John awoke to the sound of Punk's phone going off. He was still wrapped around Punk in the same way they had fallen asleep. He heard Punk pick up the phone, the ringing silenced, and then set it back on the bedside table. This happened two more times until the phone stopped ringing but John could still hear it vibrating on the table.

"Maybe you should answer that, whoever is calling seems very insistent."

"Mothers can be that way."

"After what happened last night I'm not surprised. She's probably really worried about you, you should answer her."

"If you think it's so important you talk to her," Punk said, picking up his phone and tossing it over his shoulder in John's general direction. Punk's mood seemed to have shifted from silent and withdrawn to sullen and slightly hostile. John didn't know if he should just let Punk be or put himself in Punk's line of fire and insist that Punk speak to his mother.

The phone began to vibrate again and John answered it, putting it on speaker phone.

"Hi, it's John. Phil's right next to me." Punk tried to get up but John held on to him, keeping him anchored to the bed.

"Philip, we need to talk."

"Isn't that exactly what we're doing right now?" Punk said nastily.

"Considering what happened last night I'm going to ignore the tone of that response. You need to come to Chicago."

"I can't. I have house show commitments," John just shook his head because they did not have any house shows until the 17th in Montreal.

"Nice try but I checked the WWE website you don't have any house shows."

"Then why did you ask."

"To see what you would say and if you're bold faced lying to your mother then you obviously need to get your ass on a plane ASAP."

"We'll take the next flight out," John said, after Punk had been silent for an extended period of time.

"I'll see you two then," and Punk's Mom disconnected then call.

"Thank you so fucking much for that."

John could feel his temperature rising at Punk's hostile response. He had given Punk his space but this was the end of enough.

"I left you alone last night but don't take your anger out on me. Jericho is a vindictive jerk who went way, way over the line last night. I can't be here for you unless you let me in so stop living up to your nickname and talk to me."

"I talked to you last night."

"Yeah, because you were too shocked to go to your usual defense mechanism so you kicked your belt across the room and took out a mirror and fucked up your hand. You're going to need that hand when you see Jericho next if I know you at all. You need to go to Chicago and talk to your Mom."

"Fine."

John arranged the flight to Chicago for him and Punk. Punk kept silent through the entire flight but John didn't try to get Punk to talk to him. A plane was not the place to risk Punk letting loose his anger and he had agreed to come to Chicago so that at least was something. They took a cab to Punk's Mom's house but Punk just stared at the door. John reached across him and opened the cab door.

"We're here, no avoiding it now, go."

"Aren't you coming in?"

"This is probably a conversation that you need to have with you Mom alone. I'll be waiting for you at the apartment."

John was surprised when Punk leaned over and kissed him briefly and left the cab. John watched as Punk walked to the front door and saw it open and Punk's Mom gave him a hug. He gave their address to the cab driver and left Punk to it.

"I'm glad you came."

"You wanted to talk, so let's talk."

"I know I can't fix this situation. I actually wanted you to come so that I can give you this," and she walked over to the bookcase, removed a book and took out an envelope that was pressed between the pages. She handed it over to Punk. Although it had been more than a decade he recognized the handwriting.

"What is this?"

"The 9th step is making amends. You were too young when he gave this to me when he was in rehab and then after you got older I didn't think you would be very receptive to it, but that vicious little shit has brought this all to a head so I think it's time you read this."

"I don't want to read anything that asshole has to say."

"You may not want to but I think it's time. I'm not going to demand you sit here and read it right now, just promise me that you'll read it and not just tear it up. Promise me."

"I promise. I'm going to go now. I'll bring John by before we leave."

"I love you Philip, remember that."

"Love you too, Mom."

John arrived at the apartment and collapsed on the couch. He was really worried about what kind of mood Punk was going to be in when he came home. He hoped Punk didn't let out his frustrations on his Mom. He just lay on the couch for a while staring at the ceiling when there was a knock on the door. He answered the door to see two young women standing there with pizza boxes and a few six packs of soda.

"Punk's not here."

"We know that silly. Mom called to say that Phil just left the house but to tell you not to expect him home anytime soon so we came to keep you company," one of the girls told John as they walked past him into the apartment.

"So you're the elusive sisters."

"I'm Shaleen, this is Cassie."

