Part 1
Category: D/J
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Everything up until the last ten minutes of ‘Two Gentlemen Of Capeside’.
Warning: This is a D/J fic, but P/J are together in the prologue and first chapter. Don’t worry, though…I fully intend to present them as the dysfunctual train wreck they are.
A few days had passed since the ‘incident’. That’s what everyone liked to call it. The ‘incident’. The coast guard had picked the four of them up, not really knowing what to make of things. An hour later, the water shifted back to normal, but none of them could really forget.
They kept it quiet, but people found out. Rumours spread, like they always did. Someone would overhear Pacey and Jen talking about how ‘Dawson split the water’, and sooner or later the entire class knew about it.
About a week later, someone came to the Leery house.
“Your son’s a mutant, Mrs. Leery!” FBI special agent Fred Duncan told the couple.
“A what?” Gale asked, slightly confused.
“It’s the only possible explanation,” he continued.
“I heard something about that on the news…” Mitch spoke up. “I don’t see how that’s possible…how did this happen? Was he exposed to something, or…?”
Little did the three adults know, Dawson was listening in on the entire conversation from the stairway. He couldn’t stop thinking about that night. About what he did. Finally, here was a way for him to get his answers.
“It’s on the genetic level, I’m afraid,” the agent continued to explain. “An x-factor in their DNA that gives the subject abilities the rest of us don’t have. They can’t even be located until puberty when the powers first immerge.”
“That’s impossible!” Gale argued. “He’s turning eighteen in a few months. Shouldn’t something have happened earlier?”
“They usually appear as a result of physical or emotional stress,” Duncan replied. “This is a small town. Maybe nothing has ever happened to activate them until now?”
Mitch snickered.
“You obviously don’t know Dawson that well,” he joked.
Agent Duncan sighed.
“I don’t think you understand how series this is, sir!” he told him. “What your son can do…?
“And what can I do exactly?”
The three of them looked up as Dawson descended the stairs.
“Um…Dawson?” Gale greeted him nervously. “This is…?”
Her guest stood up.
“Agent Fred Duncan, FBI!” he introduced himself.
“So, do you have any idea how I did what I did?” Dawson asked.
“Some scientists found traces of increased gravity at the site,” he explained.
Dawson raised his eyebrows.
“You’re telling me that I can control gravity?” he asked, amazed at the revelation. “Wow…”
“I can understand this might feel a little disconcerting for you, Dawson,” Duncan pointed out.
“To say the least,” he replied. “What happens now? Do you expect me to come along and get studied? I’ve seen ET and Roswell dozens of times. I know how you spooks like to prod and poke…”
Duncan put up his arms in defence.
“Slow down, son…” he warned. “We don’t do things like that. At least I don’t. I’m just here to give you a friendly warning.”
“About what?” Mitch asked.
“That not everyone is going to accept someone who is…different…around here,” he answered, turning back towards Mitch and Gale. “Whenever the existence of mutants has happened in a community, there’s always cases of revolt. People are scared of what they don’t understand, and will probably lash out.”
“Especially some place like Capeside, where everyone’s looking for the newest scandal,” Dawson pointed out. “Great. Like I don’t have enough to worry about already. I don’t even know HOW I did it.”
Dawson sighed and sat down on the couch.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Leery…Mrs. Leery…” he said, before heading towards the door. “Dawson…watch your back.”
Dawson nodded, as Agent Duncan walked out the door.
*****
Fred Duncan stepped into his car and sighed. It wasn’t easy, what he did. Many of the people in his department thought he was crazy. Others called him a ‘mutie lover’, and the rest just considered him a bleeding heart.
Fred himself just thought of himself as someone who did what others were afraid to do. Mutants, no matter what they really represented, were a minority. A minority people were afraid of, and for good reason too. Even as children, just one of these people had more firepower at their fingertips than a dozen handguns. If the Leery kid wanted, he could probably blow Boston off the map.
That’s why he needed to reach these kids. To stop them from choosing the wrong side.
‘And don’t think we don’t appreciate it, Fred!’
Suddenly, Agent Duncan put his hands to his temples. The words were being beamed directly into his mind.
‘I really wish you wouldn’t do that, pal, he thought. ‘Don’t you have a cell phone?’
‘Sorry,’ the voice responded. ‘I do not think it would be a good idea for someone to overhear our conversation.’
That was a good point. Some people trusted Fred’s mysterious benefactor even less than they did the mutants. Which was ironic, since…
‘And don’t think I don’t appreciate the irony, my friend’, the voice continued. ‘Have you spoken with the boy?’
‘Yes,’ he thought back. ‘He’s shaken up. But not as bad as I expected. He’s strong.’
