Deadman Walking

I watch him closely, as his expression and body language alters tragically. All of the brash courage, and warranted contempt that possessed him in a moment, slowly disintegrates. His eyes drop as he lets out a gravely sigh. What was a serious announcement, became a foundation for a hell storm that is without doubt inevitable. While taking two steps back, he observes his silent, and bewildered parents, only to fold his arms and regain his tough exterior. Even with his fathers intimidating glare, and his mothers tear filled eyes, it becomes obvious that though he feels pained by her anguish, he's not backing down.

"What are you doing Pacey?" Doug asks calmly, and walking forward.

"Don't--" Pacey begins aggravated. "Just…stay out of this okay?"

"Why are you doing this?" Mrs. Witter asks exasperated. "Do you really believe, that at seventeen, you're going to be able to make it out there on your own?"

" Well, I hadn't really though of it that way." He responds with a frustrated nod. "Listen, this isn't about you! Well you know come to think about it…" He taunts turning away.

"Oh, don't even try to turn this on us, you're the one with all the damn problems!" Mr. Witter says angrily.

"No you're the problem!" He shouts startling everyone in the room, including himself. The pain in his voice was apparent, as even Doug's expression grew mildly sympathetic. "Can't you see that?" He finishes in a whisper, as his breathing grows heavier, and he tries with ever ounce of his being to push back tears.

"Well, you know what Pacey?" Mr. Witter says harshly. "If you want to leave--go! Right now, get your things and get the hell out of here."

"John…."

"No, I'm just tryin' to save him some time." He says folding his arms. "The court hearing and whatnot…"

"Pacey, whatever's is wrong with you we could help you." His mother assures idealy.

"Oh, you mean like you helped me before?"

"What are you talking about?" She asks frustrated.

"Where's your lawyer?" John asks teasing.

"Shut up."

"What? What was that?" Mr. Witter asks coming closer.

"I said…shut up."

"And what if I don't?"

"Leave him alone John." Mrs. Witter says quietly.

"No I want to see what he can do." He says meeting him face to face. "Come on big shot…"

"Big shot?"

"Yeah, you all of a sudden think you're too good for this family after going to live with those-- fancy relatives and all that." He says chin up, looking Pacey up and down.

"Really?"

"Really."

"You know what…" He says with a dry laugh.

"I want you to listen--and listen close boy." Mr. Witter says quietly. "If you're gonna leave--do it. But I'll be goddamned if I go to court over you."

"How exactly does one…divorce their parents?" Doug asks curiously while slightly easing the tension.

"I'll see you in court." Pacey says hoarsley, and shoving past the intimidating figure as if he were paper thin.

"Pacey please…don't do this." Mrs. Witter implores.

"Mom--" He replies sorrowfully over his shoulder.

"Where's your lawyer?" The man interrupts raucously.

"I don't have to have a lawyer." He says still irritated, turning around after a two step progression up the stairs. "Let's just say I'm representing myself."

"Where's your evidence?" He asks folding his arms again.

"What--? What are you talking about?"

"Well now, there has to be some sort of evidence to convince the judge that you should be emancipated."

"So…"

"So, what are you gonna say? What have we done to you that is so bad, that you need a divorce? I mean besides putting a roof over your head, feeding, clothing, and feeding that big mouth of yours?"

"What world do you come from? Honestly?" Pacey questions in disbelief. "If your feeding, clothing, and quote 'feeding my big mouth' was actually apart of the issue, I would actually try to dignify that with a response."

"You just did." He says as if he's won the lottery.

"I'm sorry what?"

"You just did." He says walking over to him, his shoes thumping against the floorboards. "The factor of the matter is this, and only this. The law isn't gonna allow some snot nosed kid, to be legally emancipated without the parents consent, and or evidence of abuse…have your mother and I abused you without our knowledge?"

Pacey's focus is shattered, as he contemplates his fathers words.

"Enough!" Mrs. Witter shouts, as everyone's attention goes on her. "I've had enough dysfunction for one evening." She concludes uneasily, going to the kitchen.

"It's alright honey….he's not going anywhere." John Witter says somberly, as if it was to be the last word. "And that' all there is too it."

"Yeah, well we'll talk about this more later. Until then, dinners in forty minutes." She says fully leaving the room.

My attention drifts from her to Pacey, who's eyes are dead set on his humorless father, with his arms locked, lips squared, and a glare burning with such anger and despair that it unsettles even his deeply loathed adversary. Doug quickly steps in.

"Come on Pace, let's go for a walk…"He says surprisingly stepping in front of John Witter, not giving the man so much as an icy glare.

"Funny…"Pacey begins with the long suppressed tears stirring beneath his beautiful yet melancholy gaze. "I thought you wanted me gone." He concludes solemnly, as Mr. Witter's demeanor changes.

"Maybe you two should take a walk." He says gradually, then walking over to his recliner. "Maybe you could use some fresh air…"

"I'm sure that's all he needs." I say wryly, then finding my way over to Pacey and Doug.

"I was wondering when the second musketeer would be joining in." He says condescendingly, pissing me off beyond words. I suppose hitting him would cause some sort of commotion, but hey…It's be worth it.

"Will you be joining us Joey?" Doug asks knowingly.

"Yeah." I say with a sigh, throwing Mr. Witter a much ignored death stare. "Can we hurry…I heard evil is contagious."

My last words are a only whisper, since part of me remains that scared little girl who wonders what made the cold man so…cold. As we walk out the door Pacey's expression becomes upbeat.

