Season To Give Thanks


"So, you know every single person who lives in this town?" Punk asked as he unpacked his small bag.

Punk and AJ arrived in New Jersey three hours ago, a two hour drive to the part of Jersey they had to get to. It was insanely small and like a town out of a movie. The second she drove the rental in town people waved from their yards and the owner of the motel knew her well too.

"Not every single person." She shrugged unpacking as well. "A lot of people left but they're back for the holiday."

"It's really quiet." He noted looking out the window at just the acres of grass. "Like it's eight and there's not even a gas station open."

"I told you." She smirked. "It's the polar opposite of Chicago."

"I've never been to a town like this." He admitted. "And I've been many places. I don't even have cell service." he said looking at his phone.

"It's not too late to leave." She said seriously.

"Oh no chance." he said to her. "This is peaceful. I just don't know how you adjusted so well in Chicago."

"The funny thing is that I never wanted to leave here. Everyone I grew up couldn't wait to get out of here. Tiffany was the most desperate." She told him. "I thought I'd meet somebody, get a house and my kids would grow up in this peaceful little town but I fell in love with Chicago. The bright lights, busy streets."

"It is awesome." He agreed. "A little bit more dangerous than here though."

"We have had some crime." She informed him and he laughed. "I'm serious! Valerie Jenkins murdered her husband just half a mile away."

"No way." He said in disbelief.

"Yes way. The story goes that he would critique her dinner every single night for thirty five years and final she snapped." She told him.

"How long ago was this?" He asked skeptically.

"1956." She told him and he rolled his eyes. "What?"

"You weren't alive- I wasn't even alive!" he laughed. "That doesn't count."

"Yes it does! The house has been empty every since and if you near it you can still hear the screams of Valerie as she beats Mr. Jenkins with a hot frying pan." she told him and he laid back on the bed laughing. "It's true!"

"Have you ever heard the screams?" He asked.

"No but that's because I'm afraid if I go in the ghost of Mrs. Jenkins will kill me." she told him seriously and he again laughed.

"You believe in ghosts?" he asked.

"What's not to believe?" She asked seriously and he eyed her with amusement. "What do you think happens to you when you die?"

"I think you just die." He shrugged. "Everything goes black."

"That's depressing." She snorted.

"I don't believe in religion or anything like that." He warned her.

"My family is very religious." She told him.

"I didn't realize you were." He said to her. He had noticed she wears a cross necklace once in a while but she never went to church.

"I'm not." She said empty her bag. "When I was little I used to go to church and I just didn't connect with a lot of it. But just because I'm not religious doesn't mean I don't believe there are spirits or life after death."

"I think when you're dead you're dead." He told her blandly.

"You've never been to the Jenkins house." She mumbled.

"Neither have you!" He laughed. "Chicken."

"I am not a chicken." She scoffed.

"Totally a chicken. A woman who starred down a serial killer and bullies poor innocent reporters is afraid of an empty dusty house." He teased.

"It's not the house that scares me, it's the trapped spirits inside." she corrected. "If we have time I'll take you there and you can go inside and hear it for yourself."

"By myself?" he asked.

"I thought you weren't afraid." she mocked.

"I'm not but I'm not going to just walk onto private party." He said to her.

"Nobody cares. Everyone has gone. It's a tradition." She told him.

"What a weird town." He laughed.

"It was fun." She said moving over to the bed and straddled his laying body. "You kind of had to make your fun out here."

"We can make some fun right now." He said resting his hands on her thighs and slowly rubbing them up and down.

"We should wait a little bit." She said laying her chest against his and nipping his lips.

"Why? Is this place haunted too?" He asked with a grin as he ran his hand under shirt and nipped her lips.

"No but the walls are paper thin and everyone is probably still awake. We'll have to wait until everyone is asleep." She warned him.

"So what are we going to do all night?" He frowned. "No internet, there's no TV in the room, there's nothing open...I promise to keep it down."

"It's not your volume I'm concerned with." She admitted blushing.

"You're not loud you just make noises." He defended. "Don't be embarrassed I love when you do that. It's like a GPS for your body. I know what you like best."

"I like anything you do." She reminded him grinning.

"You like some things more than others. When my tongue is inside of your body-" he began as he kissed her neck.

"You're going to start this and then I can't promise that someone won't knock on the door and ask if you're killing me..." She warned.

"You love when my hands on your ass." He continued as if he didn't hear anything she said. His two hands cupped her rear. "Your plump, firm, fantastic ass."

"Phil." She moaned rubbing against him.

