The World Needs More Grimm
Chapter 16
Grimm-Up
It's 5:09 am on Monday March 2nd 2020.
Because it's the very early hours of the morning, Trubel is the only one at computers in the command center, still at HW NYC.
She's intent on what she's doing. She's reviewing many details on her computer.
It's the original Portland building where Oscar Torres faked his own death. The next items that come up on her screen is everything discovered in Portland after the building was destroyed. Quite a few items were recovered and are now in an evidence bunker.
Josh approaches her, sleepy eyed and yawning.
"Good morning." Josh says to her.
Trubel looks up at him. "Morning Josh." She responds.
Josh stops in front of her, and remains standing. "You're up early. What time is it?" He asks.
Trubel looks at the time on her computer. "5:36am." She responds.
Josh is surprised. "Wow. Well, I'm going to get coffee. Want some?" He asks her.
Trubel nods. "Sure Josh. Thank you." She says.
Josh returns 5 minutes later with 2 coffees.
Josh sits next to her. "What are you doing?" He asks, curious.
Trubel stops what she's doing and looks at him. "Actually, I woke up suddenly with a thought this morning." She tells him.
Josh nods. "Alright. My brain is almost functioning now." He lets out a quick laugh. "Fill me in." He says.
Trubel completes what she was doing on her computer, then turns to Josh. "I thought it bizarre that no genetic material showed up in the rubble of the Portland building where Alan Hodges was setup." She explains.
Josh nods. "Yeah, me too. Usually they can find something." He adds.
"So earlier this morning when I began reviewing photos of all the items they salvaged from what was left of the building, I saw—THIS." Trubel points to her computer screen.
They both view a picture of what appears to be a name tag, possibly an official badge.
Josh's' eyes light up. "It looks like a—a type of badge. He squints for a moment. "Am I reading it correctly Trubel? Department of Public Works?" He asks.
Trubel nods. "Yes Josh." She replies.
Josh ponders a moment. "Does any of Oscar Torres known associates work for this organization?" He asks her.
Trubel looks at him. "That's what I'm checking. I don't think so." She replies.
Josh ponders. "A new lead possibly taking us in a different direction. Ok." He says to her.
Trubel nods. "Yes. And—there's something else." She responds, hesitating.
"Alright, I'm listening." Josh tells her.
Trubel points to her computer screen. "According to the report, there is a witness that claims to have seen 2 men entering the building shortly before the explosives went off. If they were inside, they would've died. Why wasn't genetic material from them found?" She asks.
Josh shakes his head. "I don't know. Sounds very strange." He responds.
"I agree. So—in light of how we found the hidden camera system in the Daniels' home while revisiting the crime scene looking for clues, I've decided to do the same with the original Portland crime scene. Look for clues and look at all the recovered evidence." Trubel explains.
Josh nods. "Alright Trubel. It's been almost a year and a half though. Do we known if the scene has been cleaned up or even rebuilt?" He asks her.
Trubel shakes her head. "Good question. Actually no. It's still a vacant lot. And everything recovered at the scene is in an evidence bunker. I think going through the evidence is first though." She explains.
Josh agrees. "That makes sense. When do we leave?" He asks.
Trubel hesitates a moment. "That's-that's just it Josh. I'm going alone. As soon as possible." She tells him firmly.
Josh is very disappointed at what Trubel just told him. He looks down and hangs his head a moment.
"I see. I should've known this was coming." He replies, depressed.
Trubel knows she needs to tread lightly around his feelings. "Josh-please understand. You're—you ARE the lead on this. Someone has to stay back here. Oscar Torres could resurface at any time." She says, appealing to logic.
It doesn't work. Josh suddenly stands up, clearly upset. He mutters one word, "Breakroom." as he leaves the command center.
Josh is sitting in the breakroom alone, with his breakfast, pouting. He hasn't touched a bite. He's clearly upset when Trubel enters a short time later.
She sits down, across from him so they can talk face-to-face.
Trubel looks at him with soft eyes. "Josh, I'm coming back. I promise." She pauses a moment. "Can you tell me what's really bothering you?" She asks him, speaking softly.