"Like I said before--I'll see you in court." He says slamming the door. "Adios."

"Is what he said true?" I ask hugging myself, as the frozen wind hits my skin.

"Um, Dougie…?" He asks raising my irritation as he ignores my question.

"Who knows." Doug answers me, then turning his attention to Pacey. "What?" He asks sardonically.

"Can we make a stop on our little power walk?"

"Whatever you want little brother." He replies dryly with a sigh.

"Do you really want to be emancipated?" I ask trying to re-tread the subject matter, though I understand his measures.

"I just want to be considered a legal adult so I can go on with my life." He says distraughtly looking at me then ahead at the drive.

"Alright rebel without a cause….let's go." Doug says patting him on the shoulder then walking ahead.

"Yes, please." I say with a shiver, taking his hand.

"Let's." He says leaning on my shoulder as we head away.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The sky becomes as dark as night, as we silently tread the slippery roads. He suppresses yet another laugh as I continue to have trouble finding my footing. Minutes ago I almost slipped twice, much to his and Doug's amusement, and of course my annoyance. Turning on yet another street I can't help but want to ask who's bright idea it was to walk when it's below ten outside.

"I love walking in the freezing cold how about you Jo?"

"It's been a wonderful experience thus far."

"Alright, alright. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to walk, but hey at least we've gotten the chance to spend some quality time together."

"I always said you two would get along great." Pacey says ironically.

"I meant you an me smartass--"

"Yeah I know what you meant." He replies, his sentence falling on Doug's. "And it's you and I."

"Good to know you've been paying attention in school."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"I thought it was another brilliant addition the your acerbic repartee." I say with pleasure.

"That--" He begins. "And, I was just trying to bring to your attention that you're going to have to stay in…and finish school. I mean, that's just one of the many things you have to be doing for yourself, if you want any judge in the court room to believe that you can make it on your own."

"I'm not a complete imbecile man, you think I don't know that." He says peacefully, stopping in his tracks.

"And do you still have that job at the video store, because--"

"Doug!" He exclaims, his voice echoing to darkened sky.

A dead silence falls between them.

"Guys…" I say trying to gain their attention. "I'm freezing my fingers off over here."

"My mouth drops." Pacey says backing away. "You want me to stay…"

"Nope. I could care less what you do with your life--after all it's up to you to choose to ruin or not ruin It. Whichever comes first for you." He says folding his arms. "Unless you're bluffing….trying to freak 'em out you know."

"That's exactly what I'm trying to do." Pacey says with a heavy sigh. "Come here you." He says wrapping his arms around me.

"Much better." I say quietly, snuggling up in his coat.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll just be throwing up in a near off distance."

"This is so her body doesn't get so cold she develops a sudden case of narcolepsy, idiot."

"Right."

"You okay?" He asks me, as if I wouldn't be within his grasp.

"Yes." I whisper snuggling closer, as we begin to walk again.

"Still…get a room." He says with humorous beat in his voice.

Pacey just looks at me.

"Josephine?" He asks with a wink.

"Shut up." I say nudging him.

"Yeah we've already been there Dougie."

"Silence." I say narrowing my eyes.

"The Missus doesn't like me talking about our liaisons if you know what I mean." He says elbowing Doug.

"Please don't touch me."

"We're at Jen's." I say intentionally, walking up to the beautifully decorated house. "Who do you think decorated this?" I ask gleefully.

"Grams probably got Dawson or his dad to do it." Pacey says simply. "Speaking of the Leery's, don't you think we should hit up their place first?"

"No." I say numb.

"No?" He asks.

"No." I say trying to make him understand with a simple expression of devastating fear.

"Oh…"He says looking at me strangely, as his response seems quicker than his actual understanding of what I was implying. "Oh." He says finally with a light chuckle.

"Um, if we can enter some sort of heated environment soon…that would be just peachy." Doug says rubbing his hands together. "I mean unless it matters…does it?" He asks looking directly at Pacey.

"What do you think?" He responds in distress, suddenly seeming apprehensive to meet my eyes. "Just…knock."

Then…

"Pacey!" Jen exclaims the door swinging open.

"My goodness." He says grabbing her, and giving her a prolonged hug much to my discomfort.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you're back!" She says chuckling and backing away a little. "Let me look at you."

"I'm only slightly above average." He says with a smug smile.

"Of course you are." Jen says sweeping a bit of snow off his coat. "How come you didn't tell me he was back?"

"Me?" I ask the confused blonde.

"Yes, you." She says with a laugh, and awkward smile.

"Well, I just got back." He says raising a brow.

"It's…a long story." I say looking inside the warm house. "Could we…?"

"Oh, yeah." She says shrugging. "Go on in."

"Thank god." Dougs says hurrying inside.

"What he said." Pacey says following, then turning around. "Again…are you okay?"

"Yeah." I say absently, with a nod and semi-smile. "Let's just…go inside."

"Okay." He says taking my hand.

"Oh…" Jen coos happily.

"Shut up."

ooooooooooo

Alright so the chapter didn't go exactly as I'd planned, since my computer crashed and I ended up losing the orginal chap and all that jazz. So, this is kind of the first half of the pre-finale chapter and hopefully( if I don't have so many problems with my sucky computer) I can come back with an update. Now that we're caught up:D Thanks for reading and reviewing especially the last chap you guys are awesome:D Literally made. my. week.

So this chap is truly TBC lol, be back a.s.a.p.