When They Come Knocking
Punk was in his car attempting to keep warm. The hot air was was blowing out of the vent and Punk placed his bare hands there to warm them up. He rubbed them together and kept his eyes on the door of the building. This was a new level of desperation even for him but he remembered something his dad told him a long time ago.
"No matter what it is in your life, if you love it hold onto it. Whether it's a car, a job or a woman- same lesson. If you love it then it will be desired and it's something you should hold close and never give up on no matter what. People will always want what you have but it's up to you to make sure you keep it"
So that was exactly what Punk was doing. He was parked right outside the medical building AJ attended once a week. He saw her cute little self emerge from the building and jumped out of his car.
"Phil?" she asked spotting him immediately.
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd give you a ride because it is absolutely freezing out." He offered opening the passenger side door for her.
"How chivalrous." She teased getting into the car and he ran around and got in himself.
"I'm all about chivalry." He grinned and she smiled.
"Or you wanted to scope out my therapist." She remarked knowingly.
"Who? Me?" He laughed pulling out of the parking spot. "No."
"Yes. But I'm grateful for the ride so I'll let it go." She said to him.
"Fair enough." Punk smiled happily feeling as if he got away with it.
"You want to know if he talked about you?" AJ asked arching a brow.
"Your therapy sessions are your own." Punk defended with a shrug. "But if you volunteered the information I would listen."
"I've been thinking about it." AJ said to him. "Maybe it's time I switch doctors."
"So he bashed me again?" Punk asked angrily.
"No." She assured him. "But if you're so uncomfortable with me seeing him I'm willing to compromise."
"No reason to compromise." He said forcing a smile. "I trust you. Speaking of annoying men who can't take a hint...heard from Nick?"
"Not since he came by my place and you were there." She said to him. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"
"That's the best part about being an owner, I can come and go as I please." He said to her.
"I have to go back to my office and work so don't take me home." She told him. "Holiday season is upon us and you'd be surprised how many people want to purchase paintings."
"What do you want for Christmas?" He asked curiously.
"I thought we weren't celebrating." She said to him and he eyed her briefly.
"We can still exchange gifts." He defended. "I mean, it IS Christmas."
"I just want to spend the day with you." She said to him. "My last few Christmas have been me breaking up a physical fight between Mateo and Nick and then crawling into bed alone because Nick would have all of his friends and they'd sit in my living room and get high."
"What a fool." He scoffed with a laugh. "If you were in my bed the last place I'd be would be hanging out with my friends."
"I want a tattoo for Christmas." She told him.
"Ok." He said to her with a grin. "Do you know what you want?"
"I want you to surprise me again." She told him.
"Ape-" he began.
"I trust you." She said to him. "So I'm assuming you want a Christmas present." she teased.
"I mean, it IS Christmas." He remarked lightly and she laughed. "Just laugh."
"What?" she asked.
"I love hearing your laugh. Just hang out with me that whole day and laugh." Punk said to her seriously.
"I never would have imagined you were such a gentle sweet man." She said to him.
"I'm full of surprises." He said simply.
"I can switch therapists as your gift." She offered.
"That's tempting." He had to admit. "But I don't want your routine fucked up. It's fine. This is my shit and I'll deal with it."
"You're a good guy." She had to admit as he pulled into her job parking lot.
"I'm going to work late tonight so maybe tomorrow night we could have dinner?" he asked.
"Yes." She said gently grabbing his face and kissing him.
"I love you." He said to her, something she would never get tired of hearing. For the first time in her life someone said 'I love you' to her and it wasn't just words- she could feel it.
"I love you too." She said with a straight face then kissed him again before getting of the car.
Punk watched and waited until she walked into the building then headed back to work himself.
AJ walked into her office and groaned when she saw Nick behind her desk.
"Really?" AJ asked in disbelief. "I'm calling security."
"No!" He pleaded. "I didn't even think you'd be here."
"Why are you here?" She asked.
"You used to keep cash at work." Nick told her honestly.
