Chapter 30: Off Script
Punk and AJ had a peaceful week in Mexico. He finally unwound enough to enjoy himself and was only cranky the morning they flew back. He wanted to stay away with her forever but he knew they had to get back to work and that's exactly what they did. The got home on Saturday and flew out Sunday to make it for Raw that Monday.
Part of Punk wasn't ready for all the questions about his engagement or annoying comments behind his back but he wasn't ashamed of being with AJ at all and if anyone made a disrespectful comment about their relationship he'd simply hit them and move on.
"Well, well, well" Randy rambled off as he came across Punk and AJ arriving into the arena "Welcome back"
"Thanks" AJ said to him kindly while Punk just glared at the man
"Also congratulations on the engagement" Randy said to them
"Gee thanks Orton" Punk remarked sarcastically "We sure hope you'll be able to make it to the wedding"
"Did you two even consider me before you got engaged?" Randy asked them seriously
"No you didn't pop into my mind at all actually" Punk said folding his arms "Why did you think I was going to propose to you?"
"No I was thinking you would have considered we're in the middle of a story" Randy said to him
"It's called acting Orton" Punk reminded him "No on really believes you're with AJ anyway"
"Our big Wrestlemania finish is over now!" Randy shouted "We were supposed-"
"It will be fine" AJ said interjecting
"We work for WWE" Punk pointed out to Orton "But the job doesn't dictate what we do or when we do it. If you don't like it tough shit"
"You don't even realize what you've done" Randy said bitterly
"Hey you're the one that wanted to work with AJ you forced her to if I remember correctly so don't get mad when she continues to live her life" Punk said to him
"You and AJ could do whatever the hell you want but here at work AJ is with me" Randy reminded him and Punk just rolled his eyes
"No dumb ass AJ is with me inside of this building and out of it" Punk informed him smugly
"Stop fighting" Hunter warned walking over the two of them
"They ruined our story" Randy said to Hunter
"What are you five years old? Running to your daddy?" Punk mocked
"It's fine" Hunter said to Randy "Punk, AJ good to have you both back"
"Good to be back" Punk remarked forcefully and grabbed AJ's hand and walked away with her
"I already regret coming back" Punk said to her as they entered his locker room
"It's just Randy you know how he is" AJ shrugged simply placing her bag on the floor
"He's an idiot" Punk mumbled annoyed
"Just remember working with him will payoff" AJ reminded him "You're going to win the Rumble and headline Wrestlemania"
"With you at my side" Punk said proudly "That's my only motivation for coming back"
"But I am going to have to take this off for the show" AJ said looking at her ring "I'm going to have to hide it somewhere" she said to him "I don't want anyone to steal it"
"Put it in my bag" Punk said gesturing to his gym bag
"It's a diamond ring I can't just toss it in a bag" she said to him
"Trust me I know what kind of ring it is" Punk smirked "And I also know I don't want it stolen so wrap it up in one of my shirts and leave it in my bag"
"Ok" she said removing the ring "Feels weird to take it off and I have a tan line around it"
"Well as soon as the story with Randy is over that ring is going back on and never coming off" he told her
"You want me to wear it when I wrestle?" she asked him
"Of course" Punk said to her
"You'll wear your ring too?" AJ asked
"Absolutely" he said without hesitation his phone began to ring and watched as AJ grabbed it for him
"It's Colt" she said passing it to him "I'm going to go get my makeup done. I'll be back" she then walked out of the room.
"Hey" Punk said into the phone
"Hey how was Mexico?" Colt asked him
"Great I didn't want to come back" Punk said to him
"Did your pale ass get some color at least?" Colt asked him
"I don't know how I feel about discussing my ass with you" Punk joked
"You know what I mean!" Colt defended
"Yes I got some color" Punk said to him "What's going on?"
