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Day One

Morning - Police Impound

The Pogues were still with Isa, Kaylee, Lia and Wheezie at the clinic as they were being treated for their wounds and sicknesses.

Meanwhile, Big John was searching through the police impound for the Twinkie for Denmark's diary, consumed with his obsession to find El Dorado even while his daughter almost died and was being treated at the clinic right now. "Where is it?" He found the Twinkie, walking up to it, muttering to himself. "Okay, yeah, yeah." When he got to the van, he saw that the window was down. "Oh, no. Oh, God, the window." He tried to get the door open a couple of times before the door finally popped open. "Come on, ol' girl." Water leaked out from the van, and Big John took in the sight of everything inside. "No." He found the ruined printed pages of the diary on the seat, picking them up. "No, no, no, no, this can't be the diary. No, no. No, no, there's got to be something here. Shit." When he looked through the pages and saw that there was nothing left to salvage, Big John let out a furious scream. "No!"

⚓

Northern Ireland

Farmland

Cian Laurent had returned to his home land while he was in recovery from Kaylee burning his face off. His face was deeply burned and scarred and still healing from the fiery defense that occurred only a month ago.

Cian walked a large, vicious black dog into his barn, where Arthur Tigue was suspended from the ceiling upside down.

Arthur Tigue was the man that Agent Huxley had on the inside, only to be discovered and promptly punished by Cian.

"Morning, Arthur," Cian remarked sarcastically, his tone seething and bitter. "So you didn't home from the pub last night, then, eh?"

Cian's dog started barking, chomping at the bit to get a taste of Arthur, who was luckily just out of the canine's reach... for now.

Cian opened the doors to the barn, uncaring of who could be around to witness what was about to take place, as the farmland was in the middle of nowhere.

Cian withdrew a knife, stalking toward Arthur, slashing through the ropes that bound his wrists to the ropes suspending ankles, which caused Arthur's head to drop down closer to the floor, where he was now closer to the dog's reach.

Arthur gasped in pain and fear. "Okay, okay! Stop."

Cian delivered a vicious kick to Arthur's face. Just as his phone rang with an alert that Genevieve was video calling from out of the country.

Cian took out his phone, answering the video call, placing the phone on the nearby table, propping it up so Genevieve could see everything regarding Cian and Arthur. "Genevieve, my love, you remember Arthur Tigue. He used to work for us."

Genevieve nodded. "Yes, Mr. Tigue. I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person. I'm stuck in Tuscany on some business."

Arthur looked at Cian pleadingly in fear, his eyes flickering to the phone where Genevieve watched through the video call now and then. "Please!"

Cian only responded with punching Arthur viciously in the face, kicking him in the chest, making him swing from his suspended stance like a pendulum. Arthur's arc swung closer to the dog, who almost bit at him, causing Arthur to scream as he swung back toward Cian.

In Tuscany, Genevieve sat outside at an expensive restaurant table, smirking slightly in amusement as she watched Cian have his fun. "Stop begging. It'll just Cian more inclined to violence. You were arrested last month on smuggling charges."

Cian shrugged slightly, feigning confusion. "And yet, here you are, a free man. It's odd."

"Very odd," Genevieve chimed in from the video call.

"Interpol only knows half the story!" Arthur said desperately.

Genevieve took a drink of champagne. "And what about the other half?"

Cian delivered a deadly punch to Arthur's torso, making him yell in pain as he continued to swing back and forth. "You should have kept your mouth shut. Now we are going to shut it for you."

"What will it be this time, Cian?" Genevieve asked nonchalantly, as if she were simply asking about the weather. "Torture until you're pleased, or feeding the dog?"

Cian smirked sadistically. "A little bit of both. I've had a lot of aggression to work through after what that bitch Kaylee Carrera did to Tod. And to me."

"Don't you worry, dear," Genevieve said in a soothing tone. "With this deal, there's nowhere in the world she can hide from us for long. And nowhere in the world where we can't kill her. For now, take out our frustrations on your little toy there. I'm sure he'll be a welcome distraction for you."

As Cian closed in on his victim, Arthur screamed in desperation and terror. "No! Cian, please!"

As Cian delved into his most sadistic self to torture Arthur, he also allowed the big black dog to feed on their captive, until he was no more.

Something that Cian wished he had been able to do to Kaylee. Though with the Leviathan deal, like Genevieve said, he took pleasure in knowing that she wouldn't have any shelter from them for much longer.

⚓️Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓

Kildare Island, North Carolina

Lawson's Clinic

Lawson let the Pogues know that it was okay for Isa, Kaylee, Lia and Wheezie to leave the clinic, and he was giving them antibiotic medications and pain meds at the moment, while the other Pogues gave them some space.

"They're okay," Pope sighed in relief. "That's all that matters."

Kie shook her head, worried. "Not all. Where are we going to go?"

"There's this old fishing shack that I know," JJ explained. "We can crash there for now. Well, Kaylee at least. The rest of us have another place to go, as far as I know."

"And we'll just have to work on clearing her name, hopefully without relying on Rafe, in order to get Kaylee back home in the Pogue Nest, or at the Chateau if our parents already took the treehouse down," Kie added.

"Though we might want to leave Isa, Kaylee, Lia and Wheezie out of the heavy lifting for a while," Cleo pointed out. "Just because Lawson said they're clear to leave the clinic doesn't mean they're clear for everything else, guys."

John B sighed. "Yeah, tell that to our dad. Even after he knew what Isa went through, he didn't let us slow down for a minute. That's not gonna change." The others exchanged a look. John B shook his head. "No, don't give me that look. Okay, I swear he was here. He drove us here."

"John B, I--" Sarah started.

"No, Sarah, I swear, he was here, all right?" John B asked.

Pope tried to ease the growing tension in John B as he was incredibly worried and angry that Big John wasn't contacting him back when he knew about Isa's dire situation. "Okay, all right."

Isa, Kaylee, Lia and Wheezie walked closer after finishing with Lawson.

"Dad still not here?" Isa asked. John B shook his head. "He's gotta be somewhere. I mean, he said he would come after everything with the cops and the reporters died down. You believe us, right?"

Before they could utter a word, Big John walked toward them, his bag still over his shoulder. "Hell, I wouldn't believe them either."

The rest of the Pogues looked at Big John in shock.

JJ and Kaylee gasped slightly at seeing him after he had been in their lives for so long since they were children.

Big John chuckled at the kids' reactions. "Hello, Pogues."

(Song:) Divina - Toro y Moi

JJ and Kaylee instantly looked to John B and Isa, who both shrugged slightly with small smiles.

Pope's mouth was dropped.

Kie gasped. "What?"

Big John chuckled.

Lia and Sarah were awestruck at seeing the father of two of their lovers, and the man that everyone thought their father had killed.

Lia put a hand to her mouth. "Oh, my God."

Wheezie stared with wide-eyes.

Pope snapped out of his shock first, surging toward Big John with a hug. "No way!"

Big John eagerly reciprocated Pope's embrace. "Pope! Look at you, big man. Look at you."

JJ charged at Big John from behind, jumping onto his back and clinging to his shoulders, rubbing the top of his head rapidly, excitedly stunned to have the best father figure in his life back. "Yeah!"

Big John laughed. "Hey, JJ." As soon as JJ quit ragging on the top of his head and got off his back with a smile, albeit forced after the confrontation he had just had, Big John turned toward the girls. "Kaylee..." Kaylee walked closer in shock, instantly wrapping her arms around Big John, who laughed lightly as he returned the embrace, looking from Kaylee to Kie. "My goodness, you two sure did grow up beautiful, didn't you?"

"My God," Kaylee said softly as they pulled away.

Kie ran up to him. "Big John, I can't believe it's really you."

Big John and Kie shared an embrace.

"It's me, Kiara, believe it," Big John replied. Lia, Sarah, Wheezie and Cleo watched, stunned speechless. Big John glanced over to the three Cameron ladies. "Lia. Sarah." He glanced at Kie as well. "Or should I say Mrs. Routledges?"

Lia smiled, chuckling. "Isa, Kie and I aren't that far yet."

Isa and Kie couldn't help their smiles when Lia said 'yet'.

Big John opened his arms in invitation, and Lia, Sarah and Wheezie instantly went to embrace him. "And you too, Wheezie. Welcome to the family, girls."

While Isa and John B were happy that everyone was having their reunions, they couldn't help but be suspicious about where their father went when he knew his daughter was in the hospital, after what they had just went through.

"Dad?" Isa asked.

"Where the hell did you go?" John B asked.

Big John glanced at his kids but didn't yet answer.

The kids were laughing.

"Sorry," Wheezie apologized. "I can't..."

Kaylee tilted her head back. "Is this really happening?"

Cleo smiled, happy for them. "Looks like it."

"And you must be Cleo," Big John told her. Cleo nodded. "Welcome to the Pogues, then. Come on, kids. It's a day of celebration. Bring it on in."

Cleo, Isa and John B walked closer to the other Pogues and Big John.

Isa gave a forced smile. "Surprise."

They all shared a big hug, desperately needing it after everything they had gone through.

JJ shook his head, stunned. "I can't believe it."

Kie looked at Big John, tears almost forming in her eyes. "Please never leave us again. It was hell while you were gone."

Big John had no doubt about that, but some guilt as he looked at the broken children in front of him, all clinging to any moment of happiness, of peace, they could get.

Kaylee wiped her eyes as a couple tears fell, desperately needing a moment like this after her nightmare earlier where she had lost them all. "Uh, do we all have someplace to go back to?"

(Song Ends)

"JJ said that we can figure things out at a fishing shack, until we can start to clear Kaylee's name," Sarah explained.

"Fishing shack," Wheezie repeated. "Right. The rest of us get to go home, and Kaylee and Kie have to crash in a fishing shack."

"It's just for now, Wheezie," Sarah assured. "Besides, you, Lia and I can't go to Tannyhill for good anyway."

"That's true," Lia agreed.

"You can stay at the Chateau with us," John B assured.

Isa nodded in agreement. "Of course."

Lia, Sarah and Wheezie smiled in appreciation.

"But we need to get our stuff," Wheezie pointed out.

"We will," Sarah said.

"I'm heading home, and I already offered Cleo to come with, if my parents agree," Pope continued on.

Cleo shook her head. "You're crazy, Pope. Your parents are not going to appreciate me shacking up."

"Of course they will," Pope told her. "Are you kidding? Heyward might put you to work, but we could always use the help."

"I don't know, man," Cleo admitted. "You sure?"

Pope placed a hand on Cleo's shoulder. "Yeah, look, he might squawk a little bit, but let me talk to him. We'll figure it out."

The other Pogues exchanged a knowing look at Cleo and Pope's bond as they smiled at each other.

"JJ?" Kaylee asked.

JJ glanced at Kaylee, before looking away, feeling guilty about what was coming, but trying everything he could to protect her after all she had been through. "I'll be fine at my place. You don't got to worry about me any more."

Kaylee frowned, puzzled by the words, hurt by the tone of them.

"We should get walking then," Lia said. "We don't want to get caught."

"True that," Cleo agreed.

Wheezie nodded for them. "Come on."

John B looked back Big John. "You coming?"

"You kids go ahead," Big John told them. "I'll meet you at home."

Isa and John B nodded in agreement.

⚓️

Backroads

(Song:) Never Tear Us Apart - The Teskey Brothers

The Pogues walked down the backroads together, making sure that they weren't seen while they made their way to the fishing shack on the edge of the island.

The group walked close together, their footsteps crunching softly on the gravel path, alert for any signs of danger or prying eyes.

Isa, Kie and Lia walked arm-in-arm, their steps slow but steady as they supported each other. The medication from Lawson had dulled their pain, but they were still weak from their ordeal.

Kaylee and Wheezie trailed just behind them, as Sarah and John B supported them, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, ever vigilant.

JJ, Pope and Cleo walked a few paces ahead as they kept a lookout.

JJ's posture was tense, clearly still processing everything that had happened.

Suddenly, a tiny mew caught their attention.

Isa paused, her ears perking up at the sound. "Did you guys hear that?"

The group halted, listening intently. Another soft mew echoed from a nearby cluster of bushes.

"There it is again," Kie whispered, her eyes scanning the foliage.

Lia took a cautious step toward the source of the sound, leaves rustling beneath her feet. As she peered into the undergrowth, a pair of bright green eyes blinked back at her. "Oh, my God."

Lia gasped softly, circling around the bushes, kneeling down to see the homeless, stray kitten, picking her up, laughing lightly as she stood and turned to face the others.

The small kitten was tiny, with a fluffy coat that blended shades of gray and white in soft patches. Her bright green eyes were always wide with curiosity, giving her an endearing appearance.

Wheezie smiled in awe. "No way."

The girls began to gush over the kitten, their faces lighting up with joy.

Lia cradled the kitten close, the small creature purring softly against her chest. "Look at her! She's adorable!"

Wheezie knelt beside Lia, reaching out a gentle hand to pet the kitten's soft fur. "We can't just leave her here. She needs us!"

Sarah stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with delight. "We can't leave a little fur baby out in these woods alone. What if a predator finds her?"

Cleo was not surprised, but amused. "You want to keep her?"

Isa beamed, her eyes sparkling with delight, taking the kitten from Lia, as the kitten started to purr contently and nestle against Isa's chin. "Absolutely! She needs us just as much as we need her."

JJ glanced back at the group, raising an eyebrow. "Are we seriously adopting a stray cat right now?"

"Why not?" Kie chimed in, joining the circle around Lia and the kitten. "It's a good distraction! Plus, think about it. She could be our good luck charm."

Pope chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know how good luck charms work, but I'm on board if it keeps you all smiling."

John B chuckled, shaking his head at the girls' enthusiasm. "You realize we're on the run, right? We can't exactly be a cat family right now."

Kaylee leaned closer to get a better look, her heart melting at the sight. "To be fair, I'm the only one on the run. You guys are just in it for the ride or something. You don't have to go on the run for me. You don't have to put your entire lives on hold for me."

"We're not going to leave you, either," Sarah replied

"And you're not leaving me," Kaylee countered. "Just look at her. She's so cute. And look at her. She's already super attached to Isa, Kie and Lia already."

JJ shrugged, giving in, rolling his eyes even while he smiled despite himself. "All right, fine. But then that means you three get to take care of her and name her."

Isa, Lia and Kie looked at each other knowingly, all on the same page and speaking in sync. "Indy."

The others laughed at that, knowing that Isa, Lia and Kie named Indy after their shared love of Indiana Jones and their lifestyle.

"Of course," Kaylee agreed.

"No shock whatsoever," John B agreed, teasing.

Cleo smiled. "Really?"

"What?" Wheezie asked. "I like it."

Isa scooped up the kitten, smiling at her. "Do you like that name, huh, Indy?"

The kitten's ears flicked, and they knew it was only a coincidence, but it was as if she was accepting it.

Kaylee nodded. "Indy it is."

Sarah smiled. "It's perfect."

JJ couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, it is."

Isa handed Indy to Lia, and Lia held the kitten to her chest, hugging Indy gently.

They all continued walking while Lia was doting on Indy, smiling at her softly, with Kie and Isa by her side, all three of them smiling at each other and the kitten.

Kaylee, Wheezie and Sarah also cheered themselves up by doting on the kitten on the way, even Cleo did at times.

John B, JJ and Pope were just relieved that they found a moment of peace and happiness.

Sarah looked at Lia and Wheezie. "When I go get our stuff, I can get some stuff for Indy too."

Lia nodded in agreement. "Yeah, like Rose's arts and crafts stuff she might've left behind and make her some toys or something."

"Sounds like a good plan," John B agreed.

When they reached the fishing shack, Kaylee and Kie went to head inside with Lia and Wheezie and Indy.

"How bad do you think this is going to be?" Pope asked. "Trying to fix everything?"

"Scale of one to ten?" Kaylee asked. "20."

Cleo frowned in concern. "Do you want us to hold up here?"

"No, we're good," Kie answered. "Thanks for walking us, though."

"Anytime," Isa agreed. "I would stay, but me and John B gotta deal with our dad."

Lia and Kie nodded in agreement and understanding, giving Isa a kiss on both of her cheeks.

"Be safe," Lia said softly. "We almost didn't make it back."

Isa nodded in return, giving them both a kiss on the cheek in return.

"Sarah, are you sure you don't want us to go with you?" Wheezie asked.

"No, I got it," Sarah answered. "I want you and Lia to stay and get some rest. Besides, Kaylee and Kie shouldn't be alone right now, Wheezie. I'll be okay."

Lia and Wheezie nodded, while Kaylee and Kie smiled in appreciation.

"You guys are gonna be okay," JJ assured. "We'll be back."

Kaylee looked at JJ just before she turned to head inside. "Bye, Jayj."

JJ turned to look up at Kaylee, giving a tense, thin smile, nodding and giving a salute in return. Kaylee was slightly hurt but understanding of his reactions, walking inside.

The others exchanged a look.

Kie, Wheezie and Lia walked inside with Indy.

Isa, John B, JJ, Pope, Sarah and Cleo all watched them to make sure that they would be okay.

Isa turned to JJ. "Are you sure you're gonna be okay?"

"Yeah," JJ replied. "Don't worry about me. You all got a lot going on."

"So do you, dude," John B told him.

JJ shook his head, distancing himself because of the painful situation. "I'll be fine. As long as she is."

Sarah looked at him sadly in understanding.

"Do you wanna come back to the Chateau with us?" Isa asked.

"Nah," JJ answered. "I need some time on my own."

They nodded in understanding.

"Okay," Sarah agreed. "You know where to find us."

JJ nodded in agreement, giving them a thankful look, but still distant and frustrated even if it wasn't at them. He turned around, walking away.

⚓️

Heyward's Shop - Outside

Mr. and Mrs. Heyward were reuniting with Pope. "Pope!"

Pope was overwhelmed emotionally as he ran over to his parents so they could embrace. "I'm sorry."

Mrs. Heyward cupped his cheeks. "You apologize tomorrow."

The Heywards remained in their embrace.

⚓️

Maybank Trailer

JJ made his way up to the trailer, mind racing, frustrated, angry, devastated beyond belief, and he was even more crushed when he saw Sheriff's Lines over his front door, walking closer to look at the eviction notice on the door, looking completely deflated, defeated.

Not only did he not have anyone waiting for him back home, but he was losing his home, and he was losing Kaylee.

JJ broke into his own home, crawling in through the window, looking around the trailer, at the mess all around. He picked up a stray beer can, sitting down. In anger and sadness, he threw the can at the wall, making it fall, sipping at another can.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Heyward's Shop - Outside

Pope and Cleo were standing in front of Mr. and Mrs. Heyward to explain everything.

"She was on the container ship with us, okay?" Pope asked. "She got stranded on the island with us. She saved my life, and we can help her now. Please."

The Heywards exchanged a look, knowing this was a fair trade.

Cleo offered her hand, which Heyward shook, nodding to Pope.

Pope smiled in thanks.

⚓️

The Chateau - Outside

Isa, Sarah and John B had just gotten back to the Chateau.

"We can make Indy a little nook in my room," Isa suggested. "She can crash there with food and water and wait for us to get back when we're gone."

John B nodded. "Good idea."

"I think it's a good thing to have an emotional support pet," Sarah admitted. "Not just for Lia, but for all of us. All of us have gone off the deep end more than once."

"True," John B agreed. "I think Indy's good to have around for all of us."

Isa gave John B and Sarah a thin smile. "Yeah."

Sarah looked at John B. "And while Lia and Wheezie are resting with Kaylee and Kie, and you and Isa are out lookingfor your city of gold with your dad, I'm gonna go home and steal some clothes and maybe a phone if I can find it."

John B smiled. "See you later. Road to the mother lode."

Sarah grinned in retrun. "I'll be back."

Sarah picked up her bike and got onto it.

"Six o'clock, back here," John B told her. "Don't be late."

Sarah waved. "Toodles."

Sarah drove the bike away.

Once Sarah was gone, Big John walked outside, and pulled Twinkie up to the Chateau, much to Isa and John B's shock, getting out. "Brought an old friend to see you."

"Where'd you get this?" Isa asked.

"The impound lot," Big John answered. "Where do you think?"

"Where do I think?" Isa repeated. "Well, what I think is that you went to get the Twinkie and the diary pages while I was in the clinic with wound infections that almost fucking killed me. And our friends."

