Chapter 19: Normal Again
AJ was sitting up in Punk's bed waiting for him to get out of the shower. She felt ten times better in his home in Chicago then she did in Tampa, which broke her heart since she loved Tampa so much. She leaned back and rested her back against the headboard and smiled softly. When he came out of the shower he had on a pair of boxers and his hair was still wet.
"What are you smiling at?" Punk smirked towards her
"I'm just happy to be here I like it here" she informed him
"Good" Punk said crawling onto the bed "I'm glad you flew down"
"Me too" she admitted happily "I think time away from Tampa is what I needed"
"You can stay as long as you want" Punk said looking up at her
"You've been so good to me" AJ whispered to him
"You're my girl" Punk said to her "It's what I do"
"I was scared" AJ blurted out
"Scared of what?" Punk asked her
"Last night alone in Tampa" she admitted "I slept in my bathtub" she shyly told him
"Just like when you were a little girl" Punk noted
"How do you know that?" AJ asked surprised
"You told me once that your brother convinced you that there was a clown living in your closet and you were so afraid that you grabbed your pillow and slept in your bathtub" Punk reminded her and she smiled lightly
"How could you possibly remember that?" AJ laughed
"It's not a story you could forget" Punk smirked "I thought it was cute"
"Yea I guess" AJ smiled lightly
"Why didn't you call me?" Punk questioned
"What could you have done?" she asked seriously
"I could have stayed on the phone with you" Punk suggested
"I hate bugging you" AJ admitted
"Bugging me? I want to help you AJ" Punk argued
"I kept hearing noises outside" AJ said to him shyly "I kept jumping out of my skin"
"I knew you sounded off when we spoke last night" Punk said to her "I'm sorry"
"Why are you sorry?" AJ asked him
"It's just not fair that you felt the need to sleep in your tub" Punk said to her "I hate that you feel that way"
"I'll grow out of it" AJ said to him
"Yea you will" Punk agreed "But it's going to take some time you need to stop rushing it"
"I just want to move in and forget it. I want to be normal again" AJ said sadly
"You are normal" Punk informed her "You're human you're entitled to be scared"
"You don't think any less of me?" AJ questioned
"No" he said shaking his head "I think you're amazing. Not many people are strong enough to admit they're afraid"
"I feel weak" AJ sighed resting her head against the board and looking down at him
"You're the furthest thing from that" Punk promised her "You're extraordinary"
"So why do I feel the need to hide behind my boyfriend?" AJ asked him
"Because your boyfriend is hot" Punk smirked "Many women want to hide behind me"
"Cute" AJ said with a small laugh
"I love that you feel safe with me" Punk said to her seriously "It means a lot to me that you came to me and was honest about how you were feeling"
"I know you'd never let anything happen to me" she said to him
"I wouldn't" He confirmed "Not that you need my protection because you are one of the toughest women I have ever met"
"You're just saying that" she said shaking her head
"How many women have fend off attacks like that?" Punk asked her "I saw the bruises AJ he was obviously stronger and bigger than you but yet you still fought back a lot of people wouldn't have been able to do that"
"Part of me wishes I could remember" AJ said to him "Another part never wants to"
"I know" he whispered sadly "Remembering could lock up the man who did this but it was also live with you for the rest of your life."
"I just want to go back to being happy and carefree" AJ said to him
"You will I'll make sure of it" Punk said to her "Just give yourself some more time"
"I'm trying" she said to him
"I know" he smirked tugging her down the bed and crawling under the blankets with her "You need some sleep" he said as he turned off the lights and wrapped his arm around her waist "I'm sure you didn't get much yesterday"
"I didn't" AJ sighed "Even though my new bath tub was a lot more spacious then the one I had when I was kid"
"Well you don't have to sleep in the bathtub here" He informed her "I don't have any clowns in my closet" he teased
"Don't make fun of me" she scolded with a giggle
"Clowns aren't bad you know" Punk said to her
"Yes they are! What kind of grown adult puts on makeup and shows up at children's parties?" AJ questioned seriously "Killer clowns- that's who"
"You're crazy" he laughed against her ear
"I'm the sane one" she said trying not to laugh
Though Punk and AJ drove back to his house right after Raw a lot of the talent headed out for the night. Amy had decided to hang out with a few friends and invited her male companion from earlier that night knowing that AJ and Punk weren't going to be around. Paul Heyman sat at the bar with a few of the higher up officials and glanced over and saw Amy chatting with the male AJ was questioning earlier. He just couldn't help but feel like this was all off somehow.
