AN: So I wrote this awhile back and posted it elsewhere but I don't believe it was ever on so I decided to go ahead and post it. I hope you enjoy it.
Doug's POV:
I flipped on the lights and sirens and headed out to a small bar on the outskirts of town. I was trying to figure out why the officer on the scene had requested me specifically. I knew from experience that situations at that particular bar could get out of hand quickly but I wasn't the only officer on duty that wasn't currently on a call. As far as I knew this was the only thing going on anywhere within a ten-mile radius of Capeside right now. Not to mention I definitely wasn't the closest officer either. I actually passed one of my fellow officers hidden behind some bushes waiting for speeders - ah, the joys of being a police officer in a small town.
I parked the squad outside of the Big Saloon and got out.
"What do we got Mick?" I asked the officer in charge as I got out of the squad car and started taking in the scene. It looked as if they had everything under control which made me wonder about my presence even more.
"We picked them up for drunk and disorderly. You know the drill." Mick told me gesturing to one of the police cars already on the scene.
As soon as I saw who was in the backseat I knew exactly why they had requested me. There in the backseat sat my little brother Pacey and Dru Valentine. What Pacey was doing with Dru I hadn't the slightest clue?
I motioned for the two of them to come to my squad car. I could tell by the look on Pacey's face that he was not happy to see me. If I was him, I would've just been glad that Dad hadn't been the one to show up.
"So what do you want to do Doug, arrest me?" Pacey asked me walking up to me. Dru was a little bit behind Pacey doing the smart thing and keeping his mouth shut.
"I should," I told him honestly although I was doubtful that would do any good at this point. Something was bothering my younger brother and I didn't know what. "More I'm just curious."
"About what?" Pacey asked in a tone that told me he didn't think that I cared at all. The tone that always managed to piss me off. As a result what I said next only made the situation worse.
"You're not satisfied with being a moron and fail you have to add drunk to your list of credentials."
I could see that pain in his eyes. Pain that was caused by those words. Not to mention I could see the anger on his face now.
"What?" he said right before he came toward me grabbing me by the jacket. It took me a little by surprise but I still quickly held my hand up to the other police officers letting them know that everything was okay. The last thing I needed was for them to get involved. This was my brother, not some drunk stranger.
"This is it for me," he was now yelling at me. "This is my whole life right here. This is all I get."
Suddenly I could hear the anger dissolving as he hung his head still clutching my jacket.
"Pacey," I whispered trying to calm him down and comfort him at the same time. "Pacey." I tried to put my arms around him but suddenly his anger returned.
"Get off of me," he yelled pushing away from me. He took a few steps back and stared back at me.
I looked back at him no longer angry. Now I was just concerned. Something needed to be done. Someone had to reach him before it was too late. I didn't know if it was going to be me but I knew I was going to give it a try. I couldn't stand back and watch him completely self destruct.
Pacey finally looked toward the ground and shook his head as he headed toward my squad car. As I watched him get inside, I knew that I had only just made things worse. I also knew that I wasn't giving up on him. I just had no clue as to what to do but first of all I had to keep him out of jail tonight. Knowing our father, that was going to be no easy task.
After collecting myself, I led Dru over to my squad car. I opened the back door and Dru climbed in beside Pacey. I got in behind the wheel and began the silent trip to the police station.
Pacey's POV:
"How did you talk me into this?" I muttered to Dru. We were sitting in the chairs at the police station waiting to find out our fates. I guess I should've been happy that I was waiting out here and not in a cell which Doug could have very easily done. After all, not only did he have the public drunkenness charge, but technically he could also get me for striking an officer.
"Believe me it wasn't all that hard," Dru told me and I knew that he was right. He hadn't exactly dragged me kicking and screaming to that bar.
I looked toward my Dad's office. My dad was in there with Doug and Mrs. Valentine. I could tell the three of them were arguing but I couldn't tell who was siding with who. Doug had his back toward me but I could partially see the face of the other two. Neither of them looked at all happy.
"Think they're going to throw us in jail?" Dru asked from beside me. I looked over to see that he had followed my gaze.
"Me, yes," I told him. This wouldn't be the first time my Dad had made me spend a night in jail. Why should this time be any different? I wasn't sure which was worse - the lecture I was sure to receive or actually having to spend the night in jail. "See you have the luxury of having a mother who cares about you. You'll probably get to go home tonight," I told him reassuringly.
"A mother who cares about her reputation you mean," Dru told me sounding as bitter as I felt.
