Pacey shook his head back and forth on the pillow and a groan passed his lips without knowing to suppress it. His eyes opened and took in a bright white room. He forced them closed immediately and licked at his dry lips. He heard someone reach for something next to him and then the pouring of water.
"Here, Pace. Drink this."
He recognised the soft tone to be Joey's. He barely managed a smile and turned to her, reaching up from under the many sheets to bring a hand to his forehead in a bid to shield his eyes. For the past two days his world had been used to darkness, and he didn't know what he was waking up to. He was also heavily sedated and therefore extremely disorientated.
He heard more voices and turned sharply to the left side of the bed. His hand reflexively shot to his neck and he massaged himself.
"You're in hospital," Jack informed gently. He nodded, concluding as much. Unless of course his bedroom transformed itself and aftermaths of nightmares were becoming a hell of a lot more physical these days.
"I'm so sorry, son." Mitch melted quickly, affectionately.
Pacey wasn't quite sure what was meant by this, but he smiled that all was forgiven nonetheless. He tried to talk but his voice was hoarse and he choked. Joey gestured towards the plasic beaker in her hand and he took it from her shakily. Half of its contents were spilled down his front but he refused to have anyone hold it for him. He did, however, settle on the straw Jen offered him. He felt completely humiliated.
"Where's my family?" He asked finally, addressing Joey, Dawson and Jen but staring up at Bessie, Bodie, Mitch, Gale and Evelyn who were all piled into the small hospital room together.
Gale reached for his hand, "It's nothing like that, honey." Dawson watched this from his seat, but said nothing, "They hadn't left your bedside since the accident."
"We told them to go home, get some sleep," Grams added, Pacey doubted this but didn't persist. "Anyway, dear, you're probably tired too. I'm sure it's best if we leave you to it. I'll go get the nurse, let her know you came to."
"No, don't do that!" Pacey pleaded softly, catching Joey's wrist, begging her to sit in. "Please."
Joey's resolve melted and she nodded at the rest of the visitors. They patted Pacey's arm or gave him gentle kisses on the cheek on leaving. They couldn't do much else for fear of 'breaking' him. His head was bandaged and although he was unaware, they had been told he would be wheelchair bound probably into his adulthood if not for life.