Life on the cut (JJxReader) OuterBanks Fanfic

The Trade.

(A/N: Can't name this shit anymore XD THE BANNER SO CUTE THO <3 <3 <3)

Ward had managed to hitch a ride not far from the forest. A silver truck, with a tarp in the back. It pulled up beside a broken up, rusty motorhome. Barry's place.
Ward leapt out of the truck and walked up to the driver. "Wait here." He pulled some money out of his pocket, "You'll get another one of these when I come back." 
The man took it, and nodded a thank you. Folding the pricey note away and tucking it in his plaid button-up's front pocket. 

Ward walked up to the door of Barry's home, knocking on the open door. "Rafe. We need to talk." 
Rafe was leaning on a cabinet door, looking drowsy. He had a bruise stretched along his jaw. He stuck his tongue in his cheek once he saw his father, and asked, "They got me. Right? We- we heard it on the news. I'm... I'm done." 
Barry was sitting on a window-sil sofa nearby, crouched down as to not hit his head, listening.
"Not yet." Ward told Rafe. 
"Not yet?" Rafe asked him, walking to sit down at the motohomes table.
"No." Ward walked into the house.
"Yeah... Listen to yo daddy Rafe." Barry grinned. "Ain't shit over til' it's over ain't that right?" 
Ward turned to look at him. "Can we have a moment please?"
"Of course bro! Yeah! What was I thinking!?" Barry said sarcastically, "Shit it's my house. Y'all take as many minutes as you need." He stood up and left, throwing a glare at Ward before he left.
Rafe was sitting down at a window, his jaw grinding and his head rolling as his eyes went back and forth slowly. His eyelids flickering. 
Ward reached for his son's chin and turned his bruised jaw to him. "What happened here. Hm?" 
Rafe shook his head and turned away drowsily.
"Rafe." Ward whispered. "Rafe I need you to listen to me if you've ever listened to me before, okay?"
Rafe felt his head loll to the side again.
"Rafe. Rafe I want you to take this." Wad reached into his pocket and handed Rafe a big wad of cash. "Go to Wilmington tonight."
"I need a boat to get there I don't have a boat." Rafe slurred.
"You need to find a boat you can figure it out." Ward told him.
Just outside the door, Barry lent in. Listening.
"You gotta stay hidden alright? Just... Just get to Wilmington." He pushed his brown hat into Rafe's hands. "I want you to go to my old office? Remember?"
Rafe started at the cash in his hands, murdering a "Yeah..."
"Market street. Yeah?"
"Yeah.."
"Right out back. There's a car."
Rafe nodded slowly, "...Okay."
"Drive it straight to Raleigh. I want you to go to McClintock Aviation." Ward lent in closer, "McClintock Aviation."
"Got it.."
"I'm going to charter you a plane. You're gunna get out of there."
Rafe looked up, "Charter me... Where?"
Ward sighed, "I don't know son." He shook his head. "I mean, it'll be somewhere safe I'll figure it out."
"Dad."
"The important thing is-"
"Dad."
"What."
Rafe shut his eyes and his head shifted to the side. He gulped. "I'm sorry."
Ward looked taken aback. He then shook his head, "You don't need to be sorry son."
"No, no, no." Rafe spoke over him. "You were right about a lot of things."
"No."
"...A lot of things.... I was gunna be better. You know? I was gunna- gunna go clean." His eyes rolled as he nodded slowly.
"I know." Ward sighed. 
"No but I- I- I- I know you don't believe it." Rafe smiled sadly.
"I do." Ward felt that last shred of humanity in him pine for his son.
"No. It's fine."
"Hey hey... Look at me." He put a hand around Rafe's cheek and turned his wobbly head to face him. "I believe you. You're gunna have all the time in the world to show me too, all right?"
Rafe didn't reply.
"You're not going to jail for something you did for me." Ward sighed.
Rafe sniffed and looked into his dad's eyes. He nodded.
"Okay?"
"Yeah."
Ward brought him in and kissed him on the forehead. Then pushing him away, squeezing his shoulder as he stood to leave. "You be safe."
Just before he reached the door, Ward stopped. He didn't meet Rafe's eyes- he couldn't. He just needed to tell him this now. In case it  went wrong. "You know how you're always asking me who I'd choose?" He sighed, realizing it had come down to it. "If I'd choose you or if I'd choose Sarah? All that?"
Rafe stood up, "No that's... Not important anymore." He waved his hand dismissively. "I- I don't... I don't care."

"I choose you."
Rafe stood up straighter... He was filled with this new feeling.
"I just want you to know.... I choose you son."