Chapter Two: Get Out Of My Head

Author's Note: Hello everyone. Thanks for coming back for the next chapter. As always, I don't own The Night Shift or any of its characters. The chapter title comes from Unbeautiful by Lesley Roy.

"I don't know how much longer I can take this," she said to Gwen one day when the two of them were getting lunch. "It's getting so much worse than I ever thought it would."

"Maybe you need to tell someone who can do something about it. You work for the police department. They can help you." Gwen frowned at Jordan as she took a sip of her water. "Have you at least told TC?"

"Tell TC?" Jordan asked, raising her eyebrow. "Telling TC is the opposite of a good idea. I'd never get a moment of peace. Besides, he has enough on his plate. The last thing he needs to know is that his partner has a stalker."

"I'm just saying, TC would make sure someone was with you at all times. It's not a bad idea," Gwen said, sitting back in her seat.

"I really don't want to talk about this anymore, Gwen," Jordan said, looking around her, hoping that whomever had been following her around the last month wasn't near her at that moment.

"Fine, I'll change the topic. How are things with you and Scott? Has the squad found out you're dating each other yet?"

"Nope, and I intend for it to stay that way," Jordan said, hearing her phone start to vibrate with an incoming text message. She bit her lip and looked around again, hoping that it wasn't from her stalker.

"Think it's him?" Gwen asked, looking at the look on Jordan's face. "Just tell someone so you don't have to jump every time your phone goes off."

"I don't jump every time my phone goes off," Jordan said, looking at the message. She exhaled slowly when it was just Caroline, asking her for the umpteenth time if she'd found out anything about their dad's mystery life. "I should get back to the station, though." She pushed her chair out and stood up. "Thanks for the lunch idea. It's nice to get out of the station sometimes."

"It's nice to get out of the morgue too." Gwen stood up and hugged her friend. "If you need anything, I'm a text away. You don't have to go through this alone."

"Thanks, Gwen. I'm sure everything is going to be fine soon." Jordan glanced over her shoulder one last time before heading to her car.

As she drove to the station, she thought a lot about whoever was stalking her. She was a police detective; there was a wide range of suspects who it could be. She'd worked in the police department since she was 22 and she was 28. There were literally hundreds of people who could be wanting their revenge.

That made it hard to narrow down who it could be.

-X-

"Good, Jordan, you're back," Topher said when she got back into the squad room and took her seat at her desk. "The time has come for our annual meetings with Internal Affairs and our psychology checks," Topher said, causing everyone to groan. "I know, I know. It's not my favorite time either. But, too switch it up a little, I figured we'd go in reverse alphabetical order. I already went, so Kenny, it's your turn."

Jordan groaned inwardly. She only had a limited time to figure out what she was going to do with the Internal Affairs questioning and the psych evaluation.

It would definitely be frowned upon that she has a stalker, after all.

-X-

"Good afternoon, Detective Alexander," Michael Ragosa, the Internal Affairs officer for their station, said when Jordan was about to get questioned. "Let's get down to business. I'll review your cases from the last year and offer any recommendations I see fit. Then I'll leave the room, and the psychologist will come in to complete your psychological evaluation. Any questions?"

"Nope, I'm just ready to get this over with," Jordan said, rubbing her hands on her pants.

Ragosa nodded and opened her personnel file, scanning it briefly before looking up at her. "How long have you been a detective here in San Antonio?"

"Six years, sir," Jordan said.

He nodded. "Well, there aren't any complaints against you in your file. No record of excessive force and good reviews from Captain Zia and your fellow officers." He shut the file and crossed his arms across his chest. "Have you considered taking your sergeant's exam?"

"Sergeant's exam? No, not really."

Ragosa studied her for a minute. "Well, I really think you should consider it." He turned towards his briefcase and pulled out some papers and a brochure. "Here's some information on it. Why don't you think it over for a little and let me know when you have an answer."

Jordan nodded and took the papers, looking them over. "Well, I'll think over."

