Nick yelled out and rolled from the bed as the last of the nightmare faded and he was left standing there as he panted harshly. His eyes locked on Sean and the glint of the knife in his hand before he blew out a breath and collapsed back on the side of bed.
"Sorry," Nick gasped as he sat there and ran his hands into his sweat soaked hair. "Nightmare."
"They are getting worse," Sean pointed out as he laid a hand on his back. "Can you remember what it was about?"
"Not sure," Nick replied roughly. "Claws and it felt like someone was whispering in my ear… strange thing to be afraid of."
"What were they whispering?"
"Couldn't work out anything," Nick sighed.
Nick laid back on the bed and rested his head on Sean's stomach. They were due to move to their new house in the morning and he wasn't sure about that. He knew that they had to move for security reason and yet it felt like they were moving into 'their' house. Nick would be able to pull more of his property from his storage unit and Sean had mentioned that there was a shed on the property that he could put the rest of his stuff in.
"Are you going to fall asleep like that?" Sean remarked, breaking into his thoughts.
"Maybe," Nick replied before with a groan he crawled around in the bed.
He curled along Sean's back and slipped his arm over him. Even with his life in danger on a weekly basis he felt content as he lay there and listened to Sean's soft breaths as he fell back into sleep. Nick felt sticky with sweat as he lay there but couldn't be bothered to get up and have a shower. He ran his hand down Sean's side as he slept before rolling onto his back and staring out at the cityscape.
When sleep continued to allude him, he carefully slipped from the bed and looked back at Sean. He took in the image before pulling on his pants and snagged up a jacket. Most of their stuff was already packed away into boxes as Nick walked out of the room, using just the light coming in from the widows. He could see the hallway easily as he walked through to the kitchen. The apartment had started to feel like home as he opened the balcony doors and stepped out. The wind tugged at his jacket and he zipped it up as he looked out on the night. He stood there for a while before walking back inside and headed back to the bedroom.
He paused outside of Sean's office before walking in and glancing around. Everything was packed up in boxes and he wasn't sure why he'd walked in there. He slipped into the seat behind the desk, he didn't use Sean's office unless they were working on something together. He preferred to use the small desk that Sean had in the living room when he needed a desk or the dining table.
He ran his hand along the table before flicking the light on and noticed a photo on the table. He palmed it and looked at the blonde in the picture, he wasn't sure who the woman was but Sean only ever spoke of his mother and even that was rare. He stood up and pulled the box on the table closer and looked through it. He paused when he came across news articles and pulled them out. He felt a hand clench around his heart as he looked at the news report of his parent's death. He looked at the next paper and smirked, it was one of his first high profile cases and had a photo of him and Hank in 'police mode'.
He found a few more news clipping, both before and after he started to work with Sean and he frowned. He placed them back in the box with everything else and looked over to where he knew that Sean kept his safe. He walked over there and shifted a few books to the side and slid the fake wooden piece at back of the bookcase to the side to reveal the dial of the safe. Nick didn't know the combination as he rested his hand on it. He then closed his eyes and focused on his hearing. He slowly ticked the dial until he heard something click then slipped it back the other way. He stopped when he heard another tick then back the other way.
He opened his eyes when the safe opened and he looked at it. He pulled everything out and spread it out on the table. There was enough cash to live on for a while and passports with Sean's photo in them. He then fingered the key that he'd slipped to Sean that Josh's father had given him. He slipped that key into his pocket then picked up an envelope and opened it up and frowned. There was a silver ring in there and he looked the design over in interest. It was similar to the ring that Sean wore.
Nick froze when he heard a slight scuff and looked up as Sean came to stand in the doorway and look at him. He placed the ring back into the envelope as Sean came into the room. He only wore his long pants and Nick's eyes roamed over his bare chest.
"What were you looking for?" Sean questioned as he ran a hand over his face then stopped. "How did you open the safe?"
"Grimm powers," Nick replied. "I found the key that Josh's father gave me."
"I forgot to give that back to you," Sean said as he walked over to him. "No doubt, I would have found it later when I would have to get everything out of there. Probably not the best place for it anyway."
Nick looked at Sean as the man looked over his table, he didn't seem angry that Nick had gone through his stuff. Not that Sean seemed to care if he went onto his computer or checked something on his phone but Nick knew he liked his privacy. Sean turned and leaned back on the table.
"Were you looking for something?" Sean asked.
"No," Nick answered. "I'm not really sure why I came in here."
Sean stilled at his answer and frowned.