"Wouldn't have pegged you as a bar crawler" Randy Orton said to Paul as he ordered a drink
"I've had a long night I think I deserve a drink or two" Paul said lightly. Even though Punk had issues with Orton, he did not. As a matter of fact all of the talent backstage treated Paul with the respect he deserved. "Who is that?" he asked Randy nodding towards Amy's friend.
"I don't know some friend of Amy's" Randy shrugged not giving it much thought "Why?"
"AJ was asking me" Paul said still looking over to them
"She introduced us but I don't know his name" Randy said to him "I don't even know why she's here right now"
"She's obviously feeling a little lost" Paul said to him
"She looks desperate" Randy said to him "I told her to get lost the other night but she's not taking the hint"
"Yea I've picked up on that" Paul said to him
"Maybe she'll listen to you" Randy said to him "She respects your opinions. Tell her the more she hangs around the worse she looks"
"I don't think she cares" Paul said to him "But I'll have a word with her, just to catch up"
"Well good luck" Randy mumbled "She's really not herself. It's like talking to a brick wall" he then walked away and headed across the bar and Paul stood up and took a seat with Amy at the table she was sitting with
"Hey Paul" Amy smiled
"Amy you look lovely tonight" Paul grinned eyeing the redhead
"Why thank you Paul" Amy said happily
"And you are?" Paul asked turning the man
"This is T" Amy introduced
"T?" Paul asked with a laugh "As in Mr. T?"
"As in none of your business" T spat
"Don't be like that" Amy said to her friend "He's in town visiting"
"Oh you're not from Chicago?" Paul questioned
"No I live in Florida" T said almost annoyed as he looked at his phone
"I love Florida" Paul smiled at the two "Miami is my favorite vacation spot"
"I live in Tampa" T said casually as he laughed at something at his phone
"Tampa is also nice" Paul forced out
"So what's going on Paul?" Amy asked him
"I just wanted to say hello" Paul shrugged simply "I didn't get a chance to really talk to you at the show last night or tonight"
"I was catching up with a lot of people" Amy said to him
"I saw you talking to AJ" Paul said to her and he saw her visibly tense up
"Yea" Amy said coolly "I'd rather not discuss her"
"I bet you wouldn't" Paul smirked
"Is everyone here obsessed with AJ?" T asked looking up at the two "She's all anyone talks about here"
"She's big talk backstage" Paul said to him "She's had quit the rough road"
"She seems fine to me" Amy said to him "I thought she was going to jump all over me"
"Well Punk does like them feisty" T laughed as he looked back down at his phone.
"Really?" Amy asked her friend annoyed
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have mentioned it" Paul said standing up "You two have fun, alright?"
"Good seeing you Paul" Amy said to him and he just nodded and headed back towards the bar
The next morning AJ woke up with a smile on her face when she realized she was in her boyfriends Chicago home.
"Wake up" AJ said nudging Punk who just grunted and pulled her closer to him
"Why?" he mumbled in a sleepy voice
"It's morning" she said to him "I want to go for a run"
"Later" he said dozing back off
"Now" she argued lightly "I have to get back in shape"
"You're in fantastic shape" he assured her "Sleep" he demanded
"I slept already" she said to him and she watched as he opened his eyes
"You're a pain in the ass" Punk said to her "Anyone ever tell you that?"
"Just a few" AJ said innocently and that's when Punk rolled on top of her
"I know you like to start your mornings off with a run" Punk said as he cradled himself in-between her legs "I prefer to have a different start to my morning" he said kissing her lips lightly
"I can tell" she moaned lightly as he grinned against her and he was already hard.
