Letting Go
Three weeks had passed and David was getting sicker by the day. He was now in the hospital but he was at total peace and ready to pass on. It was Jason and AJ (mostly) who was having a hard time letting go. He didn't have much time left so AJ and Jason both were spending most of their time at the hospital with him and usually switching off shifts. AJ did the mornings so Jason could work the day and he took over nights so she could work her night shifts.
"Hey." Punk greeted quietly as he walked into the hospital room and AJ looked up and saw him and gave him a weak smile. "How's he doing today?"
"He's sleeping all of the time." AJ whispered not wanting to wake him. "He's really tired."
"Yea." Punk said placing his hand on her shoulder and rubbing it slightly. "I got you some food." he said passing her a brown bag.
"I don't think I could eat." AJ admitted.
"You have to try." Punk insisted and she took the bag from him.
"How's Larry?" AJ asked him. Punk had taken over Larry duty for the most part since she was never home with him.
"He's good. I walked and fed him and now he's hanging out with Jason and Mike in the shop." Punk said to her.
"I feel bad I haven't had time with him." AJ sighed.
"Well if you want to get home and rest I'll stay with David." Punk offered.
"No I should be here." She insisted.
"He'd want you to rest." Punk pointed out. "You can't live here. This is exactly what he didn't want."
"What if something happens." AJ pointed out.
"I'll call you." Punk assured her. "Nothing is going to happen today. You're spending all day here and all night working."
"I know I haven't made a lot of time for you either." she frowned.
"Don't worry about me I'm fine. I see you." He smirked. "We are neighbors. But you're running yourself into the ground and Jason is worried too. Kate is coming by in an hour too."
"Alright." AJ said standing up but kissed her fathers head before turning back to Punk. "You'll call if anything happens? If his doctors come by..."
"Yes." He assured her and she kissed him.
"I love you." She said sweetly.
"I know." Was all he said with a grin and watched her walk out of the room.
Punk sat down in the chair and the minute he did David opened one eye and looked over to Punk.
"Thank you." David said relieved.
"No problem." Punk laughed. "You need to stop falling asleep on her and Jason though."
"It's depressing." David said weakly. "And they're not sleeping. Both are working or sitting here. I figure if I fake out sleeping they'll at least sleep but they don't."
"They want to soak up as much time with you as possible." Punk reasoned.
"I don't want them making themselves sick over me. I had a great time, got to see my son get married." David smiled the best he could and eyed Punk. "I do feel bad I'll miss out walking my daughter down the aisle but she has Hugh as least."
"Yea." Punk agreed quietly turning on the TV looking for the game.
"You don't have to stay." David said to him.
"I told AJ I'd stay and I don't lie to her." Punk said to him. "Besides I want to watch the game with you."
"I'm worried about her." David admitted.
"Who? AJ?" Punk asked confused. "She's fine."
"She keeps all of that emotion in." David sighed sadly. "I don't want her to think she has to be brave or strong for me. She's just keeping everything buried inside."
"She knows she can talk to me." Punk said to him. "I told you I'd take care of her and I meant it."
"You'll make sure she goes back to school and stays happy here?" David asked.
"Yes as a matter of fact I got her a bunch of pamphlets from the local college and information on loans and financial aid." Punk told him. "She's been busy so I haven't had the chance to show her yet but I will."
"You're a good man." David smiled as he closed his eyes. "Make sure she decorates that apartment too. I know she's planning on staying there after and I want her to feel at home. She didn't get to decorate a room or anything."
"Yea I know." Punk said to him. "I saw her place a few weeks ago when I helped her pack up."
"How was it? Beautiful?" David asked with a laugh as he coughed. "She have a good life there?"
"Yea." Punk forced out. "I mean the place is spotless and all but she didn't have a lot of freedom. Hugh seems like a good guy."
"Pricella isn't?" David asked amused.
"Pricella seems very protective is all." Punk said keeping his eyes on the game.
"She didn't want AJ to end up like her, she's not that bad." David insisted.
"What's wrong with how she ended up?" Punk asked seriously. "I mean she lives in a mansion, has a nice doctor husband and a beautiful and smart daughter. She keeps saying that stuff to AJ it makes her feel like she wasn't wanted."
"Pricella wanted her so bad that's why I barely got any time with her." David teased as his eyes remained closed. "AJ was very wanted, make sure she never feels unwanted again."
"Trust me I don't make her feel that way." Punk smirked.
"She talks to me while I'm sleeping about you." David told him. "If you break her heart I'll haunt your ass and Jason will beat your ass."
"I know and believe me I have no intentions of hurting your daughter." Punk assured him. "You can trust she's in good hands."
"Oh I know that." David said to him. "Kate will take care of Jason and you'll take care of my sweet April. I'm ready to go." he said almost relieved and Punk frowned looking at the weak man barely able to breathe. "And April will take care of you."
When AJ arrived home she noticed her boxes were missing. She hadn't unpacked yet since she had been so busy. She then swore she was robbed and ran out of the apartment and down the shop steps.
