Together

146. I'm his son

My visions blurry
And I can't see
So my heart beats
And I can't breathe
Don't know what controls me
I said you make me wanna OD slowly
-Jared Evan

JJ and Kie are standing side by side, watching as Shoupe is being loaded into an ambulance. The paramedics are calm externally, but the urgency with which they move isn't missed by the pair of teens.

No one could give them a definitive answer as to what was happening, but based on the way Shoupe was grabbing at his chest, Kie thought it may be a heart attack. She remembered someone having one at the Wreck once, and this felt similar.

She is trying to calm her breathing now that things are moving into a different phase of crisis. Trying to sort her thoughts enough for them to make decisions on the next steps. She looks to her right, and JJ is just as tense and out of breath, though they've been standing here for a long enough amount of time to have settled any racing hearts if this was just physical.

JJ was so fast to get to the Shoupe when he started to collapse, lowering him to the ground with ease, so he wouldn't just fall on the pavement, and rested him against the rental car. But beyond that there was next to nothing that he could do to assist his guardian.

He began trying to get the man to look at him. To talk to him, to tell him what was going on and how they could help.

Kiara watched as Shoupe did his best to open his eyes, unsuccessfully trying to wave it off to say that he's alright, and failing when whatever stress his body was under caused him to continue a grimaced expression.

"JJ," she said, trying to get him to consult with her over what needs to be done. "JJ, should I call someone?"

Shoupe was still awake, he hadn't fallen unconscious, yet. But it was a terrifying experience to view. To watch as his body hunched and his breath came in gasps. Despite his attempts to assure them both he was fine, he couldn't get the words out.

"JJ!" she insisted, forcing his attention to come back to her.

He quickly snapped his head back to her. "Kie, call 'em," he told her, his expression set and sure.

She nodded her head quickly, understanding his concern filled eyes. He turned back to the sheriff soon after watching her dial the number. She watched him crouch and put his hands on the man's shoulders. Watched onward as JJ talked to him. Being as calm as he could to assure him that things are going to be alright, that help is coming. She watched JJ be there for him, transfixed until the operator picked up with calm,

"911 what is your emergency?"

———————————————————

"JJ?" Kie calls from behind him.

He can hear her clearly. It's almost too clear. Like he's highly aware of everything going on to a degree that feels overwhelming.

All his senses are coming in hot. The sound of rubber tires grinding on the blacktop, the spring heat beating down on their shoulders, the pounding in his chest that is making him feel like he should be moving. Acutely aware of the way people are staring and wondering what's going on. He can hear every question, every guess, every comment. It just makes him want to act.

This isn't strange to him. The way he's feeling everything all at once. Felt the same way when Kie was drowning in a sewer drain. Same way when Pope was dying from anaphylactic shock. And when John B needed an escape from Kildare and he gave him the keys to the Phantom.

Sometimes he feels helpless to situations out of his control. Couldn't do anything to help Kie the night she was attacked at the Wreck. Didn't have any way to prevent Pope from being ganged up on by Rafe and Topper. But when he does feel like he has options, he jumps to solving the problem immediately, as stupid as the plan may be at times.