From his spot by Nick's hospital room door, Sean watched the sun set over Mount Hood. The mountain itself was barely visible at this point in the day but since he'd been staring at it ever since Nick had fallen asleep, he didn't need to actually see it in order to stare at it. Nick had taken his time during the shower earlier in the afternoon. As a result, he had been exhausted by the time he had made his painstakingly slow way back to his newly cleaned bed and, after being given a small dose of pain medication, took a small nap. Sean inwardly snorted at that. Small wasn't the correct term in the slightest. Or rather, short would be the truly inaccurate word as Nick had been sleeping for almost four hours. He shifted uncomfortably in the hard chair as dark descended upon Portland. About an hour into his watch, Sean had given up trying to find a better position as all of them were uncomfortable, but still, he was restless and he was trying to hide it, so he moved some more.

"You don't have to stay, you know." Nick's voice was rough from disuse and mumbled from sleep but there was no denying that he was awake and aware. His hospital bed began to rise so that the grimm was about three quarters from sitting upright; from there Nick did the rest on his own, wincing when it hurt. He looked up when Sean said nothing, his expression as unreadable as the man could make it. "You don't have to guard me," he restated. "And I'm not in any danger of dying any time soon so there's no reason for you to be here twenty-four seven."

Just listening to the words, one would think that Sean should be offended or insulted. Nick was essentially kicking him out, telling him to stop coming around so much. Rather than pay attention to what his grimm was saying, Sean chose to focus on what he was feeling. The bond felt strained, its music coming through in a staccato rather than its usual steady stream. Sean knew that Nick was annoyed, being forced to stay in the hospital rather than being released, but what he hadn't realized was how stressed the detective was as well.

Though Nick was trying to pretend that he was alright, it had become pretty obvious this afternoon when Sean had touched a small portion of Nick's back that he wasn't. The startled, almost frightened, look that had been on the younger man's face had angered Sean, had had him wishing anew that he could re-kill his brother, but it had also shown him that Nick's mind was as yet unable to reconcile itself to the idea of safety. From what Koehn had said, that hadn't been the first time that that had happened. The only thing that differed from each time was Nick's reaction; often times it had been violence, with Nick striking out at whoever got close to him but a few times, usually when it was someone the grimm knew, there was nothing but fear.

It had been then that Sean had made an executive decision. With Hank, who evidently was the one able to make medical decisions for Nick, as his backup, Sean had told Koehn that he was checking Nick out of the hospital AMA. The doctor had argued against it but it had been halfheartedly done as the löwen had been able to tell that Nick was ready to leave. He had stressed several things, of course, the highest of which being to make sure that the grimm was safe wherever he was going and that he didn't over-stress or overtire himself, but he had given in.

Sean smiled, sitting forward so that his arms rested on his thighs. "Actually, we will both be going." Nick's brows wrinkled into a confused expression. "Aside for your needing to regain your strength, there is no real reason to keep you here and as a result of my pointing that out to him, your doctor has agreed to release you into my care."

"Really?" Nick asked, clearly doubting the truth of Sean's words. "Just like that, he said I could go?"

"Well, he would have preferred to keep you here until you're a bit stronger, of course, but Hank and I advised against it and convinced him it would be better if he didn't."

"And how did you manage that?" the other man quipped, smiling his usual wry smirk.

"We explained that you would heal faster, and more completely, at home, where you felt most safe and comfortable."

Nick's smile faded ever so slightly, showing that he understood what Sean hadn't said. "When?"

Sean inwardly winced; that was where the good news ended. "Tomorrow. Koehn wouldn't allow you to leave until then."

"So, what do we do tonight?" Nick's tone was wry, sarcastically suggestive even. The ice in his eyes told Sean not to take it at face value, and so he didn't. As happy as he might have been about being released, he seemed angry at being kept for the night. Sean inwardly shrugged. Let him be mad. Another night in the hospital wasn't going to hurt Nick and it wasn't like being home was going to magically help him.

Nick let the silence linger for a moment longer and then he sighed. "Look, just because I'm going to be here the rest of the night doesn't mean that you have to be. Go home. Get some proper rest." He paused a minute, as though to gauge whether his words had any effect, and then he added, "Look, I'm assuming Hank will be here shortly so I'll be protected, if that's what you're worried about."

"What makes you think I'm worried?" Sean countered with a smirk, leaning back in his chair and looking as relaxed as he could be while sitting in a hard plastic chair.

Nick tapped his ear with his left hand. "I know."

Fair enough. "I'm not worried about your safety. Trust me, no one is going to get within fifty feet of you without my approval." He paused, trying to think of a way to phrase his motives without sounding like a complete sap. "Believe it or not, Nick, I'm not here for you. I'm here for me, just as your friends come here for them."

"What are you talking about?" Nick's brows furrowed as his face showed the confusion which Sean heard in his voice.

"You were kidnapped, Nick."

A minor flinch flashed across Nick's face. "I know. I was there."

