A/N: Hi all! Popping in randomly with a short story because I got the urge to write a good old fashioned romance/horror story. Not sure many people still read these but I need the outlet and if it brings a smile to one or two people that's all I need!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the psycho's I create to further my plot.

Rating M: For language and story

Summary: AJ is on the run and Punk stuck in one place. It's similar to my other stories but also I tried to change it up a bit. Different plot details and character backgrounds. Stick around and enjoy the ride and let me know what you think :)

Part 1

April Mendez was adjusting the best she could. The crowded streets, gloomy weather and expensive City was a lot to get used to. She tied her hair up in a high ponytail and headed into her first day at work. Was this April's dream? To be forced away from the family she loved, her career she worked so hard for or friends from childhood? No. But it was the best she had felt in over a year and was determined to make the best of it.

April's big gym bag was slung over her shoulder as she arrived at the decent sized bar. April had lied and said she was a bartender for years but in reality she was a hostess for six months prior to this. She never trusted herself balancing plates and drinks but she was doing what she had to do. She placed her bag down on an empty table and unzipped as she looked around.

"...Nadine." A voice greeted as April continued to rummage in her bag. The man placed a hand on her shoulder and she nearly jumped out of her skin. "I'm sorry." The man sheepishly apologized.

"No I'm sorry I spaced out." April forced a smile.

"You're early, Nadine. I like that." The man, Jeff who owned the bar smiled. "But we have a locker room in the back for you to put your stuff and wind down before shift." He reminded her and she nodded.

"Of course." AJ said grabbing her bag and following Jeff.

"Tonight will be busy I know it's your first shift but away Cubs games are always huge here." He told her and he might as well have been speaking a foreign language. She knew nothing about the Cubs, sports or Chicago for that matter. "Just stay close to Cassie she'll be here in a few."

"Thanks again for this opportunity." AJ said to him and Jeff, the around 45 year old man gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I told Celeste you had a job here for as long as you needed." Jeff assured her quietly and AJ hitched a breath. "But you should really respond to your new name." He added in an even lower voice.

"It's just a lot to get used to." AJ admitted with a sad smile.

"How's the apartment?" Jeff asked leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"It's perfect thank you." AJ said genuinely.

"I know it's not perfect but I'll fix the kinks up there." Jeff assured her.

"Celeste gave you 24 hour notice that I'd be crashing at your place upstairs you don't have to fix anything." AJ assured him. "I'm so grateful."

"I'm sorry you had to pick up and leave the way you did and you're family and I'll do whatever I can to help." Jeff promised her.

Jeff was Celeste's older brother. Celeste was AJ's best friend back home growing up and she spent a lot of time with her family including Jeff, even though he was much older and moved away so long ago.

"This is more than enough." AJ assured him as he placed a hand on her upper arm.

"Sorry to interrupt." A beautiful woman around AJ's age greeted slightly annoyed. She had short dark curly hair and green eyes.

"Not at all, perfect timing." Jeff stated nervously. "Nadine this is Cassie, she's going to be taking care of you tonight."

"Looked like you were doing a good job of that all on your own." Cassie retorted sarcastically to the man and AJ's face dropped.

"I'm going to get changed." AJ said excusing herself and rushing into the locker room.

She could hear Jeff and the firecracker arguing quietly outside the door. The last thing AJ wanted to do was cause Jeff any problems. She walked over to the mirror and looked into it. She barely recognized herself anymore. Her eyes seemed empty and tired. She hadn't cared to do her hair or makeup the last thing she wanted was any kind of attention.

Later that night Cassie had really taken AJ under her wing but was still a tad cold. She was unsure of where she came from and what her intentions were. But AJ wasn't there to make friends she was there to simply exist in peace and decided it wasn't her place to get the young woman to be her friend or even tolerate her. They started work at 6pm and and as 11pm rolled around they went on break. AJ ran outside while Cassie found familiar guys at the bar and joined them with a grunt.

"What's your problem?" the tattooed man who shared Cassie's eyes and facial expressions questioned.

"That girl I'm training is my problem." She said grabbing a handful of the peanuts on the table and Punk glared at her.

"She seems nice." Punk noted.

"And hot." The blonde male sitting with Punk added taking a swing of bear.

Phil Brooks aka Punk and Dean Ambrose were not meant to be best friends. But they did. On paper they were pretty opposite. Punk was a homebody who actually liked to read and workout while Dean was a party animal who liked to drink and socialize. Both shared passions in two similar things: sports and their job. Both were FBI agents. Both were born and raised in Chicago and they worked together. Punk had been around the job longer than Dean but both had been doing this for ten years. Punk was actually lead of their unit in Chicago but Dean was his number one guy.

"You need to run a check on her." Cassie insisted to her brother.

