APOLOGIES FOR THE WAIT.

A throbbing headache accompanies Monroe's return to consciousness. He can faintly make out the sound of dripping water somewhere in the distance. Realization strikes a moment later. It is not water, but blood dripping from a gush at the top of his head. He tries probing at the bruise but is stopped midway by a voice in the darkness.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' a female voice says. Monroe ignores the voice and does so anyway, audibly wincing in pain.

'Told you,' the voice says causally.

'Yanet?' Monroe asks, trying to get a hold of his bearings. His eyes slowly adjust to the darkness.

'One of a million,' Yanet replies.

Monroe finds himself trapped in a display case. There wasn't much to see in the dark room. The room appears to be the same room he'd found Yanet. Speaking of her, she was trapped in a a similar cell opposite his.

'I wouldn't say that,' Monroe counters. 'I doubt there are a million Musai running around out in the world.'

'What's a Musai?' Yanet asks intrigued. 'They guards keep calling me that.'

'I am not quite sure myself.'

'Come on, man. That's a lie. You know what's happening. Why am I being kept here?' she pleads. 'Is this part of a cult ritual or something?.'

Monroe hears the fear creep into her voice. He'd gotten used to these types of situations ever since he met Nick. And he was older, much older. The novel experience must be a torment for someone so young. Monroe's heart arched for her, but there was very little he could share. He could tell her what she was. He would give her that much.

'You're a very rare and special kind of wessen,' he admits. 'Knowing who we are dealing with, they probably want to sell you off as a trophy.'

Yanet takes a minute to digest the new information before probing further. 'That still doesn't tell me what musai means.'

This is going to be harder than I thought. Monroe thinks to himself. 'You know what, tell me what you know and I'll see what I can add to it. How did you get here?'

Yanet hems, 'I'm not sure I should tell you. I don't really know you.'

'I am stuck here with you, right? I also tried to free you. At least you know I mean you no harm.'

Yanet concedes the point. She reveals how she'd run away from her foster home at 13 when her foster father had inexplicably become obsessed with her. Obsessive and possessive. No matter how far away she moved - crossing whole states in her fight - he always found and professed his love for her. Black Claw's invitation was an opportunity to understand what she was. That hadn't gone to plan.

Monroe felt sick. 'Your foster father. when did you first notice he we was acting strange?'

'I'm not exactly sure but he seemed to get more unhinged after his birthday.'

'Anything special happen that day?' Monroe asks. Hoping against hope his hunch was wrong.

'Not really. Mom and I saved up to buy him tickets to see his favorite soccer player live, for the first time.' Yanet says. 'Well, Mom did most of the saving, but she let me gift it to him. I kissed him on the forehead and he gave him a hug. Tha's it.'

Monroe's shoulders slump in defeat. His fears were realized.

'Hmm, I wonder if he ever went to the game,' Yanet ponders out loud.

The teenager was caught up in a messed up situation. That small gesture of kindness had ruined her life. Her foster dad's as well. Monroe wondered if the man was still alive. It would be a miracle if he still were, considering how badly even Grimms succumbed to the Musai's kiss. How to explain all this to her.

'When was the last time you saw him?'

'About seven months ago. I almost didn't recognize him, to be honest. He didn't look good. He looked like a junkie. The rabid ones. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I've met a few,' Yanet continues. 'Want to know the sad part? I felt really bad for him. Stupid, huh?'

'Not so much,' Monroe answers softly.

'He used to be a kind, gentle man. Now he's just…' Yanet trails off with a sigh.

The large room turns silent, but for the soft sniffles from Yanet. Monroe could see the tears slowly streaming down her dark cheeks. 'I got a question for you,' he ventures.

'Shoot,' she replies.

'Who came up with the name Mama Bear? I feel like there is a story there.'

A small smile sweeps across the teen's face. 'The guards named me that after I went Kyoshi on them for hitting one of the kids.'

'You are a child too.'

'Yeah, that didn't register with them. You should've seen how fast they backed away when I turned blue. I wish I could control the freaky avatar, you know. Make them really piss themselves.'

'Is that the first time you woged?' Monroe asks.

'Huh?'

'Turned freaky avatar.'

'Yeah,' Yanet confirms. 'Are you a freak too? You know, a musai like me?'

Hearing the hope in her voice, Monroe woges in answer.

'Whoa! That's so cool.' Yanet says, leaning forward in her box. 'You're like the big bad wolf.'

'Yep, I'm a Bludbot.'

'So, are you going to bust us out of here?'

Monroe tries the speaking hole at the top corner of his case. It was too small to get a good grip. The case was also too confined to generate any power for a kick or to throw his body against the glass. 'We're stuck here, unfortunately.'

'That sucks.'

'Don't worry, my friends should be here soon.

'Are they freaks too?' Yanet enquires.

'You can say that,' Monroe replies with a half smile. 'Our captors will not be happy to see them. Trust me on that.'

On the other side of town, Day steadily breaks into Nick's loft. Adalind Schade's eyes flutter open to drink in the sight before her. Diana was curled in the fetal position on Nick's torso. Adalind did not envy the cricks he would suffer later in the day. She unintentionally rouses him in her attempt to pry Diana off of him for her own bed.