"I think you'd make an excellent sergeant." He shut his briefcase and stood up. "Oh, one last thing. I've heard you're in a relationship with your ADA. Is that true? Because you know that's a huge conflict of interest. And it could affect your potential movement in the department." He gave her a knowing look and started to leave. "I look forward to hearing your answer about the exam. The psychologist will be in shortly."

Jordan picked up the sheets of paper that Ragosa left and looked them over. Of course, Jordan didn't expect to be just a detective for the rest of her time at the station, but she didn't think she'd be propositioned about the sergeant's exam that quickly. She was the one on the squad with the least seniority.

"Detective Alexander? I'm Rebecca Stewart, I'm going to be conducting your psychological examination today."

"Hi. And you can just call me Jordan."

"Then you can call me Becky," she said with a smile. "I don't think this should take too long. I was just looking over your file during your meeting with Lieutenant Ragosa and everything looks fine. Is there anything you're concerned about?"

Jordan swallowed thickly and tried to keep her face neutral. "I don't think so."

Becky studied her face and frowned slightly. "I feel like you aren't being completely open with me. This session will go quickly if we have an open and honest dialogue."

Jordan let out a small laugh. "Open and honest dialogue? Does anyone actually talk like that? Or is that in the script that you're supposed to know the basics of before coming in here to talk with us?" Jordan ran a hand through her hair. "You want open and honest? I've been getting these creepy notes and texts and emails for a month or so. It's getting to the point where my best friend is freaking out, thinking that something bad is going to happen to me." She felt tears coming to her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. "And I haven't told anyone from the squad because I know them and they're going to want to protect me all the time. And I don't need protecting," Jordan said, not bothering to wipe away the tears that were falling at a faster pace now. "And I just found out my dad isn't the guy I thought he was and I have a half-brother that I never knew about." She sniffed and looked at Becky. "How's that for an open and honest dialogue?"

Becky wrote some things down in a folder then looked back at Jordan. "You have a stalker? That's a serious statement. Are you getting help from anyone?"

"Did you not listen to what I said?" Jordan said as she started crying harder. "I can't do that."

"Okay," Becky said, writing something down. She tore off a sheet of paper and handed it to Jordan. "I think you need to take some time off from working. Not long. Maybe just a week to recuperate. And you need to tell people that you have a stalker so they can help you. You have many co-workers who can help you out. You need some time to be away from the stress. So, I want you to get your bag and go home. I'll let your captain know what I said."

"But I want to work. That's what keeps me sane."

Becky frowned at Jordan. "Then I think you need to find something else to keep you sane." She pushed her chair back and walked out of the room.

Jordan sniffed and wiped away the tears that were still on her face. She didn't need the guys to know she had started crying during her psych eval. She took a few deep breaths and walked out of the room and headed over to her desk.

"Good thing those are over with, isn't it?" TC asked from where he was sitting. He looked closely at Jordan and frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Jordan said, turning off her computer. She opened one of her desk drawers and took out her purse and started packing up to leave for the day.

"What are you doing?"

"I started crying during my evaluation," Jordan snapped, turning her attention towards TC. "I started crying and she said I have to go home for the rest of the day and that I should take a week off." Without another word, she grabbed her bag and stormed towards the entrance to the station, slamming the door when she left.

-X-

A few hours later, Jordan was curled up on her couch, watching a movie when she heard a knock on her apartment door. She paused the movie and walked over to the door, making sure to check to see who it was before opening it. Seeing it was Scott, she sighed and opened the door. "Hey," she said, stepping to side so she could let him in.

"I heard you had a rough day," he said. "You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. We do have to talk though," Jordan said, shutting the door. "I'm sure you heard that IA came to visit today."

"Why were they there?" Scott asked.

"Yearly reviews. It's no big deal. But, when Ragosa was leaving, he mentioned something about the two of us being together. Did you say anything to your boss?"

Scott raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were keeping this on the DL for a little while."

"So did I. But he mentioned something about a conflict of interest."

