Chapter 7

Dawson set bolt uprite in bed sweat pouring from his body like he had just stepped out of a pool. He looks at the clock to see it is only three am. That was the most vivd nightmare he had ever had. It also brought back all the memories of why he hadn't wanted to start things with Joey. At any time they could come face to face with a part of his past.

If something like that were to happen, he wasn't sure he could survive it. He rises from his bed and walks to his window. He can see her house on the other side of the creek in the moon light. The windows are all dark, indicating they are all asleep. Suddenly his cell phone rings.

"Hello, this is Dawson." He says.

"I hope it is, that is who I called." A familar voice says on the other end.

"What are you doing awake at this time of morning?" He inquires.

"I got woke up by a funny feeling you were hurting. So I had to call to see if you were ok." Joey says.

"I'm fine Jo, everything is ok." He says as the dream comes back to the front of his mind. Making him sound a little distant.

"Are you sure cause you sound like you are far away." Joey tells him.

"Look Joey I said I was fine!" Snaps a annoyed Dawson.

"Ok, I'm sorry for caring." She says as she hangs up.

Dawson sighs and runs his hand through his hair in a fustrated manner. He throws his phone on to the bed a little harder than he needs to, and has to jump to catch it before it slams into the floor. He misses and it breaks into three pieces. He bangs his head on the edge of the desk causeing a small cut to open up.

"Dam it!" he yells.

"Dawson are you ok?" His dad asks from the door way.

"Yeah dad just dropped my phone. While I was tring to catch it i tripped and smacked my head." Dawson says as he wipes at something running down his forehead.

His dad turns on the over head light to see blood on Dawson's face and hand. He moves to the restroom quickly and returns with a cool damp wash cloth.

"Looks like you hit it harder than you thought." His dad says as he starts cleaning the wound.

"Yeah I guess." Dawson says with a sigh.

"What's wrong Dawson?" His dad asks.

"Nothing that wasn't wrong yesterday." Dawson says as he gets up and sets in his chair.

"This have to do with Joey, your past and why I heard you yelling her name a little while ago.?" Mitch asks.

"A little. I'm not sure about this any more dad." Dawson says.

"Why is that?" Mitch asks.

"I think the risk to Joey is too great." Dawson walks to the window looking out before he continues. "I think at least for now."

"Can you go back to where it was before you and her got together? If you do that, can you two get it back in the future if you decide it is ok? It seems to me, as if you are making all the choices here Dawson. I think you should talk to her about the dreams you have been having. Tell her how you feel, make the choice with her, not with out her." Mitch informs him.

"That is just it dad if I talk to her, well she will convince me it is best for us to stay together. Even though I know with my past it isn't." Dawson stops for a second, just as his dad is about to speak, he continues. "Don't say it dad. I just have this feeling my past isn't done with me yet. Something is brewing on the horizon and i want to protect her. Is that so wrong of me?" Dawson asks.

"Not for wanting to protect her son. But the way you are going about it, I think that is wrong." Mitch says

"Why dad? If I don't send her away from me and she gets hurt or killed, then what? How do I live with the fact the only two girls I have ever cared about were killed because of me?" Dawson asks.

"I think you take it one day at a time son. That is all any of us can do." Mitch says.

"Dad, I don't think you understand just what Joey means to me." Dawson says.

"I think I might, remember I have your mother." Mitch says.

"I know dad, but it isn't the same." Dawson informs him.

"How so?" Mitch asks ammused.

"Well dad were you ever like i was before we moved here? No you weren't. Did you have the demons in your past like I did, and still do? No you don't. Did mom ever come into your life, and in doing so, made you feel like you could stop being that bad person. Dad, I-- she-- well. Look dad she believes in me. She thinks I can do anything if I just try. That is something I have never felt from someone other than you and mom. To be honest, I was thinking you two were giving up on me. In my thinking that is why you and mom wanted to move here." Dawson pauses.

"Son." Mitch starts.