"You're fine," Big John pointed out.

Isa swallowed at the words, looking away.

John B gave their father a look. "That's not even remotely the point. And putting all that aside, I'm trying to figure out why you didn't say this when we were with the Pogues or when Sarah was here." Big John didn't answer, causing Isa and John B to give him a look. "Oh, Dad, come on. Seriously?"

"Hey, just you and me," Big John told them.

John B looked away. "You and us, okay, great. Okay, well, did you at least find the diary?"

Big John held up the floppy and mushy pages. "Yeah, I found the diary, all right. It's a big pile of mush."

Isa's eyes widened. "What? But--"

"The window was left down," Big John explained with thinly veiled anger. "It got rained on. You could have shut the window."

Isa's jaw clenched. "Well, uh, there were some complications. We were stranded for over a month, remember? It wasn't like we were planning on being gone that long."

Big John dropped the remains of the diary onto the ground with a long, drawn-out sigh. "Well, this diary's done."

John B tore a hand through his hair. "Okay. I guess we can head back, and tell the others..."

Big John's face twisted in disapproval as he folded his arms over his chest.

Isa groaned. "Dad, come on. They're just as much apart of this as we are."

"Like I said," Big John reiterated. "Just us."

Isa pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling deeply. "Yeah, fucking fantastic." She looked up, nodding sarcastically, not liking this. "Who needs help, anyways?"

Big John shook his head glumly. "Kids, sometimes it's better to just do things alone. You care about these people, right? Why put them in danger when you could do it on your own? Especially after you girls just got out of the clinic. Like your friends said, they're not up to this kind of thing, not yet, and if you told them, they'd get involved and get themselves hurt all over again. You don't want that to happen again, do you?"

Isa and John B's argument was brought to silence after that, as it hit home, pretty below the belt, as it played on their guilt for starting the Pogues down the treasure trail in the first place.

Even if Wheezie and Lia's wounds were strictly because of Ward being a psycho to his family and because of Macias with Kaylee, neither of which had anything to do with the gold, Isa and John B still felt so guilty about everything that happened, and Big John knew this, playing on their guilt so that it would just be the three of them involved in this mission.

Isa looked away. "God."

Big John continued as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn't just been exploiting their guilt and fear. "That diary's done. But I got another idea. Plan B. Come on."

John B gazed off numbly. "Plan B. Okay."

Big John laughed, getting into the passenger seat of the Twinkie. "Riches and glory. Come on. Let's go."

Isa nodded sarcastically. "This is great. This is great."

John B hesitated. "You sure you're up for this? You were told to take it easy too."

Isa shrugged. "I'm better off than they are right now. I can handle it, JB. Besides, not like he's giving us much of a choice."

Isa got into the back of the Twinkie.

"She'll be all right," Big John told him. "Get in." John B hesitated before opening the driver's seat door, grabbing an envelope from inside the glove department that had been saved from the rain. "What are you doing? Let's go."

"Take care of your people," John B told him. "You said it best."

John B left a note on the front door of the Chateau: Found the twinkie. Off w/ our pops. See you soon.

- Isa & JB

⚓️

On the Road

John B was driving.

Big John was in the passenger seat.

Isa sat behind their seats in the back.

John B looked at Big John. "Just so we're clear, we're not keeping anything from our friends. Okay? They've been with us since day one."

Big John tapped his thumbs on the door, his lips pursed. "You lost the gold, right? To Lia, Sarah and Wheezie's father. And the cross to their brother."

Isa rolled her eyes. "It was a coincidence, Dad. Okay?"

Big John raised a brow. "Just a coincidence?"

Isa's hands clenched into fists on her lap. "Yes, Dad! Okay? Ward's literally made Lia's life a living hell and he just tried to kill her, Wheezie and Sarah. So why the hell would you think that they would help them?" Big John didn't answer. "What's your excuse for not trusting the other guys, huh? You've known Kaylee and JJ since we were in elementary. Kie has been in our lives almost that long because of Kay. And you know Pope, and you have no reason to distrust Cleo. I mean, seriously, Dad! If we're doing this, we're doing it with them, or not at all. They deserve to have a choice."

Big John sighed. "Look, it's...it's better to keep intel on a... a need-to-know basis. Trust me. I learned that the hard way."

"Our family is a need-to-know basis, Dad," John B told him. "Those are our best friends."

Isa shook her head. "I won't lie to them."

Big John ground his teeth. "John B. Isa. Just you and me, kids. Okay? For now."

John B fumed quietly, and when he next spoke, his words were clipped, cold. "Yeah, so where are we going?"

Big John was back to his usual self, as if the argument had not even occurred. "We are stopping by your history teacher's house."

Isa frowned. "Mr. Sunn? We asked him for help to translate the diary pages before."

"Well, apparently you sparked his interest in it," Big John told them. "After you kids disappeared, he checked the diary out of the Church Hill archives. Then vanished once word got out that he had it. I doubt it's here, but it ain't gonna hurt to check."

⚓️

Maybank Trailer - Outside

JJ was standing by his bike, having a drink of beer. He had been drinking ever since he had come home to find out that he was being evicted, so he was heavily drunk now, and looking for a way to lash out.

Kaylee walked up to the trailer, noticing the sign on the door, but too far away to read what it said. "Hey. What's with the sign?"

JJ kept his back to her, distant, sighing heavily. "Eviction notice. For, like, nonpayment or whatever."

Kaylee looked at him in concern. "I'm sorry. I..."

JJ shook his head, turning to face her, but still didn't look at her. "Doesn't matter. This place sucks anyway. Great to be back in the Outer Banks, right?"

JJ turned to his bike, trying to focus on that, biting his lip.

Kaylee could sense how much he was pulling away, frowning, sitting down, offering him what she always offered him since they were kids. "There's always the Pogue Nest. I can't stay there, but you can."

JJ chuckled without humor. "Yeah, I doubt your parents would like it too much if you let me crash at the Pogue Nest again, after last time." Kaylee looked down with a slight flinch, and JJ instantly regretted the words. "I'm sorry."

Kaylee shook her head, swallowing. "It's whatever."

JJ turned to face Kaylee. "What are you even doing here? You're a fugitive, Kaylee. You could be caught."

Kaylee frowned at the words. "I wanted to check on you."

JJ shook his head, frustration evident. He was exasperated by the need to remind her once more, distressed that she continued to jeopardize everything just to be with him; a boy who felt undeserving, especially given all she had endured. He couldn't bear the thought of her suffering any further on his account.

"It's not me you have to worry about," JJ stressed. "Okay, you're literally at risk for being arrested for murder. You shouldn't have left the shack, especially in your state. You're not even healed yet."

"I had to see you after the way you brushed me off this morning," Kaylee replied. "And it's a good thing I did, otherwise I wouldn't have known about the eviction. Jayj, look at me."

JJ looked away. "I'm fine."

Kaylee caught JJ's hand to get his attention, his full gaze on her, frowning in concern. "You're not. Whatever's wrong, you can talk to me."

JJ felt an irresistible pull, drawn to her, yet his mind was overwhelmed with blame and self-loathing for what he believed his relationship with her had done to her family ties, and how it fed into Tod or even Rafe's obsessions, and how he lost control of everything that happened.

JJ shook his head, his breathing uneven as he tried to clear his thoughts. "No. What are we doing? What're we doing? We shouldn't be doing this, nah." He pulled away from her, pacing. Kaylee frowned, watching him in confusion. "Look, I'm--I'm just really bad at this, and I didn't want to screw anything up, okay? I didn't want to ruin the best part of my life. But we went through with this, whatever it was..."

Kaylee turned toward him. "You mean us?"

JJ tore a hand through his hair, rambling without being able to stop. "And I should've known better. Right? I should've known that it would all fucking blow up. I mean, what can I give you? I've got nothing, Kaylee. No future, no family tree, no parents, no home, nothing. I couldn't even give you safety, Kay. I couldn't protect you from Tod, that first night, or the second night. You know who did? Rafe, even after everything else he fucking pulled. He saved you from Tod the first time, and the second time, he carried you down from the cliffs while I was too busy fighting in a stupid Pogues vs. Kooks riot as if that meant anything. He convinced Shoupe not to take you in. He stopped your parents from getting you killed at the station with Tod's parents and from getting arrested that night... while I was trying to take back the cross that Rafe stole from us."

"Because I told you to keep going," Kaylee reminded him.

"I shouldn't have listened to you," JJ retorted. "I should've known something was going to happen, and I should've been there to protect you, not Rafe. Instead, Tod's parents almost killed you and Rafe had to get you to safety. And you got onto that boat for his protection, and you played that game with him..."

JJ detested the words that came out of his mouth even as he said them, knowing they would cut her to the bone. "Playing into his game like you did before and giving in like you almost did."

Kaylee took a step back, reeling from the intense pain the words caused, betrayed. "Jayj... I was trying to find you guys. I was trying to protect you guys."

JJ swallowed. "I know. But it's my fault that it got that far, because I couldn't stop any of what happened. I couldn't stop Tod, I couldn't stop his family. I couldn't stop you anymore than you could."

Kaylee's face nearly crumbled as he lip trembled. "Why are you saying this? It's not your fault."

"Yeah, well, I'll start believing that when you believe it's not yours," JJ replied, bringing Kaylee short. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

JJ couldn't hold back any longer; his emotions were erupting like a volcano. He didn't want to unleash his frustration on Kaylee, but the pressure he faced made all his repressed feelings surface, highlighting his past failure to protect her.

"I couldn't even protect you from Macias," JJ continued. "You had to protect me from him. You dove into the way to save me, and you got that wound on your side to save my life. And the one on your wrist taking the machete from him and driving it into him so that you could take him down and come in after me into the ocean to save me from drowning, even when you were bleeding out and dying too. You got sick and infected, and you were kidnapped by Singh's men... I couldn't protect you then. I had to watch it happen. And I couldn't save you or get you back. No, Rafe took care of that too when you two got out of Singh's house together and blew it to hell along with everyone that hurt you."

"JJ, stop," Kaylee tried. "I don't care about all of that."

"I do," JJ replied. "Because it wasn't me that saved got you a doctor that saved your life, or Lia, Wheezie and Isa's. And it wasn't me that was trying to clear your name for a month while we were stranded on an island so that you could come home. All of that was Rafe too."

Kaylee shook her head desperately. "You're drunk, and you don't know what you're saying."

"I know exactly what I'm saying, Kaylee," JJ said. "It doesn't matter if I'm drunk, because I'm just saying what I see. What we all see. We both really thought this could work, you know? We were deluded. Who the hell am I to challenge my reality and destroy yours? What kind of selfish asshole does that to someone? Especially to you. If you hadn't met me, if we hadn't been together, it wouldn't be like this for you. And if I was a good person, I wouldn't let you waste any more of your time on me."

Kaylee let out a shaky breath, as she was deeply hurt by the words he said. "Jayj--"

"No, look around, Kay," JJ insisted. "What do I got? This?" He turned to his trailer, picking up beer cans and throwing them. "This piece of shit?" Kaylee jumped slightly, swallowing, looking down. JJ turned to face her. "Getting kicked out of this place in three weeks anyway. Shit, I don't even got parents right now. But you don't need to worry about that, or me. All right? You don't need to care about me. Why would you? I mean, I'm just the guy that let you get so fucked up and--"

Kaylee could barely reign in her tears as she took in the words 'let you get so fucked up'. She didn't know if he meant the trauma or her darkness or Rafe, or all of the above, but it tore her apart, but she refused to back down, trying to salvage what they still had, even if they weren't together in the moment.

Kaylee stood, shaking her head, walking closer. "You never hurt anyone I love like he did. Okay? That's what--"

Before Kaylee could say anything further, JJ tried to say something, anything to make her insistence to stay with him stop, to make Kaylee understand their reality. It was the worst thing he could think of, and knowing by the look on her face, it was the worst thing she could hear. In his own way, he thought he was protecting her, all the while spiraling and showing just how insecure he was about Rafe and everything he did right that JJ couldn't do.

"He said forever ago that I couldn't provide you with what you really needed," JJ recalled Rafe's words. "And he's right. He could protect you in ways that I couldn't even dream of because I failed every single time. He might actually have the power to clear your name and make it to where you never actually killed anyone. Something I could never do. And he understood your darkness in a way I never did. And you said you played into his game and that a part of you craved the rush and danger. He always had power over you, whether you liked it or not. Maybe this is why."

Kaylee recoiled as if the words he hurled at her were physical blows. This came from an emotional moment when they were both struggling to maintain composure.

She had confided in him about this part of herself that she endlessly loathed herself for. JJ had reassured her that such feelings were normal after the tribulations the Pogues had endured, particularly Kaylee's experiences with Rafe and Tod. Yet now, he drunkenly wielded that as a weapon to wound her, and himself for hurting her.

Kaylee shook her head adamantly, her voice breaking. "JJ, stop. You know that's not what I meant. I told you I hated that part of myself."

JJ drunkenly pressed on, his voice harsh. "Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn't. Maybe that's who you really are deep down. The girl who craves danger and gets a rush from playing twisted games with psychos when he's the one that can save you from yourself and everyone else."

Kaylee recoiled as if she'd been slapped, tears spilling down her cheeks. "How can you say that to me? After everything we've been through?"

JJ turned away, unable to look at the pain in her eyes that he was causing. "Because it's the truth. Face it, Kaylee. You and I, we were never meant to work. We're too different. You shouldn't care about me. Maybe he's right. Maybe I can't give you what you need. The safety, the security, the thrill... without all the danger that comes with it. I'm just a Pogue, Kaylee. And you deserve better than that."

Kaylee shook her head vehemently. "Stop. This isn't you talking. What happened?"

"It doesn't matter what happened, Kaylee," JJ spoke softly, unable to meet her gaze. "But after everything that happened to you that I couldn't stop, why would you care? And don't say that it wasn't my fault or that it wasn't my job to protect you, because literally everyone else is telling you differently. Everyone has been telling us differently. And not just him, but your parents, my dad." Kaylee's face twisted at the mention of what Luke said to her in 2.08, which hurt even more. "I was always meant to be a Pogue. But you? You're a Kook. You're a Kook, Kaylee."

The words struck deep, too far, as Kaylee's lip trembled, tears spilling as she looked away. JJ closed his eyes, forcing his own tears back.

Kaylee stepped back. "A Kook? Such a Kook that I've been living in a fucking treehouse on and off for most of my life, living there full time for a year, instead of my parents' home because they don't accept me and I don't want to be like them and the people they want me to be like. And in a cave with you for a month. Fighting alongside you and everyone else when you got into fights with them, the guys that ruined all of our lives. My life. And now I'm on the run because of Tod after what he did to me, and how I tried to kill him, now living out of a fucking fishing shack just to stay safe after my parents turned on me and almost got me killed. Yeah, I'm a real Kook, JJ."

JJ swallowed. "Your parents were wrong about a lot, but they were right about one thing, about me." Kaylee looked at him, shaking her head. "And maybe they're right about a lot of things. Like trying to make you be better than me. Us, the Pogues. It might've kept you safer."

"You really think going along with what they wanted me to be would've kept me safer?" Kaylee asked incredulously. "Aligning with the guys that ruined my life would've kept me safer? It's the Kooks who ruined my life, Jayj, not you, and not the Pogues. All right, and despite everything that happened, you know that I still love you, because you are you. And you're my best friend."

JJ shook his head, still speaking in a hard voice. "You shouldn't. You shouldn't love me. You shouldn't want me. I'm not good for others. I'm not good for you."

Kaylee understood that these words were JJ's greatest fear.

JJ's mind continued to spiral, his breath hot on her face as they were almost nose to nose. "I won't continue to drag you down to my level, Kay. I just won't. I can't." Kaylee shook her head to tell him that he wasn't, but he didn't give her the chance. "I love you, Kaylee. Which is why I'm telling you to walk away."

Kaylee closed her eyes, letting a single tear slide down her cheek, stiff as a statue. "No." JJ was stunned. "No, I'm not walking away."

JJ stepped back from Kaylee, astounded that she remained after all he had said, still offering her heart and affirming her love for him, regardless of their current separation for their mental well-being.

It was unbelievable to JJ that Kaylee stood by him, even as others appeared to exit his life with ease. Despite his defensive efforts, her gestures of affection were overwhelming and inescapable.

The only way out of this was for JJ to leave himself, turning toward his dirt bike.

(Song:) Boys in the Wood - The Black Lips

Kaylee was crying. "Jayj, don't leave." JJ started the bike, barely hearing her voice over the engine, starting to drive away. Kaylee took a few steps after him. "JJ, what the hell? Jayj!"

Kaylee watched JJ disappear from view, tears cascading down as she clasped her head, turning away and shaking it, sensing a panic attack looming. She placed a hand over her heart and sank onto a bench. Gasping for air, she gripped her chest, which seemed to tear apart, her entire being on the verge of collapse. It was as if her lifeline, the one thing that had sustained her amidst the overwhelming tide, had been severed.

All Kaylee could do was cling to the hope that she and JJ would find a way to make it right, sooner rather than later.

⚓️

Docks

JJ was still driving. He barely recognized himself, hurting Kaylee like that. The one person he wanted to protect more than anything, but he felt that he failed in every way possible, including from himself.

The air was cool against his skin as he rode, whipping through the thin fabric of his T-shirt but doing nothing to calm the flames of his outburst, the linger of Kaylee's words, everything that led them to this.

JJ skidded to a stop at the end of the dock, jumping off the bike, desperate to push all of this out of his mind before it made him lose it. He started to kick and break things all around him, white-knuckling the railing, biting down on his fist to stop a scream loud enough to shake everything around him.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Sunn House - Outside

The Routledges pulled over, walking up to the house.

"Let's go," Big John said. "Come on."

They walked up to the house, looking inside for any sign of life.

John B looked at Big John. "Oh, look at that. Nobody's home. We should probably get outta here."

Isa and John B turned to walk away.

Big John grabbed their arms. "Isa. John B." Isa groaned in pain when Big John grabbed her wounded arm, which was bandaged and treated, but still hurt like a bitch. "Come on, we're here already."

"Dad, let go," Isa told him.

John B noticed what was wrong before Big John did, getting his hand to let go of Isa's arm. "Hey, careful. Let go."

Big John just realized, taking his hand away. "Sorry, Dove."

Isa was breathing unevenly from the pain.

"You okay?" John B asked in concern.

Isa tilted her head. "Yeah, if the pills the hospital gave me weren't already wearing off."

"I knew you shouldn't have come," John B muttered.

"I'm fine," Isa replied.

"Come on, we're here already," Big John told them. "Let's have some fun. Take a look around. What do you say?"

"Have some fun?" John B repeated. "I thought you said he was in hiding."

"I said he was missing," Big John replied. "He could be in hiding, or he could be..." He grinned, pressing two fingers to his head, imitating the sound of a gunshot. "Done." Isa and John B didn't like this at all, liking Mr. Sunn fairly well, and the thought of him dead, yet another victim in the endless hunt for treasure, was sickening. Big John led them to another door. "But seeing as how he's not here..." He took out a lock pick to start picking the lock. "I don't think he'd mind if we looked around a little bit. Still got it."

John B nodded sarcastically. "Oh, a little breaking and entering with our pops. Just add it to the list of felonies."

"I so love these father-child bonding moments," Isa remarked dryly, going along with John B's bitter sarcasm. "They're so touching."

⚓️

Inside

Big John led his kids inside. "Come on."

Isa and John B sighed, begrudgingly following their father into the dark, empty house, noticing several things that set alarm bells off in their heads.

For one, the furniture was still there. Sunn hadn't taken anything with him, not even personal belongings, if the small figurines and books scattered around the space was anything to go by.

The rug was slightly askew, also a red flag. Sunn was an organized person, borderline OCD at times. He wouldn't have left it like that, not in his right mind.

John B knew it was childish, but he felt the need to try calling out. "Mr. Sunn? Is anybody home?"

Big John turned back towards his kids. "The original diary, what's it look like?"

Isa mimed the size with her hands. "Leather-bound, about yea big."

Big John nodded. "All right, check everywhere." They split up to look. "Leather-bound, leather-bound."

John B found an envelope, picking it up, going through the contents, seeing a small Cape Fear book.

Isa rounded the corner toward the bathroom, and was immediately greeted by a harsh punch to the gut that sent her falling to the floor with a groan of pain.

John B instantly ran closer to his sister. "Isa!"

