P2: Our apologies for the lack of Seth in the Shield, and we'll try and rectify that.

Cal's Notes:

BrightAsNight: Haha Yeah you better not. LOL April is his home. He's just fighting it. You know April won't let anything happen to my baby as long as He's with her. :D

takers dark lover: Yep, He sure does.

PL-LovesDAandSPNForever946: Just because they aren't the main pair you still could've reviewed and stated your thoughts on it. We know what we're doing but it's still nice to hear from readers about what we may or may not be missing. We ARE just human with very little time so we do tend to miss things. You could've said "I liked this about so and so, but on the Shield… would've been nice to have a longer part." Easy as that. We ONLY take it wrong if it is meant to be rude or sounds rude. Other than that it's fair game. We're not, I repeat NOT changing any pairing AT ALL. This story is just getting started, we were building a report between Dean/Roman, and Seth is still very much a part of that couple. I assure you. Meh it is what it is. Sorry you feel that way. Next time, remember we're human, speak up.

Guest: Yes they are…

Always Straightedge and proud: K then?

shiki94: They are! He did, his dad will be the death of him… April knows that. I love your reviews. :D Here's the next chapter sorry for the wait, 25 should be up much sooner.

Guest 2: Thank you! He does but he needs his privacy too. That's a trust thing; Phil will feel like he can't trust her anymore. We'll try not to…

LadyDragonsblood: Thank you. Yeah they are, angst is what I'm best at, don't do too well with fluff… He's so badly damaged. Well April's mother knows for the most part. Dean was pushing him before so Roman pushed back. Yes he was in Cena's face, and no he didn't leave, John did, then and only then did he leave.

C/P Chapter 22:

"I'm sorry," Adam offered. "I really didn't mean that how it came out."

"Get up, take your apologies and get out of my face." John muttered lowly, his blue eyes narrowed at the ground, burning a hole through it with the intensity of his glare.

Adam fell silent but still refused to move, sitting quietly next to John and giving the other boy time to brood.

When Adam didn't leave like John told him, the brunette jumped up and stormed off without sparing a glance back at the Canadian. 'Fuck him.' John thought as he clenched his fists tightly at his sides, fighting the urge to punch something.

Adam spared a quick glance around, before he let out a sigh and started walking home himself."

See? John left. Reread if you must. In this fic, John's parents AREN'T your parents. His aren't as understanding or supportive. You'll see, that's really all I can say. John is one of those that just need to be alone. When people are around, they tend to make shit worse than it is. Thanks again.

BelieveInTheShield – RSD: I do love a challenge. We've written an EXTENSIVE Ambrolliens part, unfortunately, it is NOT in this chapter you will however catch it in chapter 25. We appreciate the criticism and you not flat out posting one review and flat out giving up on us.

LoveCharlene: No. -_-

Kittykatblox: Thanks.

Here's chapter 24, 25 should be out soon. Sorry for the wait. Getting more and more busy, Reviews are brain food for updates… Remember that. :)

Phil groaned as he dressed neatly, wearing his best pair of jeans with a plain black shirt. He glanced over at April. "I'll be back soon." He told her quietly as he headed towards the front door.

April caught up with him and took his hand, turning to lock the door. "I'll walk you," she offered with a bright smile.

Phil smiled at her weakly. "Oh, no. You don't have to do that April." He replied softly.

"I want to," she told him. She started to lead him down the road.

"You don't have to, the mall isn't too far and I'll be right back after it's over." He told her quietly as they walked along.

"I know baby, but it'll be nice for us to get out of the house," she told him cheerfully. "Besides, I like holding your hand outside."

Phil flushed silently as they walked along. "I just don't want you to have to wait while I'm in my interview, that's all. I don't know how long it'll be." He mumbled softly.

"I don't mind," she said, squeezing his hand. "It's okay."

Phil sighed quietly as he checked the time. It didn't take them long to reach the mall, as Phil opened the door for her, waiting for her to walk in before he followed, feeling her grab his hand again. They walked silently through the mildly busy mall, stopping right outside hot topic as Phil gave April a small smile.

"This is it. See you after my interview, where you going to be?" He asked softly.

April took a seat on the bench outside the shop, giving him a soft smile. "I'll just wait here," she promised him.

