Title: Never, Neverland part 1/10
Author: Kjiara
Author's E-Mail: kayjay@sunwave.net
Category: PJR
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Season three
Archive: Yes, just give credit where due
Feedback: Makes my day!
http://www.geocities.com/kjiara
Disclaimer: I don't own any of 'em.
Summary: What if Cinderella Story had a slightly different ending?



Never, Neverland part 1/10
by Kjiara

The first thing she was aware of was the incessant beeping.  It
was annoying, and more importantly, it was keeping her awake.  She
started to roll over only to discover a whole new reason to be
awake.  PAIN.  Unbelievable, blinding pain.  She stopped her
movements abruptly.  That was when she felt the soothing hand on
her forehead and realised someone was speaking to her.

"Shh, Joey, relax.  It's okay.  The doctor's on her way.  Just lie
back," Dawson comforted.

Joey relaxed back into the pillows.  Then opened her eyes, in
shock.  Dawson?  What the. . .  "Pacey?" she whispered, hardly
recognising her own voice.

"Shh, it's okay, he's fine.  Just a few scratches, nothing too
serious.  You're the one who had us scared, Jo," Dawson said,
smiling sweetly.  "You should have mentioned you'd planned a four
day nap."

"Wha. . ."  She tried to clear her dry throat.

"Here."  Dawson held a straw to her lips and she sipped the cool
water gratefully.

"What happened?" she whispered.  "Where's Pacey?  Why isn't he
here?"

Dawson looked at her a bit strangely.  "Pacey's in the hall.  Do
you want to see him?"

"Of course."

Dawson shot her another funny look and went to the door.  Before
he could open it, the doctor entered, followed closely by Pacey. 
"Well Miss Potter, I'm happy to finally see you again."

"Hi, Dr. Martin," Joey said rather absently, she had eyes only for
Pacey.  He looked to be okay, a slight bruising on one cheek and a
few scratches the only outward signs of any injury.  "Hey,"  Joey
said, smiling brightly at him, extending her hand towards him.

Pacey looked at her quizzically, but took the proffered hand.  She
pulled him closer to her kissing his knuckles then tucking his
hand under her chin.  "Will *you* tell me what hap -"  She stopped
short, finally fully taking in her surroundings, what the. . . 
"Where am I?"  She turned to the doctor.  "Dr.  Martin, what are
you doing here?"

The doctor made a few notes on her chart then began to examine
Joey.  "What's the last thing you remember, Joey" she asked,
checking the younger woman's eyes.

Joey thought for a moment.  "I was up on deck, painting.  We were
trying to decide whether or not we needed to go into port to go
grocery shopping."  She squeezed her eyes shut, then shook her
head, instantly regretting the action as pain sliced through her
temples.  She took a moment to catch her breath.  "That's all I
remember."  She turned to Pacey.  "Did something happen, did we
hit bad weather?"

Pacey was, by now, thoroughly confused.  "Jo -"

"Joey, do you know what today's date is?" the doctor interrupted
Pacey.

"Um, Dawson said I was out for four days, right?"  The doctor
nodded.  "Then it's what, August twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth?"  She
saw the shock on their faces.  "What?"  She closed her eyes again,
images started to melt together, then separated and suddenly it
all cleared and she finally knew what was wrong.  She felt the
tears on her cheeks before she even realised she was crying.

"Joey, what is it?  What do you remember?" Pacey asked, concerned.

She let go of his hand, suddenly self-conscious.  "It was all a
dream," she whispered, the tears coming faster now.  "It was all a
stupid dream."

Pacey and Dawson just looked at each other, neither understanding
what Joey was talking about.  "Jo, what is it?  Did you have a
nightmare?" Dawson asked carefully.

She couldn't look at him.  "No, the dream wasn't a nightmare,
waking up was."

Shortly after that the doctor had hustled the boys out of Joey's
room saying she needed to finish her examination.

"What the hell was that all about?" Dawson asked as he and Pacey
entered the waiting room.

