Part Five
"I can't believe this." AJ grinned holding legal paperwork as she and Punk walked back into her hotel room. "A real order of protection." She said proudly. "I don't think it will do much but at least it's a positive step."
"It is." Punk agreed. "Look, we have to talk."
"Oh no that never ends well." AJ sighed sitting on the edge of the bed.
"It's not bad." He said to her. "I just want you to know I'm going out of town for work for a few days."
"What?" AJ asked confused.
"I travel pretty often with work. My team and I have a case in Kansas." He told her.
"So that means Dean too?" She asked and he nodded.
"But you'll be ok. Stay in your hotel and I have an agent who is going to come by every two hours to check on you." He told her.
"It's fine." She said waving it off. "I'll be fine."
"I know you will." He said to her confidently then passed her a piece of paper. "If Jamie Myers ever becomes visible to you I want you to call this number. It goes right to my office and the next agent in charge and he will be here in a flash."
"Got it." She nodded taking the paper.
"If he violates this order he's getting arrested." He reminded her.
"Yea but for like a night." She said to him. "Stalking laws suck."
"That I agree with." He told her.
"When do you have to leave?" She asked.
"About an hour." He said looking at his watch.
"Want to order lunch with me?" She asked him hopefully.
"Yes." He said without hesitation and then his phone began to ring.
"I'll grab the menu." She said walking over to the room service menu as he answered his phone.
"What?" Punk asked annoyed. "….I can't I'm leaving town….I don't really care." He said to the person calmly. "…fuck it, fine!" He yelled and hung up. "I can't stay for lunch."
"Amy?" She asked.
"She needs me to meet with repair guy at the house I'm sorry." He told her.
"It's fine." AJ lied. She felt a pang of jealousy but pushed it back down. Punk wasn't her boyfriend and as far she was concerned she'd be back in New Jersey sooner rather than later, but she was growing attached to this man and it was undeniable.
"I'll see you in a few days and I'll call to check in." He assured her and she just nodded and watched him walk out the door.
AJ let out sigh and fell onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling. For the first time in a long time she was starting not feel trapped or alone. Now she was back at square one but at least it was in a nice place this time.
Punk pulled into his house and saw Amy sitting on the stoop and let out a sigh. He felt the fight coming on when she looked up at him as he climbed out of his truck.
"Where's this repair guy?" Punk asked annoyed looking around.
"There's no repair guy." Amy said to him and he turned around and walked back to his truck. "Would you just wait!" she yelled chasing after him and grabbing his arm.
"You can't keep doing this shit!" Punk yelled. "I had plans, I'm leaving town I can't pop by here every time you're bored and what to start trouble!"
"I wanted to let you know I was moving." Amy told him and his face lit up.
"No shit." He said amused.
"I already got an offer on the house and I took it. You get half that's the law." Amy told him.
"Awesome." Punk grinned. "Good luck." He said about to get in his car but she stopped him.
"Don't you want to know where I'm going or why?" She asked him.
"No." He said simply.
"I'm getting married." She blurted out and he was even happier.
"I get half my house money AND I don't have to pay alimony anymore? Damn." Punk grinned. "I wish you so much luck with your boy toy."
"I'm going to be moving to Texas." She told him and he couldn't stop smiling. "I was going to ask if you were sure about us being over before I did this but clearly you are."
"Have you lost your mind?" He asked her seriously. "Why wouldn't I be sure about us being over? You've made my entire life hell for years. I think it's only fair someone else gets the brunt of that for a change."
"What's her name?" Amy asked folding her arms.
"What?" He asked her.
"You have a hickey on your neck. Are you a teenager?" Amy asked coldly.
"Huh." He said looking at his car mirror and seeing the small spot. "I have to wear something collared."
"Who is she?" Amy asked.
"She's none of your business." Punk said to her. "Worry about you and hell, if you need help packing up I'll help because the quicker you're out of my life the better." He said then got into his car and drove off.
"You're a bastard, Phillip Brooks!" Amy shouted at his retreating car.
That night at Jeff's bar it was quiet. It was a rainy night and not much going on. Cassie was behind the bar when a man approached.
"Hi, what can I get you?" Cassie asked with a smile.
"I'll take a bud and a moment of your time." Jamie Myers smiled a bit. "Could you give this to April?" He asked sliding an envelope over to her and Cassie just looked at it. "It's ok its not going to explode I just think we had some mixed up communication these last few weeks and I'm not sure how to see her."
