FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

: Chapter 5 : Warm velvet forgiveness

_____________________________________________________________________________________

: 11 months :

Explosions rocked the city as chaos was well under way, two building already having collapsed due to damage. There were at least fifteen other fires raging, throughout Zootopia and every fire district was at its brink. Precinct 1 along with Precinct 3 and 5 were strained to their limits as well, doing their best to assist with mammals during the chaos.

If ever there were moments when someone could see a bit of what Clawhauser was truly capable of, this was one of those moments. The usually chipper cheetah's paws flow from radio to computer and back, someone could almost mistake him for an auctioneer with how fast he was working.

Precinct 1 was nearly in the top of their game, orders had been given by Chief and officers were assisting injured mammals. Check in locations had been set up, but the amount of calls coming in were difficult for even the phone system to keep up.

His partner during the confusion though was doing her best, Judy's own paws tapping away at the computer and sending information out to other Precincts. She had taken up being the Chiefs direct line back to the ZPD, and to try and keep a better grasp on the situation other Precincts were dealing with.

Having been back to work for only a short time, she had a strict schedule that she was supposed to keep. No More staying late, no more coming in early, she had to make sure she took her breaks on time. All this the Chief had insisted on even during the crisis that was currently playing out, and every bit of it was frustrating in the least of senses.

She had already been doing all she could to help with the recent string of missing mammals, most of which were kits and cubs who'd gone missing over the two weeks prior. There hadn't been any rhyme of reason to the sudden disappearances, they were from different species and at completely random locations.

Even as things seemed to have been calming down, that they could begin piecing together leads this had happened. The Explosions and fires breaking out, the sudden panic on top of everything had to be connected in some way. She knew it but couldn't do anything, she wasn't at 100% mentally and even physically she'd just gotten over her severe cold.

Her thoughts drifted away as she sat typing away, back to Nick and what he may be doing, if he was all right, why he hadn't contacted her or come back. All the questions themselves that plagued her thoughts, and physically she started to get depressed about it ears drooping more as she slowed in her work.

The flash of a new report on her screen drew her attention back to the task at hand, with a slight shake of her head to bring herself back to sorts.

"What is this..." mumbling aloud as she checked the report that had just come in, an alarm was going off at a warehouse by the canals.

Checking the status listing for everyone, with the chaos currently going on every single officer was out in the field, save for four. Officers Wolfard and Fangmeyer -VAC-, Officer Hopps, and... Officer Wilde -MIA- "There aren't any other officers available."

Pushing back from her desk as she marked herself out on the call, she'd grab her coat and turn to head out of the office.

"Clawhauser! I'm out for a call! 10-33, Location is Warehouse 69985 by the canals." Yelling as she ran past the main desk, almost running into agent Winters exiting the precinct.

"Officer Hopps? Where are, you going?" The Dark Furred Bunny yelled after her, her green eyes showing curiosity for what Hopps was doing.

"10-200 in progress! Warehouse in the Canals!" Her feet carrying her down the steps of the ZPD and towards a cruiser.

"You're on Desk Duty though! HEY!" groaning as she dashed after her, Oliva wondered what could be so important with everything else going on that Hopps would go out on her own.

"AHHHH!!!!" The scream that leapt from Judy's lips came from the door of her cruiser opening, she hadn't paid attention to agent Winters who had followed her.

"Calm yourself Hopps, you cannot go out on a call by yourself" Glaring at the Rabbit officer, she'd pull her door close and buckle in.

"You're going with me? Is that even allowed?" Collecting herself quickly enough, she buckled as well and fired up the cruiser.

"Yes, I am, you don't have a partner right now, you are still not physically healthy, and from what I can tell. You are still fighting depression!" Oliva gave a very non-bunny growl, causing a look of concern to cross Judy's face.

"F... fair enough, all right, thank you for... the help" a slight pause in her voice before putting the car in gear, she turned the car around and took off from the ZPD parking garage.