Josh looks up right at her. He can't hide his concern. "I-I'm so afraid I'll never see you again Trubel." He lets out a big sigh, while continuing to look at her. "Alright, I'll say it. I LOVE YOU. You—you could have died in that plane crash. You could die in another plane crash. Or out in the field in Portland. I just—want to be with you. To protect you. Please." He says with conviction, almost pleading.
Trubel doesn't know how to respond. She remains calm. She's also careful not to minimize his feelings. After a long pause, she finally speaks. "You haven't touched your breakfast Josh." She tells him, almost whispering.
Josh shakes his head slowly. "Don't try to change the subject." He warns her.
Trubel now smiles. "Josh, do you remember during December 2014 when you wanted to come with me early one morning to learn?" She asks, reminiscing.
Josh sighs. "Yes Trubel, I do." He replies, frustrated.
Trubel looks at him. "Do you remember how you saved me then?" She asks, slightly smiling.
Josh forces a smile. "Yes Trubel. I remember like it was yesterday. I hit the Schakal named Big Johnson over the head with a rock when he went around the back of the house to where you were." He recalls, still frustrated.
"You know Josh, we've come a long way since then. Surviving the war with Black Claw in 2016—that's a big deal to me." She pauses. "What I'm trying to say is, you don't have to worry about me Josh. If I survived Black Claw, I can survive anything." She tells him, confidently.
Josh sighs. He's reminded of her close-call during the plane crash. "I'm not too sure about that." He replies, looking right at her.
"Josh, I'll be fine, ok? You don't have to worry about me." She tries to reassure him. "You-alright, I surrender. You win Josh." She suddenly tells him.
Josh is puzzled. "What do you mean?" He asks.
Trubel nods at him this time. "It was wrong of me to get angry with you like I did before the plane crash." She confesses.
Josh looks at her. "Ok-ay, and we are talking about this now because—"
Trubel cuts him off. "I get it now. I should have been more sensitive. I'm sorry Josh." She says.
Josh continues to be confused with her apology. "About what?" He lamely asks.
Trubel doesn't respond. She quietly stands up, walks over and receives her breakfast.
Josh continues to be puzzled, and watches-reads her body language.
Trubel sits down and starts eating. She looks at him. "Come on Josh. EAT." She orders him, pointing to his tray.
Josh lets out a big sigh. "Alright." He says as he finally starts eating.
They eat together, in silence. Trubel is subconsciously taking control of the situation. This silent, non-verbal interchange between them calms Josh a lot. He comes out of his pessimistic mood as soon as he's done eating.
Trubel is the first one to speak after they both finish their meal.
"Josh, please keep me updated on Oscar Torres, personally. I want you to call me ANYTIME, about ANYTHING. Don't hesitate." She says to him, firmly.
Josh sighs. "Alright, I understand." He forces a smile. "You know I will." He warns her.
Trubel smiles slightly. "Yes, I expect it. And I promise to call you with an update, ok?" She says.
"Alright. How long do you think you'll be gone?" Josh asks.
Trubel finishes her second cup of coffee. "Hopefully not too long, but of course as long as it takes. And, Davis & Snyder are staying here. I'll make sure they'll assist you in anything you need." She explains.
Josh forces a smile. "I appreciate that. But—just for the record, I don't have a secret crush on Alisha Matthews. Or Nancy Snyder." He tells her jokingly, to lighten the mood.
Trubel smiles at his sense of humor. "Thanks for telling me that." She stands up and faces him. "I'm going to go pack my bag Josh. I'll be leaving very soon. It's a long flight." She informs him.
Josh stands up to face her also. "Alright Trubel." He says, completely surrendering to her plan.
Trubel senses that he's accepted her leaving. Without warning, she approaches him, touches his arm and kisses him on the cheek. "That's just for good luck." She tells him, slightly smiling.
In reality it was only a peace offering.
Josh can't help it. He IS pleasantly surprised. "I'll take a good luck kiss any day." He says, smiling.
Trubel pretends, only for a moment, to be upset. "Hey, that doesn't count as a real kiss you know." She says, giving him 'the look.'
He knows she's only joking. "Whatever." Josh smiles. "Well, it's time to Grimm-Up and get back to work." He adds.
They leave the breakroom together.
END OF CHAPTER 16
