A/N:

So soooo sorry that it took me a little longer to update this time! Real life (what's that?) has been crazy lately, and I couldn't quite get this chapter to flow the way I wanted it to. Hope that it lives up to your expectations after hanging from that cliff! And thank you thank you again for all your reviews! They were definitely the inspiration and the driving force to tweak this chapter and finally post it. Keep 'em coming, they give me brain power!

After much debate, I was also able to squeeze our favorite Sergeant, Drew Wu, into this chapter. I had an awful time figuring out how to put the typical stand-by comic relief into such a serious story, but I think I did him justice (hopefully!).

So glad there's some more of you who love Nick/Juliette or stories written in canon. There just aren't enough canonical stories in this fandom, which is actually one reason why I decided to write this. And in response to Lostinarwop, I hope the finale lives up to our expectations too! I guess we'll see how in-canon (or not) this story is by then.

Also, I'm not pretending to be a medical expert (although I do live with one who was giving me very strange looks when I was asking him about punctured lungs and bullet wounds), so I apologize for any glaring mistakes on that part throughout this story.

Lastly…yesterday's episode=perfection!

~TheFictionalMe

"What the hell?" Hank asked in disbelief as they all stared at the armed pastor. "What's going on?"

"That's a great question, detective," Pastor Johnson replied, as he kept the gun leveled coolly at them. Hank narrowed his eyes, wondering how the pastor even knew he was a cop. "But sometimes when you need to get a job done, it's best to just do it yourself." With that, he turned to aim the gun point blank at Monroe.

Why is everyone trying to kill me today?! Monroe grumbled internally despite the gravity of the situation.

"Don't make this difficult, and I won't have to kill your friends," Pastor Johnson sneered, cocking the hammer of the gun. "Although, this one is already halfway there," he gestured at Nick, and Monroe wanted to kill him for the smug look on his face. "I have to say, my associate shooting the Grimm was just a happy accident. You're the job."

Monroe's eyes flashed red as he turned to regard Johnson. "Well if you're going to shoot me, then I deserve to know why. Why are you doing this? Who wants me dead?"

"Enough questions," the Klaustriech quickly cut him off, waving the gun at him. "Get up and move here," he ordered, gesturing to the middle of the altar steps. "I'll make this quick."

Monroe swallowed, looking sadly back at Rosalee, Juliette, and Hank as they hovered protectively around Nick.

"Monroe, no…" Rosalee reached for his arm, trying to stop him, but he gave the slightest shake of his and pulled away. There was no way out of this.

Juliette moved over to keep pressure on Nick's wound as he slowly stood up, bloodied hands raised up in surrender as he turned to face Pastor Johnson.

"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you want," he attempted to placate him, "just as long as you let the rest of them go. Please."

"Won't be your problem," Johnson said haughtily, aiming the gun at Monroe's chest. "You'll be dead."

"No way," Rosalee suddenly growled from behind Monroe, wogeing into full Fuchsbau form and lunging forwards before Monroe or Johnson could even react.

"Rosalee! Don't!" Monroe cried, unable to move or think as she charged at the so-called pastor.

Johnson was so focused on Monroe that he entirely unprepared for an angry Fuchsbau in a wedding gown to attack. She caught the side of the gun and knocked it out of his hand as they both toppled to the ground at the top of the altar. Monroe felt his body involuntarily shift to full wolf form as he rushed to protect her.

Everything felt like it was in slow motion as Monroe made his way to where Rosalee and the pastor were now sprawled at the top of the steps, the gun lying carelessly in between them. Before Monroe could even hope to reach them, the pastor regained his bearings first and reached for the gun, grabbing Rosalee by the back of her veil and hauling her roughly up to her feet next to him.

"Don't even think about it Blutbad," Johnson snarled, and Monroe paused, growling in fury as the pastor held his gun directly to Rosalee's temple. Rosalee stopped struggling, shifting slowly back to human form. Her eyes were filled with both anger and fear as she looked back at Monroe.

Monroe growled, his inner wolf fighting to take over completely. He had had doubts before when the church had insisted that they use Pastor Johnson, especially since he had a long history of mistrusting Klaustriechs (or any cats for that matter), and now he realized he had been fooled into believing that this one was any different, even if he was a pastor.

"Don't you dare hurt her," he growled around the enlarged canines now crowding his mouth, poking the insides of his cheeks painfully. His whole body vibrated with anger, every instinct raging murderously against the threat on Rosalee. The woman he loved was in danger and his best friend might die because of whatever sick scheme this pastor had pulled them in to.