Big John shot upright, running towards the sound of his daughter's breathless gasp of pain. "Hey, Isa!" Isa's attacker instantly slammed a crowbar over John B's head when he went to his sister's aid, making him fall to the ground. "John B!"

Isa gasped in worry for her brother. "John B!" She looked at their attacker in shock. "You."

Eberhini, the captain of the Coastal Venture, the one that had stabbed both Lia and Isa, sneered. "Me."

John B looked up, his head throbbing in pain, absolutely stunned. "Oh, shit."

John B's protective instincts kicking in after seeing the man who tried to kill his sisters and the ones they loved, yelled as he charged at Eberhini, tackling him backward toward the bathroom.

"John B!" Isa warned.

Macias stepped out from behind John B, taking him off guard as he struck John B in the leg, knocking the limb out from underneath him, pushing him into the bathroom, ripping down the shower curtain in the process.

In the bathtub, Mr. Sunn was bound and gagged, but alive.

John B was in shock. "Mr. Sunn."

Eberhini grabbed Isa from the floor, as she was struggling, trying to kick him between the legs, which he dodged the first time. Isa threw a punch right into Eberhini's face, snapping his head aside, grabbing him by the shoulders and kneeing him in the gut and then the crotch, making him groan in pain as he doubled over, immediately using that chance to slam her elbow into his back, forcing him further down so that when she kicked him in the face, he snapped backward and stumbled quite a bit.

Big John took this chance as he pulled Eberhini away from Isa, but Macias appeared behind Big John and grabbed him in a chokehold, throwing him aside.

Eberhini punched Isa in the face, grabbing her, slamming her against the wall, hands wrapped around her throat as he started to choke her.

John B stood, running from the bathroom to tackle Eberhini from behind with a yell, sending them both falling to the floor with John B on top of Eberhini, punching him repeatedly.

Isa gasped for breath, oxygen flooding back to her lungs in a way that burned, as she slid down the wall to the floor.

Big John and Macias were trading blow for blow, both groaning in pain, until Macias knocked Big John down to the floor.

Eberhini pushed John B off of him, slamming him into the floor, and adding insult to the injury, kicked him harshly in the ribs, knocking the wind from his lungs.

John B curled in on himself, coughing and sputtering painfully as he struggled to breathe.

Isa was still struggling to get air back to her lungs as well, as it only had been less than a minute since she had been strangled.

Macias aimed his gun at the Routledges. "Stay down. Don't even think about getting up."

Eberhini took out the diary, holding it up for them to see. "Is this what you're looking for?"

Big John glared. "You son of a bitch."

"Sorry, buddy," Macias replied. "You're too late."

The two smugglers laughed, running out of the house, leaving with the diary.

Big John turned to Isa and John B. "Hey, hey, you all right?" Isa and John B couldn't bring themselves to answer as they were still regaining oxygen, both in pain from Eberhini's attack. "Come on, come on." Isa grimaced as she used the wall to pull herself up, her arm throbbing in pain. "Kids, we have to go or we'll lose the diary for good."

Isa and John B were both distracted when they heard Mr. Sunn cough from inside the bathroom.

"Hang on," Isa told him, walking to the bathroom. "Mr. Sunn. Hey, hey, you okay?"

John B ran to help Isa help Mr. Sunn out of the tub, as Isa found a pocket knife and used it to cut Mr. Sunn free.

Mr. Sunn groaned in pain. "Yeah, I've been better."

"We got you," John B told him, leading Mr. Sunn to the couch so he could sit down.

"I came... came out of hiding to meet those two gentlemen," Mr. Sunn explained, coughing up blood, leaning heavily on his former students before they got him to the couch so he could sit down.

"Yeah, those guys?" Isa asked. "They're smugglers. We know them."

Mr. Sunn shook his head weakly. "They said they were from the historical society." He laughed bitterly. "I guess my professional vanity got the best of me."

"Was that the diary they took?" Big John asked hurriedly.

"Yeah," Sunn answered, wheezing.

Big John ran for the door. "Shit! Come on! Isa, John B, let's go!"

Isa hesitated, looking at Sunn.

Sunn nodded for them to follow their father. "Go."

John B stood up shakily. "We'll get it back, okay, Mr. Sunn? We'll get it back."

Isa stood. "I'll send help, okay?"

Mr. Sunn nodded. "Go!"

Isa and John B ran out of the house.

⚓️

On the Road

John B was driving the Twinkie as fast as he could to follow the smugglers in their boat, driving on the bridge alongside the water.

Big John was in the passenger seat.

Isa was sitting behind their seats in the back. "We need to find a phone and call the hospital for Sunn."

"He'll have to wait," Big John replied, causing John B and Isa both to give him an incredulous look. "Besides, none of us got a fucking phone right now. We gotta worry about those men. There's only one way to the bay."

"They gotta go under the Wando Bridge," John B said.

"Right," Big John agreed.

They continued driving as fast as they could.

⚓️

Bay

Macias and Eberhini were sailing their boat out onto the water

"Hey, cap, why does Singh want this thing so bad?" Macias asked.

Eberhini flipped through the pages of the diary. "Who cares? All I know is if we deliver this, we got no problems with customs in the West Indies anymore."

John B tore up on the road alongside the bay in the Twinkie with Isa and Big John.

"A little heavy on the brake at the top of the curve," Big John criticized. "You're losing momentum."

"Are you seriously critiquing my driving right now?" John B asked.

Big John shrugged. "I'm surprised. I thought I taught you better than this."

Isa rolled her eyes. "Okay."

John B swerved through traffic, narrowly avoiding a car oncoming their way. "Shit."

Big John laughed. "All right! That a boy." John B managed a breathless smile. "Come on." They looked out across the water. "That's the boat, that's it. Let's go, let's go!"

"Dad, it's going!" John B told him.

"John B, they're getting away!" Big John snapped.

"Sorry we can't control how fast this old girl goes," Isa replied. "She doesn't run like she used to."

Out on the water, Eberhini and Macias saw the Twinkie.

Macias was exasperated. "Jesus, look at this."

"They clear that jetty, we're never getting that diary," Big John stressed.

Isa glanced outside, her eyes lighting up. "I've got an idea, turn hard left." John B did as told, a confused look on his face when the turn brought the Twinkie to the small beach below the bridge that the smugglers had just crossed under. "Come on, we know a guy."

They got out of the Twinkie, as Isa led the way down to the beach at a run, followed by her brother and father.

Isa sprinted for a jet ski sitting in the shallower water, swinging her leg over the side, sitting down.

John B ran closer to sit on the jet ski just behind Isa.

There was enough room on the vehicle behind them for Big John.

Big John tilted his head. "Isa..."

"I got this kid a fake ID," Isa explained. "He owes me one. Get on!"

Big John walked closer. "A WaveRunner? What you want to do? Stop by the Ocean Club?"

John B rolled his eyes. "These things are fast as shit, old man."

Big John shrugged, sliding onto the ski behind his kids. "All right, come on then. Hurry up, kids, we're gonna lose them." Starting up the jet ski, Isa pushed the vehicle as fast it could possibly go, skipping over small waves like they were nature's speed bumps. "Hey, hey, yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, press it, Dove. Let's go! Whoo!"

The engine groaned when Isa urged it even faster, kicking up spray from the saltwater in the process.

"Listen, we know these guys," John B exclaimed when the enemy boat was in sight. "They're dangerous. What are we doing, Dad?"

"Just keep going," Big John responded vaguely. "Hey!"

The smugglers glanced back confusedly.

Isa shuddered as she thought back to the Coastal Venture, remembering everything that happened; Ward strangling Sarah and ordering Eberhini to stab Lia and Wheezie to death; would have stabbed Lia in the heart if Wheezie hadn't pushed Eberhini to save Lia, though Lia ended up with the blade in her shoulder instead, and Wheezie would have been stabbed fatally in the stomach if Kie and Isa hadn't saved her, rendering the blade skidding across Wheezie's side instead. Remembering the fighting where Eberhini slashed Isa's arm while she was protecting Lia, Wheezie and Kie, almost killing all four of them.

John B knew that Isa was having severe PTSD flashbacks, as he remembered every second of it too. "Hey, it's okay."

Big John shouted again. "Hey! We just wanna talk!"

Macias looked at Eberhini. "We ain't gonna outrun them."

So instead, they came to a stop and turned around.

Isa's heart pounded in her chest as the smugglers turned the boat around, approaching the considerably smaller jet ski. "Okay, okay. They're turning around. What's the plan?"

"Show them your hands, John B," Big John murmured. John B raised his hands. Isa hesitated, gazing up with fearful eyes. "Isa, show them your hands. You wanna get shot? Do what I say, damn it!"

Isa shakily put her hands in the air. "Okay, okay."

Eberhini and Macias watched them.

"Jesus, what the hell are they doing?" Macias asked. "Let's get rid of them."

"What do you want?" Eberhini demanded.

Big John whispered to his kids. "You know this guy, right? What's his game?"

John B cleared his throat. "Um... uh, he's a smuggler. H--He moves cargo. People, things."

"Like agreeing to let Rafe hold Kaylee prisoner on the fucking ship," Isa agreed in a whisper. "The kind of guy that would help Ward try and kill his daughters and their loved ones."

Big John realized what Isa was saying. "Ah. Highest bidder guy. He's the one that did that to your arm?"

Isa nodded, biting her lip. "Yes, exactly."

Big John nodded. "Mm. Okay. No sudden movements, kids. Just play along." He raised his voice then so the smugglers could hear. "Hello! Just want to talk to you for a moment. We're unarmed, sir. We bare no malice. We didn't have a chance to converse back at Mr. Sunn's. We just wanted to avail you of an opportunity to compound your winnings, as it were."

The duo shared a look.

"You got 30 seconds," Eberhini warned. "Talk."

Big John smiled in a friendly way. "You have in your possession an old book? A diary, correct? And I presume that you procured that diary at a client's request, and I'm assuming that client is a Mr. Singh from Barbados, huh?" Eberhini gave a confirmative nod. "Okay. Do you know why the great and powerful Singh would want this old book so badly? Well, it's not because of the book's inherent value, sir, no. It's what the book leads to."

Macias spoke this time. "What is that?" He sounded intrigued.

Isa and John B thought it was a good start, though that didn't stop Isa's mini-panic attack. John B placed a hand on Isa's shoulder to calm her down, trying to make sure she was okay.

John B spoke up to try and ease Isa's nerves. "Something worth a lot more than what he's probably paying you, my friend."

"The boy's right," Big John agreed with a grin. "You two are in a unique and potentially profitable position. You have in your possession a vital piece of a very valuable and old puzzle. But the thing is, I have a piece of it as well. Now if we put these two pieces together, then the value is compounded. I believe we need each other."

"Who are you?" Eberhini demanded.

"I'm Big John Routledge," Big John answered.

Eberhini raised an eyebrow. "You're Routledge? The treasure hunter? The guy who went missing like a year ago?"

Big John chuckled. "Ah, guilty as charged." He patted Isa and John B on the shoulders. "This is my son John B and daughter Isa. The ones who found the Cross of Santo Domingo."

John B waved one of his raised hands awkwardly. "Hi."

Isa willed her hands to stop shaking as she gave them a bitter, sarcastic salute. "Yeah, remember us?" She glared at Macias. "Only almost killed two of our friends." She glared at Eberhini. "And stabbed me and my girlfriend and her little sister and tried to kill our other girlfriend."

Eberhini snorted. "Your little girlfriend almost killed me, so I think we're even."

Macias nodded in remembrance as he glared at John B, as John B had fought him on the boat and doused him with fire extinguisher. He also wished that he could have finished Kaylee and JJ off before Kaylee almost killed him.

John B winced at the memory of fighting Macias on the boat, looking away.

Big John shook his head. "I'm afraid we do know a bit about the subject of treasure. Rather than threatening the only three guys that can make you filthy rich, I'd like to propose a way that we work together to our mutual benefit. How does that sound? Sound good?"

The smugglers talked quietly amongst themselves for a moment.

"Shoot the kids," Eberhini ordered. "We take the old man to Singh. He'll pay a lot more than they ever will." He beckoned the Routledges to come towards them. "Yeah. Come on, we'll talk."

Big John nodded happily. "All right, we'll talk. This is good. Take us on in, Dove." It took a moment, but Isa finally managed to regain control of her shaking body to grasp the controls and urge the jet ski towards the boat. "All right, here we go."

"Nice and easy," John B whispered. "Take it slow."

Isa nodded stiffly, pulling the ski up to the side of the boat.

The smugglers were aiming their guns.

"Hey, easy, partner," Big John said. "It's just a simple business proposition. That's all. We're gonna work together. This will work out well for all of us."

"Tie it off," Macias ordered.

"Tie us off," Big John agreed.

John B hesitated before going to tie them off to the boat.

But when Isa and John B looked up, all at once, time seemed to freeze, as they saw Macias and Eberhini aiming their guns at them.

Big John saw this, but he was already pulling out his gun, which was why he was able to shoot Macias in the head long before he could even think about pulling the trigger on John B, shooting him, causing Eberhini to stop in shock as he didn't realize that Big John was ready with a backup plan in case negotiating didn't work.

Macias dropped to the deck, blood pooling out of the wound in his head.

Eberhini turned to aim his gun at Big John. "No!"

Big John, already ready for this as well, shot Eberhini in the chest, making him groan out in agony as blood exploded from his side and out onto Isa and John B's faces, both of them flinching in shock, stunned completely speechless as they watched Eberhini fall to the ground next to Macias' body.

Big John stepped onto the boat, taking Eberhini's gun from him, taking the diary from Macias' body, turning to aim his gun at Eberhini's head.

John B and Isa could do nothing but watch in shock, traumatized.

John B shook his head. "Dad, Dad, Dad, don't."

Big John shot Eberhini in the head, as John B and Isa flinched and looked away. 

Big John finally dropped his pistol, his eyes hard. "I had no choice. They were gonna do it to us."

John B and Isa sat frozen, disconcerted, like they could get sick, but they were locked in place, like statues.

Big John pulled out two large trash bags, some rope, and duct tape from the floor compartment. "Don't just sit there, kids. Help me out." He looked up at his stiff children and sighed. "Isa. John B. You gonna help me?"

⚓️

Marina

When the Mavericks arrived on Kildare Island in the Outer Banks, they didn't know where to go first.

Gael was shocked to be back home, taking in the sight of everything as they traveled through the streets from the Cut to Figure 8 as he explained the dynamic of Pogues and Kooks to Elyna and Esme as they took in the sight of the island.

Elyna hadn't been here in so long, but she remembered her time with her cousins. She remembered how close she had been with Kaylee and Kie, and she was worried about what happened to them, horrified that Kaylee could be a victim of someone as ruthless as Tod Laurent, and pushed to the edge enough to where she had to kill him in order to survive, and was no paying the price.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows as Gael parked the car near the familiar curve of the beach. The salty air filled their lungs, igniting memories of better days spent here, before the cracks of betrayal and darkness enveloped their family.

"Where do we start?" Elyna asked, as they stepped out onto the warm sand, the gentle lapping of waves echoing in the distance. She scanned the horizon, her heart racing with both anticipation and apprehension.

"We need to find Rafe Cameron," Gael replied, scanning the beach where he had spent countless summers as a child. "He's been trying to clear Kaylee's name. If anyone knows where she and Kie are, it's him."

Esme nodded, her resolve hardening. "He could be a crucial ally. We should find him before we reach out to Mike and Anna."

Elyna frowned at the mention of her uncle and aunt. "Do you think they'll even care that we're here? After they turned their backs on Dad, on Kaylee?"

Gael's expression darkened. "I don't know, but they need to understand the stakes. This isn't just about family loyalty anymore. The Laurents will stop at nothing to get to Kaylee and Kie."

Elyna felt anger boiling inside her at the thought of her cousins being hunted. "If they truly cared, they wouldn't have turned her in. They could have stopped this from escalating, but they chose their reputation over their daughter."

Esme placed a hand on Elyna's shoulder, grounding her. "We can't let our emotions cloud our judgment. If we confront them, we need to do it strategically. We're not here for just closure; we're here to protect Kaylee, Kie and everyone else who might be in danger."

Gael nodded in agreement. "Let's find Rafe first. He might have intel on where Kaylee and Kie are hiding."

They walked along the beach, keeping an eye out for Rafe or any sign of the Pogues.

In the street, they found flyers put up by Rafe and the people who believed he was telling the truth about Kaylee's innocence - including Samantha and Mitch Michaels, two of the parents that Kaylee used to babysit for. Their daughter Lily was enamored with Kaylee when she babysat for her, and Samantha and Mitch had paid Kaylee a hundred dollars a night just to be there for their daughter, knowing that she wasn't being taken care of by her own parents.

Samantha and Mitch knew that Kaylee couldn't be guilty in this.

The Mavericks noticed the Michaels passing out flyers and trying to spread the word about Kaylee, curiously walking closer, knowing that they could have information about where Rafe was, at least, even if they didn't know where Kaylee and Kie were.

As Gael, Elyna, and Esme approached the Michaels, they exchanged glances that spoke volumes. Gael felt a pang of nostalgia seeing parents who cared deeply for their child, unlike his brother and sister-in-law. The couple stood near a tree, affixing another flyer to the trunk with a determined look in their eyes.

"Excuse me!" Gael called out as they neared, the urgency in his voice catching their attention.

Samantha looked up first, her expression shifting from confusion to surprise. "Gael? Is that you?"

Mitch turned as well, recognition lighting up his face. "What are you doing back here? I thought you disappeared years ago."

Elyna stepped forward, her eyes shining with hope. "We need your help. It's about Kaylee."

Samantha's expression darkened almost instantly as she glanced at the flyers in her hands. "We're trying to get the word out about her... and Kie. Rafe Cameron actually asked us to help spread the word about Kaylee."

"We're actually looking for Rafe," Gael explained. "We know that he's been trying to help her."

Esme stepped forward, her tone urgent. "Do you know where we can find him?"

Mitch stepped up beside his wife, his jaw set like stone as he scanned the beach behind them. "He just got back to the island today. He told us to keep an eye out in case the kids returned and needed help. He said that they could have needed us to contact him, since they were pretty hurt."

Elyna looked at her parents in worry. "Do you know where?"

"He lives up at Tannyhill," Samantha explained. "It's the biggest estate on the island, at the center. I think he said that a doctor would be there for their treatment."

"What kind of treatment?" Gael asked in concern.

Mitch shook his head. "He wouldn't say. We didn't ask for many details. We just said that we would be a contact if they needed him before he got here, but he got here before the kids needed us."

"Okay, thank you," Gael told them.

With this information, the Mavericks moved along, heading to Tannyhill Estate to meet Rafe, hoping to find the Pogues before anything else happened to the kids - and before Kaylee could be caught by the authorities. She was safer now than she was before after everything Rafe did over the last month, but she could still be arrested if the police saw her.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

The Mavericks made their way through the winding streets of Figure 8, the opulent mansions growing more grandiose with each turn. As they approached Tannyhill Estate, the sheer magnitude of the property took their breath away. Wrought iron gates opened onto a sweeping driveway, lined with perfectly manicured topiaries and vibrant flower beds. The mansion itself was a sprawling testament to wealth and power, its white columns and expansive windows gleaming in the fading sunlight.

Gael pulled the car to a stop at the base of the grand staircase leading up to the main entrance. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and sea salt, a heady combination that seemed to embody the essence of Kildare itself. As they stepped out of the vehicle, the gravel crunching beneath their feet, they caught sight of a lone figure standing on the balcony above Tannyhill's rounds - Rafe Cameron himself.

Elyna, Gael and Esme exited their car and approached the estate.

Rafe noticed them from the balcony, frowning in suspicion, walking down from the balcony and through the house before going out to meet them on the edge of the property line.

Rafe stepped down the staircase, his expression shifting from guarded to surprised as he recognized Gael. "The other Carrera brother."

"Was," Gael agreed. "I go by Maverick now."

Rafe was in disbelief. "I didn't expect to see you here. You and your family dropped off the edge of the earth years ago."

"Yeah, well, we're back," Elyna replied.

Rafe's gaze flitted to Elyna, realizing who she must have been. "Elyna."

"Rafe," Elyna returned. "We heard about Kaylee and Kie."