'Morning.' Nick says, stretching himself with a content smile on his lips.

'Don't look at me!' Adalind says, attempting to block Nick's view with her palms.

'I haven't had my morning routine.' Nick reaches out for her hands and drags her into him. He blows loud kisses on the giggling Adalind's cheeks. 'Ewww, you stink.'

'Hop in the shower together?' Nick asks mischievously. 'It could be fun.' Adalind eyes Kelly and Diana to make sure they're still asleep before dragging Nick behind her into the bathroom.

The couple are rinsing the soap off, when they are interrupted by someone banging on their front door. Nick and Adalind share a resigned look. Day just broke and already things seem to be at DEFCON 2. The banging continues as Nick and Adalind briskly towel themselves. The children are well and truly awake now. Nick is the first to the door. Shirtless, with a towel draped around his neck.

Rosalee budges in as soon as the hatch is unlocked. 'I have been calling for over an hour,' she says, taking a moment to glance through the apartment.

'Calm down, Rosalee. What's wrong?'

'Its Monroe. I was hoping he was here.'

'I haven't seen him since the Church yesterday.' Nick replies.

Adalind joins them, now semi-dressed with a towel to her wet hair. Adalind guides Rosalee to a nearby chair where Kelly is now awake and screaming. 'Tell us everything.'

Rosalee relays how she has been unable to reach Monroe since they spoke the previous morning. She'd been out of town visiting a specialist. The plan was to catch the bus later this morning but she missed home and decided to take the overnight bus. She'd assumed Monroe had gone to bed early when she called last night and did not get a hold of him. Only for her to arrive this morning and find their home empty. Attempts at reaching him by his cell proved futile.

'I tried calling you two but it went straight to voicemail,' Rosalee says, concluding her story. A fully dressed Nick shares a look with a Kelly-feeding Adalind. The latter opts to deliver the news as Nick goes searching for their phones.

'Last night was movie night,' she informs Rosalee. 'No phones allowed, unfortunately.'

Rosalee takes the information in stride. She can't really blame her friends for wanting to spend time away from the mayhem that continually plagues their lives. Nick comes back with his phone and Adalind's. His is already at his ear. He hands over Adalind's.

'There are several missed calls and texts from Bud and Hank,' Nick informs the duo. Bud answers on the third ring.

'Nick, thank God I finally got a hold of you. The errand you set me, yeah, I found where Black Claw were operating out of. I couldn't reach you so I told Monroe - now don't get angry with me Nick, old buddy. He insisted. I didn't want to - anyway, he went by himself and I haven't heard from him since. Do you think anything happened to him? God I hope not. What would poor Rosalee…'

'Bud,' Nick interjects, almost breathless from listening to the spiel. 'Rosalee is here. Worried but okay. Meet us at the Precinct as soon as you can.'

Nick promptly hangs up when Bud gives his assent. Without a sitter, Diana and Kelly would have to tag along. Guilt and fear were the primary emotions Nick was struggling with as he straps on his gun and badge. Guilt because he had been so engrossed in his own familial pleasure, Monroe had had to go off on a rescue mission by himself. Fear because he anticipates the worst. Black Claw was not known to be merciful. Especially to Wessen they considered traitors. The worst could have happened. He hopes to the heavens they aren't too late.

Hank, for his part was dealing with similar emotions as Nick's. It tends to rain the day you don't pack an umbrella. When Nick and his entourage arrive at the precinct, Bud is already present and engaged in animated conversation with Sergeant Wu about wrestling.

'Bud clued you in?' Nick asks.

'Yeah, Wu and I,' Hank replies. 'How are you holding up, Rosalee. We're going to find him.'

'I know, but I am starting to fear the worst,' she says. 'What if we are too late?'

Hank opens his mouth to speak but the abrupt swing of the Captain's door grabs everyone's attention. 'Dad!' Diana squeals. Renard smiles, picking her up in his arms. He offers Adalind a small nod before fixing his gaze on Nick.

'Any update on Monroe's situation?' he asks. Nick gives him a suspicious look to which he adds, 'Bud told me.'

'You've been a busy Eisbiber, Bud,' Sergeant Wu interjects.

'No, there is no update,' Nick confirms to the man supposed to be his superior. 'We were just about to go looking for him when you showed up. Why? Do you have any insights to offer?'

'I don't know what you are insinuating,' Renard says, 'But no, I had nothing to do with this. My affiliation with Black Claw is not that extensive.'

'Then of what use are you to us?' An annoyed Rosalee pointedly exclaims.

'Come with me,' the Captain beckons for them to follow him to his office. They comply. They find Father Hadrian and the trio of Catholic Sisters seated in quiet exchange in Renard's office. The Father has his peculiar walking cane on his lap. Peculiar because he never seems to need it. His posture and gait were excellent. Father Hadrian rises to greet the new arrivals.

'This is my daughter Diana,' Renard says to Father Hadrian with a proud expression. The smiling Priest offers his hand to Diana for a shake. 'Pleased to finally meet you, Diana. Your father and I are old friends.'

'You already know Detectives Burkhadt and Griffin,' Captain Renard continues. 'This is Rosalee. And Diana's mother, Adalind Schade.'

