Night Without End (Chapter 12) - Updated 25th January

Hee! Thanks for the replies, they make me giddy!

Not far from the new stuff now

Onward...

Chapter 3

Joey finally gave up fighting it and opened her eyes, finding herself still surrounded by darkness. Looking across the double bed, she could see the bright red digital numbers on her clock still only showing 05:04.

"Urgh" she moaned, startling Elvis who lay on top of the bed, next to her. He yawned slowly, flashing his tiny white baby teeth at her in the dark.

"Sorry honey. I don't mean for you to suffer just because I am," she stroked the soft fur behind his ear and he snuggled up closer to her, falling asleep again instantly. "Typical man," she sighed, running her fingers through her hair before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Giving up on any idea of sleep, she reached for the remote control by the side of the bed and flipped on the TV, surfing quickly through the channels.

"You'd think with so many damn channels I could find something to watch at five am." She muted the TV and turned on the lamp next to her. Picking up the phone from it's place next to the alarm clock, she punched in the familiar numbers.

"Hello?" his tired voice instantly soothed her nerves.

"Hey," she whispered, twisting the phone cord around her finger. "Did I wake you?"

"Well Joey, it's 2:00 am here," he yawned with a hint of a smile.

"Oh god, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I just…"

"Joey chill, it's ok. I've been out clubbing and only just got into bed anyway. So really, it's fine. I promise."

"I'm sorry Alan," she whispered, hearing him sigh down the phone.

"Well aside from the obvious fatigue I can hear in your voice, I would go as far as to say you sound….. scared and frustrated. Am I right?"

"How was the journey home? Did you get back in good time?" she frowned and pulled herself up slightly in bed, lifting her pillow higher behind her.

"Ah, and the inevitable change of subject indicates that I'm right," he teased. "I got home fine, stop worrying," he smiled.

"It's my first day," Joey sighed as she distractedly stroked Elvis' fur. "I don't know how to deal."

"Joey you'll be fine." Alan got up out of bed and walked with his cordless phone through to the kitchen. "Compared to what you told me you went through with Pacey in the past, this will be a walk in the park."

"I know, but.."

"And who knows? Maybe this will enable you two to mend some fences; get some closure….. act like responsible adults."

"Hey I was always responsible. I think you'll find that Pac.."

"Joey, stop that before you even start," he rolled his eyes and reached into the fridge for a bottle of water. "I thought you'd got rid of this anger. Didn't you say you'd worked through all this stuff with Michael?"

Joey let out a long breath. "I thought I had, but I'm beginning to realise that maybe I was wrong." Closing her eyes tightly she listened to the sound of his steady breathing down the phone. "I guess being far away from him just made things a lot easier," she said in a small voice. "He couldn't hurt me from there."

"Joey he can't hurt you now…. and you know what? I don't think he wants to. The guy obviously loves you. You only have to look into his eyes to see that he's hurting just as much as you are."

"Jeez Alan, don't say stuff like that to me," she whined, covering her eyes with her hand and shaking her head.

"Why not?"

"I don't want to feel sorry for him. I don't want to remember the good past; I want to remember the bad past; the past that keeps me hating him; the past that keeps him dehumanised to me. Don't make me empathise with the guy!"

"I repeat…. Why not Joey?"

"Because…," she raised her hand in the air in exasperation, letting it drop quickly down onto the bed. "Because…"

"Because?"

"Because then I might remember that I love him…. That, that I loved him," she corrected.

"Joey," he whispered as he walked back to his bedroom, his voice was full of kindness and love. "I don't know what to say sweetheart. I really don't think I'm the best guy for you to discuss this stuff with."

"Oh shit. I'm sorry Alan. I'm treating you like crap aren't I? This is so against every acceptable ex-rule that there is, it's unbelievable. I'm so sorry. Everything's just so horrible right now…. The whole restaurant-slash-Pacey crap… and being in this apartment is spooking me out, everything reminds me of Bodie and the past and I'm taking it all out on you and… I'm just so sorry."

"Hey, it's ok. No need to stress about me on top of everything else going on right now. Believe me, I'll be fine Jo. You haven't ruined me for all future womankind," he teased and she laughed into the receiver at her end.

"Well that's a relief. It's only fair that one of us should be getting some," she grinned. "Thanks," she said softly.

"Will you be ok?"

"Sure… why not. I'm made of tough stuff."

"Indeed," he smiled. "I'm going to go to sleep now Jo."

"Okay," she nodded. "I'll call you, let you know how I am."

"Make sure you do, or I'll be back on that plane."

"That sounds pretty good right about now. I think I might need you."

"No you won't. You'll be fine. Goodnight Jo."

"Night," she smiled before replacing the telephone receiver and lying back in the bed. She looked down at Elvis who raised his head off the bed slowly, yawned again and scratched his ear disinterestedly. "Well I'm glad you're relaxed. I'm never going to sleep again," she sighed.

Pushing the covers back she headed for the shower. Maybe an early morning walk before work was just what she needed.

~~~

At 7:00 am Joey found herself standing outside On the Waterfront. Two white lights pointed upwards towards the logo of a sailboat painted on a large sign on the front wall. She saw a small welcome sign above the door with Pacey's and Bodie's names as proprietors and thought, not for the first time, back to the letter Bodie had sent her explaining that he'd gone into business with Pacey. Compared to her life back then, Joey wondered why she was complaining about the way things stood now.

Looking more closely, Joey could make out a faint light coming from a doorway in the back of the restaurant. Holding her breath slightly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the set of keys that Pacey had given her, and quietly opened the door. Stepping slowly into the now familiar room, she walked quietly over to the half open door.

Pacey sat at the desk in his office. He was obviously awake, but his head was resting tiredly in his hands. Joey remained standing unobserved for a few moments, concentrating on the knot of muscles she could see had formed at the back of his neck.

"You're early," he said quietly, not looking up.

Joey jumped slightly and cleared her throat quietly before speaking. "You too."

"Sometimes it's easier not to go home," he said awkwardly as he looked up into her eyes finally. "You look like you haven't slept for days" he frowned as he stood up from his chair and walked to the water cooler, filling two glasses for them.

"Well, the apartment doesn't exactly feel like home yet," she sighed before accepting the drink. "Shall we start early then?" she changed the subject, preferring to remain focused on the business at all times when in Pacey's company.

"Sure," he nodded, motioning for her to sit opposite him at the desk. "Um… I've been giving it some thought…. as to how we're going to run this, so I'll just suggest some things and see what you think ok?"

"Go ahead," she nodded, crossing one leg over the other and folding her arms in front of her.

"Ok…. Well, in the past, Bodie was the chef and he did almost all the cooking, planned the menus, was in charge of purchasing for the restaurant and generally managed everything to do with the kitchen and its staff, except for the schedules which I did. I managed everything out here in the bar, looked after the financial side of things and the staff schedules, which I've already mentioned." Pacey tapped his pen nervously on the desk and tried to bring himself to look her in the eye; preferring instead to pretend to read his 'ideas' from an imaginary piece of paper.

"I don't cook Pacey," she explained sarcastically.

"A fact I remember well," he bit back at her. "Which is why I've employed a new chef."

She smiled falsely at him and nodded for him to continue.

"I suggest that you take my place and try managing the bar for a while. That way I can help advise you if you get stuck with anything. I can manage the restaurant side of things and continue with the financial stuff and staff schedules. You just need to run things on this side of the building, which will of course include working some shifts behind the bar."

"What?" she asked incredulously.

"Don't worry Joey, we have waitresses to actually take the drinks to the tables, but I'm sure you can mix a martini if pushed, yes?" he smirked. "There's really no need to be a snob about things. I do this stuff every day and still manage to look at myself in the mirror with respect."

"I am NOT being a snob Pacey," she said through gritted teeth. "I just don't want to be a glorified waitress for the rest of my life. I think I did my fair share when I was fifteen years old."

"Listen Joey, this is my business. It's a business I've built up from nothing. It's hard work, it's challenging and it's very, very long hours, so don't you dare try to degrade it. I won't sit here and listen to you insinuating that what I do is any less important or worthy than what anyone else does…. especially you."

"I see the damn truce lasted all of five minutes," she shouted across the desk. Pacey took a deep breath and a long drink of water before shaking his head.

"You're right. I apologise," he said stiffly. "I know this is just as difficult an adjustment for you as it is for me, but believe me, your job here is going to be just as integral as mine is. We're partners Joey," he finally looked up at her and found her staring unblinkingly back at him.

Eventually, she managed to pull her eyes away from his. "Okay," she said softly, nodding her head and pushing her chair back. "Maybe you should give me the grand tour before the staff arrive?"

"Sure," Pacey stood, slowly running his hand around the back of his neck tiredly before turning toward the door.

"Oh, Pacey… one more thing," Joey reached into her bag and pulled out a small box. "I forgot…. um… Andrew Mills explained to me that Bodie wanted to leave some personal items to different friends and he asked me to look out for them in the apartment," she gulped slowly before handing him the box. "I…. I said I'd pass these on to you. Apparently Bodie mentioned that you were to get them with his love," she whispered.

Pacey slowly opened the box and his eyes began to sting with salty unshed tears as he looked down at the cufflinks.

Five years earlier….

"A huge thanks also go to Jen and Bessie for being the most wonderful, and may I add beautiful, bridesmaids. Joey tells me she would have been lost without you, so for that alone I thank you for getting her to the church on time and we'd both like you to accept these gifts with our thanks."

Pacey handed Bessie and Jen their gifts and they sat back down at the head table, each opening up a small jewellery box containing a delicate silver necklace with a locket in the shape of a heart.

"Which leads me to the final thanks of my speech…. Don't worry Pa, I'm almost finished and then the bar will be open again," he added and the guests all laughed as Joey elbowed him with embarrassment. "Ok, ok Mrs Witter, I know you're keen to lead me to the marital bed. I said I'm almost done."

Joey blushed eight shades of red and hid her face behind her bouquet. "Pacey!" she whispered angrily as everyone continued laughing.

"Sorry sweetheart. The final thanks goes to Bodie, who really does epitomise the phrase 'best man'."

Pacey turned to Bodie and raised his glass. "For those of you who don't know, when Best Man Numero Uno, Dawson Leery, broke his leg skiing and dropped out at the last minute, Bodie here kindly stepped up to the challenge. I really don't know what I'd have done without you these last couple of days Bodie. So, for being the great guy you are looking after my wife and her sister all these years, and for standing up with me today, I say thank you from the bottom of both mine and Joey's hearts…. to Bodie," Pacey raised his glass as the guests all applauded.

Pacey grinned and handed Bodie his own small box containing a pair of solid silver cufflinks, each in the shape of a sailboat.

"I….I.." Pacey's hands shook as he gently touched the cufflinks once again, whilst fighting back tears. "I think I need some air."

"Okay," Joey whispered, longing to reach out and still his hand with her own.

"I may be a while….. I think I'll take last night's money to the bank," he shook his head, unable to look at her as he reached into the safe and grabbed the money bags, eager to get away from her close proximity.

Pacey's obvious despair spurred Joey on to be kind. "Sure, don't worry. I'll just start the coffee machines and wait for the others to come in and open up," she smiled nervously.

"Thanks," he mumbled as he rushed out of the door and away from the confines of the office.

~~~

"What the hell are you doing?" Helen shouted from the door of the restaurant to the figure she saw behind the bar.

Joey turned quickly and shrugged, smiling nervously at the girl she'd met briefly a few days before.

"Um, hi… I'm Joey. I was just looking for coffee filters."

"Oh god sorry," Helen rolled her eyes in embarrassment, before walking further into the bar and pointing behind Joey's head. "They're on the shelf there."

"Thanks," Joey turned and reached for the papers, busying herself setting up the coffee machine. "You're Helen, right? I met you the other day."

"Mmm-hmm," Helen nodded warily. "And you're the infamous Mrs Witter….. New boss on the block," she raised her eyebrows challengingly.

"Excuse me?" Joey's eyes narrowed angrily and Helen gulped nervously.