"I did when I lived with you. No need to do that anymore." She said taking her jacket off.
"I just need a couple of hundred to get me through the next week." He said to her.
"No Nick." She said firmly.
"Ten years together and you can't help me out?" Nick asked. "Is this you talking or Punk?"
"It's me talking." AJ said to him. "You have cost me thousands of dollars and it's over now. I don't owe you a damn thing."
"I saved your life." Nick corrected. "You technically owe me that much."
"Don't be ridiculous." She groaned. "I've given you a place to live, I cut myself off from my family for years to be with you and I've been miserable for years because of you. I've more than paid you back."
"You make it out like it was all bad." Nick said to her. "Who threw you a makeshift prom when you were too anxiety ridden and poor to go to your own? Who sat next to you when you were fucking committed and strapped to a bed for days after you tried to kill yourself? Who stuck their fingers down your damn throat when you swallowed a bottle of pills!" he yelled at her. "Who kept your secret for ten years? Who pushed you into getting help? Who helped you study so you could have this nice fucking office and great paying job?!"
"If you really want me to I could do a pros and cons list too but I don't think you'd like it." She said to him. "All the night you'd stumble in the door vomiting from partying, stealing my money and things for extra cash, trying to talk me out of my medication and therapy, cheating on me only god knows how many times, you'd let your disgusting friends over and let them make me feel so uncomfortable that I'd literally lock myself in my room and sleep with my mace in my hand."
"You know deep down I'd never let anyone hurt you." Nick said softly. "You know when worst came to worst I'd have your back like no other."
"It's over and it's been over for months." She told him simply. "I've moved on-"
"I don't want to get back together." He insisted. "I just need a little fucking help!"
"You have to go look for it elsewhere. I can't bail you out this time." She told him. "Next time you break into my apartment or office I'll have you arrested."
"You really are an unfeeling bitch." Nick said in disbelief then stormed out of her office.
Old AJ would have given him his money. That was weaker AJ. But new AJ who was happy and finally in a good place in her life and just mentally but emotionally knew she had to give up old habits. As a matter of fact most of her therapy session today was about Nick and Dr. Simone encouraged her to stay strong and on course so that was exactly what she was going to do. She needed to focus on her future ad her financial situation. Although she lived comfortably she truly couldn't afford to keep covering for Nick.
That night AJ had just stepped out of the shower. She ran her brush through her hair and before blowing it out someone knocked on her door. She knew it wasn't Punk since she had just gotten off the phone with him so that meant it was either Nick again or debt collectors. AJ walked to the door and opened it on a crack the fully opened to reveal a police officer.
"Hi there." The officer greeted removing his hat. "April Mendez?"
"Yes." She said nervously looking at the two officer.
"Mind I come in?" he asked.
"Um..." she trailed off.
"I get it." The officer smiled then held up a picture. "Do you know this man?"
"Yes." She said looking at the picture of Nick.
"According to his drivers license this is his current residence." The officer said putting the picture away.
"It's not. He moved out months ago." AJ told him.
"What was your relationship with him?" The officer asked her.
"Was?" She asked quietly. "Is he alright?"
"Nick Nemeth was killed earlier tonight." The officer told her and she gasped. "Does he have family we can reach? Are you a relative?"
"He was my boyfriend." She said in obvious shock. "We broke up-"
"Was it a bad breakup?" The officer asked.
"I-" She began as her hands began to tremble. "He told me he-"
"Told you what?" The officer asked.
"What happened to him?" She asked with glassy eyes but not crying.
"He suffered from brain trauma." The officer told her. "He seemed to have been hit with some kind of weapon."
"He was murdered." she stated and he nodded. "He owed some people money and I wouldn't give him the money he was in my office today." she confessed.
"Did he mention any names?" The officer asked holding his notepad.
"No but Donnie was his friend and then he owed him money or something." AJ told him. "I don't know his last name or anything." She said in a shaky voice.
"Are you sure he's dead?"
"Yes Miss. Mendez." The officer frowned. "What else did he say to you today?"
