So! I told myself I would write a story that wasn't Portal-related, and I did it! :D So, read it, love it, review it. That's if you want to, that is. Please.
Nick and Juliette were cuddling on the couch. It was a Friday night, and neither had any idea of what had taken place the evening before. No idea that someone had been in their room. No idea the intruder had taken something.
There was a gentle knock at the door, and the moment Nick laid eyes on the visitor, he remembered something of vital importance. "Hey, Alex, sorry, I totally forgot you were coming."
The fifteen-year-old girl with the messy, wavy, dark blonde hair and dark brown eyes smiled. "Figures. And how many times did I remind you? Five, was it?" Nick laughed.
He let her in and led her to the living room. "Juliette, this is my cousin, Alexandra. I told her she could stay here for the week. I meant to tell you, but I've just been so busy lately..."
Juliette greeted the girl with a smile. It was odd, though. She was sure Nick had told her his Aunt Marie had been his only living relative. But maybe she was mistaken.
Alex was shown to the guest room, where she set down her single small, blue bag. Nick motioned to the bed, indicating for her to take a seat. She obeyed, and he put his hand on her shoulder. "You doing alright?" She nodded, but closed her eyes and kept silent. "It's hard, I know. I'm glad the orphanage let you come visit."
Her eyes still shut, she spoke quietly as she fiddled with the gold chain around her neck, which was partially covered by her brown shirt. "I miss him. I never thought I'd say it, but I really miss him."
She didn't cry at the memories. Her father- Nick's uncle Matthew- had died of a freak heart attack just a year before. It hurt him to see her so scared, so alone, just like he'd been when his own parents had died. "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here, okay?" She finally looked at him and nodded again. "I'll let you get settled in." He patted her shoulder one more time and left, closing the door behind him.
Alex grinned when he was gone and set a small bundle of materials on the desk. She pulled out a bottle of water from her bag and took a quick sip. This was all going so well.
"Hey, Nick." Hank called. Nick looked up from the files on his desk. "What do you say we go out tonight, get a drink or two?"
"Can't." That was all he said.
Hank sat down near him. "What, you got plans with Juliette?"
Nick knew exactly what he meant by "Plans". "No, my cousin is visiting."
"So?" Nick laughed and shook his head. "What? Maybe she wants in."
It was obvious Hank was joking around, but Nick's answer was in all seriousness. "I am not going to- You know what, I'm not going to even go there."
Hank shrugged. "Well, why do you have to stay with her? Why not let her roam around a bit? Go sight-seeing, or something."
He gathered the files and looked at his partner. "She's not even sixteen yet. Besides, she's still not over her father dying."
"So you think she's suicidal?" It was asked in innocence and concern.
Nick shook his head. "I can't know for sure, but I'd rather not take any chances. She needs me right now. I'm the only one she has left, plus I went through almost the same thing. I've been helping her cope."
"If you say so." He was about to leave when they heard a voice behind them.
Sergeant Wu held a folder in his hand and set it down in front of Nick. "Just got a report on a break-in. Victim said there were some stolen heirlooms and a safe with about $2,000."
Hank looked through the file, an odd expression on his face. "Hey, Nick. I think you should have a look at this." He pointed to the address, and Nick felt his eyes widen.
When they arrived, they stepped out of the car just as Nick caught sight of the man leaning against his house. "Monroe!" The blutbad looked over at the sound of his name, and his anxious demeanour immediately changed to annoyance. Of course, they had to send him. While Hank was distracted, Nick went over to him. "Who did this?"
"Well, if I knew that, you wouldn't be here, now would you?" He sighed and shook his head.
Nick's face showed he meant business. "I meant, what did this."
He threw his arms up for a moment in exasperation. "What do you mean, 'What did this'? Why does it always have to be some type of creature? What, all of a sudden every human on earth is innocent?" He ran his fingers through his hair. "Look, I didn't catch any scent other than human when I got home." He sniffed for a moment. "Speaking of which, dude, you reek. You been hanging out with anyone different lately?"
Nick shook his head. "I bumped into a guy on my way here, but other than that, no." Monroe nodded thoughtfully. "But you said when you got home. Where were you last night?"
"Oh, just a little place a few towns over."
"I'm gonna need more than that."
He sighed again. "Real nit-picky today, aren't we? You know what, fine. I was at a club. Just a small one, you've probably never heard of it. It's called Wicked."
That was something he could never have seen coming. He had, in fact, heard of it. "Wait, you were at a strip club?"
"I wasn't at a knitting lesson. What can I say? I'm a guy. More importantly, I'm a single guy. I'm allowed to have a little fun once in a while. But I'll be honest, I've hooked up with chicks way more attractive than any of the whores they've got." He noticed the slightly disturbed look Nick was giving him. "Anyway, the break-in. I got home and went straight to bed. When I got up this morning, I noticed the stuff gone and my window was broken."
Nick put his notepad in his pocket when he was done scribbling things down. "I'm sorry about this. We'll figure out who it is."
"Thanks. And I suggest you check out your own house, too. You've still got that scent on you. If it were from bumping into a guy, it'd be long gone by now. Someone's been in your house, man."
Frankly, the news frightened Nick. "Listen. Tonight, Juliette is going to be out with my cousin. I need you to help me look around."
He rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Any other day, I'd complain," He said as he observed the bustling scene around his house. "But right about now, I'd rather be anywhere but here."
Eight o' clock rolled around, and Monroe found himself at Nick's doorstep. "Yup, something was definitely here." He said the moment Nick opened the door. He entered without an invitation. It was only fair, wasn't it? How many times had it been the other way around?
He led them upstairs, following the smell. "They spent a lot of time in here." He said, pushing open the guest room door. "Look to see if anything's missing." He instinctively covered his nose with his sleeve. The scent was that strong.
While they were searching, Nick came across something strange. He picked up the small object from the desk. The wrapping seemed to be made of some sort of plant and was tied with a piece of twine. Monroe peered over his shoulder. "Why the hell does your cousin have one of those?"
Nick hadn't realized Monroe was right there, so he jumped when he spoke, causing the package in question to tumble to the ground. It broke apart, its contents- various rocks and herbs- scattering across the floor. Then it hit him. He looked at Monroe, confused about what had happened to himself. "I don't have a cousin."