RIVER | JJ MAYBANK

THREE

POLIO

John B walked into the living room with a small smile. At 1am he decided to call it a night and leave his two best friends on the couch. He knew they stayed awake for a bit longer since he still heard their loud laughs.

He remembered that JJ said that, he'd sleep on the couch and that River could sleep in John B's dad's room. But that clearly never happened because John B was staring at the two cuddling.

JJ had his arm wrapped tightly around River's waist and River's head was resting on JJ's bare chest. She looked so peaceful and calm. It was rare, especially with how anxious the girl could and would get.

John B allowed a small smile to form on his face, the girl was like his younger sister. He liked when she looked comforted and at peace. He liked when she didn't have to worry about every little thing.

"Yo? JJ, R.C, you been outside?" John B questioned as he tapped JJ's shoulder. River groaned and shuffled closer to JJ.

"I have polio bro, I can't walk." JJ mumbled. His grip on the girl tightening so much that he practically pulled her on top of him. River let out a small laugh as John B continued to walk outside.

She nuzzled closer to the boy that that her head was in the crook of his neck. She was instantly engulfed by his facial it scent that brought her so much safety. She closed her eyes for a moment and enjoyed the way that he held her so tightly.

"Come on. It's time to get up." River said, gently tapping JJ's chest. She didn't want to move, but now that John B was up, she was sure their peace would be disturbed.

"Oh you're kidding?" JJ groaned. River giggled and pulled herself out of the makeshift bed and away from JJ. She walked outside to see what damage had been done by Agatha.

River looked around at the destruction. Tree's had fallen, boats were ripped. Half of the marsh was on land. John B's front was covered in moss.

"Agatha did some work, huh?" JJ questioned standing behind the girl, his arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her back into him.

He enjoyed being close to her, something about it made him feel happy. He liked knowing that he could protect her. Keep her safe and protect her from the dangers of the world.

"Yeah she did." John B replied as he pulled tree branches from off of the HMS Pogue and letting out a small groan.

"You're drinking already?" River questioned JJ, who had a beer in his hand.

"It's happy hour some where, baby." He shrugged, unlinking his arm from around the girl and walking over to John b, without a second thought.

River ran and jumped on his back. She didn't have any shoes on and she certainly didn't want to stand on anything. Without even thinking, JJ's hands wrapped around River's thighs and hoisted her further up his back.

She knew what the storms were like, one time she had decided to walk out bare foot and ended up in the ER with glass stuck in the bottom of her foot.

"Whatcha thinking?" JJ asked John B, his fingers now tapping patterns on her thighs, and her head resting in the crook of his neck.

"I'm thinkin' that storm surge pushed all the crabs out on the marsh maze. All those drum are gonna chase the crab." John B said as he cleared his boat.

River's eyes softened as she tilted her head to look up at John B, she anxiously began to chew her bottom lip remembering about the DCS. She hesitated for a moment before asking,

"What about the DCS? Wasn't that today? Surely they'll be coming over on the ferry today?" She pursed her lips and waited for a response.

"Nah, they're not gettin' on a ferry. Come on, think about it." John B held up a tree branch. "It's God telling us to fish." He said throwing the branch to the floor, looking between his two best friends with a smirk.