"We can work out here for a little, take a shower, go for a run then shower again" he said nipping at her lips again
"I like this agenda" AJ smiled as he began to kiss her neck
"I thought you would" he smiled against her skin "How do you always smell so good?" he asked seriously "I just want to devour you all of the time" he nipped at her skin causing her moan lightly
"It's just body wash…" she trailed off
"No it can't be. Your skin is intoxicating" he argued
"Intoxicating?" she giggled
"I'm trying to seduce you and you laugh at me?" Punk asked halting all movements and looking up at her and now she was really laughing
"You don't have to try so hard" she laughed "You already got me in your bed"
"I'm a romantic guy" Punk said firmly
"Oh yea" she mocked still laughing
"I am totally romantic" Punk defended
"You are" she said as if she was pacifying him
"I am!" He defended yet again "There is not a man on this planet who could sweep you off your feet like I can" he said to her
"Obviously" she smiled "You are romantic"
"Damn right" Punk said to her
"The Cubs game was totally romantic" AJ said to him and narrowed his eyes at her
"What about that dinner in Tampa?" Punk asked her
"The one you cooked?" she asked
"No the one I took you out for" Punk said to her "And then there was….I'm sure there's more"
"I'm just teasing you" AJ said to him "You have effectively swept me off of my feet"
"I've been romantic" Punk said now thinking about himself
"You're totally romantic" she said arching into him "Now where were we?" she asked seductively but he pulled his face away from hers "I was kidding! I don't even like romance! I hate flowers and candy"
"I'm going to take you out" Punk said to her "Tomorrow night" he said to her
"Ok sounds great" she said anxiously. He had completely turned her on and now he was leaving her high and dry "We'll talk more later" she said pulling his face down to kiss her
"And I am going to prove to you how romantic I can really be" he said firmly
"How about you prove it right now?" she asked hopefully
"I don't feel very romantic right now" Punk said to her rolling off of her
"You're me kidding right?" she asked shooting up looking over to him he just gave her an unimpressed look and shrugged
"You hurt my feelings" he said folding his arms over his chest
"I-" before she could finish he quickly pounced on her
"I am kidding" Punk smirked leaning down and kissing her "Not about the date though" he added before he leaned back down and pulled her into a searing steamy kiss…
Later that afternoon Punk and AJ went for their run and AJ was in the shower while Punk was catching up on some TV when someone rang his bell. He walked over and opened the door to reveal Paul.
"Hey" Punk said nodding for him to come in "I wasn't expecting you"
"I'm on my way to the airport and thought I'd drop in. I'm not interrupting am I?" Paul asked looking around for AJ
"No" Punk said closing the door behind Paul "What's up?"
"I wanted to run something by you" Paul said unsurely as he removed his jacket "Is AJ around?"
"She's in the shower" Punk said to him and Paul just nodded "What's wrong?"
"You mentioned the other night you think maybe this heinous attack on AJ had to do with you" Paul said to him and Punk just nodded
"Yea I did" Punk said to him
"Well I have a theory" Paul said to him "I don't think you're going to like it or even agree with it but I have to share my thoughts on this or I won't be able to sleep"
"I value you anything you have to say" Punk said to him seriously
"I know you do" Paul frowned "Which is why this isn't going to be easy for me to say"
"Just spit it out Paul" Punk said to him "What is your theory?"
"Amy" Paul said to him and Punk let out a laugh
"Amy?" Punk asked amused "I don't think she'd try to rape AJ" he smirked
"She's acting weird" Paul said to him "I saw her last night and she was with a friend"
"Ok" Punk said to him folding his arms "Did she mention AJ?"
"Not really" Paul said to him "It's a feeling I have"
"Amy would never do something like that to anyone even AJ" Punk said to him "Besides the DNA they got from AJ belonged to a man"
"I'm not saying Amy did it personally" Paul said to him "Maybe she had help from a friend. AJ told me she thought she knew the man that was with Amy last night but couldn't place him- she's been having dreams of her attack but can't see the face clearly"
"Did she say it looked like him?" Punk asked taking this very seriously all of the sudden
"No but it makes sense" Paul said to him
"Or maybe AJ met him before" Punk shrugged
"Yea maybe he does live in Tampa" Paul said to him
"Does he now?" Punk asked curiously and Paul nodded
"Amy is angry" Paul reminded him "Sometimes anger and jealous brings out the worse in people"
"I know Amy" Punk said to him "I know her inside and out and I've seen her at her worst. She would never physically hurt AJ it doesn't even make sense. Hell she told me to be with AJ!"
