"THERE SHE BE."

JJ grinned as sunlight flooded the garage where the Phantom lay. "Hey, girl..." He approached the boat, pulling off the sheet that covered one end. "A 1983 Formula 402 SR1. The Phantom."

Karolina had no idea what JJ was saying, but she caught on to the fact that maybe JJ liked the Phantom more than he liked her. He looked back at her and Kie with an admiring smile. "The first boat to make the run to Bermuda in under 16 hours, guys. Forty years old! Forty!" He shook his head. "And still the fastest thing the Kildare's ever seen."

Wrinkling her nose slightly, Karolina shared a wary look with Kiara. "It's... kind of a junker."

JJ blinked. "Really? She's- she's right there, Lina, she can hear you. Let me just put it this way- you would not be smoking' weed right now if she never existed, okay?"

Kiara shrugged. "I just hope it runs."

"Oh, no, she'll run all right-"

"Just- hook it up." Karolina huffed, shaking her head, as the squeal of a motorcycle stopping sounded right outside the garage. "Pope, finally..." grumbled Kie, hopping down from where she'd started helping JJ with the boat.

She and Karolina started off to help Pope bring in the gas, when two figures emerged from the other side. Rafe Cameron blocked their way to the outside. He grinned. "Hey, there. What's goin' on?" His eyes trailed down Karolina's legs, and she stiffened immediately.

"JJ..."

Her blonde boyfriend glanced up, as Karolina and Kie backtracked to him. Karolina's gray eyes remained locked on Rafe, as he hopped onto the trailer that the boat sat on. "How you guys doin'? Gotta say, I miss you at the country club, Lina."

A whistle pierced the air behind them and then emerged a boy with a greasy brown pony-tail and a small mustache. Barry, the drug dealer that tried to scam them out of their gold, and coincidentally the one JJ had robbed. He grinned in a similar fashion as Rafe. "Well, well..." He lifted his right hand, in it was a black handled gun, which he pointed at JJ's chest. Karolina's heart hammered. "See, don't think I forgot about me and you on the side of the road." The tip of the gun shifted to point at Karolina's chin. "I'm here because I want my money."

Barry flicked the safety off and JJ launched himself at him, a punch landing on his jaw. The brown haired man growled, grabbing JJ by his hair and dragging him to the ground and slamming his head into it, shouting about his money. "That's what I'm here for!"

Kie spun around, hollering at Rafe, but he interrupted her, grabbing her by the forearm. "It's not you we want, Kie. Where's John B?"

Karolina couldn't hear her response, because she was charging at Barry, forgetting that he had a gun in his hand, thrusting her fist hard into his stomach. He doubled over, groaning, and Karolina growled as his hand swung up again, the metal of the gun leaving a streak of blood across her cheek as she went down. 

"I know what you did!" Kie shouted at Rafe. "You murdered Peterkin!"

A hand dug itself into Karolina's hair, dragging her to her feet as another clasped around her throat. "Where's my money?!" he spat in her face, before turning to JJ again, who struggled to stand with his head spinning. "Where's my money, Maybank, or I swear to God, I'll kill your little bitch!"

JJ stumbled to his feet, but Barry was throwing Karolina to the ground again, lifting JJ off of it with the opposite hand and slamming him into the boat, then down next to her. "Stay down, boy!"

Coughing, Karolina tried to steal a glance at her boyfriend, but she couldn't suck down enough air to keep her eyes open, especially not when Barry's tennis shoe slammed into her chest. A loud crack echoed through her body, and pain exploded in her ribs. She cried out, doubling over and holding the spot, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes, as blood splattered onto the concrete below her.

Another loud crack echoed through the garage, and Karolina managed to open her eyes enough to see a blurry Pope hitting Rafe over the back with a crowbar. Karolina's attention wasn't the only one captured as Rafe and Pope entered a brawl, and Barry lumbered forward. He cocked the gun again. "Hey-"

JJ's hand shot out and grabbed his ankle, causing him to faceplant and drop the gun. It clattered at Kiara's feet, and Karolina mustered out a strangled yell, "Kick it! Kick it!"

Kie understood immediately, sending the gun under the boat, and JJ hopped to his feet, throwing his arms around Barry and slamming him against the side of the boat. The two grunted, and Karolina barely scrambled out of the way before they fell on top of her. With another punch to the face, Barry was unconscious at her feet.

Rafe was obviously defeated, swaying on his feet, but Pope continued his assault, each punch landing somewhere vital- his head, his chest, his throat- holding him up by the collar of his shirt. Kiara cried out, "Pope! That's enough!"

