History Lesson

"I can't just leave Celeste." AJ said into the phone as she prepared breakfast for Petra who was still sleeping.

"You shouldn't have told this guy across the hall anything." Celeste said to her.

"It's been two days and no one has come to arrest me or take Petra. He seems genuine." AJ insisted. "And Petra really likes him. He keeps giving her comics."

"That's all well and good but this isn't something you should blab about." Celeste argued. "You don't know him!"

"I know but I need help and I know he isn't a cop and he can help me." AJ said to her. "I need someone backing me up."
"You said this guy is a criminal are you want him around your daughter?" Celeste asked.

"He claims he's not a criminal and not for nothing there's nothing shady going on at his place. And obviously it's not like I leave Petra with him or anything." She said to her. "You don't trust my mothering skills?"

"All I'm saying is one monster in Petra's life is enough." Celeste said simply.

"I have a good feeling about him. He seems to care." AJ confided.

"You also had good feelings about Seth." Celeste pointed out.

"Like I've told you before I regret nothing with Seth since it gave me Petra." AJ said to her.

"Mommy?" Petra asked walking out of her room.

"I have to go." AJ said quickly and hung up. "Morning baby. Pancakes?"

"Yum." She grinned climbing into her chair.

Someone knocked on the door the minute AJ placed the pancakes onto Petra's dish.

"Punk." AJ greeted.

"Hi I have those things you asked for." He said quietly.

"Oh thanks." She said stepping aside to let him in.

"Hi Mr. Punk!" Petra greeted from the table with a wave.

"Hey kid." Punk smirked then looked towards AJ. "Here, these documents should be good enough to get her enrolled in school and get you a job." he passed her an envelope.

"Thank you so much." she said relieved.

"Don't apply at anywhere too big though because with enough digging they could figure it out." he said to her. "There's some shops around here that will probably take you and just look at the ID and not even process it."

"Thank you again and how much do I owe you?" AJ asked him.

"Nothing." Punk said quietly. "A guy owed me a favor and took care of it for me."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I really should pay."

"I didn't pay so why should you?" he asked.

"Do you want pancakes Mr. Punk?" Petra asked from the table.

"I made plenty." AJ said to him. "I saw your pancake tattoo." she noted pointing at his arm. "It's the least I could do."

"Sure. I am a sucker for pancakes." Punk smirked sitting at the table.

"I finished the comics you gave me." Petra told him digging into her pancakes. "You can have them back."

"Nah you keep them and I have more I'll give you." Punk said biting into the pancakes. "These are delicious."

"Thank you very much." AJ said smugly as she placed a cup of coffee in front of him now.

"Can I have more juice?" Petra asked holding out her glass and AJ arched her eyebrow. "Please?" She added cutely.

"Yes you may." AJ smiled taking the glass.

"I had a lot more at home too." Petra told Punk. "I had hundreds!"

"No way." Punk teased.

"Yes way!" Petra told him. "My dad would buy me one every Saturday."

"Here's your juice." AJ said passing Petra back her glass hoping she'd stop talking about Seth.

"Yea? You have a lot of comic book shops where you're from?" Punk asked innocently.

"Enough about comics." She announced sitting down with her own plate.

"You have a lot of drawings on you." Petra said admiring Punk's colorful arms.

"Those are tattoos honey." AJ said to her.

"Oh like what daddy has?" Petra asked. "My daddy has my face tattooed on him. He said it's because he loves me. And he has symbols on his back."

"That's very nice." Punk forced out. "You should only put things you love on your body."

"I love pancakes like you so I can have a pancake tattoo, right mommy?" Petra asked.

"We'll have the tattoo talk when you're older." AJ grinned.

Breakfast was nice and peaceful and Petra asked Punk about almost all of his tattoo's and their meanings. But as much as Punk enjoyed a nice home cooked breakfast for the first time in a long time he had to get back to work. Still working on making connections and try to get an introduction to the big boss. He was getting the itch to just go back home but he remembered the bigger picture. He was warned before attempting to go under for this that it would take a long time before he even made it close. The people he was around were scum and he'd love nothing more to than arrest all of them but this was the hard part of the job. Deciding on what to let slide for the bigger picture and he had his eyes sight.

Punk wasn't back home until almost 2 in the morning and went right to his mailbox which is how the department communicated with him for the most part. He never knew if he was being watched so he was careful to never be seen around his friends or colleagues. When he walked into the main lobby of his building he noticed a man he hadn't seen before sitting in a chair by the doors. Detective Punk would have been all over him, undercover Punk had to ignore it no matter how curious he was.

