Family Ties Chapter Thirteen
-G-
AN – Ok, the thing that I implied would be happening this chapter … isn't happening. Sorry, you'll have to hang on a bit longer for that scene but I hope you enjoy what's in this chapter anyway. It has one of the earliest scenes I wrote for this story so is partly a favourite of mine but I also struggled a bit with this one so any feedback is very warmly welcomed.
I do not own any characters or stories from the tv show Grimm. Some dialogue is lifted from various episodes in Season 3 and Season 4. No infringement or copyright is intended. It's all for fun, no profit being made here.
-G-
"Oh my God," Adalind breathes as she sits down. Kelly joins her at the table and they sit in silence for a few moments.
"What exactly did you say?" A sob breaks out from Adalind's throat and she clutches the sides of her face.
"I said we had to be brave. I told her to be a big girl." Tears leak out of her eyes and she swipes them away. "I did this."
"Hey now, Adalind, you had no way of knowing this could possibly happen," Kelly reaches out and grips her hand. "We've been aware of her sped up aging but nothing we've seen so far suggested this. It's not your fault."
"It's all my fault! If I hadn't done what I did, been in such a rush to get my powers back and not thinking things through then-"
"Then you might not even have a daughter," Kelly interrupts. "It happened and now we just have to concentrate on our next move."
"Next move?"
"We can't stay here any longer. People will definitely notice that we had a baby and now have a toddler, no matter how private we've been. The jump is too big so we pack up and move on. Best time to travel is night so we'll leave at dusk tomorrow. I'll have to leave to get some supplies but otherwise we should be able to leave quickly enough."
"Where will we go?"
"I scouted several locations when I first realised we wouldn't be re-joining the resistance. We have options." She nods and gives the hand holding hers a squeeze before wiping the tears on her cheeks away.
"Ok, tell me what we need to do."
"You pack up, we want to travel light so only bring what is necessary. And anything that will help keep Diana entertained in the car. I'll need to be gone for an hour, two maximum, then we can load the car and leave when the light works for us." Adalind takes a deep breath and goes to stand but Kelly pulls her back.
"This could be a good thing," Kelly murmurs and Adalind shoots her a glare.
"How?!"
"Well, the Royals are looking for a baby. She's not that any more so that's an advantage for us, something we can use to help continue to hide her."
"Oh, I hadn't thought about it like that." She's not sure she entirely agrees but she can see Kelly's point.
"Go get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day and by this time tomorrow night we'll be gone." Adalind nods and then walks slowly upstairs, pausing to look down at her daughter, fast asleep in the crib she just fits into. Takes in her new features, same nose but fuller, chubby cheeks and forehead, and also now with a head full of chin length, wavy blonde hair. Like hers had been when she was young.
"I love you," she whispers and bends down to press a kiss to the top strands before turning in herself. "So much. Please forgive me."
-G-
Closing the bathroom door Nick flexes his fingers, staring down at the digits before looking up into the mirror. That tingle had been … He can't deny these dreams any more. Or how he feels about them.
He's always been comfortable expressing his emotions in a physical way, especially with a romantic partner. Sex is an extension of that and he's always enjoyed making his partner, and himself, feel the heights an emotional and physical connection can take you to.
Maybe these dreams are just part of this dry spell he's currently going through. He and Juliette haven't been intimate in a while and it could be that his frustrations with that are manifesting themselves in these dreams. He's pretty sure he's the only one dreaming them, with Adalind never doing much communicating, unlike in the other dreams they share. It's probably just coincidence that he's having these types of fantasies and, because of his other nighttime experiences of late, he's picturing Adalind instead of his girlfriend. The one he loves and lives with and wants. Or did. He's still confused with where his emotions sit with all that has been happening with Juliette recently.
If he is being really honest with himself, he has to admit that being attracted to Adalind is not a new thing. He's always had an awareness of her and he has definitely taken in her figure and noticed what she was wearing and how it looked on her. He's never had desires like this towards her before, other than the odd charged moment.
