Gone For All The Wrong Reasons
"You owe me quadruple figures, Tommy." Juan said, four weeks later, sitting at his desk, "I'm gonna have to get you to start shifting drugs to pay off the debt. Just a few jobs here and there." He said, "I don't know much about you, just that Hank spoke very highly of you and your little brother." He said.
"I'll get the money for you if you stop putting the debt up." Tommy said, "I've been out of work for a few weeks."
"I heard." Juan said, "Tried to kill yourself? Little Phil tried to save you?"
"How do you know my brother? How do you know me as a matter of fact? I came to you for a fix and a fix only, and now you think we're friends?"
"I knew your uncle." Juan said, "Hank was a good man."
"He killed my parents." Tommy said.
"Had his reasons." Juan shrugged, "You know, I knew your parents too. Probably not the innocent people you think they were." He said as Tommy just rolled his eyes.
"Just stop upping the debt and I'll get you the money." Tommy said.
"Where from? Huh? I know you don't have that kind of money lying around." Juan said.
"I'll find it." Tommy said.
"I'll give you a week to find the money. I'll stop upping the price. If it's not here in a week, well… let's just say, you best hope it's here within a week, on this desk." Juan said, "Now go on. Get out of my office I have work to do." He said as Tommy backed away, walking out of the office and along the dark railway, putting up his hood and disappearing into the night.
"She's hungry today." The nurse smiled the next morning where AJ and Punk had gone into the hospital to see their baby girl who was currently being breast fed by AJ. She knew it was better for the baby and since Veronica was on the smaller side, she wanted to give it a go.
Veronica had come a long way, even if it was just four weeks. They were told she'd probably be ready to come home in a week or so. She was starting to become the perfect bundle, and not a little lump of sugar anymore that AJ and Punk kept referring her to.
"She is." AJ smiled, looking down at Veronica latching onto her, covered up discreetly of course as there were other people in the ICU.
The baby girl was off most of the machinery and was breathing on her own now. It was remarkable how strong she had become. Both AJ and Punk were extremely proud.
"So… you know, when I'm left with her myself, what do I do?" Punk asked a little clueless, looking to AJ who just smirked.
"I'll make up some milk for you." She told him with a small smile, "Although I don't know if I'd be able to leave her alone." AJ admitted as Punk just made a face.
"You don't trust me with her?" He asked.
"Not, it's not that." She said, "I just don't wanna leave her." AJ admitted. She'd become so connected to Veronica. They both had, which was of course good, but AJ just got carried away sometimes. She already had absolute unconditional love for their daughter and couldn't wait to take her home.
"Well you're gonna have to at some point." Punk said, "You gotta be comfortable with other people looking after her."
"Depends who these other people are." AJ said.
"Well it's not going to be strangers." Punk rolled his eyes, "But you know… I'd like to have some alone time with my wife some times."
"You'll get alone time." AJ assured him with a small smile, "I can't believe how much she's grown. Soon, she'll get to come home with us." She said tenderly, looking down at the baby and smiling as Punk smiled too. He knew it was killing her to have to go to and from the hospital to see their baby all of the time, but they both had patience for their daughter, and she really was getting stronger every day.
"What do we shorten her name to?" Punk questioned, taking hold of the baby's hand between his thumb and index finger gently whilst she continued to suckle onto AJ.
"Why do we need to shorten her name?" AJ questioned with confusion.
"Well you're Ape. Malia is Mal. I'm Punk."
"Punk isn't a shortened version of your name. It's a nickname." AJ corrected him, "She doesn't need her name shortened. Her name is beautiful."
"We could call her Ronnie." Punk said, "Ron. Or V." Punk said.
"Just call her Veronica." AJ laughed.
"It's a long name for a little kid." Punk said, "Although, I think my mom would definitely be proud." He smiled.
"Yeah, she would." AJ smiled, "I think she would have been first in line to meet her."
"Definitely." Punk nodded.
"So, Ronnie, Ron or V is what we're choosing from?" AJ asked as Punk nodded, "Let's go with V. Although, I do want us to call her Veronica most of the time." She said. She knew Punk liked making short nicknames for those around him. Of course she was Ape, Malia was Mal, she'd heard him call Tommy 'Tom' a few times. Dean was Dee most of the time. It was just a thing he done.
"V it is." Punk smiled, cupping the back of the baby girls head whilst she got fed.
Punk and AJ got home later that night. Malia had been coming to and from their house, but had been spending a lot more time with Rachel. Punk didn't want her to feel left out though and was doing his best to have her with them as much as they could. He was picking her up later tonight from Rachel and promised both her and AJ some pizza for dinner.
"Do you think the nursery is ok? Is there anything else we have to get?" AJ questioned as she and Punk walked through to the kitchen. They were eager for Veronica to come home and they both knew it was almost time. They'd been spending a lot of time getting the nursery to perfection. AJ didn't want anything to girly as she figured their daughter would be a lot like Malia and be more into nature and animals than dolls and barbies. It was a woodland forest theme with little stickers of different woodland animals around. The back wall had wallpaper on it of bunnies and little deer's, whilst the rest was just white with the little stickers. There were matching covers in the crib and matching curtains too, and the oak wood dresser and changing table really went with everything. It was perfect for their baby girl.
