All Out


"They're not out here!" Dominic called, running up the car park to meet AJ, Thea and Punk who had arrived outside, "Any luck inside?" He begged, hoped.

"No, nothing." Thea cried hysterically as Dominic wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"You searched the whole car park?" Punk asked Dominic who nodded whilst AJ clasped her shaking hands over her mouth.

"Hey! I just got off the phone with the hospital." Sean ran over, "I called to see if there was any sign of the kids or Cassie… Cassie's there." He said as AJ placed her hand on her chest, turning to Punk who took a deep breath, "She was stabbed but… somehow she ended up in hospital." He shook his head.

"Well how is she? Is she… is she ok?" AJ asked desperately, tears streaming down her face.

"She's been out of surgery and… they said she's stable for now." Sean nodded as AJ sighed to herself, turning to Punk.

"They've gotta have them." AJ shook her head as Dominic and Thea looked at one another. There was no point in wishful thinking that their small children were going to toddle out from behind a door somewhere in the hotel.

"The cops are on their way. I've already gave them James and Sofia's descriptions, height, names, what they were wearing." Sean nodded, "Do you guys have any toys belonging to them? Teddy bears or something? The K-9 unit will be here so they can get the scent of the kids and… try follow it." Sean said, trying to do everything he could as a cop to help his family.

"Uh… yeah, yeah Sofia has a… she has a blanket." Thea nodded, drying her tears, "And James… he has a teddy bear, they're in the hotel room." She said.

"I'll get them." Dominic nodded to her.

"What are we supposed to do? I'm not… I'm not waiting around doing nothing." Thea shook her head, "If they have them, Janet and Rob, then… where would they be taking them? Why would they do this?" She questioned as no one answered, "I'm talking to you!" She yelled at her mother who looked across at her, "It's your mother!" Thea yelled.

"Thea, just… try stay calm." Punk placed his hand on her arm as she pushed him away.

"Don't touch me." Thea warned everyone as AJ looked at her.

"I don't know what they're doing here or why they would take James and Sofia." AJ said, "I don't." She shook her head as Thea ran her hands through her hair, watching as the cop cars pulled up outside the hotel. It all felt surreal.

"Where's Jude?" Sean asked Punk discreetly.

"In the room with Kirsty and Mirren." Punk nodded to him, "Is there CCTV in this place?" He wondered.

"I'm gonna go check." Sean nodded, running back into the hotel towards the reception area.

"Thea, come sit down." AJ advised, noticing her daughter looking near to fainting.

Thea shook her head, feeling physically sick, doubling over into the corner and throwing up as AJ sighed to herself, rushing over to Thea's side to be there for her whilst Punk watched Jake, the top police officer at the station approaching him.

"We already have a lead." Jake nodded to Punk.

"What? How can you already have a lead?" Punk questioned. Believe it or not, over the years, especially since Cassie had joined the force, he didn't feel like his back was up against the wall anymore when it came to cops. It helped in situations like this, for sure.

"Just got a cop who saw Janet and Rob with the two kids." Jake said.

"You're sure?" Punk questioned. He was preparing for a long search taking place throughout the night into the morning.

"I'm sure." Jake nodded, "Headed for the railway junction just off forty one." He explained directions.

"Why do I feel like you're ahead of this?" Punk asked him suspiciously.

"You really wanna waste time and talk about it?" Jake asked him as Punk shook his head, "We got cops on it right now. I need you all to stay put." He made clear, "Can you do that for me?" He asked as Thea looked over.

"Over my dead body." Thea shook her head, watching as Dominic ran back out of the hotel with Sofia's blanket and James' teddy bear, "You got keys?" She asked him as Dominic nodded.

"I will literally put you in handcuffs." Jake nodded.

"Shut the fuck up." Thea warned, "And get out of my way." She made clear as Punk groaned a little, watching Thea barge past Jake, headed to their car as Dominic followed.

Punk couldn't stand still. He couldn't let his daughter drive away into unknown, and neither could AJ. It was just the type of parents they'd always been.

Both of them, without saying anything to each other, ran to the car to get in with Thea and Dominic.

"Brooks!" Jake yelled angrily, watching the car reverse recklessly and speed off, "Alright, get on their ass! Make sure no one dies." Jake ordered the cops who had pulled up with him as they got back into their cars.

"Where the hell are they going?" Dominic shook his head, driving recklessly, running every red light as he put his foot down on the gas.

"I don't know why they're doing this." AJ shook her head. It was particularly hard for her to know her own mother was doing this, her own brother. People who claimed to want to protect her, was physically trying to tear her family apart in the most brutal way. It was impossible to understand.

"They're lunatics, that's why!" Thea concluded, not being able to sit still, leg shaking as she kept her eyes on the road which they sped through so quickly.

"Did he say forty one?" Dominic asked.

"Yeah." Punk nodded, watching Dominic turn the wheel off onto a side road near where the railway ran along, driving along the road until they spotted a car in the middle of the railway line.

"Oh my God." AJ gasped.

