Saved
Chapter 8
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
by: Jade


Disclaimer: Dawson's Creek is not my property.

Author's Note: I got a little stuck at continuing on from the previous chapter after my brain froze from having to study for my finals; I finally finished it after nearly two months. I apologize for the extreme delay. I'm so sorry, guys. Hope you're having a wonderful summer.

"She promised she'd be here," Danny told Pacey who kept fidgeting and looking at his watch. "We know Jen, she wouldn't have said anything unless she meant it."

Pacey let out a breath of resignation and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Thanks for talking to her anyway." Danny nodded in response and smiled as Joey walked over to them, taking Pacey's hand.

"Thanks, Danny," she said, returning his smile.

He looked away, almost embarrassed at being shown gratitude for what little he did. He discreetly made his way further down the hall to let them be alone while he silently berated Jen. She wouldn't do this to me. Would she? The thought that she might have told him what she did just to shut him up kept racing through his mind, only to be followed by a shake of the head. Not Jen Lindley...

"Come in!" He pushed himself away from his desk and turned his chair around on its wheels to greet the visitor.

She walked in, followed by her boyfriend, Jason Feldman, glanced over at Pacey's side of the room and frowned a little when he wasn't there.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," he answered. "He's caught up in the dark room again."

She sighed. "Thanks." And she left.

He stared on after the closed door, puzzled by the relationship he and Jen shared. If one could call it a relationship. The only thing they had in common was Pacey. One year since they first met and they still could hardly speak more than ten words to each other before getting into an argument about something. Without Pacey around to act as mediator, they tried their best to avoid starting up a conversation in case it turned into verbal abuse. What just transpired was a clear indication of this compromise.

He swung his chair and was about to get back to his work-

"I may live to regret this," she rattled on, coming through the door again. "But I think you should come with us." She stood in the middle of the room, hands on hips and looked as if she couldn't believe what she'd said. "Well, I know you need a break cause Pacey told me so and besides, you need a life."

"I have a life," he replied wryly. "It just doesn't involve excessive partying."

"We're not talking strippers at a frat party. A friend I happen to like is celebrating her birthday, that's all."

He didn't respond.

And she began to feel stupid just standing there. "All right, I get it," she said, finding her way out.

"Wait," he told her. "I'm coming."

He shut down his computer and grabbed his coat.

She raised a brow. "You planning to go like that?"

He looked down at his wrinkled shirt and worn-out jeans. "Why, is this a fancy dress party?" he asked.

She gritted her teeth, knowing he knew he'd look good even in a tutu.

"Whatever, Lerner."

He heard her coming round the corner from the stairs, running as quickly as she could in her heels. He saw her at the same time Pacey and Joey did and the three of them burst into smiles simultaneously.

Jen reached Pacey and struggled to catch her breath before attempting to explain. "I'm so sorry," she started, "I got here as fast as I could. Work was just horrid. I felt like killing the groom's parents."

Pacey's grin grew wider and he hugged her to him tightly and whispered a thank you and then kissed her on the cheek. She smiled back and was then enveloped into an embrace by Joey.

Danny watched in silence and let out a quiet breath of relief.

*****

"Oh my God!"

She was dragged by the arm into a corner before she even had time to utter a hello to anyone.

"Is that Danny Lerner?"

"Calm down, Amy. You're turning hysterical." Jen moved a safe distance away from the birthday girl as her arms started flailing about in excitement. "It's just Daniel Lerner, not Tom Cruise."

"Jen, do you have any idea what you're talking about?"

Her expression spelled 'Arghhh!'

"Come on," Amy said, dragging her friend back to her company by the same sore arm. "You've got to introduce us."

So she reluctantly did and within minutes, Amy, along with a couple of other girls had completely monopolized him. She immersed herself in the crowd and got herself a drink, stopping to speak to several people she knew. Jason had long since disappeared with his buddies. She decided she needed a breather and went out of the building to sit by the front steps.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice.

"Too much excitement?" He stepped out of the shadows and took a seat beside her.

"Nothing I can't handle," she challenged but soon turned apologetic. "I'm sorry I asked you here. I feel somewhat responsible for the fun you're not having."

"I'm a big boy. It was my choice to come here tonight."

She nodded imperceptibly.

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes before he wondered if she was waiting for him to speak first and was about to but she beat him to it.

"I read your article in Law Review. Pretty impressive."

"Thank you," he didn't hesitate to express. "I'm surprised. What's a history student such as yourself reading Law Review in her spare time?"

"I'm used to hearing about the law," was all she cared to say.

He waited for her to go on. "And?" he finally asked.

"My father's a senior partner at Mason & Green."

"Impressive," he echoed her earlier comment.

She shrugged, as if to convey that it was hardly a big deal. He looked at her profile, finding himself more and more curious. From what he recalled from his conversations with Pacey, Jen had been born and bred in Manhattan until she moved into the town he lived in their sophomore year of high school. Now, he knew one more thing about her.

He guessed her parents were wealthy. "Only child?" he questioned.

"Aren't we inquisitive."

He shrugged.

"Yes," she replied.

He stared ahead into space and as his thoughts were re-focused on his own life and the debts that he'd cumulated over the years that constantly worried him, the words left his mouth.

