Note: Thanks elwoodluver00034, superfan24, FL twin, snowbell101, for the nice feedback.
Note2: I have no idea how long high tide and low tide last so I'm just gonna pretend that only just now the tides are shifting again.
Chapter 9
"I think we're almost there" Jack said to grams when he checked the map for their position.
The sun shined in a almost clear sky and there was a medium breeze blowing, perfect weather for sailing. "There is the cove" Grams said to Jack seeing the land opening northwest from them.
"I see it" Jack replied and then continued to steer the True Love into the cove.
Once inside Jack said "There, near those rocks, there is an opening. I'm going to drop anchor and check it out. You stay by the boat, and get some blankets read for when I get back." Jack told Grams.
"Alright Jack, be careful." Mrs. Ryan told the young man in front of her.
"I will be, just hopefully picking up a friend." Jack said to her then went to work dropping the anchor and making sure everything was secure on the True Love before giving Mrs. Ryan one last smile and diving into the cool salty water of the sea.
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"You think they'll find him out there?" Andie asked Jen as they sat just outside Joey's room.
"Truthfully?" Jen asked and Andie nodded. "I really don't know, the whole things seems so weird to me, to dream about where the guy you love is…it's very strange and it could be delusions of wishful thinking like the doctor said. But I don't know, I have this feelings you know I'm afraid to believe it, afraid to have hope that he might actually be out there. Alive."
"I know what you mean, I mean Joey's problem could be just medical like mine were but if it were then why sent Jack and your grandmother all the way out to sea. Why not just say you see them here around you. It sounds weird and maybe even crazy but I have a feeling she could be right about this." Andie replied, then added "Maybe we should go to the chapel, you know. If it is true it might help."
Jen thought for a minute "Maybe" she said finally then quickly added "but what about Joey? We can't just leave her here unguarded. What if Dawson shows up?"
"Maybe one of us should stay here while the other goes to the chapel and then when one of us returns the other can go." Andie suggested.
Jen looked doubtful "Andie if one of us is alone when Dawson shows up. Do you really think that we'd be able to stop him alone?"
"Dawson wouldn't hurt us" Andie said to her.
"He hurt Pacey, I have a feeling he'd do anything to get Joey. Including hurt one of us." Jen replied.
"Look Jen, we're in a hospital, there is just no way he would try anything here. Besides we don't even know for sure Dawson did something to Pacey this time." Andie argued. "and if he does try anything I'm pretty sure you or me can scream loud enough to get the entire hospital staff here in no time." She added.
Jen still looked unsure "I don't know, I mean what good is praying going to do anyways?"
"You know what good prayer can do or you wouldn't have agreed to go to the chapel." Andie said to Jen.
"Fine, alright. but be quick about it. So we can go back to both guarding her room." Jen gave in.
Andie smiled victorious "Alright I'll be back as soon as I can."
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The water was cold and he could barely see what was in front of him as he swam under water through the cave. 'Joey had better be right about this, because if there isn't air in this cave ahead I am going to have to turn back.' Jack Mcphee thought to himself then suddenly he could see a place to get some air before going on ahead. He swam to it and gasped for air as he came up. "PACEY!" he yelled through the cave hoping his friend was in here and that he could hear him.
'I'm so tired, I just can't continue anymore. Please Jo, don't be mad. I just can't…' Pacey thought and felt himself slip into an unconscious state as he was about to go under water he heard his name being called by a familiar voice. He fought again and used his aching muscles of his arms and legs to keep his head above water. He wondered if he had imagined it, like he had imagined Joey's voice what felt like hours earlier.
"Pacey!" Jack yelled again and listened carefully to any sign that the young Witter might be here.
'There is was again' Pacey thought but this time he recognized the voice. Jack, Joey had sent Jack to save him. He hadn't imagined it. Joey had heard him and talked to him. "Jack!" his hoarse voice cracked out. The hope of being saved giving him newfound strength to hold on just a little longer "JACK!" he tried again his throat hurting as he yelled as loud as he could.
'Did I just heard something or…there it is again. It's Pacey, it has to be!' "Hold on Pace! I'm coming!" Jack yelled diving under water again and swimming furiously ahead.
After about a minute Jack spotted a dark figure in the dark water. He shone his flashlight at it and recognized the figure as human. 'has to be Pacey' Jack thought just before he resurfaced.
"Jack" Pacey said relieved to see his friend come up.
"Pacey, thank God. You ok?" Jack said smiling as he flashed his flashlight at the dark and heavy looking chains on Pacey's hands and feet.
Pacey chuckled slightly at that "Tired, my arms and legs feel like lead. You think you can do something about these chains?"
Jack smiled, "sure thing Pace, hold on." Jack told him as he grabbed a large tang and placed it on the chain. After lots of squeezing the tang on the chain Jack managed to cut all four chains.
