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𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝘆

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After JJ had borrowed, or stolen rather, his cousin Ricky's ambulance, he and Cassie sat and waited inside for the radio to sound and tell them they needed to pick up a patient. They had borrowed EMT outfits that were in the back of the ambulance, praying that they looked legit enough for being teenagers.

Cassie had been nervous as hell. Either from doing this or sitting next to JJ in the passenger seat, she wasn't sure. All she knew was she hated feeling this way and prayed for when it would finally go away and she could be her normal self again.

The time had been 10:20 PM when JJ checked his phone and muttered, "Waiting on your call, John B. Come on, buddy."

Suddenly, a siren chirped behind them and JJ looked in the side mirror to see a police car making its way up to the ambulance. "What the fuck?" Cassie breathed out, her eyes going wide.

"Just act normal," JJ whispered as he rested his hands on the wheel, tapping his thumb on it as he stared straight ahead. Cassie chewed on her lip and stared out the windshield like JJ had been doing. She resisted the urge to start braiding her hair, knowing that hadn't been "acting normal."

The cop pulled his car up right next to them, cutting the engine. The cop hummed before he spoke up, "I hate when it's slow like this, you know?"

Cassie glanced over at JJ, who sucked in a breath. "Tell me about it, man," he replied as nonchalant as he could.

"Hey, what happened to Ricky?" The cop questioned and Cassie seized up. "He bang out?"

JJ rested his arm out the window before he blew out some air. "Something like that," he answered slowly and Cassie mentally cursed.

"1-3 Eddie. We got an unknown at KC Detention," the woman over the radio said.

JJ shared a look with Cassie, the both of them knowing that it had to be John B, before he grabbed the radio. "Uh, yeah, 10-4. I'll be right there. Thank you so much. Over," he said, not sure if what he said was right at all. He then placed the radio back, looking over at the cop. "Duty calls. I'll see you later, Officer. Uh, you have a good night, though, okay?" JJ pointed at him before he started the engine.

"Hold up," the cop began and the both of them froze. "I got nothing to do. I'll pace you," he told them and somehow, that was so much worse than getting caught.

At least if they were caught, they could have tried to make a quick getaway in the ambulance. But now, they were being accompanied by a cop to the jail that would make things so much harder.

Cassie and JJ just stared at the cop car, stunned, before the cop turned his lights on and drove ahead of them. "You gotta be fucking kidding me," Cassie said as JJ followed the cop. "Why does this shit always have to happen?"

"I don't know, but this can still work. They just can't suspect we're not really EMTs," JJ responded.

"Oh, yeah, should be easy enough when we don't look like two 17 year olds who know next to nothing about medical shit. Yeah, fantastic," Cassie snarked, giving the boy a wide eyed look. "Should be doing this with Pope," she muttered as she crossed her arms.

JJ glanced over at her. "Oh, Pope, really? You'd rather be doing this with Pope?" He asked, growing jealous yet again.

She gave him a look. "That's not what I meant. I just meant that he knows more about medical shit than the two of us combined, so it would be better if he was here," Cassie explained although she was intrigued to hear his jealous tone.

JJ shook his head. "Look, John B doesn't actually need medical attention so we're fine. We just gotta act like his appendix is about to burst and rush outta there so we can get him out. That's it."

"Fine, whatever," she replied, looking out the window in frustration.

JJ looked at her for a few seconds and sighed to himself, really hoping they were going to be able to bust John B out so they could talk about the other night like she had promised.

JJ finally pulled the ambulance up to the KC Detention Center, putting on Rick's EMT cap. Cassie had stolen one from the back and placed one on as well, praying this was going to work.

The cop at the front shined his flashlights into the front of the ambulance, checking to make sure they didn't have anything suspicious. Cassie held her breath before the cop clicked the light off and directed, "Straight ahead to the transfer bay."

"Copy that. Thank you, sir." The cop opened the gates and JJ slowly drive through, making his way through to the transfer bay. Once he had, he started to back up into the transfer bay where they would be picking up John B at any moment.

"I can't believe this is gonna work," Cassie whispered since they seemed to have made it without getting caught.

"I know," JJ replied before he leaned out the window, banging the outside of ambulance door. "All right, load him up!"