"Daddy's little girl, huh?"

There had been no intent to pre-judge. He simply made too hasty a remark that should not have left the recesses of his mind in the first place. He opened his mouth to apologize but she'd already stood up, indicating the end of their momentary truce.

"I'm going back in," she said, even-toned and straight-faced. And then she left him sitting there, more puzzled than ever.

~~~~~

The hand on her shoulder brought on an uneasiness that she kept from showing in her expression as she smiled at the person that it belonged to.

Joey didn't say a word before she leaned forward to hug her friend.

Jen responded by squeezing her lightly in reassurance before pulling back.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you, Jen." Joey smiled distractedly as she looked back to where her husband and his best friend were waiting for their table at the entrance of the restaurant. Jen had walked farther down closer to the water and Joey followed.

"Is something wrong?" Jen asked.

"Don't take this the wrong way." Joey looked at Pacey again. "I'm not regretting what I've done. I don't want to take anything back."

"What is it?"

"I'm scared." She chuckled. "A little late to admit it, I know but as much as I'm looking forward to this new life, I'm terrified of what I don't know could happen."

"There is so much more you have to learn about Pacey. So much you missed. Don't waste your time worrying about the things that are out of your control."

Joey nodded and her eyes fell briefly to the ground before they returned to meet Jen's. "You know, besides having shown me his old hangouts and telling me about how hard he had to work to catch up when he stumbled upon the joy of photography and decided to switch majors, he hardly talks about his college years. I mean, he's mentioned Danny, of course. And you. A little here and there but never anything much."

"Danny proved to be a more than an adequate friend after Dawson." It was difficult for the truth to be heard out loud but Jen felt it had to be done. "It hurt Pacey that he'd hurt Dawson so much when he fell in love with you. And it still hurts him. But he knows that he's got to let it go if he wants to live his life."

Joey was silent.

"Can you?" Jen continued.

"Can I what?" she asked, dazed.

"Can you let it go?"

"I long to," she said somberly. "I really do."

"I'll be fine," she told him as he followed her out of the cab.

He barely indicated that he'd heard her at all as he paid the cabby his fare and slammed the rickety door shut.

Jen was too tired to protest and wordlessly allowed him to follow her up to her apartment. "I've been through more today than I have in most weeks. Don't goad me into an argument, please." With that, she threw her bag into a corner as she walked into her bedroom. She fell face down onto her bed and grabbed a pillow and covered her head with it.

When she didn't hear retreating footsteps, she turned onto her back and peeked from under the pillow. He was still standing by the doorway.

"All right, I give up."

He didn't respond and instead took a seat by her on the bed. He didn't look at her but at some imaginary spot in the distance.

"You know, I'd rather fight with you than engage in some silent battle."

He blinked to that but still remained looking ahead.

"Danny? Hey, Danny." She nudged him in the gut.

"Hmm," he mumbled and he finally turned to look at her. "I gotta go." His troubled eyes told her nothing as he distractedly stood up.

She squinted in puzzlement and used her elbows to push herself up against the headboard.

He was out the room when he came right back in and planted a kiss on her. She was too shocked to react and by the time she regained use of her brain, his lips had already left hers.

"I'll see you around," he said and then he turned off the light in the room, leaving an eerie glow from the lights outside. And seconds later she heard the front door close.

She lifted her fingers and grazed her lips with them, wondering what the hell just happened.

*****

Ten blocks away, Pacey was making like he was reading the magazine he held in his hands but he was actually attuned to every movement that his wife was making in the bathroom, getting ready for bed. He dropped the magazine on his lap and shook his head in amazement. "My wife," he chuckled.

"What's so funny?" she asked, walking to the dresser to take her hairbrush. She ran it through her tangled tresses. When she was done she made no motion to move away from the mirror as she looked past her reflection at his.

He smiled. "I'm just happy."

She turned around and got under the bed covers. He put the magazine on the nightstand by the lamp and intuitively swung his arm out for her to cuddle close and rest her head on his chest.

"Are you regretting this yet?" she mumbled.

"No," he replied, playing with her hair.

"Promise you won't get angry."

"About what?"

"About what I'm going to say next." She lifted her head to look at him. "I know what couples are supposed to do on their wedding nights but I really just feel like cuddling."

He wrinkled his brows, his expression one of confusion. "I'm afraid I don't quite get it. What are couples supposed to do on their wedding night?"

As predicted, she blushed and he started laughing.

She reached over and pinched his arm. "You enjoy this way too much," she chided.

"Okay, I'll stop. But seriously, isn't this sort of no-sex pact supposed to take place only after we've been married, I don't know, long enough for my wife to realize that seeing me in the can with the door opened, reading a newspaper is no longer sexy?"

She rolled her eyes and smacked him in the chest this time. But she was trying really hard not to laugh.

He couldn't keep a straight face either. She gave up and returned to her original position of resting her face against his chest.

"You know," she said after a moment, "It's been a particularly good day for me." She sat up and leaned over to kiss him.

He lost himself in it until he decided he'd better stop if he was planning to keep his promise tonight. He pulled away gently from her and reached to turn the lamp off. They slid further under the covers and snuggled comfortably and closely to go to sleep. He kissed her on the temple.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," he told her.

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