Off To Work We Go

AJ went to work later that day and vetted her new client who she deemed clean to work for and she would start searching into Kevin Scott's wife starting tonight. But that meant she'd miss Punk and she knew he was pissed. She still didn't full understand why he was so upset. She wasn't bothering him with her thoughts and nightmares, wouldn't that make him happy? She went to his office but he was already done for the day, Dean managed to track him down at the gym and AJ found him there.

"There is a crowd of females drooling." AJ said from behind Punk as he lifted weights. He turned his head and there were two females who giggled and turned around when he looked. "See?"

"What are you doing here?" Punk asked putting his weights down and grabbing his towel.

"I have to work tonight and I can't work if you're mad at me." She told him honestly. "I don't know why you're mad but I'm sorry."

"An apology means nothing if it's empty." Punk said grabbing his water bottle next. "Just go to work."

"No." She sighed following him as he crossed the gym. "Explain to me what I did and then I'll think about it and decide if I'm sorry." She offered and he glared at her. "What? That's fair!" She insisted and he just shook his head and walked into the men's locker room. She let out a smug laugh. "Like that will stop me." She whispered to herself and pushed the door open and walked in.

AJ walked past the men changing and looked straight ahead as the men did a double take seeing a female freely walk around. She saw Punk's back as he grabbed stuff out of his locker and tapped his shoulder and he turned around.

"Ape you can't be in here!" He whispered harshly.

"Why?" She scoffed. "I've seen a penis before." She stated loudly and few heads turned towards her. Punk gently grabbed her by the arm and marched her out of the locker room.

"What is wrong with you?" Punk asked.

"That's my question for you." She said to him. "I thought by not telling you things about the case I was doing you a favor and you're all mad at me. It's not like it's something important."

"Anything involving you is important. And coming to me and telling me what you're thinking or remember isn't about me working the case or not it's about us being a team and being open and honest." Punk informed her outside the locker room. "I don't want to be last to know things with you I want to be first and I want to talk to you about things I don't want you to keep things bottled up. If I frown for thirty seconds you're all over me demanding to know what's going on and I tell you. How come you don't do the same?"

"Because Elliot never wanted to be bothered so I assumed that's just how it was in relationships." She shrugged. "My mom wouldn't tell my dad when she was upset either."

"And look at those two relationships. That's who you want to model our relationship after?" He asked her and she frowned.

"Of course not. I just didn't know it could be any other way." AJ told him honestly. "I thought you wouldn't want to be bothered especially since you can't work the case."

"You are the case." He reminded her. "It's not a bother and I want to be informed on every aspect of what you remember or think you remember."

"I didn't know. I'm learning. I've clearly never been in an adult relationship before." She said to him. "And now that you explained it like an adult and didn't run off I mean my apology."

"Fine." He said to her.

"Now it's your turn." She said to him and he eyed her like she was crazy.

"Turn for what?" He asked slightly amused.

"To apologize to me." She informed him.

"For what?" He asked dumbfounded.

"For leaving and not talking to me." She insisted. "We're going to get married, you have to talk it out you can't just storm off like a baby every time you get mad at me. It's not fair and it hurts my feelings. I don't like chasing after you like some lost puppy."

"You're right." He agreed giving it some thought. "I apologize."

"Forgiven." She said to him. "Now hurry up and shower."

"Why?" He asked. "You have time to go to dinner before work?" He asked looking at his watch.

"No I'll have to eat in the car but I thought you could come to work with me." She offered and his mouth dropped.

"Me? Who you won't even discuss cases with?" He asked stunned.

"It's just a stakeout and it's going to be boring." She said to him. "If you don't want to come because you'll just be sitting there wasting time it's ok."

"Anytime spent with you is not a waste." He informed her.

"Larry can come too." AJ told him. "It will be a bring your family to work day."

"I'll be out here in ten minutes and please don't follow me back in there." He warned her.

"Fine." She sighed dramatically. "But after eleven minutes I'm going in."

Punk was in the passenger side of AJ's parked car after tailing Kevin Scott's wife. She wasn't dressed well and looked to be in disguise even with a hat and glasses. It as very obvious since it was night time and she drove to a seedy motel. This case was going to be awfully easy.

"So, how much is my old buddy Kevin paying you for this?" He asked eating a bag of chips he bought along and would pass Larry chips as he was in the backseat.

"I can't disclose that." AJ remarked. "It's private."

"Fine." He scoffed. "Isn't the whole case private? I know your client."

"You do. But he also said he trusted you." AJ said to him. "I think he's expecting an invitation to our wedding."

"He'll be waiting a long time for that." Punk laughed.

"So you're mad he never called you back or something?" AJ questioned.

"No. I understand growing up and moving on, I do. I don't talk to every one I used to run with but Kev and I were good buddies." Punk said to her.

"Even though he dated your sister?" AJ teased.

"I mean, Kevin was a good guy." Punk shrugged. "Also my sister was older and she'd kick my ass."

"She could kick your ass." AJ agreed.