JJ turned, seeing that if he were to continue, Rafe would likely be dead and Pope would be regretful, so he swooped in, saying, "Pope! That's good, stop!"

Karolina pushed herself into a sitting position, watching as the dark-haired boy grabbed a detached cord and wrapped it around Rafe's neck, pulling it tight. Rafe choked, scratching at the cord, and JJ tried to loosen his grip, but it was no use. Pope was going to kill him, if not for Kie yelling, "Look at me!"

This caused Pope to glance at her and freeze, his eyes wide, as he realized what he was about to do. Rafe would have deserved it, but they knew Pope wouldn't have been able to live with himself if he killed him. The older boy fell to the ground, his chest heaving; he was fine. Severely injured and choking on his own blood, but Pope hadn't killed him. Not today.

JJ let go of the dark-haired boy and rushed to Karolina's side as she tried getting up. "You're okay, you're okay..." he assured her, wrapping her arm over his shoulder. She winced, grimacing, as he helped her stand, holding the tender spot and glancing at JJ. "Son of a bitch bruised my ribs," she muttered bitterly, hissing at the pain that flooded her body with every breath. He chuckled lightly at her choice of words, swiping a splatter of blood off her chin.

"Okay, we gotta go. We gotta go," repeated Kie, rushing towards her car. JJ spared a glance at Pope as he and Karolina started limping away. She could barely hear what the latter boy said as he leaned down to spit in Rafe's face once more.

"Stay off the Cut."

｡･:*:･ﾟ★ ｡･:*:･ﾟ

"WHERE IS HE?"

Kiara's panicked voice made Karolina's stomach clench, prompting a shooting pain to light up in her midsection. "Give him a second," Pope said. "He'll be here."

Karolina nodded. "He's coming. I still hear sirens so... they haven't caught him yet." Her breathing was ragged, but she tried to control it, as JJ was tending to her split lip on the bench of the Phantom. She winced when he dabbed the alcohol soaked piece of his bandana onto it. He licked his lips, narrowing his eyes. "Hold still, princess..."

They'd just gotten the boat into the water and now the only thing left to do was wait. However, a siren whined and lights appeared through the trees much sooner than the'd expected. JJ cursed, looping an arm through Karolina's and helping her to her feet again. "Get back on the boat," he told Kie and Pope hastily, and the four started to scramble, but JJ then stopped, staring at the figure that got out of the cop car. "No way."

It was John B, in the flesh, covered in dirt and blood still. Karolina had never been more relieved to see him. "John Booker Routledge, you dirty dog."

"You've gotta be kidding me." Kiara gaped at him, and the stolen sheriff's vehicle behind him. "Uh..."

"Shoupe let me take it for a spin," the golden boy said, as he approached. John B slung his backpack over his shoulders, as Kiara laughed. "That's believable... I'll buy that for now." She hugged him tightly.

"It wasn't easy, bro," JJ announced, glancing at the wounded Karolina, "But I got the Phantom for you, and she runs like she was made yesterday." He tossed the keys at John B, allowing Karolina to stand on her own, but extending a hand to help her down onto the dock. She smiled at the fugitive before her, but he didn't smile back, looking around them all. "Where's Sarah?"

"She wasn't with you?" Kie asked, worriedly.

John B shook his head, messy curls falling into his face. "No, we got separated in the swamp... She said she'd meet me here."

Karolina swallowed the bile rising in her throat. "We haven't seen her, JB. I'm sorry."

"Well I'm not leaving without her-"

"John B, look at me. I know you feel bad for leaving, but there's no time, man," JJ said, approaching his best friend. "You've got plenty of gas, plenty of food... Once you get around the point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low, all right? Hang out a couple weeks, then go overland- cross the border at Brownsville, got that?"

John B looked back at the rest of them, and Karolina leaned onto Pope's shoulder. He held her hand, and Kiara took the other. They squinted into the sun at the silohuette of their best friends.

"Hey! You got that?" JJ grasped John B's head, making him look back at him. The latter nodded. "Yeah, Brownsville. Got it."

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and like the rain that was about to descend, tears bubbled to Karolina's eyes. Was this the last time they'd see him? She prayed it wouldn't be, but knew that was very likely to happen. John B was leaving the Outer Banks as a fugitive, and he might never return.

JJ was the only one that seemed not to grasp the tragic air around them, focused on helping John B get off the island as quickly as possible. "All right, saddle her up, saltwater cowboy." He moved so that JB could climb onto it, and he and Pope started to push the boat into the water, but John B stopped them with the tears that rolled down his cheeks. The sunlight left in the sunset glittered off the side of his face, and a ghost of a smile passed over his eyes. "I'm sorry for basically... throwing us off a cliff... with this whole treasure hunt thing."

