Title: Green Apples - Part 8
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 for the feedback guys. Keep the comments coming!
Dr. Andrews entered the room and they all stared at him intently.
�Joey...� he began patting her hand.
�Yeah?�
�All of your test results came back. We have checked you for every illness imaginable.�
�What did you find?� she whispered.
�It appears that you are having some trouble with your kidneys.�
The doctor could tell that Joey was trying to be strong. She bit her bottom lip and nodded.
�Ok, so how bad is it? What can we do?� Bessie asked shifting Alexander to her other knee.
�Well, this is in its earliest stages. We will put you on some medication and you should be fine for now."
�What about long term?� her dad asked.
�Some people go on dialysis. Best case scenario we find a match for Joey and she can have a transplant.�
�Like I said before Dr. Andrews,� Joey said wearily, �what are the chances?�
�You have got to think positive, Joey. That is the most important factor at this point. Many people live long and healthy lives with only one kidney. So we will test your family, your friends, and put you on a list for a transplant if a match turns up elsewhere. Then we pray we find one.�
�Ok, so you are basically saying that we just wait. And hope we get a matching kidney before this gets me. Lovely,� she said dryly. �Any more good news?�
The doctor looked about as tired and distraught as Joey did. �Well, your physical therapist should be up soon,� he told her.
�Ugh!� She growled throwing her head back against her pillow and sighing.
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At about 6:30 that evening there was a knock at the door.
�Come in,� Joey said. She had been sitting up in bed playing solitaire on the small table that was rolled over her bed. Her dad, Bessie, and Alex had left about a half hour before. Bessie promised her that she would return and spend the night with her once she had gotten Alexander situated for the night.
�Hello, Miss Josephine,� a young blonde-headed lady said sweetly coming into her room.
�Hi. Um...it�s Joey actually.�
�Oh, well nice to meet you, Joey. My name is Carrie. I am your physical therapist.�
�Nice to meet you too, Carrie,� she said smiling.
�Ok, ladies, are we ready to rock and roll?� Linda asked rolling a wheelchair into the room.
Carrie looked over at Joey with a big smile and raised her eyebrows. �Well...you ready to go downstairs and do some serious Jane Fonda workouts?�
�Yeah, I guess so. Ready as I�ll ever be.� She looked over at Linda. �I thought you weren�t working tonight.�
�I�m not. I got off a few minutes ago. But I thought I�d stick around for the party.�
Joey laughed. �Oh, yeah, some party.�
Just then Pacey entered the room. �Knock, knock,� he said.
�Hey, Pace. Pacey, this is Linda, my nurse, and Carrie, my physical therapist.�
�Hey there. Nice to meet you,� he told them, shaking their hands.
�We were just about to head downstairs. Pacey could join us, also, if you like,� Carrie told her.
�That would be great. Is that ok with you?� Joey asked him.
�But of course. I�m in need of therapy as well.� Pacey said.
�Not that kind of therapy sweety,� Joey told him with a giggle.
�Ok, well, first of all we need to get you into some pajamas that doesn�t bare what the stork brought. So, all members of the male persuasion...out in the hall!� Linda said.
�Ok, ok. I understand when I am not needed. I�ll just be going.� Pacey told them.
�You had better not be going too far, Witter,� Joey called after him.
He smiled and gave her an award winning smile before stepping out the door and closing it behind him.
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�I feel like I am gonna break something again,� Joey said.
�No sweetie. Your bones have been healing for a long time now. You are not going to hurt anything. Now what I need you to do is reach up and grab a hold of these bars and pull yourself up,� Carrie instructed her.
Joey�s wheelchair was between the two parallel bars and Linda and Carrie were positioned on each side of her to help support her weight. Pacey held the wheelchair in place for her.
Joey stood up between the bars.
�Now take a small step with your right foot.� Carrie told her.
Joey hesitated.
�Don�t worry, we are not going to let you go,� Linda told her.
Pacey moved the wheelchair and stood behind her with his hands gently on her waist. �I�m right behind you, Potter,� he whispered.
She took her first step and realized her legs felt just like spaghetti.
�Ok, now a small step with your left,� Carrie urged her.
It took Joey about 10 minutes to make it to the other end of the bars and turn around. She made it halfway back then stopped.
