A/N: Huge special thanks again to Merlyn Pyndragon for her awesome work as beta!
Again they had met at the Spice Shop. All of them excluding Hank.
Wu was sitting on the divan, sipping a cup of coffee as he observed the others. Renard, leaning on the door frame to the back room, deeply lost in his own mind. Juliette, standing at the table, studied one of the books she brought with her. They looked a bit like the ones from Nick's trailer but with different sketches. The handwriting and style were unlike anything she had ever seen at Nick's trailer.
Monroe came up to Rosalee, holding another cup in his hands. She smiled at him. She felt warm, loved and secure with the not-so-big and not-so-bad Blutbad around her. Monroe was someone she could trust completely. And it was impossible for her only to even think about losing him.
"You sure you want to be part of this?" he asked, looking worried.
Rosalee nodded, still smiling. "We started this together, we will work this out together."
The reason why he asked was something personal between the two of them. Monroe was ready to do anything to help Nick. She wasn't so sure about herself. True, she wanted to help, no mistake. She missed Nick. But she also never was as close to the Grimm as Monroe was. And she had other experiences during her life. She knew what they would have to deal with if they were to really try to get Nick back into the US.
"Why this meeting?" Wu finally asked.
Rosalee looked around, realizing that they were on their own. Hank was still in custudy, and even if not, he wouldn't come. She went to see him yesterday and he disagreed to leave his cell at all.
Nick was still missing, Rosalee thought. He and Hank, those two she was missing.
"Well, you are right, we should start, I think," Renard said, looking around, awaiting whatever would happen next.
Rosalee exchanged a look with Monroe.
She didn't feel like she should start. She didn't had any news.
Wu looked to Juliette, who still was reading in the new books. "What are you reading?"
Juliette looked up. "These are books from my uncle," she answered with a smile. "I took them with me yesterday. My mother had them stored in the attic."
"So, you have now your own inheritance?" Renard asked.
Juliette and Monroe exchanged a look.
"Uncle Norman is alive," she said.
Renard stared at her. "Alive? Is he a Grimm?"
"He is," Monroe answered. "And, if you ask me, he has a little problem with his odor. I mean Nick's nasty, Juliette doesn't smell like a bunch of flowers anymore. But that guy? My God" The Blutbad rolled his eyes.
"We took the books and weapons with us because they are part of my uncle's heritage, but they're also part of mine. But I have a trailer full of all those nice things, he only stored his in one trunk."
Rosalee sighed.
It had taken Monroe and Juliette until midnight before they finally got back to Portland. And then Juliette was too excited about what she found out, and too angry at her mother, to wind down enough to sleep.
"Hank's still in custody," Renard told them all. "I can't get anywhere near him to talk to him about what happened."
"You still have issues with your memories?" Rosalee asked.
That was a problem she was likely able to fix. She had to look through her books, though.
Renard nodded. "According to the doctor I had a very mild concussion, and it is possible that I will never recall what happened at all."
"Lucky hit," Monroe muttered.
"I didn't expect it. Nothing more than lucky, that's our guy." Renard nodded.
"But we need Hank to exclude him from the murder!" Wu said.
"I know that. Unfortunately the one now in charge of the second precinct disagrees with me. By the way, he's one of my cousins. And he's a very dangerous man. Better you all keep that in mind." Renard sighed. "I might need a little help from the second precinct, Unfortunately this is a precinct I never got too close to."
"Oh, I already told you about Rico," Wu said.
Renard nodded. "You did. But I fear Sergeant Gonzales and I don't speak the same language."
Rosalee smirked a little. It felt weird to have Renard here, at her Spice Shop. Not bad but weird. Renard didn't belong here, as he was part Royal. But the part with the humour she would love to call a friend.
Wu shrugged. "Well, maybe I should try my luck. Rico already knows me and that I don't come easily with personal demands."
"Fine. But be careful!" Renard warned.
Juliette closed the book she was reading in and looked up. "I am going to leave Portland," she said.
For a split second the room was in complete silence.
"You are doing what?" Renard asked, looking in the same derection.
Juliette nodded. "I'm going to search for my uncle. I think he has a few answers we don't," she answered. "I have no idea how Norman handled the situation. From what I remember I think it's best I go alone."