Phil gave her a small smile. "You can go to game stop. Don't sit on the bench waiting for me. I'll come looking for you when I'm done." He told her quietly as he walked inside, not giving her a chance to argue with him. He walked up to the counter seeing Jeff who gave him a friendly smile.

"You're here. Awesome. Follow me." He told Phil as he led him to the back into a small room with two chairs and a table, pulling out Phil's application. "Okay. Let's get started." He told the blonde with a smile as Phil returned it with a nod.

AJ crossed her legs on the bench, not moving. She kept a watchful eye glancing around her, watching for anyone that shouldn't be around her or Phil. April kept an eye on the front door of the store, wondering what was taking so long. She hoped that it was a good sign.

The minutes ticked by as Jeff asked question after question, Phil answering them honestly. "Well…" Jeff started with a wry look making Phil slightly nervous. "I have a job for you, that is if you want it." He finished flashing Phil a grin.

Phil sighed in relief as he replied "Of course I want it. Thank you Mr. Hardy, you won't regret it, I promise."

Jeff laughed quietly. "I'm sure I won't." He replied as he looked Phil over. "What size are you, a medium, large? I'm going to go run and grab you a couple uniform shirts." He told him as Phil answered "Medium."

Jeff gave a curt nod as he stood, collecting his paper work and left the room to fetch Phil's uniform shirts, leaving the blonde alone for a few moments. "Here you are Mr. Brooks, here's three uniform shirts and your first schedule for training, which will be on the job training, you start next week." Jeff told him as he slid the items over to him.

"Thank you." Phil answered with a bright smile as he collected the items, standing and shaking Jeff's hand. "I'll see you next week." Jeff told him quietly with a grin that Phil returned excitedly. "Awesome." He answered as Jeff lead him out of the room and back to the front of the store.

"Thanks Jeff." Phil told him softly as he made his way through the store, walking out of hot topic and into the main part of the mall, looking for April.

Phil spotted her on the bench as he walked toward her, showing her his uniform shirts with a slight smile. "I got the job." He told her softly. "That's great babe!" she exclaimed, leaping up and kissing his lips hard. "Congratulations."

Phil flushed brightly, unable to resist cutting her off with another kiss. "Thank you baby." He moaned against her lips.

She took his hand and led him out of the mall. "That's great news baby," she told him.

Phil nodded with a smile, not noticing the car following them slowly until his name was called. "Phillip!"

Phil jumped as he pulled his hand out of April's turning to see his father parked alongside the curb, sitting in his car with the window rolled down. "Wh-what do you want?" He called quietly, noticing April taking a protective stance at his side.

"I just want to talk to you." He told his son as Phil shivered, mulling it over in his head, looking to April.

"We were just leaving," April told him, taking Phil's hand and tugging gently. "Let's go."

"Phillip please? Just let me talk to you." Jack pleaded quietly as Phil stood rooted to the cement, not allowing April to drag him off. "Just, let me talk to you, please get in the car?" He asked looking sincere.

"What do you want to do?" April asked softly, moving to stand between them. "You want to hear him out?"

"Can I talk to my son? Alone. Please." Jack growled before quickly calming himself as Phil looked into April's eyes, shifting them to his father behind her.

"April." He whispered quietly, seeing in her eyes that she was begging him not to go.

"How about you just stay there, and I'll take a few steps away," she suggested. "I don't want you to go with him alone."

"Phillip please." Jack pleaded again as Phil handed April his work stuff, leaning down to peck her lips gently, whispering "Please don't be mad." He stepped around her, sliding into the car. Jack started the car and drove off with Phil.

"Phillip you get out of that car!" she yelled after it, before her shoulders started to shake and she fell to the ground crying.

Phil sighed quietly as he watched April break down in the rear view mirror as she faded from the view. He pulled out his phone, texting April 'I'll meet you at your house.' He glanced over at his abusive father mumbling "What the hell did you need?"

Jack glanced over at his son. "I haven't been the best father to you Phillip, not for a very long time. You running away from home forced me to come to grips that yes I do have a problem and I can't deny it any longer. I have a chemical dependency problem and I need to get help for it. I'm willing to get help for it, counseling, or whatever I need to get myself right again." Jack started quietly, glancing over at Phil every once in a while as he spoke.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything that I've ever done to you, I apologize and I know it's not enough, I can never make it up to you but I still want to try. I'll go to counseling, I'll go to A.A. but only on one condition, I want my son back. I want you to come home where you belong Phillip." Jack continued quietly.