"Hey." The man called out and Punk was smiling on the inside. He looked over his shoulder towards the man and eyed him.

"What?" Punk asked gruffly.

"Relax." Dean grinned coming to his feet. "And before you get all ballsy." he said lifting his shirt to show his police badge to him. Punk saw it was from Jersey then looked at Dean.

"That doesn't work here." Punk pointed out. "I don't talk to cops."

"What about for the right price?" Dean asked reaching into his pocket and pulling out money.

"What do you want?" Punk asked annoyed as he pretended to be interested in the money.

"Have you seen these two?" he asked handing Punk a picture of AJ and Petra. "No one really talks in this building except for a janitor who swears he's seen them in this building before."

Punk looked at how happy Petra looked at what he assumed to be the park. AJ was in the photo as well and seemed less happy, she had a protective arm around Petra while she forcefully smiled even though he could clearly see a black eye. He handed the picture back to the scruffy blonde man.

"Nope." he lied expertly.

"You sure about that?" Dean asked him.

"Yea. What's it to you?" Punk asked. "She doesn't look like a criminal."

"She took her daughter out of town without permission from the father." Dean told him.

"So she's wanted?" Punk asked.

"April's husband would like to keep the police out of it for the sake of his daughter." Dean said and Punk nodded.

"But here you are." Punk grinned sarcastically.

"I'm a family friend." Dean said to him.

"Sure." Punk laughed. "Haven't seen them and I've lived her for a while now."

"You sure about that?" Dean asked.

"A hundred percent." Punk said simply. "What's your plan anyway? You're not going to arrest her so what's the big plan?"

"I can be very convincing." Dean said to him and passed him a $50 bill. "There's more where that came from if you see anything."

"Like I said I haven't seen them." Punk said to him.

"I'll be hanging around a few days anyway." Dean informed him and Punk was annoyed by this but just nodded. "You'll be able to find me easy."

"Right." Punk said a little coldly then walked to the stairs and took them up.

Punk walked to his door but then decided to knock on AJ's. He knew he'd be waking her but he didn't want her to wander downstairs either.

"Yea?" AJ asked and she seemed surprisingly awake.

"Didn't meant to wake you." Punk said to her.

"You didn't." She said eyeing him. "Is something wrong?"

"There's a Detective from New Jersey downstairs looking for you." Punk said to her and her eyes widened.

"Is it Seth?" she asked almost going completely pale.

"No he said his name is Dean." Punk informed her and she turned and walked into her apartment and Punk followed her in.

"I need to get Petra and go." she said running into the kitchen and moving the chair. Punk was impressed that she was hiding things all over the apartment.

"You can't go he'll see you." Punk insisted.

"You didn't tell him you've seen us right?" AJ asked.

"Of course not." Punk said almost offended. "Doesn't mean someone else won't."

"So what do I do?" she asked him.

"He'll be going home soon. Keep the door locked." Punk instructed. "If you leave he'll see you."

"If I stay he'll find us." she cried.

"Dean is ruthless." AJ whispered careful not to wake Petra. "Seth is bad but he learned it from Dean. He'll kill me just to take Petra."

"He's not going to kill you." Punk said to her.

"I need to get out of here I don't even have a weapon." she said to him.

"You have me." Punk said to her. "I'll stay here until he goes."

"In the apartment?" She asked unsurely. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Do you think you could hold him off on your own?" Punk asked. "Don't you want your daughter safe?"

"Of course I do." AJ said to him.

"I'm the man to do that." he said to her sitting in the chair. "You can sleep I'll keep an eye out."

"Why are you doing this?" AJ asked him. "You don't even know us and I'm not even sure you believe my story."

"I believe you or I wouldn't be here." Punk said to her.

"You can't be what you make yourself out to be." AJ said to him. "You've been too nice."

"I am what I am." Punk said simply.

"I don't think I'm going to sleep until Dean is out of the building do you want a cup of coffee?" she offered.

"I'd love one." He said in a tired voice.

"Long night at...work?" She questioned.

"You don't believe I'm a bouncer?" he asked.

"You just know an awful lot about me." AJ noted.

"I wouldn't say that April." Punk smirked not looking at her but knowing she was probably stunned. "Dean said that was your name."

