This was wrong. Everything felt wrong. Not having Brie and John B with them felt like the Pogues had just fallen apart. It was wrong that they were now forced to sit inside a police tent and be questioned by the Deputy and several FBI agents. Brie and John B were innocent, and there was no real evidence JJ could give the police to show them who actually deserved to be sitting in a cell right now.
The officers all stood around a table, leaving them to sit in a couple of metal chairs by the doorway. JJ bounced his leg nervously, chewing at his fingernails. He glanced to the side and saw Pope take Kiara's hand. He almost wanted to smile at that, automatically thinking about Brie. He had been shocked when Kiara had kissed Pope after John B and Brie left, but he figured that it kind of made sense. After all, Pope did like her too at some point.
A series of loud clicks suddenly boomed though the tent. JJ looked at the others, but they looked as equally confused. Light shone through the thin plastic of the walls, the lighthouse spurring to life.
"The power is coming back on," Pope breathed out. "Oh, fuck."
"That's them!"
JJ's pulse began racing, watching helplessly as the officer's ran around frantically. He cursed and balled his fists, standing up from his seat. An agent immediately stepped forward and shoved him back down without a word. JJ clenched his jaw and stayed put, bouncing his knee more aggressively. All of this effort and planning to make sure that they got away, and they were still going to get caught.
"Get the boats out there! Get after them!"
The rain pelted louder against the tarp of the tent, thunder crashing above them. They would be fine, JJ told himself. If they followed his directions then they might have a chance. The Phantom can run fast, hopefully faster than any of the cop's boats.
"They're headed south!" A voice came through on a static radio.
"In that boat?" The Deputy shook his head, "Try to connect to the radio, see if we can get through to them."
JJ's nerves were fraying quickly, his mind unravelling as fast as the storm was worsening. Kiara put her hand on his knee, stopping him from shaking it, and smiled.
"They'll be fine," she said, "If anyone can direct a boat through a storm, it's those two."
"No!" JJ snapped, lowering his voice, "If anyone can direct a boat through a storm it's me, and you know it. I should have thought about the freaking storm, and I should have gone with them. I can handle the Phantom better than anyone, and I know the route to Mexico."
"JJ," Pope shook his head, "You cant think like that, man. They're gonna make it."
"Not in this storm," JJ muttered, tears filling his eyes, "Not with the cops on their tail. They wont give up. They'll head straight into the storm, and-"
"Stop it!" Kiara scolded, "Dont say that. Just have faith, okay? They still need us."
He sighed heavily and pulled at his hair in frustration. He wasnt ready to lose his girlfriend and his best friend in one night.
The voice came back over the radio again. "Out attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful. Sir, we're getting hammered here."
The agent in charge took a deep breath, shaking his head. "Hold your position, Captain."
"Roger that."
"They're going to get everyone killed," JJ muttered angrily, "There's no way that they're getting through that storm in an open-top boat."
"JJ!" Kiara cried desperately, "Don't say shit like that. They've got a chance."
No, JJ thought, they dont. One wave and they would turtle, and there's no way to swim to safety out there. He balled his fists tighter. If he could get down to the dock, then maybe he could commandeer a boat and go after them. He could try to contact them himself and try to get them to turn around. But it was too late. No way he could get close enough now. They were already out of the bay. He brushed a finger over Brie's chakra bracelet that he still had on his wrist and sighed.
This is what he hated; he hated feeling powerless. He had been stuck with that feeling his whole life, living with his sorry excuse for a father, and now it seemed to be what hurt him the most. He supposed that's why he always ran into trouble, because he couldnt help himself. He wanted to help. That's all he ever wanted to do.
JJ was trying to keep calm and keep his emotions in check, but when he saw Ward Cameron stroll into the tent like he was innocent, JJ lost it. He jumped to his feet, muscles tensing with anger. How dare he walk in here acting like he was actually helping the police when he and his scumbag son were the guilty ones?
One of the agents grabbed him by the arms and held him back as Ward Cameron locked eyes with him. JJ fumed, huffing out heavy breaths through his nose in an attempt to regain any amount of self-control. He swore that he saw Ward smirk slightly before sitting down at the table and picking up the radio. Fuck! If anything was going to stop John B from turning that boat around, it was going to be the voice of the man who literally ruined his whole life.
JJ tried to tone out his words, not wanting to hear anything he said to John B in fear that he would strangle him and get himself arrested. Kiara and Pope watched him cautiously, clearly scared that he was going to pull some crazy stunt. JJ himself didnt even know what he would do to Ward if he got close enough. He wanted him dead, or at the very least rotting in a prison cell with his psycho son. Rafe had harassed and then nearly murdered his girlfriend, and Ward had essentially ruined their lives. Whatever JJ's reaction was going to be, it wasnt going to be good.
