A/N: I'm sorry that this took a little longer. Let us say my muse disappeared completely and with her my original idea for this story. So, sometimes it's better to let it rest for a while. But now, after thinking about the story and what I wanted to tell with it, I'm back in business and I hope this time I can stick to it and hopeful will be faster with the chapters now.
The crowd was yelling in excitement, here and there the Wesen underneath the human skin broke to the surface, letting know everyone who haven't seen it yet, what kind was hidden deep inside the body. Blood was spreading in the air, after the Siegbarste in the ring hit his combatant so hard, the skin crashed open.
Monica LeFleur watched the cage-fight from a window in an office. A smile made her lips curl when she noticed how that combatant broke into his knees.
With a roar a Lowen entered the cage, followed by two Hasslichen to separate the Siegbarste from his victim. From the side of the cage a man looked up to her. Water-blue eyes met Monica's and he nodded, said something to another guy to his right and walked through the crowd.
Monica moved around and went over to the writing desk, looking around.
It was interesting how much this location had changed during the last couple of weeks. The former cold and dark tunnels and rooms were pretty crowded and partly renovated. She wondered by whom? The Eisbiber maybe? Looked like their work but she couldn't see any threat to make them work on one hand without making them tell the local Grimm on the other.
The new door on the other end of the office opened and the man with the water-blue eyes came in. "Good evening, Miss LeFleur", he said with a smile.
Monica nodded, leaning with one hip at the desk she crossed her arms. "You screwed us", she said.
"I'm sorry?" He closed the door and stepped to the other side of the desk. "I didn't. In fact, another week or two and you will have a nice new income. We only have to finish the renovations."
"I told you not to take anyone anyone could be interested in. You took the Godchild of the Mayor!" she said. "I told you before, this will only work when we are both working together. Working together as in I tell you and you have to follow my orders!"
"The Godchild of the Mayor?" He looked surprised. "I didn't know."
"What about the Grimm?" Monica said. "I took you out of prison because you said you had a plan and wanted revenge. I was willing to give you this possibility."
"I'm working on it", he said. "In fact, the plan started today."
"Work faster!" Monica ordered, fixing her eyes on his. "And you will release the Mayor's Godchild, as fast as possible and as healthy as possible. I hope for you, no one touched her so far."
"Who is it?" He asked, opening a laptop on the desk and starting this.
Monica stared at him for a second with her mouth open, then she closed it. "Are you serious? You are doing inventory?" she finally asked.
He shrugged. "This place and the work down here needs control. And don't be afraid, I'm using a code." He grinned. "Besides, what did you think about our new warrior?"
"The Siegbarste? I hope you can control him. I don't want to clean up your mess."
"He's under control, no worries. I thought about a special fight. The Grimm versus the Siegbarste."
"I need the key, whatever you will do with the Grimm after that isn't my business anymore", Monica said. "But as long as I don't have it, your Siegbarste should better stay away from the Grimm."
"He's very handsome, isn't he?" He asked. "You'd fallen for him?"
"The only man I will fall for is my King", Monica answered.
"Really? Many things have changed since I went to jail, huh?"
Monica leaned over the desk, again staring him straight in his eyes. "You'd better don't piss me off, young man! Do your work down here because otherwise you will return to jail!"
"I don't think so." He typed something, looking up again. "What's her name?"
Monica named it, straighting again she watched him typing again.
"If you screw this I swear to you you will regret it", she said finally.
"She is in preparation. So, she's shouldn't be touched right now. I will release her", he explained, then looking up again. "And … I thought this through, it's working. That was Renard's fault with the Lowen. Lowen need control, otherwise they are thinking they are in charge. Here it is working perfectly." He smiled. "Besides … nice detail: the Mayor's Godchild as a Wesen."
"Don't be too self-confidend", Monica said. "You'd better be careful and do what you have to."
"I will."
Monica looked at him for a moment before she moved around and went to the door.
"What about the plan for getting the Grimm?" she asked, her hand already on the doorknob.
He thought about her question for a second, then shrugged. "I will take care of it. Give me two days then his new home will be ready for him."
"I hope so ..." Monica left the room.
He stared at the again closed door for a while, his face hardened. Then he turned around to the closet behind his desk and opened the front-doors to stare at a photo, one of many ...
When Nick came home from the bakery Monroe was in the bathroom showering. The smell of fresh coffee filled the house and seemed to brighten up the cloudy morning. Nick put the bagels and croissants into a nice looking little basket which he put on the dinner-table Monroe already had prepared for their breakfast.
Living with the Blutbad was a little bit … slower than his life with Juliette Nick realized. While Juliette and he only barely had time for a breakfast at home this was tradition since he moved in at Monroe's. Maybe the fact that he was up earlier now, he thought.
"Morning Nick", Monroe said, coming down the stairs. "I thought about pancakes today but you were faster."
"Well, maybe tomorrow", Nick answered. "And Good morning yourself."
Monroe, his hair still wet and a towel around his shoulders walked straight into the kitchen to get the coffee.
Nick's smile faded after it came to his mind again what he wanted to tell Monroe. Last night he didn't had a chance, was it the weekly meeting for Monroe's supporting-group. Nick still had some sleep loss so he didn't notice when the Blutbad was back again. But … maybe it was better to do this conversation in the morning.
Monroe came back and brought the coffeepot with him. "Did you have a good night?" he asked, taking the seat on the opposite to Nick and getting one of the croissants.
"Slept well, thanks. You? What about the meeting?" Nick replied.
"It was a good one." Monroe took a bite and chewed.
Nick put his knife aside and looked up. "I got distract last night", he said. "You know, Juliette?"
Monroe paused, gulped and shrugged then. "What about her?" he asked.
