Punk had came back into the hospital after standing outside for some fresh air, figuring he had to explain to Elise what was going on. Once he had, he felt like he could go home and take a nap. It had been a long, weird and terrifying night, and he just wanted to shut his eyes and forget about it.
Elise and Dean said they would stay at the hospital to keep him updated. He was still confused as to why Dean was there, but it really was the last of his worries at this point.
He went home and first of all, put Liesel down in her crib. He then began packing a bag for AJ, to take to her the next afternoon when he went to see her. He wasn't sure what to expect. Would she still think he was the devil? Would she still be talking nonsense? He didn't know. It was a devastating situation, and in his time of need of her, she was going clinically insane.
He could only assume that the devil in question that she was talking about, was indeed his father. He knew his father was a touchy subject for her, and he absolutely knew that she was scared of him, as well as scared he would hurt their daughter, which Punk knew he wouldn't, but he knew it would be running through her mind.
He felt like it was his entire fault she was suffering. If it wasn't for him, and his dysfunctional life, she wouldn't have been so worked up, and she would have been getting proper sleep, and she'd be healthy. He loved her too much to keep her going through this torture.
He took a seat on the edge of the bed after packing her a bag, rubbing his face tiredly as he suddenly heard the door go.
He sighed to himself and stood up, taking the baby monitor and walking away downstairs, opening up the door and watching his father walk in through the door.
"You look like shit." Jack said honestly whilst walking on into the house, without actually being invited in, "Where's my grandbaby?" He asked with a smile, walking into the living room as Punk followed.
"She's sleeping. And I'd like it to stay that way." Punk made himself clear, "What do you want?"
"Where is April?" Jack asked curiously.
"She's in hospital." Punk spat.
"Why? Is everything ok?" Jack raised his eyebrows.
"She's gone crazy." Punk said, "Literally. Mentally insane." He said.
"Why?" Jack shook his head, "You know, son. Some girls just aren't cut out to be mothers." Jack shrugged.
"Shut up!" Punk yelled, "She's gone crazy because of you, because of us. She's constantly wondering what's happening with me everytime I leave the house. She's terrified of Liesel getting hurt." Punk said, "I can't do this to her anymore."
"Phil, it's probably just post natal depression. Your mother had it. She got a little hormonal and crazy. She'll get through it." Jack just shook his head.
"I don't think you quite understand." Punk batted his eyes his fathers way, "She looked me square in the eye, and told me that the devil was after her baby, because God told her." Punk said, "So you tell me again, that it's just a little bit of depression." Punk spat, "I have made her unwell. All my promises I made her keep living off, has turned her completely insane." Punk said, "I won't do this to her anymore."
"Don't you even think about it, Phil." Jack shook his head, "I told you when you started fucking her that she'd do this. She'd have you wrapped around her finger, and she'd have you thinking there was more to life than this company."
"There is more to life." Punk spat, "I am done working for you. I don't care if you're dying. I'm not doing it." He shook his head, "I want to marry April one day, and I want her to be sane for it. I don't want her worrying herself sick. I love her, and I don't want to see her in the state she was in last night ever again." He spat, "You can come kill me. You can threaten me. But I am not doing this anymore." He said firmly. It had just gotten to the point of exhaustion. Punk knew what this was all doing to AJ and he knew what he had to do to help it.
"I'm not dying, Phil." Jack said as Punk stared across at him.
"What?"
"I was misdiganosed, lucky for you." He said, "I'm not dying."
"Well I'm glad. I am." Punk nodded, "But that doesn't change the fact that I am done with you."
"Phil… this is where you're meant to be. It's in your blood. This job is your family. I'm your family-"
"My family are April and Liesel." Punk said, "They're my main priority."
"And how are you going to earn money?" Jack questioned, getting rather angry now.
"I'm going to college. I have been for the past six months. I take art and design and I'm training to be a tattooist." He said as Jack raised his eyebrows, "I'll be fine."
"You're going to college?" Jack questioned.
"Yeah."
"Aren't you-"
"What? A bit old?" Punk mocked, "Yeah. Yeah, I am. But I was never afforded the choice of college when I should have been. You wanted me to stay in a club and kill innocent people." He said.
"Phil, you're always going to be an evil little scum bag. No matter how many college classes you take, and how many children you have. You'll always find your way back to this job, where you belong."
"I've never belonged anywhere." Punk said, "Not since mom died."
"Why do you insist on feeling sorry for yourself constantly? It's like you want to be weak." He shook his head, "You're just angry that your little girlfriend had to be put in a straight jacket." He laughed as Punk scowled, "Stop blaming yourself and just get on with your life. Invictus is yours. Since Dennis isn't… here." Jack sighed, "I was going to go into partnership with you. My son. My boy. You'd be earning double the amount you normally do and-"
"Are you deaf?" Punk shook his head, "I want nothing to do with that work anymore. It was always convenient when I had nothing else to do, but I have a family, and I do not want my daughter growing up, ashamed of her father for how he pays the bills." He said.
"Phil, you're making me angry." Jack's nostrils flared as he got extremely angry.
"Am I?" Punk mocked, "I couldn't give a fuck. We're done. I'm done. No more Invictus. No more jobs. No more blood and drug money." Punk spat, "I am done." He said with anger.
Jack stood with folded arms, looking on and holding back his anger from his son. He was so angry, he could easily have lifted a hand to his own son, but he was keeping his self control, and letting his mind scheme a quick plan.
"Ok." Jack nodded, "Ok." He said as Punk stared at him closely, "You concentrate on your family-"
"No, no no no… you aren't gonna tell me I can take a few weeks off to cool down and concentrate on my family. I am done. No more." He said as Jack nodded.
"I know." Jack nodded, "But you know, Phil… with this job, once you're in, you know you never really get out. Yeah, you can leave. You can play loving family man from now on. But it's always going to follow you. It's always going to haunt you." He laughed, "You know that better than anyone."
Punk just stared across at his father, completely emotionless as he watched him begin to leave the house.
"Send April my love for me." He smiled, pushing by Punk and walking out of the house as Punk stood clenching his fists, holding himself back from pulling his father back and knocking him out cold.
Everything that April was going through. All this crazy shit, was all down to her being completely paranoid and terrified of Jack and his gang, and what they may do to him or her for that matter, if he refused to go back. It had clearly built up, and made her illness even worse. He wouldn't let her go on like this anymore. He had to get out some way, if he didn't do it now, it was just spiral on until he really would have no way out.
It was a huge mess, and he did know there were consequences waiting on him no doubt, but it was worth it to keep AJ safe and healthy. If she knew he was done with work and his father, maybe she could start to rest easy. He could only hope.
But will it be that easy, Punk? Somehow I don't think Jack is just gonna let him slip away so easily. How will AJ be when she wakes? Will Dean and Elise come clean to Punk soon? How will the funeral go? All coming soon. Stay tuned and keep on reviewing!
