Mind Games

It had been three more weeks, totally five since April had left and Punk was left working the Sawyer case. He was growing more and more frustrated which meant he was getting more and more cranky.

"Do you want like your freedom?" Punk spat at Adam who was meeting with Punk and the chief in a secret location.

"Yes I do! And I'm doing the best I can." Adam insisted.

"You've given me shit!" Punk yelled. "You told me we'd have them all!"

"They aren't sure they trust me yet!" Adam yelled back. "I have to earn some more trust!"

"How convenient." Punk spat in anger.

"Let's all just stay focused." The chief insisted.

"I think I'm the only one focused." Punk said to the Chief.

"You seem a bit high strung." Adam mumbled.

"You think this is funny? You think we're friends and can joke around?" Punk asked amused. "You're a fucking traitor- I haven't forgotten that."

"They're not just going to hand me a skeleton key to their deepest and darkest secrets." Adam reminded them.

"If you don't give us something within the next week you're going back to prison." Punk threatened.

"I'm giving you everything I can!" Adam argued.

"What are they saying about Ape?" Punk asked him.

"They don't really talk about her." Adam told him.

"But?" Punk asked.

"The son, James Junior there, he seems to have caught onto the fact April is out of town." Adam told them.

"What does he want with her?" Punk asked.

"He doesn't discuss it but he asked me to look into finding her. He went to New Jersey looking for her." Adam told him. "Saw her folks-"

"You didn't think of fucking telling me that?" Punk hissed.

"He didn't approach them or anything. He realized she wasn't there and came home." Adam told him. "They are also getting pissed with John poking around their business."

"I thought you talked to him about butting out?" Punk asked the Chief.

"I banned him from this." The Chief said pulling out his phone.

"There's talk of taking him out." Adam told him.

"Maybe we use Johns plan and use him to bait them like he wanted to do with April." Punk snorted.

"What has John been doing?" The Chief asked.

"Been showing up at Sawyer's bars and clubs asking questions, been tailing Sawyer Jr." Adam told them and Punk shook his head in disbelief.

"Pain in the fucking ass." Punk hissed under his own breath. "He's still going to fuck us on this." Punk said to the Chief.

"I'll take care of it." The Chief said stepping away with his phone pressed to his ear.

"So, how's April?" Adam asked and Punk looked at him like he was crazy.

"If you ever say her name again I'll kill you." Punk warned him calmly.

"What I did wasn't personal." Adam reminded him.

"I take it personally when you shoot any innocent woman point blank the chest." Punk informed him. "I take it extra personal that you did it to my girlfriend."

"I didn't get any enjoyment out of it." Adam assured him.

"Well that's good, I thought you were a complete and total sociopath." Punk mocked.

"I'm not." Adam told him.

"I don't want to hear the shit with your mother again." Punk warned him. "Once this is over and if you actual deliver you're leaving town. I don't want Ape to have to face the man who gunned her down like some fucking animal."

"I told you I would." Adam told him.

"John is out of town now." The Chief said walking over.

"Where?" Punk asked skeptically.

"New York City on business." The Chief shrugged.

"Good." Punk said not even realizing John was headed straight towards April...

April was walking up the stairs to her apartment and when she reached her floor she was greeted by her nosy neighbor.

"Need help carrying your groceries?" Nick offered following her to her apartment.

"I didn't two days ago and I don't today." April remarked pulling out her keys.

"Haven't met your husband yet." Nick noted.

"He's busy." April said to him simply.

"If you want to buzz off just say it." Nick said to her.

"Buzz off." April smiled then stepped into her apartment and slammed the door closed but Nick began to knock and April placed her bags on the counter and swung the door open.

"Look, I just don't think you're giving me much of a chance." Nick insisted.

"I don't want to give you a chance." April told him. "I'm very much in love with the man in my life. He's nothing like you and that's not an insult it's just the way it is. He's strong and handsome-"

"I'm strong and handsome." Nick interrupted with a smirk.

"He's the love of my life." April told him honestly. "I have no interest in any other man."

"But he's not here." Nick pointed out. "What kind of man would let you out of their sight for this amount of time?"

