Work Text:
Lisbon
“Listen Kie, when we find him I know what he did ok JJ was my best friend my brother but killing a man will change you. We should bring him back to Shoupe, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars” John B had been trying to convince Kie of this for half an hour while they had argued back and forth the other pogues and Rafe had been watching silently.
Kie was raging but trying to keep emotions in check “John B, the first chance I get I’m killing this guy, you weren’t there JJ gave him the crown all he had to do was leave what was the point? He murdered him in cold blood now I’m going to return the favor and I’m not going to argue about it anymore,” she said throwing a stick in to the fire angrily.
John B looked at Pope, “You’re awfully quiet over there, Pope, I would think you’d be helping me convince our friend not to throw away her life.”
Pope stood up “What’s one more body to add to the list John B, and I’m not going to lie if I see him first I might be the one doing the killing. JJ protected us time and time again and when he needed us we failed him, getting revenge is the least we could do.” He helped Cleo up from her spot and they headed to their resting place where they would be spending the night, sleepless for Pope because every time he closed his eyes all he could see was JJs lifeless body.
Next Day
They finally caught up to where Groff was in an abandoned shack with the crown.
“You bastard!” Kie said charging at the man with a knife. Chandlers eyes widened in fear as a knife went to his throat and looked around noticing all the other pogues had weapons pointed at him.
He held out the crown “Here take it just take it.”
Kie chucked humorously “You think I want that crown? I don’t give a damn about the crown. You took JJ from us now it’s time for you to die,” she said about to press against his neck with the knife.
“Wait wait wait! JJs not dead,” he pleaded.
John B lunged forward and grabbed Groff from Kie and slammed him against a wall. “That’s really what you’re going with? He’s not dead? Kie felt his heart stop we buried him in a country alone because we needed to find you don’t tell me he’s not dead just because you didn’t stick around to see the outcome of your stabbing,” John B said slamming him in to the wall two more times for good measure.
”No you don’t understand the knife I stabbed him with was coated in a poison one that slows the pulse down so much so that it appears not there for a few hours I stabbed JJ so you kids wouldn’t be able to follow me right away.” He explained.
Pope just shook his head “You’re lying why should we believe you?” He had his knife at the ready.
Groff went to put his hand in his pocket when Cleo grabbed his hand and slammed it against the wall. “Check my pocket the poison that I coated the knife with is in there,” Sarah moved forward and grabbed a bottle out of his pocket and handed it to Pope to inspect.
“So you’re saying this supposed poison slows down a persons pulse?” Pope asked doubtfully.
“I’ve heard enough of this bullshit, I felt JJ your OWN SON die in my arms, you’re just trying to get us to leave you alone with false hope,” Kie said about to lunge with her knife. “I want you to feel everything he felt and more.”
“I wouldn’t kill my son but if you don’t go back and get him soon he will die, he probably woke up in the grave panicked dug himself out and adrenaline’s wearing off he needs a hospital and quick.I honestly thought you pogues would’ve brought him to a doctor before burying him.”
Rafe didn’t believe this guy for a second but even the thought that on the off chance he might’ve buried someone alive was making him a bit sick to his stomach. He walked a little bit away to let the pogues figure out how to deal with this man and his crazy tale.
John B, Pope and Sarah moved to the side while Cleo and Kie contained Groff to ensure he wouldn’t escape.
“You don’t buy this for a second right Pope? What he’s saying is crazy” Sarah told the boys.
“What if it is true? And JJ’s in Morocco alone trying to figure out why we abandoned him buried him in the dirt?” John B asked sadly.
Kie yelled over “This is what he wants, he’s messing with our heads trying to throw us off why we came here.”
“Rafe!” Pope yelled “can you make yourself useful and watch him? I need to talk to these guys” he said handing him the blade.
“Gladly,” Rafe smiled and stepped forward toward Groff who’s eyes went wide.
Kie slammed out of the shack they’d been in, she shoved at John B, “He’s playing mind games with us the same way he played mind games with JJ, don’t tell me you’re falling for his bullshit.”
Pope cleared his throat and she glared over at him he held his hands up placatingly “Listen Kie do I believe him? Frankly no I don’t but I think we owe it to JJ to make sure he’s not telling the truth,” Pope explained.
Kies eyes teared up angrily, “ I watched the light leave his eyes, Pope he told me he had got everything he ever wanted then he took his last breath how is that fair? How is it fair that JJ the best of all of us got not one but two shitty dads one that abused him his whole life and JJ still loved him like he loved us and another dad who stabbed him not once but twice? And now he’s spewing off saying JJs alive when he’s the one that. Put. Him. In. The. Fucking. Ground” she said kicking the wall multiple times in between her words. John B lifted her up and away from the wall and turned her around and placed his hands on her shoulders.
