Sleep Is Sweeter
Author's Notes: This story is set right after the episode " Friday the 13th". It is my version of what might have happened after Joey and Dawson learn that they saw the Lady Killer
I do not own anything associated to Dawson's Creek. Everything belongs to Kevin Williamson and the WB. No copy right infrinment is intended and I'm not making any money.
PS: This is my first Dawson's Creek fanfic. I have written several Buffy stories under the name above and several X-Files Fanfics under the name Rebecca Sparling. So this is the first time in this genre for me so please be kind! : ) Thank you !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joey just stared at the television in absolute shock. That was him. That was the man she had given directions to just hours before. He was the Lady Killer.....And he knew her name, knew her face. Joey shuddered. Then she turned towards Dawson. His eyes were full of shock as well.
Joey turned her face away from him and tried to speak, " Dawson.....I-"
" Oh, god, Joey...."
She moved towards the window and sat down slowly.
" Dawson, I-I could have been the next victim....No, no....I WOULD have been the next victim!! Omigod!"
Dawson moved towards her, " Jo, it's okay . They caught him. He's in jail. He can't hurt you. I promise."
Joey just kept staring out the window, then suddenly her face fell and she began to cry. This had been the breaking point. She had been scared one too many times today, but this time her fear was legitamte. She haden't been frightened by rubber snakes, she was frightened by the dark side of human nature.
" Oh, Jo. Please don't cry. Shhhhhh.....it's okay."
He tried consoling her by putting his arms around her, but she pushed him away.
Joey looked at him, tears streaming down her face. " You see Dawson? You see??"
Dawson had a look on his face that was a mixture between sympathy and confusion.
" Joey, see what? What?"
She continued to cry and Dawson once again tried to put his arms around her, but once again Joey pushed him away.
She lashed out at him. " This is why I hate your stupid pranks! And those dumb movies that have no real point, except killing innocent people. I mean, there's already guys running around cutting out girls' hearts', and I could have been one of them! It's just.....life is alot scarier than any prank you could think of Dawson, that's proof," Joey said pointing towards the TV.
Dawson sighed and ran a hand through his hair, " Joey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.I mean, you're right. No more pranks, not after what's happened today...I promise."
Joey nodded and whipped her eyes.
After a few moments, Dawson spoke again. " God, Joey. I mean I could have......"
She looked at him suspisciously. " Could have what?" she asked.
He looked her in the eyes. Then before saying a word he brushed the hair out of her eyes. " Joey, I could have lost you. I mean, everything I said about how I would feel if you died.....It's all true , Jo. God, if you died, I think a little part of me would die too. "
Joey smiled, " Yeah, it goes both ways Dawson. It goes both ways."
They sat there in silence for a few moments. Then Joey spoke up, " What if he ever-"
Dawson cut her off, he knew what she was thinking, " No, Jo. No, he won't escape. He won't. And if he ever did I'd protect you, cause I'm a big manly man!"
Joey smiled, " Yeah, right. You're more of a meak girly girl, aren't you?"
Dawson's eyes lit up. They would get past this, things would be alright.
Dawson took her hand, " Come on, let's get some sleep."
Joey nodded slightly and made her way towards the bed.
The two of them crawled into their opposite sides. Dawson turned off the TV and the light. Then turned to look at Joey. The moonlight coming from the window lit up her face. She looked so beautiful that it shocked Dawson. His best friend was beautiful, so beautiful that he could fall-
" Dawson?" Joey's voice cut off Dawson's thoughts.
" Yeah, Joey?"
" Can I have a hug? I mean, I know it sounds stupid and childish, but I just need one."
Dawson smiled, " Sure , anything for you, Jo."
They wrapped their arms around each other and laid there like that.
Dawson just wanted Joey to feel safe, he wanted to be able to protect her. And holding her in his arms at that moment, he believed he could.
Joey felt a kind of warmth wash over her body. She did feel safe in Dawson's arms, and she just wished that this moment would never end. That she could just stay in his arms and prentend that all was right in the world.
After a few moments, Joey whispered to Dawson, " Dawson?"
Dawson loosened his grip on her a little so he could look at her face, " What, Jo."
" Do me a favor?"
" Anything, Jo."
" Lie to me......"
"What do you mean?"
Joey sighed, " Tell me that the world is a safe place. Tell me that the good guy wins in the end. Tell me we'll always be friends......Please?"
Dawson looked her right in the eyes, " Joey, the world is a safe place and the good guy always wins."
She returned his gaze, " What about the other part.......The, um, friends part."
Dawson smiled. " Jo, I can't lie to you about that."
She cocked an eyebrow, her gesture asking what he meant.
" I don't have to lie about that , Jo. Because in my heart I know that you and I will always be friends. No matter what. I promise. Joey, I......."
Dawson left off the last part.....Because he was afraid to even think it. He loved Joey, or did he? He was so confused by her. He knew in his heart that he would always love her in some way or another,but falling in love with Joey? Being in love with Joey? That scared Dawson more than anything else on the planet. What if he and Joey ever crossed the line
between friendship and non-platonic relationship? That would give Joey alot of power. She would be his best friend, his girlfriend, his everything, his world. In, short, Dawson wasn't as oblivous to the world around him as he seemed. He was just scared.
Joey looked at Dawson, she knew he wanted to say something else. Something important. And she was afraid of what it might be that he'd have to say. She was scared. But as she lie there in his arms, Joey thought of how tierd she was and how sweet sleep would be tonight if he'd just hold her until the sun came up.Tonight, she didn't need Dawson
to say he loved her, and she didn't need to tell him that she loved him. Joey just needed Dawson to lie there next to her, that way she wouldn't feel scared or alone.
" Dawson?" she asked finally.
" Yeah?"
" Let's just sleep, okay? We can always talk tomorrow. "
Dawson smiled and sighed, almost relieved, " Okay Joey, there's always tomorrow."
After a few moments, Joey was almost asleep, but before she drifted off she whispered one last thing to Dawson, " Dawson, don't let go of me...okay...I'm still scared."
Dawson smiled with his eyes closed, " I'm scared too , Jo. Don't worry I won't let go.........."
Finally the two best friends drifted off to sleep in each others arms, pretending that the world was a safe place and that every true story would have a happy ending.
********
Email is a fanfic author's paycheck! So please let me know what you think at CreativeGirl@rocketmail.com
Back To Fanfic Page
Next Part...
Email: dawsonnjoey@alloymail.com