Break Free


Clara headed up to bed after all the commotion with Dean. She now had a bruised face but knew that Dean wasn't his normal self. She'd be more hurt if he'd hit her sober, but clearly his mind was elsewhere. She was tired anyway and getting smacked across the face had just done it for her. She needed to lie down.

Meanwhile downstairs, Seth was feeding TJ whilst Punk sat across on the other couch, trying to enlighten Seth on the situation.

"She's my girlfriend. I'm not just gonna… I'm not gonna let him put his hands on her." Seth said firmly in a quiet voice.

"Yeah and she's my sister. I'm mad too." Punk nodded, "But he is in deep shit here, Seth. We're his only friends. We gotta pay off his debt, get him in some sort of rehab, and get him back living here beside us." Punk said, "You know he wouldn't have touched Clara if he was his normal self." Punk said as Seth just shook his head.

"You do what you want. Incase you haven't noticed, I'm trying to get my life sorted. I'm trying to not fuck up my relationship or get addicted to crack." Seth spat hastily, "Me and Clara are doing really well for ourselves and you know what? When you and Dean weren't here, we got on much, much better." Seth said as Punk just looked down at the ground and nodded.

"Alright." Punk stood up, "Ok, fine. I won't bother you two anymore then. Please, enjoy your perfect life." Punk said, walking on out the living room.

"Punk-" Seth called back but heard nothing but the front door slamming shut.


Later that night, Punk was lying up on his couch in his house, watching TV but barely paying attention to it. His mind was racing, thinking about AJ, thinking about Dean, thinking about what Seth had said. He couldn't catch a break.

He was brought out of his thoughts when the doorbell rang. He assumed it'd be Dean, so he got up and headed to the door, opening it up to see a young, black haired girl standing shivering, looking up at him with confusion.

"Is he here?" She asked as Punk just raised his eyebrows, "Dean?"

"No… no, he isn't here." Punk shook his head, "Who-Who are you?" He asked curiously.

"Paige." The girl said, "Sorry, I should have probably said that, huh?" She said as Punk just nodded, "I've been with Dean for a few years now. He said he'd be here if I needed him when I chucked him out this morning. I wanted to talk to him…" She said.

Punk was surprised at how normal the girl seemed. Clearly she had been Dean when he was in a sober state.

"I seen him earlier. He wasn't in good form." Punk admitted, "But he isn't here." Punk told her as she just nodded, "You're welcomed to come in." He said politely.

"Do you mind? Just until the rain goes off." She said.

"Not at all." Punk said, opening the door up and letting her in, "Here, give me your coat I'll put it on the radiator." He smiled politely as she took her coat off and handed it to him, walking on into the living room as he followed her, placing her coat over the radiator by the window.

"This is a really nice place." She admitted. Punk couldn't help notice how pretty the girl was. She seemed suited for Dean, but obviously just like most of the people close to Dean, he was getting pretty hard for her to handle.

"Thanks. I've just moved in." Punk told her, "Do you want a drink or something?" He asked as she just shook her head.

"No, thanks." She smiled, "I'm hoping maybe Dean shows soon, if not I'll get out your hair." She promised, "He always talks about you. And his other friend, Seth… is it?" She said as Punk nodded, "He really cares about you guys." She nodded.

"We care about him." Punk said, "And we're really concerned." He said, sitting down on the couch as she sat across, "I was hoping maybe you could tell me how this even happened." Punk said.

"Well when I met him he was working for these guys, just dealing them. He wasn't taking anything. I wasn't ok about it, we broke up for a bit when I found out, but then I realised I wasn't with him because of his job. I really… do love him." She rolled her eyes as Punk just smiled, "But then, just over the past few months, he's started taking stuff. Drinking more than he usually does." She shook her head, "I don't know what to do anymore." She admitted with defeat.

"Don't worry. We'll get him help." Punk nodded, "I'm gonna pay off his debts and get him into rehab." He said.

"Easier said than done." Paige said, "Don't you think I've tried it? I've worked overtime for the past year, trying to get money together, and when I did, I tried paying the dealers off but they just… they keep coming back for more." She shook her head, "I didn't plan to live this way." She said.

"I don't think Dean did either." Punk said, "At least… at least he's had you all this time. I thought he was suffering alone."

"It's a love hate relationship." Paige nodded, "I can't stand him when he's with me but I… I miss him when he's gone." She shrugged.

"Do you know how bad it is? How-How much is he taking? What is he taking?" Punk asked.

"I don't know what he takes. He always gets ashamed when I ask him about it. I don't think he's taking stuff every second he gets, but… he's gonna end up like that and I'm terrified." She said.

"We'll get him help." Punk nodded.

"Will you?" Paige asked seriously.

"He's a good buddy of mine." Punk said, "I won't let anything happen to him." He said, "How did… how did you two meet?" He wondered.

"In a bar." Paige smiled as she recalled, "He wasn't even drunk. We just got talking. He told me about you moving away, and his other friend having a serious relationship, and then he told me about the girl he liked." Paige shrugged as Punk just nodded.

"What'd he say about her?" He asked curiously.