"I think that's kind of the point." Cassie remarked.
"If you could just give this to her."
"No." Cassie replied stiffly.
"No?" Jamie asked with a laugh.
"What's going on?" Jeff asked walking over.
"This man wants me to give AJ a message from him." Cassie informed Jeff and he eyed the man.
"April." Jamie corrected. "It's just-"
"Isn't there an order of protection?" Jeff asked him and the man gave him half a smile.
"That's part of the envelope." Jamie said calmly and casually. "I just want to clear this stuff up."
"Cass, call the number Punk left for us." Jeff told Cassie who glared at Jamie then walked off.
"Punk?" Jamie asked. "Is that the boat man?"
"Boat man?" Jeff asked back. "Look, if you're looking for trouble you're in the wrong spot. AJ isn't here and you can't be around her. No one is giving her anything from you so take your shit and get out of my bar."
"I just need to communicate with her." Jamie reasoned. "You understand that, don't you?"
"I understand that you scare her." Jeff told him and Jamie laughed.
"I'm harmless!" Jamie chuckled. "She's so dramatic. Look, I just need to see her."
"I'm sure you do." Jeff agreed. "But it's not going to happen."
"Why? Who are you to dictate who she can and can not talk to?" Jamie asked.
"I'm not but I know she doesn't want you around so I'm going to respect her wishes." Jeff told him. "I suggest you do the same."
"I can't do that." Jamie told him casually.
"I called." Cassie told Jeff.
"Cassie go into the back." Jeff told her.
"I'm not leaving you out here with him." Cassie scoffed.
"What is this all about? I'm unarmed, I'm not a threat to anyone I've never hurt anyone for that matter." Jamie defended.
"You're not welcome in my bar." Jeff told him bluntly. "Don't come around here again."
"But can you give this to April?" He asked Jeff sliding the envelope over to him as he stood up.
"You're kidding." Jeff remarked stunned.
"Mr. Meyers." An unfamiliar FBI agent greeted walking into the bar.
"My escort is here." Jamie chuckled. "See you kind folks around." He waved to Jeff and Cassie and then followed the agent out.
"What a creep." Cassie cringed. "What do you think is in the envelope?"
"It's not our problem." Jeff told her.
"Should I give it to her?" Cassie asked.
"No. The less trauma from this guy the better." Jeff argued.
"But it's her life. What if there's a threat in there?" Cassie asked following him to the back.
"Then she shouldn't see it." Jeff reasoned.
"But it's her life." Cassie repeated. "She has a right to know."
"Cass, please." Jeff groaned putting the envelope in the safe. "I'll hold onto it and give it to your brother when I see him."
"That's not fair. It's not Punks life it's AJs." Cassie insisted.
"It's his case though." Jeff said to her. "Leave it be." He said kissing her cheek and walking off.
Cassie eyed the safe then leaned down to open it.
The next day AJ was channel surfing on the TV when she heard a knock at the door.
"AJ its just me." She heard Cassie greet and AJ happily jumped up and let her in.
"Hey, it's so nice to see a face." AJ said to her as Cassie put her purse down.
"I had a feeling. I had some free time and thought we'd order up some lunch and chat." Cassie suggested.
"I'd love that!" AJ cheered and passed her a menu. "Have you heard from your brother?"
"Oh when he's away for work I never hear from him unless it's urgent, don't take it personally if he hasn't called." Cassie said skimming the menu.
"I don't I was just wondering." AJ remarked lying.
"Look I didn't come over just for lunch." Cassie said pulling the envelope out of her purse that Jamie left.
"What's this?" AJ asked.
"Jamie came to the bar and asked me to give it to you. Jeff didn't want me to but if it's something bad or weird I think you have the right to know." Cassie insisted and AJ took it from her.
"You are right." AJ agreed.
"I knew I was right." Cassie mumbled under her breath and watched AJ open it. "What is it?"
"It's the order of protection. He shredded his copy." AJ sighed. "Not scary just annoying."
"Also shows he's not taking this seriously." Cassie argued.
"That's not a surprise." AJ sighed closing the envelope up.
"How have you been able to live like this for so long?" Cassie asked her.
"I don't have a choice. It's adapt or perish." AJ told her bluntly. "I can't stay in this hotel forever I'm going to have to go back to the bar."
"What?" Cassie asked.
"I don't have a choice." AJ said to her. "I mean he can't watch me too much in there there's not a lot of windows."
"That's insane." Cassie argued.
"I can't live like this forever no matter how good the room service is." AJ said to her.