Rafe's expression tightened slightly. "They've gone underground with their friends, including my sisters. They're scared, and for good reason. The Laurents won't stop until they get revenge for Tod. They already tried to incite a mob against Kaylee."

Esme stepped forward, her voice steady but urgent. "We know about the mob and how their parents turned her in. That's why we're here. We're here to help. It's not just about Kaylee anymore. It's about stopping the Laurents from hurting anyone else - especially her, Kie, and their friends. Anyone on this island, really."

"We need your help to find Kaylee and Kie and keep them safe," Gael admitted.

Rafe glanced at the three of them, weighing his options. The tension in the air crackled like a live wire, and he could see the determination etched in their features. "If you're serious about helping, then we need to act quickly. Kaylee, along with my sisters Lia and Wheezie, and their friend Isa got hurt because of people on a ship called the Coastal Venture. Machetes and knives and the like. They were stranded on an island for an entire month and their wounds got bad enough to where they became necrotic. It nearly killed the girls before Kaylee and I reunited in Barbados and I got them to come home so I could send a doctor to save her life, and Lia, Wheezie and Isa's."

The Mavericks processed this in shock and concern.

"They're okay now?" Elyna pressed.

"For now, as long as they keep taking their medications," Rafe answered.

They sighed in relief.

"We have to talk to them, quickly," Gael explained. "The Laurents have eyes everywhere. They'll be looking for Kaylee harder than ever now that they know she's alive."

"We're just here to save our family and to stand against the Laurents," Esme explained. "We're going to stop them from hurting Kaylee, Kie and everyone around them."

Rafe stepped closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Okay. After the doctor treated them, they fled to one of the old surf shacks on the outskirts of the island near the cliffs. I can take you there."

"Will you?" Elyna asked in relief.

Rafe nodded. "I'm not sure what else I can do to help Kaylee right now, especially when she, my sisters Lia and Wheezie, and their friend Isa are still getting better. I'm in way over my head here."

Gael nodded in understanding. "Then let us help."

"We have intel that Kaylee and Kie need to know," Esme explained. "That all of you do, really. And we might have something that can fix things with Kaylee. Clear her name."

Rafe looked between them for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Let's go."

⚓️

Fishing Shack

Rafe took the Mavericks all the way to the fishing shack where Kaylee, Kie, Lia and Wheezie were laying low for now.

Kaylee kept her distance after her earlier heartbreak with JJ

Kie, Lia and Wheezie remained resting in the fishing shack, playing with the kitten that the Pogues had found on the street while making their way here, who Isa, Kie and Lia named Indy after Indiana Jones.

Indy was a playful and curious kitten, full of energy and mischief. She had an innate ability to sense the moods of those around her and often provided comfort with her gentle purring. Despite her small size, she exhibited a fearless nature, exploring new environments with enthusiasm. Her presence brought warmth and joy to the Pogues, serving as a reminder of innocence and hope amidst their turbulent lives. Indy's resilience and adaptability were evident from surviving on her own before being adopted by the Pogues. Since then, she had already become an integral part of their makeshift family, offering companionship and emotional support.

Indy was playing around with Lia, Wheezie, Kaylee and Kie, lightening their moods, when Rafe arrived with the Mavericks.

Rafe stepped into the dimly lit shack, the door creaking softly behind him. The moment he entered, he was met with a cacophony of laughter and meows. Kaylee, Kie, Lia, and Wheezie were all huddled together on a makeshift couch, the playful kitten darting between them, chasing after a loose string.

"Kie, watch out!" Lia giggled.

Indy managed to leap onto Kie's head, earning a burst of surprised laughter from her.

Wheezie looked up first, her laughter fading as she registered Rafe's presence, though her eyes lit up with hope as she spotted her brother. "Rafe!"

Lia's head spun around as she shot upright, startled to see their brother. "Rafe?" Her expression shifted to one of concern as she observed his companions as the Mavericks followed him in. "What's going on?"

Rafe held up a hand for calm. "Everyone's fine. But we need to talk."

Kaylee and Kie turned to address Rafe, though when they saw their uncle and their cousin, shock and relief washed over their face.

"Uncle Gael?" Kie breathed in shock. "Elyna?"

Kie leaped off the couch, walking closer.

Kaylee stood, wincing slightly as pain shot through her body from her wounds, but Rafe noticed that it wasn't nearly as bad as before.

"Kaylee," Gael sighed in relief. "Kie. You're okay."

"Yeah, now we are," Kie agreed.

Kaylee's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she took in the sight of their family. "Uncle Gael? Elyna?" She moved closer, her heart racing. "Is this real?"

Elyna stepped forward, closing the distance between her and her cousins. "It's real, Kay. We're here to help."

Kie's face lit up with a mix of joy and apprehension. "You came back for us?"

"We came back for all of you," Gael confirmed, glancing around the room to take in the sight of the makeshift living space filled with mismatched furniture and remnants of their lives before the chaos. "And we need to talk about what's happening."

Elyna took Kaylee and Kie both by the hands, squeezing their hands reassuringly.

Esme walked closer. "Hi, Kaylee. Hi, Kie. Do you remember me?"

Kie nodded. "Esme."

"Hi, Esme," Kaylee said softly.

"Hi, girls," Esme replied.

As Gael and Elyna enveloped Kaylee and Kie in embraces, both sisters sighed in relief. They had no idea how much they needed this - to be warmly accepted and protected by their own family.

"It's going to be okay," Gael said softly.

As the four of them pulled away, Lia and Wheezie watched with bittersweet smiles.

Rafe gestured around the group. "We need to talk about the Laurents. Your family explained to me what they know while on the way over, and it's more serious than we thought. They're not just out for revenge against Kaylee. They want to destroy anyone connected to her."

The mood shifted immediately. Kie bit her lip, her expression tightening with worry as she absorbed the gravity of Rafe's words.

Kaylee frowned, crossing her arms defensively. "What do you mean? What do they want?"

"They're still hunting for you," Esme explained, stepping further into the room with a steady gaze. "And they have plans to retaliate for Tod's death."

Wheezie shivered at the mention of that night. "What are they planning?"

Esme took a deep breath, preparing to share the gravity of the situation. "The Laurents are not just dangerous; they're calculating. They've been working with a hacker group called Leviathan, which poses a significant threat. They're planning a massive attack that could claim countless innocent lives - entire cities, if they succeed."

Kaylee's heart raced as she exchanged worried glances with Kie and Lia. "How do they plan to carry out this attack?"

"They're moving a huge shipment of gold from London to Zurich in a few days," Gael explained. "Half a billion dollars' worth. It's part of their payment to Leviathan for whatever havoc they intend to wreak."

Lia's eyes widened in shock. "But why would they need so much gold? What could they possibly want with it?"

"Leviathan has access to the grid," Elyna explained grimly. "Water sources, utilities - they can manipulate them at will. They can use that power to flood a city, targeting anyone connected to you, Kaylee."

Kie's heart sank. "Flood a city? How? Why?"

"Because they want revenge," Rafe answered, frustration creeping into his tone.

"They're ruthless," Gael continued. "They see Kaylee as an affront to their family name, and they'll stop at nothing to restore their honor."

Kaylee swallowed in fear. She knew that she and anyone connected to her would be in danger - it was why she had broken up with JJ to keep him safe. But she hadn't expected anything like this.

Kie grabbed her sister's hand tightly, fear flashing in her eyes. "What can we do?"

"We have a plan," Elyna interjected confidently. "Mom's bosses at Interpol ordered her to bring Dad and me into planning a heist to steal the gold and stop the payment before anything happens."

Lia nodded. "You stop the payment, you stop Leviathan's plan and the Laurents from targeting Kaylee and destroying an entire city."

"Exactly," Esme agreed. "Interpol already knows when and how they're moving their gold, and that's what this whole operation hinges on. Elyna, Gael and I are planning on carrying through with this heist, but we needed to warn you and your friends in case it didn't work. It just the three of us on this."

Rafe frowned slightly as he considered this. "What if it wasn't just the three of you on this?"

Wheezie looked at Rafe in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"They need help stealing half a billion in gold," Rafe pointed out. "Three people is not enough to take that on."

Kaylee knew where Rafe was going with this, nodding. "But if you had us, we could help you."

Kie gave the two of them a look. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You think that we can help them hijack all that gold?"

Lia shrugged. "It's nothing we haven't done before."

"Plus, it's a half billion in gold," Wheezie pointed out.

"That we don't get to keep," Elyna replied. "Interpol's going to keep the gold."

Wheezie shrugged. "Yeah, but we get to see it."

Kie tilted her head, contemplating the prospect. "But we'd be risking our lives. If the Laurents find out--"

"They won't," Lia assured her, determination gleaming in her eyes. "We can be smart about this. We can use the fact that we're already on their radar to our advantage. We'll create a diversion, something that will keep them off our backs while we execute the heist."

Kaylee's eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "This isn't just about the gold. It's about stopping the Laurents from hurting anyone else. If we can pull this off, we can protect everyone."

"Exactly," Wheezie confirmed. "If we work together, we can make sure that none of us end up targets in their twisted game."

Elyna looked between the group before her, raising her eyebrows, impressed by how much the girls were invested with justice and protecting their loved ones. Her eyes landed on Wheezie briefly.

Gael glanced at Elyna and Esme before looking at Rafe, Kaylee, Kie, Lia and Wheezie. "You all understand what you're getting into, right? This isn't just a job; it's dangerous. The Laurents are ruthless."

Kaylee stepped forward, her resolve hardening. "We've faced danger before. We'll face it again. Look, this started when I killed Tod. I have to put an end to it before his psycho parents kill everyone I love."

"This isn't your fault, Kaylee," Rafe told her.

"It doesn't matter whose fault it is, Rafe," Kaylee retorted. "I need to stop them."

Kie took Kaylee's hands in hers to calm her down. "Okay. But this time, we'll do it together."

Wheezie nodded vigorously with a mischievous grin. "Count me in."

Lia crossed her arms confidently. "Me too. Whatever it takes to keep Kaylee and all of us safe."

Rafe glanced between Lia, Wheezie and Kaylee. "You already know my answer if the three of you are getting involved."

Lia and Wheezie couldn't help a small smile at their brother's response.

Gael, Elyna and Esme exchanged a stunned look.

"What if things go wrong?" Esme asked. "What if someone gets hurt?"

"That's why we need to stick together," Gael said firmly, his voice steady and reassuring. "You, Elyna and I have each other's backs, just like we always have, Esme. And we'll have their backs. You're my family, and I won't let anything happen to you."

Kie nodded. "We've made it through worse. We can do this."

Elyna chimed in, her voice laced with enthusiasm despite the tension. "And it might actually be possible with their help."

Esme looked between them, sighing heavily. "Okay. Let's start with explaining everything. And then we'll see how we can put a plan together in 17 days before this goes down."

Gael glanced around the fishing shack. "But first, we're getting you kids the hell out of this place. Despite being fugitives ourselves, Elyna and I always stay in the nicest places we can find."

"And there's no way in hell we are letting you guys stay here," Elyna agreed. "Let's go."

As the energy in the room shifted, a new sense of urgency surged through the group. They had been living in fear for too long, and it was time to reclaim their lives - and their futures.

"Let's pack our things," Kaylee said, her determination reignited. "If we're going to do this, we need to be ready to move."

Rafe nodded, stepping aside as Kaylee began gathering her belongings. Kie and Lia quickly followed suit, racing around the small shack to grab what little they had. Wheezie reached for Indy, cradling the kitten against her chest as she darted to help Lia, grabbing her journal as she did.

Rafe glanced at Wheezie. "Also, what the hell happened to your glasses?"

"They broke when we climbed down an elevator shaft to get away from Singh's men," Wheezie answered. "Back in Barbados."

Rafe didn't seem surprised, shaking his head.

As the girls packed up, Gael turned to Elyna and Esme, his voice low and serious. "We'll need a secure place to lay low - a safe house or something - until we execute the plan."

Esme glanced around the cramped fishing shack with a frown. "I have a place. It's an old safehouse cabin not far from here."

As the group quickly gathered their belongings, Elyna felt the excitement bubbling within her. They were on the brink of something monumental - a chance to fight back against the Laurents and protect their family.

Once they had sorted through essentials and ensured Indy was safely bundled in a small carrier, Rafe led the way out of the fishing shack, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching.

The Mavericks led Kaylee and Kie to their car, while Rafe led Lia and Wheezie to his truck. They got into both vehicles and began to drive away.

⚓️

Maverick's Car

Esme gave Gael the instructions to reach the safehouse, while they were in the front seats of the Maverick car. Kaylee, Kie and Elyna were in the backseat.

"You're telling me Interpol has a safehouse here?" Kaylee asked skeptically.

"It's actually more my safe house," Esme answered. "I put it here after the last time that we visited the two of you, just in case."

Kaylee and Kie couldn't help their small smiles at this.

Elyna gave them a grin. "You don't have to do this the rough and hard way anymore. At least not for now."

"What about Mom and Dad?" Kie asked worriedly. "They wouldn't like us being back, and I know you and Dad fell out, Uncle Gael."

Gael clenched his teeth. "We'll figure everything out with your parents soon, girls. But I won't stand for my brother and what he's done throughout all of this. He and Anna should have stood with you two, not turned against you."

Kaylee looked away. "Yeah, when we walked through town, we saw flyers for Kie when we were missing. They were looking for her but not for me."

Gael, Elyna and Esme glanced at Kaylee and Kie sadly.

Kie sighed shakily. "I don't know what to do."

"We'll figure it out," Esme promised. "Mike and Anna need to be aware of what could happen, too."

Kaylee scoffed. "They won't believe us."

"Maybe not," Elyna agreed. "But we have to try and tell them anyway." She smirked slightly, trying to cheer them up. "And if they try what they did at the station again, I'll kick their asses. How about that?"

Kaylee chuckled softly, the tension easing slightly as she appreciated Elyna's fierce spirit. "Why do I feel like you'd actually do it?"

Elyna grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Because I would. Nobody messes with my family."

Kaylee stifled a laugh, a glimmer of hope shining through her anxiety. "I think I would pay to see you kick our dad's ass."

Kie's shoulders relaxed slightly, returning her sister and cousin's smiles. "You definitely have my vote."

Esme and Gael smiled softly, a sense of pride swelling in their chests for their daughter and nieces.

As they drove through the familiar streets of Kildare, Kaylee felt a mix of longing and determination. This was her home, but it had become so much more complicated than she remembered. The thought of the Laurents still looming over their heads made her skin crawl.

The open road stretched ahead, flanked by the deep blue ocean on one side and the lush greenery of Outer Banks on the other. It reminded them all of better days spent in carefree laughter - before everything changed.

Gael glanced in the rearview mirror, catching his nieces' eyes. "We're going to make this right. This isn't just about revenge. It's about protecting our family."

"Yeah," Kie murmured. "But how do we stop a family like theirs?"

Esme looked over her shoulder, her voice steady and confident. "We outsmart them. We'll explain it all when we get to the cabin, but we'll make sure everything is set. I promise."

Elyna gave them a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Dad and I are pros at things like this. Mom helps us so many times. We got this."

Kaylee and Kie nodded, trusting their family that they had just reunited with more than their parents any day of their lives.

⚓️

Rafe's Truck

On the way to Esme's cabin, Rafe was driving his truck.

Lia was in the passenger seat.

Wheezie was in the backseat with the carrier that held Indy inside.

Rafe glanced at the kitten in the carrier curiously. "You guys just got back from Barbados and barely survived. Where the hell did you get a kitten?"

"We found it on the way to the fishing shack," Wheezie answered. "When we saw that it was homeless, we couldn't leave it behind. Lia, Isa and Kie named her Indy."

Rafe raised an eyebrow. "Indy?"

"After Indiana Jones," Lia answered.

Rafe scoffed in amusement, shaking his head. "Why am I not surprised?"

Lia and Wheezie both smirked slightly. They looked at Rafe, the fact that he was the one that sent the doctor to save their lives still weighing heavily on them, in disbelief but filled with gratitude after everything that happened, despite the complicated history of their family.

Rafe glanced sideways at Lia, who was still staring out the passenger window, lost in thought. He felt a pang of regret for everything that had happened, but it was overshadowed by a newfound determination to protect his sisters. The weight of his family's legacy pressed down on him, but he hoped to carve out a different path - one that didn't lead to more darkness.

"Lia?" Rafe asked softly, breaking the silence in the truck. "You okay?"

Lia turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine." Her voice betrayed her uncertainty. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Rafe prompted, trying to keep the conversation light while he navigated through the winding roads toward Esme's cabin.

"About how we ended up here," Lia replied, her expression contemplative. "How everything changed so fast." She glanced back at Wheezie cradling Indy. "And how lucky we are to have survived. Thank you... for sending Dr. Lawson."

"You really helped save our lives," Wheezie agreed.

Rafe bit his lip. "I owed you guys after everything. I know that Sarah doesn't want anything to do with the family after what Dad did to you three, and I don't blame her for that. I wouldn't blame you two if you didn't want anything to do with me either. I'm just glad you got in the truck with me."

"You got trust enough from us when you sent the doctor to save our lives," Lia admitted.

"And everything you've been doing to help Kaylee, especially all of this," Wheezie added. "I mean, all of this is a huge risk. If we're caught--"

"I know," Rafe interrupted, his gaze fixed ahead. "But if we don't take this chance, we'll never get another one. I can't let them hurt either of you, or Kaylee."

Wheezie looked out of the back window at the passing landscape, her heart racing with a cocktail of fear and determination. "Do you think we can really stop them? From using Leviathan to destroy the entire island?"

"I hope so, Wheezie," Rafe said softly.

Lia nodded in agreement. "Me too."

Rafe looked at Lia for a moment before he reached into his glove department, pulling out the prescription medication that he brought with him - the one meant for Lia that had begun to help her while on the ship. He knew that Lia's mentality was getting worse, including talking to herself and bouts of violence that she couldn't control, and he didn't want it to become so bad that she couldn't come back from it. But unlike Ward and Rose, he would leave the choice whether to take the medication up to Lia.

"Lia," Rafe said, his voice a mix of concern and rare gentleness. "I brought this for you."

Rafe held out the prescription bottle, the label clearly marked with her name.

Lia's eyes widened as she recognized it. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." Rafe's expression softened as he watched her. "I know things have been rough, but I really want to help you. I can't change what's happened, but I can help you feel better."

For a moment, Lia hesitated, an internal battle waging within her as she weighed the past against the hope of healing. She glanced back at Wheezie. "What if it doesn't work? What if it only makes things worse?"

Wheezie glanced at her sister from the backseat, concern etched into her features. "It worked before. And Sarah and I'll be here. You won't have to face anything alone. Remember, you were scared. About becoming Dad, or losing control like Rafe. Especially since the ship. Those helped, right? Even if only for a day. We all want you to be okay. No more losing control of violence or your thoughts, or talking to yourself. You can get control back."

Lia took a deep breath, knowing that they just wanted the best for her. Rafe was trying to make amends and help her recover from how far she had spiraled because of their family.

Lia did want to have control again, but she was terrified of having to rely on meds after medications were the main reason why she lost control in the first place, because of Ward forcing her onto medicine she wasn't supposed to be on that rewired her brain chemistry and drove her out of her mind. She knew that she always had the potential for darkness either way, just like Rafe, but Ward and Rose's medications and drugging her only amplified that along with all of her trauma.

Yet, when she wasn't on medication, she was becoming someone she didn't recognize, barely able to maintain her thoughts anymore.

Lia bit her lip, looking at Wheezie and Rafe. "Can I think about it?"

"Of course," Rafe answered. "This isn't like with Dad and Rose, okay? No one's going to force you to take something you don't want to take."

"It's your choice, Lia," Wheezie chimed in, her voice bright with encouragement. "Just know that we're here for you, no matter what you decide."

Lia nodded slowly, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision. "Thanks, guys." She glanced at the prescription bottle again, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty.

As Rafe navigated the winding road toward Esme's safehouse, he felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation. He glanced sideways at Lia, who was deep in thought, and he hoped she would find the strength to reclaim herself from the darkness that had haunted their family for so long.

"It's not just about you all needing help," Rafe began tentatively, breaking the silence again. "It's also about me needing to change. I don't want to be like Dad anymore. I don't want any of us to end up like him."

Wheezie looked up from Indy with wide eyes. "You won't be, Rafe. And neither will Lia. You're both already putting in the work to be different. That's all that matters."

