Nick nervously fiddled with his tie as he looked into the mirror. He should have his sunglasses on but it made the room too dark. He could feel the sweat drippling down his back as he pulled the tie off and started over again. The door opened behind him and he looked up sharply, his hand already going to the sunglasses until he saw Sean in the mirror and he relaxed.
"God," Nick muttered. "I can't do this, maybe I should have taken that potion again…"
Sean stepped up behind him and placed his hands on his shoulders and gently worked the tight muscles in his neck.
"You're more nervous than Monroe," Sean whispered and kissed the side of his neck. "It will be fine."
"I'm getting images of someone's grandmother attacking me and then me killing them," Nick admitted. "Of kids screaming and a mob of Wesen after my blood! It's happened before!"
"Settle down," Sean whispered as he took the tie from his hands.
Sean wrapped it around his own neck as he tied it up with practised hands. He then stepped in front of Nick and looped the tie around his neck and settled it into place. Sean ran his hands down to his hips and pulled him close. He dipped down and captured Nick's lips in a soft kiss. The tension drained out of Nick as Sean deepened the kiss until the door suddenly opened behind them.
"Oh!" Bud squeaked and quickly turned around. "Sorry, Monroe wanted me to get you and I didn't know you had company and the wedding is about to start. I could come back later but then it would be too late and Monroe is starting to have kittens. Not that he could have kittens-"
"Bud," Nick cut in and the man twitched. "It's okay."
Bud glanced over his shoulder as Nick stepped back from Sean. Bud stood there nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"I didn't mean to interrupt and I should have knocked-"
"We'll be there in a minute," Nick broke into the other man's words.
"Ah, yeah." Bud stuttered and stood there for a second more before with a rush he dashed out of the room.
Sean chuckled and grabbed Nick again and pulled him close. He could feel the tension in Nick's body again.
"God," Nick muttered. "That man makes me nervous just looking at him."
"I wonder what his blood pressure is like?"
Nick laughed and flicked his sunglasses down. Sean couldn't hold back the temptation as he woged to see for himself. He could feel the dangerous edge around Nick but not his eyes and he slipped back out of the woge as Nick chuckled.
"You just had to see," Nick grumbled and Sean laughed.
"Curiosity," Sean countered and Nick groaned.
"Don't say that!" Nick yelped. "Some of the guests are part cat and you know what curiosity does to them."
Sean just laughed again and let him go.
xXx
Sean felt his phone go off in his pocket and clenched his teeth before he slipped out of his seat. He'd taken a seat in the back row of the wedding for that reason as he stepped out of the room and pulled his phone out. He looked at the screen to see one missed call from the station and two missed calls from Wu. He paced over near the railing to the large cabin and called Wu.
"Sorry to call you, sir." Wu said quickly. "I know you're at the wedding but you wanted to be called straight away if we got another 'Reaper' killing."
"Yea…yes" Sean said with a sigh. "How many?"
"Two," Wu answered. "Both men with the symbol on the wall. Private house this time and no tattoos. We are still running down IDs but we believe that one man lived at the house and there could be a sexual connection between the two victims."
Sean blew out a breath as he looked out at the forest before him.
"Lock down the scene, if you haven't already," Sean ordered. "Send me the address and I'll be there soon."
"Hank and Nick?" Wu questioned.
"Are busy," Sean finished and hung up.
Sean sent a text to Nick's phone and knew the man would see it when he could as he walked over to his car. He typed in the address for the latest murders into his GPS and pulled out. There was no rest for a police Captain.
xXx
Sean pulled up at the crime scene is a bad mood as he stepped out of his car and slammed his door. He glanced around before focusing on the house before him and stepped forward. He didn't get much further.
Pain ripped into chest, closely followed by the sounds of two gunshots. He stumbled to his knee as his hand came up and grabbed his chest and felt the warm blood seeping through his fingers. Stars danced before his eyes as he hit the ground on his back. The pain torn through him and he heard shouting around him as he tried to pull breath into his lungs. His hand clenched on his chest as he gasped.
xXx
Wu ran forward without thought and quickly fell to his knees before Sean as his eyes darted around. Police swarmed on the area and pushed the press back as Wu quickly took in the blood on the Captain's white dress shirt. A paramedic on the scene quickly pushed him out of the way and unbuttoned the Captain's shirt. The man quickly pushed a towel down onto Sean's chest and Wu sucked in a breath. Both shots were kill shots and yet the Captain was still gasping for breath as Wu tried not to panic. The paramedic's partner arrived with a stretcher and a bag as they set to work.
Sean tried to lift his bloody hand and Wu quickly grabbed it as his wild eyes locked with him, blood on his lips.
"Set up," Sean gasped.
"Try not to talk," the medic advised.
Wu quickly glanced around but the officers around him had everything under control before he focused back on Sean.