"What is this nonsense under paw." Oliva was poking at what seemed to be spare clothes under the seat, pulling them out to look over a spare ZPD uniform.

"Oh err. Those are Nick's spa, I mean Officer Wilde's spare uniform" She didn't need to look over at Oliva to tell what she was looking at, but her demeanor shifted somewhat as her thoughts tried to drift again.

"Oh, I see, you keep a spare in here still?" Running her paws over the uniform, she looked at the nametag pinned to the right breast just above the pocket.

"He will be back... soon" The hope Judy had in her voice as she said that, belayed her own doubt considering how long he'd been gone.

"So, you two were bonded?" Olivia's green eyes looked to Hopps as they drove along, heading south through the city and away from the fires that were still burning.

"What! No!!! No, we weren't, He... Is a great Partner, and a fantastic friend? I don't, I mean. c..can we change the subject please." Trying to stay focused on the road, she'd started to cry again though.

Hadn't Nick know they were Friends, he could come to her for anything as they always had since the Nighthowler case. She knew he had to be scared, worried, angry any number of things if even she herself was this confused.

"Ah I'm sorry to pry like this, just the only time I've heard of or seen another mammal with..." studying hops features a moment before continuing, she'd fold the uniform back up and slip it away once more. "Depression, weakened immune system for so long. Is when a Mate leaves, or passes away"

"No were not mates, why would he want a worthless Dumb Bunny like me" fighting back her tears, she brought a single paw to wipe her eyes.

"What's your story Agent Winters? You're a Brid right, how did you end up with the ZBI?" Glancing sidelong towards the agent, she noted a soft grin from her.

"Yes, my parents are Inters, My Fathers a Buck, my mother is a Vixen. As for the Agency I am following them in my career path slightly, just taking my own path with work." Smiling at Hopps, she'd look back out of her window. It hadn't been snowing anymore, but the street lights flicked by over the patrol car quickly.

"Ah I see, so... are you a Funny? A Box then?" Her curiosity and sense of humor drew a laugh from her passenger. "Sorry, that was rude" Her grip tightening on the wheel gently, they were almost to the warehouse.

A full laugh left her lips, enough to bring a pleasant pain to her stomach from the question. "It's all right, I prefer Fabbix, Fox-Rabbit. Or just another Bunny or Rabbit, new terms seem like I'm being given special treatment."

A gentle knowing nod came from Judy, she could understand that to an extent. Trying her best to change the worlds perceptions of different species, she perked her ears up as they arrived at the warehouse. "This is the place"

The pair of Doe's checked their equipment, as well bundled up a bit more before slipping out of the cruiser. Judy clicking her radio onto her vest, her grey gloved paw pressing the button on it. "Officer Hopps, along with Agent Winters. Possible 459A in progress, standby for further info"

"I'll let you lead, as an Agent my skills are better use as support" Checking her tranq gun once more, she'd give a nod to Officer Hopps. Watching the smaller Rabbit move forwards, heading first towards the nearest entrance to the warehouse.

The cold ground under paw, puffs of moisture leaving their muzzle with each breath. The pair of Rabbits crossed the dilapidated parking lot, to the equally worn down Warehouse. Looking around the area, there were no other vehicles in sight.

Green and Amethyst eyes were cast about, both females' noses twitching rapidly in the cool winter air and ears perked high. The other Warehouses around were also in several states of disrepair, street lamps lit or flickering all around the area.

"I can't catch any scent in this cold, it's frustrating!" The very un-bunny growl that left Agent Winters muzzle caught officer Hopps off guard, and eliciting a quick Shhh from the Police Rabbit.

"Don't rely on your sense of smell, make use of those long ears" her own twitching, perked high and focusing on any noise she could hear. The odd sounds all around, but there were a few coming from the warehouse in front of themselves.

