Getting Away
"Who is it from?" AJ asked, coming back into the living room after Punk taking over for her and making her a sandwich to bring into her, watching Paige look up at her with shocking eyes, "What?"
"I don't think you want to see this, AJ." Paige admitted as AJ shook her head with confusion.
"What?" AJ said, taking the pictures from Paige, "What do you mean I don't-" She paused as she looked down at the pictures, her stomach dropping as she studied herself in the pictures. It had to have only been a few nights ago where she decided to go take a shower. Her home that she felt safe in no longer felt like that. These were private pictures, extremely private. Not to be seen by anyone.
"You have to take these to the police, AJ." Paige said, "This is really serious."
"Why is he doing this to me?" AJ whispered to herself as Punk and Seth came into the living room with food.
Punk sat down the sandwich he had made for his wife on the couch, looking over to her as she stared down at what he could see was printed off photographs, "Everything alright?" He asked as Paige just shook her head, "What's that?" Punk asked, glancing over to AJ and taking the pictures from her as her lifeless hands let him have them, having no strength or emotion to hide them from him.
Punk took one glance at the pictures and looked away. If he wasn't angry before, he was completely sizzling inside. This was harassment. This was another form of abuse. This was torture. His wife had done nothing to deserve this. How dare someone take pictures of her like this. No one else was meant to see her like that. No one but him. He was so close to losing it.
"You need to go to the police." Paige looked directly at Punk since AJ had just zoned out at this point.
"I'm uh… I'm going to check on Phil." AJ said, turning around and leaving the living room, walking up the stairs, her hand gradually rising to her mouth in shock as she burst into sudden tears, barely making it to the top of the stairs. She couldn't believe Derek was doing this. How could he still torture her without even being around to do so? She felt worthless and pathetic. Small. Just like he made her feel when they were together.
Back downstairs Punk was still holding the pictures but looking at Seth and Paige for some advice before he lost his mind and went out to find the fucker himself.
"I hate to say it, but..." Seth began, "There's a note on the back of one of those pictures." He noticed as Punk turned them around and spotted the hand written note.
Always watching, April. Always watching. That body will belong to me again. That perfect body. And don't worry… I have some pictures of my own that I've kept, just to keep me going, if you know what I mean
"This guy is dead." Punk said, "He's well and truly dead." He said as Seth and Paige sighed.
"Why don't we head off?" Paige suggested, "I think you should go check on AJ." She said, "I'll go get Jordan." She headed out into the back garden where Jordan was playing.
"Don't let him get to you, man. The guy is a loser. All he has is pictures to make himself feel better." Seth said, "Paige is right, you gotta take this to the police. He'll get locked away for years with something like this held against him." Seth said as Punk just sighed.
"She's my wife, man. This is… this is disgusting. She can't even feel safe in her own house?" Punk shrieked.
"They'll find this guy." Seth said, "Just stay cool. For AJ's sake." Seth said as Punk just nodded. What else could he do? This guy was somewhere out there, probably in a basement with nothing but his psychotic thoughts to listen to. He had to make sure AJ was ok, and keep her and their son safe.
"I will." Punk nodded, "I might take her away for a few nights. Her and Phil. Just to get out the house and away for a few days." Punk said as Seth smiled.
"I think that'd be good for her." Seth nodded, patting Punk on the back, "Here if you need us." He reminded him as Punk just nodded with a smile.
Once Seth and Paige left with Jordan, Punk put the pictures that were posted through door back in the envelope, sat them in the kitchen and headed upstairs to check on AJ.
He walked into their bedroom where his heart broke in two. She was lying on her side of the bed, turned on her side to face in to where he normally slept, only it was their son that lay on his back fast asleep, nothing but his mother's stroking hand on his cheek as he slept peacefully in his baby grow.
"You ok?" Punk asked, figuring that was a pretty weak question to ask her when he already knew the answer.
"I don't know what to do." AJ sobbed, taking a hold of Phil's hand between her index finger and thumb, "What if the police don't find him and he keeps on doing this to me?" She cried as Punk frowned. He just wanted to make this all go away for her. All of it.
Punk sat down on the edge of the bed, "He had no right to take those pictures. I can only imagine what it must feel like. But it just adds more time onto his sentence when the police find him. Which they will. He can't hide forever." Punk said, "He won't touch you again. I promise."
"How can you be so sure?" AJ asked.
"Because I know now, that this guy wants you, and I will not let him come near you." Punk promised as she forced a smile, "I'd go out and find the guy myself, see how much he enjoys looking at pictures of you when I'm knocking his teeth down his throat." Punk said, "But the police advised me not to." He joked with a smile as she laughed. She could always count on him to cheer her up, even when she was feeling down like never before, "What'd you say we go away for a few nights?" He asked.
"But Phil is still so small-"
"That doesn't matter." Punk said coolly, "He can still take a flight with us." Punk said.
"Where are you planning on going?" AJ asked.
"Wherever you want to go." Punk said, "You say where."
"Are you sure that's for the best?" AJ asked.
"I think you need to get out of the house for a few days." Punk admitted, "All of this, with looking after Phil too, it's not any good. I don't want you to be stressed over this cunt." Punk said.
"I know, but leaving for a few days isn't going to make it all go away." AJ replied.
