The World Needs More Grimm

Chapter 21

Reality Check

Trubel arrives at Nicks. It's approximately 1:30pm on Wednesday March 11th 2020.

As she enters the loft, she hears the faint sound of running water, as if someone was taking a shower—or using the bathroom sink. It shuts off 30 seconds after she enters.

Nick gives her a quick hug. "Trubel. Glad you're back." He pulls away and looks at her. "So. You said on the phone that you talked to Eve."

"Yes." Trubel walks to one of the barstools in the kitchen and sits down. "Good news—and not so good news." She says.

"Alright." Nick says as he sits directly across from her.

"Eve already knew. About my feelings for Meisner." Trubel explains.

"You have your answer?" Nick asks carefully.

Trubel nods. "Yes. Eve said I was falling in love with him, but there was no time. That's why I've been unsure what these feelings were all these years." She explains.

"Alright. One step forward—towards closure." Nick responds optimistically.

Trubel agrees. "I was relieved when she said that Meisner knew. I didn't think there was enough time before he died for him to know. But I believe her." She explains.

"At that time, Eve was very perceptive about other peoples' emotions." Nick reveals.

"Yes, and apparently Meisner didn't—share my feelings." Trubel says, lowering her voice.

Nick looks at her. "I'm sorry Trubel." He replies, sincere.

At that moment, the bathroom door opens. Adalind Schade-Burkhardt emerges. She approaches both Nick & Trubel.

Adalind smiles. "Hey Trubel." She greets her.

Trubel nods. "Hey Adalind."

Adalind stands at the counter, facing both of them. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy. But you know—the sound travels in this place." She explains.

"It's ok. Nick & I were continuing our conversation from a few days ago, about Meisner." Trubel tells her softly.

Adalind turns to Nick, with a look of hesitation on her face.

Nick turns his gaze from Adalind. "Trubel, I told Adalind your story about Meisner. In strict confidence, and the only reason is, Adalind met Meisner when he delivered Diana." He explains.

Her eyes light up. "Really, he delivered Diana. Alright. I'm listening." Trubel replies.

"Trubel, after Diana was born, Meisner & I talked about him. Personal things." Adalind reveals.

"Really? What did he say?" Trubel asks, extremely curious.

Adalind chooses her words carefully. "Well, when I referred to Diana & I as us—meaning together, I asked him if he had someone. He told me his girlfriend was killed by the Royals 2 years prior. He sounded to me like—" She hesitates.

She can't help it. "Like what Adalind?" Trubel asks anxiously.

"Like he never got over her. Even after she died. He told me his mission in life was to make The Royals sorry for killing her." Adalind reveals.

Trubel is shocked. "Whoa. He never shared that story with me." She responds.

"Probably because he knew how you felt about him." Nick adds.

"I'm sorry. I know that's a lot. But, I was really hoping it might—you know, help you find closure." Adalind tells her softly.

Trubel ponders a moment. "Wow. I had no idea." She finally says.

"Trubel, not only do you have an answer from Eve, but thanks to Adalind you now have—a reason. It explains why Meisner never said anything to you, even when he knew how you felt about him." Nick explains.

Trubel sighs. "Yeah, it does." She finally says.

Adalind looks at both of them. "Well guys, I wish I could stay to chat more, but I have to pick up the kids." She informs them.

Nick stands up to hug her. "See you later." He says, pulling away.

Trubel is moved by her genuine concern. "Hey Adalind?" She asks.

Adalind turns around. "Yes?"

Trubel nods. "Thanks." She says.

Adalind smiles. "You're welcome Trubel." She departs via the elevator.

A moment later, Nick looks at Trubel, still sitting on the barstool. "I hope you're not upset I told her. Trubel, I only told her the story about Meisner, not the connection with the stick." He explains, defending himself.

Trubel shakes her head. "No Nick, I uh—I'm glad you told her. I guess she was the only one who knew Meisner had a girlfriend before his days at HW." She explains.

Nick nods. "Yes, it appears so." He replies.

Trubel suddenly lets out a deep sigh. She's tempted to stand and pace around, but she remains sitting.

She can't keep the anxiety she feels from her tone of voice. "Nick, why do I feel so overwhelmed by everything? I usually know what to do—intuitively. But this—all of it has just made me feel—" She hesitates.

Nick responds calmly. "Like what Trubel?" He asks.

Trubel takes the cue from Nick, and calms down. She looks right at him. "Like I wanna start running again. Like how I was running for years, before I met you." She tells him matter-of-factly.

"That's not a good place to be Trubel." Nick tells her softly.

Trubel agrees. "No, it isn't." She responds firmly.

Nick sighs deeply. He knows when and where this all started. "Look, I'm sorry. I had no idea back then what the stick was capable of." He says, defending himself.