‘Go back to Washington, Fred,’ the voice instructed him. ‘My people and I are going to handle this one personally. We’ll talk to Mr. Leery…and the others.’
“Others?” Duncan said out loud.
‘Careful, Fred!’ he warned. ‘Yes, there are two others. They’ll find out soon. Others from your department plan to test the other students at the local high school.'
Fred struck the dashboard.
“Dammit!” he muttered.
‘I’ll talk to him personally,’ the voice reassured him. ‘I’ll let you know what happens.’
Suddenly, the presence inside his head disappeared. Though it had happened dozens of times before, Fred could never get used to it.
For a second, he understood why everyone was afraid of them.
*****
The next day at school, Dawson sat alone in the cafeteria. He caught looks from the other students. Some pitying him…some afraid of him. But that didn’t bother him as much as what he saw in the corner.
Joey and Pacey were sitting there, together. Not surprising. They did the same thing before the storm happened, but Dawson had just hoped things would be different now. With the way Joey had reacted after she thought he had died, he thought they’d be close again. That she would…
That she’d dump Pacey to be with him again? Like she’d want to be with a freak like him.
That thought upset Dawson even more, but what if it was true. Was she afraid of him now?
“Hey, there’s the social leaper,” Jack McPhee commented as he sat down near him.
Dawson looked up, surprised, as Jen Lindley and Jack’s sister, Andie, joined him.
“This is a surprise!” he commented.
“Dawson, look around you,” Jack pointed out. “I’m the only gay guy in Capeside…”
“I spent a summer at the funny farm…” Andie added.
“And I was banished here by my parents for being promiscuous!” Jen finished. “Face it, Dawson…we’re the last people who would judge you. So…is it true?”
Dawson looks at her.
“Yeah, it’s true,” he admitted.
Andie grinned from ear to ear.
“Oh my god!” she squealed. “That is so cool!”
Dawson raised an eyebrow.
“It is?” he asked. “How?”
“Well, you’re like this scientific marvel now!” she replied. “I danced on a table with the next evolutionary step. Do you have any idea how cool that is? Look, I’ve been reading this book…”
Andie reached into her bad and pulled out a hardcover. Dawson took it from her.
“The third species,” he read. “A study on genetic mutation and its possible effects on human adaptation.”
“Yeah, it’s really interesting,” she continued. “It goes into how mutants are actually a form of natural selection. There’s even a theory that everyone on the planet is going to be one in a few generations.”
“Natural selection?” Jen asked. “You mean like when some animal gets wings when it didn’t before?”
“Something like that,” Andie explained. “You see, the writer mentions on how much more dangerous the world has gotten in the past few decades. Nuclear and biological weapons, people more prone to violence…well, he believes this is nature’s way of making sure we can handle it better. Dawson just happens to be one of the first.”
Jack smiles and turns to Dawson.
“Come on, Leery!” he encouraged him. “Even you have to admit, this is cool.”
“Well, other than the fact everyone but you three thinks I’m going to atomize them…” Dawson retorted.
Jack rolled his eyes.
“Well, yeah…I guess it is!” Dawson said, while smiling.
*****
Little did the four of them realize, a few feet away, Joey Potter was watching them. Watching her friends smiling, laughing…carrying on like nothing was wrong. While here she was, unable to talk to him. To be there for Dawson when he needed her the most. And why?
Because, for some reason or another, Pacey didn’t want her to.
“Joey?” Pacey asked. “Yoo-hoo! Earth to Joey? You listening to me?”
Joey faced him.
“Yeah, I guess…” she replied. “I was just thinking about…”
“About Dawson?” he finished for her, a bitter tone in his voice.
Joey sighed.
“I know exactly what you mean,” he told her. “How long have we known the guy? At least a decade, and we had no idea he wasn’t even human.”
“Of course he’s human!” Joey corrected him. “Pacey, just because he can…”
“You were there, Joey!” he reminded her. “You saw what the guy did just by thinking about it. He’s dangerous.”
“Dawson wouldn’t hurt me!” she muttered. “I know he wouldn’t.”
“Well, forgive me if I’m not convinced,” Pacey argued. “I don’t think we can trust anything about him anymore. He’s not like you and me…not one of us.”
Joey bit her lip.
“You can’t know that,” she told him. “Pacey, he needs us!”
“He wrote the both of us off a long time ago, Joey!” he responded. “Maybe it’s just as well.”
Joey couldn’t help but feel that, maybe he was right. Maybe Dawson really didn’t want anything to do with her anymore.
However, somehow she knew that wasn’t true. Deep in her heart, she felt it couldn’t possibly be true.