Born and raised in Chicago, Phil and Cassie Brooks were close. There was a lot of family history on the Brooks side and there was a big age gap between Cassie and Punk but the two were close. Punk was like a second father to her, he always took care of her especially since their mother couldn't. They had different fathers and Cassie loved her father, but her bond with her brother was very strong.

"I'm not your google." Punk scoffed. "What's wrong with her? Do you think she's a criminal?"

"Maybe she is and I'm doing you a favor." Cassie remarked.

"Maybe you should quit." Punk remarked and Cassie rolled her eyes and looked towards Dean who smirked and sipped his beer. "This job was supposed to be a summer gig last year to help you save for a vacation."

"Yes and it did." Cassie reminded him.

"You're a nurse." Punk reminded her.

"I'm in nursing school and get a few hours of the hospital." Cassie corrected. "I make good money here!"

"You're dating your boss." Punk remarked disgusted.

"What's wrong with Jeff?" Cassie asked folding her arms.

"He's half your age." Punk shot at her.

"You used to really like him!" Cassie argued.

"Yea before I saw him with his tongue down my little sisters throat in the men's bathroom a few months ago." Punk cringed.

"This isn't about Jeff." Cassie sighed. "I think this Nadine wants him."

"Good, let her have him." Punk smiled and Cassie glared at him.

"She came out of nowhere last night." Cassie told Punk. "She's a friend of his sisters back in New Jersey and suddenly he's letting her live rent free in the apartment upstairs and work here on the busy nights so she makes the most money."

"Why did he say she was here?" Dean asked curiously as Punk looked back at the Cubs game.

"He didn't really. He said she had been planning to move here but her apartment and job fell through. What female picks up and leaves for out of state to be homeless and jobless? A criminal that's who." Cassie remarked smugly.

"He seems to want to help her, sure you want to piss your boyfriend off by looking into her?" Dean asked as Punk sipped his water and kept his eyes locked on the game.

"He's never mentioned her before." Cassie whispered. "Him and his sister aren't even that close anymore."

"I've never seen you jealous before." Dean laughed and Punk glared at him.

"She sounds like a criminal though, no?" Cassie asked. "Isn't it your job to lock people like her up?"

"Maybe you should get to know her." Punk remarked. "Maybe just MAYBE you're reading too much into this because to me it sounds like Jeff is being a nice guy and you know I don't like to admit that crap."

"Spoken like a man who's wife dumped him over jealousy." Cassie snorted and Punk glared at her.

Punk was married for three years, he had just finalized his divorce which he was sure was a big mix up. He worked a task force for a few months with a female agent and his wife wouldn't believe he was faithful. Her jealousy and lack of trust ended the marriage. He didn't cheat but didn't want to be with someone who couldn't trust him. What would be the point?

"Really, Cass?" Punk asked annoyed. "But am I wrong?"

"It sounds like she's a criminal that's all I was saying." Cassie defended.

"She does." Dean nodded in agreement. "Or a woman in trouble." He added and Punk slowly nodded. "If a woman is running away in the middle of the night it's usually out of fear."

"So maybe be nice to her." Punk added and Cassie rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Or maybe she killed fifty men and I handed you to her on a silver platter and you ignored it." Cassie teased as Jeff walked over.

"Cass, a word?" Jeff asked

"Thanks for the free beers!" Dean cheered to Jeff who looked confused.

"He says that every week you know he's kidding." Cassie said to Jeff.

"Hey, Punk." Jeff greeted nervously and Punk just gave him a sarcastic smile. He still wasn't thrilled with his buddy dating his sister but he would get over it, just not tonight.

"I'll see you later." Cassie said to them and followed Jeff away.

"He's a good guy." Dean defended to Punk.

"I know that. I've known Jeff since I was training that's over ten years." Punk remarked. "I just don't like how he snuck around with my sister." He reminded him as his phone went off.

"Work?" Dean asked.

"No, worse." Punk sighed looking at the screen. "Ex-wife." He said answering the phone. "Yea." He greeted but couldn't hear her over the noise and placed one finger in his ear and stepped out of the bar.

Punk was outside the dimly lit bar with one finger to his free ear and his hand holding his phone with his other hand.

"Is that why you seriously called me?" Punk asked loudly and annoyed, catching AJ's attention who was sitting on the bench outside eating a handful of peanuts she took from inside. "I told you that you have to hit the input button to get to the TV apps- I'm not doing this and I can't come over tonight I'm working." He lied and he stood there and listened for a moment. "I am not at the bar." He scoffed annoyed that she knew him so well. "You need to figure it for yourself you wanted it this way as much as I did." He snapped then hung up.

When Punk looked up towards the door he noticed his sisters new archenemy sitting on the bench and eyeing him.

"Sorry." He said to her and she just shrugged.

"No bother." She replied simply and threw a peanut into her mouth.

He couldn't tell from inside but she was very beautiful. Her hair was pulled back and she had the prettiest facial features he had ever seen.