I looked over at him trying to decide if he was being serious or not. It was hard to figure out how to take Dru sometimes and I wasn't sure I was actually up to it tonight. However as I looked at him, for once I didn't see the smug smile that Dru usually wore. I finally came to the decision that he seriously meant what he had just said. Maybe we had more in common than I thought which was a scary thought in of itself.
I heard the office door open then and I quickly looked in that direction leaving our conversation where it was at. Mrs. Valentine was walking out of the office. Behind her Doug and Dad were still arguing.
"I'm not ready to give up on him yet, " I heard Doug say before the door shut behind Mrs. Valentine.
"Come on Dru," Mrs. Valentine said in an icy voice. "We're going home."
Dru quickly stood up. He looked back at me with a look I knew very well. He was dreading the lecture he was about to receive. I would have gladly switched places with him though.
"Catch you later, Pacey," was all he said though as he followed his mother out.
I sat back in my chair and leaned my head against the wall. I was aware of the glances that were being tossed in my direction by the other officers in the station. They were probably trying to figure out how the son of a sheriff could possibly turn out so badly.
I closed my eyes and tried to tune everyone else out. However, Doug's words still echoed in my mind. "I'm not ready to give up on him yet," he had said. He had to have been referring to me but Doug was the last person I would've figured on sticking up for me, especially after tonight.
I heard the door open again and I opened my eyes. My Dad was the first one to come out. He walked right by me without even looking at me. My Dad stormed out of the station slamming the door behind him. It was amazing, how all of the officers around me were suddenly very busy with something or other.
I looked away from the door my Dad had just left through and back toward the office. Doug was standing in the doorway leaning against the door frame. He looked exhausted and I could see the concern on his face. The same concern that I had seen earlier in the night. It didn't anger me this time though. Instead I just wanted to know what it meant. Had Doug won his argument with Dad? Was I spending the night in a cell? I was afraid to ask.
Finally Doug started walking toward me slowly. The closer he came the more positive I was that he was going to lead me to my own private cell.
"Come on. I'll drive you home," Doug said softly when he was standing next to me.
I stood up slowly. I wanted to tell him that I'd walk. That would give me a chance to think about things. However, I didn't want to press my luck. Doug had just gone up against Dad for me and the least I could do was take the ride he offered even though he probably just wanted to make sure I went home.
We walked out to Doug's squad car in silence. Doug walked over and opened the passenger side door for me. That was a good sign at least. It told me Doug wasn't completely ticked off at me. At least he was letting me sit up front next to him.
The drive to the house I shared with Gretchen was a silent one. Doug wasn't volunteering any information and even though I had plenty of questions I wasn't about to ask them. I was afraid of saying something that would get me into more trouble.
Doug came to a stop in front of the house and put the squad car in park. I went to open the door and get out but I felt Doug's hand on my arm. I looked over at him wondering what he could possibly want.
"You and I are taking a camping trip this weekend Pace," He informed me.
"I've got plans," I told him even though I really didn't. I just didn't want to spend my time with him, alone in the woods. The only thing I could think of that would be worse is if it was Dad and not Doug.
"They're cancelled," Doug told me. "I'll be back tomorrow morning at nine o'clock so be ready."
I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was serious. However, being me I couldn't just leave it at that. Despite the night I had just been through I had to keep pushing buttons. Sometimes I wonder if I just don't enjoy seeing how much trouble I can possibly get into.
"And if I don't go on this impromptu camping trip?" I asked him as I noticed Gretchen standing on the porch.
"Then you deal with Dad," Doug told me matter of factly. I could tell even his patience was starting to wear thin.
I knew then that this was the condition that had kept me out of jail tonight and I had no desire to deal with my father.
I didn't say anything else though as I got out of the car. There wasn't much else to say. It either was this or facing my father. I knew from the station earlier that my dad had about had it with me so it looked as if I was going to be spending my weekend with Deputy Doug whether I wanted to or not. Of course, it was just my luck that this was a three-day weekend. If there was a God, he definitely hated me.
Gretchen's POV:
I looked at the clock again wondering where Pacey was. It wasn't like him to be out this late without letting me know where he was. At first, when I had gotten home from work I thought he was home as his car was parked outside. That had proved not to be the case.
Although I was tempted to, I refrained from starting to call his friends' houses. I wasn't his mother after all. I was only his sister, not to mention the fact that he was eighteen. If he wanted to stay out all night, long I couldn't stop him. That didn't keep me from worrying about him though.
When I finally heard a car pull up outside, I hurried out onto the porch. As I stepped outside, I saw Doug's squad car pull in behind my truck. I let out a sigh of relief figuring that Pacey had just been with Doug all night. After watching their conversation for a little bit I knew that was definitely not the case. Neither of them looked happy. I couldn't help but wonder what sort of trouble Pacey had gotten himself into this time.
