𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 22: Bullet Wounds and Pawn Shops

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit," JJ rambled looking back and forth from the road to Grace's bloody hand.

"JJ! Hospital!" Kie shouted, bringing him back to reality.

His eyes turned back to the road, trying not to focus on the fact that Grace was shot. That proved extremely difficult.

"No, hospital," Grace groaned.

"Grace! You're bleeding out," Sarah yelled at her. 

JJ looked over at her quickly. The colour had drained from Grace's face entirely, making JJ more worried if that was even possible.

"Gracie I know you're afrai-"

She mustered up enough strength to cut him off loudly, "No! That's not-" she cut herself off when JJ turned a corner and she winced at the movement. She fought through her pain to speak, "If we go to the hospital...they'll...ask questions, I can't compromise-"

"Grace I don't care about the gold right now!" JJ exclaimed from beside her.

"Turn left," Kie mumbled, ignoring Grace and continuing to give JJ directions to the hospital.

Grace gritted her teeth, "No! I swear to god JJ, if you go left I'll sit in the car and bleed out outside the hospital."

Pope, who had been sitting in the back thinking, finally spoke up, "Ricky! JJ go to Ricky's."

JJ took a sharp turn right, not wanting to miss his EMT cousin's street. Grace whined in pain and Sarah reached out to grab her bloody hand in comfort.

"Hey Sare," she smiled drearily. 

"Hey Rae," Sarah tried to smile but it came off weak and forced.

"Mm, tired," Grace slurred, her eyes drooping.

"Keep her awake!" Pope yelled.

Sarah tapped her on the cheek, making her eyes open again.

"I swear to god, Grace," JJ mumbled under his breathe.

The Twinkie finally slowed down and John B hopped out before it fully stopped, racing towards the front door.

JJ ran around the side of the van and opened the passenger door. He cringed when he saw all of the blood, staining Grace's shirt, hands and seat, but ignored it as best he could and lifted her quickly. Her eyes shot open and she yelled out in pain, "Fuck!"

"Sorry baby," JJ didn't slow down to apologize. He ran for his cousin's door as John B banged on it.

"Ricky!" JJ yelled, bridal carrying Grace.

"Ricky please!" Kie was on the verge of sobbing as she shouted.

John B raised his hand to bang again when it swung open to reveal a pissed Ricky.

"What do you-" he was cut off by JJ pushing past him and John B shoving all of the clutter off of the dining table. JJ quickly laid Grace down on it as Sarah and Kie begged him to help.

"Who was shooting at you?" Ricky asked, still processing the situation.

"Not the time!" JJ shouted. Ricky seemed to snap into reality and he hurried to find his med kit.

JJ stood next to Grace and held her hand, "Hey baby."

"J?"

"I'm here," he whispered. Grace's eyes fluttered shut and JJ patted on her cheek repeatedly but she wouldn't wake up. He looked up and shouted, "Ricky! Hurry the fuck up!"

Kie came over to the table with scissors and got to work cutting the bottom of her shirt off. The material was sticking to the wound making her cringe when she had to peel it off.