'Hello there,' Father Hadrian says before stooping to look at the sleeping Kelly in her carry basket. 'You didn't tell me you had another child, Sean.'

'He's not mine,' the Captain replies, swiftly.

Adalind shuffles closer to Nick in a subtle cue. The Father takes the hint. 'Forgive me, I thought…My apologies.'

'No worries, How do you know the Captain?' Nick says. 'Never mind. Monroe is missing and we were just about to go find him when the Captain decided to call us in. Time is of the essence. Is there a reason you brought us here? Sir.'

Renard takes his seat with Diana on his lap. 'For your first question, Detective, Like Hadrian said, we grew up together. My family rescued him from the fate of his family. For the second question, you and the sisters have a common enemy, Black Claw. Hadrian, the Sisters and I were speaking of the still missing girl when we got word Monroe was missing too. I'd like to help you both but I can't. My affiliations with Black Claw and all. I can neither in good conscience send the S.W.A.T team with you to their certain deaths. No, you will go together and serve as each other's backup.'

No one said anything 'I will take your silence as agreement,' Renard says to the assembled group. 'You may leave now. Time is of the essence, as the Detective forcefully put it.'

Everyone but the Catholic contingent and Diana, troop out of the Captain's office. Bud and Sergeant Wu join them at the detectives' desk. The plan of action is explained. Bud is a little relieved to learn he is excused from going with them. As much as he'd like to help, he is not much of a fighter. Nick raises his brow in silent question to Adalind. She nods her head in answer.

'Bud, would you mind watching the kids for a few hours? Till we get back?' She questions.

'Oh sure, anything for you Miss Schade,' Bud answers.

'There is bottle in the carrier if Kelly gets hungry,' Adalind instructs.

'You might want to seat this one out, Rosalee,' Hank says. 'We'll find Monroe. Trust me on that. But I don't think he will appreciate us putting you in harm's way.'

'I'm coming, Hank. It's not that I don't trust you guys. I just can't sit here twiddling my thumbs while he's out there somewhere. Hurt or worse,' Rosalee replies.

'I understand that but we're not talking about you alone. You'll be putting more than yourself in harm's way,' Hank presses.

'Like I said, I'm coming,' a resolute Rosalee says. Her mind clearly made up. She recognizes she may come off as unreasonable in the matter but it couldn't be helped.

Seeing it a fruitless task to debate the merit of her decision with her, Nick turns to a surprisingly quiet Adalind for support. 'Wanna help us out here?'

Adalind takes a moment to lock eyes with Rosalee. Adalind could tell her friend was terrified. She was just putting on a brave face. Adalind could put her out right now with a spell - thereby keeping her safe till they returned - but that did not sit right with her. If Nick were missing, she wouldn't sit idly by either.

'I'm with Rosalee. It doesn't seem kind to leave her here. Idle and drowning in worry, when she can help,' Nick starts to disagree but Adalind holds up her hand. 'I won't leave her side until she and Monroe are safe. The triplets too.'

Nick and Hank abandon the argument. The ladies' minds were made up. Father Hadrian and Sisters Abigail, Audrey and Joan join them at the desk. Captain Renard and Diana are close behind. Walking hand in hand.

'Can we leave now?' Rosalee asks the assembly. 'We've wasted enough time as it is.'

'I want to go too,' Diana says unexpectedly.

'I know, sweetie but Mommy needs you to stay here with Kelly and Bud. I'll be back soon.'

'But I want to help you and Nick.'

Sensing a tantrum brewing, Renard gets down on his haunches, still holding hands with his daughter. 'I'm sure Mommy would like your help, honey. But someone has to look after Kelly. A very important job for only the brave. Do you think you can do that?'

Diana nods her head eagerly. Captain Renard gives her a little tap on the nose before getting back to full height. Adalind mouths her thanks. Renard responds with a slight nod.

The Captain then turns to the Priest and the three Sisters. 'This faction of Black Claw have strayed. They are beyond redemption. Let there be mercy, but if you can't manage both, let there be fury.'

The sisters nod, solemnly. 'Understood.'

Back on the Black Claw compound, Monroe is serving as lore master to a Yanet whose thirst for answers seemingly knows no bounds. All the time he'd spent perusing the Burkhadt Family Grimm archives came in handy. He was feeling light headed and struggling to stay awake. The wound at the back of his head ached and he was wary of an infection. All that aside, he quite enjoyed reliving some of the events of his recent life with a captive audience. Literally. Monroe is in the midst of telling her the tragic tale of El Cuegle when their cocoon is burst by members of Black Claw. The two of them are alarmed when their respective showcases are hoisted onto large trolleys.

'Monroe!' Yanet yells as they are wheeled apart.

'Hey! Hey!' Monroe cries, banging on his cell. 'Where are you taking her?'

The need for murderous retribution threatens to engulf Monroe. The rage of his former life will be fully unleashed on Black Claw should anything happen to the charming musai. He will make certain of that.

He is wheeled into a large hall where preparations are underway. The hall is being furnished with a stage and sound system, among other things. Monroe is wheeled into a relatively smaller room behind the stage. Some of the items Monroe came across the night before were available here.

There he remained with people coming in and going out of the back room. Someone with some authority finally shows up. Monroe could tell it was an important figure just judging by the lull in activity and chatter that preceded his arrival in the backroom.

