"Let's do this."

Nick, Hank, Monroe, and Wu went back into the tunnels and told Eve and Rosalee what had happened. It wasn't easy for any of them to deal with, but Rosalee and Eve were happy that Nick was alive.

"I want to find her," Nick said.

They used the way that Hank and Wu found to escape the tunnels. When they emerged, they made their way to Bud's repair shop and tried their best to be inconspicuous. Bud told them that it was good that they came, despite being scared to death what it meant for him. The police had already raided Nick's loft and put a warrant out for his arrest when they couldn't find his body. Renard demonized Nick and people believed him because he was the police captain and soon to be the new mayor of Portland. Nick was made out to be a murderer; he was a fugitive. The Portland Police were told to shoot to kill, but Black Claw members were told to bring him in if they could.

Shortly after Trubel was taken, Nick's behavior began to change and many suspected that the stick was the reason why. Nick stashed it back in the tunnels, but sometimes worried when he caught himself thinking about taking it back out. He didn't want to admit it, but it did have some kind of unknown power that could be dangerous for everyone. They needed to find out more...

Nick was in the Spice Shop with Eve, Rosalee, and Monroe analyzing the cloth that the stick had been wrapped in.

A phone buzzed. It was Trubel's phone.

Nick had found it on the floor of the loft right after Trubel was taken.

He answered it and put the phone on speaker.

"Who is this?" he asked.

"Who is this?" a man's voice countered.

"Nicholas Burkhardt. The Grimm."

"We have not been able to reach anyone at the Portland compound, and we need to talk to Trubel."

"They don't know?" Monroe whispered to Rosalee. Rosalee shrugged.

"They're all dead," Nick said abruptly. "HW has been wiped out in Portland. Black Claw hit the compound and killed Meisner."

"How?" the voice asked.

"Bonaparte had deeply rooted connections in Portland," Nick answered. "But, Black Claw is mostly wiped out here. Only Bonaparte, Sean Renard, and a few others are still alive. I think they are hiding out in their own compound, but I don't know where it is," Nick offered.

"Where's Trubel? I need to speak with her."

"Bonaparte has her. I need you to send agents down to help me get her back," Nick said.

"You don't know where she is?" the voice guessed.

"I know she's with Bonaparte," Nick replied.

"Then you don't know that she's still alive," the voice answered.

"She might still be alive, and finding her could help us find Bonaparte. He would probably want to see if he could use her which means we're running out of time. We need to find her now!" Nick explained.

"I'm sorry Burkhardt, but she is not a priority of ours. We cannot afford to send needed agents to Portland," the voice answered emotionlessly.

"After everything she's done for you, you're leaving her to die?!" Nick yelled.

"She is most likely already dead, so we cannot risk wasting our limited resources on a rescue mission."

Rosalee dumbfoundedly and broken-heartedly mouthed the word 'wasting'. "If the Portland compound is truly wiped out, then Hadrian's Wall needs to regroup more than anything else. Can you be ready to leave Portland in less than four hours?"

"I'm not going anywhere until I take down Bonaparte," Nick responded furiously.

"We're sorry to lose you. Good luck."

The line went dead.

"I can't believe they won't help us. They owe Trubel," Nick yelled.

"Looks like they don't understand the greater good as well as we thought they did," Monroe said.

Nick held the phone in his hand and was tempted to throw it into a wall and watch it shatter into a million pieces. Eve pulled it out of his hand.

"Nick, this is our only phone that can't be traced, and if HW ever changes their mind, we need to have it with us," Eve tried to explain.

"She's right, Nick," Rosalee said. "And if Trubel ever gets out somehow, this is the only phone that she can bet we'll have with us. She could try to contact us," Rosalee soothed.

"She could be dead," Nick said.

"Don't go there," Eve warned.

"Yeah, Nick. If she's still out there, we're all she's got. You can't give up on her, man. Not now," Monroe said.

Nick took the phone back and slipped it into his pocket.

He started going up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Eve asked.

"Back to the tunnels. I need to think of a plan, but I can't do it here. The police could break down the door at any minute. We are running out of time."