"No," Rosalee said. "Remember that Eric had sent someone to get you, in best case ..."
"Someone really should go with you." Renard nodded. "Eric is a dangerous man. And if my dear cousin was only as intelligent as Eric's finger, that man could become dangerous too."
"I cannot stay! I need some more answers!" Juliette insisted. "I've already tested my DNA, and I tested Nick's genes. There are differences between us and a normal human being. But I need more information about what it really means to be a Grimm! I doubt it's only about killing Wesen. That's simply not enough!"
Rosalee smiled a little sad. She didn't want to lose another friend, especially not Juliette, right now. Juliette was looking lost, she'd noticed over the past week. The new ability, the Grimm inside her, was driring her crazy.
"I'm not letting you go away on your own," Renard said.
"Me neither!" Wu said. "Juliette, think about it for a second. You're pregnant you need to take care of both of you. And we already saw what can happen a week ago."
Juliette looked down at the book.
"And if one of us is going with her?" Monroe asked. "I'm on your side, Juliette, I think you need those answers."
"Who should go with her?" Renard asked. "We need to stay together as long as this situation lasts."
"You are talking about your cousin, right?" Rosalee asked. She looked thoughtfully at the half-Royal and nodded. "I've heard the name Viktor Renard before. It's been a while and he's surely not a primary threat, but he's dangerous. I'm with you."
"He knows how to make others work for him," Renard agreed. "And the moment he finds out that there's another Grimm in Portland ..."
Juliette looked up again, nostrils flared. "What then?" she asked. "Are Grimm supposed to be the property of the Royals? If so I've found nothing about it in Nick's trailer. Someone should teach the Royals a lesson in history!"
"I'm going with you," Rosalee said.
Once more there was nothing but silence.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Rosi," Monroe said.
"Why not? If this Norman is as spooked at us as you think, I'm a way better example to calm him down. And I know how to fight."
Renard's cellphone started to ring. "Excuse me for a second," he said after he checked the number and vanished into the shop area.
"Do you really want to come with me?" Juliette asked.
Rosalee thought about this for a moment.
She had reacted spontaneously when she said she wanted to join Juliette. And now, after she thought about it ... Juliette was a friend, a closer friend than Nick. She liked her and wanted to help her get through this and the pregnancy, and hopefully also the reunite her with Nick one day. She knew Juliette needed nothing more than company right now. She was still new to all the Wesen stuff, no matter how many books she had read at Nick's trailer over the past few months. Seeing drawings and seeing the real thing was a huge difference.
Renard returned to the back room. "I have a surprise for you all," he said with a relieved smile. He held another cellphone in his hand now and touched the screen. "Give it to him," he said. And a moment later the dearly missed, dark voice said: "Hello?"
Nick!
For another second silence set in, in the next moment they all started to speak at once.
"Oh my God! It's you!"
"Nick, we miss you!"
"How are you?"
"Hey, I need the money for coffee from the past two months, young man."
"Nick, it's so good to hear your voice."
"Stop!" Renard ordered. "We don't have much time for this. Nick, are you still there?"
"Yes, sir. Did I just hear Wu?" Nick's voice answered.
"Yeah, I'm fine again. Thanks for asking. You owe me money for the coffee," the sergeant answered.
A mixture between a giggle and a sob came through the line. "It could take a while before I can pay you."
"Oh, that's fine with me. Just taking your paycheck over at one point. Thought I should warn you," Wu said.
This time it was really a laughter that came through the line.
"Hey man, how are you doing?" Monroe asked.
"Better now. Thanks. How are you?"
Rosalee felt Monroe's arm around her shoulders. "We are going to get married, Monroe and I!" she exclaimed.
"Really? That's ... wow!"
"Yeah, but we can't. I need my best man, man," Monroe said.
Silence, only broken by an exhaling.
"But I think the most important news is awaiting you now," Renard said, handling the cellphone over to Juliette. "If you want to talk to him in private ..."
She nodded and turned around. Ending the speaker line she pressed the phone to her ear.
Rosalee watched her with a worried smile.
She couldn't even imagine the emotions both of them were going through right now. It must be hell for them, especially if Nick knew about Juliette being pregnant.
"Yes. Yes, that is true," Juliette said now. So, it was still the news of the day.