"He broke into my office looking for money but I didn't have any." She told him. "He's always in trouble I never thought he would be killed."
"It's not your fault." The officer assured her.
"I could have given him my ring or necklace..." she trailed off. "Or maybe my credit card-"
"Suppliers don't really accept credit cards." The officer told her. "There was nothing you could have done. He doesn't have a next of kin we could contact?"
"No." She whispered. "He grew up in the system, foster care. He has two brothers who were also in the system but one of them is in prison and his little brother died a few years ago."
"He has you listed as emergency contact and you're technically his domestic living partner." He told her. "We're going to need you to come down to the morgue and identify his body."
"Me?" she asked in a quiet horrified voice and he nodded.
"I'm so sorry for your loss Ms. Mendez." He said to her.
"I don't think he'd want me to do that or make any kind of decision about him." She said to him.
"There was a picture of the two of you in his jacket pocket when we found him." he told her and she felt crushed. "Do you need me to ride you to the morgue?"
"No." She said to him. "I have to get dressed and call my job and-"
"It's fine." The officer said with a smile. "Take all of the time you need. There's no rush on this. The morgue isn't going to close. Just tell them your name and who you're there to identify but please make it there before the morning."
"I will." She told him. "I'll go tonight."
"Is there someone I could call for you? Someone who could help you?" he offered before leaving.
"Nobody can help me." She whispered more to herself.
"What was that?" he asked unable to hear her.
"Thank you." She said to the officer still in shock. "I'll be there."
"Here's the address." He said passing her a card. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?"
"Yes." She whispered then closed the door.
AJ called a cab since she wasn't even sure where she was going. She looked at the card the officer gave her but for some reason gave the driver Punk's address. She wasn't even sure he'd be home from work yet but that's where her mind felt she needed to go. She needed to ask for help for the first time and it was the hardest thing she's ever had to done. Not only was she not sure she'd be able to emotionally handle this but she knew nothing but funeral arrangements or what she was even going to do. She wasn't sure Punk knew what to do but she did know he'd provide support and she'd take that.
She paid the driver then stepped out of the cab. It was the middle of December so it was absolutely freezing out, plus it was pouring and she didn't think to bring and umbrella. She realized that she was still in her sleeping shorts and tank top with just a light ran jacket thrown over her but open so the cold air hit her body. She was now not only shaking from shock but probably from freezing. She walked into Punk's building and past the familiar doorman who she had gotten to know well.
"Ms. Mendez?" the doorman asked walking to her as she stared at the elevator and didn't hit the button.
"Is he home?" AJ asked him and he nodded and pushed the up elevator.
"I'll take you up." He offered. "Are you alright? Were you hurt?"
That would be the logical thought. She was half dressed in the middle of the winter, eyes red and swollen from crying and she was walking around like a zombie.
"Do you need me to call the police?" he asked as they waited for the elevator to rise to the 21st floor.
"No." She said quietly and kept looking straight ahead.
AJ stepped off the elevator and the doorman watched until he saw her reach Punk's door. She wasn't even sure what time it was. She could hear Punk and Mateo both inside laughing about something. She paused for a moment as she balled her fist prepared to knock but was unable to hit the door.
Her mind became clouted with questions that no 'normal' person would ask during a time like this but this was all part of being bipolar. She was thinking irrationally and she knew all of this was part of what she had- who she was. Should she even bother him with this? He didn't even like Nick, was she putting him in an uncomfortable situation? Would he wonder why she was so upset over Nick since she was with him? Would he be cruel and tell her Nick had it coming? Did Nick have it coming? Was she directly responsible for this since she didn't help him? Would Punk think she was cold?
Thankfully the questions running through her head stopped when the door swung open even without her knocking. Punk looked at her with such horror and she wasn't even sure what to say.
"Ape?" he asked warily.
"AJ?" Mateo asked walking over now.
"He's dead." She choked out.
"Who?" Punk asked.
"Nick." She said holding her tears back and trying to pretend she wasn't as hurt as she really was. "They came to my house to tell me-"
"Who?" Mateo asked her. "Who came to you?"
