Renard woke to the feeling of someone being with him, very close, hovering. He was confused as to what had happened, his mind fuzzy, and his body didn't seem to respond to his brain's commands.
Spikes of pain radiated from his injured shoulder and abdomen, and he didn't even want to think about the other parts of his body that felt terribly bruised and battered.
The presence drew closer, calming him as panic flashed because he couldn't remember, soothing his fear.
Someone touched him, drawing gentle fingers through his short hair.
The presence inside him came closer and he drew an immense comfort from his counterpart's nearness. His mind was a mess and he couldn't really think straight. He had one anchor and that was Nick Burckhardt.
"I'm here," the Grimm murmured. "I'm here."
Renard didn't know how long it lasted, but the connection was a warm, wondrous world, energizing him, revitalizing their bond on all levels. He sank into the depth of natural sleep, safe in the knowledge that his counterpart was there.
Thank you, was the last that ran through his tired mind. For being here.
"Where else would I be?"
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Nick met Marea when he came to visit their captain just before the end of visiting hours, after his shift, declining Hank's invitation to join him and Wu for a drink. She was in Renard's room, tall and beautiful, raven-haired and about Nick's age, so perfect that even without his ability to look beyond the everyday face, he would have called her unnatural.
At least for a Grimm. Hank would probably have told him differently and invited her for a drink as well. The man had been married four times and still hadn't learned a thing.
Gray eyes looked at Nick and he knew she was a hexenbiest. He had noticed an increase in his recognition talent when it came to creatures. With this one, she almost voluntarily dropped the façade for a second, showing her nastier side, and briefly inclined her head; almost like a bow.
"Grimm," she said calmly.
He frowned at her. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The need to protect the injured man pushed forward, having him on edge, twitching to haul her away from Renard.
"My name is Marea. And this is my job."
His frowned deepened and he almost unconsciously slid to the side of the hospital bed where Renard was sleeping. As if he had felt the Grimm's approach, his eyes opened a crack.
"Nick," he whispered.
Nick smiled at the injured man. "Sir."
Playing the game. If anyone came in here he was simply just dropping by his captain's room, checking in on him.
Renard looked at the hexenbiest. "Marea."
She inclined her head.
"Marea is, for everyone else in the world, my sister, Nick," Renard told the Grimm.
Nick knew he was looking as stunned as he felt. The regnant smiled tiredly.
"It's the only way to gain access and do my job," the hexenbiest replied. "The regnant has no family and no next of kin. It's a long-standing cover."
So that was how she had been let in. It made sense and it was logical, since there was no other family. And, Nick told himself, setting a subordinate up as the next of kin would raise too many eyebrows and alarms. Renard's smile grew a little as he followed the dawning realization that was most likely prominently written on Nick's face.
"You need to keep your distance, Nick," he said softly, fighting not to fall asleep again.
He couldn't come back. At least not without a damn good reason. And never alone or outside visiting hours.
Marea glanced at her watch, a delicate piece on a thin, golden chain around her wrist.
"I'll give you the necessary time," she only said quietly, then slipped out of the room.
Nick blinked. "What…?"
The regnant carefully curled his fingers around the closest wrist to him, startling the Grimm. There was a brief moment when the exhausted green eyes asked wordlessly, filled with longing and need, and then Nick gave in.
It wasn't like he would deny the other man this. It would be cruel and serve no purpose, other than to torture him. And he had been there, all of him, through the bond, just two days ago, feeling the regnant's semi-conscious struggles, soothing him.
It was like a soft wave of emotions and sensations passing between them, and the Grimm turned fully to the regnant, clasping the cool, long-fingered hand.
"Thank you," Renard said, voice just as soft.
"What for?"
"Holding me."
The lifeline. The unconscious grasp Nick had made for the essence that was the creature. He squeezed the hand he held.
"What do you need?" he asked.
"Nothing you can give me right now."