”You’re absolutely right, Kie, it’s not fair at all JJ had to deal with shitty people all his life and he loved with his whole heart even those that don’t deserve it especially Luke. And you’re probably 100 percent right but Kie I can’t in good conscience not go back and check and make sure that he is really gone.”
Kie let out a sob and rested her head on John Bs chest, “ I want it to be true so bad John B I want him to be alive but I can’t get my hopes up just to go back and him still be gone I can’t lose him twice John B I just can’t.”
The other pogues all came towards them and gave a group hug with tears in their eyes.
“Ok so that’s the plan then,” Cleo said. “We go make sure Rude Boy is still resting peacefully we say in our minds we know he’s still gone so we won’t be more heartbroken then we already are.”
“Which are all of us making the trip back to Morocco? And are we bringing Groff with us?” Sarah asked.
“No way,” Pope said. “I don’t want that man near JJ no matter what way we find him dead or alive, he doesn’t deserve to know where his son is buried,” they all nodded in agreement.
”Ok, so Rafe stays here with Groff,” John B said.
“We can’t leave Rafe here alone with him,” Sarah said and she looked up at John B. “And I’m exhausted John B I need at least a days rest. I will stay here with Rafe, ok?” John B looked at Sarah with a look that says that wasn’t ok at all.
Cleo touched his wrist, “You three go ok make sure our boy is resting peacefully, I will make sure no one here steps out of line,” she said unsheathing her dagger. Pope kissed her cheek.
Kie leaned against a wall as John B went back in to talk to Rafe to let him know what the plan was. Sarah put an arm around her, “No matter what Kie we are here for you ok?”
“I know Sarah I’m just so tired I wanted to kill this guy and go home I don’t want false hope and mind games,” Sarah let a few tears down her cheek as she hugged Kie tightly.
Pope held out his hand for Kie to take as he noticed John B coming out of the shack, “Let’s do this Kie.”
“You need us call us babe, ok?” Cleo said hugging Pope.
“Same goes for you guys ok?” John B said giving Sarah a deep kiss and hug.
48 hours earlier
Morocco
Jj woke up in a panic when he realized he couldn’t breathe with fabric wrapped around his body and a heavy weight on his chest.
What the hell? He thought to himself as he felt a deep pain in his side. He tried to move his hands but to no avail.
Ok JJ relax, you’ve been here when your Dad would lock you in the trunk in the yard just some nice deep breaths- fuck deep breaths hurt when your side felt like it was on fire. He tried to remember how he got here what happened when it came back to him oh geez daddy dearest stabbed me AGAIN. What luck do I have? Ok J focus you can think about your colossal family issues after you get yourself out of this predicament.
He took another deep breath ok time to get back to the others you probably worried the shit out of them especially Kie. He remembered the look on her face as he was leaving this world. Huh. Leaving this world. Is this what being dead felt like? Thought it would be less painful once I actually left.
“Come on J focus you can have an existential crisis after you get out of this predicament” an imaginary voice said that actually sounded suspiciously like John B. Even in death this guy enjoys giving me a hard time.”Come on J focus,” I’m trying,Bree, I’m trying.
He clawed hard at the fabric that was right around his hands finally broke free and his hand was met with a grainy substance. What the fuck? JJs eyes went wide in realization when he realized it must’ve been sand he started to hyperventilate as he realized his predicament he was buried alive with just a piece of fabric separating his face from the sand.
Can’t breathe, can’t breathe, can’t breathe
“Calm down JJ we’ve talked about this before the only reason you can’t breathe is because you’re psyching yourself up,” fuck off Pope you aren’t the one buried alive here.
“Look you idiot hyperventilating is helping literally nothing.” love you too Kie.
“Come on J you know the drill five things you can see,” John B literally nothing you bastard.
“Ok ok my bad how about anything you can feel literally anything,” fabric around my body and sand, sand, sand his breathing started to pick up again.
“Ok, Jage, let’s fix that you need to get out of the sand before it’s too late.” Easier said than done Kie.
“Never knew you were a quitter, Maybank” Fuck off Rafe no one invited you here. And I ain’t no quitter, never have been, never will be.
He took the next burst of adrenaline for what it was and started clawing above his face as hard as he could until he could feel air on his hands and pushed his head up as he tore the fabric off his face and felt the cool air on his and breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked down realizing he would have to start digging the rest of himself out but that burst of energy was long gone and he was now keenly aware of the pain in his side.
He closed his eyes a few hours of rest won’t hurt.
“Come on, JJ, you made it this far you only have a measly torso and legs to dig out now.” No one asked you Pope.
He squinted as he saw in the distance two figures running towards him oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck he started digging as fast as he could he was a sitting duck for his guests.
