Laying In Wait

Six months later….

Punk was sitting in his office looking over footage from a case. A woman was found murdered in her apartment building after being assaulted. He was watching all entrances and exits and rewinding and fast forwarding. He came across a face who he knew wasn't his guilty suspect but still angered and distracted him.

"What?" Dean asked looking over to him. "You see our guy?"

"Nope. But I see my girl." Punk remarked annoyed pausing on the footage as Dean walked over to his desk.

"She must have been working." Dean shrugged.

"Yea I know she was working but does she have to work in that building?" Punk asked him annoyed. "I ask her all of the time to think before she runs into buildings or alleyways in the City. I'm glad her business is booming but I don't want to get called to one of this buildings and find her dead in the stairwell."

"She's smart, give her a little credit." Dean said as he started the footage back up. "Look!" he pointed as a man entered the stairwell. "That's the guy, that's Drake Miller who witnesses IDed."

"Yes it is." Punk remarked leaning into the TV.

"Look, look." Dean pointed and that's when AJ came into frame and was walking towards the back stairwell door. The suspect looks like he said something to AJ who shot him a glare, said something and left.

"God damn it." Punk seethed.

The man went to follow AJ out the door as another woman walked through the door AJ just exited and it was their victim and the man looked back at the door and then towards the woman walking up the stairs and began to follow her instead.

"We gotta talk to April." Dean told him.

"Oh, let me." Punk remarked sarcastically.

"She's fine." Dean reminded him.

"Why couldn't she want to be like an author or a comic book artist or something." Punk said annoyed as he jotted down the times from the camera.

"You probably wouldn't like her as much if she had a boring 9-5 job." Dean reasoned.

"That's true." Punk had to agree.

Punk and AJ were still going strong. Dickie McCall was still not found, Eliza Daniels was in prison awaiting trial and him and AJ finally got the chance to be normal. They were happy and had a good routine. They even shared a dog together, Larry, whom they adopted while she was still recovering from her abduction. His mother and sisters loved her, they had a group of friends they spent time with and everything was going smoothly. And with the mild fame from her abduction and mother's case her PI business was booming. She even made enough money to open a small office. Life was good for them. But of course, their paths crossed during work from time to time. Sometimes it was AJ showing up at the wrong place at the right time or it was Punk busting someone she was following unknowingly.

"I'm supposed to meet her for dinner anyway." Punk said typing away on his laptop. "I'll just ask her then."

"No, it's cool I don't want dinner. I'll just cancel my plans and eat alone." Dean remarked.

"I assumed you'd be eating with Renee." Punk shrugged.

"Why do you think I'm dating her?" Dean asked amused.

"Because AJ told me she went by your place a month ago and saw Renee doing the walk of shame out of the building." Punk told him simply. "Why can't you tell me? I mean we're partners, I assume we're friends, I date the woman you consider your sister and you can't tell me you're sleeping with the ADA?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Dean laughed scratching the back of his head.

"You think it will look bad since she's out ADA and you're her boyfriend. I get it, you don't have to hide it from me though." Punk reasoned.

"AJ tell you to say that?" Dean asked.

"Yea." Punk admitted honestly and went back to his work. "I don't give a crap. She thinks you're keeping shit bottled up."

"Tell her to worry more about where her clients send her and less about who I'm sharing my bed with." Dean said to him.

"Yea I'll add that to the list of dinner discussion projects." Punk said annoyed.

Punk was at AJ's place for dinner and he was greeted by her in a cute short dress and candles around the apartment.

"Larry didn't knock all of this over and set the place on fire?" He asked curiously as he leaned down to kiss her.

"He would if he was here. He's at your place." She reminded him.

"Oh, right." Punk said to her.

"I stopped by and walked him." She assured him.

"I can't stay too long, I have a big case." Punk warned her as he removed his jacket and she rolled her eyes.

"I had a feeling you'd say that." She said walking over to the table she set and pointed.

"Fast food?" He asked with a laugh.

"Yes. We can eat fast and then spend the rest of your dinner break doing other things." She said wrapping her arms around his waist and reaching up to kiss his lips.

"Oh, I'd love that." He grinned pulling away. "But we have to talk."

"Ugh." AJ groaned pulling away completely. "This sounds work related."

"It does, because your beautiful face appeared in crime scene footage." He said to her and she eyed him.

"I didn't do it." She smirked walking over to the food and sitting at the table and he joined her.

"It's important, Ape." Punk said showing her a picture on his phone. "This guy approached you in the stairwell at Downsing project building last night."

"Ah, yes." AJ remarked with a laugh. "He asked me if I wanted to go for a ride, I told him to fuck off and that I had a gun in my purse."