Jack dropped the tool to the ground and swam next to Pacey. "Thanks" Pacey said to him.
"Anytime, just don't make a habit about getting caught and locked up in a cave filled with ice cold water." Jack said to him smiling. "Put your arm around me. I'm going to get us out of here. Grams must be worried about what's taking so long"
"Grams is here?" Pacey asked.
"Yeah, she's on your boat, that's how we got here. Dawson put you in a cave in the cove where you used to play with each other." Jack said to him. "The doctors wouldn't let Joey go-" Jack started at Pacey's alarmed face Jack smiled "don't worry, she just fainted from all the stress. She's fine, Jen and Andie are watching over her in case Dawson decides to show up."
Pacey let out a breath of air, 'Thank you whoever or whatever, for watching over her.' He thought then looked at Jack again "Ok, let's do this." Jack nodded and they went under water Jack mostly pulling a tired Pacey along.
"What is taking him?" Mrs. Ryan exclaimed worriedly then let out a breath of relief when she saw Jack rise above water with a figure along. She quickly threw them a rope and began to pull them in, (lol Grams power). Once they reached the True Love she helped them aboard.
After wrapping them both in a thick blanket she hugged first Jack then Pacey, "Thank the Lord"
Jack smiled "Let's go home, there is a certain girl who will kill me if I don't get you top her ASAP."
Pacey smiled as Grams examined his wrists, heartbeat, etc.
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Jen walked into the chapel, it was silent here, and only one old woman there, but cozy for some reason. She sat in a bench and looked up the cross with Jesus on it and started to pray.
'hey God, it's been a while since I talked to you. I don't even know if you can hear me or not. I'm just hoping you can. One of my best friends might be out there, alone, cold, tired. You can't take him just yet. He has an entire life he has to live first. Joey, she loves him, needs him, I love him too, in a different way yes but I love him and I need him. And then there is Andie, Jack…even grams and Doug. Even though he pretends to not care about his brother I could see tonight he cares deeply about him. But he refuses to let anyone comfort him because he feels responsible for what he thinks is Pacey's death. It was his gun the guy had in his hand but now talking here like this with you I'm not that afraid to hope that that isn't Pacey. Doug is scared of hoping, feels like he doesn't deserve to. And I have no idea why I'm rambling about Douglas Witter when I should be rambling about Pacey and…' Jen stopped her thinking when she felt a chill run over her back. And then there was a voice in her head "Joey" scared Jen shot up and looked around. The old woman was gone and there was no one to be seen. Not standing around fear for Joey clutching her heart she ran out and back towards Joey's room.
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"Hey Andie" Dawson said as he came walking up to her carefully "how is she?"
Andie gasped a bit scared but not exactly knowing what to do, she quickly got a grip of herself and said "Dawson, you shouldn't be here."
"No I should, she's my soul mate. If anyone shouldn't be here it's you trying to keep us apart." Dawons' angry voice said.
Andie gulped fear running through her now seeing in his eyes what the others got glimpses off. The insanity, the delusions, "I'll scream" she said to him and Dawson just smiled.
"No you won't" he said and before Andie could do anything a fist hit her face and everything went dark.
Dawson smiled and grabbed her arms dragging her inside Joey's room where he dropped her when he saw Joey sleeping. He saw on her chart she'd been given a sedative, which would make his plan all the more easy.
"ANDIE!" Dawson heard Jen's voice just outside in the hallway.
'How could she possibly know?' Dawson thought to himself. As he gathered Joey in his arms, and looked out the window, the were on the third floor.
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"Jen? What's wrong where is Andie?" Doug's asked as he came running up to Joey's door.
"Doug, I thought you went home… never mind that. It's Joey, she's in trouble." Jen said about to open the door when Doug grabbed her hand and pulled it back. "Doug!" Jen yelled at him not understanding why he wasn't helping her but stopping her.
Douglas Witter drew his gun, "I don't know how you kids keep finding out stuff you have no way of knowing but if you're right I'm going in first." Doug said to her and then kicked the door in. "Freeze, Capeside police." He said his gun pointed at Dawson.
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Dawson smiled "Deputy Doug, what a nice surprise" he was holding a knife to Joey's throat.
"It's over Dawson, drop the knife and give yourself up." Doug told him.
Joey stirred, she heard voices and blinked her eyes adjusting to the light. She felt something cold pressed against her throat, something sharp, she didn't like it. That hand, that awful film smell, "Dawson let me go this instant!" she screamed.
"Ahh, you're awake my love. Just in time to see us leaving." Dawson said to her.
"You're not going anywhere Dawson" Jen said as she was crouching with an unconscious Andie, trying to get her to wake up.
Andie stirred "Dawson!" she suddenly yelled bolting upright.
"We know" Jen told Andie as Andie saw the scene before her.