"How did you ... ?" Wu asked.
Renard, arms folded before his chest and looking at Juliette's back, shrugged. "I wish it was my idea but fact is, it was the one working for me at my brother's castle. He thinks this is helpful to Nick, and I agree with him."
Rosalee nodded and leaned close to Monroe. "It is," she whispered. "Now the wound can start to heal ..."
"This is for you. But ... hurry." Christian gave him a cellphone through the little opening.
Nick stared at it for a second, trying to prepare himself before he finally held it to his ear and said, "Hello?"
The next moment hell seemed to break loose when five or six different voices started talking at the same time.
Nick, after he jumped a little in surprise, held the phone hard to his ear. He started shaking from the inside out after he recognized the voices.
The captain, Wu, Monroe, Rosalee and ... Juliette!
Tears were burning in his eyes and his fingers clamped to the cellphone.
All his friends, they were all together. Juliette wasn't alone with the child. She wasn't!
"Stop!" He heard Renard barking this order, and silence set in.
It felt so good to hear their voices! He could close his eyes and imagine he was there. Probably at Juliette's house, or at Monroe's or in the Spice Shop. Maybe Renard invited them into his apartment?
"Nick, are you still there?" Renard's voice sounded unusually warm and friendly, but also felt right in this moment.
"Yes, sir," Nick answered, trying to keep the power over his voice. "Did I just hear Wu?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking," the snarky officer said.
Why was Wu with the others but he couldn't hear Hank? Where was Hank?
Nick recalled what he was able to remember from the night at the container yard, just to make sure he hadn't missed something. But Hank hadn't been there. He had told him before that he had an appointment at the hospital taking off the cast. So, why wasn't his partner with the others now?
"You owe me money for the coffee," Wu explained.
And Nick was so relieved and happy at the same time, a noise, half whimper half laughter, left his throat.
"It could take a while before I can pay you," Nick returned the joke while tears ran down his cheeks.
So much had happened. He was tortured, poisoned, probably close to death during the past few weeks, he had never felt so lonely since the first time after he regained conscious as a prisoner. To hear them now, the oh-so-familiar voices of his friends and coworkers, healed a tiny little bit of the wound in his soul, but his heart was still bleeding.
"Oh, that's fine with me. Just taking your paycheck over at one point. Thought I should warn you," Wu said.
Nick laughed a little, eyes still closed.
It felt so normal, so right, to talk to them, no matter how much time and space was between them.
"Hey, man, how are you doing?" Monroe's voice asked.
"Better now. Thanks. How are you?" Nick answered.
Monroe, this great guy he stumbled into back when his Grimm awoke. The best friend he ever had all his life. It had taken him a while to realize this.
"We are going to get married, Monroe and I!" Rosalee's voice screamed in his ear.
Nick's heart ran over with love and friendship.
Monroe, this weird loner and clock worker, and Rosalee, the clever Fuchsbau. He knew it from the moment they met after Rosalee's brother was killed! He knew they were made for each other.
"Really? That's ... wow!" Nick stuttered a little.
Somehow he still had hoped he would marry Juliette first, or, maybe, they would plan their weddings together. But he was really happy for Monroe and Rosalee. He really was!
"Yeah, but we can't. I need my best man, man," Monroe told him.
And that was something Nick never had expected! Something that made him freeze for a moment, trying to regain the control over his body and mind.
He whispered a soundless, "Thank you" but he was sure no one had hear him, as his whispering mixed with Renard's voice, telling him, "But I think the most important news is awaiting you now."
Nick started to shiver again.
Juliette? He thought he would have heard her along with the others but suddenly he wasn't sure. All the sorrows during the last week came back to him, trying to hold him down.
"Nick?" The voice of an angel. His angel.
He had to lean against the wall, otherwise his legs wouldn't be able anymore to do their job.
"Juliette," he whispered. "Oh my God, Juliette! Is it really you? Are you free? Did the Cracher-Mortal hurt you?" He hesitated before he asked the last question. "Is it true? Are you carrying our child?"
"Yes. Yes, it is true," Juliette answered. "And, Nick, this is wonderful! I never thought I could but ... it's wonderful! Don't you think?"
He would be a father. He was a father.
