Development

"Hey, are you ok?" Punk asked with concern, walking into the bathroom the next morning where he found AJ sitting on the floor by the toilet.

"I've been better." AJ said, "I think I've had two hours of sleep."

"Have you been sick?" Punk asked, crouching down and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, not having the heart to tell her that she had some sick stuck to it.

"Yeah. Earlier. Now I just feel nauseas, like I constantly want to gag." She said, "And my head is pounding. Probably because I'm tired."

"You think it's because of the baby?" Punk asked her.

"Most likely." AJ nodded, "I was wondering when all of this fun stuff would start. It could also be because I'm worrying about what happened to Shiv."

"Shiv is going to be ok. Daryl text me earlier before we went to bed. She got discharged from the hospital and was going home to rest." Punk nodded, hoping it would make AJ feel a little better.

"I'd feel better if they caught whoever it was." AJ sighed, "She's like my sister, you know? My little baby sister."

"I know." Punk sighed, cupping her cheek and stroking it softly, "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" He asked, feeling pretty helpless.

"No, I think I just need to sleep. Thank God it's our day off today." AJ said, "I think I'll just stay under the duvet until I get hungry or need to pee. Or be sick." She nodded.

"I'm sorry." Punk frowned.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." AJ smiled.

"I know, I just… don't like seeing you like this." Punk said, taking her hand and helping her up to her feet.

"It'll pass." AJ nodded hopefully, "And hopefully they catch whoever attacked Shiv. I know it would bring her peace of mind." She said as Punk guided her back through to their bed, "I know that I felt the biggest relief when my attacker was caught and arrested. It doesn't change what happened to you but… it eases a little part of you that worries they'll come back to do it again."

"Yeah, I know she must be worried." Punk nodded, helping AJ back into bed, "I'm going to get showered and head out to see the sheriff. See if he has any news. I'll do our shopping and our laundry. And I'll stop by to see Shiv." He said as AJ nodded.

"Take her some sour patch kids." AJ said, "They're her favourite." She said, resting her head on the pillow and closing her eyes.

"Ok." Punk smiled, leaning down and kissing her head.

"I appreciate you not pointing out the fact I have sick in my hair. I know you noticed it." AJ said with her eyes closed, a small smile on her face as Punk laughed a little.

"I didn't think it was worth pointing out." Punk shrugged as she smiled, "I'm going to shower and head out. I'll bring you some water before I leave."

"Ok. Thank you." AJ smiled.

After Punk got showered, he thankfully noticed AJ was finally fast asleep. He got ready and left her some water with a sweet note on bedside table, before leaving the apartment and heading to the sheriff's office, about two miles out from the main part of the town.

Just as he was approaching the entrance to the sheriff's office, he noticed Lyla walking down the street towards him and the office.

"Morning." Lyla nodded to him.

"Hey. You ok?" Punk asked her.

"Yeah, just here for the same reason as you are, probably." Lyla said, "To see if there's any news on Shiv's attack."

"I'm not optimistic but… I'm hoping they got something." Punk sighed, running his hand through his messy hair, which he'd been too lazy to slick back this morning, letting it fall around his face instead.

"Where is AJ? I thought she'd be with you." Lyla said.

"She's been up all night. Being sick." Punk said as Lyla frowned, "She doesn't know if it's the baby or if it's worry over what happened to Shiv. Or a bit of both." He said.

"She is a chronic worrier." Lyla nodded, "But I don't blame her. I felt pretty sick last night too."

"When I left, she was finally sleeping." Punk said, "I'm hoping she manages to get a few hours of rest. And maybe I can go back home with some good news." He sighed.

"Hopefully." Lyla said as Punk opened up the door to the sheriff's office.

"After you." Punk said, holding the door open for Lyla who walked on in first whilst he followed behind.

Having been a lawyer in the city before, he was used to showing up in police stations, but none had ever looked like the one he stood in right now.

It was almost like a post office. It had three desks in the middle, a reception desk at the side, and an office in the back where he assumed the sheriff was.

"Not what you expected?" Lyla turned to him.

"You guys weren't kidding when you said no one commits crimes here?" Punk turned to her.

"No, we definitely weren't." Lyla said.

"Hey, what are you two doing here?" Sheriff Peterson walked out of his office towards them, having noticed them walk in through the glass window.

"We just wanted to see if there were any developments on Shiv's attacker." Lyla said, "I'm sure even just the smallest of development would make her feel a little better."

"As a matter of fact. I do." Sheriff Peterson nodded to them, "Come with me." He waved his hand and heading on down to his office where Punk and Lyla followed after him eagerly.

"You found something?" Punk asked, closing the office door behind him.

"I got a tip from the sheriff's two county's over." Sheriff Peterson explained, "Said a couple in the area saw a guy at a gas station, with his hood up, filling up a grey car. They said he had scratch marks on his face. Possibly where Shiv scratched him during the attack." He said.

"What about the licence plate?" Punk asked.

"Got that too." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "Matches with the first part that Shiv gave us. She done good by making sure to take note of it." He added.

"Yeah, she did." Lyla nodded proudly, "So you got the full plate now?"

"Yeah, and it's registered to this guy." He said, turning his computer around to show them both the driver's licence and picture of the man registered to the car.

"Ok I have no idea who that is." Lyla admitted.

"I don't either." Punk said, looking closely at the picture and the name.

"He's just been released from cook county prison five months ago." The sheriff said as Punk looked across at him, feeling a sharp twinge of nervousness develop in his stomach. It was the same prison his brother was currently in.

"What was he in prison for?" Lyla asked, "What age is he?" She looked at the date of birth on the licence, "Thirty-four?"