"Dad don't say anything, just listen ok. Then we get here, and what is the first thing that catches my eye? Joey Potter walking down the street. Then it seems despite all of my efforts she worms her way into my life. Giving me support where none but you and mom have. Then Stan and Drue enter the picture. Dad I would have died that day if it hadn't been Joey who caught me and talked to me. All that time I was in a coma, that was what was in my mind. I had to make it back to her, I had to let her know she meant something to me. Then I woke up, and reality smacked me in the face, and i had to push her away. Did that stop her? No she pushed, but she didn't do it in a way it seemed like pushing. She made it seem like I was the one deciding it all. Even though i know now, it was really her all along and that she staged it all. she made sure Drue and his friends sat in her section so she would have to face them at the ice house. She started that fight at school with drew and one of his friends. All so I would think i was saving her, just to make me realize we belonged together. Dad if after all of that, I let something happen to her, what kind of person does that make me?" Dawson asks.

Mitch sets there for a couple of minutes letting what his son said sink in. He looks out the window and then back at Dawson as he begins to speak.

"You are right, maybe she does mean mor to you, and maybe I don't completely understand how you feel about her. To be honest son I am not sure, but answer me this. If after everything you and her have been through, all the effort she has put into getting you back. If after all of that you walk away, what will that do to her? How can you even think of walking away after what you just told me? It would seem to me that you would want to pull her near you and never let her go for any reason." Mitch says.

"I don't know dad, I just don't. A part of me wants to pull her close and another wants to shove her away." Dawson says.

"Well then I would say you need to decide what you are going to do." Mitch says.

Dawson nods as he watches his dad get up and leave the room. He walks to the window and sits down, staring at the creek as it slowly flows by. 'What should I do?' Dawson thinks to himself.

The next morning Joey sees Dawson standing by a tree just outside of school, She hesatintly walks over to him. As she gets close he speaks.

"Can we talk?" He asks

"Yeah, if you explain to me what is going on. you're scaring me, and i'm afraid if I say anything it's going to lead to a fight." She tells him.

"Joey, look i've been thinking of how to make you understand my behavior lately. You know, why I have been pushing you away."

"Dawson look..." She starts when he interupts her.

"Joey I care about you so much, but if i ever lost you, I would go over the edge. I live in total fear of my old life coming back to hunt us. So I shut you out and I pull away from you. But I do it because i am scared you will pay my price."

"First of all I am not going anywhere. Secondly, I want to be there to help and support you through the tough times. I want to be the one standing by your side. Most of all I want us to stop fighting." She tells him as tears form in her eyes.

"Joey I wasn't fighting with you! I was fighting with myself. Part of me wanted to send you off, and the other part wanted to hold you so tight." Dawson tells her.

"Which part won?" She asks.

He sighs as he looks away from her. This will be the hardest thing he has ever done in his life. He is also not sure it is the right thing to do.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but can we leave this unresolved for now?" He says as he turns and leaves.

"Do I have a choice?" She asks the air as he turns and walks away.

As she is watching him leave her cell phone rings. She sighs and looks at the caller id, it shows Rach's number.

"Hello Rach what's up." Joey says trying to sound cheerful.

"Nothing, I have been trying to get ahold of Dawson. It seems he has another problem brewing Berry is headed to Capeside." Rach says.

"Berry? Who is that?" Joey asks.

"Berry Putman." Rach says.

"Who is Berry Putman" Joey asks.

"He is the only guy to ever beat Dawson. and is Stan's brother." Rach says.

"So he lost a fight to him, big deal." Joey says.

"No Joey it is more than that." Rach says.

"Ok so enlighten me." Joey says.

"Ok let me start from the beginning. You already know Dawson was no saint when he was living back here. One thing I am sure he hasn't told you, and might kill me for doing so, is just how bad he was." Rach says.

"We have talked some about his past. I know he did alot of bad things, but it is his past." Joey says.

"Yeah we know that, but I am sure Berry will not allow it to stay that way. See Berry was dating Mary when she was killed, and he has blamed Dawson for that since. There was a conection between Mary and Dawson that is hard to explian. In fact there has only been one other time I have seen that kind of conection. That is with you and him." Rach says.

