A/N: Sorry you guys my server has been done for the past few days so I couldn't post but thank you too greenfrog for your review. The rest of you guys I don't know what happened to you? Is anyone still reading let me know. The more reviews I get the faster I update so guys let me know if you like it otherwise I won't continue.
When you need me I'll come running
Dawson opened the front door. "Hello" He said. "Dawson hey" Jen said kissing him.(note Dawson spent sometime in LA but returned to cape side and currently was a film teacher at the high school and is also currently dating Jen who had moved back to capeside after grams had passed a year ago). "So how is everything you guys ate yet?" He said. "I ordered a pizza it should be here in a few minutes. How's Pacey?" She said.
"He's messed up right now" He said. "I called Andie but she can't fly she is in her third trimester. Jack can't make it either he's at some meeting in Colorado" she said. "Great the only one missing is Joey" He said. "Not exactly" Marissa said from behind them. "What do you mean?" Dawson said. "I know where to find her." Marissa said. "But how?" Jen said confused. "Long story short she's my guidance counselor at school and Pacey went to a meeting not realizing it was her and he found Joey" She said.
"Wow" Dawson said. "So does she know about this?" Jen said. "No but I called Ryan and he's going to tell her tomorrow at school" Marissa said. "Ryan?" He said. "Her boyfriend" Jen said to Dawson. "Just one thing don't tell Pacey I called her. He kind of hates leaning on people even when he needs too" Marissa said. "You got it" Dawson said. "Jen you think you can drive me home?" Marissa said. "You must be hungry?" She said. "Not really I'm just worried about him. I promise I'll grab something at Grandma's" She said. "Okay get your coat" She said.
Marissa opened the door quietly and waved to Jen and shut the door. The sound of the door took Pacey from his thoughts. He looked up. "Hey" She said quietly. "Hey Kiddo. What are you doing here?" He said. Marissa walked over to him and sat next to him on the couch and she leaned in to it.
"I wanted to see if Gram was okay and I wanted to see if you were taking care of yourself?" She said looking at him. He smiled and put his arm around her. "Yeah you know me" He said. "Which is exactly why I know you haven't eaten so I called for pizza before I came in they'll be here in ten minutes" She said. He kissed her forehead. "Thank you" Pacey said. They heard floor boards creak and new that she was up. "I better see if she's alright" He said going to get up.
"No let me do it besides who's going to pay for the pizza if you do it?" She said joking. He laughed. "Alright" He said. She ran up the stairs. She pushed her hair back and walked towards the master bedroom. She went in and slightly knocked.
"Gram" She said. "Marissa sweet heart come in" She said. "Hi" She said giving her a hug. "Look at you you're all grown up. That Son of mine has really taken care of you" She said. "Yeah he has" Marissa said with a small smile. She noticed a photo album was out. "So what are you doing?" Marissa said. "Oh I was just looking at some photos of when me and your grandpa was young" She said.
"It's okay to miss him" Marissa said holding onto her arm. "I'm gonna be okay. How are you doing?" She said. "I'm okay" Marissa said. "Your grandpa loved you, you know" She said. "He loved you to you know" Marissa said. She nodded and they continued to look through some more albums until she was tired and then Marissa went back down stairs only to find Pacey not there but the Pizza was. So she grabbed two plates and two slices and two cans of coke and headed upstairs to his old room where she knew he would be.
She knocked. He turned noticing her presence. "How's gram?" He said. "She's asleep. I noticed you didn't eat here" She said. "I'm not really all that hungry" He said. "Well there are poor people out there who would give anything to eat so you have to eat it" Marissa said. He took it. "You know you drive a hard bargain" He said. "I learn from the best" She said eating in silence.
When she finished she wanted to talk to him. "Uncle Pacey?" She said. "Yeah?" He said looking at her. "I know you and Pop were at odds most of the time but are you going to be okay after this?" She said looking at him seriously. He sadly looked at her. "Yeah don't worry about me I'll be fine. You know aunt Gretchen is coming tomorrow so you should get some sleep" He said going to get up. "But where are you going to sleep?" She said. "I'm not tired but I'll be on the couch if you need me" He said. "Good night" She said. "Night" He said leaving. She was worried about him.
The next morning Ryan was at school he wasted no time and went straight towards Ms Potter's office. "I'm here to see Ms. Potter" He said. "Do you have an appointment?" She said. "Well no." He said. "Then I'm sorry it'll have to wait" She said. "It's okay Jenny. Ryan you can come in" She said. She followed him in. "You can sit if you like" She said. He sat. "So what's up?" She said. "I'm here for Marissa" He said. "Is she okay?" She said.
