Shot - John B (Outer Banks)

Part 1

Just as John B returned from below the surface safe from the cops, another boat entered the closed marsh. The Pogues all realized that they need to get out of the marsh and fast. JJ pulled in the line and John B started the boat so that they could leave. He steered towards the Kook side of the island. 
The boat behind them was gaining on them and suddenly they started firing bullets at the four. JJ, Pope, and Kiara hit the deck in seconds. John B managed to crouch down a bit while continuing steering.
"John B, get down." Shrieked Kiara as the shots became more rapid.
Kiara knew she had to act fast or else they would all be dead in a matter of minutes, so she began creating a contraption that would stop the propeller of the other boat to prevent them from traveling.
"Anyone hit?" Asked JJ imploringly. His eyes had left the deck and neither had his body.
"Think we are all good," John B replied nonchalantly.
"A little sore from dropping," Pope laughed.
Kie tossed the contraption out of the boat and it took all of two seconds for the other boat to break down. They fired one last gunshot.
"Wooh! Wait to go, Kie!" John B hollered. He continued to speed the boat out of there, eager to get home.
JJ made his way over to the cooler and cracked each of them a beer open. "To getting the hell outta there," He smiled triumphantly.
They all repeated the toast and clinked their drinks together.
"You gotta open the case, JB," Pope remind him.
"Right," he paused. "Hold on."
He slowed the boat down near his boss' house, sat down with his back against the side of the boat, and unscrewed the lid.
Pope, Kiara, and JJ stared disappointedly at the compass inside. John B remained silent for a moment. "This was my dad's. How would this have gotten on Scooter's boat?"
"Come on, JB. Anyone could have that old, hunkajunk." JJ argued.
John B slid over from where he was sitting, about to formulate a response when Kie said something.
"John B, what's that behind you?" She said slowing down her words as if to process something.
John B, Pope, and JJ looked over the side of the boat to see what she meant.
"No." She paused. "You are bleeding." She remained calm for the sake of him. Stressing someone out when there life was threatened could lead to death much faster.
Behind John B was a ever growing puddle of red. John B was still confused as ever. "What do you guys mean?"
"Shit," Pope whispered. "The adrenaline hasn't worn off yet. We need to get him to the hospital ASAP. It could be fatal."
"I'm fine guys," John B laughed earnestly. "What are you going on about?"
"JB, you were shot, man."
Quickly, Kiara took off her shirt, leaving her in her bathing suit top and tugged off John B's shirt. He had been shot in his chest at some point when he must have turned around. She knew to put as much pressure as she can on the wound to slow the bleeding.
Suddenly, John B doubled over in pain and his breaths became much shallower and seemed that they were need more.
"John B!" JJ yelled as his best friend keeled over. "Lay him down and get help Pope. Fast!" JJ felt like crying, but he had to stay strong. Now was not the time.
"JJ, I need your shirt. He's bleeding too much. Come on!" Kiara cried. Kie began to hyperventilate.
JJ whipped off his shirt and helped apply pressure to John B's chest spewing with blood.
Pope fumbled through his bag for his phone and attempted to make a call to emergency services. "Fuck," he shouted. "No service."
"Come on, Pope. Get some help, please." Kie pleased with him.
Pope knew that it was likely the Camerons had access to cell towers, so he started the boat towards their house and pulled up towards their dock. "Help!" Pope yelled as loudly as he could. "Help, please." Pope held back his tears for the sake of his falling apart friends, JJ and Kie.
A few moments later, Ward Cameron and his daughter, Sarah, came running out of their house. "What is it?" Ward yelled.
"Our friend got shot. We need an ambulance, but have no way to reach emergency services. Help us and fast." Pope explained.
While Sarah and Ward ran to make the call, John B regained some focus on the world. "Can you stop pressing that so hard? It hurts, JJ." He panted.
JJ looked down sadly and at John B's bloody form. "Sorry, buddy. I can't. Pogues for life?" JJ cried out with a dry sob. He knew John B could die in minutes, but he wasn't prepared for that reality.
"Pogues for life." John B breathed out.
"Hey, JB. You might feel tired," Kie explained. "But you can't go to sleep no matter what or else someone will get hurt." She knew that John B would never want anyone to get hurt for no reason, so he would try his best to stay awake even though he was a bit confused.
"Okay," he responded, clearly feeling confused once again.
