Chapter Text
Nick woke up to the horrible sound of his phone. Ringing. Specifically, Wu’s ringtone. He sighed, fumbling for the phone while simultaneously trying to free himself of Sean’s arm around his waist.
“Burkhardt,” he answered, rubbing his eyes.
“Sorry about the early wake-up call,” Wu didn’t sound apologetic in the slightest, “but we have a little Grimm problem.”
“And Novak can’t handle it?”
“Sorry, but by Grimm problem, I’m saying a problem with a Grimm. Looks about sixteen, female, refused to give us her name. Novak came across a Klaustreich and a Lausenshclange trying to slice her open, managed to take them in but she couldn’t just leave the kid wandering around—unfortunately the kid then freaked out after Novak accidentally woged, punched her and ran off. So…I thought maybe you might want to try and track her down.”
“Holy, fuck,” Nick sighed. “I’ll be right there. Did you call me first?”
“Yes, as I recall the last thing Elias said before going home last week was, call me and I will murder you.”
“There better be coffee.”
“For you? Of course.”
Nick hung up. Things had gotten easier once Wu had that minor encounter with an Aswang and the whole Grimm secret got spilled, but at the same time it meant every call he got from the station had Wu’s stamp of dry sarcasm and it was too early for that.
“What’s going on?” Sean asked. “It’s—two AM.”
“Novak picked up a kid some Wesen punks were attempting to assault, she’s a Grimm--apparently, and now she’s running around Portland.” Nick leaned back over to kiss Sean. “I have to go in, try and find her.”
Sean nodded. “Good luck with that.”
Nick rolled his eyes, slipping out of bed and heading for the bathroom to splash cold water on his face before he dressed. He figured casual was better and stuck with a Henley and jeans before padding back into the bedroom for his collar. Sean was already back to sleep, the lucky bastard. Nick retrieved his gun from the lockbox in the bedside table and headed downstairs, grabbing keys, wallet and jacket from the hall before he started the drive in. He sent Elias a quick text with the gist of the situation in case he had any insight, but didn’t expect to hear back from him until the sun had actually risen above the horizon.
At the station, Detective Cara Novak was waiting for him next to the interview room, leaning against the wall and yawning broadly in a cat-like fashion that had everything to do with her Wesen heritage. “Morning, Nick.”
“Cara.”
“You here to try and track down our lost lamb?”
“Yeah. You get a scent?”
Novak nodded, “Didn’t do me much good. I’ve got Kimble pulling surveillance and the Mellifers have their ears on the ground. She was terrified of me, Nick. I don’t think she has a clue what she is.”
“Great.” He took a breath. “Where’s Hank?”
“Right here,” Hank walked in, coffee in hand. “My car is out front.”
“Okay. We’ll start where you lost her and work our way out. Have Wu start officers on a canvas. McKee, Kimble, Brewer—the ones that can handle themselves in case she gets violent.”
“Got it.” Novak nodded sharply. “Good luck.”
He was probably going to need it.
***
Two hours later they’d worked out from the kid’s last known sighting with little to go on. Nick was starting to think she’d lost them when Wu called him.
“Tell me you have something,” Nick said.
“I have something. Your girl was spotted by a motel owner five minutes ago.”
“We’re on our way.”
“You want back up?”
Nick took a minute. “Block the streets off, let’s not let her slip away again.”
“You got it. Texting you the address.”
***
The sun was finally starting rise when Nick and Hank reached the hotel and Nick spotted a girl matching Novak’s terse description walking down the sidewalk and then duck down an alley. “I see her, slow down and I’ll follow her, you cut her off at the other side.”
“You got it, partner.”
Nick slipped out of the car, heading toward her. He could see the moment she realized she was being followed, her shoulders tensing right before she started to run.
“Stop, police!” he shouted, running after her.
Her escape was cut off when Hank pulled his car up and Nick spotted another patrol car parking a few hundred yards ahead.
Hank hopped out of the car, hands spread wide. “It’s okay, kid,” he said. “Stop running.”
She spun away from the car and started running toward Nick, who moved to stop her. She took a swing at him. He ducked, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her off her feet, dragging her toward the car. She was strong, stronger than any normal sixteen-year-old girl, but Nick had practice and experience on his side—and about six inches of height. He managed to get cuffs on her and put her in the back of the car, sliding in next to her.
“Okay, you need to calm down—”
She threw herself at him again and he slammed her back against the seat, buckling her into place.
“Stop that,” he ordered sharply, tapping into his cop voice. “Calm down and give your name, kid.”
She shot him a hard stare. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”
“We’re the police,” Hank said. “We’re going to take you to the station.”
“No one is going to hurt you,” Nick said. “We’re trying to help. What’s your name?”
She shook her head.
“I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”
“Screw you.”