As Pacey got out of the car, I walked down the porch steps toward him. Pacey stormed right by me without so much as a nod in acknowledgment. I didn't waste my time watching him stalk into the house though but kept walking toward the squad car. As I made my way to the driver's side of the car, Doug turned the car off and stepped out of the car.
"What's going on?" I asked him as he leaned up against the side of the car. I didn't miss the mix of concern and worry that was in his expression.
"Pacey and another kid from his school got picked up for public drunkenness tonight. To say the least Dad wasn't so thrilled about it," Doug told me. "Gretchen, something is wrong and if something isn't done Pacey is going to get himself into major trouble. Trouble that not even I will be able to help him out of."
I nodded in agreement. I knew Doug was right. I even had an idea as to what that something was but I didn't say anything. Speculation wasn't going to us anywhere. We had to find some way to reach Pacey. Get him to tell us what was bothering him.
"Exactly how much trouble is he in for tonight?" I asked dreading the answer.
"Well, except for Dad being mad about what happened none," Doug told me which surprised me. Dad wasn't exactly known for his leniency. "I managed to talk Dad into letting the charges be dropped both for Pacey and the other kid. The other kid's parents were grateful for that."
"I'm surprised," I said.
Doug took his job seriously and on top of that he and Pacey had never seen eye to eye, even though they had been getting along better as of late.
"Surprised by what? The fact that Dad let the charges be dropped or the fact that I argued for them to be dropped." He sounded a bit defensive which wasn't what I had been going for.
"Both actually," I told him hoping the answer would smooth things out a little. I didn't need to get into an argument with Doug over this.
"I don't think prison time or any other punishment is going to help Pacey at this point," he told me. "He needs help. That's why I'm taking him on a camping trip this weekend. Hopefully, getting him away from everything that is going on will be good for him and maybe he'll open up."
"You don't think a camping trip with you is a punishment?" I asked lightly. I meant it as a joke to lighten the mood but it didn't go over well.
"This isn't funny Gretchen," Doug told me raising his voice.
"Okay, okay," I said quickly trying to keep this from getting out of hand. "I hope you can reach him," I added.
"Me too," Doug replied not sounding at all confident.
"What time are you picking him up?"
"Nine o'clock," Doug replied opening his car door.
"I'll make sure he's ready," I told him.
"Thanks," Doug said. "I'll see you in the morning."
I watched Doug drive off before heading toward the house.
"Pacey," I called out hoping my brother would answer me.
"Upstairs," he called out.
I made my way upstairs and to Pacey's room. I knocked on the doorway to announce my presence but just walked in. Pacey had already dug out his sleeping bag which was now on his bed and he was packing things into his pack. At least it looked as if Pacey was going to go without too much trouble. Whether or not Doug was going to be able to reach him, was a different matter altogether.
"Want to talk?" I asked him leaning up against his desk.
"Not really," he answered as he continued packing.
We were both quiet for a few minutes. I was trying to figure out a way to approach him that wouldn't push him further away. Before I could think of something to say Pacey spoke up.
"Why did Doug do it?" Pacey asked
I wondered why he put the question out there. Did he really expect me to have an answer? I mean yeah, I think out of all my family I understood Doug the best but some times I didn't understand why he did the things he did.
I looked at Pacey tyring to figure out exactly what he meant by that question and how to even attempt to answer it. Was he mad Doug? Was he talking about the camping trip or something else? I decided to take the safe route and answer his question with a question.
"Why did Doug do what?" I asked and just hoped that Pacey would explain himself more.
"Go up against Dad for me like he did tonight," Pacey said as he pulled the string to close the top of the pack.
"Why wouldn't he? You are his brother Pacey," I told him.
"Yeah, but Doug is always going along with the rest of the family and telling me what a loser I am," Pacey said securing the last buckle on the pack and sitting down on the bed next to it. "He's Dad's golden boy. Dad can't be too happy with him right now."
"No, he probably isn't," I agreed, choosing not to comment on Pacey's reference to Doug as out father's golden boy. Doug did go out of his way to make our father happy. To live up to Dad's expectations but that was just Doug. Doug had always gone out of his way to please everyone around him and not just Dad, even at the cost of his own happiness sometimes. "But you know what, no matter what you may think Pacey, Doug does love you," I told him sitting down next to him. "We both do," I added trying to let Pacey know that he wasn't alone. That no matter what, I would be there for him.
"He has a funny way of showing it sometimes," Pacey told me.
