Hospital

"What the hell is going on here?" Punk asked as he and AJ drove back into town, arriving outside Punk's shop where there was a sheriff car parked outside.

"Your window is smashed." AJ noticed with concern.

"Fuck." Punk shook his head, cutting the engine and getting out of the car as AJ followed, "What's going on here?" He asked, noticing Finn was standing outside the shop with Shiv and Linda, talking to the town's sheriff.

"Are you the owner?" The sheriff asked.

"Yes. This is my place." Punk nodded, "Phil Brooks." He introduced himself quickly.

"Sheriff Porter." The sheriff said, "There's been an incident here."

"I can see that." Punk said, turning to Finn, "Where is Daryl?" He asked worriedly.

"Luke put him through the window." Finn said.

"What?" AJ shook her head with shock and concern.

"He came into the shop. Looking for trouble." Finn said, "Daryl told him he was barred and that he should leave. But he wouldn't leave." Finn shook his head.

"It wasn't Daryl's fault." Shiv spoke up, "He gave Luke the chance to leave so many times."

"Can someone tell me where Daryl is right now?" Punk asked with concern, "Is he hurt?"

"He's gone to the hospital." Sheriff Porter spoke up.

"Is it his leg? He's got a bad leg." Punk said worriedly, feeling like his stomach was in his throat with nerves and concern.

"I just sent him for precaution. Looked like he may have had a concussion. Apart from that he appeared fine." Sheriff Porter said.

"I think his leg is fine." Shiv nodded to Punk.

"Why are you over here?" AJ asked Shiv.

"I came over to the shop to borrow some flour. Luke was already here when I showed up. I was just giving a statement to the sheriff." Shiv nodded.

"I assume you've arrested Luke." Punk turned to the sheriff.

"Yeah, we've arrested him. He's in the cells." Sheriff Porter nodded.

"Why would he even show up here?" AJ shook her head.

"He wanted a coffee and Daryl told him that he was barred. And that he should leave. Things escalated from there." Finn explained.

"Out of curiosity… why is he barred?" The sheriff asked, "Wasn't it you who beat him up at the Fair?"

"He's been harassing me." AJ inserted, "He cornered me at the Fair. Keeps trying to get a reaction out of me." She explained, so Punk didn't have to.

"I see." Sheriff Porter nodded.

"So, he came here and put an eighteen-year-old kid through the shop window?" Punk questioned, "That's battery, assault and obstruction of property." He told the sheriff.

"I know what it is." The sheriff assured him, "I'm going back to the station right now to speak with him."

"We should go see Daryl." AJ suggested to Punk who nodded.

"Yeah." Punk agreed, "Finn, will you stay here and clear some of the glass up? Just do what you can."

"Sure." Finn nodded.

"Can I come with you guys?" Shiv asked Punk and AJ who were beginning to walk back to Punk's car.

"Yeah, get in." Punk nodded to her without a second thought, getting into his car as Shiv ran over to get in the back.

Punk drove himself, AJ and Shiv to the closest hospital to the town where Daryl was being kept for observation due to a suspected concussion. Punk wasn't even aware of how fast he was driving, or how nervous and anxious he was when he heard Daryl was in hospital.

"What do you think they'll do? The police?" Shiv asked AJ and Punk after they parked at the hospital and headed for the main entrance.

"Arrest him, hopefully." AJ said.

"They better." Punk said seriously, "Propose a restraining order, maybe?"

"Yes, please." AJ scoffed.

"This wasn't Daryl's fault." She made clear as Punk turned to her, "Luke started trashing the place, kicking over tables and chairs… that's when Daryl punched him, and they got into a fight."

"I never thought this was Daryl's fault." Punk assured her, "All I care about is that he's ok. That's all that matters."

"Come on." AJ said comfortingly, wrapping her arm around Shiv as they headed for the elevators.

They took the elevator up to the floor where Daryl was being kept, asking a few nurses for his room until they eventually found it. He was sitting up on the bed, looking perfectly fine besides the few stitches along his eyebrow. And his mother and little sister were both sitting with him. It was then Punk realised this was the first he'd even seen his mother.

"Hey." Punk smiled as Daryl turned to look at them, "There's not too much damage to that pretty face, I see." He said as Daryl just smiled and nodded.