"Well I just wanted to let you know that Amy called me" Colt said to him
"You picked up her call?" Punk asked annoyed
"No she changed her number I didn't know who it was" Colt defended "She was crying and very upset"
"Not my problem" Punk said to him
"It's going to be" Colt said to him "She was upset about you"
"What did I do now?" Punk asked annoyed
"She heard about the engagement" Colt said to him "I told her off and hung up on her but she sounded so weird"
"What do you mean by weird?" Punk asked alarmed
"She was asking why AJ and not her" Colt said to him "And I told her she needed help"
"Shit" Punk muttered
"I just wanted to give you a heads up and I didn't want to ruin your vacation with it" Colt said to him
"Thanks I appreciate it. If you hear from her again let me know" Punk said to him
"Will do and uh- just watch your back" Colt said to him
"You too now? AJ already thinks Amy is going to jump out and stab me" Punk said to him
"She might" Colt said to him "Or she'll jump out and stab AJ"
"I won't let that happen" Punk said to him
"Seriously dude she knows your place like the back of her hand, she can get backstage at shows and she's clearly off her rocker" Colt pointed out "Just keep an eye open"
"I will" Punk said to him "And thanks again" he then hung up and sighed. What was Amy up to now?
"Well, well if it isn't the future Mrs. Brooks" Paul Heyman grinned walking over to her
"Hi Paul" she smiled and gave him a hug
"Congratulations" Paul said happily
"Thanks" she said shyly
"So where is this ring that Punk was rambling about for two weeks straight?" Paul asked eagerly
"I left it back in the locker room" AJ said to him "I'm still in this story with Randy"
"Oh well I'm sure that won't last past the end of the night" Paul assured her "I heard them working on it"
"Good because I don't know how much longer Punk is going to tolerate me on screen with Randy" AJ smirked
"Yea I'm sure he doesn't want his future wife kissing the man he hates most in the world" Paul laughed "You seem very happy"
"I am" AJ said with a sigh "He's been so great and we had this great week away I just want him to stay positive and relaxed"
"What is this bullshit!" Punk screamed at one of the writers causing heads to turn including AJ and Paul's.
"This is what Vince wanted" the male writer told him
"Well it's not happening so go back to the drawing board" Punk said slamming the script into the man's chest
"But Vince-" he started nervously
"I don't give a crap what Vince wants" Punk said slowly "Fix it!"
"What is going on?" AJ asked walking over to them
"Nothing for you to worry about" Punk said to her kindly then glared towards the writer "Are you going to tell Vince or am I?" he shot at the man who then ran down the hall
"What is wrong?" she asked him
"The script is crap" Punk said to her "They want to have you go out there and break up with Randy but him and the authority won't let you so they want to do this angle where Randy treats you like crap until Wrestlemania"
"I heard about the story" Paul chimed in "I think it sounds good" he said to Punk
"You think belittling AJ on screen is good?" Punk shot at him
"They said you'd make it your mission to win the Rumble and face Orton which you will- then the winner not only gets the title but AJ as well" Paul said calmly "Sounds interesting"
"Yea it's not bad" AJ said to him "I'll be fine"
"I don't want to have to spend the next three months watching Randy push you around on TV" Punk argued "It's not fair. He's going to taunt me until Wrestlemania using you"
"But the end result is me with you" AJ reminded him "And I think we could make this story really work" she reasoned
"I mean people know you two are together so to watch Randy use her to get to you will seem very real" Paul added
"Of course it will seem real because it is real" Punk said to them
"Just give it a shot" AJ said to him "Go apologize to the writer and we'll work it out"
"She's right" Paul agreed "I know you don't like it but if AJ is ok with it I'm sure you'll manage through just fine"
"Fine" Punk forced out through gritted teeth "But the minute he missteps with you I'm breaking his nose next" he then stormed off
"Well he was relaxed on vacation" AJ said to Paul who let out a laugh "I swear!"
"I'm sure he was kiddo" Paul chuckled putting his arm around her shoulder and leading her down the hall
AJ opened up Raw to a loud pop, which wasn't common with heels. But obviously new of her engagement had spread and the people probably thought she was going to make some sort of confirmation.
