Not Over Yet
"How was she during the night?" Punk asked the next morning as he arrived back at the hospital to see AJ and Robyn.
"She was good." AJ smiled, looking over at Punk sitting with Robyn in his arms, "She woke at 5 for the first time and then she went back down after a little cuddle. And woke at 8 after that." AJ nodded, "She's a good baby." AJ nodded.
"That is really good." Punk nodded, "I thought she was gonna give us trouble." He admitted, looking down at Robyn as she left, full of love every time he looked at her.
"How were the girls?" AJ asked him.
"They were fine. My mom took Jessica to school and your brother came around to keep an eye on Jo. I explained everything to him after sort of leaving him in the unknown yesterday." He said as AJ nodded, "And I also visited Cam and Seth last night. They already knew I was getting out because of the agents coming to talk to them." Punk nodded, "Dean gave me a call too and said he was gonna come up and see me either this weekend or the next." He said as AJ smiled and nodded.
"Feel good?" AJ smiled.
"Well it's better than being in a cell." Punk nodded.
"How'd you sleep?" She asked him.
"Yeah, I was fine." Punk nodded, "Wish you were there of course." He said as she smiled, "Did you get some sleep?"
"Yeah, she gave me more sleep than I thought she would." AJ nodded, "And she did good with her bottle this morning." She said.
"She's the best." Punk smiled, looking down at Robyn who lay perfectly still in his arms, "Do you remember when Jessica was this little?" He smiled to AJ.
"Almost ten years ago." AJ nodded with a gulp as Punk raised his eyebrows.
"Crazy, right?" Punk said as she nodded, "Doc say anything about you guys coming home?" He asked her.
"No, I'll ask today. I'm assuming that if everything is ok with Robyn then we'll be free to go soon." She said.
"Hopefully." Punk nodded, "I talked with my mom last night when I got home. She's gonna move to around here. Said she wants to be in the girls lives, was pretty much asking me for permission." He sighed.
"And what did you say?" AJ asked.
"I said yes, of course." Punk said, "The girls love her and I wouldn't take that away from them." He said, "Plus, she really has been there for you guys and I'm thankful for that." She's turning things around and I'm not gonna be bitter." He shook his head.
"She cares about you a lot more than you think." AJ nodded, "And the girls do love her, and it wouldn't hurt to have some extra help." She said as Punk nodded.
"Yeah, I guess so." Punk nodded, "I've to go back later for the girls to take them to see you and Robyn, if you're not out." He said, "They're desperate to see her again." He said as AJ smiled.
"Yeah, they really love her." AJ smiled.
"I don't blame them." Punk shook his head as he got lost in his daughter. No matter how many, no matter their differences and their similarities, he loved his girls so much and he knew he would do anything to keep all three of them safe.
"I have to keep reminding myself that you're here." She shook her head, "I'm still not over it." She admitted as he smiled.
"Me too to be honest." He laughed, "It's all happened so quickly." He nodded, "I don't think I've had the luxury of not worrying in… years." He shook his head, "It's like the slate has been wiped completely clean again and.. things will be alright, for real." He said as she smiled and nodded.
"It's a good feeling." She nodded.
"Yeah." Punk nodded with wide eyes, "It sure is." He said just as AJ's doctor came through the room.
"Morning, how we doing today?" The doctor asked.
"We're doing good." AJ smiled, "I actually wanted to ask you when you think me and Robyn will be out of here?" She asked.
"Well going by the night she had and the fact she's feeding really well and doing just as good as a full-term new-born… I think tomorrow." The doctor smiled, "She's perfectly healthy, and you're doing just fine too. You're a pro mama at this point."
"Well I don't know about that." AJ laughed a little, "But that's great. Tomorrow." She smiled to Punk who nodded.
"I will schedule for you to be visited by the health visitor a little more than normal just because Robyn was born a little early, but she's doing great." The doctor smiled over to the baby girl.
"Good." AJ smiled, "So tomorrow morning?"
"Yeah, tomorrow morning." The doctor smiled.
"When is Robyn coming home with us?" Jo asked later that night when Punk had brought the girls in to visit the baby.
"She's coming home tomorrow." Punk said, "Mommy and Robyn." He said as Jo smiled, sitting next to her in mom in bed whilst AJ fed Robyn.
"We should throw a big party." Jo smiled, "A welcome home mommy and Robyn party." She grinned.
"No, we shouldn't." Jessica shook her head.
"That's a lovely idea, baby." AJ turned and kissed Jo's cheek, "But I think I'd rather just come home to you guys." She said.
"Oh." Jo nodded, "Well that's ok." She shrugged, "Another time." She nodded as AJ smiled.
"How was school, Jess?" AJ asked.
"It was ok. My teacher asked me what the baby's name is and I told her to mind her own business." Jessica folded her arms and shook her head as Punk raised his eyebrows and laughed a little.
"Why? Wasn't she just happy for you?" Punk shook his head.
"No, she's nosey and asks too many questions." Jessica concluded, "No one needs to know my baby sisters name." She said strictly as AJ just smiled.
