Chapter Text
The case had gone horribly wrong. Nick, of course, was blaming himself. He almost ran a red light on the way home. When he got to the front door he somehow couldn't find the right key. Monroe opened the door for him. His eyebrows were creased in worry, and even more so upon seeing his mate. He ushered him inside and closed the door.
"What... Happened?" Monroe led them both to the couch to sit.
"I fucked up, that's what happened. I couldn't save that kid..." His voice was strained, eyes wet.
Monroe pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry Nick. But I know you, you tried your best. That's all you can do." He was rubbing his back.
At being held Nick started openly sobbing. His tears wet Monroe's flannel but he couldn't care less right now. He gently shushed him and rubbed his back. It always broke him to see Nick like this. He had such a strong resolve that when it broke it was always like a dam overflowing. All Monroe could do was rub his back and try to calm down his Grimm.
"Shhh. It's okay Nicky. I've got you." Monroe rocked them gently and nuzzled his mate's hair.
After a few long minutes Nick finally calmed down to small whimpers. He nuzzled into Monroe's chest. Monroe continued to rub his back and whisper calming things to his lover. Nick scooted closer sat on Monroe's lap and clung to him.
Monroe nuzzles his hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Nicky. You're safe."
Nick was mumbling something into Monroe's chest. Monroe pulled back a little so he could hear him better.
Nick whined at the loss of contact. " Want Mama. Nicky want Mama."
Monroe froze. He had never heard him speak in that way. He was asking for his mom, but Nick knew his mother was dead, didn't he? Monroe held him closer to his chest.
"Nicky... Um... Mama's not here right now. I'm here though. You're safe Nicky." Monroe was confused but felt the need to tell him he was safe nonetheless.
Nick seemed very vulnerable right now. Monroe wondered if this was some sort of episode. The Grimm had definitely been through a lot. Nick's whimpers had quieted down now to sniffles. Nick still had a death grip on the other, his knuckles white.
Monroe gently nudged Nick's hands to release them. "You'll hurt your hands, Nicky. It's okay. I promise I'm not going anywhere."
Nicky whined. "Dada stay wif Nicky?"
Monroe nodded slowly. He was worried for the other. Nick was speaking in the third person and called him Dada. He seemed... Young. He held Nick as he called Rosalee.
Rosalee picked up immediately. "Monroe? Is something wrong? You usually only call if something's wrong."
Monroe paused. "... Mabye? Nick is acting weird. I don't think it's magic, I can't smell anything off. He's acting like a small kid."
Rosalee sounded like she was shuffling through things. "Ah. Here. 'It is common for those with PTSD to regress to a mindset of an age before they experienced trauma.'."
Monroe absorbed the information. "I've never seen him like this before."
"It may be the first time it has happened. If he was in an unsafe environment he wouldn't regress because he felt in danger." Rosalee sounded distant, she was probably reading about it more while talking.
"So, he feels safe here?" Monroe couldn't help the sigh of relief he let out while saying this.
"Yes." Monroe could hear the smile in her voice.
"Well Rose, I won't keep you, I know you get customers." Monroe heard her hang up right after the tell-tale sound of a bell ringing above the door of the shop.
Monroe focused back on Nick, who was looking half asleep. He held him close and kissed his head. After that, he picked him up slowly and went upstairs with him. Nick whined a little at the bouncing of going up the stairs.
"I know buddy, we are gonna get you into some pj's and bed. I'll stay with you, don't worry." When he got upstairs he set him down on the bed.
Nick whined and hugged himself. It broke Monroe's heart. He quickly pulled out some flannel pjs of his own since Nick didn't have pajamas. Then he realized Nick may not be able to change on his own.
" Nicky, do you need help putting on these pj's?" Nick nodded in response.
Monroe got to work. He slipped off the detective's shoes. After that his shirt, which he only now noticed had a few splatters of blood on them. He quickly discarded the shirt. He gently lifted Nick a bit to take off his pants. He decided not to invade Nick's privacy when he couldn't tell him not to, so he just kept his boxers on for now. He then moved to putting on the flannel PJs. He slipped the warm shirt over the boy's head and fed his arms through the holes. Nick was dozing almost while sitting up, the poor guy was exhausted. Monroe tried to get his clothes on as quickly as possible so his mate could sleep. He lifted him again slowly to slide the pants on. Done.
"All done Nicky. Let's get you to bed." Monroe was going to move him himself like he had been.
Nick moved instead, crawling up to the pillows and curling into a ball. Monroe was quick to get into bed with him and get him and himself under the covers. Once they were covered, he held Nick. Nick relaxed in his arms and turned around. He clings to him like before, but less tensely. He fell asleep within seconds. Monroe would need to look into this more, but right now he needed to help Nicky feel safe and loved.