The World Needs More Grimm

Chapter 25

Safety First

It is Saturday March 14th 2020, just before dawn.

Josh and Trubel are alone together, in the SUV, heading for the textile factory that Anna Borski, the wife of Malin Fatal Karl Borski, manages.

Josh drives in silence. He's just as anxious as Trubel is for their next lead.

Trubel is lost in thought. Not only is she thinking about this case, but other things as well. She remembers that she received a piece of the staff on her trip to Portland from Nick to give to Josh to keep him safe. She realizes it's best she tell him about it alone in a secure location, and give it to him as soon as possible.

Since Irving & Davis are back at the interrogation facility, and they arrive in Upstate New York before sunrise, Trubel realizes now is the perfect time.

Trubel turns to look at him. "Josh, what time is it?" She asks.

Josh looks at the time on his dashboard. "6:07am." He looks at her briefly. "Yes, we got here a little early. Are you hungry?" He asks.

Trubel shakes her head. "Nope. Not yet." She tells him.

Josh immediately comes up with the next assumption. "Ok. Bathroom break?" He asks.

Trubel responds without hesitation "No." She says.

Josh is now puzzled. "Alright. What's up then?" He asks.

Trubel sighs deeply. "Josh, I really need to talk to you. Alone. In private. Ideally in an isolated place where there are no cameras." She tells him matter-of-factly.

Josh is intrigued. "Ok. Do you want me to pick a place?" He asks.

Trubel nods. "Of course." She replies.

Josh ponders. "How isolated?" He asks.

Trubel has an idea. "Maybe a forest or woods where campgrounds are? But not crowded with people either." She says.

Josh thinks about it for 5 seconds. "Ok. I got the spot." He tells her.

Trubel nods. "Let's go there now." She says, eagerly.

Josh and Trubel drive, in their SUV for almost 40 minutes.

They approach the first section of campgrounds and cabins that seem almost full. Trubel looks at Josh, but says nothing.

Josh returns the look. "Don't worry, we're not there yet." He tells Trubel.

Trubel smiles slightly. "I wasn't worried." She responds.

Josh continues to drive a winding road for another 15 minutes. He comes up to a smaller campground area that appears vacant, expect for a small camper. He parks near a trailhead.

Josh turns to her as he opens his door. "We walk a bit." He explains.

Trubel nods. "Lead the way." She says.

About 10 minutes later they come to a few picnic tables. Fortunately, no one else is around. Josh nods to Trubel as he sits.

The sun has just risen on the horizon.

Trubel looks around first. Then she takes out her binoculars from her jacket and does a slow, complete 360 of the area. Appearing satisfied no one is close by, she puts them away in her jacket and sits down, opposite end of the picnic table facing Josh.

Josh looks at her curiously. "We should be alone for a while." He says.

Trubel nods but doesn't say anything.

Josh notices something about Trubel. She seems extremely jittery. He looks at her. "Trubel are you ok? You don't usually seem this-edgy." He asks, genuinely concerned.

Trubel sighs. She closes her eyes for a moment, as a way to calm her nerves. She opens them and looks at Josh. "Yes, I'm fine Josh. It's just very important nobody overhears what I'm about to tell you." She finally says.

Josh nods. "Ok. I will keep my ears open for other people." He adds.

Trubel smiles slightly. "Thanks. There is no way you know that HW could be tuning into our conversation, is there?" She asks.

Josh is somewhat puzzled at her question. "No, I don't think so. Not way out here, without a drone." He responds.

Trubel nods. "Ok. I'll just have to chance it then." She says.

Josh looks at her, curiously. "Alright. I'm listening." He finally says.

Trubel returns the look. "Josh, do you remember the key that your dad wanted Nick to have?" She asks, noticeably lowering her voice.

Josh ponders a moment. "Inside his cane? Yes." He nods.

Trubel quickly continues. "The story goes, "7 Grimm Crusaders each got a key with the piece of map on it that pinpointed the exact location of the buried treasure." She says, barely above a whisper.

Josh nods in agreement. "Yes, I remember." He says.

Trubel clears her throat. "In 2016, Monroe got a phone call from his Uncle in Germany. A man named Josef Nebojsa had passed away and Monroe's' Uncle was called by the estate executor Andrea Stroh to appraise his old possessions, some of which turned out to be 20 Grimm books that were inside a chest that had a large lock, and a hollow bottom with Grimm weapons inside." She tells him in a normal tone of voice.

His eyes light up. "Interesting." Is all Josh can say.

Trubel now looks at him directly in the eyes. "When Monroe separated the lock from the trunk, out came 3 more keys. Each like your dads' key and the one that Nick already had. Do the math, you get 5 out of 7 keys." She tells Josh, whispering.

Josh snaps to attention. "Really? Wow." He ponders deeply. "I-I remember what Nick did at Monroe and Rosalee's shop with my dad's key. He pressed the sides into an ink pad, then onto a piece of paper. You know—in order to see parts of the map." He tells her.

Trubel looks at him intently. "Yes." She finally says.