"I'm out here tonight for one reason and one reason only" AJ said into the microphone "I have something really important I need to tell…Randy" she informed the crowd that booed upon hearing his name "Randy could you please come out?" she asked. She was suddenly flashing back to her time with Daniel Bryan. She hated playing the poor victim role in all of this but she trusted Punk to make her look strong. He wouldn't let it get to the point that the Daniel Bryan story did. Randy casually made his way to the ring with the title belt draped over his shoulder and entered the ring. He walked over to her and went to kiss her but she jerked her head away. He chuckled and grabbed a microphone.
"I know what this is about AJ" Randy said to her "I read online reports too except they're usually 99% wrong except not this time" he started off and now the crowd was getting excited "You came out here tonight to inform me you're leaving me for CM Punk" there was a loud cheer from the crowd and 'CM Punk' chants filled the arena. "Isn't that right AJ?" he drawled on her name a bit and she made eye contact with him.
"Yes" she said loud and proud
"Do you really think it's going to be that easy?" Randy questioned "You're part of the Authority" he laughed "You can't just walk out because you traded down on boyfriends. You are my valet, you're job is to make my job easier" he informed her "Nothing more, nothing less" before AJ could respond Punk's music hit the arena and the crowd went wild. He had his game face on while he made his way down to the ring and entered it. AJ couldn't help but smile at Punk as he entered the ring just like she used to when they first worked together.
"Randy, Randy" Punk said slowly "AJ didn't come down here to ask for you permission she came down here to tell you like it was. It's your choice to deal with it or not"
"What do you see him?" Randy asked looking at AJ but gesturing towards Punk
"She sees everything you're not" Punk responded choosing to answer for AJ "And now that AJ has said her peace-" Triple H's music hit before Punk could finish. He rolled his eyes to the top of his head and look towards the ramp as Triple H, Stephanie and Kane walked out onto the stage.
"Randy is right" Triple H said to him "This is the WWE where everyone works for us" he said gesturing to Stephanie who had on a proud smile "Just because AJ has yet again decided to change her boyfriend doesn't mean she stops doing her job" he said to them
"What my husband is trying to say is AJ will continue to work with Randy" Stephanie said to her "Whether you like it or not that's just the way it is. And if we get a whiff of sabotage on your end you can kiss any title shot goodbye" she warned AJ who frowned
"Is this how you get your kicks?" Punk asked them "You think forcing her into working with Randy is going to help him?"
"If she wants to keep her job here at WWE she will help him" Hunter informed them and Randy just smiled "But I also understand how AJ might want to stay close to you Punk. So tonight for your match AJ will be at ringside" Hunter said to them then added "in Kane's corner that is" he smiled "Now be careful Punk if I recall your new girlfriend used to have a thing for the big red machine" Kane just smiled and nodded his in agreement. Punk just looked towards AJ who looked completely lost. Randy laughed as he exited the ring and then signaled for AJ to follow him.
'I have to' she mouthed towards Punk who just nodded and watched as she left with Randy
As soon as Punk walked backstage AJ was waiting for him.
"See that wasn't so bad" AJ said to him
"Yea I guess" Punk said to her "I still think Randy is going to get way too much enjoyment out of this"
"I'm standing right here" Randy said annoyed
"Yea I know I see ya" Punk said simply as he wrapped his arms around AJ's waist and tugged her against him "Remember you don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with and if anyone gives you a hard time you come to me"
"Got it" she said with a firm head nod and he kissed her lips briefly
"I have to go over the match with Glenn want to come?" Punk asked
"Yea" she said as he pulled away from her
Punk's match was the main-event of the night. Punk was out first and watched as AJ walked out with Kane. She played the part well and seemed to not want to be there. She winced every time Punk took a hit and when Kane hit him with a choke slam Punk rolled out of the ring so Kane couldn't get the pin. AJ walked over to where he was laying out and saw the pain he was in and it wasn't just for the story, he was legitimately in a lot of pain it was written all over her face.
"Babe" she whispered getting on her knees and leaning down so she was close to face "Are you ok?"