"You guys really love her." AJ smiled happily, "I thought you'd try and get rid of her."
"No!" Jo shook her head, completely taken back by such a thought, "No, we can't get rid of her." Jo said, stroking Robyn as though she was a dog, "No, I like her too much." Jo said as AJ just smiled whilst Punk laughed.
"Dad." Jessica nudged Punk as he turned to and nodded, "Are you like… going away any time soon?" She asked him, "Again?" She wondered.
For the first time, Punk felt the most amazing feeling where he could honestly and truly tell his daughter that he really was not going anywhere. And he didn't have to feel guilty when doing so as it was the honest truth, and that felt so good.
"Hey, I'm not going anywhere anymore. That's… that's me done with all my time away." Punk assured her, "Why, what's up?" Punk asked her.
"I got a competition on Friday." Jessica said, "I know mom won't be able to come but can you?" She wondered. She thought her dad wouldn't be here to see her next competition, but now that he was she just had to ask.
"Hey, I will be there, no questions asked." Punk said, "And I promise you." He said as Jessica smiled to herself whilst AJ smiled over.
"You'll have to take pictures for me." AJ said.
"I'll take hundreds." Punk nodded.
"Does that mean I have to find my lucky twig again?" Jo huffed, "Cause I can't remember where I put it." She sighed as Jessica just rolled her eyes.
"I'll help you look for it." Punk said, "What time is the competition?" Punk asked Jessica.
"9." Jessica said as Punk nodded.
"I'll be there." Punk nodded.
"You did so good." Punk smiled, giving Jessica a tight hug after she finished her competition a few days later.
"I only got third." Jessica rolled her eyes.
"Only? Babe there were fifteen other girls in that competition." Punk said, "Third is amazing." He said as Jessica just smiled to herself.
"Did you think I was fast?" Jessica asked him, walking down the track field to leave the pitch and head to their car.
He'd felt all the pride in the world coming to Jessica's competition and actually being able to commit to things without being worried about how much time he had left. It was bliss and he wasn't sure he'd get used to the sort of freedom he felt now.
"You were so fast." Punk shook his head, "Like lightening." He nodded.
"I should have got at least second." Jessica shook her head.
"I love you for striving to be better but… c'mon, you did amazing and it's another medal to add to all those other ones you have." Punk said, "Don't be so hard on yourself now." He told her, leaning down and kissing her head over her hair which was in two pletes that AJ had done before they left the house.
"I'll aim for second or first at my next one." Jessica nodded.
"That's my girl." Punk nodded, approaching the car when he saw the two agents he had spoken to standing outside, "Go… go on into the car." Punk told her, unlocking it as Jessica went ahead into the car whilst Punk looked on at the agents, "What?" Punk shook his head, "Are you… stalking me or something?" Punk shook his head.
"Cami said you'd be here." Matthews said, "We're having trouble locating Jason. Jamie's friend or… whatever the hell he is." He shook his head.
"What's that got to do with me?" Punk shook his head.
"Nothing." Kelvin said, "But we just thought it'd be best to let you know. We don't know how much him and Jamie conspired. Jamie hasn't spoken a word to us and all Shane is, is in denial." He said, "You've been the target in all of this, and your family, so… until we can locate him, we just want you to be aware." He nodded.
"Ok." Punk nodded, "I'll keep my eye out for the scumbag." Punk nodded, looking on at the agents as they hung around, "What is it?" He screwed his face up.
"You thought anymore about the job?" Matthews asked.
"I told you guys no." Punk made clear, "I-I want a quiet life with my kids and my girlfriend. I'm not looking for a job with you guys, as much as I'm flattered you've asked." He made clear as they just nodded.
"Well congratulations on the new baby." Matthews nodded, "And you'll give us a call if you encounter Jason?"
"Of course I will." Punk nodded, "Can I go now?" He asked them as they smiled a little and nodded, "Don't come to a girls track competition to talk to me next time." He rolled his eyes as they laughed a little and backed off.
Punk got into the car and started the engine up whilst Jessica was sat in the back, "Are they your friends?" He asked.
"Yeah, they're just a few people I know." Punk nodded briefly, "Ok, how about we go get some breakfast to celebrate, and we can bring stuff home for mom and Jo?" He said.
"Yeah." Jessica smiled. AJ was home with baby Robyn, and whilst Jo wanted to come see her big sister compete, she always wanted to stay at home and watch her baby sister sleep. Life at home was perfect and full, and he was going to make sure he protected that from a wandering Jason.
Matthews and Kelvin watched as Punk drove away, walking back to their car.
"What we gotta do to get him working with us?" Matthews shook his head.
"The poor guy just wants to be left alone, Matthews." Kelvin shrugged.
"He's wasting a talent. He's got an eye for what we do. Look how much he cracked on that case, on his own, things we never could." Matthews said.
"He's just got out of prison, he's got a new kid." Kelvin said, "Maybe he'll think about it. Let's just focus on getting this Jason prick so we can really dust her hands off with this whole thing." He said as Matthews nodded, getting into the car as they drove off.