He remembers looking at her through prison cell bars and that smirk that drove him crazy. Because, under different circumstances, I think you and I could have really had some fun.
Well, they were having fun now … in his dreams. And God, was it fun. Such hot, so sexy, scorching it felt like, fantastical erotic fun. He really hopes he hasn't started talking in his sleep. Hearing her moan for him and the feel of her under his hands. Just recalling it makes his body start to react and he shakes the thoughts away, turning to put the shower on and setting the temperature to cold.
Making his way downstairs, after his bracing shower, he sees he's the last to make it to breakfast, a variety of options already on the table and Trubel looking like she's on seconds already. He greets her and Josh, happy to see the younger man has joined them again, before turning to get coffee, making no move to stop Juliette as she passes him with barely a hint of greeting to take a seat at the table. Josh clears his throat as Nick turns and draws all attention towards himself.
"So, I have to thank you both for all the help you've given me while I've been here. I just kind of turned up in your lives and you've been so kind, warm and helpful. Truly helpful. And I really can't thank you enough." Josh ducks his head and Nick moves towards the table.
"Josh, we've been happy to help," he says.
"You've done more than that," he replies, looking between Nick and Juliette. "Both of you."
"Like Nick said, we've been happy to help." While her voice isn't quite right her smile towards the younger man is warm.
"Well, I just wanted to say thanks. And to let you know that I'm going to head home soon. I need to settle the rest of my dad's things and I can't do anymore from here." He nods and fiddles with his breakfast plate.
"And I'm going to go with him," Trubel adds and Nick swings round to look at her. "We don't know if the Verrat are still interested and Josh going home alone is not a good idea if that is the case. I can help if they are and still help if there's nothing there."
"And you'll stay there? Together?" He can't read Juliette right now but he thinks she sounds almost hopeful?
"Actually, I think I'm going to sell the house and then maybe, if it's not too much of an imposition, look at getting somewhere closer to Portland." Josh looks so shy and speaks so haltingly that Nick can't help but step towards him and clasp his shoulder.
"Of course it's not an imposition. We'd be happy to have you close by, if that's what you want. You don't have to do that though; we can stay in contact no matter where you choose to be." He smiles and glances over at Juliette but her face is strangely blank.
"Thanks," Josh says. "I think I've made my mind up but going back home might change things. I don't know." He shrugs and Nick nods before turning to Trubel.
"Oh, I'll be back," she says, reading his face. "But I'm going to help him first." He can't help but feel sad at the prospect of not having Trubel around yet he's also proud of her, and that she's going to be helping Josh and the fact that they'd be together makes it a little easier to accept.
"Well, when will you be going? Can we help you with anything for the journey?"
"I guess, in the next day or two? I'd like to say thanks and goodbye to the others and then I need to collect my dad's ashes to take back with me."
"If we can help with anything else, let us know." Juliette says before taking her plate from the table and heading into the kitchen. Nick nods in agreement but follows her with his eyes. She moves somewhat stiffly and as Trubel and Josh chat about driving back to Pennsylvania he collects his own plate and goes to stand next to her.
"Everything ok?"
"Yeah, it'll be nice to have the house just to ourselves again." She smiles but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Just us. No interruptions. When, you know, life let's that happen."
"It does happen," Nick comments, tilting his head to look at her.
"Not how it used to," she replies. "Not how I want it to be. How I want to live in my own home," she pauses before continuing, more hesitantly. "I don't think I can live with all the interruptions anymore. Especially the violent, furniture breaking ones."
"Juliette-" His phone rings and she sighs, shaking her head at him but gesturing for him to answer, and leaves the room.
"Burkhardt," he answers and listens as Hank details a new case they've caught. "Ok, I'll be there in 20." He glances to where Juliette disappeared to but knows now isn't the time and so walks to check that Trubel and Josh aren't leaving just yet before heading out to the land cruiser.
-G-
The knock on the door startles her and she drops the blanket she was folding. Nobody has ever knocked on the door before and she's not sure what to do. Kelly still isn't back and Adalind doesn't want to cause any problems this close to them leaving.
