Nick woke with a pounding headache and sickness in the pit of his stomach. He carefully rolled onto his side with a groan and curled up. He felt heavy and lethargic as he lay there and had trouble just opening his eyes. He became aware of a hand rubbing his shoulder and tensed. He tried to turn but he'd used up all his energy and that sickness came back.
"There's a bucket on the floor," Sean's smooth voice rolled over him and he relaxed. "Please use it."
Nick tried to respond but gave up as he felt Sean rub his shoulder and arm. Slowly he became aware of a sting on his back and side. He tried to curl up around the pain but that just set his head off.
"Nick?" Sean whispered.
He groaned as he curled up tightly as Sean ran his hands into his hair. He lay there for a while as Sean gently used his fingers to ease off the tension in his head and shoulders. Nick slowly blinked his eyes open to see that Sean had closed the blinds and the room was dark around him. He blinked in confusion, Sean had never closed all the blinds at night before. He worked out of the ball that he'd curled himself up into and noticed Sean sat behind him on the bed.
"Wha' 'appened?" Nick slurred.
"Well," Sean said softly. "We're still trying to work that out. What we do know, is that you were drugged."
Nick nodded slightly as Sean's fingers worked into the muscles of his shoulders. He closed his eyes and tried to relax and hoped his stomach would settle. He slowly uncurled his body as Sean worked down his back. He rolled onto his stomach and Sean snorted as he carefully rubbed him.
Nick didn't realise he'd fallen back to sleep until he woke with the feeling of Sean laying along his back and fast asleep. He didn't feel as sick or heavy as he carefully shifted Sean's arm and pulled himself from the bed. He stumbled over to the bathroom and to the toilet to take care of business before washing his hand and looking into the mirror.
He looked pale and his eyes were too dark and blown out. He frowned as he leaned closer and his eyes seemed to darken until they were dark pits. He leaned closer as his eyes darkened further until there was no white and he could see something moving in the depth, something just out of reach in that dark abyss.
Then something seemed to blink, Nick yelled out. He stumbled back from the mirror and hit the floor hard. He grunted and tried to scramble to his feet but he slipped on something. His eyes darted down to see blood all over the floor and he shouted out as he slipped again. He went down on his hands and knees as the blood seeped up through the tiles and over his hands.
He skidded and staggered back and to the door, the blood flooding around him. His hands and skin covered in red. He tripped on the carpet and went down again.
"Nick."
Nick's eyes darted around to the bed. Sean sat there, but it wasn't him. Something was wrong with the way he looked and Nick pulled himself up and stepped closer. His heart hammering in his chest.
"Sean?" Nick questioned as he crept forward with fear in his stomach.
Sean turned and Nick wasn't looking at his lover but a skeleton of the man he knew. He stumbled back from the bed in horror, his eyes wide as he hit the glass windows. He felt something brush him and turned his head to see a huge spider dangling there. He shouted out as the animal launched itself forward and plunged its fangs into his neck. He yelled out in pain and surprise then it was Monroe.
His friend ripped into him and he kept yelling as he tried to fight him off. He could feel himself slipping down the glass as Monroe pulled back. His red eyes flashing as his face and fangs dripped with blood. Monroe turned his lips up in a smile before darting forward and biting down again. Nick couldn't feel the pain anymore as his life's blood pumped over his chest and down into the carpet. He looked over to the bed but Sean was gone. Everyone was gone as he lay alone with his back to the glass windows, blood around him. His worse fear come to life, that he would die alone.
xXx
Sean sighed as Nick stopped struggling in their hold and he wiped away the blood from his eyes. He looked up and locked eyes with Turbel. She was panting as harshly as he was. He looked back down to Nick, he was pale and sweating heavily.
"Call Rosalee," Sean ordered. "Tell her what happened."
"What did happen?" Trubel asked as her eyes strayed to his naked chest.
"That he reacted violently," Sean answered. "That he was hallucinating and yelling out. My phone is on the side table."
Trubel snagged it up as Sean wiped his brow again. Nick had gotten in one good punch in before they were able to bring him down. His yelling had brought both Trubel and Josh running. The woman had thrown herself forward without prompting and Sean wasn't sure if he would have been able to contain Nick, if it weren't for her. Nick had fought blindly as he'd struggled with the demons in his own mind. Sean placed his hand to Nick's forehead and felt the heat.
"Tell her that he's running a temperature," Sean added. "We may have to take him to the hospital."
Trubel nodded and relayed his message along.
"They are on their way," Trubel told him. "She said that the hospital will be the last resort. Is he out?"
"I'm not sure," Sean replied.
