Making Amends

Punk was at the station pulling everything and anything he could on his old 'buddy' Kevin. Kevin following him around was fine by him but him threatening and blackmailing AJ? Not a chance in hell he was going to let that slide. He spent four hours going over his old case files and tried to find anything he could to lock up Kevin and for good.

"Phil." AJ announced walking towards his desk. He looked up and saw her eyes were puffy and watery from crying.

"What happened?" he asked standing up and she fell against his chest.

"I got fired." She cried.

"What?" He asked stunned. "Come here." he said leading her into an empty interrogation room. "What the hell happened?"

"I got caught putting the file back. Ricky and a security guard pulled me into the office and interrogated me about it for like three hours." She said running her hands through her hair.

"So what did he say? What did you say?" Punk asked.

"I lied and said I flubbed some paperwork and took it home last night to fix it. They didn't know which file I took or they'd realize how old it was." She said to him frantically. "They just kept asking me the same questions over and over again and told me I could be arrested for going into that file room."

"He's a liar." Punk spat.

"He agreed to bring charges up against me if I left quietly." she said to him. "I had to do it." she said to him. "I couldn't risk being charged."

"Of course not." Punk said pulling her into a hug.

"What am I going to do?" she cried. "I'll never get a job out here like that. How am I going to take care of Petra?" she sobbed.

"I'll help you find another job." Punk promised.

"One like that? That pays me that well so I can afford that nice safe apartment building?" She asked him. "I ran through all of my money I took from Seth."

"Seth should really be paying child support." Punk noted.

"No." she said sternly. "I will not take a dime from that man."

"Ok." Punk sighed. "What can I do?"

"Just hug me?" she requested with a pout and he again pulled her against his chest and hugged her. "I actually liked that job too."

"You'll get something better." Punk assured her.

"You were right about all of this." AJ said as her face stayed pressed into his chest.

"This isn't an appropriate time to say I told you so." Punk said seriously and she laughed lightly.

"I'm sorry for coming here and slobbering all over you." AJ said pulling away.

"Hey, that's what I'm here for." Punk smirked and kissed her cheek. "Want to skip out? We'll go pick up Petra and we'll all play hooky today."

"Yea?" AJ smiled. "I'd love that."

"Yea. We'll go to the carnival they're having a few blocks over." Punk said to her. "Petra will love it and I'll win you both some big stuffed animal."

"You're the best." She said feeling better already.

"Here." He said grabbing tissues. "Clean yourself up you don't want Petra to be worried."

"How was she this morning?" AJ asked pulling out her compact and cleaning her makeup.

"Good." Punk said to her. "She asked me to go to her school next Tuesday."

"For the father thing?" AJ asked looking over to him and he nodded. "Are you ok with that?"

"I said yes because you know I can't say no to her." He said to her. "I just don't want to overstep my place with her or you. I know I'm not her dad."

"You're not overstepping anything and she wants you there." AJ said to him. "But you don't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable either. If you don't feel right about it just tell her."

"No I want to." he said even surprising herself. "I just wanted to clear it with you."

"You're a great man." AJ smiled. "I know that no matter what happens you'll always be there for her."

"Of course." he said to her.

"Ok let's go get her." AJ said plastering on a smile.

"Are you sure I don't like I've been crying?" AJ asked as they walked towards the security desk in the school.

"You're fine." He assured her.

"Mrs. Rollins, Detective Brooks." The security guard greeted knowing them well.

"Hi we're here to pick up Petra." AJ said happily.

"She was already picked up." The guard told her.

"What was that?" Punk asked hoping he misheard.

"Yes she was picked up by her father." The guard said looking at the visitors log-in. "Detective Seth Rollins. He provided ID and Petra-"

"There are three names I wrote down that are allowed to sign Petra out or pick her up." AJ said glaring at the woman and leaning over the desk. "That is me, Detective Brooks and Detective Compton."

"You never said your husband couldn't do it." The guard argued. "You never mentioned a divorce or a custody agreement."

"No more blame game." Punk interrupted before AJ could respond. "How long ago did he come here?"

"Half an hour at the most." the woman told them.

