the hawk's nest

when we pull off the road close to go meet Sarah, Pope opens the van door and starts to climb out. "hit it boys! we're goin' on a recon mission." JJ shouts with a grin, making me laugh at him.

"yo, so I think I'm gonna do this one by myself tonight." John B says, stopping everyone in their seats. I watch Kiara roll her eyes at him as JJ leans back next to me.

"I just don't want to spook Sarah with the peanut gallery."

"I just don't understand why we're involving her at all." Kiara snaps while looking at John B. I let out a frustrated sigh, but all I can do is glare at her.

"Kie, we're not involving her, okay?" John B tells her. "It's just like a business meeting. thing."

JJ gives his joint a fake blowjob next to me, and I try not to laugh as I smack the back of his head. Pope actually laughs at him for a change.

"look, once we get what we need, we cut her loose alright? plus we need the map." I stare at John B as he finishes explaining. when his eyes meet mine he gives me an apologetic look, but it doesn't give me any ease at all.

"promise me nothing's happening between you two."

"my god Kie, shut up." I comment. she looks at me with confusion but I just shrug.

"I'm being serious. this isn't about you or us, this is about her." Kiara argues before turning back to John B. "dude, she's gonna get inside your head."

"there goes her promise." I whisper to JJ before rolling my eyes. he leans over and places a kiss on my cheek, trying to make me feel better.

after John B exits the car, I move to sit between JJ's legs so I can close my eyes and maybe get a nap in. keeping my eyes shut also helped me avoid talking to Kiara.

while I relaxed, JJ was telling the story about what happened at midsummers with Rafe and Kelce. until Kiara stops him mid sentence and say, "wait, do you guys hear that? sh."

"I only hear thunder."

"what?"

"please somebody help!" as soon as we all hear it, everyone rushes to get out of the van.

"wait, no I hear that!" JJ exclaims as we all climb out. everyone runs towards the yelling, and as we slowly get closer I recognize the voice.

when we come upon Sarah, she's holding John B in her arms. "Sarah! what happened?" Pope questions while sprinting to John B. I freeze in place, staring at John B on the ground.

what if...

"Olyvia, I don't know what to do. he needs help." she glances at me with tear filled eyes, almost pleading with me to do something. "Topper shoved him."

"what?" that snaps me out of it, and I find myself looking towards JJ. his eyes meet mine and he shakes his head. I go to sit by Sarah before wrapping an arm around her.

"where the hell is he?" JJ yells as he looks around. I want to reach out for him, but I won't leave Sarah's side.

"please, please, please get help. I don't care who. just call someone."

"go, Pope, go!" I shout and we all watch him run back to the van.

"Pope, hurry!" Kiara's voice is filled with pain, as is Sarah's as she continues to sob into John B's hair.

"John B, stay with me." Sarah pleads before kissing him. I catch the pained look on Kiara's face, but now was not the time. "please don't leave me."

my heart feels like it's getting ripped out of my chest as I listen to Sarah's cries. I can only sit next to her and wait. that's all I can ever do is wait.

time moves achingly slow until the ambulance finally comes. Sarah didn't stop crying, even as she climbed into the ambulance with John B. I hold JJ's hand as the four of us watch it pull away with the sirens on. once it's out of sight, I let go of JJ's hand and run to lean against the nearest tree.

the vomit I'd been holding back finally comes up, and my whole body shakes as I get sick. I feel JJ grab my hair and pull it away while he rubs my back. "sh, just let it out." he murmurs as I hurl again.

I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand before straightening up and turning towards him, wrapping my arms around his waist. we look at Kiara and Pope as both stand there waiting. JJ and I extend our arms out towards them, getting their attention.

both of them quickly come over to us, and Pope's arm goes around my waist while Kiara's goes around JJ's. we all hug each other, letting everyone have their moment.

"I love you guys." I tell them quietly. JJ kisses my head and pulls me a little closer.

"we love you too."

————

I had gotten sick a few more times at the chateau once JJ and I arrived back. neither of us wanted to go home, but we couldn't go to the hospital either. as soon as a call came about John B we would leave in a heartbeat.

"do you want to sleep?" JJ asks me quietly, stroking my hair after I finished dry heaving into the toilet. I shake my head while wiping my mouth. I felt tired but I knew my brain wouldn't be able to rest while John B was in the hospital.

"do you think he's okay?" I wonder as I lean into JJ's arms.

"I do. the paramedics seemed to think so when I talked to them. I'm sure Sarah will text you with updates." JJ tells me, and he was right. even though I had texted Sarah a few times to check in, she had yet to respond with anything new.

