Personal message: Hi! It's me, Matahari. I'm sure you all know that by now. Well, part 8 is here. Finally! In this one I'm going to focus more on Dawson and Joey because it kind of is harder to do the Jen and Pacey thing. There is also a kind of flashback, well not a flashback actually, just a remembering of days gone by. I'm sorry that it's taken so long, but I've been really busy and kind of developed a case of writer's block along the way too. So, forgive me?

Well, I hope you like it and be sure to visit my site. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer or aol to view it, you should hear I'll Stand by You by the Pretenders which was played at the end of the Pilot episode. I love that song! The website is at : http://members.aol.com/Matahari91/index.html. Check it out.

Spoilers: I don't think there are any but if there are, oh well.

Rating: Joey and Dawson are kind of still recovering from what happened and he's just glad that she's conscious.

Setting: In the nurse's office. Joey has just woken up.

Thanks so much to all the people who read and write fanfic! I don't expect as many comments as before because school's going, but if you can just write "I read it and it was good" or something like that, that would be great! Just to know that you're still out there!

Hope you have a wonderful day! :)

I've Missed You

"Joey!" Dawson breathed out. "You're okay!" His eyes brightened up and out of relief he hugged her with all that he had inside him.

Joey, surprised and weak, lightly pressed her arms around him and accepted his offering of strength and warmth. "Dawson, what are you doing here?...What arm I doing here? The last thing I can remember is the room going dark and me calling your name.

"We were talking and you fainted...in my arms." Dawson blushed at the thought of it. He remembered holding her fragile form. He felt so good, so strong, like he could do anything to help her. He remembered the way her hair smelt and the way she had felt against his body. Embarrassed that he was thinking about this, he continued. "I called over the intercom for help, the nurse came, and well, here we are."

"That's sounds pretty logical...but how exactly did my shirt get unbuttoned? I don't think I did that." asked Joey.

"Um...I did that." Dawson conceded. "When you fainted, I tried to bring the blood back to your head and I unbuttoned a button so that you could breathe more easily like we learned in school."

"What would I do without you?" Joey asked half-jokingly but with a touch of seriousness, looking at Dawson.

Dawson opened his mouth to answer when the nurse came in. "Oh! You're awake! Do you think you'll be able to get up and go to class?"

"Um...I don't know. I'll try." Joey responded skeptically. She put her hand against the cot for support and shakily got up. After about 10 seconds, she was forced to grasp the cot yet again.

"Hmm...guess not." said the nurse thoughtfully. "Is there anyone at home that could get you? Anyone you could call?"

"No." replied Joey sighing. "I don't know...maybe I should just stay here for awhile..."

Dawson, who had been alertly listening to their conversation, found an opportunity to speak. "If it's okay with you and Joey, I could walk her to my house and make sure that she's taken care of." Dawson offered a little too quickly.

"I think that would be best. Dawson, are you going to be missing any important classes?"

"No, of course not. I can always get the notes from someone." Dawson replied.

"What do you think, Joey? Is it a good idea?" the nurse asked.

"Um, sure." Joey answered looking up toward Dawson tentatively with a half smile.

~~~*~~~

Dawson put an arm over Joey to help her stand up and when she almost fell, he kept her from stumbling as they walked out from the dark school to the contrastly bright sunshine outside. They were silent for a few moments, contemplating about what would happen next.

Their awkwardness from just an hour ago, seemed to have given way to a regression to simpler times, but it would inevitably end up where they left off.

"Dawson," Joey spoke first, "I must have seemed so stupid. I mean fainting in school! With you no less! I'm sure everyone's going to have a field day with this."

"And when has any of that bothered you before?"

"You're right." Joey said smiling at Dawson, refreshed.

"Of course I'm right! Would I be otherwise?" he asked laughing.

"Well..."

"Don't answer that!" he said with a grin.

"You know, Dawson? I've missed this. I mean, it's only been for a few hours and I've been missing you already. Our little conversations, our debates. I guess I'd like to give our friendship a try...I mean, it's the least I could do. You saving my life and all..." said Joey simply as she leaned on him for support.

"Me, too, Joey. I've missed everything about you. I've missed your smile, your sarcastic and cynical remarks. Nobody will ever be able to replace you. You're the only one I can depend on, the only one I can trust to tell me what they really believe about me. You're my best friend. I don't ever want to lose you. Anyway, you would have done the same for me. Remember when we were ten and I had fallen on a log over a stream, trying to get a forest scene for a movie just right and I had twisted my ankle? You had torn off a little of the bandana that I had forced you to wear for the scene and you had used some twigs to make a splint? Then you said that you would kiss it to make it better and I did feel better when you did?" he asked softly.

Joey blushed remembering. They had been so innocent then. She had been so frightened when she had seen Dawson's look of total fear and when his arms had flailed into the empty space of air. When she had gone down and dragged him out of the water, she had seen that he was limping. She only knew that she had to help him. It was a long way to either of their houses and he couldn't possibly walk in his condition.

Without thinking, she had put his leg into a splint and had done the one thing her mother had always done whenever she had had one of her many scrapes. She kissed his ankle and said that would make it all better. She never had any idea why it always did feel better when her mom kissed her bruise or cut, but it did. And Joey would do no less for Dawson, her best friend. She had no idea how much Dawson would repay her when she needed him the next year, when her mother was no longer there to kiss her troubles away. She had stayed by his side and had been with him when their families had went out to search for them. It was a good thing it was the summertime or else they might have frozen to death.

"Thanks, Dawson. It was nothing." she whispered softly. "So, what do you think we should do with this unexpected free time?" she asked brightly changing the subject.

"Well, our project is due next week...we can talk about the details at my house after I check your temperature and get you something to eat."

"Dawson, you are enjoying this way too much!" Joey chided him.

"I just love taking care of you. It isn't often that Joey Potter needs or even accepts help."

Joey laughed and sighed inwardly. She was glad that they were a little back to normal, but the next few days were going to be very difficult.

Feedback: I love feedback! I wouldn't say I live off it, but it's like chocolate. You know? You don't *need* it, but you know you want it. I know it takes a lot of time but I appreciate it! So, send ideas, suggestions, comments,questions and whatever else you have to me. P.S. This is not over! Thanks!

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