Nick was twitching slightly and his eyes were moving quickly under his eyelids. He might still be fighting those demons but only in his mind. Sean carefully pulled himself up and snagged up a shirt and slipped it on. He looked over to Josh hovering in the doorway with his arms wrapped around himself.
"Alright?' Sean asked softly and the young man nodded. "We have this, if you want to head back to bed?"
Josh nodded and walked away, Sean felt for the man. He'd not only lost his father but his whole world view had been tipped upside down in a short period of time. It had been easier to believe that his father was mad than that the monsters were real. His buzzer went off a while later and he looked over to Trubel.
"I'll watch him," She told him and he nodded.
Sean hurried through the dark apartment to the buzzer.
"Yea?" Sean answered. "Let them up."
"Yes, sir." The woman on the security desk replied.
Sean walked to his front door and opened it as he waited. He didn't have to wait long for the two Wesen to appear.
"Did Nick do that?" Monroe asked when he saw him.
"I haven't looked," Sean admitted and reached up and touched the spot.
"I'm sure for a police Captain," Monroe commented. "A black eye will make you look rugged."
Rosalee whacked his shoulder and Monroe grinned. Sean just stood to the side to let them in.
"I'll be sure to say the same the next time you spar with Nick," Sean drawled smoothly.
That shut the Blutbad up as Sean led the way back to the bedroom. Nick was still sprawled out on the floor with Trubel beside him. She jumped to her feet when they arrived and Sean knelt beside Nick. He was mumbling something under his breath and Sean leaned closer to try and pick up words but nothing made sense. He leaned back as Rosalee knelt on his other side and prepped a needle with something black in it.
"Something to help flush his system out," Rosalee explained as she gently injected him. "Have you given him anything?"
"No, I wasn't sure if it would react with whatever he was given." Sean answered as he rested a hand on his shoulder. "Do you have something for his fever?"
"Yes," Rosalee told him and gave him another injection.
Nick groaned and flicked his eyes open and everyone froze. He tried to lift his hand up and Sean gently tangled their fingers together and those dark eyes focused on him. He shivered at that Grimm look before it faded and he was looking into Nick's glazed eyes.
"Sean?" Nick whispered, hoarsely.
"Trubel," Sean said, looking over to the woman. "Can you get him a bottle of water?"
The woman nodded sharply and scampered from the room.
"Nick," Rosalee whispered. "Can you move?"
"Not well," Nick replied, his words slurred.
"Do you feel sick?"
"Yes."
"Like you're going to throw up?"
"Not yet."
Monroe grabbed the bucket and placed it down next to Nick and the detective's eyes tracked him. Sean tensed at the wary look on Nick's face and it didn't go unmissed by the Blutbad.
"Why am I on the floor?" Nick muttered as he rolled slowly onto his side.
"It's where you ended up," Trubel remarked as she crouched down in front of Nick and held out the water. "After you punched Sean one and almost laid him out."
Sean cringed at the woman's words as Nick froze with large eyes. Nick then groaned and rubbed the side of his head.
"Help me up, would you?" Nick requested and Trubel grabbed his arm and helped him up. "Bed."
Trubel led him to the bed and Nick groaned as he carefully sat down. He looked around at the group around him.
"I was drugged, wasn't I?" Nick sighed.
"Yep," Monroe answered with a grin. "Just run of the mill really."
Nick carefully laid back on the bed and placed an arm over his eyes.
"Did I try to kill anyone this time?" Nick grumbled and Monroe snorted.
"Not this time," Sean replied.
"This time?" Trubel asked and Nick groaned louder.
xXx
Trubel looked up from the book in her hands when Nick stumbled into the kitchen. His hair was stuck up everywhere and his face was rough as he looked around. He nodded over at her before he wobbled towards the fridge and pulled out a bottle of apple juice and a cup. He still didn't look well and Trubel could see his hand shaking slightly as he poured the juice. He cursed when he spilled some across the bench and placed the bottle back down.
Nick grabbed up a cloth and wiped the bench down before drinking the juice then refilling the cup. He looked up at her and Trubel gave him a small smile.
"Do you want something to eat?" Nick offered. "I'm thinking scrambled eggs."
"I could eat," Trubel answered as she looked at him.
Nick pulled out items and scattered them along the bench.
"Is Josh still here?" Nick asked.
"No," Trubel replied as she strolled over to the kitchen and took a seat on the other side of the counter. "Sean took him into the station to make a statement. He'll have to plan his father's funeral as well."
"Poor bloke," Nick mused as he pulled a bowl out. "How are you handling all of this?"
Trubel shrugged a shoulder, "I always knew the monsters were real. It was other people that kept telling that they weren't."