"It's the day before Thanksgiving." He reminded her. "Let me show you how thankful I am for you..." he rolled her underneath his body as she giggled and kissed her...


Thanksgiving day AJ pulled up in front of her home. Punk noticed most of the homes in the town were a little more updated and AJ's family wasn't. The grass was grown out in the front lawn and it just didn't seem well kept.

"AJ?" A voice asked as soon as she got out of the car.

"Mr. Walker." AJ smiled throwing her arms around the older man.

Punk froze when he saw the man. He remembered meeting him briefly when he flew down to Chicago to identify his daughters body. It all just hit Punk suddenly- Tiffany wouldn't be home this year to see her parents. He was being forced to celebrate his first holiday without his only child, a daughter who when she was found, in her wallet was a picture of her parents. He felt his stomach begin turn as a matter of fact.

"I saw what happened." He said placing his hands on April's shoulders. "I'm glad you're ok."

"Me too." She said to him. "I'd ask how you're holding up but I'm sure I already know."

"We're not much in a celebrating mood. Your mother sent us over a pie and I was returning the dish." he said passing it to her. "Tell your mom it was delicious."

"How's Mrs. Walker?" AJ asked nervously.

"She's holding up. Did you get the flowers we sent?" he asked her and she nodded. "Is this a friend?" he asked looking over noticing a nervous Punk standing behind AJ then it hit him. "Detective Brooks?"

"Yea." Punk said almost shamefully and stuck his hand out. He wouldn't blame the man for spitting in his face for letting his daughter die on his streets or taking so long to find the killer.

Punk was floored when Mr. Walker skipped the handshake and wrapped his arms around him.

"Thank you." He said to Punk pulling away. "You promised me you'd get him and you did."

"He also saved my life." AJ interjected. "He's the officer who found me."

"That just makes you even more of a hero in my eyes." Mr. Walker tearfully told him.

"April did all the work." Punk told him. "She really was dedicated to finding this guy."

"As were you." he said to her. "And you managed to keep April safe which is no easy task." He teased. "Her and Tiffany were always ending up in trouble."

"Do you want to come in?" AJ offered.

"No dear I need to get back." He said to her.

"Give Mrs. Walker my love?" AJ asked and he nodded giving her a hug.

"It's really good to see you." he said hugging her tightly. "Stay out of trouble."

"I will." She said and both him and Punk looked at him. "I'll try." She corrected.

"Detective Brooks." Mr. Walker said shaking his hand. "Take care of April."

"I will." he assured him.

"Small town." Punk noted as they walked to the door.

"Too small." She muttered knocking on the door.

"AJ." Her mother greeted with a warm smile and pulled her into a hug before they even stepped inside.

"Hi mom." She forced out as her mother squeezed her.

"You look so good." She said cupping her face.

"Mom stop." She blushed feeling embarrassed.

"Sorry." She said then looked over to Punk.

"Mom this is Phil." She introduced.

"It's nice to finally meet you, AJ talks about you constantly." She told him shaking his hand.

"All good things I presume?" he smirked.

"Wonderful. Even though I don't think he looks like a hobo, I like a man with a beard." She told Punk and he laughed and looked over to AJ.

"Mom." she muttered.

"Sorry." She said pulling them inside.

The house was warm and kept up with for the most part. It was very old fashioned though. Hard dark wood floors and even wood paneling on the walls. Knickknacks scattered throughout the home. Lace old pillows on the couch, dusty old curtains but Punk could tell there was a lot of love in this home.

"Hi daddy." AJ greeted nervously as she stepped into the living room. Her father stood up from the couch and turned around.

AJ was stunned, her father was in dress clothes, his hair was brushed and he looked the most put together she had ever seen.

"Hi sweetheart." He said holding his arms out to her and she raced into his arms and hugged her. "I was worried about you."

"You didn't mention all the details of catching that man." Her mother forced out.

"I didn't want to worry you two." she told them.

"You must be the man that saved my daughter." Mr. Mendez noted.

"April saved herself. You raised a smart girl Mr. Mendez." Punk said as he shook his hand.

"Call me Robert." He told him. "You're welcome in this home anytime."

"Thank you." Punk said to him.

AJ was in shock that her father opted to drink water during dinner. She couldn't remember a time he didn't drink a few beers with a meal. Not only that, he was laughing with Punk as they discussed hockey.

"You didn't mention you went to a hockey game." Robert said to AJ.

"I forgot." She said trying to soak in how well this was going.

"Don't forget you're a Devils fan, hero or no hero." he said to Punk to him.

"She likes to root for a winning team." Punk shot back and her father laughed.

