Family Ties Chapter Ten
AN – I am so grateful for all your comments and feedback. It's been a while since I've written, especially anything like what I have planned for this, so it really means a lot that others are enjoying what I'm writing. I hope you like this next chapter.
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-
Walking into the restaurant Sean Renard knows instantly who he's meeting with. The men and women of the Verrat have a certain way they hold themselves and he recognises it in the man sitting in the far corner.
"Senor Rispoli," he greets and tries to not show his irritation at the man not rising to greet him.
"Captain Renard," he greets and waves a waiter over to order drinks. They sit in silence; gazes accessing each other and wait as their drinks are prepared and then delivered.
"You have news from the family?" Renard starts, swirling his drink in one hand.
"The family are united in their current actions and will not be dissuaded. However, no one wishes any friction between us. It would be better if we all worked together. As a captain of the local police department, you are uniquely placed to help with the cause."
"That's a pretty speech but doesn't give me a lot of information," Renard says back. Rispoli tilts his head in acknowledgement.
"The family are aware of the child and are not willing to overlook the actions of the mother by taking them away from their rightful place. No one will be exempt from inaction until the child is returned to their family." Renard nods along, taking a slow sip and measuring his words in his head before he says them.
"And if I offer my help?"
"It will not be unappreciated."
"You must understand my position here. I am, as you stated, uniquely placed but that comes from more that my job role here in this city. My history with the family has been educational, shall we say which also means I have more knowledge of this situation than others involved."
"All involved are focused on the homecoming of the child. All other matters are no longer as significant as how they once may have appeared. The princes are working together with the full might of the family behind them. And they will get results."
"Then I guess I should be asking what the family needs of me?" Rispoli smiles before leaning down and producing a folder and sliding it across the table.
"Some confirmation would be nice, to begin with." He doesn't look in the folder but accepts it. "The family thanks you and looks forward to more a healthy relationship going forward." Rispoli rises and makes to walk out before hesitating at Renard's shoulder.
"Oh, I do have one more message from your cousin Kenneth." He nods and Rispoli leans down, closer to his ear. "With the father's identity still unknown it has been agreed that the matter is not to be chased. The child is all that matters. And anything or anyone that obstructs the search and finding of the King's grandchild will be removed. Permanently."
-G-
"Ok, enough of that talk at the dinner table," Juliette interrupts and Trubel shoots Nick a look. "Let's just eat our food with some normal conversation, alright?"
"Such as…?" Trubel asks with just a hint of attitude.
"Like Mr. Hayes, remember him Nick? Well, he's got another dog and this time he is trying to train it properly but it's not going well at all." Juliette is animated as she talks about her day and what the little puppy is getting up to and Nick nods along even as he feels both himself and Trubel disconnect from the conversation. They share looks as she talks and Nick knows they'll continue talking after dinner is done.
Eventually Juliette sighs and glares between them both.
"Fine, I can see you're just humouring me. What more do you want to add to your previous topic?" They share a look but Nick shakes his head.
"We're good," he says even as Trubel opens her mouth. Juliette pulls a face at him.
"Really? It doesn't matter Nick, please say what you want to."
"I'm actually feeling pretty tired so I'm going to head to bed," Trubel excuses herself. "We can talk more about the case, the boy and the Wesen, or whatever, in the morning,"
Nick gathers her plate alongside his own as Juliette exhales noisily.
"Now I feel like the bad guy," she mutters.
"No, I guess Trubel and I didn't realise how you'd find the conversation. I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry, tell me more, please?" He pauses to look at her, really look at her and see if she means it. He haltingly tells her some more details, unsure whether she really wants to hear it or not. It's not something he's come across before, a Wesen having a child with a Kehresite, with the humans unknowing of the nature of the Wesen, but the subsequent domestic abuse is unfortunately all too familiar.
"That's such a young age," Juliette says as they move around the kitchen together. "Imagine seeing all that and not being able to fully understand it."
"Yeah, Trubel was a big help though. She was really good with him."
"Still, what memories will he grow up with? What life will it lead to?"
Juliette bringing up memories make Nick think of the Gedachtnis Esser, or as they'd nick-named it, octopus head and how close he came to losing Trubel but also what her memories did to him. That was one Wesen who definitely bit off more than they could chew. He doesn't want to be dismissive but he knows hers and David's situations are very different, with David having a lot more support and family around him to help him.
