Disclaimer: Don't own DC, never have. I just feel the need to write. It's primal, can't explain it. Also, all songs belong to Jewel and can be found on her new CD, Spirit. I envision the character of Stormy as sort of a Jewel. I highly recommend getting Jewel's new CD, just 'cuz it rocks

Summary: Me-ow. Catfight between Megan and Jen. Dawson's little plan to hook up his mom is revealed. Not much about Joey or Pacey in the last one. Billy's back, mainly to cause trouble.

Deep Water

'Cause the more I live
The more I know
What's simple is true
What's simple is true
I love, I love you.
~What's Simple is True by Jewel

Megan slammed her fist into the wall. What gave Jen the right to say that stuff? What right did she have to think that about Megan? She was her sister, yet she knew nothing of her. Had Jen been there the last few months to see where her family was going? No, she hadn't been there. She'd been off in this little backwater town, being happy while Megan was sad.

Megan reached for her duffel bag and began packing it. She didn't want to stay here anymore. She thought maybe by coming here she could take a little of Jen's limelight, to know what it was like to be loved. But Jen had made that abundantly clear that that wasn't going to happen. Well screw Jen. She had other places she could be.

*****

Pacey walked down the road, looking at all the shops. He always liked to walk downtown on Saturdays, to see what trouble he could stir up. Unfortunately, today was boring, even by Capeside standards. No decent looking girls about, no couples having screaming matches, not even anyone he knew. Just a boring day.

As Pacey walked by the fountain in the main square, he heard a beautiful poetic voice floating from near the fountain. A pretty blond girl was playing a guitar and singing. Her guitar case was open and people threw money in it as they passed. A faded canvas bag sat by her feet, with only a few possessions in it.

Pacey walked over. The girl was kind of cute, besides he needed someone to talk to.

The girl's voice floated, singing a lovely song.

Please love let's make an impartial vow
Let's all fall away
That's not crucial now
I want a brave love, one that makes me weak in the knees
I want a crazy, crazy love
One that makes me come undone at the seams

"You called?" Pacey asked flirtatiously.

The girl stopped playing and looked up at him with shadowy blue eyes. She reminded Pacey of a waif, in her simple blue dress that was frayed at the ends.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Pacey Witter," Pacey said, "And your name would be…"

The girl looked thoughtful for a moment, as if pondering whether or not to tell him. "Call me Stormy," she said.

"Any reason for the name Stormy?" Pacey asked.

"Only the obvious," she said, "So Pacey, do you always hit on older girls?"

"You can't be that much older," Pacey said, "eighteen, seventeen…"

"Twenty-six," she said.

"Really?" he said, "I'm seventeen."

"Sure you are," she said, laughing.

"So, where are you from?" Pacey asked.

"About," she said, "Not really anywhere I care about. I prefer to just travel around, playing my guitar. I don't need much else."

"I wish I could just get up and leave," Pacey said, "you're lucky."

"Leaving's not always the best thing," she said, "and I'm hardly lucky. Just strong."

"What other songs do you know?" Pacey asked.

"A few," she said, "Want to hear one?"

"Sure," Pacey said. Stormy lifted her guitar and began playing a song.

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be, that we're all okay
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours they are my own
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours they are my own
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken

In the end, only kindness matters
In the end, only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will pray

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours they are my own
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours they are my own
But they're not yours they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands.

"That was beautiful," Pacey said.

"Beauty is truth," Stormy said, "Truth, beauty."

*****

"Okay, Dawson, where are you," Gail Leery said as she walked into the ruins. Dawson had told her to meet him there. But he didn't appear to be there.

"Gail?" a male voice asked.

"Mitch?" Gail asked as she recognized her husband's voice, "What are you…" she trailed off as she realized what was going on.

"Dawson," they both said.

"What a conniving little boy," Gail said, as she looked around at the romantic setting, dinner set up, and violin music floating through.

"He's a good kid," Mitch said.

"Yeah," Gail said. "He is."

*****

When Jen got home, she was interrogated by a frantic Grams, who wanted to know where Megan was. "She's run away," Grams said, "I don't know what I'm going to tell your parents."

Jen felt horrible. She had felt bad about her fight with Megan all day. Right now, Megan needed to know that someone was there for her, not that no one was. "Let me find her," Jen said, walking out the door, "I have to talk to her."