Several more bangs come and Diana copies the movement with a giggle, her little fists tapping at the floor.
"Police, is anybody home?" A loud voice announces and then before she can move a shadow falls across the window. She doesn't think they can see in but knowing her luck they can.
"Ma'am," comes the voice again, confirming her suspicions. "Please open the door, I just have some questions." Picking Diana up she moves slowly to the front door but doesn't open it. Her daughter squirms in her grasp, clearly unhappy at being interrupted in her new game.
"Ma'am, I understand why you might be hesitant, here's my badge which clearly identifies me. I'm investigating a multiple homicide and just need to ask a few questions that could be very helpful to our investigation." Adalind pauses again before opening the door a crack, seeing a uniformed officer standing outside, holding up his badge. From her experiences with law enforcement, it looks real but she still doesn't open the door any further nor offer for him to come inside.
"Good morning, I am investigating a shooting at the residence next door from yesterday at approximately," here he looks down and reads the timing off of the phone in his hand. "If you noticed anything, loud noises, voices, vehicles around that time it would be very useful to us."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I really couldn't say," Adalind replies, voice soft and sweet. Diana wriggles in her arms again, little arms reaching out and she deliberately emphasises the movement of settling her, even as she tries to keep her facing away. "I've got this little one and honestly, a bomb could go off just outside and I wouldn't notice. She's just all that to me, you know?" Diana lets out a babble, sounding almost like the word bang, and Adalind smiles at her before re-focusing on the officer. "I'm sorry I can't be more helpful." She goes to shut the door but it suddenly jumps out of her hand, slamming into the doorframe with a loud bang. It bounces back again and the noise it makes sounds almost like knocking.
The officer Woges in surprise and Diana screeches in reaction, eyes glowing purple as the walls suddenly seem to bend and morph out of shape.
"What the-" Adalind spins round, hand coming up to cover Diana's face and try to hide her eyes.
"Oh, but this all just so dreadful! A multiple homicide!" She comments, moving this way and that so her daughter is no longer in clear sight and acting out being a ditzy, new mom. "What you police officers must have to do! Oh, how wonderful it is to know we have men like you out there to help us!" She makes her eyes wide, tone sweet, even as she dances around, picking things up here and there and dropping them just as quickly.
Keeping his eyes on her and the objects, anything but Diana.
"Well, I'm just doing my job," he replies, Woge fading and she hopes that by not reacting he thinks she's just Kehresite and that that strange glow from a minute ago was a trick of the light.
"Hello, can I help you?" Kelly's voice sends a wave of relief through her and she steps back, trying to give space for the older woman to enter but still block the officer.
"Oh, I was just being told about a horrible incident that happened yesterday! I didn't hear or see anything but this lovely officer is doing his best to solve the crime!" Maybe she's hamming it up too much but, in her experience, compliments often soften people and then they can be distracted and redirected.
"Oh, really? What happened?" The man repeats his official spiel to Kelly and she gives her reply of not being in to be able to confirm anything or not. He nods and thanks them both for their time, holding his phone up as Adalind turns to go back deeper inside the house. There's an unmistakable click.
"Did you just take a picture?" Kelly snaps and the police officer steps back.
"I-"
"I heard that, why did you take a picture?"
"We thank you for your time and assistance. Please let us know if you remember anything else." He drops a card onto the side before making a hasty retreat, Kelly right on his heels. She comes back frowning.
"I don't like that," she comments and Adalind nods in agreement. "We leave now. I'll use this to get Nicky to check if this is on the up but if there's a photo of the two of you out there …" Shaking her head, Kelly holds up the card and then pulls out the phone. Her fingers fly over the keys before she puts it back away again. "Let's get the bags and get gone."
-G-
"Ok, I'll chase the security tapes if you check the financial records," Hank says as they walk back into the precinct. Coming in from a fresh robbery, that at the moment looks like it has no Wesen connection, they fall into the usual routine of an investigation.
