Chapter 21: Chicago and New York
Punk sat in the department lounge after coming back from yet another long day on the grind. He had busted another wannabe two bit criminal trying to hold up a loan company. He failed miserably…Punk didn't even have to try the guy was an idiot.
Of course when Punk came back he got congratulated on a job well done. Punk didn't say a word as people did so and just walked on by like it really didn't matter…lately anything mattered. He didn't even want to be back on the job…but after weeks of James leaving messages for him to come back and Kofi coming by his apartment trying to convince him…he finally caved in.
"Hey man everything alright…seems like you didn't want any part of people giving you props out there" Kofi asked walking in.
"I don't need them…I really don't" Punk replied rubbing his temples he had a massive headache
"I can't tell…seems like you've been found of coming in here to hide" Kofi replied with a soft smile
"It's been a month…she's been gone for a month" Punk whispered softly his green eyes look so dim compared to how they were whenever he had AJ around
"I know man…I'm sorry. I mean have you even tried talking to her" Kofi asked softly
"Are you kidding…she told me she wanted nothing to do with me when she left remember" Punk replied running his fingers through his hair.
Kofi smirked…even though he never really kept up with appearances…being as his hair was a mess, and the bags under his eyes, he still managed to shave now. It was like he did it hoping AJ would walk in those doors. Hell he even admitted he didn't do it for James…he did it for her.
"What are you scared of?" Kofi asked sternly
"I'm not scared of anything damn it" Punk replied harshly
"You know a wise guy here in the force told me once when I first started here never let your fear decide your fate" Kofi replied with a gentle smile
"You remember that" Punk replied with a chuckle
"Best piece of advice you ever gave me" Kofi replied patting Punk on the back
"Listen think you can do me a favor" Punk asked with a smirk
Kofi looked at Punk with confusion…Punk had never asked anyone for help.
*New York*
AJ got back to her new apartment after a long boring day behind a desk. Since she came back she wasn't out on the streets like before helping to catch the loser criminals of New York. Her boss decided a desk job was best for her…it put her out of harm's way and plus the fact she got shot in Chicago didn't help either.
She missed Chicago…she missed the fact that she was out there making a difference catching the criminals. She loved the fact that she didn't have to hold back or be someone she wasn't like here in New York. She got the job done in Chicago…she was something, she was an awesome officer.
Most of all she missed him. She missed everything about him…he smile, he beautiful green eyes, those tattoos, and even his smart ass attitude. She didn't mean it when she said she wanted nothing to do with him…but at the time she just felt so hurt and betrayed.
He knew what was going to happen, he knew they were sending her back, and he did nothing to tell her and when he tried he broke her heart. Even after everything she knew she was still in love with him…sure she went on a few dates when she came back…but they didn't hold a candle to Punk.
AJ walked into her bedroom bathroom and slipped drew a nice warm bath…the water felt so good on her tense body. After she was done with her bath…she wrapped a towel around her petite nude body and opened her top drawer. She smiled once she had what she wanted in her hand.
Inhaling its scent first AJ slipped it on and smiled to herself. It was a shirt that Punk left behind one day when he chose to sleep over again. It was he Chicago PD shirt…he loved that shirt, it smelled just like him. It brought comfort to her and it was the only thing she had left of Punk.
AJ set her alarm clock for 6:00 am and crawled into bed. Sighing to herself AJ tried to catch some sleep…but it never failed no matter how hard she tried it would never come. AJ's eyes fluttered open and she turned over in bed. It was for that one faint moment of exhaustion that she saw an image of Punk lying right beside her.
"Punk" AJ whispered as she shot up in bed.
Nothing…she was alone.
"You're losing it Mendez" AJ whispered to herself as she threw herself back onto the pillows.
Feeling her eyes tear up she grabbed the pillow that Punk had slept on and held it closely. How was she going to do this…every day was a struggle. Was she ever going to get over Punk…maybe he was already over her. AJ felt the tears falling as she tried to push the thought out of her mind and get some sleep.