Reaction

"So… it went well for you and Jess then?" Dean asked Punk who had joined the Ambrose household for dinner.

"It did." Punk nodded, "Yeah, she was super fine. She picked out some stuff for her room so I'll probably start that. We made pizza. Helped her with her homework. And I… I tried to pitch an apology date with her, to the movies but, I was informed by Jamie that they were going out of town to see his parents." Punk shrugged, "So I guess I'll need to make it another day."

"Oh, yeah. They do that every now and then. His dad is a cop too. One of them racists ones though, which made us good ones look bad." Dean told him as Punk nodded slowly, "Was that the first time you and Jamie met?" He asked, clearing dinner away. Lia and Eva had escaped into the living room.

"Yeah, it was." Punk nodded, "Obviously I'm not gonna like the guy." Punk laughed to himself, "He's living with my daughter and the girl I'm still in love with." Punk shrugged, "But he was immediately looking down on me and I'm not about that bullshit. He was trying to make me feel guilty for AJ feeling like shit and I told him I wasn't my problem because… it isn't. I'm here for Jessica and that's it. That's what AJ wants too." Punk said, "That's not too harsh, is it?"

"No, you've got a point." Dean said, "He's probably just trying to act the big man, thinking he's got the one up on you." He said, "Best just to walk away."

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "But I mean… I do feel kinda bad that this shit is affecting AJ." Punk sighed. He hadn't told anyone about the kiss. He promised AJ he wouldn't.

"You know she sometimes has hard days." Dean said as Punk nodded, "And obviously he's gonna wanna make you feel bad, like you're the one who has done something wrong here when really… AJ just needs time to get used to you being out." He shrugged as Punk nodded.

"How did they even get together? I thought AJ would stay clear of cops. I thought I was just like… a one off thing." He shrugged.

"I'm not really sure how they got together. I think he saw her around the station. You know April, it probably started as something meaningless and then… maybe she actually liked him, well obviously she did." Dean nodded, "So when are you taking Jess to the movies then?"

"Sometime this week, preferably my day off so nothing comes up. I've been covering seminars and the circuits, it's fun but… it's a lot." Punk nodded, "I've text AJ but she's not got back to me." He shrugged.

"You're liking this job, huh?" Dean smiled.

"Yeah. I really am. It's the closest I feel to being a cop, you know? And what better than to teach things I learned to other people, and also teach them what not to do... aka withhold information and get caught up in a murder, going to prison for five years and losing everything." Punk smiled sarcastically as Dean laughed and nodded.

"Yeah, you should probably make things clear to them about that." Dean nodded, "I'm happy that you're doing good, and your boss clearly values you."

"Yeah, Bruno. He's like Ian. Chilled out. Doesn't really care what I did, as long as I show up and I'm doing my job." He shrugged, "And it's not bad pay either." Punk nodded.

"Well good. I bet it's a weight off your shoulders more than anything." Dean said as Punk nodded, "I know it's shitty and everything with AJ, I know you probably feel guilty and confused, but you're doing everything right." Dean assured him.

"I mean I don't wanna upset her or put her in uncomfortable situations. I didn't think I did that to her and it sucks because… we used to be great together, it felt right and she just doesn't seem happy to me." He sighed.

"And that's for her to come to terms with." Dean nodded, "You keep doing you, being there for Jess, working, and no one can get mad." He said as Punk nodded.

"Are you two finished gossiping in here?" Lia asked, walking into the kitchen, "Eva wants you to put her to bed tonight." She told Dean who nodded.

"Duty calls." Dean nodded to Punk, giving Lia a kiss as he made his way out of the kitchen. Punk felt immediate jealous of Dean and Lia, and how their home felt like a home, and they had each other, and they could raise their family with each other. He felt left out on that.

"Thanks for having me over." Punk nodded to Lia who smiled.

"You're welcome any time." Lia smiled, "Things will get better, you know. I mean when you think about it… you're doing amazing for just being out of prison for a few months. You've got a place to live, a job, you're getting on good with Jess." Lia said, "Most people don't have that when they come out because… they lose themselves. You're a strong person. Strong minded." She nodded to him.

"I didn't see it as a choice. I needed to get all those things. I had to prove to myself that I can still have a life, even after not having one for five years." He said as Lia nodded.

"Have you still not spoken to anyone about prison yet?" Lia asked him quietly as Punk sighed.