"I'm sorry… really. It's just.. well, Pacey explained your history with him that's all, and he and I are very close. I guess I just got a little over-protective for a second," she muttered awkwardly as she pulled her coat off.

"Pacey told you?" Joey could feel her anger building up again. "So I guess he's just turned all the staff against me before I even start huh? Well that's just great. How dare...."

"No," Helen interrupted. "The others don't know anything other than you’re his ex-wife. If that makes them protective too, then I guess you'll have to deal with it until they learn to trust you a bit. As far as I'm aware, I'm the only one who….. who knows all the other stuff," Helen explained softly, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Well my, my…. you two do sound close," Joey tried to keep calm. "I can't control what Pacey tells people; all I ask is you try not to judge me based on one side of a story," Joey snapped, switching on the coffee machine with a flourish and walking towards the office.

"I'll try," Helen replied sarcastically, wanting to dislike Joey but finding herself somehow respecting Joey's ballsy attitude. "Where's Pacey?"

"He went for some air. We'll have to open up without him…. Worried I can't hack it?" Joey sneered from the doorway.

"I'm sure you can," Helen smiled sweetly as Joey growled inwardly at her tone, "But I just thought you should know, the other 'bar girl' called in sick, so you'll be on your own out here until the boss gets back."

~~~

"Ma'am…. Excuse me ma'am, I was wondering when my table would be ready, I have a business meeting to get to in a couple of hours and I really cannot be late."

"Joey I need a Cosmopolitan, a Stolli with a splash of cranberry and a Mai Tai, as quick as you can."

"Helen, I'm trying ok. I'm going as quick as I can, but I'm trying to run this credit card through the machine and take a telephone booking at the same time. Could you just wait a couple of minutes for those drinks and check to see when this lady's table will be ready for her….. please?"

"Joey I need three bottles of the house red uncorked ASAP and a…."

"Two minutes Alice!" Joey shouted behind her as she peered at the instruction manual of the credit card swipe machine in front of her.

"Joey I need it.."

"Just wait!" her voice thundered in her chest.

"Excuse me miss, table for one please," a voice behind her laughed.

Joey spun around, ready to chew up and spit out every single customer and employee around her and instead looked straight into the smiling face of a petite blonde lady.

"Jen!"

