A/N: Hey guys! Back with another story here and a very different plot. I hope you guys take to it and enjoy! REVIEW and let me know what you think of it. Hope you enjoy.

Getting Out

"You will meet with your probation officer once a day. He or she will help you secure employment, talk to you about any post stress about your years here, and anything in between." A security guard said whilst a tattoo'd man followed him down the prison wards.

"Will they sort me out with a house?" The man croaked as the guard turned back with a slight smirk.

"Nah, son. You need to figure that out on your own." He said, leading him out of the cell blocks and into the main entrance of the prison, "You signed everything yesterday, didn't you?" He asked as the released felon leaned over the reception counter.

"Yeah… Yeah, they said today I could just get my clothes back and I could go." The man said, standing in his clothes he had been put in this place with, no longer in the horrific jumpsuit he'd lived off.

"Here is some things from his cabinet." A receptionist passed over a tray to the security guard.

"Ok. Phone, wallet, keys and your copies of the paper work." The guard presented the man who gratefully and quickly took his belongings back, trying to work his phone when he realised it had been out of battery for four years.

"That me?" The ex inmate asked with desperation to his voice.

"That's you." The guard nodded, "Now remember, one petty little crime and your ass is back in here. Whether it be speeding or anything minor." The guard said, "Don't be stupid."

"Alright, I won't." The man said, turning on foot and leaving through the swing doors, walking outside and feeling the cool wind hit his face, suddenly feeling overwhelmed and taking the world in a different light.

Phillip Jack Brooks was a middle-aged man that had been stuck in prison for four years. Of course the sentencing was all very reasonable. He got what he deserved in other words. But now he was finally out, and he supposed the quest to get his life back together was stronger than ever. He had some mistakes he had to learn from, and he really had to do right now.

"Yo." A car pulled up with a man shouting out the window. Punk (a nickname all his buddy's had for him) hadn't even noticed the car pull up, he was so busy shutting his eyes and enjoying the wind on his face and the sun in his eyes.

"Dean?" Punk laughed, watching the blonde man get out his car, launching himself into his long-term friend.

"Thank God you're out of their man." Dean sighed, clutching his friend tightly, not believing that it was finally time for his best friend to come home after four long years.

"I have no where to go, man." Punk said, pulling back from the wonderful embrace, looking on at his dirty blonde haired friend, "Bob would have sold my apartment on as soon as I got fucking cuffed." He said.

"Speak no more." Dean said, "I got my spare bed set up for you. Don't worry."

"And Joni?" Punk asked.

"Y-Yeah." Dean said hesitantly, "C'mon, let's go grab some food, I'm sure you'll be starving." He said quickly as Punk nodded and got into the car, listening to the soft music and turning the station to some old rock band, turning it right up and smiling to himself. Music. Such a simple thing he had missed.

He really couldn't wait to get his life back.

"Miss Mendez." A tall woman walked into the office where a small, curvy figured woman sat at her desk, glasses perched on her nose, black tight dress clinging to her tanned body, looking up past her glasses at her boss coming through the door.

"You're on duty." Her boss, Katherine smiled, placing down a binder.

April Jeanette Mendez, or AJ to those who knew her on a daily basis, was a probation officer who worked for the government. She was a very secluded young woman who was very intelligent. She had dark, long hair that went all the way down her back. Golden, sun kissed skin that almost made her glow, and huge chocolate brown eyes that had gotten her into trouble more times than she could remember.

"Phillip Jack Brooks." AJ repeated, "Doesn't sound like a criminal." She admitted, flicking onto the next page, looking at the man's mug shot and nodding, "I take that back." She mumbled to herself.

"He got released today. First appointment with you is tomorrow morning." Katherine said as AJ nodded, continuing to look through the folder of information on her new priority.

"Why isn't he down for community orders?" AJ looked up at Katherine.

"He refused to do it." Katherine said as AJ shook her head.

"That's unnaceptable. You can't refuse-"

"Go to page 7." Katherine said as AJ flicked to page seven and looked at the screeds of writing.

"Well… I did not expect that." AJ admitted.

