AN: Thanks for following the second part of this backstory! This is the hard one, and have tissues ready again this is cannon to ITaB and is HIGHLY recommended that you read that story first. Now, please enjoy!

First Partner

Part 2

The 5th Year

William stood in the break room, innocently swirling his coffee and trying to conceal his grin. He had just finished rigging up his next prank in the shared office he and Tommy used and couldn't wait for his sweet revenge from last week's prank that Tommy pulled on him. His brother had rimmed the inside of his coffee cup with ink and it left a mess on his upper lip and snout that took forever to realize he had anything on his face. No one asked about the black smudge that kept growing as he drank his coffee or rubbed his face. The whole precinct had agreed to simply let the brothers prank each other and just watch and laugh.

Tommy was a bit late today since he had spent the night with Marie. They had been good friends for two years before they decided to finally start dating. They had to be persuaded heavily to actually date. There was quite the stigma over interspecies relationships, and one between a wolf and coyote was pretty strange. Anyone who knew them though pushed for it all the same. Today, he came swaggering in with a grin that wouldn't quit.

Will smiled at his younger brother. "Well don't you look smug? What's up brother? Have a good night?"

His brother simply shrugged while never losing his grin. "Well...it was pretty awesome."

Together they started walking to their desks as Will pressed. "What movie did you see last night?"

Tommy simply chuckled. "Well...we really didn't go see a movie. We stayed at her apartment and watched sucky B-rated movies all night. We kinda fell asleep on the couch."

William smiled. "Sounds like a fantastic night!"

Tommy set his bag down on the desk in his office and spun his chair around but didn't sit yet. "It was a fantastic night. Was wondering if she could come over for dinner tonight?"

William went to his desk and sat down. "Sure brother. I can come up with something to whip up. Been too long since I saw her last."

Tommy started speaking as he began to lower himself into his seat. "Yeah, well I have GAH!"

The horn rigged up under his seat went off and blared as he sat. The white wolf looked like he just about hit his head on the roof from his jump. William couldn't contain his laughter and was trying to hold onto his desk so he didn't roll off as tears streamed down his face.

Tommy looked only somewhat indignant. Five years of pranking, and you tend to get over it pretty quickly. "Yeah yeah, I'll give you that one!"

William collected himself enough to speak through gulped breaths. "Oh! That look on your face...Oh it was priceless!"

Bogo walked around the corner with a grin. "Alright kids, that's enough. We've work to do. Bullpen in five, got it?"

The brothers both nodded. "You got it, Chief."

They stopped and looked at each other and started to laugh. Bogo just looked at the pair and chuckled. "You two are just too damn much."

The buffalo tromped off, leaving the brothers smiling at each other. William looked at his brother with a grin. "Well, let's go get the day started, shall we?"

27 Hours Remaining

The brothers enjoyed their lunch break at a new restaurant that had just opened up in the past three years. It was run by a nice pair of pachyderms and it was called Pennington's Parade, a total mom and pop shop that loved the ZPD and had just started their police discounts. The food was fantastic and they offered quite a few options for predators too. It was just too cute that their 18 year old daughter wanted to be an officer as well. She was going to put in an application in a few years after she had gotten some life experience.

Tommy sipped his coffee and read through the newspaper. "Did you see the blurb about those anti-pred supremacists? These mammals are crazy!"

William sipped his own coffee and looked out the window. "Mammals are scared, times are changing and no one really knows why. It's a shift in the wind or a phase of the moon, but whatever it is, it has everyone on edge."

Tommy turned the page and set the paper down with a sad sigh. "I wish it weren't so, brother...I just wish animals were as agreeable out in the real world as they were at a Gazelle concert."

William chuckled as he dug out his wallet to pay their tab. "Really? Everyone gets along at those?"

Tommy folded the paper and put it down on the table as he chuckled. "Well yeah actually. They do. Ready to head out partner?"

William smiled as he drained the rest of his coffee. "You bet brother. Let's get out there and make someone smile."

They stepped out into the sunshine and walked over to their car, getting waves along the way. Over the course of five years, they had built up quite the reputation. William was able to get just about every suspect to talk and Tommy was able to identify with every animal they came across. They made a great team and had both a high arrest rate from suspects and a high satisfaction rating from the public. They climbed into their cruiser and buckled up, starting back onto their patrol route.