"She's fine but she asked me to relay a message to you. I don't know how to exactly say this but Mr. Witter's father had a heart attack so they flew back to Cape side yesterday" He said. "Is he going to be okay?" She said concerned. Ryan looked at her sadly. "He's dead" He said.
"Do you know when the funeral is?" She said shocked. "It's a little sketchy right now but arraignments were being made today" He said. She intercommed Jenny. "Jenny hold all of my appointments until further notice" Joey said. Why what's wrong?" She said. "There's been a death in the family" She said grabbing her coat. "Ryan thanks for telling me" She said. "Don't thank me just make sure Marissa's okay" He said. "I will" She said. They both left and she shut the door behind her.
Getting out of the terminal she wondered if they knew Pacey had found her. Of course not if anything that would be the last thing Pacey would be thinking about. If anything they connected the dots through Marissa. She grabbed her luggage and started to exit the terminal. Who she saw nearly shocked her. She had to catch her breath. And then he smiled and started walking towards him.
"Hey Joey" He said. "Hey Dawson" She said nervously. She hugged him. "It's good to see ya Jo" He said with a smile. "How did you know?" She said with a nervous grin. "Ryan Called Marissa told her you were coming. So I used my fancy flirting skills and bribed the operator to tell me what flight you were on" He said. "Sneaky I like it" She said joking. He smiled.
"It's not gonna be easy" He said. "Nothing ever is when it comes to John and Pacey Witter. We just got to remember to be there for him like he was there for us" She said sadly. "Well come on Jen's anxious to see you" He said. "It's good to be home Dawson" She said. "Well it's good to have you back. Hopefully we'll never lose touch again" He said. "You got it" She said and with that they left the airport.
Joey had opted to go to the Leery's. Dawson had even offered her one of the guest rooms to sleep in. "Hello" Dawson said with that came a running Jen. "Okay Leery where did you hide her" She said. Joey stepped in with a smile. "Joey Potter where the hell have you been?" She said. "I don't know but I'm home now" She said hugging her.
"You bet your ass you are" Jen said. "Come on in to the living room" Dawson said. She hung her coat on the rack and started for the living room. The telephone rang. "I'll get it" Dawson said.
Joey looked around it was a little different but not unfamiliar. She remembered the stairs and the door and different moments that occurred in this house. Dawson hanging up the phone broke her from her thoughts. She looked towards him.
"That was Pacey he wanted some one to come over and keep an eye on things until he got back from talking with the minister "He said. "I'll go you guys have probably had a night from hell already" She said. "Here's the keys" He said handing them to her. She grabbed her coat and headed for the door.
She was in front of the Witter home in a few minutes. When she got out of the car she stared at it. Everything looked the same she was more frightened at how the person behind the door would be different since their last encounter.
Joey knew this was going to be difficult but she wasn't going to give up so easily. She walked up the front steps. She took a breath and knocked gently. Marissa answered and a smile formed to her face. "He's upstairs" She said. "Thanks for getting me the message" Joey said. Marissa nodded.
Joey walked towards the steps and climbed them heading towards Pacey's old bed room. The door was open and he was looking out the window. She tapped gently. "Leave it up to Marissa to scheme a way for you to get here" He said knowing it was Joey. "Well she was worried and I wanted to see you so deal with it" She said coming in.
Pacey looked up at her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that" He said. "I know you didn't" She said understanding how hard this was for him having been there before. He got up and went over towards the window. "I dunno if I can do this" He confessed. She listened. "I don't know if I can do any of it" He said slowly starting to break.
She walked over and grabbed his hand and looked up at him. "So then we'll do it together just like we always did and just like we always will" Joey reminded him. He was teary eyed. She hugged him. "Thanks for coming" He whispered. "For you anything" She said. Pacey smiled sadly.
A few minutes later Pacey broke the silence. "So I guess he knows you're here?" he said. "Yeah Marissa told Dawson and Jen. He met me at the airport" She said. "I suppose he wants to kick my ass for not telling him" He said. "I think he understands why I did what I did so I think your ass is safe." She said joking.
"Right you were friends for as long as you can walk anyways" He said. "I should go I gotta get to the church." He said. "Did Gretchen get in yet?" She said. "Yeah she just ran to get Doug from the airport so I needed someone to stay here in case Marissa can't handle it" He said. "Of course well go and do what you have to do" She said.
"Okay I'll only be a few minutes" He said putting his coat on but neglecting to zip it up. "Wait this isn't Orange county Witter Here in Capeside you catch colds quick" She said joking zippering his coat. "Thanks mom" He said sarcastically. She smiled. "Alright I'll be back" He said leaving. "Okay" She said watching him leave.