"It was a bad experience, yes, but I hope the positive would outweigh the negative. He and his mom are going to be alright; he still has his uncle. Trubel says he wants to use this experience to be stronger."
"Should a child have to be stronger? Should a child go through this at all? Seeing monsters and being afraid? Why would-" She stops abruptly and Nick looks up. "What if we have children? Will it be the same for them?" Her tone is aghast and Nick straightens in worry.
"I don't know," he replies before Juliette gasps.
"Would our children be … Grimms?"
"It's definitely a possibility," he says slowly and she closes her eyes at his words. Taking a deep breath, she opens them again and meets his stare dead on.
"I don't think I want that," she whispers and Nick jerks.
"Want what …?"
"My children to be Grimms." Her words hit him like a punch, no matter how soft she's made her voice. "To go through this craziness and monsters and have to fight for the rest of their lives. I don't think…" she trails off before leaving the room and Nick doesn't follow her.
-G-
"How's Diana?" Nick asks as the colours finish swirling and he can see Adalind clearly. She smiles and it lights up her face, the glow of a new mother and a beautiful woman.
"She's coping so well. We're trying to get her on a schedule and I'm trying to teach her about her power."
"So soon?" Nick thinks she can't be more than a couple of weeks or maybe months old at this point but he's not forgetting the power he felt in her gaze.
"I know and when I say teaching really, I just mean letting her feel power and appropriate levels of it. She is very powerful and is showing some understanding of the world around her so the more we can do to help her, the better chance she has of it not overwhelming her."
"I get that," he nods before shuffling slightly. "Can I ask … about her father?" There's a moment of silence between them before she sighs and meets his eye.
"I suppose you should know; I probably should have told you already." She sighs. "I think you possibly know anyway." He nods but doesn't say anything, wanting to hear her confirm his thoughts.
"I was with … it was Sean, Captain Renard to you." Her words are soft.
"Thank you for telling me," he says. "Did you not think to go to him?"
"I considered it," she replies. "But I didn't trust that he wouldn't use her himself. He was the one who told me to pick a side. Which is ironic as he's made a career out of being able to play all the different sides and work for the outcome he wants himself."
"But you were with him?"
"I was. I thought we had something. And my mother was very encouraging of the relationship. Of course, she was also sleeping with him so." She shrugs as Nick gapes at her. "You have to understand something here, Nick. Many Hexenbiests believe that power is everything, relationships are for gaining and having that. I'm not saying that we can't have loving, monogamous relationships but it's rare, much more likely to find a Hexenbiest in a transactional relationship. That was what Sean and I had, what my mother encouraged, and what I was brought up to believe is what I should want to have." She looks sad and Nick is regretting bringing the subject up, even though he does think he should know.
"I'm sorry?" He offers and she gives a grimace-smile.
"You don't have to be. I learnt from it and I know I won't fall for something like that again. I know I want more." He nods and thinks of his own relationship and what he wants out of it.
"But otherwise, uh, how are you?" He surprises himself with wanting to know.
"I'm doing ok, thank you," she says softly. "And you? How's Portland keeping?"
"Ah, just as weird as always," he replies and she laughs. "I'm actually looking at a case involving a young boy and totems or golems and summoning prayers as well as Jewish folklore not to mention a hell of a lot of clay."
"Clay?"
"Yeah, weird one. We're still trying to figure it out."
"Well, could be an anthropomorphic creature. Depends on the details of your case but I've heard of these types of things before. Summoning one is no easy feat, whoever did it would have to had some serious intent behind their actions." He's impressed with her knowledge and smiles as she talks, hands moving as she explains. "They're pretty powerful creations, be careful." Their eyes meet and lock and he feels the air thrum around them. He gets the feeling she really means her words.
"I will be," he replies.
"Good, because none of us want anything to happen to you." Her smile is soft and focused on him and Nick feels an answering grin stretch his own lips before that feeling of the world spinning around them swirls her away.
-G-
"Look, the Golem, it's a guardian. It's not a mercenary. I didn't pray for it to kill anyone. I-I just prayed for it to protect David. That's it ok?"
"For how long?" Hank asks but Nick's thoughts drift in a different direction. Protect a child. He has a better understanding of that urge and just what loose intentions could lead to when anything magical, mystical or spiritual is involved.