"Hi."

"We've wanted to meet you for a while but Punk seems to like to keep you under lock and key."

"Not that we blame him. If you want any of this awesome Chicago-style pizza you're going to have to take your shirt off."

"Chill, Cass."

"No, seriously, what did Phil ever do to deserve this?" Cassie said, gesturing in John's general direction.

"Be born with a penis, so give it up."

"So how is Phil doing?"

"He's been better."

"What I wouldn't do to get my hands on Jericho," Shaleen said. John recognized the vindictive look on her face that he had seen on Punk's many times.

"Who is Jericho to be talking about being an alcoholic anyway? Dad might have been a horrible father but he never got arrested for public drunkenness. He's lucky Punk is professional enough not to throw Jericho's own fuck-up's right back in his face. If I didn't know that Punk is going to make him pay for it I'd show up ringside with a sign with his mug shot on it."

John knew that science said alcoholism was genetic but it also appeared that holding a grudge and having a taste for revenge was also in the Brooks genetic code.

"So what's Kofi Kingston like?"

"Excuse Cass, she's got a fangirl crush."

"You should ask Phil for an introduction then, they're close friends."

"Really? It's amazing how much one speech can change a person. It's like disinfectant for the soul. First you, now Kofi Kingston? We were worried for a while there that he had completely lost his mind. We kept our distance for a while because there was no way in hell that we were shaving our heads, no matter how much we love the guy."

John heard a key turning in the lock and Punk walked in soaked in his own sweat with Colt following behind him.

"Look who I found in the gym. Hi, we've never met officially, I'm Colt."

John reached out to shake Colt's hand and caught sight of Punk's sisters who were staring Punk down. He looked over to his boyfriend and watched him set his keys and a crumpled up envelope on the table by the door. Punk's sisters exchanged a worried glance and quickly averted their eyes before Punk could catch them staring.

"I'm going to shower real quick, save me some of the veg."

"No promises," Colt called after him.

John moved to get up and follow him but Punk waved him away and walked into their bedroom.

They all stared after Punk and were silent until they heard the shower cut on.

"I thought he was going to pound his way through the conveyor belt on the treadmill. Whatever Punk does to Jericho he deserves."

"It's not just that," Shaleen said quietly.

John turned to her but she wasn't forthcoming with any more details.

Punk returned from the shower, his mood extremely subdued. Punk's sisters plied him with pizza and Pepsi and didn't push for anything more than Punk was willing to share. Punk seemed to relax a little. They settled in to watch a UFC rerun on TV which led to Punk demonstrating submission moves on Colt. He was glad this was one hobby of Punk's that he had never asked to John to participate in. He had seen modifications of some of these moves when Punk was in the ring, especially when he wanted to make someone pay, like Ziggler and Hardy. Punk had put him in some creative submission moves when they had been facing each other in the ring, but at the time he had found them more seductive than painful. After the show was over Colt said his goodbyes, shaking John's hand as he left. Shaleen and Cassie left not long after, Shaleen hugging him in the doorway.

"Take care of him, okay? He's going to need it."

John just nodded his head and closed the door behind them.

"Let's go to bed," Punk said, grabbing the crumpled envelope and making his way to the bedroom. They both stripped down to their boxers and got in bed, Punk laying his head on John's chest and handing him the envelope.

"Read it to me, please."

John opened the sealed envelope and his eyes flicked down to the signature and then the date. John breathed in deeply and read.

Dear Phil,

I know you are too young to read this letter now, or if you'll ever read it, but I need to try to apologize to you any way I can. I know that I put you and our family through hell and I wish I could get those years back but I know I can't change the past. No father wants to live with the fact that they ruined their son's childhood but that is exactly what I did. No child should have to live in fear of their own father.

John paused when he started to feel Punk's tears wet his chest.

"Keep reading," Punk choked out, grabbing the dog tags around John's neck and gripping them tightly.

Being here in rehab and truly sober for the first time in a decade I can see the things that I've done clearly and I'm horrified by it. Being in here I've accepted that I'm an alcoholic and will be for the rest of my life. I hope that I will be able to never drink again and try to make amends to the people around me whose lives I destroyed with my drinking. I know I have no right to ask for it but I hope one day that you can forgive me for everything I've put you through.