"I have no idea, man.  She seemed pretty torn up about that dream
though."  Pacey wandered about the room.  

"I know, she seemed a bit lost to me."  Dawson hesitated for a
moment.  "She asked for you."

Pacey stopped his roaming.  "What?"

"When she woke up.  The first thing she did was ask for you.  She
seemed shocked that I was there and not you."

"I - uh, I was in the car too, Dawson.  She was probably just
worried about me.  She knew I was driving," Pacey said
confidently, though he too was a bit disconcerted by Joey's
behaviour.  Why *had* she asked for him?  And the whole hand
holding thing when he came in the room, that just wasn't Joey.  He
smiled to himself, not that Joey Potter holding his hand was a bad
thing.  He sighed heavily, his thoughts returning to their
conversation in the truck.  He couldn't decide whether he wanted
to go back to Boston and stomp college boy or thank him for
getting the hell out of Joey's life.  Maybe both was best, he
could stomp him *then* thank him.  His musings were interrupted by
Dawson's voice.

"Pacey, were the hell'd you go?  Have you heard a word I said?" 

"What?  Sorry, D, kinda zoned for a minute.  What'd you say?" 
Pacey tried to shake loose the cobwebs.

"I asked you *again* what is was that made you drive all the way
to Boston in the middle of the night to bring Joey home."

"And I'll answer you the same way I have for the last four days,
Dawson, that is for Joey to tell, not me.  If she wants to explain
her situation to you, I'm sure she will," Pacey snapped,
exasperated by Dawson's bulldog tenacity.

"Come off it Pacey.  You know she'll tell me, she always does. 
I'm just very curious as to why you two were out on that highway
that morning."

"Dammit, Dawson, no!" Pacey gritted out.  "If she wants to tell
you she will.  Please don't ask me to betray her confidence."

Dawson snorted.  "Her confidence, c'mon, Pacey, since when did you
become- " Dawson's sarcastic tirade was cut off by the arrival of
Bessie Potter.

"They called and said she was awake," Bessie said, moving to take
Pacey's hand.  "Is she okay?  Did you talk to her?"

Pacey squeezed Bessie's hand gently.  "The doctor's with her now. 
She said she'll talk to us as soon as she finishes examining Jo."

"But you saw her?"

"Yes, Bessie we saw her.  Dawson was with her when she woke up. 
She was a bit confused but seemed to get back on track fairly
quickly.  I'm sure she's going to be fine."

"Thank God." Bessie collapsed into a chair.  "I don't know what
I'd do if anything happened to her."  She whispered.

The doctor arrived to tell them all that it looked like Joey was
going to be fine.  The examination looked good and she was
confident that Joey would make a full recovery.  She also told
them that Joey had fallen asleep but that Bessie could go in to
sit with her.  

The all heaved sighs of relief after the doctor left the room.

"See, I told you, she's going to be fine, Bess."  The woman who
arrived with Bessie sat next to her.  "Joey's strong, just like
all us Potter girls."  Bessie smiled at her, thanked the boys and
went to sit with her sister.

Pacey was struck dumb, he had been concentrating on Bessie and the
doctor and had failed to notice the woman with her, until now.  It
had been a very long time, six years in fact, since he had last
seen her, but there was no mistaking that hair or those eyes. 
"Carson?" he breathed.

The redhead stood up, smiling brightly.  "Hey you."

"Oh my god, it is you."  Pacey stared at her in wonder, until she
gathered him in for a tight hug.  He held her close.  "I've missed
you so much," he whispered his voice breaking.

"I've missed you to, sweetie," she said, holding him even tighter. 
"I've missed you too."  She held him for a moment longer then
released him completely, taking a step back to examine him more
thoroughly.

"My, god, look at you.  You're beautiful, and so *tall*." 

Pacey blushed profusely.  Then grinned mischievously.  "Well. . .
I don't know about the beautiful thing, but, I'm pretty sure the
tall thing is all a matter of perspective."  His grin broadened as
the tiny redhead glared up at him. 