*****
After class, Joey found a note stuck to her locker. It said ‘meet in the bio-lab at 3:30’. She didn’t know what to make of it, but it looked like Jen’s handwriting. So she complied.
At exactly 3:30, she arrived in the darkened bio-lab. Waiting there was Jack, Jen, Andie, and…Dawson. Soon after she arrived, Pacey entered behind her.
“Hey?” he asked. “What’s going on?”
He gave Dawson a look, then turned to Andie.
“I thought you wanted to talk to me or something?” he asked her. “You didn’t say anything about…”
“Pacey, don’t be a jerk!” Jack commented. “It was Dawson’s idea.”
Dawson smiled.
“I wanted to show you something,” he told them. “All of you.”
He placed a handful of marbles on the counter for the other five to see.
“This book that Andie gave me…” he explained. “Well, it says it’s all really a matter of instinct meets concentration.”
“What is?” Pacey asked.
“What’s with the marbles?” Joey questioned.
Dawson just grinned.
“I’ve seen it in a movie once…” he joked.
Suddenly, he raised his hand up into the air. As if on cue, the marbles started lifting up, swirling around in a circle…just like some sort of solar system.
The others watched in amazement at the spectacle above their heads. Jack and Jen were astounded, Pacey was terrified, and Andie just let her scientific curiosity get the better of her.
Joey, on the other hand, could only think of one thing.
ET.
This is exactly what ET did in the movie, when Elliot asked him where he came from. Dawson was basically copying that scene himself…right down to the ‘spinning planets’.
Most amazing of all…he was smiling. She hadn’t seen him smile since before that night on his back porch.
She wasn’t scared at all. If anything, it made her see Dawson in a whole new light.
Pacey, on the other hand, tripped over a chair behind them. The suddenly noise caused Dawson to lose his concentration, and the marbles fell to the floor.
“Pacey?” he asked. “You all right?”
Dawson stepped forward, trying to help him up. However, the closer he approached, the farther Pacey moved back.
“Just…just stay away from me!” he protested. “You’re some sort of freak!”
Dawson was taken aback by this outburst. Jen gave him a warning look.
“Watch it, Pacey!” she told him.
“What, you think this is normal, Lindley?” he asked. “We’re all supposed to be really impressed by this, huh? Well, all it tells me is that you’re dangerous, Dawson!”
“Pacey?” Dawson asked, perplexed. “Despite what’s happened between us, I would never hurt you.”
“Why don’t I buy that?” he snapped. “You drag us all here to show off…”
“I wanted to share this with my friends!” Dawson corrected him.
“I thought I no longer qualified in that category!” Pacey reminded him. “You know what? I’m glad now. I’d rather not be associated with a freak of nature!”
Dawson gave him a cold stare.
Quickly, Pacey grabbed Joey’s arms and dragged her out of the room.
“Come on, Potter!” he told her. “Let’s get out of here!”
Joey gave Dawson one last, pained look before they left. Once she was gone, Dawson looked to the ground sadly.
*****
Two days passed quickly. Two long, excruciating days, in which Dawson read through that entire book. He wanted to know everything about what he was. Maybe if he threw himself into it enough, he would forget about Joey.
Of course, that was impossible. They would see each other in the hallways, sharing secret looks between the two of them. Pacey, however, would quickly come up with a reason to bring her elsewhere. It was almost like they were ‘forbidden’ to even speak to each other.
However, the more they saw each other, the more Joey wanted to see him. Like being restricted from contact with Dawson made her drawn to him more. She wouldn’t admit it to Pacey, of course…but the other night she had sat outside his window, contemplating whether or not to go inside and see him. Even without the ladder, she could always as him to ‘give her a boost’.
That was another thing. Dawson being a mutant didn’t bother her at all. In fact, it seemed perfectly normal to her. Like her art, or his filmmaking. Just another talent that he had.
Then, on Friday, things got more complicated.
“That you, Dawson Leery!” Pacey groaned. “That guy is gonna be the death of me!”
Joey sighed.
“What’s wrong now?” she asked.
Pacey handed her a flyer.
“Apparently we’re all getting ‘tested’ to see if anyone else at Capeside High is ‘evolved’,” he grumped.
Joey’s eyes went wide.
“They can do that?” she asked. “Find out if someone’s a mutant, even if they’re powers haven’t activated themselves.”
“Yeah, some sort of ‘x-factor’ they call it,” Pacey replied. “It’s a new thing. The docs can check a blood sample and fit out if it’s in your DNA. I’m not worried, though. This is Capeside…odds are Dawson’s the only one. Possibly Chris, too! That charisma can’t possibly be a natural thing.”