"You ok?" AJ asked curiously and he shook his head slightly.

"I'm Punk." He introduced. "You're working with my sister-"

"Cassie!" AJ smiled. "I think she hates me." She teased a bit.

"She's just rough around the edges." Punk assured her.

"She mentioned you were in there tonight." AJ smiled a bit.

"You're Nadine?" He asked and she nodded.

"That's me." She said standing up. "My break is almost over, nice to meet you."

"Yea." Punk said quietly to himself. There was for sure something intriguing about this woman.

Later that night the full staff had left but AJ, Jeff and Cassie as they cleaned up.

"You really didn't have to stay." Cassie said to AJ as she dried glasses. "This is usually mine and Jeff's job."

"I just want to help out." AJ offered with a shrug. She had noticed Jeff and Cassie bickering all night and she knew it was over her.

When AJ came to Chicago she had decided to be a bad ass, no feelings, put herself and her safety first but she was already starting to crumble. She didn't want Jeff to get into trouble with his girlfriend over her.

"Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot." AJ said to her and Cassie eyed her. She seemed a lot like AJ. "I got in a little over my head in New Jersey and Jeff is trying to help me out that's all. I am not interested in him and he brags about you all of the time."

"What kind of trouble?" Cassie asked eyeing her. "The last thing Jeff needs is trouble-"

"It's not like a police matter or anything." AJ assured her honestly. "I just felt suffocated and had to leave town. I wouldn't bring trouble to him like that I promise."

"Ok." Cassie said with a light smile. "Jeff mentioned you're staying in the room upstairs."

"It's more than a room. It has a bathroom." AJ laughed a bit.

"No kitchen though." Cassie frowned. "Jeff actually mentioned picking up a small mini fridge and some paint but you came so quick how about we go shopping tomorrow?" she offered trying to be the bigger person.

"Seriously?" AJ asked stunned but a bit happy.

"Yea I mean you don't know Chicago and I'm off from my day job." Cassie shrugged. "If you're going to be around I want to get to know you and assure you I'm not some crazy jealous girlfriend."

"I don't know." AJ said shaking her head. "It's not that I don't need a friend because I really do-"

"So it's settled." Cassie smiled proudly, winning this argument. "I'll pick you up at 2."

"Ok." AJ forced out and watched Cassie grab a case of beer and head to the back.

The next day AJ was setting up some of the things Cassie helped her pick up. The place was a hole but Cassie talked her into a rug, a plant, some pictures, essentials that she needed and even a plant that AJ was sure would die since the apartment had one window. She eyed the plant and Cassie had to laugh.

"It's going to live I promise." Cassie told her.

"I feel like I should have gotten the mini fridge instead." AJ said with a laugh. AJ warmed up to Cassie quickly because it wasn't in AJ's nature to keep people at arms length as much as she wanted to.

"I told you that you were not paying for one. My brother has one and he said I could have it which means you can have it." Cassie informed her.

"I met him last night." AJ noted. "I think he was arguing with his girlfriend."

"Ex wife." Cassie snorted. "He's great though."

"He seemed nice." AJ noted.

"I have to go but he's going to bring it by within the hour and let him set it up for you." Cassie said grabbing her purse.

"Thanks for everything." AJ said to her and Cassie waved it off.

"I'm glad we did this, Nadine." Cassie told her and AJ felt guilt that Cassie was so kind but couldn't know her real name.

"Me too." AJ said walking her to the door.

"I will never understand why Jeff put extra locks on the door it looks ridiculous." Cassie noted shaking her head and walking out. It wasn't Jeff, it was AJ who added two bolt lots and a chain to the door the second she moved in.

A few hours later AJ was on the couch that was also her bed reading a book when there was a knock at the door. She froze as she quietly closed the book. She reached for the bat she kept against the couch and slowly stood up.

"It's Punk!" The voice yelled and AJ was still shaking but relieved at the same time. She walked to the door and opened it with the chain up to confirm it was Punk then closed it and pulled the chain off before letting him in with the heavy mini fridge.

"I'm sorry." AJ said ushering him in and closing and locking the door behind him which he noticed.

"It's fine." he said setting it down. "Where did you need it?"

"Where you left it is perfect." AJ assured him and he plugged it in.

He looked around the small room and then looked at AJ.

"It's nice." He forced out trying to be polite.

"I don't need much." AJ shrugged and walked over to her purse and pulled out her wallet. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing." He smirked. "I was going to toss it anyway. I used it when I was crashing with my sister in her basement."

"Oh." AJ remarked and he sighed.

"That sounds awful." Punk admitted with a laugh. "When I was going through my divorce." He corrected. "I don't just live off of my sister, I have a job." He clarified and she nodded trying not to laugh. "I really do." He said to her but she was still amused by his defense. "I actually have a big house. It's just my ex lives there….with my dog." He added. "And I pay for it so technically it's my house."

