The Unseen Obstacle

I disclaim

She felt slightly better, which was strange considering she had been dealing with Pacey, but even stranger is that each time she had a run in with Pacey after a momentous event that she feared would ruin her, she always felt better.

It was odd that he was the one comforting her over this, when the very same act with the other Witter was what stared her doomed romance in the first place.

Six Months Ago

"Well Mom, I really wish you hadn't been so closed mouthed about who you thought I'd end up with." Joey sank down on the ground by her mother's tombstone." I mean you told Bessie that you thought Bodie was her one and only, but for me … nothing, just some vague 'right under your nose, dear' and those aggravating knowing looks."

"I could have used a bigger hint, I know I was supposed to be the brains of the family, by geez initials or a description would have helped." She closed her eyes and began to relive the humiliation if her love life. The weird kiss from Pacey, her first kiss with Dawson, her lust educed make outs with Jack, to the even more humiliating offering to Dawson just hours before." I really don't like trying to figure this out on my own, in this area of life, I'm hopeless I just don't get it, If it's not Dawson then who?"

"Why did you even have to tell me anything at all, if you had just let me keep thinking that boys were gross I wouldn't have these problems?"

She moved a piece of hair behind her ear, and just stared out at the dark night, and sighed. " Maybe it's me, maybe you were wrong and I wasn't suppose to meet my prince charming, maybe I destined to be just Aunt Joey, that become successful but remains alone gaining satisfaction from her work and getting all my maternal instincts out by spoiling Alex or getting a cat."

The thought that her life could be reduced to her being the old lady in the house full of cats caused a shiver to run down her spine. "Or maybe it's just Dawson." She turned to look at her mothers name, and keep talking as f she was looking at Lily Potter instead of a piece of granite stone" I'm really starting to think that's there is something wrong with that boy, I mean what teenage boy passes up a half naked girl offering sex, it just doesn't make sense."

CRACK

The sound made Joey jump up and began searching the area; suddenly sorry she decided to have a late night talk with her mother."Who's out there?"

"Joey?" A deep voice called back out.

The voice sounded familiar it reminded her of Pacey, but a bit more mature, which only left one answer." Doug?"

A flashlight's beam was suddenly in her face, and action confirmed it, only Deputy Doug would blind someone with a flashlight." Okay Doug, I get it you have a cool flashlight, want to stop blinding me with it."

The beam of light drops off her face, and as he stepped into the moonlight she saw that it was indeed Deputy Doug Witter. "Josephine Potter."

"Doug no one calls me that, not even my elders."

He stepped further into the moonlight and gave her an annoyed smirk." This is official Josephine, I'm looking into a trespassing charge, and you do know that the cemetery closes at dusk?"

"If it was closed then why is the gate open and has been open for the past two years."

Doug gave an impatient sigh and rolled his eyes." Be that as it may, the cemetery has operating hours which you are in violation of, thus you are trespassing."

"Doug are actually going to arrest me for visiting my mother's grave or is this some power trip?"

"You know Joey, I'm quite aware of how you and Pacey and the rest of your little friends view me, but a little modicum of respect would go a long way, I am after all an officer of the law."

Hearing the hurt in Doug's voice made Joey wince, she was aware that after years of listening to both Pacey and Bessie, that she never really considered Doug an actual authority figure, but he was right, and in truth when you disregarded all of Pacey's little quips Doug was good at his job. "You're right, I'm sorry Dou… Deputy Witter."

It was the Witter that did it; Joey had called him Deputy Doug before, but as with most things it had come out in a mocking tone, but this 'Deputy Witter' actually sounded sincere. Potters were never sincere; both sisters had been born with sarcastic comebacks and glared at the doctor that slapped their butts.

And suddenly things became clearer to the young deputy, Joey was in the cemetery after hours all alone by her mother's grave, and though she wasn't now he clearly saw that her eyes were red and puffy, a sure sign of tears.
" Joey, are you okay? "

"Yeah I'm fine."

Doug squinted as his looked at her, not really believing her, just as they were sarcastic they were also magnets for trouble and mayhem, they were never fine. "Really, cause I can just as soon call my brother and find out what happened or better yet put in a call to Bessie." He reached inside his pocket for his cell phone and began dialing, it didn't matter which person he called he was pretty sure that Joey wasn't going to let him finish the call, and sure enough before he hadn't even gotten to the last four digits a small hand closed over his. "Is fine, you're final answer."

Joey glared at him, he really was just as annoying as Pacey, if not more so." No big deal Doug, I had a bad night, just another embarrassing teenage moment, nothing to go tattling to my sister about."

The man nodded, and seemed placated, after all he had been a teenager not long ago, and he had too many embarrassing moments to count, some involving her older sister. "Yeah well that I can understand, okay come on, I'll take you home."

"That's not necessary Doug I can walk." To prove her point, she begins walking toward the exit, when she feels his hand on her arm lightly restraining her.

" You could if it wasn't late at night and your home was less then a mile a way, but you won't , so come on little Potter." He began walking off toward his cruiser parker outside the gate assuming that Joey was following behind him.

"You know you really are just as annoying as your brother." Joey said as she did in fact follow behind him.

"Why thank you Josephine."

"Can we ride in silence?" She asked glaring at him over the hood of the car, a strong look of dislike turned her eyes a dark brown.

"Sure thing Josephine." Doug smirked as he settled into his cruiser, and waited as Joey did the same, and for the first time realized why his brother Pacey, spent so much time, bothering the youngest Potter, cause it was fun.

Well I normally try to finish a fic in twenty chapters but, I usually end up somewhere near forty, so I hope you guys enjoy it, cause the voices in my head won't shut up.

And I'd like to thank my supporters; A droplet of Jupiter, BarbMack, and I8jaffas.