Trubel looks at him with surrendering eyes. "I understand that Nick. It's not your fault." She replies.

Nick looks at her curiously. "You—you are still keeping your stick piece on you at all times, aren't you?" He asks, unable to hide his concern.

Trubel nods. "Of course. I'm convinced it saved my life during the plane crash." She explains.

"Yeah, me too." Nick agrees.

"Nick, I—this IS what we discovered though. What I realized when you & I talked last week. It starts the road to recovery by giving a feeling of being normal, but then I need to work through everything." She pauses, then looks at him. "I guess I'm just working through everything now, you know?" Trubel says, almost thinking out loud.

Nick nods. "Yes, that would explain why you feel the way you do Trubel." He replies softly.

"I just can't help wishing I knew this 4 years ago." Trubel tells him matter-of-factly.

Nick ponders deeply. "Me too. I've had moments where I wished we knew what the stick could fully do back then. Meisner was one of the few people that came to mind. Maybe we could've saved him." He replies somberly.

"I've thought about that too. Actually, a lot this week." Trubel says lowering her voice.

Nick shakes his head. "But this is exactly why we've all agreed to keep the existence of the staff a closely guarded secret. It would draw too much attention to us if we started bringing people back to life." He explains.

Trubel nods. "Yes, I know. It was hard for me not to use my stick piece to heal the injured pilot after the plane crash. I was relieved Josh didn't really notice when I healed so fast. I'm so thankful that nobody died." She tells him.

Nick can't help it. He smiles widely. "It's only because he had too much on his mind, worrying about you. He ponders a moment. "Have you thought more about—Josh and how he feels about you?" He asks.

"Yes, I have." Trubel responds.

Nick sighs. "Alright Trubel, this is what I've been thinking." He looks at her. "Josh should be told about the stick. Just like you said last week." He tells her.

Trubel agrees. "Ok. I've thought about how I want to tell him." She informs him.

"Alright. Make sure there are no cameras nearby." Nick cautions.

"Yeah, ok." Trubel agrees.

Nick now stands up, walks over to a kitchen drawer, opens it and removes a stick piece from it.

He places it on the counter directly in front of her.

"And—I'm giving you a piece of the staff, to give to Josh, for him to wear." Nick looks at her intently.

Trubel is puzzled. She didn't expect this. "What Nick-REALLY?" She asks.

Nick is unwavering in his decision. "Trubel—HOW would you feel if something happened to Josh? Or worse?" He asks her.

Trubel gives him a confused look. "I guess I don't know." She finally responds.

Nick sighs. He doesn't understand how she seems to be so uncaring about Josh. "Look. At least he'll be safe. While you sort all of this out." He explains.

Trubel shakes her head. "But—Nick, I've decided that—I HAVE to tell him. About ME. What happened to me, I mean." She lowers her voice. "That the stick healed me—internally." She explains.

"If you think that's best." Nick sighs again, while he attempts to get his point across. "What I'm saying is something you probably don't want to hear or even think about." He looks at her intently. "ANY DAY could be his LAST DAY ON EARTH, without a stick piece to keep him safe. I know that's not something you want Trubel." He comes close to being upset with her attitude. "I'm feeling like you need a Reality Check." He tells her firmly.

Trubel now stands up and paces around the kitchen a moment. She then turns to face him, as her eyes begin to water up. "But what about how he reacts after I tell him about me Nick?" She asks somberly. "It will be all over. He won't ever want to see me again. What should I do about the stick piece after that?" A tear falls down her cheek.

Nick is floored. In an instant, he realizes what Trubel is really saying-she's had absolutely no experience navigating romantic relationships.

What she just told him confirms what he suspected; Trubel has been Asexual all her life.

He knows he needs to be sensitive yet convincing—confident at the same time.

He looks at her with surrendering eyes. "Is that what's bothering you?" He stands, walks over to her and hugs her briefly. He pulls away and looks at her face. "Trubel—one thing I can tell you for sure about guys is-if Josh really, truly loves you, as he says he does—nothing you tell him will ever change that." He says reassuringly.

Trubel ponders a moment, realizing the truth in what Nick just told her. Her throat is tight. She nods but doesn't say anything.

Nick, still looking at her, gives her encouraging words. "Actually, telling him will be a good way for you to test him." He explains as he smiles.

Trubel feels herself calming down after Nick's thoughtful words. "Alright Nick." She finally says, clearing her throat. "Well, I guess I should pay attention to his reaction after I tell him." She says, revealing she understands what Nick just told her.

Nick nods in agreement. "Definitely." He pauses a moment. "When do you have to go back to New York?" He asks.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning." Trubel reveals.

"Alright. You should take the stick piece now." Nick tells her.

END OF CHAPTER 21