"So you think Him and I have a conection close to what they had?" Joey asks.

"No I think yours and his is stronger." Rach says.

"You do?" Joey smiles.

"Yeah honestly I think it is alot stronger."Rach tells her.

"Ok but that doesn't explian why Dawson should be nervous about him being here in Capeside." Joey states.

"You see Berry beat Dawson so bad in that fight that he was in the hospital for a week. What Dawson doesn't believe is that Berry had help. A couple of his friends spiked Dawson's drink's through out the night. So when it came time to fight Dawson wasn't himself. He also felt guilty about her dieing while she was with him, so he really didn't fight back.We have tried several times to make him see it, but he refuses." Rach says.

"Are you telling me Dawson will be scared to see this guy?" Joey asks.

"Maybe." Rach says.

"That is something I never thought I would see. Not sure I want to either. I mean Dawson being scare." Joey says.

"I know what you mean, but remember he is still just a guy. Some times we forget that. Him doing the things he does. It will be the toughest test you two have gone through so far. But for you two too survive, it is going to have to be you saving him this time." Rach says.

"I am not sure I am strong enough to do that. Not to mention he keeps pushing me away." Joey says.

"Then it is over Joey, and Berry and Stan win. Again. Maybe yours and his conection isn't as strong as i thought it to be." Rach says as she hangs up.

We see Dawson and Pacey walking down the hallway. People are starring at them with small frowns on their faces. All but two, Drue and a new guy are watching with disdain and small smiles on their faces.

"Dawson Leery!" The new guy yells.

Dawson spins around looking for the face he knew would be there. Pacey notices instantly who Dawson's whole body tenses up.

Joey is a few lockers down and sees all of this and becomes worried. Could this be what Dawson was worried about?

"What not even a hello?" The guy asks.

"What the hell are you doing here Berry?" Dawson asks.

"Oh a little unfinished business is all." Berry says.

"I am done with that life Berry. I am trying to start a new one here." Dawson says.

Berry steps face to face with Dawson. So close their noses almost touch, eyes level with each other. Berry has a smug look on his face, Dawson a nervous look.

"What if other people aren't done with you." Berry asks.

"Look Berry what I did was wrong we both know that, but it is in the past. Besides I think, I"ve more than paid for it. Can't we just let it stay there?" Dawson asks nervously.

"Not in this life time Leery, you owe me, and I have come to collect." Berry states.

"Hey I don't know who you are, but he said he was done with that life." Joey says stepping between them.

Berry smiles a devious smile and shoves her out of the way. Joey crashes into a locker and slides to the ground. Dawson watches and then steps into Berry.

"Yeah now we are talking, come on Leery." Berry shouts.

Pacey is watching the whole thing play out and sees a scared look come across Dawson's face. He notices Dawson hesitation, and wonders what is up.

"I'm not going to fight you Berry." Dawson tells him, backing away.

"Really? What if I do this?" Berry says as he punchs Dawson in the stomach.

Dawson bends over and steps back a step. He stands back up and starts toward Berry, when Joey steps between them again. She places her hand on Dawson's chest and starts to back him up. He slowly lowers his eyes to hers and smiles as she smiles back at him.

"He's not worth it Dawson lets just go." Joey says.

"Oh so this is the new Mary huh. She's hot Dawson. Man you sure can pick them. I hope nothing happens to this one, like what happened to mary." Berry says.

Hearing this Joey slowly steps out of the way. Dawson looks at her with a confussed look on his face.

"Remember what your father told you Dawson, Sometimes you have to fight." Joey says with a sad look on her face.

With a quickness born out of pure rage Dawson has Berry pinned against a locker with his arm across his throat. His smile is plain to see and never reaches the cold empty look in his eyes.

"If someone comes for her Berry. You will be the first one I come for. If you think what happened to Stan was bad, trust me, what I did to him will seem like a dream come true." Dawson says.

"Come on man, you know better than that. I might be a low life in peoples eyes, but I would never stoop to that." Berry says.

