The World Needs More Grimm
Chapter 30
Shared Memories
It is approximately 11pm on Thursday April 16th 2020.
The group is back at HW NYC. Josh has taken a shower, wrote briefly in his Grimm Diary when he is a bit hungry. As he turns on the lights and enters the breakroom, he realizes Trubel is there and she was sitting in the dark. She jumps up quickly as soon as she sees Josh and prepares to leave without saying a word. Josh immediately can tell she's been crying. Not like she did after the plane crash when he revealed his love for her, but she is—upset—about something.
Josh is worried now. "Trubel, please don't leave. If I upset you, let's talk about it. I'm sorry." He pleads, and apologizes.
Trubel suddenly stops in the doorway. "No Josh, you didn't upset me." She sniffles a bit. "I'm just—tired of living with regrets." She explains.
Josh nods. "I see. I've recently felt the same way myself." He sighs.
Trubel turns around to face him. "I just need you to cheer me up right now." She pleads, walking back into the breakroom. "I need my friend that I left back in Philadelphia. If he's still—" She hesitates. "IS he still there?" She asks pointedly.
Josh smiles slightly. "Of course he is. Trubel, I hope you know I will ALWAYS be your friend." He reassures her.
Trubel wipes away tears. "I'm so glad." Is all she can say.
Josh looks at her intuitively. "I think I have just the thing both of us need right now." He tells her softly.
Trubel is only half-listening. "Ok. What is it?" She asks.
Josh gently holds out his hand. "Come with me." He replies softly.
Trubel gently takes his hand and walks out of the room with him.
Sliding rollup-doors open to reveal Josh and Trubel are in a bunker of sorts, looking inside a room that for security, had heavy duty doors concealing what's inside. Her face lights up as she peers in.
Trubel looks at Josh, almost refusing to believe what she is seeing. "Josh, is it—what I think it is?" She asks.
Josh nods. "Yes Trubel, it is. I couldn't part with it after promising Nick I would take care of it." He responds, smiling.
They look again, into the interior, which is revealed to be storage. Directly in the middle of the room, is Aunt Marie's SUV that Josh and Trubel drove away to Philadelphia from Portland with on December 21st 2014.
Trubel looks at Josh. "Could we—sit inside for a while?" She asks.
Josh smiles at her. "Sure." He replies.
Josh tests the passenger door first, but it isn't locked. He holds the door open while Trubel gets in. He walks over to the drivers' side, opens the door and gets in.
Her mood has changed. She's brightened up a lot. "Josh, I feel like I just went back in time." She tells him, excitedly.
Josh smiles. "Me too." He responds.
Trubel looks at him, puzzled. "How were you able to keep it? I mean, weren't you kidnapped by HW Philadelphia when they recruited you?" She asks, curiously.
Josh nods. "Yes, I was. But I explained—with much fighting and struggling—it belonged to my Grimm friend in Portland, and it couldn't just be abandoned, so they had someone drive it to HW Philadelphia. When I transferred here, I brought it with me." He explains.
Trubel actually smiles. "Wow. That's so awesome." She says.
Josh ponders, remembering. "You know, I've always thought it was a good thing I was no longer working and drove it to go shopping that day." He explains.
Trubel looks at him. "I'm surprised you let them recruit you. After what happened to me in Portland with Chavez, and when they came to Philadelphia while I was there." She says pointedly.
Josh ponders again. "Well, after being terminated by the CPA firm I realized, right away that it's not like I could ever go back to the secular work force once I became a Grimm, you know?" He informs her.
Trubel nods. "That's true." Is all she can say.
Josh continues. "I was upset at first, but I guess when Gary & I had that instant bond—the Grimm brotherhood, we call it—I hung in there, did the training and—here I am, 3 years later." He explains.
Trubel agrees. "Makes sense." She says.
Josh smiles widely. "The best thing was learning about Wesen without needing my dad's books." He reveals.
Trubel ponders a moment. "Really? I hadn't thought about that." She adds.
Josh continues, reminiscing about the last 3 years of his life. "Yeah, that was the other thing I liked in the beginning. Top of the line, modern technology to learn as much as I could about the Wesen World. I guess I was instantly-Captivated. Enticed. Hooked. Pick your word." He laughs.