It was only 15 minutes before their radio buzzed with activity. "Car 14, respond to a domestic dispute please? Location is 4122 Happy Blvd, two foxes involved. Neighbors called complaining of shouting."

Tommy grabbed the pawset and spoke into it. "Car 14 en-route." He turned and looked at his brother with concern in his face. "I hate domestic disputes. It really rips me up."

William started on the way there as he threw the cruiser's lights on but left off the siren. "I know brother. They're draining and you never know how these will turn out. We'll just watch each other's back, like always."

They drove through the winding streets as rain began to patter on the windshield. The weathermammal had mentioned a large storm coming in, not to mention a full moon. Five years told William that this was a bad combination and that the next few days were going to be very busy. After a few minutes the car arrived at the place where the call had been made. Sure enough, there was a married couple standing in the yard. Not only that, there was a young kit standing in the doorway of the house. Will put the car in park, left the lights running and stepped out with his brother. The shouting match between the foxes was indeed in full swing. Tommy however kept his eyes on the kit standing in that doorway.

The tod's face was streaked with tears that now mixed with the rain as he shouted back. "He's my son too, Sara! I want to see him sometime!"

"You lost that right!" the vixen shouted back. "And I have a restraining order that you are violating!"

While William started to calm the squabbling pair down, Tommy went right to the kit and knelt down in front of him with a smile. "Hello there young one. What's your name?"

The kit's eyes were ice blue and filled with tears. "I'm T-Tommy."

The wolf chuckled hearing that. "Well, my name is Tommy too! Officer Tommy Wolford. Say, you wanna see the inside of a ZPD cruiser? I'll let you play with the lights and maybe even the siren! What do ya say?"

The kit's eyes lit up with excitement as he began to bounce on his paws. "YEAH!"

The exclamation from the kit got both parents to stop yelling at each other to look over at the white wolf who now held their son in his arms as he walked over to the cruiser. The young fox never lost his enthusiasm. "Mom, Dad! His name is Tommy too! We are going to play with the lights and siren!"

The parents both choked seeing their son happy. Sara waved at the pair as they got to the cruiser. "That's great! Have fun!"

William took the opportunity to speak with them candidly. "You see? Your son sees all of this. Tell me what's going on."

The vixen started first. "Well, we are getting divorced. Justin is terrible with money, was out all night and gambled everything away. He couldn't even keep a steady job! Then he started harassing me after we had split!"

The tod responded rather hotly. "I would have loved to get a job anywhere! Even a burger joint! No one hires foxes and you know it Sara!"

The argument that continued to escalate outside was muffled by the closed windows and door of the cruiser. "Why are they so angry?" The young kit was looking out the window of the cruiser at his parents as they argued. The white wolf felt pain in his heart watching the kit trying to understand.

"Sometimes, adults have so much going on in their lives, that they forget the important things, and argue over the small things."

The little fox sat down in the passenger seat with a huff. "Seems silly to me."

Tommy chuckled at that. "It is silly, but it happens." He sighed and put on his smile for the fox. "How about we start the tour of the car? I'm sure things will work out soon, okay?"

It took almost an hour to resolve the conflict but no one needed to be arrested. They drove back to the precinct in a deluge. The car ride was silent until Tommy finally broke the silence.

"I miss our parents, brother."

William maneuvered the car back to the precinct and put it in park. "I know, Tom. I miss them too…you still want to have Marie over tonight?"

He brightened at the thought with a smile quickly creeping across his face. "Yes! It is important to relax with good company, and like you said, it has been a while since you saw her last!"

William stepped out of the cruiser into the rain and walked with his brother back into the precinct towards their desks to fill out the paperwork from the day. They sat at their desks, the scratching of pen on paper and the occasional typing on keyboards being the only noises between them. The minutes dragged on as they finally finished their reports, waved goodbye to the ram at the front desk and started on their way home.

"So brother? Did you think of what we are having for dinner tonight?"

William cocked his head to the side as they drove through the rain-soaked streets. He smiled and glanced at his brother. "Yes, I believe I have an idea of what I can whip up."