"But we weren't." Sean's gaze snapped to meet Nick's, fire in his eyes and anger in his veins. Thinking of it made his rage rekindle. He let himself feel it, let himself roil in the blood surging through his veins like a dog in mud. He looked away just as he felt his control begin to slip, letting himself calm down before he looked at his grimm again. "You were taken, Nick. From us. Did you ever think that maybe we aren't ready to let you out of our sight just yet?"

Surprise covered Nick's face, replacing the confusion. Evidently he hadn't thought of that. "You guys are worried that I'll leave again," Nick quietly said, as though to himself. He paused a moment and then said, "You're worried that if I do, you won't be able to find me again."

"Something like that," Sean conceded. He didn't like the pity - or was that concern? - that he saw in Nick's eyes. A part of him flinched at it because he wasn't the one that had gone through something traumatic, Nick had. The other part of him lashed out at the look, furious that it should be felt necessary. The bond whined, the sounds of a violin, depressed and strained, filling Sean's mind. Ignoring the utter sadness coming from his grimm, Sean continued, "The point is that none of us are quite ready to let you out of our sights just yet."

"Which is where I come in."

Hank's voice was unwelcome but Sean swallowed his displeasure as best he could. The same could not be said for Nick. The grimm's reaction was almost immediate after hearing his partner's voice. Blue eyes, beautiful and green-looking, flicked towards over Sean's left shoulder where Hank stood in the doorway, his body relaxing ever so slightly as the bond began to smooth out into a rhythm far more normal, comforting even, than it had been mere seconds ago.

Not wishing to be dismissed quite yet, Sean remained where he was, watching his mate. When Nick looked back at him, the strain, the sadness, the stress, had receded, allowing something of the Nick Sean had known to be seen. It hurt, knowing that he couldn't do that for his grimm, but he hid it. Although having Nick around was a balm to Sean, he knew that the same wasn't yet entirely true in reverse. They had a small ways to go before that could be said.

As the sadness started to filter through the bond again, Sean got up. He'd forgotten that Nick would be able to tell what he was feeling; though he wouldn't have known the precise reasons. "I'll see you in the morning, Nick," he said, dismissing himself as cooly as he had done the two before him many times before. Stifling the desire to pull his grimm to him, to kiss him, Sean turned around and left, hoping that Hank could do what he hadn't been able to.

oOo

Hank remained standing, waiting until the Captain had left until he fully entered the room. Ever since they had gotten Nick back, the man had been testier than normal with reference to Nick. It was as though he felt the rest of them were intruders, that he and he alone had the right to Nick's presence and no one else did. On some level, Hank could understand where his boss was coming from but for the most part it irked him. Renard hadn't been the only one to lose Nick, albeit only for a short time; they all had.

For his part, Hank had thought that having Nick back would have made him feel better. But while it didn't make him feel worse, it wasn't the relief he had thought it would be. During the first week of Nick's recovery, Hank had spent as much time as he could with his friend. It was during those days that he had first seen the brands on his partner's back. Hank had tottered between fury at the one who had done it and feeling sick with the idea of how much Nick had suffered.

The first time he had touched one of them, Nick had reacted..badly. The black eye had been quite noticeable and had had Nick apologizing at least five times during Hank's next visit. He had been wary of going near them ever since, doing his best not to touch his friend as he did so. Even though Nick was mostly okay now, Hank still didn't want to touch Nick, just in case he did something wrong. He hated the distance this entire fiasco had put between them but he couldn't think of another way not to bring back all that had happened in one touch.

"I hear you're gettin out tomorrow," he said as he took up the seat that the Captain had just vacated.

"I hear that I have you to thank for it," his partner returned. His movements were stiff as he got off the bed and limped over to the only other chair in the room but they were better than they had be, proving how well he was physically healing. Though Hank had been told that Nick's stab wound was healing perfectly but his posture still seemed hunched, as though the wound were still tender. Having never been stabbed, Hank wasn't sure how long it took for the muscles to knit back together but he thought that they should be almost done by now. The limp, he was assured, was normal as the ankle, which had been continually re-injured while he'd been held captive, would take longer to get back to its normal strength. It was the hunched position that continued to worry him.

"I didn't do anything but sign the papers." They both knew that if he hadn't, Nick wouldn't be leaving. "How you doin?"

Nick smirked, his eyes colder than they had just been. "Looking forward to getting out of here."

"That's not what I meant and you know," Hank reprimanded. While he was with Nick, Hank did his best not to be too overbearing as well as keep things as light as possible. But tonight, he wasn't able to do that. The Captain had been adamant that Nick be released and allowed to go home and though Hank hadn't necessarily argued with the notion, he wasn't sure that he was all for it, either. He wanted to make sure that Nick was okay enough to be at home before it was too late to change his mind.

"I'm better."

Vague but more honest than he had just been. "You're moving better," Hank acknowledged. The chair in which Nick sat was of slightly better quality than the one that Hank was in. It certainly wasn't what Hank would call comfortable but it was better. Even so, it had Nick shifting in it as he tried to find a position that would allow him to be comfortable.

"I won't be running any marathons any time soon, but like I said, I'm better."

"I can see that," Hank retorted as his friend shifted again, this time with pain crossing his features. "How's the side?"