The nurse looked at the patient and then at JJ. "You gonna get your patient here, chief?" She questioned.

JJ briefly paused and Cassie quietly urged him through clenched teeth, "Let's get the patient."

JJ unfroze, nodding. "Yeah. Right on. Yeah, I'm gonna get my patient."

"Well, come on then."

"Am I gonna get my patient? My patient...of course I am," JJ said to himself like it was obvious they were going to do that before he stepped out of the ambulance. Cassie got out on her side before she rounded the ambulance, making her way toward JJ.

"Where's Ricky?" The nurse inquired.

"Ricky? Ah, food poisoning," JJ came up with as they started walking to pick up John B. "You know, uh, Ming Dynasty off of Highway 25? Them egg rolls, dude. Now, they'll get ya. They'll get you good," he continued before he started to swing the ambulance keys around his finger.

The nurse looked past him and then at Cassie. "Who's this? Looks pretty young for an EMT."

It seemed like Cassie's time as a Kook didn't really age her in the same way being a Pogue aged JJ. They still looked like two teens, but it definitely looked JJ had seen more.

"This? This is, uh..." JJ trailed off, not being able to think of a lie that would make sense.

"Trainee. I'm a trainee," Cassie quickly answered. "He's training me out in the field because it's a slow night, so..."

"Ah," the nurse replied before she looked forward.

JJ looked at Cassie and gave her a nod and she gave him one back. "Uh, so where's the patient at?" JJ asked quickly.

"Patient fell out. No LOC, but he's orthostatic. Stage 4 lymphoma. He's been in and out of chemo for the last three months," she told them, causing JJ to stop swinging the keys around his finger and for Cassie to blink rapidly.

The cop wheeled out the patient, revealing that it had, in fact, not been John B. It was some random inmate instead who looked like he was on his death bed.

JJ peered at the patient before he looked at Cassie, who held a hand up to her face and began to rub just underneath her lip in disbelief. How the fuck could they have gotten the wrong guy?

JJ directed his gaze to the time on the clock, which had showed it had been close to 11 PM. "Uhhh, is that the only patient tonight here, ma'am?" JJ queried.

The nurse chuckled. "Why? You wanna take more than one tonight? Don't wanna overwork your trainee."

"I mean, I would if I had to. That's what I'm trying to say. Gotta prepare her for the real field, ya know?" JJ replied and Cassie nodded rapidly.

"Yeah, how else am I supposed to be a great EMT? Gotta face those challenges," she added in a chipper tone with a forced grin and the nurse arched a brow, nodding slowly. Cassie wanted to shoot herself for the forced cheerfulness she just conveyed.

JJ then looked back at the door the patient came from, ripping his cap off. "I was just thinking that, um, I was called in because my patient had appendicitis. No? Okay."

The nurse glanced at the patient before she placed her hands in front of her. "This is our only patient."

"Right."

"Where did you say you work?" The nurse questioned and Cassie cursed, knowing that she was definitely suspicious of them now.

JJ placed his cap back on his head backwards and forced a smile on his face, spinning around. "Dare County, ma'am."

"I worked over there. Never seen you," the nurse pointed out.

"Well, that's 'cause, you know, I just moved up in the ranks so fast," JJ replied and Cassie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the lame lie. "Look, I would love to sit and chat, but we gotta get moving, all right? We gotta get our patient to the hospital."

As JJ went to go unlock the back of the ambulance, the inmate spoke up, "JJ, is that you?"

JJ paused and looked over his shoulder, not knowing what to say to that. Cassie furrowed her brows at how the inmate knew who he was before realizing the nurse and cop had been staring at JJ suspiciously.

"He's delusional as shit," Cassie deflected and JJ met eyes with her. She sent him a 'I got you' look with just her eyes. "Doesn't know what he's saying."

JJ began to nod. "Yeah, that's-that's not good. Gotta get him to the hospital." He went back to opening the doors, but failed. "Um..." He held up the key, shaking his head. "We just got different rigs up at New Bern." He looked back down at the keys, trying to find the right one and Cassie cringed. "Uh, that's not gonna work. I think it's...There it is. Ah, there you go. All right, um...There you go." He pushed the doors open, revealing the back of the ambulance. "All right, let's get him all on up there."