"I wasn't specific. I just prayed, that's all."
"That could lead to consequences," Nick mutters and draws a side look from Hank. "So, this thing is just going to keep killing anyone who threatens David for any reason."
"As long as David feels threatened." Ben confirms and Nick frowns.
"I'd hate to be the one who scares him next. This kid's going to leave a trail of bodies with a guardian angel like that. We better find this thing." Hank shakes his head at the thought.
"Until we do we have to pull the police off Sara's house," Nick adds in and Hank nods as he pulls his phone out.
"They could be in danger if this thing shows up again." Nick turns to Ben as Hank handles the more official side of this case.
"You got a prayer to get rid of it?"
"I need the scroll."
"Ok, we head back to your office and we're going to have to discuss how we draw this Golem out." They walk towards the car where Hank is finishing his call and he looks up as they approach.
"We may have a problem," he says and Nick cocks his head to one side, "Officers have been called off the house but Wu was due a check in. Dispatch is going to try to reach him but he might already be on his way there."
"Ok, we'll deal with Wu if we have to. First let's get back to the house and call Trubel so she knows what to expect."
"Yeah, we don't want to be fighting a Golem and her."
-G-
Waiting for the call to connect, Renard shifts through the information he's been able to pull together so far. It's disappointingly little. If Adalind was in Portland, as the information in the file from his family would suggest, she's not accessed anything from her former life. And from the vague feelers he's put out into the community, she hasn't contacted any of her former associates either. Something is just not adding up.
"I have information," he says as soon as he hears the call picked up.
"As do I," comes the reply and they spend the next few minutes sharing what intel they have.
"I think you need to be here. With my family sending someone here, and with the messages I'm receiving I don't think it will be long before one, or more, of them come in person." He places the folder on one side of his desk, jotting down a note to have Wu look over it again. The sergeant may pick up some details, especially in regard to any technology trails that may have been missed so far.
"I can be there in a few days, I'm following one more lead this side."
"Good." Renard says. "And Mesiner? Make sure no one knows you're here. If we have any hope of turning this situation around, we need as many of the elements in our favour as possible."
"That I can do, I'll contact you when I arrive."
"And I'll pay another visit to our resident Verrat," he replies before ending the call. "They need to be reminded of who I am and who's city this is."
-G-
"Do it now!" Nick orders and watches as Ben steps forward but is then knocked to the ground, the shem prayer falling away.
"Uncle Ben!" Sara and Hank run to join them as Nick tries to attack the Golem. It twists and flows like no other opponent he's fought and the clay messes with his footing. One good hit sends him sprawling on the ground and needing to shake the impact away.
"Nick!" He hears and looks up to see Trubel charging towards him, knocking into David as she moves.
"Ow, Theresa!" The young boys voice echoes and the Golem turns to meet Trubel's attack. The sound of a car engine reaches his ears and a police cruiser pulls up, sending bits of clay flying. Tribel manages to get a direct hit in but the Golem barely reacts.
"Nick! Hank!" Wu appears with his gun drawn but stops dead still at the sight of the Golem, colour draining from his face. "What the-".
"Wu!" Hank shouts but Nick has no time to say anything to the Sargent as the Golem seems to rise in height, maybe reacting to the perceived danger David is in. Clay surrounds Trubel as Nick gets back to his feet.
"I can't move!" She cries out and Nick takes another swipe but ends up with a handful of clay. Trubel struggles to keep fighting as clay begins to engulf her. "Nick!"
"Don't hurt her!" David cries out and tries to run forward but his mother holds him back. Wu stands by, gun still hovering as he takes it all in. "Leave her alone!" He struggles out of her arms as Nick attempts another attack. "Get away from her! Stop it! Go Away!" Running full pelt Nick can't stop the young boy as he goes straight into the Golem, bringing his fist up and striking the clay creature multiple times. The toy in his hand leaves little holes as he screams out.
The clay seems to react and sinks down, releases Trubel as it shrinks and then fades away into the ground. Nick, Trubel and David are all left off balance, standing in a circle of blobs of clay, the youngsters panting with exertion as Nick glances around.
"David, you got him!" Trubel states and the little boy looks up at her, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"I got him," he breathes out before turning and running back to his mother. "I got him mom!" She hugs him as she looks around.