The newcomer was a hulking, middle-aged, beast of a man. Maybe the largest Monroe had ever seen. About 7ft, if not more. Broad shoulders and an erect posture. He was pretty sure the guy was Army. Monroe would have considered him handsome, if not for the look of utter contempt he directed at him.

'Where is Yanet?' Monroe asks, nonetheless. 'What have you done to her?'

'The young muse is no concern of yours,' The man says in a clear hard voice. 'Worry about yourself. Your presence here necessitates we move again despite having just moved in. I dislike contaminants to a plan. We'll be moving out in an hour. You'll be prepared accordingly. My apologies in advance. I would rather not treat a fellow Wessen like this, but needs must.'

'What do you intend to do with Yanet? She is just a child! Colour me naive but I never expected even lunatics like you to stoop as low as harming children.'

The man's fury makes him woge into a livid Siegbarste. 'We are going to liberate them. No more hiding in the shadows. Strength is might and yes, we Wessen are mightier than the Kehrseite. They rather should be living in fear of us.

For the Musai, she will be trained to the the world's greatest spy and assassin. With her gifts, no mission would be impossible. No target too high profile. No intelligence she cannot acquire. With her on our side after proper training, our cause will finally be realized.'

An aura of hunger and excitement is positively emanating from the Siegbarste. Yanet as a spy-assassin was a dreadful thought. Not least because the zesty personality of a child would be corrupted, but because the colossus was right. A Musai in such a role and in the thrall of a Siegbarste could really tip the scales of power.

'I'll leave you to ponder over that,' the Siegbarste says to Monroe. 'A new life awaits you. I assure you, you will find imprisonment with Black Claw more merciful than the fate that you are to be sold into. A fitting end for a traitor.'

With that, the dreadful Siegbarste strides out of the room. For the first time since his youth, Monroe offers up a prayer. For Yanet more than for himself. A prayer for her to escape her designed fate. He knew for a certainty Rosalee and the rest of the gang would come to his rescue. He just prayed they wouldn't be too late for Yanet.

Elsewhere, Monroe's wife and friends - accompanied by Father Hadrian and the three Sisters, were surreptitiously advancing on his location. Sisters Abigail, Audrey and Joan were in regular clothes. Opting to discard their habits in the car, all three of them now wore dark blouses and even darker 3/4 only part of them visible to the eye were their hands, neck, head and hair. Their ankles and shins were hidden behind socks. Black, of course.

Apparently, they'd planned ahead and worn their regular clothes underneath to enable free movement during the mission. And also to ensure there was no blowback on the Church. Father Hadrian had by the same logic, left his clerical collar behind. He still maintained his cassock though. It provided a lot of the benefits the Nun's habits did not.

The group plots at a distance from the back entrance. Obscured by pine trees near the building. Black Claw seemed to be packing up for a new location. The two guards stationed at the entrance were warding off potters who mistook the door for the front entrance. They watch as a group clad in all black woge to confirm they are indeed Wessen and are promptly granted entry. The group decides that that will be their way in. Nick would play possum, while the others pretend to be members of Black Claw bringing in a new bounty.

One of the sentries at the door raises a hand in the gesture of halt when the group approach. Adalind leads the ladies from the front. Sashaying with Father Hadrian's bulky cane in hand. The Father and Hank make up the rear. Dragging a seemingly injured Nick along.

'Inventory in the front,' the guard says. The ladies follow Adalind's lead and continue advancing. The two guards woge as a warning, canines barred. They are Anubi. That was a bad sign. Black Claw's ranks must be more extensive than initially believed if they were able to seduce members of the Beati Paoli into working for them. Who knows? They may have the support of the entire organization.

Adalind woges in response to the threat. The Balams and Fuchsbau do likewise. Thankfully, the guards pay the rearguard no heed. Their entire field of vision is coopted by the Hexenbiest in front of them.

'New artifact for the collection,' Adalind informs the sentries.

'We were not informed a life specimen would be coming through today,' the guard replies.

'Of course not. This isn't any old regular specimen,' Adalind responds. With a nonchalant flick of the wrist, she forces Nick's head up - making him groan in the process. Now able to look into the black abyss of Nick's eyes, the guards see him for what he is.

'A Grimm,' the Anubi exclaim.

'Yes,' Adalind confirms. 'Now, I'm sure you can forgive a lack of heads up. Catching a Grimm is not something you do everyday.'

The Anubi grunt their assent. The questioner goes to open the door but his companion stops him with a hand to the shoulder. The relatively silent companion fixes his gaze on Hank, then Hadrian

'What of you two?' He demanded. 'Are you Balam or Fuchsbau?'

'Neither,' Adalind interjects. 'They are just two Kehrseite we hired to haul the Grimm. You don't really expect us to bear his weight ourselves, do you?'

The sentry grunts his answer. 'I'll have to call it in. We've had some recent trouble.'

The statement is met with a brief moment of calm before hell breaks out. Adalind swiftly clobbers the first guard with Hadrian's staff. Rosalee and Sister Abigail descend on him quickly. Hank catches the second with a perfect cross before he has anytime to react. The Anubis is knocked out flat. Nick cuffs the first before he can dislodge Rosalee and Abigail. Sister Joan also stuffs a large handkerchief into his mouth, muffling his cries of warning.

