The Tension and The Spark
Part 6
by Karen H and Paula J

Note from Karen: I would like to dedicate this part to two people, the first is Paula who will be getting married this Saturday weither Mr van der Beek decides to crash her wedding or not. I hope you have a grea time Paula. Second I would like to dedicate it to Jessica, I know you decided not to take part in the writing of this final part and i missed you writing on it. But good luck with you know what and I hope some day you will find you are able to write again. hugs K

As much as she tried to hold the tears in, she couldn’t and they came flowing out with force. They hit her like a cannon and caused her to fall to the floor, the cries now racking her body and causing her to shake. Just as the tears were beginning to cease she turned and noticed the bed. She remembered making it the day before with her favorite blue sheets, but now all she could think of was him. He had slept on them, he had made love to her on them and more importantly, she got to know him on those sheets. She could actually say that she knew Dawson Leery. Before last night she had known a little about him about and a lot about his anatomy. Why did she have to go and do that? Why couldn’t she have just let him go to Washington without the one last night? If she didn’t know about his life and his career and his ambitions she wouldn’t be crying like a little girl right now. If she didn’t care about him so much she wouldn’t be feeling this pain right now. This incredible pain in the pit of her stomach that was causing her to cry. The only thing she could think of doing to stop her pain was to get rid of those sheets.

She used the doorframe to pull herself up slowly. Her wobbly legs carried her to the bed and she pulled the bottom sheet up with as much force as she could muster. The sheet sprang up and flew to the other side of the room. Then she grabbed the top sheet and wadded it up and threw it as far as she could. The pillows were next, but she didn’t bother with removing the cases. She took them both and let them fly across the room towards the windows. Her heart was pounding as she reached for the blanket. Her mind raced back to last night and Dawson tucked under that blanket. He held her so close and all she could think of was wanting that all the time. Her eyes welled up with tears once again as she pulled the blanket from its place atop the bed and threw that as well. When she was done she stared at the empty bed, hoping it would make her feel better, but it didn’t. It just made her cry that much harder.

She didn’t how long she had been there, lying limp on the floor. It took her a few minutes to get acclimated as she stood for the first time in a while. Her eyes avoided the bed as she made her way through her apartment. She knew that she could take today off, but all she would do all day is sit and mope. So going to work would be the one thing that might just take her mind off of Dawson.

The hot July air hit her hard and almost pushed her over as she walked down the street. Although she wasn’t a big coffee drinker she knew she was going to need a grande today. She rounded the corner and saw that there was no line at Starbucks. It was after 11 so the morning rush had long since died down. As she entered she saw Keith at the counter. He smiled and made his way over to her.

“Good morning Joey. You are in awful late. What can I get for you?”

Joey began to look over the menu, but her thoughts drifted back to Tuesday. Accidentally running into him here. Walking back to the office with him. She could still remember how she felt when they touched as he opened the door for her. It was so amazing and she knew it would be something she would never feel again. Her emotions must have been showing on her face because Keith came around the counter.

“Are you ok?”

“Yeah,” she said as she came back to reality, realizing where she was. “I’m fine, thanks,” she said, once again looking at the menu.

“Oh did that guy ever find you?”

“What guy?” She asked coming closer to the counter and leaning against it.

“The guy you were in here with the other day. The one with blonde hair. He came in yesterday all frantic, trying to find you. Well did he?” Keith asked as he came back behind the counter.

“Um yeah. He did. You know I’m not in a coffee mood after all. Bye,” Joey said frantically as she quickly left the store.

He had been trying to find her all day yesterday, just like she had been looking for him. This should have been good news, it should make her feel better, but it didn’t. It just reminded her that he did indeed find her, but now he was gone. And she was left here to deal with all the emotions that were left behind.

She had to force herself to keep walking down the street to the office because if she didn’t she would just run back home. She would run home and curl up on the floor with that blanket all day. Not more than a week ago she would have thought actions like this were childish and weak, but now she understood why women did those kinds of things. They just make you feel better; they are probably the only things that keep you from falling apart.

As soon as she walked through the office door Kyle greeted her with concern.

“What happened last night?”

“What?” She asked, forgetting that she had planned to go out with Kyle. She forgot to tell him she wasn’t going to make it while she was rolling in the sack with Dawson.

“I couldn’t find you after the speech. I didn’t know what happened with you.”

“Did you call?’ she stuttered, forgetting once again that while cavorting with Dawson they just happened to knock the phone off the table.

“I did, but it was busy,” Kyle said giving her a quizzical look.

