Chapter 14: By Your Side

The next morning AJ was being released and Punk had stayed with her the entire night. Clearly he hadn't slept the entire night every time she woke up which was frequently he was wide-awake sitting in the chair next to her bed. She felt terrible for him but he insisted that he was fine. Upon leaving the hospital Punk spoke to her doctor for a while making sure he was clear on everything she could or couldn't do.

Punk and AJ arrived back to her apartment in the late afternoon and AJ realized she couldn't get her door open.

"I know I hit my head but I'm pretty sure this is still my place" AJ said to him seriously and he just smirked

"I forgot James changed the locks for you" Punk said pulling out a key and unlocking the door

"Oh that was nice of him" AJ noted stepping inside

"Yea how nice of him to do his own job" Punk remarked stepping in behind her and closing the door

"Everything looks in place" AJ noted as Punk helped her remove her jacket "Except my coffee table is missing"

"Yea" Punk mumbled

"I'm going to go check on some of my valuables" AJ said to him seriously

"Valuables? You have cash here?" he asked surprised

"No my comics" AJ said very seriously and headed into her bedroom. Punk just smirked as he took his own jacket off

"Everything there?" Punk asked

"Yea thankfully" AJ said with a sigh "I don't think anything is really missing" she said glancing around the place "Dr. Reed said coming back here might help me remember"

"Do you?" Punk asked her

"Not right now" AJ said to him "But honestly I don't think I want to remember"

"Yea I wouldn't blame you" he said leading her to the couch "Sit" he instructed "Feet up" he added seriously and she just rolled her eyes and stretched on the couch. He grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and placed it over her

"So how long are you staying?" AJ asked him

"I told you last night I'm here for as long as it takes" Punk shrugged

"Nothing so terrible happened" AJ reminded him "I can move around and take care of myself"

"You're soar and in pain" Punk pointed out and she couldn't argue that. "Also I'm not leaving you here alone until I know you're safe"

"The nurse told me last night that she sees cases like mine a lot and more than half of the time the culprit is never caught" AJ said to him

"That's not acceptable" Punk said seriously

"It's life" AJ argued

"No it's bullshit" Punk said firmly

"This happens all of the time" she reminded him

"Not to you" Punk said to her "Not to someone like you"

"What does that mean?" AJ asked

"You're…I don't know- you're AJ you're this sweet girl that everyone loves- you wouldn't hurt a fly and someone came into your place and tried to rape you" Punk said to her "You didn't deserve that"

"Nobody deserves it" AJ said to him "But it could have been worse"

"How do you know that? You can't even remember it and part of me hopes you never do but another part off me hopes that you do because I want to know who did it" Punk said to her

"If I remembered right now who did it what would you do?" AJ asked him

"I don't want to play 'what ifs'" Punk said brushing off the question

"Do you think more violence is the answer?" AJ asked him before he could respond there was a knock at her door

"Did you tell anyone you were coming home today?" Punk asked her

"No" she said almost nervously making a move to get up

"Stay" Punk said to her "I'll get rid of whoever it is"

Punk opened the door and immediately regretted it.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Punk asked

"Oh chill out Punk" Randy said annoyed and he was holding flowers in one of his hands "I'm here to see how AJ is feeling"

"She doesn't want to see anyone that means you" Punk said to him "So take your cheap flowers and get lost"

"First of all these flowers were over fifty bucks" Randy defended "And I'd rather see AJ for myself"

"Fuck off" Punk said firmly

"Are you itching for a fight Punk?" Randy asked casually "You're looking at the wrong guy"

"Where were you last night?" Punk asked him

"Excuse me?" Randy asked stunned

"Where were you?" Punk repeated slower

"At the performance center" Randy said calmly "Not that I owe you an explanation. I'm a lot of things but I would never put my hands on a woman like that and unlike you I can control my temper so maybe I should be asking you where you were"

"I don't need to beat my girlfriend down to get laid" Punk spat "And don't every come around me talking shit like that again" he threatened

"What do you mean?" Randy asked "Was she- did she-"

"Whoever came in tried to" Punk said knowing he was referring to rape

"Look man all hostility aside I like AJ" Randy said to him "Working with her was a way to get to you yea but she's a hard worker and unlike most people she's not afraid of me and doesn't take my shit. I felt terrible when I heard what happened"

"I bet you were all broken up" Punk remarked sarcastically

"I was I even felt guilty I should have offered to take her home" Randy admitted

"Yea maybe you should have" Punk agreed coldly

"Or maybe if her boyfriend wasn't such a selfish lazy prick this wouldn't have happened" Randy shrugged simply "If you were actually working and traveling with her I'm sure this all could have been avoided as well. I mean you do realize she was only days away from achieving her Diva's title dream?" Punk just bit on his lower lip, he hadn't even thought about that