�I can�t go any further, guys. It hurts so bad.�
Linda looked over at Carrie. �Well, honey, I don�t think we can get that chair all the way through here. You need to make it to one end or the other,� she said gently.
�I can�t. I just can�t. I�m sorry,� Joey said, a tear rolling down her face.
�It�s ok, Joey. You did great, today. Maybe we could life her over the side here, Linda. If each of us got on one side,� Carrie said.
�Yeah, let�s try that. She�s over done it for one day I think.�
�You want me to help her? I can do it,� Pacey told them.
Carrie looked over at him. He was about a foot taller than she was.
�Can you get her over this bar?� she asked.
�Of course,� he said walking around to the other side. He reached over and put one arm under Joey�s legs and one across her back. �Do you trust me?� he asked her with a smile.
�With my life, Pacey. Now please get me off of my feet before I have to spend the night in the floor here.�
He lifted her gently over the bar and sat her in her wheelchair.
She let out a sigh of relief. �Oh, I am so glad that is over,� she said. �I don�t understand why a few simple steps are so hard for me!�
�You haven�t used these muscles in a long time Joey. And besides that, your energy is zapped from everything else you are going through,� Carrie told her.
Pacey looked at her quizzically.
�Later, Pace,� she whispered. �I�ll tell you later.�
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After another two weeks of physical therapy, Joey was released to go home. Everyone she knew had been tested in search of a matching kidney for Joey. The doctor told her to carry on with life as she normally would. He stressed that she would need to get both exercise and plenty of rest. Dr. Andrews also promised her he would call if a matching kidney was found.
Weeks passed without a word. More and more people offered to go for test in a desperate attempt to help Joey. Her father, her sister, Bodie, Pacey, Dawson, Mr. and Mrs. Leery, Principal Green and many of her former teachers from Capeside High School...just to name a few. There were no matches. And Joey hated to think how far down she was on the list. She had heard the stories of people that had died waiting for transplants and it terrified her.
Joey and Pacey sat on the deck of �True Love.� She leaned back against his chest. �I go for another check up tomorrow,� she said quietly. She resented the fact that her entire life revolved around her illness. �If there is any change...for the worse...I have to start dialysis.�
Pacey said nothing. He didn�t know what to say. He kissed the top of her head and took her hand, admiring the diamond ring she still wore. �I love you so much, Joey. I can�t stand to see you hurting like this. And I�m hurting too. So much. I know this sounds trite, but I would gladly trade places with you if I could. I had rather go through this for the rest of my life than to know you had to suffer through it for one second.�
Joey turned her head to look up at him. He bent his head and kissed her softly. �You think I�ll be ok, Pacey?� she asked in a child-like voice. She needed someone...anyone...to tell her that everything was going to turn out alright in the end.
�Yes. You have to be, Potter. Because I can�t even comprehend a different outcome.�
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Pacey walked Joey to the door of the Potter B&B.
�You want to come in?� she asked.
�I wish I could, baby. But I promised Dawson I would pick up his shift at Screen Play this afternoon. He is off doing some kind of film workshop.�
�Ok,� she said kissing him. �Talk to you later?�
�Bank on it,� he said. �I love you.�
�Love you too, Pace,� she said.
She went inside and closed the door behind her.
�Ok, what to watch...� she said sitting down on the couch and grabbing the remote.
Just then the phone rang.
�Potter B&B,� she said automatically.
�Could I speak to Joey Potter, please?�
�This is she.�
�Joey, this is Dr. Andrews. I�ve got great news for you young lady!� he said.
She smiled. �Yes?� she asked, as the anticipation grew.
�We�ve found a match for you! A friend of yours. I contacted her a few moments ago and she has agreed to come in for the transplant next week if that is ok with you.�
Joey was ecstatic. She hoped this wasn�t a dream. She pinched her arm quickly. Ouch! Nope, wasn�t a dream.
�That is more than ok!� she told him. Then a thought occured to her. Nobody had told her about being tested within the past few days. �Which friend is the match?� Joey asked.
�Jennifer Lindly,� he told her.
Joey smiled to herself. Jen was a true friend. She didn�t know until this moment just how loyal she was. �Well, ok, then,� Joey said laughing. �Tell me when to be there. Let�s get this show on the road.�
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End of Part Eight.
Feedback is appreciated guys! =)
You can e-mail me at [email protected].