He felt the tears running from his eyes. But it was okay. These tears were tears of joy now. Worried but also happy.
"It's a miracle," he whispered.
"And, Nick, there's more," Juliette said. "Something happened to me."
Alarmed, he lifted his head. "Did the Cracher-Mortal do something? Did he spit at you? Juliette, if you're hurt ..."
"I am a Grimm too now," she interrupted him. "Nick, the child, our child, will be a full-blood."
A Grimm? Juliette a Grimm?
Her shooting skills, the way she was able to analyze others, how good she was when he taughed her a little hand-to-hand combat. All this and much more sprang suddenly to his mind.
He knew it! Somewhere deep inside himself he knew it since his own Grimm awoke, maybe before. He knew they were more than only kindred spirits.
"Nick? Are you still there?" she asked.
"I am," Nick answered. "But ... since when did you know this?"
"Since last week," came the answer. "Nick, Monroe and I were at my mother's and we found out that my uncle Norman is most likely is a Grimm. He stored stuff in the attic of my parents' house. And in one of the old journals there was something about Grimm and how they could lock their powers."
Nick frowned. "Juliette, don't do anything stupid, do you hear me? You have to stick to the others. Go nowhere alone. This is dangerous! If Eric doesn't know about you being a Grimm, he will find out soon, believe me. And you don't want to have to deal with him!"
"Rosalee will help me find my uncle. Maybe he knows more," Juliette explained. "Nick, please trust me in this. I know what I'm capable of."
He knew, she didn't have to mention that. The only other person in his life he would have the same respect for was Monroe.
"Always stick to Rosalee then," he said. "And be careful, very careful."
"I will. And we will bring you home, Nick. Every child needs its father."
He laughed again. "And, please, can you explain to me why Wu is with you?"
"Because he knows now," Juliette answered.
"It's time," Christian's voice said.
Nick's heart was about to break but he knew he had already used too much time.
"We have to stop now," he said to Juliette. "I love you, Juliette. I love you so much!"
"And I love you. Be careful yourself, Nick. I want you back in one piece."
He ended the call, feeling both sadness and lightness at the same time when he handed the cellphone back.
Chrisitan smiled at him. "Now you know," he said.
And Nick nodded. "Now I know ..."
Four Days later:
After Wu entered the coffee shop he had to look around to find the person he was after.
Damn, this place was full of people! It was nearly impossible to pick one out of the crowd. It didn't really help to know the one he wanted to meet wore a uniform as he did. There were several cops all around, at the counter, here and there in the room ...
Wu looked more carefully. and eventually he got lucky and found his target. Pushing himself through the crowd was the next challenge, and it wasn't as easy to reach the person as it was finding him.
"Morning," he greeted and leaned next to the other man.
Rico Gonzales turned his head and looked at him. "What a surprise! Wu, what are you doing here?"
"Maybe I want to try the coffee here," Wu said coolly.
Gonzales looked at him closely and shook his head. "Na, you don't. There's something else you are up to. Don't forget, I know you from the inside out!"
Too true.
Gonzales put the newspaper he was reading on the counter. "What do you want?" he asked.
"To talk to Hank Griffin," Wu answered openly.
"Not possible. You should stay out of that case, Wu," Gonzales turned around again, looking at the newspaper.
"Because your new boss doesn't want to?" Wu pressed.
Gonzales gave him a stare. "As if I would give a damn about what that guy wants!"
This was enlightening news for Wu. "Is that so?"
Gonzales shrugged and put the newspaper aside. A man next to him took it and flipped to the sports section.
"Hank's a good guy," Wu said. "He's only ... he thinks he's responsible for the disappearance of his partner, you know? He can't handle it."
Gonzales frowned. "That's the reason why Burkhardt hasn't been found yet?"
Wu shook his head. "He's been sort of taken hostage. Still alive, but ... ya know how that goes for detectives. They are pretty close to their partners."
This obviously worked on Gonzales, who stared first into thin air and started to nod thoughtfully. "Was Griffin responsible?"
"Nope, he was at the hospital when Burkhardt went missing. You remember that mess at the container yard two months ago?" He shrugged. "Now you know."
"Heck, I remember! Was grateful that we only had to deal with a little aftermath. You guys got the brunt of it, right? Was wondering why the feds didn't take over. Heard some of the perps weren't citizens?"
