"Hey, When You Gotta Go"

[JJ Johnson]

It sucked being on the other side of the whole arresting thing. Usually JJ got to be the one reading someone the riot act and lording his authority over someone. It was fun; it was easy, and it fit his personality a lot better than this. Most of the force knew him; he wasn't exactly quiet, so this had to be some kind of junior officer wanting to make some dumbass quota or some shit like that. JJ didn't know, nor did he give a flying fuck.

"Hey man," he growled, his words only a little slurred by the alcohol swimming in his veins. "I just had to drain the lizard, you know? Plus, I'm a cop," JJ twisted, trying to get a better look at the arresting officer. Hell, he hadn't even figured out whether it was a male or female yet, or if anyone else was paying attention. JJ wasn't exactly detail-oriented when he was completely sober, let alone now, when he would have had trouble walking straight. Which was why he'd sort of gone around the side of a building and whipped out "not-so-little" JJ to, well, drain the tank as it were. Now there were flashing lights and JJ had to figure out a way out of this while saving face.

"C'mon," he said, his tone wheedling, "I'm one of you! Just run a check: I'm JJ Johnson, beat cop and shit," he removed his hands from the wall, turning to face the arresting officer for the first time. Could even be one of those security officials, for all JJ knew. They were allowed to do some basic law enforcing around the city. He just had to figure out if he needed to take this person out or any witnesses or what...

[Det. Dexter Sterling]

"Any units in the area, six-forty-seven in progress, arresting officer requesting assistance."  The call came over the radio, breaking the silence of Dexter's drive through town.  He hadn't been doing anything in particular, just drifting around, trying to get his bearings in his new city.  A lot had changed in the ten years since he'd graduated from the Academy.  A few buildings he remembered had long been torn down and new ones erected.  Kalispell had grown in the last decade, but it would never near the urban sprawl the young detective had just transferred from.

"Dispatch, this is Detective Sterling. I've got nothing going on and I'm in the area. En route to assist arresting officer." Dexter spoke into the radio of the unmarked car he'd been issued. He'd only been on the job a few days and he found there was terribly little to do as an investigator in such a small area. Kalispell was a far cry from the harsh city streets of Los Angeles where he'd cut his teeth as a beat cop. When the call came down that a uniform was having trouble with an unruly customer just a couple blocks away, Dexter jumped at the chance to lend a hand.

Reaching to the dashboard controls Dexter flicked the lights of the modified Ford Taurus and slowed to a near stop in the middle of the street before quickly spinning the wheel to turn the vehicle around and head for the scene. Upon arrival he saw the big guy arguing with the much smaller and utterly overwhelmed looking security guard. "Jesus." Dexter muttered. This guy wasn't even an actual officer, just a security guard hired by the city to walk around the club district at night as more of a deterrent than anything.

"Detective Sterling on scene for that six forty seven."  Dexter checked in as he opened the driver's side door and slid out.  "What's the problem here?"  He asked as he drew closer to the argument. The badge clipped to his belt was clearly displayed, the handgun tucked in a holster underneath his left shoulder, however, was not.

[JJ Johnson]

"Oh hey, this guy--wait," JJ's eyes narrowed for a bit, "did you say detective? Fuck, they pass me up for a fucking promotion and hire you from--fuck," JJ turned and kicked a wall, his hands going behind his head. the rage bubbled up from within, not that JJ really needed much to get good and raged out. He kicked the wall a few more times, feeling more and more adrenaline seeping into his system.

The guard just sort of stared, having already more or less figured out who this was. He gave Dexter information, saying that he'd picked JJ up for public indecency charges, that the guy had urinated on a wall, and he'd recently turned to him claiming to be a police officer. Naturally, it was this last bit that JJ heard and felt the need to address.

"Guy just wants to pad out his arrest sheet or something," said JJ, turning back to Dexter. "This is fucking stupid! the hell did they even call a fucking detective here for? You want to detect my dick?" And of course JJ grabbed that portion of anatomy, giving it a good squeeze that would've made Michael Jackson proud. "It's just some fucking whizzing on a goddam wall, ain't no big fucking deal. Christ." He turned and spat, obviously still more worked up about the fact that he was totally meeting the guy who'd stolen his freaking job.

[Det. Dexter Sterling]

Dexter sighed, his hands resting on his hips as he let the big guy go through his arrogant, angry exhibition. "I'll take if from here." The detective said quietly, waving off the security guard. Dexter was already familiar with one JJ Johnson. Not by face, of course, but certainly by name and deed, and this had to be him in the flesh. Dexter didn't figure anyone in such a small town would claim to be a cop without actually being one and the judging from the descriptions he'd been given centered around reasons to avoid the beat cop, Dexter didn't need the security guard to tell him who he was looking at.

"Officer Johnson." Dexter began, extending a hand toward JJ. The young detective wasn't so worried about touching JJ's hand after such a display. He had a bottle of hand sanitizer in his car he'd be sure to make generous use of just in case. "Detective Sterling, but I'm guessing you already knew that." He offered a professional smile, showing no signs of aggression or that he even was going to bother chastising the other officer about the dangers of public urination.

[JJ Johnson]

Okay, this was not a response that JJ was used to. People generally didn't give him that whole calm, collected thing. Especially not when he cursed like a sailor and all but got in their faces. Dexter's demeanor and words just threw JJ for such a loop that he could only stare for several seconds, trying to process it all. Finally, something in him kicked into gear and he rolled his shoulders, trying to look big bad, and perhaps slightly swollen, all at once.