"Randy" AJ said walking over to them slowly

"Shit" Randy mumbled "AJ you look-"

"Terrible I know" she managed out forcing a smile

"He was just leaving" Punk said to her

"Let him in" AJ said to him

"I won't be long" Randy said accepting AJ's invitation and walking into her place much to Punk's dismay "I got these for you it's not much" he said passing her the flowers

"Thank you" she said taking the roses from him

"We're all really worried about you" Randy said to her

"I'm sure" Punk remarked

"Look I didn't come here to cause problems" he said looking at AJ "I just wanted to give you the flowers and ask if there was anything you needed"

"Punk is taking care of everything for me" AJ said to him

"Good it's about time" Randy remarked glancing back towards Punk who just suppress the urge to respond to avoid a fight another knock at the door caused Punk to groan in annoyance

"Are you going to get that?" Randy asked Punk

"How about you get it since you're on your way out" Punk spat

"Phil" AJ sighed sadly

"Yea, yea" Punk said reaching for the door and now he wasn't sure he was more annoyed by Randy or James "Come on in, it's a party" he remarked sarcastically

"Jesus AJ" James sighed walking right over to her and hugging her

"And you are?" Randy asked the strange man

"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt" James said to him

"This is my landlord" AJ said to Randy "James"

"And you're Randy Orton" James said reaching to shake his hand

"If you both are finished now AJ really needs her rest" Punk forced out as nicely as possible

"Of course I was just dropping off a set of keys for her" James said to him

"Keep a copy for yourself?" Punk questioned

"Only because I have to" James said to him "Your key is in good hands with me" he assured AJ placing a hand on her shoulder but she hissed in pain bit

"You can't see she's all covered in bruises?" Randy asked James annoyed

"It's ok" AJ said to him

"I'm sorry AJ" James frowned "I hate seeing you like this"

"Out" Punk said more firmly he could tell AJ was already getting overwhelmed

"Right sorry" James said to him then gave AJ a light kiss on her cheek "Take care" he said with a warm smile "Nice meeting you" he said to Randy then smiled as he walked past Punk and out the door

"Thanks for the flowers" AJ said to Randy

"No problem and if you need anything don't hesitate to call me" Randy said to her seriously and she nodded "Take your time getting better don't rush it"

"I won't" AJ said to him "I'm going to lay down" she said to Punk and he just nodded

"You let that guy keep a key to your girlfriends place?" Randy asked in a low voice

"Don't push me" Punk warned

"I'm just saying I wouldn't trust the guy" Randy defended "He seems like a fan and I wouldn't trust any fan with a key to my place"

"Gee thanks Detective" Punk remarked

"You know what Punk I'm done trying to be nice to you" Randy informed him "But out of respect to AJ I'm going to let your crappy attitude slide this time"

"You don't think I didn't fight this landlord thing?" Punk asked angrily "I fucking told her I didn't want him to have a key I also told her I didn't want her living here! I told her I'd buy her a house out here but she told me no! I fucking tried ok!"

"Well clearly not hard enough" Randy said to him honestly

"Get out of here" Punk said opening the door for him

"AJ needs somebody in her life that is willing to do anything to protect her" Randy said to him "I just don't think that you're the man for the job" he then walked out the door

"Why didn't you hit him?" AJ asked startling him "Even I was getting ready to hit him"

"He's not wrong" Punk said locking the door

"You think James had something to do with this?" AJ asked him "He is the one that found me you know"

"No it's not that well maybe a little" Punk shrugged

"So what is he right about?" AJ asked confused

"Me protecting you" Punk said and she chuckled lightly

"Oh please Punk" AJ said with a smile "You're my boyfriend not my bodyguard and we live on opposite ends of the country. Besides I apparently defended myself" she said proudly

"It's a man thing" Punk said walking over to her "I knew this place was trouble that's why I wanted you to move, that's why I stayed while you were gone"

"So what do you want me to say?" AJ asked with a sigh "You were right and I was wrong? Fine" she said

"No that's not what I want" Punk said to her "I want to go back in time and be here with you last night"

"You really think you could have taken the guy?" she asked and he just shot her a glare "I'm kidding" she smirked grabbing his hand "I'm really tired and all I want to do is get changed and curl up in bed next to you" she said to him "Stop kicking yourself and help me now"

"Ok" He whispered and she kissed his cheek

Punk followed AJ into her bedroom and watched as she tried to get her socks off.

"Let me" Punk said getting on his knees and pulling off her socks

"I think my feet is the only part of me that isn't cut or bruised" AJ smirked "Could you grab me a shirt and a pair of pajama pants?"

