*TW*
Flashback to when John b found out about the abuse. I haven't updated in a while so I though I'd just take this from a story I was working on but kinda gave up on.

It was summer time and the boys just got out of 4th grade. John b and JJ only being 10 at the time. They sat out on John bs dock. Big John was just inside, locked up in his office.

They were fishing and fumbling with the fishing gear.

"Ow!" John b yelped as he started shaking his hand.

"Did you hook yourself?" JJ chuckled

"Stop it, JJ" John b said, looking at the blood dripping from his finger "it's not funny"

"Put a band-aid on it" JJ started laughing even more after seeing John b get mad.

"I don't have one" John b said, squeezing his finger and causing more to drip out

"Here" JJ laughed, grabbing a roll of dirty duck tape that was sitting on the dock
He ripped a piece off and then folded a paper towel into a small square and stuck it in the middle.

"Give me your finger" JJ said

"No!" John b shouted immaturely

"Just give me your finger" JJ laughed and grabbed his hand. He wrapped John bs finger up and stopped the bleeding

"Oh it actually worked" John b said blissfully, as he examines the make-shift band-aid on his finger.

"Told you" JJ teased and pushed his shoulder

"You think that's funny" john b smiled and they started wrestling on the dock.

"Boys!" Big john yelled from the yard

They both let go and shot up

"Y'all stop messin around. Get down here" big john hollered and headed back inside.

They both raced each other down the dock and were out of breath by the time they got inside.

"Now what'd I say about wrestling on the dock when im not out there?" big john scolded as he began to make john b a sandwich for dinner.

"John b started it" JJ said, pointing a finger

"What?!" John b got defensive

"Well, I don't care who started it. I said don't do it. Alright?" Big john muttered as the boys sat down at the table. "Now, JJ. It's about dark. You need to start heading home before I gotta drive you again."

"Okay" JJ complained and rolled his eyes.

He got up from the table but big john stopped him and placed his hand on his head.

"Say, JJ how'd you get that cut" big John asked, examining a scar on his forehead

"What cut?" JJ asked and felt his head. "Oh, I ran into a door"

"Again?" Big john asked suspiciously

JJ nodded quickly.

"Hmm" big john thought for a moment as he examined the cut. "Okay"

"Can I have a sandwich too" JJ asked, changing the subject

Big john stood up straight and chuckled

"I recon so" he groaned and made him one before he left.

"Bye john b bye john bs dad" JJ said with his mouth full as he moseyed out the door.

He slowly walked back to his house and dreaded going in. He knew it was dark and his dad would be mad at him for staying out so late.

He quietly crept inside, praying that his dad would be passed out on the couch.

He tip toed into his room and quietly shut his door behind him.

He sat down on his bed and pulled out the half eaten sandwich from his pocket and took it out of the paper towel.

He sat and ate in silence. When he was finished, he got under his covers and tried to fall asleep.

His thoughts kept him up for some time, but eventually he was able to go to bed.

The next morning, JJ woke up to his dad screaming his name. He quickly tried to wake himself up so that he wouldn't seem tired around his dad, and walked out into the living room.

"JJ!" Luke yelled "now what'd I tell you about coming home before dark?!"

"I did!" JJ yelled back

"No the hell y'a didn't! Don't lie to me boy!" Luke spat "you know how bad that would make me look if something happened to you! Then I'D be the one in trouble for lettin you out that late"

"sorry" JJ mumbled with an attitude

"Huh?!" Luke said

"IM SOR-RY" JJ yelled, annunciating his words

"WHO YOU TALKIN TO BOY!" Luke yelled and JJ flinched

As Luke reached for him, JJ tried to run away but it was too late. He grabbed him by the arm and flung his small body down onto the ground.

"I'm sorry! im sorry!" JJ cried as he knew what was about to happen next.

"Sorry don't get you nowhere in life son!" Luke yelled and hit him.

"Now get out of here, I'm sick of lookin at y'a" luke shouted after leaving JJ with several bruises on his body.

JJ ran out of the house and cried as he walked into the woods to get to John bs house.

Before getting there, he wiped away his tears and made sure his eyes weren't red and puffy anymore.

He saw John b out on the dock and walked over to him.

"John b, I found a dead frog by your house. We should put it on a hook and see if we can catch an alligator" JJ said once he got up to John b

"Uhm.. JJ" John b started in a serious tone. "What happened to your lip?"

"Oh, a tree branch hit me while I was walking over here." He lied "I walked right into it" he laughed

"JJ.." John b started. "I walked to your house this morning"

"..oh" JJ said hesitantly

"I saw, uhm.. your dad like.. hitting you or something" John b said

"Well.. yeah I was in trouble" JJ shrugged "your dad hits you when you're in Trouble too"

"Yeah but not like that" John b shook his head

JJ started kicking around the roll of duct tape from yesterday

"Does he do that.. all the time?" John b asked innocently

"I mean, I guess" JJ shrugged, still looking down

"Why don't you tell him to stop" John b asked

"Yea right" JJ chuckled "he'd just hit me harder"

"Did you tell Mrs Johnson?" John b asked

"Why would I tell a teacher?" JJ asked "if I told anyone then I'd have to move away"

"What do you mean?" John b asked

"That's what my dad said" JJ shrugged "and the police would come take my dad away and go to jail"

"Well... wouldn't that be a good thing?" John b asked

"No?" JJ said "I don't want my dad to go to jail John b"

"But then he wouldn't hit you anymore" John b argued

"So?" JJ said "do you want me to get taken away John b? Then I'd never see you again"

"No..." John b admitted "but maybe we could tell my dad, and then he could talk to your dad and then-"

"No John b" JJ cut him off "your not telling anyone. Okay?"

"But" John b felt helpless

"I'm Serious John b It's fine." JJ said

Despite JJ telling him not to, John b still told his dad later that night.

"Dad" John b said as they sat at the table eating a cold sandwich for dinner again.

"Mhm" big John said as he flipped the Page of a book he was reading

"Did you know JJs dad hits him?" John b said and instantly got big John's attention

"Mm.. well" big John started "I had my suspicions I guess"

"And.. JJ lies about the cuts he gets on his face" John b said "and he said I wasn't allowed to tell anyone but-"

"We'll John b there's nothing we can do about it" big John said, going back to his book "it's not our place and it's non of our business."

"But dad, he really hurts him" John b said in a last attempt to get his father to do something about it

"All you can do for him is just be a good friend" big John said "that's all we can do"

"But-"

"That's enough John b" big John said "eat your food"