"Phil." She gasped. "He could be-"

"Let's go." Punk said pulling her out of the school.

"They can be halfway back to New Jersey!" AJ cried.

"I'll find him AJ." Punk said to her. "Just go home in case they circle back. He'd want to pack her things up."

"I can't just go home-" she started but stopped when she saw Petra walking towards her licking an ice cream cone and holding onto Seth's hand. "Petra!" she yelled running to her.

"I thought we'd make it back before you got here." Seth said letting go of her hand so AJ could inspect her.

"Are you ok?" AJ asked frantically.

"Yes, daddy took me for ice cream." Petra said happily.

"What the hell were you thinking?" AJ asked standing up to face Seth.

"Mommy-" Petra started but her parents just started to argue as if she wasn't there.

"Hey what flavor did you get?" Punk asked pulling Petra away from the argument but staying close enough to make sure it didn't get out of hand.

"Chocolate." She frowned.

"Doesn't taste good?" Punk smirked kneeling down.

"They're fighting again." Petra said sadly.

"I know." Punk sighed feeling her pain. "They both love you and sometimes when you love someone so much you argue."

"Is that why you and mommy were yelling last night?" Petra asked.

"You heard that, huh?" Punk asked and she nodded as she licked her ice cream. "Yea we all argue sometimes." he said glancing over and saw AJ still arguing with Seth.

"I hate it." Petra admitted. "Everyone is always fighting." she said sitting on the curb.

"I'm sorry honey are you ready to go?" AJ asked walking over to her.

"Is daddy coming with us?" Petra asked hopefully.

"No." AJ said taking her hand and she felt herself start to cry.

"Why do you insist on upsetting her?" Seth asked walking over to her.

"Daddy don't go." Petra cried holding onto his leg.

AJ looked over to Punk who just shrugged. He knew the one hurting the most was Petra and he didn't want to see that all, but also understood where AJ was coming from as well.

"AJ." He whispered nodding for to step away for a minute.

"What?" she asked.

"You're hurting your daughter." Punk noted.

"What am I supposed to do Phil?" She sighed. "I hate seeing her so sad."

"She loves him and as long as he's not alone with her it should be ok." Punk said to her. "Have him over for dinner tonight. Get your divorce papers and she can spend some time with him."

"Alone?" She asked horrified.

"Of course not." He scoffed. "I'll be there."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked him.

"For Petra's sake." Punk said unsurely. "Normally I'd say never but she's really upset. Do it for her." he whispered.

"I don't want him to think this an open invitation back into our lives." AJ said to him.

"You both need to sit down and hash out custody and the divorce. Have him over for dinner at least so he can see Petra so if this does reach family court you've been willing and trying." Punk encouraged.

"I'm scared." She said looking over her shoulder and saw Seth consoling her clearly distraught daughter.

"I'm going to be there." He reminded her. "We'll even do it at my place if that makes you more comfortable."

"Seth." AJ announced walking over to him. "Phil wants you to have dinner with us tonight."

"What?" Seth asked with a loud laugh. "Do I want to have dinner with my wife and her new boyfriend?" he mocked tapping his chin.

"And your daughter." AJ said glaring at him then nodding at Petra who was shooting her dad pleading eyes.

"Yea ok." Seth said melting at the sight of Petra.

"It'll be at Phil's house." AJ said taking Petra's hand. "Say bye to daddy."

"Bye daddy I'll see you at dinner." Petra said to him.

"5." Punk said to him. "I trust you remember how to get there?" he asked coldly.

"Yea I'll find my way." Seth forced out standing up.

AJ was setting the table while Punk ordered the food because there was no way he was cooking for him.

"This feels so wrong." AJ said to him. "We met because I was running from him." she reminded him.

"I know but now I'm here, he has no power or control over you and it's made Petra very, very, very happy." He smirked.

"Thank you for reminding me to put her first." AJ smiled at him. "I get so wrapped up in my issues with Seth I forget Petra has feelings too."

The doorbell rang and Petra came running down the stairs.

"Hold up." Punk smirked walking to the door.

"It's daddy! I saw him pull up!" Petra said jumping up and down.