"You, are a brat."

"And that's why you love me."  Pacey ducked as she swatted him
again.  "When did you get into town?" he asked sitting down.

Carson joined him.  "A couple of hours ago.  I stopped in to see
Bess and Joey and Bess told me about the accident."  She reached
up to gently brush his bruised cheek.  "Are you okay baby?"

Pacey blushed at her use of the endearment.  "Car. . ."  He could
see her start to get her stubborn up and sighed.  "I'm fine.  Just
a few scratches and bruises.  Joey got the worst of it."

Carson could see the pain and worry in his eyes.  "C'mon, let's go
for a walk."

Pacey balked at the idea.  "Car, I'd rather not, if Joey wakes 
up. . ."

"If she wakes up her sister is there to tell her we'll be right
back."  She could still see the hesitation.  "Pacey, Bessie told
me you've been here since they released you.  You need a break. 
We'll just go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee, okay?"

Pacey nodded reluctantly and turned to Dawson.  "D, if Joey wakes
up, please come get me."

Dawson nodded.  He had watched the exchange between the two
silently.  "Aren't you going to even say hello, Carson?" 

"Oh, my God, I'm sorry, Dawson.  I just. . ."  She grinned
sheepishly.  "I'm sorry, it's good to see you."  She hugged him
briefly.

Dawson laughed and hugged her back.  "S'okay, he always was your
favourite."

They all laughed, and Pacey and Carson left the waiting room. 
They were standing waiting for the elevator when she took his
hand, swinging it between them.  "It's good to see you, PJ."

Pacey winced at her as they got on the elevator.  "Do you have to
call me *that*?"  

"Pacey John, I've called you *that* since you were four years old
and I will continue to call you *that* as long as I like."

Pacey sighed.  "I don't know why I bothered it's not like you've
ever listened to me before."

Carson laughed.  "I always listen to you, baby, I just rarely do
what you want."

"Potter girls," Pacey snorted.  "Obstinate creatures every one of
'em," he muttered to himself.

Carson laughed and smacked his arm.  "If we're so damn difficult
to live with why can you not seem to stay away, hmm?" she asked
with a smirk.

"You want coffee or tea?" Pacey asked, ignoring her remark.

Carson laughed softly at his avoidance technique.  "Coffee, then
we talk."

Pacey nodded reluctantly then took his time getting them their
drinks.  When he finally joined her at the table he sipped his
coffee carefully, refusing to meet her eyes.

Carson left him to his thoughts, knowing he'd talk when he was
ready.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Pacey began to
talk.  "I haven't told her."

"Why not?"

"Well, there was the issue of her boyfriend."

"Was she serious about him?  I got the impression from your
letters that she wasn't."

Pacey shrugged.  "She was serious enough to go spend the weekend
with him."

"Mhm, okay.  So, you drove her to the train on Friday, she was
supposed to spend the weekend." She waited for his nod.  "You said
in your e-mail that she wasn't coming back until Sunday night.
Wasn't that what had you so upset, she was going to be spending
the night there?"  Again she waited for him to agree.  "Then how
did you two end up in a car accident, together, on Saturday
morning."

Pacey took a deep breath, he'd really rather not have relived that
awful morning.  "She called me.  Evidently there was another
girl."

"Oh no!  Poor Joey.  What happened?"

"I'm not sure, we were talking about it when that idiot hit us. 
But from what I gathered she was his oldest and best friend, and
Joey, being the kind of person she is, made him realise that he
had more than friendly feeling for this other girl."

"Poor Joey."

"Yeah, she was pretty upset.  We were almost home before she'd
even tell me what was wrong." 

Carson was shocked.  "You mean to tell me you didn't know what was
wrong when you went to get her?  She didn't tell you on the
phone?"

Pacey shook his head.  "She was upset. I could tell by her voice
that she'd been crying."

"So you drove all the way to Boston in the middle of the night to
get this girl.  And you don't think she know's how you feel?"
Carson asked incredulously.