Scott sighed. "I could see how that would be a problem." He walked closer to Jordan and took one of her hands. "So, what do you think we should do?"

Jordan bit her lip. "Well, you love your job and I love mine. We both are going to eventually want to be promoted. This could stop that from happening." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Besides, this wasn't anything serious. You never even took me on a proper date."

Scott chuckled and gave Jordan a half-smile. "That is true. So, what do you say? Friends?"

"That's definitely not a conflict of interest," she said, smiling. "I'll see you around, Scott."

"See you around, Jordan." He started walking to her door and stopped for a minute. "And whatever happened today, don't let it affect you for the long haul. I'm sure it wasn't too bad." He smiled at her, opened the door and left.

Jordan took a deep breath and went back to the couch. She unpaused the movie she was watching and fished around for her phone. She hit the center button and saw she had three messages, one from Gwen, one from TC and one from a blocked number.

Feeling her heart start to race, she unlocked her phone and saw she had a new message from her stalker. She read the message, threw her phone back down on the couch and stopped the movie.

"I am too sober to deal with this right now," she said, grabbing her wallet.

-X-

"Thanks for meeting with me," TC said to Landry when they met for a late dinner near the police station. "There's something we have to talk about."

"Yeah, there definitely is," she said, crossing her arms across her chest. "What happened to you Friday night? I waited for you to show up but you never did."

"I did show up," TC said, trying to keep his voice level. "When I got to your apartment, I saw you were up with Peter." He watched as the color started to drain from Landry's face. "I thought when you told me you were pregnant that you'd stopped seeing him."

"I swear to God, T, I did. He just showed up out of the blue. He wanted to talk. I promise that's all that happened."

"Really? That's all the happened? Because that's what you said when we were dating and you and I both know that wasn't true."

"That's not fair, TC."

"No, I think it's completely fair." He looked down at his phone, seeing he had an incoming call. He pressed ignore and turned his attention back to Landry. "Look, I just wanted you to know that I'm all in when it comes to the baby. But when it comes to you and me ever being in a relationship, it's not going to work."

Landry pressed her lips together. "It was never going to work," she muttered.

TC heard his phone go off again and he looked at who was calling him. He saw Jordan's number pop up and saw the goofy picture she set from one night when they were on a stakeout together.

"Let me guess, it's Jordan. You know how I know that? Because it's always Jordan. I've always come after Jordan." She wiped her mouth with her napkin and pushed her chair back. "I'll let you know when I have my next doctor's appointment."

TC watched her walk off for a second before turning his attention back to his phone. He accepted the call this time and put the phone to his ear. "Hey, Jordan. What's up?"

"Hi, TC," she said in an airy tone that he'd never heard from her before. "How are you?"

TC bit back a chuckle and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm good. How are you?" he asked, signaling to the waiter. Covering the receiver with his hand, he gestured to his half-eaten burger. "I'm going to need this to go. And can I get a bacon cheeseburger, medium well with mayo to go too?"

"Of course, sir," the waiter said.

"TC," he heard Jordan say into the phone. "I think I might be a little drunk."

"I can tell," he said, fishing around his pockets for his wallet. He pulled out a twenty dollar bill and laid it down on the table. "Where are you at? I should come get you so you don't get in more trouble with IA."

TC could hear Jordan groan. "I am trying to forget about that," she said. "But I'm at that bar down the street from my place. I didn't even drive."

"Well, I'm getting some food right now, but I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. Stay out of trouble, blue eyes," he said, knowing it would get a rise out of her.

"My eyes are not blue, they're green," she screeched into the phone, just like she did every time.

"I must have forgotten," TC said, smiling to himself. "I'll be there soon."

Jordan was silent on the other line for a few seconds before she sighed. "Thanks, TC. You're the best partner a girl could ask for."

"It's what I strive for." The waiter laid the to go boxes down on the table and smiled at him. "I gotta go. I'll see you soon, Jordan." He hung up the phone and grabbed the boxes. "Thanks, man. Keep the change," he said, gesturing to the money on the table.

