𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 95: Microwaved Brains

"Gracie?" JJ's quiet voice felt loud in their bubble. The couple were laid side by side, staring up at the metal dome above them.

Grace hummed.

His voice was thick with emotion when he continued, "You almost died."

Grace didn't answer. She knew it was true. She had been on the edge of drowning and they'd both been so close to running out of oxygen but neither of them had acknowledged it, too caught up in the chaos.

"I should've never let you go down there," he finished.

Grace furrowed her brows, deep in thought before finally answering at a whisper, "You know I hate when you say that word."

JJ sighed, finally looking over at her. "It's true though, you almost-"

"But I didn't. And you didn't either cause I saved your ass," Grace said, cutting him off before he could say it again and trying to lighten the mood.

"Okay, okay, I saved you too," JJ defended.

Grace returned his gaze to shoot him a small smile.

JJ felt his breath catch in his throat. He didn't know how he still wasn't used to her. Sure, he was so familiar with Grace that everything was easy, comfortable... but he wasn't used to her. Her smiling at him, her telling him she loved him, waking up beside her; he didn't think he'd ever get used to how lucky he was. 

"I really thought we were done treasure hunting, you know?" Grace mumbled, face turning more serious.

JJ nodded, eyes scanning her expression.

"I really hoped we were," she admitted.

JJ sighed heavily, subconsciously tilting his head towards her's.

"I just... I don't know if I can do it again, J."

"We don't have to," JJ answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

She shot him a look. "We'll lose our home if we don't. We have..." she paused face scrunching up slightly, "We have everything to lose this time."

JJ gently reached over to tug her pillow closer to his, bringing her over with it. "We won't lose each other," he said, sounding so confident she felt herself believing him.

Grace stuck her hand out, pinky raised. "Promise?"

JJ linked his pinky with hers. "Promise."

Their hands fell back to the mattress, fingers and promise still intertwined.

___________

The exhaustion from the lack of sleep Grace had gotten over the last couple nights had gotten to her. She didn't even realized she'd fallen asleep until JJ was shaking her awake.

Grace hummed groggily, eyes adjusting to see JJ's worried face. She was suddenly very alert. "What's wrong?"

"There was a guy in the hall just now. I think it was the guy," he rushed out. "The dude from the wreck. Cause he had a wound. Right where I got him with the spear gun."

Grace sat herself fully up as JJ's voice grew frantic. "Did he see us?"

JJ took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "Yeah."

She took a moment, processing the situation she'd woken up to before making up her mind. "We gotta go."

He nodded quickly before turning to bang on the glass trapping them in.

Grace looked around the chamber, trying to find an escape route.

"Is there anyone out there? Ma'am?" JJ shouted, still slamming his palm against the window.