He parked the car as an uncomfortable silence settled over them, lasting for several long minutes until Jack broke it again. "Phillip if you come home, it'll give me the strength and reassurance that I need to get through counseling; I want to get myself right so that I can do right by you. The choice is yours, you have my number, I won't make you choose right now, I understand that you have been through allot and I understand that most if not all of the blame rests on my shoulders." Jack told him as Phil nodded.

"I'm sorry for that. I know it'll take some time for you to forgive me, and I'm willing to give you the time and space to heal. I just want you to answer me this, will you tell me where you're staying?" He asked as Phil glanced over at him.

"I can't tell you that." He replied quietly as Jack nodded in understanding. "You're not sleeping on the streets though, are you?" He asked as Phil shook his head. "Just with a friend." He answered vaguely as Jack nodded, accepting the answer.

"Do you need anything, money? Food? Anything?" He asked softly as Phil shook his head tightly. "No. I'm fine." He answered quietly as Jack nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay then. Uh, you want to walk back to that spot or do you want me to drop you off where I picked you up?" He asked as Phil shrugged. "You can drop me off where you picked me up. If you want that is." He mumbled as Jack nodded, starting the car.

Phil had his father drop him off two blocks from April's house as he got out of the car. "Think about it Phillip, please?" Jack pleaded as Phil gave a slight nod as he watched Jack pull away, diving off. He waited until Jack was gone before he jogged to April's house, letting himself in the gate, jogging over to the door, trying the handle and realizing it was still locked.

He pulled out his phone and sent a text to April. 'Where are you April? I'm at your house, but the door is locked.' He sighed and dropped down on the porch steps waiting for April to reply.

AJ stayed on the ground, her tears flowing down her cheeks. She was worried about Phil, and she wasn't going to move until she heard from him.

April felt her phone vibrate and pulled it out, reading it through teary eyes. She leapt up and gathered Phil's work stuff together, before she jogged home.

Phil glanced up as April exploded through the gate, rushing towards him. He shivered as he stood up. "Please… d-don't be mad…" He pleaded, letting out a groan as he felt her hand tangle in his hair.

"You got in his car!" she shrieked. "How fucking stupid do you have to be?!" She roughly swiped at the tears running down her cheeks before she started to punch at his chest.

"Stupid!" she snarled. "Fucking stupid!"

Phil grunted in pain as he took a few steps back, putting space between them. "April please. Don't be mad at me. Please…" He asked as he felt his back hit the door.

She buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed into his chest. "Don't you ever do that to me again," she begged through her sobs. "Promise me."

"I can't promise you anything. I'm stupid remember? Just fucking stupid, right?" He asked as he maneuvered himself away from April, moving toward the gate.

"I didn't mean that," she snapped, reaching out to capture his wrist. "It was a stupid move. You're not stupid." She unlocked the front door with her free hand, and tugged him inside after her.

"'How fucking stupid you have to be?'" Phil quoted as he pulled his wrist from her hand, crossing his arms over his chest, waiting for her to explain herself.

"He hurt you," she hissed. "He hurt you, and you just got in the car with him. Why on earth would you do that?"

"Well I would say that I'm just a human being. You would say that I'm just fucking stupid." Phil answered quietly.

"It was a stupid move," she told him, reaching up to touch his cheek. "You're not stupid."

Phil flinched away from her. "That's not what you mean, is it. In the heat of the moment, the truth comes out. But It's nice to know what you really think of me… Ma'am." Phil taunted as he grabbed his stuff from her before sprinting up the stairs to 'his' bedroom, shutting the usually open door behind him, dropping down on the bed, toeing his shoes off.

AJ sighed and walked up the stairs, sitting outside his door. She watched the door carefully, waiting for any sound from the room.

Phil tugged on his hair as his eyes watered. It was good to know that April thought he was 'fucking stupid'.

AJ tapped on his door. "Baby," she said gently. "You're smart pet. I didn't mean how it sounded."

"Fuck off!" Phil snapped as he shoved his jeans off and switched his shirt, crawling into bed. "Leave me the fuck alone… I'm not your fucking pet!"

