Binding Fate

Expecting Company

Veronica couldn't get rid of the shell shock she had gained from hearing that her father was coming to town, it was like having cement around your hands and feet. Heavy and unshakable. She was especially worried about Nick, more specifically how her father would react to him. She suspected her father had suspicions about her professional relationship with Nick.

Typical paternal instincts.

They were meant to meet him at a Watcher detention facility where the captured Darkspire operatives were being held.

"Hey, you okay?" Nick asked, noticing Veronica's reverie.

"Yeah, it's just that I haven't seen my dad in a while."

Nick placed his hand over Veronica's, a natural reaction that she welcomed. Just like old times.

...

Juliette walked into the precinct with two cups of coffee and two muffins. A peace offering and conversation starter, she wanted to surprise Nick and work towards making dinner plans. She saw Hank and noticed that Nick's desk had been cleared out.

"Juliette, hey what are you doing here?" said Hank surprised to see the veterinarian in the precinct. "Are you here as a translator again?"

"No, I came to talk to Nick," answered Juliette, gesturing to the vacant desk, pressure rising in her chest as if someone was crushing her heart with their fist. "Why is his desk empty? Where is he?"

"Nick accepted a job with the CILESO, it's a federal law enforcement organization," answered Griffin, not sure if he should continue. "he's working as an investigative field agent."

"He is? W-when did that happen?"

"Yesterday."

"He never told me about that."

"Yes, it came in as quite a shock to all of us."

The redhead turned around and saw Sean Renard standing beside his office door. She stepped back closer to Hank, still not comfortable with being around the Captain.

Renard walked closer to them, either not noticing Juliette's discomfort or simply just ignoring it.

"He left before I arrived and had Hank deliver his resignation for him." added the bastard. "isn't that right?"

"Yes sir, that's right."

"Did he say why he accepted the job?" asked Juliette, wanting to get straight to the point.

"He said that they made an offer he couldn't refuse," said Hank, wanting the vet to leave as soon as possible, "they said he'd be operating at a bigger level and that he could pick up more skills as he did so."

"Did he say why he couldn't simply do that with us?" pushed Renard.

"CILESO is a federal organization with billions of dollars powering it and it's about to get an operating contract with the UN and several other global law enforcement agencies." said the detective, looking Renard in the eyes. "They're about to work in international law enforcement, I'd say that Nick would be crazy not to accept the offer."

Both men felt something was off and turned to see that Juliette had gone off.

The veterinarian was in the elevator taking in what she had been told: Nick got a new job. What did this mean? Was he starting over? Did he do it to get away from her?

Juliette further processed the information and took a breath, there could be a thousand reasons for this. She recomposed herself and continued on her way out. As she did so she got a call from Hank. He said that Nick was working with Veronica Donovan, Nick's former partner from his uniform days.

Juliette had met Veronica before when Nick was still a uniform. She liked her, they got along well. The redhead admired the other woman in a way, she was smart, strong, and practically a modern-day Amazonian warrior. She was disappointed when she learned that Veronica had left Portland.

Nick was in good hands and Juliette someone to help get insight into his feelings regarding her. There was nothing to worry about.

If only she knew.

...

At the top of the CILESO holding facility, a helicopter landed on the roof. Inside was a man with dark brown hair, stern blue eyes, and a piercing scowl. He stood at six feet and was strongly built for his age.

William Donovan got off the helicopter and mulled over the situation: the Darkspire agents in custody were exhibiting reclusive and suicidal behavior and bore unique scars in vital parts of their bodies. This was strange considering none of them had any response to any of the interrogation techniques that were applied to them.

But all this was of secondary importance to the seasoned Grimm. What got his attention was his daughter and her old-new partner, Nick Burkhardt. He knew of him before when he and Veronica were still partners as uniformed police officers and was impressed to a degree with his growing reputation as a Grimm but that didn't stop Will from suspecting something going on between Burkhardt and Veronica. He'd have to keep a close eye on the new Grimm.

Of course, he never had trouble warding boys away from any of his daughters, regardless of their age or background. Burkhardt was just another staredown, even if he did put up a fight. He'd have the kid running for the hills in record time.