Nick nods and slides his jacket onto the back on his chair before sinking down into the seat. Leaning forward he starts to type, looking to search in the database, before a strange feeling comes over him. It's almost like a déjà vu, or getting a sudden chill, this sense that something isn't adding up. He glances around him but can see nothing out of the ordinary in the room or the people around him.
"I'm just taking a quick restroom break," he says to Hank who barely nods a response back before he leaves the room. Once alone he tries to figure out where this feeling is coming from. There's something there, just on the edge of his awareness. A threat of some kind.
With a start he pulls out his other phone, the one that gives him contact with his mother, and powers it up. Within minutes he's got a message and his sense of foreboding is suddenly understandable.
Reading through the message he shoots off a reply, along with a few questions before returning to his desk. Having multiple tabs open on his computer is a normal thing for him so adding in another search doesn't stand out at all. And he feels no guilt at using the resources available to him to help keep those close to him safe.
"Ah, Nick?" Wu interrupts and he looks up. "You've got a visitor, a Bud Wurstner?"
"Bud's here? Bring him over." Wu turns and motions and Bud hurries over, looking even more anxious than usual.
"Oh boy, we've got a problem. A big, big problem!" Bud says and Nick frowns at him.
"Everything ok?"
"No, no, no no, it's not ok. I heard something, well it was really Arnie who heard it first, but he told me and then when I asked, I heard about it and so then I had heard about it and-"
"Bud," Nick interrupts and the older man takes a gasping breath. "Calm down, ok? Maybe we should go somewhere a little more private to talk about this?"
"Yeah, private, that's good. Cause this isn't good news, no, not at all." He gestures for Bud to follow him to one of the interrogation rooms not in use and isn't surprised when Hank and Wu follow behind them.
"Oh, hi Hank and uh, I'm sorry, I don't know who you are. I'm sure you're a lovely guy, I mean you know Nick and he's the best but I don't know you and-"
"This is sergeant Wu," he interrupts again. "He's a friend and we trust him." Bud's eyes go wide and he tilts his head towards Wu.
"Oh, as in … trust trust?"
"He knows about Wesen," Hank states. "He's helped Nick and I, as well as Trubel."
"Oh, great, wonderful to have you on board! Uh, I mean-"
"What did you need to tell us Bud?"
"Well, there's a lot of us around, you know, and we all talk and lately we've all been hearing the same kind of talk. About Wesen purity and keeping the bloodlines clean. I mean, it's not new or anything but it's a lot, right now, you know? And people are talking about something happening, an example being set. And I thought you should hear about it. Because it sounds like something big and when big groups of us get together emotions can get, you know, uh a little high and then bad things tend to happen and that's when, well, sometimes a , you know, a you might be getting involved." He nods along and tries to pick out the message in Bud's words. Two phrases definitely stand out.
"Purity and bloodlines?" Wu repeats and Nick knows they've all understood.
"Wesenrein," he growls and Bud looks startled.
"You've heard of them?"
"We think they're targeting Monroe and Rosalee," he explains and Bud pales.
"Oh no, not them. I mean, yes, they would be exactly who might be targeted, not because they deserve it, no they're both amazing, such kind lovely people and what a couple, am I right? But yeah, if these guys heard about the wedding, oh that's not good, really, really not good. I think it's time to get very worried now."
"Do you know anyone who is part of this group? Can you give us a name?" Bud shakes his head, looking very regretful.
"All I hear is talk, and it's not always directly from the source, you know? I wish I could help; I wish I knew so I could tell you but, I'm so sorry. Nick, I would tell you if I knew." He clasps his shoulder and nods at the Wesen
"I know Bud, and you have helped. You came to us with this so we know, if there's a lot of chatter happening, then we probably don't have a lot of time before they put, whatever the plan is, in motion." Bud nods along as Wu stares on. A thought comes to him and he shifts his eyes between the three men in the room.
"Well, whatever I can do to help, you know me Nick, I will try my best and, you know-"
"Actually, there is one more thing you could do to help us," he says, taking a chance this is the right thing to do.
"Oh, well, sure, anything." Bud agrees quickly and Nick smiles at his friend's enthusiasm.