"You can deny it all you want baby, but you're always going to be my pet," she told him. "You're always going to be mine."

"No I'm not! I'm not yours. Not anymore…" He snapped as he thought of the words he knew would send April into a fit. "Especially when I move back home…"

"When you do what?" she asked, sure that she had misheard him. She shoved the door open and leant in the doorway.

"You heard me, April." Phil replied as he turned on his side.

"What did he say to you?" she asked, not moving.

"You might want to leave before I lower your IQ points." Phil mumbled, not turning to look at her.

"Baby, please," she begged. "Stop that. What did he say?"

"I'm serious April. The longer you're around me, the harder it'll be for you to get into those fancy universities. Just saying…" Phil told her.

She crossed to his bed and sat beside him. "Stop it," she said gently. "You know that I don't think you're stupid."

Phil snorted. "According to you I don't know much."

"You were acting stupid," she said softly. "I never meant that you are stupid."

"That's not what you said." Phil told her quietly.

"I was upset baby," she whispered. "You got into the car with a man who abused you. Who hurt you and almost killed you. And you just drove off with him. I was so scared."

"Psychological fact, truth comes out in the heat of the moment." Phil mumbled softly, refusing to face her.

"It's not the truth babe," she scolded.

"Bullshit" He snapped glaring at her defiantly. "You said it yourself; it came from the horse's mouth. You said it and you can't deny it or try to change what you said. Now whenever you try and convince me of how 'smart' I am as it comes to college all I'll hear is 'how fucking stupid can you be?'"

April shook her head. "You acted stupid," she told him. "I never meant, not one bit, that you were stupid."

Phil shook his head with a humorless laugh. "That's not what you said April and you know it."

"It's what I meant, and you know it," she countered.

Phil pushed himself away from her still laughing. "According to you I don't know much of anything…" He countered, crossing his arms.

"That's not true baby," she said gently.

"Bullshit. Your words cut me deeper than his fists ever did…" He mumbled looking away.

"I'm sorry baby," she whispered. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"Bullshit. You know how times I've heard that? Just… save your breath." He muttered as he turned on his side, facing away from her.

She reached out and touched his shoulder softly. "What did he say to you today?" she asked softly.

Phil shrugged his shoulders violently. "Don't touch me." He snapped before hissing "What's it to you?"

"I'm worried baby," she said gently. "I love you, and he isn't good for you. Maybe I'm not either, but I would never intentionally hurt you like he did."

"Bullshit." Phil mumbled quietly. "I'm beginning to feel that maybe I should've run away… that maybe it was a mistake to come back to you…"

"No baby, it wasn't a mistake," she promised him. "I'm so glad you came back to me."

"Of course you are. You have someone to abuse… oh I'm sorry my bad, dominate…" he spat moving as close to the wall as possible to get away from her.

April stood up and wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "Really sorry." She left the room and swiped her tears away roughly.

Phil felt tears fill his eyes as he rolled off the bed, grabbing his jeans and pulling them along with his shoes on. He crept down the stairs quietly, slipping out the front door.

AJ was sitting on the front steps when he came out. "Gonna just sneak away without even saying goodbye?" she asked quietly.

Phil stood there silently before he started walking toward the gate.

"I love you baby," she called after him. "If you won't stay, then just know you can always come back." She lowered her head. "Please don't go."

Phil's body trembled as stood at the gate. "Why not?" He asked lowly, getting choked up.

"Because I love you," she said. "And I know you feel something for me. Please baby. Stay with me."

"Why? So you can verbally abuse me? I'd rather you punch me in the face than say what you said. Don't try to make me believe that I'm smart then turn around and ask me how fucking stupid I can be…" He mumbled with his hand resting on the latch.

"What can I do to make you believe me when I say that I didn't mean it like that," she begged. "I'll do anything!"

Phil scoffed. "That's the… funny thing about physical wounds, they heal and scar over, but they heal. Psychological and emotional wounds however, not so easy to put a Band-Aid over and call it good, those words stick with you for life." Phil mumbled as he flipped the latch open.

April rushed to the gate and rested a hand on his wrist. "Anything," she swore. "Whatever it takes, I will make you forgive me." Her dominance flashed in her eyes for a moment, hoping her words made it through Phil's thick skull.

Phil pushed the gate open. "You can't make me do anything." He replied defiantly, hiding his shiver at the momentary dominance in her eyes. "One day," she promised him. "One day."

