Two Weeks Later...
Punk was at a diner all the way across town at a quiet diner. He was watching the rain pour down and nursing a cup of coffee when he guest arrived.
"Hell of a night." David Burnett, Punk's training Marshal and close friend, laughed as he removed his hat and jacket.
"How is she?" Punk asked.
"I stayed with her the first few nights but she's checked in with me since." Davis assured him. "It's only been two weeks. She's holding up just fine. She's sassy as hell though." He laughed.
"She give you a hard time?" Punk asked with a sad smile.
"The car ride she did." Davis admitted. "She accused me of being your...what word did she use again?" He asked himself then smiled. "Your bitch. And asked if you told me to jump off a bridge if I would."
"She's sassy alright." Punk smirked.
"She's perfect for you." Davis grinned. "You need that kind of girl in your life. Takes no shit. We stopped at the gas station and some guy whistled at her and she sprayed the gas at him."
"My girl." Punk had to grin proudly. "She's in a safe spot, right?"
"Yes." Davis assured him. "I told you I'd keep her safe and she is. As long as she does what I told her to do."
"Therein lies the problem." Punk grumbled picking up his coffee and sipping it.
"I told her this was not only the safest thing for her, but for you too." Davis told him. "She's very interested in keeping you alive."
"I'm not a target, she is." Punk reminded him.
"How is that going?" Davis asked him.
"I spoke to Adam and offered him a deal, he's still working out the kinks with his lawyer. John is still up my ass looking for April. Had the fucking balls to call her parents." Punk spat.
"John Cena has always been very work driven." Davis reminded him. "He means well."
"Fuck him." Punk spat. "He just wants it on his record he bought down James Sawyer, I want James Sawyer bought down so I can have Ape back."
"Adam will work with you." Davis assured him.
"I offered him a deal, he walks on April's shooting and he goes undercover- I'm talking about being wired and getting me paperwork- something I can get that will take down both Sawyers then he's free." Punk told him.
"I'm surprised you went for that." Davis admitted. "He did shoot her."
"I'd make a deal with the devil himself if it meant April was free and clear." Punk told him honestly. "If he skips out or double crosses me, he goes directly to jail and it won't pleasant. He'll be in general population and everyone will know he's a cop."
"Risky game to play." Davis warned.
"It's all I have to go on. It was either force Adam into working with us or hope to catch a break. I can't sit around a hope they slip." Punk told him.
"So what's the plan?" Davis asked.
"When Adam agrees we'll have a very public mistake made, mishandling of evidence and booking him. He'll get out a free man so Sawyer will think and he'll think he can have Adam on his payroll full-time. I'm hoping this jogs Adam's memory into remember any other illegal activities I can charge one or both Sawyers with." Punk told him.
"I hope you catch your break." Davis said to him.
"Where is she?" Punk asked quietly and Davis smiled.
"I can't tell you that and you already warned me when you set this up not to tell you if you cracked." Davis reminded him.
"I just want to know if she's alright." Punk defended lightly.
"I already told you she was." Davis said to him. "Relax."
"When is she supposed to check in?" Punk asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Davis told him. "She's alright, she's safe and she's waiting for you to get to work so she can come home. Stay focused. The whole point in this was so you had no distractions and wouldn't have to worry about her."
"I find it more distracting her being gone." Punk confided. "I can't walk into the loft, her stuff is everywhere. I'm not used to being able to even get into my shower or use hot water. I can't sleep in our bed because it fucking smells like her."
"You're one of the best Marshals. Your job is catch felons and you'll get your guys." Davis assured him. "But you have to clear your head a bit."
"Maybe I should talk to her." Punk suggested innocently and Davis smirked. "I'm just saying hearing her complain or curse me out for this might clear my head..."
"No." Davis told him. "Let this motivate you. You'll hear her voice again when you get them."
"Yea." Punk reluctantly agreed.
