Unforeseen 20/?

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: Side note: I didn't realize I had forged ahead so much on this that I messed up in the first chapter. I mentioned newborn then and then totally spaced as I moved forward. Sorry!

-break-

Joey gnawed on her bottom lip, her eyes on Pacey's still form. After extending the quarantine an extra day and keeping Pacey in his coma two extra days, Dr. Tiale discontinued the medication a few hours previous.

Now Joey sat at his bedside waiting for the medication to wear off. Dr. Tiale had said she could lay with Pacey on the bed, like she had been doing, but as she wanted to touch him and hold him close, she didn't want to impede his breathing, especially after such a horrible infection. So, she sat in her chair, Pacey's hand firmly clasped between hers, her eyes on his pale prone face.

It felt like days when Pacey finally started to stir. His eyes scrunched together for a moment before blinking rapidly, unfocused, his mouth opened to speak but stopped, finding his voice scratchy and low. "I…"

Joey squeezed his hand, a soft smile on her lips. "Its okay Pace. I'm right here."

Jumping at her words Pacey turned to her confused. "What happened?"

Biting her lip Joey scooted closer, her hand reaching to comb through his damp hair. "What do you remember?"

"Umm…" Squeezing her hand back Pacey tried wracking his brain for the last thing he remembered. "I had just finished my chemo…I was walking to your place…I…don't know how far I got…but I got hit by this wave of dizziness and nausea…I think I worked through it, but I stumbled…it's pretty fuzzy after that."

"Oh Pace." Joey bit her lip as Pacey turned back to her, his eyes pleading for clarification. "Doug found you…on the side of the road." She stopped, finding tears in her eyes, her hand squeezing tighter to Pacey's. "You were unconscious and barely breathing…you went into respiratory arrest which was brought on by infection that the chemo aggravated…you've been in a medically induced coma until this morning."

Pacey's whole demeanor dropped, his hand going slack in hers. "How long?"

"Almost a week." His eyes fell further, a deep sadness taking over him. "Pace? When did you know?"

The confusion was back as his eyes came back to hers. "What?"

"When did you know…about the cancer?"

Shaking his head Pacey shuffled toward her. "When Doug…"

Pulling her hand from his Joey stood crossing her arms. "Pacey?"

Rubbing his hand across his forehead, Pacey sighed. "I started feeling weak after I punched that guy at the party, a few weeks before the carnival."

"Party?" Joey's eyes widened, going back to that day, remembering how she had gotten drunk over Dawson and Jen and then she had fawned over Dawson for 'saving' her. "The beach party? That was you?"

Shrugging he nodded meekly, his eyes on his bedspread.

"And when you kissed me after the carnival, did you ask Dawson's permission?"

Almost shamefully Pacey dipped his head, nodding.

"Why?"

"I know…you had a thing for Dawson then…but I thought if he gave me the okay…then maybe I could convince you I wasn't an inept slacker…didn't work." Pacey mumbled somberly, looking away from her.

"Amazing." Joey breathed out in astonishment, her heart jumping to her throat as he turned away, looking as if he was going to bolt to the bathroom. Stepping around the bed she put herself between him and the bathroom, her hand lifting his chin bringing their eyes together. "Pacey Witter, you are by far the most amazing man I have ever known."

His confusion gave way to a dumbstruck expression. "What?"

"You saved me from a guy who clearly had the wrong intentions…and I thanked the wrong person." Leaning forward she gave him the strongest, softest kiss she could before pulling back and pressing her forehead into his. "Thank you."

"You…your welcome but I…"

"When Dawson told me you had asked him, I found it a little bizarre, I'm not Dawson's property." When he tried to speak Joey shook her head placing her fingers across his lips, a wide grin taking over her lips. "But the more I thought about it…its endearing…like if you were asking my dad for my hand."

Pulling her fingers from his lips Pacey pulled her hand into his. "I never though of it like that."

Sliding on the bed Joey snarked playfully. "Well start." Pulling him in she traded soft kisses with him before resting her head on his chest, her fingers playing with his. "He's scared."

Those words got him as Pacey turned to her in shock. "Dawson?"

"Yeah." She nodded, her hand caressing down his chest. "I found him in front of his computer, watching your footage from 'Sea Creature' and crying."

Pacey blinked at her flabbergasted. "Are we talking the same Dawson that accused me of wanting to be with you for sex?"

"He apologized for that…" She glared playfully pressing a gentle kiss to his chin. "He asked how I coped when my mom was sick."

"Do…do you believe him?"

In shock Joey turned to him, her eyes questioning. "You don't?"

"I want to…" Pacey sighed his eyes drifting across the room, his fingertips drawing random designs across her forearm. "I really do, but even before I got sick he didn't seem like he cared to know anything about me unless it played part in his film."

"Then if you feel like that Pace…" She gently cupped his cheek, pulling his eyes back to hers. "Talk to him."

He smiled, pulling her closer, Pacey slid a hand up the nape of her neck. "I will." They shared a soft smile before drifting into tender but demanding kisses.

"Well, well…" Dr. Tiale grinned walking in the room, a nurse stepping in behind him to take Pacey's vitals. "Mr. Witter, how are you doing?"

"Still a little shaky on the details but I feel a bit better than I have been."

"Its normal to feel a little fuzzy after a coma…" Dr. Tiale explained stepping into the room, a smile on his face seeing Joey cuddled up close to Pacey. "But its great to hear your feeling better. A few more chemo treatments and one more tap and I just might be able to call you cancer free."

"I can't wait for that day." Joey boasted burying her face in Pacey's chest, tightening her arms around his waist.

Pacey smiled watching her eyes droop tiredly below his chin, holding her closer. "Me too."

"One step closer." Dr. Tiale reassured watching the nurse finish up and walk out of the room. "Let's get you better."

"Lets." For the first time in months Pacey felt like he could breathe.

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