"That was a nice try sweetheart," Johnson chuckled evilly, pressing the barrel of the gun deeper into her temple, "but you can't stop me." With one smooth motion, he swung the gun to aim directly at Monroe's head. Monroe froze, shifting back to human form again, and closed his eyes to wait for the impact of the bullet.

"No!" Rosalee screamed, struggling uselessly against the Klaustriech's strong hold on her. "Monroe!"

Just then, the sound of sirens could be heard approaching rapidly in the distance. Pastor Johnson frowned, his aim wavering slightly.

"You hear that, tough guy," Hank said from where he was now standing at Monroe's shoulder, offering whatever support he could. "You're about to be surrounded."

Hank reached automatically for the gun that he normally wore, cursing softly when he realized he was still unarmed. However, he paused to reach into his pants pocket and pull out a set of car keys on a large gold key ring. "I already dropped your partner, and let me guess," Hank motioned to the keys, "that wasn't a part of your get-a-way plan? No way out, man. If you kill anyone, you won't make it more than five feet out of this place. So just put down the gun and give it up."

Pastor Johnson snarled, still holding the gun unsteadily at Monroe, his eyes darting about nervously as he realized that his master plan was quickly crumbling around him. He hadn't been expecting Hank to stop his partner.

"You had better keep them outside," he nodded impatiently towards the front door where the paramedics and Portland PD were rapidly approaching, "or everyone here dies."

Monroe tensed at the cat-like whine to his voice. A deep roar rumbled from his chest before he could contain it, his eyes flashing red again. The only thing stopping him from ripping Johnson limb from limb was the fact that he still had Rosalee in his grasp.

"At least let us get him out of here," Hank gestured at Nick's utterly still form, as Juliette pressed down desperately on his chest. "He's not going to last much longer like this."

"As if I care if the Grimm dies," Johnson scoffed. "Getting rid of both him and the Blutbad would just be a bonus."

"He will die if he doesn't get help," Monroe protested, staring steadfastly at the barrel of the gun currently aimed at him. "And if I'm the job, then there's no reason for anyone else to get hurt," he looked meaningfully at Rosalee. "Please, just let them go, and I won't try anything funny. Promise."

"Just shut-up already!" Johnson snapped, his cool façade quickly fading as he realized he was running out of time, sounding more and more like a cornered alley-cat. He shook his head, tightening his grip on Rosalee. "No one in or out. I need leverage."

"Then take me," Rosalee's quiet voice suddenly broke the building tension, causing both Johnson and Monroe to pause and look at her.

"Rosalee," Monroe interjected quickly, his heart pounding in panic as he realized what she was trying to do.

"No, you need a way out," Rosalee turned bravely to face Johnson directly in the eyes, and he aimed the gun back at her. She stared at him unwaveringly, a mixture of fear and acceptance on her face. "Take me as a hostage. Otherwise you'll never get out of here. Especially if you shoot someone else."

"Rosalee!" Monroe cried out in protest, moving to take a step forwards, but was stopped simultaneously by Johnson moving the barrel of the gun closer to Rosalee and Hank laying a firm hand on his shoulder to stop his ascent up the stairs. "You don't have to do this," he pleaded with her frantically. "Please don't do this."

Rosalee looked at him regretfully, her eyes full of love and remorse. "Yes I do. I can't let him hurt you," she glanced meaningfully at him before looking back at the group, "and Nick can't wait for help." She turned back to Johnson. "I won't fight if you don't hurt them."

She was doing this for him, to save his life. Monroe was tired of the people he loved sacrificing themselves for him for one day.

The sirens were louder, directly outside the front of the church now. Pastor Johnson tensed, tightening his grip on Rosalee's arm.

"Come on," he ordered her, pressing the gun into her back. He turned to look back at Monroe and Hank. "Don't even think of trying to stop me, or this one gets it. And if I see any cops following me…" he motioned threateningly at the gun pressed deeply into Rosalee's back.

"I'm the one you came here for!" Monroe demanded, desperate to keep Johnson from taking Rosalee. "Just let her go, and finish what you came here to do!"

"As much as I'd love to do that, Blutbad," Johnson sneered, "she's my ticket out of here. Besides, I might as well see you suffer before I finally end you."

With that, he started walking backwards towards the door at the back of the altar that led to the offices of the church and the back exit, his gun trained closely on Rosalee. Monroe couldn't do anything but watch in horror as he dragged her away at gunpoint. He moved to go after them but Hank was there, stopping him once again.

"One wrong move and you'll get either you or her killed," Hank told him gently when he saw the look of protest on Monroe's face.

