"I know you're here, Pogues!" A voice that was immediately recognized as Barry shouted out. JJ tenses up where he's sitting next to John B on a flipped over wooden log. There was a s'more in his lap because he had just cooked it and was planning on eating it with Pope, who had also just finished his.

You see, the Pogues were all hanging out by their fire-pit because it was a nice cool summer night and the vibe was immaculate. The LED's that JJ had purchased earlier when he was drunk, were tangled around the trees in a fashion that suited the area. It was bright and colorful and really set the fun mood that the group was currently enjoying. Until they hear Barry's voice echo around the yard.

"Shit!" Pope exclaimed, already knowing why he was here. If JJ hadn't stolen that man's stash and spent it all, they'd be safe. "Guys hide!" But it was too late, Barry was already walking menacingly towards them. He didn't seem to be armed, but they could never know. I mean, this man was a drug dealer, they wouldn't put it above him.

"Where's my money Pogue? Huh?" There was a slur to his voice, it seemed to be a part of Barry though considering how he was always high on something. He charges towards JJ, who had put on his mask of him being brave. JJ squared his shoulders at Barry but thankfully, John B interfered.

"Hey man stop!" John B shouts, but Barry doesn't hesitate to throw a punch and easily shove him to the floor. Now JJ reacts. Both Pope and Kie backed away, not wanting to get involved but they stayed alert and aware in case anything happened. They helped John B up, he shook his head to help rid the pain associated with his newly formed black eye.

JJ narrowly avoids a similar punch, but doesn't quite dodge the jab to his stomach. It knocks the wind out of him, leaving him winded and breathless, but doesn't slow him down. Apparently this Barry kid isn't really good at fighting, and JJ is very lithe and light on his feet. JJ is quick to go for the exposed spots on Barry like his sides whenever he throws a punch. It was clear that JJ was winning the fight, especially as it almost concludes when JJ gets Barry to the ground and pins him there.

Barry growls from underneath him. "What'd you do with my money?" Still having yet to give up.

JJ feels guilt swell in his chest but not for Barry. "Spent it, don't have it anymore." This pisses him off, noticeably so. It seems to give Barry more strength and JJ is thrown off of him before he comes to a rolling stop by the trunk of the tree. "Bitch!" He is kicked in the chest. That is when the fight starts to turn around. John B runs up behind Barry and punches him in the back of the head, hoping to knock him out but to no avail. Kie and Pope drag JJ out of the way to where now John B and Barry are going at it, but JJ doesn't stay down long. He never does.

What he didn't notice now though was that Barry had pulled out a knife. It was about 4 inches long and thin, in the form of a switchblade. It glistens in the light. Barry attempts to wound John B, but the knife is knocked out of his hand pretty easily. Easy enough that JJ could tell this man doesn't do much knife fighting. With that though, he dives into Barry and tackles him to the ground.

Somehow, as they're sprawling for a grasp on one another, they end up where the knife lay on the ground. Barry, with a bloody smile and black eye, grabs the knife and plunges it towards JJ's stomach with speed that surprises everyone. It was sheer luck and coincidence that JJ got his hand to knock Barry's arm lower, causing the entire blade to sink itself into the meaty part of his thigh before he yanks it out quickly.

Blood starts pouring out immediately. JJ screams and falls off Barry, both of his hands fly to his leg, unsure of what to do as pain courses through the area. He can hardly see straight, it hurts so much.

"JJ!?" Kiara shouts, wanting to kill the man who hurt him. Pope holds her back, seeing how John B had it handled. But Pope allows her, with him, to drag JJ from the scene once again.

"You bitch!" John B shouts at Barry as he beats him up even more. He doesn't dare go further than that by picking up the knife. Once he realized that the long-haired man beneath him was unconscious, he stopped. He backed away with anger firing in his eyes. "Don't fucking touch my friend." He whispers, practically growling, at the limp body. His knuckles are split open and covered in both his own and Barry's blood, but he doesn't pay much attention to it.

"John B!" Kie shouts from a further bit away. He turns quickly and takes in the scene. JJ is lying on the ground on his back, which is arched in pain and his hands scrabble for a grasp on something in the hard ground that is littered with dried grass and the occasional twig. His eyes were squeezed shut, jaw clenched, and his breathing was labored. His left pant leg was covered in blood, as was Kiara and Pope's hands from applying pressure.