“Well that’s a start,” Hank said, backing the car up so he could back to the road. “How about a name?”
She set her jaw, shaking her head again.
“Okay,” Nick took a breath. “We’ll just have to fingerprint you at the station.”
She spent the rest of the ride in absolute silence.
***
Nick glanced through the door at the girl sitting at the table. Black hair cut short and choppy, falling in front of her dark eyes, clothes a size too big and worn out. She looked scared, exhausted and in need of a meal. “That is her, right?”
“Yup.” Cara nodded for him to follow her and walked over to the coffee station. “We’re running her prints now. Officer McKee managed to calm her down a bit but our problem doesn’t end with her being a Grimm.”
“Coffee for you,” Wu interrupted, holding out a cup from the local cafe and not the questionable police coffee. “You are lucky they run odd hours.”
“Thank you,” Nick said fervently, taking the coffee and sipping. “What’s our other problem?”
“She’s definitely a sub,” Cara continued. “She’s been teetering around a Drop since she got here but we’re still waiting to hear back from the Children’s Dynamic Resources people and the clinic won’t take her without a sign off from Child Services and they won’t sign off until we have a name.”
Nick had been a bit suspicious of how quiet she’d gotten in the car—and the smell of a Drop was something he’d become all too familiar with. Should have been paying closer attention. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was.”
“Meantime, all we can do is give her a couple patches and be professional,” Wu said. “At least until we can get a name. We searched the backpack she had with her, but nothing in there gives us a name. There were some clothes, some cash and a notebook with sketches—reminded me of your journals.”
I’ll have to look at those later.
“Okay. I’ll go talk to her.” Nick took a large gulp of coffee. “Keep trying to get an ID.” Nick snagged an orange juice and a granola bar from the vending machine before he went into the room, setting both down on the table in front of the kid and taking a seat. “Hi, I’m Nick. We met earlier.”
She gave him a look that was pure teenage who cares? and continued her reign of silence.
“Look, I know you’re scared and I know you’re not in a good place right now.” He smiled. “I was where you are not that long ago. Seeing things I couldn’t explain.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“Things like those two guys that attacked you tonight? Snake looking guy and a cat?”
Her face flickered with conflict, curiosity, uncertainty—perhaps a touch of hope.
“I see them too. I’m a Grimm. Have you heard that word before?”
After a long moment, she nodded.
“Yeah? Did you parents’ use it? Can I call them?”
She made a soft sound, shaking her head.
Nick swallowed. “Are they not around anymore?”
She shook her head again.
“Okay, that’s okay.” His text alert went off. ID in. Theresa Rubel. Age sixteen. Born in NY, ran away from foster care two years ago. - Wu
He sent back a quick thanks and turned his attention back to her. “It’s Theresa, right? Look, all of this stuff, being a Grimm, those creatures, I can help you with that. Okay?”
She managed to nod.
“Okay. Why don’t you eat? I have to go handle some things with paperwork. Okay?”
“Okay.” She snagged the orange juice and cracked the top.
He smiled gently and headed back out to the bullpen, joining Cara. “She needs to go to the clinic,” he said. “I’m surprised she hasn’t Dropped already. The whole room smelled like stress.”
Cara nodded. “We sent her file to the right people, now we just have to wait.”
Nick’s phone went off—Elias’ ringtone. “Didn’t expect to hear from you.”
“Well, the situation sounded complicated. Do you have a name yet?”
“Theresa Rubel. Born in New York. She’s sixteen.”
“Rubel?” There was a brief pause and Nick could hear papers being shuffled around and some muttering. “Ah. Here we go. Rubel…Oh. Oh.”
“What?”
“Uh...I’ll be right there, don’t let anyone take her—anywhere.” Elias hung up.
Nick blinked and glanced at Cara. “You hear that?”
“Yup. I’ll stall Child Services.”
“Thanks.”
What the hell is going on now?
***
Elias arrived at the station looking a bit harried, a thick file in one hand and coffee in the other. Cara was busy intimidating the Child Services rep and Nick was on his third cup of station coffee. Nick had convinced Officer Lewis, a Bonded sub who had a way with people, to stay with Theresa and try to keep the kid calm.
“So, what’s the emergency?” Nick asked.
Elias moved to Nick’s desk, setting the coffee down and flipping through the file. “Your girl in there, I’m pretty sure she’s the missing daughter of Sebastien Rubel.”
“Okay.” Nick gave him a look. “Not someone I’ve met.”
“You wouldn’t have, he’s dead.” Elias pulled a document free. “Fifteen years ago Sebastien was killed by a Siegbarste.”
“Oh.” Nick, having had an encounter with one before, knew exactly how that had probably gone down. “And his daughter?”
