The Unseen Obstacle CH. 14
I Disclaim
One week ago
"Yeah, I understand, just have fun with Bodie and his family, I miss you too, and god knows I love you." Doug listened to Joey's quiet declaration of love, and felt his chest tighten. "Okay Bye." He closed his cell phone and looked at the house.
He had grown up there, but it had never really felt like home, just a place to be till he made his own home.
"Well, Deputy Dougie, how goes life on the down low."
"Not now Pacey." Doug said as he left the car, and followed the garden path to the front door. "Come on we'll be late for dinner."
"Why are you in a hurry for dinner, these past few months you've barely shown up?"
"Yeah well this dinner is special." He said opening the door and stepping aside letting his younger brother in first.
"Why?"
"Because it is."
"What?"
"Wait till dinner Pacey."
"Come on Joey, it's not that bad." Bessie looked over at her sulking sister." You love Bodie's family."
"I know, I just wished you would have asked me before you volunteered my Sunday to go see them, I could have had plans."
"Really." Her sister gives her a sideway glance." Well I guess that's true, but I haven't seen you in a while, we just seem to past each other in the house and say hi." She took one hand of the steering and grabbed Joey's." I miss my little sister, every time I look it seems like you're different."
"That's silly Bessie, I haven't changed."
"Maybe." The older woman shrugged her shoulders." Maybe not, but soon you'll be off to California, and I'll miss you I have to steal this moments when I can."
"Bessie nothing is set in stone." Joey began fidgeting in her seat, the path of this conversation was making her nervous. She hadn't even told Doug about the letter, they hadn't really had a chance to talk since the first time they made love. Not that she was complaining." I didn't accept."
"What are you talking about of course you're going to accept. It's Stanford."
"I know its Stanford."
"It's a full ride at Stanford."
"So it's also on the other side of the continent, did you ever consider that I was eager to leave Capeside but not the state. There are excellent schools much closer to home then Stanford, Boston College, Worthington, Tufts."
"Yeah but so far they're not offering you a free ride."
"Yeah, well I think I'd like to keep my options open."
"It's not worth it you know."
Joey detected a tone in her sisters voice, and glance in her direction and for a moment their gazes met, and left the younger girl with a strange feeling. "What's not worth it?"
"Whatever you would allow to come between you and your dreams, dreams that you had for a very long time, dream that you've worked hard for Jo, it's not worth it."
"Look Yoda, I don't know what you're talking about, but like I said I'm keeping my options open."
"Fine, but just remember what I said."
John walked in the living room and caught his son eye, motioning for the kitchen, he walked ahead, locked the door when Doug followed him in. "I noticed you got a letter from the Feds today."
"Yeah just some offer for Homeland Security training, that I'd apply for a while back."
"Uh huh, and you're accepting correct?"
"Well I don't know." Doug had been sure he wanted to go gain some experience, and then he had been sitting in the living room looking at all the family pictures. He wanted pictures like that along his wall photos along the wall of him and Joey and their family. "I really don't think now is the time, things are getting pretty busy at the station."
"You should go."
"Dad…"
"You know I like those Potter girls." John sat down at the kitchen table and eyed his son. "Mike Potter was trash, Lily was too good for the him, and he didn't deserve to have such good girls." "Bessie was a mess as a teenager, but then she was still under Mike's 'care', but the second he was gone she became the kind of woman she was meant to be, and Joey…." He shook his head and grinned." Well I think we all know that Joey we go much further then any of us expected and that's saying something."
"Dad…"
"I'm not stupid Douglas, and I'm not blind." " I've seen that look before , I know what it means, and I wish I could say I blamed you for it, but the truth of the matters is I was young once too and I saw a girl just like yours." "She was born for greater things then just some small town deputy, and I knew it so I let her go."
"And what happened?" Doug looked at his father seeing a new man, now the hard man he grew up with, but some guy he could have run into in a bar that just had a similar story. "I mean I know what happened to you, but what about the girl?"
"She ran into someone not as noble and concerned about her future as I was, she got in trouble had to get married, and she ended up working as waitress supporting the loser she married, till she died of cancer and a broken heart."
Doug's head shot up and blue eyes meet blue eyes. "Lillian Potter?"
"When I met her she was Lillian Taylor." John stood placed a hand on his son's shoulder." I know from that story you'd think that I'd encourage you to go after Joey, but Lillian's death and Mike's arrest has made Joey three times as strong at Lillian ever was, she won't fail and she won't compromise on her dream, and if you keep her here she grow to hate you, just like in those last years Lillian hated Mike." " Go to Quantico Douglas, come back home and start that life you were meant to live and let her so the same, the pain won't always be this strong, and good things can come out it."
"Dad?" John stopped at the door and turned back." You don't regret it?"
"If had done what I wanted you and brother and sisters wouldn't be here and neither would Bessie or Joey, and I think I made the right decision and I think you will too."
One hour later
"Good dinner Ma." Pacey said as he threw his napkin down.
"Yes it was a wonderful dinner, Mom."
"Thank you boys."
"Ah I have some news." Doug started meeting his father's eyes. " I was accepted into a training program for the FBI , so tonight I'm heading down to Virginia, I'll be gone for a couple of months maybe longer."
"Well good for you Deputy Dougie."
"I'm so proud of you Douglas." His mother said she leant over the table and kissed his cheek, before beginning to clear the table.
John Witter took a sip of his beer and eyed his oldest, pride and sadness sparkled in his eyes." Good Job Douglas."
'One of these days' He thought, one of these days, a Witter was going to get a Taylor woman and keep her. He stood and stuck out his hand and shook his oldest hands. "I'm sure you'll make us proud."
"Thanks." Doug looked over at Pacey, and noticed the wistful look in his eyes as he Dad left the room, not even speaking to Pacey." Pacey, can I see you outside for a minute."
"Sure." Pacey followed his brother out, and stood next to him at the police cruiser. "Is this the try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone speech?"
"No." Doug moved to stand in front of him and looked him in the eye." This is the I need a favor question."
"You need a favor from me?" He scoffed and started chuckling at the thought." Okay I'll bite, what do you need?"
"I need you to watch out for Joey for me."
Pacey stopped leaning on the car and looked at his brother strangely." What why I look after Joey for you, since when do you and Joey run in the same circles?"
"Since we started seeing each other about five months ago, since I love her and this will break her heart."
"You and Joey?" At Doug's nod, Pacey lost his cool, and swung out at his brother catching him on the jaw, before he regrouped and slammed his fist in his stomach." You Bastard."
"PACEY." John ran out the house just in time to Pacey from kick his kneeling brother. "Stop it now."
"Stay out this Dad." Pacey struggled against his fathers hold." Trust me he deserves it."
"Stop it." John held Pacey in a chokehold, and motioned to Doug. "Go now Doug."
Doug nodded and got in the car, and looked at Pacey." Tell her I'm sorry."
John didn't let Pacey go till he was sure Dou was gone, and then he turns to his youngest." He's doing what's right Pacey, now I suggest you go do what he asked."
Meanwhile two hours away Joey Potter was sitting in Bodie's childhood home suddenly feeling all alone and had no reason why.