Away For The Weekend

"Just be calm around her. Don't fuss. You know how she hates people fussing over her." AJ said, getting her bag from the trunk of the cab as Punk helped her.

"You're the one who fusses the most over her." Punk smiled a little.

"I know, I'll try reel it in." AJ nodded to him, closing the cab trunk down and walking towards Jude and Sean's house. They wished they were coming to visit on better circumstances, but they were just so relieved to finally be able to see Jude after a few days of worrying about her.

"Well we're here if she needs a shoulder." Punk said, "No one has to pretend like there's nothing that's happened." He said as AJ nodded.

"I hope Thea will be ok. And Cassie." AJ said.

"Trust me, Thea will be glad to get rid of us for the weekend." Punk said, "Let's not act like we don't know her."

"Yeah, I know." AJ said, knocking on the door.

"And Cassie will be fine too. She's got Theo and they're… clearly busy with stuff going on at the station." Punk said as AJ nodded.

"Hey." Jude answered the door with a smile as AJ raised her eyebrows.

"Hi, sweetie." AJ smiled.

"Come in." Jude nodded to them as AJ walked in first, turning back to Punk with confusion as he just shrugged, "Excuse the mess, I haven't had a chance to tidy up. I'm just home." She told them both.

"Where were you?" Punk asked curiously.

"Work, obviously." Jude shook her head with confusion, "Sean is working until 8 tonight, he asked me to tell you guys sorry for not being around."

"No, it's fine." AJ waved her hand.

"And I gotta pop out in about an hour to pick up the girls." Jude said, clearing up some of her daughter's toys in the living room as AJ watched her.

"I uh… I didn't know if you'd be at work the rest of the week." AJ admitted, sitting her bag down on the couch.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Jude shook her head, "I had a ton to do. I should have had a half day today but I ended up having to stay later and mark some pieces." She explained, "Do you guys want coffee?" She asked them, walking through to the kitchen as AJ turned to Punk.

"Ok, I know it's been a few days but… she seems fine." AJ shook her head with confusion. It wasn't what they were expecting.

"Coffee?" Jude asked again from the kitchen, "I only ask twice." She warned.

"Uh… yeah, one for me." Punk said.

"I'm ok." AJ called back.

"Maybe she's just pushing through it. It's not such a bad thing." Punk said as AJ nodded.

"Yeah… yeah, maybe." AJ said, walking through to the kitchen where Jude was beginning to make coffee.

"I didn't even have time to wash up after breakfast this morning. I was running late." Jude said, trying to finish off washing the few dishes in the sink.

"Is this a new project you're working on?" Punk asked, looking at the canvas on the kitchen table.

"Oh, yeah. I've just started it." Jude nodded, "I got a ton of pieces to mark from students first before I can focus on that."

"Is it exam season or something?" AJ asked.

"They're building their portfolio." Jude said, "I'm glad you guys managed to come over for the weekend. I felt bad for not making it to Chicago but Sean said it'd be best if we just stayed here, whilst they figure out whatever is going on at the station." She shook her head.

"Do you know what went down?" Punk asked her.

"Yeah, I called Cassie last night. We had a good talk." Jude nodded, "Here, dad." She passed over the coffee she'd made for him.

"Thanks." Punk smiled.

"We… just wanted to come make sure you were ok." AJ nodded to her.

"I'm ok." Jude nodded to them both, "I wasn't really prepared for you guys coming, I've not been to the store yet." She realised, looking in the fridge, "I suppose we could just get take-out."

"Are you sure you're ok?" AJ asked, "After what happened… seeing the photographs."

"Look I'm not thrilled about it, and it's tough… brings it all back." She nodded, "But I'm not gonna throw a pity party and hide out in my bedroom. Cancel all my plans and not go to work." She shook her head, "I missed out on enough when it all happened and… I'm just trying to keep moving forward." She nodded, "Even if I have to go to therapy every day instead of once a week." She shrugged, "If it helps, I'll do it."

"We're so sorry you had to see that." AJ shook her head, "It's just… it's not fair and… as if what happened wasn't enough, to see that just… it's not right." She said as Jude nodded.

"I know." Jude assured her, "Believe me, I've been upset." She nodded, "But I'm trying not to let it take over my entire life. I got the girls to think about and… I'm not gonna run and hide." She shook her head.

She'd had many pep talks with herself over the past few days. Part of her did want to run and hide, but all the work she'd done over the years to become a stronger person had really helped her face this with more strength.

"That's really brave." AJ nodded with a small smile, amazed by her daughter's strength.