“Theresa Rubel.” Elias laid the folder down. “Here.” He pointed at the mess of a family tree. “Sebastien Rubel was having a fling of sorts two years prior to his death with another Grimm. At the time she was going by the name Stephanie Wachtberg, but that is one of your mother’s aliases.”
“You don’t think—Do you?”
“I know Wachtberg stopped working for the Assembly for about a year and then Sebastien suddenly had a daughter.”
Nick glanced at the interview room door. “You’re saying...she’s…” Nick blinked. “Are you sure?”
“You could always call your mother and ask.”
Nick groaned. “True, but in the meantime...DNA test?”
“I’ll push it through,” Elias agreed. “One of the Interpol techs owes me.”
“Oh good.” Nick picked up the file Elias had set down. “In the meantime, how should I handle this?”
“I don’t like the idea of a Grimm going into CPS, Nick. She’s already been there and ran away. We can’t risk her running away again. Who knows what she’s been through already?”
“I guess I could step up as an interim guardian. I’m Bonded, no one should have a problem with it. Say she’s integral to an investigation and needs protective custody?”
“Good idea.” Elias flashed a toothy smile. “And then you can call your mother.”
Nick rolled his eyes and headed over to convince CPS to assign him temporary custody so they could get the kid to the clinic. The kid who very well might be his sister. He couldn’t deny she reminded him of the pictures he had of his mom from when she was young. Same eyes, strong nose. Damn. I could have a sister.
He ended up leaving a message on his mother’s phone. He wasn’t even sure what outcome he was hoping for here. Obviously, if she was his sister he was taking her home but even if she wasn’t...She was a scared kid who needed help.
With Cara’s assistance, Nick managed to get the CPS people to do as he asked and headed back into the interview room to get Theresa. “Hey, you ready to get out of here?”
Theresa nodded mutely.
“I’m going to take you to the DR clinic, is that okay?”
She frowned and shook her head. “No.”
“I know it’s kind of scary, but you’re Dropping, sweetheart.” Nick crouched down a bit so he wasn’t looming over her. “The people at the clinic are going to help you feel better.” Gingerly, he took her hand. “After that we can go to my place and talk. Okay?”
“No clinic,” she insisted.
Nick debated for a moment. “I have a friend with me, Elias. He’s a Bonded Dom, looks scarier than he is. He’s also like us. A Grimm. We could drive back to my place to settle you, but you’d need to ride in the back and Elias could help you. He’s helped me before.”
Nick glanced over at the door, spotting the other Grimm and waving him into the room.
“Here he is.” Nick put his other hand on her shoulder. “Elias, this is Theresa, Theresa, my friend Elias. Now, we can go back to my house or we can go to the clinic, but you have to make a decision, sweetheart.”
Elias smiled gently. “It’s going to be okay.”
Nick couldn’t blame her for not wanting to go to the clinic, he’d never liked going either, though he hadn’t had to since he found himself with so many Doms willing to lend a hand, even before he’d Bonded. When Sean was away, Nick could stay with Elias or Monroe if he was feeling off. The clinic just made him think of bad times.
“Go to your place,” she said finally.
“Okay.” Elias moved around Nick, helping Theresa to her feet. “It’s going to be okay. Concentrate on your breathing while we get down to the car, okay?”
Nick straightened, grabbing her backpack from Wu before following behind Elias and texting Sean to let him know what was going on as they headed down to the parking garage. They’d sort out getting Elias’ car back later, the Dom helping Theresa into the back of Nick’s and getting her buckled into the middle seat before sliding next to her and then pulling her into a close, professional hold Nick knew from experience felt wonderful.
Nick got into the driver’s seat, took a deep breath and concentrated on driving them home.
He had a feeling this day was only just getting started.
I am going to need a lot more coffee.
***
Sean was up when Nick got home, an eyebrow raised when he saw the girl in Elias’ arms. “I got one of the guest rooms ready. Are you going to stay with her?”
Elias nodded. “Once she’s back up I’m sure Nick can handle any aftershocks; I don’t want to leave Genevieve too long.”
“I can call Monroe over,” Nick added, “we can’t both not be at work today, Sir.”
Sean sighed. “I hate it when you’re sensible.” He pressed a kiss to Nick’s lips. “And I do have to go in, if only to sort out any remaining messes.”
“CPS is handled,” Nick assured him, “And the DR clinic rep seemed confident we had things handled. Lucky us, it was Anna Burton.” Nick had worked with Anna before.
“That is lucky. All right, be good. Keep an eye on her and let me know if I should pick up anything on the way home.”
Nick made a face in consideration. “She’s going to need clothes...maybe Rosalee can come over with Monroe. Or maybe Carly. I think she’s home on break.” He sighed. “I’ll call.”
Sean nodded and kissed him again. “Later, minou.”
“Later, Sir.”