They were quickly approaching “no, no, no please” he said trying to back away but was still buried and the movements were pulling at his side, it was too much for his body to handle all at once. Damn it, should’ve stayed buried last time I listen to Rafe were JJs last thoughts as he promptly passed out as the two men approached him.
72 hours later
Morocco
Kie, John B and Pope sat on the sand for a quick break before they would make their way to JJs grave to ensure their friends body was where they left it.
“You guys ready?” Pope said staring out at the ocean.
“No,” they both said in unison.
Pope stood up and offered hands to both of them to help them up, “yeah me either but now or never I suppose.”
They walked hand in hand with baited breath as they approached the spot they had buried JJ.
Kies eyes went wide at the site and she let go of John B and Popes hands to run at where there was a hole where JJs body had been she dropped to her knees and sobbed, “oh my god someone dug his body up what if it was animals what if they ate-“
“Kie! Stop!” Pope yelled not wanting to hear the likely fate of JJs body.
John B teared up looking at the dug up grave.
“Excuse me excuse me excuse me!” They heard a man yelling with an accent and they turned around and saw a man running towards them all three unsheathed their blades and had them at the ready the man stopped with wide eyes and held his hands up.
He pointed to the now empty grave, “was that your friend? That was in there?”
Kies eyes narrowed “did you dig him up? Where did you put his body? Why wouldn’t you just let him rest peacefully?” She said ready to attack.
“No no no you don’t understand my brother and I came upon him 3 days ago he was trying to dig his legs and torso out of grave but he was too weak he passed out as we approached to help.”
Pope regarded this man suspiciously, “you’re lying. He’s dead.”
“He’s very much alive, we brought him to hospital. He’s there now I take you to him. He’s been awake asking about his friend the past day but he’s still very weak.”
“Why should we believe you?” John B asked very much still not trusting the man.
“He told me if I saw you to say these words oh man what were they?” He said placing his hands on top of his head to try to remember “oh yes T for L does that mean anything?”
All of their eyes widened John B said, “P4L do you mean P4L?”
“Yes yes that was it!!” He said smiling wide.
They all looked at each other in shock and disbelief Kie sheathed her blade and stepped towards the strange man and hugged him both Pope and John Bs eyes widened it wasn’t often Kie gave affection willingly much less to a stranger.
“Take us to him please, I will give you anything,” she said.
The man looked at her confused “Give me what? Of course I will take you to him, maybe he will actually listen to the doctors and nurses if his friends are around!” John B snorted good old JJ.
The man turned around and started leading the way. He lead them right to a room in a hospital where JJ was laying flat on the bed shirtless staring at wall playing with a lighter in his hands where he got a lighter none of them cared or wanted to know.
JJ turned his head and smiled “Took you guys long enough.”
All three ran in to the room and piled on top of him as he grunted and grumbled, “You do realize I got stabbed right? Papa J needs some time before these dog piles happen.”
“Papa J can shut up and deal,” John B said ruffling JJs hair with tears in his eyes.
“I love you I love you I love you,” Pope said over and over JJs eyes widened.
“Whoa, Pope, first I can’t get you to say it now you’re saying it on repeat.”
“Get used to it, JJ,I’m saying it every fay for the rest of our lives until we are old and grey.”
“That might be a little excessive even for you, Pope.”
“Shut up and let us cuddle you please, JJ,” Kie said looking up at JJ with unshed tears.
“Whatever you say queen Kie,” he said kissing the top of her head. “Speaking of does daddy dearest have the crown?”
“Man we have a lot to fill you in on,” John B said.
“Yeah, how about we start with how I woke up buried alive? Or where Sarah and Cleo are? Or why it took you people so long to get here or-“
“JJ, we will answer all those questions and more but I think you might need to rest up,” Pope said as he was watching JJs eyes keep drooping.
“I’ve rested en-“ they all chuckled as JJ fell asleep half way through his sentence.
36 hours later
Lisbon
“I’m serious J, only reason we broke you out of hospital is because you promised to take it easy and listen to us so far 0 of those things have happened,” John B said as he turned around in the passenger seat to look at JJ and Kie cuddling in the back seat.
“What do you call this Bree? I’m relaxing right now.” He said leaning his head against the window.
Pope snorted, “Yeah, because Kie has her head on your chest keeping you contained.”
“Contained? You make me sound like a wild animal,”
Kie kissed his cheek, “You are a wild animal jage,” JJ smiled down at her.
“Ok JJ ground rules for seeing Groff list em,” John B said.
JJ groaned, “Jesus, John B we’ve been over this 100 times, I know.”
“Humor us, JJ we want to hear them again. Just like when I used to make you memorize grammar rules,” Pope chimed from the drivers seat.
“It was annoying then and it’s annoying now,” JJ said looking out the window.
“Come on, Jage,for me please,” Kie flashed her eyes up at JJ.