"Did you see her or talked to her since … since I moved out?" Nick asked.
Monroe looked down to the croissant as he could find there the answer to this question.
"Monroe?" Nick lifted his eyebrows.
"I … she called me yesterday", Monroe answered and looked up again.
Nick looked at his friend, waiting.
"She … she told me she wanted to stay with her mother for a while and … well, do you still have some stuff at her house?"
Nick took a sip from his coffee while he thought about it. "Could be", he finally answered. "But not much. Maybe … don't know. Maybe one or two of my old books from the academy. And the big flatscreen in the living-room I've paid for but I wanted to leave it for her and I'm sure she wanted it too."
Monroe nodded, poking his croissant with one finger.
"Why you are asking?" Nick watched his friend.
Monroe sighed. "Well … it's not me nor my fault, dude. I … I didn't want to tell you about that because … man, I didn't want to hurt you more. You're doing good so far and it was the best decision to move out for now! But I'm still thinking you all three need time to come to clear mind again."
"I miss her", Nick told Monroe. And it was what he felt. His heart still was hurting and he wished Juliette back on his side. But he knew it was the best what he'd done.
"She told you, she wanted to stay with her mother", Nick asked finally, after he couldn't stand the silence in the room anymore. "Are you sure?"
"I know what she'd told me. She wanted to go to her mother for a while."
Nick sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"Why?" Monroe asked. "Why you want to know that?"
Nick hesitated for a moment but finally gave in. "Because I got a call yesterday on my way back here", he said.
"From Juliette?" Monroe asked, a smile on his lips. "See? What I've told you?"
Nick shook his head. "From a doctor in Olympia", he answered.
Monroes eyes widened. "What? Why?"
"Juliette was involved into an accident with her car. And … the doctor said to me her mental state isn't the best", Nick explained. "He needed permission to watch her. And her mother isn't in Seattle. Seems like she's on vacation."
Monroe stared at him. "But … why this doctor called you?" he finally asked.
"Because it's still written in Juliette's file, also in my file is her name", Nick answered. "I will change that but …" He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before he asked: "Did she sound sad or melancholy to you?"
"Do you think Juliette tried a suicide?" Monroe asked. "Heck, no! She sounded normal for a person who just broke up with her boyfriend and was lost by the new loveinterest!"
"Are you sure?" Nick asked.
"Sure I'm sure!" Monroe shook his head again. "How you are able to think this way? Juliette is much too smart for this!"
"I know. But I also know she isn't herself right now. And when you are not yourself everything is possible!"
Monroe still shook his head. "This is … unbelievable", he said.
Nick's cell started to ring.
"We really should talk about that, Nick", Monroe insisted.
"I know." Nick looked at the screen to find Sergeant Wu's name there. "It's the precinct. I have to take this", he said.
Monroe lifted his hands in an open gesture showing his helpness.
"Burkhardt", Nick said into his cell after he accepted the call.
"You're a lucky star, you know?" Wu answered. "Now you can choose. Behind one of the three gates you will find a special prize, the other two will lead to more work. Which one?"
Nick blinkened. "I'm sorry?"
"Geez, why you guys never get my jokes, huh? Anyway. Two new abductions for you. Aaand … the Mayor's Godchild was found sedated but unharmed tonight near Hobo's."
Nick's eyes widened. "What?" he asked.
"As I've said. Mayor's Godchild back on this earth. She was found near Hobo's restaurant on 3rd Avenue. She's in good state besides that someone tranquilezed her. Plus, there were two new abductions, one down at the Waterfront, one in Hoyt Street."
Nick took a deep breath. "You are kidding me!"
Monroe eyed him suspiciously but kept silent.
"Seriously not. Your choice. Where you want to go?" Wu said.
The Godchild back meant probably his carreer wouldn't be any longer on the stake, because probably the Mayer would lost his interest in this case. Would mean he wouldn't have to deal with a crazy Hundjäger. Would mean … he could take a day off to drive to Olympia and watch after Juliette.
"You are still there or on your way?" Wu asked.
Nick nodded. "I'm on my way", he said.
"Which one? Just to make sure I will send the press on the right way?"
Nick smirked. "Godchild … is she at a hospital?"
"Yup. She's at the Woodland Park", Wu answered. "Which crime scenes you would prefer then?"
"Tell the forensics they should try their best on every location!" Nick jumped from his chair, slowed down after he saw Monroe's startled look at him. "They should pull everything there upside down."
"Will tell them. By the way, did you get the report from yesterday's abduction?"
Nick reached for his coffeepot but stopped in the middle of the movement. "No", he said. "Why?"
"Because the blood wasn't blood but rost. Thought that would be for interest for you. See you later."
"See you there."
Rost? Why there was rost on the ground near the crime scene to Langston's abduction.
"Everything's okay?" Monroe asked.
Nick shallowed his coffee before he answered. "The abductions, remember?"
Monroe nodded.
"One of the vics is found, alive but drugged. And two new cases", Nick said.
Monroe's eyes widened. "Are you serious?" he asked.
"I am. And I have to go", Nick decided. Now it came to his mind that he forgot to ask Wu for Bruckner. Damned!
"Wait! Nick, wait!" Monroe said and stood up to follow him. "We should talk about Juliette."
Nick got his jacket from the hook and moved around. "We will. Later", he said.
"What about the rest of your stuff?" Monroe asked.
Nick shrugged. "Dunno. Get it if you have the time. The key to Juliette's is in the bedside-table."
"Will do", Monroe said. "And … Olympia you said?"
"Olympia, yes. Memorial Hospital in Olympia. I talked to a Doctor Morgan. Sorry, have to run now." Nick opened the door and left the house.
Monroe looked thoughtful to the door.
Maybe he should make a call …