"Clawhauser what's the current reports coming in?" The cape buffalo burst in the front doors of the ZPD, making his way over to where the cheetah was typing away. Urgency in his voice and his moments, only stopping when he reached the main desk.

"Ah, well it seems most of the fires are under control and being extinguished. We are lucky that no casualties have been reported, aside from a few head wounds, some scratches and broken limbs" His eyes going to the Chief, catching a strong smell of smoke and rubble from him.

"Good to hear it, keep me updated on things. I'm going to clean up, and update the city council and mayor." Leaving the desk to head to the locker room and showers, he paused a moment when his eyes glanced the empty office, and the missing rabbit from her chair.

"Clawhauser... where is Officer Hopps?" Stepping back towards the desk, he noted the immediate drop of the cheetahs tail and demeanor.

"Ah well, she took off to investigate an alarm going off at a warehouse by the canals." Fidgeting somewhat with his tail in paw now, he watched the invisible meter in the Chiefs eyes rise.

"SHE DID WHAT!" Slamming a cloven paw on the desk, the resounding thud filling the air and causing Clawhauser to tense up.

"Uh huh, a report came in that seemed odd. In the complete opposite direction, the explosions and fires had been leading, she dashed out of here before I could say anything." Gulping lightly as the Chief was well beyond his normal level of ire, Clawhauser pulled up the information from the original call for him.

"What is she thinking, no partner, in this weather when she's not been cleared for full duty again." Taking the report as it was handed to him, his eyes scanning the information lain out on it.

"She didn't go alone Chief..." speaking out quickly but more quiet than he had been, the cheetah watching as the Chief read over the information.

"She didn't? Whom did she go with then, since Wilde is still MIA and you are still here." The paper crumpling in his grasp, he held it out towards his donut loving officer.

"Ah well Agent Winters Sir, she was returning from dinner I believe when Officer Hopps was leaving." Flinching back when the Chiefs fist holding the papers shot out towards him, stopping a few inches away still. He'd take the papers from him, uncrumpling them and setting them back in a file.

"Agent Winters, The Same Agent from the ZBI? She's a paper pusher! Regardless of her training, she's a desk jockey!" A heavy groan left his lips, he'd grab the radio on Clawuhauser's desk.

"I need any available officer to report to the Canals, I repeat I need any available officers to report to the Canals. Warehouse number 69985, Officer Hopps and Agent Winters may need assistance." Setting the mic back on the desk, he turned from Clawhauser to make his way back out of the ZPD.

He could only watch as the Chief turned and left, the entire building seemed to fall into a strange silence that Benjamin wasn't used to. The whole evening was in chaos, from the Fires and Missing Mammals, to now his friends Judy and Olivia in the unknown. "Please let something good happen tonight."

Rolling a barrel across the warehouse floor, taking his time and making sure that it didn't bust open. Reaching the internal dock, the ram set the barrel back on end atop the lift. Turning to go back and get another barrel, he'd only been in the warehouse an hour, having moved five others already.

"Hey Doug! Hurry up with those, who knows if the police will show up. We set as many places up as we could, should keep them busy for a week." One of the weasel brothers, Jake called out as he entered the warehouse from the side door.

Stopping at the barrels, he turned to look across the now mostly empty space. "Good with the Rabbit and Fox down and out, this may go more smoothly than planned." Huffing as he took the next barrel and began moving it, the ram thought back a bit his thoughts falling on his dead Mate.

"Oh yeah, heard about those two. You guys had a helluva time, they the ones that put away woolhead right?" Walking over to help with a barrel himself, though struggling more with it than Doug would. Unzipping his coat and tossing it to the side, would be too warm to work in.

"Yes, those two are the reason Dawn was put away, if they hadn't screwed up the plan then she'd, well she would still be around." The ram wanted to strangle those cops, but his anger was also with his current employer after all.

