Part Eleven
AJ was in her kitchen and all the stove tops were occupied. Punk walked into the apartment using the key AJ had given him after he gave her a key to his place.
"Wow it smells amazing." Punk said putting the loaf of Italian bread down she requested he bring.
"I know." She said eagerly. "They're going to be here any minute."
"Why are you going this nuts over for them?" Punk asked her. "It's just my sister and Jeff."
"They're my only friends out here." AJ reminded him.
"I'm your friend." He pointed out and she gave him a smile.
"Yea but I need a friend to complain about you to once you start annoying me." She told him honestly.
"What are we eating?" He asked walking over to the stove.
"Homemade pasta, homemade sauce, homemade garlic bread, homemade meatballs, homemade biscuits-" She rattled off.
"Why so much bread? Why did you make me go buy bread?" He asked annoyed.
"I'm craving bread." She told him sadly. "I need all of this bread."
"Understood." He said without argument. "I'm going to be out of town next week." He informed her.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Florida." He told her. "If you need anything-"
"I won't, I'm a big girl." She reminded him.
"Damn Ape how much fucking food did you make?" he asked noticing more dishes.
"I can't help it. I don't want Cass to hate me like she did Amy." AJ reasoned.
"Cass didn't hate Amy." Punk said to her and AJ just stirred the sauce. "Or she did and never told me is the vibe I'm getting from you."
"I want your family to like me." AJ said to him. "Is that a crime?"
"No. But you're trying too hard because Cass already likes you." Punk said kissing her nose.
A knock at the door caused AJ to freeze and Punk eyed her.
"You're ridiculous." Punk said walking to the door and opening it but it wasn't his sister. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for April Mendez." The man around Punk's age greeted.
"And who are you?" Punk asked.
"A friend." He said to Punk who could see the man was lying.
"Ape, this a friend of yours?" Punk asked not taking his eyes off the man.
"No." AJ said unsurely. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Chris Meyers." The man greeted.
"How did you find her address?" Punk asked him already knowing it was Jamie's older brother.
"Jersey PD." He told Punk and his mouth dropped in shock.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble." Chris assured them. "I just wanted to have a word with April."
"No." Punk said about to close the door but AJ stopped him.
"What can I do for you?" AJ asked.
"I was hoping we could talk about your testimony." Chris said to her. "I know what happened was wrong but Chris has been diagnosed with-"
"No one gives a shit what he was diagnosed with." Punk snapped at him. "She's not going to soften her testimony for him."
"I'm talking to the lady, not you." Chris snapped back at him.
"Phil its ok." AJ said to Punk and stepped in front of him. "I'm sorry your brother is ill but I can't risk him coming after me again. I won't be changing anything or asking for leniency and I'd really appreciate it if you didn't come back to my home."
"I flew all the way here." Chris insisted.
"You decided to show up on the doorstep of your brothers stalking victim? Are you stupid?" Punk asked him.
"I'm trying to be a nice guy here I came in peace." Chris insisted.
"And you're going to be leaving in pieces if you don't get out of here." Punk threatened and AJs' cheeks turned bright read. She had never heard Punk be so assertive and protective before.
"Everything ok?" Cassie asked walking right into the apartment with Jeff standing behind Chris.
"Yea. I'm sorry to bother you." Chris forced out and left.
"Who's that?" Cassie asked as Jeff closed the door behind him.
"Nobody." AJ said to her.
"We bought the wine." Cassie said holding up the bottle and Punk eyed her. "Relax I know you don't drink but AJ does and can enjoy a glass." She said walking into the kitchen. "Where are your glasses?"
"Top shelf on the left." AJ said to her and Punk eyed her. "I'll tell her." she whispered.
During dinner AJ sipped on water while Punk mostly glared at Jeff who tried to make small talk.
"The place is really nice." Jeff told AJ.
"Thank you." AJ smiled happily. "I like it."