"Yea" He winced. His face was beat red and she could see he was in a bad shape
"Is it your back?" she asked placing her hand there
"Yea" he nodded slowly
"I'll tell them to stop the match" she said to him
"No" Punk said to her
"You ok Punk?" the ref asked jumping out of the ring
"Yea start the count" Punk instructed him
"Phil" she said with a sigh
"I'm fine" He said to her and she helped him to his feet and watched as he crawled back into the ring. On cue Randy made his way down the ramp and over to AJ. They were scheduled to get into an argument.
"You are supposed to be helping Kane!" he yelled getting in AJ's face. Punk jumped through the ropes and tackled Randy to the ground. He started ramming Randy into the barricade but Kane hit Punk from behind and before anyone knew it the one on one match turned into two on one. The ref called for the bell and AJ watched as Punk was being kicked and punched while he was on the ground.
AJ followed as the script called for and pulled on Randy's arm but he jerked it away causing her to hit the floor herself. She knew the script called for her to stay on the ground until the show closed but she knew Punk was in serious pain and he was now taking hits to his back from a chair. AJ stood up and grabbed the chair out of Randy's hand causing him to look back at her in confusion.
"What are you doing!" He shouted. And this wasn't him in script, she knew he was genuinely confused as to what she was doing "Give me the chair back!"
"He's hurt!" she yelled back refusing to hand over the chair.
"Cut the shit and hand me the chair!" Randy yelled reaching for the chair but AJ still wouldn't let it go. Kane continued to work on Punk but looked over and saw Randy and AJ in scuffle, Punk hit Kan with a high kick knocking him to the ground. Punk wasn't sure what AJ was doing when he looked over.
"AJ it's enough!" Randy yelled tugging hard at the chair but when she wouldn't let go he did causing the chair to slingshot back in her face. Randy's eyes widened in shock and he made his way over to her. "Are you ok?" he asked. He certainly didn't mean to hurt AJ.
"I'm ok" she said sitting up and noticed the blood coming from her mouth, her lip was busted open "It's fine" she said covering her mouth
"We need doc!" Randy called out.
"What happened?" Punk demanded getting on his knees next to AJ
"I didn't mean to do it" Randy said frantically.
"Let me see" Punk insisted moving her hand to the side and cringed at the amount of the blood.
"Let me look at her" doc said making his way over and both Punk and Randy stood up. Punk looked over to Randy and glared at him and that's how Raw went off air.
Punk helped get AJ to the back while holding a towel to her mouth.
"She might need stitches" Doc informed him "Are you going to wait for her?" he asked leading her into the trainers room
"Yea of course" Punk said to him "Do what you have to do" he then looked and saw Randy talking to Hunter.
"…I don't know what she was doing!" Randy defended "I swear I didn't mean for the chair to hit her-" Randy felt a hard shove and saw Punk standing behind him
"What the fuck was that!" Punk yelled
"She went off script!" Randy defended
"She was improvising!" Punk shouted "I landed funny on my back and she was helping me out!"
"How was I supposed to know that?" Randy asked annoyed "I didn't mean to hit her!"
"We know that" Hunter said to him
"Oh fuck this" Punk huffed
"Hey!" Hunter yelled towards Punk "This is on AJ not him" he reminded him
"I was hurt" Punk reminded him in a low voice.
"Well she knows the rules" Hunter said to him "If she's not professional enough to work with you then maybe she shouldn't work here at all"
"How dare you" Punk spat "Don't threaten her especially to me!"
"Nobody is threatening anybody" Vince said making his way over "Is AJ alright?" he asked Punk but he had his eyes locked on Hunter
"Yea" Punk gritted out
"Obviously there was a mistake made tonight" Vince reasoned "AJ didn't communicate properly with Randy and then Randy made another mistake" he said to them all "Let's just move on from this"
"Get your son in check" Punk warned Vince
"Get your fiancée in check" Hunter shot back
"Enough!" Vince yelled stepping in-between the two "Everyone messed up so let's just go back to the hotel and sleep on it and we'll discuss it tomorrow with a cooler head"
"I need to go check on AJ anyway" Punk said annoyed then walked back to the trainers room.
"No stitches" Doc told Punk "But her lip is busted open she's going to have to ice it"
"Ok" Punk said to him "Can I have a minute with her?"
