AJ had just survived her first day at work. She was welcomed into the school in the most respectful of ways. She'd been introduced to her new class, and was thrilled to be back working in the environment that she was used to. Her class were filled with well mannered, adorable kids who she was excited to teach in the upcoming year.

She knew it was going to take a bit of getting used to but she was willing to stick to it and eventually be able to say she enjoyed her job. She knew it was just the nerves of working with new staff, in a school that she didn't know that was getting to her, once she settled in she'd be fine.

She'd gotten home later on, seeing Punk was already home from work and changed, lazing on the couch with his feet up in some sweats.

"You're home early." She stated whilst walking through the living room. Normally she'd always beat him home.

"Yeah, things were pretty quiet at the station." He told her whilst following her into the kitchen like a lost puppy, "So, how was your first day? You never answered any of my calls." He said, taking a seat on the stool at the breakfast bar and looking on at her as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't have the time to call back." She told him first, "It was really good. I mean, it's gonna take some time to settle in, and get to know the school and other teachers, but my class is great, they're all so adorable, and the class is much bigger than in New Jersey. I have much more stuff to work with too." She smiled, "I think it's gonna go really well." She said positively as he smiled.

"Good." He smiled, "I'm glad." He said truthfully. He was glad that she had had a good first day at her new job. It wasn't particularly a new job. She knew how to be a teacher, it was all she knew, but it was a different school, with different teachers and kids and classes. It was going to be challenging, of course, but he was sure she'd settle in just fine, "Listen, I have to go out later tonight to work, it's actually why I'm home so early. It's sort of like a night shift, but I won't be home too late." He told her, "You'll be ok here, right?"

"Yeah." AJ smiled, "I'll just order some Chinese food and read in bed." She smiled, leaning across the counter and looking into his eyes as he laughed.

"Hot." Punk nodded as AJ giggled.

"And I'm gonna wear one of your jumpers, and some sweats." She smiled, "It's gonna be so sexy." She mimicked with a grin as he smiled, feeling her press her lips against his for a sweet kiss, pulling back and heading away upstairs for a shower.

Later on that night, Punk had indeed left AJ in bed, eating take out whilst reading and enjoying some late night films to go fulfil some nightly duties at the station. He wasn't appealed to the idea of being away from AJ at a time where he should have been tucked up in bed with her, holding her, but he had to do what he had to do.

"They have one guy from the Albanian team." Paul said whilst Punk sat on one of the office desks in the main floor of the building, looking across to his boss with rolling eyes.

"This is why you called me here? To discuss this shit?" Punk asked.

"Phil. I don't think you understand how serious 'this shit' is?" He looked across to Punk whilst using speech marks with his fingers, "That little girlfriend of yours, that you think is safe, just because you've got your eye on her, she's still in a whole lot of danger." He said, "A whole lot."

"But I thought we had guys out dealing with them?" Punk asked, "AJ shouldn't still be in their reach. They shouldn't even be thinking about her anymore." Punk said as Paul shook his head.

"These guys are relentless, Phil. Anything Jamie has ever loved or touched, regardless of how it ended, they are going to keep in eyesight, and possibly plan something around them. I… I think you're getting too comfortable with this girl." He admitted.

"Well what do you want me to do, Paul? I love her, I live with her." He stated, "I'm gonna protect her, you know I will." He said.

He was scared at the thought of AJ still being in danger, but he vowed and promised himself he would always keep her safe whilst she was in his arms. Always.

"I know." Paul said, "I just want you to make sure you understand how serious this actually is. Yes, we have guys out in Albania, and yes we have guys out with Jamie, making sure he doesn't do anything stupid. But she is still in danger, and I don't want you to forget that, not until I say otherwise." He said as Punk nodded.

"Ok." Punk said, "Ok, I'll keep her safe. I promise I will. I love the girl." He said, his voice turning to a whisper towards the end as Paul nodded.

"I know. That's why I don't want to see anything bad happen." He admitted as Punk sighed.

"When will it end?" Punk asked. He only wished he could be out in Albania hunting down the pricks that were eyeing up his girlfriend, to fight them himself and take them down.

"I'm not sure." Paul admitted, "I know there are a lot of them. It's a bigger smuggling organization than we thought. Jamie was only a minor part of it, but he's still a target, and if he slips up, April is in their reach."

"Not in my account." Punk shook his head, "I won't let them touch her." He said as Paul nodded.

"I know you won't. I'm just saying." He said as Punk nodded, "This is what I want you to do…" He began, "I want you to go to Albania for a few days. Not too long. Just to see what's going on over there. You're brighter than all of the guys out there combined. Maybe you could figure something out. Seth is out there. So you won't be alone. I just want you to go over and see if you can bring back any useful information. You're normally good at that." Paul admitted.

"What do I tell April" Punk asked.

"Just tell her it's another case you're working on. She'll understand." Paul said, "I'll have cops keep an eye on her when you're gone." He told Punk who nodded, glad he had said before he had to ask about AJ's safety.

"Ok." Punk nodded, "Ok I'll head on out there for a few days. See if I can pick up anything." Punk nodded as Paul smiled.

It still killed him to have to keep this from AJ, but he didn't want her to worry. If he told her she was still in danger she would freak out. They were happy together, and she was settling down here in Chicago. He didn't want to make her feel unsafe. He just wanted all this shit to stop. The smuggling had to stop, and the cycle and organization had to be ended between the men involved. He'd head over to Albania where some other guys from the team were, to see if there was any new information, or anything he could pick up on on his own. Anything made a difference at this point.

"Do you really have to go?" AJ asked whilst Punk stripped down to his boxers after getting home, surprised that AJ was still awake, but almost glad in a way that he could tell her straight away that he was going out of the country for a few days.

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "I'm sorry, it's just… something I have to do." He told her as she sighed.

"I'll get lonely here." She frowned as he chuckled at her frowning feature, slipping under the covers and sitting against the headboard.

"Maybe you could get your friends over, or your mom." He suggested, "I'll only be away for a few days." He told her, "It'll fly by."

"What is it even for?" She asked curiously with a sigh. She didn't want him to leave. Even if it was just a few days. She was going to miss him, and sleeping by herself was going to be horrible.

"Just some case we're working on. I have to re-track some footsteps. Seth is already out there working on it, so I won't be alone out there." He told her. He wished he could just tell her the truth. But he couldn't have her scared. He wouldn't do that to her.

"Can't someone else go." She frowned as he shook his head.

"I gotta go, baby. It's my case." He said, "I'll bring you back a present." He smiled as she laughed.

"Well it better be good. I'm not suffering this loneliness without being rewarded." She said as he laughed.

"You'll be fine." He pressed a kiss on her cheek, "Don't worry."

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