"Your brother did. The worst thing about it all is, he did it to you as well. It was his order that killed Mary, not Erich's. Now you think if you set around long enough you can get me to fall back into that life. Not going to happen. See Joey is a lot more than Mary was. She means a lot more to me, which means I will defend her even more than I did Mary Even though we aren't together any more. I will be a better person, because it is what Joey deserves. I will not let anyone come between that, for any reason. Erick got what he deserved, he killed Mary. Stan got what he did, for Mary, for Joey, and for Erick. Go home Berry, leave and never look back. Change your life and become something your family can be proud of." Dawson tells him as he lets him off the wall.

Dawson turns around and starts toward Joey. He has a smile on his face, one he thinks is there cause he took a step today. As he is walking away Abby Morgan runs between him and Joey just as he hears a loud bang. Dawson's eye see a horror he knew could come but hoped against hope it never did. Abby is stuck in the chest by the bullet meant for Joey.

Abby's face becomes a mask of pain as a crimson stain appers in the center of her chest. She coughs a couple of times and we see the blood spit from her mouth. She is slammed against Joey who are then both slammed against the locker with a force Dawson knows all to well about.

He rush to them, with a concern like no other on his face. He sees that Joey is shaken up but not hurt badly. Abby on the other hand is in bad shape.

"Abby what were you doing?" Dawson asks.

"I heard you and Joey broke up, I wanted to see if you would go out with me." Abby says as her eyes closed and the life slipped from her still form.

To everyones suprise Pacey and a couple of other kids have Berry and Drue on the ground holding them. Pacey has the gun in his hand after taking it away from Berry. Dawson lays Abby's body down on the ground as he stands up and starts toward them.

"Let him up." Is his words to the ones holding Berry.

They stare at him complete shock but continue to hold him down.

"I said Let the BASTARD UP!! It's time he gets to feel what this is really like!" Dawson yells.

He feels a hand on his arm. It is only now that he realizes he is shaking vilonetly. He looks at the hand and follows it to it's owner. Joey is look up at him with deep concern on her face. He shrugs her hand off and tries to continue on. She won't be put off that easy, she steps in front of him and places her hands on his chest. She shakes her head no as his intense eye fall on hers.

Every kid in that hall ws holding their breath, afraid of what Dawson was about to do. None thought the small frame of Joey Potter was even going to come close to stopping him.

Pacey watched on with fear in his eyes. He realizes that he hasn't known Dawson all that long, but he has seen alot. He has gotten to know him very well since they first met. This is the madest he has ever seen him. There is pure death dripping from his eyes.

Dawson's eyes were red around the edges as he looked down at the hands on his chest. He raises his eyes back up too the person standing in front of them. She shakes her head no, in the back of his mind he knows this is important. All he can think about is making this guy pay for what he almost did. He almost shot the one person Dawson cared about more than anyone else.

It dawns on him just who's hands are holding him back. He looks at them again then back to her eyes. He sees a sadness there, but a determination not to let him do this. It is like she is drawing all of his emotions and anger out of him and placeing them some where they can't hurt anyone. Slowly his shakes stop. She reaches down and takes his hands in hers.

Joey sees some of the anger leave his eyes. She makes her second move and reaches down and takes both of his hands in hers. She looks back up into his eyes, allowing all of the love she has for him to show. She relaxes a little when even more of the anger leaves.

Dawson feels the touch of her skin on his and the anger Lessons. He looks into her eyes and sees enough love there that his breath catches in his throat for a moment. At this point all of his anger leaves him and slumps into her waiting arms.

Joey conveys all of her feelings in just a look. She sees the pain flash in his eye as the anger washes away. She catches him as he slumps into her arms. He has tears in his eyes as she looks at him again.

"It's going to be ok Dawson. I love you, and i am here for you." Joey says.

"I--I Lo--Love You TToo." Is all he can manage.

Sudenly there is a cloctive breath taken by everyone in the hall as he slumps into her arms. As this is happening teachers start arriving and getting the area under control.

"It will be ok Dawson, I promise." Joey says as dawson continues to silently cry against her shoulder.