"He's wonderful." AJ's mother whispered to her as Punk and her dad talked more sports.

"He really is." AJ agreed. "You didn't mention dad stopped drinking."

"It's only been a few days. He wanted to impress you and your new beau." she smiled. "He wants you to want to come home and visit more."

"I will." She promised.

"Bring him with you because I've never seen your father so chatty before." She grinned.

"I will." She said to her.

"He's very cute." Her mother whispered and AJ laughed. "You left that part out."

"I thought I mentioned it. You've seen him on TV." She reminded her.

"But he's different in person." Her mother said to her.

"So AJ." Her father announced. "Are you settled in that City yet?"

"I've been in my apartment for a few weeks now and I painted it-" Punk coughed loudly into his hands and she rolled her eyes. "-Phil painted it and I furnished it." Punk again coughed and she glared at him. "I picked out the furniture and Phil and his partner did all the heavy lifting."

"You really like it?" Janet Mendez asked.

"I do. It's a big City and there's a lot of opportunity out there for me." She told her parents.

"We've read all your articles." Janet told her proudly.

"Show her." Robert smiled to Janet and she jumped out of her seat.

"We had your first article framed." Janet said holding the frame out.

"I didn't think you read any of my stuff." She said in awe of the framed article.

"Don't be silly. We have someone send us these papers so we're a little behind." Janet told her proudly. "You're a local celebrity here."

"That's silly." AJ blushed.

"It's true." Robert confirmed.

"People keep asking when you're going to be on TV." Janet grinned. "Don't you think she's too pretty to hide behind a laptop?" she asked Punk who smirked.

"She's beautiful." Punk commented honestly and she caught his eyes and smiled.

"I've gotten some offers." AJ told them. "Local stuff, nothing major."

"April was offered a correspondents job on CSN." Punk told them just as proudly. That offer came a week ago and AJ was still deciding.

"That's wonderful." Robert smiled. "I can watch you on TV now."

"I'm not sure I'm going to do it. I really enjoy the writing." AJ told them.

"You do whatever makes you happy." Robert said before Janet could argue.

"What are you working on now?" Janet asked.

"A couple of different things." AJ shrugged. "There's a shelter out there where there have been complaints about mistreatment."

"So you'll write about it?" Robert asked curiously.

"No I'll go down there and see it for myself." She told him.

"Isn't that a cops job?" Janet asked and looked over to Punk.

"That was going to be my question." Punk said eyeing her. "You didn't tell me about this."

"We don't discuss work because sometimes it can intertwine and get messy." She told her parents. "But yes it's a cops job but the cops can't do their jobs without the proper evidence."

"Can't you just go down there?" Janet asked Punk.

"It doesn't work like that mom." AJ groaned. "It's not even in Punk's district nor is it a Detectives job."

"Not my district?" Punk asked leaning back in his chair. "You're going downtown?"

"Maybe." She shrugged.

"You'll make sure she's ok right?" Robert asked Punk who just nodded.

"I'm capable of doing my job. Besides last I heard Alan was going to beat me to the punch on that too. Someone is leaking my stories to him." She told the table. "Besides, Phil is the one with a dangerous job. Did you know he has been shot?"

"What?" Janet gasped.

"That was a long time ago, about ten years ago I was a rookie." Punk said glaring at AJ knowing she was just trying to get the topic off of herself.

"Where?" Robert asked.

"How bad?" Janet asked and AJ snuck away.


AJ stepped outside and walked over to the tree on her front lawn that had a rundown tree house attached. She ran her fingers over the inscription 'AJ & TW BFF4EVER'. She smiled sadly as tears fell from her eyes. They carved that when they were 7. Coming home to her parents was a lot easier than she thought, coming home and not seeing her best friend was not easy at all. They would usually run in-between their houses every holiday.

"That's cute." Punk said from behind her as he wrapped his arms around her. "It's cold out."

"Yea. I just wanted some air." She said leaning into his back happily.

"You set me up in there." He smirked kissing her cheek. "You're lucky I like you."

"My parents love you." She informed him.

"I know. They told me that before I came out here to look for you." He teased.

"I'm trying to be really happy." She admitted feeling bad. "My dad isn't drinking, my mom is smiling-"

"You're allowed to miss your friend." He reminded her. "I knew coming back here wouldn't be easy."

"It's just everywhere I turn there's something here to remind me of her." AJ said quietly. "It hurts a lot."

"Right now it does. Next time you come back to visit it will be a little easier and after that you'll really appreciate all these little memories." He told her. "I uh-" he began and she turned around to look at him.