Lia and Rafe both felt a rush of relief at Wheezie's words, sighing heavily as they continued the drive in silence.

⚓️

Esme's Safehouse

When the Mavericks, Kaylee, Kie, Lia, Wheezie and Rafe reached the safehouse, they brought their things into the cabin, which was well-furnished and clearly comfortable.

Kaylee whistled. "Wow. Nice duds."

Rafe chuckled. "Not bad."

"Thank you very much," Esme replied.

"Set your things in the living room for now," Gael told them. "We'll figure it all out along with our plan."

"Yeah, what is the plan, exactly?" Lia asked.

Elyna gestured to the seats around the living room. "Sit down. We'll explain it all."

Kaylee, Kie, Lia and Rafe took their seats across the living room.

Wheezie let Indy out of her carrier, letting the kitten roam around.

Esme walked toward the wall, pulling out a screen.

Elyna hooked up her phone to the projector on the ceiling over their heads so that they could project the details onto the screen that Esme pulled down.

Esme glanced at each teenager. "So, 17 days from now, the Laurents are moving half a billion dollars in gold bars from their bank in London to Zurich."

Wheezie was holding Indy in her lap, as the kitten started to fall asleep on her lap. "Nice."

Esme brought up a picture of a transparent crate. "The bars will be packed in a single four-foot square crate. Total weight, ten tons. Then delivered by truck from the bank to Heathrow under heavy guard and loaded onto a Sky Suisse passenger plane to Zurich. So somewhere between the Bank of London and the runway in Zurich, the gold needs to disappear."

Elyna smiled. "I just got chills. That was good, Mom."

Kie nodded sarcastically. "Right. The gold needs to disappear. As easy as that."

Kaylee shrugged. "I'm up for it."

"Of course you are, because you're crazy," Kie retorted.

Kaylee didn't deny the true claim.

Lia expressed the concern that both she and Kie had. "It's impossible."

"It's not impossible," Kaylee denied.

"Nothing is impossible," Elyna agreed.

Kie gave Kaylee and Elyna a look. "Oh, this is."

Elyna tilted her head at her cousin. "Stay positive. We can do this."

Rafe glanced at Kie. "Would it kill you to be positive for once?"

"It's killing me to work with you after everything you've done," Kie retorted.

Lia took Kie by the hand to calm her down. "I know. I know, you don't like it. But this is to protect Kaylee and the rest of us, including everyone else on this island. We have to stop the Laurents anyway we can."

Kie sighed, nodding, knowing there wasn't much other choice.

Gael stepped in. "Elyna, Kaylee, listen. Kie and Lia have a point. I don't know if it is possible. I don't like it any more than any of you. But what other choice do we have? We can't let the Laurents' gold reach Leviathan only for them to use that payment to hack any water network in any city."

"And the first target we know that the Laurents would want hit is anywhere that Kaylee is," Esme pointed out. "That means you, Kie. Lia, Wheezie, Rafe, all of us. All of your family and friends, and billions more."

Kie, Lia and Wheezie's faces fell as they took in the severity of the situation, realizing they were right. They had no choice but to try. Not trying was not an option.

"Listen, this is what me and Dad do best," Elyna assured. "We get in, we do the job, we get out. Examine it from top to bottom, find a weakness, and if there's a way to do it, we find it. Not only does it save all of us and the lives of billions more, but at the end of it all, we'll all get pardoned. Me, Dad, Kaylee. We'll be free."

Kaylee, Kie, Lia, Wheezie and Rafe looked at each other, stunned.

"You should've led with the fact that we'd all get pardons," Kaylee pointed out. "Hell yeah, I'm in."

Kie nodded in agreement. "Anything to put an end to all of this."

"Absolutely," Lia agreed.

"Me too," Wheezie chimed in.

Rafe shrugged, nodding. "I've already done a lot of the heavy lifting for that the last month when it comes to Kaylee. I always see these things through."

Kaylee glanced at Rafe before looking away.

Gael nodded. "Okay. We know that Kaylee is good at fighting and defending herself."

"And distractions," Kaylee added. "I'm really good at those."

"Good, because we might need some of that," Esme pointed out. "Is there anything else that you girls can do?"

"My specialty is a historian writer," Lia admitted. "I'm not sure if that helps here, but it helped a lot in the Pogues' missions for treasure hunting."

"Don't underestimate your powerful lying skills, Lia," Rafe pointed out. "You had the entire family fooled that you were still on your medications for months before we realized you stopped taking them."

"Yeah, and all the Pogues agree that you're the best liar out of the group, alongside JJ," Kie added.

Lia shrugged in agreement. "Yeah, well..."

Elyna smiled. "That's good, I like it. What about you, Wheezie?"

"I mostly write in my journal," Wheezie admitted. "But, um... I'm pretty good at engineering, actually."

"Wheezie used to take things apart when she was little to see how things worked before she put them back together," Rafe explained.

Elyna, Esme and Gael exchanged a look.

"That's great, actually," Esme pointed out. "That could help us a lot, Wheezie."

Wheezie couldn't help but grin, excited to know that she could assist. "Yay."

"Rafe?" Gael asked.

"I'm good with a gun, piloting, fighting," Rafe listed. "Anything you need, I'll step in if I need to."

"That's good," Gael replied. "We'll definitely need you to."

"This is just the start of the plan," Elyna pointed out. "We'll figure out the rest as we go."

Indy suddenly jumped down from Wheezie's lap, the small kitten running over to Elyna, brushing against her legs.

Elyna bent down to scoop up Indy, cradling the kitten in her arms. "Hey there, little adventurer. You can't get caught in all this chaos."

Indy purred contentedly, seemingly unfazed by the tension building in the room. The soft sound broke some of the seriousness and made Kaylee chuckle, her spirits lifting just a bit more.

Wheezie smiled as she watched Indy and Elyna's interaction. "Indy already got attached to me and the Pogues really fast, especially Isa, Lia and Kie. Looks like she's saying welcome to the group."

Elyna met Wheezie's gaze with a small smile, nodding.

As Elyna cradled Indy, she found her gaze drawn to Wheezie. There was something captivating about Wheezie's bright eyes and the way her face lit up when she smiled. Elyna felt an unexpected flutter in her chest.

Wheezie couldn't help but notice how gentle Elyna was with Indy, her slender fingers softly stroking the kitten's fur. There was a grace to her movements that Wheezie found mesmerizing. She watched as Elyna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the simple gesture somehow elegant.

Their eyes met across the room and held for a moment longer than necessary. Wheezie felt a warmth spread through her, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Elyna found herself wanting to know more about Wheezie. She knew that they were the same age, and she felt an innate curiosity about her that seemed to be mutual.

Gael's voice cut through her thoughts. "All right, I want all of you to rest up while we're figuring this out. We can't get everything settled within a day. Just take some time, talk to your friends, tell them if you feel the need to."

Kaylee frowned, swallowing. "I don't know. I don't want them getting more involved than they have to. They all have something else going on right now. Maybe it's safer to keep them out of it for now. If it's just us..."

"We can keep them safe," Kie finished. "I don't know if Lia and I can lie to Isa though, Kaylee."

Lia shook her head in agreement. "We never lie to each other."

"That's okay," Kaylee assured. "Isa's going to be busy with John B and their dad anyway. I just... need you guys to be careful. And I need them to be safe. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me or the Laurents' obsession with revenge."

They all nodded in understanding.

⚓️

Outside

Elyna had distanced herself to think of what they were going to do as a group.

Wheezie walked outside, seeing Elyna brainstorming. "I hope you know the rest of us have been working all afternoon trying to figure this out."

Elyna chuckled teasingly. "The teachers hate you, don't they?"

Wheezie frowned in confusion. "What? No. I was top of the class in school. They loved me. And that was before I got homeschooled like Lia."

Elyna tilted her head. "Nah. They have to pretend to like students like you because, technically, you followed all the rules and got good grades."

"What's wrong with that?" Wheezie asked.

"It's boring," Elyna answered. "I mean, anybody can do what they're told. Anybody can memorize facts. Anybody can shine an apple on their ass."

Wheezie scoffed softly, nodding sarcastically. "Oh, and what were you like? Class clown? Smartass?"

"I was the opposite," Elyna answered. "I was silent. I had to be, always on the run, always on the move. I was always watching the kids look at the blackboard, answering the questions where they thought they should answer. I never looked at the blackboard. I was looking at the questions that weren't being asked."

Wheezie frowned curiously despite her apparent annoyance because of the stark differences between the two girls. "Too cool for school?"

Elyna chuckled. "Something like that, but more. I saw the path that they were being marched down, and I also saw different paths. Ones that my dad and my mom both paved for me. So I learned to take both, as both the daughter of a criminal, and the daughter of a federal agent, and combining what I got from both to do what I do best."

"Breaking the rules?" Wheezie asked.

Elyna shrugged. "The rules were already broken for someone like me. And to be fair, aren't you the newest little member of the Pogues? That means you've had to learn to break a rule or two, right?"

Wheezie chuckled nervously, sitting down. "I just started. And to be honest, the only rules I've really broken is protecting my friends and defying my psychopath of a father who tried to kill me and my sisters Lia and Sarah."

Elyna's expression softened as she regarded Wheezie. "That's a pretty strong reason to break some rules. I get it. Family can be the most complicated part of life."

Wheezie nodded, her gaze drifting towards the ground as she processed her feelings about their father, their shared trauma, and the looming threat of the Laurents. "I just want to protect Lia and Sarah... and Kaylee, too. After everything that's happened, I don't want to lose any more family."

"I understand," Elyna said gently, leaning closer. "But you need to remember that family can come in many forms. The Pogues... they're your chosen family now."

Wheezie felt a flicker of hope at Elyna's words, a realization settling in her mind. "You're right. The Pogues have been there for us when no one else was. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself."

Elyna smiled warmly, though sympathetically. "I'm sorry. About what your father did to you."

Wheezie sighed, looking down. "But yes. You're right. I broke the rules for the first time in my life. All of my siblings and friends are constantly breaking the rules, and look what good it's done. They're all on the run, constantly on the verge of being killed, arrested, and now this insane James Bond villain arc that the Laurents are taking just to get revenge on Kaylee which could get every single one of us killed."

Elyna tilted her head. "All very true. But you can't tell me that you didn't come out with something good in all of the chaos."

Wheezie looked down, gazing off as she bit her lip. "I did. I was invisible in my family for most of my life. I didn't feel seen... until Lia and Sarah brought me into the Pogues. They're my family now. That's all that matters. Being with them on the island, and now back here... even with all the danger..."

"You wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," Elyna finished.

Wheezie looked at Elyna, slightly surprised she could empathic and connect with her over this. "Exactly. Is that why you're so willing to be apart of this life with your parents? Because it's... family?"

"And why I want to do anything to help Kaylee and Kie and their friends, including you," Elyna answered. "Despite all the danger, despite the fact me and my cousins haven't been close since we were kids, they're my family. And I wouldn't trade this life or my family away for anything."

Wheezie and Elyna took a moment to sit in companionable silence, a newfound understanding and connection settling over the two girls.

Elyna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's it like? Being part of the Pogues?"

Wheezie's expression brightened a little at the mention of her friends. "It's amazing! They're like a family I never knew I needed. There's always something going on, whether it's treasure hunting or just hanging out at the beach. We laugh, we fight, but in the end, we've got each other's backs. It feels... real."

"Real," Elyna echoed, nodding slowly as she processed Wheezie's words. "I like that. But you know, being part of something that feels real also means facing risks and making tough choices. Are you ready for that?"

Wheezie hesitated, her brow furrowing as she thought about everything they were up against - the Laurents, Leviathan, everything that was spiraling out of control. "I think so. Isa, Kie, John B. They all faced down my father to save Lia, Sarah and me. And Kaylee's gone above and beyond to save us all more than once already just since I've joined. JJ, Pope and Cleo, they're the same way. I would do anything for them. Even face down what's to come."

Elyna nodded, impressed with Wheezie's answer, smiling softly. "Good. Luckily, you won't have to do it alone. I'm really good at this."

"Stealing, more than just art pieces?" Wheezie asked.

"Yeah," Elyna answered. "I wouldn't take anything from anyone who doesn't deserve to lose it. That's what I learned from my dad. And well, the thing we took, they'll never know was missing."

Wheezie frowned in confusion. "So you're saying we need to take the gold in a way that the Laurents never know it's missing?"

"We're not taking the gold," Elyna stated. "That's the problem on the blackboard. We're looking at a different problem."

⚓️

Inside

Wheezie and Elyna joined the others inside the cabin.

Rafe looked at them in disbelief. "We're taking the plane?"

Kaylee raised her eyebrows, impressed. "Nice."

"The whole plane?" Kie frowned.

"It's kind of hard to take half a plane," Gael pointed out.

"With 250 people on board?" Esme asked. "We're not hijacking a plane, Gael. It's not the 70s."

"We're not hijacking anything, Esme," Gael replied. "Don't even use that word. We're borrowing it."

Lia smiled. "Love it. I love it."

Wheezie sat down. "But how?"

"To take a plane, you gotta fake a plane," Elyna pointed out. "All you need is a private jet."

Kaylee scoffed a chuckle. "Oh, just like that?"

Elyna nodded. "Yeah. If we can get the planes close enough together, we can swap the radar signature."

"I like it," Wheezie admitted.

"Okay, but where the hell are we going to get a private jet?" Kie asked.

Kaylee, Lia and Wheezie exchanged a knowing look before turning to look at Rafe behind them.

Rafe raised his eyebrows, tilting his head. "I... might have used my very own private jet to fly back home after I gave Kaylee my boat to get you guys here."

"And are you willing to let us borrow it for this mission?" Kaylee asked.

Rafe smirked slightly. "Let's go see."

⚓️

On the Road

On the drive over to the airstrip in Rafe's truck, Kaylee remained quiet in the passenger seat, fidgeting, overwhelmed after the fight with JJ earlier and everything he had pointed out about Rafe - everything Rafe was doing to help her that JJ couldn't do, to keep her safe and clear her name.

Rafe noticed Kaylee's withdrawn nature, which wasn't normal, frowning in concern. "You okay?"

Kaylee glanced out the window, trying to steady her racing thoughts. The landscape blurred past, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing in her mind. "I don't know, Rafe. Everything just feels... heavy right now."

Rafe's brow furrowed, concern deepening as he stole glances at her between turns. "You mean what happened with JJ?"

Kaylee shifted uncomfortably in her seat, biting her lip. "It's not just that. It's everything - what Tod did, everything that I did... and now we're about to dive headfirst into danger again."

Rafe nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. "I get it. You've been through a lot. But you're not alone in this."

Kaylee turned to him, searching his face for sincerity. "And that makes it better? I'm still terrified of what the Laurents might do next. Everyone should just stay far away from me. It's me that they want dead. If I had just stayed on that fucking island where no one else would be hurt..."

Rafe's jaw tightened at Kaylee's words, the raw pain in her voice stirring a protective anger within him. "You did what you had to do to survive, Kaylee. You can't blame yourself for that. You can't carry the burden of everyone else's choices."

"But I do," Kaylee admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "Every time I close my eyes, I'm reminded of what happened because of me. Tod and his parents... they won't stop until they get revenge. And now, everyone I care about is at risk. I've dragged everyone into this mess because of the choices I made. If I'd just handled things differently... if I hadn't tried to fight back--"

"Stop," Rafe interrupted instantly, his voice firm but gentle.

Kaylee swallowed, looking down.

Rafe slowed the truck, pulling off to the side of the road so he could fully focus on her. He turned to her, his eyes fierce and unwavering. "Listen to me. You fought like hell to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. You didn't ask for this fight, but you stepped up when it mattered most. You did what you had to do when no one else would."

Kaylee avoided his gaze, unable to meet those intense blue eyes. "But I've hurt people too."

"People who deserved it," Rafe replied. "People who were coming for you and the ones you loved. You didn't hurt them for fun. Yo did what you had to do. That doesn't give them the right to try and take you out or everyone else because they refuse to see the monster their son was. And it doesn't mean that you get to blame yourself for everything that happened or think that you should've rot on a deserted island somewhere alone thinking it would protect everyone else."

Kaylee clenched her fists in her lap, the tension in her body palpable. She was caught between the weight of guilt and Rafe's unwavering conviction. "It just feels like I'm at the center of all this chaos. If I hadn't fought back against Tod, he wouldn't be dead, and his parents wouldn't be after me and everyone I love. It's like I'm cursed."

Rafe shook his head vehemently. "You're not fucking cursed, Kaylee. But you have to fight back. And you're not gonna be fighting alone. You have Kie and the Pogues. You have your family who just came back for you. You have me. I'm not going anywhere."

His words hit her like a wave crashing down, swamping her with emotion she had tried to suppress. Kaylee glanced at Rafe, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, and for a split second, something shifted within her - a flicker of hope.

Kaylee sniffed, closing her eyes, nodding. "Okay. Just take us to the damn jet. I wanna get this over with."

Rafe smirked, pleased to see the real Kaylee emerge. "There she is."

⚓️

Airstrip

They reached the airstrip, and Kaylee stepped out of the truck, her pulse quickening at the sight of Rafe's private jet glistening in the sunlight. It seemed surreal that they had come this far - from prison to potential freedom, albeit through a path fraught with danger.

Rafe walked alongside Kaylee, his presence an unexpected reassuring anchor amidst the chaos swirling inside her mind. As they approached the plane, he glanced over at her, a hint of mischief appearing in his eyes. "You ready for this?"

Kaylee hesitated only for a moment before nodding, determination flooding her veins. "Let's just get it done."

Rafe used a remote to open the door to the jet, leading the way inside. "Everything is remote controlled. Doors, lights."

As they boarded the jet, a sense of urgency enveloped them. The interior was sleek and modern, with red leather seats and an expansive glass ceiling window view that promised adventure beyond their wildest dreams - or perhaps nightmares they were unwilling to confront.

Kaylee scoffed softly in awe and disbelief. "This is your private jet?"

Rafe smiled smugly. "All mine. Newly bought with the gold. It's a one-off concept model. NASA R&D. Hell, technically it's not even legal with the mods. Especially with the glass roof. It's worth it, though."

Kaylee crossed her arms. "Hmm, and why the glass roof?"

"I'll take you flying one night and show you, firebird," Rafe replied in his usual charming and flirtatious self. "Watch the stars for yourself."

Kaylee rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the tension still lingering in the air. She could feel the warmth of his gaze on her, and for a moment, it made her forget the chaos that awaited them.

She wanted to be angry, to hate herself and hate him like she always did, but now, she was just too exhausted to. Further than that, she didn't know if she could after everything Rafe did to ensure her safety and to bring her home, and even helping her reunite her with her family so that they could clear her name and save everyone else from the Laurents.

Noticing Kaylee lost in her thoughts again, Rafe hit a button on the remote control, which brought up a set of connected pools from the floor.

Kaylee scoffed in disbelief. "Stripper pole? Really?"

"The last guy I bought the jet added that," Rafe explained. "I use it for workouts while in the air. And the best part of this thing is the whole of the underneath is a huge LED screen, which we can program to stay whatever we want."

Rafe stood, walking toward the LED control screen that was linked to the screen on the bottom of the plane.

Kaylee stood, curious despite herself. "Like what?"

Rafe hit a button on the remote control, which brought up the word "firebird" with a symbol of a firebird on the screen before them. In return, the same display showed on the screen on the bottom of the plane.

Kaylee was not surprised that Rafe used his nickname for her as the example, pressing her lips together at the sight of the symbol alongside it.

Rafe smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. "What? I thought it was fitting."

Kaylee rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her chest that she couldn't deny. "Just make sure you keep it subtle while we're dodging the Laurents and using this to jack their plane, okay?"

"Subtle isn't exactly my style," Rafe teased. "But I'll try for you."

Kaylee forced herself to turn back to the cockpit, trying to shake off the warmth creeping into her cheeks. "This is great and all, but we need to focus on the mission."

"Right," Rafe said, quickly shifting gears as he settled into a more serious tone. He walked up to the cockpit controls, gesturing for Kaylee to join him. "Esme said there was a landing nearby her cabin, yeah?"

"Yeah," Kaylee answered, sitting down in the copilot's seat.

Rafe sat down in the pilot's seat. "We'll move this to that landing so we'll have the jet close by to the cabin, so we're not risking you getting seen going out to the hangar constantly while we're setting up shop."

