Chapter Text
It had started as a normal day. Well actually as normal as days went for Nick nowadays. Not since he;d learnt about his true ancestry as a Grimm. It was a case that had started normal enough, but then had spiraled into strange territories. Almost when Nick had believed that they had lost all leads, something else led them into an abandoned warehouse.
“I feel like we’ve been here before.” Nick turned to smile at Hank. “I just hope there aren’t any rats or strange symbols.” Nick silently agreed. Maybe this would just turn out to be a normal case after all. Just some weirdo out there with nothing actually mythical connected to it.
“We should spread out. It’ll move things along faster.” Nick nodded and began the search. The warehouse was mostly empty as far as he could see. Indeed there were no strange animals or any other artifacts or writing around. After a while he started to doubt there really was anything there. That was until he was sure he saw something moving.
Nick called out, the grip on his gun tightening. He wasn’t sure if whoever was in here was dangerous or not. He wasn’t going to risk. “Come out, now.” Nick waited for a response, but none came.
When he noticed the movement behind him it was already too late. The Grimm turned, gun positioned and ready to fire. But the only thing he saw was the bright light that was flashed at him. He was momentary blinded, tripping backwards but not falling thankfully. When Nick finally looked up, the figure, whoever it had been, was gone. He was extremely disappointed. But he was more worried about finding Hank and making sure his partner was fine.
He began to walk back to the entrance. Hank was already waiting there. Nick asked if he had seen anything or anyone leave. But Hank only shook his head. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah,” Nick looked back, there was nothing there. “I thought I saw something earlier.” He decided to blame it on the lack of sleep and stress from his job as a detective and now as Grimm. All of his cases appeared to be getting weirder and weirder. It was starting to take its toll on him. Juliette was always telling him he needed some time off. But with all the work he was getting. Nick doubted that was going to happen any time soon.
“We should get back then. Maybe they had better luck and actually found something.” Hank motioned towards the car and Nick followed after him. He wanted to get back as soon as possible. A good night rest would have him back on his feet. He made sure to give the warehouse one last look before getting inside. Something inside him told him that there was something wrong. Something he was missing. But nothing seemed out of place. Hank hadn’t even seen anyone else.
Nick didn’t bother to walk inside. He asked Hank to take care of the paperwork for him, saying he wasn’t feeling too well. He was tempted to check the trailer. But there he hadn’t seen anyone. Plus he actually wanted to drop by his house. Juliette was always saying that Nick needed to drop by more often. It was the first time in weeks that he had taken time off like this.
Juliette’s car was there thankfully. Nick hadn’t even bothered to call beforehand. He wanted it to be a surprise. But the he’d worried that she’d gone out grocery shopping or to visit a friend. It was what she usually did during her days off.
Nick tried to use the key. But for some reason the work didn’t work. Juliette and even he had been jumpy lately. But she hadn’t said anything about changing the locks. Then maybe she had simply forgotten. Nick tried knocking, after waiting a few moments the door was finally pulled back.
“Nick?” Juliette did indeed look surprised to see him there. “Is something wrong?” She took a closer look, almost searching for some sort of injury or something.
Nick frowned. “No, I just wanted to see you.”
Juliette nodded in understanding and stepped away from the door to allow him in. “I guess I was just surprised to see you around at this hour. I thought you had job.”
“I took some time off.” Nick explained. He was quite surprise that Juliette was asking so many questions. She had been nagging him about taking more time off for days now. He would have thought she would have been more agreeable to see him home early. The moment he walked inside he knew something was off. Things were missing, things that were his. Some pictures of Juliette and him weren’t there also. ”I didn’t know you were going to change the lock or the house.”
Juliette looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What are you talking about? I haven’t changed anything.”
“Of course you did.” Nick wondered if Juliette was messing with him. “My key didn’t work and my things…” He looked around. He now had a better look and things were indeed missing.
“Nick,” Juliette began, “why would you have a key of my house?” She moved closer and touched Nick’s forehead. “Are you ill? I keep telling you two that you work way too hard.”