April peered out the window of the apartment she was hiding in. She had no idea why Davis Burnett selected New York City to hide her. It was easily the most crowded placed in the country, but that's why he did it he told her. She was hiding in plain sight. Except she hung around her apartment most of the time and sat on the fire escape and watched the busy streets below.
Sleeping didn't come any easier for April as she missed rolling over and feeling him next to her or hearing his breathing. The emptiness she felt inside was very painful for her. She felt herself falling deeper and deeper into depression as the thoughts of missing Punk filled her brain she started thinking of her brother who she was missing and even her parents. She felt homesick times two since her parents were in Jersey and that was her home her whole life, and missed Chicago where she was building a home with Punk.
The people who lived in her building were friendly enough but she wasn't her normal chatty self, she didn't want to meet new people. She wanted to speak to Punk. That was the hardest part. This was all about self control. She technically could reach out to him whenever she wanted so it took all of her strength to not call him. She also couldn't help but wonder if he missed her. She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard banging at her front door.
April crawled through the window back inside and reached for her gun. A gun she was now licensed to have and Punk had purchased for her. She slowly walked over to the door and pointing the gun at it.
"Who is it!" She yelled out.
"Nick!" the voice yelled back and she rolled her eyes and hid her gun in the drawer by the door and opened the door.
"Hi." April forced out. Nick was an overly flirtatious neighbor who found any excuse to knock on her door.
"Do you have a cup of sugar?" He asked with a cheesy grin.
"I do not." April said to him closing the door but he stopped her.
"Ok, I don't really need a cup of sugar." He smirked and she again rolled her eyes. "I was hoping to take you out."
"I'm married." April blurted out.
"You mentioned that the first time I asked you out and I've never seen a husband or a ring on your finger." Nick pointed out.
April had told him she was married the minute she met him. She didn't want to date Nick, but he was keen on dating on her. He was harmless, just annoying.
"I told you he's a drug dealer and is out a lot." She shrugged innocently.
The job she made up for her 'husband' had to be something scary enough to keep Nick at bay, clearly being a drug dealer didn't scare him but she'd stick with it.
"Still have never seen him." Nick said to her.
"He doesn't want to be seen, unless you piss him off." April shrugged folding her arms. "I'm not interested in a date with you. I'm very happy with who I'm with."
"Ok." Nick said to her. "How about you come out with us tonight? You're always locked up in here you can come down to the bar and hang out."
"No thanks." She said then promptly slammed the door in his face.
"You'll break one day!" he laughed outside the door and April grabbed her gun and walked back to the window.
The next morning Punk walked into his house. He spent the entire night at his office and in a few hours was going to meet with Adam who had finally agreed to his terms. He just wanted to shower quick but jumped when he saw his place was spotless. Normally a clean place (which he was used to before April but the mess reminded him of her) was something he'd enjoy, but this was very alarming. April's clothes weren't thrown over his couch, her coffee mugs that were in the sink were now gone.
"I hope you don't mind." Karen said walking out of the bathroom.
"What did you do?" Punk asked alarmed. "Where is her stuff!"
"Relax. I just put it away." Karen assured him. "You said-"
"I said she'd be back and to butt out of it." Punk shot at her coldly. "I don't need you here to fix things."
"This place was disgusting." Karen scolded.
"I don't give a shit! I liked it that way!" He yelled.
"Why are you snapping at me?" Karen asked annoyed.
"Because who asked you to come over and move her stuff?" Punk asked her.
"You're acting like she's dead or left you." Karen informed him. "This was for her protection and she'll be back before you know it."
"Thanks I'm well aware." he remarked mockingly.
"I know you miss her." Karen said to him quietly. "I've never seen you so upset or frazzled before."
"I'm not frazzled!" He yelled.
"You are." Karen corrected. "You need to clear your mind a bit or you're never going to get these people behind bars."
"I wish everyone would stop telling me the same thing." Punk said annoyed.
"This probably isn't easy for her either." Karen warned him.
"You don't think I don't know that?" Punk asked her. "She's not under Marshal protection she just checks in three times a day with Davis so how do I know she's truly ok? How do I not know if she's already run off because shes hates being alone." he told her. "She won't admit that but she does. And she's probably scared and when she's scared she rambles but she's alone so has no one to ramble too."