Nick snorted.
"It messed with my mind," Nick admitted. "I thought I was going mad until my Aunt turned up. Then everything went to hell."
"So," Trubel stated. "This is all normal for you?"
"Seems that way," Nick replied as he threw everything into the bowl and stirred it up before pouring it into a hot pan. "Life of a cop that's a Grimm."
"Sean seems…" Trubel trailed off and Nick snorted.
"A little hard to read?" Nick ventured.
"Yeah," Trubel agreed. "A little scary as well."
Nick snorted.
"He'll grow on you," Nick pointed out as he served up the eggs into two bowls. "Want to eat on the balcony?"
Trubel gave him a smile and grabbed both bowls and Nick returned the grin. They walked out into the sun and Nick settled at the table with his bowl that Trubel placed on the table. He looked out on the city and relaxed back in his chair.
"So," Nick said once he'd finished eating. "I've already read your file but I would love to hear your story?"
Trubel gave him a once over and Nick knew the stare well, it was a judging look. He just waited her out as he looked out on the city. Slowly Trubel opened up and Nick shared stories of hunting and other things as they took in the view.
xXx
Sean placed his bag down and threw his coat over it as he dropped his keys down on the table. He strolled through to the living room to find Trubel on the lounge, her eyes flicked up to him and Sean held up the leather-bound book in his hand.
"Another one for you," Sean offered as he stepped over to the woman.
"Thanks," Trubel muttered. "He's asleep in your room."
She reached out and took the book in her hand and Sean gave her a nod. He was almost to the kitchen when Trubels's voice stopped him.
"Hey…thanks…for letting me crash here." Trubel called and he turned back. "Is Josh coming back here?"
"Yes," Sean answered. "Hank is bringing him around after he's finished for the day."
Trubel gave him a nod before focusing on the book. Sean picked up a beer from the fridge before walking back to his bedroom. He walked into the dark room and looked around. Nick had closed the blinds which cut out a lot of the light. Being a cop meant that you kept odd hours which also meant that you slept odd hours.
He stepped over to the bed to see Nick sprawled out on his stomach and Sean sat down on the edge. He ran his hands into Nick's hair and slowly the man woke up and muttered something into his pillow.
"What was that?" Sean asked in amusement.
"Nothing," Nick replied as he rolled over.
Sean kicked his shoes off and slipped into the bed and pulled Nick to him. Nick slipped his hands under his shirt and paused long enough for Sean to take the garment off. He settled back in and took in the feel of Nick's naked body as he ran his hand down his back. Nick slipped back into sleep and Sean just held him.
xXx
Nick woke slowly to the feeling of Sean's body behind him with his arm over his chest. He felt a lot better as he lay there as Sean held him. He reached behind him and ran his hand down Sean's hard back and the man shifted slightly. He shivered when he felt lips kiss the back of his neck.
"How do you feel?" Sean asked softly before kissing his skin again.
"Better," Nick replied. "Did I hit you?"
"Not the first time," Sean said as he tightened his hold around him. "Probably won't be the last either."
Nick snorted and wiggled back before pausing when he realised that Sean was hard behind him. Sean just kissed his back and ran his hand down his side before settling. Nick was wide awake as he lay there but he could tell that Sean had slipped back into sleep. He could see the lights of the city through the glass windows as he lay there. Sean must have opened them while he'd been asleep. He carefully untangled himself and pulled on a pair of pants before sitting on the edge of the bed.
He glanced over at Sean and ran his hand over his head and down his neck. The other man shifted and his eyes blinked open and looked up at him.
"Sorry," Nick whispered. "Didn't mean to wake you."
Sean groaned and shifted up onto his elbows to look at him with a frown.
"Do you feel sick?" Sean asked.
"No," Nick replied. "Just awake."
"It's three in the morning," Sean pointed out.
Nick nodded and looked back at the lights of the city. He shivered slightly at the coolness and Sean laid a hand on his back.
"Feel like coming back to bed?" Sean questioned as his hand wandered.
"I'll just go to the toilet first," Nick told him as he stood.
He felt Sean's eyes on his back as he walked into the bathroom. He avoided the mirror as he finished his business and walked back into the bedroom. He paused at the sight of Sean sitting up in bed with his phone out.
"Did you get a phone call?" Nick asked with a frown.
"No," Sean replied. "I wanted to show you something. Now that we are both awake."
Nick snorted and let his pants fall before slipping into the bed beside Sean. The other man passed the phone over and Nick took it then paused. He looked at a house listing with a frown.
"What's this?" Nick asked.
"A house listing," Sean drawled
"I can see that," Nick countered, dryly. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Well," Sean explained. "I just signed a contract on it."