"Or opened the safe?" Sean asked.
Nick looked over to the open safe and wondered why he'd opened it. If he'd asked Sean, he would have opened it for him. He turned back then flinched when he looked into Sean's Wesen aspect.
"Nick," Sean said softly. "Why did you come in here?"
Nick frowned as he looked at Sean's face and couldn't answer the question.
"I don't know," Nick answered with a frown.
Sean gently cupped his face and Nick locked eyes with him. Then he felt like he was falling but without moving and he grabbed Sean's wrists, as the feeling of vertigo overcame him. He seemed to fall into Sean's eyes and wasn't sure which way was up. He started to panic before he felt Sean's presence around him and he relaxed into that feeling. A part of him, however, tried to hide away and he winced as pain flashed across his temples. His grip on Sean's wrists the only thing keeping him grounded.
"Why did you come in here?" Sean's voice rolled over him and that part of him that was hiding whimpered.
Nick could feel something between them and he seemed to stop falling. He felt like he was floating and all he could see were Sean's pale eyes before him. He couldn't see anything else as his hands dug into Sean's wrists or he thought they were his wrists. He could hear a whispering around him but not the words and tried to look away from those eyes but couldn't as they bore into him.
"Nick," Sean whispered. "Just relax, you know I won't hurt you."
Nick followed Sean's directions without thought, he trusted the other man. Slowly he became aware of the fact that he was on his knees and that Sean's hands cupped his face as the office came into focus around him. He loosened his hold on Sean's wrists and the man winced, he'd dug his nails into his skin without realising.
"You had a spell on you," Sean stated as he gently removed his hands from his face.
Nick pulled himself to his feet but didn't release Sean's wrists.
"A spell?" Nick questioned. "How long?"
"Probably since this afternoon," Sean replied. "You would need a full Hexenbiest to know for sure."
"Is it still working?" Nick asked then looked around the office. "It made me come in here?"
"Spells on Grimms can have strange results," Sean told him. "Probably why you had that nightmare. Your mind was fighting against it."
Sean slipped his hands into his pockets and pulled out the key and Nick looked at it.
"You think they were after the key?" Nick questioned.
"Possibly," Sean mused before resting his hands on Nick's hips.
"How did you know?" Nick asked with a frown and Sean quirked his lips up in a smile.
"You have never flinched when I have woged," Sean told him and tugged him closer. "That gave it away."
Nick stepped between his legs and Sean cupped his cheeks again.
"May I?" Sean questioned and Nick nodded.
It felt different this time as he locked eyes with Sean. He didn't feel like he was falling as Sean looked into his eyes and he rested his hands on his thighs. He hadn't been aware that Sean had this talent or any other talents linked to his Zauberbiest side.
"There's not much to tell," Sean said and Nick realised that he'd picked up on his thoughts. "I think it's due to our connection that I can see as much as I can. Normally I can't."
"And other talents?" Nick asked in interest.
"Strength mainly," Sean replied mildly.
"Yes," Nick drawled. "I've been on the wrong end of that more than once-"
Pain suddenly burst into his head and his eyes rolled up. He heard Sean cursing and hands on him as his vision greyed out. When next he became aware, he was laying on his side on the rug of Sean's office and the man was kneeling beside him on the phone.
"Hold on, he's coming around." Sean said into the phone and focused on him. "Nick?"
Nick groaned and rolled onto his back and placed his arm over his eyes.
"He's conscious," Sean reported to the person on the phone. "Sorry to call so late. Did you want to see him tomorrow morning…no, he didn't do it to get out of moving, Monroe…good night."
Nick slowly slid his arm up to his forehead to look at Sean.
"Sorry," Sean offered. "The spell had a failsafe that I wasn't aware of."
"Gone?" Nick whispered.
"Rosalee will be the judge of that," Sean told him and he groaned.
He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself up and to his feet. Sean grabbed his arm when the blood rushed to his head.
"Back to bed," Sean suggested from beside him.
"Back to bed," Nick repeated and Sean snorted.
xXx
"So," Monroe stated. "Run this by me again? What did he say?"
"That he found Nick in his office and he didn't know why he went in there," Rosalee replied as she looked through some books. "He looked into his mind and found a compulsion spell there. When he went to dive deeper, Nick passed out."
Monroe growled at that and Rosalee paused and looked over at him.
"Monroe," Rosalee said in a sigh. "They have a connection, Sean wouldn't intentionally hurt him."