“Puppy dog eyes unfair, Kie,” JJ sighed. “Don’t let him get in my head, talk to him but don’t go near him at all don’t trust what he says,”
“and?” They all prompted.
“And don’t let myself be alone with him, I told you I know,” he said getting a little annoyed they were treating him like a kid.
John B could tell JJ was still exhausted and an exhausted JJ always made an emotional JJ and sometimes an emotional JJ would lead to a reckless JJ which in this instance just wouldn’t do.
John B decided it was time to pull out the big guns. He turned around again in his seat and put his hand on JJs knee, “JJ look at me,” JJ raised his eyes to meet John Bs, “We just got you back, JJ. We cannot lose you again ok? I just can’t go through-“ John b had to cut himself off before he started crying.
JJs eyes softened and clasped his hand over John Bs and squeezed, “I promise Bree ok? I will be extra careful I’m never leaving you guys again,”
Kie kissed him on his cheek again, “You better not we got a niece or nephew to spoil.”
“Godson or goddaughter,”
“What?” Kie asked.
“I got a godson or a goddaughter to spoil,” he made eye contact with John B and winked as they shared a smile.
As they pulled up to the shack and got out of the car Sarah and Cleo sprinted past their respective men to give JJ bear hugs.
“Whoa, whoa ladies we don’t want these boys jealous of papa J share the love.”
Sarah laughed her first solid laugh she felt like she had in weeks and gave JJ another kiss and hug. Their family was back together.
JJ nodded towards the shack, “He in there?” Sarah nodded grimly backing away from JJ to give John B a side hug.
JJ sighed and started to head towards the shack when Popes hand on his arm stopped him, “Hey, you’re already forgetting one of the ground rules man and it hasn’t even been one minute. You aren’t supposed to be alone with him.”
“Rafes in there I thought that counted,” JJ joked.
“Funny man,” John B said shaking his head and started walking with JJ up to door of shack.
Once they entered, Rafe turned around and looked at JJ sounding bored as ever, “Maybank really alive I see.”
“Yup, in the flesh you can take a break I need to talk to dear old dad,” he said nodding at the figure that had rope around his hands and ankles sitting against wall.
“Be my guest try not to get stabbed this time,” Rafe said as he was walking out JJ saluted him.
“JJ my boy,” Groff said smiling. John B wanted to go and wipe that smile right off this sick man’s head he just hoped JJ wouldn’t fall for any of his tricks.
JJ sat down on the opposite wall at eye level from Groff. “Hey Dad, did you enjoy the way it felt when you stabbed me with a knife and twisted it? Surprised you didn’t stick around to make sure I was really dead.”
“I knew you weren’t dead I poi-“
“Poisoned me yes I know,” JJ said “In what world is that an acceptable sentence to say to a son I stabbed you twice first time was unsuccessful but second time added a little poison in the mix. Do you know how freaking crazy that sounds?”
“JJ, we can still work together.”
“Oh, Pops that ship sailed the second you held a knife to my girlfriends throat,” JJ explained.
John B had to look away because of course that ship hadn’t sailed the first time his father had stabbed him but when one of the others got put in danger, these pogues needed to work on JJs sense of self worth and now that they got him back it would be a priority, John B would make sure of it.
“You should’ve taken the crown and run, left us alone when you had the chance but you didn’t you’ve drawn up quite a the list of charges, you’re going to be put away for the rest of your life. Good riddance I say,”
“Son , we aren’t in Outer Banks territory. Their jurisdiction doesn’t come here they won’t be able to bring me in.”
JJ smiled, “Do you know growing up I would get beat every day by my dad and I used to pray that I was living a lie that some other man would come and save me and say that he was my dad, that they made a mistake. Maybe they placed me in the wrong house maybe I was switched at birth just anything that would get me out from underneath that roof but after meeting you, I would take 100 Luke Maybanks over you.”
There was a knock on the door. “Come on in!” Jj smiled as he watched Groffs eyes widen as Shoupe and two other police officers came over.
”We found you on the edge of Outerbanks jurisdiction we just thought it would be the right thing to turn you in,” he said as Shoupe untied Groffs wrists and replaced the ropes with handcuffs.
“You’ll pay for this, JJ!” Groff yelled as Shoupe shoved him down on the ground and stepped on his back hard. “Oh shoot, I slipped,” he said shoving him out of the shack towards a car.
John B eyed JJ who was looking even more exhausted than he’d been in the car, “You good J?”
“Yeah, Bree, just a long few weeks I’m ready to go home,” he said heading out of shack toward group of pogues and Rafe.
“Hey Rafe?” JJ said walking right up him.
“Yeah?” JJ wound up a fist and knocked him to the ground.
“That was for burying me alive, you Jackass.”
END