Unforeseen 2/?
Summary: Set after 'Double Date.' Pacey wakes up the day after the carnival to a new reality no one saw coming.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot, so far.
Rating: R
-break-
Joey felt numb. Gretchen had offered her a ride to the hospital, but she refused, still reeling from the knowledge her friend was sick.
She had to get to Dawson's and inform him.
She blinked and was at the bottom of the ladder in Dawson's yard. Her hands shook as she climbed rung to rung until she reached the roof. She blindly stepped into Dawson's room, not noticing as he and continued to make out without noticing her.
"Dawson." Joey squeaked painfully, her eyes on the pair.
"Jeez Joey." Dawson barked pulling back from his girlfriend. "What do you want? I'm kind of busy."
Joey glared at her friend, her nostrils flaring, ready to snap when Jen spoke up.
"What is it, Joey?" The blonde could sense there was something wrong.
"I found out why Pacey hasn't been in school."
"Oh, let me guess…" Dawson chuckled sarcastically, leaning closer to Jen. "He's in the hospital because he was stupid enough to fall off his roof again?"
Any ounce of desire she felt for Dawson before that drained away at his response. "How can you be so insensitive?"
Dawson rolled his eyes but sat up as Jen stood up. "So, then what is wrong with Pacey?"
The sardonic sarcasm that dripped from his tone cemented her receding attraction to this boy. "Yes, Pacey is in the hospital…according to Gretchen." She stopped as the words hit her again, tears pooling in her eyes.
Shock and confusion hit him making him shake his head. "Gretch…Gretchen us here? Why?"
"Why?" Joey snapped, her eyes blazing. "She's here because her brother has leukemia you insensitive jerk." Joey didn't wait for an answer as she bolted back out onto the roof and down the ladder as quickly as she could.
She hadn't expected halfway across the lawn to be joined by Jen, her arm coming around her shoulders. "Are you going to the hospital?"
Clearing her throat, Joey nodded wiping the tears from her eyes. "Yeah…I should probably talk to Bessie first."
"Do you want to call from my house?" Jen asked, pointing to the house next to Dawson's. "Or from the hospital?"
"Hospital definitely."
"Let me go tell Grams where were going."
"Ok." Joey nodded watching the blonde run up the stairs to her house. She was in the house less than five minutes before Jen and Mrs. Ryan came hustling out of the door.
"Joey come on." Jen yelled opening the passenger side door of Grams car and sliding in. Joey wasted no time in following suit, sliding into the back seat.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ryan."
"No problem, dear." Grams smiled in the rearview mirror at the brunette. "I want to see Pacey is okay as well."
The drive to the hospital was short but filled with silence and uncertainty and until they saw Pacey, they wouldn't know how bad it was.
Arriving at the hospital Joey had to take a calming breath as they stepped up to the main desk. Six years ago, she stepped through those doors to visit her mother who passed not long after she had been admitted. She just hoped this wasn't a repeat of that.
"Pacey Witter's room please?" Evelyn asked the woman behind the desk, a faux smile on her lips.
"He in room 215, upstairs."
"Thank you." They quickly made their way upstairs, not surprised to find Gretchen pacing outside the room.
"Gretch, hey, what are you doing out here?" Joey asked her eyes on the closed door.
Biting her lip, Gretchen cleared her throat, shifting from side to side. "Pacey was having some issues with his catheter. The doctor is trying to fix it so he can be comfortable."
"That's good." Jen shrugged uncomfortably as her grandma smiled.
"I'm hoping you being here might cheer him up." The older Witter sister cringed, her eyes turning to the nurse's station. "He's been pretty quiet since Monday. I think he's depressed."
Shaking her head, Joey balked. "Then why didn't he want you to tell us?"
"I'm pretty sure he either didn't want to worry you or maybe he thought you wouldn't care."
Joey's eyes widened in shock; did he really think she wouldn't care? Before she could respond the door opened revealing an older man.
"Miss Witter, we fixed the catheter and gave Pacey something to help alleviate the pain. So, he may be in and out for a while."
"Thank you, Dr Tiale." Gretchen smiled, shaking the doctor's hand before he walked away. Turning to the three women, Gretchen gestured to the now open door. "Why don't you guys go in. I have to call Doug."
"Ok Gretch." Stepping toward the door Joey felt Jen and Evelyn hesitate behind her. As they crossed the threshold Joey nearly gasped at the sight, this Pacey looked nothing like what she had seen days ago.
He sat perched on the bed, his normal bronze skin nearly as white as a sheet. His breaths seemed labored, a nasal canula providing him with fresh oxygen and soft whimper on his lips.
"Oh Pace." Joey produced a whimper of her own as she stepped to the bed, her hand immediately reaching for his, his responding moan breaking her heart.
Read and review…This story is not outlined, its on the fly, so if its wonky I'm sorry I'm figuring it out as I go. Next chapter of 'Heartache' is almost done.