"Ah dunno bout that one Doug, she'd been in line ta get nixed. No way she'd been left in control long, Woolhead was sloppy." The voice of the other weasel came from the side door of the warehouse, Sam pulling it shut behind himself as he joined his brother and Doug.

"QUIT CALLING HER WOOLHEAD!" The ram turned at the two, hooves clenched in anger as he shot the two a look that could nearly kill. "HER NAME!, her name was Dawn Bellwether. She was my wife, my mate. Show some damn respect!"

Both weasels jumped when Doug turned on them both, yelling as loud as he did. "Shhh shhh all right, all right, we got it! Dawn, we didn mean nothin by it Doug. "Jake trying to calm their cohort down a bit, looking back towards the door's a moment before continuing to work.

Watching his brother try and calm Doug down, Sam noticed the look back towards the door. "It's all right, aint no one out there. Wasn't tailed and aint no cars anywhere within a mile of this place, we lit tha town up beautifully!" Sam stepped over to the barrels, setting a shotgun atop them along with a pair of pistols.

Both Doug and Jake gave a knowing nod, working a bit faster now. None of the three wanted to take too long, better safe than sorry after all for the group.

"So half of these are going out to Podunk, an the other half are going to the Nocturnal district right?" Sam walked around the fifteen barrels left, giving them a shake as best he could. The fluid inside sloshing just a bit, he shrugged some watching them work.

"That's right lil bro, Doug's taking the shipment to Podunk and were taking the rest down. Boss's already going to be pissed, we shoulda had these moved with the rest already." Jake set another barrel on the lift, going back to work on the last barrels.

"What's it gonna matter, week or more to finish the last of it. We finish it, were still getting our money after all. Sides that we at least picked up all them Mammals, the cops still don't have a clue on what's up buncha noodle heads the lotta them" Laughing loudly Sam managed to get at least one barrel on its side, rolling it to the other lift so it could be loaded.

"You two need to shut your muzzles! Let's finish this and get out of here, the ZPD has some of the better detectives. Your luck is gonna run out, so make due with the time we've got." Throwing pebble at Sam, Doug finished with the barrels for the boat, lowering the lift so he could get out of town and loaded on the truck.

Working quickly as well, the two brothers began getting barrels on a service elevator. One by one loading them each, once all fifteen were loaded they made way across the warehouse to Doug.

"All right we are all set there, your good to go also?" Checking to make sure that Doug was ready, Jake went to grab a cloth bag off the floor.

Listening to his brother as he collected his guns, making his way to his brother and Doug with them. "Ere ya go, take it jus ta be safe." He'd toss the shotgun to the ram, watching him catch it with a wary eye.

"A real weapon, not some tranqs? Shouldn't be needed, but it's appreciated." Rolling it over in his hooves, getting a feel for the weight of the device. He blinked some when the cloth bag was dropped into the boat, glancing down to it before back to the pair of weasels.

"It's your cut from this job, the weapon is for if you run into any trouble. Boss'll be in contact with ya, safe trip there Doug!" Jake turned to his brother, taking the other pistol from him before making his way towards the elevator.

Approaching the door, Officer Hopps and Agent Winters listened carefully now. The sound of voices was clearer than expected, but they heard them talking about some Boss. But not much else out of them aside from idle banter.

"Sounds like three Male suspects" Nodding to Olivia, Judy would press up against one side of the door. Holding her tranq gun at the ready, she'd take a deep breath to try and calm herself.

Her thoughts drifting though, back to when Nick and herself had barged in on Woolter and Jesse. Things had not gone even remotely as planned then, and remembering how things happened made her hesitate. Calming down though was going to be difficult, opening her eyes and glancing to Olivia whom she had no idea wasn't a field agent.

-It's all right Judy, you've got this. You've got a partner with you, you should be fine after all. - Mentally trying to get herself in the game, she only got a flash of Nick laying n the ground in her vision. Shaking her head once more before looking at Olivia directly, giving a firm nod she motioned with one paw to follow her lead.