"Yeah, I mean no one… no one's expecting you to pretend like it didn't happen." Punk said.

"I know that. And I'm not pretending that I didn't see them. Sometimes it's… all I've been seeing." She admitted truthfully, "But it's been a lot of years of trying to detach what happened to me from myself. So it doesn't feel like such a weight." She shrugged as AJ nodded.

"Well we're really proud of you." AJ nodded to her as she just smiled.

"I am glad you guys are here, though." She nodded. It was comfort just seeing her parent's faces, especially when she hadn't seen them in a while.

"Come on, I'll come help you tidy this place up." AJ smiled, wrapping her arm around Jude's shoulder as Punk smiled. He was glad they could be there for Jude for a couple of days but she seemed to be handling everything very well.

"Here, thought you could use this." Cassie said, walking outside into the yard and passing her husband a bottle of beer whilst holding one for herself. It was a nice, sunny night so they decided to spend it outside at their outdoor table and chairs. Chase was in all his glory having fun on his bike and other outside toys.

"I don't even know if I'm in the mood." Theo admitted, taking the bottle from her as she sat down on one of the deck chairs beside him.

"Well I'm having one. I got a day off tomorrow." She said, "Me and Chase got big plans."

"What you doing?" Theo asked her, opening up his beer nevertheless.

"We're gonna go visit Thea, I told her we'd bring her breakfast." Cassie said.

"You seem to be sneaking her in a lot of food." Theo laughed a little.

"I have, actually." Cassie realised, "The staff there see me do it, though so it's not like it's not allowed." Cassie shrugged, "We're gonna have breakfast with Thea and then I'm gonna take him to swimming lessons." She smiled.

"Oh, that sounds good." Theo said jealously as she smiled, locking her arm around his and leaning her head on his shoulder, "You can take pictures for me." He said, kissing her head as she nodded.

"I will." Cassie nodded, "I really think he's gonna like it. He's kinda sporty." Cassie thought to herself.

"You're just dying for him to start playing soccer, aren't you?" He smiled.

"No." Cassie scoffed, lying of course.

"Yes you are." Theo smiled.

"Well I just think I'd be a good teacher. I was captain, I'll have you know." She nodded.

"Yeah, your dad has shown me video tapes of some of your games." Theo nodded, "Not a friendly competitor if you're on the other team." He turned to her.

"Yeah I don't do friendly competition." Cassie shook her head as he smiled.

"Well it makes me feel better that you and Chase are gonna have a good day tomorrow. He'll have a blast." Theo smiled, watching Chase playing on his bike. He was a content and happy little boy. He never kicked up a fuss. He had his little strops but so did every kid.

"What does Jake have you doing tomorrow?" Cassie asked him.

"I've to go look into this hair and nail salon that's been shut down. Apparently there was trade going back and forth from there and the dealership." Theo said, "Feel like the whole thing has just ran away from me now." He shrugged.

"Hey, you did all the tough part. Jake's a bastard. He'd never give you the credit you deserve." Cassie sighed, playing with his hair at the back, "Is there anything else been said about Mark?"

"No, not that I've heard of. The speculation is he's been working with these guys for over a year. Apparently he's got a friend who was involved with them and he wound up getting involved too." Theo said as Cassie nodded.

"Why make it personal with Jude? What was that gonna do?" Cassie shook her head.

"I don't know. Scare us?" Theo turned to her, "I mean they did that, they threatened Chase, some guy attacked you… clearly they were running out of options." He said as Cassie nodded.

"You think it was personal or was it just because… you're the guy who's trying to take them down?" She asked him.

"Just cause I'm the guy who tried taking them down. If it was anyone else it… it would have been the same thing." Theo said.

"So that's what Jake does. He lets you take the hard blows and then he just calls the shots and gets the satisfying part." Cassie shook her head.

"Yeah well… what you gonna do?" Theo shrugged, trying to accept it as he took a drink of his beer.

"Well, in my eyes this was all you." Cassie rubbed his leg as he smiled, "You got them. Not Jake." She said.

"Well you gotta say that. You signed that contract to always be nice to me." Theo said.

"It said always?" Cassie teased as he smiled.

"I love you." Theo smiled, wrapping his arm around her as she leaned into him, "I hope Jude is ok."

"She seemed ok when I spoke to her last night. It's good mom and dad are with her this weekend." Cassie said as Theo nodded.

"Yeah, it is." Theo said, "Look at him." He chuckled a little as he watched Chase pretending he was fixing the wheels on his bike with a little toy tool box he had.

"He's the best." Cassie smiled as Theo nodded, kissing her head as he tried to relax and enjoy the night with his family.