For me, it isn't just that he saves her from creepy party guy. It was more that he was just a really good friend to her the whole episode. He knows she likes Dawson, and encourages her to go to the party because he knew Dawson would be there without Jen (thanks to Billy drama). He was essentially nudging Joey to make her move. Then Dawson ditches Joey as soon as Jen shows up, leaving her waiting for a drink that never comes. So then Joey starts drinking with party boy, and when that goes south, Pacey notices and steps in. Joey passes out and when she wakes, she thinks Dawson is the one who saves her (because she's a love sick puppy, also super drunk). Dawson and Pacey carry her back home, and Pacey watches the waking baby so that Dawson can put her to bed. She kisses Dawson. Afterwards, Dawson thinks she was just confused (because he's Dawson), and Pacey tries to knock some sense to him. But alas Dawson's still smitten for Jen (even though she was treating him terribly all episode).

Pacey was working both sides behind the scenes trying to put Dawson and Joey together, essentially for no other reason than he cares about both of them. Especially Joey, who he was watching out for the whole time, while Dawson forgot about her. This helped develop a theme in Dawson's creek where on the surface, Dawson is supposed to be the stand-up "good guy", while Pacey is the trouble maker "bad boy", but underneath we see Pacey really showing up for his friends, while Dawson just takes Joey for granted. Dawson was more mature on the outside, while Pacey was more mature on the inside. It's no wonder most fans are team Pacey.

I always loved S4 of Buffy, I feel it gets too much hate IMO. I don't remember much with Jack, and I remember Jen not really getting any good romances then they end the series by killing her off SMH. I remember Pacey being a stockbroker of course, and WAY too much Joey the last two seasons. I kind of remember Joey dating her professor (Which is extremely inappropriate. Not as bad as statutory rape Pacey/Tamara but ick) and wasn't he played by RH/Todd Manning from One Life to Live? That's mainly the only real memory I have from that mess. Just reminds me why (besides the P/J S6 episodes) I can't rewatch that garbage lol. After S4, I'm out!