Going Home

"Did he say what it was about?" AJ asked apprehensively, walking along the street with Punk towards the Sheriff's station, "And why is he calling you and not me? Shouldn't I be the one he contacts?"

"He's a cop stuck in the eighties." Punk rolled his eyes, "He didn't say what it was about. Just that he wants to talk to us at some point today."

"Do you think he finally called New Jersey State Prison?" AJ wondered, "Or he's found Craig?" She thought out loud as Punk turned to her, "Sorry, I'm getting carried away." She shook her head.

"It's alright. I'm hoping it's something like that." Punk nodded, "Would be nice to finally get some answers."

"Yeah, it would." AJ agreed, "He's probably asking us to come in so he can tell us he hasn't found anything. And that it's out of his hands. Or some bullshit along those lines." AJ shook her head.

"If it's out of his hands then it's into mine." Punk said, "If he's not going to do his job then I'll do it for him." He shook his head, arriving at the small Sheriff's office and opening the door for AJ.

"That's not the solution. You can't be putting yourself in danger." AJ said worriedly, "It'll only make me worry more."

"I can't just sit back and do nothing. I won't have you looking over your shoulder all the time because of this guy." Punk shook his head angrily, heading down to Sheriff Peterson's office and knocking on the door.

"Come in." Sheriff Peterson called as Punk and AJ walked in, "Sorry to call you on short notice. I know you'll both be preparing for the Fair tomorrow."

"It's lucky we have reliable staff to help us." AJ said, "And we were obviously coming here with the hope that you've got some kind of news."

"I do have news." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "Take a seat." He encouraged, pointing to the chairs in front of his desk which AJ and Punk took a seat on.

"There's been some kind of development?" Punk asked.

"I called New Jersey State Prison." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "They were more helpful than I thought they'd be. They told me about Craig's time there and when I asked if he had spent time with Todd, they said they were in different wings of the prison. Not cell mates. Not accomplices."

"Ok?" AJ waited.

"The warden I spoke with said that they possibly had some kind of interaction in the yard or in the cafeteria, but nothing that stuck out to them." Sheriff Peterson said, "But I did find something else out."

"What?" AJ asked.

"Todd, this man who attacked you six years ago, his parents have been visiting him regularly. They've been trying to assign him the best lawyer. Trying to encourage him to appeal. Get his sentence reduced." Sheriff Peterson said, "His parents also made a few visits to Craig when he was in prison."

"So, it's Todd's parents?" Punk asked, "They're rich and privileged, distraught by the fact they have a monster for a son, so they're paying off some low life to harass AJ? Coerce her into changing her statement?" Punk figured.

"Seems likely." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "But why the attack on Shiv? That's the only thing that's throwing me off." He said as AJ stood up and turned their backs to them.

"What are you doing?" Punk asked with confusion.

"Notice anything?" AJ asked them, continuing to stand with her back to them as Punk looked at her, realising what she was getting at.

"Ahh." Sheriff Peterson sat back on his chair.

"I've thought about it for a couple of weeks now." AJ turned back around, "It wasn't supposed to be Shiv. Craig confused her for me." She sat back down as Punk looked at her, feeling a knot in his stomach at the thought of AJ being attacked. It was bad enough to think about poor Shiv being hurt, but to think about AJ suffering, to think of something bad happening to the babies. It was beyond imaginable.

"So what now?" Punk asked the sheriff, "Can you question Todd's parents?"

"What can I question them about? They're entitled to visit their son in prison." Sheriff Peterson shrugged.

"Can't you ask them about their connection to Craig? Why were they visiting him? The guy has an APB out on him. Surely you can justify asking the parents what their relationship is like with him. He's a wanted man." AJ said.

"Like I've said before… we don't have the funds to be making trips back and forth to New Jersey." Sheriff Peterson said.

"Alright, then I will gladly pay for your return flight to go question him." Punk said angrily, "We're talking about dangerous people here. You wanna wait until Craig shows up again and hurts someone else?" Punk questioned, "Isn't your job to prevent shit from happening?"

"I can only work with the resources I have." Sheriff Peterson said, "I can maybe get a contact number for the parents. Talk to them over the phone."

"It'd be the least you could do." Punk shook his head, standing up from the chair as AJ followed.

"I'm doing what I can." Sheriff Peterson defended.

"Are you?" AJ asked, "You've figured out Todd's parents might have involvement in this and yet we're having to beg you to contact them." AJ said, "I know you might have qualified to be a cop in like… 1920… but you're supposed to want to help me right now." AJ shook her head as Sheriff Peterson scoffed.

"I've got my cops out on the streets surveying the area. Morning, noon and night. There's no reason for you to feel afraid." Sheriff Peterson nodded.

"Well I do." AJ shook her head, heading for the door and walking out of the office as Punk gave the sheriff one final glare before following her out.

"That guy needs a beating." Punk said, leaving the sheriff's building and standing outside with AJ who ran her hand through her hair.

"So Todd's parents are trying to supply him with the best, richest lawyers to get his sentence reduced. And they've got Craig coming after me to scare me into changing my statement." AJ realised.

"Did you know his parents? Did you meet them before?" Punk asked.

"No. But I know they're super rich." AJ said, "Why does it feel like I'm begging that guy in there to help? It's like being attacked all over again. Feeling like a damn inconvenience to everybody." She shook her head, placing her hands over her face stressfully.