The tears in her eyes burned, but Karolina thought back to the beginning of the summer, just after hurricane Agatha had hit. She thought of all that had changed since then, and all that was yet to. Her car got a tree through the windshield, Pope had lost his scholarship and had gone off the rails, Kiara became friends with Sarah again, John B was framed for murder, they'd found the treasure from the Royal Merchant shipwreck, and Karolina had slept with JJ. And was now dating him.

Things had certainly changed, but not all of it was bad. The Pogues were closer than ever, and John B leaving wasn't going to tear them apart. It would only make them stronger, she hoped. He didn't throw them off a cliff- they jumped together.

Karolina smiled up at him. "I mean, if your friends jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?"

John B grinned at her. "Hell yeah."

They all laughed tearfully and Karolina finally saw JJ succumb to the emotions. He put his arm around Pope, and they all mimicked him, initiating a group hug. "At least we did it together." He looked back at John B. "Pogue style."

Their best friend nodded. "Pogue style."

A final moment of tears and soft glances was exchanged, before Pope realized what time it was. "You gotta get out of here, please!" he said, smiling. Kiara nodded in agreement, "Now, bro, now."

"We'll see you two months from now, down in Mexico," JJ jeered, and Karolina leaned into his side, calling after the boy as he got in front of the steering wheel. "Love you, JB."

John B stopped suddenly, looking back at them. He covered his mouth with his fist, trying to hold in a sob as he said, "Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?"

Karolina's heart sunk at the thought of him caring so deeply about the blonde Kook. She wished that Sarah had made it in time to go with him, but some things were just too good to be true. They nodded, and JJ reminded him, "Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownsville, okay?"

"Got it."

John B started the engine, and the three uninjured Pogues helped the boat further into the water, away from the dock. Karolina held onto her side as she watched them, John B steering the boat into the sunset.

JJ helped Karolina back to lean against the nearest tree, while Pope and Kie stood at the end of the dock, letting what was left of the sun illuminate them. Sirens wailed again, this time closer. They were likely tracking the GPS in the truck John B had stolen.

"You good, babygirl?" JJ asked, observing the grimace on Karolina's face.

She smiled lightly. "How many different nicknames are you going to give me?"

"What? There's only, like, Princess, Lina, Pretty Girl, Dollface, Light of my life-"

Karolina's laugh chimed through the air like the tweet of a bird, light and happy and ringing in JJ's ears until she readjusted against the tree and spoke again. "I need one for you, like... J baby?"

JJ stared at her, trying to determine if she was serious or not. Karolina flashed him a smile. "Kidding." They laughed. "Maybe just... J? Or baby? Babe? Honey? Sweet pea?" JJ continued to laugh, and Karolina swore it was the best sound in the world. He placed a hand on the tree over her shoulder, trapping her there as he leaned in close, whispering in a poor attempt to be sexy, "How about Daddy?"

Karolina laughed, and he did too, leaning close to kiss the soft spot under her ear. She smiled, curling a hand into his hair. But, as much as she wanted to distract herself with the masterpiece that was JJ Maybank, her gaze refocused on something over his shoulder. "Oh my God, JJ, look."

He pulled off of her, turning to see whatever it was she saw, his mouth dropping open when he found Pope and Kie kissing at the end of the dock. "Holy moly... finally. The sexual tension between those two was killing me."

Karolina giggled, when suddenly, vehicles pulled through the trees. Their lights flashed and ricocheted red and blue on the trees. Deputy Shoupe clambered out of one, hollering, "Hands up! Hands up!" They had guns pointed at them within seconds.

Karolina, JJ, and Kiara listened, but Pope was still reeling, so Kie said to him urgently, "Pope, hands."

Finally, he shot back to reality when the SBI agent moved past him, looking all around the area. Shoupe sighed, pocketing his gun. "Bratcher, have your guys stand down," he said, "Let me talk to these kids."

Karolina and JJ moved closer to Kie and Pope as Shoupe demanded, "All right, where the hell is he?" No one said anything.

"JJ," muttered Shoupe, sizing him up. "See you livin' up to your name."

Gritting her teeth, Karolina glared daggers at the interim sheriff. He moved his gaze to Pope. "How 'bout you? This isn't a game! You can do the right thing now!" He pointed an angry finger at the ground. "Where'd he go?!"

