Chapter 37: Forgiveness and Respect
"Sorry about that" John said with a smirk
Punk ran over to the railing of the stairs but was pushed back by John. Punk swung at John making him angry shoving Punk to the floor. John grabbed at the chair that Punk was tied to and raised it in the air ready to strike Punk with it. Punk moved just in time as the chair broke into pieces…taking the opportunity Punk rushed back to the railing of the stairs.
Punk closed his eyes before peeking over the last thing he wanted to see was AJ's dead body on the bottom floor. Punk looked over and was relieved to see AJ hanging on for dear life on one of the rails of the stairs.
"AJ hang on" Punk cried out looking down at AJ
"Punk…behind you" AJ yelled back seeing John right behind Punk
Punk turned around quickly dodging a punch to the face…Punk blocked another Punk and forgetting about his wrist he punched John right in the gut.
"SHIT" Punk cried out after punching John
John ran towards Punk again and was met with another punch to the stomach and a strong jab to his jaw. Punk then saw John shake off the punch…without any second guesses Punk gathered all his strength and connected a powerful kick to the side of John head. John fell to the floor like a huge tree that was just cut down.
"AJ" Punk whispered to himself as he raced back to the railing where AJ was still hanging on
"Grab my hand…come on" Punk said sternly reaching his hand out to AJ
"Okay" AJ replied swinging herself carefully to get a good grip on Punk's hand
"Ahh" AJ yelled out she was slipping off the railing little by little
"NO…come on you can do it" Punk yelled out extending his hand out further
Finally AJ grabbed on to Punk's hand…Punk knew he couldn't one hand this. Ignoring all of the pain Punk clutched onto AJ with his other hand…the pain coursing through his wrist as he pulled her back up. AJ fell atop of Punk as he finally pulled her over the railing completely.
AJ looked up to see Punk clutching at his wrist in pain…he looked down to smile softly at AJ. The only thing that mattered right now was that she was safe. AJ looked over to see John on the floor…it looked like he was out cold.
"What happen" AJ asked softly
"I kicked him in the head…he won't be out long trust me. You need to get out of here AJ" Punk replied sternly caressing the side of AJ's face.
"I'm not leaving you" AJ replied softly
Soon a groan was heard and John began moving.
"JUST GO" Punk yelled out sternly
AJ bit her lower lip as she quickly kissed Punk and got off of him heading towards the stairs.
"It will be okay…I promise" Punk said softly
AJ sighed sadly as she made her way down the stairs and out of the warehouse doors.
Once Punk knew AJ was fully out of the warehouse he walked over to John kicking him in the stomach before he could fully get up.
"You're a sick fuck…I respected you" Punk said with another kick to the stomach
"Please you ruined me" John replied with a wicked smirk
"You ruined yourself" Punk replied as he lifted his leg once again
John quickly grabbed hold up Punk's leg making him trip to the floor. John straddled Punk and began throwing punch after punch at Punk. Punk tried to fight John off of him but he was just too heavy…Punk looked to the side of him and found a piece of wood which was from the chair that John tried to break of him earlier.
Punk grabbed it and hit John on the side of the face with it. John lifted his hands to hold his face…Punk used this chance and punched John in the stomach. John fell back…Punk got one legs free and shoved John off of him. Once Punk was out of that situation he got to his feet and kneed John in the chin just like he did the first time he tried to get away.
Punk was about to make a run for it towards the stairs till he felt John grip at his ankle making him fall back to the floor. Punk used his other leg and kicked at John wildly…John growled in anger and got hold of Punk's other leg.
"LET ME GO FUCKER" Punk yelled out in anger
"I don't think so" John replied pulling Punk to his feet holding him up by the collar of his shirt
Punk was shocked…he always knew John was strong but damn. John held onto Punk as he still clutched onto the collar of his shirt…Punk fought with everything he had in him but it felt like it was pretty much pointless. John held Punk up higher as he walked over to the railing of the stairs…with ease John moved Punk over to dangle over the rails.
