After the Storm- JJ Maybank (Outer Banks)

25.

I sat in the police station, leaning back into the chair. My chest felt heavy and I had been crying constantly since the day before. I believed my entire body was still in shock. I sat alone in the sheriffs office. I kept turning my head to see JJ in the waiting room. Even after everything that had happened, JJ still came with me to the police station. I could tell he was upset but he wanted to be here for me.

"Thank you for coming in." Shoupe twirled a pen in his fingers, he was nervous.

"My results?"

"Your, uh, rape kit came back positive with Rafe's DNA. It also fits with the story that you and Kiara shared with us."

"What about everything else?"

"Rachel-"

"No, I told you what happened on the Tarmac. I wouldn't lie to a police officer. It was Rafe. Peterkin was going to expose Ward and Rafe killed her. John B was only there because Ward stole his gold. There's evidence against him. Gavin was there, he saw. Ward killed him. I saw with my two eyes."

"What evidence?"

"We gave you the gun. But, there is a woman in Charleston that has evidence to prove it was Rafe."

"Alright, where is it?"

"She tried to kill us when we wouldn't give her something she was looking for. But, we don't have it."

"Yeah, sounds like you're lying to me right now. I can't keep defending you, and especially not him either. One more problem and that kid is going to get sent to jail." He points out to JJ.

I look to him, he was just tapping his leg and staring at the ceiling. I looked back to Shoupe.

"You'll see. You'll see that we were telling the truth this whole time. Just you wait."

"What do you want me to do about Rafe?"

"Charge him for kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder."

"Rachel."

"That's enough to put him away for a long time."

"I can't do that."

"Don't charge him yet. Once I get you the evidence, we can charge him with it all at once huh? But, could I get a restraining order?"

Shoupe sighed. He had a soft spot for me for some reason. He hated to see me like this.

"You remind me so much of your father."

Something switched in my body, hearing him mention my dad.

"I miss him so much."

"Me too."

My dad used to work on the police force, before he disappeared. Shoupe and him were close.

"So?"

"I'll get you a restraining order for the time being. But promise me, stay out of trouble. Keep him in line?"

"I'll try my best."

"I see the way he looks at you. He basically worships you."

"Oh god." I stood up, pushing my chair in.

"I'll get that order out as soon as possible. But seriously, stay out of trouble."

"Got it."

Shoupe got up and opened the door for me. He gave me a half smile before looking over to JJ, who shot straight up the second he heard the door open.

"I'll stay in touch. Remember what I said, young lady."

I just nodded to him, seeing that JJ was getting visibly antsy. He hated cops, and so did I. Just because Shoupe had history with my family doesn't mean he would protect me all the time- there were many examples of that. 

"Are you okay?" I walked side by side with JJ.

"Yeah, I'm good. He told us to stay out of trouble."

"We have to help John B."

"I know. We will. We just have to stay out of the police's view. We both cannot afford to get arrested again."

"You're right. John B's court hearing is in a couple minutes. Kie, Pope and Sarah are already there."

I shuttered, thinking about seeing John B again. I'm sure he was badly beaten up after yesterday. It just kept replaying in my head, watching the cop almost beat him to a pulp. I could barely sleep the night before. I kept waking up after having nightmares of what was happening or what I imagined John B was going through. I wasn't sure if I was ready to see him.

-

We walked into the courthouse, sitting down next to Sarah. I reached my hand out to grab hers, squeezing it tightly. She gave me a small smile before looking back up front. The judge had just begun talking about his sentence if he was convicted. 

"The maximum sentence being the death penalty."

Those words rang through my head several times before I understood what was happening. My entire body shook when the gavel hit the table, the cops going to grab John B. He turned to us for a quick second, fear washing over his face. He was covered in bruises and looked dirty. There was almost no expression across his face as he was being carried out.

"Your honor, he's 17! He's 17!" JJ got up, about to raise hell on anyone who would come near him.

"JJ. Stop it." I went to grab his arm but he pulled away. 

Sarah let go of my hand and rushed to the front of the courthouse, trying to get to John B. I jumped over the seats to go after her, but a cop pulled me out of the way.

"Hey! Get your hands off of her!" I heard Kie yell behind me, trying to help me out.

The cop pushed me back, sending me falling backwards to the ground.

"What the hell!" JJ was standing over me now, but I saw the look of anger go across his face.

"JJ, don't!" I reached out for him and stopped him from grabbing the cop who shoved me back. 

Kie had Sarah and Pope was assisting JJ out of the courthouse. I slowly followed them out.

"Is this a joke?" Kie said. 

I kept overhearing the Kooks saying that justice was getting served. 

"Can you shut up? He's innocent and you will all see sooner or later."

"He's got you all fooled." I saw Ward, his arm around Rose.

"No, cause you're the murderer." 

He scoffed, looking to me.

"You should've just stayed on your side of the island. Look what you got yourself into, trouble."

"You have no room to talk. I watched you murder Gavin, and you witnessed Rafe assault me and JJ. Don't you ever talk to me like that again, you piece of shit."

Kie tried to run to Ward, but I pulled her back. Sarah grabbed her other shoulder.

"It's not worth it." She said.

"It's not a coincidence that your daughter is sitting with us." Kie yelled back.

"Everyone go the hell home!" I heard a cop yell from behind us.

We all started heading our way back to John B's, trying to think of a plan that could get him out of this hell hole.