"Suspect had just left Station 26 in a small boat," Agent Bratcher said into his radio. Karolina glanced over her shoulder at him. She wasn't sure how he knew, but Shoupe was putting handcuffs on them all before she could think too hard about it.

They were shoved into the back of the black SUV, only to be pulled out of it a few minutes later when they arrived at the tents that the special agents had set up for the investigation and man hunt. The interim sheriff lead them to an empty tent, taking off their handcuffs and ordering them to take a seat. Karolina sat between JJ and Kie, trembling from the rain that had begun to pour down on them the moment they exited the vehicle.

"Sit down and don't move," Shoupe said. "We got a lot to talk about." Not lessening the harsh glare she sent, Karolina watched as he left the tent, threading her fingers through JJ's again.

The rain got so heavy that she could barely hear herself think, as they waited for what felt like hours for Shoupe to return. It was, in actuality, only half an hour, but her anxiety was through the roof. JJ's hand rested on her knee, keeping it from bouncing. Her mind still whirled; was John B okay? Did Sarah finally catch up to him? Did they get out before the storm hit, or were they enveloped in it?

Her answer came in the form of three deputies in yellow rain coats entering the tent with their heads low. The four remaining Pogues jumped up from their seats, eager to hear any news about their friends.

Shoupe pulled off his hood, staring at them with a defeated look in his eyes. "Did you find them?" Pope asked.

He sighed, shaking his head sadly. "No."

Karolina glanced up at JJ, as Kiara questioned, "So, what? They got away?" The words that Shoupe spoke sent shivers down her spine.

"We, uh... we lost them. I'm sorry."

She didn't quite understand at first, staring at him with a frown. Karolina then pieced it all together- the defeat in his eyes, the gently pained look on his deputies' faces, the roar of the storm around them.

"You... lost them...?" Karolina's heart sunk painfully down into her ribs. "W-what do you mean you lost them- what are you talking about?!"

"They took an open boat into a tropical depression, Karolina," Shoupe said sadly. JJ peeled off of her, and Kiara's voice broke when she asked, "So, they're dead?"

Shoupe's eyes flicked to JJ. "We don't know."

And the world came tumbling down around Karolina Scott.

Rain pounded the roof of the tent to the same rhythm that her heart hammered in her chest. JJ started shouting, pointing an accusing finger at him, and it was all Karolina could do to keep him from attacking the sheriff and getting them all into more trouble. "You drove them straight through the storm, man! Are you kidding me? Come here!"

JJ launched himself forward, and Karolina caught him with her hands to his chest, stumbling back at the force it took to stop him. He struggled against her and pain shot up her side, but Karolina stood her ground, tears rolling down her cheeks as she begged JJ. "Stop, please, please, JJ..."

"I'm gonna kill you!" he shouted at Shoupe, while the two deputies tried to help Karolina in getting him away from the interim sheriff. "I'm gonna kill you!"

"You killed them!" Pope yelled this time, his voice tight. "He didn't kill anyone, and you know it!"

"We're... we're still looking for him-"

Karolina couldn't breathe. The pain in her ribs had spread to her chest and neck. JJ was ripped away from her by the larger deputy, and she met Kie's eyes. The two girls collapsed into each other, burying their heads into each other's hair, sobbing. Karolina clutched onto Kie as tight as she could, pulling away only for the curly haired girl to call to Pope. "Pope, Pope, just stop."

Turning to desperately look for JJ, tears clouding her vision. New figures came into view, and her heart jolted once again. It was the Heywards and the Carreras. They parted, and behind them was Amy.

Karolina's legs couldn't hold her up long enough to make it to her older sister, and she collapsed, the older girl barely catching her before her head hit the wet grass. She could hear Kie's sobs, and Pope's mother calling for him, but hardly enough to care, as she buried her face in Amy's wet hair, heart wrenching in her chest and brain fuzzy from grief. She vaguely felt Amy's arm lift from her shoulders to welcome a new body into the embrace, and Karolina recognized the trembling hand of JJ on the small of her back.

"Amy..." Karolina whimpered, unable to stop her mouth from moving. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Amy."

"Shh, shh, it's okay, baby..." Amy rubbed her and JJ's back simultaneously, cradling her little sister's head against her chest as she sobbed. Grief overwhelmed them all, as the worst thing imaginable had happened.

John B was dead. Sarah was dead.

And no one knew how to move on from there.

PART TWO- COMING SOON

a/n:

stay tuned bc season 2 is starting next chapter !!!

ugh the acting in that last scene is IMMACULATE. I will always always cry at when Heyward brings JJ into their little family hug :( and Kiara's face UGH actually all of them during that scene are so talented.