"One who is selfless and loves me." April informed him with a smile. "He's amazing."

"He sounds no existent." Nick shrugged.

"He exists and he doesn't like to share." April told him happily. "And he certainly wouldn't like you asking me out almost everyday for over a month."

"Well, if he ever comes to visit send him my way and I'll explain to him why I have pursued his girlfriend so badly." Nick grinned winking at her.

"It's very difficult to be away from him so having you constantly in my face-" She began.

"Tempts you?" he asked smugly. "I won't tell if you don't." He whispered leaning in.

"Annoys me." She corrected. "You make miss him even more because no matter how many times I tell you to go away you don't. But if he were here you wouldn't come near me."

"But he's not here." Nick shrugged.

"Please, leave me alone." April pleaded in defeated voice. "It is NEVER going to happen."

"I mean-" Nick began but April slammed the door in his face and locked the door for good measure.

"That's ok!" Nick laughed outside the door and April rolled her eyes and walked over to her groceries. "I like a challenge!"

"Just because you know how to use a gun, doesn't mean you shoot anyone who annoys you." April repeated to herself quietly.

Punk was now at the same diner he had met with Davis Burnett once a week since April had been gone. He fills Punk in on how April is doing and makes sure she is checking in regularly.

"You always make me feel late." Davis smirked sitting across from Punk. "Enjoying this snow?" he asked nodding towards the blizzard outside.

"Nope." Punk said to him looking out the window himself. "How is she?"

"She's checking in." Davis assured him.

"Adam told me James Sawyer has been looking for her. He went to Jersey searching." Punk told him.

"He won't find her." Davis assured him.

"Now I have the added worry that John is going to be looking for her too. He sounds like he's getting desperate." Punk said to him.

"He came to see me the other day." Davis informed Punk quietly.

"Yea? What did he want?" Punk asked.

"He said advice but I have a feeling he was fishing for information. Kept asking if I was helping you and April." Davis told him.

"It's hard enough to keep the crazy killers from April, it's another to keep a trained US Marshal away." Punk groaned. "He's been sniffing around the Sawyers so much they're talking about taking him out."

"Did you tell him?" Davis asked.

"Didn't even get a chance to." Punk told him. "I've tried calling him but he's out of town now apparently."

"Maybe he needs a break from this." Davis agreed. "John will work himself into the ground."

"It works out for me because he is now out of my way." Punk told him. "He can stay in New York for all I care."

"New York?" Davis questioned.

"Yea that's where he went, according to the Chief." Punk told him and Davis' face fell. "What?"

"Do you know where in New York?" Davis asked grabbing his phone.

"No." Punk said confused. "What is-" he stopped when it hit him. "April?"

"Relax." Davis said to him.

"You said he came to see you, was there anything laying around about her?" Punk asked.

"Of course not." Davis sighed typing in his phone.

"But she's in New York?" Punk asked and Davis ignored him. "This isn't the time to keep me out of the loop!" he yelled.

"She's in New York." Davis confirmed and Punk shook his head.

"He's going after her." Punk told him throwing money on the table. "I need her address."

"I just heard from her earlier, she texted me." Davis told him.

"I don't trust a fucking text!" Punk yelled standing up. "Where is she at exactly?"

"You're going to blow this-" Davis warned.

"He's going to her for a reason." Punk told him. "He's going to get her killed! I'm not sure who is more dangerous at the moment. Sawyer or Cena."

"Here." Davis said writing down something on a napkin. "That's where she is."

"Tell her to keep her door locked and not to let John in- actually tell her to fucking run." Punk told him.

"I can't reach her now." Davis told him. "She tosses her prepaid phones after one use and she'll call me tomorrow from a new one. I have no way to contact her."

"Fucking brilliant." Punk remarked. "I have no way to warn her."

"She knows not to trust to John." Davis assured him. "She's not stupid."

"No but either is John." Punk reminded him putting on his jacket.

"Want me to come with you?" Davis offered.

"No." Punk said to him. "Stay here and try to track down John exactly. There isn't anyway he knows exactly where she's staying?"

"I don't think he could know." Davis told him.

"You'll hear from me." Punk told him then ran out of the diner.