"Let her go Dawson and I might just spare your miserable life" a new voice said in a threatening tone.
"It's not possible, you're dead" Dawson said in shock of seeing his former best friend standing alive and…well a bit pale and looking exhausted. But alive and looking no less threatening.
Joey took her chance and bit down hard on Dawson's hand making him drop the knife. "Bitch!" Dawson said punching her hard with his unhurt hand.
The next thing everybody knew was that Joey was free from Dawson, whom was lying on the ground with Pacey on top of him strangling him.
"Pacey, let him go." Doug Witter said to his little brother, even though part of him wanted to see Dawson dead as badly as Pacey wanted.
"No, he's going to pay for what he did." Pacey replied.
Meanwhile, Grams and Jack had gathered themselves along with some doctors and nurses in Joey's room as well.
"Pacey" Joey said, it was the first word she'd spoken to him, not counting the vision, since they said goodbye and he went back to Doug's.
Turning his head he looked at her desperation in his eyes "I have to Jo, I can't let him hurt us again. I can't…" tears were rolling down his cheek and Joey could see in his eyes that this was killing him. He didn't want to kill anyone but the pain and betrayal were forcing him to do so. He heart broke to see him like this and she got out the bed and pulled him off Dawson in her arms "shh, it's ok" she said to him feeling her own resolve break down and hot tears falling from her cheek unto his back.
Meanwhile Dawson took his chance leaping up and having found his knife he was about to ran it through Pacey's back when a shot could be heard. Pacey and Joey broke away from each other just far enough to see a Dawson trying to remain standing, a knife clattered unto the floor and they could see blood coming out of a wound in his chest. They then saw Doug's gun smoke and realized Doug had just shot Dawson. Doctors and nurses immediately went into action running over to the fallen blonde boy and attending to him.
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The next day, during visiting hours, the whole gang was gathered in Joey's and Pacey's room, whom had insisted to be in a her room if he had to stay. Bessie, Doug, Jen, Jack, Andie, Mrs. Ryan, even Mr. and Mrs. Witter were there.
"So when I heard the True Love radio in that they had found my little brother alive, I quickly drove to the docks and when they got back drove everyone to the hospital and then decided to check on Joey when I heard Jen screaming Andie." Doug told everyone.
"I told you two to guard Joey's door, not alone. Where did you go anyways?" Jack asked.
"Well we wanted to do something that might help you find Pacey, alive. So I convinced Jen that maybe we should go to the chapel and pray." Andie told the group and smiled at Mrs. Ryan's happy look.
"Well I didn't think it would help but I was willing to give it a shot, you never know. I mean I had this feeling Joey's dream could be a vision but I was afraid to really believe it. Just like Douggie here" she said smirking at him before continuing "I guess I hoped that praying would somehow make it real. I hoped I would get some sort of sign it was real. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I heard this voice saying Joey's name and I just knew she was in danger so I ran back yelling Andie's name."
"You see now, Jennifer. The lord gave you a sign, he hasn't given up on you." Mrs. Ryan said to her granddaughter.
"Maybe, but don't expect me to go all catholic now. I love you and everything but that's just not me." Jen told her grandmother.
"When Doug didn't return to reassure Pacey Joey was ok he suddenly jumped up when he was about to be examined and sprinted off. Not asking for any of the doctors or nurses or Mrs. Ryan or me to check on it but just running off without a word." Jack told the others.
"Well I was worried about my girl" Pacey defended himself as he squeezed her hand briefly. After the nurses left Joey had insisted that he would sleep with her in her bed, who was he to protest?
"Be lucky you weren't in my shoes honey, this is the second time I had to deal with the possibility of you dead. I hope you can leave it at that, at least till I'm 40 or something." Joey said to him.
Pacey smiled "I'll try." He kissed her hand before laying it back on her stomach, since she was sitting between his legs leaning against his chest while his arms were wrapped around her.
"I'm very proud on how you handled yourself son" John Witter said to his son smiling slightly.
Pacey smiled, "thanks dad" he looked down at Joey "so am I, because I still got the girl."
Joey smirked at him "I would hit you Witter but since we're in the hospital I'll let this one slip."
"Oh come on Jo, admit it, you love me." Pacey said smirking.
"God knows why" she replied rolling her eyes but everyone could see the amused smiled on her face.
"Well at least Dawson won't be a problem anymore." Bessie said.
"Yeah, he's survived surgery but once he's cleared to leave the hospital they have a nice and comfy cell awaiting for him. He's being charged with murder, kidnapping, attempt to murder and arsenal." Doug told the group.
"I for one am glad we won't have to sit through another Spielberg movie, think about it guys, no more seeing E.T." Pacey said causing the group to laugh.
I hope you enjoyed that, the epilogue is next. Which is coming right up after this chapter.
