Stick Together


"You'll never believe it. Keala was asking when she can have a boyfriend last night." Punk said, "And then she asked if she could have two." Punk shook his head, sitting in Dean's house whilst Frankie sat on the floor playing with some of the toys. Anna had just gotten home, and whilst AJ suggested that they take a few days as a couple to get their strength back up, Anna wanted to dive head first into preparing for court. It was the only thing keeping her from losing it.

"Hey, man." Punk said a little louder, realising his little brother wasn't even paying attention to him. He was just trying to take his mind off of things.

"What if she's not ok?" Dean turned to Punk. Anna was in the kitchen with AJ talking through some things, "What if she's not even looking after her properly. She was just born." He shook his head. He was finding it super hard. The contact with their daughter had been so abruptly cut from them, and both of them were struggling with the fact she wasn't even in the same state as them.

"You can't torture yourself like this. It's hard enough." Punk said, "Jean is a lot of things, we know that, but I don't think she's gonna hurt her or… not take care of her, so that shouldn't be on your mind." Punk nodded.

"Did dad come see you yesterday?" Dean asked.

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "Did he see you?" He asked.

"Yeah, told me all about what happened with him, mom and Jean." Dean said as Punk nodded, "What if she's doing this because she's pissed at mom? And she wants to get her revenge?" He asked as Punk just looked at him, "What?"

"I think it's more likely that she's doing this because she doesn't like Anna living here, and she thinks this will be the way to get Anna to come back to her and live with her."

"In the process of taking everything I love away from me?" Dean asked.

"Well obviously she won't win. AJ is gonna destroy her, trust me. She's not gonna get custody of her." Punk said. He knew at times like this it was his job to assure his brother.

"But she has the drug tests. I mean, we know they're bullshit but a judge won't." Dean said, "If he thinks me and Anna are both on drugs, we don't stand a chance."

"You do." Punk nodded, "Anna is gonna testify about how… erratic her mother's behaviour has always been. AJ is gonna get your old group mentor from AA to come testify, to prove that you've been sober from drugs and alcohol for six years." He said, "There are ways around this, trust me. It doesn't feel like it right now. I know right now you only care about getting your baby back, but you just gotta hold on for a little while." Punk nodded as Dean sighed, running his hand through his hair.

He was pale white and looked like he hadn't slept in years. Anna looked similar. But who could blame them after such an uprooting tragedy had taken place.

"Can we visit? Did AJ look into it?" Dean asked hopefully.

"Yeah, you're allowed visitation. It's an hour visit." Punk said as Dean just shook his head.

"This is ridiculous." Dean said, "So I gotta go all the way to New York to visit my own daughter, only for an hour?" He asked as Punk nodded, watching as he kicked the coffee table and stood up as Frankie got a fright and turned around.

"Hey, careful." Punk said, watching as Frankie's lip quivered and he began to cry, "Calm down." Punk told him, standing up and picking up Frankie, giving him a little cuddle and sitting back down with him as Dean began pacing.

"No, I can't just calm down." Dean said, "She's taken my kid. Me and Anna never even got a night with her. I've held her once. I've not fed her or changed her yet. She should be home in her nursery right now."

"I know. Look, man. I know that this is horrible-"

"You don't know. Your kids are at home with you." Dean corrected him.

"Ok, then I… I could only imagine what it feels like. But what Skyler needs right now is you to keep a cool head. Anything that happens, any sign that you're angry or violent… that will be used in court and it will favour Jean's side." Punk nodded, "You trust April, right?"

"Of course I do." Dean mumbled.

"Then trust her to help you. I know a few weeks seems like a lifetime, but just think in a few weeks, she'll be home with you. All you gotta do is keep strong, keep the hope." Punk nodded as Dean sighed, "You're a tough kid. I know it better than anyone. Anna's a strong girl too. You can push through this and you can… take that stupid bitch down in the process."

"I just hate her so much." Dean shook his head as Punk nodded, bouncing Frankie on his knee up and down as the one year old looked around and babbled things to himself.

"You and me both." Punk said.

"What do you reckon about mom and dad and all that shit that happened? I was sort of half paying attention to him… my mind was in the clouds I guess." Dean said.

"I think a lot of shit went down that we don't know about. And honestly, I don't wanna know. Mom and dad had a weird ass relationship, but… from what I heard, Jean was pretty controlling and pretty narrow minded. No time for poor people, and she didn't like what mom had to say. So… given that you, her son, ended up dating her daughter… probably rubs her the wrong way I guess, and plus she's never liked us." Punk shrugged.

"But is it really that deep to take my daughter?" Dean shook his head.

"Must be." Punk said, "Well, she said it herself, she wanted Anna to come back and live with her, be a part of the family business way back when she had the first miscarriage. This was obviously her plan from day one." He shook his head as Dean sighed.

"I just constantly feel on edge." Dean shook his head.

"I know, that'll pass. You'll feel better when you see her. I think AJ said it's up to you when you wanna visit her, obviously you'll want to give it a few days."

"Visit her for an hour." Dean nodded, "Not how I envisioned having a baby." He shook his head.

"It's gonna get better, man." Punk nodded as Dean just sighed.