"Jason someone broke into the apartment!" AJ yelled from the top of the stairs and ran back up before he could respond.
Jason ran up the stairs and in the apartment as AJ held a bat in her hands.
"What if they're still in here?" She asked.
"Someone came in and cleaned your place?" Jason asked noting the boxes were gone. "I wish they'd break into my place too." He muttered.
"Jason all of my clothes are gone." She argued.
"Let me look around." Jason said to her and headed into the bedroom. "They're in the closet." he said to her and she frowned walking into the bedroom and sure enough her clothes were all cleaned up. David had donated all of this clothes a few weeks back and told AJ to fill the closet but she was too busy.
"Who did this?" She asked in awe.
"Probably the man who lives across the hall." Jason teased.
"I'm sorry for dragging you up here." AJ said feeling foolish.
"It's fine it's what I'm here for." He said to her.
"I can't believe Phil did this for me." She said still surprised.
"He really wants to make sure you stay." Jason joked.
"He knows I'm not going anywhere." AJ said to him. "I feel funny unpacking anything though."
"You live here and you should be more comfortable. Punk said you're still sleeping on the couch too." Jason pointed out.
"It doesn't feel right." AJ said to him.
"Dad wants you to make this place yours." Jason insisted. "He enlisted me to paint the apartment for you."
"You don't have to do that." AJ said shaking her head.
"I want to." Jason said to her. "Besides I'm just going to guilt Punk into helping me."
"Why is he trying to die?" AJ asked Jason hurtfully. "I just started getting used to having my dad I'm not ready for this to happen and it's like he wants to go."
"He's been sick a long time AJ." Jason said sitting on the bed. "He's tired of fighting, he's fought all he could and now he's at peace and as much as we don't want to let him go we have to. It would make him happy to know you're making this apartment yours."
"But it's his." AJ insisted.
"Not anymore." Jason forced out. "He wants you to have it and be happy in it. You know I spoke to Punk about your trip to New Jersey." he began.
"He thinks I was living in a prison." AJ said sitting next to him.
"He told me how your old room was and the glued windows and lock on the door." Jason said to her. "David I'm sure knows too. He just wants you to finally have something that's yours. We all want you to have that. It's going to be different when he's gone and believe me I'm not looking forward to it either but different is happening whether we're ready or not."
"This must be really hard on you." AJ said to Jason sadly.
"It is but just because you weren't here a lot doesn't mean you love him any less than I do." Jason reasoned.
"But David is all you've ever had." She said to him.
"I had Punk growing up." Jason shrugged. "I had you too. And again just because you weren't here doesn't mean I loved you any less. This is going to be hard but we have each other."
"Yea." AJ agreed putting on a brave smile.
"You've been working and sitting with dad everyday for weeks now." Jason pointed out. "Take a little time and maybe move some stuff around here or tell Punk to do it. Or maybe go out. Take a sick day at work tonight and just do something you want. I'll be with dad so you can go out with Punk or just catch up on some much deserved sleep."
"Yea maybe I'll do that." AJ said looking towards the closet. "It was nice of him to do that. He's helped me a lot these last few weeks."
"He thinks very highly of you." Jason agreed.
Later that night Punk managed to make it up to his apartment by two in the morning. He was exhausted but wanted to get changed, shower then go pick AJ up from work since he hadn't in a while. He wanted to surprise her since he knew she was feeling overwhelmed. He dropped Larry off at AJ's place then headed across the hall and was surprised when the lights were all out but candles were lit. AJ appeared from the bedroom in a black cocktail dress that they had picked up from her place and he begged her to wear it one day for him.
"Welcome home." She smiled walking straight to him.
"What is all of this?" He asked confused but his confusion turned to lust as she reached up and kissed him.
"I love that you unpacked for me." She said to him. "And I love how supportive and helpful you've been to me these last few weeks."
"It was nothing." He said brushing it off. "Seriously you don't have to go through any trouble for me."
"Shall I change into sweats, blow out the candles and toss the dinner?" She asked.
"Well let's not go crazy." He chuckled. "You cooked?"
"I did." She said taking him by the hand and lead him over to his small kitchen table that was only big enough for two as it was. It had a tablecloth draped over it and a single candle. She lifted the top off of one of the dishes and his eyes bugged out.
"You made me steak?" He asked happily. She knew that was his favorite.
"Top of the line." She added proudly. "Or at least that's what the man from the shop told me." She shrugged. "Your favorite side of mashed potatoes and some string beans."
"Wow." He said as she pulled the chair out for him. "I should shower and change first."
"Your dinner will get cold." She said to him and pushing him into the chair.
"This looks so great." He said to her. "No one has ever cooked for me before, well besides David that is and he sucked at cooking so we usually ended up with takeout."
"Berta and Chef taught me how to cook a few things." AJ said proudly sitting across from him and laying a napkin over her lap and removing the top from her dish. "
"Wow AJ." He said taking a bite out of the steak. "This is really good. I mean really." he said eating more.