"How are you feeling?" AJ asked, "Hey, Carol." She smiled over to Daryl's mom who she was familiar with from coming to her book clubs.

"He'll live." Carol nodded, "He's still a little woozy. Suspected concussion. Apart from that he'll be ok." She nodded.

"I'm sorry." Daryl shook his head as Punk looked at him.

"For what?" Punk said.

"You left us in charge of your shop and… everything went to shit. The window is all smashed up. We'll probably have to close for a day or two-"

"Daryl… this is not your fault." Punk assured him, "He caused this. He put you through the window. This is all on him."

"You were only defending the shop." Shiv added as Daryl turned to her. It hadn't gone unnoticed to him that she had come to the hospital to check on him.

"The only thing I care about is that you're ok. I can get a new window replaced." Punk nodded, "I can't replace you." He said as Daryl chuckled a little.

"Don't make me sick." Daryl said, rolling his head back on the pillow as Punk smiled.

"C'mon, Sadie. Why don't we go get your brother something to drink?" Carol turned to Daryl's little sister who was perhaps eight or nine from Punk's assessment.

"Ok." Sadie said quietly, getting off her seat, "Hi, Shiv." She whispered to Shiv as she passed her as Shiv smiled.

"Hey, Sadie." Shiv smiled, "I love your hair." She pointed to the eight-year-old's braids.

"Thanks." Sadie smiled shyly, taking her mother's hand and leaving the room.

"Have they arrested him yet?" Daryl asked them.

"Not yet but the sheriff was going back to the station to talk to him. I doubt he's going to get away squat free." Punk said, "Finn is at the shop trying to clear up the glass."

"I text Lyla on our way here, to see if she could go over and help him for five minutes." AJ nodded.

"Things were going pretty well until he showed up." Daryl said with frustration.

"I don't doubt it. I wouldn't have left you both if I didn't know you were capable of running the place." Punk nodded.

"How long do you think we'll have to stay closed?" Daryl asked.

"Just until I find someone to put in a new glass partition." Punk said, "Not long. Don't worry."

"Did you not get the flour?" Daryl turned to Shiv, distinctly remembering she had come over to their shop to borrow some flour.

"No. You flying through the window kinda distracted me." Shiv said as Daryl nodded.

"Did we run out of flour?" AJ asked Shiv with confusion.

"Becca had a little accident with one of the packets." Shiv nodded, "She was extra tired this morning."

"Compared to other mornings when she's bright and energetic?" AJ asked sarcastically as Shiv smiled.

"Things were going fine at the Brewberry." Shiv assured her, "I mean… no one got thrown through our window."

"Alright alright." Daryl rolled his eyes as Shiv chuckled a little, looking over at him as he smiled at her.

"I'm going to get a coffee, you two want anything?" Punk asked AJ and Shiv.

"Don't stick around." Daryl shook his head, "I got my mom here. You should get back to the shop."

"No, we'll stay." Punk insisted.

"I'll take a coffee." AJ nodded.

"Sprite. Please." Shiv said as Punk nodded and left the room to go find a coffee and vending machine.

"I can't help feel responsible for all of this." AJ said, taking a seat by the bed whilst Shiv took a seat at the opposite side.

"You're not responsible for him being an asshole." Daryl shook his head, "Dude is a fruit loop." He nodded.

"A fruit loop?" Shiv shook her head with a smile as Daryl turned to her.

"Yeah. He's not right in the head I reckon." Daryl nodded, "There's always been something weird about him."

"What makes you say that?" AJ asked.

"I don't know. He's just always acted like a 17-year-old. My mom told me that apparently, he used to take pictures up girl's skirts in high school." Daryl said as AJ rolled her eyes.

"That's comforting." AJ nodded, "Where was all of this information before I agreed to go on a date with him?"

"Yeah, someone should have given you the heads up." Daryl nodded.

"Do you think he'll get charged?" Shiv asked them both.

"If he does get off with it, he'll be told not to come near any of us." Daryl said, "So at least there's that."

"I've barely ever seen the sheriff in town. Feels like we're celebrities." Shiv smiled as Daryl turned to her.

"At the expense of my concussion?" He raised a brow as she shrugged.

Meanwhile, Punk was searching high and low for the nearest coffee machine, eventually finding one where Daryl's mom was standing in front of, making herself a coffee.

