Chapter 70

"Pulse is coming back up." An unfamiliar voice called out as I opened my eyes. I was looking into the blue eyes of a woman in a paramedic uniform, who smiled at me as she gave me a shot of something in the arm. I briefly thought of my mom the Grimm. Was I in a hospital? My eyes darted around, searching my surroundings. No, too small to be a hospital. I caught sight of blue and red flashing lights from the wide opening in front of me. The lights were coming from a patrol car and I could make out my porch and my car. I was in an ambulance.

"You're going to be okay," the paramedic assured me.

"Monroe… Is he…?" My throat was dry, and I coughed out the words.

"Your boyfriend and friend are fine," she replied.

I tried to sit up, but my head was spinning. Jack. Where was Jack?

"Don't try to move yet," the paramedic cautioned. "You passed out from all the stress. Give yourself a moment before you try to get up."

"Renée!" Chloe said while rushing over to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm kinda woozy, but other than that I'm fine. Where is Monroe? Is he okay? Did they take him to the hospital?"

"I'm fine," Monroe's voice said behind me and I turned my head to his beautiful, brown eyes looking down at me. His blood stained clothes were replaced with a gray t-shirt that he'd accidentally left at my place weeks ago. Another plaid shirt lost to blood. Maybe we could salvage it? I tossed the idea. I sat up slowly and reached for him. The hug almost crushed me, but I didn't want to let go.

"Monroe, I thought I'd lost you!" I cried as the tears began.

"You can't lose me that easily. But we need to have a talk, you know, alone," he said as his eyes widened toward the paramedic.

Chloe reached for my hand. "Renée, we were so worried."

"Is she safe to go now?" Monroe asked.

"Yeah, if she can sit up okay, her vitals seem fine."

Monroe helped me up and we slowly walked to the house. As we stepped through the front door, the flashback of what had happened hit me full force. My living room was a total disaster. Jack had managed to rummage through everything in my home, most likely looking for something that would make him understand what he saw at the bar that night. I didn't even want to see the other rooms. I hovered in the doorway. Jack. What happened to him?

"Where's Jack?" I asked hesitantly. Maybe the police had him outside. I looked at Monroe. Did he 'take care' of him like he'd done with the Reapers? Oh, God…

"Well, that's kinda the thing," Monroe said as he turned to look at Chloe, who was right behind me.

"What?" I turned to look at them both.

They uncomfortably looked at one another.

"You tell her. She's your friend," Monroe told Chloe.

"Maybe you oughta say it. You're her boyfriend."

"Would one of you please tell me?" I asked them both.

"Jack's out cold… in your bedroom," Monroe finally said. "But don't worry, he's tied up, so…" He made a strained face. "And, well, the police will probably want you to come to the station. They mentioned they'd need statements on what happened tonight."

"What the hell was he even doing here?" I asked.

"I don't know," said Chloe. "He grabbed me when I walked in the house and started demanding answers. When I didn't have the ones he wanted, the asshole dragged me into your kitchen and pulled a knife from your knife block on the counter."

"Those things aren't made of sterling silver," scoffed Monroe. "And I should know since I bought them."

"Monroe, I really don't think that matters," I replied, shaking my head slowly. "I really need to sit down," My head was still spinning and this roller coaster ride of my emotions needed to come to a stop before I threw up.

Chloe and Monroe escorted me to the couch as Chloe hurriedly put the cushions back in place and found a pillow to put behind my head as I sat down.

"Okay, so Jack is knocked out in my bedroom," I began, "And you're okay?" I turned to Monroe.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I feel really good, actually."

I turned my head toward Chloe. "So, what else happened exactly?"

"I called 911 after you passed out and then while I was on the phone, I noticed Monroe was awake, so I told them there was an intruder, we had a struggle, and that you were unconscious. They sent an ambulance and the police. Hell, Renée, I had no clue what happened to you and I was freaked out." She reached for my hand. "Monroe and I put Jack in your room and covered up the blood as best we could before they arrived. We told the police the intruder ran out, and fortunately the cop didn't go into your bedroom." Chloe shook her head, holding her arms around her.

I didn't need a direct link to my friend's brain to tell that all this was too much for my rabbit friend to take. She was a mess and was still pretty freaked out. With everything she'd seen today I wouldn't be surprised if Chloe didn't try to take me back home with her. Granted, Jack wasn't a Portland issue, but Chloe had heard enough things from me to warrant her high tailing me out of this town.

My eyes went toward my closed bedroom door. I didn't want to think about having to go in there. When Jack woke up he was gonna be pissed. Oh, no. The glass vial! I reached in my pocket, pulling it out.

"We didn't have any time to give it to him yet," Monroe said. "He's not in any condition to take it anyways. My guess is he's probably going to be comatose for a while."

"Did you call Nick?" I asked while putting the vial back in my pocket. I really wanted law enforcement here, but the ones outside wouldn't understand. Nick was the only one suitable for this kind of job.

"Nick couldn't leave, but I let him know what happened," Monroe said. "He had to stay with Rosalee and your friend Pete. That sergeant dude is still, umm, marinating at the spice shop."

"So, tell us. What was the glowing thing you did with your hands?" Chloe blurted out as I leaned back into the couch.

"Glowing thing?" I asked. What the hell was she talking about?

"When you saved Monroe. You put your hands on him and a green light came out."