"When he really made it big I was a uniformed officer working security at an event he was at and he acted like he never knew me. We went to high school together, spent every day together then suddenly he was too important to even say hi." Punk told her. "A few months after that I stopped a robbery at a deli and I got an award and then suddenly he knew me. He bragged to the mayor how we were lifelong friends. He's a phony."

"Do you know anything about his wife?" AJ asked.

"Nah. I've seen her at events with him but I was never even introduced." He remarked.

"It really bothers you, huh?" AJ asked him.

"Not really. I haven't thought about him in years. How did he find you?" Punk asked.

"The Monroe family." AJ reminded him.

"Ah, right." Punk nodding eating along. "Make sure you up charge him."

"He's paying me a ton." AJ told him. "He likes the idea of helping out a small business."

"What a prince." Punk remarked. "So you just sit here and don't even eat?" He asked her curiously.

"Not usually. I like to give my full attention. If I look down to grab a sandwich I can miss a picture and pictures are my bread and butter." She educated.

"So you snap a picture of whoever is there then you're done?" He asked.

"No." She laughed. "I usually track a cheating spouse for two weeks. I like to create a pattern." She told him.

"What happens if she leaves and he doesn't?" Punk asked. "You like go undercover as a maid or some shit?"

"It's not that exciting." She laughed. "I wait usually until morning and get the money shot."

"Wow." He forced out.

"Did you think I was always running around in disguise?" She asked.

"Well, yea." He told her honestly. "I'm glad I came."

"Me too." She smiled a bit. "Maybe this could put at ease as well. You'll realize my job isn't stepping into the danger zone."

"You know how I feel about Tom Cruise references." Punk reminded her. "Do you know what weekend you want to go to Jersey?"

"Oh, yea two weeks?" She asked hopefully. "This should be wrapped up and my mom's headstone should finally be done and I'd like to see it."

"Oh, yea of course." Punk said to her. "I didn't realize it was up."

"It's not should be by the time we go." She corrected.

"If it's not we'll just go back." He told her. "I don't mind."

"I do. Hillsborough is shit." She groaned. "But my mom is there so I guess I'll have to deal with it."

"Just remember you don't live there and picture our new house." He reminded her.

"Ah, new home." She sighed happily. "I can't wait."

"I bet." He teased.

"We have so much land we can have a farm." She told him with a grin.

"No we don't." He warned. "So think about that before I come home to a surprise chicken or horse in the yard."

"Whatever." She scoffed. "I showed your mom pictures of the house I couldn't wait to show her in person."

"Of course you did." He laughed to himself eating another chip and when Larry barked he threw him one.

"You don't mind that, right?" She asked.

"I mean I would have liked it better if she saw it in person." He shrugged.

"No that I talk to your mom?" She clarified.

"Of course I don't mind." He said to her.

"It's not going to be easy to plan my wedding without my mom." She informed him and he turned his head to look at her. "I'm doing that whole honesty thing you were bitching about. But every time I sit down to start to plan it I reach for my phone to call her but she never answers."

"I get that." He admitted quietly. "I'm sorry. I wish she could be there."

"She really would have loved you. A hard working man who loves me and has emotions." She smiled a bit. "I just don't know how to do it without her so I guess I've been depending on your mom a bit more."

"My mom is a wonderful woman with a big heart she'd love that you lean on her." Punk told her. "But I'd be happy to help with the wedding planning."

"Oh, please." She groaned.

"I mean it." He said to her. "What were you going to call your mom about?'

"If the stringed lights should be white or colored." She said to him and he thought about it.

"White." He nodded.

"But then it might kill the mood being too bright. I want the candles to really be the main focus." She argued.

"So, colored lights." He corrected and she she glared at him. "You're the main focus by the way, no one is going to be looking at the lights or candles."

"You're very little help." AJ mumbled.

"I'm sorry." He said to her.

"It's fine. I'll figure it out." She assured him.

"I hope soon because not only do we have to start planning we do have to pick a date before we move and we have to actually invite people. I'd like to be off the day of my wedding." He teased.

"We'll sit down this week and think of a date." She promised him.

"Oh look it's your girl." Punk pointed out and AJ snapped photos of Kevin's wife leaving the motel room.

"Slouch." AJ hissed slouching in her own seat as well and Punk did as he was told and Larry even jumped off his seat to the floor.

AJ angled herself so she could get a picture of her getting into her car and the gentleman in the room with her ran down the stairs. She had forgotten her purse and AJ as took the picture she gasped.

"Elliot Daniels." Punk whispered. "You do have an exciting job."

"Was not expecting that." AJ said sitting back up once the car drove out of the lot and Elliot climbed back into his car and drove off.

"Yup." Punk said holding back a smile.

"What?" AJ asked.

"I just dislike both men involved so much I don't know who to even root for." Punk admitted grinning.

"This isn't funny." AJ sighed. "Elliot has no idea what he's getting himself into."

"I'm sure he does." Punk remarked. "That's his problem, not yours. You can't tell him you're about to out to him can you?"