‘He can’t know,” Joey thought. “Oh I wasn’t feeling well. I left and when I got home I took the phone off the hook. I am so sorry I didn’t call,” Joey smiled as she gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. She was about to walk away when he stopped her.

“So how about I take you out for a drink tonight? Finally have that date we’ve been hinting about having?” he asks with a laugh

“Yeah sure. I gotta get to work. I’m already late,” she says with a smile, once again not even knowing what she agreed to. She just knew she had to find something to take her mind off of Dawson.

As Joey settled into her work she tried to focus on the task at hand. He was gone and there was nothing she could do about it.

As she continued to write up some notes, movement in Dawson's...that office caught her eyes and she felt anger swell in her tummy. What the hell did she have to do to get her own office? Feeling she could no longer remain silent, she stood and decided she was going to speak to Patrick about this now, before her meeting with him. It just wasn't fair.

Standing in the doorway of his office she found he was on the phone. He looked up at her and smiling waved her into the office, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"As long as there is no problem." He was saying into the phone and for a brief moment Joey wondered if it was somewhat immature to be so annoyed about not having her own office. "Thank you, bye." He finished, putting the phone back in its cradle.

"Hey Patrick," Joey began at the same time he said 'hello'.

"It was some night last night, did you enjoy it?"

"Huh?"

"The convention, big speech."

"Oh right, yeah." Joey replies. How do you possibly tell a guy you idolize that you missed most of your presidential candidates’ speech because you were off getting pelvic with a coworker?

"Anyway, I sense that's not why you are here. What can I do for you?"

Joey seemed to be composing herself and trying to think how she could say this without sounding like she was arguing.

"Patrick, are you happy with my work?"

"What?" He asked thinking he has misheard her. "What's brought this on?"

"I've been here for two years, always dedicated to the job and I've never asked for anything, expected anything. But it seems like anyone can walk in off of the street and get a position with an office." Patrick opened his mouth to speak but Joey continued. "That office lay empty for months and then suddenly Dawson comes breezing in and because he's the golden boy, or maybe it's just because he's a guy he gets the office. Then he's barely left the state and someone else has his office, I have the feeling it's another guy and..."

The sound of someone behind her clearing their throat made her stop. I should have closed the door, she thought to herself as she turned.

"If you two are busy I can come back for our meeting later..." Dawson said, leaning against the doorframe.

Joey looked at him quizzically, trying to mask all her feelings. Just because he was there didn't mean anything.

"No, it's alright Dawson." Patrick began. "Joey was just wondering why 'some guy' was able to walk in off the street and bag an office."

Joey cringed inside but tried not to show she was embarrassed.

"I thought you were going to Washington." She said, her tone indicating it was more of a statement.

"There was a slight change in plan." Dawson replied with a smile. He was happy to see her and wished he could say more but not here and in front of Patrick.

"It appears Dawson will be staying with us longer than we thought." Patrick informed her. "I had planned on telling you today that the office was yours, but seeing as Mr. Leery is here longer...well, I can't very well kick him out."

"Why not?" Joey asked laughing and Dawson and Patrick laughed too.

"So, as a compromise..." Patrick began but his phone started to ring again. "Can you both excuse me?" He asked and Dawson and Joey took that as their cue to leave.

"And given that we'll be working with one another anyway..." Dawson continued leaving Patrick's office. "Patrick thought it'd be a good idea for us to share the office." As he finished she saw the hint of a grin on his face.

"Patrick decided?" She asked her voice low as Dawson led the way out of the office.

"Well, he agreed." Dawson whispered.

They walked towards Dawson's...their office in silence and before entering Joey turned to Dawson.

"I should grab some of my things..." She trailed off not realizing how close they were to one another. She seemed to be captured by his gaze and willed herself to look away, but found she was trying to read his eyes.

"If you would step inside my...our office, you would see I already moved some of your things."

Glancing over her shoulder Joey saw that some of her things had in fact been moved into the office, as had a second desk and a few chairs.

"When did you do that?" Joey asked curiously.

"While you were having a few words with Patrick."

Joey stepped inside the office and Dawson followed closing the door behind him.

"What if I don't want to share an office with you?" She asked with a slight grin on her face.

"I can go tell Patrick right now..." He began, placing his hand on the door handle but she stopped him.

"I was kidding."

"So was I." He replied, removing his hand from the door, her hand still covered his. Dawson lifted his free hand and cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up."

"Me too."

"I just didn't want to have to see you, to say goodbye in case Patrick wouldn't agree to my staying here."

