Title: Never, Neverland part 7/10
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 7/10
by Kjiara

Pacey was right.  It was too damn cold to be outside.  Joey pulled
her jacket tighter around her and stared out at the creek.  How
the hell do you go about telling the boy you'd fought with your
entire life that a concussion-enhanced dream made you realise you
were head over heels in love with him?  That despite the fact that
he had never laid a hand on you, you knew exactly how he felt. 
The way he tasted.  How gentle he was when he made love to you. 
The way he looked at you when he said 'I love you'.  She glanced
sideways at Pacey.  When exactly had he become someone she *could*
fall in love with?  She though back to the beginning of the year,
when she had so effectively humiliated herself with Dawson.  Pacey
had come to her then and instead of using her folly to tease and
further embarrass her, he had offered a shoulder.  That shoulder
hadn't moved in almost a year.  Even now as they stood there on
the docks, he was silent, allowing her the time she needed to get
her thoughts together.   Joey cleared her throat.  "You weren't
kidding when you said it was chilly out here."

Pacey was suddenly concerned.  "Are you okay?  Did you want to go
back inside?"

She shook her head, smiling at him.  "I'm fine.  I'm not made of
glass, Pacey." 

Pacey laughed.  "No, I doubt anyone would ever accuse you of that,
Jo.  But you have been very sick and I would hate to see you have
a relapse, especially one that could be blamed on me."

Joey grinned up at him.  "Aha!  See, I knew there had to be an
ulterior motive for all this concern."

"Hell, yeah."  Pacey saw her shiver and removed his scarf. 
"Here."  He tucked it around her face and neck.

Joey was sure her heart stopped when she felt his fingers brush
her face.  She could feel every nerve in her body spring to life.

Pacey felt her tremble and misinterpreted.  "Damn it, Joey, I knew
we shouldn't be out here."  He wrapped his arm around her and
tried to steer her back toward the house.

Joey froze the minute his arm came around her.  She pulled away
abruptly.  "Don't!"

Pacey jerked away as if burned.  "Joey?"

She hunched her shoulders up to her ears and turned away.

Pacey put his hand out tentatively.  "Jo, you wanna tell me what's
going on?"

She shook her head sharply.  "Nothing's going on."

"Well, then you want to explain to me why you practically leapt
out of my arms a second ago?"

Joey just shrugged, refusing to look at him.

"Dammit, Joey.  Look at me."  She turned to face him and he was
horrified to see tears glistening in her eyes.  "What the. . . 
Joey, you have to tell me what's wrong.  Obviously there is
something  hurting you.  Is it me?  Did I say or do something to
upset you?"

Joey shook her head, trying desperately to regain control.

Pacey brought a gentle hand up to cup her cheek.  "Joey, look at
me."  She lifted her gaze to meet his.  "You know there is nothing
you can say to me that I won't at least try to understand, don't
you?"  She nodded.  "Good, then why don't you tell me what it is
that's upsetting you so badly."

Joey sniffled once and collapsed against his chest sobbing.  Once
again Pacey was at a loss.  This was such terribly un-Joeylike
behaviour.  She didn't cry.  Well, except when. . .  Pacey felt
his heart crack.  Dawson.  He took a deep breath.  "Jo, I'm sure
no matter what it was you and Dawson fought about, he'll come
around.  He always does.  He never has been able to stay mad at
you."  He rubbed her back tenderly.  "Don't worry.  He'll be back,
hat in hand, with an apology for whatever it was he said, and
things will be fine."

Joey stepped back out of his arms.  "What are you talking about, 
Pacey?"

He shrugged helplessly.  "I don't know!  I'm assuming that
Dawson's why you're so upset.  Whatever you two fought about has
obviously hit pretty hard."

"Pacey, this has nothing to do with Dawson.  Well maybe a bit.  No
not really.  Well I guess in a way he's involved but not for the
reasons you think."  Joey was fully aware she was babbling but was
unable to stop herself.

Pacey was by now thoroughly confused.  "Oh-kay.  So the fight with
Dawson isn't the reason you've got tearcicles on your eyelashes."

Joey had to smile at his silliness.  "Actually my fight with
Dawson has everything to do with this.  Only in a very backwards
way."

"Okay, Jo, I have no idea what you're talking about."  He sat on
the dock and patted the space next to him.  "So why don't you sit
yourself down and enlighten me."

Joey took a deep fortifying breath and settled down beside him on
the dock.  "Well. . .  I guess I should start at the beginning. 
When I woke up in the hosp -"

"Joey!"

Joey turned to see her big sister barrelling down the dock toward
them.  "What are you doing out here?  It's freezing.  Are you
trying to land yourself back in the hospital?"  She whirled on
Pacey.  "And you.  You were supposed to be taking care of her. 
How could you let her come out here?"  Pacey opened his mouth.  "I
don't want to here it.  Get in the house, both of you."  She
ordered pointing up the dock.

