Shot - John B (Outer Banks)

Part 2

The Pogues, Ward, and Sarah made their way into the waiting room. Pope sat silently in a chair towards the corner.
"Pope!" Kie ran towards him and cried into his shoulder. JJ made his way over to the two and joined their hugged with his shoulders shaking. Ward and Sarah respectfully looked away and inquired about John B to the nearest nurse at the station.
She explained that they did not have much information at the moment, but she knew that he was being taken into emergent surgery ASAP. She recommended that they return tomorrow morning as it would likely be a while until she had some solid information.
"The nurse said that it would be best if we return tomorrow morning." Ward told the three other teens.
Pope responded first, "I wont leave John B. He needs us."
"Me too." Kie added.
JJ just nodded which was very unlike him.
"Dad, why don't we head down to the cafeteria and grab us some snacks and water? We should also buy them new clothes." Sarah offered.
"Great idea."
They told the Pogues where they were going and set off.
Kie leaned over onto JJ shoulder and gave him a kiss on his forehead. "You okay, Jay?"
"We shouldn't have even gone to the marsh, today. We made him and he could die because of us."
Kie sighed. "John B would have been shot anyway, JJ. It's just his luck." She let out a light chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
Even JJ was able to give a little grin at remembering John B's bad luck.
Pope spoke a few minutes later. "Maybe we should try and get some sleep. I have a feeling we are going to have a long night."
"Always the logical one, Pope." Kie teased. Both boys laid their heads on Kie and they attempted to fall asleep.
It had really only been 20 minutes since John B had been taken into the trauma room, so it was likely that he had not yet been taken to surgery as they needed to assess the placement and damage of the bullet. Time seemed to be moving so slowly.
Pope got up slowly to use the bathroom. He needed to get the drying blood off of him. It was too much a reminder of the pain he saw his friend in. As he passed the trauma room he knew John B was taken into, he heard a code blue and someone shouting for a "crash cart."
Right then and there Pope slid down to the ground against the wall. His breathing was shaky and fast, seemingly on the verge of a panic attack. His thoughts were racing. He never considered the fact that John B could actually die, and as of now he was actually dead. John B always survived the unsurvivable.
Pope sunk further into his spiraling thoughts, losing all control of his body, when a loud yell of relief "He's back," was heard. Pope finally was able to grasp some oxygen to slow his quivering body down. Pope pushed himself off the floor and away from the trauma room to set out the task he planned to do. In the bathroom, he methodically scrubbed the blood from his arms and clothes as much as he could as if it was just dirt. With the John B's blood removed from his skin, he felt considerably cleaner and just a little less anxious.
Pope then made his way back to waiting room where Kie and JJ were awake once again, silently picking at their nails. Pope returned to his plastic chair and let out a deep breath.
"I went to the bathroom, but on my way there John B. crashed."
Kie gasped and JJ froze.
"He's back, but guys," Pope paused. "We are probably going to lose him. Most shots of this caliber and placement would have killed the person on scene, so we just have to be prepared for this reality."
Tears rolled down their cheeks, leaving salty stains.
"No!" JJ shouted. "He's strong. He will make it and be fine. He's John B. Come on, he survives everything."
It was obvious to Kie that JJ was going to deny anything about the fact that John B. might die, so she wrapped an arm around his shoulder and placed a kiss in his hair.