Gut Feeling

It was almost six and getting dark already when AJ pulled up outside the mechanic shop where Jason Tray worked. She looked around and saw the shop locked up and dark which meant he wasn't in yet.

"What am I supposed to be doing here?" Her passenger questioned.

"You're just meant to sit there." AJ told him and Dean glared at her.

"You made me leave work early to sit in your car?" Dean asked her.

"It's my case." AJ reminded him. "I just don't trust this guy fully."

"So I should get out of the car with you." Dean reasoned.

"As soon as he see's you in the car he'll bitch up." AJ told him. "He knows my boyfriend is a cop. Just pretend you're my boyfriend."

"Why didn't you bring your actual boyfriend?" Dean asked her.

"Because he knows my client." AJ said to him. "If you don't want to be here-"

"No, no I'm glad you called." Dean said to her looking at his phone. "Shitty part of town."

"It is." AJ agreed. "The point is I can't find his address so we have to follow him afterwards."

"Got it." Dean said.

"I hope I didn't intrude on plans with Renee." AJ said subtly and Dean looked at her.

"Unlike you and your boyfriend me and my girlfriend can be apart for a day or two." Dean reasoned.

"Really? Because this is the first one on one time we're having since I moved here." AJ pointed out.

"You're right." Dean agreed. "We're both shitty people we should work on that." he said seriously causing her to laugh. "I'm glad we're doing this even if it's work."

"It's mostly following." AJ said to him.

"So whats the case?" Dean asked.

"Phil's ex hired me to find her son who she gave up full custody of." AJ told him.

"Punk the dad?" Dean teased and AJ shot him a death glare.

"No, this pig is the father." AJ told him.

"Look, if she gave up her rights-" Dean began.

"I know. But she's a good person and just wants to make sure he's alright. This guy has a record and picked up and left when it was time to meet her. Peyton has stayed in constant communication with her ex for fifteen year and the second they agreed they'd meet he took off without telling her. She was scared." AJ argued.

"Fine, fine." Dean said to her. "Is this the girl you hired to help around the office?"

"Yea." AJ said keeping her eyes on the shop.

"That's awfully nice of you to hire your boyfriends ex." Dean remarked.

"I'm a secure person. Plus she's really clean." AJ noted.

"You do need that." Dean agreed.

"How's Renee?" AJ asked. "She the one?"

"We've only been dating a few months." Dean laughed.

"So? So have me and Phil." AJ said to him.

"And you know for sure Phil is the one?" Dean questioned.

"I think he is." AJ said to him honestly. "It's not like how it was with Elliot where I would cringe when he'd come here. I'm sad if I don't see Phil a full day."

"Good for you." Dean said seriously. "He's a good guy."

"I don't know if I bore him though." AJ said to him and Dean laughed.

"You are not boring." Dean said still laughing. "The opposite actually. Renee is too good for him." he confided.

"What?" AJ asked finally looking over to him.

"AJ, you have to see her family home. Her family is rich and they're fancy and I'm not any of that. I didn't have parents and she can't go a day without speaking to hers." Dean told her.

"You did, Daria was your mom too." AJ said to him.

"You know what I mean." Dean said to her. "That's why she was so anxious to meet you because you're the only family I have."

"Are her parents not nice to you?" AJ asked.

"No! They're great. They're like from the fucking television or something." He told her seriously. "They always hug me which is very weird." He told her and AJ laughed. "And they include me in everything but I can't give to her what they have given to her."

"You're selling yourself short." AJ said to him.

"I could never ask her to live with me, she lives in a penthouse and I live in a shack in comparison." Dean told her.

"I made Phil move out of his nice home and into my shack and he did it happily." AJ reminded him. "Do you think I wasn't good enough for him?"

"Not at all." Dean said to her. "You're still too good for him. But don't take it as a shot at him, I think you're too good for anyone. It's just different. She's smart and I mean like brilliant."

"She did graduate from Yale law school." AJ agreed. "But she also decided to date to you so I already think she's really smart. Not everything is about money its about the kind of person you are. And I'm sure she doesn't want to be around some guy who is intimidated by the fact that she's smart and has money."

"Hey I think it's fucking hot." Dean told her with a laugh. "But her family might think otherwise."

"I think you should worry more about what she thinks. It's her you're with, not her family." AJ reminded him.

"And if we did decide to take this to the next level she wouldn't be our ADA anymore." Dean said to her.

"Is that something she's mentioned?" AJ asked him.

"She mentioned she got offered a spot in the homicide unit." Dean said to her. "I think she wanted me to tell her to take it."