"Can you show Wu a full Woge?" He asks and gets three very startled looks in return.
"Oh, a uh, you sure? Cause not everybody can handle a full Woge, you know? And-"
"I know about Wesen," Wu interrupts Bud this time. "And I've seen a few. Nick has explained more, he's told me lots and I understand not all Wesen are bad."
"We're right here as well, nothing is going to happen," Hank adds in and Bud looks between them two of them before returning his gaze to Nick.
"Ah, sure, ok. Well, I'll start by telling you the way it happens. It happens in a lot of ways. Uh, not always the same way but usually in the uh, in the usual way." He pauses here and Wu leans forward.
"I'm not seeing anything."
"What? No. no, you wouldn't. I haven't done anything yet." He glances nervously at Nick again and he tries to send reassurance back at the older man.
"I'm juts, just getting ready to. It'd not something you jump into right off the bat. You know? You have to be emotionally ready. That is to say, uh, it uh, doesn't just happen." He laughs nervously, looking between them all again. "This isn't going well. I can feel that I'm not," Bud trails off and starts mumbling self depreciably. His mannerisms become more nervous and just as Nick thinks maybe this was too big of an ask, he sees his friend's face change and Wu step closer in interest. Bud rambles on for another minute before bringing his hands to his face and realising what's happened.
"Oh no, I prematured again."
"Bud is an Eisbiber," Nick explains to Wu, who's still staring curiously at the man.
"An Eisbiber," Wu repeats and Bud retracts as he looks back.
"Ok, everybody alright?"
"Can you do it again?" Wu asks before anybody can answer and he tries to hide his grin at the look on Bud's face.
"Maybe another time, right now we've got to do some digging around this Wesenrein group." Wu nods and steps back from Bud who blows out a breath in relief. "Bud, you said you heard about this, would that have been anywhere in particular?"
"Uh, there's a pub a lot of us hang out at, that's always good for hearing the latest in the community." He names the bar and Wu pulls out a pad to jot it down. "There's also been a lot of chatter about Oxbow Park and we've had a few people asking for how to get there and parking and so on."
"That's really helpful, Bud, thank you." Nick nods and Bud returns the action. They all leave the room and Hank and Wu return to their desks and Nick stays with Bud to walk him out.
"Really, thanks Bud," he says and the Eisbiber nods once more before leaving the precinct. Nick gets a sense of worry, a lingering on his senses and he follows Bud's movements for a moment before being called back to his desk.
-G-
Walking into the house he can hear Juliette and Trubel talking and he takes the extra moment before they realise he's home to check his other phone. There's been no reply to his questions but he doesn't feel panicked, yet. He still has some investigating to do himself so he can take the time to look into this properly. And the thought of the captain lingers in the back of his mind and he knows he needs to keep alert of what happens with that as well.
"Nick? Is that you?" Juliette calls and he walks towards them.
"Yeah, I'm back," he replies and both women look up at him as he reaches them. "What have you two been up to?"
"Juliette's been helping me look at courses I could possibly take, you know, to further my education."
"Really?"
"Yes, I thought I'd just point out options for something a bit more, well, normal." Juliette smiles and Nick realises she has been very focused on normal lately. What does normal even mean? It's not the same for everyone, in fact one person's normal would probably be someone else's hell. And he's really getting the feeling his new normal, his Grimm normal, isn't the same as Juliette's normal, nor the normal she wants.
His phone rings before he can form an answer and he brings it to his ear quickly, not even looking at the caller ID.
"Burkhardt."
"Nick! They took him, Nick, they took Monroe!"
"Rosalee-"
Monroe's gone; he's gone!" Her voice is high and panicked and it sends a chill down his spine. He's never heard her like this.
"Where are you?"
"In the house."
"Listen to me. Stay inside, lock the doors. We're on our way." He shares a look with both woman in the room before they all move. He checks his gun on his hip and nods in approval as Juliette gets her own gun out. Trubel disappears upstairs before re-appearing loaded down with weapons. In under a minute, they're in the car and on their way.