"Yeah, I'm Officer Joel Johnson," he said, using his real first name, the one that most people, including him from time to time, forgot, "so you've heard of me and know my rep," that made JJ smirk as he met the guy's gaze. People who knew his rep knew to fear him, or at least treat him with kid gloves. Otherwise he'd just rough them up a little, maybe bend them over. This guy didn't look quite as attractive as some of JJ's victims, but he was willing to overlook that. Getting one over on someone who thought he was superior always got JJ as hard as a rock.

[Det. Dexter Sterling]

Dexter should have expected such a response from the other officer. There had been a minor rumor circulating through the department that there may have been some hard feelings about bringing in another detective to fill the rare vacancy. Dexter guessed there was some truth to the talking. Still, though, Dexter remained unimpressed with the larger man's display.

It didn't take a trained monkey with a Walt Disney imagination to see Dexter and JJ were never going to get along. "Yes, Officer Johnson." But Dexter would nonetheless afford his fellow officer with the proper respect. For now. "I've heard of you and your reputation. The detective's arms crossed over his chest as he looked to the plain clothes officer with a touch of contempt. "I know all about cops like you." LA just had more people with cameras and most of the cops like JJ ended up fired or in jail.

As pleasant as it would be to knock JJ down a peg or two (or at least try), Dexter had no intent on getting into it with the big guy. He'd already given himself away as a power abusing blowhard hiding behind a badge. They'd work together if necessary, but Dexter was already making plans to exclude JJ from any case he may draw in hopes of avoiding him at all costs. "Just try and remember that even when you're not on duty you still represent the force." He shot toward the beat cop before turning and starting back to his car.

[JJ Johnson]

Know all about cops like him? That was slightly new. Sure, JJ had heard variations here and there, people thinking that they could make (mostly accurate) snap judgements on him just by looking at him or having a short conversation. JJ just wasn't quite sure what to make of it, or of this guy. He wrinkled his brow, staring at the guy for a bit, his slow mind taking its sweet time processing yet again.

Then a reprimand or a lecture or something.... "The hell is that supposed to mean?" He called, walking after him. "You trying to start a fight or something?" Because that JJ understood. He was pretty sure he got the implication the other man was making too: that JJ wasn't up for the uniform, that he brought dishonor to the badge or some crap like that. Load of bullshit, that. They were there to enforce the law, whatever it took. And that meant that they needed someone like JJ, someone who would go in and get his hands dirty. First in to the firefights, and there were enough of those. Yeah, JJ knew he was a big damn hero; he didn't need to take this imposing idiot's word for it.

Which was clearly why he was following Dexter and yelling at him. Clearly.

[Det. Dexter Sterling]

Dexter stopped and shifted, turning sideways in relation to JJ In order to look at the drunken cop following along behind him. How could this... joke still be allowed a badge and a gun? How did he instantly jump to fighting? Didn't this guy have any sort of concept of escalation of force? Shaking his head Dexter made eye contact with JJ. The smaller of the two men would, and had, refused to back down from anything and anyone.

"That's not something you want to try." He shot the warning as the hand hidden from JJ's view dipped into his coat pocket where he'd kept some spare change from his coffee earlier in his shift. He wasn't about to get into a fistfight with this monster and detectives didn't carry tazers. One could shot with a charged quarter, though, should make the big man think twice about pursuing further confrontation.

"I've read your file." Of course he had. Why wouldn't he? One of the first things Dexter had gotten wind of was JJ's exploits and famous attitude. The beat cop showed all the classic signs of being as dirty as he could be. Men like JJ wore the badge as a symbol of personal pride and authority. They used it to do what they wanted without consequence. This always infuriated Dexter who'd carried a sense of duty to protect the innocent the moment he'd clipped one his first badge as a beat cop in LA. "And I'll say this once. You go your way, I'll go mine. If our paths cross outside the line of duty I'll ensure losing your badge is the least of your worries. Got it?" There were some perks of being a detective. Being a higher rank than beat cop assholes ranked fairly high among them.

[JJ Johnson]

Wanted to try? Oh, how JJ wanted to try, even more now that he'd gotten that comment from the other cop. he saw Dexter's hand dip into his coat though, which could mean anything. Could mean that the detective kept a taser down there (JJ had one of his own for his uniformed patrols). Could be that the man had an actual gun. Could be that Dexter bluffed, which struck JJ as being most likely.

His attention went back up as Dexter continued though, discussing JJ's file. That made JJ smirk, and it wasn't a bashful, reserved expression, to say the least. He practically swelled, thinking that he must have been one noticeable SOB to have the new detectives reading over his file. "So you know what I'm capable of then," said JJ, his smirk turning into a more feral expression. He knew his file contained everything, not just the various complaints, but the list of victories. Though as this was JJ, he considered pretty well everything to be a victory, even when someone complained about his methods.

The offer came again, and this time JJ actually stepped back. He didn't doubt his ability to take on Dexter in a fight. He also didn't appreciate that comment about Dexter threatening his badge. But that hand... if that actually held a gun, then JJ would end up one of those bleeding losers in an alley. No way in hell was he letting that happen; some loser detective wasn't going to be the one to dust JJ Johnson.

"You won't be the first to try," said JJ, hardening his expression, "and you won't be the last either. Go for my badge, and I'll be visiting you in a hospital for broken bones and a bleeding ass," with that, JJ grunted and turned, stomping away, convinced, of course, that he'd somehow won the confrontation.