"You what?" she asked frowning.

"My first partner, he was actually my training officer as well, we worked together for five years and my last day on the beat he was killed." Punk confided. "It wasn't a lifelong friendship but there was a brotherhood and he took care of me like a son."

"I'm sorry." She frowned. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"It never came up and I don't like to talk about it to be honest." He told her. "But I felt what you felt. Going into the locker room and seeing where I used to meet him every morning, our old patrol car that had a gun shot hole in the dashboard because he was trying to show me a trick and it went off." he laughed.
"It used to kill me to see those things. After time I sometimes go up just to get a feel for him, you know?"

"I can't wait to get to that point." She admitted letting out a breath.

"You will." he said simply. "I'll help you."

"I know." She said to him. "Thank you for coming with me today it really made all the difference and I'm convinced my parents are this put together to impress you."

"I think they just missed you." He smirked. "I can't promise my folks will be as put together or polite."

"Good." She grinned. "They sound like my kind of people."

"So, one more day tomorrow what do you have planned?" he asked her.

"I was going to take you to the lake." She told him. "Even though it's cold."

"It's not that cold." he snorted.

"Then make you go in the haunted house." She warned.

"Your dad was just telling me about that house, he doesn't think it's haunted." He informed her and she rolled her eyes.

"I know my mom does." AJ said to he just shrugged. "We should get back in, we're almost done."

"I've had a great time." He told her. "I'm really glad I came. I think it's cute how you're AJ here."

"I told you everybody calls me AJ." She reminded him smugly.

"I like you being my April." he told her tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Whatever happened to him?" She asked randomly.

"Who?" he questioned.

"The man that killed your partner." She clarified. "Was he your first big arrest?"

"He was one who got away." He admitted. "I still pull up the file every few months but it was random and probably gang related. He didn't have many friends on the street."

"The gang problem is a really big problem in Chicago." She told him and he nodded in agreement as he pulled her towards the house. "I find it to be fascinating." he stopped walking and turned around to look at her.

"Ape." He grinned.

"Yes?" She asked unsurely.

"I would never get in the way of you and your job." He told her honestly. "Unless I felt you were on a suicide mission. Don't start sticking your nosy reporter nose into gang business."

"It's a serious issue Phil." She insisted and he widened his eyes. "One that I will not stick my nosy nose into." She mumbled.

"I've grown really fond of you." He told her seriously. "I can't have you running into the middle of a gun war."

"I'm pretty fond of you too." She said to him holding onto his hands.

"I'm more than fond." He said to her. "I love you." He told her. "I don't love easily so I need you to give me your word that you won't do anything reckless for the sake of reporting."

"As long as you love me I won't be reckless." she promised. "I love you too by the way."

"I should hope so." He teased kissing the tip of her cold nose.


Punk was buried deep inside of her body still as they came down from their high. AJ was covered in sweat as was Punk who was trying to catch his breath. He was trying not to crush her but she didn't seem to care. Her legs were still wrapped tightly around his waist and she was peppering his cheek with kisses as a than you for the mind blowing physical high she had just hit.

"This is my favorite place." he told her honestly and moved his face so her lips landed on his. "I could live inside of you."

"Let's just not go home and stay here like this." She suggested.

"Don't tempt me." He warned her grinding into her again.

"Can we have more getaways? Just like this?" She asked and he nodded as he kissed the slope of her neck now. "Just the two of us."

"I'll take you anywhere you want to go." he promised her.

"No interruptions, no danger." She added.

"Danger?" He asked as he continued kissing her throat.

"Your job." She pointed out and he stopped moving. "The fact that you get called away often doesn't bother me."

"It used to bother every other woman I was with." He pointed out.

"You're a hero." She said simply. "I would be selfish to complain. I respect you and your job."

"So what's the problem?" he asked.

"You talk about me throwing myself into things, you've been shot and every time you get a call-"

"-you're afraid I won't come home." He finished for her and she nodded. "I'm good at what I do April. I'm trained and I'm smart, don't worry about that."

"You're not alone anymore." She reminded him. "Promise me you'll remember that before you jump in front of a bullet or something."

"People don't normally jump in front of speeding bullets." He teased. "But I will remember that."

"Promise?" She asked flashing him her doe eyes.

"I promise." He promised.

"I mean it Phil." She said seriously and pushing him away from kissing her. "I can't lose somebody else."

"Me either." He said to her. "We'll just be extra careful from here on out, deal?"

"Deal." she grinned and he kissed her again and began to thrust his hips into her again...