Disclaimer: DC belongs to Kevin Williamson, Columbia TriStar, and the WB.

And I would have walked head on
into the deep end of a river
clinging to your stocks and bonds
paying your H.P. demands forever.
They're coming in the morning
With a truck to take me home
And someone saved my life tonight."

-"Someone saved my life tonight" by Elton John

Vanessa/Stephanie couldn't say anything. She just looked at the floor. Pacey couldn't say anything either, he had walked up just in time to hear that Vanessa wasn't Vanessa. Wanting to hear more, he hid behind the door while the doctor spoke.
"Stephanie," the doctor said, "Running away is a very serious thing. You have people looking for you. I think that once you're completely recovered, you need to go home."
"NO!" Stephanie screamed at him, standing up out of the wheelchair, "You won't make me go back there!" Stephanie felt the sudden urge to run away. She burst out the door on her wobbling legs, which were still injured from the cave in, running as fast as she can.
Pacey ran after her, followed by the doctors, who were calling for more help. Stephanie kept running, dodging all the doctors and nurses who tried to catch her. She had amazing strength for someone who was injured, Pacey realized. She must have been an athlete.
They tried to keep up, but Stephanie just ran faster and faster, with amazing speed. Soon, she was out the hospital door. When they got outside, she was gone.

*****

Dawson woke up before Joey that day. Rubbing his eyes, he looked over. Joey had her arms wrapped around him. The earthquake had really scared her, and she had fallen asleep in his embrace.
Joey woke up a little while after Dawson woke up. Stretching, she smiled at Dawson. Then she realized that she was hugging him the way a lover would hug her lover. "Oh God," she said, pulling her arms away, "I'm so sorry Dawson."
Dawson looked confused. "For what? For hugging me? It's ok Jo, you were scared. I didn't mind all that much. It was nice to have you need me for a change. Most of the time, I need you."
Joey smiled at the 'you need me line.' If he only knew how much she really needed him. But there were some things she couldn't say. Not out loud. Not to him. Not ever.

*****

Stephanie stopped running as soon as she didn't see her pursuers anymore. Looking around, she realized that she had found her way to the cave. Her motorcycle was gone. Stephanie realized that Pacey must have taken it.
"PACEY!" she said suddenly. He was back at the hospital. "Great," she groaned. When Pacey woke up and found her gone, he would have questions. Then he would find out that she wasn't really Vanessa. Wasn't really the girl he thought he knew. Stephanie slammed her fist against the wall. He would never want someone who lied to him.
"Don't injure yourself," came a voice from behind Stephanie. It was Pacey.
Stephanie rubbed her fist. "I guess you found out," she said softly.
Pacey nodded. "Yeah. I arrived just in time to hear that you weren't Vanessa. I think we need to talk," he said, sitting down, "And please tell me the truth this time."
"Ok," Stephanie said, sighing and sitting down as well, "My name is Stephanie Mullen. I'm 16 years old. I ran away from home a couple months ago."
Pacey nodded. This was a start. "Why'd you run away," he asked, his curiousity piqued.
Stephanie sighed. This was the part she didn't want to get into. "If I tell you," she said, "Promise me that you won't judge me, won't shun me. Promise me you'll understand."
"I promise," Pacey said, "now, what happened?"
"Well," Stephanie said, "I had a twin sister named Vanessa. That's why I told you my name was Vanessa. We were really close. She was a strong swimmer, but I am afraid of the water. I've always been afraid. One day, she decided to teach me how to swim. So we were outside, by our pool, and she just pushed me into the deep end. I panicked. I was flailing about, screaming. I was going delirious. The next thing I knew, Vanessa was in the pool, trying to pull me out. I was desperate to grab onto anything, so I grabbed onto her. I grabbed on so tight that I pulled her under. She tried to come up, but I was still scared, so I just held tighter. I felt her go limp under me. The next thing I knew, my big brother and a couple of his friends ran out, yelling. One of them pulled me out and the other two grabbed Vanessa. I saw them trying to give her CPR, but they couldn't. She was dead. And it was my fault. I killed her. I couldn't stay there. They would all have blamed me. So I ran inside, grabbed a few things, and stole my brother's motorcycle. I had to get out of there. I can't go back. I WON'T go back."
Pacey hugged Stephanie, realizing that she was crying. "It wasn't your fault," he said, "it wasn't. Come on, I'm taking you somewhere else."
"Don't take me back to the hospital," Stephanie said, "I won't go back there."
"Fine, " Pacey said, "I can hide you out in my house. There's an old playhouse in my backyard, near the pool. No one uses it anymore. You can stay there."

*****

Jen had come back from New York, and was unpacking her things. Taking a break, she cut on the television, where the news was playing. Dawson's mom was on screen.
"And in today's news," Gail said, "a fifteen year old girl, going by the name of Vanessa Ryder, disappeared from the hospital after being injured in a cave in. Hospital officials are not saying why she left, but if you see her, please contact the authorities. Back to you Bob..."
Jen didn't head anymore. Picking up the phone and calling Dawson, she said, "Dawson, you have to hear this..."

*****

Pacey was helping Stephanie get settled in, when he heard Dawson's voice calling him. Running out of the playhouse, he saw Dawson, Joey, and Jen running to him.
"What were you doing in there, Pacey?" Dawson asked, curious.
"Just cleaning it out. Rats in there," Pacey lied, hoping they'd drop it.
"Oh," Dawson said, "Did you hear about Vanessa? She disappeared from the hospital."
"Yeah, I know," Pacey said nonchalently, "I was there with her. She just had something she had to do. No biggie."
"No biggie?" Joey said, sarcastically, "your friend is missing, the cops are looking for her, and you say 'no biggie'?"
"Joey's right," Jen said, "This is a big deal. We're going out to go look for Vanessa to find out what this is about. Come with us."
"I can't", Pacey said, "I have this thing I have to do. I'll catch up with you later."
"Fine," Dawson said, walking away, "see you later."
When they were gone, Pacey breathed easily. Poking her head out the window, Stephanie asked, "are they gone?"
"Yeah," Pacey said, "but you'd better stay in there a while. I have to go with them so they don't get suspicious. You can go help yourself in the kitchen. No one's gonna be home till later. Just be out here by nine, I'll be back by then."
"Ok," Stephanie said, going back in.

*****

Pacey came back later than he had thought. Looking out the window of his house, he saw Stephanie pacing around the pool, looking at it sadly. Luckily, his parents weren't home.
Pacey suddenly got a stab of fear. Looking out the window, he didn't see Stephanie around the pool. Looking in the pool, he saw her in it, flailing about. Suddenly she went under...and didn't come up.
Pacey shot out the back door and was into the pool in a matter of seconds. Diving down, he felt around until he felt Stephanie. Grabbing her, he pulled her to the surface.
Pacey dragged Stephanie out of the pool. She was unconscious. "Don't die on me," he said, beginning CPR.

To Be Continued

Back to the Pools Page

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page