Dawson’s Creek meets Beverly Hills, 90210

Dawson’s Creek meets Beverly Hills, 90210

Disclaimer: I don’t own DC nor BH 90210, but wish I’d met Luke Perry!

Chapter 2: Brandon, RIP

A week later

Brenda had been so busy rehearsing and trying on costume after costume, she was exhausted. She climbed into her bed around 9 p.m. Not even thinking of getting up, the next day was Saturday and she wasn’t due back at the studio until Monday morning.

The phone was ringing off the hook. Brenda barely registered this fact until she’d fully awaken.

“Hello? Mom, what is it? No! Not Brandon, please. Not Brandon!” Brenda was crying uncontrollably. The worst news she could have gotten. Her brother was dead at age 30.

Cindy Walsh was crying as she told her daughter the news. She had received a phone call very early that morning stating that her son was dead. The caller couldn’t give many details, just that she was to notify his family of the tragedy. Cindy’s heart broke once more when she’d heard her daughter’s cries of disbelief.

“Brenda, can you come home? I need you. Your father won’t come out of the bedroom, Grandma is going berserk and I’m trying to keep it all together, but what will I do without my son?” Brenda’s mother’s voice faded, for she had dropped the phone and fainted. Cindy’s line went dead as she tried desperately to dial Brenda’s number once more. The line was busy.

There was a knock on Brenda’s door. She didn’t hear it at first, but she finally blinked her eyes when it had turned into a pounding. She dizzily made her way to the door. She opened it to find Dylan standing there. She didn’t even have time to say hello before she fainted again. He caught her with ease.

Dylan gently lay Brenda’s limp body on her couch then fetched a cool wash cloth to place over her forehead. He’d decided to come back from Mexico for the weekend and had to see Brenda. He had no idea what was going on with her at that moment.

Brenda’s eyes fluttered open and she began crying immediately. She tried her best to tell Dylan what was going on.

“We, sob, don’t know, sob, what happened to him. Just that he died. In Iraq, doing a story for the Post.” Brenda explained.

Dylan’s brown eyes swelled with hot tears. He and Brandon had been like brothers since they’d met on that fateful day on the steps of WBH. “Wow. I-I can’t believe it. He’s gone.” He wrapped his arms around the petite woman shuddering by his side.

The New York Post

Joey Potter was preparing for another day of headlines and deadlines when she got the call. The caller simply said his family had already been notified and thought she should know what had happened with her reporter. Joey’s tears fell silently. Brandon had been a good friend to her and a damn good reporter. Hopelessly devoted to her and his work. The only thing he’d ever said he was ever good at. Newspapers.

“Pace, I need to tell you something. I found out a little bit ago that Brandon died in Iraq, while getting a story for me. What should I do? I feel so responsible. How do I explain to his mother who will surely ask why hadn’t I sent someone other than her only son.” Joey desperately asked her boyfriend.

Pacey said he didn’t know but he would come pick her up. He thought it would be wise to at least pay their respects to his family. So, the two packed a few duffel bags silently before heading to the airport.

Joey felt cold inside and out, though it was a beautiful sunny spring day. It felt wrong that the weather was beautiful when her mood wasn’t. She gripped her travel bag tightly as she and Pacey hailed a cab to the airport. Once they had boarded their plane, she began thinking about what she would say to Cindy Walsh, or Jim Walsh, or even Brenda for that matter. He was supposed to visit her, instead he went on assignment for his boss. Would Brenda hold that against Joey?

“Jo, you all right? You’ve been awfully quiet. I hope this isn’t too unpleasant for you.” Pacey tried comforting her, he really had no other words to say. It was a shock to him. He’d known Brandon for close to a year. But it never registered that something like this could happen. I mean, yeah, it happened. But not to people he knew.

The flight from New York to California would take two days, but at least that would be sufficient time for Joey to come up with something. Or so she thought.

Two days later

Joey and Pacey landed in LA. It had been a long flight and she was exhausted. Pacey had tried to make things easier for her, but to no avail. He concentrated on the awkwardness that they would encounter in a few hours. Once they’d checked into their hotel, Joey would phone Dawson. He’d called a few days prior to the event. Said that he was filming his movie and Brenda Walsh was his lead female. If anyone could put her in touch with Brenda, it was Dawson.

The Production Company

“Dawson Leery’s office.” A distraught Kelly Taylor tried her best to sound professional. Dawson had told her to go home three times already. But Kelly had refused, stating that it would take her mind off Brandon’s death to work. He knew that was a complete lie. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the tragedy since Steve Sanders had called her. Supposedly, he was another of the gang as Kelly explained her friends to Dawson.

“Kelly, I’ll answer the phone. Please go home.” Dawson pleaded with her again as she patched the phone call to his line. She shook her head stubbornly and picked up the next call on line 2.

“Hello? Joey, hey. Yeah, um maybe I better call her first. Just to make sure it’s all right. I mean, I don’t think she’d be upset. But then again, I’m not Brenda.” Dawson reasoned with Joey. She knew it might be this way. But she’d tried to handle the situation to the best of her capabilities.

“Okay, Dawson. Call me back soon, though.” Joey begged. He consented before dialing the Walsh residence.

The Walsh Residence

“Good morning, Mrs. Walsh may I please speak to Brenda? Okay.” Dawson waited patiently. Brenda wouldn’t come to the phone. She sent Dylan to answer instead.

“Hey, man. Yeah, I think that would be all right. But, Dawson, do me a favor. Tell Joey not to worry. They don’t blame her for his death. No, not even Bren. Yeah, see you then. Hey, wait, is Kelly still there? Tell her to come with you guys.” Dylan declared. His voice stronger than he felt.