*****
Later on, Pacey exited the nurse’s office to find Dawson, Jack, and Jen talking. He was carrying a piece of paper. Specifically, the results of his DNA test. On it were the words ‘negative’ in bold, black ink.
“Well, I see you’ve gotten out of having to go through this stupid check up, huh?” he asked. “Oh, that’s right…you don’t have to.”
“Ok, Pacey…back off!” Jack warned him.
“I can fight my own battles, Jack!” Dawson reassured him.
Pacey grinned.
“Yeah, Leery’s a lot better than you, Jakers!” he claimed.
“I didn’t say that!” Dawson corrected him.
“Oh, is that so?” Pacey challenged. “Admit it, Dawson…you’ve always thought you were better than us. Now you only get confirmation.”
“You’d be wrong, Pace!” he replied. “Although, I’m obviously better than you, since you can’t help but try to turn people against me all of a sudden.”
“I just finally see the truth,” Pacey informed him. “You’re not like any of us. You never were. I know that…and Joey knows that.”
Dawson bit his lip. Pacey sure knew how to hit him where it hurt.
As if on cue, Joey exited the nurse’s office right in that moment. Her face was as white as a ghost.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me…my girlfriend’s here!” he announced, making sure to put a emphasis on the word ‘girlfriend’.
Joey didn’t register it. She just stared at Dawson.
“Dawson?” she asked, walking towards him.
She was clearly upset about something. Even so, Pacey blocked her way.
“Ok, stay away from the freak for a second!” Pacey warned her. However, his words only seemed to upset her more.
“I’m not going to let you do this!” Dawson said, walking forward. “Joey, what’s wrong?”
Pacey blocked his way.
“Don’t touch her!” he warned him. “What you gonna do…show off your powers again?”
“She’s my best friend, Pacey!” Dawson spat. “Whether you are anymore or not doesn’t matter. I’m not going to let you keep us apart.”
“I don’t see how you got much of a choice!” he retorted.
“Woah guys!” Jen warned them. “Slow down.”
Her words didn’t have any effect. They were too far-gone.
“You still want her, don’t kid yourself Leery!” Pacey spat. “Well, it’s not going to happen. Why would any girl in her right mind want to be with a mutant freak of nature like you?”
“PACEY!” Joey screamed at the top of her lungs. “SHUT UP!!!”
Everyone turned towards Joey in shock. She covered her mouth with her hands, surprised by her outburst.
“Why…?” Pacey asked. “You’re taking his side. Joey…he’s not like us…”
“Yes he is…” she whispered, her voice sounding so small.
Slowly, she raised a piece of paper into the air…the same one what Pacey had. Only with one small difference.
On it, written in bright red ink, was the word ‘positive’.
“Oh my god…” Dawson whispered. He was in complete shock.
Pacey, on the other hand, was horrified. He didn’t saw a word.
Tears appeared in Joey’s eyes.
“Pacey…?” she asked, reaching for his hand.
Quickly, Pacey jerked it away.
“Don’t touch me!” he snapped. “Don’t…just stay away from me you monster!”
Joey trembled at his words, as if each one was the stab of a knife.
“You…?” he asked. “You’re not even human! All this time.”
“Pacey, listen to me…” she begged.
Unexpectedly, Pacey grabbed her by the shoulders. His grip was rough, and it was hurting her.
“No, you listen to me!” he snapped. “This was all a game to you, wasn’t it?!”
“Ow!” she yelped. “Pacey, you’re hurting me…!”
“You think we’re all just toys for you to manipulate!” he said, no longer thinking rationally. “Someone should just…!”
“LEAVE HER ALONE!” Dawson yelled, moving towards the two.
Before he could even react, Pacey felt himself torn away from Joey forcefully, and fly down the hallway. He fell to the ground, and continued to slide until he crashed into a group of lockers.”
Dawson looked at his hand in shock at what he did. He turned to Joey, but she was already running in the opposite direction. In a matter of seconds, she was out the door and leaving school grounds.
He turned back to Pacey, who was staring at him in fear.
“You are dangerous!” he stated, not daring to climb to his feet.
Dawson noticed at least a dozen pairs of eyes staring at him…at what he did.
Just then, he knew things would never be the same again.
*****
Little did he know that, from a limo outside, someone had watched the entire display…even though they couldn’t see it! Because, even without being present, he could feel everything that happened.
You see, he possessed the most powerful mind on the planet. Able to sense the thoughts and feelings of everyone on Earth…or even beyond for that matter. Someone who now had a profound interest in the futures of Dawson Leery and Joey Potter.
“Well, my young friend!” he said out loud. “I believe it’s time you and I had a little chat!”