Pacey shrugged and laughed humourlessly.  "It's in the water
around here.  Makes us all blind and stupid.  She's not the first
to be afflicted."

Carson shook her head.  "Pace, you are the closest thing I have
ever had to a baby brother and I love you dearly.  And as much as 
it pains me to say this, it really must be said.  You, are an
idiot."

"Wha - what did I do?" Pacey objected.

"For the last, what, six months, all I've heard about is Joey this
and Joey that. I listened to you fall in love with her.  I have a
folder full of e-mails to that same end.  I'll say again what I
have told you a thousand times already, tell her, not me!"

"I can't," Pacey whispered

"Why not?" she asked gently.

"It's complicated Car."

Carson reached across the table to take his hand.  "You have never
been afraid of anything in your life, Pacey, why this?"

Pacey closed his eyes for a minute then looked t her.  "I'm not
sure, Car.  I guess I've never wanted anything this much before."

Carson felt her eyes fill with tears of sympathy for him.  "I'm so
sorry, baby.  I wish -" She was interrupted by Dawson's arrival.  

"Bessie sent me.  Joey's awake and wants to see us."  

Pacey and Carson stood to follow him.  "Does she know I'm here?"
Carson asked.

"I don't think so.  She asked to see Pacey, so I guess Bessie
wanted you to be a surprise to her like you were to the rest of
us.  I'm sure she'll be happy to see her favourite cousin."  He
grinned at Carson.

She smiled at him.  "I'm sure she will."

They made their way to Joey's floor and entered her room in time
to hear Bessie say, "I'm not sure what you want me to say, Jo, I
think you know as well as I do what it means, as for what -" 

"Hi!" Joey said brightly, interrupting her sister.  "Pacey, I'm so
glad you're alright.  I was worried. . ."  She trailed off when
she saw the woman behind him.  "Carson!" she squealed.

"Hi Jojo."  Cardon moved to her cousins bedside.  "How you feeling
little one?"  She hugged Joey carefully, aware of her injuries.

"I'll be fine, they doctor says if I'm able to eat something and
keep it down, they may even send me home tomorrow."

Dawson hugged her.  "That's wonderful, Jo.  You had me pretty
worried."

Joey shifted awkwardly out of his arms.  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to worry anyone."  She looked up to meet Pacey's eyes.  "How 'bout
you, Pace, were you worried too?"  

Pacey nodded slowly, not sure what to make of what he could se in
her eyes.  He hid his discomfort behind a smirk.  "Of course I
was, but not for long.  Once I found out it was your hard head you
hit, well. . ."

Joey shook her head at this typical Paceyism.  "Yeah well, I'm not
the one who walked away unscathed, am I?" she shot back.  "So who
would you say has the hardest head?"  Their eyes caught again and
held.  They were both unaware of the scrutiny of the two women in
the room.  Both Bessie and Carson watched the exchange with
interest then looked at each other and smiled.

"So, Jo, what do you want to do to celebrate your release
tomorrow?"  Dawson asked, seemingly unaware of the tension.

"Um, guys, do you mind if I speak to Pacey alone for a minute?"
Joey asked, apparently not having heard Dawson's question.

Dawson looked at her, startled.  "Wha ?  Sure, I- um, I'll be
right outside."  He shot her a wounded look and left.

Bessie and Carson both fled the room without saying a word.

Joey fiddled with her IV for a minute, then she looked up at him,
her eyes sad.  "Pace. . ."  She looked down again.

Pacey could see she was struggling with something.  He sat
carefully on the bed beside her.  "What is it, Jo?  What's wrong?"

"I - I just. . ." she sighed.  "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Pacey was confused.  "For what?"

"The accident."

She shocked him.  "Unless you made the jerk that hit us drink all
night then decide to drive home, the accident was in no way your
fault."

"But I called you to come get- "

"Stop."  Pacey held up his hand.  "You listen to me.  I came to
get you because you're my friend and you needed my help."  He took
her hand.  "Please don't blame yourself because some idiot made a
really bad decision."