"You have a gun?" Punk asked her stunned.

"No but he didn't have to know that." She shrugged simply and ate a fry.

"He's a suspect in a rape and homicide in that same building. The woman you held the door open for was the victim and he followed her up after you left." Punk told her.

"That's awful." AJ said looking at his picture again. "I didn't like get his name or anything. I don't know how I can help."

"You might have to ID him when we find him." He told her. "You remember his face?"

"Yea, he has a tattoo on the side of his neck." She nodded as she ate.

"Are you sure? I've seen photos of Drake Miller and no neck tattoo." Punk told her.

"He was wearing the collar on his jacket up and the tattoo was fresh, it had clear wrapping on it it was probably done that night. You wouldn't have seen it on camera or up close unless you were as close as I was." She told him and he was typing into his phone.

"What was the tattoo?" He asked her.

"It was a rose and a name, I didn't get a good look at the name it started with an A tho." She informed him as he wrote it all down.

"This is helpful." He said standing up.

"Where are you going?" She pouted.

"I have to hit nearby tattoo parlors and see if they know this guy." He told her. "I'm sorry." He said to her and she couldn't be mad, work didn't always get in the way of their time but it did bother her sometimes but she also remembered how important his job really was. And she found him to be so attractive because he was a hero.

"Fine." She sighed and got up and grabbed a bag. "But you're taking dinner with you because you have to eat."

"You're the best." He grinned as he watched her pack up his dinner.

"I'm going to your place and taking Larry back here." She told him.

"I'll come by after work I promise." He told her.

"Even if I'm sleeping?" She asked curiously. "This is my one night off and I plan on celebrating by sleeping."

"How exciting." He mocked.

"Well originally I planned on celebrating by doing you." She snorted. "But sleeping was plan B."

"You know I want to know what you were doing in that building, right?" He asked her and she looked up at him as she finished packing his lunch.

"I was working." She remarked. "I was following a man's wife."

"You have to go into the dangerous building?" He asked her.

"Don't start in on my job." She warned him.

"I'm not." He laughed innocently. "It's just if that other woman didn't walk in he looked like he was going to follow you out."

"I'm capable of taking care of myself." AJ reminded him. "And do you know how much I got paid for that case?"

"Hopefully a months rent for that risk." He said to her.

"Four months rent." She informed him smugly.

"You drive me crazy, you know that right." He said gently cupping her face and looking her in the eyes.

"That's why you love me." She smirked and kissed him.

"Alright, I'll be back tonight." He told her and saw her sit back down and began to eat alone.

"What?" She asked with a laugh. "Why are you looking at me like a creep."

"You shouldn't be eating alone, that's all." He said to her.

"It's fine. It's one dinner." She smiled. "He smelled." She told him before he left.

"What was that?" He asked before walking out her door.

"Your guy, smelled like weed and liquor." She told him.

"Wonderful." He remarked sarcastically.

Punk and Dean worked through the night and the next morning when he was about ready to go home he had a visitor in his office.

"Can I help you?" Punk asked the strange man.

"Yea you can." The man said standing up and shaking his hand. "I'm Dwight Goodning, from Nashville PD."

"What can I do for you Detective?" Punk asked sitting behind his desk.

"I'm here about April Mendez." The Detective told him and Punk wasn't amused already. "According to records you're associated with her?"

"What records?" Punk asked folding his arms. "And why are you looking for her?"

"I'm not looking for her." The Detective told him. "I know where she lives, I know where she works-"

"Careful, Detective." Punk warned in a low voice.

"She's causing a bit of trouble in my hometown. If she comes back again I'm going to have to arrest her." He told Punk who was truly confused. "Look, I know about Ms. Mendez everyone was captivated by her story a few months back so I'm letting this slide for now."

"Letting what slide?" Punk asked.

"She was caught breaking into an apartment four weeks ago, two weeks ago my guys picked her up taking photos outside of the local bar after getting complaints from patrons and three days ago she was attempting to lift records from the DMV." He told Punk. "I know she's a PI, I know she has a troubled past-"

"She doesn't have a trouble past." Punk corrected. "She's passionate about her work."

"I can't keep letting it slide." The Detective told him seriously. "My plan was to come down here and speak to her myself but she's proven to be difficult to find."

"She's probably just avoiding you." Punk said to him simply. "So you just keep letting her slide because why? Because her mom died?"

"No one wants to see this girl get arrested, the world was captivated by her. She also told one of my officers she was working her mother's case." The Detective told him and Punk was silent. AJ hadn't mentioned her mother's case or anything related to that or Dickie McCall in over five months.