Kaylee nodded, knowing that she had to stay mostly back at the cabin or with the Pogues to avoid being arrested.

Rafe flipped switches and activated screens that displayed the area around Esme's cabin, as Rafe put in the coordinates.

Kaylee hesitated for a moment. "Rafe?" Rafe glanced at her. "Thank you. For the doctor. For everything you did this last month. And bringing Uncle Gael, Elyna and Esme to us. And all this. You could've stepped out a long time ago when I left with the Pogues."

Rafe paused, his fingers hovering over the controls, and turned to face her fully. "I told you, I'm not going anywhere. I didn't step back because I care about you. This isn't just about clearing your name or saving you from the Laurents anymore. It's about all of us."

Kaylee felt a warmth bloom in her chest, but she couldn't shake the nagging doubts creeping in. "But why? After everything that's happened?"

"Because it matters," Rafe replied earnestly. "You matter. You're not just some Kook to me, Kaylee. Not some Pogue, either. You never were."

His words hung in the air between them, heavy with unsaid emotions and shared history. Kaylee bit her lip, torn between gratitude and the weight of their tumultuous past.

Kaylee took a breath, forcing herself to focus. "Just fly."

As Rafe guided the jet into the air, Kaylee felt the familiar rush of adrenaline surge through her veins. The engines roared to life, and they ascended, leaving behind the chaos of the past few weeks. She stole glances at Rafe as he expertly maneuvered the aircraft, his focus unwavering.

"Are you nervous?" Rafe asked, breaking the silence as they climbed higher.

Kaylee exhaled slowly, feeling the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. "A little. But I'm more excited about what comes next."

Rafe nodded, keeping his eyes on the instruments. "Good. We're going to change the game here. This is our chance to take control back from the Laurents."

Kaylee leaned back in her seat, her heart racing at the thought of facing her tormentors head-on. "What if things go sideways? What if we're caught before we even start?"

"We won't be," Rafe assured.

As they soared through the clouds, Kaylee couldn't help but steal glances at Rafe, who was completely absorbed in his work. There was something undeniably magnetic about him when he was in his element like this - confident and capable. It reminded her of the boy she had once been with, before everything spiraled out of control.

"Do you even know how to fly this thing?" Kaylee asked, half-joking but also genuinely curious.

Rafe grinned, glancing sideways at her. "I've got a few years under my belt. My dad made sure to teach me. That's why I said something when your family asked if we had any piloting skills they could use for their mission in 17 days."

As they flew higher, Kaylee took in the sights of the sky and the ground below in awe. Adrenaline was soaring through her veins, and she realized with surprise that merely flying could be a good way to help settle some of her adrenaline fixes to help her control her darker impulses and instincts - just like cliff diving or sky diving, or one of the many other things the Pogues had suggested to keep her chaos addiction satisfied.

As they soared higher, Kaylee took in the breathtaking view - a sprawling tapestry of clouds beneath them, the sun casting a golden hue across the landscape below. It felt surreal to her, this moment of calm amidst the storm they were navigating. She felt truly free for the first time in so long, closing her eyes as she felt a moment of peace.

Rafe noticed her reactions, taking note of how peaceful she seemed, smiling softly.

"Rafe," Kaylee said, her voice steadying with each passing moment. "What if we did something different?"

Rafe glanced over, intrigued. "Different how?"

Kaylee frowned. "What if we diverted from just clearing my name? What if we made a statement? The Laurents have gotten away with too much for far too long. Maybe it's time we turn the tables on them for good."

Rafe raised an eyebrow, an impressed smirk forming on his lips. "I like where your head's at. What exactly do you have in mind?"

Kaylee felt a fire ignite within her as she spoke. "Instead of simply stealing their gold, what if we expose everything they've done? Their crimes, their connections with Leviathan... we could expose it all and have them locked away. It's far more than what Agent Huxley's trying to do."

Rafe nodded in agreement. "You're right. We should bring it up to your family when we get back to the cabin. You ready to switch gears?"

Kaylee took a deep breath, grounding herself in the moment. "Yeah, I'm ready."

The plane leveled off, and Rafe began adjusting the altitude as they neared the coordinates Esme had given them. "Stay sharp; we don't know what kind of eyes are out there."

Kaylee nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over her again. The stakes were high; if they were spotted, everything could fall apart before they even started.

Rafe's fingers worked nimbly over the controls as the cabin came into view beneath them. They knew the cabin was safe as they had been there just an hour prior, but they needed to be sure that no one could spot them - or furthermore, Kaylee.

Once Rafe parked the jet on the landing not far from the cabin, Rafe and Kaylee unbuckled their seatbelts and climbed off the jet, heading back to the cabin.

⚓️

Guadeloupe

Cameron Mansion - Living Room

Two men were moving the cross onto a stand in the mansion.

Ward was watching. "Thank you. You can go."

The two men left without a word.

Ward stared at the cross silently, placing his hands on the cross, leaning his head against it, eyes closed. He let go, turning away, looking out over the beach into the ocean, filled with a regret that he had never felt before.

⚓️

Flashback 2

Day - OBX Beach

Young Sarah and Young Lia were laughing, playing in the water.

Ward laughed. "Stop it. Did you get me?"

Young Sarah giggled. "Daddy."

Young Lia looked over to where Young Rafe was with Baby Wheezie on the sand, standing, running toward them. "Rafe! Wheezie!"

Baby Wheezie giggled.

Young Rafe sat back and watched his sisters play with a slight smile, distant because Ward had always showed Sarah favoritism over the other siblings, while the others were regarded as second priority, but this was before everything became toxic and came crashing down for the Camerons.

Baby Wheezie was making a mess in the sand.

Young Rafe smiled. "She's trying to make a sandcastle."

Young Lia grinned. "I wanna try."

Young Sarah ran over to them. "Me too!"

Ward walked over to them with a smile, watching as the four siblings built a sandcastle together, one of the only things that they got to have fun doing together.

Once they were done, Young Sarah stood, running along the sand, while Young Lia stayed with Young Rafe and Baby Wheezie.

Ward held out his arms for his oldest daughter. "Come on, Sarah!"

Young Sarah ran into Ward's arms with a laughing squeal.

⚓️

That flashback transitioned to the flashbacks of how Ward almost strangled Sarah to death in 2.10 "The Coastal Venture", and ordered Eberhini to stab Lia and Wheezie to death, only to be saved by each other, and Isa and Kie, and John B.

Now

Day - Cameron Mansion - Outside

Ward was crying at the memory, knowing that if it wasn't for Isa, Kie and John B, Ward would have ended up killing his own daughters. He broke down, having no idea how he fell so far to do that to his own daughters, and knowing that what Lia, Sarah and Wheezie said about what he did to Rafe is why Rafe was so bad as he was now was completely true, along with all the mentality damage Lia had now.

Ward knew that he completely destroyed his children, and he had no idea on how to make it right.

⚓️

Inside

Ward and Rose were sitting together.

Rose was holding her hands to his shoulders comfortingly.

"This is judgment, Rose," Ward told her. He sighed, standing, walking along with the aid of his cane. "I'm sorry. I don't expect you to understand."

"Of course I understand," Rose told him. "Ward." Ward turned to face her. Rose stood, stepping closer, looking him in the eyes. "You are a good person."

Ward shook his head, looking away. "No, I'm not, Rose."

Rose turned his head to make him look at her. "Hey. You're a good person." They leaned their foreheads together before Rose let him go. "Besides, what were we gonna do with that cross anyway? Seriously, it's identifiable. It's traceable. You think the Spanish government wasn't gonna come looking for it?"

Ward shook his head. "It does us no good."

"No," Rose agreed.

"It doesn't," Ward repeated.

"We already have the gold," Rose pointed out.

Ward nodded, looking down. "Yeah, maybe it can help someone else." He turned away in thought. "I'll find a museum." He turned to face her with a smile. "Rose. It'll be a gift from us and the whole family."

Rose grinned, body tilted slightly. "It's a hell of a write-off." They both laughed. "Not that that's why we're doing it, obviously."

Ward shook his head. "Of course not, yeah."

Ward turned to walk away.

Rose cleared her throat. "Ward?" Ward turned back as Rose walked up to him. "What about Rafe?"

Ward was definitely not looking forward to that conversation. "He's not gonna like it. He's just gonna have to understand. It's what I'm doing to atone for all of us."

Rose nodded in agreement.

Ward walked away, prepared to make the call.

⚓️

Kildare Island

Esme's Cabin - Outside

Elyna was taking the group through the plan, showing a display screen for the airplane that would fly the Laurents' gold and Rafe's jet. "So, let's break it down." She pointed to Rafe's jet. "We gotta make that jet invisible to radar, find a way to get it close to an A380 to swap signals, then crack a safe at 30,000 feet. Piece of cake."

Wheezie continued on. "While Kaylee and Rafe were getting the jet, Elyna and I figured out that we could make stealth mods to make Rafe's jet invisible to radar so that he can fly it close to the plane, and we can create a device to swap the signals."

Lia nodded. "And then I thought of the part where after the signals are swapped and Rafe flies his jet away, then he can set free a drone that has the signal of the plane and send it off to Zurich so that the Laurents think that their gold arrives, buying you guys time to crack the safe midflight."

Kaylee was impressed. "You guys came up with all of that while Rafe and I went to get the jet?"

"Yeah, they were working nonstop," Kie answered.

"Though, I do like your idea of exposing the Laurents and not just stealing their gold," Esme admitted. "I'm surprised Huxley didn't want us to expose them right away."

"Because he's a shady government tool bag," Gael answered. "A piece of shit."

Esme nodded, shrugging. "You guys work for the government now." She smiled teasingly. "Doesn't it make you feel all warm and fuzzy?"

"No," Rafe chuckled. "Not one bit."

Lia clapped her hands. "Okay. So where do we begin?"

"Elyna and I will start on the stealth mods and the drone," Wheezie answered.

Kie nodded in understanding. "All right, everything's coming together."

Kaylee couldn't help a small chuckle. "I like it."

As they began the preparations, Elyna and Wheezie were working on the drone and the stealth mods.

Esme and Gael were keeping an eye on them when Gael brought closer a safecracking laser.

"Ely," Gael said. "You gotta see this."

Gael set the laser down, turning it on to aim at a prototype safe ahead of them. He blasted "Chop Suey!" over the speaker, much to the confusion of the girls.

"The sound waves mimic the turbulence of the plane," Gael explained. "Now look."

Gael took a handful of white powder and threw it into the air between the laser and the safe before turning off the music.

"With this laser, I could crack this vault anywhere on earth in ten minutes flat, but it's gotta be on earth," Gael explained. "Up in the plane, the turbulence is going to shake the laser. If I'm a millimeter off in any direction, this vault turns into an impenetrable steel box."

"So you need a stabilizer," Wheezie concluded.

Elyna was thinking of what could work, suddenly realizing. "Stewart platform?"

Gael considered that before nodding. "Stewart platform. That's it."

In the opposite direction, Rafe was sitting at a table, practicing his piloting skills to fly his private jet up beneath the government plane in a simulation to see exactly how he had to fly to ensure this plan would work.

Kaylee walked up to him. "Any luck?"

"I keep getting caught in the A380," Rafe explained. "I haven't flown like this before."

Kaylee considered this. "Hang on." She walked toward Gael and Elyna. "Either of you two genius engineer and heist masterminds know how Rafe can stay out of the A380's wake?"

Gael and Elyna shared a look, nodding.

"Actually, yeah," Gael answered, walking over to a crate nearby, opening it to reveal N8's mask from the museum in Venice. "Elyna, can you work N8's cameras into your stealth mods to give Rafe full visibility around the plane?"

Elyna walked closer to look at the mask and all of the cameras implanted into it. "I mean, at those speeds, it just hasn't been done before."

"First time for everything," Kie pointed out. "I mean, if anybody can do it, you can."

Elyna grinned. "Yeah. I got this."

Esme smiled softly. "That's our girl."

Resuming the energy that buzzed in the shack, Kaylee felt the warmth of camaraderie flood her heart as the group rallied around their shared purpose. With Elyna's determination and Gael's inventive spirit, they began crafting plans that not only aimed to liberate themselves but also to take down the looming threat of the Laurents once and for all.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting golden rays through the windows as Elyna and Gael set to work on the modifications for Rafe's jet. The air was thick with anticipation, each member of the group aware that time was slipping away.

Kaylee found herself gravitating back toward Rafe, who sat at the helm of a makeshift workspace, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied charts and flight paths on his laptop. His focus was intense, and she couldn't help but appreciate his determination; it reminded her of how far they had both come since those early days.

Rafe's phone went off with a text, and he looked at a message from Ward. He looked toward Kaylee. "Hey, I gotta go home and take care of this."

"That's okay," Kaylee assured. "We're not gonna be able to do this all in one day. Not even two weeks. Go. We can't put our lives on hold for this."

Rafe hesitated, glancing back at the group. The urgency of the situation hung heavy in the air, but he knew he needed to check in with his father. "I'll be quick. I just need to make sure everything is still on track and that Ward doesn't suspect anything."

Kaylee nodded, trying to mask her concern. "Just be careful, okay?"

With a fleeting smile, Rafe stood and walked toward the exit. "You all stay sharp while I'm gone."

Kaylee nodded in agreement. As she watched him go, an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach. While they had a plan, she knew that the Laurents were always lurking just out of sight, ready to strike when least expected. She took a deep breath, shaking off her anxiety as she turned back to the others, ready to face whatever came their way.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Hallway

After a long shower and getting changed, Sarah was packing up some of her belongings, along with Lia and Wheezie's. She even got some of Rose's left-behind arts and crafts to make makeshift toys for Indy as promised.

Sarah found her old phone, smiling slightly in relief, putting it in her pocket.

Suddenly, she heard Rafe's voice on the phone downstairs. "Yeah, they said, um, two days on the transfer. It's in the works though, so no worries."

Sarah walked toward the stairwell railing to look over it and see where Rafe was so she could know where to go next to avoid being seen.

Rafe sounded annoyed. "Yeah, I'm heading upstairs, why? You said you wanted to talk about something. What's up?"

Wanting nothing to do with her brother and father, afraid of them, Sarah ducked into hiding, while she also wanted to hear what he said on the phone, sensing it might be important.

⚓️

Rafe's Room

Rafe walked into his room, taking a seat on his bed, on the phone with Ward. "Wait, are you being serious?"

Sarah was creeping toward Rafe's room, listening to him on the phone.

Rafe was confused. "I was just with you. What changed since then? What are you talking about? Dad, no, no. Dad. This cross is mine. You're taking it from me."

Sarah's attention was raptured now more than ever when she heard it had to do with the cross.

Rafe ranted to Ward. "Listen, this is something that I got through my work, and now you're trying to make yourself feel better by giving away my shit? And you didn't even tell me?"

In his new home, Ward was speaking to Rafe on speakerphone. "This is me telling you right now, son." Rafe threw his head back in exasperation. "We've done some things, Rafe, you and I, all right?"

"Oh, my God," Rafe complained.

"Things that we need to atone for, and donating this cross, it's a good first step in the right direction," Ward told him. "I know that in my heart, okay?" Rafe's eyes were wide, as he knew what this was really about for his father, waiting for him to bring it up any second now, and of course, he was right. "I don't know. Maybe if Sarah finds out--"

Rafe shot up from his bed. "Sarah! Sarah!"

Sarah gasped softly, jumping back behind the wall, worried for a second that she was caught.

Rafe nodded. "There it is! That's it! Yep, I knew it. There it is, Dad! She's the favorite, right? Always the first choice, no matter what." Sarah frowned at that. "You think by giving up the cross that you can make up for trying to kill Sarah, hmm? That she'll forgive you? You know that Lia never will after everything you did to drive her out of her mind and let Barry get away with killing Robbie for so long and then tried to kill her too. And you'd rather just lock her up again, right? Not that you ever gave a shit about that before. You tried to kill Wheezie too. None of them are gonna forgive you no matter what you do. Any more of my shit you wanna steal from me to impress Sarah?"

Ward remained calm. "It's Wilmington. It's tomorrow night. Get a pen. I'll give you the cargo information."

Having to sit down, Rafe had too much going on inside his head, evident by the conflict and frustration that was displayed on his face, eyes squeezed tight as he tried to focus, putting a hand to his head, before lowering his hand.

Rafe gestured blindly with his eyes closed. "For the record, this is bullshit, okay? This is my thing." He opened his eyes. "But of course, you can count on me." He stood, walking over to get a pen and paper. "One second... okay, Wilmington. Yeah. Tomorrow night. Car 750X. Got it."

Sarah typed the information into her phone, sliding closer to do so, but when she did, the floor creaked underneath her foot, which caused her eyes to widen as she knew Rafe would hear.

Rafe spoke into the phone. "Hey. Hang on. Hang on. One second."

Sarah darted around the corner of the wall toward the other door to Rafe's room, out of his sight.

Rafe stepped out into the hallway where his sister had just been a moment ago. "Hello?"

Rafe walked around the corner toward the other door to his room, but Sarah had already snuck into his room to stay out of sight.

As Rafe walked into his room, Sarah had already snuck into the hallway again, hiding on the side of the door, her back to the wall, holding her breath.

Rafe grabbed his phone, walking out through the other door and walking down the stairs in the hallway. "Okay. It's all good. What was it? Yeah, from the wharf to the train yard. Yeah."

Once she was sure that Rafe was downstairs, Sarah snuck back into his room to look at the sticky note that Rafe wrote the information down from Ward, using the phone to take a picture of it since she hadn't had the chance to finish typing it before the game of secret hide and seek.

⚓️

Foyer

Sarah snuck downstairs, looking for Rafe.

Rafe walked out of the side door in the foyer to stand outside in the yard, his back to the house, still on the phone with Ward. "Yes. I got it, okay?"

Sarah made sure that his back was still to the house when she ran through the foyer quickly and quietly, out through the other door, out of the house.

Rafe turned around to head back inside. "Yes, sir." Rafe hung up and walked inside, but saw no sign of anyone around, as Sarah darted behind the outside wall of the house before she could be seen through the glass doors. "Shit."

Rafe was thinking about what to do.

All while never knowing that his sneaky little sister had been in and out of the mansion right under his nose.

⚓️

Heyward's Shop

(Song:) Never Get Over You - Aaron Kaplan

The Heywards and Cleo were eating, chatting away.

Pope was going on about the mission on the ship. "So there I was at the top of this crane on a huge container ship in the middle of the ocean." His parents looked at him in disbelief. "And what do I hear from down below but..."

Pope imitated gunshots as he fired an imaginary machine gun around.

"Oh, no!" Mr. Heyward said.

Mrs. Heyward gasped. "My Lord."

Pope pointed up, as if looking up through the ladder of the crane. "Gunshots shooting right back up at me."

Cleo nodded in agreement. "True story."

Pope sat down across from his mother. "Mom, gunshots. That's when I knew there was no way we were getting off that boat with the cross. So..." He took a bite to eat. "Dropped it in the ocean."

Mr. Heyward gave him a look, absolutely stunned with the story. "You did what?"

Cleo nodded, shrugging.

"It was the best thing I could do," Pope explained. "And get this, as soon as I'm jumping off the ship, we're swimming away, I look back. They're pulling it back up."

Mr. Heyward tilted his head curiously. "Who?"

"Rafe," Pope answered.

Mr. Heyward looked from Pope to his wife. "Rafe."

"Honestly, I'm kind of glad he got it," Pope admitted.

Cleo gave him a weird look. "You on air?"

Mr. Heyward mirrored the weird look toward his son. "Yeah, I'm with Cleo on that."

"I'm just saying, at least it's not at the bottom of the ocean," Pope pointed out. "There's a chance, you know? Some hope that maybe we can get it back from them."

"Yeah, well, let's hope not," Mr. Heyward replied. "I had enough of this treasure hunting."

Mrs. Heyward nodded in agreement.

"I want people to know that story, Pop," Pope told him. "Denmark Tanny, who got probably one of the most valuable objects in all the world, and he gave it to a church full of freed slaves, and it was theirs. It's a beautiful story." He looked at Cleo, who was already looking at him with a fond look in her eye, clearly enjoying how much he cared about his history and their people's history. "I think it deserves to be told."

Pope caught onto the fact that he and Cleo were looking a bit longer than they should have, looking away.