"I thought you were putting a desk in to set up in an office in the second bedroom." Cassie noted taking a bite of her food.
"Yea I'm waiting on that room." AJ told her.
"Are you excited about the new job?" Jeff asked.
"Yes I'm starting Monday." AJ smiled. "I get an office there so I really don't need one here."
"And how are you big brother?" Cassie asked Punk. "My dad wants you to come to dinner next week."
"I'll be out of town." Punk told her. "But whenever else I'll be there."
"Why are you so cranky?" Cassie asked with a sigh. "Who was that guy?"
It was clearly the visit from Jamie's brother that was truly bothering Punk. Why would the local police give this strange man AJ's new address after they went to such lengths to hide it? What if somehow Jamie didn't the minimum sentence and was out in a year? Now he would know where not only AJ lived but his kid. None of this was sitting right with him.
"He was Jamie's brother." AJ told her and Cassie just looked surprised.
"How did he find your place?" Jeff asked.
"Local police thought it was ok to give him her address." Punk told him bitterly.
"We'll talk about that later that's not what tonight is about." AJ reminded him.
"What is tonight about?" Cassie asked confused.
"We actually have something to tell you." AJ smiled but Punk was still deep in thought until she nudged him.
"Yea." Punk nodded along. "Ape." He gestured for her to go on.
"I'm pregnant." AJ told them and it was silence. "Please don't be mad." She said to Cassie.
"How could I be mad? You're making me an aunt!" Cassie cheered getting out of her seat and hugging AJ. "A baby!?"
"A baby." AJ confirmed. "We went to the doctors today do you want to see the sonogram?"
"Yes!" She cheered and followed AJ into her bedroom.
"That's great news." Jeff told Punk with a smile. "Congratulations." He said to him.
"Why would he just show up here like that?" Punk asked Jeff.
"Who? The guy from earlier?" Jeff asked.
"It just doesn't make sense." Punk said.
"I'm sure he was just trying to help his brother out." Jeff reasoned and Punk shook his head. "I think you have other things to think about."
"All I think about is April and the baby." Punk told him. "Which is why I'm wondering how I'm going to go out of town next week when this guy knows where she lives." He said to him.
"Not every guy is Jamie Meyers." Jeff reasoned. "Not every one of them is going to be a deranged stalker."
"She's been through a lot." Punk told Jeff.
"And she has friends out here." Jeff reminded him. "I'll come by and check on her every night if that makes you feel better."
"You would?" Punk asked skeptically.
"AJ is a family friends but you are one of my best friends." Jeff said to him.
"Not since you started sleeping with my sister." Punk remarked bitterly. "Why the fuck did you have to do that?"
"Look at her." Jeff smiled nodding towards Cassie gushing over the sonogram. "How could I not fall in love with her?"
"You could have tried a little harder." Punk muttered under his breath.
"I'm good to her. I care about her. I make sure she's taking care of herself and having fun and not working herself into the ground." Jeff told him. "I'd give my life for hers no questions asked."
"Keep her happy and I think you and I can not hate each other as much anymore." Punk offered which he thought was generous.
"I never hated you." Jeff said to him.
"I guess that was one sided." Punk said to him.
"Punk!" Cassie cheered and Punk stood up and she hugged him. "I already love this baby so much. I'm going to smother her." She said holding the sonogram.
"We don't know it's a her." Punk pointed out.
"It is. I'm a nurse I can tell." Cassie said to him and Punk narrowed his eyes at her.
"You can't tell." He scoffed.
"I just know." Cassie said to him. "Look, a baby." She said showing Jeff the sonogram.
"Congratulations." Jeff said hugging AJ.
"So, what's the plan? You getting married? Moving in?" Cassie asked them.
"Not getting married." Punk chimed in quickly.
"Or living together." AJ added and Cassie's face fell. "We're together but we're still just dating."
"Oh, that's ok." Cassie said brushing it off. "Baby will still have two awesome parents."