"And you didn't?" AJ asked.

"No. We were going to discuss it at dinner tonight." Dean grinned. "Thanks for getting me out of it."

"Dean." She groaned. "You should have told me you had plans."

"She understood." Dean said to her.

"You need to tell her to take that job. She's a good woman." AJ told him.

"Yea, I don't know." Dean said to her. "If she takes this job then she's like adjusting her life to accommodate me."

"I think that's sweet." AJ told him.

"She might regret it and hate me for it." Dean told her.

"Or it's a great change." AJ shrugged. "I left my state for Phil and it's the best thing I could have done. If it didn't work out this great then I'd be happy to be close enough to him to lean on him not resent him."

"This your slimeball?" Dean asked watching a man approach the shop with a key.

"Yup." AJ said taking her seat belt off.

"Five minutes and I'm going in." Dean warned her before she got out of the car.

"Fifteen." She said and he eyed her.

"Four minutes." He changed his mind. "Every smart ass remark you lose a minute."

"Shh." AJ hissed as she got out of the car and jogged across the street to meet Jason.

AJ made it across the street as Jason was unlocking the door.

"Hey. Am I late?" Jason asked.

"No I got here early. I'm very prompt." AJ smiled.

"Hope you weren't here long." Jason said to her unlocking the door and nodding for her to join him. "I put your key in the office."

"I hope this didn't pull you away from time with your son." AJ said to him as he only tuned on one light in the shop and she felt uneasy. She frowned as a sinking feeling hit her and reached for her mace just in case and realized she left it in the car.

"Not at all, he's a teen. He's playing his video games." Jason said to her as he walked into the office.

AJ turned her head and saw Dean standing outside the car with is arms folded.

"You alright?" Jason asked with a laugh walking over with her key.

"Yea, sorry." She smiled taking the key. "I don't know where my head has been."

"Maybe I've distracted you." Jason teased a bit. "I know you're seeing someone but I really think you owe me a date."

"I owe you a date?" AJ questioned losing her fear and growing annoyed.

"I gave you a discount on your tire." Jason pointed out. "I saved your key."

"Isn't that your job?" AJ asked trying to laugh and not sound annoyed.

"I went above and beyond the call of duty." Jason smiled leaning into her.

"Hey!" Dean said banging on the door and AJ was relieved.

"We're closed!" Jason yelled waving his hand and AJ walked to the door.

"He's with me." AJ said unlocking the door. "Thank you again for holding my key, I owe you one." She smiled and walked out.

"What was he doing?" Dean asked as he followed AJ back to the car.

"Shooting his shot." AJ scoffed. "He's a pig."

"Want me to hit him?" Dean offered casually.

"Nah." AJ said getting into her car and they watched Jason practically run into his car and start it up. "I think you scared him." she laughed a bit.

"Good." Dean said to her. "We following him or what?"

"We are." AJ said keeping her lights off and waiting for him to drive a few blocks down before they began to follow.

AJ pulled up a few houses down from where Jason went in. The area was a total dump. She was very happy to have bought Dean with her suddenly.

"This place is giving me the creeps." Dean said as people walked by and glared into the car but for the most part kept it moving.

"Look." AJ said nodding towards Jason's house.

There was a teenage boy outside playing basketball.

"That looks like him, right?" AJ asked showing Dean an older picture of the boy and Dean looked as closely as he could.

"Yea, he's got a weird nose." Dean said to him and AJ glared him. "He does."

"He's alright." AJ said feeling relieved.

"You can't send this woman down here alone." Dean said to AJ as they watched Jason approach Jack in the driveway.

"I'll come with her." AJ said to him and Dean eyed her.

"I'll come with her." Dean corrected and watched as Jason grabbed Jack from around the neck.

"Ow! Dad!" Jack yelled.

"I told you to clean the yard!" Jason yelled pushing him down and Dean narrowed his eyes. Dean's father was the same kind of bully.

"No. You can't." AJ said knowing Dean wanted to jump out of the car.

"I'm sorry." Jack said to his father as he stood up.

"Don't be sorry, be better." Jason snapped and stormed into the house.

"Son of a bitch." Dean said shaking his head.

"He doesn't have visible bruises." AJ noticed. "That's a good sign."

"Yea but years of emotional abuse will weigh on him." Dean said glaring at the house. "Fucking prick."

"I think Peyton is going to try for custody." AJ told him.

"It's not going to be easy since she gave up custody." Dean warned.

"He has a record, she doesn't." AJ shrugged. "I just don't want her rushing down here. Jason seems volatile."