"You don't give her enough credit." Karen told him. "And she shouldn't come home to a pigpen."
"You're right." Punk said thinking about it. "Thanks." He said kissing her cheek then heading up the stairs to the bedroom. "Where are my bed sheets and pillowcases?" he asked leaning over the railing to look at his mother.
"The wash." Karen told him and he frowned.
The smell of April was now going to be erased from his loft and it made coming home even less desirable.
"Something wrong?" Karen asked curiously.
"No." he said quietly as he grabbed fresh clothes then ran back down the stairs and into the bathroom.
Punk ignored the next knock on his door as he showered, assuming his mother would shoo away anyone who would dare bother him. But he heard his mother yelling and he quickly turned off the water and grabbed a towel. Whoever was upsetting his mother picked the wrong day because he was in a bad enough mood. He opened the bathroom door and peeked out and saw it was his father. His parents just couldn't stand to be in the same room.
"...and I told you he doesn't want to be disturbed!" Karen yelled.
"Stop." Punk warned the two of them.
"There you are." Dan grinned. "Did he tell you we spent Thanksgiving together?"
"You did?" Karen asked glaring at Punk.
"Stop." Punk warned the two again. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to drop off your grandmothers ring." Dan said placing the velvet box on the counter.
"You're proposing to April?" Karen asked with a giddy smile.
"No, I'm not." Punk said picking up the box and opening it.
"You said it was a year off but it's your regardless and you'll have it just in case." Dan told him. "Where is April?"
"She's out of town." Punk said closing the box. "Thanks." He said quietly accepting the ring which surprised both of his parents.
"It's a really beautiful ring." Karen told Punk. "Your Grandmother wouldn't let your father propose to me with the ring." she added shooting Dan a glare.
"You called her an old wench on numerous occasions and that was while dating." Dan defended.
"That wench always hated me." Karen snapped. "I would have loved that ring."
"Good thing I didn't give it to you because it would have just went to waste." Dan shrugged.
"And who's fault is that?" Karen asked as Punk walked up the stairs to his room as he looked at the ring.
He heard his parents bickering but tuned it out. He sat on the edge of his bed and opened the box back up and examined the ring. These last two weeks being completely apart really made him think about his future. He didn't want time away from her, even when she was driving him crazy. He'd rather her be mad at him and ignoring him than not be with him at all. Living without her wasn't an option anymore.
They had only been together for about six months but he didn't even care. It didn't matter how much time they spent together, it matter how much time he was willing to spend apart which was none. He looked at the ring and wondered if April would like it. Did she deserve her own ring? Would she even say yes? He would take the risk on her. He wanted to put this ring on her finger and move her into that house she loved so much.
This ring was the motivation he needed. The quicker he got this over with the quicker he could slid this ring onto her dainty little finger. He quickly dried off and got dressed. He was feeling more refreshed then he had in days as he practically ran down the stairs and saw his parents still bickering.
"I'm going to work, lock up." Punk instructed them as he jetted out of the loft.
Punk walked into the Marshal's office and was stopped by John.
"Not now boy scout." Punk warned trying to pass him.
"Why is Adam here?" John demanded to know. "What are you up to?"
"Fuck off." Punk stated annoyed and again tried to pass him.
"You're making a deal and are going to let him walk." John said in disbelief. "This man is traitor to our badge, our City and need I remember tried to murder April in cold blood. I've spent months trying to get him locked-"
"Fuck off!" Punk yelled. "Every time you bitch about a case it's about how much time you've spent on it. Do you think I want Adam to walk out a free man?"
"How come it's ok to let Adam get away with endless amount of crimes but not ok to use April to bait Sawyer?" John questioned.
"Because if it comes down to gambling Adam's life or April's life- I'll pick Adams." Punk informed him sarcastically. "Sawyer will likely catch on to Adam at some point, same as they would with April. Difference is, Adam is going to give me enough information to have the Sawyer family locked up before he gets killed." he shrugged.
