Chapter eleven - Promises

Judy opened her eyes two seconds before her phone's alarm started beeping and turned it off. All four macaques, especially Suzie, had told her not to worry about waking them with that sound since they also wake up early, but she just couldn't help but not want to disturb them.

She had been sleeping in their house for three nights now, and had to admit that she liked to feel part of a family routine again. Only this time there were only five people living together, not almost four hundred. That was a nice change.

However, the lower number of inhabitants didn't make the bunny feel less at home: the four macaques treated her like one more of their family, not a temporal guest. She was asked to help around in any way she could, and Judy was very happy to oblige. Shana and her mother, who revealed herself as a nurse, insisted of taking daily care of Judy's wound and, after what happened her first day in the house, she would not dare say no.

Mark had not exaggerated when he said his mother would be furious for not telling her about Judy being shot. Judy was no stranger to see worry in the eyes of her parents, mainly because of her work, and they had been very scared the first time she got shot, almost a year ago; but to see someone else's mother worry about her was a first.

...

Flashback

...

The very moment Judy, Mark and Nathan stepped inside the house and Suzie saw her bandaged arm, she started asking questions, becoming more worried the more she heard what had happened during the shooting. When Mark and Judy finished their explanation and the consequences, she grabbed Mark's left ear and pinched it just enough to make her point across, though for Mark it surely hurt quite a bit if his pleadings for mercy and his facial gesture was any indication.

• Why didn't you tell us she was shot? Haven't we all been through all this before? What did we all agreed on that time when your father's friend got stabbed on the hand and the only thing I heard about it was "The police has detained someone, but an officer has been stabbed. There was a lot of blood!"?

• That no matter who got hurt, we would inform the rest of the family immediately! I know, I know, sorry, I'm sorry!- The image of a bend Mark due to Suzie's pulling of his ear was almost comical enough to make Judy laugh, but she felt a lot of guilt for being the cause all that.

• And why didn't any of you two do so?- Continued the female macaque, letting his son's ear go and looking at Nathan now who, despite his height and obvious physical superiority compared to his mother, took a couple of steps back.

• We didn't want you to worry, mom! And I only learned about it last night when Mark came home, she was already at her house by then!

• It's true, Suzie. It's not that bad, I was able to sleep at home that same night.- Intervened Judy, trying to appease the older female.- I just need a few days of taking it ease to heal. I was put on medical leave and Mark has offered me to stay here a few days.

• Hmp! Surely because he thought that would save his fur.- Suzie glanced at her youngest son, who was carefully rubbing his ear.- But he knows he should have offered you that YESTERDAY.

Judy saw Mark's Adam's apple go up and down, as if suddenly realizing that.

• Go to the drugstore and buy the usual medical supplies.- Asked him the elder macaque, now with a softer tone and expression.- I will take a look at it while you come back.

Mark didn't waste any second and fled through the door to do what she asked for. The bunny had not seen Shana's bad side yet, and by what she had heard hopped never to see it, but she understood where did she got it from.

...

End of flashback

...

After that, it was like she had always lived there. They even managed to figure out an order to use the two bathrooms without others having to wait, thanks to Judy of course. Growing up with so many siblings had its perks.

The bunny jumped out of the bed and stretched, being careful about her arm. Then moved it slowly to test the healing process. She still needed to take the painkillers, but only after a wrong movement that made her see the stars. The gauze under the bandage barely caught any blood anymore, even after moving around in bed during the night.

After a quick travel to the bathroom, she got dressed and headed to the living room. To her left, asleep on the couch with only his lower half covered under the blanket, was Mark. He had insisted that Judy slept in his bedroom and he would do so on the couch. Initially, Judy had opposed to that, but the macaque had already taken out bed covers and a blanket for him.

"I am going to sleep here. You can have either my bed or the floor if you want, but I think that someone should use it since I will not."- Said Mark that first night with a wink to the speechless bunny.

Muffling a giggled at the sound of a soft snore, she looked at her right, where Suzie was already preparing breakfast in the kitchen, the noises coming from there not affecting Mark's slumber at all.

The bunny walked inside and whispered from the doorstep:- Good morning.

Suzie turned and smiled at the sight of Judy, replying also with a low voice.- Good morning, dear. Breakfast?

