Unforeseen 19/?
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
-break-
"Why don't you lay down…" Jen suggested watching her friend pace her grandmother's porch. "Get some rest?"
"I can't…" Joey cried grabbing the soft cushion from the outdoor couch before shoving herself down on it. "Every time I close my eyes, I see Pacey gasping for breath or lying on the side of the road…as if Doug never found him."
"But he did…" Andie tried to reassure Joey, from her spot next to Jen, a soft smile on her lips. "And now he's getting the best care imaginable."
"Andie, she's worried about him dying…" Jack balked looking annoyed at his sister. "Not whether he's getting the five-star treatment."
"I know that." Andie griped pulling a cookie off the plate near Jen and shoving it in her mouth.
"Where's Dawson?" Jen inquired eyeing Joey who at that moment gnawed nervously on her thumbnail, a far off look on her face.
"He's pitching his next movie to Mr. Gold." Andie supplied throwing a piece of cookie at her brother, the small chunk of cookie clinging to the top of his shirt.
"Of course." Joey whispered angered. Her boyfriend could be near death and their friend was acting like he didn't care…again. Shaking her head her eyes focused in on the small teacup that was placed gently in her hand.
"Have some tea dear." Grams smiled, giving her shoulder a firm but comforting squeeze. "Pacey'll be alright. He's been in my prayers from the start."
"Thanks Mrs. Ryan." Joey tried to smile but her heart ached painfully in her chest.
"Please call me Grams dear." Evelyn grinned, taking her own tea to the table with the rest of the group.
"Grams." Joey whispered with a smile, warm tea and kind hearts soothing her.
-break-
She found him sitting behind his computer, video cued up ready to be edited. "Of course, this where I'd find you." Joey growled irritated, shoving herself down on the edge of his bed. When he didn't answer she crossed her arms across her chest. "So, you're just going to ignore me too now?" Frustrated, Joey yanked his chair back, barking. "Dawson!" She was shocked to find his eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down his cheeks, Pacey's footage from 'Sea Creature from the Deep' on his computer screen.
"How…how did you handle this with your mom?" Dawson stuttered, his chin jiggling from the onset of fresh tears.
Squeezing his shoulder Joey offered a small smile. "At that age…I don't think I knew the implications….at least until she was gone."
Looking at his computer screen Dawson sighed. "When mom first said he was in the hospital I thought 'Oh great'…I was going to invite him to go to the campsite we went to when we were kids." He paused, trying to find the strength to finish. "Then mom told me everything and my heart gave out and I thought I was gonna throw up."
"When Doug told me I thought my heart ripped out. I just barely got him. I don't want to lose him."
There was a moment of silence, each looking at the other before Dawson spoke, amazed he hadn't seen it before now. "You love him?"
Joey nodded giggling slightly, her glassy eyes dropping to the floor. "More than I ever thought possible."
"I'm glad he has you Joey…" Dawson grinned, his eyes flicking back to the screen. "I was a little nervous after he asked my permission to kiss you at the carnival, but I've seen the way he is with you, the way he looks at you and I'm glad I did."
Joey felt the wind knock out of her chest at the new revelation, tears startling her eyes. "He…he asked your permission?"
"Yeah…" Dawson chuckled lightly leaning forward on his chair. "I think he was trying not to step on my toes, just in case there was something between you and me."
Her heart quaked in her chest. Pacey had known she was crushing on Dawson then and still asked him if he could kiss her. Dawson's responding 'yes' just proved she was right in letting go of her menial crush. Pacey loved her enough to ask their friend if it was okay to kiss her, to ensure he wouldn't get in the way. She couldn't imagine how things would've gone if Dawson had returned her feelings, but she praised Pacey for his initiative. "Wow."
"Yeah, he seemed pretty enthusiastic when he left…" Dawson bit his lip replaying that night. "Then I saw him later, asked him if he did it and he said not to worry. We came back here, watched 'Speed'…he seemed really tired, I offered to have dad take him home…but he shook me off and stumbled down the stairs."
That was the night before Doug took him to the hospital. Could he have shown signs the night before? "Did you notice anything else?"
"No." Dawson shook his head, his hands clasped before him.
"Ok." Joey's mind reeled, questions swirling. Did Pacey know he was sick when he kissed her? Did he know the week before that? At the party before that? If he did, why didn't he say anything? When he woke from his coma she'd get her answers.
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