"Grown ups open the door." Punk reminded her ruffling her hair and opened the door to reveal Seth. "Seth." Punk forced out moving aside to let him in.

"Hi daddy!" Petra yelled jumping into his arms and he lifted her up.

"Hi baby girl." He said relieved then put her down.

"I don't have to warn you to be on your best behavior tonight, do I?" Punk asked in a quiet voice.

"I'll behave." Seth smirked and handed Punk the legal documents. "Give those to AJ while I spend some time with my kid."

"Daddy do you want to see my room?" Petra asked.

"You have your own room here?" Seth asked surprised.

"Yea! Want to see it?" Petra asked tugging on his hand.

"Sure." He said letting her lead up the stairs.

Seth walked back downstairs after a grand tour by Petra and saw AJ and Punk looking over the papers.

"It's everything you want." Seth said to her. "Money, Petra even the house if you want it."

"I don't want the house I'm not leaving Chicago." AJ said to him.

"Yea that would be to convenient for me." Seth mocked taking a seat across from them at the table. "I want to see her though. I'm giving you primary custody and you know I could fight you on it and would probably get at least joint." he pointed out. "It's a show of good faith."

"Yea." AJ forced, she had to agree with that. "You'll have to come here and you can't be alone with her?"

"So you and your boyfriend have to tag along with us all the time?" Seth asked annoyed.

"Prove yourself Seth." AJ said to him. "And I still want your therapists number."

"Fine." Seth said to her. "I'll increase the monthly child support payments too until you get back on your feet."

"What?" AJ asked him.

"I stopped by the DA's office you were working in to drop this off earlier and I was told you no longer work there." Seth noted. "I also know you've been hanging around a known criminal. So before I even sign off any of this I want to know what the hell is going on."

"I quit." AJ lied.

"Liar." Seth laughed. "She is the worst liar in the world." Seth said to Punk who didn't respond but agreed internally. "What about this Kevin Blane? Does he have anything to do with you being fired?"

"Did you tell him?" AJ asked Punk annoyed.

"Are you kidding?" He asked her seriously.

"AJ I have to get back home and to work." Seth pointed out. "Tell me what the fuck is going on so I could help."

"Help?" AJ laughed. "That's ok."

"This guy sells women and children." Seth said to her. "Did you not tell her that?" he asked Punk.

"She knows." Punk said to him.

"It's not just you it's Petra too." Seth said to her. "I'm letting you live in another state with my daughter because I'm not the best guy around do you think I'm going to leave her with some fucking creep watching her?"

"He's watching me." AJ said annoyed. "He wasn't even looking for Punk. He wanted files from the DA office and I got fired so he can't get them anyway."

"You think that's going to fly with a man like that?" Seth asked her. "What the hell are you doing to fix this?" he asked Punk now.

"I'm working on it." Punk said to him.

"How?" Seth asked.

"I'm not going to run over there and shoot him like you would do." Punk said to him.

"You should have done it already if you care as much about AJ and Petra as you claim." Seth argued.

"Phil doesn't take life as easily as you do." AJ shot at him. "He's a good man and does things by the book. I also don't need a babysitter I can get myself out of this which I think I did since I got fired."

"You have explained to her that's not how this works right?" Seth asked him.

"She doesn't have to worry about that anymore because I told her I'd handle it and I am and no I'm not explaining it to you." Punk said to him.

"I just don't feel right about leaving knowing this out there." Seth said to them.

"We're fine." AJ said to him. "We've been in more dangerous situations." she reminding him coldly.

"Fine." Seth said to her. "Look, Christmas is in two months and I want to see her."

"No." AJ said quickly.

"Come on AJ. It's October." he pointed out. "It's eight weeks of me gone. I'll play by your rules I won't take her anywhere and you and the guard dog could watch me like a hawk."

"I'll think about it, is that ok?" she asked to him. "This is new for me as well."

"Fine." Seth said to her. "Just sign the damn papers and I'll file them."

"I want to make a copy of it first." She said standing up. "Do you mind if I use your office?"

"Not at all." Punk said gesturing for her to go.