"It's ok to gamble his life?" John asked and Punk just shrugged with a smirk. "What happens if Adam gets you the information? What happens if your dream comes true and the Sawyer's are locked away for life and Adam lives to tell the tale only he walks away without a scratch. How do you explain to your precious little April that you're the reason the man who nearly killed her and has given her nightmares is walking free."
"Stop concerning yourself with April and her feelings. You don't give a shit about it either. You care about yourself. I'll take care of April." Punk warned him.
"Bang up job you've been doing of that so far." John shot at him and Punk was ready to respond but instead he grinned then passed John. He wasn't going to let him bait him into a fight, he had to stay focused.
April was sitting up in bed and having trouble sleeping. She reached over for her prepaid phone and decided to call her mother even though it was so late. She just needed to hear a friendly voice.
"April?" Her mother asked after one ring.
"Hi." April greeted sadly.
"Are you alright? It's so late." Her mother noted.
"I can't sleep." April sighed.
"But you're ok?" Janet asked.
"Yes. I'm in one piece." She assured her mother. "I just...can't sleep."
"You sound like Phil." Janet laughed a bit and her eyes widened.
"You've spoken to him?" April asked anxiously.
"When you first left he called us once, since then he's called every night this week." Janet told her.
"How is he?" She asked her. "Is he sleeping? He's not overworking, is he?"
"I don't know all of that. He just sounds lonely. He said he misses you." She told April.
"Can you call him for me?" April asked.
"What?" Janet asked with a laugh. "At this hour-"
"Yes! I can't talk to him directly but just tell him I love him and I'm ok and that I'm missing him like crazy." She told her mother.
"I don't think that's a good idea April." Janet sighed. "This isn't forever-"
"It feels like forever." April pouted over the phone.
"I know honey. But this man- he's something special." Janet told her. "He's bending over backwards to make sure you're safe. He's putting himself through misery so you can be left in peace."
"I just want him to know that I love him and I miss him." She cried a bit over the phone and her mother frowned. "Please, just tell him that for me?"
"Alright." Janet assured her.
"It's really hard." April cried. "I hate being here alone, I hate missing him. And it sounds selfish because I know he's not dead but I can't see him and I feel like my heart is being weighed down into my stomach."
"It's not easy. This last year has been very difficult for you and you're emotional and if I could I would trade places with you. Let it out, baby." Janet encouraged.
"I can't talk any longer. Just promise me you'll tell him I said that." She said trying not to sound like she was crying.
"I promise." Janet said to her and April hung up as soon as she made that promise.
Punk was in the room talking with his Chief, Adam, attorneys and a few more officials to get this deal sorted so they could send him out. Punk was prepared to ignore his phone when he saw it ringing but when he saw Janet Mendez was calling him he jumped up out of his seat and stepped outside.
"Janet?" Punk asked into the phone anxiously. "What happened?"
"She just called me." Janet began and Punk's heart began to pound. "She's alright but she was insisting that I call and tell you that she misses you very much. She also wanted you to know that she loves you."
"But she's ok?" Punk asked.
"She sounds a lot like you, tired." Janet told him. "She's lonely and misses you terribly."
"When she calls back tell her I'll have her home before she knows it." Punk said to Janet. "And to keep her chin up. She should get some books to distract herself and to lay off the coffee. She's probably up to six cups before bed and she'll never sleep and uh- tell her I love and miss her more than she could ever know."
"I know this is being done to keep April safe but you need to stay safe too." Janet warned him. "None of it will be worth it if she comes home to any empty house."
"I am being careful." Punk told her and peering into the room and saw the lawyers all chatting.
"Alright, I'll give her the message when she calls again." Janet told him.
"Are you alright? Do you and Robert need anything?" Punk asked before she could hang up.
"No. Just peace of mind that our daughter is in good hands and we know she is." Janet said to him. "You should get some sleep yourself."
"I will." Punk said to her then waited for her to hang up.