Hank cuffs the unconscious guy just to be safe. Hadrian tries the door and is relived to find no other guard behind it. The door opens into a hallway with no one within eyeshot. He, Hadrian and Nick move the Anubi into a nearby room serving as a makeshift guardroom.

Adalind notices Nick feeling out his throat and offers her apologies, 'Sorry, I had to sell it.'

'Between you and Diana, I'll be slouching for the rest of my life,' he replies.

The Father retakes his cane. The group ventures further into the building. A choice is to be made at the end of the hallway where it diverges.. The conflicting goals of the group comes into stark focus here. The Church squad are after the missing girl, Team Grimm after their friend. They decide to split up but not before exchanging descriptions of the respective targets. Just incase one group finds the the other's.

Nothing had gone haywire yet. As far as Nick and the rest of the gang could tell. Rosalee was getting increasingly more frantic. The further into the building they went, the more desperate she seemed. Humans and Wessen alike were too busy traipsing about to pay them any mind. Nick should have known their good fortune wouldn't last.

They are deep in the building when they run into someone familiar. Sauly, the Mauzhertz is negotiating a sale when he sets eyes on Hank and Nick. As if being a Grimm and a cop was not damning enough, they were precisely the two detectives responsible for blowing up his very lucrative Löwen Games bookie business.

'Cops!' Sauly yells. Pointing a finger in the group's general direction. The four companions with him woge into Apgadniek's and immediately advance on Nick and his entourage. Sauly pulls the fire alarm at the end of the hall They would soon be set upon by their adversaries.

'Go!' Nick says to Adalind and Rosalee after delivering a kick to the ribs of one Apgadniek. He narrowly escapes the clawed paw of another. Rosalee can tell Adalind is reluctant to leave so she grabs her arm. Hank and Nick can fend off the Apgadniek. They must leave now if they are to avoid detection and find Monroe. Together, Adalind and Rosalee run off to continue the search for Monroe.

It hadn't been long since Hadrian and the Sisters split from the Grimm and his troupe when an alarm started blaring. The entire building subsequently descended into mayhem. Before then, they'd been able to move about quite freely. No one had paid them any attention. They were just four more of the many Wessen roaming about the building.

Many a Wessen came running past them towards the back exit. For a moment, Hadrian considers leading his charges outside for fear of a real fire, but he ultimately dismisses the idea. This was as good an opportunity as they would get. They just have to be swift now. Find the girl and get out before the building comes crumbling down.

Sisters Joan, Audrey and Abigail assume an arrowhead formation. Joan and Abigail flank Hadrian, whereas Audrey assumes the position in front. Hadrian is effectively sandwiched between the three. The Sisters provide cover from all directions but the rear.

The squad checks every room they come across. They were met on more than one occasion with people in all forms of debauchery. The Sign of The Cross was performed each time they chanced upon such scenes.

Finally, they find a door directly ahead, at the very end of the hallway. Not on either side as rooms are wont to be. Sister Audrey throws the door open after finding it unlocked. Inside, they find a chamber housing a large glass box the size of a small room. Inside the glass room is a young lady sat cross legged on a bed, picking disinterestedly at a dish. A man and a woman are playing poker at a nearby table.

At the sight of the intruders, the man and woman woge into a Coyotl and Hässlich, respectively. The Sisters woge into Balams in response. A Hässlich would be difficult for a single Balam to handle but the Father was confident the three of them could take her. Coyotls could be dangerous too but they were no match for Balams.

As if hearing a starting pistol, the Sisters charge into the room. The Hässlich runs to meet them. Hadrian watches as Sister Joan claws at the Hässlich's thigh. Off comes flesh and denim. She receives a knee to the jaw for her trouble. Sister Abigail meets a head butt for her attempt at sinking her fangs into the enemy's neck. The fight moves like a Tornado all over the chamber. The Sisters are faring well but the Hässlich is formidable. The alarm continues blaring unnoticed by all.

The Coyotl hasn't moved since the fight broke out. Father Hadrian is sure he is aware he is no match for a lone Balam, let alone three. The Coyotl takes off for the door but once again Hadrian's staff comes in clutch. Swinging it like a baseball bat, the Father knocks the Coyotl out cold. Hadrian prays he avoids brain damage from the blow.

The sound of the alarm ceases as Hadrian races to the glass cell. Yanet has her nose almost pressed to the panel, taking in everything that was happening. Banging on the frame, Father Hadrian asks her: 'Where are the keys?'

'With him,' she replies. Pointing at the unconscious Coyotl on the floor.

'Hold on,' he says to her before racing back to the unconscious guard, patting him down for the keys.

Nearby, the Sisters seem to have gotten the upper hand in the fight but the Hässlich, bruised and bloodied, soldiers on. Sister's Joan, Abigail and Audrey can't get close enough to land the killing blow. Her species' renowned durability was understated.

Hadrian finds the keys and tries avoiding the fight on his return, but that proves futile. Almost to Yanet's cell, he sees Sister Joan get caught by the hair and flung overhead in his direction. He ducks as the Sister comes crushing into the panel behind him. The laminated cell holds firm despite the new sizable dent in it.