Nick stopped and looked over at Sean and the man gave him a grin and laid his hand on his leg under the covers.
"You brought a house?" Nick questioned. "What about this place?"
"I believe that too many people know about this apartment and it's time to move on."
Nick looked back at the photos and the view of the city from the back of the property. He could see himself sitting out on the deck and looking at the view. He flicked to another photo in interest.
"It's three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms," Sean continued. "With room to spare, since we seem to gather guests. It won't be set up for a couple of months. Have to fix a few things up and get security in place."
"Are we going for a drive tomorrow then?" Nick pressed and Sean gave him a grin.
"Of course," Sean told him and gently plucked the phone from his hand and set it aside.
Sean leaned close and Nick cupped his face as he drew him in for a kiss and Sean's hand slipped further up his leg. Nick pulled on him until Sean settled between his legs and Nick brought them up on either side of him. He ran his hands down Sean's hard sides as they kissed and he moaned into his mouth as Sean's hand cupped him and gently teased him.
"Maybe I can tire you out," Sean whispered in his ear before kissing down his neck. "If you feel up to it?"
"To apologise for giving you a black eye?" Nick questioned then moaned as Sean closed his mouth over his nipple and he arched his back.
"If you want to see it that way," Sean purred as he worked down his body.
"Hmm," Nick hummed in the back of his throat as Sean took his hardening cock in his mouth.
He grabbed the sheet under him as Sean swirled his tongue around him as he shifted his legs further apart. He let his head rest back as he took in the feeling as Sean teased him, being him close to the edge before pulling back. He opened his eyes and looked up at the man between his legs. Sean's lips were quirked up in a smile as the faint lights danced along his skin and Nick could see the slight duel image of both Sean and his inner nature.
"God," Nick whispered. "You're beautiful."
Sean chuckled and leaned down and took him in a kiss. Nick wrapped his legs around his waist and bucked his hips up and they both groaned at the feeling. He could feel that wild presence brushing his skin as Sean's hands became rougher on his skin. His kisses had a harder edge and Nick moved his hands above his head. Sean grabbed them in one hand as he kissed down his neck and Nick bucked his hips up.
"Happy there?" Sean whispered as he reached over and picked up the lube. "How's your side?"
Nick wiggled his hands and Sean released him and he grabbed the lube from his hand. He gently pushed on Sean's side and the man hesitated slightly before rolling onto his back. Nick straddled his waist as he coated his hand and ran it up Sean's cock and the man let his head fall back on the bed. Nick then pushed a finger into himself as he stroked Sean.
When he was ready, he settled into place and Sean looked at him with dark eyes. Nick rocked forward and grabbed Sean's hands and held them above his head in one hand. Sean gave him a smile but Nick could tell that he wanted to roll them and take over. Nick then went down on his cock and Sean moaned at the feeling. Sean's wiggled his hands and Nick could see his inner nature shifting under his skin as he rode him slowly.
"Nick," Sean gasped and he knew that he was slipping.
Nick just leaned down and gently bit down on his shoulder. Sean growled and in one move rolled them. Nick just sprawled out as Sean grabbed his wrists and pinned him down. He groaned in pleasure and pain as Sean took him hard. He wrapped his legs around his waist and met him the whole way. He angled his hips as Sean pushed into him and groaned at the feeling as pleasure built in his stomach. He felt the sting from the claw marks come second to the feeling of Sean bucking forward and then Sean bit down on his shoulder.
He expected the pain of the bite but Sean only gently closed his mouth onto his skin and Nick groaned. Sean kissed along his shoulder as he quickened his pace and Nick could feel himself getting closer to the edge then Sean slowed his pace and drew the thrusts out. He released his hands and Nick looked up into Sean's pale eyes.
Sean then pulled loose and rolled them and Nick settled on top of him. He carefully went back down onto Sean and his hands grabbed his waist and Nick leaned over him. Nick moaned as rocked his hips forward and drew it out each time that he took Sean's cock into him until they were both panting harshly.
"Nick," Sean pleaded his hands tight on his hips.
Nick gave him a grin and quickened his pace before he was tipping over the edge and coming. From the groan that Sean made, he'd followed him over as well. He stilled with his forehead resting on Sean's chest as the man panted. Sean gave him a push and Nick sprawled out beside him as he gasped in breaths. He started when he felt a towel on him and looked into Sean's pale eyes.
"You're bleeding," Sean remarked.
"Bleeding?" Nick panted and pulled himself up slightly.
"You can't feel that?" Sean asked as he eased the bandages back from the claw marks.