Ward and Sarah sprinted back out from the house to the dock where John B was sprawled with JJ and Kie. "John B?" Ward questioned surprisingly. Sarah inhaled quickly at the sight of him.
"He got shot by men in the marsh. They were following us." Pope offered.
"I'm sorry," Ward replied understandingly. "The paramedics told us to move him as close as we can get to the front of the house, so he can get to the hospital faster. Just make sure you two maintain pressure on the wound. Don't want him bleeding out."
"Yes sir," JJ replied shakily. 
With 5 of them, it was quite easy to transport John B and soon enough the sirens were in close range. A minute ago, John B's eyes began fluttering and it was clear he struggling to stay awake. Out of the blue, he regained focus and lost his confusion. "I love you guys." John B paused to take in more breath. Saying a word was difficult for him.
"Stop, John B." Kiara sobbed. She was shaking as she continued to pressed on his wound.
"You have to know that I love you all and you'll be okay. Pogues for life." He said calmly.
JJ bit his lip to keep himself from sobbing even though there were already many tears running down his cheeks. "JB, we love you too, man. But you are gonna be just fine. Just stay awake, please."
John B's eyes fluttered for a moment with a distinct fight. "I'm trying, but I can't for much longer, JJ. Don't end up like your dad. You're better than that." JB's words became raspier and stressed.
"John B, stop. Hold on. I need you." JJ begged with full sobs.
Pope and Kiara watched almost in states of shock as they watched their friend fade and JJ break into more pieces. They each acknowledged each other and gripped John B's hand harder. Kiara leaned down and placed and kiss on his forehead. Pope brushed his blood, sweat, and salt water soaked hair off his forehead.
A moment later, John B's eyes drifted shut. JJ fell to the ground defeated. Sarah and Ward felt uncomfortable invading such and intimate and personal moment. Sarah replaced JJ for putting pressure on John B's chest.
The ambulances screeched up to the Cameron's house and took notice of the group. They placed John B on a clean and crisp stretcher and quickly loaded him into the back of the bus. The paramedic who was driving came up to the despairing group. "One of you may travel with John to the hospital."
Ward looked to Pope who was obviously the most calm. "Pope, son. Help your friend. I'll help your other ones and bring them to the hospital behind you. Stay calm."
Pope tried his best to remain calm during the ambulance ride, but he could see John B was becoming increasingly paler. The paramedics were also talking about how the bullet wasn't through and through, which Pope knew was worse from reading some articles. All the medical talk made Pope feel dazed and out for control. The ambulance skirted into the parking area and drove up to the trauma room doors. Pope listened as the paramedics explained John B's condition. It didn't make much sense to him, but he saw the rush that they were in. John B was wheeled towards a closed off room. As Pope tried to enter, a nurse interrupted and pointed him towards the waiting room.
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"Sarah, honey, go start the car. Pull it up right here. We'll follow the ambulance to the hospital." Ward ordered.
Sarah quickly ran off to their assortment of expensive and luxurious cars.
Kiara had sunk to the ground at this point and was mumbling words of assurance to herself, while JJ sat shaking silently. Ward could see that they both were disappearing into shock.
"Do you know who shot John B?" Ward asked trying to keep the teens talking. "It's important we know what they look like so that we can catch them."
"They were kinda burly." Kiara stuttered.
"There were two of them." JJ added, looking up all of a sudden. "Had a Grady White, I think."
"The boat's name was Sally." Kiara recalled. "The marsh was closed, but we didn't know and Sloupe came by and told us to leave. A few minutes later, we were leaving and this other boat appeared in the marsh. We decided to get the hell out of there. And then he started shooting at us. I started to make this thing that would stop the other boat's propeller or else we were all going to end up killed. I threw it into the water and the boat shot. John B turned around and we think this is when he.." Kiara cried.
"Got shot." JJ finished bluntly through his tears.
"I'm so sorry that you had to witness that. Now let's get to the hospital and support John B."
Sarah pulled up towards the gate and let Ward take the driver's seat. Sarah then helped JJ and Kiara off the ground to the car. "I'm sorry, Kie" Sarah whispered into her ex -best friend's ear. It wasn't just about John B, but about how she left her behind and dropped her. Kie leaned in to hug Sarah.
Once they were all situated in the car, Ward sped off towards the local hospital.