"I hate that you're sleeping with my wife." Seth told him once AJ was out of the room. "I hate how much my daughter talks about you. Whenever we're together I find myself competing with you."

"That's not my problem." Punk said not at all bothered by the remarks.

"Keep it up." Seth said surprising him. "Go to her father school day event, make sure you sneak her cookies before dinner because AJ is a health nut." he smirked. "Make sure AJ let's loose sometimes because she get's so wrapped up into being a mother she forgets she's her own person. But most importantly don't let Petra date until she's 21."

"Sounds like you're going to be around." Punk said to him. "You keep up this attitude at least you will be and there's no guarantee that I'm going to be around for when Petra starts dating."

"She loves you." Seth told him. "And more importantly you've been a better father in the past four months to her then I've been the past six years. No matter what happens between you and AJ you need to look out for her. Whether you like it or not she's attached to you and she can't lose another male figure in her life."

"I'll take care of her the best I can the both of them." Punk said to him.

"I've fucked up." Seth laughed. "Drinking, the cash, the drugs- you've been under cover and it's never even tempted you?"

"There's temptation everywhere." Punk pointed out. "So now let me ask you, what's with this turn around?"

"I told you therapy and not having my wife and daughter home-" Seth started.

"Don't bullshit me." Punk chuckled. "Why are you here making amends and signing everything over to AJ?"

"Don't tell them." Seth warned him. "I'm under investigation by internal affairs. It's going to be a few more months but they're going to nail me to the cross and I'm done."

"A lot of time?" Punk asked.

"Yea." Seth reluctantly admitted. "I don't want Petra to wait for me. I plan on saying goodbye to her at Christmas maybe try to make a deal I don't even know, it's a big mess."

"You're allowed out of state while this is going on?" Punk asked.

"They don't know that I know." Seth admitted. "I got a solid tip. Look, I need you to promise me that you'll look after them. I know I'm a bastard and I don't deserve it but they do. You're a decent guy because Petra is an ineradicable judge of character and I haven't seen AJ that happy since our first year of our marriage. And I did my homework on you obviously I know you're a loyal guy and no matter you'll always look out for them. Even though AJ is a hard woman to give up on." he smirked.

"You really want to talk to me about AJ?" Punk asked harshly.

"She deserves a good guy. I...I don't know what happened to me." Seth said to him. "I grew up thinking my dad was always right and in fear of him and I turned into him myself. I never wanted to get married or have kids because I always feared it. But then I met AJ and I was hooked on her. She was so bubbly and happy- I never even argued with her until after Petra was born and I was getting in too deep. I see I've changed her. I'll live with that for the rest of my life as well."

"You should." Punk agreed. "And again I don't owe you shit and I don't have to ease your mind because I'm not even sure you're sincere but it goes without saying that AJ and Petra are always going to have me watching over them."

Seth just nodded and that's when Petra came running in.

"Look daddy I drew you a picture." She said passing it to Seth. "Its our family picture."

"It's real pretty." He smiled admiring the photo and holding back tears.

"It's me, you, mommy and Punk." Petra said happily and even Punk smiled at that.

"You have a good family baby girl." Seth smirked kissing her cheek.

AJ read to Petra in Punk's spare bedroom that had remained Petra's bedroom since they lived there then headed into Punk's room.

"You've been quiet tonight." AJ said getting under the covers. "Everything ok?"

"Yea." He said putting his phone down.

"I know being around him is weird and I can't tell you how much Petra appreciated it." AJ smiled kissing his cheek. "You were right."

"I'm always right." Punk teased. "I'm glad Petra had a good night and I'm thrilled you signed those papers."

"It almost seems too easy." She said to him. "It's like he's turned back into that man I married."

"You have feelings for him?" Punk asked without hesitation.

"Of course not." AJ said to him. "We share a child though and it's a big connection obviously. But I'll never trust he won't turn back into that monster. I also don't trust him alone with Petra and don't think I ever will."

"He's going to jail." Punk confided and AJ's face dropped.

"What?" AJ asked giving him her full attention.