Dominic immediately stopped the car, getting out as he and Thea ran ahead towards the car sitting in the railway line. Punk and AJ followed behind quickly, stopping behind the tracks on the opposite side where they saw Rob sitting on the hood of the car whilst Janet stood in front.

"I'm gonna kill you." Thea pointed as Janet looked across at them, "Where are my kids?" She demanded to know.

"It's ok." Janet assured her, "They're sleeping." She pointed into the car where Dominic and Thea could see James and Sofia sleeping in the back of the car.

"What the hell are you doing?!" AJ yelled.

"I made it perfectly clear in all those phone calls I made, what I was going to do if my husband's death didn't get justice." Janet said.

"Just give me my kids." Thea cried helplessly, walking forward to foolishly step on the tracks as Rob lifted a gun and pointed it at her, causing Dominic to push Thea back behind him immediately.

"Stay back." Rob warned.

"Rob, what are you doing?!" AJ pleaded, "I'm your sister." She shook her head, "I-I haven't done anything wrong here. Why do you all insist on hurting me?" She questioned.

"Oh, April everything isn't about you." Janet snapped, "We've been trying our hardest to protect you."

"Protect me from what?!" AJ yelled, "My own family?"

"From him." Janet nodded to Punk who looked across at her.

"From me?" Punk nodded, "And what the hell have I done? Apart from take care of your daughter and love her. Well… apart from when you put me in prison, both times."

"Yeah, and you were meant to stay there." Janet hissed, "When you killed Joey, you were supposed to get caught and added time to your sentence. Life preferably." She nodded as Punk screwed his face up with confusion, "But someone let it fall through." She turned to Rob who rolled his eyes.

"I got let out early, alright?" Rob hissed at his mother.

"Wait, you… you were trying to set me up?" Punk questioned as AJ looked at her, shaking her head, "The eight years wasn't enough for you?"

"No… no, life was enough for me." Janet said, "Rob was supposed to be in there to set you up. Provoke you." She said, "But that… fell through." She said as Punk shook his head, running his hands through his hair where his mind was frying.

"Is this because of my mom?" Punk looked up, staring across at her, "Because of debts that she owed you, her and my dad?" He wondered.

"Sam?" Janet chuckled, "You know, she was a good friend to me. Liability, but… a good friend." She nodded, "Shame what happened to her with the… the drink and the drugs." She nodded.

"Yeah, because of you." Punk nodded, "Why… Why am I not surprised? I met Rio, from meeting you." He said, "All this shit, it always comes from you, and your family. Your fucked up family." He said as Janet smiled a little, looking across at him.

"Rio was just a boy when we found him." Janet nodded, "Watched him grow into something marvellous. He took over our business when we left to Puerto Rico. Gave him a chance to expand."

"Marvellous?" Punk chuckled sadistically, "He tried to rape April." He said, "He tried to destroy my entire family but I guess… I guess that makes sense that you'd praise him." He nodded as Janet shrugged.

"Rio let himself down in the end. Nothing more, nothing less." Janet shrugged.

"What the hell is this about?" Punk shook his head, "First your husband comes here and tries to shoot me and my three kids, now this? You stab Cassie, you take my grandchildren… what are you getting from this?" He shook his head.

"I want my business back." Janet nodded, "But… I'm running low on family members, obviously, so… I need to recruit." She said.

"You're dead." Thea warned, "You're seriously dead."

"Oh, honey you're welcomed to join." Janet assured her.

"And why do you want me dead so much?" Punk questioned, "Cause I know it ain't just so you can get to April."

"You know how when you two were younger, and April wanted to sell Rio out to the cops?" Janet asked as Punk and AJ looked at her, "Well, same thing happened to me and Robert. Only… it was your mom who tried to sell us out. We were business partners." She nodded, "Bet you didn't know that, huh?" She smiled.

"No… No, I thought… I thought my mom and dad were just customers?" Punk shook his head.

"No, they ran the business with us until they thought they were higher and better. Your dad split, figured that was the best way to get out. Cut all contact with us. Then your mother tried to turn us into the cops but it didn't work out. Once she realised we found out, she tried to get out of town, contacted your dad and… they ended up in quite the scuffle, didn't they?" She nodded, "Not that it really means anything but… you two met way before you started dating." She assured them, "Gosh, you had to have been… four or five." She smiled, "Just after your dad went to prison."

"Samantha!" Janet called, walking into the house with her four year old daughter, practically dragging her in the door as four year old AJ stood close to her, "Samantha!" She called in a chirpy voice.

"What?" Sam appeared from out of the living room and into the hallway.

"I heard about poor Daniel. Life in prison, huh? Sucks to be him." Janet chuckled a little, walking on down the hallway as Sam watched her, turning to the little girl standing by the door, looking scared.

"It's ok, sweetie." Sam nodded to her as AJ stood in the corner quietly.

"Sam!" Janet yelled as Sam turned around, rolling her eyes as she walked through the house and into the kitchen.

"What? What the hell do you want?" Sam shook her head.

"You really don't know how bad you hurt me, do you?" Janet folded her arms as Sam looked at her, "Trying to… sell me out like that. I thought we were like sisters." She shook her head.