"Pants?" Punk asked opening her second drawer "You're going to be hot"

"Not if you turn the air up" She suggested

"Or you can wear shorts" Punk said passing her the requested clothes

"I just don't want to" AJ said snapping "Sorry I'm just tired"

"It's fine" Punk said to her

"Could you give me a minute?" she asked gesturing to the clothes

"You want me to leave?" he asked surprised

"Yea I just want to get changed" she said to him

"Ok" he said unsurely "I thought you'd need help though"

"I'll be fine" she said firmly "I can put a pair of pants"

"Alright" Punk said walking out of the room and closing the door

As soon as he walked out the door AJ stood up and stripped her clothes off slowly since any sudden movements hurt her. She looked in her full-length mirror that had photos tucked around all the sides of them and started looking at her battered body. She started to cry and she wasn't sure if it from the physical pain or the image in front of her but she just broke down and that's when her knees gave out. She placed her hand over her mouth in hopes that Punk wouldn't hear her but a moment later he walked in the door.

"What is it?" Punk asked alarmed walking over to her "Oh AJ" he said with a sympathetic face as he was able to see the full product of her beating. He had only seen her face before this so to see the rest of her body that took such a beating. He crouched down so he was eye level with her. "Why don't you let me help you?"

"Look at me" she whispered through tears "I don't want you to see me like this"

"Like what?" Punk asked softly "You're beautiful"

"I'm battered" she corrected

"Let me help you" he insisted, she just nodded slowly and let him help her up carefully. He reached for her pants and let her use his shoulders at balance so she could step into them. As he pulled them up he stopped at her thighs and hips and swallowed a lump in his throat "AJ" he said softly

"The Doctor said he didn't" AJ assured him

"He must have come really fucking close" He muttered looking at the very visible finger shaped bruises around her lower body "Are they sure?" he asked looking her directly in the eyes "You can tell me the truth"

"It didn't happen" AJ said to him "I must have scratched him or something" she said and he just nodded and put her shirt on for her. He took a seat on the bed and tugged her to him so he could tie her pants since they were so lose

"Thank you" AJ whispered softly

"AJ sit" Punk insisted moving to the side so she could sit next to him "We need to be realistic here" he said to her "You can't stay here anymore I know you love it but it's a bad area and I'm not comfortable with it"

"What do you want me to do?" she asked him "This is my home"

"No it's an apartment that you live in it's not your home" Punk said to her "Let me help you"

"No we've talked about this" AJ said firmly

"We'll go half on something" Punk reasoned "Which is fair since I plan on being around a lot"

"No Phil" she said to him

"Please let me help you get something better" Punk frowned "I love you and I want to help you"

"You what?" AJ asked with a frown

"I just want to help" he insisted "Please I promise nothing over the top or too big-"

"Not that" AJ said cutting him off "You love me?"

"Jesus AJ did you really need to hear me say it?" Punk asked seriously "Isn't it obvious to you?" she just watched him as her eyes started to fill up with tears again "I'm clearly not doing the right thing by you if you didn't already know it"

"I know you do" AJ whispered "It's just nice to hear" she admitted with a faint smile "I love you too"

"I know you do" Punk said still very seriously "You've given up a lot for me and now I'm going to return the favor"

"By buying me a place to live?" AJ asked him "I'd feel like a hooker or mistress"

"No AJ" he insisted "I love you, I want you safe, I've got the money and I want to do this for you so why won't you just let me?" he asked almost desperately "Let me take care of you for a change"

"What happens if things go south with us?" AJ asked him

"I'm not going to kick you out on the streets" Punk smirked "Besides we're not going to go south"

"Can I sleep on it?" AJ asked hopefully "I really just want to sleep right now"

"Yea" he agreed and watched as she crawled up the bed

"Stay with me?" she asked hopefully and he just smiled and kicked off his own shoes and crawled up the bed. She turned and curled right into him and he carefully placed his arms around her to keep her close "Tell me you love me" she requested

"I love you" he said without hesitation

"Again" she said softly

"I love you" he whispered kissing the top of her head

"Thank you" she whispered back

"For what?" he asked quietly

"For telling me" she said to him "No one has ever loved me the way that you did"

"And no one ever will" Punk said confidently "I'm going to love you forever"

Across the street in the building opposite of AJ's sat a man looking out his window.

"No I can't go back tonight he's with her….who do you think?…..yea I know….well I didn't even get a chance to take anything she fucking scratched my eyes!….I won't be getting back in there as long as he's in there….no he'll kick my ass his one arm is the size of both of my arms he'll rip me in two!….ok I'll take care of it I mean he has to go home eventually he lives in Chicago right?…yea I know and I'll take care of her" the man then hung up the phone and continued to look out the window with binoculars.