Say Hello and Wave Goodbye. Part 1
The wind blew a collection of rubbish down the street, landing it at Joey's feet. She had been crying. She'd been crying since early that morning. She just wanted to stop crying.
She looked up at the computerised screen of the train station, it's green and yellow letters flickering in the early evening light.
18.30 New York.
She looked at her watch, it was 6.10.
20 minutes until she could escape.
20 minutes until she never had to return here again.
11 hours earlier…
Dawson stood at the door of the Potter B&B, hoping that Joey was awake. He had tossed and turned all night and had come up with a plan, a plan that would work.
It had to work.
Bessie opened the door, her earlier morning routine disturbed by the loud banging on the door.
'Dawson…wow, it's good to see…'
'Is Joey here?' He interrupted.
'She's in bed Dawson, as is most of Capeside. What's wrong?'
'I need to talk to her. It's urgent…' Dawson pushed past Bessie and started for Joey's room, or what he remembered to be her room.
'Dawson wait!' Bessie hissed but couldn't stop him.
Dawson pushed his way into the room, but found a sleeping Alex on the bottom bunk, with Lily asleep on the top.
'She next door…' Bessie hissed behind him, grabbing his shoulder and dragging him out of the room. 'But she is asleep so whatever you've got to say…'
'It's okay Bess,'
Dawson turned around to see Joey standing in her doorway, dressed already.
Bessie looked over at Joey concerned but a silent nod from her was enough for her to leave them alone. She backed away into the kitchen.
'You better come in…' Joey walked into her bedroom, leaving the door open for him to follow.
The first thing that Dawson saw was the suitcase. Packed and by the door, Joey's coat slung over the top. The bed was made and looked like no one had slept in it.
'What's going…'
'I'm going back to New York.' She said determinedly.
'No. No you can't, I've figured out what we can do. I was on the phone to my lawyer last night and if I give her everything, I can just leave her and…'
'You'd do that. You give up everything for me?' Joey seemed genuinely shocked.
'Joey, I would give up the world for you. I love you.' Dawson took Joey' s hand and pulled her towards him, into his arms. 'I love you Joey Potter,'
Joey pulled away, trying to look away from him but she couldn't.
'I love you too Dawson. I always have but…this isn't high school. We can't swap and change partners. You are married…'
'To a woman I don't love and who doesn't love me…' Dawson interrupted.
'Do you realise what this means? If we do this we lose all our friends. We'd lose Amy! Do you think Jen would want that?'
'Do you think she would want this?'
'That's not fair, you can't play that card.' Joey sat down on the bed, her head falling into her shaking hands.
'Why not, you just did?'
'We just can't...I can't ruin your life,'
'Have you not heard anything? My life is in ruins! I live in a house I hate, in a city I loathe with a woman who I despise. How much more ruined could my life get?'
'And what do you think would happen afterwards? Do you think Gretchen will just slink away and not talk to anyone about this? Don't you think she might sell her story to anyone who wants to hear? Imagine what that would do you your family's life, to Bessie and Bodie…'
'I can get her to sign a muzzling act; she couldn't say anything unless she wanted to lose everything.' Dawson sat down next to her, taking her hands. 'I'm going to leave her whatever you decide Joey, I'm sick of being lonely.'
'I'm glad. But we can't start a relationship of the back of your divorce.' She said quietly, squeezing his hand slightly.
'Okay. I accept that. But you can't rule it out? There is love here…'
'..and there always will be. At the moment though, I can't see how we would make this work. Too many people are against this…' Joey said in a whisper, looking at her feet.
'Has someone said something? Pacey? Doug?'
He saw Joey flinch.
'What did he say?'
'Nothing, it was nothing…'
'Tell me what he said Joey…' Dawson said, his voice rising with anger.
'He just said that I should stay out of your marriage. That my place wasn't here and I should leave,'
'Right…' Dawson got to his feet and flew for the door.
'Dawson wait!' But it was too late, he was out of the B&B and into his car by the time Joey had got to the front door.
'Joey, please tell me what is going on…' Bessie said behind her, touching her shoulder lightly.