It had been months since Trubel was taken. Nick had worked with Monroe and Adalind to keep Renard from becoming the mayor of Portland. With this plan, Nick and his friends also no longer had to be on the run. It all worked, but that was a long story.

Everyone had some serious doubts as to whether or not Trubel was still alive. Even Nick knew that it wasn't likely, but he couldn't stop himself. He needed to talk to someone who knew, but doing that without getting arrested or murdered was going to be difficult.

It was time to make the call.

Nick dialed the phone in Bud's repair shop - he had been bouncing back and forth between his loft, the tunnels, and Bud's shop for quite a while. Whenever he went to the precinct he really had to watch his back. Black Claw was still after him.

It rang twice before someone picked up.

"Hello?" Adalind asked.

"Adalind?" Nick asked.

"Nick?!" She yelled his name because she couldn't help it. The last time she had talked to him was when she was helping Nick de-mayor Renard.

"Shh. Is anyone there with you?" Nick asked.

"No, Renard is out."

"Where?" Nick asked.

"I'm pretty sure he's with Bonaparte," she said.

Nick sighed. He couldn't stay worked up the whole time. He couldn't help himself.

"Is Kelly okay?" he asked.

"Kelly's great. He and Diana are getting along." She paused. "Nick, I'm sorry for what I did to you. I had to protect my children, and if I didn't come, they would have killed us both. We couldn't do that to Diana and Kelly." 

All of the secrets were coming out. When Adalind and Nick had last talked, there was no significant time for any catching up.

"I understand why you did what you did. I don't blame you, and I think that you and I need to stay in touch more," Nick said, "But, right now, I need your help."

"What is it?" she asked. She sounded like she would do anything for Nick.

"Do you know where Trubel is?" Nick asked.

"No. She's not with you?" Adalind asked. Nick hadn't had time to tell Adalind about Trubel yet, either.

"Bonaparte and Renard took her when they tried to kill me. She saved my life and, now, I'm trying to find her. Any leads I've gotten have come up short. I haven't been able to get any members of Black Claw to talk. Most of them really seem like they have no idea who Trubel is... I haven't been able to find out if Black Claw has a compound like HW had, and the only person who would know if they did is Trubel."

"Renard didn't tell me that he had Trubel, I swear!" Adalind promised, disgusted with Renard. "I hope she's okay," Adalind said.

"Me, too." Nick felt lost. He didn't know what to say.

"I'll find out what I can. I'll call you when Renard leaves again," Adalind said.

"Be careful," Nick said. "Renard is going to be curious how you found out about Trubel."

"I will be..." Adalind paused. "I really do love you, Nick."

Nick didn't hesitate. He knew he couldn't deny it. "I love you, too." He hung up.

Eve was starting to get it together, but it still hurt to hear Nick say that he loves Adalind. The stick did something to her, but she couldn't really figure out what, exactly. She knew that she had less control than she had before, but she also knew that she wasn't Juliette.

"I'm going again," Eve said.

Nick turned to her. "Where?" he asked.

"To find any remaining cells of HW," she said. "I want Trubel back as much as you do, Nick, but I can't wait and do nothing while to the world is at war. I'm going after Black Claw, and maybe I'll be able to get more information."

"Be careful," Rosalee and Nick yelled to Eve.

"You, too," she replied. Eve nodded and left to save the world. She knew that Trubel would want her to keep fighting if Trubel herself couldn't. Eve was also hoping she would run into someone who knew about Trubel on her mission.

Renard came home and he looked like hell. He looked fine, on the outside, actually, but something about his expression was off. He seemed like he wasn't feeling well, or like someone just gave him bad news. He had just seen Trubel meet with Bonaparte's friends. 

Adalind found him staring blankly in the doorway.

"Sean..." Adalind said.

"Adalind."

"What happened?" Adalind asked.

"Just a rough day at work," he told her.

"Don't you want to tell me about it?" she asked with an edge of anger slipping into her voice.

"No, I don't," he replied coldly.

"Is Trubel okay?" Adalind asked.

Renard's head snapped up to look at Adalind. She knew.

"How do you know about that?" Renard asked.

"Sean, you didn't answer my question!" she yelled.

"I don't know," he said.

"What do you mean you don't know, Sean, tell me!?" Adalind yelled. She was terrified that something happened to Trubel.