JJ helps me up from the floor and we walk back to the room. both of us collapse onto the bed before he pulls me into his arms. "do you think we should've pushed harder to go with him?"

as soon as the question passes my lips, his hands are on my face. "look at me. we couldn't have known what would have happened. no one could've. Topper is just an asshole with no regard for others."

"but we should've-"

"no buts. none. we are not the ones to blame." JJ brushes his thumb over my cheek, comforting me. "someone just needs to teach Topper a lesson."

"JJ, no. we can't stoop to his level, I'm sure Sarah told the cops everything." I say, hoping to deter him from a path of rage before he sets his mind on it. maybe Sarah didn't tell anyone, but that didn't mean we should take it into our own hands. "he'll get what he deserves, just not from you."

he nods as he closes his eyes, resting his forehead against mine. I place my palm on his chest to feel his heartbeat. we would be okay, and so would John B. everyone still had a heartbeat. my eyes start to grow heavy as I start to calm down, and I slowly close them to let myself get some sleep.

as I'm slipping into unconsciousness I hear JJ whisper, "I think I'm falling for you."

————

"baby, wake up. Sarah called, John B is awake." my eyes fly open to see JJ standing at the side of the bed. "Kiara and Pope are on their way to the hospital, we can take the van."

I quickly climb out of the bed. since I had slept in my clothes that night I don't bother trying to find something to change, I was more than ready to get to the hospital at fast at possible. "are you ready?"

"ready as I'll ever be."

the drive felt ten times longer than it actually was. JJ kept his hand in my leg for most of it, mainly because I couldn't stop bouncing it up and down in my seat. the minute we were parked both of us rushed out of the vehicle to meet up with Kiara and Pope at the doors.

"have you all been in yet?" JJ asks them, looking inside.

"not yet, apparently he wanted to see us all together." Kiara answers with confusion written on her face. "I ran into Sarah and she told me how he was though. luckily he made it out with only a concussion and a broken wrist."

"thank god." I breathe a sigh of relief as my hand goes to my chest. JJ brows finally unfurrow for the first time since we woke up this morning. "is he ready for all of us to come in?"

Pope goes to open his mouth but before he can answer, Sarah and Ward walk out the doors. I raise an eyebrow at my best friend, but she only gives me a smile back. "hey Lyv, can I talk to you for a second?" she looks towards everyone else when she asks.

"we were just about to-" JJ starts.

"JJ, it's okay." I interrupt him before giving him a quick kiss. his cheeks turn a slight pink but he only looks worried. "go see your best friend. let me worry about mine."

he nods, and then he, Kiara, and Pope head through the doors to go see John B. "are you all serious now?" Sarah questions, grabbing my hand and giving it a squeeze.

"honestly I'm not sure. we definitely act like it but there's been no discussion." I tell her. truthfully even I didn't know where I wanted to stand with JJ. "no more about me, you have to tell me about John B."

"he's coming to live at tannyhill, dad is going to help him with the whole dcs situation." Sarah quickly explains, excitement lighting up her face. I raise a brow in the direction of award but the idea of him helping a kid in need wasn't lost on me.

"and how does he feel about you two... y'know, being extra friendly?" I ask when I look back at her.

"there will be some rules I'm sure, but it's worth it." the smile on Sarah's face warms my heart. at least she was finally happy. "and now it can make it easier to work on the finding the gold."

I feel my face cringe without fail, remembering Kiara and her face when she watched Sarah kiss John B last night. "Sarah, I'm not so sure-"

"hey Sarah, John B's asking for you and your dad. something about paperwork to fill out." I hear Pope say from behind me, and soon after I feel JJ's arm around my waist. he seems more relaxed, that was for sure.

"I'll text you later, Lyv. maybe you can come over when John B gets to tannyhill!" Sarah throws her arms around me before pulling away and practically running back inside the hospital.

"tannyhill?" JJ questions, looking down at me. c'mon John B, you didn't say anything?

"you'll find out later." I respond quietly before taking his hand in mine. "so what shall the rest of us pogues do with our day then?"

Kiara grabs her stomach with a frown. "I say we go to my parents' restaurant and grab some food, I am starving." the rest of us nod in agreement, and sure enough my stomach growls as soon as the idea of food is in my head.

on the walk to the wreck, I think about John B. the idea that last night could have gone a completely different direction wasn't lost on me. if something had happened, I don't think any of us would have recovered.

these people were slowly becoming my family.

————