-G-
On the way he calls Hank and Wu and they all agree to meet at Monroe and Rosalee's. Pulling up outside both Trubel and Juliette jump out and by the time he's caught up they both have their arms wrapped around Rosalee. She's sobbing and he feels helpless as well as the burn of anger at the situation she's been put in.
He gives them a moment, pulling out his phone to try to ring Bud to see if the Eisbiber has heard anything else. When it just rings out he gets that feeling of foreboding again and he goes over everything they'd heard earlier, trying to figure out if they've missed anything.
"What are we going to do?" Rosalee sobs and he steps forward.
"We're going to find him," he states with absolute conviction. "We are not giving up and not stopping until Monroe is home with you."
"Where do we start?" Trubel asks.
"We heard from Bud this morning. He said there's been a lot of movement around Oxbow Park. It's out of the way, can have a large gathering without attracting too much attention. If they're doing a trial like in the books, it would be a good place to do it." Hank and Wu arrive as he talks and they quickly agree so head almost immediately out to the cars and drive to the park. It might be a gamble but Nick feels it in his bones, in his blood, that they're going to the right place.
Gathering in the car park, he meets Wu and Hank's gaze before deliberately tossing his badge back into the car. His respect and feelings for his two co-workers, for his friends rises when they copy his movements with barely a moments hesitation. Juliette checks her gun while Wu brings out a shot gun and they assemble in a loose circle.
"How will we know where in the Park? That's a significant area to search in not a lot of time." Wu points out and Nick nods before turning to Rosalee.
"Do you trust me?" He asks and she looks at him, eyes red but gaze strong.
"Of course," she replies and he steps closer.
"Then hold out your hand and think of Monroe," he instructs. She hesitates for a moment before bringing her hand up. Nick thinks back to that evening in the woods by the trailer, that sensation of Monroe and the lock he got in his mind and senses. He takes hold of Rosalee's hand and gets that static shock, as well as a surge to his sense as his promise flares up in his mind.
It's like his instincts kick into high gear. Whereas before he has been able to get a sense of the area around him, now he's focused on his friend and it's like there's a homing beacon, some thing, perhaps the magic inside him, that gives him a sensation of direction, a trail of essence, Monroe's being that he easily recognises, that he can track, and he receives the information he wants.
"He's south east," he says as he drops Rosalee's hand.
"Nick-" she says, voice hoarse and a bit awed, but he shakes his head at her.
"Let's get Monroe back," he states and she nods then they turn to the others, all standing and looking at them.
"We go together then split into pairs," he orders and they arrange themselves. "If we can subdue them and make the arrest, great. If they're stupid and fight …" he trails off and Wu cocks his shotgun. They all share a look before Nick takes the lead and heads in Monroe's direction.
"Stay close to me," he murmurs to Juliette and she nods, gripping her gun tighter as they creep closer. For minutes there's nothing but the quiet sounds of the park around them and their own breathing and movements. Then murmurs become apparent to his higher hearing and he indicates to the others that they are almost there.
They slow down as they move closer, as much as he wants to just charge in, he knows they have to be smart. He wants Monroe to be found and rescued quickly, without anyone getting hurt so that means caution has to reign for just a bit longer.
He can hear Bud, voice high and frantic as well as the murmurs of numerous other voices. That feeling from before makes sense now and he feels like kicking himself, that somehow another friend is in danger and he didn't check on them. He signals to Hank and Wu and they spilt up as they approach the clearing, Rosalee going with Hank and Trubel with Wu as Juliette stays with him. The closer they get the clearer the words become and Nick feels anger bubble under his skin. His friend deserves none of this. And who the hell do these people think they are, to judge this way? This isn't justice, or anything close to it. There's no crime here and using people's honest and true love for each other to continue bigotry and pure blood nonsense just makes him mad.
One voice rises above the rest as they stalk closer, "-taste the fire. The sentence is justified. Blood will remain pure. Put him on the stake!" He knows that voice and he can't believe he's interviewed one of the bastards involved in this.