~~~

Author	Comment
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 9 (3/15/03 8:42 am) Reply	Night Without End (Chapter 12) - Updated 25th January At the request of more multi-part fics, I decided to post my current fic here. I had started posting it at PoTL but it's been on vacation for a while there while I struggled through writer's block and now I've kind of picked things up again - so I think I'll post it here from now on. Anyway, strangely for me... it's a touch angsty! Please stick with me though. I'll post a chapter a day until I'm up to the new stuff (which won't be all that long!) ~~~ Night Without End By Suzy Prologue ~~~ Someone longs for you and your caress, He's learning now how empty arms can be. Someone who used to know Your kiss not long ago, That someone happens to be me. How he misses you, and must confess Without you, he's like driftwood on the sea. He's just a dreamer who Is still in love with you, That dreamer happens to be me. I'll never know just why we parted, It's more than I can comprehend. I only know when you departed, You started a night that has no end. Perhaps there'll come a time when you're alone Your heart's still haunted by a memory. If then, you chance to find There's someone on your mind, I hope it happens to be me... I hope it happens to be me. (It Happens To Be Me ~ Nat King Cole) ~~~ It was two in the morning and Pacey Witter smiled politely, holding the door open as the last customers left the restaurant. Locking the door behind them, he pulled the blind down which explained to the outside world that they were closed. “Hey not so fast boss, I don’t think David would want me locked in here overnight!” “Sorry Helen,” he smiled at the young waitress as he opened the door again to let her out. “Thanks for working late tonight sweetie. I’m sorry it was so hectic out there.” “Hey you won’t be hearing any complaints from me. My tips are up by twenty percent!” she laughed, walking to the curb and flagging down a taxi. She turned back to look at Pacey standing in the doorway and smiled as she gave him a quick wave. “Say goodnight to Bodie for me.” “Ok toots. See you Monday!” “Night!” Pacey closed and locked the door once more before walking slowly over to the bar. Picking up a few stray glasses on his way, he put them in the dishwasher behind the bar and opened up the cash register to begin his nightly ritual of counting up the profits. In the three years since they’d started the business, things had gone up and up for Pacey, financially speaking that is. In fact, business was booming. What started out as a small bar and restaurant, had quickly turned into one of the cosiest, most loved and popular places to eat, drink and be seen in Boston. Last year they had bought the small building behind them, expanded the restaurant out back, making more room for the bar in the front of the building. Now each night there was a happy mixture of dinner guests and those just wanting to have a quiet drink in amiable surroundings. They had increased their wait staff and their prices and the demand ensured that profits had almost doubled. Still…. Pacey was tired. The late nights exhausted him, but somehow he thrived on it. He felt happier when the restaurant was busy like it had been tonight, with orders coming thick and fast and the customers at the bar buying drinks faster than the waitresses could hand them out. He liked the late nights when he could close up, dead on his feet and still sit up until the small hours counting the money, looking at the budgets and planning the staff schedules. He lost count of the number of times he’d stayed there so late it wasn’t worth it or enticing enough to go back to his lonely apartment; instead he’d find himself pulling a blanket over himself on the sofa in the back office for a couple of hours rest before the next day began. If it truthfully wasn’t the life he wanted, it was certainly the life he needed right now. Pacey stood over the register, pulling out the money and putting it into a large money bag which he planned to take into the office, count up and store in the safe all before bedtime. “You could always skip that for one night and come with me you know. We’re closed for one of our only few days in the year tomorrow. This place and that money will still be here on Monday morning Pace.” Pacey looked up and turned to see Bodie standing in front of the door to the kitchens. “Helen says goodnight.” “Great change of subject Pace,” he laughed. Pacey smirked and put down the bundle of twenties before reaching into the fridge for a couple of sodas. “I appreciate the offer man,” he replied slowly, seemingly weighing up his words as he handed Bodie a drink and sighed. “And I know that this time I can’t use work as an excuse, but…. I just can’t go back there. I’m sorry man. As much as I want to go with you and pay my respects, …. ” “I know Pace. It’s ok, really. I would never pressure you to go. You know that right?” “Yeah,” he nodded slowly, turning the soda can in his hands before taking another sip. “I know. It’s just… my feelings and memories of them are forever going to be linked with all those other bad memories and I just can’t seem to separate the two… not yet. I’m sorry.” “Pace, It’s ok, really. You have nothing to be sorry about. Bessie knew you loved her.” Bodie’s head dropped down as he tried to fight back the tears that still came when he thought about them, even five years later. “… and Alex. You lost just as much as I did when it happened Pacey; maybe more in the long run,” he whispered, looking up, trying to gauge the look on Pacey's face. “I hate this time of year,” Pacey released a long, deep breath. “Sometimes I don’t understand why you want to go back there and be reminded of what happened.” “They were my family Pacey and I loved them. It’s this one day out of my year, driving back to Capeside and putting flowers on their grave that allows me to get through the other three hundred and sixty four without killing myself,” Bodie smiled sadly, before finishing the soda and slowly putting on his jacket. “I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow Bodie… all of you.” “She won’t be there this year Pace. She has a new job over in Seattle and they told her if she goes AWOL for this, then not to bother coming back.” “Nice,” Pacey frowned and shook his head slowly. “Yeah, real compassionate, huh? I told her not to worry about it. Hopefully she can come over once she gets some time off. Anyway, I told her she can be with her memories of Bessie and Alex wherever she is…. just like you can.” Bodie smiled and reached over the bar to shake Pacey’s hand. “Thanks man,” Pacey smiled, feeling relieved that Bodie never judged him and hoping they could quickly get off the subject he always hated thinking about. “You know, you’re the best friend and business partner a guy could want…. Oh, no wait, that’s me isn’t it?” Bodie laughed and walked towards the door. “Yeah yeah, something like that.” “Are you driving through the night?” “Yep, setting off right now so I can get there before sunrise. That’s another thing I really miss… seeing that sun rising over the creek with a strong cup of coffee in my hand,” he smiled. “Drive safely man.” “Will do,” Bodie waved as he unlocked the restaurant door to leave. “Oh and Pacey…. Don’t spend the rest of the weekend at work. Get out. Try to enjoy yourself a little. It’s not too late, I’m sure there are lots of places still open tonight. Go get a drink. Flirt with some women. You never know…. You might like it once you remember what it’s all about.” Pacey laughed as he walked over to the door to lock up once again. Running his hand slowly through his hair, he turned back and looked around the dark, empty bar and suddenly felt very alone. Maybe Bodie was right. Maybe tonight of all nights, he should go out and try to enjoy himself. Maybe he could go out and try to forget. ~~~ In his dream, no matter how close he got to it, he could not reach the ringing telephone. Pacey found himself naked, in a long corridor, with a bright red flashing telephone resting on a table at one end. It rang and rang and rang and for a while he ran towards it, getting no nearer, no matter how fast he ran. Then suddenly, his feet were pinned to the floor, unable to move any further. He panicked and reached his hand out to try to grasp the receiver. His arm slowly began to stretch longer and longer until Pacey looked down and noticed that it was the length of the whole corridor, yet still his fingers could not touch the telephone. Pacey was stretching and reaching out so far, that suddenly the floor melted away and he felt himself falling down and down, with the incessant ringing still sounding in his ears. Jolting awake in bed, Pacey quickly realised that the phone next to the bed was ringing. Rubbing his eyes slowly, he glanced across to his alarm clock and was confused to see that it was only 5:45 am. Pacey had only been in bed for about an hour. Pulling himself up slowly, his head ready to explode from the alcohol he’d managed to consume in such a short time, he gingerly reached out to pick up the receiver, relieved that this wasn’t still a part of his dream. “Hello?” he said sleepily, cursing whatever wrong number this might be. “Could I speak to Mr Pacey Witter?” “This is Pacey. Who’s this?” “Mr Witter, this is Officer Barton of the Boston PD. I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but do you know a Mr Bodie Wells?” “Yes, yes I do. He’s my business partner. What’s this about?” “Do you know if he has any family in Boston that I can contact?” “What happened?” Pacey sat bolt upright in bed, confusion and fear slowly creeping into him. “I’m sorry Mr Witter. I really need to speak to a member of Mr Wells’ family.” Pacey sighed and reluctantly admitted, “In which case, you can speak to me. Mr Wells isn’t just my business partner. He’s my brother-in-law. Now tell me what’s going on,” Pacey demanded. “I’m afraid there’s some bad news Mr Witter. We've received a call from Highway Patrol over in Sagamore. Apparently at around 3:00 am, there was very bad motor vehicle accident on the Bridge there on Route 3. Two cars collided head on, and the Fire Department have only just finished at the scene. Both drivers were killed instantly and I’m afraid we believe that one of the cars was being driven by Mr Wells.” “Oh my god,” Pacey gasped as he clutched his chest, memories and pain flooding back to him all at once. “Not again,” he whispered. “Mr Witter are you still there?” “Ye… yes,” Pacey stuttered. “I’m sorry to have to tell you over the phone, but I didn’t realise when we found your business card in Mr Wells’ wallet that you were a family member. I really am very sorry.” “He’s dead?” Pacey asked. “Yes, I’m afraid that Mr Wells is dead, although we will need someone to identify the body or use dental records to confirm this, just so that there’s no doubt.” Pacey could hear his own breathing very loudly in his ears. He could hear the noisy thudding of his heart as it continued to beat….. as it always did. “Mr Witter, if it’s ok with you, I’m going to send one of my colleagues over to see you, check you’re ok and see if there are any questions you can help us answer. In the meantime, could you please let your wife know about the accident.” “Ex-wife,” he whispered. “Excuse me?” “Joey, she’s my ex-wife.” “Well Mr Witter, you’ve put me in a very difficult position. I’m not sure I should have told you before I told your wife. I..” “It’s ok,” Pacey shook his head. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me knowing first. She doesn’t see Bodie very often…. just once a year,” he whispered, his knuckles turning white as his hand gripped the telephone. “Would you like us to contact her for you?” “Yes please,” Pacey nodded as a tear finally trailed down his cheek. “But, oh god… I don’t have her new number. Bodie had it. I guess…. It’ll probably with those business cards in his wallet…. Um, Josephine Potter… she’s somewhere in Seattle,” he was openly crying now, as the full force of Bodie’s death began to hit him. “OK, thank you Mr Witter. Just sit tight, ok? My colleague will be over to see you shortly and I’m sure I’ll be speaking to you again. I’m so sorry.” Pacey hung up the phone. Sorry…. Sorry…. The word that Pacey had been trying to block out for five years came back to laugh in his face once more. How many times had people said that damn word to him? He hated it. Just hearing the pity in people’s voices made him want to scream. Pacey curled up in a ball on his bed and sobbed for the loss of his friend, his substitute brother, his confidante, and his one last connection to the past. Pacey cried until he fell asleep and slept until the knocking on the door from the detective forced him to face everything once again. ~~~ Edited by: SnoozyC at: 1/25/04 10:42 am
Angel608J Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 1 (3/15/03 8:38 am) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Prologue) I'm here and I do believe that I'm first! Good thing, considering I missed out the first time around. A touch angsty??? Whattheheckever honey! You know that I love this and you know that I love it even more that you're back at this fic again. I sure have missed it and I don't say that much these days. gets giddy with anticipation of new parts Can't wait for tomorrow. hugs
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 11 (3/16/03 8:30 am) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter One) Chapter 1 Joey looked down to where her hands lay fidgeting in her lap; she twisted her fingers together awkwardly. Opposite her, behind the large, dark wooden desk, sat Bodie’s lawyer Andrew Mills. He was leafing through several pieces of paper, before finding the correct document. “It’s a shame you couldn’t make it back in time for the funeral,” he looked up to see her avoiding his eyes and biting back an angry comment. “It’s not a criticism Mrs Witter, I just..” “Joey. Just Joey, please? And I explained why I couldn’t make it to the funeral. My new firm is run by a complete tyrant who doesn’t believe people should have private lives,” she glared, before looking down sadly and whispered, “That’s part of the reason why he hired me.” “Joey,” he smiled sympathetically when she eventually looked up at him, her guilt at his initial statement revealing itself as a defiant glare once again. “I’m not the enemy here ok? I just know that Mr Wells cared for you a great deal, that’s all; but don’t worry, I attended the funeral myself and there were a lot of people there paying their respects. Bodie was well loved.” “Yes,” Joey whispered, desperately fighting against more tears. "I believe his remains have been sent back to Capeside. He wanted his ashes to be scattered over the graves of your sister and nephew," Andrew looked up to see the raw pain in her eyes and realised this was a subject he definitely should not have broached. “Well I’m here now ok?," she changed the subject quickly. "Seeing as how you demanded my presence today. I just wonder whether I’ll have a job to go back to, that’s all.” “What is it you do for a living Joey?” “I’m a journalist. I just started at The Times. I used to love the drama of it, you know? The thrill of the chase, uncovering a new story” she smiled up at Andrew, a hint of nostalgia and great despair in her eyes. She shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe as I get older it just loses some of it’s appeal. I’m tired,” she said simply. Joey looked back down at her hands and stared in silence for a few minutes at the wedding ring that she was still unable to take off. It was a platinum ring, with three perfect diamonds set into the band; and she had loved the ring as soon as she laid eyes on it. She could still picture Pacey holding it out to her in it’s velvet box, and at that moment, when she was so in love with life that her heart could burst, Joey knew that no matter what the future held, that beautiful ring would never leave her body until the day she died. Five years on, and her only concession had been to move it over to her right hand. “Joey, you’ve been through a lot. Have you given any consideration to counselling?” Andrew smiled sympathetically. “I didn’t know it was in a lawyers remit to prescribe psychiatric treatment,” she smiled ruefully. “Well some of us are humans too, you know?” he smiled before handing her a glass of water and noting sadly how her hands trembled. “Listen, I’ve