Mrs. Heyward noticed, looking between the two knowingly, turning to Cleo. "Thank you so much for helping my boy."

Mrs. Heyward took Cleo's hand.

Cleo smiled a bit. "Mm, we helped each other, right, Pope?"

Cleo gave Pope a little push in the shoulder, looking down when Pope looked at her with a slight smile.

Pope also had a small smile. "Yeah."

Mr. and Mrs. Heyward exchanged a knowing look as if to check if the other saw it too, smiling slightly.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Heyward House - Pope's Old Room

(Song:) Palm Trees - Often

Pope led Cleo up to his old room in the Heyward house. "So, uh, this is where you're going to be staying. I'll move downstairs, so it's all yours now. If you, uh, need me, just give me a knock. So there's one bathroom, which means we'll probably have to share, but it's all good because I take quick showers." Cleo looked around in awe. "Um, this is my room, which is now your room. My mom laid out some fresh clothes. They should fit."

Cleo looked around curiously. "So this is mine."

"Yeah," Pope answered, placing down some towels for her. "You know, sorry it's kind of small, but it's got a great view."

They looked out the window together.

Cleo's eyes were still wandering the walls, trying to contain her excitement. "I ain't never had my own room before."

Pope looked at her, lips slightly upturned. "Now you do." Cleo gave him a smile when she saw the look, before they both broke eye contact. "Okay, um, I'll be downstairs. So, um, if you need me, just give me a..." Pope walked to the door, knocking on the door to demonstrate. "Enjoy."

Pope gave Cleo a wave, turning around, walking out of the room.

Once she was alone, Cleo dropped the tough, cool girl act as she gasped in excitement, hands to her head as she looked around the room once again, plopping down onto the bed with a big grin. "Thank you, Pope."

(Song Ends)

⚓️

The Chateau - Outside

Kie, Lia and Wheezie had returned to the Chateau after coming back from Esme's cabin with Indy.

Wheezie was inside taking a shower.

Outside, Kie was helping Lia make some toys for Indy, both of them doting on the kitten.

Isa slowly walked up to the Chateau, traumatized, just relieved to see the two girls she loved there. "Hey."

"Hey," Lia greeted. "Kie, Wheezie and I just got back from a strange day with Kaylee, Rafe and some surprise guests today. We were waiting for everyone to get here, but Pope and Cleo aren't here, and JJ's... that's another story. And we were waiting for you and John B to get home."

Isa had a tough time swallowing given how hard she had been strangled earlier, putting a hand to her neck. "Yeah. That might be a little while."

"Why?" Kie asked. "What's wrong?"

Lia and Kie looked up, as they saw Isa holding a hand to her neck.

"Isa?" Lia asked in concern.

"Are you okay?" Kie asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Isa was still struggling to come to terms with what happened, lips parting as if trying to find the words to explain, but nothing came out. Lia and Kie were worried, standing, walking closer, and without needing an explanation at first, and just seeing that Isa needed them, they wrapped their arms around her. Isa gasped softly as she returned the embrace tightly, needing the anchor of the girls she loved.

Lia recognized the signs of a panic attack after all the times that Isa and Kie had helped her with her own, kissing Isa's cheeks and forehead to coax her into calming down enough to where she could breathe easier. "It's okay. Breathe."

Isa nodded slightly.

"Where's John B and your dad?" Kie asked.

Isa had tears in her eyes as she let out a trembling breath. "They're, uh... hiding two bodies."

Lia and Kie both fell silent in shock as that, processing what she had just said, stunned. "What?"

Isa choked up, hand still to her throat, shaking her head. "Dad, he wanted me to help them hide them. I just... I couldn't. I felt so sick again."

"Of course," Kie whispered. "What the hell happened?"

"Dad killed... two smugglers," Isa answered. "Um, Eberhini and Macias from the Coastal Venture."

Lia and Kie were both more shocked by this.

"The guys that stabbed you, Wheezie and Lia and hurt Kaylee and JJ?" Kie asked.

Isa nodded shakily. "They were working for Singh."

"Oh, my God," Lia whispered.

Kie's eyes kept locking on how Isa's hand wouldn't move away from her neck. "Isa, move your hand."

Isa hesitated, but Kie took Isa's hand and moved it away from her neck.

Isa's neck was already deeply bruised from that morning from Eberhini strangling her.

Lia gasped softly in horror, remembering the same marks on Sarah's neck after Ward tried to strangle her to death. "What the fuck? Eberhini did that to you?"

Isa nodded shakily.

Kie knew how traumatizing that had to have been after what they all saw and went through on the ship, taking Isa and Lia by the hands, leading them to the bench nearby Indy, sitting them all down. "Come here, come here."

They sat down, watching as the kitten pounced at the food in front of them, swatting at the toys that Kie and Lia made for him, which somewhat distracted Isa from the severity of what happened, providing a bit of light from what happened.

Isa swallowed, which hurt. "After they took the diary from us, we went after them to the water, and I... I don't know... it happened so fucking fast. I just remember guns being pointed at me and John B, and then Dad took them out. Shot them both. Without even hesitating. He was ready to kill them before they even pulled the trigger on us."

Lia and Kie processed in shock.

"Holy shit," Lia whispered. "Just breathe, okay?"

Isa nodded, trying to get her breathing under control.

Kie frowned. "I'm trying to figure out why your dad thought it was a good idea to take you and your brother out on a mission like this after you literally got so sick and almost died during another insane mission of his, and got put into a clinic because of an infected wound that you still have and still have to take meds for in order to get better. Nearly get you killed again, and then expected you to help dump the bodies of the two people that he knew were the reasons for why you got sick and almost died in the first place, along with us."

Isa swallowed, having no excuse for any of that.

Lia and Kie exchanged a look, concerned and worried.

"Why didn't you tell us before you left?" Lia asked softly, but she already knew the answer.

"Dad didn't want us to," Isa answered. "He wanted it to just be us. And... he said that we didn't want to put any of you in more danger. Like what just happened with us, Wheezie and Kay. Knowing that most of us are still recovering and healing and reuniting with families. He didn't want us to tell you all because he knew that you would try to come with and get hurt all over again. Like we always worry about because it's our fault that we went down this road."

Lia frowned. "So Big John talked you two into not telling us because he used your fear of us getting hurt and blaming you for it? And then everything Kie just said. Do you know how manipulative that sounds, Isa?"

Isa didn't answer, looking down.

"Lia's right," Kie agreed. "Isa, that's not right. And it's not fair on either of you. And it's not true. You told us time and time again before we started the gold hunt that it was dangerous and gave us several chances to back out if we wanted to. But we all went through with it because we all wanted to."

"You and John B felt like you didn't have a choice because it was your father's dream," Lia pointed out. "And we all understood that. But you two don't get to take the blame for the decisions the rest of us made to go along with it. Especially when you told us repeatedly that we didn't have to go through it with you two."

Isa shook her head, mentally exhausted. "Lia, Kie, listen to me. Me and John B still started this."

Lia gave her a look. "No, you didn't. Our dads did. Big John and Ward. If it wasn't for them, then none of us would be in this mess. Especially my dad after all he's done and drove me and Rafe out of our minds and everything else."

Kie nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

Isa desperately needed to hear the words even if she herself didn't believe them, finally starting to cry after everything that they had all been through, and all the conflict and overwhelming emotions she had felt since finding Big John and everything he had done since reuniting with his children.

With sympathetic and understanding tears in their eyes, Kie and Lia weren't surprised that Isa was finally breaking down, but more over they were surprised that it took so long for her to. They wrapped their arms around Isa, as Isa held them close, the three of them anchoring each other and breathing deeply, leaning their heads together.

Indy walked up to the three girls, meowing at them playfully, sensing that they were sad, and immediately wanting to help the girls that treated her so well since they got her.

Kie, Isa and Lia couldn't help but smile and laugh lightly at this, as Indy was brushing up against their legs, purring at them, and none of them could be more relieved at finding this kitten and taking it home with them than they were right now.

Isa reached down to pick Indy up and hold the kitten in her lap as the three girls pet Indy, who was loving all the attention and caused them to smile. "Thanks, Indy." She looked at Kie and Lia. "And thank you. I really needed that. We all did."

Kie and Lia nodded in agreement.

"How do you feel now?" Kie asked.

"Like shit," Isa answered. "But that's not all I'm worried about. What did you two mean when you said that you had something to tell the rest of us?"

Kie and Lia exchanged a look, sighing, not wanting to burden Isa any more than they had to, but knowing they all needed to talk.

"I think we need Kaylee, Wheezie and Sarah in here for this conversation," Kie pointed out. "While we wait for Cleo and the boys."

Lia nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

Isa frowned.

⚓️

Ocean

Big John and John B were out in the middle of the ocean.

John B was stunned, shocked, numb, barely able to focus as he gazed off at how easily and simply Big John was disposing of the smugglers' bodies by tying them up into bags and dumping them into the water, using the anchor of their boat to sink them to the bottom of the ocean.

John B couldn't help the tears that fell.

Big John looked around. "Isa should've stuck around."

"She already almost died and just got out of the clinic today when you dragged us into this, and she got strangled by the same guy that stabbed her and almost killed one of her girlfriends," John B replied numbly. "She's still getting over being sick. You can see why she can't be here."

Big John shrugged, pulling out the boat drain plug in the smugglers' boat, climbing over onto the WaveRunner with John B. "Come on, let's go."

John B started to drive them away through the water on the jet ski.

⚓️

The Chateau - Outside

Now, Sarah, Wheezie and Kaylee were talking with Isa, Kie and Lia.

Isa looked at Kaylee and Kie in surprise. "Your uncle Gael and cousin Elyna are back? Esme too?"

"Yeah," Kaylee answered. "And they're helping with a case to clear my name, and all of their names. It's a long story, but it's just us in it."

"Are you guys sure?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, we got this," Kie answered. "We'll explain it all when we can, but it's Interpol and classified, and Wheezie, Lia and Rafe already know and that's already going to get them in so much trouble if Interpol finds out. We'll explain everything once we can without putting Esme in danger, okay?"

Isa nodded in understanding. "Of course. I don't even care about the confidentiality. Just as long as you guys are being helped by your family."

"They are," Wheezie answered. "And we might be able to really help."

Lia showed them the prescription bottle. "And Rafe gave me these. They're the meds that were helping me on the ship, even if only for one day. He said he wanted to help me, but to give me a choice on whether or not to take them, unlike Dad and Rose."

The other girls looked at her in surprise, besides Wheezie.

"Are you going to take them?" Sarah asked. "I mean, after everything that happened, you really need the help, Lia."

Lia swallowed. "I know. I just don't know if I want to risk worse, after everything."

Wheezie took Lia by the hand. "And we get that. Don't we, Sarah?"

Sarah bit her lip, nodding.

"We'll stand by whatever you choose, Lia," Kie told her.

"Absolutely," Isa agreed.

Kie and Isa took Lia's hands, who smiled at them appreciatively.

Kaylee rubbed Lia's shoulder before looking at Sarah. "What about you?"

"So I went back to grab clothes and a phone, and Rose's stuff to make toys for Indy," Sarah explained. "And I saw Rafe at the house. I think the cross is coming back. To Wilmington tomorrow night."

The other girls looked at her in shock.

"What?" Kie asked.

"Yeah," Sarah answered.

"Does Pope know?" Wheezie asked.

"No," Sarah answered. "I was gonna tell Pope, but he's on lockdown. I'll hit up Pope and Cleo. And then maybe you guys can wait here and tell John B and JJ."

The girls nodded.

Kaylee looked down. "Yeah. I gotta talk to JJ anyway."

"Yeah, okay," Lia agreed.

Kaylee frowned. "Isa? Are you okay? After everything with John B and Big John."

Isa shook her head. "I'm the last person you need to worry about, Kay."

"You just watched your old man kill two of the people that were responsible for what happened to us on the Coastal Venture, after they tried to kill you again," Kaylee replied. "I can be worried about you if I want."

Lia and Kie nodded in agreement.

Sarah and Wheezie tilted their heads, giving Isa a look, nodding.

Isa sighed. "Yeah, well, my dad's gonna be the one that kills me for real once he knows I told you. I don't care anymore. It's sort of surreal, you know? Like--like it doesn't even feel like it actually happened. But it did. Seeing how easy it was for Dad to kill them, it makes me wonder... makes me wonder who else he's killed in the past. If he has, besides one of Singh's men when they took him from the Shoals. He seemed so... at ease."

The girls were concerned.

Lia wrapped an arm around Isa. "Hey, you know you're not your dad, right?"

"Seems like we're always telling you that, and that you're not your brother," Isa pointed out.

Lia gave a teasing smile to cheer Isa up. "Yeah, but I just do it so much better."

The girls smiled.

Wheezie frowned in concern. "Seriously, Isa. Are you and John B gonna be okay?"

Isa sighed. "Honestly? I don't know yet."

Kaylee nodded, sighing, trying to make a joke like she always used to, in order to try and make light of their situation even for a moment. "Well, all the boys we know are kings of daddy issues. Of course, we're the queens."

The other girls managed to smile at that.

"Was there any doubt?" Isa went along with Kaylee's old humor.

They chuckled sadly despite themselves.

Kie sighed. "Life's been rough on us, hasn't it?"

"Seriously," Wheezie agreed dryly. "We need a break."

Sarah pointed at each girl. "You guys rest or whatever." She pointed to Isa, Lia, Wheezie and Kaylee. "Especially you four, you're not out of the woods yet. Kie, where's their antibiotics?"

"Inside," Kie answered. "Already made sure that they took them."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Good."

"Okay, mama hens," Lia told them. "We got it. Thank you, but we don't need the helicopter parenting."

Kie and Sarah gave them a skeptical look.

"I'll be back," Sarah promised. "Let me know when you hear from John B and JJ."

The girls nodded in agreement.

Sarah walked away.

Wheezie sighed. "I should go back to the cabin, start up on the drone and the stealth mods with Elyna again."

"Okay," Kie agreed. "Tell them we'll be there soon, okay?"

"Of course," Wheezie agreed. "See you guys later."

Isa, Lia, Kie and Kaylee each gave Wheezie a hug before she went her own way back to the cabin.

⚓️

Drug House

(Song:) Astral Man - The Nude Party

Barry was lying low after Ward outed him for killing Robbie in his "suicide" video in 2.07, one of Ward's attempts to make amends to Lia while saving Rafe from going to prison as well, though all of that was clearly in vain after what he did to his daughters in 2.10.

Rafe, however, knew exactly where Barry would be, walking into the drug house, making sure that his gun was tucked nice and neat into the waistband of his jeans, underneath his shirt before heading inside.

Barry, with his hair cut short as well to keep a low profile from the cops, looked up when he saw Rafe. "I'll be damned. Look who it is!" The couple other druggies buying from Barry looked up. "Look at the Country Club walking in." Rafe approached Barry calmly, looking around the druggies in the house. Barry rubbed his hands together. "How you doing, Rafe?"

"Just coming to have a little powwow," Rafe replied. "I come in peace."

Rafe walked past him.

Barry nodded barely. "You come in peace."

Rafe took a seat. "I think I was up for murder one because of you, right? After you sold me out before I could sell you out to the cops for killing Robbie. After my dad told them that Lia was right all along."

Barry walked closer, taking a drink of beer, nodding. "Yeah, that sounds right. Just got the jump on you before you could get the jump on me."

Rafe held up his hands harmlessly. "It's all good. I'm ready to get past it if you are."

Barry chuckled, sitting across from him. "Yeah." He gestured to Rafe. "So why don't you run it by me?"

Rafe sighed. "My family is giving away something of mine, a historical artifact."

Barry snorted laughter. "What you think I give a shit about that for?"

Rafe gave him a serious look. "This thing is worth a lot of money. Okay? A lot. I can't stop them. At least not without looking like I'm going back on something, so... I want you to steal it. From me. From my family."

Barry smiled mockingly. "Ah. Oh..." He laughed. "It just gets better, don't it? You must think I'm the stupidest son of a bitch under the sun." Rafe narrowed his eyes with a frown. "It's either you trying to set me up, or you the one that's stupid because then let me ask you this, Rafe. How you gonna stop me from stealing it and keeping it?"

"Well, you know, one thing?" Rafe asked. "One thing is, if you screw me like that, I'll--I'll come after you."

Barry munched on some chips. "Mm-hmm."

"What I'm confused about, though, is why you would fight it," Rafe admitted. "I mean, I'm offering you a job, and it's high-risk, it's high reward. This is the thing, Barry. When this very valuable and irreplaceable thing gets jacked, um, there's gonna be suspicion on me. I'll have an ironclad alibi, so they'll be looking for who I hired." Barry made a face, pinching up his lips as he listened and considered. "But no one's going to suspect you. Right?" Rafe tapped the table. "You're the guy who turned me in, ratted me out, killed my sister's best friend and tried to kill her with an overdose."

"The same night you tried to drown your other sister, but whatever," Barry replied.

"But you see what I mean," Rafe told him. "You're the perfect guy for this job. It's a free play. You take this on, you don't mess it up..." Barry smiled sarcastically, nodding, raising his eyebrows, taking a sip of beer. "You're gonna come out the other end with a really big pile of dough."

Barry considered the offer seriously. "Mm. I do like money. Let me give you my terms. I'm gonna get half of this bitch. Right down the middle, 50-50. I ain't taking no bullshit payout, Rafe. Okay?"

Rafe licked his lips, nodding, looking away, smirking because once again he was getting his way. "Okay."

Barry cleared his throat. "And if we doing this, it would behoove you not to be seen talking to me. Even in my drug house hideouts."

Barry stood, walking away.

Rafe gave a bitter grin.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

The Chateau - Outside

Isa, Kie and Lia were sitting inside with Indy.

Kaylee was sitting outside, needing the time to think.

JJ drove up on his bike, pulling over, not noticing Kaylee by the bell yet, calling inside. "Isa! John B!"

Kaylee stood, behind JJ which was why he didn't see her yet. "Isa's inside resting with Lia and Kie, but John B's not here yet." JJ hesitated at the sound of her voice, feeling extremely guilty for that morning, slowly turning toward her. "Hey, Jayj."

JJ hesitated, stepping closer a bit, but stopped a distance away, looking down in guilt, unable to look at her as he rested his hand against the light pole next to him, fiddling with his hat in his other hand. "What up?"

"What do you think?" Kaylee replied. "Usual. Rafe's what's up. Sarah overheard him saying that the cross is coming to Wilmington tomorrow night." JJ looked at her in surprise. "Figure he must be trying to sell it."

JJ sighed, tense. "Great. Does Pope know?"

Kaylee nodded. "Yeah, Sarah went to tell him. He's locked down. And Isa and John B went through some shit with their dad today, so, um... I'll let Isa tell you about that. It was pretty fucking heavy. Involving the people from the ship. Coastal Venture."

JJ frowned at that. "Uh, yeah, definitely gonna ask Isa about that. When does John B get back?"

"No clue yet," Kaylee admitted. "He's with their dad. Long story. Uh..."

JJ was thinking. "Hold on, though. We know where the cross is gonna be. That means it's still on the field." He was already trying to think of a plan, pacing. "Okay, all right, all right. So we can come in and swoop. We're still in this, Kaylee. We gotta get everybody together, then we'll come up with a plan." He walked past Kaylee, putting his hat on, still not able to look at her fully. "Get our asses to Wilmington--"

Kaylee turned to face him. "Hey, Jayj? We can formulate the crazy plan when the others are all here, okay? I just... we need to talk."

JJ turned to face her, anxiously running a hand over his covered head, nervous, looking down in guilt. "Yeah. Yeah, we do."

Kaylee looked down, still hurt. "I know you feel like you failed me. That you don't deserve this, after everything that happened." JJ didn't answer, taking a deep breath. "But not a goddamn word was true. Okay?"

JJ bit his lip, looking up, both with glistening eyes. "Kay..."

"I'm serious," Kaylee told him. "You said a lot of shit this morning, so please just shut up for a second and let me talk. Please?"

JJ nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

Kaylee sighed. "This wasn't your fault. And you can't control what some psycho and his family does any more than I can. Okay, my uncle Gael and my cousin Elyna and her mother Esme came back to town today so that we could work together to tak down Tod's family before they have a chance to do anything more to anybody I love and care about, with Wheezie, Lia and Kie's help, and..."

