Getting Answers
"I finished." Punk smiled happily, looking up and around the kitchen which appeared to be empty, growing unhappy as he wished to have shared the triumph of finishing a crossword all by himself with his wife.
He stood up and left the kitchen, walking into the living room where AJ was watching TV.
"I've been talking to myself in the kitchen for like… the past half hour." Punk told her as she looked up at him.
"You were talking to yourself whilst I was still there, too. That's why I left." AJ said.
"Well look, I finished it. All by myself." Punk smiled, handing her the crossword book as she looked at it and nodded.
"Good job, baby." AJ nodded as though he was five.
"Less of the sarcasm, please." Punk said, snatching the book from her as she chuckled, "I've never finished one on my own before." He smiled to himself, sitting down on the couch as AJ looked at him with a smile. Sometimes he could become the most wholesome man in the entire world.
"You wanna celebrate with a pizza?" AJ smiled.
"I'm on diet." Punk grumbled as AJ rolled her eyes.
"Phil, you've been on a diet for like twelve years. You've stayed the same weight. It's time to move on." AJ nodded to him.
"You told me I was getting chubby." Punk folded his arms as she looked at him.
"Oh, I was just bullying you." AJ waved her hand, "Cause it's so fun."
"You mean it's so mean. I wouldn't tell you you're getting chubby, would I?" He raised a brow.
"No, you just tell me that roots belong on trees when you notice I have grey hairs." She looked over at him unimpressed as he smiled, making a kissing face at her as she shook her head.
"Good to know we can still take a joke." Punk nodded as she smiled to herself.
"You spoke to your dad recently?" She asked him as he nodded.
"I had lunch with him yesterday." Punk nodded, "You know he doesn't like pizza?" He said.
"What a freak." AJ shook her head as he chuckled a little, "How'd you discover that?"
"Well I took him to a pizza place and he just ordered a sprite. Asked him if he was hungry and he said he didn't like pizza." Punk shook his head.
"Did you go on your lunch break?" AJ asked as he nodded, "Dean go?"
"No." Punk shook his head, "He's still not warm to the idea. I've stopped bugging him about it, especially when I know he's worried about Chrissy." He said as AJ nodded.
"He'll come round eventually, I'm sure of it." AJ said, "Little brother always follows." She nodded.
"Well it's his decision." Punk nodded, "Have you heard from any of our children recently?" He asked as she shook her head.
"Not since Halloween." AJ said, "I guess they're all back to their regularly scheduled program." She shrugged.
"I thought Jude might have come by to say bye before going home." Punk said.
"She was probably busy packing things up. She'll call soon." AJ waved her hand as Punk nodded, "You heard anymore about Chrissy from Dean?"
"No, nothing." Punk shook his head.
"Well, I was at yoga this morning with Renee-"
"Did we learn any new stretches?" Punk smiled as she rolled her eyes, "Any you can show me?" He nodded.
"Just the same ones as always." She assured him as he scoffed, "Anyway, she was just saying that she didn't know what to do and that any time she ever confronted Chrissy and asked her if everything was ok, she never got very far." AJ said, "I gave all the advice I could. I mean, we kinda went through it when Jude moved to New York. She kinda left on bad terms then so I told Renee that maybe whatever Chrissy is going through, she just needs some time."
"Time can be a little dangerous when you don't know what it's for." Punk said, "At least we knew why Jude was pissed off. If I'm Dean or Renee, I'd wanna know what the hell is going on." He said firmly as AJ nodded.
"Yeah, you're right." AJ thought, "I gave her the advice I could." She nodded.
"Did you give her the advice whilst you were doing yoga or after?" Punk asked as she looked over at him.
"You're so annoying." AJ rolled her eyes as she chuckled, "Go make yourself useful and order that pizza." She ordered as he chuckled.
"Yes, ma'am." Punk nodded, standing up and leaving the room as she smiled to herself.
"Alright you motherfucker, where are you?" Sean spoke to himself, standing in a side alley with his hood up, looking over at Mark's house, waiting for him to get home. It wasn't in his nature to be sneaky or to be troublesome. He was most often than not, the voice of reason in a room, but it had become too much. This was about his wife and nothing else. She was the best thing in his world and he couldn't accept her hurting any more than she already had.
He stood watching as people came and went, eventually spotting Mark arriving home. The painful part was he had worked with Mark for several years when he still worked in Chicago. Before all of this he would have foolishly labelled him as a good guy.
