Collecting Point

"Ok, so I got some questions." Punk said the next day, sitting in the lounge as Carter walked in where he saw Punk sitting with the papers all spread out on the floor, "So you guys don't know the actual location of where these guys are?" Punk looked up at him as he nodded.

"They're spread out across Chicago, and we know there's been a connection in France with it." Carter said.

"Ok, do you have the precise number of how many there are?" Punk asked.

"We're guessing fifty to seventy of them. At least." Carter nodded as Punk sighed, "We know they must have some sort of meeting point, but if we go in all guns blazing, the rest of them will flee, and they'll still be out there." Carter said, taking a seat.

"Wouldn't you rather that? People are dying because of these motherfuckers." Punk said, "I say you eliminate as much of the target as possible and figure out what to do after that. It's all about helping those people."

"A lot of them have been drugged and brainwashed so we can't tell who is innocent and who is guilty." Carter said.

"I'm assuming the motive for all that they're doing is money, right?" Punk asked as Carter nodded, "You gotta find a meeting point for them. I imagine it would be… somewhere quiet, somewhere abandoned, you know." Punk nodded.

"They're not all gonna be there at once." Carter shook his head.

"They're never all gonna be at the one place." Punk said frustrated, "You have to take them out a handful at a time. How many more people are gonna have to get killed or abused for you to make a move? You gotta do something. It's been four years." Punk said, "This isn't me whining because I wanna go back to my family, this is me telling you there are people dying and you need to start making your move." Punk nodded, "You know what you're up against" He said, turning back around to the papers, "This is your main guy?" He lifted the paper and showed Carter it.

"Yeah." Carter nodded.

"Blow his head off first." Punk spat, throwing the paper back down, "Take away the king, the whole kingdom falls apart. Trust me." Punk said, "And then you set up stations surrounding the different check points, so when they do all start to flee, they won't get very far, same goes for the ones in France." Punk nodded.

"Walter told me you were one of the best cops he had." Carter nodded.

"This isn't being a cop, this is common sense." Punk said.

"We wanna get it right." Carter said, "If the whole thing backfires, then you stay in here for longer." He said as Punk rolled his eyes, "And I know how much you'd love that." He said sarcastically as Punk rolled his eyes.

"Why can't you let me help you?" Punk asked, "I'll even let people call me Jack if you want." He stood up from the floor as Carter shook his head.

"Phil, you're dead." Carter said, "You are erased from everything. You're a ghost. You don't exist anymore." Carter nodded as Punk folded his arms, "You can't help us. We're trying to protect you from these guys, not shove you right in front of their faces."

"They'll have forgotten all about me." Punk said, "I could work undercover. I could keep an eye on things." Punk said, "Just please… let me do something. I'm-I'm going out of my mind in this place." He said.

"I know." Carter said, "But I can't let you help us. I could lose my job if I did. This is government business, this is bigger than a station full of cops. You have to trust me." He said.

"Trust you?" Punk spat, "I've been trusting you for four years and nothing is fucking happening!" Punk yelled.

"We're getting the right moment." Carter said, "And we are saving those who have been harmed by these people."

"Yeah, the ones who have escaped?" Punk asked, running his hands through his hair as Carter stood up.

"Maybe you should start seeing your counsellor again." Carter said as Punk shot him a look.

"Fuck you." Punk spat, "I don't need a counsellor I need to go fucking home." Punk said, "It's like you're… you're dragging this out purposely." He laughed.

"Phil, I can assure you we're not." Carter sighed.

"Do you know what it feels like?" Punk asked, "To know that your girlfriend thinks you're dead. She thinks she's all alone." Punk sat down with his hands in his hair, "I can't tell her it's ok." Punk shook his head, "I don't even know what my daughter looks like." Punk whispered to himself sadly.

"Look, son. I know this hasn't been an easy ride for you." Carter nodded, "I've been here almost every day. I know what it's doing to you. But… it's my job to keep you here until all of this is over, and I know you think that this should have been over within a year, but it's not as simple as that. I'm interested in hearing your plans and what you would do, but you still gotta stay here and wait it out."

"I'm tired of waiting." Punk sat back, "I'm tired of all of this." He sighed sadly as Carter nodded.

"I know you are, son. I think we all are." Carter nodded, "Right now we're looking more closely to France to see what they're up to." He said, "We reckon they're transporting the drugs. Maybe at collection point… that might be our best shot to take out the target."

"No, at collection point there'd only be one or two guys there." Punk nodded as Carter raised a brow, "They wouldn't risk anything suspicious, so one or two guys will make a few trips with everything." Punk nodded as Carter nodded, impressed, "I'm telling you, take out your main guy and the rest will all scatter like roaches, and you'll be waiting at the cracks for them." Punk said, "Or you can… wait another four years and do nothing." Punk stood up as Carter sighed, "It's up to you." He waved his hand tiredly, walking out of the room as Carter nodded, looking down at all the papers Punk had spread out, crouching down and looking at all the notes he had made, reading them all curiously.

"Where'd you reckon this came from?" AJ asked that night, standing at the port with Rocky where a boat had docked with thousands worth of drugs, whoever was steering the boat must have fled the minute they docked.

