Title: Green Apples - Part 7
Author: Angie
E-mail address: [email protected]
Category: Pacey/Joey
Rating: PG13
Warning: Touches on the very touchy subjects of death and religion.
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to Kevin Williamson, Paul Stupin, and the WB.
Summary: The gang is finally graduating! Everyone is planning on attending college together...except Pacey. Joey is upset, but love can withstand anything, including separation, right? But when the unthinkable happens in the lives of these six friends, will it cause Pacey to rethink his situation? Find out the answers in this new fan fiction series.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who keeps sending in their comments on this fic. I would like to dedicate this chapter to Evie, Emilie, and Shay! Thanks for the encouragement guys!
Joey held onto Linda's hand so tightly that her knuckles began to turn white. Dr. Andrews sat near the foot of Joey's bed. He sighed then patted her knee lightly. He tried unsuccessfully to give her a reassuring smile.
"What's wrong?" Joey asked, her voice cracking.
Just then Joey's dad walked into the room. "I got here as fast as I could, doc," he said.
Joey grew more and more panicked by the minute.
"Joey...Mr. Potter..." the doctor began, then he looked Joey in the eye. "we have done a lot of tests on you, Joey. But, unfortunately, we could not run a lot of these tests until you came out of the coma. One of the tests we ran this morning showed that you could have an internal injury that we did not know about."
"Like what?" Joey whispered.
"There is no easy way to say this Joey. And I don't want to alarm you until we run some more tests to find out for sure. But you have a right to know what is going on. It is possible that...your kidneys are beginning to fail." he told her trying to sound professional, and trying even harder not to let his emotions show. His heart was breaking for the little girl he saw sitting in front of him.
"What? Why would you think that? That is insane!"
"There are traces of waste in your blood that should not be there. Many things could cause this. It is possible that if we run more tests tomorrow, they will come back fine."
"And if they don't?"
"We will talk about our options."
"No. I want to know now. I want to know if this is something that can kill me. Tell me the truth." Joey spat out, terrified as the reality of what was happening dawned on her.
"If your kidneys are failing and it goes untreated then yes, it could be life threatening. But there are many, many options. Dialysis, transplants...many people live long and healthy lives after having a transplant."
"What are the chances that you are going to find a perfect match for me, though? I mean, I don't know much, but the odds cannot be that great." Joey said.
"We will cross that bridge when we get there. We will run some more tests in the morning and then we will have a better idea of what we are dealing with."
"So, there is a chance that this means nothing, right?" Joey's dad asked.
"Yes," Dr. Andrews said. "There is a chance." Too bad he didn't sound at all convincing.
<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3
That evening there was a light knock at Joey's door.
"Come in," she said, turning the TV down.
Pacey walked through the door with a dozen roses. "Hey, beautiful," he said.
"Hi," she said blushing, which she had a habit of doing in the presence of Pacey Witter.
He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. Then he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "I love you, Jo," he whispered.
"I love you to, Pacey," she said, feeling guilty. She knew she should tell him about her conversation with the doctor that afternoon, but she just couldn't. Dr. Andrews had said himself that nothing was written in stone until they ran further test, and Joey just couldn't bare the thought of Pacey worrying about her for the next twenty-four hours.
"So, what were you watching?" Pacey asked as he sat the vase of flowers down on the nightstand beside her bed.
"Reruns of The Golden Girls."
"Oh, really? That Blanche is definitely my kind of woman," Pacey said.
"Oh, yeah...you and Blanche. Wild, freaky, circus sex...I can see it now."
"You're cruisin', Potter," he said laughing.
She laughed then winced. "Ow." She said under her breath.
"Hey, you ok, Jo?"
"Yeah...I'm just...ooooow."
"Joey? Joey, what's wrong?" he asked her, his voice rising.
"Shh. Nothing, Pacey," Joey said as the pain in her side started to ease. "I'm just a little sore that's all."
<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3
Jen and Grams visited Joey the next afternoon. It had been a long day. At least eight hours had passed since they had drawn blood...what could be taking so long??? She had actually caved and confided in them about what Dr. Andrews had said. Of course, Grams had insisted that they pray with her, and deep down inside Joey was glad. Her mother had always told her that prayer is what got her through the rough days.
"Thank you Mrs. Ryan...Jen. You guys are the best," Joey said softly.
Mrs. Ryan patted her hand. "You are going to be fine, Joey. I know it. Sometimes it seems like nothing is going right in our lives. But with the good Lord on our side, we can find the light at the end of the tunnel."
Joey smiled.
Just then Pacey and Dawson walked into her room without knocking.
Joey looked confused. "Why didn't you tell us that Dr. Andrews talked to you yesterday?" Pacey asked.
"You didn't tell them?" Jen asked.
"Um...didn't I mention that?" Joey asked.
"No, you didn't." Pacey asked, a mixture of anger and fear etched in his voice.
"Bessie was gracious enough to supply us with that minor little detail you seemed to have conveniently overlooked." Dawson added.
"Look guys. I didn't want to tell anyone. It would only upset you. And we don't know for sure if anything is wrong." She turned to Mrs. Ryan and Jen. "And I only confided in you two because I was getting worried. They drew blood early this morning and I haven't heard anything yet. And what right do you and Dawson have to be angry?" she asked Pacey. "I am the one who could be dying here!!!"
"I'm sorry, Joey. We were just scared. If something is wrong we all need to know so we can be there for you." Pacey told her.
"You don't need to feel as though you are going through this alone. We all love you Joey. And we are here because we want to be here."
"I just can't bare the thought of you all sitting around my hospital bed waiting for me to die," Joey said.
"You are not going to die," Pacey said, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Stop saying that. You have never been a quitter. And you have made it this far. You can't give up now."
"Cause we won't let you," Grams told her.
"And we're not giving up on you either," Jen said, taking her hand.
Joey was crying now. "Thanks everyone."
There was a moment of silence in the room.
"Dr. Andrews said he would call today so why doesn�t he call already?!" Joey asked no one in particular.
Just then the phone rang.
"That was freaky," she mumbled then picked up the phone. She took a deep breath. "Hello?"
"Hi, Joey. This is Dr. Andrews. The results of your test are in, and I will be up in a bit to talk to you."
"Thank you," she said quietly. "I'll be right here," she added her attempt at humor.
She put the receiver back on the hook. �The results from my tests are in,� she said quietly.
�Is he on his way up here, dear?� Mrs. Ryan asked.
Joey nodded. Just then Bessie walked into the room with Alexander, followed by Joey�s dad.
�Hey kiddo,� her dad greated.
�Hey. Um...the doctor is on his way in here. He has the results of my tests.�
�Well,� Mrs. Ryan said, �I suppose the rest of us had better clear out. We will be in the waiting room if you need us dear.� She gave Joey a hug then left. Jen and Dawson followed.
Pacey looked back and smiled at her. He mouthed the words �I love you� then slowly turned and left the room.
<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3~*<3
End of Part Seven.
Feedback is appreciated guys! =)
You can e-mail me at [email protected].