been Bodie’s lawyer ever since your sister died. I know that you’ve been through a lot in the last four or five years. It was just a suggestion, that’s all. I really didn’t mean to interfere, I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. Joey swallowed the water and blinked once more, closing her eyes for more than a couple of seconds before looking up and smiling politely and taking a deep breath. “Why don’t we just get down to business?” “Sure,” he nodded in agreement, looking back to the paperwork he had searched for earlier. “Ok then, Bodie’s will was pretty straight forward so we don't need to go through every word today. Basically. he rewrote it after his wife died, and seeing as how he had no other living blood relatives, he has left almost everything to you Joey. There are a couple of personal possessions that he wanted to go to some different people… friends… colleagues,” he said, looking up at Joey to gauge her emotions. Joey stared straight ahead, supposedly listening intently, but her lack of blinking and her tightened grip on the glass of water proved to Andrew that things could get a little difficult. “… but the apartment here in Boston, the profits from the sale of the B&B in Capeside and all money in insurance policies and bank accounts will go straight to you. Bodie also had a fifty percent share in a restaurant, 'On The Waterfront', which you now inherit,” Andrew looked up warily. “I believe you know that your ex-husband owns the other half?” he asked. Joey nodded, “I guess Pacey can have first option to buy Bodie’s fifty percent. I’m sure he’d like to be sole owner. He always wanted his own restaurant,” she explained softly. “Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple Joey,” Andrew knew things were going to get nasty, but it was his job to explain the will to Joey and to ensure that Bodie’s last wishes were carried out. “What isn’t?” “Last year, Bodie requested that a codicil be put in the will. This stated that if he was to die while the business was still in operation, then the fifty percent would go to you on the condition that you take his place at the restaurant and jointly run it with the other owner for a minimum period of at least six months. After this time you can decide, with his blessing, whether or not you still want to sell your share,” he cringed as he looked at Joey, her face twisting in shock and then horror as she realised the implications of the will. “Oh my god,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears once more. “Did he hate me that much?” she whispered. “Not at all, in fact I got the impression that Bodie's reasons were completely the opposite when he made these changes.” “I can’t. No. I can’t. I have a life now. I’ve left that life behind. I have a new job; I have a new home, hell I even have a cat, all of which are over the other side of the damn country! I just can’t do it,” she began to cry quietly then, hanging her head down in despair before wiping her eyes. “He can’t make me, can he? Surely there isn’t a court that would uphold those demands?” “Joey this is all a big shock for you, plus you’re dealing with another family death and I’m sure this is bringing up a lot of painful memories from the past..” “Not least my divorce!” she shouted. “I know. I understand. Just… take a couple of days to think about it. Please? Bodie and I had become good friends over the years, and I know that this is something he would have really wanted you to do. He wanted you to have a chance to be happy.” “I am!” Joey shook her head vociferously, standing quickly before reaching down for her purse. “I…” Andrew pushed his chair back and stood, walking around the edge of his desk. He put a fatherly hand on her arm and Joey looked up to see nothing but concern in his eyes. “Joey, I may be a lawyer, but I do have emotions, and I know all about yours and Bodie’s backgrounds. He loved you. He loved your husband… ex-husband,” he corrected himself as he felt Joey stiffen slightly. “So I know how hard this is for you, but just take the next couple of days to consider exactly what he wanted. Where are you staying?” “I have a room at the Midtown,” she sighed. “You can stay at the apartment. It’s yours now and the police left the keys in my care,” he explained as he walked with her to the door. “No,” Joey shook her head and reached into her purse for a tissue. “I can’t go there yet. I need time to think.” “Exactly. Think about things for a couple of days and then give me a call ok? Just don’t rush into a decision. Don’t close any doors without making sure that’s exactly what you want,” he smiled sadly at her before shaking her hand and leading her out of his office. “I’ll call you,” she assured him before stepping into the elevator that was on it’s way down to the street. ~~~ Joey stood outside the restaurant, staring nervously at the door that would open up and take her back to her past. The last week had been hell for her, as she knew it would have been for Pacey, but still she felt unready to face him. She was mad as hell at Bodie for what he was doing to her. Mad that he had made her confront all the memories of Pacey and the past, just when she was consumed with the grief of yet another person she loved leaving her. If she stared at the door hard enough would it open? As much as Joey didn’t want to see Pacey and hoped that he wasn’t there, there was a big part of her that was intrigued as to what he’d made of his life since hers fell apart four years ago. She always knew that he and Bodie bought the restaurant a while after everything happened, and that they were making money. She wanted to see with her own eyes the life that was now his; the things and people that had taken the place that she once held. She wondered what she would see when she looked into his eyes. Hatred? Despair? Indifference? She was terrified of all three and how it could make her feel. Shutting herself away in her hotel room for the past three days had actually forced her to confront many memories that she’d put away in a box in the back of her mind a long time ago. Indeed, it wasn’t until the day before, when she finally held her hands up and admitted defeat to the pent-up emotions, that she gave in and called her old therapist for a long session down the telephone. It was a relief to be able talk to someone once again who knew all about the past and how it had affected her. At the same time, it scared her how many unresolved issues she was still struggling with. She hadn’t spoken to her therapist for over a year, having pronounced herself ‘cured’ back then before moving on with her life. But it was talking to him that gave her that last tiny speck of strength to get in a cab and head over the restaurant to face Pacey and the past, not realising that at the same time she was giving in to the future. Pushing the door open slowly she walked into a large room which was empty of people but full of comfortable looking chairs and sofas, clustered around low wooden tables. Each corner of the room had large, cushioned booths and the wall at the back was lined with a row of high stools in front of a long bar that seemed to stock every kind of liquor on the market. To the right of the bar Joey could see a large stone arch that led into a welcoming dining area, lit only with candles. Further along the wall to the right was a door marked ‘kitchen’. She frowned sadly knowing that this was where Bodie must have spent most of his time, creating new and delicious recipes and loving every minute of it. It was early in the day and, seeing neither customers nor staff, Joey walked to the corner of the room. Sliding quietly into one of the booths, she removed her coat and placed it by her side on the chair. She picked up a menu and began glancing through it idly. A noise startled her and she looked up to see a small, flustered looking waitress crossing the room towards her, whilst tying her apron and pushing a stray hair behind her ear. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting ma’am. I didn’t hear the door. Can I get you anything?” “Coffee please,” Joey smiled back at the waitress, noticing the name Helen written on her name tag. “Would you like any food with that? We don’t have a permanent chef on board at the moment I’m afraid, so we’re working off this temporary lunchtime specials list,” she said sadly, handing Joey the piece of paper which detailed their reduced menu. “Just coffee is great thanks. I, um… I really didn’t come to eat. I actually came to see the owner, Pacey Witter, but if he’s not here then….” Joey spoke quickly as her eyes darted around the room. “Oh that’s ok, Pacey’s here. He’s out the back in the kitchen helping prepare the lunches. I’ll get him for you while I fetch your coffee," she looked down at Joey in confusion. "Who should I say is looking for him?” “Um… Potter. Could you just tell him Potter is here?” Joey whispered, twisting a napkin in her hands nervously. “Sure thing,” Helen shrugged and smiled before walking over to the kitchen door, which was opening to reveal a very flustered looking Pacey, wiping his hands on an apron. That face, she thought, how could I ever forget every contour of that man’s beautiful face. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest and she felt sick with nerves as she looked over to where Pacey was talking to Helen, obviously asking for her help with something in the kitchen. Joey saw Helen smile and nod helpfully, before leaning towards Pacey to say something, her arm reaching out to point towards Joey. Even before Pacey looked up, she could see his face turn ashen. She guessed that when she hadn’t turned up for Bodie’s funeral, Pacey must have thought he was safe in never having to see her again. She dreaded to think what he was going to say when she explained about the will. Finally looking up, their eyes met and she saw everything she had feared. First despair, she could see his still broken heart reflected in his eyes; then hatred, she knew he blamed her for leaving just as much as she blamed him for Bessie; and then finally indifference… although he was never a very good actor, as much as his high school performances would have people believe. As he walked over towards her, his eyes showed nothing, but his mouth wore a sad sort of smirk and she noticed an ever so slight nervous tremble, which betrayed his air of nonchalance as he removed the apron and slipped into the booth across from her. “Potter huh? Is that what you go by these days?” he asked, not wanting to look at her but unable to pull his eyes away from the look of despair on her usually flawless face. “I…. I didn’t know whether your staff knew you’d been married,” she explained awkwardly. “I didn’t want questions to be asked that you might not want to answer.” “I don’t care,” he shrugged, looking down at her hands, instinctively looking for her ring that he knew she would still wear. “I guess you’ll always be Potter to me anyway,” he whispered sadly and Joey tried to ignore the sting she felt in her chest. "So," she changed the subject quickly, trying to keep things upbeat for as long as possible. "On the Waterfront, Pacey? I didn't know you were that big a fan of that movie to name your restaurant after it," she smirked. "Sure you did. It's a classic," he replied, before explaining. "Hey do you know how difficult it is to name a restaurant? It's a nightmare, I swear, especially when there are two of you having to compromise. Just be glad…. I was pushing for On the Witterfront, but Bodie was not to be persuaded." She laughed, wondering how they were able to sit across from one another after all this time, pretending to find something amusing. "I'm sorry I couldn't get back for the funeral. Andrew Mills tells me you organised the whole thing. Thanks for that," she whispered, staring down at the menu that lay in front of her, desperate not to look back into his eyes again. "I didn’t expect you to be there," he said stiffly, looking to a point on the wall somewhere behind her head. "You hadn't seen Bodie in a long time." "I saw him when it mattered," she said angrily, closing her eyes and trying to control her emotions. "Listen I didn't come here to fight. I need to talk to you about the restaurant. Bodie left me his share." "I figured. I've already spoken to my lawyer. I think if I cash in a couple of my insurance policies and take out a loan, I should be able to offer you a fair price on it." "Believe me Pacey, there's nothing I'd like more than to sell it to you and go back to my life but it's not going to be as easy as that." Pacey watched in silence as she lifted the coffee cup to her lips, blowing on it gently before taking a sip. He discreetly wiped the palms of his sweating hands against his jeans under the table. Joey took a deep breath before breaking the news to him. "Bodie added a clause to his will." "A clause?" "He wants me to take his place and co-run the restaurant with you… for at least six months, before I decide whether I really want to sell it," she shook her head sadly, unable to look at him. How did it ever get so bad that she couldn't even look at him? Three years? Five years? How would they ever be able to cope with the next six months? "What? He what? You, you what?" "Yeah," she laughed sadly, nodding her head. "Do that for there more days and you'll get to where I am right about now." "He can't do that can he? Legally?" "Listen Pacey, I'm sure I could take this to court, challenge it, overturn it and fly back across the country half a restaurant richer…. but a voice keeps screaming at me that it's what Bodie wanted. And in all honesty, I don't know if there's a job there for me to go back to now anyway. " "You know why he wanted it Jo. You know what he's trying to do," he pushed. "I think we both know what he was trying to do Pacey," she finally looked up at him pointedly. "And I think we're both in agreement that it's not going to happen. But six months isn't all that long. If we can just ignore the past and ignore any emotions without actually ignoring each other completely; if we can treat this as purely a business partnership then I think we can get through this." "You really want to do this?" he asked incredulously, oblivious to the stares from the waitresses as his voice raised. "No Pacey. I don't. I want my life back. I want to go home to the life that I was in control of and was settled in. But I think you know I carry around a huge amount of guilt where Bodie's concerned and if he wanted me to do this then I think I have to do it…. even if it doesn't end how he'd have liked." "And I don't get any say in this?" his eyes narrowed. "What if I don't want to be your partner?" She laughed aloud at the irony. "Well I guess technically you could always sell your share to me, but that would be ridiculous. This is your home Pacey, you belong here and you're happy here. All I can do is promise not to get in your way too much." "Fine." "Fine." "Fine," he finally sighed in defeat. "When do you want to start?" "It'll have to be Monday," she stood, suddenly looking incredibly sad. "I'm moving into Bodie's apartment over the weekend. I'm having my things flown over from Seattle, so I guess I'll be unpacking and… um… going through Bodie's things." "Oh, sure, ok," Pacey looked down at his feet, the awkwardness and sadness the two shared becoming unbearable. "Well why don't we start early on Monday, around 8:00am? That way we can go through some things before we start." "Yeah, no problem," she turned away from him, glad to get away from his close proximity. "See you then." "So long Potter," he whispered, closing his eyes as she walked out of the restaurant. ~~~
Angel608J Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 3 (3/16/03 2:47 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter One) Still loving every word of it.
LadyHaHa Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 9 (3/16/03 11:38 pm) Reply	Woo Woo Ooo I think I like this one. I love the tension going. I love that you're using the 'Potter' thing. It reminds me of the good old days. sigh! Post some more soon?