"Just hold on," Wu told him as the medic slipped a mask over Sean's nose and mouth.
Sean's hand clenched around Wu's and his eyes locked with his. They were wide as they looked at him and his breathing harsh as the medics worked to stabilise him. He was lucky in a way that the paramedics had already been there until his eyes caught on where the Captain had been hit. The shooter was trained and knew just were to hit him and Wu was surprised that Captain was still conscious and aware.
"We have to go," the medic told him. "Are you coming with us?"
"Yes," Wu said, without a thought.
xXx
Nick rubbed his chest as he felt a slight burn as the wedding finish up and Hank looked over at him
"Right there?" Hank whispered as he leaned close to him.
"Yeah," Nick answered. "Bit of heartburn, I think."
"Nerves," Hank countered with a smirk.
Nick nodded and looked over the crowd but couldn't see Sean and he frowned. He smiled widely as Monroe and Rosalee walked out, hand in hand. The crowd broke into clapping, cheering and an odd howl and Nick grinned as he rubbed his chest. Something didn't feel right as he stood there and the feeling only grew as the time ticked by. He felt on edge, like he had to be somewhere else and yet he was happy to be where he was. It was a conflicting feeling and it tugged at him.
"What's wrong?" Hank demanded and grabbed his arm.
"Something isn't right," Nick hissed and they quickly weaved through the crowd and out of the hall.
Nick pulled out his phone just as it rang, the feeling of dread settling in his stomach.
"Burkhardt," Nick answered, without looking at the screen.
"Nick!" Wu cried and Nick felt a sinking feeling in his gut. "Sorry, but the Captain's been shot. He's at St Joseph's and is about to go in for surgery."
"We'll be there soon," Nick answered and hung up his phone. "Sean's been shot."
"What!" Hank yelped and pulled his keys. "My car."
Nick and Hank ran towards the car and Nick could understand the tight feeling in his chest now. Hank flicked the siren on the second they hit the main road. Nick could barely remember that dash down the country roads and into the city. He just hung on as Hank took the corners with skill, that burn in his chest the whole way. He rubbed his chest as they pulled up at the hospital entrance. He rushed out of the car as Hank pulled away to find a parking spot.
He picked out Wu easily and hurried toward him. He paled when he saw the blood on the sergeant's uniform and hands. Wu looked up and Nick felt his stomach drop as he took in the other man's expression.
"Nick," Wu uttered as he jumped to his feet then just stood there.
"What room are they taking him to?" Nick demanded and Wu started.
"He's still in surgery but they will be moving him to ICU," Wu answered. "Nick…"
"I know that he is still alive," Nick told him. "Which floor?"
"Second," Wu answered and fell into step with him. "Nick…it doesn't look good…you…you might want to prepare yourself."
Nick didn't say anything as they stood in the lift in awkward silence.
"Tell me what happened," Nick ordered, his voice rough.
Nick listened with half an ear as Wu told him what had happened. He had to agree that it sounded like a set up as they waited outside the ICU. They would have known that Sean would go to a 'Reaper' case himself. They could have laid in wait for him which brought up questions of who the killer was.
"I want any camera footage," Nick demanded. "Dash cam, anything. Have the press got a hold of this?"
"The press were already there," Wu said dryly. "I'm sure that it will be on the late news."
Nick winced as he rubbed his chest and Wu didn't miss the move.
"Are you okay?" Wu asked.
"Yes," Nick answered. "It's the connection, at least I know that he's still alive."
"Connection?" Wu asked with a frown and Nick looked at him.
"Sean and I have a connection," Nick explained. "It's what saved my life when I was shot at the station."
Wu slowly nodded, neither man wanting to voice the fact that the connection may not be enough for Sean to pull through.
"How do you feel then?" Wu questioned.
"Next question," Nick muttered, he was starting to feel drained. "I'll feel better once Sean's out of surgery."
They looked over when Hank strolled towards them and Wu stood quickly.
"Good luck," Wu offered then walked towards the other detective.
Hank and Wu spoke for a while before Hank continued towards him and collapsed in the chair next to him. Hank didn't say anything as he pulled his phone out and Nick rested his head back. The burning and tightness in his chest both annoying and comforting him.
xXx
"Nick Burkhardt?"
Nick started awake and looked up at the middle-aged man with stern features and a frown on his brow. Hank had left about half an hour ago to help Wu with the scene.
"Yes?" Nick questioned as he rubbed his face, tiredly.
"I have you down as a next of kin for Sean Renard?" The Doctor questioned with a slight accent to his words. "I'm Doctor Shahram Salmak."
Nick sat up a little more in his seat as the Doctor looked at his clipboard.
"Mr Renard is out a surgery and has been moved to room Six Twenty in ICU," Salmak reported. "He was very lucky and we'll be keeping a close eye on him for the next twenty-four hours. You can go and see him."
