Heartache 1/?

Summary: Set at the end of the episode 'True Love.' After Joey tells Pacey she can't give him a reason to stay, he decides to leave early. Joey, after her talk with Dawson, goes after Pacey, their friends in tow but find him gone.

Disclaimer: I only own the plot

Rating: Possible R

A/N: This is my first Dawson's Creek fic, so please be gentle. I put this story idea out but I thought I'd take a stab at it myself.

-break-

'I can't give you a reason to stay…'

Pacey's eyes clenched painfully shut as the words played over again in his mind, his shaking hands barely holding control as he dialed the familiar number, the lapping waves behind him doing nothing to ease his broken heart.

After what felt like eons, the other line picked up.

"Witter."

Clearing his throat Pacey tried to control the pain in his voice. "Hey Dougie…umm I just wanted to let you know…I'm leaving."

"Already?" His brother's voice came out stunned. "I thought you were leaving in the morning Pace?"

"I changed my mind." He growled before retreating to a monotone voice he hoped his brother wouldn't question. "Look just tell mom and pop that I'm leaving. I'll call you when I get to the next port."

"But…"

Pacey hung up the pay phone before Doug could finish, his depressive mood worsening as he made his way to his boat. Unmooring the boat from the dock, he bid a bitter goodbye to the Capeside coast.

-break-

'Just go…before I take it all back…go."

Dawson's whimper tore at her, but Joey didn't waste any time turning around on the dock, her slight heel clanking on the wood as she ran toward the front of Dawson's house. She was almost on the road when a familiar car stopped in front of her, its occupants stepping out and surrounding her in concern.

"Joey, you, okay?" Jen asked, stepping away from the door and to her panting friend Jack just behind her, Andie and Evelyn looked on over the top of the car.

"I need…" Joey breathed heavily trying to formulate words. "I need to change…and go to the marina."

"Pacey?" Andie smiled at the other woman as she nodded.

"Get in the car dear, we'll take you." Evelyn Ryan grinned, their day had been full of love and happiness, this was the perfect way to cap their day. "Come on."

"Thank you." Half smile on her lips Joey slid into the car, heart pounding in her chest as the others got back in the car, the sedan heading in the direction of the Potter B and B.

Thankfully Bessie was out so when Joey stepped into the B and B she exchanged quick pleasantries with Bodie before bolting to her room. Changing from her bridesmaid's dress to a pair of jeans, tennis shoes and a slightly decorated red shirt that hung at her shoulders.

Biding her brother-in-law a quick goodbye she made her way back out to the waiting car, Jen standing outside it, a soft smile on her lips.

"Let's go get your man."

Joey smiled back in response, her heart racing as she jumped back in the car. "Lets." As they reached the marina her heart pounded in her ears. The man she loved. The man she needed most in the world was within reach. She didn't know what she'd say to him but with the encouraging smiles she received as the five stepped out of the car, the words of his ex-sending her bolting toward the dock.

"Go get him Joey."

The soles of her tennis shoes pounded the dirt as she neared the wood dock. "PACEY! PACEY!" Her words faltered as she got to the dock where she knew the True Love was. "PACEY!" Joey yelled once more hoping this was a dream as she stopped on the empty dock, her body crumpling to the wooden slats, her shaking hands clutching the ropes that once held Pacey's boat. "NO!"

Her scream alerted her friends, three of the four running to where she sat on the dock, her petite body wracked with sobs.

Andie and Jen enveloped Joey as Jack stood on the other end of the dock waiting for the slower Mrs. Ryan to reach them.

Douglas Witter, having stopped at the docks long after his little brother's departure, watched the scene before him with a heavy heart. He knew that something had changed when his brother called hours ago saying he was leaving. Of course, as his older brother Doug assumed Pacey, the never-ending jokester, was joking with him.

However now watching Joey Potter crumble to the dock in hysterics, his brother's boat no longer in its spot, he knew it was no joke.

Stepping out of his cruiser Doug walked into the scene, his eyes on the torn-up brunette.

His presence was noticed a minute later by one of the group that held back.

"Doug, where is he?" Jack asked for the group, shocked by the turn of events.

Looking at the girls at the bottom of the dock, his eyes caught Joey's hopeful ones. "He called me a few hours ago to let me know he was leaving. I thought he was joking; he was supposed to leave in less than 24 hours anyway."

"Why would he leave early?" Andie hissed in exacerbation, her hand squeezing Joey's in a comforting gesture.

Eyes on every member of the group, Joey whimpered. "It's my fault. He asked me to give him a reason to stay."

Jen's eyes shot to Joey appraising her words and shaking her head. "And you couldn't?" Her question was answered as Joey's eyes dropped to her lap. "Because of Dawson?"

"Yes."

Doug shook his head, his arms crossing his chest. "If Dawson loved you the way he says he does than he wouldn't force ultimatums on you."

All eyes shot to Pacey's older brother, shocked he knew so much.

"Douglas is right Josephine." Evelyn stepped forward, a soft smile on her lips. "If that boy loved you, he wouldn't make you choose between your heart and your head."

"I know." Joey whispered painfully, her heart aching to be in Pacey's arms.

"Jennifer…" Evelyn declared, her eyes shining on her inquisitive granddaughter. "I don't think our road trip is quite over."

"I don't think so either Grams." Jen smiled pulling Joey to her feet.

"Road trip?" Joey questioned as the girls on either side of her linked through her arms leading her back to Gram's car.

"We'll tell you in the car Jo." Jack grinned, following the girls back to the car.

Evelyn turned to Doug, her own devilish grin making him smile. "Keep us up to date when you hear from that brother of yours, don't want to send us little old ladies on a wild goose chase."

"No, we don't." Doug chuckled, straightening his uniform. "I'll be in touch Mrs. Ryan."

"Thank you." Evelyn snickered walking back to her already filled car, ready for another adventure into love.

Read and review…more to come.