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 13 (3/17/03 10:55 am) Reply	Night Without End (Chapter Two) Here I am with my daily update! Thanks for the feedback! Chapter 2 Joey sat cross-legged with her head in her hands on the floor of the apartment, surrounded by boxes, books and paperwork. She sobbed quietly while a framed photograph of Bessie, Bodie and Alex on her wedding day rested in her lap. She had been staring at it for the past half an hour… just remembering. Bessie looked beautiful in her matron of honour dress and Alex was sitting happily on his daddy’s shoulders…. the best little ring bearer you ever did see, she could still remember Pacey telling him as he beamed with pride. Joey looked back at the picture, tears trickling silently down her cheeks. She clutched it to her heart and then placed it carefully on the ‘staying’ pile. It would break her heart every time she looked at it, but she couldn’t be parted with that picture. A sudden knock at the door made her jump and she stood quickly, wiping her face dry of the tears. Looking down despairingly at the mess around her on the floor, she walked reluctantly to the front door, in no mood for visitors. “Oh my god! Alan! What are you doing here?” she gasped. “Well you asked me to send you your things,” the tall blonde haired man shrugged and smiled at her. “Well I know I did. I just never imagined you’d be coming with them,” she laughed, suddenly very pleased to see him. Pulling him towards her Joey wrapped her arms around him tightly for a much needed hug. “I’m so glad you did though. You have no idea how much I needed to see a friendly face.” “Well you’ll see another one in a minute, Elvis is downstairs in the van,” he laughed. “Oh wow, you brought him on the plane?” “Hey, he loved it, I know he did. I’ll go get him in a second and he can tell you all about it,” Alan laughed as he followed her into the spacious apartment. “Wow, this place is nice…. And kind of cluttered right now.” “Yeah,” Joey took a deep breath and gestured to the boxes before rubbing her eyes tiredly. “I’m trying to decide which of Bodie’s things should stay or go. It’s brutal. I feel so bad throwing anything anyway.” “I know,” he hugged her again. “But I guess you really need to make this your home now, without the reminders of the past. I know it’s hard, but you’d never find any kind of peace surrounded by too many memories.” “That’s all I am right now,” Joey’s shoulders slumped as she picked up the framed photo once again and showed it to Alan. “I can’t believe you agreed to go through with this,” Alan shook his head. “Have you seen him yet?” “Yeah, you could say that. I ordered ‘one loving reunion, hold the love’ at the restaurant yesterday and Pacey was more than willing to oblige,” she explained ruefully. “In truth I don’t know how I’ll get through it….. but god, it helps that you’re here now,” she smiled sadly, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “Well make the most of me Jo. I have a flight back out of here tomorrow,” he smiled as Joey frowned in defeat. “You’ll survive Joey, you always have. And if you need to find another guy like me to help you through some of the difficult times, then that’s not such a bad thing. Just try not to break any more hearts ok?” “Oh Alan,” she smiled regretfully. “You know I loved you.” “I know sweetheart. You were just always in love with your husband,” he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Ex-husband,” she reminded him sternly. “It’s just a word Jo,” he smirked. “He’ll be your husband in your heart until the day you die. Now let’s stop with the misery for a while, ok? You clear away some of these boxes up here and make a space, while I go down to start unloading your cases from the van. “Ok,” Joey smiled as he walked towards the door. “And Alan? Thank you,” she whispered before turning back with renewed determination to pack away the remainder of Bodie’s belongings. ~~~ She was working quite quickly and getting through the majority of the contents of Bodie’s desk when a knock on the door sounded again. “Hey, I left it…. open,” she jumped up and then stared in confusion at Pacey who was standing in the doorway. “Just me…” he shrugged awkwardly. “Why is the door open?” “Oh, um, never mind… it’s ok…. no reason,” she said, looking behind him at the open door. Pacey began to wonder why she was glancing distractedly towards the hallway every couple of seconds. It certainly wasn’t helping defuse the tension and difficulty of the moment for him. “So what do you want Pacey?” she asked hurriedly. “I… well… I’ve been thinking a lot since you left the restaurant yesterday and I guess I feel kind of bad about the way we left things. I mean, I know things are always going to be difficult between us, but like you said, we’re trying to do what Bodie wanted here and so…” “Pace, I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m kind of busy here,” she motioned behind her to the boxes of belongings. “Oh, sure. I’m sorry,” Pacey shook his head. He mentally kicked himself about the fact that he was waving his hands around wildly to emphasise his point, which right now, looking into her eyes that he knew had been crying, he couldn’t quite remember. “I.. I really just wanted to call a truce.” “Truce. Sure. No problem,” Joey said quickly. Hearing Alan walk out of the elevator down the hall, she knew she had approximately ten seconds before the truce was over. She reached for Pacey’s arm to manoeuvre him out of the door. “So I’ll see you Monday,” she said cheerfully. “Jo can you give me a hand with this box, I already dropped one down the hall and I just hope it wasn’t… Oh… hi there,” Alan shifted nervously on his feet before walking into the room and placing the box down on the coffee table. He reached his hand out towards Pacey who was standing rigidly, a expression of faux nonchalance mixed with a stern glare on his face. “I’m Alan,” he stated simply. 'Alan… just Alan,’ Pacey thought. 'This joker is obviously so comfortable in my ex-wife’s life that his presence doesn’t require further explanation of a surname.’ “Pacey.” 'Well me neither sucker.' Alan just nodded and looked towards Joey. She had been staring back and forth between the two of them as they were doing their territorial marking dance but now looked despairingly down at her hands. “Was there anything else Pacey?” she asked softly, unable to really look up at him and knowing that not offering a further explanation of Alan’s presence would come back to bite her in the ass at some stage over the next six months. She was grateful to Alan who tactfully slipped out of the room to retrieve the other boxes. “No,” he sighed ruefully, looking down to his feet. “Just the truce thing,” he said sadly before reaching into his pocket. He handed her a bunch of silver keys. “You’d better take these now.” “Thanks,” Joey looked up at him quickly and took the keys to the restaurant from his hand. “See you Monday.” Pacey nodded and turned his back on her, walking out of the door. He passed Alan in the hallway as he approached Joey, holding a small kitten. “Elvis!” Pacey heard her cry happily as he stepped into the elevator. “I’m sorry Jo,” Alan whispered awkwardly before following her into the apartment and closing the door behind him. “It’s ok,” she sighed, her voice trembling and unable to hold in her tears any longer. “This is just so hard and it’s only just beginning,” she sobbed noisily into Elvis’ fur as he wriggled contentedly in his mother’s arms. “It’ll get better,” Alan put a comforting hand on her back. “It won’t,” she sobbed, her cries losing control. “Well it’ll get easier to deal with then,” he promised, his heart breaking for his ex-girlfriend who had already suffered so much. “When? When will it?” Joey sniffled, shaking her head sadly in defeat. ~~~ “Boss?” “What?!” Pacey snapped at Helen as he stormed back into the restaurant. “Uh, never mind. It can wait,” she shrugged awkwardly, backing slowly towards the kitchen. “This place is a mess and this bar is filthy. I thought you were supposed to wipe everything down before you did anything else?” he said stubbornly as he went behind the bar and opened up the register. “I already cleaned it once,” she explained calmly, not wanting to join in with this fight he was so keen on getting into. “Don’t start on me please. I know you’ve been through a lot, but we’re all really trying to keep things together here because we loved and respected Bodie, just as we love and respect you,” she said with determination, trying not to raise her voice. Pacey kept his back to her, but she could see his shoulders relaxing slightly and his head hung low as it had done for the past week or so. He let out a long breath. “What did you want to ask me?” his voice was soft and gentle and gave her a silent apology. “It can wait for another time.” “It’s ok, I won’t bite, I promise. What is it?” Pacey turned around and smiled reassuringly at her. “David and I want to get married. Nothing fancy. We don’t even particularly want to tell anyone; just run away somewhere and do it, you know?” Pacey nodded, his mind automatically drifting back five years. “Neither of us really have any family, so we thought we might just go upstate somewhere or fly to Vegas and do it quietly, on our own…. So I guess I wanted to say that I kind of need a weekend off.” “When?” Pacey asked distractedly, his mind on Joey and how stunningly beautiful she had looked as she said her vows to him. “Well we had been hoping for next weekend but I know how crazy we’re going to be here, so maybe I’ll put it off for a little while.” “Sure. No problem,” he whispered. “Next weekend is fine.” “But..” “Helen, we’ll be fine. You’re my best girl here, but we’ll cope. Rescheduling schedules is top of my to do list this week, so don’t worry. I’ll work something out. You deserve to be happy. Go... Get married. Congratulations,” he smiled genuinely, but Helen could see real despair behind his eyes. She quickly picked up her cloth and started wiping along the wooden bar, determined to do anything she could along the way to make things easier for Pacey who she guessed was going through hell right now. “I’ll get this done now, don’t worry Pacey.” “Listen, Helen. I…” “It’s ok, things have been tough for you these last few weeks. It’s going to take time for things to get better,” Pacey nodded silently as she continued. “We all need to cut you some slack while you’re working through things.” “Thanks,” Pacey said quietly. “Although, I was wondering if you’d heard what might happen with Bodie’s half of the restaurant? Do you think you might be able to buy it?” “That my dear,” he sighed as he took her hand, “Is yet another, very long, very tedious, and very sad story.” “Well start at the very beginning then… it’s a very good place to start,” she smirked. ~~~ “She really named her cat Elvis?” “Helen, you’re digressing,” Pacey teased. “I just think it’s so sad when you said that’s what you had always wanted to call one of your children,” Helen frowned sadly. “Maybe it’s a sign!” her eyes widened. “I don’t believe in signs toots and luckily we never had children so I guess the name was free for her to use,” Pacey smirked. “Now where were we?” “Um… you opened this place soon after the divorce.” “Yeah, Bodie was desperate to get away from everything in Capeside, and he and I had always kept in touch, even throughout the divorce stuff. He came to visit me for the weekend, we proceeded to get horrifically drunk and decided this would be the way to make our fortune and ignore our broken hearts,” Pacey sat across from Helen in one of the booths as the other waitresses bustled around them, setting things up for the evening rush. “And Joey’s never even seen this place and what you’ve achieved?” “Not until yesterday,” Pacey sighed and took another sip of strong coffee. “And as far as Joey's concerned, I wouldn’t really say I’ve achieved that much at all.” “Do you still love her?” Helen frowned. “Love… hate….. Who knows? Joey is something I tried to ignore for three years… and I was doing ok, I think. I guess it’s just going to be hard to ignore something that’s standing right in front of you.” “Well she was always right in front of you when you closed your eyes,” Helen smiled sadly and Pacey looked up, giving a short laugh. “You know my brother said the very same thing to me about her once. How weird is that?” he smiled, shaking his head. “Your brother? I didn’t know you had one. You never talk about your family.” “No.” Pacey whispered and hung his head low again. “Does he have a name?” “Doug,” Pacey smirked ruefully. “Sheriff Doug Witter of the good old Capeside PD,” Pacey raised his cup in a toast. “You don’t get along with him?” “Doug’s a good guy,” he explained softly. “But Bodie was all the family I needed.” “And what about Joey?” Helen asked carefully. “Joey is my ex-wife,” Pacey looked up, putting on a cheery faux smile. “Who starts here first thing Monday morning, so I guess I’d better get back to the office and make sure I have everything in order for when she arrives.” He pushed himself out of the booth and Helen caught his hand. “I’m sorry for pushing you on this today. I can tell it’s very painful for you.” “I’m fine,” Pacey replied quickly. “How do we…. How do you want us to act around Joey?” Helen asked worriedly. “Helen she’s not an ogre…” Pacey laughed, remembering Joey’s many hormonal outbursts. “Well only on certain days of the month.” As always a happy memory was quickly replaced by the painful ache of the present. “Don’t feel protective of me. Make your own mind up about Joey…. And if you really can’t do that, the just try not to kill her on her first day,” he laughed as he walked back towards his office. ~~~
LadyHaHa Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 11 (3/17/03 6:49 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Two) Oh, this is getting even better! I can't wait to see what happens when she gets there. Still totally loving this, Snoozy! Donna
Angel608J Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 13 (3/17/03 7:39 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Two) Oh my darling Suzy... I can't wait until we get to the new stuff. But I'm loving reading all the old (or not so old ) stuff again. waits patiently
PJfanLizzy Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 7 (3/17/03 9:59 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter 2) - 17th March I love this story. Good job.
EviePJlvr Founder of Operation True Love! Pacey & Joey Die Hard, Joshua Jackson Bad Ass Chick. Posts: 148 (3/17/03 10:15 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter 2) - 17th March OMG! I absolutely love this Suz! Thank you for posting this here! I'm so happy! does a stupid dance I can't wait to read more! Woohooo!!!!!!!!!!! Reading is good. Writing is even better.
leep4joy Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 8 (3/17/03 10:43 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter 2) - 17th March I just read a bunch of this last night. I can't wait until you catch up with it all. This is so good sweetie!!! ~Lee