A couple of hours later April was sitting up again on her fire escape. It was freezing out and snow was falling but it was so beautiful. She was really depressed she spent Christmas and New Years alone, holidays she thought she'd spend with Punk. She wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to sit in this tiny rundown apartment. Someone knocking at the door caused her to glare at the door and crawled in through the window.

"I told you to leave me alone." April groaned opening the door freely and was stunned to see John Cena. She knew part of the reason for her to be in hiding was John and now she just opened her door to him.

"Don't be afraid." John whispered stepping inside and April stepped back fearfully and tried to inch her way to her gun.

"I'm not afraid of you." April stated strongly slowly reaching for her purse.

"Davis sent me for you." John told her and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Punk's been shot."

"What?" April asked feeling her heart drop.

"It's real bad." John said to her. "I don't even know if I'll have the time to get you back-"

"Don't lie to me!" April yelled pulling out her gun and pointing at him. "I don't trust you!" She cried.

"April." John frowned holding his hands up in defense. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You want Sawyer to hurt me." She cried.

"Sawyer hurt Punk." John informed her. "Shot him three times. The last thing he said before going into surgery was your name. I need to get you to the hospital to see him."

"I don't believe you." She said crying and clutching her gun. "He wouldn't want me to go with you."

"He would want you to be with him." John told her seriously. "He's dying, April."

"You're not telling me the truth." April insisted shaking her head as tears fell from her eyes.

"April, believe me." John said stepping closer to her. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to bring you to Punk. You will regret not seeing him before it's too late."

"Too late?" She asked feeling her body shake and John nodded then pulled the gun out of her hand forcefully and she fell to her knees and sobbed.

"Pointing a gun at a federal US Marshal is a crime." John said pointing the gun at her but she didn't even move. She was on her knees sobbing and clutching her stomach. "April." John sighed lowering the gun and feeling bad. "Let's just go." He said reaching for her arm but she tugged it away.

"You have to be lying." She cried.

"I wouldn't come all of this if I was lying to you. We have to go right now. I got us tickets back to Chicago but we have to leave NOW."

"You don't think he's going to make it?" April asked.

"I don't know April." John said as guilt washed over him as he looked at her red and tear stained face. "We have to leave. Grab what you need."

"I need him." She cried.

"Fine, let's just go." he said forcefully pulling her to her feet but he froze when he heard a gun click behind his head.

"Let her go and drop the gun." Punk said behind him.

"I wasn't-" John began as he slowly turned his head to look at him. "This gun is hers."

"I know." Punk said and April looked at him in shock.

"You said..." April trailed off. "You said he was dying."

"I told you not to trust him." Punk reminded April as he kept his gun on John. "Put the gun down." he told John again. "Ape, get behind me." he ordered her next and she ran behind him. "Get out."

"You don't know what you're doing." John said placing April's gun on the floor and shaking his head. "You're making a big mistake."

"I think the mistake I'm making is letting you walk out of here with you brain in tact." Punk said as he turned as John walked to the door.

"You're not only letting James Sawyer get away with murder but you're also letting Adam get away his crimes." John informed him. "I'm the only clear headed one here."

"He told me you were dying." April sniffled behind Punk but he couldn't see her face, John could though and she shot daggers over Punks shoulder at him.

"Get out." Punk warned stepping closer to him which backed John out of the apartment.

"This was my last ditch effort to help you all see clearer." John said disgusted. "Fuck it! If you all die I won't give a shit!" he yelled and Punk slammed the door closed then bolted and chained it.

Punk turned around and came face to face with April. April who's eyes were red from crying, body trembling and yet still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"He said you were shot." She cried jumping into his arms and he wrapped his arms around her.

"He's a stupid son of a bitch." Punk said coldly but holding her tightly. "Oh my god I've missed you so fucking much."

"Don't make me go away again." She cried into his neck not willing to let him go. "I've never been so scared."

"I'm right here." He reminded her holding her.

April pulled her head away so she was looking him in the eyes.

"Merry Christmas." She whispered. "And happy New Year." She told him and he had to smile.

"I'm sorry I missed those holidays." He told her. "I won't miss another one." he promised and kissed her.