Nick locked up after Sean and put a tray together for everyone to snack on when Theresa came back up. Elias had Theresa in the same professional hold, her head against his shoulder as he rubbed her back in gentle circles. Nick set the tray down and sat down, sandwiching Theresa between them. She needed a shower, he decided, a meal and a decent night’s sleep. He wasn’t sure how she was going to be once she came back up.
He read through her juvie file on his phone. Pretty basic stuff, loitering, B&E, shoplifting, theft, more theft, one assault charge that was dropped, smoking, petty theft... It looked like she’d hitch-hiked her way from New York to Chicago, pick-pocket charges started there and then she’d turned up in Portland.
Maybe it was fate.
A crease formed between her eyebrows as she came back. She made a soft sound of inquiry, blinking and taking inventory of her surroundings.
“Hey, Theresa, it’s Nick. You remember talking to me?”
She nodded.
“You remember, Elias?”
She nodded again.
“We’re at my house, on the second floor. You are safe, okay?” Nick watched her face carefully.
“Okay.” It wasn't a resounding affirmative, but it was better than nothing.
“Do you want something to drink?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled. “Okay.” Nick slipped off the bed and retrieved the tray, pressing a sport’s bottle of water into her hands. “I’ve got some food too if you’re hungry. I know everyone reacts differently to Drops but I’m usually a bit hungry.”
“Take your time,” Elias ordered softly when she started to drink. “Or you’ll make yourself sick.”
After she was done with the water she took another look around. “Bathroom?”
“Through there,” Nick pointed at the door. “And we have your stuff too if you want take a shower or anything. The bathroom is stocked, towels, soap, whatever you need.”
She was a bit reluctant about pulling herself free of Elias, which at least meant she’d been comfortable with him holding her and slipped off the bed, steadying herself a moment before grabbing her bag and heading into the bathroom.
Nick had picked one without windows intentionally. They didn’t need to play “chase the teenage Grimm through the woods” today.
“So…how does this usually go?” Nick glanced at Elias, who was eating grapes.
“Generally speaking we try to prevent anyone with Grimm heritage from ending up in the system.” Elias shook his head. “She slipped through the cracks. I won’t let that happen to her again.”
Nick nodded. “I’m just not sure how she’s going to react to all of this.”
“That’s a fair question. By and large, I’ve found female Grimms adapt faster, but that may have more to do with the fact that they come into their gift at a younger age.”
“Kids do bounce back faster.”
Theresa came out, hair damp and wearing a different set of too big clothes. “Food?”
Nick pointed to the tray. “I’ve got some fruit and granola, but if you want something else we can go down to the kitchen.”
“No—I mean—it’s cool.” She sat down on the bed and munched, eyeing the two men with some suspicion. “So, are you like, both Grimms?”
“Actually, yes.” Nick smiled. “Elias taught me most of what I know.” Nick rolled up his sleeve, showing off the tattoo he’d gotten when he joined the Assembly. “This means I’m a member of the Assembly of Grimm Heritage, we’re—” he paused. “I suppose you could say we try to make sure young Grimms are trained and know what the hell is going on so they don’t think they’re crazy.”
“How long have you seen things?” Theresa asked.
“Little over two years. Women usually start seeing things first. At least, that’s what my mother told me.”
“So this is like a family thing?” She munched on a granola bar.
“Yeah. It’s hereditary. Elias did some digging and we found your birth father, Sebastien Rubel. He was killed fifteen years ago.”
“I didn’t know that.” Theresa frowned. “I just sort of got shuffled from foster to foster home.” She frowned. “A monster came after me a couple years ago and I ran. I’ve been running ever since.”
“What kind of monster?”
“I—I drew it.” She retrieved her bag and pulled out a composition book, flipping through to an early page. “Here. It was big. Really big.”
Nick stared at the page. “Siegbarste, I’ve had an encounter with one myself. It’s like an ogre. Strong, mean and hard to kill. But those kind of people don’t come to Portland anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m in Portland,” Nick said. “And that would like asking to get killed.”
“I guess I’ve never—they’ve always just attacked me.” She shook her head. “Hunted me.”
“Well, that’s mostly because Wesen—that’s what we call them as a whole—are usually terrified of Grimms. We got a bad reputation because some of us aren’t so great. They’re more of kill first ask questions later sort. Not all Wesen will attack you and I’m on good terms with most of the ones in Portland. They’re people, like us, just—different.”
She frowned. “So what, we’re like the bogeyman?”
Elias nodded. “We can help you, Theresa.”
“I have all kinds of journals and books with pictures like the one you’ve got there,” Nick nodded at her book. “If you want to see them.”
She swallowed. “I want to see them.” She bit her lip. “And—no one calls me Theresa.”
“Okay, what do they call you?” Nick smiled.
“Trubel.”