He crossed the road after watching Mark head inside his house, walking up the steps and knocking on the door with a heavy fist as he looked around the street, turning around when the door opened as Mark immediately gulped.
"It's time for you to start talking." Sean nodded, grabbing him by the throat and pushing him into the house as he stepped in and slammed the door shut behind him with his foot.
"Ok ok calm down." Mark put his hands up, backing up as Sean walked him into the living room, guiding him by the grasp around his neck, "Just calm down."
"Calm down?" Sean laughed a little.
"Yes. Calm down." Mark nodded, "I can't talk if you're choking me." He said, pushing his hands off his throat and backing up as Sean looked across at him.
"If I find out that you're playing games, I swear to God-"
"You'll what?" Mark scoffed, "And who said I was playing games?"
"I know you messed around with Cassie years ago and I… I don't know, maybe you're trying to get into her head, mess with her family. Maybe you're mad she never liked you back the way you wanted her to." Sean said.
"If I wanted to mess with Cassie I would mess with her. I wouldn't mess with Jude." Mark scoffed.
"Oh, really? Explain those photographs then." Sean spat.
"Theo was getting too close and I was told to come up with something quick. Drew Taylor, the guy running the dealership, he told me to send a message to back the fuck off. I'm not proud of it-"
"You're a fucking piece of shit." Sean said, "Don't… don't even stand there and give me the sorry speech. No one in their right mind would ever do that to a person." He spat.
"It was my ass on the line." Mark said, "But this stuff with Vincent, that ain't me playing games."
"Then elaborate. What makes you think he had something to do with Jude's attack?" Sean asked.
"I overheard him." Mark said, "We were at a bar one night, a few of us, we got scoop on Theo getting close to finding out things. We got talking about… the Brooks family." He said, "Some things were said. Not particularly nice things. Then he… said some things that implied he was there that night Jude was attacked."
"Like what?" Sean asked.
"You really want me to go into it?" Mark questioned as Sean looked at him, "He was… joking with the other guys about who was… prettiest." He rolled his eyes.
"Prettiest?" Sean screwed his face up.
"Another term was used." Mark said.
"What? You're suddenly shy to be a piece of shit?" Sean asked.
"Fine. He was talking about which one he'd sleep with." Mark said as Sean looked at him, "Which was then followed by him saying that he already saw Jude and… it wasn't anything to be impressed by." He mumbled as Sean grabbed him by the throat again.
"What the fuck is wrong with you people?" Sean spat, slamming him against the wall.
"Dude, I didn't say it. It was him." Mark whined with fear.
"You were still there. Sitting around talking about women like that. It's fucking vile. As if they're objects to view and nothing else." Sean spat, pushing him over as Mark slid down the wall a little.
"I didn't say shit. I was just there for a drink. I overheard it." Mark said, "It got my attention because I was… I was working at the police station when Jude was attacked, we both were, and I remember how awful it all was."
"So awful you sent those pictures to her? Cut the fucking bullshit." Sean shook his head, running his hand over his face angrily, "What else did he say?"
"More derogatory shit. Had an awful lot of shit to say about Phil and April too." Mark nodded, "Look, he just sounded like a guy who had a lot more than just a dislike for the family. It sounded personal and… and sadistic." He said.
"Why tell Cassie? After all you've done, why tell her? You still in love with her?" He tormented as Mark glared at him.
"No." Mark spat, "I was just… trying to do the right thing."
"No good deed will make up for the shit you've done." Sean assured him, "I hope you always know that."
"You can leave now." Mark nodded as Sean began to walk out of the living room, turning back quickly and grabbing Mark around the throat again.
"If I find out you're playing games with me and my family, I will come back here and deal with you personally." Sean nodded as Mark looked at him fearfully, "And your ass better stay away from Cassie, too." He warned, shoving Mark back before leaving the living room, walking out of the house and taking a deep breath. He still didn't want to believe it.
Punk woke up through the night, sitting up in bed as he looked on at AJ sleeping beside him. He sometimes struggled with insomnia, and somehow thoughts always felt louder at night.
He got out of bed, remembering the few slices of pizza he and AJ had left at dinner, putting on his shorts and t-shirt and heading downstairs.
He noticed a light on in the living room, pausing for a second with a nervous feeling in his stomach. He walked on into the living room, jumping a little when he saw Sean lying on the couch sleeping.