"I know," Monroe snarled. "But he is still a Zauberbiest and you know what they are like."
"Nick trusts him," Rosalee pointed out. "I trust him."
"And I do too," Monroe muttered under his breath then louder. "It's just all the mind magic they do and spells and other stuff. It's not right."
"I'll be sure to remember that," Sean drawled as he came through the door and Monroe blushed.
"Ah, sorry man," Monroe exclaimed. "That stuff just creeps me out."
"Noted," Sean retorted as he looked at them. "And you didn't know I was there. Can you help Nick out of the car?"
"What?" Monroe yelped. "Why?"
Monroe fled the shop before Sean could reply and the man gave Rosalee a smirk.
"He doesn't need help," Rosalee stated dryly and Sean smiled innocently.
"Game of fetch?" Sean questioned and Rosalee laughed before covering her mouth.
"Sean!" Rosalee cried and he gave her a wink. "You're getting cheeky."
"Must be Nick rubbing off on me," Sean replied and looked over the books laid out on the counter. "What do you have?"
"Well," Rosalee started. "I don't have any spell books, Adalind probably would, so we are just working off different mixtures of herbs that could have the same effect that you described."
"Could Adalind be behind this?" Nick asked as he walked in with Monroe a step behind him.
The Blutbad glared over at Sean and the man gave him a smile in return.
"What would she gain?" Sean countered. "Adalind only does something if it gets her something. She would have no way of knowing that I had the key and that's what they seemed to be after. I doubt she would do the Royals any favours after what happened with Diana."
"Are you sure that's what they wanted?" Monroe asked and Sean nodded.
Nick took the key out of his pocket and placed it on the counter and Rosalee made it disappear. No one asked where she was going to put it, since Nick had given her the other one. Nick then frowned and pulled his phone from his pocket and pulled up a number and walked away. Sean's eyes tracked him as he walked out of the shop without a word.
"Are you sure that the spell is broken?" Rosalee asked quietly, put out by Nick's behaviour.
"When he came to, the spell was broken," Sean told her. "That was cop Nick, he just thought of something. No doubt he will explain when he comes back."
Monroe snorted at those words and Rosalee gave a small smile.
"What do you want me to do then?" Rosalee asked.
"Something to flush anything out of his system, in case he was given something to lower his natural reaction to a spell," Sean said then paused. "Herbs keep showing up lately…"
"Yes, they do."
"Those herbs and things that we brought in a couple of months ago," Sean mused. "Could they be used by a Hexenbiest?"
"Sure," Rosalee answered.
"I mean only by a Hexenbiest," Sean clarified. "You only picked out the ones that could be blended for a sedative. What about if it wasn't just a sedative that they were brewing?"
"Trubel and Josh ran into some problems," Nick announced as he walked back into the shop. "Hundjägers had torn Rolek's place apart. They stayed back and watched as they left and went in after."
"The key?" Monroe questioned and Nick nodded.
"The only other thing that he had was the trunk and the FBI have that," Nick pointed out.
"Trubel?" Sean questioned.
"They got away clean," Nick told him. "They are headed back here. I told them to take the long way around, stay out of sight and go to the trailer when they get here."
"Um," Monroe broke in. "What about the move today?"
Sean and Nick shared a look.
"We can delay it a week," Sean suggested.
"Wouldn't it be safer at the new house?" Rosalee questioned.
"She's right," Nick agreed.
Sean tapped his fingers on the table before nodding sharply, they were right. Monroe groaned as Rosalee smiled at the Blutbad.
"Sean," Rosalee stated, bringing their attention back on to him. "Would Adalind have a spell book?"
"Most likely," Sean replied. "Her mother would have had one."
"Do we need that book?" Monroe asked as Nick leaned back on the counter.
"Is it worth the trouble trying to get it?" Nick added and they all paused. "It may not even have the spell in it."
"Or it may," Sean countered. "I'll see her but first, Rosalee has something for you."
Nick grimaced and looked over at Rosalee.
"This isn't going to taste nice, is it?" Nick grumbled.
xXx
Sean looked down at Nick curled up asleep on the lounge fondly. He was behind a pile of boxes and Sean was sure he'd been there for a while. How he'd managed to get back there, he wasn't sure.
"You found him?" Monroe whispered and the two men shared a look.
"We'll let him have an hour," Sean whispered back and Monroe nodded. "He hasn't been sleeping well."