"I can't just let him take her!" Monroe cried out, running his hands haphazardly through his hair, unmindful that he streaked Nick's blood across his face. "Who knows what that animal will do to her!"

"We will find her," Hank reassured him. "I promise." With that, he moved to head towards the front doors where the rest of the Portland PD was approaching. "I'll get all units on the lookout for them. They won't get far."

"You really think that will help?" Monroe protested. "He's Wesen!"

Hank paused, before a dark look crossed his face as he regarded Monroe. "The Captain can help."

Monroe raised his eyebrows skeptically at this. "You really think Renard can help with this?"

"I think he has connections that can," Hank shrugged. "And whatever his agenda is, Nick is important to him, and you and Rosalee are important to Nick, so…"

"Nick."

Monroe turned back suddenly to check on his friend, hoping that he had managed to stay alive during the altercation with Pastor Johnson. He rushed back down the steps to kneel down by Nick and Juliette. "How is he?"

"He's barely breathing," Juliette said quickly, her voice full of panic. "And his pulse is getting weaker. We have to do something!"

Hank hurriedly knelt down next to Monroe, looking down at Nick before regarding Juliette grimly. "We need to start CPR."

Juliette nodded shakily in agreement. "Yea. O-ok. I'll breathe for him…"

"…And I'll start compressions," Hank added hastily, turning to Monroe. "Can you keep pressure on the wound?"

"Yea," Monroe replied incredulously. "Yea, of course." He grappled to push past the mounting panic that Rosalee had just been taken away at gunpoint and that Nick wasn't breathing on his own.

Is this really happening?

"Damn it Nick," Hank muttered as he put his hands into position to start compressions. He looked solemnly up at Juliette and Monroe, and let out a deep breath. "Ok, let's do this. One, two…"

Before they could even complete a round of compressions, the paramedics finally burst through the church doors. They quickly surrounded them, kneeling down next to Nick and assessing his rapidly deteriorating conditon. Hank hurriedly informed them of Nick's injuries as he and Monroe stepped back to let them work. Juliette initially refused to leave Nick's side, but Hank gently guided her away so that the paramedics had more room. One young paramedic fitted a mask over his face and began pushing air manually into his lungs, as his partner examined his wound and checked his vitals.

"Victim has a gunshot wound left upper chest, no apparent exit wound, currently unresponsive, BP 70/50, significant hemorrhaging…"

Monroe tuned the paramedics out, turning away and closing his eyes. It was all too much. Nick was bleeding to death and now Rosalee had been kidnapped. He let out a shaky breath, fighting against every primal instinct raging through his body to not go after Rosalee and kill the man that had taken her. It would only get one or both of them killed.

He was startled by a gentle hand on his arm, and opened his eyes to see Juliette staring up at him, looking completely broken. "Monroe…"

The look on her face and the tone of her voice struck something deep inside him. He instinctively pulled her into a tight hug, her face buried against his chest.

"It's ok," he whispered quietly, wishing he sounded more certain than he felt. "He'll be ok."

Juliette nodded slowly, pulling back to look up at him and putting on her bravest face. "And we'll get Rosalee back."

"I don't know." Monroe hung his head, unable to hold her gaze. "He just needed a way out. Who knows what he'll do to her now."

"I'm so sorry…" Juliette said as she glanced back to where the paramedics were loading Nick on to a stretcher, wringing her blood-stained hands together nervously. She turned back to Monroe, and he nodded at her.

"Go."

Juliette pulled him into another crushing hug before looking back at him. "Call me as soon as you know anything on Rosalee."

"And you call me as soon as there's word on Nick," Monroe responded firmly. "I'll be there as soon as I can." Monroe felt torn, but Rosalee was in danger and all he could do for Nick right now was wait.

"I know," Juliette smiled sadly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. He squeezed it back firmly, grateful for her calming presence.

"You tell Nick to keep fighting," Hank added as he stepped forwards to envelop Juliette into a tight embrace before she could move away.

"I'll make sure that he does," she said resolutely, looking back at them both. "You two just find Rosalee, and get back to us."

They nodded at her in unison, before she rushed back to Nick's side as the paramedics wheeled him out towards the ambulance. Monroe tried to ignore how completely lifeless and broken he looked as they took him away.

Hank stood stiffly at Monroe's side as they watched them take Nick out. Monroe could sense his hesitation, and knew he was feeling torn as well between worry for Nick and wanting to search for Rosalee. "Hank, if you want to go…"

"No," Hank sighed, shaking his head firmly. "There's nothing more I can do for Nick right now, and I won't let Rosalee end up the same way." He paused, then turned back to Monroe with a regretful look. "Monroe, look, I'm sorry. I didn't realize taking out the first gunman would escalate into Rosalee being taken as a hostage. I didn't think the pastor of all people would be in on this…"

Monroe's eyes flashed red as he regarded Hank. "DON'T be sorry. You took out the guy who shot Nick." He paused, struggling against another woge, and he was certain he was only half-human when he continued. "Might have to stop me from killing him though."