"Get an apartment high up here and he'll never be able to look in." Cassie reasoned.
"You mean stay in Chicago?" AJ asked her.
"Of course! You can't just go back to New Jersey." Cassie insisted.
"Why?" AJ asked with a laugh.
"That's his home turf." Cassie argued. "Also, I thought you and my brother were dating."
"We've gone out a few times." AJ corrected. "He blew me off for his ex yesterday."
"Don't let that bother you. Amy is just a pain." Cassie said to her. "I heard she's leaving town anyway."
"Really?" AJ asked and Cassie nodded.
"Yea that's the rumor and hopefully true." Cassie said to her. "I think we can find you nice apartment out here and Jamie is more likely to go home to New Jersey than hang around a strange city where he can't see you from the ground."
"I don't know." AJ said to her.
"I can still hook you up with my writer friend." Cassie offered. "I know you don't want to write anything personal but maybe making your story more known will help you."
"You think?" AJ asked and Cassie nodded.
"Nothing else has worked, right?" Cassie asked.
"That's a fair point." AJ had to agree. "I just don't know about staying here."
"I think it's safer for you here than anywhere else." Cassie reasoned. "Just give it some thought."
The next day Punk was back in town and went to Jeff's bar first.
"He didn't cause a scene?" Punk asked following Jeff to the back where his safe was located.
"Nah." Jeff said opening it and frowning. "Crap."
"What?" Punk asked.
"Cassie felt I should have given AJ the envelope and I didn't agree." Jeff remarked. "I guess she gave it to her anyway."
"Who else has access to the safe?" Punk asked him.
"Just me and your sister." Jeff groaned closing it. "She's stubborn but you already know that."
"Great." Punk groaned. "Why does she have the safe code anyway? She's messing with my case."
"Because she's Cass and I trust her." Jeff stated simply. "That uh- Jamie guy is crazy."
"You think?" Punk mocked. "He didn't mess with my sister did he?"
"Of course not." Jeff scoffed. "What's going on with you and AJ?"
"What do you mean?" Punk asked.
"He asked if you were the boat guy." Jeff told him and Punk smiled at the memory of being in the middle of the water with AJ.
"I am the boat guy." Punk confirmed. "I like her." He told Jeff simply. "She's not like anyone else I've ever met. I can talk to her for hours and we just connect."
"She's going to go back to Jersey." Jeff warned him.
"I'm not that hooked, she can do what she pleases once I close this case." Punk said to him.
"Right." Jeff laughed.
"Maybe she'll like it here and stick around." Punk shrugged. "Things change."
"We'll see." Jeff said to him.
Both Jeff and Punk looked up when they saw someone enter the office.
"AJ." Jeff greeted surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I was scheduled to work." AJ said to him simply.
"That's ok." Jeff said to her.
"Hi, April." Punk greeted and she smiled at him.
"Phillip." She greeted back then looked back to Jeff. "I really want to work."
"Is that ok?" Jeff asked Punk who just shrugged.
"She can do whatever she wants. She's not the criminal." Punk said to Jeff but looking at AJ.
"I really want to work and earn some money and I can't do that from a hotel room." AJ explained.
"I can help you out with cash I've told you this." Jeff reminded her.
"No I was actually looking into apartments." She told him and Punk's ears perked up. "And I need to work for that."
"Ok." Jeff said to her. "You always have a job here." He assured her placing a hand her shoulder then leaving her in the office with Punk.
"Apartment? Is the hotel not working out?" He asked curiously.
"It is but I can't live there." AJ told him. "Jamie is around and I have to accept that."
"So you want to stay here? You told me you wanted to go back to New Jersey." Punk pointed out.
"I did." AJ remembered. "But your sister set me up on this great interview for a writing job and showed me a few nice apartments that I might be able to swing. I mean Jamie can't stay here forever, right? He has a house and whatnot."
"I'd feel better if you stayed at the hotel a bit longer." Punk said to her.
"I'll be fine." She said to him.
"Where is this surge coming from? A few days ago you were willing to leave town and now you want to stay." Punk noted.
"Don't feel any pressure by me wanting to stay." AJ said to him.
"What do you mean?" Punk asked arching a brow.
"I don't know what we are but you seem bothered I want to stay-" She began.
"No, not bothered at all." He cut her off. "I would love if if you would stay actually. I still want to take you out properly."
"Well, that's not happening tonight. Tonight I have to work." She told him coyly.