"Because of that, he's been allowed no community orders." Katherine said, "I know how much you hate an unjust ex inmate, but you do your job well, April. I feel like you can better this man." Katherine smiled as AJ just leaned back on her chair.

"So where is she?" Punk smiled as he got into Dean's house. He literally had nothing. Of course he could borrow some clothes from Dean for the time being, but he had absolutely nothing to his name anymore. No job, money, clothes, car. Everything was gone.

"I think you should take a seat, man." Dean said as Punk continued to look around.

"What is it?" Punk asked, sitting down on the couch, looking up at his friend.

"They took Joni." Dean said as Punk shook his head.

"What do you mean? Who- Who took her?" Punk asked.

"Social services." Dean said, "It was a few months after you left. I couldn't look after her properly, and someone must have called to report me." Dean shook his head with embarrassment as Punk stood up.

"I asked you to do one fucking thing, Dean!" Punk yelled.

"I'm sorry, alright." Dean hissed, "I'd just lost my best friend, and it wasn't easy." Dean replied, "She was always crying." He shook his head.

"And that's why I wanted her with you." Punk said, collapsing back down on the couch and running his hands over his face, "I wanted you to keep her safe." Punk said as Dean sighed.

"I know. I know, man. But I'm sorry." Dean said.

"Did they put here there?" Punk asked as Dean nodded.

"Yeah." Dean said, "Yeah, she's there." Dean said as Punk collapsed back against the couch.

"Fuck!" He yelled, "Why the fuck did I think I could come out of the place and things would be easy?" He said.

"They'll get better." Dean said, "Once you get a job, get a place to stay, you can get Joni back and it'll be like you never even left." Dean said.

"She won't even remember me." Punk shook his head, "She was two when I left."

"I think she will." Dean said.

"She'll have been so scared." Punk sighed, his heart completely breaking at the thought of his precious daughter in a foster care system. Just like he was as a child.

"They would have taken good care of her." Dean said, "Better care than I ever could." He said as Punk just sighed.

"When can I see her?" Punk asked.

"I'm assuming once you've spoke to your probation officer." Dean said, "Says you have an appointment in the morning." Dean said, having looked at Punks paper work earlier on when they got into the house.

"I didn't think this would all be so complicated." Punk said, "I thought I'd be released and-"

"And you'd go back to where you left off?" Dean asked him as he just nodded.

"Yeah. Pretty much." Punk said, "I mean, what have I missed? Apart from four years of my daughter's life?" He asked.

"Nothing really." Dean admitted taking a seat on the edge of the chair, "Joey cleared off as soon as you were sentenced. I think he got scared. Seth still lives across the road, but he's calmed down now." Dean said.

"Of course things calm down when I get fucking arrested." Punk rolled his eyes, "I didn't even get a visit from Joey, not even a fucking thank you card for taking the bate for him. Stupid fuck." Punk shook his head, "You still working at the skate park?" Punk asked as Dean nodded.

"Yeah. Al has really missed you… said your welcomed back as soon as you got out." Dean smiled as Punk nodded.

"Possibly the only guy who won't let a prison sentence come in between us." Punk said, "When did my life become such a joke?" He asked. From feeling wonderful when coming out of prison, he now felt like it was going to be nearly impossible to get his life back together.

"You're late." AJ announced the next morning, looking on at Punk rushing through the door to her office, watching his eyes look her up and down, a slight smirk appearing on his face. She would normally felt intimidated, but she'd been doing this job for too long, and she'd seen so many characters walk through that door.

"I slept in." Punk told her, taking a seat across from her desk.

"Well. You're forgiven." AJ said, "My name is April Mendez and you must be-"

"Phil. Phil Brooks." Punk said, extending his hand as she shook it politely.

"Where did you stay last night, Phil?" AJ asked him, looking on at her computer system.

"I stayed at a friends." Punk said.

"And that's where you'll be staying for the time being?" AJ asked as Punk nodded.

"Until I can get the money for my own place. Yeah." Punk said as AJ just nodded.

"Did you sleep ok?" She asked.

"What?" Punk laughed, "What's that got to do with anything?" He chuckled.

"These are the routine questions." AJ said, "Just answer them." She said firmly.

"I slept ok. Better than what I have been for the past four years." Punk said as AJ jotted down things on a notepad.