*****

Pacey walked back over to the fountain, hoping to see Stormy. He had been thinking about her all day. As soon as supper was done, he took off to go see her.

When he got there, Stormy was packing up her things. "Leaving so soon?" Pacey asked sadly, "But I was hoping to talk to you some more."

"I have to be leaving," Stormy said, "the next bus leaves in an hour. I'm heading to Providence. Haven't had much luck here."

"Stay?" Pacey asked.

"Look, Pacey," Stormy said patiently, "you're a nice kid, but I have to keep moving."

"Well, would you play one more song," Pacey said, "something to remember you by?" He couldn't explain it, but something about this girl had touched him. He needed to hear her sing one more time.

"Sure," Stormy said, "never could resist a captive audience." She pulled out her guitar and began playing a song.

You find yourself falling down
Your hopes in the sky

"We're not having this conversation again Gail," Mitch said.

"We've never had this one," Gail said, "we always would skirt around it. We have to work this out Mitch, I don't want a divorce."

"I really don't see any other way, Gail," Mitch said.

"Why can't you forgive me?" Gail said, her eyes tearing up.

"I don't know," Mitch said, "I just don't know."

But your heart like grape gum on the ground
And you try to find yourself
In the abstractions of religion
And the cruelty of everyone else

Megan paid for her bus ticket and walked over to the bench to wait until it was time to board. Ciao Capeside, couldn't say it had been a pleasant experience.

"Megan," came Jen's voice. Megan groaned. Great. Here came Jen to drive those last few nails in.

"What is it Jen," Megan asked nastily, "want to laugh in my face? Just go ahead. I don't care anymore."

"Don't go," Jen said.

Megan looked confused. "What?" she said.

"Don't go," Jen said, "I know we've had our differences…" Megan snorted. "Okay, we've never been real sisters, but I want to change that. I regret never being there for her. And you need someone right now."

"I don't need anyone," Megan said, "I never have."

"You do," Jen said, "and in some ways I need you. I really am sorry for everything I've ever done. I want to make things right."

"I don't know that you can," Megan said.

"We'll never know unless we try," Jen said.

And you wake up to realize
Your standard of living somehow got stuck on survive

Grams walked around, listening to the empty house. At times like these, it just seemed so silent. Deathly almost.

She picked up the wedding picture of her and Mr. Ryan. She remembered that day perfectly. She wore a simple dress her mother had made. He wore his father's tuxedo. They were just a young couple, deeply in love, just starting out. They were so happy.

And now he was gone. He had been gone for two years now. And in some ways, she had died with him.

When you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
And when you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind
It's nothing without love

Gail just looked at Mitch. "Well then I guess that's it," she said, "Goodbye, Mitch."

Gail turned and began walking home, the tears streaming down her face. Mitch looked at his feet for a few moments, debating something. Then he made up his mind. Striding over to Gail, he grabbed her, turned her around, and kissed her.

You wake up to realize your only friend
Has never been yourself or anyone who cared in the end
That's when everything fades or falls away
'Cause the chains which once held us are the only chains which we've made

Megan looked at her ticket and then at Jen. This could be a trick. Jen could be paying her back. That was a definite possibility. And the old Jen would have done that…but something told Megan this wasn't a trick, and this wasn't the old Jen.

"Okay, I'll try it," Megan said, "but if we have any sisterly moments, I'm outta here, got it?"

Jen smiled and hugged Megan. Megan just hugged back.

When you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
And when you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind
It's nothing without love, love, love
It's nothing without love

Joey and Dawson swayed back and forth in each others arms, just holding each other. This week had been so hectic that they hadn't had any time to just be together.

"I love you," Dawson whispered in Joey's hair, so softly that he didn't think she had heard, but she had.

"I love you, too," she said, looking into his face.

Dawson held her face gently with his hand before tilting his head down and kissing her.

We've compromised our pride
And sacrificed our health
We have to demand more
Not of each other
But more from ourselves

Pacey closed his eyes as he listened to the music and envisioned Kathleen. In his mind, he saw her smiling at him, as if calling to him. She was so happy and full of life. Just the way he always wanted to remember her.

Stormy noticed the tears slipping through Pacey's closed eyes, but she said nothing. He was having a moment that he needed to share only with himself, and she respected that. We all have our moments better left just to ourselves.

Cause when you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a stray
When you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind
It's nothing without love, love, love
It's nothing without love
It's nothing without love.

To Be Continued in "Calendar Girl"

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