Unforeseen 3/?
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, for now.
Rating: R
-break-
"Jo?" Pacey's hoarse voice jolted her from her reverie. She had sat in the same position next to his bed, her hand firmly clasped around his since Jen and Grams left an hour earlier. They offered to contact Bessie and explain what was going on, which she quickly accepted, wanting not to leave Pacey's side before she could speak with him.
This was the first time he had been awake since she arrived hours ago. "Hey Pace."
"What…" Clenching his eyes shut Pacey cleared his throat, whimpering at the pain that rattled his bones. "…are you…doing here?"
Squeezing his hand Joey cringed at the groan that escaped him at the contact. "Sorry. I noticed you hadn't been in school the last few days…I went by your house and found Gretchen…she spilled the beans."
Rolling his eyes, Pacey groaned in annoyance. "Of course."
"Why didn't you want us to know?"
Pulling in some air Pacey breathed. "Because I didn't want you to worry…" Clearing his throat he tried to breathe through the pain. "…and I didn't think Dawson would care."
Having already dealt with Dawson and his disinterest, Joey sighed. "Look at you Pacey of course I'm going to worry."
"Your mom?" Pacey tried to reason, his breath hitching as the oxygen caught in his nose.
Shaking her head, Joey clutched a little tighter to his hand. "It doesn't matter what happened to mom Pacey, you're my friend."
"Am I?" His eyes shot open in skepticism moving slightly on the bed.
"Yes Pacey." She smiled a half smile that curved at her cheek, her hand playing with the bedspread. "I know we've had our ups and downs, fights and arguments but even through that I've still thought of you as a friend."
His slight smile wasn't as bright as she was used to, but the pain and exhaustion had clearly worn on him as he added a gentle squeeze to her hand. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She grinned squeezing back, sliding back to get more comfortable on her chair.
Raising his eyes at her actions, Pacey cleared his throat. "Jo, you don't have to stay."
"Well too bad, I'm staying."
And she had stayed, watching him go through cycles of fighting to stay awake, chatting with her the best he could, to shuffling on the bed to get comfortable with the pain rattling his bones, to completely passing out from the pain and pain medicine they administered.
Her heart broke watching him work through each stage, not asking for comfort or medicine to ease the pain. She stayed by his bedside until visiting hours were over and they kicked her out.
Joey made it outside the hospital, Bessie stood outside their blue truck, waiting for her, Bodie still behind the wheel.
As she neared her older sister the tears pooled in her eyes, blurring her vision as Bessie enveloped her in a tight hug. A sob escaped Joey's lips as she clung tighter to her sister.
"Its okay Jo." Bessie whispered, rubbing a hand up and down her fragile sister's back. "He'll be okay, I know it."
Her soothing words had the opposite effect, bringing more tears to her eyes. The fear of a repeat of her mother settling in her chest, except this time it was her friend.
Read and review…sorry for the sadness, please don't hurt me