"Let's go," the officer strained, helping the inmate up with JJ. Cassie noticed a phone ringing behind her and she looked over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing. Could that be about John B?

"So, where is your real partner?" The nurse asked after they got the inmate inside the ambulance.

JJ looked at her for a moment. "I told you. Egg rolls."

"Who's gonna look after your patient if you're driving? You can't let your trainee do it and she's not licensed to drive the ambulance," the nurse pointed out.

JJ stared at her for a moment again. "Well, they told me that the officer could drive."

"No, he's an inmate. I gotta be in the back," the officer said as he came out of the ambulance.

"Wait, hold on, officer. You're saying that you're gonna be responsible for me not taking care of my patient? Is that what you're telling me?" JJ said in offense. "Because look at him. He's weak, feeble, and pale and shit. And I gotta do medical stuff on him, or else we're gonna lose him, okay? Can't let my trainee do it alone." JJ then stepped up into the ambulance, tossing the keys to the cop. "You don't want that on your hands, do ya?"

The cop looked at the nurse and shook his head, "This didn't happen." Cassie and JJ both released silent breaths of relief.

"My trainee?" JJ reached his hand out for Cassie to take and she glanced down at it before taking it, allowing him to help her inside the back of the ambulance. Once she made it up, their bodies had just been inches apart and her hand was still in his. "There you go," he whispered down at her, gazing into her eyes.

She swallowed as she looked up at him before he took her hand away. "Yeah," she nodded, turning away and rubbing her hands nervously on the white uniform she had on. JJ chewed on his lip for a second before he moved toward the doors to help get them closed.

"All right, let's go," the cop said as he began to close the left door.

"Yep."

As soon as the doors shut, Cassie whispered, "We're fucked. We're so fucked right now. We're fucked!"

JJ quickly shushed her once the cop got into the driver's seat and he saw the nurse pick up the ringing phone through the back window. The nurse looked back at them as the cop pulled the ambulance out of the transfer bay and JJ cursed under his breath.

"That call could've been about JB," he said quietly since the window connecting both sides of the ambulance was still open.

"Well, it doesn't matter now. We got the wrong guy," Cassie hissed.

"Oh, really? I couldn't see that. Thanks for telling me," JJ sassed and she smacked his arm. "Ow!"

"Shh!" She shushed him, glancing over at the cop who was peering at them through the rear-view mirror. "Uh, he doesn't look that good back here. Might wanna speed up a bit," she called out to the cop and she felt the ambulance accelerate.

She released a sigh, looking at the inmate who had fallen asleep. "How does he know you?" She decided to ask, looking at JJ who was also peering at the man.

JJ shrugged. "Probably friends with my dad and came over a few times. Probably did coke with each other or other some shit, too " he told her and she tilted her head at him knowingly. "No, seriously, I don't really recognize him."

She held her hands up in defense. "Okay, okay. I believe you."

"Be advised, a 10-63 in process. I repeat, a 10-63 in progress. Do you copy?" A woman over the cop's radio said and they turned their heads toward the front of the ambulance.

"Copy," the cop replied as he stared at JJ and Cassie through the rear-view mirror once again.

"Continue with the patient onto the hospital. We have backup on the way. Do you copy?"

"I read. 10-4."

JJ and Cassie shared a nervous glance before the former cleared his throat. "Officer, everything good up there?" JJ asked casually and the officer slid the glass connecting the two parts of the ambulance shut. "Officer."

"Oh, my god. They know," Cassie realized. "They know. We're fucked."

"No, no, what if-what if they're just sending cops to aid the ambulance to the hospital?" JJ tried to be optimistic.

"Would they really say 'backup' if that was the case?" Cassie pointed out with wide eyes.

"Okay, yeah, you're right. We're fucked." JJ swiftly went over to the back of the ambulance, trying to get the doors open but they had been locked. Suddenly, two cop cars swung behind the ambulance with their lights and sirens on. "Fuck! Uh-uh, text Kie. Tell her-tell her we need help.

"What's Kie gonna do?!" Cassie questioned.

"Just do it! She can think of something!"

Cassie groaned and pulled out her phone, frantically texting the girl:

Cece
SOS! 4th and Seneca

Cassie directed her attention to the side door, but they knew there was no way they would be able to hop out of the speeding vehicle. Even if they did, the cops would be on them just like that.