"You sure about that?" Punk asked him.

"Sure am. Because I was pretty sure her mother's body was found and there was a woman in jail for it." The Detective told him.

"Her mother's physical killer is still wanted." Punk told him and the Detective nodded.

"Ah, I see." He frowned. "Look, she seems like a sweet kid who is maybe scared I don't know. I just don't want to have to arrest her."

"I'll speak to her." Punk said to him. "Do you know who she was looking for? Was there a name?"

"No. She's very slippery." The Detective told him.

"Tell me about." Punk mumbled. "She won't be any trouble. Thank you for letting this go."

"Sure thing." The Detective smiled. "Have a good day."

"Who's that?" Dean asked.

"Your friend is a pain in my ass that's who that was." Punk remarked bitterly.

"Well I've got some good news, they picked up Drake Miller. Witness recognized his tattoo at the gas station and called it in. Troopers just picked him up." Dean told him.

"Tattoo was a solid tip." Punk said running his hand over his tired face. "Why is AJ running off to Nashville looking for Dickie McCall?" He asked Dean, already knowing AJ well enough and piecing it together.

"What?" Dean asked confused.

"Did we get any tips out of Tennessee on McCall?" Punk asked.

"None. That tip line has been quiet." Dean told him. "She hasn't mentioned McCall to me in months actually."

"Me either." Punk said shaking his head. "Did someone give her a tip? Is she working this case without informing the police?"

"I don't know. Sounds like her." Dean had to smirk. "Come on, did you expect her not to?"

"It's dangerous." Punk said to him. "What if he was there? Look what happened last time."

"Well, sounds like you have to have a talk with her." Dean laughed. "I on the other hand am looking forward to closing this case and sleeping."

"With Renee?" Punk asked and Dean didn't respond or flinch just looked at his screen. "When are you going to tell me you're dating her?"

"I'm looking forward to sleeping." Dean repeated. "You can look forward to fighting with AJ."

"Great." Punk remarked and glared at the framed photo of them he had on his desk. "Pain in my ass." He said to the picture.

Punk arrived at AJ's office a few hours later and found her sitting behind her desk but he was greeted at the door by Larry.

"Some guard dog you are." AJ said to Larry. "You don't kiss the intruders."

"He loves me." Punk smirked picking up his dog and let him lick his face.

"He gets more action from you than I do." AJ snorted. "I hope you're here to make up for dinner because I suddenly have the night free and I am hungry."

"I can swing dinner." He said to her. "Thanks to your tip we got Drake Miller don't need you to ID him he confessed after ten minutes."

"Great." AJ said to him. "Glad I could solve your case for you."

"I'm here hoping you can solve another one for me." Punk said stepping in from her lobby into her actual office and leaned in the doorway.

"Shoot." AJ grinned closing her laptop and looking up at him anxiously.

"Why was there a Detective from Nashville in my office today asking me about you?" Punk asked her and she mouth nearly dropped. "That's the case, solve it."

"I have no idea." She laughed nervously but being adorable wasn't going to get her out of this one. He looked mad. "Ok." AJ said to him. "I've been working a case in Nashville."

"How have you been sneaking off to Nashville without me knowing?" He asked her in disbelief.

"I drive it's eight hours." She shrugged. "I'm sneaking, I'm working."

"What's the case?" He asked.

"You know I can't discuss that with you." AJ said opening her laptop back up. "My clients pay for my discretion."

"Yea? I think you're the client." He said to her and gently closed her laptop again. "Are you following up tips about Dickie McCall and not informing me?"

"I can explain." AJ said standing up and he rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief.

"I don't know if he's there." She insisted. "But I have been looking into him and he has a childhood friend who lives there and I've been looking for him to see if he leads me to Dickie."

"Why wouldn't you tell me?" Punk asked her annoyed. "Do you know how dangerous this is?"

"I did speak to the FBI about it and they have no proof that they've been in touch so I've looked into it and I planned on telling you if something came from it but nothing has." AJ assured him.

"Ape, this is crazy." He said to her. "You've been leaving the state to hunt down a deranged killer."

"No. I've been hunting the killers friends." AJ argued and he glared at her.

"How did I not know you were doing this?" He asked her.

"I'm a really good sneak." She offered with a shrug.

"No, Ape it's not cute." He warned her.

"You can't go there you are not working this case due to dating me and Dean isn't because he's too close. You two couldn't legally do anything anyway. If I found something I would have informed you."

"What if something happened to you?" Punk asked. "I wouldn't even know that's where you were. I'm not asking you to tell me about your cases but if you're leaving the state far enough to take a plane I'd like a heads up."