‘Why wouldn’t he have a key to their house?’ If anyone was acting strange it was her. Nick’s thoughts drifted back to the warehouse. He remembered that blinding white light. Maybe that was somehow connected to Juliette’s strange behaviors. But that couldn’t be, Juliette hadn’t been anywhere near there. Why would it affect her?
“Look, do you want me to call someone?” Juliette asked as she helped Nick towards the sofa. “You look rather pale. I’m always saying that you shouldn’t overwork yourself like this. You should go home.”
“But,” Nick looked up at her, “this is my home.”
“Nick, you are in my house.” Juliette frowned. “Maybe I should call someone.” Juliette began to ask other questions. But nick stopped listening to her. Something was definitely off. Why was Juliette saying this wasn’t his home? Was she breaking up with him and this was her way of doing it.
“Nick, I’m going to call someone Do you want me to call Renard to pick you up.” Juliette called from the other room. Nick hadn’t even noticed when she had left. Call someone? If Juliette was indeed breaking up with him then he needed a place to crash. At first he thought about hank. But he was already in enough danger just working with him. Nick didn’t want his Grimm work also interfering with Hank’s life more than it was.
Monroe. ‘Call Monroe,’ Nick thought to himself. It was the only other person he could think off. Why would Juliette even think of calling his boss? It wasn’t like they were that close. Hank would have made more sense. But he wasn’t sure if he was done yet. Monroe wouldn’t be happy. But Nick doubted he would turn him away. Juliette asked for the number. But Nick shrugged and stood up. He would drive there himself. Call Monroe on his way.
Juliette tried to stop him. Saying he shouldn’t be driving. But Nick reassured her saying he was fine. She was breaking up with him. It was painful and he was a bit disoriented because of it. But that was a natural reaction. As much as Nick hated to admit it, he had been preparing himself for this day. He tried to ignore the burn in the back of his eyes as he began the drive to Monroe’s home.
Just as expected Monroe was there and not at all that surprised to see Nick at his doorstep. “Don’t you have those books and resources?” It was the first thing he said as he allowed Nick inside his home.
“This isn’t work related.” Nick said.
Monroe stopped, taking a closer look. “Something’s wrong.” It was a fact. “I can tell something is wrong. Would you like a beer?” Nick accepted the offered drink. He wasn’t the sort to drown his sorrows in alcohol. But he really wanted one now.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Monroe asked, actually starting to look concerned.
Nick shook his head, maybe later, but not now. “I think I’m going to need a place to stay. Juliette broke up with me.”
Monroe stared at him for a long while. Then he finally stood up and practically yelled. “What! I mean, I knew you two were close. But I just thought you were good friends.” Monroe noticing his outburst calmed down. “I’m sorry. I thought you two were doing so well. But your private life is not of my concern.”
Nick was still looking at the other man. He hadn’t expected such a reaction from Monroe. True be told he had at one point agreed that staying with Juliette could be dangerous, anyone trying to get to him could go after her. Heck, it had happened already. But what he had said before that. He thought that they were just friend and nothing more. Monroe was one of the few that knew that Nick wanted to ask her to marry him.
“What is wrong with you?” Nick shook his head. Was everyone acting crazy today? Was this a new thing he hadn’t been told about? Nick was sure that it wasn’t April’s Fools yet.
“I wanted to ask if I could stay here.” He would have gone directly to the trailer. He had a bed there after all and it wasn’t like he needed a lot of space. But Nick wanted to be around someone. He wanted someone to at least talk to.
“Sure. But if he comes here, I’m staying out of the way.” Nick wanted to ask Monroe what he meant by that. But the blutbad was already standing up to get more beer. Nick decided to entertain himself with thinking over the case Hank and him were investigating. The warehouse had been a waste of time, but they still needed to find other leads.
At that moment his phone rang. For a moment Nick thought it was Juliette. Calling to explain what had happened. Maybe to say it had all been some sort of joke. But to his surprise it was the Captain. Even more surprising was the fact that it was his private number. He never called them using that one unless it was a huge emergency. Maybe they had found something after all.
“He—“ Nick was cut off mid-sentence.
“Where are you?” The Captain sounded both worried and something else...angry? Maybe. It wasn’t like this was the first time that Nick had asked Hank to fill in the paper work. He hadn’t been angry over that before. “Juliette called me. She said you weren’t feeling well. You should have called me.”