"Yea sure" Doc said excusing himself
"Are you ok?" he asked her first and she nodded "What were you thinking AJ?" he asked her "You know you can't just change the script like that"
"You were hurt" she muffled out over the ice pack on her lip
"Yea and I can handle it" Punk said to her "It's not your place to change a story like that. You could be fired for that AJ"
"And you could have been seriously hurt" She defended "My job isn't worth your health"
"I don't need your help" Punk informed her "I've been doing this for years I know how to take care of myself I don't need you"
"Oh" AJ said slowly "You don't need me?"
"You know what I mean" Punk said annoyed
"No I get it" AJ said coldly "Could you leave now? I don't need you here" she said using his words against her
"Come on AJ" he sighed annoyed
"Fine I'll go" she said jumping off the table and walking out the door
"AJ" Randy said jogging up to her "I am so sorry-"
"It's ok" she said to him "I know you didn't mean it and I made the mistake of sticking my nose where it didn't belong" she said glaring over towards Punk
"Oh you were just trying to help" Randy said kindly then grinned towards Punk "He's lucky to have such an awesome fiancée" he said placing his hand on her shoulder
"Yea I bet" she muttered
"Come on I'll take you back to your locker room" Randy said leading AJ away as Punk just glared at the two
"So how was your first night back?" Paul asked cheerfully coming behind Punk. Punk just turned around and shot Paul a dirty look then stormed off.
AJ was back on the bus with her bag and Punk followed her on a few minutes later.
"I didn't mean I didn't need you like that" Punk said tossing his bag on the couch and unzipping it
"Ok" she said simply. Clearly the comment stung and he felt terrible for it. He just wasn't sure how her interfering with his match and being in the wrong had turned into him apologizing.
"Here" he said taking her ring out of his bag
"I don't want to get blood on it" she said turning away
"I'll have it cleaned then" Punk said not taking 'no' for answer. She held her left hand out and let him slip the ring back on her hand. He leaned down and kissed her hand lightly. "You do understand why I'm upset right?"
"Yea you made your point. You don't need me to help you" AJ said to him
"I'd rather be hurt then have you hurt" Punk said to her seriously "I can deal with my own pain but seeing you in pain is ten times worse for me"
"It doesn't even hurt" AJ defended
"It has to hurt" Punk said moving her hand that was holding the icepack and saw how swollen her bottom lip was "Jesus" he muttered shaking his head
"I'm not in trouble" AJ informed him "Hunter spoke to me after the show so your little fear of me getting fired was just in your hand as well"
"I get that you worry about me and want to protect me" Punk started off "But you do get that I feel the same way about you right? I want to work with you and I want you in my corner but you cannot get physical with another guy during a match. Tonight Randy made a mistake and I know he feels bad and as much as I hate to admit he's a professional and knew you were down and hurt and helped you but another guy might not" he said to her "And someone else might not be as gentle as Randy. If you go off script it means they go off script too- I can't worry about that while I'm in a match"
"Ok" she said softly "But I really only wanted to help you"
"I know and I appreciate it" Punk said to her "I have a bad back and that's going to happen from time to time. I told you I was ok"
"I know but I know you and I saw how much pain you were in" she said to him
"I'm not the man I was a few years back when we worked together. I've had surgeries and my back is worse so it's going to be like that and if you can't handle it I respect it but you need to tell me now so I can talk to Vince and figure out a way to get you out of the story" Punk said to her
"No I'll be fine" she said shaking her head "Just be more careful"
"You're the one with the busted lip and you're telling me to be careful?" Punk chuckled but she wasn't amused "I promise" he said quickly
"How is your back?" AJ asked curiously
"It hurts" Punk admitted "But it's nothing a heating pad wont fix"
"Look at us" she laughed lightly "We should have just stayed away we're already falling apart and we've only been back for a day"
"That's what I'm saying" Punk agreed then smiled "Come on" he said grabbing her hand "I'll ice your lip for you" he said to her
"Only if you let me help your back" AJ said and he just smirked as he led her back to the bedroom