"Have you came into contact with anyone other than your friend who you're staying with?" AJ asked.

"No." Punk said.

"Alright." AJ said, "Now comes the hard part." She smiled across to him, "Why'd you get put in prison, Phil?" She sat back with her arms folded.

"What? You want the whole thing?" Punk asked her as she nodded.

"Every little detail." She said.

"Ok." Punk nodded, "My ex's brother, Joey… he got in trouble with these guys. Thugs."

"Your ex who is your ex now? Or your ex who was your ex then?" AJ asked.

"Ex then. Ex now." Punk said, "I befriended Joey before I got with his sister. He's still a good friend… well he was." Punk rolled his eyes, "Seems like he split as soon as I was sentenced."

"So you covered for him?" AJ asked.

"Yeah. Pretty much. But things got out of hand." Punk said, "I agreed to keep the drugs he was storing in his apartment, because these guys were coming round looking for it." Punk said.

"So, you took in a fortune worth of drugs, into your own home, with a two year old daughter under the roof?" She asked as he tilted his head.

"How do you know I-"

"It's my job to study you." AJ replied.

"You don't get it." Punk scoffed, "I done what I had to."

"But, Phil… you weren't arrested for possession of drugs." She looked him in the eye.

He wasn't sure if he was meant to feel threatened. He thought probation officers were there to help. This woman seemed evil, and out to get him. But he didn't tend to have good first meetings with people.

"No." Punk said, "I wasn't arrested for possession of drugs." Punk said.

"What were you arrested for?" She eyed him up and down.

"Manslaughter." Punk said.

"Well, you can tick step one off." AJ smiled, sitting up straight as he shook his head.

"What is step one?" Punk asked.

"Confessing to what you did." AJ said.

"I done what I had to." Punk said, "You're just some lady who knows my name and age, and has a little folder on me." He said, "You don't know anything."

"I know more than you think." AJ said as they both looked each other in the eye, "You want to get your daughter back? You want to get your own place? Have a job? Enjoy life again?" She asked as he nodded.

"Yeah." Punk said.

"Then do not patronise me." She spat, "One word from me, and you're back behind those bars." She said as Punk gulped, "I will help you out if you're willing to listen, better yourself, and do everything I ask. That includes showing up to our meetings on time." She said as he just nodded.

"Do you know what happens with my daughter?" He asked desperately, "Can I get her back right away? Tomorrow?" He asked as AJ took a deep breath. She was harsh on the first meeting because she wanted her ex inmates to realise that she wasn't going to baby them. But she realised very quickly that this man wasn't all that bad. He had legitimate love for his daughter. She could sense it.

"You can visit." AJ said, "But I'll have to supervise the entire time. Until the courts think you're ready to have custody of her again, then it's just going to be visits." She said as he sighed but nodded, accepting it. There was no point in getting angry over something he simply couldn't change, "You love your daughter?" AJ asked.

"She's all I got." Punk said, "I'll do anything to get her back." He said.

"Good." AJ smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow at 9am. Not 9:30." She raised her eyebrows, "We'll discuss employment, finance, and more personal things. So be prepared. And don't come all macho and insensitive." She warned him as he couldn't help laugh.

"You aren't very sympathetic are you?" He asked as she laughed.

"Sympathetic? Towards a criminal? Absolutely not." She said as his laugh faded and his smile dropped, "But it is my job to help you, and that's what I'm going to do." She said as he just nodded.

"Do I have to come to this place everytime we meet?" Punk asked.

"Well no. I can come to you. We can go out." She said, "Whatever you want." She said as he just nodded.

"Well I'm sure you got my phone number in amongst that little folder." He pointed to the folder as she just smirked.

"Well it's your phone number from four years ago. I have an emergency contact number as a Mr Dean Ambrose incase I can't reach you on that." AJ said as Punk nodded, "He's the friend you're staying with?"

"Yeah." Punk nodded.

"Ok. Well I'll see you tomorrow then. 9am." She said as he nodded, standing up and turning his back, walking out of the office as AJ watched him.

He wasn't what she expected. But something about her couldn't wait to find out more about this man.

Thoughts?