Clearing her head enough to make a move, Judy turned to the door and grabbed the handle. Giving it a turn and pulling it open quickly, she held her tranq gun at the ready and looked inside. The warehouse itself was empty, no boxes, crates, or anything.

What she did see was two suspects, standing beside one another looking down to the dock. "Freeze! ZPD you are under arrest!" Her voice called out as her ears remained high, stepping through the doorway quickly enough to let Agent Winters follow in just behind herself.

She wouldn't take her eyes off the two, even as they turned to see who had just burst in. She noted them whispering to each other, her paw held firm as she stepped further into the warehouse. Her left ear twitched slightly, focused on Olivia's breathing and location.

"Put your paws in the air, and face away from us! We don't want to do things the hard way" The smaller rabbits voice was calming a bit, watching as they slowly lifted their paws above their heads.

"Wait, they have actual weapons." Olivia's voice spoke softly, holding her own tranq gun trained on the two burglars. Her nose giving a few twitches, a strange scent on the air hit her lightly.

Jake and Sam glanced at one another, doing as told a moment as they slowly lifted their paws. Their guns hanging slightly from their fingers, turning their backs to the pair slowly and letting their eyes fall to Doug.

Looking up at the two weasels, he heard what he assumed were a pair of officers. One voice though was faintly familiar, it drew his curiosity as he reached to the ledge just above the boat. Lifting himself up slightly, he peeked over the edge to see the pair of Rabbits.

His eyes went wide, a dark smirk crossing his muzzle as he settled back and grabbed the shotgun. His eyes fell to Jake and Sam, motioning them towards the elevator. "Go when I fire..." Barely a whisper to them, but they understood exactly.

Judy reached for her radio, taking one paw off her trang gun to do so. A slight tilt of her head, she'd press the button. "Officer Hopps and Agent Winters, two suspects, armed and possibly dangerous, Backup requested to Warehouse 69985, Canals of Bovine and Kiwi"

Olivia stepped forward just a bit, keeping her own tranq on the two. Her paw shaking just slightly though, she'd never been in a situation like this, let alone again actual armed suspects. Her mind tried to go back to her combat and weapons training, with little luck though considering the situation.

When the radio crackled a bit, the sound of Bogo's voice broke through. "Officer---ops Wi--ers ackup war-ho-se 99-5"

"All right you two, I want you to very slowly back up five steps and set your weapons on the ground." Growing more tense, Judy stepped slowly nearer the two her eyes watching as they didn't move still.

"She told you two, f-five steps backwards!" The sound of Agent Winters voice calling out to the two when they didn't move still, trying to focus while taking direction from Officer Hopps.

Reaching for her radio once more, Judy pressed the button again. "Officer Hopps requesting Backup copy! I repeat Officer Hopps..." Cutting herself off, she noticed movement at the ledge.

'BANG, BANG' Two shots ringing out within the empty warehouse, the loud thump of a shotgun sounding out. Doug having peeked over the edge of the docks enough, he fired two quick shots at the two.

The weasel brothers dropped their arms and began running, as soon as those two shots were fired off they made way towards the elevator. Their own weapons in paw, they took aim as they ran for their escape.

"Move!" Pushing Olivia out of the way, Judy fired a tranq towards Doug's head as she dropped to the ground. Watching her own dart miss, as he dropped back below sight.

The sound of an engine filling the warehouse, causing her ears to drop from the suddenly excessive sounds. Gunfire and engines intermingling, she tried to fire at the pair of weasels.

Feeling herself suddenly shoved towards the side, there was another sensation that caught the ZBI agent. A warmth at her side and across her muzzle, it didn't register as she hit the ground exactly what it could be though.

The bout that the ram ducked back onto fired up with a quick turn of the key, pressing the throttle forwards and sending the vehicle moving. Doug turned the machine around, guiding it along the dock quickly and out of the building through the canals and into the cold night.

