Unforeseen 22/?
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-
Pacey stared at his shaking hands, he didn't know if they were shaking with nerves from the tap or the tap itself. The pain certainly wasn't easy to handle but neither was the wait on the results.
Joey who sat beside him grabbed his shaking hand holding it tightly between hers, her eyes milking in his fear. "Relax Pace, we've been through this before."
"Doesn't make it any easier."
"No…" She shook her head but held tighter to his hand, her own heart throbbing with fear of the results of this new tap. "But I'm here for you and I'm not going anywhere."
"I know." He smiled using the hand she held to pull her to him in a comforting bear hug.
"Pacey Witter?" An older female nurse came out, her voice hoarse and scratchy.
Pacey took a breath before standing, pulling Joey up with him. "Right here." Pacey felt like he was on the walk of doom following the older nurse back to a room to prep for his tap.
Joey squeezed his hand helping him onto the hospital bed. "Just relax."
"Easy for you to say." Pacey said, crossing his arms across his chest, irritated.
Shaking her head Joey cupped his cheeks her smile making his lips lift. "Pace, it isn't easy for me. When you're sad, I'm sad. When you hurt, I hurt."
"I know I'm sorry…" Pacey exhaled, leaning into her palms, his body relaxing slightly. "I…"
"Pace, you don't have to apologize. I'm here and I'm always going to be." Joey pressed her forehead into his, grinning when their eyes met. "I love you."
"I love you too." Pacey smiled his adorably dimpled smile, leaning forward to capture her lips softly, tenderly showing her how much he cared.
The clearing of someone's throat broke the pair apart both their eyes settling on Dr. Tiale, a chuckle on his lips. "How is it every time I walk in on you two your always attached in some way."
"Because we love each other." Joey grinned proudly pressing another tender kiss to Pacey's cheek, taking a seat next to the bed.
Dr. Tiale snickered while Pacey blushed a deep red, his eyes bashfully hitting the bed. "Are you ready for this?"
"As I'll ever be." Pacey groaned as the nurse handed him a hospital gown. Standing up he disregarded everyone in the room, pulling off his shirt, without care, he dropped it to the floor reaching for the gown. Pulling it on he reached for the button on his jeans, lifting his feet out of his shoes, his jeans slipped to the ground. Lifting his shirt, jeans, and shoes to the empty seat next to Joey, he stepped back. Finding her blushing as red as a tomato he questioned. "What?"
"Nothing." Joey's blush deepened as she turned away. It wasn't the first time she'd seen Pacey without a shirt. They'd swam together in the creek many times, but this was the first time she took notice of the lines accentuating the muscles in his chest, he acquired since his last hospitalization.
"Right." Pacey snickered with a quirked brow turning back to Dr. Tiale. "Ready."
"Alright." Dr. Tiale smiled nodding to the nurse prepping the I.V. "Nurse Mayer here is going to get your I.V. situated and get the general administered then we'll start in about ten minutes.
"Thank you Dr. Tiale." Joey smiled, relieved her blush fanned away, her hand grasping for Pacey's.
Laying against the pillow Pacey pulled Joey as close as the bed would allow as the nurse used the other arm for the I.V. "So…you enjoy the show?" Pacey teased squeezing Joey's hand as she flushed once more, breaking the obvious tension in the room.
"Shut up." Joey's blush reappeared again as she swatted his shoulder playfully, making him smile.
Joey watched with bated breath as the anesthesia took over him quickly, quicker than the last two taps. Was that good or bad? She didn't know but she sat as close to the bed as she could, her eyes resting solely on Pacey's prone face as Dr. Tiale stepped back in and handed her a mask.
Slipping it on quickly Joey retook Pacey's hand, her eyes on his adorable face, waiting for any pain to register. She was hit with a sense of relief, seeing only a cringe take over his face, a slight whimper escaping his lips as Dr. Tiale inserted the needle.
"Were going to keep him in here for a few hours to let the medication wear off and make sure there are no complications." Dr. Tiale explained as he finished up, pulling off his gloves and the exiting nurse the specimen. "He has a lift home?"
"Yeah." Joey nodded, standing up and stroking the top of Pacey's head, the slight fuzz giving her hope that maybe he would get past this. "His brother is gonna pick us both up when he's ready."
"Good." Dr. Tiale smiled looking between both of them, his expression sobering. "I'll be happy not to see either of you again."
Joey smiled feeling a little more relief seep into her mind, her eyes back on the man that changed her life. "Me too." She sighed as Dr. Tiale left, her hand once again stroking the small hairs on his head. "Me too."
Read and review…if you want more. Apparently I'm on a roll with typing tonight, I'm a bit behind on this one and 'The Longest..' so that is what I will be working on next.