"Neither of you are rushing down here without me." Dean told her. "I want an excuse to cuff that son of a bitch."

"We should get going." AJ said to Dean.

"Let's just wait a bit." Dean requested. "I want to make sure he's cooled down."

"Good idea." AJ agreed turning the car off and getting comfortable.

AJ and Dean ended up staying parked outside until ten when they saw the lights go off. Then AJ met with Peyton and her parents and their attorney with Dean who was now fully invested. It was hours they spoke about what they could legally do. AJ was exhausted but this case was 'technically' closed but she was going to see this all the way through. She could also tell this whole situation really rubbed Dean the wrong way and brought back some painful memories of his own. Now it was almost one in the morning and the apartment was dark but Larry greeted her at the door. She saw Punk in bed sleeping and couldn't wait to crawl into bed.

She ran into the bathroom and changed into sweats since it was a chilly night and didn't even eat. She just crawled right up next to him and he opened his eyes startling her.

"Hi." He smiled a bit and she kissed him.

"I missed you today." She told him.

"I missed you all day." He said to her in a low voice.

"You sound very awake." AJ noted.

"I can't sleep without you. It's an annoying habit I can't seem to shake." He said to her. "I knew you were safe since you kept me updated but I really need you next to me at night." He said pulling her close and she smiled. "You ok?"

"Yea." She said to him with a sigh. "It's just a sad case is all."

"Yea?" He asked. "I wish you could talk about it."

"Yea I know. But I can't. I think the case upset Dean too." AJ said to him and he frowned. "I didn't want to bring him down."

"Dean is a big boy." Punk said to her.

"Yea." She sighed a bit. "It's cases like this that make me realize how lucky I am."

"Yea?" He asked kissing the top of her head.

"Yea." She said snuggling into him. "You're a good man, there aren't many of those anymore."

"You sure you're ok?" Punk asked concerned.

"Yea." She confirmed. "Dean had my back." and she could feel him tense. "Not that he needed to but if I'm being honest I froze."

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I had to meet someone in an empty building and the second I walked into the building it felt wrong." AJ confided.

"Ape, did something happen?" He asked her sitting up now.

"No! I don't know why I got so nervous and panicky." She told him. "I think something is wrong with me. This stuff usually never bothers me."

"Ape, you were abducted." Punk hated to remind her. "Of course things are going to feel different and not as your boyfriend but as a seasoned police Detective, when your gut is telling you something doesn't feel right you leave right away."

"I can't do that." She said shaking her head.

"I do." He said honestly. "When I'm chasing down a perp or have to meet a CI and I get a gut feeling I always listen to my gut. It's what keeps me alive."

"Really?" She asked him.

"I don't know why you feel you have to be this fearless warrior all of the time. You are human." Punk reminded her. "You are doing the best you can and it's better than most."

"It doesn't feel like my best." AJ said to him. "I just hated feeling that way. I kept looking for Dean but I didn't need him I was perfectly safe. I hate it."

"You should talk to someone." Punk said to her.

"A therapist?" She scoffed.

"It's not just what you went through with Dickie but you lost your mother, your father walked out on you, life hasn't been easy for you. There's no shame in speaking to someone." Punk assured her. "I can get you names or groups."

"I don't know." She said shaking her head.

"You know I think your job is too dangerous but I'm telling you that you won't be able to do your job properly and safely if you don't speak to somebody." Punk said to her. "You're too good at what you do to let this hold you back from it."

"You really believe in what I do?" She asked him.

"You're making a difference with Peyton." Punk told her. "I saw her and her parents earlier tonight. Peyton told me what you were doing for her."

"I couldn't tell you." AJ said to him.

"It's truly not my business." Punk said to her cupping her face. "You're amazing. Her parents think you walk on water. You're the first PI to actually care."

"I don't know what happens going forward." She said to him with a frown.

"Did you find her son?" Punk questioned and she nodded.

"Dean and I saw his father pushing him around in front of the house." AJ confided.

"That's not on you." Punk said to her. "You found him and now it's up to Peyton and her parents."

"I have to see it through." AJ said to him. "Why did she tell you?"

"She didn't want you to have to keep anything from me." Punk told her. "You're amazing at your job. You changed her life for the better and you don't even realize it."

"We'll see if she actually gets her son." AJ said laying down.

"You have such a big heart you're carrying all of this around with you." Punk said to her.

"You should have met Jack's father." AJ cringed. "He's the definition of pig. He was a bully to his son. I think I need to shower just for being around him for ten minutes."

"How about you get some sleep and tomorrow we'll get up early and shower…together." he suggested.