Punk and April were caught up in the moment. She lead him backwards into the small bedroom and they both tore at each others clothes and made up for some of that lost time. A trail of clothes lead into the bedroom where Punk and April didn't talk even though they were up for hours. She wasn't sure if he was going to ditch her the next morning. But she wasn't going to fall asleep and risk missing him.

Punk fell asleep after three hours of reconnecting and he looked like an angel. It must have been the first good night sleep he had gotten in weeks. He also had a tight grip wrapped around her body. It gave April assurance he missed her just as much. She smiled as she watched his chest fall and rise as he breathed. This was her peace. This was her payoff for being so well behaved these last few weeks. And she was also deciding if she was going to hunt John down for lying to her about him being near death.

"Did you sleep at all?" Punk asked opening his eyes slowly.

"No." She said quietly. "I wanted to make sure you didn't leave."

"What time is it?" Punk asked with a yawn.

"It's seven in the morning." She told him. "The power went out, the storm is getting real bad." She said nodding towards the window.

Although the sun should have been rising, it was dark outside due to the snow falling. Punk got out of April's bed and looked out her window.

"Holy fuck." He said. "I'm never getting out of here."

"Good." April grinned and he looked back at her.

"I'm obviously not leaving you here." He smirked. "You'd come with me."

"Back to Chicago?" She asked hopefully sitting up.

"No." He said and her face fell.

"No." She said shaking her head and getting out of the bed but wrapping the bed sheet around her nude body. "No more being apart."

"Ape-" He began.

"No!" She yelled louder. "I'm sick of this! I don't want to live my life if it's like this and apart from you. I'd rather be killed."

"Don't be so dramatic." Punk sighed grabbing his jeans.

"I hate sitting here, I hate not being able to speak to you." She insisted. "I hate it all! This has been so depressing and I can't do it anymore. I won't! I did it your way and it's been months-"

"Weeks." He corrected.

"It's felt like years." She argued. "I miss you." she cried suddenly. "I've missed you so much that I can't even concentrate on anything. When John told me you were shot and dying I can't even describe the pain that ripped through my heart. It's like my body shut down. Please don't send me away. Don't ask me away. I'll do anything! I'll handcuff myself to you." She cried placing her hands on his bare chest and he looked down at her. "I'll sit in your office all of the time!"

"Ape." He sighed looking down at her. "Sawyer is looking for you."

"And there is no one I feel safer with than you." She said to him. "He wouldn't have the balls to go after you to get to me. He's never attacked a man before. His victims are all women." She reminded him. "Usually single women- single women because he's too afraid of husbands or boyfriends."

"Alright." Punk said to her. "You're going to be in my office 99% of the time, you get that right?" he asked her and she nodded. "I didn't realize John would
track you down so easily. I underestimated him."

"I love you." She told him and kissed him again.

"I don't know when we'll get out of here though." He said looking out the window again.

"I like being snowed in with you." April grinned.

"You look like you've lost weight." He frowned looking at how thin she looked with the sheet wrapped around her.

"I've been sad." She shrugged and he cupped her face.

"Me too." he said to her honestly. "I just feel bringing you back is a mistake-"

"What's the point of me being alive if I can't live?" She asked him and he nodded in agreement.

"I get that. I really do." he said kissing the top of her head.

"Was John going to kill me?" She asked him.

"No. He was trying to use to bring out Sawyer." he told her. "He would have gotten you killed though."

"How much closer are you to getting him for good?" She asked him.

"Not as close as I want to be." Punk admitted regrettably. "It's such a gamble to have you home but John is such a wild card-"

"Nope. I'm going home." She told him happily. "I miss our bed."

"I haven't slept in it." He confided. "I've been sleeping on the couch."

"Why?" She asked.

"My mom washed the sheets and they didn't smell like you anymore." He admitted without shame.

"You owe me a Christmas and a New Years." She warned him and he smiled. "My parents also want us out there once things are settled since we missed their party."

"We'll do it all." He promised. "I have something planned back at home for you too."

"Home." She grinned and leaned against his body happily. "Say it again."

"I'm taking you home." he told her.