"True, but it might make it better." Punk said, "I'm not forcing you, but I think it would do you good." He said as she just nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." AJ nodded, "But you can surprise me with the destination." She smiled as he just nodded.
"Ok." Punk smiled, "You wanna sleep for a bit whilst I put dinner on?" He asked her.
"I won't sleep, I like just lying here with him." AJ smiled, looking to their baby boy, still as small as ever, as to be expected for a two week old newborn. He was such a precious little thing, and so unaware of his mother's sadness.
"Ok." Punk said, "I'll come let you know when dinner is ready." He said as she just nodded, standing up from the bed and heading for the door.
"Phil?" AJ said as Punk turned around.
"Yeah?" Punk said.
"I love you." She smiled up at him. She knew he didn't have to be this calm and supportive. In fact, she knew inside he was so desperate to scream and shout and go completely ballistic. But he was being a good husband, and staying calm for her. She loved him for it.
"I love you too." Punk smiled to her.
"Well that was torture." AJ said, just having got off the plane that they had taken the next day to Tampa, Florida.
"I don't think he liked the plane very much, did you little guy?" Punk stroked Phil's head as AJ held him close to her chest. He cried the full way there. It was painful to listen to, and there really was nothing Punk or AJ could do apart from try their best to comfort their son.
"What if he's too small?" AJ said with fear whilst they stood waiting for their luggage to come through the terminal. By luggage she meant just one case, as they were only gone for five days.
"He's not. Or else we wouldn't have been allowed to take him on. I looked it up. Says babies can travel when they're only two days old. He's just a little distressed that's all." Punk said calmly.
"Yeah, well I don't like it." AJ sighed. Seeing her son crying so painfully was physically sore to deal with. She was glad he was a little more settled now.
"Did you call Seth, has he checked the house yet?" AJ asked. Before they left, Punk had called Seth to ask if he would check the house every day, just to make sure everything was ok and nothing was out of place, and if there was anything odd, to call the police immediately.
"AJ, babe… we just got off the plane ten minutes ago. I'll call him when we get to the apartment." Punk said as AJ just nodded.
"Ok. Ok, I'm sorry. I'm just worried." AJ said as Punk nodded.
"I know. But try not to. We came here to try and forget everything, as hard as it may seem." He said as she just nodded.
"I know." AJ said, "I just don't want him thinking he can get into our house just because we're away." AJ said.
"How's he gonna get in anyway?" Punk said, "We locked the doors and shut the windows."
"I don't know. The guy is crazy, Phil." AJ said.
"I know." Punk said, "But you're safe here. Both of you." He cupped the back of his son's head, "Let's forget about him." He said as she just nodded with a smile, feeling him press a sweet kiss on her lips that she didn't expect, that reminded her that she wasn't alone, and she wasn't unsafe. Her husband was here to keep her safe.
"This place is beautiful." AJ sighed with relaxation, stepping out onto the balcony of their rented apartment which was rather huge and unexpectedly gorgeous. The sun was just setting and AJ realised this was exactly what she needed after everything that had went on.
"Feeling a bit more relaxed?" He asked her as she took a seat on the outdoor couch that was on their large balcony, collapsing down beside her as she placed her hand on his thigh comfortingly.
"You know what, I really am." AJ admitted, "I think with everything going on, and then Phil crying the full way here, I thought it'd be impossible to enjoy this, but I'm feeling a lot better." She turned to him and smiled.
"Good." Punk nodded, "I think Phil is down for the night." He said, "He must be exhausted."
"Poor thing." AJ sighed, "I hope he's not like that on the way back." She said.
"I always hated being on a flight with screaming kids and babies, but now… now I get it." He laughed, "I get how hard it is being a parent."
"He's only been here for two weeks and you think this is as hard as it's going to get." AJ smiled up at him.
"You know what I mean." Punk smirked at her sarcasm, "Let's just chill out. Forget the world exists for the next few days." He said as AJ just smiled and rested into him.
"I just hope they find him." AJ sighed, "He really scares me." She admitted to him. Truth was, she was terrified of her ex. She was terrified of his words, actions and his capability to control her. She didn't want to see him again or come in contact with him again. She just wanted him locked away so she could feel safe again.
"Please don't be scared." Punk sighed, kissing her head. It was his worst nightmare. Knowing his wife was scared, "The guy is a psycho, and he'll get what's coming to him. And when he gets locked away, and all the thugs and murderers in prison find out why he's in there, they'll make his life a misery." Punk said.
"What if they never find him? And he manages to keep harassing me?" AJ asked.
"You have to stop saying that. They'll find him one way or another." Punk said, "All you need to know is, is that you're safe. Our son is safe. And he can't harm you when I'm around. Over my dead body." He said, "Ok?" He looked down at her as she nodded with a smile.
"Ok." She whispered, leaning up and pressing a kiss on his lips softly. She didn't know where she would be without him really.
Meanwhile back in San Diego, the house AJ and Punk lived in was being opened up to. Not by a credit card, bobby pin or tack, but by a key.
"Thank you for getting me this key." Derek turned with a smile.
"No problem."
A/N: OOO, I wonder who the partner in crime is! REVIEW and let me know what you think.