"So you know everything." She said from the kitchen.
"Don't know your last name." Punk said to her. "I won't press you either."

"I appreciate that." AJ mumbled. "Even thought what's the difference now? You know enough to get me locked away for a long time. I learned that from your attorney friend."

"You met with him? Good." Punk said as she handed him a cup of coffee.

"He said as long as Seth hasn't filed for anything back home I should be in the clear but I can't be sure." She said to him.

"If you gave me your last name I could look into it." Punk reminded her.

"How again? Bouncer by night and PI by day?" She teased.

"Something like that." He said to her reaching over to put his coffee down and that's when AJ saw he had a gun on him.

"Bouncers normally carry guns?" AJ asked nervously.

"It's not what you think." He said standing up but she backed away.

"I think you should go." AJ said to him forcing a smile. "I packed up my daughter so she'd be away from violence- "

"-please let me explain." He insisted.

"I really want you to leave." she said to him moving closer to her daughter's door.

"AJ it's really not what you think." He assured her with a laugh. "Do you want me to me leave you and Petra on your own?"

"I don't need anymore guns or violent men around her." she said to him. "You've been nice and it's not personal, well I guess it is and-"

"I'm a cop." he told her bluntly.

"You're what?" she asked narrowing her eyes.

"I'm an undercover police officer." He said to her. "I'm working on something a few blocks over."

"You're going to arrest me." she said with a laugh and placed her hands on her head and began to pace. "I'm going to jail! I'm going to loose-"

"If I was going to arrest you I would have the minute you told me what happened." he said to her. "But you've done nothing illegal as far as I can tell your husband hasn't put out an APB on Petra or you. Right now you're a mother who moved somewhere new with her daughter. Also with all the evidence you have I don't even think I could make a case stick even if I wanted to which I don't."

"Isn't it your legal obligation to report me?" she asked him. "I told you I kidnapped my daughter."

"You're her legal guardian and primary caregiver." Punk said to her. "Also working undercover I can't run around arresting everyone that is breaking the law, sometimes I have to turn a blind eye."

"What's your real name?" AJ asked him.

"Phillip Jack Brooks." he told her honestly. "Born and raised here and 1st grade Detective on the Chicago Police Department and I'd appreciate you not telling anyone or you could blow this case."

"Why would I say anything?" She asked still not sure he was being honest. "You're really a cop?" she asked eyeing him quietly.

"I am. But I'm a better one than your husband." He assured her.

"That's your connection." AJ said smiling at her own stupidity.

"I can find out everything that's going on with your husband, if he's working, if he's pressing charges." Punk said to her.

"You don't look like a cop." she noted.

"I'm not supposed to." he laughed. "Also this body art kind of got me pushed into UC work quicker."

"I had a feeling something was off about you but I didn't think it was this." AJ said folding her arms.

"I'd apologize for lying but it's kind of my job." He shrugged.

"What kind of case are you working?" she asked him.

"That I can't discuss." Punk said to her then reached into his back pocket and pulled out wallet and opened it to show her his badge. "See?"

"Those ID's you got me..." she trailed off.

"Someone really did owe me a favor." He said to her. "And please don't tell anyone you got them from me." he smirked.

"Are you dirty like Seth was?" she asked him.

"Getting you the ID's wasn't really legal but I'm allowed to break the law to help my UC cases in some capacity. And honestly you don't even need the ID's it's not illegal since Seth didn't petition you but you don't want him to find you so it seems necessary. I really think you should reconsider pressing charges." Punk said to her. "I've never stolen money from a scene, let someone I knew who was guilty of a crime go, taken a bribe or hurt someone innocent."

"So you're not like him." she said and he gave her a weak smile.

"No I'm not." Punk said to her. "And I really do want to help you out as much as I can while I have the time."

"Why is that?"she asked.

"Because when I was a kid I wished my mom did what you're doing for Petra." he said honestly.

"Your dad was abusive?" she asked.

"He sure was." Punk said to her going back to the couch and she followed. "I used to see how my mom would be bruised or limp around the house then I'd see him hit her as I got older then I started getting beat."

"I'm sorry." she said to him.

"Don't be. It's not your fault." Punk said to her. "I get what you're doing and it's scary I'm sure but I respect the hell out of you for doing it."

"Did you resent your mom?" she asked him.

"No. She was scared." Punk said simply. "Everyone is different in those kind of situations and I don't judge anyone. But like I said I respect you for it."