"I guess you did," she mutters and Ben steps closer to them both.
"I got him!"
"Anybody want to tell me what the hell just happened?" Wu asks aloud and draws all attention to him.
"I second that," Sara mutters, stroking David's hair.
"I got him," he continues to repeat, like a mantra and no one else says anything as they all stare in different states of knowing and disbelief.
-G-
"Ok, so we have noticed the teething, the sounds and giggling and responses to spoke words. Anything else?" Adalind really doesn't like how Kelly is analysing her daughter but at this point they don't have much choice.
"She's also staring to sit up and roll," she adds and Kelly nods.
"Now, it's been awhile for me but I remember lots of Nicky's first milestones. I would say, from what we've talked about, Diana is showing developmental stages of a child older than where she should be. I would guess probably two or three months ahead of her actual age."
"What does that mean?"
"I can only guess. But it would seem like she's growing faster than a normal child." Adalind nods but then gasps and Kelly shoots her a look.
"I wasn't full term when I gave birth," she explains. "I thought it was because of being on the run and I was never fully confident about her due date anyway but she seemed fine when she was delivered, all things considering. No reason to believe she wasn't a healthy, full-term baby."
"Could you hazard a guess at how early she might have been?" She takes a moment to think, trying to put dates and events into place.
"I think … I think it might have been around the six-month mark. I only had one scan and then was advised to stay away from hospitals due to the nature of my returning powers and how it could affect the birth." Memories of that scan and what she has felt from the connections with her daughter make her shiver. "The scan said, well the doctor dismissed it at the time but now, perhaps it did mean something. There were two heartbeats detected but I was only ever pregnant with one baby, they could confirm that."
"So, what we know is this – your baby was conceived naturally but then came under the influence of magic when you went through the ritual to regain your powers, taken by Grimm's blood. During pregnancy you have noticed several instances of the baby's activity and involvement with use of magic, outside the realm of what is normally possible. And we've both seen what she is capable of since her birth." As Kelly talks Adalind feels worse and worse. She may not have started out with many maternal instincts but now she is fully invested and wants nothing but the best for her daughter. Is disgusted with herself for her previous actions. Still, she can't change the past and can only show by her actions how she means to go on now.
"That sounds right," she comments haltingly.
"Alright then, for now we just monitor her. Make note of anything significant and then we can use that as a basis for further investigation." She feels brief anger at the terminology used, as her daughter is not something to be studied, before letting it go. This is the best way to find out if something really is wrong, if Diana is aging faster then normal. She already has so many ways in which she stands out, they don't need anything else. Especially if it might affect their ability to hide her.
-G-
"You want to tell me what the hell it is I just saw?" Wu's voice is quiet but serious as he meets them at Nick's desk. He shares a look with Hank and they both turn to the sergeant.
"What do you think you saw?" Nick asks slowly and Wu shoots him a dark look.
"You really want to do that with me?" He snarks. "Don't try that evasive nonsense, I want to know what just happened. Because neither of you two were freaked out, no, you seemed to almost be expecting that so I'm thinking you know more about it." He looks between them both and Nick knows the moment is here. Do they lie or do they bring Wu in. Hank nods at him and he takes that as he'll follow Nick's decision on this.
"I'm not going down this road again. You need to tell me now because I don't know what will happen if you don't." The reminder of Wu's recent experiences with Wesen and everything he went through is a bitter pill, as Nick knows he and Hank had been on opposing side in that argument. Still, he has been thinking more along the lines of his partner and they can't continue on in this manner for much longer.
Not with all the Wesen cases they keep handling. Not with Wu being so close to the action and remaining unknowing. His gut is telling him something will happen soon and he really doesn't want that on his conscious. Not after all that Wu has been through already.
He opens his mouth but there's sudden movement around them and voices raise as bodies run in and out of the room.
"What the hell?" Hank asks and the three of them walk towards the commotion before running into Franco.
"Did you hear? Captain's been shot!"
-G-
AN – So, yeah. Went there. I'm always happy to hear your thoughts.
P.S – I have done a lot of deep dives into episodes and articles and I'm still not one hundred percent I've got Diana's timeline, in relation to her conception/aging/growing, right but I've done what I can and we're working with what I've written now. If I've missed anything please let me know, otherwise we'll just have to allow for some creative license on my part in regards to that bit of the story, ok? Thanks.