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 22 (3/18/03 11:40 am) Reply	Night Without End (Chapter Three) - 18th March Hee! Thanks for the replies, they make me giddy! Not far from the new stuff now Onward... Chapter 3 Joey finally gave up fighting it and opened her eyes, finding herself still surrounded by darkness. Looking across the double bed, she could see the bright red digital numbers on her clock still only showing 05:04. "Urgh" she moaned, startling Elvis who lay on top of the bed, next to her. He yawned slowly, flashing his tiny white baby teeth at her in the dark. "Sorry honey. I don't mean for you to suffer just because I am," she stroked the soft fur behind his ear and he snuggled up closer to her, falling asleep again instantly. "Typical man," she sighed, running her fingers through her hair before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Giving up on any idea of sleep, she reached for the remote control by the side of the bed and flipped on the TV, surfing quickly through the channels. "You'd think with so many damn channels I could find something to watch at five am." She muted the TV and turned on the lamp next to her. Picking up the phone from it's place next to the alarm clock, she punched in the familiar numbers. "Hello?" his tired voice instantly soothed her nerves. "Hey," she whispered, twisting the phone cord around her finger. "Did I wake you?" "Well Joey, it's 2:00 am here," he yawned with a hint of a smile. "Oh god, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I just…" "Joey chill, it's ok. I've been out clubbing and only just got into bed anyway. So really, it's fine. I promise." "I'm sorry Alan," she whispered, hearing him sigh down the phone. "Well aside from the obvious fatigue I can hear in your voice, I would go as far as to say you sound….. scared and frustrated. Am I right?" "How was the journey home? Did you get back in good time?" she frowned and pulled herself up slightly in bed, lifting her pillow higher behind her. "Ah, and the inevitable change of subject indicates that I'm right," he teased. "I got home fine, stop worrying," he smiled. "It's my first day," Joey sighed as she distractedly stroked Elvis' fur. "I don't know how to deal." "Joey you'll be fine." Alan got up out of bed and walked with his cordless phone through to the kitchen. "Compared to what you told me you went through with Pacey in the past, this will be a walk in the park." "I know, but.." "And who knows? Maybe this will enable you two to mend some fences; get some closure….. act like responsible adults." "Hey I was always responsible. I think you'll find that Pac.." "Joey, stop that before you even start," he rolled his eyes and reached into the fridge for a bottle of water. "I thought you'd got rid of this anger. Didn't you say you'd worked through all this stuff with Michael?" Joey let out a long breath. "I thought I had, but I'm beginning to realise that maybe I was wrong." Closing her eyes tightly she listened to the sound of his steady breathing down the phone. "I guess being far away from him just made things a lot easier," she said in a small voice. "He couldn't hurt me from there." "Joey he can't hurt you now…. and you know what? I don't think he wants to. The guy obviously loves you. You only have to look into his eyes to see that he's hurting just as much as you are." "Jeez Alan, don't say stuff like that to me," she whined, covering her eyes with her hand and shaking her head. "Why not?" "I don't want to feel sorry for him. I don't want to remember the good past; I want to remember the bad past; the past that keeps me hating him; the past that keeps him dehumanised to me. Don't make me empathise with the guy!" "I repeat…. Why not Joey?" "Because…," she raised her hand in the air in exasperation, letting it drop quickly down onto the bed. "Because…" "Because?" "Because then I might remember that I love him…. That, that I loved him," she corrected. "Joey," he whispered as he walked back to his bedroom, his voice was full of kindness and love. "I don't know what to say sweetheart. I really don't think I'm the best guy for you to discuss this stuff with." "Oh shit. I'm sorry Alan. I'm treating you like crap aren't I? This is so against every acceptable ex-rule that there is, it's unbelievable. I'm so sorry. Everything's just so horrible right now…. The whole restaurant-slash-Pacey crap… and being in this apartment is spooking me out, everything reminds me of Bodie and the past and I'm taking it all out on you and… I'm just so sorry." "Hey, it's ok. No need to stress about me on top of everything else going on right now. Believe me, I'll be fine Jo. You haven't ruined me for all future womankind," he teased and she laughed into the receiver at her end. "Well that's a relief. It's only fair that one of us should be getting some," she grinned. "Thanks," she said softly. "Will you be ok?" "Sure… why not. I'm made of tough stuff." "Indeed," he smiled. "I'm going to go to sleep now Jo." "Okay," she nodded. "I'll call you, let you know how I am." "Make sure you do, or I'll be back on that plane." "That sounds pretty good right about now. I think I might need you." "No you won't. You'll be fine. Goodnight Jo." "Night," she smiled before replacing the telephone receiver and lying back in the bed. She looked down at Elvis who raised his head off the bed slowly, yawned again and scratched his ear disinterestedly. "Well I'm glad you're relaxed. I'm never going to sleep again," she sighed. Pushing the covers back she headed for the shower. Maybe an early morning walk before work was just what she needed. ~~~ At 7:00 am Joey found herself standing outside On the Waterfront. Two white lights pointed upwards towards the logo of a sailboat painted on a large sign on the front wall. She saw a small welcome sign above the door with Pacey's and Bodie's names as proprietors and thought, not for the first time, back to the letter Bodie had sent her explaining that he'd gone into business with Pacey. Compared to her life back then, Joey wondered why she was complaining about the way things stood now. Looking more closely, Joey could make out a faint light coming from a doorway in the back of the restaurant. Holding her breath slightly, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the set of keys that Pacey had given her, and quietly opened the door. Stepping slowly into the now familiar room, she walked quietly over to the half open door. Pacey sat at the desk in his office. He was obviously awake, but his head was resting tiredly in his hands. Joey remained standing unobserved for a few moments, concentrating on the knot of muscles she could see had formed at the back of his neck. "You're early," he said quietly, not looking up. Joey jumped slightly and cleared her throat quietly before speaking. "You too." "Sometimes it's easier not to go home," he said awkwardly as he looked up into her eyes finally. "You look like you haven't slept for days" he frowned as he stood up from his chair and walked to the water cooler, filling two glasses for them. "Well, the apartment doesn't exactly feel like home yet," she sighed before accepting the drink. "Shall we start early then?" she changed the subject, preferring to remain focused on the business at all times when in Pacey's company. "Sure," he nodded, motioning for her to sit opposite him at the desk. "Um… I've been giving it some thought…. as to how we're going to run this, so I'll just suggest some things and see what you think ok?" "Go ahead," she nodded, crossing one leg over the other and folding her arms in front of her. "Ok…. Well, in the past, Bodie was the chef and he did almost all the cooking, planned the menus, was in charge of purchasing for the restaurant and generally managed everything to do with the kitchen and its staff, except for the schedules which I did. I managed everything out here in the bar, looked after the financial side of things and the staff schedules, which I've already mentioned." Pacey tapped his pen nervously on the desk and tried to bring himself to look her in the eye; preferring instead to pretend to read his 'ideas' from an imaginary piece of paper. "I don't cook Pacey," she explained sarcastically. "A fact I remember well," he bit back at her. "Which is why I've employed a new chef." She smiled falsely at him and nodded for him to continue. "I suggest that you take my place and try managing the bar for a while. That way I can help advise you if you get stuck with anything. I can manage the restaurant side of things and continue with the financial stuff and staff schedules. You just need to run things on this side of the building, which will of course include working some shifts behind the bar." "What?" she asked incredulously. "Don't worry Joey, we have waitresses to actually take the drinks to the tables, but I'm sure you can mix a martini if pushed, yes?" he smirked. "There's really no need to be a snob about things. I do this stuff every day and still manage to look at myself in the mirror with respect." "I am NOT being a snob Pacey," she said through gritted teeth. "I just don't want to be a glorified waitress for the rest of my life. I think I did my fair share when I was fifteen years old." "Listen Joey, this is my business. It's a business I've built up from nothing. It's hard work, it's challenging and it's very, very long hours, so don't you dare try to degrade it. I won't sit here and listen to you insinuating that what I do is any less important or worthy than what anyone else does…. especially you." "I see the damn truce lasted all of five minutes," she shouted across the desk. Pacey took a deep breath and a long drink of water before shaking his head. "You're right. I apologise," he said stiffly. "I know this is just as difficult an adjustment for you as it is for me, but believe me, your job here is going to be just as integral as mine is. We're partners Joey," he finally looked up at her and found her staring unblinkingly back at him. Eventually, she managed to pull her eyes away from his. "Okay," she said softly, nodding her head and pushing her chair back. "Maybe you should give me the grand tour before the staff arrive?" "Sure," Pacey stood, slowly running his hand around the back of his neck tiredly before turning toward the door. "Oh, Pacey… one more thing," Joey reached into her bag and pulled out a small box. "I forgot…. um… Andrew Mills explained to me that Bodie wanted to leave some personal items to different friends and he asked me to look out for them in the apartment," she gulped slowly before handing him the box. "I…. I said I'd pass these on to you. Apparently Bodie mentioned that you were to get them with his love," she whispered. Pacey slowly opened the box and his eyes began to sting with salty unshed tears as he looked down at the cufflinks. Five years earlier…. "A huge thanks also go to Jen and Bessie for being the most wonderful, and may I add beautiful, bridesmaids. Joey tells me she would have been lost without you, so for that alone I thank you for getting her to the church on time and we'd both like you to accept these gifts with our thanks." Pacey handed Bessie and Jen their gifts and they sat back down at the head table, each opening up a small jewellery box containing a delicate silver necklace with a locket in the shape of a heart. "Which leads me to the final thanks of my speech…. Don't worry Pa, I'm almost finished and then the bar will be open again," he added and the guests all laughed as Joey elbowed him with embarrassment. "Ok, ok Mrs Witter, I know you're keen to lead me to the marital bed. I said I'm almost done." Joey blushed eight shades of red and hid her face behind her bouquet. "Pacey!" she whispered angrily as everyone continued laughing. "Sorry sweetheart. The final thanks goes to Bodie, who really does epitomise the phrase 'best man'." Pacey turned to Bodie and raised his glass. "For those of you who don't know, when Best Man Numero Uno, Dawson Leery, broke his leg skiing and dropped out at the last minute, Bodie here kindly stepped up to the challenge. I really don't know what I'd have done without you these last couple of days Bodie. So, for being the great guy you are looking after my wife and her sister all these years, and for standing up with me today, I say thank you from the bottom of both mine and Joey's hearts…. to Bodie," Pacey raised his glass as the guests all applauded. Pacey grinned and handed Bodie his own small box containing a pair of solid silver cufflinks, each in the shape of a sailboat. "I….I.." Pacey's hands shook as he gently touched the cufflinks once again, whilst fighting back tears. "I think I need some air." "Okay," Joey whispered, longing to reach out and still his hand with her own. "I may be a while….. I think I'll take last night's money to the bank," he shook his head, unable to look at her as he reached into the safe and grabbed the money bags, eager to get away from her close proximity. Pacey's obvious despair spurred Joey on to be kind. "Sure, don't worry. I'll just start the coffee machines and wait for the others to come in and open up," she smiled nervously. "Thanks," he mumbled as he rushed out of the door and away from the confines of the office. ~~~ "What the hell are you doing?" Helen shouted from the door of the restaurant to the figure she saw behind the bar. Joey turned quickly and shrugged, smiling nervously at the girl she'd met briefly a few days before. "Um, hi… I'm Joey. I was just looking for coffee filters." "Oh god sorry," Helen rolled her eyes in embarrassment, before walking further into the bar and pointing behind Joey's head. "They're on the shelf there." "Thanks," Joey turned and reached for the papers, busying herself setting up the coffee machine. "You're Helen, right? I met you the other day." "Mmm-hmm," Helen nodded warily. "And you're the infamous Mrs Witter….. New boss on the block," she raised her eyebrows challengingly. "Excuse me?" Joey's eyes narrowed angrily and Helen gulped nervously. "I'm sorry… really. It's just.. well, Pacey explained your history with him that's all, and he and I are very close. I guess I just got a little over-protective for a second," she muttered awkwardly as she pulled her coat off. "Pacey told you?" Joey could feel her anger building up again. "So I guess he's just turned all the staff against me before I even start huh? Well that's just great. How dare...." "No," Helen interrupted. "The others don't know anything other than you’re his ex-wife. If that makes them protective too, then I guess you'll have to deal with it until they learn to trust you a bit. As far as I'm aware, I'm the only one who….. who knows all the other stuff," Helen explained softly, trying to diffuse the situation. "Well my, my…. you two do sound close," Joey tried to keep calm. "I can't control what Pacey tells people; all I ask is you try not to judge me based on one side of a story," Joey snapped, switching on the coffee machine with a flourish and walking towards the office. "I'll try," Helen replied sarcastically, wanting to dislike Joey but finding herself somehow respecting Joey's ballsy attitude. "Where's Pacey?" "He went for some air. We'll have to open up without him…. Worried I can't hack it?" Joey sneered from the doorway. "I'm sure you can," Helen smiled sweetly as Joey growled inwardly at her tone, "But I just thought you should know, the other 'bar girl' called in sick, so you'll be on your own out here until the boss gets back." ~~~ "Ma'am…. Excuse me ma'am, I was wondering when my table would be ready, I have a business meeting to get to in a couple of hours and I really cannot be late." "Joey I need a Cosmopolitan, a Stolli with a splash of cranberry and a Mai Tai, as quick as you can." "Helen, I'm trying ok. I'm going as quick as I can, but I'm trying to run this credit card through the machine and take a telephone booking at the same time. Could you just wait a couple of minutes for those drinks and check to see when this lady's table will be ready for her….. please?" "Joey I need three bottles of the house red uncorked ASAP and a…." "Two minutes Alice!" Joey shouted behind her as she peered at the instruction manual of the credit card swipe machine in front of her. "Joey I need it.." "Just wait!" her voice thundered in her chest. "Excuse me miss, table for one please," a voice behind her laughed. Joey spun around, ready to chew up and spit out every single customer and employee around her and instead looked straight into the smiling face of a petite blonde lady. "Jen!" ~~~
Angel608J Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 18 (3/18/03 7:28 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Three) - 18th March heheh - Jen's there! And you know how much I love Jen, don't ya honey? Ooooh, new parts are just around the corner. does happy dance hugs