"You are not an inconvenience." Punk made clear, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly against his body, "The sheriff is just terrible at his job. He's probably just had to settle farm disputes his whole career." He rolled his eyes as AJ laughed a little and looked up at him.

"Farm disputes?" She questioned.

"I'm sure that's a thing here." Punk shrugged as AJ just sighed, resting her forehead on his chest.

"What are we supposed to do?" She sighed.

"If that bastard in there won't go to New Jersey, then I will." Punk said.

"Jesus, how many bags do you have?" Daryl questioned, waiting by his mom's car in the parking lot outside Shiv's campus, watching her struggle towards him with bags over her shoulders, on her back and in her hands.

"These are just essentials." Shiv said.

"Essentials?" Daryl questioned, "You're kidding."

"Are you going to just stand there and watch or are you going to help me?" Shiv asked as Daryl walked over to her and took the bags from her shoulders.

"You're like the junk lady from the Labyrinth." He shook his head, throwing her bags into the back of the car.

"Careful." Shiv snapped, "What's the Labyrinth?" She questioned.

"Really? You never watched that movie as a kid?" He asked, "It's got David Bowie in it? The Goblin King?"

"All I can hear right now is bla bla bla." Shiv nodded as Daryl rolled his eyes, taking the rest of her bags and throwing them in the back seat.

"Feel good to be finished with finals?" He asked, closing the door and getting in behind the wheel whilst she got into the passenger's side.

"Yeah." Shiv nodded, "It was touch and go for a minute. I thought I wasn't going to see it through."

"Always dramatic." Daryl concluded as she made a face at him.

"You're sure it's ok that I come to your house for Christmas dinner? I really don't want to impose." She said.

"You're not imposing. It's just me, my mom and my sister. They're glad to have you." He nodded to her as she smiled, "When are your parents back from work?" He asked, reversing out of the car park to get onto the main road.

"The day after Christmas. They went ahead and said they would work because I told them I wasn't coming back for Christmas." Shiv said, "Suits me fine them not being there. They're not big on Christmas. They clearly weren't loved enough as children."

"I'll say." Daryl scoffed, "I'm glad you're coming home. Really." He turned to her for a moment as she nodded.

"Yeah. Thanks for convincing me." She nodded, "You're right. I would have just been miserable in my dorm room. And I want to see the girls. I have gifts for them all."

"They're extra glad you're going to be there for the Fair tomorrow." Daryl nodded.

"Yeah, me too." Shiv smiled, "And I've been thinking about… you know, that email. And I'm going to tell AJ. I'm just scared that she'll hate me for not telling her sooner." She admitted.

"She won't hate you. You were attacked. You went through a terrible thing. And you kept it from her because you didn't want to scare her." Daryl said, "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to over text but… the night I was here with you, Craig showed up outside Phil's coffee shop. AJ saw him standing across the street. Then he just… disappeared."

"Oh, God." Shiv sighed, "She must have been terrified."

"Yeah, her and Phil have been back and forth at the sheriff's station. And there's been a lot more cops out on the streets recently." Daryl nodded, "The sooner they catch the guy the better."

"It won't be good for the baby, if she's stressing and worried so much." Shiv sighed.

"Yeah, I know." Daryl nodded, "It's good her aunt is here for her right now, I guess. And Phil is good at keeping her calm."

"Oh, I can't wait to see Aunt Nico." Shiv smiled, "She's like our fairy godmother."

"She came into Phil's shop and started burning incense the first week she was here. She's a little weird." Daryl said.

"She's amazing." Shiv corrected defensively, "I've brought my laptop with me. I was thinking I should go and show the sheriff the email I got." She said nervously.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea." Daryl agreed, "I can… come with you if you like." He said coolly.

"Yeah, ok." Shiv nodded.

"How have you been? I know you text to say you were sleeping better but… are you still as anxious as before?" He asked.

"It's only been a few weeks." Shiv said, "I mean… I did feel better once I told you about the email. But I'm still nervous about telling AJ. And I still think about the attack… pretty much every day." She said as Daryl stayed quiet, "But… I did actually go and speak to a counsellor on campus. She's been helpful."

"Good." Daryl nodded, "That's good. And brave." He said.

"I've not been back home since it happened. I just hope it doesn't trigger me or something." She said.

"You got people around you who love you. They'll keep your spirits up." He nodded, keeping his eyes on the road as she watched him.

"Thank you for… checking in on me. Texting me every day." Shiv said, "I… I really appreciated it."

"It wasn't every day." Daryl scoffed, "Was it?" He asked as she grinned.

"Pretty much." Shiv said, "I thought the best way to deal with it all would be to just… deal with it myself. I guess I've always done that. Being an only child. Not being really close with my parents. I've always just tried to figure shit out by myself."

"You're not alone, Shiv." Daryl said seriously, "There are people there for you. I'm here for you." He nodded.

"Yeah, I know." Shiv nodded, smiling to herself, "You know who I'm most looking forward to seeing?"

"Who?" Daryl asked.

"Maple. And the kittens." Shiv smiled.

"They're getting big." Daryl nodded, "I swear every time I see them, they get bigger. Becca takes good care of them on the farm. She sends me pictures."

"Will you take me to see them?" She asked, "I got them little Christmas cat toys." She admitted as Daryl laughed a little.

"Of course you did." He chuckled, "How about we make that our first stop?"

"Deal." Shiv nodded.