JJ closed his eyes knowingly in frustration. "And Rafe's."

"It's not about Rafe," Kaylee retorted firmly. "But yes. He didn't walk away from me today when I needed him." JJ looked down in guilt, knowing he deserved that. Kaylee swallowed. "But I don't blame you for that. I don't blame you for lashing out."

"You should," JJ said softly. "I blame me."

"Yeah, well, you never blamed me for lashing out," Kaylee pointed out.

"You never lashed out at me like I lashed out at you," JJ returned.

Kaylee looked down. "Maybe not. But you never killed anyone that got us all in this mess either." She sighed, nodding, going on to the less heavier parts, making a sassy quip while she was at it to lighten the mood for both of them. "My parents and your dad can suck it, because they don't know what the fuck they're talking about." JJ couldn't help but chuckle at the way Kaylee said that. "And I know that after everything, you're freaking out too. After all we've been through, and I get it. I don't blame you."

JJ bit his lip, hating that part, since he knew that she wouldn't even after all the things he said which did frustrate him to some extent.

"Just please don't ever say that I don't care about you," Kaylee pleaded. "Or that I shouldn't or that I shouldn't love you. Because I do, and there's nothing you or anyone else can say that changes that."

JJ nodded knowingly, looking relieved, but still pained, looking at Kaylee finally, meeting her gaze, nodding. "Alright."

Kaylee took a breath. "And what you said about my parents, and calling me a Kook, and the darkness, and all that..."

JJ winced, tilting his head, putting a hand to his head. "Okay. Well, hold on."

Kaylee pointed at him with both hands, trying to lighten the mood a little. "That was lame."

JJ nodded in agreement. "I know. That was lame."

"It was uncalled for," Kaylee added. "Low blow."

"Yeah," JJ agreed. "I'm sorry."

"Just everything that happened, and that was the worst--" Kaylee started.

JJ turned to face her head on, placing his hands on her shoulders to get her to stop. "All right, Kay. Look, Kay. I know. I'm sorry. Truth is, you're the most Pogue at heart out of us most of the time, willing to do anything and take any hurt or any trouble for the rest of us, and that's what scares me. Because you don't know when to stop."

Kaylee looked struck by the words, knowing that in some ways, Rafe had been saying the same exact thing, trying to ignore it.

JJ sighed. "And it's what hurt you so much, so yeah, maybe I thought you would be better off for a split second any other way, but you know you proved me wrong earlier."

Kaylee managed a small smile. "Yeah."

JJ bit his lip. "And you're right. I flipped. I thought I was protecting you, but I went way too fucking far with that one. You know how I be." Kaylee pressed her lips together. "Look, uh... we're both not good right now. So..."

"Yeah," Kaylee agreed. "How could we be, after everything? We're always good together."

"Always," JJ agreed.

"But we're not good on our own right now," Kaylee finished. JJ shook his head in agreement. "But if we're gonna get things better, then we have to get better. Right?"

"Yeah," JJ answered. "So not together. Just call it... a truce." Kaylee raised an eyebrow. JJ imitated shaking. "Just Etch-A-Sketch it." Kaylee couldn't help a slight chuckle. "Clean slate. Truce?"

Kaylee nodded, biting her lip. "Truce."

They did the Pogue handshake, but their eyes locked, and they both had to remind themselves to look away, breath shaky for both of them.

JJ's curiosity got the better of him as he looked at Kaylee, his brow furrowing slightly. "So, what's the deal with your family coming back? And how are Wheezie, Lia, Kie, and... Rafe involved?"

JJ tripped slightly over Rafe's name still, his issues earlier still evident.

Kaylee took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the horizon as she gathered her thoughts. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the ground, painting everything in warm hues of gold and orange. A gentle breeze rustled through the nearby trees, carrying with it the salty scent of the ocean.

"It's a long story," Kaylee began, her voice low and tinged with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Uncle Gael, Elyna, and Esme... they've been working with Interpol. They found out that the Laurents are planning something big, something that could hurt a lot of people. We're not really supposed to tell people, because it's classified and everything. We didn't even tell Isa and Sarah the details, and Isa was okay with that given what she went through today, and she didn't want to put Esme in danger at Interpol after all she's doing to protect all of us, including Gael and Elyna and me while undercover. But... I can't keep it secret from you when Rafe's involved. That's not fair for you."

JJ frowned. "You'd tell me, even if it would put Esme in danger?"

"If you want me to," Kaylee answered. "I want to protect Esme, and Elyna and Gael. But I can't lie to you, Jayj. Not even keep half-truths or secrets. Never."

JJ's expression softened, his eyes meeting Kaylee's with a mix of concern and understanding. The fading sunlight caught the flecks of gold in his irises, a reminder of the warmth and depth that had always drawn Kaylee to him. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair as he processed her words.

"Kay," JJ began, his voice gentle but firm. "I appreciate you wanting to tell me everything. I do. But I can't ask you to put Esme in danger like that. Not when she's risking so much to help you and your family."

Kaylee's shoulders relaxed slightly, relief washing over her features. "You're sure?"

JJ nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, I'm sure. Look, I know I said some pretty messed up things earlier and all that. But I trust you. I do. I know that you'll choose me and the Pogues every time. Even when you probably shouldn't. I know that you need all the help you can get right now. And I didn't mean to make you feel like shit because of it. I'm sorry."

Kaylee looked down, swallowing. It wasn't okay, because it had still ripped an wound open in her. Even though she didn't blame JJ, she didn't completely forgive him for it, and JJ didn't want her to either. They both knew he had to earn that after everything she had been through and fought to get through for them and their friends.

"Just focus on doing whatever the hell you have to do to get out of this," JJ told her. "But just know that you have all of us too."

Kaylee nodded in agreement, swallowing. "I know."

"And please, for the love of God, be careful," JJ told her. "Not just with Rafe, but with everything."

"I will," Kaylee agreed.

JJ nodded, slightly reassured. "I know that Elyna and Gael became worldwide thieves. Maybe they can help us with more than just going up against the Laurents. Maybe they could help us jack this cross."

Kaylee chuckled slightly. "Yeah, maybe. But, uh... there's still that other thing that you need to know..."

"Isa and John B, right," JJ agreed. "Come on."

JJ and Kaylee started walking toward the Chateau.

⚓️

Beach

John B and Big John were returning the jet ski to its place on the beach, while John B was still numb and processing what happened.

John B: (voice over) "Our pops always said nothing good comes easy, and nothing worthy is given."

⚓️

Chateau - Living Room

Isa was gazing off, remembering everything the Pogues had gone through, all the fights, drama and near deaths.

Isa: (voice over) "It's not what can be gained, but what you're willing to risk. How far will you go for your treasure?"

JJ, Kaylee, Lia and Kie were sitting with Isa, snapping her out of her daze.

"Hey," JJ said softly. "It's fucked up what happened today, but that wasn't on you or John B, okay?"

Isa nodded slightly. "Okay." She swallowed, looking between Kaylee and JJ. "You two okay?"

Kaylee and JJ exchanged a look, as Kaylee's eyes met his questioningly.

JJ nodded slightly, giving a tiny, forced smile, but more convincing than any other smile he had today.

Kaylee nodded. "Yeah. Not great, but better."

JJ shrugged. "It's something."

Isa, Lia and Kie looked at them in concern.

Lia handed Indy over to Isa to cheer her up, voice sweet. "Indy wants to see you."

Isa chuckled lightly.

JJ smirked. "See that cat's already cheering you three up. Good luck for once."

"Yeah, for once," Kie agreed.

Kaylee shook her head in amusement. "And of course you three named her Indy."

Isa, Lia and Kie gave small smiles.

JJ's eyes caught on Isa's bruising around her neck as he shook his head. "You two should've told us."

"We didn't have a phone, and everyone needed to recover," Isa pointed out.

"And your dad's a manipulative obsessed asshole that preyed on your guilt for this whole thing in the first place," Kaylee muttered. "No offense." Isa shook her head, looking away. "But like Kie and Lia said earlier, Isa. You and John B didn't force the rest of us to do shit. You gave us plenty of chances to walk if we wanted. None of us did. Because that was our choice."

Kie looked between Isa, Lia, Kaylee and JJ. "I think you four take way too much guilt on for something that's not even your faults."

The four of them shrugged, unable to deny that.

Lia winced slightly at the motion in her shoulder, but it wasn't as painful now because of her meds.

Isa, Lia and Kaylee were all obviously exhausted from their taxing days and their highs from their meds dying down and leaving them exhausted.

"You three look ready to pass out," JJ pointed out. "Don't let us stop you."

"You need it after everything," Kie agreed. "We'll be right here with you."

The opening of the door and footsteps incoming had all of them looking up, all of them paranoid enough to reach for the nearest item that could serve as a weapon.

"Isa, you home, Dove?" Big John called. "Just me and John B."

The kids relaxed.

"In here, Dad," Isa replied quietly.

John B and Big John walked in.

John B was probably just as exhausted as the three girls after all that happened today, sighing. "Hey."

"Hey," JJ replied.

Big John's gaze swept the room, and his expression shifted immediately at the sight of the other kids with his daughter. "Kids."

"Hi," Kie and Lia both said softly, sheepishly.

Kaylee and JJ nodded. "Hey."

John B realized, looking at Isa, still feeling numb, but grateful as well. "You told them."

Big John gave her an angry look.

"I told you I wasn't keeping secrets, Dad," Isa replied to his glare. "Not like I could keep them in the dark after they saw my fucking neck anyway."

At these words, Big John and John B both looked at Isa's bruising.

John B walked closer instantly in concern. "Are you okay?"

Isa nodded barely. "It's better now than it was before, at least. Easier to talk now."

John B frowned.

"We've kept some ice on it for now," Lia explained. "And the pain meds help a bit."

"But they're really tired after everything today," Kie pointed out, hoping to stop a fight between Isa and Big John if she could help it. "They could use some rest."

Big John sighed heavily, then stepped fully into the room. He turned to the other kids, raising a finger.

Kaylee and JJ both flinched back, seeming embarrassed.

Big John realized his mistake, lowering his arm immediately. "Hell, sorry, JJ. Your dad... and they told me about Tod, Kaylee." Kaylee nodded barely. "You... you know I'd never hurt you, right?"

JJ's eyes were still downcast when he responded. "Yeah. Reflex."

JJ, Kaylee, Kie and Lia all still gave a dark look to Big John for the threat that he put Isa and John B in, especially after what Isa just barely survived, so of course, it wasn't too much of a reach for Kaylee and JJ to flinch like they did after they had been beaten so badly in the past.

JJ, Kaylee, Kie and Lia looked at Isa, but Isa shook her head pleadingly, not wanting to start a fight.

JJ and Lia sighed in frustration, knowing exactly how Isa and John B felt because of their own fathers, in different ways.

Big John exhaled through his nose, calming himself. "You kids don't say a word, understood? Not a word about any of this to anyone."

"Not a word," Kie vowed.

Kaylee, JJ and Lia nodded in agreement.

Lia glanced down, not meaning to say or even think this, whispering to herself. "They kinda deserved it."

Isa and Kie both heard Lia, looking at her, frowning in concern, but knowing that Lia felt guilty as soon as the thought crossed her mind, let alone the words passed her lips.

Lia frowned, shaking her head, trying to shake the thought out of her head; even if Eberhini and Macias almost killed them, Lia didn't want to think or talk that way about anyone, except with maybe the exception of Barry after all he did.

Big John took a step back. "Okay, would you kids mind leaving then? I want to talk to my kids alone. I'm sure you understand."

Isa and John B's eyes widened.

"Um, Dad--" John B started.

Kie interceded, not wanting to start a big drama. "We'll get out of here. Kaylee and I have to go back to the cabin with Uncle Gael, Elyna and Esme anyway. Wheezie's already there, so Lia and Sarah can crash with us."

JJ looked down. "Uh, yeah. I'll head home too." Kaylee looked at JJ in concern, about to ask him about the eviction, but JJ cut her off, not wanting the others to know and get worried. "I'll be good on my own for a little while."

Kaylee knew that he meant more than just about them, but about the fact he still had a little time in his home before the eviction would be complete, still worried and wanting to say something, but JJ shook his head, giving her a reassuring look. Kaylee knew where he was coming from and sighed, respecting his wishes since the others were not all that well off either, and she knew the feeling to have the need not to burden anyone else with her own problems, so for now, she let it go, but she wouldn't when the situation became more serious later on.

"Yeah, I'll call Sarah," Lia said. "Uh, see you tomorrow, Isa, John B."

Isa and John B nodded in agreement, neither of them happy with Big John forcing them to leave.

"What about Indy?" Isa asked.

"Keep her with you tonight?" Lia asked, suggesting purely, sweetly. "She might be able to help out."

Isa managed a small smile. "Yeah, maybe. Thank you."

"Yeah," Lia agreed.

Kie and Lia both gave Isa a kiss on the cheeks, looking at her in concern.

"You gonna be okay, Isa?" Kie asked. Isa nodded. "All right. Uh, JJ, you're on your bike. Guess Kaylee, Lia and I are walking to the cabin. And texting Sarah."

JJ, Kaylee and Lia nodded, as they and Kie were leaving before Isa and John B could protest more to their father about making them leave.

"Dad, you did not just kick them out," John B told him.

"They've got houses of their own," Big John replied. "They'll be fine. Don't make a big deal about it."

Isa threw her hands in the air in exasperation, anger. "They don't. They've got literally nowhere to go. JJ's alone at his trailer and God knows what else. Kaylee's on the run and has to go to a cabin safehouse set up by her family just to be safe from her own parents that turned her in and almost got her killed. Kie has to stay with her to be sure she's safe. And Lia, Sarah and Wheezie, they don't have anywhere to go but here either."

"They shouldn't have to leave after all that," John B agreed.

"They're not helpless, kids," Big John replied. "They'll figure it out. Now, listen, the diary says there was a... a survivor of the San Jose."

Isa scoffed at the fact that Big John immediately went back to this without caring about their concern for their friends.

Big John continued. "A... a priest. Captain Limbrey, he thought it was bad karma to kill clergy, so he stuck the priest down in the cargo hold. 'The captain left it me to tend to the priest's swamp fever.' 'In his delirium, he implored me to pass on a letter and a stone object of native origin to the papacy.' A stone object of native origin! This is why Singh wanted the diary so bad. He's talking about the idol here. The one we have."

John B sat heavily on the couch next to Isa, tearing a hand through his hair, both of them exhausted and spent from today.

Big John just kept right on talking, not even noticing. "'The captain refused to make the delivery, and when the man of God died, he was buried with his belongings.' They were docked in Charleston. There was only one Catholic church in Charleston at the time. Ten to one that priest is buried in the church plot with his belongings. That's gotta include the missing piece of the idol. We put the two halves together and translate it..." Big John grinned. "Isa, John B, this is it. Charleston leads to El Dorado!"

John B stood up, slamming his hands on his knees. "I'm done. I'm done, Dad."

Isa looked relieved that she wasn't the only one, looking near tears.

Big John's grin faded. "Now, hold on, John B. Isa..."

"No, you killed those guys, Dad," John B told him as he exhaled a shuddering breath. "You killed them."

"Oh," Big John said. He hesitated. "Hey, I had no choice."

Isa frowned. "I've been replaying that in my mind, and the only reason why you were able to do what you did, was because you were planning on killing them first. To be able to stop both of them from shooting us?"

"It's a damn good thing I did," Big John replied. "They'd have taken us to Singh, who would've done the same thing. Come on! They were gonna shoot you, okay? I couldn't..." He shook his head. "I couldn't let that happen. I--It ain't as fun as it looks, kids, okay? I couldn't lose you. Not again. I couldn't. If you wanna hold that against me, you go right ahead." He put his hands up. "I'm guilty as charged, but what's done is done."

"Yeah, well, what about dragging us along when you knew that Isa just got out of the clinic this morning and she could've died from an infected wound turning necrotic?" John B replied. "That's why they were able to get the jump on her. Eberhini almost strangled her to death. Look at that, Dad. I already went through that with Sarah, and what happened with Kaylee, Lia, Wheezie and JJ on the boat. Kie, Pope and Cleo..."

"You two are telling me that you kids haven't gone out and done something dangerous after one of you almost dies?" Big John asked skeptically.

Isa scoffed at how he said it like it was nothing, so much so that she didn't care about starting a fight and saying what she really felt anymore. "Difference is, you're an adult and our father and you're supposed to be protecting us. John B and I both told you we didn't think I could make it through today, and you didn't listen, even though you told us not to tell the others because they were recovering too, but so was I! And after you knew what they already did before, and saw that I wasn't doing well, and all that, you still wanted to blame me for wanting to leave and take the meds that I'm supposed to take because I'm not completely better yet, and get rest, and for what? And I swear, if you say El Dorado, I'm gonna scream."

"We would've done anything you asked of us today anyway, but we can't keep pushing limits like this anymore, not when she's not out of the woods yet, and neither are Kaylee, Lia and Wheezie," John B pointed out.

Big John conceded. "All right, fine. I'm sorry. I should've thought more."

"Yeah, you should've," John B agreed bitterly. "We're not all that great at that either, but we're trying to get better at it. All of us are."

Big John nodded. "We got work to do. And none of it means anything if you aren't along, understand? I'm doing this for you, kids."

Isa and John B didn't know what to say to that after the way they had seen Big John risk their lives for this and pushed Isa to her limits today in order to do this.

Big John didn't give them a chance to respond anyway, as he continued. "Are you coming with me? To Charleston on a 500-year quest? Come on, kids. What do you say?"

Big John gave them a look that was almost pleading, but they could see that it would start another fight if they said no, and neither of them had the energy to start another fight between them, utterly exhausted.

"Tomorrow," Isa answered. "I'm not sleeping in that van and getting this thing more infected, because then what happens? Well, you know. I'd really rather not get necrotizes and have another piece of my skin cut off or worse. And I need some fucking sleep. We all do."

Big John knew that was fair, though he wanted more than anything to go now, head up overnight, but Isa and John B both gave him a look bordering on a glare that said that they could not push this anymore than they already had today.

John B let out a shaky breath. "We'll head out tomorrow." He cupped Isa's shoulder to anchor himself after the hellish they had, and also comfort her. "And we'll make sure we bring your meds this time."

Isa nodded in agreement, eyes drooping slightly closed. "And I'm not leaving until I know that the others are all okay. Especially after what we found out today."

John B frowned. "What do you mean?"

"We'll explain in the morning," Isa told him. "Too tired now."

"All right," John B agreed. "Yeah, me too."

"Let's just say it's about the cross," Isa told him tiredly.

John B perked up at that.

"The cross?" Big John repeated, unimpressed. "Who cares about that when we got El--"

"I'll scream," Isa repeated, causing Big John to snap his mouth shut fast.

"It's Pope's family heirloom, so please just try to understand that," John B told him.

Big John mumbled incoherently to himself.

John B sat next to Isa. "We'll stay and make sure the others are okay. And then we head out. Yeah?"

Isa nodded. "Yeah."

Big John rolled his eyes slightly, but nodded in relent, turning around to walk away, going to his room, which he hadn't slept in for over a year, and yet he seemed to care very little about that.

(Song:) Silver Timothy - Damien Jurado

Isa looked upset that Big John still didn't seem to understand how bad today effected both her and John B, and how they had to make sure their friends would be okay in the morning after everything that happened.

John B was almost equally upset, wrapping his arm around Isa comfortingly, protectively after what happened that day, trying to convince both himself and her. "It's gonna be okay. Us, the Pogues. We'll figure out both sides of this, together, even if we have to split up to do it."

"We better," Isa agreed. "Because I'm not keeping this from them, not like he wants us to do. I'm just not, John B. I can't. Not after everything."

John B sniffled. "Okay. I didn't want to put anyone else in danger again, thinking that he was right..."

"He wanted us to think he was right," Isa pointed out. "Doesn't mean he was."

Isa could barely keep her eyes open.

John B stood to help Isa up. "Come on. Let's get you to your room."

Isa used her brother's arm to let him help her up, walking to her room slowly, tiredly making her to her room, going to lay down in her bed, which caused a huge sigh of relief, as this was the first night that she had been able to sleep in her bed in more than a month.

John B nodded knowingly, feeling the same as he went to his room to go to sleep for the night and get well rested enough for what the Routledges, and the Pogues, would all end up have to do the next day.

(Song Ends)