"I'm glad you like it." She smiled. After all he had done for her he deserved a home cooked meal and a little attention himself. "Tell me about yourself." She said taking a bite out of her own food and laughed almost causing him to choke.
"I think you know me already." He said sipping the water she had poured into large wine glasses.
"I feel like we spend all of this time talking about me and you never tell me about yourself." She said to him.
"There's not much to know AJ." He said as he continued to eat. "My dad was abusive growing up and David took me in when I kept coming around with a lot of bruises. It wasn't legal or anything but my dad never bothered to look for me. I like baseball and hockey." He shrugged. "I really like you." He added causing her to blush. "Like really, really like you."
"That's stuff I already know." She smirked.
"You want to know about my mom?" He asked her and she shrugged.
"She lives out here still last I heard." Punk said to her. "She left my dad he got too out of hand and he wouldn't let her take me out of spite not because he wanted me and she didn't even put up a fight, she left got re-married and had a couple of kids."
"You have siblings?" AJ asked shocked.
"Yes. Jason is my brother." Punk said to her and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Blood doesn't make you family AJ."
"I guess not." She had to agree. "When was the last time you saw her?"
"Probably seven or eight years ago at a food festival out here." Punk said to her. "She didn't even recognize me."
"That's awful." AJ frowned shaking her head.
"It's alright." Punk laughed. "I had a good life." he reminded her. "I grew up with your dad who was the best."
"I'm sorry that your parents were jerks." AJ said to him.
"I'm not. Like I said, I lucked out with David." Punk told her and she smiled then looked down at her food. "I know this isn't easy for you."
"David said I have to accept what is happening and I'm really trying to." She admitted.
"I'm sure you are." He said to her. "But you can cry too if you want. Don't keep everything bottled in. It'll hurt more."
"I'm really ok." AJ said to him. "So how was work?" she asked quickly changing the subject.
"It was busy. I fixed a lot of cars today." He said with a laugh.
"How many?" She asked seriously.
"I don't know maybe 6 or 7." He said to her amused. "How come you're not at work tonight by the way?"
"I decided to take a mental health day." She told him.
"Good for you, you deserved it." He said to her. "Well actually I deserved it since I'm reaping the benefits."
"Yes I thought tonight I'd clean the apartment, order a new couch and bed." she told him and he was surprised.
"Good for you." Punk said to her. "Is it a big bed?"
"No. I can't exactly fit a king size bed across the hall." She smirked. "But David told me that bed he's had in there used to be Jason's when he was kid so I needed something new."
"Big couch?" He asked.
"Relax. There's plenty of room for the two of us on both the bed and couch." She assured him.
"Good." He said to her.
"And I picked up some paint samples so I can decide what color to paint the place." She said to him.
"What color?" Punk asked.
"I want each room to be a completely different color." She told him. "No white."
"I'll help just let me know." He offered.
"I know. And so is Jason." She said then watched as he polished off his dinner.
"Alright I'm done." He said jumping out of his chair.
"Me too." She said collecting the dishes.
"No, no." He smirked. "You cooked I'll clean."
"I don't mind." She said to him.
"I do." He said to her then grabbed her hand and lead her to the couch. "You just sit right there looking exactly like that and I'm going to take a quick shower because I'm covered in oil."
"I can clean while-" She began and he placed his finger over her lips.
"What did I say? Just sit there looking beautiful and I'll be ten minutes." He said to her.
"If you're too tired to have se-" she began and again he shushed her.
"Sit there." He ordered and she laughed and reached for the remote but he yanked it from her. "No you'll turn the TV on and fall asleep."
"I'm not even tired." She scoffed.
"Just sit there." He said seriously and she laughed. "Ten minute, I'll cut it down to seven." he then ran into the shower.
Punk made it out of the shower in ten minutes and didn't even bother to dry off his hair. He was in his boxers and walked over the couch but AJ was passed out cold snoring on the couch. He didn't have the heart to wake her because he knew she needed some real sleep. He walked into the bedroom where he saw rose pedals spread across the bed and groaned at the thought of having AJ naked on top of them. He pushed the pedals off the bed and pulled down his comforter and that's when he saw a pair of handcuffs, a feather and whipped cream on the side table and almost cried.
"No. Let her sleep." He said to himself.
He walked over to the couch and carefully scooped her up into his arms and placed her onto the bed. He untied her high heels and pulled the sheets up over her and was pleased he managed not to wake her. He then headed into the living room and blew out the candles then heard Larry barking across the hall and his shook his head. Punk ventured to David's and opened the door and Larry jetted right out and ran straight into Punk's apartment and into his bedroom where AJ was.
After cleaning up the candles and dishes Punk walked into the bedroom and saw both AJ and Larry curled up. Even Larry was starting to snore now but Punk knew he'd have a good nights sleep just knowing she was next to him. He slipped into the bed and the minute he did AJ rolled half of her body onto his and rested her head on his bare chest. He kissed the top of her head and played with a strand of her hair until he drifted off into sleep a few minutes later.
A/N: Aren't they disgustingly adorable?