"Chloe I have no clue what I did. I was just trying anything to save him." I directed my attention to Monroe. "My uncle healed my scar with his hands, so I just thought I'd…"

My head was spinning again. I held my forehead, closing my eyes. What was that balance thing Pete had mentioned? Maybe I'd killed a Wesen somewhere else by helping Monroe. I didn't want to think about the ramifications of my actions right now, and I pushed the negative thoughts aside.

"Well, whatever it was, there's not even a scratch on me," Monroe said, and I opened my eyes back up to turn in his direction.

"Nothing?" I asked. How could that be?

He lifted his gray t-shirt to show me. There was dried blood crusted on his skin, but the side of his chest where Jack had entered the knife was just fine. I touched his skin just to make sure I wasn't imagining all this.

"I don't know what you did, Renée, but you saved my life, dude." Monroe gave me a look of pure admiration. He pulled me toward him, and I held him tightly.

"What time is it anyway?" I asked.

Why the hell was Jack already here when we got back? I was excellent at planning, and all this had thrown everything I calculated out the window.

Monroe glanced down at his watch. "It's almost five."

"That late? I've really got to stop passing out." I forced a chuckle while holding my head once more.

An officer walked in and looked at us on the couch.

"We need you three to come to the station, if you please. We'll need to get your statements about what happened." Oh, Hell. More fucking statements. His eyes scanned my mess of a house. A pit formed in my stomach at the wreckage. Part of me wanted to shoo everyone out so I could clean up.

"Would it be too much to ask if we do this in the morning?" I pleaded to the officer with my eyes.

"Yes, of course." The officer nodded. "But please come by in the morning," he stressed. I assured him I would and leaned back into the couch, clutching my hand to my head as he closed my door behind him. I was going to get my own parking spot at the precinct if I kept this up. It was quiet in my house. Too quiet. I glared at the bare spot on my wall above an empty shelf. An empty shelf instead of my cuckoo. Monroe noticed where my eyes were.

"Okay, Renée, now don't worry. I can fix it." Monroe said before I even had a chance to say anything. I shot up out of my seat.

"That fucking, son of a bitch!" I yelled. I was already headed toward my bedroom before Chloe or Monroe had a chance to stop me. I flung open the door as hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me back. Gasping, I put a hand to my mouth. It was like a tornado had passed through my bedroom. The contents of my shelves and dressers had exploded onto the floor. In the center of it all was my ex, who was sprawled out on my bed. On my bed! Tied up with… my panty hose? He wasn't stirring. I was close to hyperventilating as the reckless surge burned through me.

"Now just take it easy," Monroe said while keeping me reigned in. "We don't wanna do anything rash."

"We aren't going to do anything. I'm gonna kill him," I said adamantly. I tried to move forward, but Monroe's strong hands kept me held back.

"Just, umm… Let's just sit down, okay?"

I turned as Monroe reached for the bedroom door, pulling it shut. I was ushered back to the living room as Chloe and Monroe motioned me forward.

"Why must he destroy everything?" The tears came again, and I collapsed back on the couch.

"I'll take care of the cuckoo," Monroe repeated as he reached for my back, rubbing soothingly.

"It's not just the damn cuckoo," I wiped at my eyes. "He fucking… fucking…" I fumed until I was coughing and crying. The words wouldn't even come out. Closing my eyes, I evened out my breaths. In and out. In and out. Breathe in calm, breathe out tension. Finally, the reckless rage subsided.

When I opened my eyes, Monroe was giving me an odd look. He'd never seen me this angry, I'm sure it was beautiful sight.

"I'm so sorry," I said. "This never should've happened to you."

Chloe pointed a finger at me. "Renée, don't apologize for that ass."

"She's, right. It's not your fault."

I leaned against Monroe as my gaze remained on my bedroom door. Jack had tried to destroy Monroe. More than likely he'd actually accomplished it, but somehow I'd been able to bring Monroe back. I held my hands out, flipping them over slowly. What else was I able to do?

Chloe called her brother to update him on the Jack situation. Pete updated us on Sergeant Boils-a-Lot. He said that the sergeant's face was better, but he still looked like a thirteen year old with a bad case of acne. Pete and Nick had carried the unconscious sergeant back to his apartment and they were over there now with Rosalee. Unlike his sister, Pete seemed thrilled to be involved with this. Being with the Fuchsbau probably didn't hurt, either.

"Can Nick come by?" I asked Pete through the speaker phone.

"Sorry, Née, but this is gonna take some time."

"Does he realize I've got Jack tied up on my bed?"

"Then he isn't going anywhere," Nick called out. "I'll be there when I can, but I've got my hands full right now."

I scowled into the phone. "Well, call us when you can pencil me into your schedule, Mr. Detective." I pushed the end call button on Chloe's phone. That man rubbed me like sand on a sunburn.

Monroe resumed rubbing my back. "Renée, it'll be okay."

A faint moan came from my bedroom.

My eyes rolled as we all turned our heads toward the bedroom door. "Oh, it's just going to be great."

A/N: Okay... So Renée can do more than just bring leaves back to life. Interesting... Monroe is safe! (everyone cheer)

But the cuckoo! Oh, noooooz!

Now she has a tied up Jack in her bed... And Nick's a bit busy trying to catch two Skalengecks to come to her rescue. (Since Island of Dreams is still going on)

We'll pause here for now...

STAY TUNED! (: