there for me (shourtney)

lv.

shayne's pov -

The car ride home was silent. 

Jesus, what an end to the night. What did he say to her? Should I have said something to him? Did she want me to?

Pothole after pothole, the car rolled on. Engine humming. Courtney's eyes were trained ahead of her, focused on the road. As if we'd crash if she looked away. 

We pulled up to our house and I turned off the engine and rounded the car. Opening her door for her. She smiled sweetly as she stepped out. 

Courtney pressed the code into the keypad to open the door and walked in first. She headed upstairs while I did a lap downstairs. A habit I picked up. Checking that all the doors were locked and lights were switched off, then I headed up the stairs to do the same. 

Noticing Courtney had made a beeline for the bathroom, I closed the curtains in front of the sliding glass door. Shutting out the moonlight. I checked the kitchen over, and deciding everything was good, I walked into our bedroom. 

"Hey, Court?" I asked softly, knocking on the locked bathroom door.

She opened it slowly. Her figure stood in an oversized pink t-shirt that barely covered the top of her thighs. Hair falling out of a bun. 

"I'm going to brush my teeth, alright? Then I'll come to bed." I smiled softly. 

She nodded, cupping my cheeks. Placing a tender kiss on my lips before sneaking out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.

I kept the door open while I brushed my teeth and changed into loungewear. Just so you know, I'm in here. You're safe. 

In a few minutes, I was changed, clean, and ready for bed. Shutting off the light behind me, I cracked the door and headed to my side of the bed. The far side. 

The lamp on Courtney's nightstand was already off. Mine was dim. I flicked it off as I slid under the sheets. Making Courtney whimper. She instantly latched onto my side.

"I'm here." I said quietly. Barely audible. I wondered if she heard. I laid flat, one shoulder supported Courtney's head, my other hand grazed her hip. She nestled deep into my side. Trying her best to fuse our bodies together. Her arms tucked close to her chest and she dipped her head close to my neck. 

Feeling puffs of warm air escape her nose, I flattened my palm against her hip. Running it up to rest just below her ribs. I prayed touch would soothe her. 

"Goodnight." I muttered. 

"I love you." She said. Placing a kiss to my neck before relaxing against my body. 

-

Floor tiles cracking beneath stealth footsteps woke me up well before I wanted. Cracking my eyes, I caught a sliver of Courtney in the kitchen. Still in her long shirt. My view from the bed allowed me to catch a quick glimpse of her as she walked past the fridge and out into the living area. 

I heard the sliding glass door open, and a thud as she stepped on to the deck. Not closing the door behind her.

Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. As I flipped the covers off of me and stood up, I remembered what happened last night. We gotta talk about it. 

I headed out into the living area and over to the sliding glass door. Just as I reached the threshold of the deck, I hesitated. Watching Courtney sit there. Early morning sunlight tangled in her red hair. It shocked her bare legs in wave after wave of golden light. The salty air hung around her figure. I swear to god, you're too good to be true. 

Sliding the door open a few more inches, I sat in the chair next to her. Looking out onto the waterlogged horizon. 

"Good morning." I said. "You're up early." 

Courtney exhaled and smiled. 

"I am. We gotta be in the office early today." She said. Squinting her eyes in the sun. 

"Eleven, right?" I confirmed. She nodded.

"How are you doing this morning?" I asked her. I know it's early, but we gotta do this.

She hesitated. 

"I'm alright." She said plainly. 

"Court ... " I edged. Come on. She inhaled sharply. I thought she started to cry, but she looked over at me with the sincerest eyes I've ever seen.

"When you told me about what happened with Jude that night with the fan, I doubted you. I didn't think it was right." She groaned. "Fuck, I sound like an asshole. But. I didn't think it was real. Then this guy comes up to me last night." She talked with her hands. "Asking me if I was married, if Kora was mine. Legitimately, he was just a creep. I mean sure he freaked me out ... " She trailed off.

"But .. " I led on. Is it my fault?

"But I was holding Kora. And it was like my body was telling me to get out of there with her. To get away from him. He was just being nosy, humans do that, whatever, no harm. Creep." She held a fist to her lips. "But I was with her. And I got - I got protective. It's real." She looked up at me.

There are a million things I could say to comfort you, but I'm not sure what would work.

"It's ... scary, isn't it? You don't expect to feel it that strongly." I said. Try to relate to her.

"It's so scary." She agreed. "And so strong. I felt like I was doing something wrong. And - and the feeling stayed with me too. It didn't just go away."

I nodded. 

"I know. It's a shock." I raised my eyebrows. "Damien said something that actually stuck with me. Back when it happened with Jude. He was like 'hey you have this protective piece of you that you now know exists. work through it. but you also have to address it at some point'."

Courtney let out a single laugh. 

"Wise words." She said. "What a man." She cleared her throat. "But it's true. It was never this intense during the babysitting videos, or even when we first started babysitting Kora and Jude."

"Right, it started happening with strangers." I added. Looking over, I noticed a frown creased Courtney's lips. "I have an idea." I reached over and grabbed one of her hands. "Let's do breakfast in the city today. Get out of here early and see what the day has to bring." I smiled.

Courtney beamed. "I'd love that." She pulled me up to stand and led me inside. Separating as she walked to the kitchen to brew some coffee while I started the shower to let it warm.

I was so deep in thought that I almost missed Courtney's reminder to pack extra clothes for filming Eat It Or Yeet It today. 

Think, Shayne, think. What can I do?

-

ooo what's he planning? thanks for all the support:)