"So you're really staying?"

"Yeah."

"No flight to catch?"

"No." He replies as Joey turns the lock on the door. "I wanted to be there this morning."

"I wanted you to be there too." She said as she backed into the room and he followed. "I had a really nice time last night."

"Me too. But I think you owe me a cup of..."

Joey cut him off by pressing her lips to his and muffling his final word as her free hand moved up the side of his body before coming to rest on his chest.

"I missed you." She mumbled against his ear as he buried his face in the crock of her neck. "Does that sound insane?"

"No." He replied against her skin as he caressed her back. "I should show you to your desk so you can get back to work."

"Well this is a new way to find it." Joey retorted as she ran her hands through his hair and he cupped one of her breasts through her shirt as she backed into the desk causing her to sit. "I don't think we're being paid to do this."

"So we'll - stay late." He replied as he nipped on her ear before bringing his lips back to hers and their hands started to roam again.

Joey stood up and started to undo the buttons on Dawson's shirt, while he had started to unbutton her blouse, their lips in contact the whole time. She became so lost in him that she was surprised when she felt him press against the fabric of her underwear and she let out a small gasp and his tongue entered her mouth.

"Dawson..." She moaned as he stroked her, the thought crossing her mind that they shouldn't be doing this, not here. But she never wanted this to stop.

"I missed you too, you know." Dawson said into her hair as she placed her hands on his ass pulling him closer.

"I can tell." She replied looking in his eyes before he stole her lips in another searing kiss.

As outside noise started to filter through Dawson asked, "Can you hear that?" His hand still moving under her skirt.

"Hear what?" She asked as his hands stilled and he backed off slightly causing her to groan.

"The fire alarm." Dawson replied grinning at her flushed face as he began to button his shirt. "See what you did?"

"I guess after Clinton those things come with some sort of sex-o-meter." Joey replied rolling her eyes and straightening up her skirt.

"Someone had to spoil it for the rest of us." He retorted as he helped Joey button her blouse. Before they left the room he grabbed his jacket and saw her smirk. "It's alright for you to smirk, but you'll pay for that later."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

As the fire alarm continued to blare everyone was ushered across the street, despite there being no real danger. Someone had heard that Cheryl had somehow caused the microwave to catch on fire.

Most people seemed to be standing in crowds chatting. Patrick was standing near the main entrance waiting for word that it was safe to re-enter the building and Dawson and Joey seemed to be away from everyone else, talking animatedly and laughing, possibly flirting Patrick thought.

Everyone thought Patrick knew nothing that went on in the office, if it wasn't related to politics then he didn't care or want to know, but that wasn't true. He had his favorites and he made sure he knew what was going on in their lives, even if they didn't know it.

Joey was one of those people. Every since she'd started working for him during the Gore campaign he'd liked her. She was dedicated to her work and never let anything get in the way and she reminded Patrick a lot of his daughter.

He knew that Joey tried to keep her private life private but while she was dating Brock that didn't seem to happen as Brock took it upon himself to brag about the fact he had bagged Joey. Patrick was also the only person who knew that it was Joey who had ended things with Brock, although he seemed to tell a different story.

It was at that very moment that Brock walked over to Patrick and deep down Patrick wished he could just disappear. The truth was he didn't like Brock, he even doubted he ever had.

"Hey Patrick, how's it going?" Brock asked and right then Patrick knew he wanted something.

"Things were going not too bad." He replied, hoping to end the talk there.

"Any idea how long it'll be before we can go back in?"

"Should just be a few more minutes."

"Good. Listen Patrick, I have something to ask you."

Bingo. "What would that be?"

"This Dawson guy, why is he hanging around? Last I heard he was supposed to be in D.C. by now."

"Well there was a slight change of plans and he's here now."

"He's staying?"

Patrick was getting annoyed by Brock and wondered why he was even asking, it was none of his business. "Yes." He replied and as he did he saw Brocks eyes move to where Dawson and Joey were standing. "Let it go Brock."

"Let what go?"

"Joey." Patrick simply replied, glancing at his watch.

"This has nothing to do with Joey." Brock answered his voice slightly raised. "I got out of that in time."

"You got out of it?"

"Yeah." Brock replied eyeing Patrick.

"You sure about that?"

Brock averted his eyes from Patrick's and wondered "How could he know?" If he did he was the only one who knew the truth.

"Just let it go Brock. It's done with."

"Says who?"

