Chapter 10 Nick

Nick was quiet as he and Hank drove to the spice shop, as everyone called it. It had been a week since Adalind's abrupt departure. Nick couldn't stop thinking about her, about that night. It didn't feel right to just have a one night stand, besides Nick wanted to see her again, but he couldn't find her anywhere. No one that knew Adalind Schade here in Portland had seen her in over a year. Partners at the practice she belonged to when they investigated the double homicide said she took a job in Europe more than eighteen months prior. Nick was baffled.

Adalind obviously didn't want to be found, Nick thought when he remembered her last words as she flew out of his house that night. What had he done wrong? Nick had had some of the best sex that he could remember, which was embarrassingly little without his memory he had to admit, and Adalind had absolutely no complaints at the time. Maybe that was why she feared he was still attached to Juliette. She didn't want to fall for someone who was unavailable. She couldn't have been more wrong about how he felt. Nick was fascinated by Adalind and her disappearance was driving him crazy.

"You're awfully quiet," Hank observed. "You worried about these threats to Monroe and Rosalee?" Embarassed that his thoughts had wandered to Adalind yet again, while some of the best friends he could remember were in danger, Nick just nodded.

They had been investigating a mauled body found with witnesses describing a dog wearing clothes as the assailant. When one such witness was positive it was the 'Chupacabra', they found themselves at the trailer. Nick had spent countless hours during the last week combing through the material there. It was Hank's suggestion to call Juliette. All the legends were in Spanish and Hank told him Juliette was fluent in that language, something else Nick didn't know about the woman he might have married.

Already ill at ease around the red head, Nick found himself even more uncomfortable that day while Juliette watched him with a brooding expectancy. He almost missed the most relevant entry in the Grimm journal he was searching. "Think I've found it. A Woeldreór. It's in Spanish," he admitted. When Juliette came over to read the text, Nick couldn't understand his aversion to her being near. Giving himself a mental shake, he focused on her translation. Nick and Hank concluded this was an infected Wesen not really responsible for the Chupacabra's actions.

Just then, Nick's phone rang. Monroe had been beside himself with anger and worry. Something about a dead fox hung outside their back door. Then it registered just how hideous that was when Nick remembered Rosalee's beautiful fox-like Woge. The Fuchsbau would no doubt be horrified. Nick had reassured Monroe they would be right there.

When Nick revealed what had happened, the other two in the trailer looked guilty. Hank admitted to there being two other hate crimes committed against the couple. "What?! Why didn't I hear about this?" Nick asked hurt.

"These are all Wesen and you didn't seem to believe about Wesen, let alone the fact that you couldn't see them anymore," Hank once again pointed out.

"Let's go. Tell me everything in the car," Nick demanded of Hank, completely forgetting Juliette.

Monroe was understandably irate wanting to kill those involved should he find them. Hank said he had two under surveillance that Trubel had helped him find with Bud's help, but Hank tried to convince Monroe they needed to capture the whole group or they would keep coming. Agreeing with Hank, Nick tried to make Monroe see reason.

Ashamed of himself for neglecting these friends when they needed him most, Nick extended an invitation for them to stay at his home, but Monroe wouldn't hear of it.
"At least let us put a patrol car outside your house tonight," Nick entreated them. Monroe agreed. Nick took a deep breath relieved they had consented. What a surprise that the two people he felt most protective of were both Wesen. How different compared to those Grimm journals he had been pouring over since his second sight had returned. Who could resist Monroe's lovingly goofy honesty or Rosalee's calm compassion.

Nick received another call from Wu this time, someone had called in another Chupacabra sighting. "We'll be right there," Nick responded then hung up. "I'll call you later," he told Monroe and Rosalee.

The look on Wu's face was priceless. He had believed he was going insane and Nick as well as Hank could relate. Looking around the trailer, Wu's mouth was agape. "You lied to me," he expressed with utter betrayal written on his face. "You let me check myself into a psychiatric ward!"

Nick whipped his astonished face back to look at Hank, who shrugged with pursed lips and a shameful look down at the floor. They couldn't have, Nick fumed, he couldn't have. "I'm so sorry, Wu. I don't remember doing that," Nick responded with remorse. Wu acknowledged his amnesia by hanging his head. "That was completely wrong of me," Nick confessed.

"He was trying to protect you," Hank pointed out, "but after you saw the Chupacabra, which by the way everyone can see, we couldn't let you go crazy." Hank finished while Nick shook his head.

Once again Nick's phone rang, he wondered if every Grimm was this busy as he answered, "Hey, Rosalee"

It was a frantic Rosalee. "Nick, Nick, they took him. They took Monroe," she cried.

"What," was Nick's response as his heart sank.

"He, he went outside and, and they took him. Officer Acker's laying on the ground," she explained through tears.

"Where are you now?" Nick asked desperate that Rosalee was safe.

"Back in the house," she replied.

"Did you call 911?" Nick asked. If she hadn't, he would call it in.

"Yes, oh my God," she wailed.

"Listen to me. Stay inside. Lock the doors. Do not leave until the police get there," he commanded. "We're on our way." Hanging up, Nick looked at Hank and Wu, heart racing he said, "They took Monroe."