Unforeseen 17/?

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-

"When you get out of here, I want to cuddle up on a picnic…maybe the Ruins?" Joey sighed in contentment, her fingers playing Pacey's.

"Cause that's not cliché." Pacey chuckled, the one hand that still teased hers while the other combed gently through her hair, her head resting comfortably on his chest. "I know I didn't get to tell you yesterday, but I love you too, you know."

Her fingers stopped their movement, her body turning more into him, catching his eyes. "Really?" His grin was wide as he nodded before he could respond verbally, she cupped the nape of his neck pulling his lips aggressively toward hers.

-break-

"I don't know if we should do this." Jen said in trepidation, glaring at Dawson as the four of them stepped out of Jack's SUV.

"Why, we just want to meet your friends." Andie said brightly, curling under Dawson's arm as she came to stand next to him.

"Would you like to tell your girlfriend Dawson?" Jen snarked crossing her arms ignoring the odd look Jack sent her way.

"I got into an argument with Pacey."

"What about?" Jack inquired, eyeing Dawson as they walked toward the hospital.

"I told him the only reason I thought he'd want to be with Joey is because he wanted to get in her pants."

Jen huffed in annoyance while Andie questioned. "What? Why?"

"Because…I kind of assumed he slept with our teacher…"

"What?" Both Mcphee's exclaimed at the same time making the other two jump.

"But he didn't do it." Jen clarified glaring at Dawson again. "And Dawson decided to exacerbate it."

"And Pacey just had pneumonia." Jack asked, confused by the whole thing.

"Yes…he had passed out from a pretty severe case of pneumonia, they had to intubate him. He had just gotten the tube out night before last and had barely come to when we visited yesterday."

"So, he got overwhelmed?" Andie surmised slipping out from under Dawson's arm but sliding her hand into his.

"I'm assuming. I had to march Dawson out of the hospital after he caused trouble." Jen pushed the door open, smiling as Jack aided her.

"Then let's get to his room." Dawson muttered impatiently annoyed that Jen had to blab about his attitude to his girlfriend and her brother.

"I think he's ok." Jack snickered as they stopped just inside the door finding Joey straddling Pacey's gown covered body, making out to the point they looked like they were mauling each other, while Pacey's hands glided across open part of Joey's lower back and up her spine under the shirt.

Jen unsubtly clears her throat a glowing smile on her face as the pair broke apart flushed and panting. "Are we interrupting?"

Before anyone could respond Joey jumped from the bed and came to stand in front of Dawson, her arms crossed across her chest. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Put off by her sudden brash attitude Dawson let go of Andie's hand and crossed his arms too. "I came to apologize again and introduce you guys to Jack and Andie."

"Ok…" She drew out the word, her finger raising menacingly between them. "But if you so much as cause Pacey any pain or issue with his cancer I will castrate you myself."

Dawson's eyes widened in shock and slight fear as Pacey chuckled full heartedly behind Joey.

"Jo, come on." When she didn't budge Pacey rolled his eyes patting the bed next to him. "Jo stop scaring Dawson and get your cute butt back here."

Joey blushed a deep crimson at Pacey's 'threat' before turning on her heel and heading back to the bed. Sliding back on the bed she cuddled under his arm, before looking back at the group, her gaze pointedly at Dawson. "Well?"

"I'm…" Dawson still felt uncomfortable seeing the two of them…so intimate but he tried not to let that effect his words. "I'm sorry for how I reacted to the two of you…it was wrong and I'm happy for you."

Pacey smiled, pulling Joey closer her own smile turning to a sigh as she leaned more of her body into him. "Thanks man."

"And…I wanted to say I'm sorry for how I was after your diagnosis." Dawson murmured his eyes bouncing between the pair. "I was being selfish…trying to distract and ignore the reality that my best friend is sick…and could…"

His words trailed off, but Joey shook her head grasping Pacey's hand, cuddling even closer to him. "Nope not gonna happen not while I'm here." Pacey snickered but didn't respond, instead squeezing her side once more acknowledging her words.

"Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm sorry and I'm going to try and be a better friend to you both."

"Ok, now that those dramas are out of the way." Jen harkened dramatically before turning to the twins. "This studly piece of eye candy is Jack." She pointed to the other male standing awkwardly next to her.

"Jen, I've already told you I don't swing that way." Jack chuckled lightly nodding to the pair on the bed.

Jen rolled her eyes but turned to Andie. "And this firecracker is Andie, Dawson's girlfriend."

"Hi…" The blonde blushed bashfully curling herself around Dawson's arm, hiding slightly behind his shoulder.

Joey grinned at their interactions before pointing to herself, then Pacey. "I'm Joey and this goofball is Pacey."

Jack nodded back a 'hello' pausing momentarily before asking. "Is it too forward of me to ask? You have cancer, what type?"

"Leukemia." Joey answered but was shocked by fear as Pacey recited, emotionless.

"Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia." The words rolled off his tongue with such ease it was as if they were a part of his normal vocabulary. It sent a shockwave through the room, the lightness in the room evaporating faster than their next breath.

Joey felt reality hit like an avalanche, her breath escaping in a gasp as she curled infinitely closer in his arms.

Read and review…if you want more