"I can see that." He smirked. "I'll be here tonight. Outside watching to make sure Jamie doesn't show up."
"Let him." AJ said and Punk eyed her. "I have that order of protection that he clearly isn't taken seriously let him spend the night in lockup for all I care."
"What was in the note he left for you?" He asked her.
"It was the order of protection ripped up." AJ told him.
"Of course it was." Punk said annoyed. "I'd feel better if you stayed in the hotel." He repeated quietly. "Just until he leaves town for a bit."
"What do you think he's going to do to me?" She asked him.
"I don't know. But I don't want to find out." He told her.
"I want to earn money to get a place." She said to him. "This is like a cop/FBI hangout bar I'm safest here, no?"
"I suppose." He forced out unsurely.
"I do want to talk to you about this new job." She said to him.
"What about it?" He asked her.
"It would be kind of like having my virtual column, like a mini blog so to speak." She explained and he nodded. "And I was going to write about my stalking experience."
"Wow." He noted.
"What do you think?" She asked. "Do you think it will egg him on? Or maybe it will embarrass him and send him away?"
"That's not how it works with these guys. You can write about it or not it won't change what he's doing." He told her. "What would embarrass you or me wouldn't faze him. He doesn't think like us but before you do anything I want to talk to Dean this is his area of expertise I don't want you putting yourself at greater risk for any reason, understand?"
"Yes." AJ said to him. "I didn't realize you were back already."
"I got back an hour ago." He told her.
"Had to swing by and see Amy first?" She asked him innocently.
"Wow." He laughed. "No and I'm sorry for blowing our lunch off over her. That won't happen again."
"I wasn't upset." She lied folding her arms.
"No? I would be." He said to her.
"Would you?" She asked.
"If you blew me off to go see an ex? Yea I would be upset." He said to her honestly. "I would be a tad jealous."
"I don't get jealous." AJ said with a straight face and Punk laughed.
"I do." He said to her. "I'm very honest by the way. How about I makeup for lunch yesterday by taking you to lunch tomorrow?"
"Ok." AJ smiled a bit.
He cupped her face she looked up at him.
"I missed you while I was gone." He admitted.
"You could have called." She said to him and he smiled.
"On what? You don't answer the hotel phone and no cellphone." He said to her. "Can we get you a new cellphone? How do you contact your family in Jersey?"
"I use email and skype calls on a computer." She told him. "I'm not ready for a cellphone yet."
"But ready to work and move out of protective custody?" He asked her amused.
"Anytime a phone rings I jump out of my skin. If he's watching I probably won't see him." She reasoned. "Its why I won't live on the ground floor anywhere or park in a dark area. It's little things and I know it's weird but it's the way I deal."
"I respect that." Punk told her seriously. "We'll take it slow."
"Thank you." She said and he leaned down to kiss her.
"What time are you on the clock?" He asked pulling away.
"Already am." She said cleaning her lips. "I've got to get ready."
"I'll be outside." Punk assured her and she just nodded and left the office.
Punk was outside the bar sitting in his car when he heard someone knock on his window. He looked over and saw Dean and unlocked the door.
"I thought I gave you the day off." Punk said to him.
"I thought we all had the day off and we'd meet up for drinks but here you are working on something." Dean remarked getting into the car. "What are we doing?"
"April is working so I'm watching the bar." Punk explained.
"You should have called me." Dean said to him. "This is my case."
"I know it is but I'm just helping out." Punk argued simply. "I didn't think she'd want to work right now."
"Women like AJ who have been held captive for this long will get surges." Dean explained to him. "She's been under this guys eyes for years she just wants to be normal and I don't blame her."
"Is it safe for her to work?" Punk asked.
"Of course it is." Dean shrugged. "Women who are stalked don't really have the luxury to stop working. AJ made such good money at her last job she was able to but I'm sure her savings is running low."
"How do you know that?" Punk asked.
"I looked into her. Its part of the case." Dean told him.
"Anything I should know?" Punk asked and Dean laughed.
"A little late for that, no?" Dean teased. "No though. Only thing on her record was a speeding ticket when she was 18. She worked since she was 15, she has a normal family, she went to college, she's never been married or have any secret kids. She's a good girl who just moved into the wrong house."
"She is a good girl." Punk agreed looking towards the bar.
"How deep are you with her?" Dean asked.
"I went out with her like twice." Punk laughed.
"When was the last time you went with a woman twice?" Dean mocked.
"She's different, I don't know." Punk said to him. "She wants to get a place and stay out here."