"Oh my god!" Bud's cry doesn't drown out the crackling of fire for Nick's ears and he knows they're out of time. He makes the signal; they move forward and the sheer number of people present and about to watch Monroe burn is appalling to him.
"Reiken!" He shouts out as guns are raised and they make their appearance. The wesenrein member closest to Monroe backs away and Rosalee runs forward, embracing him even as the fire rages behind them.
"Monroe!"
"Rosalee!" They hug, holding tight onto each other, and Nick watches Reiken's face as his lip's curls back in disgust at their show of affection. He feels his own emotions bubble over. Anger at his friends being treated this way zings under his skin and the injustice of it all burns. He sees Reiken open his mouth and it's like everything around him slows, his heartrate, the sounds in the clearing, all movement. Even the air seems to be listless.
"Purge the impure!" Cold fire erupts and then freezes in his veins. Heart still, logic paused and all there is, is rage.
Bodies move and rush and he meets them head on. Arm out, duck down and snap. First body falls as he turns to meet the next, hands grip, twist and another goes down. Far away are the sounds of gun fire. Another body comes and he turns, hoists and it falls through the air, metres away. Hands grab at him but he grips and bones snap under his fingers. Two more and he hits out, blood spurting and eyes becoming lifeless. Somewhere behind him comes a scream.
More bodies and they all fall under his hands.
Sound and feeling is a distant thing. All that matters is what comes at him and that it doesn't get past him. Nothing moves once he touches it. Stops it.
Red reigns around him as blood is spilt and life forces blink out in every direction.
A murmur reaches his ears, growing in volume and it's familiar. Soothing, if not exactly calm. It builds until he recognises what it means.
"Nick." His name. Someone is saying his name. "Nick." Rosalee is saying his name. "Nick!"
His heart seems to jump, sounds and feeling rushes back at him and Nick gasps as he stumbles with the feeling. Looking up he meets his friends horrified gaze and from his peripheral vision he notices the bodies lying all around him.
"Nick," Rosalee says again and he gasps.
"Rosalee, Monroe, are you ok?" He steps towards them and stops short when they flinch. He looks to see they're all staring at him, Wu with his gun raised, Trubel looking impressed, if also slightly wary, and Juliette looking horrified. Hank stands with his hand on her arm and it appears as though she might have been sick.
"Dude, are you ok?" Monroe asks and Nick can only stare at him. Glancing to his left and right he sees the bodies anew, sees Bud hunkering behind Trubel and that apart from them no one else moves.
"I … I did this?" He asks in a daze even though he knows he did.
"You were something else," Wu mutters and Trubel seems to nod in appreciation.
"Nick," Rosalee says softly and he turns back to her. She gazes at him so compassionately that Nick steps forward. Neither she nor Monroe cringe this time.
"I couldn't let them," he says even as he struggles to put his feelings into words. It may have happened only moments ago but it still seems so far away from himself. "I heard and saw and I couldn't let them hurt you. I don't know what happened." He shrugs but doesn't miss the look they share. Doesn't miss Juliette's hiccupped breath or Hank's soft oath from behind him.
"Nick, you looked like you were a zombie again."
-G-
"You didn't feel anything? Hear anything?" Despite everyone else's grave tones Trubel can't keep the awe out of hers. She wasn't around for what happened with the Baron so is that step removed from the emotions of it all.
"It's hard to explain," Nick replies because it is. Sensation was different then and thinking about it now makes the variance all the more obvious. He thinks he can probably pin-point the moment he changed in his own mind, and all the feelings that went along with it.
"But still, that's a pretty handy party trick when you're in sticky situations,"
"It's not a party trick!" Juliette snaps at Trubel before spinning to Rosalee. "And I thought you said he was cured?"
"We thought he was." His friend sounds distraught and Nick wants to comfort her. Tell her again, that this is not her fault and nothing she could have foreseen, as he did several times in the car on the way back. He really doesn't appreciate Juliette's tone but knows she is just as much shock as everyone else around them.
"So, I'm still catching up here," Wu mutters and Nick tunes them out as Monroe and Hank start explaining his stint under the Cracher-Mortel and all that happened afterwards.