Josh ponders still. He then looks at her. "Did the new keys—combined with Nicks and my dad's key form a map that could be read?" He asks eagerly.

Trubel smiles slightly, then nods. "Yes, they did Josh. Even without the 2 missing keys." She whispers.

Josh can't hide his anticipation. "Did Nick or Monroe find-the treasure?" He asks anxiously, whispering also.

Trubel nods again, still slightly smiling. "Yes, they did Josh. They went to the Black Forest of Germany together." She reveals, still whispering.

Josh is completely floored. "OMG. What was the treasure?" He asks, hardly able to contain his anticipation.

Trubel smiles slightly again. "An old chest, about this big," She uses her hands to approximate the size of it. "And inside were 2 items: a very old cloth that had symbols and writing on it that only Eve and Diana could see, and a stick. Approximately 10 inches long." She reveals, whispering.

Josh is puzzled. "A stick? A piece of wood?" He clarifies.

Trubel nods. "Yes Josh." She replies.

Josh is perplexed. "That's all?" He asks.

Trubel now lets out a nervous laugh. "Yes. And no." Is all she can say.

Josh is now extremely confused. "I don't understand?" He says.

Trubel lets out a big sigh. "Josh did you bring a knife with you? And I'm not talking about your machete." She asks him.

Josh nods. "Yeah, why?" He asks.

Trubel looks at him right in the eyes. "Put it right here." She points to a section of the table.

Josh is still confused, but he complies without saying anything.

Trubel brings from her inside pant pocket Josh's piece of staff that Nick gave her, and places it on the table. She looks at Josh. "When I saw Nick a few days ago, he gave this piece to me to give to you. However, you must understand a few facts before you receive it." She says, whispering.

Josh returns the look. "I'm listening." He says.

Trubel stands up, walks around and sits down right next to him. "Take the knife." She instructs him.

Josh complies, holding the knife.

Suddenly, without another word Trubel forcefully grabs his hand with the knife, holds on tightly and proceeds to stab her other hand.

Josh is shocked. "What are you doing!?" He almost yells.

Trubel, breathless and in pain, yells at him. "Josh, now you must watch my hand carefully."

Josh does as he is told, as she takes his stick piece and puts it on top of her wound. It rapidly begins to close up and heal completely.

Josh looks at Trubel with wide eyes. He's completely floored. "Did—it do what I think it just did?" He asks her.

Trubel nods. "It did." She says with conviction.

Josh, still in a state of shock, looks at her. "The stick can do—THAT?" He asks.

Trubel nods. "Yes Josh, it can heal. Remember how you thought I was injured in the plane crash, but then I was fine?" She asks.

Josh hesitates a moment. "Yeah-are you telling me you WERE HURT, and this thing-healed you?" He asks, becoming more and more shocked as the full extent of what the stick can do sinks in.

Trubel looks at him with surrendering eyes. "Yes Josh. I WAS really hurt. Maybe I even died, I don't know." She reveals.

Josh looks at her. His eyes are wide again. "OMG. I can't believe it." Is all he can say.

Trubel nods. "And Davis was really hurt too. From the Malin Fatal, Karl Borski. He was bleeding out Josh. He would be dead now." She tells him somberly.

Josh is stunned. "Really?" He asks.

Trubel nods. "Davis was unconscious when I used the stick piece on his wound, so he still doesn't-and he won't EVER know." She explains.

Josh ponders deeply, still overwhelmed by this revelation. "Wow. I understand." He nods.

Trubel leans forward and looks at him intently. "All of us in Nick's close circle of friends-we wear, close to our bodies, and undergarments are best-a piece of the staff that Nick recovered in 2017. It keeps us safe from harm." She whispers.

Josh is puzzled again. "Staff? 2017?" He asks.

Trubel slightly smiles this time. "Yes Josh, that is another story. Because of the key your dad gave to Nick, I will say that you are connected to it. But that story is one Nick alone must share with you because I can't." She reveals, still whispering.

Josh sees the look of sincerity in her eyes. He's at a loss for words. "This is INCREDIBLE." Is all he can say.

Trubel nods. "Yes, it is." She agrees.

Josh leans in closer to her. "I understand why you don't want anyone else to know about this." He whispers.

Trubel nods. "Yes. I am swearing you to secrecy Josh. I would have told you sooner, except I had to talk to Nick about it first." She replies, whispering also.

Josh nods. "I swear never to tell anyone about this." He whispers.

He can't help it. Curiously, he reaches for the stick piece on the table. Trubel quickly reaches for his hand and pulls it back.

She shakes her head at him. "Don't do that. You haven't received it yet." She whispers.

Josh is embarrassed. "Ok. What do I need to do?" He asks quickly.

Trubel sighs, then looks at him. "The very first thing you need to know—and the most important, is that NO ONE can ever take it from you once you receive it from me. It MUST be given." She explains, whispering.

Josh allows a moment for what she said to sink in. "Ok. Got it." He replies

Trubel looks at him intently again. "This means under NO circumstances are you to EVER give it away. If you are hurt or killed while you keep it next to your body, it will heal you and bring you back to life. But if you remove it or lose it, then you become vulnerable." She explains, still whispering.