"Thank you," Nick replied as he pulled himself to his feet.
Nick stumbled slightly on his first step and felt like he'd run a mile as the Doctor looked him over.
"Are you okay, Mr Burkhardt?" Salmak questioned. "Were you at the shooting as well?"
"I'm fine," Nick answered. "Just tired."
"I've also contacted the other person listed as his next of kin on Mr Renard's file," Salmak remarked.
"His mother?" Nick asked in interest.
"Different last name," Salmak said with a shrug of his shoulder. "Could be."
"I'll keep an eye out for her," Nick answered. "We'll keep an officer with him at all times."
"Very well, have a good night, Mr Burkhardt."
Nick quickly found Sean's room and stepped in and looked down at his lover. They had him hooked up to a few machines and Nick gently clasped his hand and bowed his head slightly. He settled into the chair next to the bed and looked at Sean's pale face behind the mask. He could still feel that burn as he sat there and the fatigue pulled at him but he didn't care. Sean was alive and that's all that mattered.
xXx
Elizabeth Lascelles frowned as she looked through the glass window of her son's room to see a dark-haired man asleep in the seat next to her son's bed. She placed her hand into her handbag as she carefully opened the door and looked at the scene before her. If she needed to save her son's life, with the spelled snake in her bag, it was going to be harder with the young man in the room.
She stepped closer and the man suddenly started awake and his eyes focused on her with a sharp look on his handsome face. His hand shifted slightly to his side and Elizabeth knew that move. She'd seen it with Sean, since he'd become a police officer, the man had been reaching for a gun. His eyes then slipped out of focus slightly and Elizabeth's frown deepened. The man then sighed and sat back in his seat and gave her a look over.
"You must be Sean's mother," The man said smoothly. "I'm Nick Burkhardt."
A smile came across Elizabeth's face at the man's name. She understood that slight feeling around the man now.
"Nice to meet you," Elizabeth purred and held her hand out. "I am indeed Sean's mother, Elizabeth Lascelles."
Nick took her hand in his with a firm grip and a smile. Elizabeth could see the fatigue around the younger man as she took in his rumpled suit and dress shirt. She couldn't resist the temptation as she woged. She watched in interest as Nick's eyes darkened then shivered as she saw her true nature looking back at her from the depths of his eyes. The Grimm didn't flinch and Elizabeth had to give him credit for that as she released his hand.
"I can see where Sean gets it from," Nick remarked mildly. "I can see that he has filled you in on what I am as well."
Elizabeth chuckled lightly before looking at her son and gently touched his hand.
"And he filled you in on what I am," Elizabeth countered with a smile. "The Doctors were concerned that Sean may relapse."
"I don't think so," Nick replied as he rubbed his chest slightly.
"Are you aware of something that the Doctors aren't?" Elizabeth remarked and Nick gave her a grin.
"Yes," Nick answered easily. "Yes, I am. I don't believe that your bag of tricks will be needed."
Elizabeth pulled back and knew in that moment, not to underestimate the man across from her. Being a Grimm made him dangerous but as she looked at him, she knew that he would kill to keep Sean safe. Even if that meant from her and she gave him a slight nod in acknowledgement.
"I'll give you a few moments alone," Nick offered as he rocked onto his feet. "Would you like a coffee?"
"Yes, thank you." Elizabeth answered. "Two sugars, black."
Nick nodded and gave her a look and she could feel a dark edge around him. She could see what had attracted Sean to the man. Nick didn't say any more as he intentionally turned his back on her and walked out of the room. Elizabeth took the seat that he'd been in and gently picked up her son's hand and ran her thumb over the back of it.
"You have chosen well, my son."
xXx
Sean blinked his eyes open, feeling heavy and drugged as his eyes focused on a blonde woman, near the windows. He had the sudden thought that it was Adalind and frowned before the woman turned and gave him a smile.
"Mother," Sean whispered.
"Hello, my son." Elizabeth greeted smoothly as she walked over to him and picked up his hand.
He clenched his hand around his mother's, taking in the familiar features before looking around.
"The Doctors told him to go home and get some sleep," His mother answered his silent question and Sean tensed. "They did not expect you to wake up yet. I'm sure the lovely policeman on the door will message Mr Burkhardt."
"Nick," Sean corrected roughly. "No bloodshed?"
Elizabeth laughed lightly and gave him a familiar smile.
"No," Elizabeth told him. "He is a lovely young man."
Sean groaned at that statement.
"You don't know him well," Sean countered.
Elizabeth gave him a fond smile and Sean found himself smiling back. He could feel himself getting sleepy as the drugs pulled on him.
"You were very lucky," Elizabeth whispered. "The Doctors were amazed that you pulled through. I thought I may have had to do something a little…extreme to help you."