"No I can't. I'm being paid by Kevin Scott." AJ said starting up her car.

"This was a lot of fun, thank you for letting me tag along." Punk grinned.

"Don't be smug." She warned him. "Karma is real."

"The only way karma would come back to me is if you slept with some guy and I have no fear of that happening." Punk informed her.

"Elliot is in way over his head. I don't think he realizes how powerful Kevin Scott is." AJ said to him. "And Kevin knows Bret so he must know Elliot."

"This just gets better and better." Punk had to laugh.

AJ walked into the apartment at around 7pm the next day and Punk looked up from the couch.

"Home early?" He asked amused. "To what do I owe this owner?"

"I know Kevin's wife will be with him tonight at a benefit so nothing to watch." AJ said to him.

"Did you tell him?" Punk asked eagerly.

"No, I told you I look into it more." AJ reminded him. "She might be with different men."

"But you're going to tell him about Elliot for sure, right?" Punk asked and she glared at him. "I'm just concerned."

"No you're gloating and not very attractive." She warned him.

"I'm just in a good mood." He told her simply. "We're one day closer to closing on our house, one day closer to getting married."

"Did you get those days off to go to Jersey?" She asked hopefully and he nodded.

"Yea it's all cleared. Do you think I can borrow a friends pickup truck or we'll need a Uhaul?" He asked.

"Just the truck." She told him.

"Great we'll take Deans car." Punk told her. "You alright?"

"Yea, I'm just not looking forward to getting Elliot in trouble." AJ confided. "And it's not because I love him or anything-"

"Ape, I get it." Punk said to her. "You have a long history and spent most of your life protecting him. But let me assure you, Kevin Scott isn't going to kill him anything. It sounds like he's more interested in getting his wife in trouble than Elliot."

"I suppose." She sighed sitting down next to him. "It just feels wrong like I'm betraying him. Had I known he had any involvement in this I wouldn't have taken this case."

"Too late now." He shrugged simply and she narrowed her eyes. "She was the woman he was with over a year ago."

"What?" AJ asked.

"When you first came to Chicago to tail him and we were watching him, we saw him with a woman." He reminded her. "That's the same woman."

"Oh my god you're right." She said thinking back to it.

"Guess it's been going on longer than you thought." Punk said to her. "Sounds like Kev is going to get all of his money."

"Yea." AJ sighed.

"Hey, I'm sure Elliot is a stand up enough guy to stand by her during this trying time." He told her sarcastically.

"He's so stupid." AJ mumbled. "Tomorrow I'll be busy all day though."

"Yea? Am I invited?" He asked.

"No." She told him stiffly grabbing his cup of coffee and taking a sip of it. "It's a dress fitting."

"Ah, the dress for the wedding we haven't planned or even set a date for." He remarked amused.

"We can do it on the roof anytime." She pointed out. "It's not like we have to wait for another couple we have to hope for good weather and I've ordered a ton of things for decorations. You need a tux though so I made an appointment for you to look at them."

"I have a tux." He replied with ease looking at the hockey game on the TV and felt AJ staring at him and turned his head. "I need a new tux though obviously." He forced out hoping that was the answer she was looking for and she smiled.

"You do. I'm glad we agree." She nodded. "Dean doesn't have a tux so you two can look at the tuxes I already put aside for you."

"You picked out my tux?" He asked.

"Don't be silly I'm not THAT controlling." She laughed. "I picked out four and you can pick one. Any of those I'll be happy with."

"Whatever you want." He said to her.

"Let's figure out when we're going to close on the house officially." She suggested. "That's a month and that should give us enough time to enjoy a short honeymoon before I go away."

"I'm sorry." He choked on the drink he was drinking. "Go away? Where are you going?"

"Eliza Daniels trial." AJ reminded him.

"You're testifying for one, two days max." He reminded her.

"Yea but I have to be there." She insisted. "I'm not just a witness but that's my mom. I want the jury to see her face when they look at me."

"I get that." Punk agreed. "I'll be there as often as possible."

"I'm not expecting you to be there with me holding my hand." She assured him.

"Well expect it because that's what couples do. I'm not going to let you face this alone we're a team." He reminded her. "Like I said I can't be there everyday but I'll be there as often as I can fly down."

"That's good enough." She smiled a bit. "Is it crazy to be nervous?"

"No." He said to her. "This is going to be one of the scariest things you'll ever have to do. Face down a woman who is pure evil, fight for your mother when she's not here to do it. It won't be easy." He warned her. "You're going to hear things that you should never hear. But you're also really strong."

"And I have a good support system." She added with a gentle smile and he took her hand.

"You always will." He promised her.

"These next few weeks are going to be so crazy." She sighed and he smiled a bit.

"Wedding, a house, a murder trial and you get to watch Elliot get beat up by an angry husband? Sounds over the top." He teased. "But, I think we should make the most of this time we have right now." He said crawling over and forcing her to lay on her back.

"We should take advantage." She agreed unbuckling his belt as he kissed her neck.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews, guys! I hope everyone is staying sane, safe and healthy!