"That does sound nice." AJ said as he laid back down and wrapped his arm around her.

"You know a while back you mentioned getting a gun." Punk reminded her and she looked at him. "Is that something you still want? Will you feel more secure with one?"

"I don't know." She said shaking her head. "Guns scare me."

"I can take you to the range and teach you how to shoot see if it's something you'll be comfortable having." He reasoned. "I don't want you going off to work not feeling safe ever again."

"It was just a stupid feeling earlier." She said brushing it off.

"Your feelings aren't stupid." He scolded.

"I just think Jason gave me a bad feeling." AJ sighed. "And with good reason. Creep."

"It all comes back to people and it will come back to him." Punk said to her. "One thing I've learned doing what I do and I think we do similar things is that we can only do the best we can."

"I suppose." She sighed and looked him deep in the eyes. "I just want you to know that I know I get busy with work and throw myself into that and this whole Dickie McCall mess but the best thing to come out of that was you and I'm grateful everyday that I moved out here and get to spend my life with you."

"I'm glad to hear that." He told her. "I'd hate it if you didn't like it here. Because I love being with you. I love what you do. I love how you do it. Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yea." She said to him. "I'm just a little emotional tonight."

"I think the fact that you not only helped Peyton but gave her a job is a testament to the amazing woman you are. I'm very lucky." He told her.

"You're not going to fall in love with her are you?" AJ asked nervously and he laughed.

"No, Ape." He said amused. "You never have to worry about me leaving you."

"Good." AJ sighed happily curling into him further and closing her eyes.

The next morning Punk was impressed he was up before her. She really needed a good nights sleep and she was finally getting it. She didn't have to be up early for work and he didn't have to be in court. He quietly walked Larry and then snuck out again and hoped he'd be back before she woke up and was looking for that shower.

"What's the emergency?" Dean asked approaching Punk who was outside Dean's apartment building. He texted him to come outside right away and meet him. "AJ ok?"

"Yea shes' fine." Punk said with ease and Dean glared at him.

"So what's the reason you woke me up early on my first day off in fourteen days?" Dean asked annoyed.

"I need your blessing." Punk told him and Dean eyed him.

"For?" Dean asked confused.

"To marry AJ." Punk told him and Dean was still half awake. "You're the only family she has anymore. You're her brother in every sense of the word and I need your blessing to do it."

"I didn't realize you were so old fashioned, Punk." Dean mocked with a laugh.

"Yes or no? I don't have all this fucking time." Punk spat annoyed and that just egged Dean on more.

"I can't just say yes or no." Dean scoffed. "Do you plan on taking care of her?"

"She won't let me take care of her." Punk reminded him slowly as is he was stupid.

"Good that was a trick question." Dean said seriously. "Will you make sure she stays safe?"

"Can't really promise that either since she is stubborn." Punk remarked.

"True." Dean had to agree. "You'll keep her happy?"

"Until my last breath." Punk answered truthfully.

"Great. Yea, go for it." Dean said to him then began to walk back inside.

"That's it?" Punk asked.

"We're you looking for me to say no?" Dean asked him.

"No." Punk said to him. "I just thought it would be harder."

"AJ and I had a chance to finally talk last night." Dean said to him. "She's the happiest she's ever been and she gives you full credit for it. She's also way out of your league and would be stupid to not lock it down. And like I told you when you two first started up, I'll kill you if you hurt her and that's not a threat that's a promise."

"Deal." Punk said to him nodding. "I'm going to do this."

"It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself to do it." Dean said to him. "Don't just ask her to ask her. Do it because you can't live without her."

"That's why I want to do it." Punk told him. "What if she says no?"

"She wont." Dean said to him. "So go home and do it."

"I can't just ask her. I don't have a ring yet!" Punk said him seriously. "I needed your blessing before I did all of that anyway. Also what kind of ring would she like?"

"I don't do jewelry." Dean shrugged. "I don't know what she'd like, I don't know her ring size and before you ask I also don't know know how you should do it. Good luck." he said simply then walked back inside.

Punk was back at the apartment and AJ was just sitting up.

"Where did you go?" AJ asked stretching.

"I had to stop at the station." He said kicking off his shoes.

"I thought you were blowing off our scheduled shower." AJ said getting out of the bed.

"I keep all schedules and appointments." He said seriously as she began to strip down.

"We should walk Larry first." She said to him as he walked over to her and began tugging at her clothing.

"I did that earlier." He said shedding her clothing for her.

"Oh, goodie." She said kissing him and he carried her into the bathroom…