Trubel agrees. "HW spares no expense Josh. They are always looking at ways to improve their operation—way of doing things." She explains.
Josh nods. "Yes. You know what that means-we need to keep up with them. More training." He adds.
Trubel nods. "Speaking about your dad's books, did I tell you what happened to Nick's Grimm Heritage trailer?" She asks.
Josh looks at her curiously this time. "Yes, remember you told me last month when we talked about everything that happened to Juliette—sorry, you just spoke with her-Eve." He explains.
Trubel realizes her mistake. "That's right." She lets out a deep sigh. "Josh the days are starting to blur together. I guess I'm still feeling out-of-my-element here." She tells him.
Josh nods. "Yes, it's not Portland." He continues, reminiscing. "Hey, I had some good times at that trailer, learning about Hundjägers from you. And just in case I didn't yet, I want to thank you—for helping me." He says, sincerely appreciative.
Trubel looks at him. "You're welcome. At least you finally got what you wished for." She says pointedly.
Josh is floored, thinking she's revealing her true feelings. "Specifically?" He asks, confused.
Trubel smiles this time. "You became a Grimm!" She reminds him.
Josh is really caught off-guard. "Oh yeah, THAT." He lets out a nervous laugh. "I guess I was hoping-thought you were talking about something else. Sorry." The discussion left him suddenly flustered.
Trubel sighs. "Yes, I'm sure you were. Well, I can't ignore that topic now. Josh—sometimes I wish you hadn't fallen in love with me. Because it really complicates things—between us." She attempts to explain.
Josh realizes he shouldn't take her words too seriously. "But I'm still your friend Trubel. Always." He lowers his voice. "Loving you isn't a bad thing. It makes our relationship stronger, not complicated." He looks at her. "Anyway, I thought I was supposed to cheer you up right now? Is that what you were crying about in the break room earlier?" He asks softly.
Trubel immediately begins to tear up again. "NO." Is all she can say.
Josh lowers his voice. "I'm sorry Trubel. I don't want to make you cry again. Obviously you're not ready to talk about it." He tells her that to let her know he respects her privacy.
Trubel sniffles again. "Perceptive." She responds.
Josh turns and looks at her with persuasive eyes. "Just let me know when you are ready. You know, to talk about it." He says softly.
Trubel nods. "I will." She assures him.
Josh continues, wanting to do what she asked of him—to cheer her up. "One thing I do know for sure-and until I became a Grimm I never believed this—things happen in life that might confuse us now, years later they finally make sense. So, when I find myself going down the road of regret—that's what I call it—I take a detour." He says with cautious optimism.
Trubel looks right at him. "So—if the bad road is called the road of regret what would the detour road be called Josh?" She asks.
Josh now smiles confidently. "Whatever you want it to be honey." He says to her.
Trubel can't help it. She forces a smile at his optimism. "Thank you Josh." Is all she can say.
Josh smiles. "Yes, it worked." He says happily.
Trubel ponders. "So Josh, do you come and sit in here sometimes?" She asks.
Josh doesn't hesitate. "Yes Trubel, I do. It helps to clear my head. Not to live in the past, because that can be distracting. But as a reminder of the good times." He reveals.
Trubel looks at him and smiles slightly. "You know, I would probably do this too." She confesses.
Josh looks at her. "Well, I'm glad you're here with me for a change." He says softly.
Trubel makes up her mind about something. "Ok. You asked me to name this detour—I think I'll call it, sidetracks." She tells him.
Josh nods. "I like it. It's positive." He adds.
Trubel now yawns widely. "I'm getting tired Josh. I think I'll try to get some sleep." She informs him.
Josh looks at her. "Alright Trubel. I hope you feel better now." He says softly.
Trubel nods. "I do. Thanks." Is all she can say.
Josh looks in the distance, towards the rollup doors. "See you in the morning then. I'm going to hang here awhile. That is, unless you want me to walk back with you?" He asks her, second-guessing himself.
Trubel ponders. "Not necessary. It's probably best we walk back in separately anyway." She adds.
Josh nods. "Yes, I agree. Since it's so late." He responds.
Trubel almost whispers. "Goodnight Josh."
Josh responds softly. "Goodnight Trubel."
END OF CHAPTER 30