"One day what? You. Don't. Own. Me." He hissed, narrowing his eyes at the small woman, proceeding to walk through the gate and out of her life.

April watched him go, silently vowing to herself that one day he would come back to her. She would make sure of it.

Phil walked about a couple blocks from April's house before he dropped down on the curb and broke down. He had nowhere to go; he couldn't go home because surely Jack could've been bluffing.

He couldn't go back to April's house because he left on his own terms and didn't want to go crawling back, even though he never intended to actually leave, he'd been bluffing and was hoping April would've fought harder for him to stay. Now that he was gone, he had nowhere to go. 'Looks like more sleepless nights on benches in the park…' he though solemnly, regretting that he never grabbed his hoodie, shivering in the chilly Chicago air.

"Hey, what are you doing out here?" Kaitlyn asked as she dropped to her knees next to him. She tugged her jacket off and draped it around his shoulders, not wanting to watch him shiver.

Phil pulled the jacket off and handed it back to Kaitlyn, his pride not willing to let him take Kaitlyn's jacket, no matter how fucking cold it was outside. "Nothing." He lied quietly, not seeing Kaitlyn slyly pull her cell phone out, hiding it from open view.

"It's cool," she told him with a bright smile. "I'm not cold, just been out jogging. We're all heading over to April's for game night." She sent a quick message to April, telling her where they were before she slid her phone back into her pocket.

He laid it across her lap as he stood and shoved his hands into his jean pockets. "That's cool. Well… I hope you guys have fun." He replied quietly as he avoided her gaze. "I uh… I have to uhh… I guess I should get going…" He lied softly as he stepped away from the two toned teen, keeping his head down.

"What did she do?" Kaitlyn sighed, placing a hand on his forearm. "I love her dearly, but she can be a down right social idiot sometimes."

Phil gave her pained look as he pulled his arm back from her. "Look… Nothing… just nothing. I should really go…" He mumbled even as his own thoughts taunted him with the words 'go where?'

She touched his shoulder gently. "Why don't you go hang out with Evie?" she suggested, seeing the torment in his eyes. "Her parents are away. Again. And I'd really appreciate it if you stopped by and checked in on her. She's not really into video games."

"No… Sorry. I just… I need to be alone." He replied quietly.

"Alright," she said, rubbing his shoulder gently. "I'm sure she'd love to see you if you change your mind."

"Look… why do you even care?" He asked quietly. "Honestly I know you're just trying to help April, but Eve and I aren't friends. You and I are barely friends, if it wasn't for April then we probably would've never even talked at all, I know you want to help her, but she's the only one who can fix this. Putting me under your thumb won't speed up the process." He muttered as he stepped away from her with his gaze on the ground in front of him.

"Because I really am worried about Eve," she told him. "Besides, when I fucked up she said that you were the one to talk her into coming back and talking to me. If you wanted to talk to someone, I thought she might be the best person." She shrugged. "April fucks up sometimes too. She's only human."

"Eve's not my problem. I have too much on my mind as it is. I forgot its fine for everyone else to fuck up but when I fuck up all of April's friends jump on me without knowing the full story. I don't have time for this." Phil told her as he shrugged and walked off, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Have fun … playing video games…"

Kaitlyn threw her hands up and turned away, continuing on her walk to April's place. "Stubborn fucking people," she muttered. "Gonna smack their heads together one of these days."

Phil sat on a bench in one of the many parks in Chicago, pulling his arms inside his thin t-shirt against the freezing assault of the chilly Chicago air. Could he really survive the night out here? The borderline hypothermic air continued its brutal assault on his bare flesh as he huddled into himself on the bench shivering.

April was waiting at her front gate for Kaitlyn when the other girl walked up.

"You saw Punk?" she demanded, waving her phone at Kaitlyn.

"Looking lost with no jacket, and no destination," she told her. "I suggest you find him a hoodie and go find him." AJ nodded and ran upstairs to go find Phil's favorite hoodie. AJ grabbed his hoodie and took off jogging, heading for the nearest park. She hoped that she could find Phil before he froze in the night air.

That's it for Chapter 24, 25 will be MUCH longer, I promise. Another cliffy. Please Read and Review, and us know what you think, feel, etc.

~ Cal & P2