They walked back out to the truck that they'd hired and grabbed up a box each. He'd moved a lot in his life but this was the first house that he felt he was moving into with someone. That it was going to be 'their' house and not 'his' house. They walked back into the house, Rosalee and Juliette were in the kitchen unpacking the boxes in there as they placed the two boxes down and went back out to the truck. That was another thing that he wasn't used to, friends. He was a loner, even with his contacts and allies, he didn't make stronger connections. Until now and he wouldn't change it.
"Hey, Sean." Monroe ventured after he jumped into the truck to shift the next lot of boxes to the back. "I apologise for what you overheard in the shop."
Sean paused and looked at the Blutbad and Monroe rubbed his hair, making it stick up.
"I can understand your concern," Sean said simply and picked up the next box.
"Hey, what!" Monroe yelped. "Is that it?"
Sean looked over his shoulder as Monroe jumped out of the back of the truck.
"Grab a box," Sean said casually.
Monroe paused before with a laugh he grabbed a box and they went back into the house. Sean walked into the kitchen and placed his box down on the counter.
"Where's Nick?" Rosalee asked in concern. "I haven't seen him for a while? Did he go get food?"
"He found a hiding spot," Sean reported. "I'll ring up and order food if you want?"
Sean pulled his phone out then paused.
"Or Hank is picking up burgers," Sean added. "Said he should be by at about three."
"Probably feels bad about missing out on all this fun," Monroe grumbled.
Sean huffed as he sent back a message back to Hank as everyone put their order in before going back to work. They just picked up the last of the boxes when Hank pulled up in his Charger with Wu.
"Hey, Captain." Hank greeted.
"Perfect timing, detective." Sean countered and Hank grinned.
Sean walked the box in as Hank and Wu followed behind with the food. Sean placed the box down then went looking for Nick. He found him where he'd left him last, fast asleep on the lounge tucked away in the corner.
"Nick," Sean called and the man twitched. "Nick, I'm not trying to get back there!"
Nick started awake and looked around until his eyes focused on Sean.
"How did you get back there?" Sean asked as Nick rubbed his face.
"The power of curse words and the dream of something soft to sleep on," Nick told him then looked around. "Not sure what's going to get me out."
Sean snorted, "Food's here, is a steak burger enough of a motivation?"
xXx
"Sean," Adalind greeted as she stood from her chair.
"Adalind," Sean replied, just as evenly.
Adalind then stepped forward and gave him a hug and he returned it awkwardly. She stepped back just as quickly and retook her seat. He settled into the seat on the other side of the table. They were meeting in the Diner that Nick was fond of and Sean nodded over to the waitress. She gave him a smile as she made him up a coffee for him.
"What did you want to talk about?" Adalind asked and glanced around. "Just you today?"
"I could call Nick if you wanted to see him as well," Sean added with a sharp look and Adalind got the message.
"No need to do that," Adalind purred then paused as the waitress placed a coffee and sandwich down in front of Sean.
"Thank you," Sean offered with a small smile.
The waitress returned the smile and walked away. Sean watched her as he tried looking for that tail without success. It looked like Nick's talent wasn't branching across to him.
"Something catch your eye?" Adalind questioned and he focused back on her.
"Just looking for a tail," Sean answered mildly as he picked up his sandwich. "You're not eating?"
"No," Adalind replied. "What do you want, Sean?"
"Did your mother leave you any spell books?" Sean questioned and Adalind pulled back sharply.
"She could have," Adalind replied vaguely after a few minutes of silence. "All her stuff was put into a storage unit after her death."
"You haven't looked?" Sean pressed as he finished his sandwich.
"I had a quick look," Adalind admitted. "And paid the bill but not much more."
"Any books?"
"A couple."
Sean gave her a level stare and Adalind shrugged a shoulder. They were at a stalemate as Sean just picked up his coffee and took a sip. They made good coffee here, which was another reason that he'd come here. He turned away from Adalind and looked over to the waitress as she worked. He could feel Adalind watching him but he didn't care as he glanced around. With Diana's death, there was nothing tying them together any more.
"Why did you show me the trailer?" Adalind asked, drawing his attention back.
"Would you have left it alone?" Sean questioned mildly.
Adalind shut her mouth and looked away from him and Sean had his answer.
"I suppose it's only fair," Adalind declared after a while. "What are you looking for?"
"There were some herbs and other items left at a crime scene," Sean answered as he wiggled his cup for the waitress and Alice gave him a nod. "We believe that a Hexenbiest might be involved."
"Not me," Adalind squeaked and Sean quirked his lips up.