-X-

"There you are," Jordan said when she noticed him come into the bar.

"You know," TC said, sitting next to Jordan at the bar. "I've never seen you act like this."

Jordan turned to TC's direction, her eyes trying to focus on his face. "That's because I have this big problem right now. And I just wanted to forget about it for a little bit."

"Yeah," TC said, smiling at her. "And what problem would that be?"

"No, it's not work-related. Not really at least." She sighed and took a drink of the water that the bartender put in front of her. "T, can you keep a secret?"

"I don't know, Jor. I'm not the best at secret keeping. I've always been one to spill things accidentally."

"No, I need you to promise to keep this a secret," Jordan said. "The thing is…I've been getting this really strange…letters and texts lately."

"About what?"

"This guy…I don't know who he is…but he won't leave me alone." She felt herself start to cry and TC reached out to brush away the falling tears. "I thought I could handle it on my own, but I…can't," she said, taking a breath and exhaling. "I don't know what to do anymore."

TC frowned and stood up from the barstool he was sitting on. He held out his hands and Jordan frowned at him. "Come on," he said, taking her hands and helping her up. "Let's get you back to your place."

"I really don't want to be alone tonight." She pulled out her phone, trying to find something. "Look what he sent me tonight," she said, trying to focus on her screen to find the text message from an unknown number. She smiled triumphantly and handed her phone to TC. "It's not the nicest thing I've ever been sent."

TC looked at the phone, his eyes widening when he saw what was written. "Do you think he's going to be at your place?"

"I don't know. I want to think I'll be safe, but you never know."

TC focused on Jordan and took her hand. "You're staying with me tonight."

"T, I shouldn't," Jordan said, trying to focus on his eyes. "My place is going to be fine."

"You're staying with me," he said in a firmer tone. He helped Jordan get up and led her out of the bar. "Have you told anyone about the notes?"

"Just Gwen and Caroline. And the psychologist person. That's part of the reason I have to take a week off. It was part of our open and honest dialogue from earlier," Jordan said as she started giggling. "I've never been to your place before."

"It's nothing to be impressed by. It's pretty messy right now," he said, helping her get into his car without smacking her head against the door frame. She was bound to have a bad enough headache in the morning anyway.

The drive back to TC's place was fairly quiet, with the exception of Jordan giggling over whatever was popping into her head.

"Hey, funny girl, we're here," TC said, pulling up to his condo. "Can you manage getting out on your own?"

Jordan shot him a glance and opened her car door with ease. "I'm not drunk, TC," she said, unbuckling her seatbelt as she got out of the car. "So, this is the famous bachelor pad. I've heard so many stories from you, Kenny, Drew and Toph."

"You haven't been here?" he asked, leading her to the door.

"Psh, no. I'm not into sports like you guys are." She rubbed her eyes and sniffed. "Thanks again, T. I really mean it."

"Yeah, I know you do." He opened the door and led her inside. "Let me fix my bed up for you and you can sleep there for the night, okay?" he said, leading her to the sofa so she could sit down.

"Okay," she sighed, kicking off her shoes.

TC went to the kitchen and filled up a glass of water and shook out two Advil tablets for her. He walked them over to where she was sitting and handed them to her. "Take these now. It'll help." He smiled at her and walked back to his room.

He pushed all his motorcycle magazines under his bed and paused, staring at the bedsheets. He couldn't remember the last time they'd been changed, which probably meant it had been awhile. He went back to the living room, to see if Jordan had a preference to what blanket she used.

"Hey, Jor, do you want—" He trailed off when he saw that she was curled up on her side, already asleep. He smiled and grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over her. For just-in-case purposes, he dragged over a trashcan so she didn't have to stumble to the bathroom if she needed to get sick.

He went back into the kitchen and filled up another glass of water and brought the bottle of Advil over to the coffee table in front of her. "Goodnight, Jordan," he whispered. "Everything's going to be okay."