"Of course." AJ said walking away.

"I have an apartment now but I could have another house." He rambled and AJ let out a snorted laughed and covered her mouth with her hand and Punk instantly had to laugh.

"I get it, you're rich." She teased.

"I don't want to brag but yea." He remarked as he stood in front of her in a t-shirt showing of his hundreds of tattoos and ripped jeans and sneakers. "I'm an FBI agent."

"Right." AJ said and he reached into his pocket to show her his badge but froze because it wasn't on him and she arched an amused brow at him folding her arms.

"I swear." He said nervously laughing.

"Cassie told me you were an FBI agent I'm just messing with you." AJ said to him. "And believe me I'm no one to judge where you live."

"It's not that bad." Punk said then noticed the plant. "Cassie talk you into that?"

"She did." AJ confirmed.

"Her place is covered in plants." Punk informed her. "When it starts to die she'll bring it back."

"She's really cool." AJ said to him and he agreed with a nod. "I know what you're thinking."'

"You're a psychic?" He asked her.

"You've eyed up every item in my room here and you seem to want information. I'm hanging around your sister and her boyfriend and I'm sure it concerns you." AJ said to him and he remained silent because she was right. "I'm not in any kind of legal trouble I'm not on the run from the law." She told him honestly. "I don't have a husband who is looking for me or anything like that."

"I believe you." He said to her. "But you're running from someone, right? You've got chains on the door and I stayed here a few weeks when my wife and I fist split and there weren't that many on the door. You didn't bring a lot of stuff which tells me this wasn't a long thought out decision you grabbed a few clothes but you have cash which means you had a good job and/or people that wanted to help you."

"Thanks again for the mini fridge." AJ said walking to the door and unlocking and opening it for him. "I'm sure I'll see you around."

"Is your name even Nadine?" He asked her and she gave him half a smile.

"Is your name Punk?" She asked amused.

"It's Phil." He told her. "I don't like it."

"I do." AJ shrugged. "Thanks again." She said closing the door on him and he looked back towards the door but when he heard all the chains go up he walked off. As soon as he made it to the stairs his phone began to ring and he let out a sigh knowing who it was already.

Punk drove right outside of Chicago where his wife was currently living in his home. A home he paid for himself and climbed out of the car. It was late and dark as he approached the door. He sighed knowing this was just going to end in an argument and his energy was low. He was going to knock on the door but spotted a strange care in the driveway and laughed to himself a bit and began to turn around.

"Where are you going?" The voice of his ex called from the door and Punk looked back at her. "You said you'd fix the dryer."
"Ask whatever guy you have in there to do it for you. That is why you called me over right? Make me jealous?" He asked her and she smiled.

"Don't be like that." She said to him. "I need this dryer fixed."

"Go to a laundry mat. There's one two blocks over." He shrugged.

"You are jealous." She stated proudly.

"Not of you having a guy, Amy." He told the older redhead. "The fact that there's some guy in my house probably playing my game systems and working out in my weight room would make me jealous."

"You should have thought about that before you starting banging your coworker." Amy spat at him.

"There was no banging!" He yelled with a laugh. "You are that insecure and it's infatuating."

"You're going to tell me that you didn't sleep with her?" Amy asked stomping over to him.

"Not while we were married." He retorted quickly and it earned him a slap across of the face.

"You're a pig. And I never should have married you." She growled.

"But you did. And if you put your hands on me again I'll lock you up" He warned her coldly.

"You ruined my life and you can't even fix the dryer!" She shouted.

"You did this to yourself." He informed her. "You're living in a palace, you don't work, no kids- you can fix the dryer."

"Babe!" A male voice yelled from the door and Punk eyed him coldly and then smirked.

"Does he have school tomorrow?" Punk laughed walking to his car.

"He's 22." Amy argued following him.

"And you're 43." He laughed opening his car door.

"You're just jealous." Amy remarked.

"No, sweetheart I'm really not." Punk said to her. "I knew you liked them young but that kid still needs permission to cross the street."

"You act like you're so much younger than I am." She scoffed.

"I'm only 40 and I'm not dating a 20 year old girl." He said to her.

"Well dating young has its advantages." Amy said as Punk climbed into his truck. "He can go all night."

"Make sure he cleans my sheets and figures out how to dry them." He said to her. "But that's a good point maybe I'll find a younger woman who can keep up with me in the bedroom."

"Didn't Stacy your partner have the stamina?" Amy shot at him.

"No, she was actually 45." He said to her and Amy's face dropped. "Always remember that happened after you threw me out."

"I didn't throw you out you left!" Amy yelled.

"You gave me no choice." He seethed slamming his door shut and driving off.

A/N: Part 1 is in the books! What did you think? What is AJ running from?