Hadrian goes to check on the unmoving Sister. She seems to have passed out. 'Is she okay?' Hadrian hears Yanet say from her cell. Slowly, the Sister's eyes flutter open. Her attempt to reach her waist and back is followed by whimpers from the body wracking pain.

The fighting ceases momentarily when the door to the chamber suddenly swings open. A man enters; 'False alarm. Some idiot must have pulled the…'

He trails off in his attempt to process the scene in front of him. A bloodied Hässlich surrounded by two Balams. A man helping a woman up further in the room. The still imprisoned girl looking on at the chaos. His processing takes a second too long to complete.

The sense of calm devolves when Sister Joan shakes of the cobwebs, sensing an opportunity. Woging as she leaps, she crushes into the back of the unguarded Hässlich and plunges her fangs deep into her exposed neck.

The Hässlich lets out a bloody curling scream and instinctively throws off Joan. Blood comes gushing out of the wound despite the Hässlich's desperate attempts to stem the tide. This rouses the guy at the door. He woges into a Hässlich and runs to aide his fallen comrade but Sisters Audrey and Abigail intercept him before he can. The limping Joan finishes off the wailing Hässlich with a swipe of her claws.

Hadrian turns his attention back to prying the girl out of the cell. It had taken all three Sisters and the element of surprise to take down the first Hässlich. The odds of them winning against a male Hässlich were not that great. The faster they got out the better. He hears a Sister cry out somewhere behind him as he inserts the key and opens the door to the cell.

'Come on,' Hadrian says to the teenager. Reaching for her hand, he is grabbed by the collar from behind and hurled away from Yanet. He hits the floor with a sickening thud. The Sisters are in a similar state all round him. Sister Abigail is curled in the fetal position, clutching her stomach. Joan is slumped with her back to the wall, her shredded blouse serving as minimal cover. Audrey is lying on her side, struggling to get on her feet. A stream of blood running down from her nostrils.

Yanet makes a run for it but the Hässlich catches her by the dress before she can put any great distance between them. Labouring to move, she involuntarily woges. Hadrian and the Sisters are surprised by her breathtaking transformation. But none is more surprised than the Hässlich holding her by the dress. Unable to see her face, the red hair, blue dotted skin and ears register a moment later than it should have.

'No,' he says before hastily letting go. Yanet topple over from the released momentum.

She hurriedly gets to her feet and turns to see the terror on the Hässlich's face. His unbridled fear and longing causing him to woge from his Wessen self to his human form and back to his Wessen self.

'I'm sorry,' he says with his arms up in surrender. 'I didn't know what you were.'

This being only the third time she's woged, Yanet is surprised by the reaction. She raises an arm up towards him, half expecting to have telekinetic powers. The Hässlich cowers away, falling on his rear in the process.

'No,' Hadrian says, trying to get back on his feet. 'Don't touch him.'

For some reason, Yanet obeys. Her hand drops to her side but with her curiosity as at yet unabated, she takes a step towards him. He retreats. Subsequent steps toward him elicit further retreats. His fear of her finally overcoming the force of her enthralling beauty. 'Get her away from me!'

Now trapped between the glass cell and the walls, the Hässlich's first choice is to brush the relatively smaller girl aside and escape. A simple solution under normal circumstances. Yet he was unwilling to risk even the barest form of contact with the Musai. The glass prison was now his only hope of escape. The Hässlich scurries inside, closing the door behind him. He holds onto the handle for dear life in fear she may try to enter. Yanet is left with the simple task of turning the key and locking him in.

Catching a reflection of herself in the glass door, she starts to panic. 'How do I turn back?!' She says to the group. All four are now gingerly on their feet. The Sisters had reverted to their regular selfs.

'Calm down,' Sister Abigail answers. 'Take deep breaths. Slowly will your body into accepting the change.'

It takes a moment but Yanet feels her body revert to her regular form. Raising her arms to her eyes to be certain, she turns back to the cell where the Hässlich is watching, and catches her normal self reflected back at her. 'Cool.'

'Everybody alright?' Hadrian asks the group. The Sisters shrug off his worry.

'Alright then. Let's get out of here before others come looking.'

'Are you friends of Monroe?.' Yanet enquires.

'Yes, we are. Do you know where he is?' Joan asks.

'No, I don't,' she replies.

'He'll have to depend on the Grimm for his rescue.' Hadrian informs her. 'I'm afraid we can't tarry any longer.'

'Come on,' Audrey says, her voice now nasal. She opens the door and checks for trouble. 'The coast is clear. Let's go.'

Adalind and Rosalee stop for a moment to catch their breaths. Rosalee was faring better than Adalind who was taking loud gasps. The responsibilities of motherhood hadn't offered her the opportunity to stay in shape. All around them, alarms blared. People where too busy running from the possible fire to pay them any mind. No one was chasing them down either.

They make their way to a large conference room where most of the people are streaming out of. Rosalee in her haste, sees no signs of her husband and turns to leave but Adalind draws her attention to the backroom. Inspecting the room, they find several antiquities. In the middle of the room, is a large display case containing none other than Monroe. Rosalee's heart skips a beat. He appears to be passed out or worse. He sat slumped in the sardine box.

