JJ's dad was an asshole. That wasn't news to anyone in the Outer Banks, but nobody knew the extent of how much of an asshole he really was except JJ. She had done a pretty good job of hiding the bruises with makeup when necessary, not that any adults cared anyway. There was enough evidence that it should have been obvious, but JJ was a good liar, and so nobody knew more than that Luke Maybanks was an asshole.

Until John B found out during their second year of high school.

Throughout the years, Luke's abuse steadily grew worse. He drank more and was almost always high. He couldn't keep a job, forcing JJ to work three. But the real trigger was that JJ looked like her mom, and that angered her dad.

It was Thanksgiving, and usually, JJ would stay at the chateau with John B. However, Big John had returned to town a week ago, and JJ left to give John B some time with his dad. She went back home and tried to stay out of the way, making sure the fridge was stocked with food and beer in hopes her dad might not seek her out. But she wasn't that lucky.

She was dozing on her bed when she heard the front door slam open, announcing her dad's return. She flinched and pulled the covers up, pretending to be asleep.

Next she knew, a hand wrenched her arm and violently yanked her out of the bed, throwing her to the floor.

"Where the fuck have you been?!" He yelled at her. The end of her avoidance had arrived and she braced herself for a beating.

"I've been working!" She said, hoping it would be enough. But he shoved her hard into the wall, and she tasted blood where she had bitten her lip.

"Where's my money then?"

"You spent it already," she whimpered and he slammed her head into the wall making her vision turn black for a second.

"You think I'm stupid you ungrateful little bitch?!" He punched her ribs a few times while yelling how worthless and stupid she was. How she was the reason her mom left them. The usual. At some point she fell, curling into a ball to shield off some of the blows as he proceeded to kick her.

Usually he was done by now but he was high and drunker than normal and she worried he wouldn't stop. She wasn't sure if she had a concussion but she definitely had a few cracked ribs. Finally he stopped his assault and retreated to the fridge for a beer. She waited an hour, too afraid to move til she was sure he had passed out on the couch.

She tried to get up to go to her room but it the pain was worse than she'd ever dealt with and she was afraid her dad would wake up for round two if she made any noise. After a brief internal struggle, she quietly left the house and stumbled through the dense woods in the direction of John B's home. Uncertain of what awaited her there, all she knew was that she needed safety, and the chateau and John B were her sanctuaries. Desperation clawed at her, each breath painful and threatening to overwhelm her fragile resolve. Every step was a battle against exhaustion, her vision narrowing to darkness at the edges. The thought of collapsing paralyzed her; she feared she wouldn't find the strength to rise again.

"As the porch light of the chateau came into view, she pressed forward with renewed determination. Suddenly, the thought of Big John struck her, and she froze. No one could find out; the consequences were too dire. Spotting the chicken coop nearby, she swiftly changed course. It would serve as a temporary refuge.

Little did she know, John B lay stretched out on the hammock on the front porch."

John B lay on the hammock, his gaze fixed on the twinkling stars above. Thoughts of his father consumed him—how once again he had embarked on another wild pursuit of the elusive Royal Merchant. They had argued fiercely, and in a fit of frustration, John B had hurled hurtful words at his father, calling him a lousy father. Yet, despite his harsh words, his father had still departed, leaving a painful void.

John B's thoughts were interrupted by a commotion emanating from the chicken coop, accompanied by the frantic crowing of the rooster. Concerned it might be a fox, he hurried down the path. Amidst the chaos, he caught sight of a flash of golden hair stumbling into the coop and disappearing inside. He squinted, puzzled by the unexpected visitor sneaking into his chicken coop. Then again, it was the Cut, where anything could happen.

Fearful of a possible robbery, John B approached cautiously. As he neared, he paused abruptly, spotting traces of blood on the edge of the coop door.

"Come out of there or I'll call the cops," John B declared with a mix of concern and resolve.

Silence followed, stretching into an uneasy moment. Then, barely audible, he heard his name whispered. He recognized that voice anywhere.

"JJ?" he asked, incredulous, as he stuck his head into the coop.

"JJ? What are you doing in here? Are you okay?" John B's voice carried concern as he stepped closer. In the dim light, JJ was curled up in a corner, her breathing uneven. He couldn't see her clearly, but her distress was palpable.

"Why didn't you come up to the house?" John B asked, his confusion evident.

Shakily, JJ whispered, "Big John."

John B's brow furrowed in deeper confusion. JJ had been around when Big John was here before; she hadn't hidden outside then. His concern grew as he tried to make sense of her behavior.

"He's gone," John B whispered sadly, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the coop.

JJ began to rise, her intention to comfort him evident, but she stumbled with a pained gasp. John B's eyes widened as he recalled the blood he had seen earlier. His face drained of color as realization set in.