• Just coffee, I'm not hungry right now.- Answered Judy walking towards the coffee machine, but even with her back facing the macaque she could feel an intense gaze directed at her.- Ok, a few toasts too, please.

Two pieces of bread were inserted in the toaster by the pleased looking female. The first day Judy met Suzie she already knew it, but since she was living with them it was clear that the elder monkey would not accept a no for an answer.

• Slept well?

• I did. Kind of hard not to in that king-sized bed of his.- Commented gesturing with her head to the sleeping monkey, making the other female to laugh softly.

• With a son like him, that loves to sleep so much, I learned to buy special mattresses for him. When he was little, I had a hard time getting him ready for school. He was always asking to let him sleep, looking at me with his sleepy eyes of his. He was so adorable more than once I was very close to surrender and let him.

• But you never did.- Guessed the bunny.

• Of course not, but he thinks I did a couple of times.- Said Suzie with a mischievous smile that peaked Judy's curiosity.

• How so?

Suzie shortened the distance between them and spoke like they were conspiring.- He was very small back then and didn't know what "free days" meant, so on some of those days the kids get school-free I pretended to try to wake him up like always but then allowed him to sleep longer, saying that he could skip school that day. When we woke up a while later, he would come to me and give me the sweetest hug and kisses you can imagine. Mark would leave my side or stop hugging me every chance he got even when my husband tried to bribe him with cookies.

• Awww, that is so adorable!- Exclaimed the bunny, trying to keep her voice down, before changing to an accusing look.- And very naughty of you.

• Oh, please, he never found out. By the time Mark learned about those free days at school, sadly the same year I started doing that, he didn't remember it. So, no harm done!

• And you got free kisses and hugs for a while.

• After two kids reaching the age where a hug in public is punishable by death, a mother learns to value those things when they happen, and tries to get them any chance she gets.

Both females giggled as softly as they could, but some mumbling and turning from the couch warned them and stopped, still with a wide smile on their faces.

• Say, Judy, I normally don't ask about these things, especially after Rhoan died, but...- The change of tone of her voice, from happy and delighted to worried and serious, shocked the bunny, forcing her to pay attention.- This raid you are training for, how dangerous is it?

Judy left the coffee cup she was holding on the counter and sighed. What could she say? And more importantly, how? She herself didn't know. By reflex, she turned her gaze to the sleeping macaque, wondering what had he explained to Suzie and what was she supposed to say, if anything at all.

• He has just explained the basics of it.- Said the elder macaque, as if she had read Judy's mind.- Whenever there was an important situation they had to attend, they told me a bit about it, so I could be prepared. This time... They have kept something from me, something I should know.

The bunny understood. She had called her parents the next day after she started living with Suzie and the other and, after almost thirty minutes of hearing what an irresponsible daughter she was for not telling them about being shot, she had explained them about the raid. Just enough for them to understand the importance of it, but also withholding the details of it. Since the first reaction from her parents had been to beg her not to go, especially after being shot, it was obvious that not telling everything was the right call. Judy didn't know Suzie enough to predict her actions but, if her own parents were any indication, the moment she knew the severity of things she would not let Nathan and Mark go, or she would be a nervous wreck until they came back home.

What could she tell Mark's mother without being too much? Would Mark be angry at her if she gave Suzie the information she was asking?

• Judy, please, I need to know what my boys are getting into this time.- Begged the macaque, for the first time since Judy met her looking as what she really was: a worried to death mother, tired of losing so many things throughout her life.

• As far as I know, this is the first time these measures have been taken. To give regular officers a crash course in SWAT training to perform as such with such little time is unheard of. But it is not because this raid is more dangerous than others. The fact is we don't know how dangerous it is. We are going to assault five different places at the same time and the ZPD has only twenty trained SWAT officers, that is not enough to ensure their safety if we spread our forces so thin. We don't know what is waiting for us in each place. Could be only two or three criminals making deals without any of their merchandise around or could be an army with enough firepower to control the whole city for all we know. The point of this training is for the untrained and inexperienced officers to fill the holes in each team, so whatever we face there we will come back.

