Plan to Action

"You baked a cake?" Punk asked, walking into their kitchen as he seen a sponge cake standing cooling whilst AJ tidied up around the kitchen, "You're really going all out." He smirked.

"I want it to be perfect. He's only gonna turn one, once." AJ said, pre Lucas' birthday as she tried to get organised. It was a small gathering, unfortunately her father couldn't make it, but Dean and Renee were coming.

"It will be." Punk nodded, "You stress too much." He shook his head, "Is he in bed?" He asked as AJ nodded.

"Yeah, I put him down just before you came in. He was out like a light." She smiled happily.

"He always is." Punk laughed, "I can't believe he's one already." He shook his head, "Feels like just yesterday he was tiny." He admitted truthfully.

"I know." AJ whispered, "I don't want him to get old." She frowned as Punk just laughed.

"Hey, you've got a while until he'll be considered as old." Punk smiled, "What kind of cake is it?" Punk hovered over the cake.

"Sponge and don't touch it." She warned like he was a child, "I'm gonna decorate it with icing and sprinkles." She smiled happy with herself, "So I've done the cake, wrapped his presents, blew up the balloons." She spoke to herself as Punk just smiled.

"And now it's time to relax." Punk whispered, wrapping his arms around her from behind as she smiled.

"I still have things to do, Phil." AJ whispered, pressing her back into his chest.

"Not anymore." Punk said, kissing her neck as she relaxed back against his body. Only he could make her stop all her actions. Only his touch could make her feel weak like this, but she liked feeling weak with him. It was a different type of weak. It was a weak comforted by the fact she could depend on him.

"You're so gentle." AJ whispered as he raised his head.

"Why do you always say that?" He smiled a little, going back to kissing her neck softly.

"Because I appreciate it." AJ said, "I appreciate you not punching me in the face, or… throwing plates at me… or pushing me over." She said as Punk lifted his head again, turning her around to face him.

"You know I would never do that." Punk said, "You shouldn't have to appreciate me. This is the way you should be treated." He said, "No other way."

"He thought different." AJ shrugged.

"Don't think about him. He's a pathetic, cowardly, small little boy who wasn't raised right." He said.

"You're parents taught you how to treat women?" AJ raised her eyebrows.

"I know I said I didn't get on with them, but they raised me right. And my dad treated my mom right, even with their problems." He said, "Rubbed off on me maybe."

"Why don't you… why don't you speak to them?" AJ whispered, shaking her head.

"I don't know. I guess I always felt invisible with them. Like I was adopted… from outer space or something." He said, lifting his wrist, "Spaceboy… tattoo." He remarked as she smiled, "It's not like I hate them. They never crossed me or done me wrong. They just… I don't think they were fit for having kids." He said, "My mom was terrifying when she went off on her episodes, and my dad would just avoid everything with a bottle of… whatever." He said, "I don't know, it's better this way."

"Won't they miss you?" She asked.

"Maybe. But I'm sure they're doing alright. I don't think they'll want to see me after being put in prison… and then escaping, they probably act as if they don't know me now." He said.

"I'm sure that's not true." AJ shook her head.

"Wouldn't doubt it." Punk said, "You still think of Chad?" He asked her.

"Not as much. Just sometimes he crosses my mind when you touch me."

"Don't compare me to that scumbag." Punk said.

"I don't… I just… realise how mistreated I really was." She admitted truthfully.

"Well you aren't mistreated here. You never will be. Ok?" He made himself clear, cupping her cheeks as she smiled, feeling him kiss her softly as she backed up against the counter, feeling him lift her up on the counter whilst their lips stayed connected. This was all she ever wanted. To have someone love her for her, to be there, to hold her and kiss her. She never wanted to lose this. Ever.

"Brooks. You got a visitor." A warden said as Punk stood up, watching the warden unlock his cell gate, "Hands out." He said as Punk put his hands out, handcuffs being tightly cuffed around him, a pole in between them to restrict all movement, chains around his ankles which connected to the handcuffs. He felt like an animal.

"Who is it?" Punk asked, walking down the cell block as the warden just ignored him and lead him out into the visiting room. All Punk had been doing the past few days is thinking of AJ, worrying of AJ, worrying about his son. Who had taken that picture? Knowing he couldn't do anything to protect her was the most frustrating thing in the world.

Punk walked into the visiting room, a part of him actually hoping it was AJ, to make sure she was ok, but it was Dean sitting.

"No funny business." The warden said as Punk made his way over to Dean, taking a seat across from him as Dean examined his friends prison conditions. He was bruised, cuffed like some dog from head to toe.