Joey wasn't listening.  All she could think about was his hand
holding hers.  The dream she had was still with her.  She hadn't
been able to shake it.  It was as though it was a real memory
instead of just a dream.  The memory of his hands on her, the
taste of his lips, it was all there.  

"Jo?" 

"Hmm?"  She looked up at him and smiled.  "I'm okay, Pacey.  I was
just thinking that's all."

"You want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

Pacey frowned at her.  "About what ever it is that is making you
so sad."  He reached out to catch the tear rolling down her cheek.

Joey sniffled.  "It's been a bad week," she lied, avoiding his
eyes. 

"Do you want to talk about what happened in Boston?" he asked
gently.

Joey grimaced and shrugged one shoulder.  "It was the right thing
to do.  They belong together."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't really help you, now, does it?"

She shrugged again.  "I guess I just worry sometimes that I'm
never going to find that."

"Oh, Jo, of course you will.  Any guy -"

"I'm sorry, Joey, visiting hours are over.  Your friend has to
go."  The nurses tone was friendly but firm.

Joey wanted to throw something at her, instead she nodded and
looked at Pacey.  "I guess they're throwing you out."

"Hey, I've been kicked out of better places than this," he joked,
hoping to coax a smile out of her.

He succeeded, she grinned at him.  "Knowing you as I do, I have no
reason to doubt the veracity of that statement."

Pacey smiled at her.  "I'm going to go get some sleep.  You rest. 
We want you home tomorrow as promised."

"Night, Pacey."  She snuggled down under the covers and closed her
eyes.

Pacey watched her for a few seconds then left the room.  He closed
the door behind him and leaned against it, eyes squeezed tightly
shut.

"How is she?"  Dawson asked, disturbing his thoughts.

"Huh, oh yeah, she's fine.  Nurse kicked me out.  Visiting hours
are over."  Pacey rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Why didn't you let us say good-night?"  Dawson asked indignantly.

"I just said the nurse kicked me out, Dawson.  Joey is exhausted
and she needs her rest."

"Well if you hadn't taken up all the time left- "

Pacey's temper, already over extended by the stress of recent
event finally snapped.  "Joey asked to speak to me, Dawson,
remember?"  He could see Dawson was getting ready to lay it on him
again so he help up his hand.  "I really don't want to fight with
you, D.  We're both tired and bitchy.  I just want to go home and
go to sleep.  Okay?"

Dawson nodded reluctantly, turned on his heal, and left.  "Well I
see he hasn't changed," Carson commented, coming to stand beside
him.

"Huh?" Pacey said distractedly.

"Dawson, he hasn't changed since he was five years old.  Still
can't handle it when things don't go *exactly* the way he wants
them."

Pacey nodded.  "It's part of his charm," he said sarcastically.

"Is that what they're calling it now?" she laughed at his droll
expression.  Her own expression turned serious.  Um, Pace"

"What is it?"

"I need a favour."

"Anything, you know that."

Carson took a deep breath.  "I need for you to not tell Doug I'm
in town."

"Car -"

"No, Pacey, please, I need you to promise."

"Fine, I won't tell him, but you know in this town he's going to
find out.  People around here have very long memories."

Carson smiled sadly.  "I know.  Just don't you be the one to tell
him, okay."

Pacey nodded his agreement.  "I promise.  But, Car, I wish you'd
tell me -"

"We've been through this, Pacey."

"I know, I know, but you've never told me why."  He saw the
stubborn look on her face.  "Fine, I'll drop it, for now.  But now
that I have you here I'm not going to let you get away so easily. 
It's not like you can hang up on me or disconnect your computer."

"I know."  She hugged him.  "I really don't want to talk about it,
okay?  We both need to get some rest.  Go home, Pacey."  She stood
up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek.  "Love you, Baby."

He kissed her back.  "Love you too, Car."

The end Never, Neverland part 1/10

I would love to hear what you think

kayjay@sunwave.net