"Renard…"
"Your presence helps, Nick. A lot. Never doubt it."
"But?"
"My experience with a companion is as deep as yours is with a regnant, Grimm. All I have are tales and writing." He sighed and closed his eyes. "I just know that right now I feel better than the last time I woke. Your presence helps."
Nick stared at the man, stunned and unable to respond to that statement appropriately. That had been more than open.
"Uh, sir?"
Amusement reflected in Renard's eyes when he looked at his detective again. Nick's reaction had been an automatic one, falling back on a defense. Superior – subordinate.
"I'll be out of here soon. I'll be okay, Nick. Go home. See to your mate. And yourself."
Nick's logical brain knew he couldn't do more, couldn't follow the instinct clamoring inside him to stay, curl up close to the injured creature, help him kick-start his healing. The instinct hissed and spat at the logical side.
"Go. Please."
Marea's return signaled that he truly had to do so.
"Ten minutes," she said. "Then the nurse will make her rounds." She looked into the gray eyes of the Grimm, face composed and serious. "I will care for him, Grimm. You can believe me."
And he did. Because she was loyal to her death. Nick nodded once, then released Renard's hand and had to force himself to leave.
Damn.
It was just as bad as if this was Monroe, injured and defenseless, in a hospital.
He now had two very important people in his life, one mated to him, the other bound to his soul. And he felt strongly for both of them.
As if one complication hadn't been enough.
As if being a Grimm hadn't been enough!
Then again, being a Grimm had given him Monroe and now Renard.
Life wasn't easy… Nope.
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"Did you know Renard had a sister?" Hank asked when they were going over case notes.
Nick smirked. "You met her?"
"Yeah. Good looking." His partner grinned.
"You'd really hit on your captain's sister?"
"Hey," Hank spread his arms, an easy grin on his lips, "I'm only a man. And only looking, if you know what I'm saying. Don't tell me you didn't look."
Nick gave him a grin in return, though Griffin would never know that the way he had looked at the supposed sister was completely different.
Ever since his break-up with Juliette, Hank had tried to set him up again, but Nick had declined again and again. Finally Hank had given him this knowing look and simply nodded.
"Whenever you're ready," he had simply said.
It could be taken either way. Whenever he was ready to date again or whenever he felt ready to introduce Hank to the new person on his side. Hank knew he was bisexual, had never had a problem with it, and Nick didn't think he would make a deal of who he was sleeping with. But he tried to keep his Grimm life from his work life, and the rest of the world. He had protected Juliette by not fighting for her when she had left, and he was protecting Hank by not telling him who Monroe was to him. Aside from a CI or consultant or whatever.
"Just keep your distance," Nick advised now. "Not sure you want to step in it that badly."
Hank chuckled. "Look, don't touch, got it. I was actually more thinking about you, man."
"What do I have to do with it?"
"Getting you back on that horse. Figuratively speaking. I mean, it's been a while since Juliette and…" Hank raised his brows.
"Thanks, but no thanks," Nick laughed.
"Ah, unless," his partner went on, "there is already someone. Right?" Another suggestive look.
"Hank, drop it."
"Aha! I knew it. Anyone I know?"
"Hank…"
"It's been going on for a while, right? 'Cause I noticed." Hank tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Not from the precinct. You don't date at work."
Nick rolled his eyes. He had told his partner so once.
Hank grinned. "Secretive, Nick. Very secretive."
"Just drop it, okay?"
It got him a chuckle. "I see. But you know I won't give up. Got some suspicions."
Nick raised an eyebrow.
Hank leaned back and smirked. He waited.
Nick kept his silence.
"Ah," Griffin finally said, nodding sagely. "That's it then. Well, good for you."
He turned back to the case files and Nick sighed, shaking his head. Maybe his relationship with Monroe would come out one day, but he wasn't afraid of it. He wasn't going to broadcast it either, though.
Things were just fine as they were.
tbc...