"Hey." Punk nodded to her pleasantly.

"Oh, hi." Carol noticed him.

"Feels strange that we've not met yet." Punk admitted to her.

"It does." Carol smiled, "Although I feel like we have met with how much Daryl talks about you." She said.

"Good things I hope." Punk said.

"Mostly." Carol nodded.

"I'm sorry, this must have been stressful for you." He said, not being able to help feel like he had to apologise.

"You don't need to apologise. This wasn't your fault." Carol shook her head, "If anything I should be thanking you."

"Thanking me?" Punk questioned.

"For the change in Daryl since he started working with you." Carol said, "He was going down a pretty bad road for a while. He had no aspirations. No work ethic. Just sat around drinking and hanging out with the wrong people." She nodded, "When he told me he saw the job ad online for your shop, I didn't even think he was being serious when he said he was going to apply." She admitted, "And ever since… it's like I'm getting my son back. He's happy and he's not so angry with the world anymore. Thanks to you."

"He's a great worker. And a great kid. You should be really proud of him." Punk nodded to her.

"I am." Carol smiled, "There's always been something about that guy. Luke." She shook her head, taking her coffee from the machine whilst Punk set it up to make himself one.

"Yeah?" Punk questioned.

"You know what this town is like by now. People talk." Carol nodded, "My late husband had some run ins with him at his garage a few times. He just seems like a piece of work." She said.

"Yeah, he is." Punk agreed, "I'm sure if he gets released from the cells, his conditions will be to not come anywhere near us. Your son included." Punk said, trying his best to reassure her.

"Let's hope that's the case." Carol nodded.

"Well, that was a real shitty way to end our romantic getaway." AJ said tiredly, making her way into her apartment as Punk followed.

They'd spent the rest of the day and most of the night at the hospital with Daryl until he was released. They wound up sneaking in some take-out and having dinner together. Both of them along with Daryl, Shiv, Carol and Sadie. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of being in the hospital, it was actually an enjoyable night spent.

"At least I got a window man coming first thing to fix the glass." Punk said, "Maybe I can get the shop opened by the afternoon."

"Hopefully." AJ nodded, "Any word from the sheriff?"

"Nothing." Punk shook his head, "He'll maybe call in the morning since it's late."

"Yeah." AJ nodded, "Hey, did you see Daryl and Shiv tonight?" She grinned a little.

"Cosy, huh?" Punk smiled as AJ nodded, "It was nice to meet Daryl's mom. She's a sweet woman."

"That's the first you've met her?" AJ asked.

"Yeah. She's never swung by the shop." Punk said.

"Because she's loyal to me." AJ said happily as Punk nodded, "His little sister is so cute, too."

"I didn't realise she was so young. I thought she was just a couple years younger." Punk admitted, "Daryl talks a lot, but he doesn't really talk about his family." He realised.

"Some people are like that." AJ shrugged, dumping her bag down, "At least Finn managed to get most of the glass swept up."

"Yeah, with Lyla and Becca's help." Punk said, "If you see them before me, tell them thanks." He said.

"I will." AJ nodded, "Should I be worried about Luke?" She asked him as he looked over at her.

"No." He shook his head adamantly.

"The general consensus amongst everyone tonight was that he's a known creep. Which would have been useful information before I agreed to go on a date with him." She shook her head.

"I promise you, I'll not let anything happen to you." He said seriously, walking closer to her as she looked up at him, "And if he's released, he'll be warned not to come near us. He'd be stupid to after today."

"He seems like a stupid guy." AJ concluded, "I wouldn't rule it out." She said, looking down.

"Hey, look at me." He said, grazing his finger under her chin to tilt her head up to look at him, "You got way too many people around you who care about you. Nothing bad is going to happen." He nodded.

"Ok." She said quietly, believing in his words.

"I love you." He said, leaning down and kissing her softly before wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly.

"I love you." AJ said, resting her cheek against his chest.

"Let's go to bed." He said, "It's been a day." He sighed as she nodded, "You should wear your croissant pyjamas to cheer us up." He suggested as she chuckled, heading into her bedroom together.

"When was the last time you slept at your own place?" She laughed a little, "Seems like a huge waste in rent." She shook her head.

"It does, doesn't it?" He smiled, watching her head off into the bathroom to wash the day off, hoping for a better one tomorrow.