"Hey." Dean said as Punk nodded to him, "I-"

"Who sent the picture?" Punk asked Dean.

"What?" Dean shook his head.

"Who sent that picture of AJ? Tied up with her mouth taped. In the back seat of a car." Punk said as Dean ran his hand through his hair.

"There's a lot I need to tell you, I need you… not to freak out." He said as Punk just nodded, "It was Chad who put you in here. You know the guy you killed? That was his best friend, and also his sister's boyfriend." Dean said, "When he found out AJ was with you, he called the cops and got you put away."

"And AJ?" Punk shook his head as Dean just looked across at Punk.

"He… he forced AJ into marrying him." Dean said, "There was nothing I could do, by the time I got there I was too late, and it looked like AJ had just given up fighting."

"Wait… what?" Punk shook his head, "Are you fucking with me here? He sent that picture?" He asked as Dean nodded, "Can't you get this cunt arrested?" Punk spat angrily, "What do you mean he forced AJ into marrying him?"

"He-He threatened Lucas with her and she just went through with it. He's got us all by the balls." Dean said, "And he's… he's your brother." He said.

"What?!" Punk shrieked, attracting other wardens in the room as Dean just waved at them, "Dean, I swear… I'm going crazy in here. I don't need you making me anymore crazy." He shook his head.

"It's the truth." Dean said, "He told AJ everything. He's older. Your parents gave him up for adoption, but then had you a few years later. Chad kept an eye out on you all, and then when he found out it was you who killed his best friend, he made his sister say all she could to get you in prison for as long as possible." Dean said, "He hates you. He thinks you've stole his entire life from him. His parents, his girlfriend, his best friend." Dean said, "Dude, I swear he's not right in the head." Dean said.

"I don't believe this." Punk said, "I can't even do anything because I'm in here." Punk banged his hand off the table, "You're sure about this?" Punk asked as Dean nodded.

"Positive." Dean said.

"And where the fuck is AJ, and my son?" Punk asked, "Is he hurting her?" Punk dared to ask.

"I don't know what goes on behind closed doors." Dean said truthfully.

"What does that mean?" Punk said.

"He's making her live with him. Her and Lucas. He's making her act like their a proper couple, and AJ is going along with it because she doesn't want anyone to get hurt." Dean said.

"You have to fucking help her, Dean. You can't have her near him. You can't have him hurting her." He shook his head.

"I'm doing all I can." Dean said, "We're figuring out a way to get you out of there and get Chad locked away." He said, "This is just me briefly explaining it alright, when you get out, we can go over it further."

"When I get out." Punk scoffed, "Like that is going to happen." He said, "Look at the state of me." He said, "It's like a fucking zoo in here." He said.

"You just gotta hang in there." Dean nodded, "We're gonna do our best to get you out of there. Chad won't get away with everything he's doing."

"Can't you just get his sister to tell the truth?" Punk shook his head. He wasn't really taking much of this in, he just wanted to know that AJ was ok. Knowing that man was back hurting her made him seethe, but he couldn't even do anything, that was the problem.

"Chad has been threatening her too. Hurting her, telling her to say what he wants her to say to make sure you stay gone." He said, "She's terrified of him."

"But she knows it was all an accident?" Punk asked.

"She knows." Dean nodded, "We just… we just gotta play him at his own game. There's only one of him."

"Dean, please. I don't care… I don't care if I don't get out. Just… just make sure you get AJ and Lucas away from him. Please, just make sure she's safe." Punk pleaded as Dean nodded. He hated this. Dean felt sick at the way this was. This should have been Chad in here, not Punk.

"I promise, I'm gonna do all I can." Dean nodded, "Oh… before I forget." He said, pulling out glossy pictures from his pocket, sliding them over the table as Punk looked on at the black and white sonogram.

"W-What… what's that?" Punk asked, knowing what it is, just not really understanding.

"AJ is pregnant." Dean said, "She was going to tell you the night the cops came for you but… she didn't get round to it, obviously." Dean said.

"She's pregnant?" Punk asked whilst looking down at the pictures.

"Yeah." Dean smiled, "And she's healthy. Her and the baby." Dean nodded to Punk to assure him as Punk just looked across at him.

"Please, keep her safe, Dean." Punk shook his head, it all the more personal now. Another baby? Immediate thoughts of not ever being able to hold this baby or see it began to enter his mind.

"I will." Dean nodded, "I'm gonna get you out of here, and if I can't get you out of here then I'll reduce your sentence… I won't let that bastard get away with everything he is doing." Dean said as Punk just nodded.