"He asked me not to tell you but I've never lied to you and I won't start now." Punk said to her. "IA is doing an investigation on him and he was tipped off about it. It wraps up after Christmas or at least that's when he's going to turn himself in. He see's the light at the end of the tunnel."

"Oh my god." AJ frowned. "Petra is going to be devastated."

"She will." Punk agreed. "But at least her last memories with her father are going to be happy ones and not him beating on her mother."

"Why didn't he tell me?" AJ asked him.

"I don't think he wants Petra to get tipped off." Punk said to her. "I made some calls, it's true. It's not just him either it's Dean, Roman and a few others. Even his former partner Milo's name is on the report."

"I can't believe this." AJ whispered to herself. "That's why he wasn't pressing me on the evidence or fighting me on money. Why did he tell you?"

"He just wanted to make sure you two would be looked out for." Punk said to him.

"What odd timing to turn back into himself." AJ mumbled. "So I guess we should have him for Christmas."

"That's up to you." Punk said to her with a sigh. "You know what's best for your daughter."

"She's been so happy." AJ said sadly. "She loves having you and Seth around at the same time- I haven't seen her this happy since Jersey. She's going to be-"

"-she's a strong kid." Punk reminded her. "She get's it from her mother. Don't worry her about it."

"I won't." AJ said to him. "She had such a good night tonight and I want to keep her smiling."

"You know with you out of work if you need cash-" he started.

"I'm good." AJ said to him then smiled proudly. "I'm going to get my job back."

"How's that?" he asked with a laugh.

"It's called grovelling." She smiled. "I sent Ricky a very heartfelt e-mail and he's willing to meet me with again. I hate grovelling but I'm a mother. I can't be picky or proud I have to put Petra first. Also I don't like being fired." she smirked.

"That's my girl." Punk smiled kissing her. "She's sleeping right?" he questioned and AJ nodded as fell back into the bed and Punk rolled on top of her to kiss her...

At 5am in the morning Punk's work phone went off waking up both him and AJ. He quickly reached for it as he knocked everything else off of his nightstand table.
"Yea?" Punk greeted in a sleepy voice. "Where?" he asked waking up more now. "Yea I'll be right there."

"What is it?" AJ asked him.

"Work." he said getting out of bed quickly and getting dressed. "I'll call you in a few hours." He said leaning over and kissing her quickly before practically racing out of the room.

It took only fifteen minutes for him to arrive at the scene Cliff called him to. Punk lifted the police tape over his head as he walked towards the alley that was littered with cops, forensic officers, EMT's and reporters. He spotted Cliff who waved him offer.

"Deli owner found him when he was coming in to set up for the morning." Cliff said walking towards the white sheet and Punk was following. "One witness spotted a short male wearing a cap fleeing the scene after the shots were heard."

Cliff lifted the sheet and revealed Seth Rollins lying dead underneath it. Punk eyed the man and shook his head. He was finally getting somewhere with his kid and now he got himself killed.

"Did he have beef with anyone but you?" Cliff asked.

"Are you asking me if I killed him?" Punk asked annoyed.

"No of course not besides you're not a short male with red hair and clean shaven." Cliff said re-reading the description.

"Of fuck." Punk said slowly as it hit him.

"What?" Cliff asked.

"Kevin Blane." Punk told him.

"What the fuck does that perv have to do with this asshole?" Cliff asked him.

"Kevin was giving AJ a hard time and made some comments about Petra." Punk said to him. "Keep that off the record until I figure this out." he warned him.

"Fine but what was he trying to do?" Cliff asked.

"Get him to back off I guess." Punk said looking back down at Seth. "I had fucking dinner with him tonight."

"Seriously?" Cliff asked.

"He was trying to make peace before IA locked him up." Punk told him. "I guess he thought he had nothing to lose."

"Or he thought this was New Jersey and he could threaten people into doing anything." Cliff said to him. "I need to bring Blane in for questioning." he said to Punk.

"That's fine you have a witness don't bring up AJ." Punk said to him. "I don't want her or Petra to pay for this."

"Done." Cliff agreed.

Punk again looked down at the man who was in his house just hours ago and shook his head again.

"You stupid son of a bitch." He mumbled pulling the sheet back over him.