"I'm not sure." Rocky admitted as other uniformed officers looked around, taping off around the boat, "I can run the boat, see if there's any prints." He said, "With a name like Glorieuse, I'm assuming it came from France. But that's just a guess." Rocky said, "Better drugs than people, that's what I say." Rock admitted, taking notes as AJ nodded.

"Yeah, you got that right." AJ nodded, walking along the plank and stepping onto the boat carefully as she looked around carefully, using her flashlight as she looked everywhere, "The boat is practically empty." AJ called to Rocky.

"Well someone isn't gonna be happy that their drugs worth thousands have been taken in by their friendly neighbourhood cops." Rocky said as AJ walked back off the boat as Rocky helped her, "I'll get a run on the CCTV cameras too." Rocky said.

"I can run the boat." AJ insisted, "You've got enough to do." She nodded.

"And you don't?" Rocky chuckled as they walked back up to their cars.

"You know I like to keep busy." AJ smiled to him as Rocky nodded.

"I know." Rocky smiled, "But still… take it easy, yeah?" He nodded, "I know you don't… I know you don't enjoy work the same anymore." He said as AJ nodded, "You should get home to Nova."

"I should. She'll give me into trouble for being out this late." AJ nodded seriously as Rocky chuckled.

"Send her my love." Rocky said, giving her a tight hug.

"I will." AJ smiled, getting into her car and driving off to head home after a long day.

She got out of the car, taking her things with her, still half expecting Punk to walk around the car with her, help her with her folders, hold the door opened for her, anything… but he wasn't. He never would be.

She walked up the steps and headed into the apartment where Nova was laying up on the couch with Ace whilst Dean sat across. He had insisted to keep an eye on Nova whilst she was at work, to give Dan a break for a few days. AJ appreciated the help.

"Mommy!" Nova noticed, jumping off the couch and running to her mother, hugging her tightly as AJ smiled.

"Hey, monster." AJ smiled as Dean looked over, "You're already in your pyjamas." She noticed, carrying her things over to the kitchen table.

"Yeah, Uncle Dean helped me." Nova nodded, "You're late tonight." She noticed as AJ smiled and nodded.

"I know, baby. I got caught up at work." AJ said, "Me and Uncle Rocky had to go out last minute." She said as Nova sighed, "I'm sorry, I'll try not to be late but you know things come up." AJ nodded to her.

"You should make me hot chocolate and I'll forgive you." Nova smiled charmingly as AJ chuckled, flicking her chin playfully.

"You're cheeky." AJ smiled, "Go on then. I'll bring it over to you. But after that, it's time for bed, ok?" She said.

"Ok!" Nova exclaimed, rushing back to the couch, whizzing by Dean as he chuckled, walking into the kitchen where AJ was making herself dinner and now, making Nova hot chocolate.

"I just ordered a pizza for us and all that was left was… Nova's crusts." Dean laughed, placing his hands in his pockets as AJ smiled.

"It's ok. I can make something quickly." AJ nodded, "I really appreciated you looking after her today. It gives Dan a break and… I know Nova likes spending time with you." She smiled to him.

"I felt bad for… missing her birthday and… his anniversary." Dean admitted, "I know that's when you struggle the most and I should have been there." He said, "He'd expect me to be there for you."

"He wouldn't expect anything from anyone. You know that." AJ said, "Truth is I have… more death anniversaries to celebrate than birthdays." AJ chuckled to herself a little as Dean sighed sadly.

"Yeah, you've not had it easy, have you?" Dean asked.

"It's like someone is out to get me." AJ nodded, continuing to move around the kitchen and prepare her dinner whilst making Nova's hot chocolate.

"You've been really strong. I don't-I don't know how you've done it." Dean nodded. Her strength amazed him. Perhaps she was strong for Nova, or maybe she just had it in her, but she was one of the strongest people he knew. To lose so much and still keep pushing forward. Dean couldn't understand how she done it.

"I'm not strong." AJ assured him, "I cry myself to sleep almost every night." AJ said calmly, "I'm just good at hiding it all."

"You're still being strong for Nova." Dean said.

"She needs me to be strong. She's… She's all I have left." AJ said, "I'm still giving her that life me and Phil promised her." She nodded.

"She's lucky to have you as her mom." Dean nodded, "Phil would be… he'd be really proud of you."

"I hope so." AJ nodded with a small smile.

"I've been thinking about what you said… about talking to someone… professionally." Dean said as AJ looked up at him, "Maybe… it's what I need." He nodded as AJ smiled.

"You'll be surprised how useful it can be." AJ nodded, "It's not easy to ask for help, I know that better than anyone, but… when you get that help, when you have someone to talk to, things become that little bit easier." AJ promised him.

"I'll look into it." Dean took a deep breath as AJ smiled and nodded.

"Hot chocolate?" She asked him as he chuckled.

"Ok, go on." He smiled.

A/N: Let me know what you think! The site has been down so I have another chapter uploading straight after this one. Check them both out and drop reviews! Appreciating the support from everyone.