PJfanLizzy Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 10 (3/18/03 11:28 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Three) - 18th March Great story. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 25 (3/19/03 11:47 am) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Four) - 19th March Chapter 4 It was an hour later when Joey finally managed to ask Alice to watch the bar for a while so she could take a break. She yawned and poured both her and Jen a cup of coffee and walked over to the booth where Jen was patiently waiting for her. "God I'm so sorry Jen. It's my first day and things have just been crazy here," she sighed heavily and rolled here eyes. "Talk about hitting the ground running." "Don't worry about me Jo, I'm fine. I had a tuna melt which was totally to die for. The new chef is excellent." "Is he? I really wouldn't know; I haven't even had the chance to go back there and introduce myself this morning. Poor Helen and Alice have had to spend half their time running around after me, showing me where everything is." "Hhmm, well this may be an obvious kind of question Joey, but where's Pacey?" Jen asked softly as she blew on her coffee to cool it, before sipping it carefully and adding more Sweet & Low. "Urgh!" Joey's hands flew into the air, wobbling the cups on the table slightly. She tiredly rubbed at her temples and squeezed her eyes shut tightly, attempted to block out the onset of a killer headache. "Don't even mention that name to me right now. Can you believe the nerve of that man? I mean it's my first day. My first day for heaven's sake and he's just disappeared on me, just totally disappeared. I mean, he had the nerve to get me to feel sorry for him this morning," Jen's eyebrows raised in surprise. "It's true.. I actually and completely surprisingly felt this iceberg in my chest briefly melt ever so slightly when I realised that we shared this huge grief that just overwhelmed us…," "Joey." "What?" Joey stopped ranting and stared at Jen's hand resting on top of her own. "Take a breath. Take a sip of coffee; then tell me what happened." Joey felt like crying, just from having her friend close by again; someone who understood everything she was feeling and everything she'd been through. Helen walked up and silently poured them both refills for their coffee, looking back and forth at Joey and Jen in confusion. "She's fine," Jen whispered as Joey wiped a few tears from her eye, reaching into her pocket for a tissue and blowing her nose loudly. Helen nodded and walked away, leaving them alone once more. Joey took a deep breath. "Bodie left the sailboat cufflinks to Pacey in his will." Jen closed her eyes sadly in understanding. "I found them at the apartment and brought them in for him this morning. He… he was so choked up. He couldn't even look at me. He said he needed some air and he left." "And?" Jen frowned over the rim of her coffee cup. "And then he just never came back. I swear, I could just kill him. I mean, doesn't he realise that this is just as difficult for me as it is for him; maybe even more so, seeing as how we're on his turf here and I have absolutely no clue what to do here. I'm totally out of my depth," she shook her head angrily. "I'm sorry I turned up unannounced like this Jo; this must have been the worst possible time for me to visit." "No! Jen, honestly, I don't think I've ever been so happy and relieved to see a friendly face as when you turned up today," she smiled. "But… how did you know I was here?" "Well I called Alan to ask how you were doing and he explained you could use a friend, so… I took a few days off work and hoped you wouldn't mind a house guest," she smiled warmly. "Are you kidding? I'd love for you to stay, you'd be saving my life, or my sanity at least," Joey laughed. "Joey," Jen's smile faded and she looked at Joey seriously. "Do you think it might be a good idea to start seeing Michael again for a little while? Or at least chat to him on the phone once a week or something?" "I already talked to him once since I've been here Jen. But really, what more can he do for me?" "Joey he's a therapist. Even if he just listens while you talk, it's got to be a good thing," Jen sighed as Joey looked down at the table. "How's Jack?" she suddenly asked. "He's fine, he's healthy, he's happy, he's in love. And I think he'd want you to stop changing the subject," Jen stared sternly at Joey until she raised her eyes again and smiled guiltily. "Joey, I'm worried about you. At least let me talk to my colleagues at the clinic; get them to recommend some names. You can always find someone here in Boston you know?" Joey frowned and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Promise me you'll think about it Joey." "I promise," Joey sighed again, rolling her eyes at her friend. "Good." ~~~ An hour later, when the restaurant had just closed after the lunchtime sitting, and the bar had only two or three couples enjoying a quiet drink, Pacey walked back into On The Waterfront. He felt guilty as hell for leaving Joey for so long, but the he hadn't seen those cufflinks for five years and they represented everything happy about his life, which subsequently reminded him of everything sad. He truly didn't know how he was going to get through every day being in such close proximity with the woman he adored. How could he possibly risk looking at her and not seeing the love that used to lie deep in her eyes for him every time she would smile. And yet, when he had managed to look up at her that morning, he had felt not only the familiar jolt that always hit him in her presence, but he was sure that he'd felt something radiating from inside of her too. Or was he just imagining things? Doubting his own sanity at this point, he opened the door to the restaurant and walked cautiously over to the unattended bar. Leaning across the wood, he looked over and behind the bar to see if Joey was back there somewhere, lying dead on the floor. He'd failed to notice her and Jen in the booth, but Joey had sensed his presence as soon as he walked through the door and now tapped him harshly on the back. He spun round to see the fire in her eyes and instinctively took a step back, his spine knocking painfully against the bar. "Where the hell do you think you've been?" she started, continuing to poke him on the shoulder every second or so. "Calm down Josephine," he tried to laugh it off, aware of the glances of their few customers on the periphery of his vision. "The old ball and chain," he whispered dismissively to the patrons. "Why you…!" the customers were giggling and Pacey tried to wave her away as if she were a nagging wife for the benefit of the small crowd. He looked back at her and glared sternly, his eyes silently begging her to shut up. Public fights like this were not going to be good for business. "Pacey," she whispered angrily under her breath. "I've been running this bar all alone, all morning because someone called in sick and I have no clue what to do; and the only one real person who could have helped me decided to take the morning off!" her voice was getting louder, and he firmly took hold of her arm, trying to quieten her and direct her into the office at the back. She shook her arm free and glared at him. Pacey was about to really lose his temper, and Joey was about to throw her first punch when Jen decided to make herself known. "Hey Witter," she smiled knowingly. Pacey grinned widely, instantly turning away from his ex-wife and pulling Jen into a big bear hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. "Lindley," he beamed as Joey's eyebrows knitted even tighter together. "What are you doing here?" "Just here to support an old friend," he smiled lovingly at her, "… in her time of need," she added, looking over at Joey. Pacey winced internally as he realised what was going on. Of course Jen would be here for Joey, they were best friends. It was Jen that Joey had run to when she left. Pacey looked at Joey and saw her really fighting back tears. He couldn't help himself; he started to feel even worse for leaving her all alone and helpless that morning. "You know what?" Jen smiled. "I've taken up enough of your day Jo. And now Pacey's back you can have your belated induction course into this place, so I think I'll leave you two alone. I've got stuff to do anyway. So, Joey?" Joey looked up at her questioningly. "Keys," Jen instructed, grinning as Joey frowned and handed over the keys to her apartment. "Pacey?" He looked warily back at Jen. "Take my place in that booth there and the both of you, calmly and collectively come up with some kind of a plan about running this place so that you don't end up screaming at each other every day. Because I have to say, all this fighting is going to put you out of business." Jen nodded knowingly and turned on her heel, leaving Pacey and Joey looking like reprimanded schoolchildren as they slid opposite each other in the booth. "Oh and Joey?" Jen looked back at them when she reached the door. "Yep?" Joey asked tiredly. "What's your favourite colour?" "Um… green. Why?" "No reason," Jen grinned sneakily as she left the restaurant, leaving Pacey and Joey alone to finally face each other. ~~~ "I'm sorry about this morning Jo," Pacey whispered sadly, unable to look at her. "Look, Pacey," she sighed tiredly. "We called a truce remember. That really has to mean something to both of us or this is never going to work." "I wasn't the one who yelled," he shook his head. "No," she tried to stay calm. "You were just the guy who disappeared for over five hours and left me alone on my first day." "Ok.. I know. You're right. It was a shitty thing to do. I've said I'm sorry and I meant it. Now can you forgive me so we can get past this horrible start and work on the future?" "Fine." "Ok," Pacey stood and walked across the room to the office. He came back a minute or two later with the book of staff schedules. "So the way it works is this: The bar and restaurant both open at 12pm and we're open all day, until midnight. The restaurant closes between 3 and 6pm, but the bar stays open all day and we generally don't get out of here until after 1am. Understand?" "So what you're saying is, officially it's 12pm to midnight?" she asked warily. "But in reality it's more like 10am until 1am the next morning?" Pacey nodded. "Pace, that's a fifteen hour day. You can't possibly work that long." "And I don't Potter," he didn't see her flinch at the name and continued. "Well not every day of course. That's what we have shifts for you know," he teased, showing her the schedules. "So see, we don't even need to see each other at all, if that's the way you want it." "Pacey I don't know what I'm doing here," she reminded him. "I.. I need you." "Ahh and she finally admits it," he laughed and she rolled her eyes. "How good it is to here you say it at last Josephine." "Smart ass." "Very smart," he winked. "Did you see that?" she asked nervously, frowning slightly. "We were just civil… friendly almost… for well over a minute there." "Well there's hope for us yet Potter," he smiled sadly. "Listen, you've had a hard first day. Why don't you leave early.. go spend some time with Jen." "You know what? I think I'll stay a couple more hours first…. Prepare myself a bit for tomorrow, but… thanks." "No problem," he said quietly, nodding before getting up and leading her to the bar to show her around some more. He stopped abruptly and turned, "Jo? I really am sorry for this morning. I didn't mean to leave you in the deep end, especially not alone in the hands of our crazy wait staff." "Talking of which," she teased. "Maybe you'd like to have a word with that little girlfriend of yours. Ask her to put in a better word with those guys for me. I don't know how many bogus cocktails they've asked me to make today, but it was not funny." "I'll talk to them," Pacey laughed at her strange assumption. "I promise." ~~~ It was just after ten when Joey finally walked up the two flights of stairs to Bodie's apartment. She'd been awake since shortly after 5:00am and she was absolutely exhausted. She had always thought that journalism was hard work, but she was rapidly realising that this restaurant was going to be the biggest challenge of her professional life ever. The tiredness seeped through her bones and made her feel even more weepy than she'd been feeling that morning. She was seriously considering Jen's suggestion of finding a new therapist in the Boston area, but could she really go through the trauma of reliving the past again for the benefit of a brand new counsellor needing to know her history? Maybe it would be easy to continue speaking to Michael, long distance. Sometime it was easier to talk things through over the phone, when the other person couldn't see you crying. Michael knew Joey so well. He knew everything about her childhood; everything about Pacey and everything about her life since Pacey. He knew her better than anyone else did, even more than Pacey ever had. Because when she should have talked to Pacey, she couldn't and Michael understood that. Finally reaching the apartment door, she put the two shopping bags down that she had just filled at the store and searched in her purse for her keys. She soon remembered that she'd given them to Jen and she stood back up, slowly and stiffly, her whole body aching. Knocking quietly on the door, she heard a muffled, "Hang on!" and reached back down to the floor for her shopping bags. A minute or so later, Jen opened the door ever so slightly, grinning from ear to ear. "Close your eyes." "What? Jen, come on..," she sighed. "Do as your told and close your damn eyes Joey." She groaned tiredly, but complied, allowing Jen to lead her slowly into the room by the arm. "What's going on Jen?" Jen led her into the middle of the room and took the bags out of her arms, placing them down on the floor at Joey's feet. "Well…. When I called Alan this morning, he said that you sounded down. He said that you sounded lonely and of course, that you were still completely grief stricken. But the thing that stuck in my mind was something that he said about the apartment." "Jen can I.." "Hush," Jen sternly reprimanded her. "Alan said that apart from the stuff you were going through with Pacey, you were living here in Bodie's apartment and it was pretty hard for you, yes?" Joey nodded silently. "So while you were busy hopefully not fighting with your ex-husband, I was doing this!" she said with a flourish and waited for Joey to say something. "Open your eyes you dork," she laughed. Joey blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the light again. Looking around her, she saw an almost different apartment. Jen had not only painted the walls in a beautiful shade of pale apple green, but she'd covered the chairs and sofa in green satin throws, changed the curtains for blinds and repositioned all the furniture around the room. Joey could barely recognise it as the same place. "Oh my god," she whispered, her eyes tearing. She looked at Jen who smiled proudly at her and suddenly her whole body was wracked with sobs. Flopping down wordlessly onto the sofa, Joey cried and cried for more than just the gratitude of the gesture. Jen held her tightly, glad she was finally starting to let her emotions out. ~~~
Angel608J Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 21 (3/19/03 8:51 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Four) - 19th March It's been a long one, so I'll just tell you that I love this!
EviePJlvr Founder of Operation True Love! Pacey & Joey Die Hard, Joshua Jackson Bad Ass Chick. Posts: 156 (3/19/03 10:35 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Four) - 19th March Finally Jo's opening up. Excellent writing, Suz. Isn't it fun to kill off Joey's family? lol.. sorry, you know I've done it before haha. Great job, hon. I can't wait for more. Reading is good. Writing is even better.
