Chapter Three

John zipped his fly up, waiting for Brian to finish washing his hands before doing the same. He smirked as he saw Cody enter one of the stalls, knowing that he got stage fright. He waited for the sound of a zipper, before he started to torment his buddy. "Hey Cody, you taking a shit?"

"Fuck you man." Cody's voice growled, and John knew he was succeeding in his evil plan.

"I mean if you gotta shit, you gotta shit." He ducked as a wad of toilet paper flew over the divider, more surprised than afraid. "Just let me know if you're gonna drop a load so that I can get my gasmask out."

"Fuck off!"

John licked his lips, trying to keep his chapped lips from cracking with the wide grin. "I mean-" John jumped back as Cody's foot shot out from under the divider and clipped his ankle, not knowing what it was until after the fact. "Don't piss on my shoes!"

Cody chuckled happy that he'd gotten a good move in. "I didn't, but if you don't get your ass outta here that's what'll happen next."

John raised his hands, drying them off with a paper towel. "Just hurry up." He opened the door, chuckling as he saw Amelia waiting outside the door. "You little stalker." He picked her up, resting her on his hip like he'd seen Mary do. "What're you waiting for?"

She looked up at him, and without missing a beat answered in her best John Bender fashion. "For you to get your ass out here."

Mary looked up from the chip bag she was looking at, glaring at the teen holding her daughter. "You taught her that." She scolded, trying to hide her joy at the look on John's face.

John turned his face to the little girl in his arms. "What did I tell you about saying what I say?"

She smiled, showing off her missing front tooth. "That only big people can say it."

John nodded, setting her on the ground. "I am big." He showed her how much taller he was by holding a hand over her head at the same height as him. "You, are not big yet."

"Aunt Alli says those words and she's not as big as you."

John bit his lip, looking up to see Claire, Allison, and Kaylie smirking at him. "Help?" He asked, not knowing what to do.

Claire shook her head, looking to the other two. "I kinda wanna see where this goes."

John ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to think of a way to say what he wanted to. "People who are as tall as Aunt Alli then you can say those words."

"Fuck you John." Allison snapped, wishing that she had on the wedges that Claire had loaned her.

"Watch it shorty." John smirked, covering Amelia's ears. "We've got little ears here."

Allison glared at him. "You say that all the time."

"And look where it got us."

Kaylie rolled her eyes, tossing a chocolate bar at the little girl. "John said he'll buy that for you." She flashed a signature burner smirk, turning to the counter. Her eyes landed on the cigarettes behind the cashier. She swallowed, feeling John's hand on her back as she handed the cashier the cash for her coke. She turned to look at him, knowing that he'd sensed what she was feeling. "Thank you."

He nodded, picking Amelia up as she opened her chocolate bar. "Burner code." He stated, his message clear. 'We protect our own' it was an unspoken promise that was known across the country in every burner community, wherever you went. They had to look out for each other, because if they didn't no one else would.