"I have a family. I couldn't… I couldn't do it anymore and you wouldn't let me out." Sam said.

"I know what's best for you, that's why." Janet nodded as Sam looked at her.

"What do you want from me now? Dan is gone. It's… It's my fault he's in prison. I have to live with that now so… if you were looking to see me hurt, you got it." Sam shook her head, rubbing her forehead stressfully.

"Yeah, and that could have been me and Robert. Rotting away in prison." Janet said.

"Like you don't deserve it." Sam spat as Janet smiled a little.

"What happened to us, Sam?" Janet hummed, "Hmm? What changed?"

"I was being a dumb kid who needed money and a little bit of a thrill. Now I have two boys who have no father, and I don't know what to do. You wanted to make that business your life-"

"Yeah, and I will." Janet shrugged, "Now, speaking of you not knowing what to do… I wouldn't go making any plans just yet." She nodded, "Since you owe me huge, I have… let's say a job proposal, only… you have to accept or I'll kill you… or I'll take your sons." She said as Sam gulped, looking across at her.

"What do you mean a job proposal?" Sam questioned.

"Well I have some suppliers who… I could save a lot of cash by offering them something else." Janet said as Sam looked at her, "You're a pretty, young girl. You know what you're doing. How to handle yourself."

"You can't be serious." Sam laughed as Janet looked across at her.

"Oh, but I am." Janet nodded as Sam looked at her in horror.

Meanwhile four year old AJ was still standing in the corner by the door. Overalls on with pigtails in her dark hair, standing as close in the corner as she could, frightened to be in yet another foreign place her mother had taken her to.

And then, she saw someone just like her, someone the same height as her. A little person just like her.

"Who are you?" Four year old Phil asked forwardly as he came out from the living room, looking over at the little girl who didn't say anything, "Can't you speak?" He asked cheekily as AJ narrowed her brows at him.

"I'm April." AJ said quietly as Punk looked at her, "Who are you?" She asked childishly, creeping out a little from the corner as she grew more comfortable.

"Come on, April. Let's go." Janet stormed through the hallway, grabbing AJ by the wrist, not caring to check if it was her hand, dragging her out of the house and slamming the door shut behind as Punk frowned a little, looking back to the kitchen where he saw his mother sitting at the table crying.

"I… I don't remember." Punk shook his head, turning to AJ who shook her head in agreement.

"Well, you were little." Janet waved her hand.

"So, this is what? You still punishing my mom by… by coming for me?" Punk asked.

"Yes and… it's been hard these years watching April fall in love with the son of two rats. I mean, out of all the guys in the world?" Janet rolled her eyes.

"I don't care about any of this." Thea cried truthfully as they turned to her, "Give me my children." She said, stepping onto the tracks as Rob pointed the gun at her.

"Get back or I'll-" Dominic was cut off as a bullet went through his side, a loud gun shut firing through the air as Punk and AJ both turned around.

What they were expecting to see was Jake, any cop, maybe Sean, but… instead, they saw who they could only describe as a ghost.

"Theo?" Punk screwed his face up, "What… huh?" He shook his head.

"Get back." Theo warned them.

"How are you… what is going on?" Punk shook his head. There was only so much the brain could comprehend in one go.

"Rob, baby are you ok?" Janet crouched down, checking on her son, dragging him over to the side of the railway on the opposite end as quickly as she could, beginning to hear the sound of a train coming.

"Dominic." Thea grabbed Dominic's arm worriedly.

"Just stay there." Theo told them all, running over the tracks and towards the car, trying to open the car door which was locked, "Unlock the car!" Theo yelled over at Janet, trying to elbow the glass of the window as best he could.

"Dominic, the train." Thea cried, listening and watching as the train got closer, no chance of stopping it on it's tracks.

Dominic began to move forward when Punk ran out, "No, stay there." Punk warned Dominic, not bearing to see anyone else in danger, running out onto the tracks.

"Phil!" AJ yelled worriedly as Punk ran over to the car, trying to smash the car window in, seeing the train lights getting brighter as it came further towards them.

He successfully smashed the window, leaning in and grabbing James out who was sleeping, holding him in his arms.

Theo struggled to get the window smashed on his side, but eventually getting it as he reached in and pulled Sofia out, noticing the train practically right in front of them.

"No!" Thea yelled hysterically, trying to run over to her children as Dominic grabbed her in equal distress.

"Phil." AJ placed her hands over her mouth, quickly turning around as she heard the train whiz by, crashing into the car and pulling it down the track, feeling her body numb as she couldn't bear to look.

Thea watched as the train continued to go by, carriage after carriage, crying to herself, drowning in never ending tears as she couldn't see what happened.

The train eventually passed whilst Thea caught eyes on Punk and Theo on the other end of the line with the kids. She cried even more with relief, her and Dominic running over the tracks to get to them desperately whilst AJ turned around in disbelief. She thought the train got so close that it wasn't possible, but as she turned around she saw her husband, alive and holding James whilst Theo stood beside with Sofia.

She sighed with relief, running over to her family whilst cops began to pull up one by one. She looked over where her mother had pulled her brother to, noticing they were both gone.