"Maybe she was waiting for you to say no" Paul suggested coolly
"She wouldn't do that" Punk said again "She's upset, she's hurt and she has every right to feel that way and believe me if she wanted to hurt AJ she would do it herself. Amy doesn't have people fight her battles"
"Maybe it wasn't just about hurting AJ" Paul said to him "Maybe it was about hurting you. She loves your family she would never do anything to them so what other way do you hurt a man? Through his girlfriend"
"It's crazy" Punk said to him "I appreciate you looking out for me and AJ but Amy isn't to blame"
"Ok" Paul said to him "I just had to get it out"
"Like I said I appreciate it" Punk said to him
"Can you just keep your eyes peeled when she's around?" Paul asked him
"My eyes are always opened especially where AJ is concerned" Punk said to him seriously
"It's just-" Paul started again shaking his head unable to let it go "I was trying to wrap my mind around who would want to hurt you and the only person I could think of was her"
"I don't think she's that mad at me" Punk smirked
"I do" Paul said seriously "Have a good week" he said to Punk as he walked to the door
"Hey Paul" Punk said stopping to him "Did you get the name of Amy's friend?"
"T" Paul scoffed and Punk just nodded "Stupid name"
"It's short for an even dumber nickname" Punk snorted
"I was going to ask him last night but he didn't seem to be in the mood to chat" Paul said to him
"Tank which-" Punk laughed then froze
"What is it?" Paul asked him
"I was training at his school and I was the youngest and obviously the only girl there and this one guy was so great to me his name was Frank but his wrestling name was 'Tank'" AJ told him
Punk had never even put two and two together until now. Was it just a coincidence?
"What is it?" Paul asked him
"The name T is short for his wrestling name Tank" Punk said to him
"So?" Paul asked
"AJ knows him" Punk said to him "He trained at Lethal's school with her."
"Small world" Paul said to him
"Yea" Punk said almost bitterly
"I'm surprised AJ didn't remember him" Paul said to him
"He didn't really hang around long" Punk said to him "They only trained together for a week or so and then he was cut. He ended up working some crappy independent shows and he met Amy that way"
"Interesting" Paul said slyly
"Yea" Punk said trying to think hard "And you said he's living in Tampa?"
"That's what he told me" Paul said to him
"Who lives in Tampa?" AJ asked walking down the stairs "Hey Paul"
"Hi AJ" Paul smiled
"The guy Amy was with the other night is that guy you were telling me about" Punk said to her
"What guy?" AJ asked
"The guy you trained with at Lethal's school- Tank" Punk said to her
"Oh wow" AJ said slowly "That's why he looked so familiar! It was Frank!"
"Frank?" Paul asked
"Frank the tank" Punk said to him "Lame"
"Horrible" Paul agreed with a horrified face
"He looks so different now" AJ said to him "He lost a lot of weight"
"But it was him right?" Punk asked and she nodded
"Yea I'm pretty sure" AJ said to him
"Did you know he lived in Tampa?" Punk asked her
"Nope" AJ said to him
"You haven't seen him around?" Paul asked now
"No" she said with a nervous laugh "What's with all of the questions?"
"I know you don't remember the man attacked you but you said you've gotten glimpses of his face-" Punk started
"It wasn't him" AJ said to him
"Are you sure?" Paul asked surprised
"I'm pretty sure" AJ said to him "Why would he attack me?"
"I just know you have bad history with him and he lives in Tampa…" Punk trailed off
"Just a theory" Paul smiled with a shrug
"Well I'm pretty sure it wasn't him" AJ said to them "So you can cross that name off your list
"Ok" Paul said to them "Worth a shot. I'll see you two on Monday then"
"Bye Paul" Punk said opening the door for Paul and closing it behind him
"Why would you even think Frank had anything to do with this?" AJ asked him
"I'm just trying to look at every possible angle" Punk defended lightly
"Well I haven't seen or spoken to him in years" AJ said to him
"Alright" Punk said to her
"I wonder if he remembers me" AJ said to him "He didn't even say hi to me"
"You didn't either" Punk said to her
"He looks different" AJ defended "I look the same" she said proudly and he just smirked at her
"Well maybe he's embarrassed for treating you like shit" Punk said to her
"Maybe" she shrugged "Or maybe Amy didn't want her boy toy talking to me" she said to him
"Yea probably" Punk agreed "Alright you all cleaned up?" he asked and she nodded "Ready for the Breaking Bad marathon?"
"Yes" she said happily "I've been dying to watch this show"
"You have been missing out" Punk said as they walked over to the couch "You are going to love it and I am going to love lounging on the couch all day with you"
"See! There's that romantic side" she teased
"We'll see who's romantic after tomorrow nigh" Punk said seriously
"I'm looking forward to it" AJ said to him and kissed his cheek sweetly before laying down over his lap to watch TV.