"I'm scared." She admitted.

"You should be." he said to her. "Doing it this way you're always going to look over your shoulder."

"I know." She said looking at her hands.

"I'm going to help you with that. The minute I get somewhere on this case I'll help you." he promised her.

"You don't have to do that." AJ said to him.

"I really do. First of all I'm a cop and I should be protecting you and most importantly I want to." he said to her.

"Could you do me a favor?" she asked standing up and lifting the cushion to pull out that notebook again. "Can you hold this at your place?"

"Why?" he asked taking it from her.

"If Dean is around I don't care if he makes off with the money it's that." she said pointing at the book. "That will prove to any judge that Seth is abusive and if something happens to me they won't leave Petra with him." she said to him. "I told him I have it and I'm sure he'll have Dean look for it."

"Yea I'll hold onto it." he promised. "But I don't think you're going to have a problem."

"Really? Because I do." she laughed. "You don't know Seth. He's smart and cunning and he never gives up."

"How did you two meet?" he asked.

"During College orientation. He was the senior guide." she said to him.

"So he's older." Punk noted.

"He is." She nodded. "He was very persistent in asking me out and very sweet at the same time. Then he joined the force and he changed."

"He wasn't abusive when you dated?" Punk asked.

"No. It wasn't until after Petra was born." she admitted. "We used to go out a lot and he was making good money and he loved to go to clubs and enjoy himself and so did I but once Petra came my priorities changed. I knew about him being with other women when Petra was six months."

"Why didn't you leave him?" he asked.

"I tried." she admitted. "But he told me he'd take Petra that a judge would always agree with the cop, he'd stage evidence. But when he almost hit her I didn't even care. I spent months slipping money here and there, packing clothes, setting up a rental car- I hated leaving that house and lying to Petra but I didn't have a choice at least that's what I thought. How did they even find me here?"

"They probably got a tip. I'd lay low for a few days even after Dean leaves." Punk suggested.

"Or maybe I should just go." she said to him.

"It's best if you stay here because once he leaves here he'll look somewhere else. I doubt he'll come back." he said to her. "Besides I'll keep an eye on you two."

"Don't you have your own case to worry about?" she asked.

"I do but that doesn't keep my very occupied believe it or not." he said to her with a laugh.

Punk and AJ talked most of the night until finally AJ feel asleep with her head resting on Punk's shoulder. He on the other hand was up the entire night watching the door and making sure the New Jersey Detective didn't come knocking.

"Hi." a little voice greeted and Punk turned his head slightly and saw Petra rubbing her eyes.

"Morning." he said to her. "You're up early, no?"

"Early bird-" Petra started.

"-gets the worm." He finished with a laugh. "How could I forget."

"Is mommy still sleeping?" Petra asked.

"Yea she is." He said carefully moving AJ who was still out cold.

"Did you sleep with her?" Petra asked and he was startled by the question as he stood up.

"What?" he asked nervously.

"On the couch?" Petra clarified.

"Oh um yea I guess we did." Punk admitted. "Do you need something?"
"Breakfast." Petra said blandly.

"Oh ok." he said walking into the kitchen.

"Mommy usually makes me breakfast." Petra noted.

"Yea but I thought we'd let her sleep." Punk said looking around. "Donuts, perfect!" he said grabbing one out of the box and putting it on a napkin before her. "Milk?"

"Ok." Petra said looking at the donut.

"You're not allergic are you?" he asked her.

"No it's just mommy says donuts are for a snack and not a breakfast food." Petra noted.

"Oh." Punk said slowly. "Well your mommy is sleeping." he smirked.

"That is true." Petra agreed and picked up the donut and ate it in three bites.

Petra looked just like her mother, long dark hair, short and a bit of a sassy personailty.

"Impressive." Punk laughed and watched as she downed her milk.

"Are you our friend?" Petra asked him.

"I'd like to think so." Punk said to her. "Why?"

"Because I need your help." she whispered.

"Sure with what?" he asked.

"I want to see my daddy." she said to him.

"That's not up to me." he said to her quickly.

"I miss him a lot." Petra noted. "I know him and mommy aren't friends anymore."

"How do you know that?" Punk asked.

"They would yell a lot and mommy would cry a lot. She used to sleep in my room with me when he was yelling a lot." Petra confided. "She would tell me to pretend like I was sleeping. He was always mad at her."