"Nobody knows what the future holds." Punk told his sister. "Just focus on the baby."
"I am." Cassie grinned. "I'm already shopping in my head."
After dinner Punk helped AJ cleanup but clearly his mind was occupied.
"You have to let the Chris thing go." AJ warned him.
"I don't like it." Punk told her honestly. "I don't like him knowing where you are and I really don't like him showing up like that."
"He's just trying to help his brother." AJ told him.
"If he comes back here you need to call me." He told her.
"Yes, sir." She mocked.
"Ape, I mean it." He warned.
"Tell your dad to stop worrying." AJ said tapping her belly.
"Tell your mom I never will it's who I am and what I do." Punk countered placing his hands over her stomach as well.
"So, what's the case you're working?" AJ asked him as she dried some dishes.
"You want to know about my job?" He asked surprised and she nodded.
"You have an interesting job." She pointed out.
"It's a consulting case with local officials and the office in Florida. We think one of our suspects is there now. Double homicide." He told her.
"Do all FBI agents like know each other?" AJ asked and he had to laugh.
"Well, no." He said amused. "There's thousands of us but I do know a few in that office. Stacy is there." He told her casually and AJ smiled.
"The woman you had an affair with?" AJ asked him.
"Didn't have an affair." He corrected. "Amy and I broke up before I was with her."
"You dated though." AJ pointed out.
"No." He said thinking about it. "We just slept together. She was a rebound." He insisted. "Nothing for you to worry about."
"I'm not worried." She laughed nervously. "I told you I don't get jealous." She reminded him. "I mean I'm sure she's beautiful but I'm pregnant with your kid."
"You're beautiful." He corrected. "Inside and out. You're not just some woman carrying my kid- that's an added bonus."
"Are you going to tell her about me?" She asked innocently still cleaning.
"I don't think it will come up." Punk told her honestly. "We didn't leave off on the best of terms."
"Why's that?" She asked.
"She wanted to date and I didn't. I was still getting over Amy and she just wasn't my type in that way." He said to her.
"How so?" She asked arching a brow and he smirked.
"For someone who is not jealous you sure have a lot of questions." He laughed. "She was just very needy. She was always craving attention and I'm not into that. I like a challenge."
"I'm a challenge?" She asked.
"Literally the most challenging woman on this planet." He replied without a breath. "I didn't want her." He told her bluntly. "Should I have slept with her? Probably not."
"Probably not." AJ agreed. "So you'll be there a full week?"
"Ape, you have nothing to worry about." He assured her. "Trust me. The last person I ever want to be with is her and I wouldn't cheat on you."
"If you were to ever cheat on me I'd hurt you." She threatened.
"I have no doubt you would." He agreed fearfully. "Can we stop cleaning and hang out?" He asked taking the sponge out of her hand. "I'm leaving soon and I want to spend some time with you." He said kissing her neck.
"I suppose I have to send you off with a bang to assure you come back to us." She said to him and he froze. "What?"
"Us." He repeated her word. "It's just getting so real." He said looking down at her belly.
"Come on." She said pulling him towards her bedroom.
The next morning Punk woke up before AJ. She was lightly snoring and the sun was creeping in through the crack in the curtain which was perfectly cast over her bare back.
"Where are you going?" AJ asked tiredly.
"I got called into work. We have to leave today." He told her leaning over the side of the bed. "Promise me you'll be careful while I'm away."
"Promise." She yawned. "Don't sleep with Stacy." She added tiredly and he smirked. "Oh and be careful too."
"Ape." He said to her and she slowly opened her eyes. "I love you. I'm not going to mess us up."
"This is the moment you tell me this?" She asked sticking her head up alarmed. "No man has ever told me he loved me and you tell me while I have bed hair and drool on the side of the my face?!"
"I think it's a tragedy nobody has ever said that to you before because you are the definition of love." He told her and she fell back on the bed dramatically.