Suzie had kept her eyes on her son during Judy's explanation, looking gradually more relaxed as the bunny spoke. She was still worried, that was very obvious and natural, but she was not as anxious as before.

• Thank you, Judy.- She said giving the leporid a hug.- Just promise me one thing, please.

• Sure, anything.

• Take care of my son. Both of them if you can, but don't let anything happen to Mark.

For a few seconds, Judy was silent, still in Suzie's embrace. Of course she would help Mark and Nathan in any way she could, but what the macaque was asking was something she didn't know if she was able to do.

Before she began to form an answer, some movement from the living room forced the females to separate and act as normal as possible. Mark was awake, sitting on the couch and rubbing his eyes, giving his lazy brain time to start up. By the time he looked to her mother and friend, the first was back to preparing breakfast and the other was drinking her coffee, acting like they have been chatting about anything except their work.

• Morning. How long have you been up?

• The question is, how long did you intend to sleep?- Asked her mother, back to her usual mood.- A few more minutes and you would not have time to take a shower.

Mark looked at her with a "I'm-so-sleepy-I-am-not-going-to-even-try-to-reply-that" look and started walking towards them, dresses with a white cotton shirt and short pajama trousers.- I will take the shower after breakfast. Now I need something to wake up or I will fall asleep on my feet in the shower.

• Wouldn't be the first time, honey.- Commented casually Suzie, making Judy to turn her face away from mark to hide that she was trying not to laugh.- But if you are going in later, I'll wake up Nathan to shower now and then I'll get dressed to buy groceries when you leave. Breakfast is ready, so dig in.

On her way to Nathan's bedroom and taking advantage that Mark had sat down on a chair near the table, Suzie paused for a moment and gave her son a hug from behind. Though a bit surprised, he returned it the affection before she resumed her way.

With her coffee in one paw and a pile of toasts on a plate in the other, Judy sat by her friend's left, trying not to think in what happened moments ago.

• Normally I would ask if you slept well, but your snores from before have already answered that.- Joked the bunny.

• I do not snore, Silk. I have a recording to prove that. I may have a strong breathing, but snore as in...- He made an exaggerated snore-like sound that almost made Judy choke with her coffee.- ... That I do not do.

• Why would you have a recording of that?- Asked her with curiosity.

• My brother. He broke his bed three years ago and we had to share my bed for a couple of days. He said he couldn't sleep because of me, that I snored a lot.

• And it was true!- Said Nathan's voice from the hallway on his way to the bathroom, obviously having overheard Mark's anecdote when he came out of his room.

• Keep walking, Nathan.- Warned the younger sibling, in vain.

• Don't let him fool you, Judy! He sounds like a boar enjoying a mud bath!

• I will tell Swinestone you said that. He may have a different opinion on that subject.

Nathan must have made some mocking gesture to his brother, because Mark reclined his chair precariously on its posterior legs and stuck his tongue out in his direction before a door was heard opening and closing.

• Don't you ever stop doing that? I've seen you together when I came to your house for a movie and now for three full days straight and you still look like BFFs of a TV show instead of like brothers! Don't you ever argue?

• Doesn't any of your three hundred and sixty-four siblings treat you like that too? I would be surprised if you didn't have a best sister when you lived with your parents. This is just the same.- Replied the macaque drinking some orange juice and taking some toasts from the plate.

• I did have a sister like that, I still do, but we have never been like that. I have even pulled her ears from time to time, and she mine too.

• What can I say? We get along. I think our last disagreement was... Wow, about two years ago, now that I think about it. Before our father died.

Judy was expecting some sad look on Mark's face at the mention of his father, even if for just a moment before they changed the subject. Instead of that, he became deep in thought with a serious look.

• You ok, Mark?

He came back to reality, surprised that he had disconnected like that.- Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a few things on my mind right now.

• Like what?- Asked the bunny. When he hesitated, she pushed on.- You know you can tell me anything.

• You actually want to know more dark secrets from this family? I thought you had enough for a lifetime.- Mark tried to avoid the subject with a joke, but she seemed determined and became serious again.- Look, you have taken too much weight already, with my mother and all. You don't have to be our confident for any small problem we have.

• I doubt friendship works like that. If I have problems of my own, do I have to tell you some of them and keep other for myself? Or do you expect me to trust you with all of them?

