Chapter Text
It was 02:30 in the morning and the loft was quiet, the city of Portland's hum a distant murmur through the windows. Nick lay in bed: one arm protectively draped over Adalind while Kelly lay in his cot sleeping soundly at the end of the bed. It had been a long day - some new Wesen that The Grimm had never seen before had been rampaging its way through the city for the last couple of days and with help from Monroe and Rosalee they had finally identified it as a Lebensauger ( a leech-like wesen that were notorious for feeding on human blood) and disposed of it. When Nick had managed to drift off to sleep with the love of his life and his son at his side, there had been peace.
Until the door creaked open...
the slightest sound had Nick's eyes shooting open, instinct had kicked in before consciousness had fully taken hold and he sat up abruptly in the bed - in turn waking the ex hexenbiest as his body tensed.
"What is it?" he whispered, sensing his sudden alertness.
Nick didn't answer, he was already moving: feet hitting the floor as his gaze locked onto the shadow moving through the room adjacent from his and Adalind's. It was then that the figure appeared into the dim moonlight.
Renard.
Adalind cursed, scrambling out of bed.
Nick didn't hesitate, he lunged - feelings of hatred and protectiveness taking over.
The fight exploded into movement - Nick tackled Renard, sending them both crashing against the kitchen counter. Renard snarled, wogeing into his half-Zauberbiest form as he wrenched free of The Grimm's hold.
Nick threw a punch, but Renard blocked it and retaliated with a brutal strike to Nick's ribs; the force sent Nick staggering back, before lunging at The Royal again: fists flying, until Renard caught him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
"Stay down, Nick" Renard growled.
Nick gritted his teeth, vision swimming from the impact, but he wasn't finished and neither was this fight. He drove his knee into the taller man's stomach, forcing The half Zauberbiest to release him. Nick dropped to the ground and swept Renard's legs out from under him in one, precise motion.
Renard hit the floor but recovered fast, surging up and grabbing Nick's head with both hands. Before The Grimm could retaliate The Royal slammed his skull into the wall.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
The loft echoed with the sickening sound of bone against brick, Adalind screamed.
On the final impact, something inside of the wall clicked. A section of the wall shifted, revealing the hidden passage that led to the tunnels underneath the city - where Nick had kept the stick since retrieving it from The Black Forest with Monroe. Renard's eyes flicked to it, then back to Nick, who was barely conscious: his body limp, vision flickering in and out.
A cruel smirk crossed The half Zauberbiest's face.
"Looks like you've been keeping secrets."
Then, without hesitation, he shoved Nick backwards.
The Grimm tumbled into the opening, hitting the stone floor with a dull thud.
Adalind reacted instantly, her face distorted to its true nature as her hexenbeist returned; she sent a raw blast of hexenbiest magic at Renard. He barely dodged it, the force of her spell shattering the lamp beside him.
Renard scowled but didn't retaliate, he had to think of Dianna after all - Adalind was her mother. Instead, he turned and bolted out of the door before she could gather another attack.
The second he had disappeared from her line of sight, Adalind ran to Nick.
The Grimm lay inside the hidden passage unmoving. Blood dripped from his temple, staining the cold stone beneath him.
"No, no, no" Adalind whispered, dropping to her knees beside him. She touched his face but he didn't stir, panic tightened in her throat.
Nick's phone was shattered near the counter, her hands were shaking as she picked up her own phone and dialled the only number that she had memorised.
"Hank" she breathed as soon as he answered.
"I need help, Now"
Fifteen minutes later, Hank arrived with Monroe and Rosalee.
"Oh My God" The fuchsbau murmured when she saw Nick's unconscious form.
Monroe rushed forward with Hank, the two of them carefully lifting The Grimm out of the secret space and moving him to the couch.
"What happened?" Hank demanded.
"Renard" Adalind said, voice tight.
"He broke in, he did this, and then left."
Hank clenched his jaw.
"That son of a-"
"Hey, guys?" Monroe interrupted, his voice suddenly urgent.
"Something's wrong."
They all turned around to see Nick's body jerking violently.
He was seizing...
"Nick? Nick!" Monroe held Nick's shoulders down while Rosalee moved to his side, trying to keep him from hurting himself.
"We have to wait it out" Rosalee said.
"Just have to keep him steady until it passes."
Adalind covered her mouth - eyes wide with fear for her lover.
The seizure lasted nearly a full minute before it stopped.
Nick went still, his breathing was shallow and his face pale.
Rosalle checked his pulse.
"He's okay - for now."
Monroe exhaled shakily.
"Man, he scared the hell out of me."
They adjusted him carefully, placing ice against the swelling on his head.
Then, there was nothing to do but Wait.
Hours passed.
Adalind curled up on the floor beside the couch: her fingers wrapped loosely around Nick's. Hank sat in the chair nearby, his arms crossed as he dozed lightly. Monroe and Rosalee were slumped against each other near the kitchen.
Nick's eyes fluttered open.
The loft was quiet, filled with the soft sound of his friends' breathing. His head throbbed - the pain was immediate, sharp - but he was alive.
He shifted slightly, and Monroe stirred: blinking blearily.
"Nick?" The blutbad whispered, carefully leaving his position next to his wife before moving closer to The Grimm.
Nick swallowed, his mouth dry.
"What happened?."
Monroe sighed.
"Renard happened." he hesitated before adding.
"Dude, you're lucky. He could've killed you."
Nick let that sink in. He looked around the room, taking in the sight of everyone asleep - exhausted from taking care of him, watching over him.
"They... stayed?" Nick asked quietly.
"Of course they stayed. You scared the crap out of all of us." came Monroe's reply.
At seeing the look on his best friend's face, Monroe's expression softened.
"Hey, man. We're your family, we're not going anywhere. Now why don't you try to get some more sleep, eh?" the Blutbad added.
Following his closest friend's advice, Nick closed his eyes: his body still aching. However, a strange warmth filled his chest as he drifted off. After everyone that he had lost, he still had an amazing family who cared for him unconditionally.
A soft smile adorned The Grimm's expression as sleep - actual sleep - claimed him.