He rushed to JJ's side where she sat, tears streaming down her face. Gently, he helped her out of the chicken coop, supporting her as she struggled to stand. When she faltered, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms, carrying her inside. Setting her down gently on the couch, he finally saw the extent of her injuries in the light. His eyes filled with tears as he knelt before her, his hands trembling as he cupped her cheeks gently.

"What happened?" he asked softly, his voice full of concern and love.

JJ met his gaze, overwhelmed by the depth of his care. Unable to speak, she broke down in tears, her whole body shaking. John B's heart shattered seeing her like this. Without hesitation, he pulled her close, holding her tightly against him, her face buried in his neck.

John B felt a surge of anger toward whoever had harmed JJ, but he pushed it aside for the moment, focusing on her immediate needs. He heard her gasp in pain when his hand brushed against her injured rib, causing his eyes to widen with concern. Slowly untangling himself from her embrace, he whispered reassuringly, "I'll be back."

He hurried to retrieve a first aid kit and a couple of bags of frozen vegetables for her injuries, then returned to her side on the couch. Approaching her gently so as not to startle her, he carefully checked her over and began to tend to her wounds. JJ seemed slightly dazed, and a thought struck John B.

"Do you have a concussion?"

She shrugs still unable to speak. He checks her head for bumps or cuts, but he find any outward damage so he lets his hands fall to either side of her on the couch. He wants to ask questions but her eyes are drooping so decides it can wait until morning. He scoops her up again and even though he can tell it pains her, she clings to him as he walks her to his room.

He gently laid JJ on the bed, assisting her as she settled down, pulling a light blanket over her. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and she was already drifting into sleep. John B stood by the bedside, about to leave the room to sleep on the couch, when he felt her small hand grip his own.

Turning back, he looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, but she whispered softly, "Stay." She seemed so fragile, so vulnerable in that moment that he couldn't refuse. Carefully, he lay down beside her, mindful of her injuries. She held onto his hand tightly throughout the night, finding solace in his presence. Together, they slept peacefully, the worries of the night fading into a quiet calm.

The next morning, John B awoke with a start, his mind racing as he recalled the events of the previous night. Sitting up abruptly, panic gripped him when he realized JJ wasn't beside him. Hastily getting out of bed, he hurried out of the room, relief flooding him when he found JJ sitting at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. Her left side was swollen and bruised, igniting a new wave of anger within him, but this time he was determined to find out what had happened.

He sat down across from her, trying to meet her gaze, but JJ avoided his eyes, staring down at her bowl instead. John B frowned, concern mixing with the simmering anger he felt.

"What happened JJ?" John B felt a pang of hurt when JJ flinched at his question, but he quickly pushed it aside, knowing she had been through something traumatic. Despite his suspicions, he wanted her to confide in him, to trust him.

When JJ finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Just some kooks, the usual." But she couldn't meet his eyes, a behavior so unlike her that John B knew she was lying. JJ was a skilled liar, but never with him.

"Don't lie to me, JJ," he pleaded gently. "It's me."

JJ looked up at John B, tears glistening in her eyes. His heart ached to see her like this, wanting nothing more than to comfort her, but he needed to hear the truth.

Finally, she whispered, "You can't tell anyone," and he promised her solemnly.

"It's my dad," she confessed, her voice barely audible. John B felt his heart shatter anew; the suspicion he had harbored was now confirmed. Anger surged through him, a fierce protectiveness overwhelming his senses. He wanted to confront her father, to make him pay for hurting JJ.

As John B stormed towards the door, consumed by a blind rage, his mind set on confronting JJ's father, she suddenly appeared before him. Ignoring her presence, he continued forward, intent on his reckless plan despite knowing its futility. Even when JJ intercepted him, blocking his path, he still keeps walking. She jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and gently placed her hands on his face, trying to force him to meet her gaze while he continued walking.

"John B, look at me," she urged softly, her voice finally breaking through the haze of his anger and making him stop. Her eyes pleaded with him, silently asking him to listen, to understand.

"I'm okay," JJ whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with reassurance. John B's arms wrapped around her, holding her close in a protective shield. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in deeply, letting her presence calm his turbulent emotions. She rested her head on top of his, their closeness a comforting anchor in the storm.

After a quiet moment, John B gently set her down and looked down at her.

"Don't go home. Stay here at the chateau," John B pleaded, his eyes filled with hope and earnest concern. JJ nodded in agreement, even though she knew deep down she couldn't stay forever. Big John would return, and she had to face her father eventually. But seeing John B smile at her acquiescence, she couldn't bring herself to remind him of that reality. So, she stayed silent, and they spent the next few hours watching TV together, trying to find solace in the simple act of being together.

If they sat closer than usual, no one else was around to notice. And if JJ developed a peculiar attachment to the rooster, only John B knew why.