Collins shifted her gaze between the two while JJ moved behind the wheel and started lowering the motor into the water. She took the safe option and sat at the middle of the boat, not too close to Kie and not too close to Pope. Drama was exactly the kind of thing she'd been hoping to avoid. 
The ride home was quiet the whole way. If Kie or Pope said another word, another fight would ensue and what was the point? After they'd dropped Pope off at the dock to Heyward's, things still felt gloomy on the boat. They still didn't know where John B was or what to do about him, but then again, what could they do? He clearly didn't want their help and now they were a man short. Not to mention that Collins wouldn't be of any more assistance that night either since she had to go home before Charlie sent out an Amber alert. When Kie had driven Collins back to her house, the night had run so long that Collins wasn't even sure what time it was, just that it was way past her bedtime. And if that was true, then dinner was yesterday, which meant that Collins was in even bigger trouble than just missing curfew.
"Hey," JJ stopped her as she was saying her good night's, hanging his arm and his head out of the window on the passenger's side to exchange a few words of his own with her. "You sure you wanna go back so soon when you know Charlie's gonna have it out with you? It might be nice just to have a peaceful night after everything that went down. I wouldn't blame you."
Shaking her head, Collins politely turned down JJ's suggestion. Glancing over her shoulder back at her house where she could still see light from a candle still burning from behind the curtains, Collins knew that she shouldn't keep her brother waiting any longer. "I can't let him keep worrying about me just for my own sake. I appreciate the thought, though. I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully, for an update."
"Okay." JJ accepted, holding his hand out with his palm up for her to take. He cracked a small smile as she slipped her hand into his with a gentle touch. He gave it a light squeeze. "Good luck in there."
"Thanks, I'm sure I'll need it." Collins thought about going in to kiss him on the cheek for a split second, but with Kie there in such a sour mood, Collins thought against it. Their simple hand holding would suffice.
Releasing each other from their grasp, Collins finally turned and started heading up the footpath to her house. She opened the door and looked back to see Kie and JJ both wave at her before the car started driving off, and they'd disappeared into the night. Taking a single deep breath, Collins faced forward once again and proceeded to make her way inside. 
As she took her first steps in, Collins was immediately met by Charlie sitting at the kitchen table, a plate set across from him with some chicken and mixed vegetables on it that had probably gone cold long ago. Frozen in place, Collins stared back at him, prepared to receive whatever words he had for her, delivered in whatever way he desired. He could yell at her and she would understand, he could not say one thing to her, and she would understand. He could even take on a gentle approach with her, and Collins would still understand, because sometimes, Charlie was just that easy going. 
Only, it felt like Collins had been testing that part of him a little too much lately. One could even say that she was taking advantage of it, and that was where it wasn't okay anymore. That was where she herself felt like a terrible person for taking short cuts with her brother when she should've just been honest with him and communicated with him. 
"What happened?" Charlie asked with a shrug in confusion, looking up at Collins for an explanation. His voice didn't seem angry, though that was subject to change. It just sounded lost, like it was still trying to figure out if he wanted to yell or be quiet, furious or upset.