The two teens rose reluctantly.  "Bessie -"

"No!  Dammit, Joey, are you trying to make yourself sick?"

Joey rolled her eyes.  "Bessie, come on.  It's not like we were
swimming in the creek.  We were just sitting on the dock."

"Yes.  In the freezing cold, when you've are only days out of the
hospital with a serious head injury."  Bessie followed them up the
dock.

Joey stopped short.  "Bessie, I'm fine.  After my appointment
today the doctor will tell me to go back to my life.  What
difference does it make that I started a bit early?"

"Until such time as Dr. Martin tells me you are fit, you will stay
in this house."

Joey shot Pacey a look then turned to her sister.  "What do you
mean tells you?  Are you coming to my appointment?"

"Yes."  

"But I thought we agreed Pacey was going to take me."

"That was before I found you and *Pacey* out in the cold."

"But -"

"No buts.  I'm not sure I can trust you to be honest with me about
what the doctor tells you.  Therefore I will be there to hear it
myself."  Bessie crossed her arms, daring them to argue.

Joey sighed, her lower lip jutting out.  "I'm not a baby, Bessie."

"Then stop acting like one."  Bessie took her sister's hand.  "The
doctor put you on bed rest for a reason, Jo.  I don't want to see
you sick again.  It was too damn hard the first time."

Joey felt like a heel.  "I'm sorry, Bessie.  I don't mean to worry
you."

Bessie hugged her sister.  "I know, Joey.  But it comes with the
territory."  She stepped back.  "Now, I want you to go upstairs
right now, young lady."

"But--" Joey looked beseechingly at Pacey.  He shrugged
helplessly.

"No buts.  Pacey can come back later.  After your appointment." 
Bessie shooed Pacey out the door.  "You should go home anyway,
Pacey.  Your family is celebrating its newest and cutest member."

Pacey looked up hopefully.  "Mom and Dad were okay with it?" he
asked, his voice heavy with disbelief.

"They were shocked of course, but truly delighted.  Go join them,
Pacey.  Your mom was asking for you."  Bessie closed the door
firmly behind him.

Pacey stared at the door for a moment.  So much for his talk with
Joey.  Just when she had been willing to open up to him too. 
Damn!  He headed to his car.  At least he had something happy to
go home to.

                         ~*~
                           
When Pacey arrived at his parents house he was delighted to find a
happy party in progress.  Sarah was teaching her new grandpa the
finer points of Barbie dolls while her parents and grandmother
watched, smiling at their antics.  "Hey, guys."

Doug stood and came to meet his brother.  "Hey, Pace.  How's Joey? 
She feeling any better?"

"Yeah, much.  She finds out today whether or not she's off bed
rest."  Pacey addressed his father.  "Hey, Pop."  He went to his
mother.  "Hey, Mom."  He bent to kiss her cheek.

Doreen Witter hugged her youngest child.  "Isn't it wonderful?"
she asked, looking at Doug and Carson seated together on the love
seat.

Pacey smiled.  "Yeah, Mom.  It is."

"Uncle Pacey!" Sarah squealed throwing herself into his arms.  "I
gotta a grampa and a gramma and a whole bunches of cousins and did
you know that Daddy is a police man and grampa too and that I'm
gonna be a police man when I get big or maybe a vetinarium cause I
really like cats."  She finished breathlessly 

Pacey squeezed her tight.  "I bet you'll be the best police man
vetinarium in the whole world."

Sarah giggled at her uncle.  "Not both at the same time silly."

"Why not?  I bet you could if you wanted to.  Don't you think
grampa?  She could be the best police man vetinarium there ever
was."  Pacey grinned at his father.

John smiled brightly. "The best in the whole world.  But first we
have to get Barbie here ready for her big date.  Sarah, you want
to ask Uncle Pacey to come play?"

Sarah shook her head.  "He likes to colour better."  She wiggled
out of Pacey's arms and rejoined her grandfather and her dolls.

Pacey grinned.  Wouldn't the good people of Capeside sleep better
if the could see their illustrious Sheriff slipping Barbie into
evening wear.  He looked around the room.  "Hey, mom.  Where's
Carrie and the brood?"  

Doreen smiled.  "She and Gerry reconciled.  It's been a good month
for our family."

Pacey froze.  "Really.  Hey, that's great.  When did that happen?" 
he asked stiffly. 

Doreen's smile widened.  "Late last week.  She was so happy when
he showed up here.  I was too.  It was a relief that they could
work things out so quickly."  Doreen rattled on about how happy
Carrie sounded when she had spoken to her.  Pacey heard none of
it.  His sister had moved out.  She was gone and no one had
thought to tell him.  His parents hadn't called him.  He had just
been in a horrible accident and his own parents hadn't seen fit to
take him home.

Doug was the first to respond to the surprising news.  "Why didn't
you tell us, Mom?"