"She's alive." Renard realized he couldn't really guarantee that and corrected himself. "Or was an hour ago. That's all I know and that's all I'm telling you," he said and started walking upstairs.

"How long have you known?" she asked while following him.

"A while," he said.

"How could you do this?!" she demanded.

"I didn't do anything," Renard said.

"It doesn't look like you tried to stop it!" Adalind and Sean had to lower their voices so they wouldn't wake up the children. "Where is she?" Adalind asked.

"Who wants to know? Burkhardt?" he asked.

"I want to know!" she looked at his face. He didn't look moved. "Sean, please," she begged. "Trubel is my friend."

"She's at the compound, but I can't tell you where it is, all right?!" he snapped.

"I want to see her," Adalind asked.

"You can't. And you don't get to talk to your other friends anymore," he commanded. "I'll make sure of that."

He left Adalind in the upstairs hallway to go back downstairs. He needed a drink.

Adalind rushed to her room and called Nick.

"Nick, it's me."

"Adalind?"

"He's home and I can't talk much. She's alive," Adalind said.

"Thank God," Nick whispered and Adalind kept talking.

"She's at 'the compound,' but I don't know where it is, and Sean wouldn't tell me. I have to go. I love you." She hung up after Nick said he loved her, too.

Sean found her phone the next day and didn't leave the house so he could keep an eye on her. Bonaparte sent a guard in to watch Adalind for the times when Renard had business to take care of. He was still furious about Renard no longer becoming Mayor. 

Needless to say, Nick wasn't getting any calls from Adalind.

Renard checked the phone number that Adalind called and traced it back to Bud's shop. Everyone was gone by the time Renard sent Black Claw agents to find them. If they were going to kill or capture Nick, they couldn't do it in public. He was no longer a fugitive. Bonaparte knew that any number of Black Claw agents could kill Nick and take the fall for it, but some part of him still wanted Nick alive. He could use Nick.

There was a celebration in Bud's repair shop. Trubel was alive for now which was more than many of them had expected. There was still hope.

"So, what do we do now, Nick?" Hank asked.

"I find her," Nick said. "And it's not going to be easy."

"What's the plan?" Wu asked.

"I need to find a Black Claw agent who knows where the compound is. They are going to take me there," Nick said.

"What?" Monrose asked in shock. "Dude, that's suicide!"

"I know," Nick responded. "That's why I'm going in alone."

"No way, man," Monroe said.

"Nick, let us help you," Rosalee said.

"I just need an agent who knows..." Nick mused. "Maybe if I'm less careful, they will find me and I won't have to go looking for them..."

"I'll help, too," said Bud, nervously. "She means a lot to me, too, you know? And I'm not a fan of Renard, either. Or that creepy Bonaparte."

"For now, we just need to get out of here," Nick said. "We aren't safe anymore. Renard knows about our calls, and he's going to trace the number. We have to go. Bud, you can help by going somewhere safe like a public place where Black Claw wouldn't make a move. Thank you for your help. We owe you one." Nick smiled.

"Well, uh, if you need anything else..." Bud stuttered.

"We won't Bud. Thank you," Monroe said.

"Okay, i-i-if you have to go. Just, uh... stay safe too," Bud said and broke down. "I love you guys," he said.

Bud was able to grab Nick and Monroe in one hug. Everyone else joined in. It might be the last time that they were all together.

Black Claw agents had found Nick and his friends from time to time, but none of them lived to tell about it. Until now... Nick, Monroe, Rosalee, Hank, and Wu were all in the Spice Shop. It had been awhile since charges were dropped against Nick and Renard wasn't concerned about going after the others anymore. Monroe and Rosalee were able to keep the Spice Shop running, and figured people would stop looking for Nick there. They were wrong.

"Burkhardt, we have been looking for you," said one of the agents. He was a Blutbad. There were three others with him that walked in the shop from the back door that they broke down. They figured that they might be lucky enough to find Nick there. The doors were locked, the shop was closed, but the lights were on and it was way past closing time.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing," Nick responded. "It's not a good day unless I get to kill a few Black Claw agents."

