The Unseen Obstacle

I disclaim

Well, I've been lurking for a while now and decided to come out of hiding. I've written fics before but this is my first DC Fic, because I watched DC off and on I'm not entire sure of what happens and when, so for that purpose it's an AU fic. I apologize in advance for typos and spelling errors, I still can't seem to catch them all. This fic starts during junior year months after Joey offered herself to Dawson.

He found her at the end of her dock, just staring out at the water.

He expected there to be tears or anger, but she just stared out at the water , no crying or shaking, not even moving only the slightest twitch showed that she was breathing.

"Go away Pacey."

"Come on Potter, it's been a while since you and I had a knock down drag out, don't tell me you weren't expecting me."

She turned and gave him a half glare, they both knew the truth, he was trying to distract her and she was letting him. "Well Jailbait, with an offer like that, how can I refuse?"

He gave her classic grin, and shrugged." You can't, Ice Queen, it's not in your nature."

Seeing her turn toward him, he silently cheered, Joey Potter facing him head he could handle, she would glare and sneer, but she wouldn't cry, Joey Potter didn't cry not in public not where people could see her. The knowledge thrilled him to no end, because just as Joey Potter didn't cry, Pacey Witter couldn't stand to see her cry. He had only seen it once, but feeling the tears run down his shirt as she cried about her mother's death still gutted him each and every time he remembered it.

"So how is life Pacey, I haven't seen around much."

"Oh you know me Josephine."

"Yeah, I do so what have you been doing seducing teachers, stealing your dad's cruiser, various other acts of stupidity and self-destructive behavior."

"Of course what else is there to do in this town?"

"That's true, so sad and yet so true."

The tone caught him, and he gave her a sharp glance, that wasn't sarcasm, that was sad resignation, and entirely too close to self-pity for Pacey's liking. "Well don't sound so heartbroken Potter, you won't be here much longer, pretty soon you'll be gloating over your exciting life to me over the phone from some Ivy League school, while I'm on my lunch break from the gas station."

"Pacey stop." She looked at him, and he drew in a ragged breath, she was breaking they both knew it; she couldn't keep up the charade it was too much on top of everything else.

"I'm curious, which one of my exes sent you to keep me from jumping, your best friend or your brother?"

"Doug."

She nodded and looked away wiping a tear away from her cheek. "Yeah well let Doug know that I'm fine, thanks for the save Pacey, but I'm not doing anything stupid, or in this case anything else stupid." She gave a bitter smile." I think I reached my quota for my teen years, and other acts of stupidity will have to be postponed till my twenties."

"Joey he…"

"He what Pacey?" She turned back to stare at the water." He's sorry, he's confused, he's just doesn't care what, what is his excuse for this." She gave him a sad smile." I think we both know now he's not gay."

" Joey what do you want him to do, you're seventeen , he's a cop , he's friends with your sister, he's my big brother, I mean Christ Potter, there are so many reason for why this never should have gotten as far as it did, I don't know what you expected him to do."

"See that's just the thing, Pacey." She met his eyes, and she knew he could see the remnants of the tears she had fought." I knew it wouldn't last, that it was a bad hell…disastrous idea, and I could have dealt with the end of a one sided crush, or a one night stand, but …." She took a deep breath and he could tell that she was fighting to keep emotions in check. "But what I can't forgive, is months of clandestine romantic evenings, declarations of love, and promises of a future ended with a short email, before he slinks away in the middle of the night."

"Joey." Pacey moved behind her and took her into his arms, hugging her tightly, not at all surprised when she returned the embrace. "I don't think Doug knows what he doing anymore then the rest of us, he just needs time, some room to think, he could show up in a week and realize the incompetence of this move and want to honor all those promises."

"I won't care." She pushed herself out of his arms and walked toward the edge of the pier, before turning to look back at him." I think I've reached my limit of heartache for a lifetime, I'm done , I was doing fine before I ever starting getting involved with guys and using words like 'love' and 'soul mate'." "I'm actually starting to see why Dawson just stays trapped in his little world of E.T. and other perfect movie moments, it's less painful."

"So what, you're going to back to pining after Dawson?"

" Please grant me some credit, I said I'd reached my limit, not I fell and hit my head, I don't think opposite of never loving again is being trapped as the heroine in Dawson's little true life movie."

"So what then?"

"So nothing, I'm out, I'm not waiting for Doug or Dawson, or any other white knight to save me from whatever is out there, I think I did okay when I was alone and didn't care about being alone."

Pacey nodded and gave her a condensing look." So you're regressing to pre puberty when you thought boys had cooties, yeah that's healthy."

"Hey when you can date someone that's not twenty years your senior or on Prozac, then you can judge my life."

"Damn it Jo, I'm trying to help you here."

"Then be Pacey, annoy me, aggravate me, hurl almost witty insults, but …" She moved toward him stopping just inches away from him." But don't pity me, don't try to give me hope, and try to change my mind."

"Joey…." She laid a finger to hip lips t prevent him from talking.

"Have I ever stopped you from doing something you wanted, from doing something you felt you needed to do?" He shook his head. "Then don't stop me." She raised herself up on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek." Thank you for coming, you didn't have to but you did, and I appreciate that, you're a good friend."

"It wasn't a problem; I am your friend Jo."

"I know, so I'm going to ask you to do something else for me, can you do that?"

"Anything."

" Don't ever mention this again, not just this conversation, but this whole thing with Doug, not ever to anyone , I'm wiping the slate clean, and these past few months with him didn't happen, let him know, that as far as I'm concerned he's just Deputy Doug, I pass him on the street and his gets a small nod."

"Okay, but I think he love…."

Joey shook her head to stop his words." No he didn't because I'm just his little brother's friend Joey Potter sister of his friend Bessie and out side of that is nothing." He nodded but she saw the concern in his eyes. "Come on Pacey, tonight is a bad night, but tomorrow it'll be better, I'll be better."

Well there you have it, next chapter will give you guys a look at the Doug/Joey relationship.