"What are you doing?!" I stood with my hands against the wall, legs shaking beneath me at the thought of getting shot.

The man was standing behind me, the gun he had retrieved from a desk drawer pressed to my back. "I'm taking care of my home. I don't know what made you think you could just walk into my house like it was nothing, but I won't stand for it. You teenagers have no respect." He dug the end of the gun into my spine. "But don't worry. The cops will teach you respect when they get here and throw your ass in juvi."

All I could do was stand there as he tied my hands and then my feet together. I stared out the window in longing as if Rowen would just suddenly appear. But he didn't and I was forced towards a closet.

I glanced back at the man as he pushed me forward. "Please. I swear I wasn't planning to do anything," I begged.

He scoffed. "Sure," he said, and shoved me forward. "Get your ass in there while I call the cops."

He kicked my legs and I gasped as I fell forward, barely catching myself with my tied hands. Now more furious than fearful, I turned and glared at him. "You'll regret this," I snarled, knowing Rowen would have fun murdering this guy when he got his hands on him. "I'm serious."

"So am I," he said, crouching to be closer to my face. "Now shut up or I'll gag you too," he threatened.

He stood and retreated from the closet. I tried to put my hands against the door to keep him from closing it. But with tied hands and feet, I couldn't get to the door before he shut it. I grabbed for the handle just as I heard a click from the other side.

*******

Rowen read over his own scrawled handwriting and nodded. That should do it. If he wasn't in, the note would suffice in asking him over for coffee sometime. Maybe they could get drinks together if he was up for it.

Standing up from his desk, Rowen stepped out into the living room. "Hey, I'm going to go out for a bit. Will you..." he trailed off as he surveyed the empty room. Kevin must have gone out for another walk. Rowen couldn't blame him; the older man's attitude over the previous several hours had been unusual, and he wasn't surprised that Kevin wanted some breathing room.

Knowing he wouldn't be gone that long, Rowen decided there was no need to worry. He left the cabin and began his trek through the trees. He took a deep breath as he walked, listening to the natural sounds of the woods. It was always peaceful here. That was why he loved living in the Bridger-Teton forest. Wyoming had much to offer in the way of wildlife and peace, a luxury law runners rarely had in combination with one another.

When Rowen reached the cabin, he could hear music playing from inside the house. He jogged up to the house and knocked on the door. There was some shuffling before the door swung inward the cabin's owner smiled brightly. "Rowen! It's been too long," he greeted.

Rowen returned the man's smiled. "That it has, Rick. Mind if I come in?"

Rick held the door open, and Rowen stepped inside. "It's always a while in between your visits," Rick said. He closed the door and followed his guest to the living room. "You came at an interesting time," Rick mentioned as they sat in the living room. "You wouldn't believe the delinquency rates in the area these last few months. I've got the police on their way now to pick up another one. You know, that's the second intruder this month alone. Want something to drink?"

Rowen wasn't particularly in the mood for small talk, but he gave his sympathies, ignoring the urge to take a peek at whatever kid that Rick had in his custody in favor of the task at hand. "I shouldn't stay too long," Rowen said. "I have to get back soon."

"Why? Usually you have loads of time to talk," Rick protested. He left the couch to pulled a glass out of the kitchen cupboard and fill it with some whiskey.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," he said, gratefully taking the whiskey. Though he needed to get back, one drink wouldn't hurt. "I have... Well, I guess you could call him a ward."

"Oh?" Rick asked, taking a seat. "I never pegged you for the fatherly type, aside from that Cliff kid you always used to go on about."

"Believe me, it is not a father son situation," Rowen grumbled. "It was actually an accident. I was on my way up here and a friend of mine got trapped in the moving van, poor kid. He wanted to go home right away, but I don't have the right kind of vehicle to get through the flooding."

Rick chuckled, catching the suggestion that Rowen was presenting to him. "So, you want me to take him down the mountain," he said.

"With the truck you have, the flooding would be nothing to get past," Rowen urged.

Though he didn't refuse, Rick seemed hesitant. "If I may ask, why are you so eager to be rid of him? No offense, but you're usually much more sadistic."

Rowen downed the rest of his drink. "I kind of owe it to him," he sighed. "Besides, it's not exactly a great influence for him to be around me."

"Tell me a little about him," Rick pressed. "What's he look like? Bet he's a real charmer if he has you so tied up in knots."

"Blonde hair, blue eyes, good with people, and yet, pretty good at not controlling his temper." Rowen laughed at that, knowing Kevin's temper would have shown then had he been present to hear their conversation. "You know, didn't you see him at the mall? Wasn't that you we passed when we walked in?"

During the course of Rowen's description of Kevin, Rick had grown paler and paler. He laughed nervously at Rowen's accusation. "Yeah, I think you're right..." he said, finishing his own drink. "He was yours?"

Rowen frowned, eyes narrowing. He had known Rick for long enough to know that he had been a shit liar in the military and was still a shit liar now. His entire composure was off. "What did you do?" Rowen asked.

"In my defense, I didn't know. If I had, I'd have taken him right back to you," he said.

Sighing, Rowen scrubbed a hand over his face, already feeling the tired lines coming back. "Just tell me where he is."

Rick led Rowen into the master bedroom and towards a closet. When he produced a key, Rowen rolled his eyes. Kevin was just a teenager, he didn't need to be locked up like some hardened criminal, even if Rick had thought he was a vandal. Once the door was unlocked, Rick pulled it open and stepped aside.

"Are you serious?" Rowen snapped, hurrying over to untie Kevin.

"The police are literally on their way," Rick protested. "It's not like I was going to keep him in there forever."

"Well, go tell them to forget it," Rowen demanded. "Otherwise, it'll be your body they find."

As Rick left to phone the police again, Rowen began untying Kevin's his hands and feet. Strangely, aside from the look of astonishment that had crossed his face when he saw Rowen, Kevin was deathly silent. Rowen helped him to his feet and brought him over to the couch. "Get him some water," he told Rick. 

His friend was already on it. As he filled a glass with cold water, Rowen tried to get Kevin's attention. "Kevin? Are you okay?"

Kevin didn't respond and his face was frighteningly calm. However, when Rick walked up with a glass of water, Kevin's entire demeanor changed in an instant. Rick reached out to hand Kevin the drink when Kevin suddenly slapped his hand away, the glass flying and shattering on the floor a few feet away. Kevin stood up as Rowen and Rick both stared at him in surprised. He glared at them, furious in way he couldn't even express. "He used a real gun to threaten me into a closet!" he accused, pointing at Rick. 

The other man looked ashamed and Rowen quickly stepped up in his defense. "Kevin, clam down. It's not that big a deal."

"You're taking his side?" Kevin exclaimed. Shaking with rage and emotional hurt, Kevin pushed past the both of them. "I knew I should've never trusted you for anything," he said as he stormed from the cabin.

Rowen glared at Rick. "Thanks a lot," he said, and raced out the door after Kevin.

*******

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