SnoozyC Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 29 (3/20/03 10:55 am) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Five) - 20th March Thanks for sticking with me through this old stuff guys... this is the most recent new chapter. After this, I'll be posting the next chapter one day next week Chapter 5 A week into her new role and Joey found herself slowly but surely settling into the fast pace of busy restaurant life. Saturday nights it seemed were hellish however, and with not much longer before she could go home and sleep, she was hiding in the office enjoying a surreptitious cup of coffee when Pacey walked in. “So, are you planning anything fun with Jen on your day off?” “Sorry, I thought you were still with that delivery guy, I’m not snooping around in here honestly,” she started to stand but he motioned for her to sit down again. “I didn’t think you were Jo. This is your place just as much as mine now, remember?” he frowned, hating the deep stabbing feeling inside whenever he had to continually remind himself of the fact that they were strictly business these days, and not husband and wife. “So?” “So…. What?” she looked up in confusion, taking another sip of coffee and slipping her black stiletto heels off her poor aching feet. “Plans…. Tomorrow..,” he laughed at her confusion. “With Jen, on your one and only day off this week.” “Oh, um yeah. Well actually we’re taking a quick trip before she heads back to New York,” Joey said softly, drinking the last of her coffee down and reaching under the desk to retrieve her shoe. “Anywhere nice?” Joey mumbled from her crouched position under the desk. “Excuse me?” Pacey laughed, all the while fighting the urge not to stare at her ass poking up in the air. It had continually amazed him throughout the previous week that he was able to have these brief, totally lucid moments alone with her when normality was just laughing at her bumbling around the restaurant, trying not to let anyone see how out of her depth she really was; or finding himself smiling at a happy memory of them, or sometimes remembering how they would fight before their wedding and her eyes would hold such anger and passion for him at the same time. And then she would say something to him, or look at him in a certain way, and it would all come crashing down around him. “I said we’re going to Capeside,” she repeated as she stood, her voice sounding small and sad. “Oh. Right. Okay,” Pacey felt the wind knocked out of him. “I mean… I never got to say goodbye to Bodie and obviously my annual visit to Bessie and Alex was supposed to be….. so I….. I mean… I just thought the least I could do would be to go now,” she rambled on quickly. “And if I have Jen with me then it’s really going to be so much easier and..” “Of course,” Pacey nodded holding up his hand to silence her and turned back on his heel quickly. He headed towards the door and back to the safe haven of the kitchens. “You know, you can come along if you..” she stopped, knowing that she didn’t want him to, almost as much as he didn’t want to go. “Just do me one favour?,” he reached the door and turned back slowly to look at her, his eyes filled with the kind of pain that only she could understand. “Drive carefully Joey.” She nodded silently as he stared resolutely at her, before turning again. He walked away with a small wave and she heard could hear him from the other side of the door saying he’d better see her first thing on Monday morning. ~~~ Joey knelt in front of the grave, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed softly and lightly fingered the newly carved name in the grey stone. “I’ll miss you Bodie,” she whispered as she looked to her left and saw her sister and nephew’s name written together on the next grave. “But you’re safe with them now.” Jen could feel her heart breaking as she stood some way off and watched Joey lean forward and gently place flowers on both graves before sitting back again, crying less now, but staring off into space silently. “I didn't realise how therapeutic this would be,” she said aloud after a few minutes. "I feel like I should thank him." “For making you face your fears?” “Maybe,” Joey sighed and stood, dusting the grass and soil off her jeans. “But more for loving me, for being my friend, brother and father all rolled into one…. and for not blaming me.” Jen sighed as she looked at Joey pointedly and reached for her hand. “Jo, you know he had nothing to blame you for. In fact, he had nothing to blame Pacey or anyone else for either. It was an accident.” “Then why do I feel so… so mad all the time?” “Because you never confronted it Joey!” Jen held up her hands in exasperation. “You held in all that grief for months until it ate away at you and then when you found out the truth you ran away.” Jen’s voice softened and she looked at Joey trying to gauge if her words were getting through at all. “Maybe you’re mad now because you’re finally confronted by it all again. Maybe you can’t ignore it anymore. Maybe it’s staring you in the face every day at work and silently daring you… or begging you to deal with it and put it to rest.” Joey turned and took one last look at the graves before reaching into her purse for a tissue and blowing her nose loudly like a petulant child. “Don’t wanna,” she pouted and Jen couldn’t help but laugh and hug her friend tightly. “You can and you will young lady!” she half giggled-half scolded. “Joey, you’ve spent so much time being angry at the wrong people. It’s stopped you from letting it go and moving on, either alone or with Pacey, or with anyone else you’ve met since. Aren’t you exhausted by it all? Don’t you think it’s time to deal?” They walked back to Jen’s rental in quiet contemplation. Getting in the car, they smiled at one another and Jen started the engine, stopping it again after a couple of seconds. “Problem with the car?” Joey frowned. “I know a good place for you to start the process,” Jen smiled softly and started the engine again. “The process? We’re calling it ‘the process’ now?” Joey laughed, trying to quell the feeling of unease building in her stomach. “What are you talking about Jen?” “I think we…,” Jen stopped and corrected herself. “No, I think you should pay an old relative a visit.” “No Jen,” Joey shook her head resolutely. “Absolutely not.” “Yes Joey. I’m dropping you off there and I’m sitting outside the entire time so don’t you even think of making a run for it!” ~~~ Joey prayed that he wouldn’t be home, but luck wasn’t on her side that day and a minute after she knocked softly on his door, Doug Witter opened it and stared in shock at his estranged sister-in-law. Joey could barely bring herself to lift her head from its position staring down at Doug’s welcome mat; but slowly she looked up and almost smiled in relief that Doug looked more scared than she did. “Joey Potter as I live and breath,” he exclaimed after a few moments getting his breath back. “Well aren’t you the lucky one,” she sneered, her anger jumping up and lashing out once again. Doug cringed inwardly and hung his head, knowing that the years had had only exaggerated her bitterness towards him. “I heard about Bodie. I’m sorry Joey,” he said sadly and she found herself feeling pity rather than anger towards him for the first time in a long time. “Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault Doug,” she said quietly. “This time….right?” he couldn’t help but ask. “It isn't your fault now Doug and it wasn’t your fault back then,” she nodded and continued, despite her embarrassment. “And I’m…. sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise,” she hated apologizing to anyone. But Joey knew that this was probably the time to start confronting her fears and that meant admitting a lot of what she assumed happened in the past, didn’t necessarily happen the way she’d imagined it at the time. “Come in for a cuppa little sis?” Doug smiled after taking a few steadying breaths. The memory of warmth and familiarity that came with that name made her smile, genuinely for the first time all day and she nodded shyly before stepping into the apartment with a little wave to Jen, who was still sitting in the car looking worriedly at the two of them. “No big criminals to catch today then?” she placed her purse down on the coffee table and look at her surroundings. “Not until the night shift,” he closed the door behind her and frowned. “Was that Jen Lindley?” “Yeah, she’s my ride,” Joey explained awkwardly. “Actually, she kind of bullied me into coming here… facing the past…. confronting my demons and all that other Oprah stuff.” Doug smiled and nodded, “Well I’m glad she did. You might not believe me Joey, but I’ve missed you like hell these past few years. I prayed for months after you left that you’d call or Pacey would track you down and I could at least write or something to tell you how sorry I was for everything that happened.” “Well, Pacey never did try and find me, now did he?” she asked quietly, already knowing the answer. “Would it have mattered if he did? You didn’t want to be found for a long time there Jo,” Doug walked into the kitchen and started boiling the kettle for tea. “Pacey felt guilty Joey.” “How do you know? He wasn’t confiding in anyone either back then really, was he?” “For a little while, before his grief and guilt about everything ate away at him and he left,” he nodded, pouring water onto the bags of peppermint tea, knowing it was Joey’s favourite. Sitting down next to her on the sofa, he handed her a mug. “It wasn’t Pacey’s fault either Joey.” “He might as well have killed them himself!” the anger started again in the pit of her stomach. “That's ridiculous Joey and you know it. It was me who asked him to keep the details from you because we both thought you were too fragile to deal with them.” “I was his wife! He should have told me the truth when he found out Doug,” she shouted, biting back the sobs which were threatening. “How could he Joey?” Doug took hold of her shoulders, wanting to shake some sense into her. “How could he admit to the woman he loved that it was his own father that had just recklessly wiped out almost her entire family?” Joey’s tears fell and she couldn’t hold them back. Her whole body shuddered and she wrapped her arms around herself in protection from the pain she knew that she could no longer stop. “How do you think I felt when I saw that toxicology report Joey? Pacey and I…… we had been in the same boat as you back then. We were grieving for the loss of our father in what we thought was just a terrible, tragic car accident. Can you begin to imagine how it felt for me to have to admit to Pacey that dad was drunk in charge of your sister’s vehicle?" Doug sighed and ran his hands through his hair before continuing, glad he finally had a chance to talk to her about it all. "Everyone thought the guy was a saint anyway, offering to drive Bessie and Alex to the party that day because of her broken leg. Everyone just assumed he’d bravely swerved out of the way of that red car, trying to save their lives…. And all that time, in reality, he’d started the party early by washing down a couple of my mother's migraine pills with half a pint of vodka before he even left the house. I lived with that mixture of grief, hatred and guilt for two weeks before I admitted everything to Pacey and he lived with it a hell of a lot longer before you accidentally found out,” he touched her hair which was covering her face as she rocked silently, her tears spilling over the fingers in front of her face and onto her jeans. “I have a feeling that he’s been living with those emotions ever since.” The room was quiet except for Joey’s soft cries and sniffles for more than half an hour before she could finally speak. “I just wish you could have told me, even if he couldn't,” she whispered. “The worst part wasn't finding out, it was discovering that he knew and he’d kept it from me. You both did. I thought he was protecting his father. It felt like the worst slap in the face to Bessie and Alex’s memory that he was shielding everyone’s memory of this saint-like John Witter…. While all I could think was ‘murderer’ John Witter. The man who knowingly put my family into his car and then drove them to their deaths because he needed his lunchtime buzz before the party started.” “Joey, I don’t want to defend dad,” Doug sighed and stroked her back gently. “What he did was a despicable thing. He thought he was in control of how much he drank. He thought he could have a couple of beers at a bar each night and drive home perfectly in control. It’s bad enough that he misjudged his limits and killed himself but to recklessly take a young woman and child into his care in that condition was wrong and I will never defend what he did. But Joey, I swear to you. Pacey never kept this from you out of some misplaced loyalty to dad. You were in such a state Joey. Your grief was eating you alive and you were shutting us all out. Your marriage was in a terrible state. Pacey would call me each day, sometimes in tears, just desperate for some way to get through to you. I knew, and he knew that telling you the truth then would have pushed you over the edge.” Joey nodded sadly. “If he was protecting anyone Joey, it was his wife. The woman that he loved. The woman he was desperate would just let him in so that the two of you could grieve together.” “I was numb,” Joey explained slowly. “And I was so glad to be numb, because I didn’t want to feel a damn thing. All those people around me, crying and wailing and hugging each other in pity… I hated it, but it was all around me, enveloping me and I just wanted to be in my own little world. It was calm there inside my head and that’s where I wanted to stay for as long as possible.” Joey sat back on the sofa again and Doug went to fetch her a glass of water. “When I overheard you and Pacey in the kitchen that day, well I can’t explain how I felt. I can’t categorise it as any one emotion. I just knew that it was the end. I couldn’t do it anymore. I had to get away.” “So you ran,” Doug nodded. “I ran. I made assumptions and I ran as far away as I could possibly get. I wanted away from that life….. that marriage…. those memories. I was so mad at everyone for so many years that I didn’t want to know the truth, I didn’t want to remember. I just wanted to exist, somewhere else away from it all.” “But you kept in touch with Bodie didn’t you?” “Not right away. And then it was just my once-a-year concession when I would steel my nerves and head back here for one night, sitting in front of their grave with Bodie and a thermos of coffee, watching the sun come up in perfect silence where I didn’t have to confront a damn thing because I knew Pacey would never show his face. But I loved Bodie. He understood like no-one else could understand. And he forgave me for running and never questioned why or for how long I was going to be acting this way.” “He was a good man,” Doug nodded. “He got the final say though, the jerk,” Joey found herself laughing. “Pushed me to face it in the end, didn’t he?” “What do you mean?” Joey looked up stunned, and realized that Doug had no idea about Pacey and the restaurant. “You don’t know do you?” Joey sighed as Doug’s confusion grew. “Bodie ran a successful restaurant in Boston with Pacey. When Bodie died, he left his half of the restaurant to me, on the condition that I give co-running the place a try.” “Wow, I had no idea Joey.” “But didn’t Pacey tell you any of this?” “Well Pacey hasn’t told me much of anything for these last few years Joey. After you ran, he wasn’t that far behind you. I guess it was easier for both of you to run from the pain and memories,” Doug shrugged. “The only time I’ve seen Pacey since then was Bodie’s funeral, and I pretty much thought he'd appreciate me staying well hidden throughout the service,” he said sadly. Joey stood and held out her hand, “Well come on then,” she said with finality. “What?” “It looks like the past has caught up with both of us. So maybe it’s time for everyone to confront their fears. Get your coat. Call work and tell them you’re sick and get in the car with me back to Boston.” “Joey I don’t think tha..” “Douglas Witter, do as you’re told before I get scared again and change my mind.” “Josephine Witter when you talk like that I find it hard to imagine you’re ever scared about anything!” he laughed, reaching for his cellphone. “You have no idea,” she shook her head and tried to ignore the pain she felt at being called Witter again. ~~~
Angel608J Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 23 (3/20/03 6:36 pm) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Five) - 20th March Ooooh, how much do I love this facing your fears thing!! Now after Doug talks to Pacey...it's time for Pacey and Joey to do a little talking of their own. I'm so damn excited that we're at the new parts, but what the hell is this crap about posting the next update next week??? That isn't right honey!! hmph! A week! A freaking week!! You make me wait how long for new parts and now you tell me a week? hehehe You know I love you, that I love this, and that I'll wait as long as it takes for an update. But it doesn't mean that I can't bug the shit out of you. Excellent as always honey.
LadyHaHa Loves Pacey and Joey Posts: 21 (3/21/03 8:58 am) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Five) - 20th March I love this story, Snoozy!!!! And this is a brand new chapter just for us! YAY!!! I can't wait for the next update. This is very good. Donna
EviePJlvr Founder of Operation True Love! Pacey & Joey Die Hard, Joshua Jackson Bad Ass Chick. Posts: 162 (3/22/03 10:28 am) Reply	Re: Night Without End (Chapter Five) - 20th March I like that they have this great blockade between them right now. Tension always makes what's to come that much sweeter. Doug is involved too and that's always good. I'm still sad about Bodie But what a way you weave this story! I'm so excited about reading this. I'm glad you posted it here so that I actually am reading it instead of not knowing a thing about it and missing the whole thing like before. Hugs! Love ya, Suz! Evie Reading is good. Writing is even better.

Operation True Love: Pacey and Joey > Pacey and Joey Fan Fic > Night Without End (Chapter 12) - Updated 25th January
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