"I didn't think you'd notice." She said to him.

"Well, you were right. And that makes me feel like shit too." Punk said to her. "You are so reckless, you get that right?"

"Sometimes." She told him honestly with a shrug. "Look, I was extra safe and you are not my father I don't have to run my work or schedule by you."

"No you don't but you can choose to." He said to her. "Again, if something happened to you I wouldn't know you were there. No one would."

"I get it." AJ said to him. "I'm not apologizing though. I'm allowed to work."

"This isn't work, Ape. You're not getting paid." Punk reminded her. "What you're doing is personal and it clouds your judgement."

"You don't know that." She insisted.

"I do, Ape." He sighed. "This Detective is letting you off the hook but you have got to stop this. You're not only reckless but you're going to end up arrested."

"I don't plan on going back there right now anyway I'm too busy." She told him.

"How comforting." He remarked sarcastically. "You can't keep doing this you have to move on."

"How can I move on when the man who killed my mother is roaming free probably sipping drinks on a beach somewhere?" She asked him seriously.

"Your mother wouldn't want you doing this." He reminded her.

"It's like the FBI and the Jersey PD gave up on looking for him. I can't I'm not built that way." She told him.

"I'm not mad you're looking for him I expected you too and you've been so quiet about it I can't say I'm surprised." Punk said to her. "I'm mad at me." he said sitting on the couch in her office and she sat next to him. "How can I be so distracted I didn't realize you were doing this?"

"Again, in your defense I'm really good at my job." She reasoned.

"We have to communicate better." Punk told her. "I don't want to know about your cases but when you're going off that far you have to at least text me. Why wouldn't you tell me? Do you not trust me? Did you think I'd say no?"

"No. I mean I didn't think you'd say no nor would I listen to you saying no." AJ rambled off. "But I didn't tell you because I truly didn't have anything yet. I still don't."

"Where are your tips from?" He asked her.

"A woman named Gladys Shaw. She's 76 and lives in the same building as Dickie's friend and swears she's seen him at least once." AJ told him.

"Women like Gladys sit at home and watch truce crime and think they've seen everyone." Punk sighed.

"I looked into his friend and they do have a history. How would she know that?" She asked.

"And the feds said what?" Punk asked.

"That he was questioned when I first went missing and there have been no clear or real signs of communication but I think they're lazy." She told him. "I just had to make sure."

"And what do you think?" He asked her.

"I think he could have been there. He hasn't been. But I can't even get to his friend it's very frustrating." She groaned.

"Ok, so you see his friend what do you do?" Punk asked.

"I don't know." AJ admitted. "I have to do something though."

"Ok." Punk said to her nodding.

"That's it? No fight?" She asked happily.

"No there will be a fight." He warned her standing up and helping her up by taking her hand. "But I'm hungry, I owe you a dinner."

"And a massage." She added.

"A massage? I think you owe me one." He argued lightly.

"I think we can both benefit from a massage." She grinned.
"Let's get Larry home and go to dinner." He told her. "If we're home early enough we can both get massages."

"Don't you think it's silly Larry is like a child in a divorce?" She asked him.

"He seems happy." Punk shrugged.

"What if we all lived under one roof?" She suggested subtly. "My roof preferably."

"You're asking me to move in with you?" He asked amused.

"It would be a great way to keep an eye on me too. I mean if we're living together and I leave the state I have to tell you." She reasoned. "And Larry wouldn't be shuffled around and even on nights we're both working like crazy we'll still see each other. Or this is too fast and it's crazy-"
"Ok." He said to her.

"Really?" AJ asked smiling.

"Yea. But why you're place? My place is bigger." He argued.

"Your place is ugly." AJ reminded him. "My place is perfect and the rent is cheaper." She told him. "We can save for like real things like a house or a real vacation."

"Will my stuff fit there?" He asked her.

"Yes! And I have plenty of storage room here and in the building." She told him.

"We could save for a house." He said thinking about it.

"And my apartment is closer to work for both of us." She pointed out again.

"Alright, my lease is up-" He began.

"In six weeks." She finished for him. "I looked into it."

"You really are a sneak." He scoffed. "Let's do it." He said and she cheered and jumped into his arms.

"I'm excited." She said kissing him.

"I'm excited too, you have no idea." He said against her lips.

"I have an idea." She said feeling him harden around her as her legs tightened around his waste and she moved her hips.

"Don't start this." He warned her.

"Why?" She asked kissing his jawline.

"You're at work." He reminded her.

"I'm the boss." She reminded back.

"That you are." He grinned growing more and more aroused and carrying her over to her couch….