"I'm going to enjoy this" John said with a wicked smile
"It doesn't have to be this way" Punk replied softly
"It does because of you" John replied sternly
"If it means anything I'm sorry…I never meant to take anything away from you. If anything I wanted be just like you. Like I said I respected you." Punk replied softly
John glared at Punk…to Punk's surprise John brought Punk over from the railing him. Punk fell to the floor with a loud thud…Punk looked up to see John towering over him.
"I don't understand…you had the chance" Punk whispered looking up at John
"I've been waiting for this moment for so long…might as well enjoy it. Every second of it" John replied pulling something out of his pocket.
Punk saw John walk behind him quickly…it happened so fast. It was rope that John pulled out of his pocket…a rope just decent enough in size to choke Punk with. Punk tried to fight John off once again…clutching at the rope as he felt the rope burn into his neck. Slowly Punk was fading…his face beginning to go numb.
"Keep fighting rookie…it will make it all the more enjoyable" John whispered into Punk's ear
Punk still clutched at the rope…but he couldn't hang on that much longer. This was it…this was how he was going to die. He was going to die because some asshole couldn't get over the past.
Punk eyes began to close slowly…he was close to his last breath till the tormenting stopped. John stiffened behind him…the rope in his hands becoming loose enough to break free from. Punk stumbled away from John on his hands and knees. John dropped the rope from his hands and fell to his knees and then completely over.
Punk looked around in shock as he clutched at his neck with his good hand. Punk's eyes darted back and forth until they landed on the staircase…there was AJ with a gun in her hands. Punk looked over to John who had a bullet wound to the back of the head.
"AJ" Punk whispered softly
"Are you okay" AJ whispered still clutching the gun in her hands
"Yeah" Punk replied simply trying to get to his feet
AJ tossed the gun to the floor and rushed over to Punk. Slowly Punk was getting the feeling in his face back…and his breathing back to normal. Punk got to his feet and looked down at AJ…Punk smiled softly as he held AJ close.
It was over…John was dead. Punk couldn't help but feel bad for John…nobody deserved such a death. He had respected this man for many years…and now he was gone. At the same time this man wasn't the same man he was before and Punk didn't deserve what he put him and AJ through.
"Are you okay" AJ asked catching Punk gazing at John's lifeless body
"Yeah…let's just get the hell out of here" Punk whispered softly as he walked past John's body
"I'm sorry" Punk thought to himself as he looked back once more to see John's body
Punk and AJ made it out of the warehouse to be greeted by other fellow officers and of course James.
"God damn it Brooks" James said sternly
"Ugh…can you save the shouting at me for later damn" Punk replied sitting against a squad car
"How do you always get into these situations" James asked with a raised eyebrow
"What can I say…I have a flare for getting myself into trouble" Punk replied sarcastically
AJ just giggled…even though Punk was battered and bruised he never lost his sarcasm. Here he was fresh out of fighting for his life to be the smartass that he was with his boss.
"What's with your wrist" James asked concerned
"I broke it…I tripped and fell" Punk replied softly
"Idiot" James replied with a smirk
"I can still move my fingers though" Punk replied with a grin
"Really let me see" James asked softly
"See" Punk replied flipping James off
"Glad you're alright…ass" James replied walking away to talk to a fellow officer
"He has a strange way of showing he cares" AJ replied with a smile
"I know…but that's what makes him just so awesome" Punk replied with a chuckle
"I'm glad you're okay…I don't know what would do if I lo…" AJ was cut off by Punk placing a finger on his soft lips.
"Let's not talk about that" Punk replied as he pulled AJ close for a sweet kiss
"Well now…it seems I just saved your life" AJ said once the kiss was broken
"Yeah not bad…for a rookie" Punk replied with a chuckle
AJ glared at Punk and smacked him on the arm
"I'm kidding" Punk replied with a smile