Together

25. 911

No, I don't care about them all
Cause all I want is to be loved
And all I care about is you
You're stuck on me like a tattoo
No, I don't care about the pain
I'd walk through fire and through rain
Just to get closer to you
-Loreen

Shoupe sits at his desk at the Sheriff's station. He's slightly distracted, thinking about what to do about JJ and the Carrera girl. Since JJ confided in him about Mike's threat, he's been feeling a need to do something. He told JJ they would talk about their options, now he just had to think of some.

He thought about heading to Carrera's to have a conversation with Mike directly. Perhaps if he knew that JJ had a responsible caregiver he wouldn't be so opposed to the relationship. Besides, it wasn't like the girl was going to exactly let the boy go.

He shakes his head as he remembers catching her in JJ's room after two in the morning. He had heard part of the conversation and could tell that the Carrera girl wasn't going to drop it. He understood why JJ was leaving. He knew that girl well. He couldn't avoid her, not even in his own home.

Shoupe caught himself getting angry when he thought about the reason JJ was so adamant that he would leave. Mike took advantage of JJ's feelings for the girl and exploited them. Maybe confronting him outright right now wasn't the best idea.

Before Shoupe could think about other options, he's surprised by someone approaching his desk. He looks up to see the man in front of him.

"Mike," Shoupe says. Well, guess option one it is. Although this conversation is hardly one for a professional setting.

"Hey Shoupe," Mike says politely. They were not friends but were pretty familiar with each other since he often raised complaints against the friends that his daughter chose to spend her time with.

"How can I help you," he asks, indicating Mike have a seat and walking around the desk to close the door. Mike nods in appreciation for the privacy as Shoupe retakes his seat.

"I need to file a restraining order," Mike says resting his hands on his thighs.

Shoupe raises his eyebrows in surprise. Mike looked incredibly irritated and he sensed, a little desperate. "Someone bothering you?" he asks.

Mike lets out a short laugh. "You could say that, yeah, a bit," he bites. "It's not really for me, it's for my daughter, Kiara." Shoupe nods along as Mike continues. "That kid, JJ Maybank, won't leave her alone. I've told him to stay clear and he won't stop. Had a conversation with him this morning even and the kid still very clearly doesn't respect what I want for her."

"Uh-huh," Shoupe says with skepticism Mike doesn't seem to catch. "Mike, has he done anything to Kiara, specifically?"

Mike balks at him, crossing his arms in a clear indication of deception. "I just told you, he won't leave her be," Mike exclaims. "And this is to protect her from him doing something to her, since talking to him about it doesn't seem to get through his fucking skull."

Shoupe feels an undercurrent of anger run through him, same one that he felt earlier that made him rethink confronting Mike directly. He keeps it in check, thank god he's trained in dealing with difficult people. "Mike, I'm not so sure that this relationship is as one sided as you're making it," he challenges.

"What the hell does that mean?"

Shoupe thinks about his next words for a half second. No real easy way to say it.