"Oh my god," Kiara breathed out in shock, "He's using Sarah like a bargaining chip. He's using his own daughter like some sort of pawn. I cant belive this."
"I can," Pope spat, angrily.
JJ squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears. "I cant hear it, alright? Just- dont tell me what he says. Please."
Kiara pursed her lips and fell silent. JJ kept his hands over his ears as he watched Ward speak into the radio. He didnt want John B to turn that boat around, because he didn't want to see his best friend and his girlfriend be convicted of a crime they didn't commit, but he also didnt want them to die out there, fighting to escape. Part of him wanted them to get caught, he wouldnt deny that. He would do anything to have them back now that they had gone.
Kiara's hand landed on his arm, her mouth falling open. JJ dropped his hands away from his ears and frowned. "Its John B! Listen."
"You killed my father! And you framed me for a murder that I didn't commit. You took everything from me! You took everything from me. But I'm still here, and I swear to God, Ward, I will come back one day and take what's mine."
JJ's pulse quickened as adrenaline rushed through his veins. They weren't turning back. He almost wanted to smile at John B's determination, but he knew that the cops still didnt have the evidence to belive their story. JJ knew that he would do anything to help clear their names. They just had to hold onto hope.
"So you listen to me...I'm coming for you. I'm coming...for you."
The radio cut out, disconnecting completely. The cops all dropped their heads in disappointment as they realised that John B had no intentions of handing them over any time soon. Ward look completely shaken, and JJ would be lying if he didnt find the slightest bit of pleasure in that.
"You dont go anywhere," the agent said to Ward, taking the radio from his hand, "We're gonna need to talk to you."
JJ let out the breath that he was unintentionally holding onto. Maybe Ward was going to get caught and get exactly what he deserved. But that didnt feel like as much of a comfort as JJ had imagined it would be. Because they were still out there, battling through a storm that could sink them in an instant.
"There's three kids out there on that boat," the Deputy said, "Dont stop looking."
The wind whipped louder around the tent, rain coming down harder than ever. Kiara glanced up, eyes filled with fear. Pope took her hand again, trying to comfort her. JJ turned away and leant forward, elbows against his knees and clasped his hands together. The disappointment he felt when he didnt hear Brie over the radio settled in his chest, knowing that they weren't turning back around.
They waited and waited, but still heard nothing. The tent had quickly emptied after John B had disconnected the radio, all of the agents and other officers heading out into the pelting rain to try and catch any glimpse of their boat.
"Get search and rescue standing by!" They heard voices shouting from outside the tent, sirens blaring.
That made JJ jump in his chair nervously. Why did they need search and rescue? Did they catch them? Did the boat flip? Were they okay? He became dizzy with thoughts, shaking his head to try and clear them. Keep calm. Keep hope.
Kiara had given up trying to keep strong. Tears were freely rolling down her face as she looked over at Pope. Pope refused to speak, continuously shaking his head. JJ kept his head down, still convincing himself that they at least had some chance of making it out alive, but that rational doubt was still settled at the back of his mind.
Three figures finally came in from the rain and JJ, Pope and Kiara jumped to their feet, still waiting on any news. The Deputy pushed his hood from his head and looked between them. The look, although not giving anything away, made JJ's heart drop.
"Well? Pope asked, impatiently, "Did you find them?"
"No," he shook his head.
"So they got away?" Kiara asked, hope filling her voice.
Shoupe wouldnt look at them, his eyes darting around the tent. JJ's hands started trembling, desperate to hear the rest of what he had to say.
"We, uh," he finally looked at them, "We lost them...I'm sorry."
JJ felt like he had just been punched. He heaved in heavy breaths, his lungs seeming to close up. They were gone. John B, Sarah...Brie. Oh my god. She was...no.
"What do you mean you lost them?" Pope asked, stepping closer to the Deputy, "They're gone? What? What are you talking about?"
"They took an open boat into a tropical depression, Pope," Shoupe said, eyes watering. JJ shook his head in shock.
"So they're dead?" Kiara said, more tears falling down her cheeks.
"We dont know," the Deputy answered honestly, beginning to cry himself as he shook his head.
JJ clenched his fists, rage consuming him. He was upset? No, he didnt get to be upset. This was their fault! It was their fault that they were gone.
"You drove them straight into the storm, man!" He yelled, tears filling his eyes, "Are you kidding me? Come here! Come here I'm gonna kill you! I'll kill you!"
"JJ!" Kiara yelled through her sobs, "Stop it!"
He lunged to grab the Deputy but two agents grabbed him from behind, struggling to hold him back. He thrashed in their grip, engulfed by pure anger and hatred. His heart ripped open in his chest. He had just lost his childhood best friend. And Brie, the person he loved most in this world. She was gone. He had lost her.