"I think we're good." Punk chuckled a little, "I think you have every stuffed animal known to man in that room." He said whilst greeting Shadow with a friendly pat. AJ had got carried away with stuffed toys. They were lined along the window, on top of the dresser, along the changing table. They were everywhere.
"I know. I just got carried away." AJ sighed, "I just can't wait to have her home." She sighed as Punk nodded.
"I know. It won't be long now." He told her sweetly. He was just as eager but he knew as a mother, a first-time mother, she just wanted their baby home and with them at all times.
"Ok, I'm gonna go pick up Mal. I'll get the pizza on the way back. You got money on you to save me going to the ATM." He said.
"Uh… yeah. I think I had fifty in purse." She said, walking over to the kitchen table where her purse was.
"How many pizzas do you want?" Punk joked as she smiled, her smile fading as she opened up her purse and seen it completely empty.
"Did you take money from my purse?" AJ asked.
"No, are you kidding? I wouldn't do that." Punk walked over to ther.
"I had fifty, maybe sixty dollars in here and now it's gone." AJ showed him.
"Are you sure?" Punk asked as AJ nodded.
"I know for sure because on the way home from the hospital last night I ran into the store and went to the ATM there. Remember? I lifted sixty because I knew we'd probably get take out a few times and I also thought we could go into town on our way home tomorrow to pick up any last-minute things for the baby." AJ said, looking up at him, "It had money in here, Phil." She said, one hundred percent positive.
"Well then who has-" He paused as he looked over at their back door which wasn't shut properly, walking over to it and opening it up as he looked at the burst lock, "It's Tommy." Punk said, knowing fine well it was him.
"How do you know?" AJ asked.
"Well who else do we know that's in desperate need of money?" Punk said.
"Pull Malia's penny tin down." AJ said, pointed over to the cupboard in the kitchen as Punk opened it up and took down the little tin that was pretty much full of pennies and coins that Malia had collected and gotten. Normally after filling it to the top there'd be at least twenty dollars that she would get to spend on whatever she wanted. It was just a thing they done. Punk's stomach turned already when he felt the tin empty.
He lifted it down and unscrewed the lid, looking into the empty tin as he lifted it and showed AJ who shook her head with disgust.
"That's disgusting." AJ spat, watching Punk angrily throw the tin across the kitchen causing her to jump a little.
He couldn't believe Tommy was going to this level. Stealing from his wife and his own daughter. It was filthy and he felt physically sick.
"Phil, just forget it." AJ shook her head, "It's sixty dollars." She brushed it off, not wanting Punk to get mad or do anything rational.
"It's not the money, April." Punk said, "He broke into our home and went into your purse." Punk spat, "He took the remains of a fucking penny tin." Punk said, "He told him I would help him with the money." Punk spat, "And this is what he does?" He said. He was beginning to not be able to read Tommy like he always could. He was stooping to a new low and he wasn't going to ever be able to come back from this now.
"Doesn't this part go here?" Rachel asked, sitting in the living room floor of her apartment with Malia, helping her with a jigsaw before she knew Punk was coming to get her.
"I don't know." Malia frowned, puzzled to say the least, "When I do them with daddy he always says finds the edges first." She explained.
"Ok, let's do that then." Rachel smiled, tucking her daughter's hair behind her ear with a smile as there was a sudden knock at the door, "He's early." Rachel admitted, looking at the clock, nevertheless, getting up and leaving the living room to go down and answer the door, not finding Punk there but Tommy standing, more like wobbling, barely with bloodshot eyes open properly.
"Tommy. What are you doing here?" Rachel questioned as Tommy staggered in by her, "Tommy."
"I need-I need money, Rachel." Tommy said drunkenly.
"I don't have any money for you, Tommy." Rachel said, "You're drunk, you should just go." She said, "C'mon, go home."
"I don't-I don't have a home." Tommy spat, "Just give me the money!" He shouted aggressively, "Where-Where is your purse?" He asked, stumbling down the hall and into the living room where Malia was sitting.
"Tommy." Rachel chased him, trying to pull him out of the living room but he was already so far in.
"Hi… Hi, kid." Tommy smirked, "You know-You know where your mom's purse is?" He stuttered with fluttering eyes as Malia just looked up at him.
"Malia, go to your room." Rachel ordered as Malia quickly stood up and left the living room, going into her room and closing the door over, "What are you playing at?!" Rachel shouted angrily, shoving Tommy, "Look at the state of you!"
"Just-Just give me money, Rachel… just anything." He said, looking around frantically for a purse.
"I'm not giving you my money. I barely have enough to keep this place running." Rachel spat, "Won't Phil help you?" She questioned.