"No and I don't plan to. I… I guess I spoke with Cami briefly but… but I don't wanna think about it." Punk said, "Nothing traumatic happened. Yeah, I got a few beatings, but so does everyone at first. I was put in a place full of criminals. I wasn't expecting hugs and kisses." Punk said, "But I'm fine now."

"Phil, I saw those scars on your back. Whether you think it's traumatic or not… you still went through a terrible time and bottling it in isn't good. I work with people who have been through situations like yours and they always feel a lot better once they talk." Lia said.

"Well I just work differently. I'm perfectly fine forgetting all about the past five years of my life. I can just block it out. Easily." Punk nodded, "It works for me."

"Ok then I won't force you." Lia nodded, "I just don't want you to feel like you can't talk to anyone. There's nothing to be scared of. We're your family."

"And I appreciate that." Punk assured her, "I do. But I'm not a therapy person, and I don't want to think about and live through all of that again." He said, "It's easier for me to forget about it." He said as Lia nodded.

"As long as you know we're here." Lia nodded to him as he smiled.

"April, I'm home." Jamie announced. He and AJ hadn't saw one another since his parents' house. When he got home that night she was sleeping, or pretending to be asleep to avoid him, and he was out at work for the rest of the next day where AJ had spent the day on the sofa with Jessica, feeling like the world was closing in on her.

"I'm in here." AJ said softly from the living room as Jamie walked in. She was lying up on the sofa in some sweats and a hoodie watching TV, "I've just put Jess down." She nodded.

"Yeah, I thought it was oddly quiet." Jamie nodded, "You were both fast asleep when I got home last night." He said as AJ sat up, "What the hell happened with you? One minute you were fine… next you were desperate to leave and sped off right away." He said, sitting down beside her on the sofa as AJ looked at him.

"I just wanted to go home." AJ shrugged. She thought about what had happened all day. She thought about the possibility of her overreacting and then realised she herself was trying to put fault on herself for something that was absolutely not her fault. She knew what had happened was inappropriate and needed to be spoke about one way or the other, "And…" She paused as Jamie looked at her, "When I was doing the dishes, your dad… he… put his hand on me." She nodded, "And both your parents were super horrible, telling me I shouldn't let Jess see Phil like it's any of their damn business."

"What do you mean my dad touched you?" Jamie shook his head, only having picked up on that part.

"When I was doing the dishes he… he was trying to be friendly, he put his on my back and then it… it just went further down and… he groped me. I wanted to slap him and push him, the way I was brought up to do but… I cared about what you'd think or what your family think… and Jess was there and honestly… I froze… no one has ever done that to me before."

"April." Jamie shook his head with confusion, "My dad isn't like that. Wasn't he just being friendly? Sometimes you tend to… think of these scenarios in your head. You don't need me to tell you you're paranoid." He said as AJ gulped and looked across at him.

"He groped me, plain and simple. I don't see how that's friendly." AJ shook her head, "Don't-Don't sit there and look at me like I'm making this up." She spat, "And don't make light of the situation either. He did what he did and I'm telling you because you're my boyfriend."

"Ok, just calm down." Jamie nodded, "You've been having a rough couple of days. And I told my parents that-"

"Oh, so your dad just felt me up to make me feel a little better?" AJ asked him as he looked at her.

"My dad isn't like that. He would never put his hands on you that way." Jamie shook his head.

"Well I'm telling you he did, Jamie." AJ said, "And this is why so many girls are afraid to speak about things like this, because of this reaction right here." She stood up.

"No, wait a minute." Jamie stood up and took her hand, "What-What did he say? What did you say?" He asked her, "Let me just… digest it." He said as AJ folded her arms and looked up at him.

"I told him to take his hands off me immediately and I stepped back. He just smiled and said he was being friendly, like it was normal and acceptable." She shook her head as Jamie nodded.

"Ok, alright." Jamie nodded to her, "I will confront him, I'll talk to him and straighten things out." He said as AJ just folded her arms. It wasn't the reaction she was hoping for. She thought he'd be a lot more mad at his father and comforting towards her but it seemed like he was more interested in if she was just overreacting, which made her feel even smaller than she already did, "Do you want some dinner?" Jamie asked her, casually diverting into normal conversation as AJ just shook her head.

"I've ate." AJ said, collapsing back down on the couch.

"Ok, I'm gonna go make something." He said, leaning down and kissing her cheek as AJ stayed still, watching him walk off out of the living room.

She sighed to herself and rested her head back on the sofa, placing her hand over her forehead. She didn't know how to feel anymore. She felt nothing.