Adalind blushed as the waitress walked over with another coffee.
"Anything else, sir?" Alice questioned.
"Adalind?" Sean questioned.
The blonde looked between him and the waitress before shaking her head.
"No," Adalind replied. "It looks like we'll be leaving soon."
xXx
Sean's nose twitched slightly as the dust and other smells tickled his nose. He couldn't hold back as he sneezed loudly and Adalind chuckled from beside him.
"I had very much the same reaction," Adalind remarked with a smile. "I'm not sure what to do with all this, I can't keep paying the storage fee."
"I'm sure that we can work something out," Sean drawled as he shifted through the stuff.
He picked up a spell book and tried to open it and Adalind snorted.
"I tried that as well," Adalind muttered. "Don't know why the producers of these books put spells on the books themselves. I guess they think it's smart…it's just annoying."
"It's a Hexenbiest thing," Sean muttered. "My mother had a book similar to this one, it will need blood or something similar to open."
Sean palmed the book off to Adalind and the blonde looked at him.
"What's she like?" Adalind asked then cringed back.
"Who?" Sean asked mildly.
"Um, your mother." Adalind clarified and looked away from him. "You've never mentioned her before."
Sean just looked over the rest of the books and items on the table and in the boxes.
"Personal information can get a person killed," Sean remarked as he picked up a box and had a look through it. "Or can be used against them."
"Sean," Adalind stated, drawing his name out.
Sean looked over to her and she gave him a level stare.
"She's like me, yes?" Adalind hesitantly broached. "A Hexenbiest?"
"Yea…yes." Sean answered. "I didn't get my Zauberbiest blood from my father."
"Sean! I'm just trying to have a conversation…" Adalind whined and Sean gave her an amused smirk. "Was that a joke?"
"Poor taste?" Sean countered as he pulled out another book.
"Just unexpected," Adalind conceded and Sean was reminded of Nick's words. "Have you found something?"
"Not sure," Sean answered casually. "Rosalee would know more about this."
"Your mother didn't teach you?"
"Didn't have the talent," Sean replied simply.
Adalind looked around and Sean could tell that she was thinking as he kept looking through the box before him. He kept her in the corner of his eye, just in case.
"Um," Adalind uttered a few minutes later. "How about we take what is important and put it in Nick's trailer or something? Then I can get the rest cleared out?"
Sean paused with his hand on a photo frame and looked at Adalind. He had shared his bed with both her and her mother and seeing photos of the woman had brought back memories. Not that he was proud of who he was back then, but it was part of his past.
"I'm sure that Nick wouldn't mind," Sean answered carefully.
Adalind looked at him with sharp eyes before they softened and she gave him a smile. Sean felt a shiver run down his back, Adalind could be a good ally but also a dangerous foe. He still wasn't sure which that she fell into. He followed his instincts on this and returned the smile.
xXx
Sean looked at the old beat up land cruiser and groaned. Nick clapped a hand to his shoulder and he glanced at the man and he grinned.
"You could have brought a new car," Sean stated.
"It is new," Nick countered.
"Late nineties is not 'new', Sean pointed out.
"It's a year younger than my last car."
"Well, in that case." Sean smirked. "If you break down, I'm not picking you up."
Nick laughed and Sean found himself smiling. Nick's 'new' car looked like a junk car next to his brand-new SUV. He would have been happy to buy Nick a car but the man had brought this car home.
"That's what Hank is for," Nick said with a smile. "Plus, I'll get the engine and everything done up on this one, like I did for the last. Such a shame that the last one was a write off."
"That's what happens when you run it into three parked cars and Wesen's claw up the side of it," Sean pointed out as he peered into the car. "I could have brought you a new car."
"Don't you like my car near yours?" Nick questioned with a smirk. "Should I park it down the road or in the garage that no one is using?"
Sean snorted and looked over at Nick and took in the sight of him standing there. The car was just another one of Nick's quirks.
"I'm sure that I can live with what the neighbours will say," Sean stated and Nick's smile widened.
Nick slinked closer and Sean turned to him as Nick settle his hands on his hips. Sean would normally prefer such public displays be kept out of sight as Nick looked up at him.
"Not the neighbours," Nick uttered with wink.
Sean just pulled the shorter man into a kiss and didn't even pull apart when a car beeped its horn.
"Hey!" Monroe yelled. "We have a wedding rehearsal to get to! Break it up!"
Sean pulled Nick closer as he deepened the kiss.
Monroe beeped the horn again.