"Jesus." Punk whispered to himself, putting his hand on his chest, "Why the hell does everyone have a key to this house?" He scoffed, looking over at Sean, "I sense you've pissed my daughter off." He looked over at Sean, unimpressed. He could only think that was why he was sleeping on their couch.
"What did your ass do?" Punk shook his head, "You're lucky I'm an understanding person. I'll be neutral and I'll be diplomatic like my wife teaches me." He nodded along, "Nineteen year old Phil would absolutely beat your ass, though." He glared at Sean.
"Phil, I'm not actually sleeping." Sean mumbled with his eyes still closed as Punk raised his brows with wide eyes, watching Sean open his eyes.
"I knew that." Punk shrugged defensively as Sean smiled a little, sitting up on the couch and rubbing his face, "Why are you here? Sorry, I know that sounds pretty cold."
"Uh… me and Jude had a fight. She went ahead back to New York with the girls and I stayed behind. Tried to get a flight out tonight but couldn't get one so… came here." Sean nodded. It was an easier story than the truth.
"Fight about what?" Punk questioned.
"Just… something stupid." Sean shook his head.
"Well, I know my daughter and she's not stupid. So… must have been you." Punk shrugged as Sean smiled a little.
"What happened to being neutral?" He smiled a little.
"I tried." Punk nodded.
"Not very hard." Sean said.
"Come to the kitchen." Punk told him.
"Are you gonna beat me up?" Sean groaned, standing up from the couch.
"No." Punk assured him, walking to the kitchen as Sean followed, "If you've not ate there's some leftover pizza there." He pointed.
"I'm alright." Sean nodded.
"Fight must have been pretty bad if you opted to stay behind." Punk thought.
"It wasn't. We'll be fine." Sean assured him as Punk looked over at him.
"Why'd you not go to your mom's?" Punk asked.
"Cause believe it or not, she'd ask me more questions than you." Sean said as Punk nodded, watching Sean walk over to the fridge and look at the pictures, "How traumatic is it? Watching your kids turn into adults?" He asked.
"Very." Punk nodded, "Happens overnight."
"I don't know if it's because I'm a cop but… I'm terrified to see Mirren and Leela grow up." Sean shook his head.
"It's not cause you're a cop. It's cause you're a dad." Punk nodded.
"A girl dad." Sean added, "You know what that's like." He turned to him as Punk nodded.
"It's a lot of fun." Punk nodded, "I'd worry about my kids regardless of them being a girl or boy, though."
"Maybe it's because of what happened to Jude, and she'll tell me all these statistics, and then I see it at work too." Sean said.
"How has she been doing? I know I get the real answer from you." Sean said.
"She… has her moments." Sean nodded, "She's so strong, and she… she deals with all so well, but I still wish I could just make it all disappear for her. That's the hardest part." She said, "She just can't catch a break." He mumbled discretely.
"She doesn't like pity, though. You know that." Punk said.
"It's not pity." Sean said, "It's knowing my wife deserved better than this shit." He shook his head angrily as Punk looked at him.
"Well, we'll always agree on that." Punk nodded.
"You and April handled it all so well." Sean nodded.
"I'm pretty sure I beat up a college student." Punk said as Sean smiled a little.
"I mean after it." Sean said, "I remember when we hiked the grand canyon, the first thing she wanted to do was send a picture to you." He smiled to himself, "It was the first time I really believed that she knew things were gonna be ok, and that it wasn't all bad." He nodded.
"And she still knows that. Just... some days will be harder than others." Punk nodded, "Is this what the fight was about?" He asked curiously.
"No… no, it was just something stupid." Sean shook his head, "I've just been thinking about it all. Sometimes I just… feel like I'm not doing enough."
"You're doing enough. And I'm your biggest critique, remember." Punk smiled as he nodded.
"That's true." Sean nodded, "Wish I could put her in a bubble so nothing can hurt her or get to her."
"It'd be good if we could do that with the people we love, huh?" Punk nodded.
"Sorry for coming here and crashing on your couch." Sean shook his head.
"Don't be sorry. You've always got a home here." Punk nodded, "You getting a flight out in the morning?"
"Yeah." Sean nodded, "Early hours. I should be home about 9am."
"Well… best get the apology speech ready." Punk patted him on the back as he nodded, "Because a Mendez-Brooks woman is never in the wrong." He nodded.
"Believe me, I know." Sean smiled, watching as Punk left the kitchen, looking over at the fridge, smiling at the picture of Jude as a little girl holding up her latest art project.