Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I do not own Dawson's Creek the show was created by Kevin Williamson. I did use part of the conversation Dawson had with Joey when he told her her father was dealing in the season 2 finale.

After Dawson left Pacey hospital room, his parents convince him to leave the hospital, and go home with them. When they arrived home, Dawson told his parents that he was going to walk Joey home. The whole way there Dawson worked up the courage to tell Joey the truth about her father. He knew he had to do it because she needed to know her father is dealing again. His best friend almost died tonight and is in a coma right now because of her father illegal dealings. As much as Dawson hates that he has to do this, and rain on Joey's happiness, the truth needs to come out. He just prays she doesn't try to kill the messenger.

When they reached her house, before she could go in, Dawson gently grabbed her hand to stop her. "Joey there is something I have to tell you. Something you're not going to like, so I am just going to say it quickly. Your father is dealing drugs again."

"You don't know that Dawson."

"Yes, I do, I caught him, and that is not all, the fire tonight isn't all, but partially his fault. I talked to him about it and I didn't want to tell you about it because I didn't want you to have to know, but Joey it has gone too far! Pacey and Jen nearly got out alive, and Pacey is in a coma right now!"

"No, he promise me he was done dealing, and he swore he had nothing to do with the fire! I asked him!"

"Joey, he is lying."

"I believe him."

"Joey, why would I lie about this?"

"Why are you doing this?

"Because you deserve to know the truth and my best friend almost die. Pacey father is the sheriff of Capeside and Pacey older brother is the deput, and they are gunning for the person who set the fire; if your dad helps them apprehend the person maybe he can work out a deal."

"You want me to turn my father in? What kind of person do you think I am? Just leave this alone please, for me."

"Joey I love you, and I'm sorry, but I cannot do that. You might not care that Jen could have died and that Pacey is in a coma and could die, but I do! I care that your father put your life in danger and less than a month after he was release he committed the same crime that he was there for. As a result someone set the Ice House on fire, your family business, and seriously injured someone I care about deeply! Do you not even care that Pacey could die!"

"Don't you dare go there, I'm not some unfeeling heartless person. I do care what happen to Pacey, and I hope he pulls through. But, Dawson my father did not set that fire and I'm not going to just turn my father in for something there is no proof he even did. Maybe you should just go."

"Fine I'm going, but I'm still telling the Witters what I know, they have the right to know. Joey, I know you love your dad, but he is not who think he is, and I wish you could see that." And with that said, Dawson left Joey standing in front of her house to contemplate what he just told her.

Meanwhile at Grams, Grams, Jen, and Jack sat at the kitchen table. "Thanks Mrs. Ryan for letting me stay here tonight. I really don't want to be alone right now."

"You are quite welcome Jack, I am happy to have you here."

"I can't stop thinking about being trapped in that restroom with no way out thinking I was going to die. I can still feel the heat and every time I close my eyes I see flames, and I am right back there trapped, like I never left."

Grams put her arm around her granddaughter and pulled her into her embrace. "It's perfectly normal to feel this way Jennifer, you suffered a great ordeal today. It is going to take time, but you will feel ok again, I promise you."

"Jen your grams is right, you will get through this, and we will be here for you."

"But, Pacey might not be. At least, I am able to live my life, but his could be over." As she said that she starts to cry heavily at the thought of losing her friend.

"You can't think like that Jen, Pacey will make it through this, and he wouldn't want you feeling guilty. If anything, I'm sure he would be happy to know you made it out of the Ice House and are ok," said Jack as he tried to reassure Jen about their friend.

"Thanks Jack, you're the best."

"I know," Jen laughed at his response. It felt wrong somehow to laugh at a time like this, but somehow Jen felt that is exactly what Pacey would want her do.

"I'm going to try to get in contact with my father again," Jack said, as he got up from his chair at the kitchen table and walked in the family room in grams's house, so he could have some privacy. Jen turn to look at her grandmother, "I hope he is able to get hold of his father and convince him to let him tell Andie about Pacey."

"I'm sure everything will work out child. It's been a long day and I think I'm going to go to bed. Don't stay up too late Jennifer, you need to get some rest after the ordeal you went through tonight."

"I won't grams and good night."

"Goodnight Jennifer," Grams kiss Jen sweetly on her forehead then went upstairs to her bed room leaving Jen alone in the kitchen. Jen couldn't stop thinking about Pacey and Andie relationship. They have a special connection; their love runs deep, and is the type of love that she has never known. It would be cruel to keep them apart they need each other. Jen sighed, she wish she could find someone that would love her and be devoted to her the way Pacey was to Andie.

Jen was broken from her thoughts by a knock on her kitchen door. She got up to see who it was when she opened the door she saw that it was Dawson. "Hey, I know it's late, but I just got back from dropping Joey off, and I just wanted to see how you were doing." Jen stared at her friend; she could tell by the tortured look on his face that he was here, at her doorstep, for more than to check up on her. "Come in, sit, and tell me what is troubling you, my friend." Jen said as she pointed to the chair for Dawson to sit.

"Last night, I went to the Ice House to return some tools I borrowed from Joey's dad when I saw him give money to his supplier for drugs. He is dealing again Jen. Before School this morning I confronted him about it. He said he was stuck and he was doing it for his family. I told him if he really wanted to be there for his family he would find a way to unstick himself. Then someone sets the Ice House on fire, and my best friend is in a coma. Mike Potter may not be the one who literally burned down the Ice House, but it is partly his fault. I told Joey about it before I came here and she freaked out. She is in denial and doesn't want to believe her father is at all responsible for what happen to you and Pacey."

"I understand why this is hard for her, but Dawson you have to tell Sheriff Witter. It's not just our good friend in that coma, it's his son, and he needs to know. There is an arsonist on the loose, and maybe Joey's dad can strike up some kind of deal."

"I'm going to first thing in the morning when I go to check on Pacey before school."

"Good and Joey will come around Dawson. She loves you and will eventually realize that turning in her father is the right thing to do. It is hard to believe the worse about the people we love, even when the truth is staring us blatantly in face, we can't help, but come up with justifications. That is what Joey is doing right now."

"I sure hope your right Jen, I don't want to lose her on top of my best friend."

"You won't lose either Pacey or Joey, Dawson." Dawson smiled at Jen, he was glad he came here and talked to her. Jen really is amazing, and a really great friend. Here she is comforting him when she probably traumatized by tonight events.

"Enough of me,how are holding up Jen and tell me truth."

"I want to say I am great, but the truth is, I am having a hard time closing my eyes without seeing flames. I'm afraid to go to sleep, in fear, I will dream I am back in that fire still trapped with no way out." Dawson didn't know what to say to something like that. So, he just took her hands in his, and gave her a comforting smile. He sat there at her kitchen table with her, in silence. Sometimes words aren't needed, and just knowing Dawson was here for her was enough.

Meanwhile back at the hospital, Joey snuck past some nurses, and made her way down to Pacey's room. No one was around thankfully, so she could sneak in. After Dawson told her about her father dealing again, and left her house, she had the sudden need to see for herself just how bad Pacey condition was. She, however, was not prepared for what she saw. The sight of him made her want to cry. He was so still, he was here, yet he wasn't. She walked closer to his bed, and took a good look at his bruises and cuts on his face, as well as the bandages on his head, and arms. He was hooked up to all these machines, it was horrible. It was bringing up bad memories of when her mother was dying of cancer. Joey took one last one look at Pacey then left his room now knowing what she had to do about her father.

Hope everyone likes this chapter and I will update the soon.