Lost at Sea 2 ⋆ JJ Maybank

𝖝𝖝𝖎𝖎𝖎. A Free(ish) Man

Sleeping in the studio is never a good idea. It's already bad when Kathryn is alone, the sofa digging into the back of her neck, making her stiff in the morning, but it's worse with JJ asleep on top of her, snoring softly. His face is in the crook of her neck, blowing breaths fanning against her skin. He has an arm around her waist, hot fingers digging in the flesh in his sleep, holding her tightly. Kathryn's arms are around him, one hand settling on his shoulder, the other around his bicep. They're both sleeping soundly, for once.

Billy, who woke up early in the morning, found them cute if she wasn't dwelling on all the complaining her friend will spew when she wakes up. 'Argh, my neck!', 'My back!'... maybe just get a room next time? However, it's all a little worth it when Billy remembers the peaceful look on her face when she fell asleep last night – the first one to. Her head was resting against JJ's shoulder, laid back on the couch, too shy to hold her there but too loving to think about moving an inch. How they ended up in that position in the morning, well, Billy can only blame it on buried feelings and adoring instincts.

Besides, compared to Kie and Pope who fell asleep on armchairs, they might be in a better position. At least she passed out on the rocking chair... Somewhere along the speech of stealing a car to get to Charleston (a wonder Kathryn was asleep by then, otherwise she would've put the fear of god into JJ.) Kie did tear him a new on – they'd just gotten back from rescuing him from his debatably suicidal mission.

All this to say, Billy is the first awake, and she's rummaging on her own. Her brother is making pancakes in the kitchen, but is wholly too engrossed in his boyfriend to actually make them. Disgusting.

There's a knock on the door. Billy didn't know they were expecting anyone, but considering what happened the day before, she half-expects the cops to show up. If not for JJ, for Henry, who punched Ward in the face. Which is still one of her favourite moments.

"I'll get it," she says. The only thing answering her are giggles. See previous comment about her brother and his boyfriend.

She saunters to the front door, downing her orange juice in one go. She plasters a smile on her face, and opens up.

"What the fuck?"

John B, who was grinning too, frowns. "Uh, hi?"

She seems familiar – he thinks he's seen her at his hearing. She was with Kat. Still, not exactly who he expected to open the door.