"Just a slight stinging," Nick said as he lay back on the bed.
"I'll get the first aid kit."
Nick just laid back as Sean changed the bandages on the claw marks after cleaning them up.
"They will probably be healed over soon," Sean remarked.
Nick just nodded as Sean finished up and slipped into the bed and pulled the blanket up around them. Nick rolled onto his side as Sean curled up along his back. He was still panting a little hard as Sean held him and felt hot.
"Okay?" Sean asked.
"Yeah," Nick replied.
Nick slowly got his breathing under control as Sean rubbed his hip.
"Can I ask you a question?" Nick ventured.
"Sure," Sean replied.
"Am I the first human that you've had sex with?"
"Well," Sean drawled as his hand drifted up his side. "You're not really human."
"You know what I mean."
"Yes," Sean answered.
"To only having sex with Wesen?"
"Yes, you have noticed that I can be a little…rough."
Nick snorted.
"So can I," Nick countered.
Sean just kissed his shoulder as his hand drifted back down to his hip.
"Do you see my other side when we have sex?" Sean asked after a few minutes.
"Yes," Nick answered. "I see both images."
Sean stilled at that.
"At least you don't have a tail," Nick remarked with a chuckle. "That would have just been distracting."
Sean snorted loudly and just kissed his shoulder in answer to that.
xXx
Special Agent Katrina Chavez looked at a file that had been flagged by her system in interest. It looked like Captain Sean Renard and his department had run afoul of the Verrat with five dead and another man. She read through the report in interest and knew when information was being left out. Something didn't make sense with that department. She had thought for sure that Nick Burkhardt was a Grimm and yet she had looked him directly in the eyes and seen nothing. It wouldn't be the first time that Wesens had used the threat of a Grimm to keep more violent Wesens away from an area. The rumours of this Grimm in Portland didn't concern her, since she hadn't heard of him lopping off heads and she'd met Burkhardt and he didn't seem the type to go on a killing spree. The possibility of Burkhardt being a Wesen was there even if he hadn't woged when she had.
She sipped on her coffee as she looked at the photos and the tattoos on the men's hands in interest. Something had caught the Verrat's interest and it hadn't been Sean Renard. Two more Verrat had been found at a warehouse and she knew that Nick Burkhardt had been in a car accident shortly after he'd been attacked at the hotel and yet something didn't add up. She would have been blind not to know about the Royal in Portland, not that they had much pull away from the families. They did have their way of worming in where they shouldn't which lead her thinking somewhere else.
She brought up the file of a colleague of hers and looked at the red alert on it. Weston Stewart was still missing with an arrest warrant hanging over him. She's always believed that the man was rotten and after seeing the security film from Sean Renard's apartment she had her proof. She tapped her pen a few times before she closed both files on her computer and went on with some other work. She got the feeling that Renard's team had this in hand so far, until something come up that she thought that she would have to get involved. She didn't want to tip her hand too early without cause.
xXx
Sean looked at the e-mail he'd received in concern. He pulled himself up and to his door and looked out over the pen.
"Griffin, Burkhardt," Sean called and they looked over. "My office."
Nick and Hank shared a look as Sean held the door open for them. They settled into their seats as Sean slipped back into his.
"The FBI have taken an interest in the Rolek Porter murder and the murder of the Verrat at the warehouse," Sean told him. "Special Agent Chavez is leading the investigation and she will be in contact if she has any questions."
"Should we be concerned?" Hank questioned. "We shouldn't have left the warehouse-"
"We had reason to leave," Sean cut in. "They have our reports already as well as Josh Porter's statement. They are just overseeing it at this point, so take care."
"Is it the Verrat or the case itself that has caught her attention?" Nick asked.
"Could have been either," Sean told him.
Hank and Nick nodded and he could tell they were just as concerned as he was.
"Watch your backs," Sean suggested.
"What about the trunk?" Nick questioned.
"They have it now," Sean answered. "Until they release it back to Josh Porter."
"Is she planning on speaking to Josh?"
"Is she plans to," Sean remarked. "It won't gain her anything, we'll talk to Josh about what to leave out."
The three men fell into silence at that, they never liked it when another department wanted to overlook their cases. The fact it was the FBI and an intelligent woman that could read between the lines put them on edge.
"We don't want her to turn her focus on Trubel," Nick said into the silence. "If she is looking for a Grimm…"
Sean grimaced at that and the fact that he had two Grimms under his roof at the moment.
"We can only hope that the Verrat will keep her busy," Sean replied.
"Do you think it's just the Verrat?" Hank questioned. "Or is there something else that we are missing here?"
Sean felt a chill at the detective's words and didn't have an answer for him.