"That was our captain. We had to deal with the FBI last year, didn't go too well. This time he managed to keep them out," Wu explained. "But, look, that's why I need to talk to Hank. He'd listened to the wrong people but he's a damn good cop. I don't want to see him leave the force or go to jail for something he didn't commited."
Gonzales blinked. "Good luck with that. The gun we found in Griffin's hand is the murder weapon. And that was the only gun in the bathroom, no chance to hide, no chance of making it disappear. Not in the time we responded to the call."
"The vic is the brother of Hank's girlfriend," Wu told his friend. "Do you really want to kill the soon-to-be in-laws instead of first trying of make friends?"
Gonzales frowned again. "The vic's sister is Griffin's girlfriend?" he repeated.
Wu nodded. "And I need to talk to both. There's something going on you don't understand. But if we don't find out what really happened in that motel room, an innocent man will be charged, and probably more things will happen we don't want in Portland."
Gonzales thinned his lips. "I don't know ..." he mumbled.
"I'm not coming to you easily, Rico, you know that. And I don't want to pull out the photo ..."
Gonzales stared at him. "You still have it?" he asked.
Wu grinned. "Best evidence ever. Why I should get rid of it?"
"You promised! I'm screwed if anybody finds out! Wu!" Gonzales gulped. "Don't do that!"
"Don't make me use it. All I want are five minutes with Hank."
Gonzales stared at him, and Wu smiled back.
Sometimes, he thought, he missed his job. Maybe he should have become a criminal mastermind like those super-villains in the comic books. That would have been really cool. But he choose this, the law, and, well, a quiet life in Portland wasn't too bad anyway.
"You're evil!" Gonzales snarled. He sighed, long and deep. "I'll see what I can do." With that he stood up and went to leave.
"Give me a call then. And thanks, Rico. You're the best." Wu smiled.
The stare he got told him the complete opposite but Gonzales nodded. "And we'll have to have some serious words about that photo afterwards." With that, Gonzales left.
Christian came out of the elevator and stopped when he saw the door to Adalind's suite stood open wide.
"Damn it!" he cursed, and ran the ten steps down the floor to stop at the door framce, looking inside.
A housemaid was cleaning the room. A room bare all the personal items Adalind had stored there, which weren't that many at all but enough to show a little presence.
Gone!
Christian cursed himself and stepped into the room, still looking around.
No sign of Adalind. And that was possibly the worst news he could collect!
"Can I help you?" the maid asked after she noticed him.
Christian turned to her and nodded. "Yes. Do you know what happened to Miss Schade? She was staying here."
The woman looked at him, surprised. "She moved out this morning. Her aunt took her with her," she answered. "The aunt was staying with Miss Schade during the last couple of weeks. Not the most pleasant person."
Christian's heart sank.
He lost one of the targets! He hadn't paid much attention ro Adalind after he found the Grimm, because she already knew her role in the plan. Nick not only needed to learn the plan but was also in need of having someone around. So, instead of watching over both, Christian had let Adalind slip through his fingers. And one of the other parties got hold of her.
"Did you know her well?" the maid asked.
Christian blinked and nodded without thinking too much about it. "Yeah, I think I was the closest friend she had here. Unfortunately I couldn't check on her for the past few days ..."
Who was this mysterious aunt? Maybe he could find out which party got Adalind if he would found out who took her.
The maid pulled an envelope out of a pocket of her skirt. "Maybe this is for you then?" she asked. "Are you Christian?"
He startled and nodded again. "Yeah, that's me." Taking the envelope he inhaled deeply.
Hopefully Adlaind was clever enough to tell him who was here with her. Hopefully he had something he could work with.
He left the suite, opening the envelope. The two tickets he brought her were inside, and a short note, saying:
"I'm sorry but I have to go with her. I signed a contract with her first, and this contract is binding. Wish there was another way ... Adalind."
Christian stopped and thought all of the information he had collected before finally going to Adalind. Then he put the envelope with the tickets and the note in a pocket and pulled out his cellphone. Dialing a number he went back to the evelator.
"It's me," he said after he heard a voice. "I'll at your place in ten minutes. Be prepared! We are starting a war."