"I might not try that hard," Hank shrugged coldly. "As long as we question him first."

"Hank!" Captain Renard's voice rang out throughout the church, as he came striding purposefully down the long aisle towards them, with Sergeant Wu and several police officers in tow to examine the crime scene.

"Captain," Hank said, motioning for Monroe to follow him over. Monroe took a deep breath, willing himself to be calm. He had to keep it together if he wanted to find Rosalee, and Renard might be able to help.

"How's Burkhardt?" Renard asked them, being careful to keep the conversation to strictly human terms as the other officers moved around them, taping off the crime scene and photographing the bloody mess of the altar steps. Monroe shuddered. It was amazing that Nick even had any blood left in his body. "I saw the ambulance pull out."

"Hit to the chest," Hank told him and Wu seriously. They followed his gaze to Monroe's blood soaked jacket laying carelessly on the ground. "I won't lie, Captain, it's bad…but Nick's tough. He'll make it."

"We better hope that he does," Renard tipped his head in acknowledgement, his eyes flashing dangerously for a brief moment.

"Wow," Wu's eyes widened in horror as he looked at the amount of blood at the bottom of the stairs. "Is that all from Nick?"

Hank sighed, shaking his head. "Yea. But you know Nick…he doesn't give up without a fight."

Wu scoffed, none of the usual snark present in his tone. "True. He had better pull through this."

"He will," Hank agreed firmly. "He has to."

Wu shook his head, looking ruefully back up at them. "Damn. Nick can't do anything half way can he?" He paused for a moment, hands on his hips.

"I swear, Burkhardt holds the department record for visits to medical. But this," he gestured at the stairs, "really takes the cake." He turned to look seriously at Monroe. "This really isn't how I wanted an invite to your wedding."

Monroe just raised his eyebrows at him in silent agreement. Having his best man get shot and his bride be kidnapped at gunpoint really wasn't how he envisioned his wedding going, either.

"Well, don't worry," Wu continued, as he moved slowly backwards towards the crime scene, "you don't take down one of us and get away with it. Whoever did this..." He tilted his head with a knowing look at them before joining the rest of the officers currently swarming around the church.

"You've got that right," Hank grunted, before motioning for Renard and Monroe to move a few feet away, out of earshot of the other officers.

"Captain, we've got another problem," he said urgently, "There was a second gunman, and he took Rosalee as leverage." He paused, shaking his head in disbelief. "It was the pastor."

Renard stiffened at his words, narrowing his eyes at Monroe and Hank. He stepped closer to them, lowering the volume of his voice. "Wesen?"

Monroe nodded, clenching his fists so tightly that he was drawing blood from his palms. "Dirty freakin' Klaustriech. Pastor Johnson."

"Well, he hasn't been pastor here very long," Renard frowned, putting a hand to his chin. "I haven't heard of him."

"No, he hasn't," Monroe growled, whole body radiating with tension. "But when we reserved this place, they made sure that we had to use him."

"Hm," Renard paused, "sounds like an inside job to me." He turned to look at Monroe. "You were set up."

Monroe could feel his canines elongating again, and didn't trust himself to speak, knowing he would sound more wolf than man. He simply nodded, staring at the ground and desperately trying to control his emotions.

"I took out the first gunman, the one who shot Nick," Hank informed Renard. "We think he was aiming for Monroe. He took the shot from the balcony."

"Where is he now?" Renard asked, glancing around to make sure the other officers were out of earshot.

"Unconscious in the stairwell," Hank shrugged. "But I bet you that he could be persuaded into telling us where his buddy took Rosalee."

Renard leaned backwards, crossing his arms across his broad chest. "Then why don't you two get started, and I'll take care of this," he motioned slightly to the other officers milling about. He paused, reaching into his pocket and slowly withdrawing his keys. He handed them to Hank. "Move my SUV around to the back door."

"Off the books, huh?" Hank replied quietly, looking unimpressed. That was a common occurrence anymore where Nick and his world were involved.

Renard raised a single eyebrow at him in confirmation, before moving away to talk with one of the nearby officers examining the scene.

Hank put his hands on his hips, looking over at Monroe. "Shall we?"

Monroe nodded, baring his not-so-human teeth. "Let's find out where that bastard took my wife."

TBC...