Unforeseen 7/?

Summary: Set after the episode 'Double Date.' Pacey wakes up the day after the carnival to a new reality no one saw coming.

Disclaimer: I only own the plot.

Rating: R

A/N: I know I know I need to work on 'Heartache' but I keep getting ideas for the next chapter of this before the rest of 'Heartache' comes along.

-break-

One week later.

Joey stood at her locker exchanging books. The past week had been agonizing and confusing. Agonizing because they hadn't yet received the results from the biopsy but also confusing from her and Pacey's sudden closeness.

He had only asked her one other time to lie with him, his warm muscular arms holding her tightly. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest remembering the feel of his arms around her, his soft breath tickling her neck.

Shivering unconsciously Joey tried to focus on her locker but was startled feeling a hand on her shoulder. "Jeez Jen."

"Sorry." Jen smiled stepping in front of her. "How are you doing?"

"I'm ok." Joey sighed leaning against her locker, her backpack falling to the floor.

Leaning next to her against the locker the blonde nudged her with her shoulder. "And Pacey?"

"I think he's ok." Joey cringed rubbing at her neck. "The biopsy was hard on both of us, but he seems alright…been very tired."

"Well Grams and I are here for both of you." Jen grinned, turning to her friend.

"Thanks Jen." Looking down the hall she caught a glimpse of Dawson as he headed to his next class.

Jen, seeing her gaze, followed it. "Have you talked to him?"

Joey nodded, snorted and shoved her locker closed. "Oh, I talked to him."

"Uh oh." Jen cringed hearing the sarcasm in her voice.

"He had the gall to tell me the reason he hasn't gone to see Pacey is because he's recasting Pacey's part."

Jen's eyes widened, her arms crossing her chest. "Seriously?"

Joey nodded again, tears pooling in her eyes. "I told him to recast my part too."

"Wow."

"Joey?" Both females jumped hearing the new voice, Joey was surprised to find Doug still in uniform, standing by them.

"Doug…what are you doing here?"

Doug's voice shook as he responded, his eyes on the floor. "The biopsy results came back. His cancer cells have nearly doubled. They have to start him on chemo right away."

"Oh my god." Tears came to Joey's eyes, her hand cupping her mouth as Jen did the same. "I have to get there…does he know?"

"Yeah."

Joey's heart plummeted as her feet started moving to the door, her backpack forgotten on the floor.

"Joey!" Doug came running up beside her, her backpack on his shoulder. "Come on I'll take you. I'll call you Bessie when we get there."

"Thanks." She whimpered, stumbling along the corridors until they reached Doug's squad car.

The drive to the hospital was a blur. Joey didn't register anything until Doug aided her to Pacey's hospital room. Pacey lay with his back to her. "Pace?"

When he didn't respond she moved to the other side of the bed. What she found made her heart drop further. He was staring straight ahead, arms crossed in front of him, eyes completely bloodshot. "Oh Pace."

Tears pooled in his eyes at her words, his arms falling to the bed as his body wracked with sobs again.

Tears slipped from Joey's eyes as she dropped on the bed, enveloping his shaking body in her arms. "Pace." His response saddened her further as he muttered repeatedly in her ear.

"I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die."

"Shh don't say that." She cried holding his body close, rocking him back and forth. "Don't say that."

Finally, his tears stopped but his body turned rigid, his eyes on the ceiling. "I'm gonna die and no one cares."

Pulling back Joey stared at him in shock. "Pacey?"

Shaking his head, a new set of tears started down his cheeks. "My parents don't care that I'm here, Doug may care but I hardly see him, so it doesn't matter, Gretch came and went without so much of a phone call…"

"Pace…" Joey stuttered, her own tears breeching the corner of her eyes.

Shaking his head more vigorously Pacey pushed back to the other side of the bed. "I've only seen Jen once, I'm not even on and Dawson's radar and you…" He stopped to catch his breath, but it gave Joey enough time to speak.

"Pacey, I care."

Her response made him chuckle sardonically, a hollow laugh escaping his lips. "Yeah right…your just here to watch me die so you can dance on my grave."

His words cut through her like a knife, a sob pulling from her lips. "Pace…"

"Leave Jo…" Pacey barked in hiss tears clouding his vision. "Leave like everyone else…" His voice jumped up by multiple octaves coming out in near yell. "Just go…GO!"

Still stunned Joey nodded, tears streaming out of her eyes as she backed out of the room, bolting from the hospital and leaving her backpack behind.

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