"That's nothing for you to worry about." Punk said to her.

"But that's why I can't see him." Petra insisted. "And daddy would yell at me too but he always said he was sorry. If I tell him to tell mommy he was sorry we can go back home."

"I don't think it works like that." Punk frowned. "Give your mom some time and she'll figure it out."

"Sorry I'm up." AJ said sitting up.

"It's ok Mr. Punk already made me breakfast." Petra told her.

"You can just call me Punk." Punk smirked at her.

"A donut huh?" AJ teased seeing the powder around her daughter's mouth.

"Sorry." Punk smiled.

"It's ok." AJ laughed. "Go wash up." she said to Petra.

Loud banging at the door startled AJ and Petra but Punk barely flinched.

"Hello?" a voice asked banging. "It's the police."

"Dean." AJ whispered to Punk.

"Uncle-" Petra started happily but AJ clasped her hand over her mouth.

"Take her into the bedroom and lock the door." Punk instructed her.

AJ kept her hand over Petra's mouth and carried her into the bedroom quickly. The knocking continued and Punk opened the door with ease.

"Oh it's you." Dean said eyeing him.

"That's right." Punk said to him. "Is there a reason you're waking me up this early?"

"Yea someone told me that the girls I'm looking for live on this floor." Dean said to him.

"Well I live here." Punk shrugged.

"You have a nice place." Dean glanced in. "A woman's touch I would say."

"You think I'm shacking up with a woman and her kid?" Punk laughed. "My girlfriend might mind that." Punk lied expertly.

"Right." Dean laughed. "What about the people across the hall? No one answered." He asked pointing to Punk's place.

"Elderly woman lives in there. She can barely hear her TV let alone someone knocking at her door." he lied.

"Alright sorry to have woken you up." Dean said to him but as he began to walk away he turned and looked back at Punk. "You know if you're lying to me there's going to be a problem, right?"

"That a fact?" Punk chuckled amused by the threat.

"This little girl is very important to my friend and her mother has a way of manipulating things hope she didn't latch onto the first guy she met and is now risking his life for something that's going to end soon anyway." Dean said to him coolly.

"Aren't you a cop?" Punk asked still smiling.

"I am." Dean said tapping his badge with his finger.

"Some cop you are." Punk noted. "I don't know where they are and if I did I wouldn't tell you shit anyway." he then closed and locked the door.

Punk peeked through the peephole and watched as Dean made his way next door and after a brief conversation headed towards the staircase.

"It's ok!" Punk yelled out.

"Uncle Dean!" Petra cried running to the door.

"No Petra." AJ said running after her just as she reached the door.

"I want to see Uncle Dean!" Petra cried. "He'll take me to daddy!"

"We can't see daddy right now he's working." AJ lied.

"He always has time for me!" she cried. "You're just being mean!"

"You'll understand when you're older." AJ insisted feeling her heartbreak.

"Stop saying that! I want to go home to daddy you can stay here!" Petra yelled stomping her foot and Punk tried to look away but it was hard to not witness the heartbreaking scene for himself.

"No." AJ said sternly.

"I hate you!" Petra yelled and then ran into her room and slammed the door.

"I'm sorry." was all Punk could think to say. He placed his hand on her shoulder but she began to sob into her hands. "She didn't mean it." He said gently tugging her against his chest.

"She really does hate me. Seth is the hero and I'm the monster." she cried into his chest.

"She's just a kid." Punk shrugged. "You're doing the right thing." he said running his hand down her back.

"Am I?" she asked pulling away to look up at him.

"If you didn't do this you'd have an abuse journal for Petra to match yours." He told her. "I'm a cop and I've seen it a hundred times. When she's older she'll understand how brave and selfless her mother really is."

AJ looked up at him and gave him a soft smile. She wasn't sure what shifted but he was still holding her and she was still resting against his body. He bowed his head slightly and AJ was going to reach up to kiss him but he pulled away and released.

"I'm going to go check around and see where Dean went." He said to her.

"Right, yea." she said blushing slightly.

"Remember just stay in here for the time being and I'm sure in a few days he'll be gone." Punk said o her. "I'll be back at my place if you need me."

"Ok we should be fine." she said as he hurried to the door. "Wait." She announced and he turned. "My notebook."

"Right." He said taking it. "Keep this locked." he demanded and she nodded.

"Thanks again." She said and he just nodded and ran out of the apartment as if it was on fire.