"FREEZE!" Another yell from Judy as she pushed herself backup, firing another trang dart at the weasels even as they drew on her while running.

He had her in his sights as he ran, pistol in one paw and bouncing a bit as he pulled the trigger. Sam fired his weapon in a quick series of shots, aiming for Officer Hopps as he did so. They were almost to the elevator, their chance at escape upon them.

The sound of a cruiser outside of the warehouse fell on deafened ears, the Officer and Agent inside already under fire. But the group in the cruiser stopped quickly, the backdoor on the cruiser flying open even before the vehicle came to a full stop.

Crossing the short distance with cold paws on the snowy ground, dashing through the door with heated breaths and little thought other than worry and fear.

"Wait! Don't just... think first!" Reaching into the cruiser for the radio. "Possible Casualties! Ambulance requested to the scene!"

Inside of the warehouse, the scene that was lain before him pulled the color from his form. Seeing The pair on the ground, a pool of blood forming and a pair of weasels with guns.

His green eyes locked on the one firing, and he focused in immediately on him. Never had he moved as fast in his life, a mad dash as his blood pumped. His lungs burning, he was a russet colored blur. "I'll tear you apart!"

Reaching the first weasel, Nick was snarling as even he'd taken a hit. His shoulder bleeding but he didn't notice, grabbing Sam's weapon hand and giving a quick twist. The sound of a bone snapping, followed by a scream of pain filled the air.

Eyes wide, Jake watched the fox appear and seemingly cross the distance to them in a matter of seconds. Barely having enough time to react, he tired a shot at their assailant as he dove onto the elevator, scrambling to press the button to take him down.

The sound of a weasel screaming in pain filled the air, Sam shaken visibly as his paw was broken as was his wrist and arm. "Y-You son of a" another scream as the fox's paw twisted again.

Growling with his teeth bared fully, mere inches from the weasels' face. Nick gave a firm tug and threw him on the ground, watching his gun fall to the floor and slide a few extra feet.

"Nick! Stop! Please!" The familiar voice of a bunny filling the air, Judy sat there looking to where Nick stood now. Even as the sound of more sirens began to arrive outside, she'd push herself to stand up watching him carefully.

As the two stood there, eyes on one another Wolfard and Fangmeyer came through the door. Looking at the scene before themselves, a groan from Olivia drew their attention quickly enough. "Agent Winters! You've been injured, try not to move!" The Grey wolf rush to her side, paws working to check her carefully.

It wasn't long until an ambulance, as well as the Chief showed up to the scene. Judy having begun to help Olivia as well until the paramedics were there, making sure she was stable and getting her to the hospital.

The elevator had long drifted out of sight, going deeper underground towards wherever it's exit in the Nocturnal district was. The other weasel Sam, despite broken wrist and arm was taken into custody.

"Thank you, Officer Hopps, I appreciate your quick response to the situation. I'll expect the full statement and report on my desk by end of day tomorrow" The chief looked from her, moving to step over to Nick now.

"You Wilde, have a lot to explain. I'll expect you in my office first thing tomorrow" Not giving him a chance to answer, he turned from him and headed off from the warehouse.

With the Chief and most everyone already gone, other Officers looking for the boat with Doug. The elevator shaft had been locked when it reached the bottom, it would take a while to get what they needed from the nocturnal district.

Crossing the warehouse to where Nick stood, Judy would come to a stop in front of him. Her amethyst eyes gazing up to his, she watched as he turned his head away from her only to feel a sudden sting as her paw smacked him firmly on the muzzle.

"How Dare You!" Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him, her paw throbbing a bit with the new pain from smacking him. "How dare you abandon me like that! You had me worried sick, you can't just leave me like that Nick."

He brought a paw up, rubbing the tingle left on his muzzle. His eyes falling to her own and the tears within them, watching them trail down along her cheeks wetting her fur. His own tears forming as he watched, seeing the Bunny that he cared about crying because of him.