"Yeah, well you don't exactly make it easy on him," I told him.
"Point taken," Pacey told me actually letting a smile come to his face. We both knew he was guilty of purposely trying to annoy our brother from time to time. As quickly as the smile came though it disappeared. "So exactly how mad did Doug seem about tonight?" he asked me.
"From what I gather Dad is the one who is mad. Doug's just concerned about you and so am I," I replied. I was hoping that he might get the hint and open up to me. Tell me what was bothering him lately. It didn't happen though.
"Well, the concerned brother plans on dragging me out of bed early tomorrow morning so I better get some sleep," is what he actually said though. I knew then that as far as Pacey was concerned, that this conversation was over.
"Okay, goodnight Pacey," I told him standing up.
"Night Gretchen," he replied as I left the room. I certainly hoped that Doug would have more luck this weekend getting him to open up.
Pacey's POV:
"Pacey it's eight thirty," my sister called banging on my bedroom door.
"Okay," I told her not moving from my bed. I really had no desire to actually get up. I had already turned my alarm clock off when it had gone off a half hour earlier.
"Pacey," I heard her call out again. Evidently she could hear that I wasn't making any attempt to get up. Either that or she just knew me.
"I'm getting up now," I called back actually tossing the blankets aside and getting out of bed this time.
As I got clothes out of my closet, I heard Gretchen's footsteps retreat back downstairs. Just climbing back into bed crossed my mind but I decided against it. Delaying departure time wasn't going to get me out of this trip but it would mean that I would end up with two older siblings hounding me to get ready.
I headed for the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed. After dressing I grabbed my pack and sleeping bag and headed downstairs. As I walked down the steps, I saw the clock on the wall and saw that it was five of nine, so it didn't surprise me to see Doug sitting at the kitchen table already when I walked into the room. I don't think Doug has ever been late for anything in his life.
As I walked into the kitchen Gretchen handed me a plate with eggs, bacon, and toast on it. I took the plate from her and sat down at the table across from Doug.
"I guess I have five minutes to eat," I said with more of a sarcastic tone than I had really meant to.
"No, go ahead and eat," Doug said not looking up from the cup of coffee in front of him. "I didn't even expect you to be up when I got here."
"Yeah, well that's Gretchen's fault," I told him. "It's hard to sleep when she's banging on your door."
Nothing else was said while I ate. After finishing my breakfast I put the dishes in the sink. Doug had already left the kitchen and I could hear him and Gretchen whispering in the living room, probably discussing me.
"Well I'm ready to begin my sentence," I announced as I came into the room.
"Okay, then lets get going," Doug replied choosing to let my comment slide. He picked up my sleeping bag and pack and headed outside.
Gretchen came over to me and gave me a hug.
"Have fun," she told me letting me go.
"Yeah, like that is going to happen," I replied. I was surprised by how bitter I sounded.
"It might if you give it a chance," she told me.
I nodded. She had a point. I thought about saying something else but decided against it. Instead I headed outside.
Doug had already put my stuff into the back of his jeep and was sitting in the driver's seat. I walked over and quietly got in the passenger seat.
Neither of us talked as Doug made his way out of Capeside. I glanced down at the radio which was off and saw that there was a cd in there. Knowing Doug's taste in music I decided that it was a good thing that the radio was off.
A half hour later though the silence was getting to me. Not up to trying to start a conversation with my brother I reached over to turn the radio on. I was all ready to hit the eject button but what came on actually surprised me. Instead of hearing show tunes or one of Dougie's so called divas the sounds of Savage Garden filled the jeep. Pleasantly surprised, I actually turned the volume up a little bit.
We didn't talk the entire way to the State Park that my family usually camped in. Doug found a parking spot in front of the main lodge. As he turned off the jeep, Doug finally spoke to me.
"Why don't you unpack while I go inside?" Doug said opening his door. Though they didn't assign campsites, the park rangers liked campers to check in at the main lodge so that they were aware of how many people were out camping in the park.
"Fine," I said with a shrug as I got out of the jeep myself.
As Doug headed inside, I started getting stuff out of the jeep. By the time Doug came back out I had everything out and sitting on the pavement near by.
Within minutes the two of us were in the woods heading away from the lodge. I figured we would hike for about fifteen minutes and then set up camp relatively close to the lodge. Fifteen minutes later though Doug was still walking and didn't show any signs that he was planning on stopping.
I took my canteen out and took a drink of water. I thought about asking Doug how much further he was planning on going but decided not to. It didn't really matter. I was stuck with him for the whole weekend whether we camped close to the lodge or not.