He doesn't know how to feel right now; isn't comfortable in his own skin and really isn't comfortable with all the looks being shot his way. His body is aching now and all he wants to do is sleep.
"I think we all just need an early night," he says quietly and hates how they all quickly agree. The only high point is the hug Rosalee gives him and he knows that while she's worried, his friend is still there for him. The others quickly filter out and Trubel hesitates before heading upstairs. The quiet in the room now is almost unbearable.
"I'll go get ready for bed," Juliette says and he can read he voice, knows how uncomfortable she is right now and with him.
"I'll sleep down here tonight," he offers and isn't surprised when she nods quickly.
"Ok," she tries to smile but it looks wrong and she disappears up the stairs. He paces for a moment before settling down on the sofa, so tired but unsure about sleep. Unsure about so many things.
-G-
The colours swirl around him but Nick doesn't look up. It all just feels too much right now and he can't with the supernatural in his life.
"Nick?" Adalind's voice is soft and cautious and he has to remind himself that this isn't her fault and he really shouldn't take it out on her.
"Yeah," he exhales before looking up to meet her gaze.
"Are you ok?"
"No," he answers, shaking his head and looking away again. There's a pause before a warm hand touches his shoulder and then a soft body presses into his own. Arms wrap around him, sending a pleasant hum through him and he settles into the embrace with a sigh. They stand there, warmth and energy and comfort arching between them and bringing a sense of peace Nick hasn't felt in hours. Maybe longer.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks and haltingly Nick explains what happened. As he does an idea comes to him and he asks her before he can second guess himself.
"What you did for Diana, how you sense power and what's inside, can you do that for me?" She looks startled and he rushes to explain. "I have this … inside me. And I need to know if it's dangerous, if I could be dangerous to those around me."
"I don't know, I could try," she offers. "But Nick, this is, it's very intimate. If I can, we would be connected and see each other, see into the core of who we are."
"Haven't we already experienced a version of that?" He asks back, thinking of all they've experienced through these dreams so far.
"I suppose," she agrees before looking him straight in the eye. "But this would be deeper, would be deliberate."
"I need to know, Adalind, if there's something inside me that could hurt those I care about." He holds her gaze and she nods slowly before stepping back from him. He misses her warmth instantly.
"Ok, I can try. I don't know if this will work. Just, try not to think of anything and … take my hand." She holds her hand out to him and he places his own in hers, twisting until their fingers interlock together. She takes a deep breath and the magic around them, between them, flares up.
Light and heat and magic surge and Nick lets out his own gasp as the point where they touch seems to pulse with energy. Everything around them swirls, faster than ever before and he tightens his grip, not wanting Adalind to fly away from him. She glows from whatever is happening between them and he thinks he feels his own body take on some other hue. Not as bright and sparkling as hers but something steady and true. Colours swirl in and out, all around and in between them until it appears to be a perfect blend of them both. It's unlike anything he's seen before and at the same time it's everything he wants to know and more.
A feeling rises up, in his core, like the trunk of a tree and he feels whispers of Adalind's magic as she lets him feel this inner part of him. Show him the magic pulse in his blood, the vines of connection to those around him, who he loves and cares for. The tie that goes to her. And there, in between the solid stems that hold his abilities, she shows him a creeper that's darker than anything else, intertwined and dangerous but pliable, something he can make his own.
He meets her gaze with a gasp as their hands fall away from each other and the muted colours return to the normal hue for their dreamscape.
"Did you feel that?" She asks quietly.
"Yeah."
"It may be inside you, and be part of you now, but it's not all of you. You can learn from it, use it, control it. It's like any other part of you, a skill learnt or muscle built. You can shape and strengthen it to do what you ask and what you want to do." Her words are soft and he lets them flow over him as he recognises the truth in them.
"Thank you," he breathes and she smiles and Nick can't help but to step forward and hug her close. Her arms wrap around him and he wishes he could stay here, just holding her and nothing else before the feel of her fades and everything turns to darkness.
-G-
AN – Comments and reviews mean everything so please let me know what you think!