"Why are you saying all these amazing things right before you leave? To make me miss you more?" She asked and he leaned over her now.
"Yes." He stated seriously then gave her his signature half smirk. "I also mean it."
"I love you too." She pouted. "Call in sick and stay here with me." She said sitting up.
"Doesn't work like that." He told her. "I'll be home soon."
"Ok." She said grabbing his face and kissing him as deeply as she possibly could and could hear him groan into his mouth. "Just a kiss to remember me for the week."
"I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to." He teased. "But now I have to wait a minute before leaving." He looked up at the ceiling and waited for his arousal to dwindle.
"So you're not going to kiss me before you leave?" She asked him and he glared her.
"I'm literally going straight to the plane." He said to her. He kissed his two fingers and placed it on AJ's head. "I'll call you later."
"Bye." She smiled as she watched him leave.
Later that night AJ hadn't heard from Punk and she didn't want to bother him since she knew he was working but she was anxious and lonely. She walked into Jeff's bar which was pretty crowded but found a seat at the bar.
"AJ." Cassie greeted giving her a hug. "Everything alright?"
"Yea, I'm just bored." She admitted.
"Order food and I'll have dinner with you." Cassie said to her and AJ nodded. "What's wrong?"
"I just haven't heard from Phil." AJ said to her. "I know he's working but I worry."
"He's fine." Cassie scoffed. "Not hearing from him is better than hearing something bad."
"I guess." AJ sighed looking at the menu. "He's working with Stacy this week."
"Oh." Cassie said to her. "He's not going to cheat on you." She laughed.
"I know." AJ reasoned. "But I've actually grown kind of fond of your brother and don't want him to realize he can do better."
"No he can't and even if he could Stacy is not better." Cassie informed her.
"I just don't like feeling jealous." AJ said to her and Cassie laughed.
"You see that brunette at the end of the bar?" Cassie asked nodding and AJ looked. "Dolls herself up every Saturday night sits right there and practically throws herself at Jeff. Has been doing it for years. Used to drive me crazy."
"Why is it not driving you crazy anymore?" AJ asked.
"Because I realized there is always going to be a pretty brunette. Jeff is hot. I have to accept that and trust him and I do trust him." Cassie told her.
"You're more mature than I am." AJ remarked looking at the menu.
"Punk is fucking nuts over you." Cassie laughed. "You'll hear from him. He's too paranoid about you to not call."
"He told me he loved me today." AJ told her and Cassie grinned.
"He's loved you since the day he met you." Cassie remarked. "But it's nice he's finally saying it out loud."
"How's my little niece feeling today?" Cassie asked.
"Hungry. All she wants is for me to eat." AJ said to her.
"Double burger and fry night." Cassie said taking the menu from her and AJ nodded. "I'll put it in and meet you on my break."
"Thanks." AJ said and that's when her phone finally went off and she saw the name she was waiting to see. "Hey." AJ greeted relieved.
"Hey, sorry I'm calling so late I've just been swamped." He said to her.
"That's ok, I didn't even notice the time." She lied.
"Where are you?" He asked hearing the noise.
"I'm at the bar." She told him. "Your child wanted beer and peanuts."
"That's not funny." He remarked.
"I'm having dinner with your sister." She told him.
"Good." He said to her.
"How's your case?" She asked.
"It's progressing. I'm going to be really busy the next few days." He told her.
"Alright as long as you're being safe." She said to him and felt disappointment that he was going to be so busy. She had truly become more dependent on him.
"I miss you." He told her and she smiled a bit.
"I miss you." She sighed. "I think I'm just hormonal."
"Or you just love and miss me." He laughed. "That possible you know."
"Is it?" She teased.
"Don't keep my kid out too late tonight." He told AJ as he peered down at the sonogram photo he took with him. He was more attached that he cared to admit as well.
"You have a wild child." She warned.
"That's ok, I'm an FBI agent and can track anyone down." He said to her. "But seriously don't leave too late. You have a train ride away to get home and at night-"
"Relax, dad." She mocked. "We'll be ok."
"Ok." He said to her. "I've got to go. I love you."
"I love you too." She repeated gently then hung up.
"Sounds pretty serious." A voice said from behind Punk and he turned his head and saw Stacy.
"It is." Punk said and she eyed the photo in his hand.
"Amy is pregnant." Stacy forced out. "That's good."
"It's not Amy." Punk told her and Stacy's eyes widened.
"Wow." Stacy smiled a bit. "I just thought you were still hung up on her."
"Nope." He replied.
"How did you meet?" Stacy asked.
"She was working at Jeff's bar." Punk told her.
"Classy." Stacy remarked. "But hey, its your life."
"She's a writer and a really hard worker." Punk told her proudly.
"I bet she is." Stacy said to him. "It's just odd to me that you told me we couldn't be together because you were going through a divorce then talked me into taking this transfer but you end up with a bar girl?"
"She's not a bar girl." Punk said annoyed. "And even if she was it wouldn't matter. She was unexpected and it worked out."
"Yea now you're going to be a father. Me you wanted no commitment but she gets you and a baby? It just proves to me you wanted one thing from me and then cast me aside. You're a pig." Stacy said then stomped off.
"Wow." Dean laughed walking over. "You piss everyone off."
"She overheard me on the phone with Ape." Punk said putting his phone back in his pocket.
"She's not happy for you?" Dean joked and Punk glared at him. "How is AJ doing?"
"She's good." Punk said to him. "Did you know Jamie Meyers has a brother?"
"Christopher." Dean nodded. "What about him?"
"He came to April's place last night." Punk told him and Dean tensed his face.
"Why?" Dean asked.
"To talk about his brothers case. Local PD gave them April's address." Punk told him.
"You're kidding." Dean remarked stunned.
"Wish I was." Punk said shaking his head. "He seems to want his brother to get a lesser sentence."
"That's not going to happen." Dean said to him. "According to my research his brother didn't even have a relationship with him."
"They do now." Punk told him.
"I'll call Jersey PD and find out what the fuck they were thinking giving out a stalking victims address to someone." Dean assured him.
"I already called. Four times." Punk told him. "Waiting to hear back."
"It doesn't matter because Jamie won't get a lesser sentence." Dean told him.
"He can still only get a year." Punk reminded him.
"We'll worry about that later." Dean said to him. "I'll look into the brother."
"I already am." Punk said to him.
"That the kid?" Dean asked nodding at the sonogram in his hand and Punk proudly showed him. "I hope this kid doesn't come out with your big ass nose."
"Fuck off." Punk snapped. "Ape's nose is too small this kid needs to be able to breathe."
"When is she due?" Dean asked.
"April 3rd." Punk told him. "Long way to go."
"Please. That's what my sister thought." Dean said to him. "But then she realized she had to take birthing classes, shop, read books, buy clothes, find a good hospital, decide on feeding, decorate a room, pick a name- it all just flew by. Are you putting a nursery in your apartment or just AJ's?"
"I don't know." Punk said thinking about it. "I guess I don't need my office."
"You need your office." Dean remarked. "But when the baby is at your place it will need a place to sleep no?"
"Yea." Punk said thinking about it more. "We haven't talked about it. I know AJ's turning her guest room into a nursery."
"Yea of course that's where the baby is going to live but you want the baby to be comfortable at your place, no?" Dean asked.
"Yea of course." Punk said to him. "And Ape sleeps there all of the time too."
"You'll need a nursery." Dean nodded seriously. "Is she doing a hospital birth?"
"What? I don't know." Punk said confused. "Why are you making all fucking crazy over this?"
"It's just questions you have to have answers to eventually."
"We haven't talked a lot baby details it's still really early on. She's only 6 weeks." Punk reasoned.
"Comes faster than you think it will." Dean warned then walked away leaving Punk thinking.