Epilogue –

Sean walked into Nick's House, letting himself in with the spare key the Grimm had given him long ago. He placed his keys on the key ring by the door then took off his coat and laid it across the open banister that separated the living room from the foyer. Inhaling deeply, Sean could tell that Nick was currently in pain from the rancid smell on the air. He'd been kept informed by Hank on what the medic had instructed and what injuries Nick had aggravated from his collision with the Skalengeck. Sean had found it odd that Hank would tell him all this but he supposed that it made a little sense since he was Nick's boss.

Old floorboards creaked under his weight as he climbed the stairs and went into the bedroom where Nick had been since Hank had brought him home. Nick lay on the bed with his back, chest and head were supported by several pillows so that he was upright and comfortable. His torso was bare, exposing the new bruising on his side that encircled the old. His eyes were closed with his arms lying by his sides and his hands lax with sleep.

Walking on the balls of his feet so he didn't wake his partner, Sean walked into the room and climbed into bed.

"Get tired of staring did you?" Nick's gruff voice asked though his eyes remained close.

Sean smiled at the Grimm's ploy; of course he'd heard Sean enter, he's probably aware of the Regnant's presence since he pulled up outside the house. He wrapped himself around Nick's still form, pulling the younger man's leg possessively towards his body. Sean did his best to ignore the brief grimace that crossed his lover's face as he curled himself around him but it was hard when the smell of pain filled his nostrils and choked his lungs.

"Never," Sean replied once he was comfortable, leaning his head on top of Nick's. Gently, the Regnant ran his hands through Nick's hair, making sure to lightly drag his fingers as he went. He felt Nick shiver in pleasure as he did it and got comfortable so he could continue. Nick groaned as his head was shifted but it was the only sound he made. "When was the last time you took something for the pain?"

"Right before we left," Nick replied though he sounded tired more than anything.

Carefully as he could, Sean disentangled himself from his mate and went to grab another dose of medication. It wasn't anything more than Advil but he knew it would make the pounding in Nick's head easier to deal with.

The medic had said that Nick had a slight concussion but he was fine to receive medicine as well as sleep. They'd also said that Nick had gotten a lovely bruise on his back from when he landed but that other than the new bruise over Nick's ribs, he was fine. Sean had calmed when she'd said that but he was still quite angry with the Skalengeck that had ran him over. He'd wanted to rip the lizard's throat out but he knew he couldn't; justice needed serving and it wouldn't happen if the creature was dead.

While he waited for Nick to swallow the pills and finish the water, Sean changed into a pair of sweat pants, matching Nick's form of dress though his wasn't voluntarily. Usually the Grimm preferred to sleep with some sort of shirt on but Sean supposed that he was too sore to attempt that tonight.

When he noticed that Nick was more or less lying in the middle of the bed, an idea popped into his head. Slowly, carefully, Sean crawled back onto the bed then straddled Nick's hips. One blue-grey eye opened then the other, looking at him with curiosity in them. With a smirk, Sean lowered himself so that he hovered above Nick's supported torso then he pressed his lips to the bruise over Nick's ribs.

Kisses never made anything feel better but it didn't stop Sean from gingerly kissing every bruise he could see. Nick stared open-mouthed at him as he slinked like a cat up from the Grimm's torso to each shoulder then to his face. By the time Sean began kissing the corner of Nick's eye, the man was moaning under his breath. Through the pulse in his neck, Sean could feel his partner's heart racing.

"Calm down," Sean whispered into Nick's ear, "you'll only cause yourself more pain."

"I wouldn't have to worry about it if you weren't crawling over me like a seductive cat," Nick replied before capturing Sean's mouth in a needing kiss. His hands came up and held firmly onto the back of Sean's head, making sure that he couldn't pull away before the Grimm was done. Of course, Sean could have forced Nick's hands off his head if he'd really wanted to but he didn't want to hurt him.

They both pulled apart at the same time, both needing air that the kiss didn't allow. Sean's green eyes slow changed to a heated orange that reflected exactly what he wanted to do at the moment. He felt the change happen but it was Nick's smile that told him what they were showing.

Nick's smile changed into a grimace and his hand went to his side. A blush crept onto his prominent cheek bones when he saw that Sean had noticed. "Perhaps we should wait," he suggested shyly, repeating the very thing Sean had been trying to say earlier.

"Yes, perhaps we should," Sean agreed, settling in beside Nick. He placed a kiss on top of the man's head then pulled him as close as he could get.

"You aren't going to let me come back tomorrow, are you?" Nick asked once they were both settled.

"You shouldn't have gone back today," was Sean's reply. In truth, he hadn't actually decided if he was going to let Nick go back tomorrow or not; it all depended on how easily the injured man was moving in the morning.

"That's a matter of opinion," Nick returned. "I was doing fine and you know it."

"Until you decided to physically stop a Skalengeck from escaping."

Nick moved his head so he could look back up at Sean. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the Regnant, "What do you want?"

"I can't imagine what you mean," Sean replied lazily though he knew he'd been caught. While he didn't want anything specific, he did want the Grimm to make him a promise, though he doubted he needed to extort the man to get it from him.

"Don't play games with me," Nick retorted, "I know you want something so just tell me what it is."

"I want you to promise that you will stop putting yourself in danger."

Nick's answering laugh rumbled through Sean's chest. He knew how ridiculous it sounded but he couldn't help it. It was driving him crazy how often the man seemed to come home with scratches and bruises and he wanted it to stop.

"At least when I'm around to see it," Sean added with a smile that Nick couldn't see.

"I'll try," Nick promised with a small groan when he moved back into position. "Now can I go back?"

"We'll see," Sean replied, cuddling closer against Nick and closing his eyes.

He was just about asleep when he heard the Grimm sleepily say, "I'm perfectly fine to go back to work."

Sean just smiled at the petulant remark. He felt Nick's breathing even out and deepen as was comfortable but he still replied, "That's a matter of opinion my little Grimm; a matter of opinion."

~fin~

So...what'd ya think? Did ya like it? Do you have an idea for a fic that you want me to write? Tell me, tell me, tell me! :D