Josh shakes his head, still in shock. "Wow. This is so—mind blowing." He replies whispering.

Trubel nods. "Yes. I carefully keep track of my piece. It's here." She shows Josh by pointing to her pant line. "It becomes an earring when I'm showering." She whispers.

Josh is surprised. "Really? That's interesting." Is all he can say.

Trubel looks at him intently again. "It will only keep you safe if it's close to your body, ALWAYS." She whispers.

Josh nods. "I understand." He whispers.

Trubel looks at him intently again. "It's—very important that you know—it can also heal someone-emotionally." She whispers.

Josh is puzzled. "Alright. Can you elaborate?" He asks.

Trubel nods. "Nick & I only realized this recently. We both believe it can cure mental illness, emotional disorders, sex abuse trauma, depression, substance abuse—the list goes on." She explains.

Josh is very curious now. "Really?" Is all he can ask.

Trubel forces a slight smile. The conversation with Nick is still fresh in her mind. "Yes. It starts the road to recovery, but not instantly, as you saw my hand physically." She explains.

Josh understands. "Ok. I'm following you." He responds.

Trubel ponders for the best words. "I think it functions as sort of a re-start, re-boot as in resetting a computer to function normally. But after that, it's up to the person to work through everything. It's what happened to Eve." She reveals.

Josh is still overcome by all this news, as well as how his dad's key played a role in them finding the treasure. "Wow. Amazing." Is all he can say.

Trubel nods. "I'm telling you this because, once I give the piece to you and you receive it, you'll know why if you start feeling—rush of emotions, or something—emotionally new." She explains.

His eyes light up. "It's even more incredible than I thought." Josh adds.

Trubel nods, then her eyes go dark. "If anyone were to attempt to TAKE it from you, it reacts defensively." She explains.

Josh is puzzled again. "I'm not sure what you mean by 'reacts defensively'?" He says.

Trubel ponders, remembering. "In 2017 I saw it do that firsthand. We all were at Bud's shop. Nick had the stick inside his coat pocket when a SERT team member took it from him, WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION. It knocked the entire team on the ground." She reveals.

Josh is shocked again. "Really? Wow." He replies.

Trubel remembers more details. "It was like a wave of power or something that came out of it. But the rest of us were fine." She explains.

Josh looks at the stick piece with awe. "Power like this deserves great respect. You were fine because you respected it." He explains, revealing to Trubel just how much he understands.

She looks at him. "You're right Josh. Ok, now I can formally give it to you, and you can receive it." Trubel informs him.

Josh returns the look "Alright." He replies.

Trubel clears her throat. "I Theresa Rubel, Grimm, give this piece of the staff to Joshua Porter to keep him safe always." She says in an 'official' tone of voice.

She then hands the stick piece to Josh and nods to him.

Josh clears his throat also. "I—Joshua Porter, Grimm, receive this piece of the staff from Theresa Rubel and—promise to respect its power always." He says nervously, in an 'official' tone of voice.

Trubel points to his pant line. "You should wear it right here. That's only my suggestion." She tells him.

Josh smiles slightly. "I think it's a good suggestion." He says, agreeing with her.

The stick piece has a durable string attached to it. In no time Josh has tied it to his pants, then he tucks the stick inside, safely close to his body.

Trubel looks at him intently. "Josh, I have a rule—I don't talk about the existence of the staff and it's healing power anywhere with anybody unless it's a designated safe zone, such as HERE, or Nick's loft." She says, matter-of-factly.

Josh ponders. "Alright. So this means we can't talk about it back at HW. I understand." He tells her.

Trubel nods. "If you ever need to reference it in our conversation, use the term the healer, being healed, or even therapy and I will understand what you are talking about." She explains.

Josh nods. "That works for me." He turns and looks at her. "I don't feel any different, just so you know." He reveals.

"That's good." Trubel ponders a moment. "Josh I'm so glad you weren't injured—or worse in the plane crash." She tells him.

Josh looks at her. "Me too." He smiles slightly.

"Giving you this—keeping you safe, has lifted a big weight off my shoulders. And Nicks." Trubel explains.

Josh can't help it. He smiles widely. "Wow, thanks. I feel special now." He hints at another topic of conversation.

Trubel gives him the look. "Don't start. Josh, don't you realize you were always a special friend to me from the very beginning?" She explains, frustrated.

Josh instantly changes his tone, and becomes super-serious. "Yes Trubel, I do. Thank you for that. I think it's a good thing our relationship started out that way." He says.

Trubel looks at him. "Why do I sense that is not really what you wanted to say?" She asks him, frankly.

Josh continues with his serious tone. "Because now you know that I wanted-WANT something more than just friendship." He explains.

Trubel sighs deeply. "We should probably get going. We have a long drive." She says.

Josh smiles this time. "Yes. Without music." He adds.

Trubel gives him the look. "Stop. It." Is all she can say.

Josh & Trubel stand, then walk from the picnic tables & campground area towards their SUV.

END OF CHAPTER 25