Doreen seemed startled by the question.  "I guess I didn't think
of it.  You and Carrie haven't been particularly close since she
married Gerry.  You didn't even come to see her while she was
here, Douglas."

While Doug was staring at his mother incredulously, Carson was
watching Pacey.  She was about to go to him when he stood.  "I,
uh, I gotta go.   I told Joey I'd drive her to her doctor's
appointment."  He rushed out the front door.  

Doug stood to follow and realised Carson was already putting
Sarah's coat on her.  He grabbed his daughter.  "Go!" he barked at
Carson.  She sprinted out the door.

"Pacey!  Pacey wait!" she called, running down the walk to the
car.  "Pacey, please!"  Pacey was fumbling with the car keys when
she reached him.  "Pacey -"

"Don't!  Just don't, please, Car."

"Baby -"

"Carson, I'm fine."  He finally managed to open the car door.

"No you're not.  Baby, please. . ."

Pacey sighed and turned to face her.  "Please, what, Car.  Please
don't be upset that my parents didn't bother to tell me my room
was now free.  Please don't let it get to me that even though I
was in a serious car accident less than a week ago, they let me
continue to sleep on my brother's couch."  His voice was beginning
to crack.  "Please don't be upset that my own parents make no
bones about the fact that they don't want me around."  His voice
finally broke and Carson gathered him close.


"Shhh.  Ah, baby I wish. . ."  She murmured gentle reassurances to
him until he had calmed.  She looked up and saw Doug on the porch
holding Sarah.  "Pacey?  Baby, I have to go get my purse, okay? 
Doug and Sarah are here.  We're going to take you home, okay? 
Just give me a minute."  She patted his shoulder and went back
inside.

John Witter was trying to calm, his obviously upset wife.  He
looked up when Carson entered the room.  "Would you mind telling
me what the hell is going on here, Carson?"

Carson couldn't find the words.  She just stared at them.  How
could these be the same people who had fussed so thoroughly and
lovingly over Sarah?  "You know, John, I swear I'm never going to
understand you."

"Pardon me?"

"How could you do that to that poor child?"

"What the hell are you talking about, Carson?"

"I'm talking about the fact that your son is sleeping on his
brother's couch when there is a perfectly good bedroom available
to him here!  In his HOME!"

John closed his eyes.  He should have known.  She always had been
Pacey's biggest champion.  "Carson, Pacey has been perfectly happy
staying at Doug's.  We didn't want to -"

"Perfectly happy?  He sleeps on the couch in the living room for
Christ's sake. *This* is his home, John!"

John straightened his shoulders.  "We're doing what we think is
best, Carson."

Carson snorted.  She should have known better.  "Well I can see
I'm wasting my breath.  Good-bye."  She grabbed her purse and
left.

Pacey and Doug were waiting by the rental, doing their best to
entertain Sarah who was well aware something was wrong.  Carson
smiled cheerfully as she approached.  "Let's go home."

                         ~*~
                           
Carson was puttering around the kitchen getting lunch ready when
Doug joined Pacey on the couch.  "Carse and I have been talking."

"This is a good thing," Pacey quipped.

"We're going to use the money Helen Walker left her to buy a
house."

Pacey grinned broadly and clapped his brother on the back.  "Hey,
that's wonderful, Doug.  Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Pace."  Doug's smile softened.  "We want you to help us
pick it out."

Pacey gave him an odd look.  "Why?  What do I know about houses?"

"Well, we thought since you're going to be living there too, you
might want to have some say in it."

Pacey was speechless.

Doug grinned.  "Pace, you're beginning to worry me.  Say
something."

Pacey had to swallow the lump in his throat.  "You mean it?  You
guys want me to move in?  To live with you?"

"Yeah.  We talked about it on the way here.  Carson adores you.
Always has.  And I know you love her just as much.  Sarah thinks
you're the greatest thing since sliced bread."  He grinned
cheekily.  "And it will be nice to have a built in baby sitter for
the next year or so."

"Aha!  So there is a motive to this madness."

"Hey, free help is hard to find."  Doug became serious.  "So what
do you say, Pace.  You want to live with us on a permanent basis?"

Pacey nodded, his throat tight.  "Thanks, Doug."

Doug hugged his brother.  "That's what brothers are for."

Pacey returned the embrace.  "I'm beginning to see that."

                         ~*~
                           
After lunch Pacey went back to the Potter's to wait for Joey.  He
knew she'd be thrilled with his news.  He was sitting on the
porch, watching the creek when he saw Dawson approaching.  "Hey,
D.  They're not back yet."

Dawson nodded.  "I didn't think they would be.  I've been looking
for you, Pacey."

"Me?  Why?"  Pacey wasn't sure he liked Dawson's tone.

"We need to talk."

"Okay."  Pacey shifted on the porch to face his friend.  "What's
up, Dawson?"

"I want you to stay the hell away from Joey."

The end Never, Neverland part 7/10

I would love to hear what you think.

kayjay@sunwave.net