The macaque sighed, admitting defeat.- I thought I was the one that gave good advice.

• And you are, but sometimes you too need someone to rely on.- Said the bunny, smiling at him. He exhaled again, as if gathering some strength.

• This is one of the things I beg you not to tell anyone, especially my brother. If you haven't seen us argue before, this may be something that would make us fight.

Judy nodded, accepting the condition. It had to be really important if it had to remain a secret.

Mark put his hands together under his chin and supported his head with his elbows on the table, still unsure how to explain this. After a few seconds, he decided to just say it directly and explain properly after that.

• I am considering not to join the SWAT team after the raid.

Judy was right: it WAS important. As far as she knew the macaque, he had always worked as a SWAT and intended to join Zootopia's team as soon as possible, yet now he was saying that he had changed his mind.

• But, why? I thought that was what you wanted!

• So did I, Silk. I thought that since the first day I became a SWAT. But things have happened this past few days and I began wondering if that is still true.

• What things?- Asked his friend.

• Remember the speech the Commander gave us the first day? How he defined our work, our real goal during a mission?

She nodded.- He summed it up with "to ensure everyone goes home safely, in any way possible".

• In Animolia, that is the same: to protect each other civilians or comrades, to take the less risks possible, even to let the criminals escape if needed so long as we all come back alive. We all have that hardwired from the first day we start training, and is almost a dogma we repeat each day.

So far, Judy couldn't see what was the problem. Mark had done precisely that from the first day. Most recently, he had risked getting shot in the storage building so Nick and herself could retreat safely.

Then, she got it. She saw the reason he was considering not to join the team.

• I see you understand it.- Said mark, noticing Judy's expression.- In the storage building, I acted like a SWAT, forgetting that I was not at the moment, and neither are you or Nick. We were not prepared to act, yet I didn't notice until Bogo told us to retreat. As regular officers, and with a situation that dangerous, we should have stayed around the structure and covered the exits until we had more support. I led us all in, underequipped.

• Even if that is true, it was a mistake. That is no reason to...

• Yes, it was a mistake.- Interrupted Mark.- I know that, mistakes happen. But that got me thinking if I am really SWAT material. Up till now, I've been with my father and brother, working together and covering each other's backs. We did our work and, if I made a mistake, they would help me out. When my father died, Nathan became my support there. He would pull me back in formation if I advanced too fast, tell me to wait behind a wall until it was the right time... In that building he wasn't there, I had no-one to tell me to slow down. You trusted me because I am SWAT and have experience in those situations. The result was you getting shot.

• But I am fine! I have been shot before, this is nothing like it! It's barely a scratch!

• Not the point, Judy. I am not always going to be depending on my brother, nor I want to. At some point, I'll have to be able to stand on my own feet. If I can't, if I am going to keep doing this mistakes that may or may not lead friends to their deaths, it is better if I step out. In any case, that is not the only reason.

• What is it then?

Mark was about to answer but the sound of a door opening made him reconsider. A few seconds later, Suzie appeared in the living room, dressed with jeans and a turquoise sleeveless shirt.

• You have barely eaten anything!- The usual smile on her face turned into a frown at the sight of the untouched food.- Don't make me spoon-feed you, I am very capable of that.

• Believe me, she is.- Said Mark biting on a toast with butter and marmalade, Judy imitating him a second later.

• That is better.- Said Suzie looking pleased, though none of the younger mammal relaxed yet.- I am going to get some groceries. I guess you are leaving soon so, if you want to eat dinner tonight, I better not find anything left from breakfast when I come back. Understood?

• Yes, mom.- Answered Mark for both of them, smiling at her mother. With a last good-bye to the pair, Suzie left through the door.

Once the macaque left, Judy looked back at Mark to continue with the conversation, but Mark stopped her.

• I'll tell you the rest later but, just so you know, I haven't decided yet. I am just thinking about it. And in case I finally choose not to join, it's not like I am going to leave the force, I would simply be a regular cop. It's just a big decision for me, that is all.

The bunny stared at him for a moment before sighing.- Ok, I understand it. Just don't rush any decision.

• I promise.- Said Mark, putting at ease both Judy's and his own worries... At least for a while.