"I think Joey said it was." Patrick replied taking his cell phone out of his pocket. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a call to make. I mean it Brock; it's time to move on."

"We'll see." Brock replied under his breath as he walked away.

A few minutes later everyone was given the all clear to re-renter the building. Dawson had offered to go get Joey some decent coffee and she decided to move the rest of her stuff into their office. When she came back with the rest of her stuff she found Brock sitting on her desk.

“What have I ever done to deserve this?” Joey thought to herself. "What can I do for you Brock?"

"I came by to invite you to lunch, celebrate your finally getting an office." He replied standing as she passed him.

"I'm kind of busy, but thanks all the same." Joey replied as she rearranged things on her desk.

"Dinner then?"

"I already have plans for then too."

"Tomorrow?" He insisted as he walked towards the door.

"No Brock, not tomorrow either."

"Just because you have an office now doesn't mean you are above me." He spat at her.

"I never ever said I was above you." Joey corrected him. "I'm just not interested in going out for dinner with you, lunch...anything."

"You didn’t always think like that."

"Times change Brock, roll with it."

"He'll only use you, you know!" He informed her as she walked around the desk taking something off of the chair. "Dawson."

"Like you did?"

He ignored her comment and continued. "I've seen him with other women."

"Have you been stalking him, that's illegal you know! Besides, he's not been here long enough for you to know what he does."

"Really?" Brock asked, his tone that of someone in the know. "Well what if I told you I knew he'd been with another woman in here?"

"Excuse me?"

"I saw him with her the other night and then she came back here the next day. He thinks I never saw him but I did, her name is Ellie..."

Joey started to laugh which caused Brock to stop talking.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You! I'm laughing at you." Joey replied as she crossed her arms. "You presume to know him and you presume to know me and the truth of the matter is, we dated for 3 months yet I feel like Dawson knows more about me than you do. You never cared about me. Just like you don't care about me now. For your information, Ellie is his sister."

"So he says." Brock replied, trying to back peddle the conversation.

"Well, I met her too. I've become a good judge of character." Joey glared at him. "I know what this is."

"And just what is that Miss know-it-all." He asked moving closer to her.

"You're jealous."

"Of you?" His tone was venomous.

"No, of Dawson. He has a better job than you, he's respected by more people than you are, and he’s nicer looking than you are, makes more money than you do and Brock honey..." She trailed off feeling slightly intimidated by how close he was. "He's better in bed than you are." She managed to finish before jerking her knee upward and he winced and groaned as it came into contact with his groin.

Joey felt somewhat liberated as she looked down at Brock in pain.

"I'll give you a few minutes to compose yourself, but you better not come near me again." She said walking towards the door, finding that Dawson was standing there.

"Are you okay?" He asked once she was outside and the door was closed.

"Yeah." She replied as Dawson handed her her coffee. "How much of that did you see?"

"Pretty much all of it I think. Kyle heard too, he went to tell Patrick." Dawson said as they walked down the hallway. "So you have dinner plans?"

"Maybe, I just said that to him. I was aiming for the gentle approach."

"You call that gentle?"

Joey let out a small laugh. "He just pushed my buttons." v"I'll try to remember not to do that." Dawson assured her. "Now onto more important business, how about I buy you dinner."

"And I can make you coffee."

"Is that what you're calling it now?"

"Maybe." She replied grinning at him.

Hours later they had found themselves back at Joey's apartment with some Chinese take out and a movie. Everyone at the office had been gossiping about why Dawson was suddenly staying but that focus seemed to change to Brock being fired. With some people wondering why it took so long for Patrick to finally get rid of him.

“So, I take it Kyle knows about us now?” Dawson asked as Joey hung up the phone.

“Yeah, he’s such a sweet guy.” She replied sitting back on the sofa. “He apologized and said he wouldn’t have asked me out if he knew I was involved with someone else.”

Dawson laughed. “I don’t think even we knew we were involved.”

“Yet.” Joey added.

"Would you like another glass of wine?" Joey asked as she drained the remainder of the wine in her glass.

"No I'm fine." He replied as Joey moved closer to him.

"Do you want to watch the movie?" She asked and Dawson moved a little closer to her.

"Right now?" Dawson asked as Joey moved onto his lap, straddling him.

"Well we could wait for a while..." She began as he kissed her neck. "We might get bored later."

"Wouldn't want that to happen." He countered as Joey quickly undid the buttons on her blouse.

Placing her hands on his cheek she lowered her lips to his, happy that he was here. Feeling as though something was finally going right.