"You bastard!" JJ bellowed, still fighting against the officer's who were trying to detain him, "You killed them! You fucking killed them!"
"They didn't do this and you know it!" Pope shouted in Shoupe's face, "You know it!"
"Pope, stop!" Kiara begged.
"We're still looking," Shoupe assured them, "We're still looking for them, alright?"
"Pope," Kiara sobbed, grabbing him in a hug, "Pope it's over. They're gone. They're gone."
Pope collapsed into her, crying into her shoulder. JJ slowly gave up struggling against the officers, sinking to his knees in defeat. His throat burned as he cried, chest tightening painfully. All the light was suddenly ripped from his world as he realised the two most important people in his life were suddenly gone.
JJ looked up at the sound of the thunder clashing again and saw Pope and Kiara's parents entering the tent, grabbing their children in a tight hug. JJ cried harder at that. They had their families to get them through. Who did he have now that Brie and John B were gone? He had no one.
Pope's father turned away from his son for a second, putting a hand on JJ's shoulder and helping him up. JJ sobbed and they pulled him into the hug. He grabbed Pope desperately, feeling him quivering with his cries, and kissed his cheek. Pope pulled him closer, clinging to him desperately. JJ squeezed his eyes shut, pain searing through him.
"Its okay," Mrs Heyward whispered to them, "Its gonna be okay."
Pope pulled back for a second to let Kiara in. She cried even harder and JJ wrapped an arm over her. Even though they still had each other, it felt like the Pogues had just been ripped apart.
They stood there for what felt like hours. No one wanted to break apart. No one wanted to move. But eventually Kiara was taken away by her parents, and then Pope's mom mentioned heading back home. JJ's heart felt like lead, heavy and cold. He had no one. Absolutely no one at all who he could go to. He didnt have the same version of a family as they had.
"JJ," Mr Heyward said, softly, "You coming with us, boy? We can take you back home if you need, or you're welcome to stay with us."
Pope looked at him with his tear stricken face and gave a pained smile. JJ chewed his lip to stop himself from crying again and nodded.
"Can I-" he cleared his throat, "Can you drop me at John B's place?"
Mrs Heyward frowned sympathetically.
"You dont have to be alone right now, JJ," she reminded him, "Come with us. We'll get you boys a nice warm meal, alright?"
"That's really nice of you, ma'am," he sniffed, gratefully, "I appreciate it. I do. But I really need to be alone right now. I need to be there."
They nodded in understanding. Pope's dad put a hand on his shoulder again, leading him out of the tent. Mrs Heyward kept her arm around Pope, sitting in the backseat with him whist JJ sat up front with Mr Heyward. He could still hear Pope's soft cries, but JJ's tears had run dry. He felt numb, void of all emotions. Everything was just too much.
When JJ got out at John B's, he quickly mumbled a thank you and gave Pope a nod. Pope nodded back, bottom lip trembling, as JJ shut the door and headed inside. The outside was still charred and burned from the fire, making him remember how he and Brie had planned to fix it over the rest of the summer.
He couldnt belive it. He just couldn't. They hadn't found them yet, so maybe they still had a chance. Maybe they survived the storm and were on their way to Mexico right now. A tear dropped from his cheek unknowingly. He knew that he didn't really belive that. He saw the storm, and he knew that the chances were that no one could have possibly survived it in an open topped boat.
JJ looked around the house, noticing every single thing reminded him of his friends. He sat down on the sofa, his hand landing on a neatly folded tshirt and hoodie. He frowned in confusion, unfolding the tshirt. It was Brie's. She must have forgotten to pack them in with the rest of the supplies.
He unfolded the hoodie too, noticing that it was his'. He smiled and clasped a hand over his mouth to stop himself crying again. He pulled the hoodie over his head and let out an unintentional sob at Brie's lingering smell of coconut shampoo and vanilla moisturiser. She was going to take this with her. His hoodie.
But now she was gone. She had literally been ripped from his life and taken away from him. He would never get to see her again; never get to hold her in his arms or kiss her. She really was gone.
He gripped her tshirt in his fists and buried his face into it, letting the tears flow. His shoulders shook violently as he cried, screaming in frustration. How could this have happened? All that planning and work over the last couple of months for that gold and it had ended up killing Brie, John B and Sarah.
"Please," he sobbed, the sound muffled by the shirt, "Please come back. Brie-"
He coughed and cried even harder, unable to even speak. It hurt. It hurt so damn much. Nothing could ever fix the pain that he was feeling right now.
"Please," he cried, holding her shirt tighter, "Please."
"JJ..."
He jumped up in surprise, heart thundering in his ears. The tshirt dropped to the floor, knees almost buckling. It couldnt be...Surely he was going insane?
"Brie?"