa14- glad you like the story and thanks for reviewing.

Rachel00- glad you like the way the characters are all interacting and I hope I'm still doing a good job in this chapter with that.

C-chan96- oh it's a short review for you (that's okay I'll let you off the hook, lol). Seriously though, thanks for the review. I'm glad I'm keeping the characters close to what they are suppose to be. Doug I kind of took what little I have seen of him on the show and filled in the rest myself. I don't know what it is about his character but even though it's a bit part on the show I've always liked his character. Our Doug's aren't too far off from each other. Pacey still thinks his brother is the perfect dutiful son in my story too we just get a different perspective on him and not just Pacey's like in your story. I hope you like my character of Mrs. Witter in this chapter. Happy reading!

Pacey was glad that Andie had stopped following him. He didn't want to hurt her any more than his outburst probably already had. He was slipping. He wasn't hiding things as well as he needed to and he had to hide the truth. It wasn't safe for his friends to know the truth and if the truth got out the respect the residents of Capeside had for the Witter family would be completely shattered. He was determined he wouldn't be the cause of that.
As he neared his house he didn't see his Dad's police car in the driveway which was good. At least he had beaten his dad home. That was one thing that was going his way at least.
Pacey walked up the front stairs and into his house. He could hear his Mom in the kitchen. He sat his backpack on the floor near the front door and headed for the kitchen.
"Good afternoon Pacey," his Mom greeted him from her spot at the stove. She was stirring the soup she was cooking for dinner.
"Hi Mom," he said giving her a kiss on the cheek. Even the make-up couldn't hide the fat lip his mother had. He couldn't help but wonder what his mother had ever seen in his father. How could she love someone who had no qualms about hitting her, about leaving bruises on her. His Mom deserved so much better than that.
"How was school?"
"Okay, I guess. Nothing special happened."
"Doug's coming over for dinner on Sunday."
"Ah wonderful! We can have another inspiring Witter family dinner," Pacey said sarcastically.
"Pacey," his mother admonished.
"I'm sorry Mom," he told her truthfully. His mother was the one person that Pacey knew loved him unconditionally. It didn't matter what he did, good or bad, she would still love him. He wanted something better for her than the life that she had right now.
"How about setting the table for me," his mother said with a smile nodding toward the pile of plates and silverware she had sitting on the counter nearby..
"Sure," he told her. He picked up the pile of dishes and headed for the dinning room with them. He was just finishing up when he heard the front door open and close. He knew it was his Dad coming home.
He heard his Mom and Dad exchange greetings in the kitchen. His Dad sounded sincere for a change but Pacey knew it was only momentary. He knew his Dad could change at anytime. He couldn't help but wonder what the residents would think if they knew about the other side of their beloved Sheriff John Witter.
Dinner was the normal tense affair which Pacey really wanted nothing to do with. He endured it for his mother's sake who thought dinner time was important quality time for the three of them. His parents chatted about his three sisters and Doug but thankfully stayed off the subject of him. Pacey just sat in his chair and ate silently trying to not be noticed by his Dad.
When he was finished, Pacey excused himself and took his plate into the kitchen. He rinsed the plate, sat it in the sink and disappeared to the relative safety of his bedroom. He was determined to come out as little as possible this weekend.

"Dawson, I don't think that's a good idea," Joey told him as she started walking toward the Leery home with him and Jen.
"Come on Joey. The worst thing that could happen is the Mr. Witter tells me he doesn't want me to see Pacey because he's grounded and I go home," Dawson told her. "He's the sheriff he isn't going to do anything to me."
"Then how did Pacey hurt his wrist?" Joey asked him, wanting him to come up with another explanation than the one they were dwelling on right now. Dawson didn't say anything. She had a point.
"Are the two of you saying what I think you are saying?" Jen said trying to make sense of the conversation she was hearing.
"Now let's not get carried away," Dawson said before Joey could answer Jen's question. "Pacey is insisting that everything is fine. Maybe it was just an accident that he hurt his wrist."
"And he's hiding it why?" Joey asked. "You know, Pacey is proud but even he wouldn't try hiding an injury if he simply tripped down the steps or something."
Before anyone could say anything else a car slowed and pulled up beside them. Dawson, Joey and Jen glanced over to see a patrol car next to them. Behind the wheel was Deputy Doug Witter.
"Hi Doug," Dawson said easily.
"Hi Dawson," Doug replied. "Have you guys seen my brother?"
"Not since this morning," Dawson said. "He's been avoiding me most of the day."
"I saw him and Andie walking in the direction of his house," Jen said trying to helpful even though she really wanted to know what was going on.
"Okay, thanks," Doug said.
"Doug, please tell Dawson that going over to see Pacey is a bad idea if he's grounded," Joey said hoping that if Dawson wouldn't listen to her then maybe he would listen to Doug. She wasn't expecting the change she saw in Doug's face though as he addressed Dawson.
"Dawson, Joey's right," Doug said in a matter of fact tone, his face now very serious. "If Pacey's been grounded the best thing is to just stay away from the house. That goes for all of you," Doug said looking at the two girls and meeting their eyes. "I want you to promise you won't go over there."
"Sure."
"Yeah, I promise."
"Of course," were the three replies he got.
"I got to get back on patrol," Doug said. "See you three around." The three teens watched as the squad car pulled away.
"Something is definately going on," Dawson said as the three of them started walking again.
"Do you think there is anything we could do?" Joey asked. She didn't get an answer. She guessed her friends were at as much of a loss as she was in knowing what to do.
"Will some please tell me straight up what it is you guys are talking about," Jen finally said. She thought she had a pretty good idea but this was something she really needed to hear to believe it.
Dawson and Joey looked at her than at each other. Jen could tell they were trying to decide which one of them was going to tell her what was going on. Jen didn't care who it was as long as someone did so. In the end it was Dawson who started filling her in on everything that had been going on since the afternoon before.