The Blutbad laughed. "I've wanted to kill a Grimm for a long time. I never thought it would be you, though."

"Me? What do you mean, 'me'?" Nick asked.

"I always thought I was going to kill your Grimm friend, but that didn't work out," the Blutbad answered.

"Trubel?" Nick asked.

"Theresa," the Blutbad corrected and saw he struck a nerve with the Grimm. "Trouble would be a fitting nickname, actually," he said.

"Guys, get out of here," Nick shouted over his shoulder to his friends. It was time.

"Nick, no, we aren't just going to-" Monroe tried to say.

"Go! Get out of here! Be safe!" he told them.

Monroe, Rosalee, Hank, and Wu all hesitated. They looked at Nick who was sacrificing himself for Trubel and the rest of them. Everyone understood what was likely to happen, and it was all starting there, at that moment.

"We love you, man," Monroe said, choked up.

"I love you guys, too," Nick said. "It's okay," he soothed.

The group of friends disappeared out the door. They knew that they could safely return as soon as Nick was gone. Black Claw only wanted him.

"Well, isn't that sweet," the main Blutbaden said. The three other Blutbaden were going to follow after Nick's friends, but Nick punched one in the face and they all backed off.

"You only get me, got it?" he said.

"Oh, I think we got it. Bonaparte doesn't care about your friends anyway," said the leader of the pack. He looked at Nick, taking in his protective and aggressive stance. "You are just like Theresa!" he exclaimed. "Come on," he said zip tying Nick's wrists behind his back. He didn't resist at all.

"Bonaparte, you are never going to believe who we found!" Blake told Bonaparte over the phone. Nick was sitting in the back of a paneled van, rolling his eyes at almost everything Blake said.

"Burkhardt?" Bonaparte guessed.

"Alive," Blake said excitedly. "We're bringing him in."

"I'll make the preparations," Bonaparte said. "Do not tell Theresa that he's here. I want it to be a surprise."

"Can do, sir." Blake hung up the phone.

Vincent was waiting in the garage for them. He was going to take care of Burkhardt until preparations were made to have a meeting between him and Theresa.

Blake opened the doors on the back of the van and said, "Ta-da!" Robert called him an idiot.

"Okay, okay," Vincent said. "I got it from here."

"What?" Blake said in confusion.

"Bonaparte says that I'm in charge of Burkhardt. Get out of here and have Theresa meet us in the training room in twenty minutes. Bonaparte doesn't want you to tell her that Burkhardt's here, okay?"

Blake rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said disappointedly and walked off.

"You guys can go, too," he said to Blake's pack.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" they asked.

"Go!" Vincent commanded sternly and they followed after Blake.

Vincent started talking to the new Grimm.

"I don't know what you're doing here, or what you're expecting to happen. And I don't know what's going on in your head right now, but I'm going to trust you because I know you care about Theresa and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize her." Vincent took out a knife and cut off Nick's zip tie. "You should also know that she isn't the same person that she was when she got here. She's different, and I think it's going to upset you."

"I have been looking for her for what seems like forever. Anything is better than finding her dead," Nick said.

"She isn't the same," Vincent said sadly. He felt like he lost the girl he cared about, and it was under his watch. It was all his fault.

"We'll see about that," Nick said.

Maybe there was hope of getting her back with Burkhardt around.

"Then, let's do this," Vincent said. "By the way, my name's Vincent."

"Nick," Nick introduced. They shook hands in understanding. Nick asked himself if that really happened.

Vincent led Nick through the twists and turns of the compound. Nick followed along obediently. People would pass them in the hall and would cringe with disgust at the Grimm that they had been after for so long. It was especially troubling to see him walk through the hall under his own power. Some people might have even attacked Nick if they weren't so afraid of what Theresa would do to them if they did.

They made it to the training room and waited for Theresa to come.

"I should wait outside for this and give you two some privacy," Vincent left.

Nick paced, fidgeted, and looked around him. He spotted security cameras in the corner.

What did he get himself into?

He heard knocking at the door.

*************

Cliffhanger! I hope you guys are enjoying the story! Don't forget to vote, comment, and let me know how you are liking the story so far! Thanks for all of your support and for taking this journey with me on Looking for Trubel!