You were no stranger to J.D. showing up outside your window at night. Your bedroom was on the ground floor so it was fairly easy for J.D. to slip into your room. Neither of you ever said it out loud, but he knew you left the window unlocked just for him.

But what you weren't used to was J.D. showing up looking like this. Fresh bruises with an angry face that was just barely concealing tears. Bud Dean did it, you knew he did. Bud enjoyed throttling his son.

You quickly opened the window and ushered him inside. J.D. was usually all cocky smirks and laid-back, he'd say something like 'Woah princess did you miss me that much?' and proceed to take up half your bed. But there was no smile, no greeting. His shoulders were drawn in and he curled up on your bed like he was trying to be small.

You draped his trenchcoat over your desk chair and his shoes were discarded on the floor with yours. You slowly settled beside him in bed and pulled his head into your lap.