They were screwed unless a miracle happened. And by miracle, that meant Kiara Carrera.

Suddenly, another cop car joined the two and trailed behind the ambulance. "Shit!" JJ yelled as he looked out the back window before he placed his head on it, banging against the metal door. "Shit!"

Cassie held her hands up behind her head as she turned around, trying not to freak out even though they were definitely about to be put in handcuffs and shoved into jail for impersonating two EMTs.

How the hell was she about to go to jail before her mother?

JJ began to breathe heavily, turning around to slide down the back doors with his EMT cap gripped in his hands. Cassie turned around and watched as he held a hand up to his heart, whimpering as he was having trouble breathing.

"JJ?" She asked in concern as she lowered her hands from her head. He didn't answer as he kept gripping his chest, his bottom lip starting to shake. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey," she breathed out as she bent down in front of him. "Hey, what's going on?"

"I can't I...I can't-I can't breathe," he told her through labored breaths, not meeting her eyes as he looked down and shook his head.

Is he having a panic attack? She thought to herself. She suddenly remembered the way JJ had grabbed his chest back at the Island Club after he was fired. Has he been struggling with this after he thought John B died?

Cassie pushed away her own panic and sat down in front of him. "Hey, it's okay. Just try to take deep breaths," she instructed him before she decided to take his free hand and place it on her chest. That caused JJ to look at her through his watering, puzzled eyes. "Deep breaths like this, okay?"

She started to take deep breaths herself so JJ could feel the way her chest fell and rose as calm as she could make it. He maintained eye contact with her as he tried to do the same, feeling himself start to calm down from both the breathing and the way her eyes comforted him like no other.

Cassie then reached out and removed his hand from his chest, replacing it with her own. "That's it," she encouraged softly once she felt the way his chest had been rising and fall like her own. They stayed there, their hands placed on each other's hearts as they both calmed down together.

He had never seen her so caring before. So caring for...him. It had usually been the other way around, with JJ comforting her. But now she was returning the favor.

And that only made it so much harder for the both of them to interpret their feelings toward each other right now.

Suddenly, the ambulance came to an abrupt stop and they both fell with JJ landing on top of her. They both let out yelps and they looked at each other with wide eyes. However, the both of them realized this was their chance to escape and JJ got up off of her and helped her up before the two ran out the side door.

They sprinted away as fast as they could, fleeing the scene of the crime. They kept on running until they saw Kiara's car pull up on the road on the other end of the grass.

Pope shouted out the window, "Come on!"

The two of them ran over to it as Pope opened the back door, allowing them to dive inside. "Go! Go! Go!" JJ demanded and Kiara drove off.

Cassie and JJ panted heavily in the back of Kiara's car, trying to catch their breaths. JJ leaned his body back, his arm up on the seat with his mouth hung open as he huffed and puffed. Cassie placed her hands behind her head as she sat, looking up at the roof of the car as she tried to catch her breath.

"I'm seriously not even gonna ask," Kiara spoke up in a high voice.

"Look, we busted the wrong guy out of jail. Sue us," JJ replied, holding his hand up.

Pope and Kiara looked back at them, giving them crazed looks. "What?!"

"At least we were trying," JJ panted and Cassie nodded along.

"See, I told you that them agreeing with each other meant everything turned to shit!" Pope recalled and the two blondes glared at him scarily. "I mean..."

"Why are you always doing such stupid shit?" Kiara questioned JJ in particular.

"Well, I'm gonna end up in jail anyway, so...so why does it matter?" JJ pointed out.

"JJ, I told you not to listen to Plumb," Cassie scolded the boy and he just shrugged, shaking his head. She gave him a sad look, wanting nothing more than to reach out and grab his hand but she couldn't. Not with Pope and Kiara in the car. And not when she was already giving him mixed signals. It wouldn't be fair to him.

Pope and Kiara shared a concerned glance. "You okay, man?" Pope checked in.

"Yeah. Just a doozy of a day."

authors note!
ive been waiting to post this chapter
so badly heheh. i feel like ive never
seen the oc take part in this scene (from
all the fics ive read anyway) so i thought
it would be cool to include cassie in it. and
it also helps further their relationship too
with the way she helps jj calms down 🥰