"He didn't say much, just that he really liked her and that you both didn't take him seriously." She said, awkwardly looking over to Punk who just nodded.

"How'd you both get in a fight?" He asked her.

"Are you always this curious?" She asked as he smiled a little, watching her laugh, "I'm kidding." She smiled as he nodded with relief, "I just… I got so fed up. He's really bad at turning the blame on everyone else but himself. He told me it was my fault he was turning out the way he is." She said, "I've done nothing but be there for him and… and love him." She sighed, "And I do love him, and I'm-I'm so worried about him." She sighed, trying not to cry, but not being able to hold back her tears as Punk watched nervously, praying she wouldn't start crying on him, "I'm sorry." She squeaked, drying her tears as Punk stood up, taking a seat beside her.

"It's alright." Punk smiled.

"I know… I know he said we were- we were over, but I still care about him. I'm worried he'll do something stupid." She sighed as he awkwardly placed an arm around her.

"I'll find him. I promise." He nodded, "I'll pay off this debt, for real, and I'll get him sorted with a place around here, and I'll get him in rehab." Punk said. It was his main focus. He couldn't think about AJ anymore. Well… what was there to even think about anyway?

"Do you really mean that?" She asked him, looking up at him as he nodded.

"I really mean it." Punk nodded as she just gave a small smile, looking up at him through her teary eyes as he looked down at her, knowing exactly what was about to happen, feeling her lips attack his own, tumbling back on the couch a little as he pulled away from her for a second.

She was upset and she looked like she hadn't slept in years, and her feelings were clearly genuine for Dean, yet… it didn't feel so wrong to kiss her.

"You… You broke up with Dean?" Punk asked quietly, thinking with his head between his legs as she nodded. It was his cue to just jump back onto her, not taking into consideration his friends feelings, or the fact this girl was clearly all over the place.

He stood up, taking her with him as they stumbled over things on their way to the stairs, lifting her up when he reached them for quickness, for the first time, in seven years, he wasn't thinking of AJ.


Later that night, an unexpected visitor came to Seth and Clara's home, practically in the middle of the night. Seth was the only one to hear the door, and assuming it was Punk or a drunk Dean again, he quickly got up and headed downstairs to answer it, noticing it wasn't Punk or Dean, but AJ standing.

"Sorry." She whispered right away, noticing his eyes heavy and tired, "I didn't wake the baby, did I?" She asked as Seth let her in and closed the door.

"No. He's out cold." Seth smiled, "Everything ok?" He asked her as she just shrugged.

"Couldn't sleep." She admitted, "I was hoping for Clara, but… don't wake her." She said.

"She's had a long day. I didn't plan to." Seth admitted, walking into the kitchen with AJ, "Tea?" He asked her as she nodded. He was tired, yes, but he was also concerned. As much as he was never as close to AJ as Clara during Punk's seven year absence, he still had a great deal of time for her.

"Tough first day with the baby?" AJ smiled as she sat down at the table.

"Well that, and then add a drunk Dean coming in and hitting her across the face." Seth said, switching the kettle on.

"He did not." AJ said in disbelief.

"He did." Seth said, "Of course he was drunk and that should be a reason to forgive him but… I'm not sure I… we can do much else for him. The ball is in his court."

"I didn't know he was so bad. Clara had mentioned briefly." AJ said.

"He's getting hooked on it. I give it a few more months and he'll never find his way back." Seth said as AJ sighed.

"Can't we do something to help him? Aren't there rehabs around? Does he have a house?" She asked with concern.

"The sad thing is… I don't even think he wants help." Seth said, "Punk said he'll sort it, but I don't know." Seth shrugged as AJ just nodded, watching him bring her her cup of tea over, taking a seat across from her at the table, "So… it's 2am… why are you here?" He chuckled a little.

"I just… I couldn't sleep." She said, "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing." She sighed.

"What… with Punk?" He asked as she nodded, "Between me and you, I don't think Punk could have handled sticking around for this baby you're having. I love him to death, but I know it'd kill him to bring up this kid and know it wasn't his." He said.

"I know, and that's why I think I'm doing him a favour, letting him go." AJ said, "Truth is I just… I really miss him. Seeing him back these past few weeks has just messed with me completely." She admitted.

"You still scared?" Seth asked as AJ nodded, "What is it you're scared of?" He wondered.

"Him leaving again. Getting too close and then losing it all again." She shrugged, "That hollow, empty feeling I felt. That's what I'm scared of. And with a baby… my baby, I can't have him promising it things and then leaving when he can't do it." She shook her head, "I just thought it was better we went our separate ways." She said.

"Maybe it is." Seth nodded, "You have a lot of good things going for you, AJ. You've made a home on your own, and I know you're gonna be an amazing mother." He nodded, "Maybe you and Punk are just stuck on the illusion that you'll be together." He shrugged, "Just… break free from it all." He said as she nodded.

"Break free." She whispered, "I can do that." She nodded, assuring herself.

"You can." Seth said, "And you will."


A/N: Lots going on. Punk aka Mr steal your girl. Who thinks that was a bad move? REVIEW and let me know what you think.