"Yeah." Sheriff Peterson nodded, "He was in for domestic violence. Did five years."

"Every girl's dream man." Lyla said sarcastically.

"I've contacted his probation officer. She hasn't heard from him in a month. Seemed to have gone off the radar." The sheriff said, "I've put out an APB for him. Odds are he's laying low someplace else."

"My brother is in cook county prison." Punk said as Lyla turned to him, "What are the odds this is somehow connected to him?" He wondered, "Assuming this is the guy who also threw paint on my shop."

"Maybe it's worth visiting your brother." Sheriff Peterson nodded.

"I don't want to do that." Punk said.

"Why would you think this has something to do with your brother?" The sheriff asked him.

"We're not exactly close." Punk said, "Just trying to think of a connection. Why else would this guy come to this town?"

"Why would he attack Shiv, though? If he's just trying to get to you?" Lyla asked.

"Maybe he's been lurking. Seen us all hanging around together." Punk shrugged.

"We won't know anything for sure until we get him. At least we got a name now. Something to work with. Shiv should be mighty proud that she got that first part of the license plate." The sheriff nodded.

"She's a smart girl." Lyla nodded, "Thanks for updating us."

"I'll keep you posted." The sheriff nodded before Punk and Lyla left his office, heading outside where Lyla immediately took a puff of her vape stressfully.

"You think this is your brother?" Lyla finally asked.

"I didn't." Punk sighed, "Until now." He shook his head.

"He dislikes you so much that he'd go to all this trouble to send one of his prison buddies here to mess with you and your friends?" Lyla asked.

"I didn't think he disliked me at all." Punk told her truthfully, "We left on pretty decent terms considering what went down. He was grateful to me for trying my best to help him-"

"By lying under oath?" Lyla nodded as Punk made a face at her.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence he was in the same jail." Punk shrugged, "Maybe Shiv will recognise him when they show her a picture of him."

"I doubt it." Lyla shook her head, "At least they got something to work with, though. That's good."

"Yeah." Punk nodded. All he could think about now was his brother, and what he was possibly capable of.

"We should go get stuff to make AJ some soup." Lyla suggested, "We can make it at The Brewberry and take it to her for lunch. It'll give her some energy. And it'll be good for the baby." She said as Punk nodded along.

"I'm glad you didn't try to smash my window this time." Shiv said, walking out of her house where Daryl was standing by his mom's car, having called Shiv to let her know he was outside waiting.

"I didn't smash your window last time. I threw some tiny stones at it." Daryl rolled his eyes, "Is your mom in?" He asked cautiously.

"Yeah, but she's working from home. She's busy." Shiv shrugged as Daryl nodded.

"Ok, well get in." Daryl said, opening up the passenger side door for her as she hopped on in.

"How bad does my face look? Be honest with me." Shiv said. Over the course of the night, the swelling under her eye had gone down, but the skin was purple and shiny.

"Not bad at all." Daryl nodded to her.

"Liar." Shiv scoffed as Daryl closed her side door before getting behind the wheel, "Sheriff Peterson called stopped by this morning." She told him as he reversed out of her drive.

"And?" Daryl waited, driving back onto the dirt road to take them to the main road that ran through town.

"They think they got a guy. Going by the license plate and a couple who think they saw the guy a few counties over." Shiv said, "Craig Porter." She shrugged, "Thirty-four. Just out of prison for a domestic violence offence."

"Nice." Daryl shook his head, "Hopefully this means they're closer to getting the fucker."

"Yeah, hopefully." Shiv said, "I just can't get over how spooked he seemed once he turned me around and saw my face. It was like he expected me to be someone else." She shook her head.

"You think he mistook you for someone else?" Daryl asked her.

"I don't know." Shiv sighed, "It's a difficult one to figure out. What could he have possibly gained out of punching me once and then rushing off in his car? It's just so odd." She shook her head.

"What about college?" Daryl asked, keeping his eyes on the road as he headed for Mister Eckles farm.

"What about college?" Shiv shook her head with confusion.

"Did you maybe bump into him at a party or something?" He asked.

"He's thirty-four. I think he'd stick out pretty bad if he was at a college party." Shiv shook her head, "But no, I've never seen the guy in my life."

"You still think it's something to do with Phil?" He asked.

"I never said that." She said defensively.

"You sort of did." Daryl turned to her for a second as she stared at him, "And I don't blame you. I don't think he would either. What you said is true. This place is… was… the most boring place on earth. Nothing ever happened. Yeah, we got gossip and drama but it's always small-town bullshit. Who's dating who and stuff." He shook his head, "Nothing like this ever happens."

"We can't just blame Phil." Shiv rolled her eyes, "He's been a victim in this too, with his shop being vandalised. It could be anyone." She said.

"Or he's brought his past into this town." Daryl said, "Thought he was running away and whatever he's running away from has found him."

"Maybe you're being dramatic." Shiv said, "He's your friend."

"A best friend. Like an older brother." Daryl agreed, "But if this is his shit, he needs to deal with it before it starts affecting all of us. Look at your face." He said angrily, turning to her as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"You said it didn't look that bad." Shiv said.

"Someone attacked you on the street. Anything could have…" He turned away, biting his tongue with anger as he stared at the road, "You shouldn't have been on your own." He mumbled.

"I'm nobody's responsibility." She said quietly, "I'm not yours to worry about."

"Yeah, well I'll worry anyway." Daryl made clear as she looked at him, watching him carefully as he kept his eyes on the road. She wondered what he'd gotten up to these past few months. She wondered every single day she woke up at college, what he would be doing. She thought leaving for college would erase him from her thoughts, even just a little, but she truly believed her thoughts of him had been amplified.