Author's Note: This story is the product of several sleepless nights. I started writing it as a type of mental "palate cleanser," and it sort of took on a life of its own. I've read many of the Grimm Fan Fics, which inspired me to write my own. No creative infringement on my part is intentional. It's my first post, so reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed and appreciated. Warning, the story is rated M for a reason and the characters are a bit OOC. I decided to write a real hardcore, blutbad-on-steroids type of Monroe, so proceed with caution. I also flipped the Grimm upside down on "his' head. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

And away we go…

Disclaimer: I do not own the Grimm series, characters, story lines, etc. Or any of the song titles or lyrics.

Chapter One: The Dog Days are Over

The Grimm trudged through the rain slick parking lot, through ankle-deep puddles that soaked shoes and pant hems with frigid wetness. It had been raining nonstop for over a week. The relentless, icy rain brought with it a clammy, pervasive fog and a bone-chilling dampness that seemed immune to any attempts to ward it off. The drive to work was slow going due to the inclement weather. When the Grimm finally arrived at the precinct, all of the good parking spaces were already occupied. Forced to park in the far flung reaches of the precinct parking lot, the Grimm began the 15 minute walk to the office. The Grimm did not mind the walk, it allowed time for reflection before the long day started, and the cold breeze cleared the brain of extraneous thoughts.

For a while now, the Grimm's instincts had been working overtime. The neophyte Grimm was jumpy and distracted, and in this line of work (Cop and Grimm), that could get you killed. Every shadowy space held a threat, every dark alleyway led, in the Grimm's imagination, to some unseen, monstrous foe. But Aunt Marie told the Grimm to trust instincts, to be in tune with the "sixth sense" that all Grimm's possessed. The Grimm's instincts did not detect outright hostility, but on the other hand, they didn't detect goodwill either. It was troubling. Almost everywhere the Grimm went, work, home, the grocery store; a presence seemed to follow. The only reprieve from the invisible interloper seemed to be when the Grimm went to visit Monroe. Eddy Monroe, the Grimm's Blutbad friend and confidante. He was the only living person that the Grimm could confide in. The Grimm had started spending more and more time at Monroe's place. At first, the Grimm would swing by the Blutbad's house to discuss a creature-related case, but as time progressed, the Grimm found other reasons to go see Monroe: on Monroe's front steps late at night with a bag of greasy Chinese take-out in hand, coffee and croissants in the park, a cup of hot green tea at midnight in Monroe's living room. Monroe was important to the Grimm, and not just for his creature knowledge either. Walk slowing, the Grimm grappled with feelings that were difficult to qualify.

The Grimm stopped before the glass doors of the precinct, reflection staring back. Eyes traveled down the slim form, cataloging the attire- black leather jacket, dark jeans and black boots with a platform heel. The eyes finally rested on the face. Pretty features were discernible underneath the ebony mop of long hair and the wet bangs plastered across the forehead. Large, faded blue eyes, the color of the washed-out sky, were outlined with lush black lashes. Full red lips slanted in a slight frown. The Grimm sighed and entered the building. Something was not right, something in fact, was very wrong. The Grimm felt the presence again, like a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Instincts screamed danger, a battle cry reverberated in the Grimm's skull. Yes, something ominous was lurking, waiting; and Nicole Burkhardt was going to figure out who or what it was, even if it killed her.