Love

Dad

John held Punk tightly as he started to sob against his chest. His heart broke as he listened to Punk cry himself to sleep.

John woke to find Punk playing with his dog tags with a somber look on his face, his eyes red-rimmed and swollen.

"When did you change these?" Punk asked, reading the list of John's family's names on the tags with his own added to the bottom.

"When we broke up. I wanted to keep you close to my heart."

"That's sickeningly romantic…but sweet. I love you," Punk said, leaning up to kiss John deeply. John let Punk control the kiss, wanting to give Punk anything he asked of him. Punk broke off the kiss and laid his head back on his chest. John remained silent, waiting for Punk to bring up the heart-wrenching letter he had read last night.

"What do you think I should do?"

"Phil, you know I can't answer that for you."

"I want to hate him. If there's anything in my life that I always knew would be constant is my hate for that man. With the letter and everything that's happened I don't know how to respond. I always despised him for not having the guts to apologize to me but I guess he was just waiting for me to make the first move. I'm not sure if I can make it."

Remaining silent was killing John but he knew he had to let Punk get there on his own.

"Do you think I should call him?"

"If that's what you want."

"John. I'm asking for your opinion here."

"You don't have to forgive him but you could let him have the chance to apologize to you face-to-face. Screw how he feels about it but I think it might make you feel better."

"Cass talks to him from time to time. I think I'll call her and ask for his number."

John listened as Punk made the call to Cass and then held his phone in his hands and didn't say a word for what seemed like an hour. John held his breath as Punk dialed the number, not sure if Punk wouldn't just end the call the second he heard his father's voice.

"It's Phil...I read your letter…Yes, I'm in town…I can do that. Where?...I'll see you at noon," Punk hung up the phone and sat there, breathing deeply with his eyes closed.

"You're coming with me, right?"

"Phil, I don't know…"

"I'm not going if you're not with me. I won't be able to have that conversation without you next to me."

"Whatever you want, I'll do it."

The time for the meeting finally rolled around and they walked to a coffee place close by. John immediately found Punk's father sitting at a table outside. Punk looked just like him.

"Phil, I'm so glad you came. Introduce me to your friend?"

"I'm John. I'm Phil's…"

"I know. Cass told me. I'm happy to meet you. Why don't you two take a seat? Do you want anything?"

"Nothing for me."

Punk was turning down caffeine? That did not bode well for this conversation.

"I see you on TV every week but it's not the same as seeing you in person."

"You watch?"

"Of course. I miss you; I'll take whatever I can get."

"I don't know what you expect…"

"I'm not expecting anything from this conversation. I know you won't just forgive me out of the blue. Why would you? I just wanted to see you and hope that we might be able to talk or see each other once in a while. Whatever you're comfortable with. There's just something I have to say and I hope you'll give me the chance…

John sat there silent and still as a statue, not wanting to make any impact on the conversation. He watched as Punk nodded at his father.

"I want to apologize to you for hurting you and forcing you to see and deal with things that no child should. I know I took something away from you that you can never get back and I'm so sorry for that. I hope one day that you can forgive me."

John felt Punk squeeze his hand under the table tightly before responding.

"I can't make any promises but I'll try."

"That's all I can ask for."

"John and I have to get going," Punk said, standing up and John following after him. Punk's father stood up and moved quickly, hugging Punk with Punk's arms hanging limply by his sides. Punk's father pulled back and quickly wiped his eyes.

"When you see that smart mouthed jackass Jericho next, give him a punch in the mouth for me."

"That I can promise," and Punk made his way down the street with John by his side.

Their hands kept brushing against each other's while they walked. John desperately wished he could clasp Punk's hand in his, knowing Punk needed it after that conversation but knowing they were in public and could now show any displays of affection. They finally made it back to the apartment and Punk was in John's arms immediately.

"Do you feel any better?"

"I don't know, it's too soon I think," Punk said, leading John over to the couch and following John down, lying curled up in his arms for most of the afternoon, talking quietly.

AN: This is a short chapter but I think it says a lot more than a word count can judge. It was difficult and painful subject matter but it practically wrote itself. Although I still love writing this story I sense that interest is waning and maybe it's time to bring this epic to an end. Tell me what you honestly think, review or PM if you prefer.