He sunk further into the couch as she ground her hips against his and she smiled against his lips as he moaned. However a cell phone ringing brought them both back to reality.

"Do you ever get the feeling this isn't supposed to happen?" She asked rolling her eyes as she climbed off of him and he reached for his cell phone.

Dawson chuckled before answering the cell phone. "Hello...Hey El. Yeah I'm at Joey's right now." As Dawson continued to listen Joey started to unbutton his shirt and gently bit his ear. "I haven't exactly had the chance to look for anything today...you're kidding!" He exclaimed as Joey slinked back into his lap, pushing his shirt off his shoulders. "Sure I can make that...I'll see you then."

He quickly pressed the end button on his cell and threw it on the table before quickly over turning Joey on the sofa so he was on top and she let out a small yelp.

“There are some things you should never do to me when I’m on the phone with my sister.” He told her as he traced the outline of her lips with his index finger.

“What can I say; I’m fed up with interruptions today.” Joey replied as she traced the outline of his jaw. “But it’s duly noted.”

“Good.” Dawson smiled at her before lowering his head and capturing her bottom lip with his own.

Her hands moved into his hair as they started to make out heavily, he lowered the straps on her bra and she wrapped one of her legs around him. He grinded his hips against hers and she moaned his name into his mouth as he started to pull her skirt up.

Joey’s hand moved down his back and cupped his ass as he kissed her nose before slowly kissing down her body. Dawson stopped at her breasts, removed her bra before manipulating her nipple with his tongue.

Shifting his position slightly, Dawson unzipped her skirt and Joey lifted her hips so he could remove it along with her panties. Cupping her breast he brought his lips back to hers and rocked his knee between her thighs causing her to moan his name again. His hand moved down her waist, past curly tendrils before probing fingers entered her and she moaned and sighed depending on his touch.

As the movement of his hand quickened, he gently bit on one of her nipples and she could feel the pressure mounting, becoming almost too much and the tremor finally wracked her body.

While Joey tried to catch her breath, Dawson laid butterfly kisses on her shoulder, he chin, her nose and finally her lips as one of her hands rested on his head.

“Thank you.” She whispered in his ear as her breathing returned to almost normal.

“For what?” He asked leaning up to look in her eyes.

“Staying.” Joey smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck before kissing him quickly.

“No, thank you.” Dawson said before kissing her nose again.

“For what?” She asked mimicking his words as her hands moved down his back.

“Telling me you wanted me to stay.” He replied as her hands moved into the back pockets of his jeans and she rocked her hips against his, while biting her lip.

Dawson read the want in her eyes and moved to quickly take off his jeans and boxers. He kissed her as he positioned himself between her legs and entered her slowly causing her to moan his name.

She placed one of her hands on his shoulder and the other over his before they started to move in time with one another. He kissed her shoulder and she kissed his cheek, wrapped her legs around him and arched her back off of the sofa.

As the tension mounted for both of them their breathing became erratic as their pace quickened and Joey tightened her grip on Dawson until they both tumbled over the edge and he collapsed on top of her. He moved off of her and they both came down together, stealing quick kisses and caressing each other. Dawson lay on his side with an arm over her stomach and she turned to face him, giving him a slow lingering kiss.

“Why was Ellie calling?” Joey asked at last.

“She thinks she may have found me an apartment.”

“That was quick.” Joey laughed.

Stroking the small of her back Dawson replied, “When you get to know Ellie better, you will discover that she doesn’t do things slow. All I had to tell her was I was staying and she said she’d scout out apartments. She’s really quite handy to have.”

“I’ll bet.” Joey replied. “It’ll give you more time to concentrate on other, more important things.”

“Oh yeah. Like what?” He enquired.

Moving on top of him Joey kissed him on the mouth before reaching for something on the table. “Watching the movie!” She replied as she moved off of him again and switched on the TV with the remote.

“Ah.”

“Why, what did you think I was meaning?” Joey asked playing innocent.

Dawson simply cocked an eyebrow at her and she started to laugh.

“Maybe later.”

“Just maybe?”

“Just watch the damn movie.” She replied as she pulled the throw off of the back of the sofa to cover them.

“Yes ma’am.” He replied and they settled to watch the movie.

Dawson lay on his back with one arm around her waist while Joey lay with one leg over his and an arm slung over his stomach, her fingers laced in his.

Throughout the movie they kissed occasionally, made jokes and by the time the final credits rolled Joey licked his nipple and moved her hand down his stomach.

“I’m not bored anymore.” Joey said as she disappeared beneath the throw.