Monday morning was already bad enough in his book, but to add all this shit on top. Made for a major downer. He tried to keep his spirits up for the Walsh family. They’d always been there for him, now was his turn to pay them back for all their kindness during his troublesome teens.

About a half-hour later, Dawson Leery was standing at the door to the Walshes house. Along with him, Kelly Taylor, Joey Potter, and Pacey Witter.

Dylan opened the door for them, invited them in.

“Hey, Dylan. Where’s Bren? Oh, this is Dawson, Joey, and Pacey.” Kelly introduced her companions as the four of them entered. Dylan looked as though he’d been up all night.

“Hey, Kel. Uh, she’s upstairs. She didn’t sleep well last night. But Cindy and Jim are in the living room if you want to go say hi.” He motioned the group to the living room to the left of the door.

“Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, I’m Josephine Potter. I’m terribly sorry for you loss. Brandon was a great reporter and a good friend. This is my boyfriend Pacey Witter, he and Brandon were friends as well.” Joey introduced herself. The Walshes said hello.

“I’m Dawson Leery, not sure if Brenda mentioned me. I’m her director for the latest film she’s working on. Just wanted to express my condolences. I didn’t get a chance to meet him, ah, your son. Brenda and Kelly told me quite a lot about him. I only wish we were meeting under some other circumstance.” Dawson shook Mr. Walsh’s hand. And rubbed Mrs. Walsh’s shoulder in a comforting way.

The little group sat down and chatted for a little while.

Finally, Brenda had made her way down the stairs and into the living room herself. She stared at the people in front of her. So many strangers coming together for the loss of her brother. Coasts united. It was strange, but comforting.

She imagined the NY gang would stay for the funeral. But she wasn’t sure if Dawson would, he’d mentioned to her the funeral he’d attended not long ago. When a very dear friend named Jen Lindley had died. Joey and Pacey were her friends as well, but didn’t seem as upset as Dawson. Brenda suspected he might have had deep feelings for her. Where as the others, simply platonic.

“Bren, hey. I’m so sorry. I know I’ve already said that. But I’m at a loss for words.” Kelly replied as she hugged her shorter brunette friend. Brenda smiled faintly.

“Hey, Dawson. You must be Joey and Pacey, right?” Brenda extended her hand to Dawson’s friends. Joey accepted first to show she was glad to meet her. Pacey shook her hand, though not as enthusiastic as he thought he would. Here she was, one of his favorite actresses and he couldn’t be excited because of the recent tragedy.

Once Brenda had talked with their visitors, she excused herself to back to her room. That was Dawson, Joey, and Pacey’s signal to leave. They said sorry once again and exited the same way they’d come in.

Brenda’s old room

“Can I get you something, Bren? A Valium maybe to help you sleep?” Dylan asked his girlfriend.

“No, no. Thanks, I think I can manage. So, Kelly, are you coming to the funeral? It’s in three days. Apparently it takes time to Fed-Ex a body back to the states from Iraq.” A pitiful attempt to joke and make light of the mood in her room. But Kelly burst into tears as a result and Dylan looked horrified that he’d heard those words escape Brenda Walsh’s mouth.

“Brenda! How can you even say that? I understand your grieving, but hell, did you have to say it like that?” Dylan exclaimed.

“Like what, Dylan? My twin brother is dead! Don’t you understand what that means? A part of me is dead too. He was my other half, my best friend, my confidant, what will I do without him?” She trailed off.

“You have us, Brenda. Me and Kelly and your folks. Not to mention you new friend, Dawson. You have to be strong. You know Brandon would want you to be.” That did it, he’d opened her flood gates once again.

“I’m just gonna go. I need to um, clear my head. Or something. I love you guys. I’ll call you later.” Kelly felt uncomfortable.

She’d been in love with Brandon. Had almost married him years ago. Until they decided to be friends. She missed him so much. But what else could she do here?

Brenda was so lost in depression and spiraling faster and faster, she wasn’t prepared to be the strong one right now. She could only leave it up to Dylan for the time being.

Dylan and Brenda said goodbye, but didn’t look at her as she left the bedroom.

On her way out, she said goodbye to Cindy and Jim. She ran to her the cab she’d called, she had to get back to the Production Company. She’d left her car.

At the Hotel

“Do you think we should stay for the funeral? I’m a little uncomfortable.” Joey admitted. She looked to Dawson.

“I think you should. You worked with him daily. Saw him, were close to him, it would be a nice jesture.” Dawson reasoned with his best friend.

“Yeah, Jo. We should, I mean, wouldn’t you want someone at your funeral if you had considered that person a friend?” Pacey didn’t make as much sense as he’d tried. But still she understood him. She always understood him.

“But we just went to Jen’s funeral. I’m not sure I could handle another one.” Joey’s gaze didn’t meet his, but she met Dawson’s when he interjected.

“You better! Brandon was your friend. You don’t need to be a chicken shit, Jo.” Dawson’s rage was unexpected. Catching her off guard. Pacey quickly came to her defense.

“You know what, Dawson, she’s trying. Cut her some slack. We all miss Jen, don’t you think this adds to that left over pain for Joey? She lost another friend. You didn’t know him!” Pacey said hotly. Joey touched his arm to calm him. He apologized to Dawson, who apologized to Joey. There was still some slight tension, but they were slowly coming to there senses.

Three days away. Just three, than we can go home. Were Joey’s last thoughts of the night.