'Monroe!' They yell. He doesn't seem to hear them. They bang on the case and call out his name. Slowly, as if coming out of a drugged stupor, Monroe opens his eyes. Rosalee sees the glimmer of recognition in his eyes.

'Are you okay?' She asks.

Slothfully, he points up to the roof of the container. Adalind tracks the tube up there to the back of the container. There she finds the tube connected to a small cylinder, pumping an unidentifiable gas into Monroe's box.

Rosalee tries unsuccessfully to break the case with a hard elbow. The act doesn't even dent the glass. There seems no feasible way to get Monroe out without injuring him in the process. 'Any ideas?' She asks he friend in frustration.

'One or two,' Adalind retorts. 'I need your help Monroe. I need you to hold up the roof so that I can get you out.'

Despite the artificial fatigue, Monroe manages to do as requested. The box is barely tall enough to contain his full height. Now standing erect, he places his palms on the roof of the cell. The new position puts him directly in the path of the sleeping gas steadily being pumped into his cell yet he stand firm.

Adalind woges Hexenbiest with her left palm upturned. Slowly, as if with some difficulty, she starts making a closed fist with her hand. The more her fingers cave in, the more cracks appear on the cell. Finally, with the fist complete, the glass case shatters. Adalind lowers her hand in the same slow manner and the suspended shards come vertically tumbling down. Leaving the occupant unharmed. Monroe's hands are the only thing keeping the roof from boinking on his head. He flings it to the side. Rosalee hurries over to offer her support.

With hands on knees, Adalind is once more besieged by a fit of heavy pants. Now semi-recovered, she walks over to Monroe's other side and drapes his arm over her shoulders. He was heavy. The Bludbot was such a gentle giant, it was easy to forget that he was indeed a giant. His hair and neck were a bloody mess. Colouring his nape was dried blood. Tediously, they began the task of getting him out.

'What's that ringing sound in my ears?' Monroe asks.

'The fire alarm,' his wife responds.

'Can you make it stop?' The alarm ceases as if by providence. 'Thank you.'

'I didn't…'

It was slow going getting him to the exit, but they were managing, They are almost out when gunshots ring out above the morning commotion. Nick! Adalind thinks to herself.

'Adalind, go,' Rosalee tells her. 'We're almost there. I'll take it from here.'

'Not yet,' Adalind responds. 'I promised I wouldn't leave until the two of you were safe.'

'I can't leave without Yanet,' Monroe informs his rescuers.

'Who?'

'The missing girl,' Monroe informs them. 'She's a musai.'

'Goodness. That must be why they kept her separate from the others.' Rosalee infers. 'I hope Father Hadrian and the Sisters find her.'

'Hadrian is here?'

'Yeah.'

The Bludbot is starting to feel more like himself. The throbbing migraine, notwithstanding. He's even carrying more of his own weight now. He, Adalind and Rosalee run into a couple of Bauerschwein who try accosting them at the door. Adalind's Hexenbiest woge gets them to backoff instantly. They escape the building.

'Where's Nick?' Monroe asks.

'Back inside with Hank and the others,' Adalind offers in answer.

'That's not good,' he says. 'There is a Siegbarste lurking in there somewhere.'

'God, Nick.'

'We're safe enough now, Adalind,' Rosalee repeats. 'Go. He needs you.'

Adalind surveys the area for any possible threats. Satisfied with her perusal, she displaces Monroe's arm off her shoulders and goes racing back towards the mansion. She runs into the Sisters and Hadrian, along with who she assumes to be the missing girl some paces back.

Adalind points them in Monroe and Rosalee's direction. The couple can still be seen up ahead near the tree line. She tells them about Nick and Hank when they ask why she's going back in. The presence of a Siegbarste is no news to the Father. He instructs the Sisters to get Yanet back to the precinct while he returns with Adalind to help the detectives.

He is scarcely done with the instructions when more shots ring out from inside. Adalind bolts inside with Hadrian at her heel.

With the element of surprise lost, Hank and Nick are openly brandishing their weapons. But all in all, his Grimm eyes served as a far more effective deterrent than the guns. The Apgadnieks had hastened away when they realized he was a Grimm. As had most of the other Wessen they'd run into in their attempt to trace Rosalee and Adalind's steps. A few were still stupid enough to engage though. Two Bludboten had caught a bullet each from Hank's gun. As had a Hundjäger from Nick's.

Their attempt to find either the ladies or Monroe was proving futile. The building was larger inside than it appeared on the outside. The search brings them to what appears to be the building's command center. There, attended by about 7 people, was a behemoth of man barking orders. Everyone of them was dressed in all black (Like the Omen).

'Police!' Hank announces. 'Hands in the air!'

None bat an eye. Half look surprised. The other half, amused. The giant showed no emotion. The subordinates woge into canid Wessen. Their leader into a Siegbarste.

All but the leader is taken aback at the knowledge Nick is a Grimm.

Hank and Nick had twice met Siegbarstes. The first experience had gotten them very close to death. They were the one Wessen, Nick could say he genuinely found intimidating. He didn't relish the chance of squaring up with one again. Especially this one, who was bulkier than the previous two.

'Hmmm' the Siegbarste hums. 'A Grimm for a Musai. An acceptable trade. Get him.'