Nick wasn’t sure how to respond. Again, why had Juliette called his boss and not Hank? Captain Regan and he weren’t really that close outside the workplace. “If you really need me to do my paperwork, I’ll be there right away.”
“No!” the response was instant. “I don’t want you driving like that.” The anger in the voice was now completely gone. “You are at Monroe’s home right? I’ll have someone pick you up.” Nick wasn’t given a chance to protest before the line went dead.
“So does Captain Renard know about, Juliette and you?” Monroe was back.
“Yes, of course he knows. Why wouldn’t he?” Monroe only shrugged. Nick returned to look down at his phone. The bad feeling only grew.
Monroe offered another beer. But Nick declined this time. He wondered if Hank would be the one picking him. He wondered why he needed anyone picking him up anyway. He knew how to get to the station. He wasn’t sick and he had no idea what had given the impression to everyone else that he was.
Finally an unfamiliar car pulled just outside Monroe’s home. Monroe was the first to notice it and walk towards the door. Nick stood up and followed. When finally someone got out, Nick’s mouth hung open. “What is she doing here?” Adalind. Just because Nick had protected her last time, that had been his job then. It didn’t mean he was always going to be so forgiven, not after what she’d tried to do.
“Are you ready to go?” She asked, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Nick’s hand trailed to touch the handle of his gun. He glared at the hexenbiest. Making sure to have his guard up, awaiting an attack. It was still daylight out so he doubted she would try something out in the open. But Nick was going to be prepared.
“Now, Nick I’m just doing my job. Renard said that you weren’t feeling well.” She tried to move closer. But seen Nick’s expression darken, she stepped back.
“I think you should leave.” Nick turned to look at Monroe, who looked like he wanted to be out of there. Like he was in the middle of something he didn’t understand and should be seen anyway. “I don’t know who really sent you. But here is a warning. If you ever appear before me, I can’t promise if I’ll be able to control myself.” Nick wanted to be intimidating. But there was also some truth behind his words. He wanted her far away from him and those he knew.
She turned around and entered the car. It didn’t move at first, but Nick decided to close the door. If she was smart, and Nick knew she was, she would leave.
“What was that all about?” Monroe asked, still looking towards the street.
“She tried to kill my aunt. She would have, if I hadn’t been there.” The memory was one he would never forget. Today just kept getting better and better, Nick felt like laughing at the irony of it all.
His phone rang once more. It was Captain Renard. “Adalind just called me. She says you don’t want to go.” Nick stood there, mouth opened slightly. Captain Renard had actually asked her to pick him up. With all the people there that he could have chosen from. He didn’t know what she’d done. But Nick hadn’t known they kept in touch after the case was over.
“Look, I’m feeling sick after all. I’m going to take the rest of the day off. I have to go now. I’m grateful that you guys are worried and believe I need a babysitter. But I’m really fine.” It was rude to hand on his boss. But Nick was starting to get a growing headache. Plus if he wasn’t on the job, Nick was sure he didn’t have to listen to his superior.
The phone rang again. But Nick decided to ignore it. Monroe was looking at him like he’d grown a second. “Your life can’t get any more complicated, can it? Your lover,” he said the word ‘lover’ like it was still an alien thing. “And now you are fighting with your fiancé.”
Nick turned around like Monroe was the one that had grown that second head. “What is wrong with you? Captain Renard is my boss. Not only he’s the furthest thing from a fiancé. But I love Juliette.”
“Nice one Nick. Everyone knows that you are together and to be wed.” Monroe picked the bottle of beer and drank it all down. “You know I’m not that great with relationships. But if you ever need someone to talk about it, make sure I’m your last option. Your life is far too strange and complicated, even for me.”
Nick didn’t respond. Monroe’s words were still trying to make sense in his mind. Maybe he’d been wrong to ignore the signs. Thinking it was some strange joke. Maybe something was way off.
Nick stood up and walked outside. Monroe called after him. The other car was thankfully gone. Nick stepped inside his own car and turned the engine wrong. Maybe it was time to check those books out. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was searching for. But he just needed to get away from everything for a while. He took one last glance at his phone, before turning it off.