Punk's head was spinning in all honesty. This pure evil man surely couldn't have been his brother. He was confused and he felt helpless. He couldn't do anything to protect the woman he loved. That was his real punishment in here.

"It's alright, you can do this." Renee looked across at Jen as they stood outside the police station the next day.

"But he'll find out and then he'll hurt me." Jen shook her head, almost having second thoughts.

"Trust me, sweetie. He isn't going to find out, and by the time he does it's going to be too late for him to do anything." He said as Jen just looked across at her, "You know there are people suffering here because of your brother. A man is serving an unjust prison sentence. A pregnant woman is forced into an abusive marriage. Her father is being threatened to stay quiet too, as well as me and Dean." She said, "We can't do nothing." She said as Jen nodded, just as Dean approached them eventually.

"Ok, it's set up." He said, handing over the camera phone to Renee, "Now you know the plan. You tell them everything, and you show them this." He pointed to the camera, "You emphasise the danger this man is putting us all in. You make sure you tell them that he's been threatening anyone who dares go to the police." He said, "And you make sure they see what's going on in that camera footage, ok?" He said as Renee and Jen nodded.

"We know what to do." Renee nodded as Dean pushed out a smile.

"Ok." Dean nodded, pressing a kiss on Renee's lips, "Call me if you need anything." He said as Renee nodded, leading the way into the station as Jen followed.

He then got into the car and drove to AJ and Chad's place, eventually getting there and parking outside across the street whilst he watched AJ in the living room.

"Who was at the door earlier?" Chad asked, walking into the living room where AJ was standing. Lucas was with AJ's father for the day, as planned.

"It was Dean. He was just dropping off some of Lucas' things." She said as Chad just nodded. She didn't like this plan, but she knew it would be enough to catch this awful man out, without him being able to go anywhere or escape anyone.

"That Dean boy is always showing his face where it isn't wanted." Chad shook his head, walking over to her and placing his hand around her waist as she flinched, trying to swoop down for a kiss as she pulled away, stepping back, "April?" Chad shook his head.

"I don't want you like that… you know that."

"I know. You'd rather have my little brother." Chad grunted, "But tough shit."

"I wouldn't say he's… the little brother." AJ raised her eyebrows with a small smile, "Your titles should be switched around really." She said as Chad looked across at her with anger.

"You don't talk to me like that, bitch." Chad spat angrily, wrapping his hand around her throat, "You don't talk to me like that in my own house, under my own roof… you know there's just consequences waiting for you."

"There's always consequences with you." AJ shook her head, not even flinching at his hand wrapped around her neck, "What are you gonna do? You gonna hit a pregnant woman? You gonna stomp on my head? Kick my stomach? Huh?" AJ said, for once egging him on.

"You really are asking for it today." Chad spat.

"Just like I always am, right?" AJ spat, suddenly feeling a hard knock against her face, sending her falling down on the ground, her eyes peering over to the small, tiny invisible cam recorder on the window ledge, one that Dean had gave her this morning along with the plan. It was her that had suggested the plan to have him. What better way to catch this man out than feed his actions live to a station full of cops.

"Get up bitch!" Chad spat, grabbing AJ by the hair and pulling her up to her feet, pushing her back over as she fell on her back, feeling him kick her side as she yelped, "This is my house! My rules! You do what I ask!" He shouted.

"Please… stop." AJ begged now, but he didn't stop, not for one second.

All the while Dean sat outside the house anxiously gripping the steering wheel. He didn't want it to have to get to this, but it was the only visible plan he could see working. He already began to hear sirens in the distance, but when he turned back around to look into the house window, and he see AJ clutching the couch, her nose dripping with visible blood, struggling to get to her feet, he couldn't just stay still.

He got out the car, running across the road and straight into the house, immediately tackling Chad to the ground whilst AJ struggled to her feet, not even managing to, gripping her stomach in pain as blood ran down her face.

Suddenly there was a team of cops showed up outside the house, barging through the door and taking over from Dean, pushing Chad onto the ground and cuffing him as he tried to fight back, all the while Dean rushed over to AJ.

"Shit… are you ok? AJ, are you ok?" He asked her.

"N-No… baby..." AJ shook her head, suddenly realising this plan maybe wasn't the smartest, but it was desperate. It was a desperate plea and shout for help, for people to really see what was going on.

"Hey, I need an EMT over here!" Dean yelled to the cops as AJ held her stomach in pain whilst Chad was arrested and practically dragged out of the living room, cursing words to her and threats.

A/N: Let me know what you think!