"You think I'd hate you for what happened? That I would want you to leave like you did, I remember the night I last saw you! I remember the attack, but..." her breaths becoming ragged as she tried to keep herself calm, but it wasn't working as her whole body was practically shaking.

His ears remained back, flat against his head as he watched her and took in her words. Tears beginning to stream down his own cheeks, painting darker streaks in his russet fur. He'd drop to his knees, eye level with her now.

"But I saw my fox, scared, confused, terrified that night! I saw him in pain, and all I wanted to do was hold him close. To tell him everything would be ok, that I wasn't afraid of him still!" her voice had risen, even as she yelled at him her voice growing a bit raspy.

"Judy... Carrots, please I'm sorry I was scared. I remembered what happened, the night I was leaving..." his head hanging slightly, he'd rub his paws at his eyes as he began to cry more. "I was afraid, that you'd hate me. That you'd blame me and, that you'd look at me as if I would turn savage again."

"N..Nick, I'd never, I know that wasn't you that night. I knew that you were still in there, but... I tried to see you after, I wanted to so badly." Rubbing at her eyes a moment, she was practically sobbing now. "You Dumb Fox, you're so arrghhh Dumb!!!"

He winced a bit, he knew he'd been dumb and irrational. "I'm sorry Carrots, I'm sorry that I was terrified you'd never come. I'm sorry that I left... so I wouldn't have to wonder why you never came to me." Sniffling through his tears, he sat there on his knees his head lowered as tears fell to the floor.

She stepped closer as she tried to compose herself, her paws still shaking as they brushed over his muzzle. Her short claws nudging lightly through his soft fur, she'd slide them around his head pulling him into a warm hug.

He tensed up slightly when he felt the touch, the tug of her paws suddenly there until his forehead met her own and he fully broke down. Hesitantly slipping his paws around her waist, he'd pull her to himself. "Y-your too good, for this Dumb Fox. What did I ever do, to deserve the kindness of a Sly Bunny like you"

Feeling his warm embrace, she slipped her paws around his neck and hugged closer to him as well. "You became, my very best friend, my partner.... And the one mammal, I would spend the rest of my life with."

His ears flicked lightly, lifting his head just enough to let his green eyes peer into her gorgeous amethyst eyes. He'd nuzzle in against her neck, he couldn't form the right words for her. To properly tell her thank you, and to apologize and show her how grateful he was.

She stayed with him as they held each other close, words failing them finally as they slowly collected themselves. "Nick... I realized during all the time apart, that I love you."

A hitch caught in his throat, a smile crossing his still throbbing muzzle as he bit his lower lip lightly. "I'll spend every day, being the mammal you deserve Carrots that's a promise"

A small smile crept across her lips, she'd pull back from him a little. "I'll hold you to that... Partner, but first, I think we need to save your job."

The groan that left him was a telling sign, that he was in deep trouble with the Chief. He hadn't been to work in months now, having by all accounts quit even though he never gave explicit notice. "ughh.. well tomorrow will be interesting"

Looking at him, she smiled a bit before the sound of paw-cuffs latched on her wrist and his own. "Well this will make sure you don't run away again, we still have a lot to catch up on... and you're still not off the hook"

Wincing when she gave him a firm punch to the arm, he'd sigh a bit at the new throbbing pain where his bullet wound was bandaged up. "I know we do, can we go someplace to talk more for now."

Looking around the empty warehouse, she nodded a bit helping him stand up before making their way to the police cruiser. Both having to climb in once side since she was refusing to un-cuff him, he didn't mind it though, there were far worse mammals he could be cuffed to.

He slipped into his seat, letting her do the driving as his still tired eyes watched her. He really was the luckiest mammal in the world, to have her in his life, who was ready to kick his ass if he needed it.

"Tomorrow is another day, let's get some rest for tonight." The yawn that crossed her form, with a slight shake of her head before she then fired up the cruiser.