"Shit." he mutters. "JJ you hear me?" There is a ground out response. "Loud and clear."

"You need a hospital?" John B doesn't think so because now that he's looking at it through the dim lights, the wound doesn't seem to be fatal if they stop the bleeding soon enough. It obviously didn't hit bone because it was too far to the right. JJ obviously wouldn't be walking for a good while after this though. "Nah...it's okay." JJ gulps as he spares a glance at his leg.

"Gotta stitch it though." He sounds winded but it's likely out of fear because he's never actually been stabbed by an actual knife before. The adrenaline crash was hitting him pretty hard as well.

John B purses his lips. Pope speaks up. "Do you know how to?"

"Yeah." Pope raises his eyebrows in surprise, John B sees Kie follow. "Not the first time this idiot has gotten himself hurt." He explains with a laugh. "I think I have the materials inside but we gotta get him in there for better light." The three of them nod.

John B takes place behind JJ's head, gripping the blonde under his armpits in order to get him supported by Pope and Kie, who act as crutches. His eyes are squeezed shut again and a tear leaks out from the corner and drips down his cheek when he accidentally puts too much of his weight on his left leg.

Both Kie and Pope move slowly when transporting their friend inside, John B stays back for a moment in order to put out the fire, he also grabs the now bloody switchblade from the ground next to the man. After checking his clothing's pockets, it seemed to be his only weapon so he then dragged Barry's limp body to where he knew his truck would be parked in the Chateau's driveway. Hopefully the injured man would take the hint and leave when he woke up, and not attack again.

When he returns, he notices Kie laying towels on the floor and Pope struggling to hold JJ up on one side. JJ was trying to alleviate some struggle by standing on his right leg, but everything just seemed to hurt. John B jogs to JJ's side and both him and Pope lower the blonde to the ground with care. The blood still has yet to cease, quickly soaking though some of the towels covering the floor.

Kiara is the first one to leave and grab some bandages and medical supplies that she hoped would be of use to John B. She quickly finds the thread needle, handing them to John B before she starts applying the fresh bandages over the thin, but oh so deep, wound. Pope joins here and JJ hates the sound he makes when the pain hits him.

With his shaking hands, it's a struggle for John B to thread the needle, but he eventually does so. "Okay Jay? You ready?" There's a minute nod but John B takes it. Kiara slides her hand into JJ's for comfort, and she realizes how much he needs it because she feels the moment that the needle pierces his skin. His grip tightens by a tenfold, but other than that he shows no reaction to the pain.

"Just a couple more..." John B states. His tongue is sticking out with the effort.

"Alriiiight..." He ties off a knot. "Done!" JJ suddenly goes limp, but still conscious.

"Holy shit." He murmurs. John B blows out a sigh, already packing up the bloody material that they've used and tossing them in the trash. He comes back with a glass of water that he forces his friend to drink. He gulps it down.

"Can I sleep?" JJ asks quietly, his eyes are already closing though. Kiara smiles, massaging his scalp with her hand. "Yeah Jay, we'll be here when you wake up." He relaxes, still lying on the hardwood floor but no one made any effort to move him and he seemed comfortable. Pope placed a soft pillow underneath his head though.

...

A couple days later, John B carefully removes the black stitches with a pair of scissors and tweezers. It's done about minutes later and it leaves a grumbling JJ limping to the kitchen to make a sandwich.

He carried the limp for quite a bit following the incident, the days that followed he couldn't even walk. But now about 3 and a half weeks after, he would just have a slight problem applying pressure to that leg but only on bad days. On good days, it was as if nothing had happened.

The next day when JJ had woken up, Pope had to carry his ass back to the couch because the group had to firmly demand JJ that he do no walking. But it was in JJ's nature to be up and moving, so it was a serious struggle for him to stay on the couch all day, even though it hurt to just about do anything.

But he survived and that's what mattered. All what's left was a gnarly looking scar in his thigh that would only fade with time. Most instances though, it was covered with his shorts. So no one asked about it. Not that it mattered because he had enough scars littering his body anyways.