"I have to go to the morgue now." She told Punk who frowned.
"You need to come inside." Punk corrected and pulled her inside the apartment. "You're fucking freezing." he said feeling her hand and it truly felt like slippery ice. "What are you wearing?"
"I didn't want to go alone." She said to Punk ignoring his question. "I don't think I can go alone because I killed him."
"You what?" Mateo asked alarmed.
"He asked me for help today. He was at my office and I kicked him out and then they beat him until he died." AJ told Mateo who felt relief that his sister didn't ACTUALLY kill Nick.
"I'm going to dry her off." Punk said grabbing her hand. "Can you-"
"No! I have to go to the morgue!" She yelled. "I'm all he had!"
"I get that Ape and you will go but you're going to get sick." Punk argued trying not to yell. "You're not even dressed."
"I'll call the morgue." Mateo offered. "Tell them you'll be there soon."
"I should go now." AJ told him.
"You will but first I need to get you dried and changed." Punk said pulling her towards the stairs then up them.
Punk pulled her through his bedroom and into the master the bath. He quickly removed her jacket then stripped her out of completely everything. He grabbed a towel and dried off every inch of her body then ran into his room and pulled out the warmest pair of sweat pants he had and made sure to tie them tight around her small waist. He put a Cubs t-shirt over then a sweatshirt and grabbed a jacket to wrap around her as well.
"I'm hot now." She said to him and he tried not to smile.
"Good. That was the point." He said to her the walked out of the bathroom and began to change himself.
"You're coming with me?" She asked quietly tilting her head.
"Of course I am." He said as pulled on a pair of jeans.
"He broke into my office today." AJ said telling him the story she tried to earlier. "I threw him out. He wanted my help."
"I don't think you could have done anything to truly help him." Punk said to her seriously. "He wasn't your responsibility." he reminded her placing his hands on her arms and looking her directly in the eyes.
"He saved my life." She whispered. "He saved me when I wanted to die and I couldn't do the same for him."
"It's two different things entirely and you know that." He said to her. "It's going to be ok." he promised her.
"He's dead. I still have his stuff in my place." She told him. "I don't know how to plan a funeral and who would even come? I don't-"
"Hey." He said cutting her off and pressing his lips to her forehead. "I've got you. All you have to do is say the word and I'll help you and take care of this."
After looking into his eyes for a few moments he watched a single tear fall down her cheek and she let out a breath. This was incredibly difficult for her.
"Can you help me?" She asked in a whisper and he felt relieved. That's all he wanted to hear from her, he didn't want to jump in and take over but he knew she needed to recognize she needed help and ask for it.
"Yes." he promised.
"You guys ready?" Mateo asked walking into the bedroom with his jacket on as well.
"You don't have to come." She told Mateo.
"I know I don't. But I'm going to." He told her. "This is what family is for, right? I called the morgue and they're expecting us."
"Can you pull my car out of the garage and bring to the door? I don't want her out in the rain." Punk asked and he nodded.
"Already got the keys." Mateo said holding them up then walked out of the room.
"You've got this Ape." Punk said to her.
"I've lost my dad before but believe it or not I've known Nick longer-" She began.
"You don't have to explain to me or anyone else why you're sad. You have every right to be upset." He reminded her sternly. "You don't have to keep it together, you don't have to try not to cry. You don't need to worry about anyone but yourself right now."
"I love you." Was all she responded with.
"I've got you, you know that." He said gently cupping her face.
"That's why I came here." She said to him. "I knew you'd help me."
"I'll always help you." He promised her.
"I've never seen a dead body before." She whispered fearfully. "I didn't have to do this with my dad-"
"I've done this." Punk said to her. "I'll hold your hand through it all. If it gets to be too much just squeeze my hand and I'll get you out of there."
"Really?" She asked and he nodded.
"Ok. I'm ready." She announced and began to clean up under her eyes.
"Ok." he said taking her hand and leading her out of the bedroom.