The other Wessen come charging at the Detectives. They did the only logical thing. They ran. Nick and Hank bust through the door at a sprint. Wessen on their tail. They run down the hallway into a room at the other end. Nick stays on the lookout while Hank clears the room for hostiles. Nick spots their pursuers barreling en route to them. Hank confirms the room is clear. Nick joins him at the farthest spot, directly opposite the door.

They'd found a defensible position with a narrow entry that would funnel in their assailants for the easy pick off. The two detectives train their weapons to the door and wait.

They did not have to wait long. Their perusers come storming into the room and are met with a volley of bullets. The first three to cross the threshold go down, never to arise again. Two make it some way inside before receiving bullets to the thigh and chest, respectively. They fell where they stood, wailing loudly on the floor. The others got the message and scampered back outside the door.

A hush descends at the door. 'You're trapped,' Hank and Nick catch the gravely voice of the Siegbarste say to them over the wailing. 'As you can see, we have men to spare. You'll eventually run out of bullets. A surrender is your only solution.'

Hank and Nick remain silent. The keening of the injured Black Claw members writhing on the floor is the only sound to be heard from the inside. 'You know I'm right,' the Siegbarste continues. 'Your position is untenable. Let's do this the easy way.'

Again, the Detectives say nothing. They just keep their weapons pointed at the door. 'Force it is,' they hear him say. 'You three. Stay behind me until we're close enough. I want the Grimm alive. The spare, you can kill.'

The lead Siegbarste immediately comes into view at the door with his hands up and elbows locked to protect his face. He marches into the room with a Löwen and the two Anubi guards they'd met before, falling in line behind him.

Nick and Hank open fire even though they suspect it is in vain. Bullets from a hand gun will do little damage to a fully grown Siegbarste. It would only annoy him. A bullet in the arm and shoulder, with three more in the stomach elicits only a few bad-tempered growls from the living tank.

The Löwen tries breaking formation too early and gets a bullet in the belly for the trouble. The Anubi step over him and keep the march. Slowly but surely, they were getting close enough to do some real damage.

Hank is contemplating making a run for it when he hears an uproar back at the doorway. The Wessen back there flee in terror. The source of their terror proves to be a fully woged Adalind with Hadrian in tow. The Anubi behind the Siegbarste are unprotected from her wrath. Adalind swings her arm one way, then another. Off the Anubi go. Flying hard into the walls on either side.

Hadrian for his part, draws his staff upside down. He then corks it at mid-shaft with both hands. The staff splits in two. Discarding the now upper end, he corks the staff again at the handle and detaches an enormous pistol.

The very pissed of Black Claw captain is now face to face with an equally pissed of Hexenbiest. Nick and Hank emerge from their defensive positions and watch as the giant goes charging at the much smaller Hexenbiest. Adalind simply lifts her arms in front of her. The Siegbarste levitates with the motion. His limbs flailing in midair.

Father Hadrian inserts two obsencnly large bullets into the proportionally massive gun and walks over to stand beside Adalind. He points the now loaded elephant pistol at the suspended Siegbarste, performs the Sign of The Cross with his free right hand, and then pulls the trigger.

The gun goes off with a deafening blast. The Father screams from the searing pain at his wrist and drops the gun. Adalind loses her concentration and crumbles to the floor on her palms and knees from the exertion. The once indomitable Siegbarste drops to the floor, sprawled on his back, motionless. The bullet hit him square in the chest. A second shot will not be necessary. He was dead.

Hank, Adalind, Nick and Father Hadrian's departure from Black Claw was without incident. The members had simply parted for them like the Red Sea. They'd found their supposedly invincible leader dead at Hadrian and Adalind's feet. Taking on a Grimm and a Hexenbiest seemed like suicide then.

They emerge to find the rest of their company waiting. Father Hadrian was in disbelief. He'd explicitly told them to leave. Adalind was near collapse and was walking upright mainly by Nick's support. Rosalee jogs over when she sees them.

'Thank God you're okay,' she says, pulling all four of them in for an awkward hug.

'What happened? We had several gunshots.'

'Adalind and the Father came to the rescue,' Hank supplies. 'How did you know he was an ogre? '

'Sean came to visit last night and hinted at the possibility the…the fellow parishioner was a Siegbarste,' Father Hadrian answers. He was visibly wincing from the pain of his shattered wrist. 'A good thing too. I fear you would not have survived without the forewarning.'

Hadrian performs the sign of the cross once more and says a silent prayer for the dead Wessen. The Sisters smile when the Priest shows up with Hank at the car. Their habits were on, once more. For modesty's sake, in Sister Joan's case. She'd lost most of her blouse in the battle. Hadrian perceives she wants to give him a hug but is unsure of the ethics. He settles her incision by wrapping his good arm around her shoulder. She returns the chaste hug with a relieved smile.

Nick sees Monroe seated reclined in his front seat. 'How's he doing?' He asks, turning to Rosalee.

He turns just in time to see her pass out mid-stride. It is only by his exceptional Grimm reflexes that he catches her before she face plants into the Earth.

'Rosalee!'

NEXT : SONGS OF SCHADE

I fear the action scenes turned out terrible. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, nonetheless.