'I really don't know anymore…'Joey said, tears starting to fall down her face. Bessie took her in her arms and held her while she sobbed.
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The door knocked loudly at the Witter – MacPhee residence, causing Amy to jump up and run to the door quickly.
'Wait Amy, you know what we've told you! Don't answer the door to strangers,' Jack lightly scolded her, following her to the door.
'But Daddy, how do I know they are strangers until I answer it?'
Jack stood stunned at his daughter's new and blossoming reasoning skills.
'Well you…I would…go back and eat your breakfast honey,' Jack finally stumbled out with. Amy slunk back into the TV room, becoming engrossed once more with the television set.
He opened the door to see Dawson, his hair dishevelled and a look about him that said he hadn't slept in days.
'Hey, there's my brother in law! I was wondering when we would…'
'Where is Doug?' Dawson interrupted.
'Doug? He's just left the house for the papers. What's going on?'
'I…I don't know anymore…' Dawson's hard exterior melted. Jack always had that affect on him. More so than Andie, Dawson felt that Jack was his only ally in the Witter clan.
'Come on, sit. Tell me. Has this got something to do with Joey?' Jack said, taking a seat next to him on the couch.
'How did…'
'Andie saw you together on Main Street. Laughing like school kids was the actual quote from my fair sister.'
'You haven't told Gretchen have you?' Dawson voice became low and silent.
'No, should I have?' Jack said smiling.
'It's such a huge mess Jack. I'm stuck in a loveless marriage while the woman I love won't even consider being with me,' Dawson fell back onto the couch and covered his face with his large hands.
'Okay…'
Dawson peered between his fingers and saw Jack smiling wildly.
'You don't seem shocked by this.' Dawson said, sitting up to get a better look at him.
'Should I? Come on! At the wedding you pulled a face like a scared pig at a slaughter house, at Christmas you guy's didn't even spend it together and the whole Oscar acceptance thing? I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner.'
'Then please tell me why Doug has been threatening me and Joey! If it was so obvious, I wouldn't think there was any need for threats,'
Jack smiled disappeared.
'Threats? Doug? When did this happen?'
'Last night he said I should'nt see Joey anymore or he would have some strong words for me. I don't know exactly what he said to Joey but it was something similar,'
'Doug? Nah, he wouldn't do that,' Jack caught the look in Dawson's face. He knew he wouldn't lie.
The door flew open as Doug strode in, reading his paper with one hand and carrying a carton of milk with the other.
'Hey honey. Look who dropped on by?' Jack said sarcastically, standing up and pointing to Dawson.
Doug smiled and looked up, his face turning to stone the minute he saw Dawson.
'Oh…'
'Oh indeed, you mind telling me what's going on here?' Jack said, snatching the papers from Doug's hand. They flew across the floor, revealing several gossip magazines, mostly because Jack loved them so much and had begged for them.
'I think it's pretty obvious,' Doug said dead pan, continuing into the kitchen.
'I came here to say that threatening me is one thing, but Joey is a completely other,'
'I thought I said to stay away from her!' Doug span around from the refrigerator and strode up to Dawson, grabbing him by the collar.
'I'll see who I damm well like Witter! It doesn't matter anyway. I'm leaving Gretchen.'
'You will get your ass back on a plane to Hollywood and make things better with her, do you understand me?'
'Hey guys…' Jack said, standing in the door way of the kitchen with one of the magazines.
'Another threat Sheriff, I think they might take your badge for that,' Dawson struggled to say under the pressure of Doug's arm.
'Hey guys!' Jack said louder this time, looking up and seeing that Doug had now pushed Dawson against the wall.
'You want to try it Leery…'
'HEY APEMEN!' Jack shouted loudly, causing both of them to spin around.
Jack was holding up a centre spread in the Gossip Week. On one side of the page were Dawson and Joey, laughing and joking by the riverside. Dawson realised quickly that they had been spied on.
But it was the other side of the page that caught his attention more readily. Shots of Gretchen, in the dress she was due to wear to the Spielberg premiere, checking into a hotel with one of the executives from the station that used to produce the creek.
And then one of them was of them kissing passionately.
'I think we can put each other down now, don't you?' Jack said firmly, laying the article down on the kitchen table and taking a seat.