"It's coming along." He paused while he shifted again. He moved as though he were going to lean forward but he soon stopped with a wince. "Much like the rest of me, it's not perfect but it's better."

Hank didn't respond, settling for merely watching his partner instead. He wanted to inquire after Nick's back, wanting to make sure that no lasting damage - aside from the scars/brands, of course - had been done. As with Nick's other injuries, Hank had been assured that the damage done to his back wasn't serious but Hank still felt the need for some sort of proof, or to hear it from Nick's mouth rather than a third party's.

"So, we just gonna stare at one another all night?" Nick asked, clearly uncomfortable with the direct focus and making a joke of it.

"What happened while you were held captive?" Hank made sure to keep his voice soothing, exuding only some of the curiosity he felt. A part of him wasn't sure that he really wanted to know but at the same time, he did. Mostly he wanted to get Nick talking about it so that he could slow move on from it.

Nick's brows furrowed in confusion. "Is there some police report that I don't know anything about?"

"No. We agreed that filing a repot wouldn't do any good and we're standing by that. But I do think that you need to talk about it, otherwise it's going to haunt you for the rest of your life."

Even while he was talking, Hank could see Nick putting barriers up. By the time he was done, Nick was no longer looking at him, his eyes slightly downcast and his expression cold. Hank had seen that expression a couple times and it was usually when his friend was angry. He didn't think that was the case this time but he couldn't be sure. It was entirely possible that Nick was angry at what had transpired in the past month but it was also possible that he felt defensive and was upset with Hank. If it was the former, that was just fine and if it was the latter, that was just too damn bad because Hank wasn't going to let this drop.

A wry smirk crossed Nick's face, almost self-deprecating. "And here I thought I was going to get away with not having to say anything about it."

"Maybe with the Captain since he was already partially aware of what was going on with you but with me, yes you do. Now I don't need to know every little detail but I do want to know what has happened." He paused to lean forward, resting his arms on his thighs. "So, tell me."

It took awhile for Nick to resign himself to doing it. When he did, he sighed and moved again, this time into a slouching position that was apparently more comfortable for him than all the others. As he talked, Hank had trouble keeping calm and quiet. Hank had never thought of himself as overprotective; hell, he still didn't. But as Nick described the fights he'd been forced into and the consequences of his losing, Hank had felt the stirrings of protective rage in his heart. It didn't take long for Hank to surmise that the first time Nick had been branded was that night in Monroe's living room when the Captain had fallen to the ground in pain. How often had Renard felt Nick's pain? Had he hidden it or had he simply been alone during each incident?

"The Captain felt when you were burned, did you know that?" he asked once Nick had finished telling his story.

Blue eyes, which had been unfocused while he'd been talking, sharpened on him with surprise shining through. "No," he said, though Hank hadn't needed him to do it; he could tell from his partner's expression that he hadn't known. "How do you know?"

"We were there when it first happened. The Captain was giving as an update on a possible lead on you when he suddenly stopped and curled in on himself in pain. It took a bit of time but eventually he told us what was happening. Does this have to do with that bond thing that you two have?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Nick's brows wrinkled in confusion. "I'm honestly not all too sure what this bond between Sean and I entails. Not fully at least." He paused then with a wry smirk added, "I doubt even Sean knows. Something tells me that not many regnants have mated, whether willingly or unwillingly, with a grimm."

Hank harrumphed as though to say that was probably an understatement but didn't reply otherwise. He thought that he remembered being told - by whom, he wasn't sure - that regnant's shared a bond when they mated with one another, but he couldn't remember what said bond entailed or if it could even be compared to sharing one with a grimm. With a look over at his partner, Hank decided it was best not to bring it up with him. Nick looked as though he were in his own world, and though he looked a bit..well..grim, he also looked relaxed and that wasn't something that Hank was going to mess with. Instead, he pulled out his phone and shot a text message off to Monroe, who could then ask Rosalee. A brief memory of her saying that she wasn't sure about the details of how the bond worked flitted through his mind so that when the same reply came back from Rosalee, via Monroe, Hank wasn't the least bit surprised or disappointed. He could think of one person whom he could ask but Hank knew that that was best left up to Nick, who was now the bonded mate of said person, than him.

"You could always ask the Captain," Hank lightly suggested.

"I could," Nick granted in such a tone as suggested that he wasn't planning on doing it. He shifted, this time to get out of the chair, and then went over to the bed. "For now, you should go home."

"Uh-uh," Hank answered, settling into a comfortable slouch in the chair. "You aren't dismissing me that easy. "I told the Captain that I'd be here all night and I'm sticking to it."

"Pretty sure you didn't specify how long you'd be here," Nick answered.

"We both know that it was assumed I'd be here in the morning when he came back. Just go to sleep." He held up a copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea then placed it in his lap. "I've plenty to keep me occupied."

Nick rolled his eyes, looking annoyed and exasperated, but didn't argue further. He squirmed a little to get comfortable in the bed then closed his eyes. And then proceeded to ignore Hank for the rest of the night.