Sean frowned at that.
"You did something?" Sean questioned.
"No, my son." Elizabeth said with a soft smile. "You are strong."
"Nick," Sean uttered as it dawned on him.
"I told you, dear." Elizabeth said with a frown. "He'll be back in a few hours, I'm sure."
Sean nodded slightly and closed his eyes and slipped back into sleep. Feeling content with the fact that Nick was safe and that their connection had been enough to save his life as well.
xXx
Nick looked at the picture on his laptop from his chair near the window of Sean's hospital room. He flicked through the other photos as the soft noises of the people around him made him feel like he was at the station.
"Hey, Nick." Hank greeted as he walked in. "How're you feeling?"
"Better," Nick replied and looked over to Sean. "He's woken up a few times but seems to time it for when I'm not in the room."
Hank snorted and Nick flicked his computer around to show the other man.
"This drawing of the scythe is the same as the last one that we went to," Nick reported. "How did you go with getting any footage?"
"He was good," Hank replied. "He knew just where to stand and took two chest shots, as you know. Anyone else and I'm sure that would have been the end of the road."
"He was shooting to kill," Nick said in agreement. "He probably staged the last Reaper murder to see if Sean would show up."
"And if you would as well," Hank added. "He may have even timed it with the wedding to get us out of the way."
Nick nodded.
"Have you rung Monroe and Rosalee?" Hank asked.
"No," Nick answered with a sighed. "I'll ring them tomorrow night, I wanted to give them at least a couple of days before throwing this at them. Since they haven't called, no one spotted us leaving."
"Or thought we had to leave on a case."
"Yes," Nick sighed and leaned back in his chair. "What about that FBI bloke? What happened to him? Have they found him yet?"
Hank shrugged.
"I'll see what I can find out," Hank promised. "We did ruin his life."
"He ruined his own life," Nick countered. "We just helped it along."
"Did you want me to get you some food and coffee?" Hank offered and Nick gave him a grin in answer.
xXx
Nick woke slowly to the feeling of someone running their fingers through his hair. He blinked his eyes open to see Sean looking at him and relaxed. Sean had had a bad night which meant that Nick didn't get much sleep either. The Doctors had said something about an internal bleed when he'd arrived at the hospital that morning.
"Hey," Sean greeted him as he fiddled with his hair.
"Hey," Nick said then yawned. "How do you feel?"
"Rough," Sean answered, his voice hoarse. "I think I had some of your nightmares last night."
Nick huffed and pushed himself upright in the chair, wincing slightly from sleeping in a hunch over position. He stood up and stretched out his back before focusing on Sean again. He could tell that he was battling with the drugs in his system as he looked up at him.
"I suppose this makes us even?" Nick asked with a cheeky smile as he retook his seat.
"I doubt that," Sean drawled. "You get into more scapes than I do."
Nick gave him a grin as he tangled their fingers together and they fell into comfortable silence.
"At least it wasn't at the new house," Nick added after a few minutes and Sean chuckled.
"Smart ass," Sean muttered under his breath as Nick gave him a grin.
xXx
Elizabeth looked up when the glass doors of Sean's room opened and Nick stepped through. She placed her book to the side and looked at Sean asleep in the bed beside her.
"Would you like some lunch?" Nick offered and she focused back on him. "My treat."
Elizabeth gave the Grimm a smile and stood up smoothly.
"That would be delightful," Elizabeth replied. "Thank you for the offer."
"Yeah," Nick said with a small smile. "The coffee leaves much to be desired here."
Elizabeth laughed lightly and touched her fingers to Sean's cheek before looking at the Grimm. Nick watched her but wasn't tense and she gave him a smile.
"I know a place that serves good coffee and sandwiches," Nick commented. "If you don't mind being in the same car as a Grimm."
Elizabeth's smile just widened.
"Lead the way," Elizabeth purred.
xXx
Nick looked over at the waitress as her tail swished behind her as she served them their lunch. He gave Alice a smile and she return it.
"Anything else?" She asked.
"No, thanks." Nick replied.
Alice nodded and walked away and Nick's eyes followed after her.
"Something catch your interest?" Elizabeth questioned, mildly.
"Sorry," Nick stated and turned his attention back to her. "She has a tail, it's a little distracting."
"You brought us here," Elizabeth pointed out and Nick gave her a look of amusement.
"You sound like your son," Nick remarked.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Did you wish to speak of anything in particular?"
"No," Nick replied. "Just thought that we could talk of anything you want."
Elizabeth looked him over before giving him one of her smiles. She wasn't what Nick had been expecting.
"I wouldn't mind learning more about my son's partner?" Elizabeth purred.
"Sure," Nick said with a smile. "You wouldn't happen to have any photos of Sean when he was a child? I could use the blackmail material."
Elizabeth gave a light laugh in answer.