Anna and AJ eventually came into the living room after chatting in the kitchen. AJ was going over what sort of things she was going to say and what sort of things she was going to ask Anna on the stand. She also wanted to advise her on what her mother's lawyers would ask her during the cross examination. AJ was taking it all very serious. It was very personal. The most personal case she'd ever had. This was her niece.

"Hi, baby." AJ whispered as she sat down beside Punk where Frankie immediately put his hands out to go to her as Anna smiled and watched as she took Frankie into his arms, blowing his little dark wispy hair out of his face as the one year old giggled.

"You know what's gonna go on?" Dean asked, watching as his girlfriend sat down beside him slowly. She was still super tired after being discharged from hospital.

"Yeah, AJ's explained it all to me." Anna said, hiding her hands in her sweater and sitting back on the couch, "I just would rather it be tomorrow than in a few weeks." She shook her head. It was incredibly hard as a mother, especially after two sad miscarriages, for them to be parted to soon from their baby girl. It hurt even more that it was her own mother who had done this to them. She would never ever forgive her, or forget it.

"I said it to Dean." Punk said, "I know it's easy for me to say, but you just gotta push through it and… and you'll get her. Keep a cool head. Don't give into any sort of anger that you feel. Your mother isn't gonna win this. I was around AJ when she was studying in law school. She scared me a little." Punk admitted as AJ smiled as did Anna and Dean.

"Yeah, me too." Dean scoffed.

"She'll take your mom down, piece by piece." Punk said as AJ nodded in agreement, "And Skyler will come home, you gotta tell yourself that." He said.

"I know it's just… it's hard." Anna said, "She's supposed to be my mom. She's a horrible person." Anna shook her head, "I mean I knew that but… hearing what she said to your mom, how she looked down on her, and then how she… how she looked down on you two." She looked from Dean to Punk, "Especially when your mom and dad helped her, when they didn't have to." She said, "I don't know what her problem is."

"She's pretentious and thinks about herself." AJ said, "That's her problem. She's also probably bitter about the fact she lost a best friend to a boyfriend and two sons." AJ nodded, "She's possessive. She was possessive with Vanessa and clearly very possessive of you." She nodded to Anna, "She probably thinks Skyler is hers to be possessive over now…. But… she's not getting that chance. Trust me." She said Anna nodded.

"When do you want to visit?" Dean asked Anna who sighed.

"I'd go tomorrow if I could." She sighed. But she knew her health had to be considered, "In a few days." She nodded, "I just… I hope it's not too hard to say goodbye. We only get an hour." She said as Punk nodded.

"Better than nothing." Dean shrugged as Anna nodded in agreement.

"Will Jean be there?" Punk asked AJ as Anna and Dean looked over.

"She might be." AJ said, "Honestly it's up to her. If she wants to be there to… supervise, she'll be there. If not then she won't. If she is there, please promise me that you both keep a cool head. You have no idea what context things can be used in court. If you don't think you have anything decent to say, stay quiet. Don't say anything." AJ said, "I know it'll be so hard to bite your tongue, but it'll benefit you in court, trust me." She said as they both nodded. They felt assured by AJ, especially with her legal knowledge of how things could go, and they appreciated her help.

"We appreciate the help." Dean nodded.

"You can thank me when she's home in a few weeks." She nodded positively as they both smiled, "What do you say we stay and order a pizza? I'll get Keala from school and pick it up on the way home?" She asked them. She knew that above anyting else, comfort and company was something Dean and Anna would need.

"Yeah, sure." Anna smiled.

"Maybe then me and Keala can have a chat about this boyfriend stuff." Dean said casually.

"Oh, don't." AJ said, "Phil almost died in his sleep last night because of it." She shook her head as Dean smiled. He was grateful for his family at this difficult time.


Later that night, Paige had gone to the car garage in hopes to find Dean. She wanted to see if he and Anna were holding up ok and if they needed her to do anything. Their relationship was very simple and casual, and she viewed Dean as a good friend, even though they shared a son. She thought it was dreadful what had happened with their newborn daughter and wanted to make sure they knew she was there to help.

CJ was with a friend, and so before picking him up she headed into the garage. She didn't suppose he would be there necessarily, but he didn't want to go to the house incase they didn't want to be disturbed, so she thought it was safer to try the garage.

She walked on in, saying hello to a few familiar faces and walking around the garage, being told that Dean wasn't there and was taking a few personal days. She nodded and headed off back out when she paused outside the office, hearing Sam on the phone. She was well aware of the problems Sam had created for Punk and Dean, more so Punk, but after hearing Dean's name, she stood against the half closed door and listened into the conversation.

"How is she doing?" Sam asked through the phone as Paige raised a brow, "I wish I could have saw the look on the brothers faces." He laughed as Paige tilted her head, "They think they'll win the case with the Puerto Rican lawyer." He said, "Idiots."

Paige stood in shock as she listened in, not believing her ears.

"No, you're right. She's better off with you. You can give her so much more stability, Jean." Sam nodded, as though talking to his master, "Think of the more quality of life she's going to have with you. It's really no custody war when it's like… comparing a lion with a rat." He laughed, "The sad thing is, they think they'll win." He said meanwhile Paige listened in to everything behind the door, placing her hand over her mouth.


A/N: Let me know what you think!