Doug let go of Dawson quickly, taking a seat next to Jack and reading the article.
Till death do you part?
Hollywood's current golden couple seem to be ignoring the wedding vows they exchange almost 3 years ago at their luxury Hollywood Mansion. Speculation has been rife for weeks about Dawson Leery and his soul mate Joey Potter, who have appeared to rekindled their friendship. The two friends spent a lovely afternoon in their home town, getting to know each other again…
However, back in Hollywood, TV Minx Gretchen Leery was getting to know someone much more intimately. Seen checking into a hotel with The WAB executive Ira Lowenstein, the two were said to be 'all over each other like a rash…' by the hotel maid who took these exclusive shots. A close source said that the pair had been linked together for almost 2 years, a claim that has always been furiously denied by Lowenstein's camp.
After spending several hours in the penthouse suite at the Sheridan, the two emerged looking worse for wear. Leery, who had arrived in a stunning Versace gown she had worn hours earlier at a Hollywood function, left wearing the shirt Lowenstein arrived in and some casual slacks…
Doug face went white and he turned to Dawson, he too intently reading the article.
'Dawson..I'm so…'
'It's okay Doug. I kinda knew for a while there…'
'No, I mean I'm sorry for talking to you and Joey in that way…I've just had a lot…I can't…' he words became jumbled as he started to sob.
Both of the men were taken aback, not used to seeing him so upset.
'Doug, what the hell is going on? Is there something you're not telling me?'
'Doug?' Dawson said, rubbing the man's back as Jack pulled his face into his hands.
'Tell me Doug.' Jack said seriously, wiping the tears away from his face.
Doug took a deep breath and looked Jack in the eyes.
'About 3 months ago, when Gretchen came home for Christmas, she came to me and asked me to keep an eye on Joey Potter's movements for her. She said she was concerned about Dawson 'slipping into bad habits'. So I said no and that if she had a problem with Dawson seeing Joey, she should speak to him herself.'
'Okay, what else?'
'She said that she had thought I would say that and had found something I might want. She said she had found out where Amy's real father was and if I didn't help she would contact him. If I did help, she would give me his details to destroy,'
Dawson stood up and walked to the window, resting his head on the window frame. He couldn't believe she would do something that evil, that despicable.
Jack took Doug's face in his hands.
'And you didn't tell me?'
'I know you never want to talk about Jen or Amy's father and I didn't want to push it… I thought I could handle it,'
'Well, whoever Gretchen has lined up as Amy's father is either lying or imaginary. Neil died two years ago,'
'What? But you never…'
'I didn't say because I didn't think I had too. He was a nasty piece of work who ended up dying in a drink drive accident he caused himself. The only reason I found out was that the police found a cut out of Jen's obituary in his glove compartment with my name circled. But it's over… It's all over ,' Jack wrapped his arms around Doug, gripping onto him tightly. Holding him as close as he could.
'Daddy? Dada? What's wrong with them Unky Dawson?' Amy said, coming into the room.
'They were crying because they are so happy they have you butterfly,' Dawson said, picking the little girl up in his arms and brushing her golden locks away from her face.
'You lie! Why are they really crying?' She said with a lisp, her one eyebrow raised.
Dawson laughed and put her back on the floor, turning her around and patting her on the backside towards her dad's.
'I'm going to go. I have a new call to make to my lawyer now. I'm glad things are sorted now.' Dawson said, picking up the gossip page and leaving the room.
Now he had a real chance, a real chance of happiness….
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Gail heard the knock on the door loudly but was so engrossed at the article on Gretchen she was reading she kind of ignored it. She took a sip of her coffee and re read the section on Gretchen. Dawson had called her from his car and told her about it.
'I'm on the way to Joey's; I've got to get some sense into her,'
Gail had gone out at once and bought a copy.
'Well well, seems like someone isn't as much as an angel as we all thought she was.' She muttered under her breath, drinking her from her coffee once more.
The door went again.
'All right, I'm coming!' she yelled, marching through the house and swinging open the front door.
Standing on the other side was something she hadn't expected.
'Hi Mom!'
'Gretchen?'