"No he… he's busy. He can't help anymore. I have to-I have to take care of myself." He slurred.
"And this is how you take care of yourself? Taking other people's money?" She asked.
"I need the money, Rachel! Or I'm a dead man." He said with a crack in his voice, "Please… please just give me the money. Please." He almost cried.
"No." Rachel made herself clear, folding her arms.
"I'll… I'll do something in return. What do you want?" He asked, "I'll get you some bags for yourself if you want."
"No, Tommy." Rachel shook her head, "Look at you. You need professional help. You're-You're losing it." She whispered.
"I'm fine!" Tommy yelled, "You're just… lonely and cold." He slurred, "You-You thought you and… you and Phil would have gotten back together… and you can't-you can't strand that he is happy with someone-someone else. Someone wealthier and prettier and sweeter than you could-you could ever be." Tommy got in her face as Rachel looked up at him.
"I'm happy for Phil." Rachel spat, "And I have no issue with AJ either." She pushed Tommy back a little, "Get out of my apartment now." She said firmly.
"I'll find the money myself!" Tommy shouted in an aggressive manner, walking around the living room and searching for her purse, finding it and sitting it on the couch as he tried to properly take the money out, his eyes hazy, not really being able to see much.
"No. You can't take my money, Tommy!" Rachel yelled, rushing over to him, "I have to feed Malia with that and pay bills and… live properly." She spat as Tommy just ignored her and continued to gather the money out of her purse, "Tommy!" She shouted, grabbing onto his arm as he pushed her back forcefully, watching her fall back onto the coffee table as it smashed to pieces.
He looked at her for a minute, watching as she lay still, her head resting on the mantel, her body smashed through the glass coffee table, blood trickling down her neck.
He looked back at her purse and back to her limp body, grabbing the money and shoving it in his pocket, leaving the room and the apartment in a hurry and not looking back.
Malia's room door opened as she heard Tommy leave, slowly walking out into the hall and into the living room, looking on at her mother laying still, not moving.
"Mom." Malia said quietly, hesitantly walking over to her mother's body, "Mom." She repeated, kneeling beside and shaking her mother's arm, "Mommy, wake up." She said a little louder, "Wake up." She repeated as Rachel lay still.
"Phil, where are you going?" AJ asked, watching as Punk walked through the hallway of their home in a rage.
"I'm gonna pick up Malia and drop her off here, and then I'm going to find Tommy." Punk told her.
"Be careful. You don't know what kind of state he's in." AJ told him as she followed him to the doorway.
"I don't care what state he's in." Punk shook his head, "Just… stay here and wait for me dropping Mal off." He told her, quickly kissing her on the cheek as AJ sighed, watching as he left the house quickly, running her hand through her hair. She felt like they just couldn't get a break.
Punk got in his car and drove to Rachel's, which wasn't a long drive from their house.
He got out of the car and got to the apartment building, buzzing her apartment and speaking into the buzzer, "Rach, it's me. Open up." He said as he heard nothing back, "Rachel." He buzzed again, "It's Phil. C'mon, I don't have time." He said as the line was dead silent, watching as someone left the building which gave him his chance to get in anyway, walking up the stairs to her floor and reaching the apartment, knocking on the door that opened slowly as he forced his knuckles upon it.
He walked in suspiciously, not understanding why the door was left open. There was a dead silence in the apartment as he walked down the hallway, walking into the living room, his breath hitching under him as he seen Rachel lying flat out over the smashed coffee table, blood soaking the carpet the ran from her head down to her neck, her eyes closed and her body still. But to him, that didn't seem like the worst part, the worst part was that Malia was sitting beside her, turning around and noticing him.
"Daddy!" Malia shouted, jumping and running to him, hugging him around his knees and waist as Punk stumbled back a little in shock, "Daddy, mommy won't wake up." She said as Punk looked across at Rachel.
"W-What happened, Malia?" Punk asked almost robotically.
"Uncle Tommy came in and mom told me to go to my room. Then he left and I's came out and she was over there." Malia pointed to her mother.
Punk looked around the room, looking at an empty purse lying on the floor, already picturing what went down. Tommy wanted the money and Rachel put up a fight, and this was the outcome.
"Baby, go to your room." Punk told Malia, trying to show no sudden fear or emotion to protect her.
"Is mommy hurt?" Malia asked.
"Just go-go to your room." Punk begged her as she nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Punk running his hands through his hair as he looked on at Rachel.
He slowly and hesitantly walked over to her body, kneeling down beside her, taking two shaking fingers and placing them at the side of her neck, begging to find a pulse, begging that she was just unconscious, just praying to a God he didn't believe in.
When he felt nothing, he tried her wrist for a pulse, but there was nothing. No movement what so ever.
He placed his hand on his forehead and sunk down from his knees into a basket position, placing his face into his hands and letting a few tears roll down his cheeks.
A/N: I don't think Tommy can stoop down any lower. Or can he? Lots coming soon. REVIEW and let me know what you think.