"You should be thrilled." Dean said to him.
"I am but I don't want to jinx anything." Punk said to him.
"You'll get rid of Amy for good, you'll get your house back-" Dean began.
"I'm selling that and Amy is getting half. I don't want to live in that place again. Too many shitty memories." Punk cringed. "April mentioned a job."
"Ok." Dean said to him. "Blogging?"
"What do you know about blogging?" Punk shot at him.
"I read AJ's blogs." Dean said to him slowly. "I had to read up on everything. She's a good writer, wicked sense of humor."
"Anyway, she was thinking of writing about her stalking but she's not sure if it will anger Jamie." Punk told him.
"I wouldn't do it." Dean told him. "You're just putting a light on Jamie and he'll feel important to AJ and just push harder. We don't need this guy pushed harder."
"But ignoring him hasn't worked." Punk said to him.
"Doesn't matter. He's this bad when he's ignored imagine how he'll be when AJ acknowledges him" Dean told him and Punk agreed.
"Can you talk to her about that?" Punk asked.
"Yea I'll talk to her tonight." Dean said then laughed. "Look, look." He pointed at Jamie Meyers who was on the corner across the street.
"You have to be shitting me." Punk hissed going to get out of the car.
"My case." Dean reminded him and jumped out of the car.
Jamie was looking from across the street and didn't even see Dean walking towards him.
"Jamie Meyers! We have got to stop meeting like this!" Dean stated amused strolling over to him.
Punk narrowed his eyes from the car and watched as Dean approached Jamie.
"I'm not violating anything." Jamie pointed out. "I'm 500 feet away, this is exactly 500 feet away I counted it earlier." Jamie said pointing to where he was standing.
"You're telling me this is EXACTLY 500 feed from where AJ is?" Dean asked.
"Hand to god." Jamie said to him and Dean nodded.
"Well damn." Dean whistled. "You got me there." then Dean gave him a hard shove sending him a few feet closer to the bar. "Now you're 496 feed away and violating the order of protection." He grinned pulling his cuffs out.
"You're shitting me, right?" Jamie asked as Dean cuffed him.
"You're the one who violated the order." Dean shrugged securing the cuffs behind his back.
"This is bullshit!" Jamie yelled.
"It's fine, you'll like your view from local lockup." Dean said walking him to his car. "Consider it a 24 hour vacation."
When the bar was closed up, AJ walked out with Jeff and he jumped out of his car.
"You really stayed out here all night?" AJ asked him.
"I was going to give AJ a ride back to the hotel." Jeff told him.
"No need, I'll take care of her." Punk said walking AJ away. "Jamie was outside."
"He still here?" She asked nervously.
"No, Dean arrested him. He'll be in lock up for at least 24 hours." He told her and she froze. "What?"
"I'm free of him for 24 hours?" She asked with the biggest smile he had ever seen.
"You are." Punk confirmed. "Anything special you want to do?"
"It's two in the morning not much I can do but I like the feeling." She sighed happily.
"There's a diner open I'll take you to late dinner or super early breakfast." He offered.
"Can we walk there?" She asked and he eyed her.
"Yea it's around the corner but it's hot." He pointed out.
"Don't think I'm crazy but it's been years since I've been able to just walk without fear." She said to him.
"Well it's 2 in the morning in Chicago so there should be some fear." He teased. "But yea let's walk." He said taking her hand and she smiled a bit. "You want to sleep at my place tonight?" He offered.
"And I get a new sleeping venue?!" She cheered. "I don't have to worry I'm luring a psycho to your house? I'm in."
It amazed Punk who the simplest things made her so happy. He knew stalking was a serious crime but he had no idea how much it truly took away from a person until he would see her face light up.
"It's only for 24 hours." Punk reminded her.
"I know. But it's going to be first 24 hours I haven't had to look over my shoulder in a year." AJ sighed happily. "I'm free for 24 hours."
"I'm going to get him for good." Punk promised her as he stopped walking. He wanted her to have this peace of mind always.
"I'm not worried about forever, I'm living for today." She told him with a shrug. "Dinner/Breakfast is on me by the way I made good money."
"Yea?" Punk laughed as they began to walk again.
"I don't know why I went to college when I can make this kind of money." She said to him. "I was the only waitress on tonight."
"I've never had a woman offer to pay for a meal before." Punk laughed to himself.
"I'm not like any woman you've ever been with." AJ warned him arching a brow.
"That you are not." He had to agree.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! It's going to get exciting!