21 Hours Remaining

The group sat around the table laughing and simply enjoying each other's company. Marie had gotten promoted over the last 5 years at the Fur Tap and Tavern and had since become the manager. She enjoyed her job and loved the theme of it all. After the plates were all collected and cleaned up, they remained at the table, each with a cup of coffee and enjoying the company they kept.

After a few minutes of peace Tommy looked over at his brother with a smile. "William, I have an important question to ask you. It's been on my mind for a while now and I really hope you don't mind my asking this."

William sipped his coffee and looked back at his brother. "Tommy, you know you can ask me anything. What is it?"

Tommy nodded and hugged Marie close, who pecked his cheek with a kiss. "Well, brother, I can think of no other mammal I would like to have as my best mammal…will you do that for me?"

William was glad that his cup was on the table and not being brought to his lips because if it had been anywhere but resting on the table, he would have dropped it. He struggled to find words as a smile split across his face.

"You, her, but, really? I-I mean yes, YES! I will be your best mammal! When is the wedding?"

Tommy looked at Marie who made the reply. "Well, we were thinking of having it in a week or two. Something small, with just a select few there. I think it would be nicer like that! Only if you are okay with it of course!"

William was nearly beside himself with excitement. "My little brother is getting married! The sooner the better!"

He stood up from the table and hugged the happy couple tightly. "You were already a sister to me Marie, and now? Now we get to make it official! I can't wait to call you Marie Wolford!"

She chuckled while in the wolf pile hug. "I can't either, but I was wondering if it would be okay to stay here tonight?"

William finally broke the embrace with a smile, and joy in his heart. "This is Tommy's house too; if he says you can stay, then you can stay, it's that simple."

The evening wrapped up as Tommy headed to the shower. Joy filled his heart that his brother was so excited for him. He scrubbed his body clean from the day of work and the bad thoughts from the domestic dispute they had resolved. He shut the water off, grabbed his towel and dried off in front of the mirror.

He smiled at his reflection. "Fantastic brother, and now engaged to a beautiful canine. How did you get so lucky Tom?"

"What's that hun?" his coyote called from the bedroom. Tommy chuckled as he padded into the bedroom, towel over his shoulders.

He smiled seeing her sitting on the bed in her sweatpants and tee. "I was just musing to myself over my luck."

She smiled as she crawled under the covers. "Really? Do tell!"

He tossed the towel onto his office chair and put on a pair of gym shorts. "Well, let's see here." He crawled under the covers and took the coyote in his arms. "I got assigned to the same precinct as my brother, I got to meet you, I've enjoyed a good career of 5 years, and now I'm looking at marrying the mammal of my dreams...sound lucky yet?"

She grumbled happily as Tom wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his luxurious fur. "I think I'm the lucky one here Tom."

He leaned over and flicked the light off before pulling her in close. "I am one lucky mammal, Marie...and my life is better having you in it."

She smiled even wider deep in his arms, feeling his heartbeat against her back. "Tommy...I'm pregnant."

4 Hours Remaining

Tommy sat silently in the squad car, looking...different. William worried about his brother as he drove the car through the winding streets of the Rainforest District. He seemed distant and just stared out the rain-streaked window. It had been like this all day, from leaving the house, dropping off Marie at her apartment, and all throughout the working day. It had finally worried William to his last nerve.

"Yo, earth to Tommy? Hellooo?"

The white wolf lifted his head off his paw and looked over at his brother. "Huh? Whats up?"

Will chuckled somewhat hearing the question. "That's what I'm wondering brother. What's going on with you today? You have been...uncharacteristically quiet."

He smiled weakly at his brother's question. "Oh well….I uh...got some wonderful news...but I'm wondering how to...deliver it."

William smiled sarcastically. "Tommy, wonderful news usually doesn't affect normal mammals like this."

Tom only shrugged out his response. "This isn't normal news you could say."

"Well just lay it on me then Tom, no use in stalling right? If it's wonderful news, then why wait?"

"Marie's pregnant."

William took his paw off the gas and the car started to slow as he stared straight ahead in shock. He pulled the car over and put it in park. Once safely parked he put his face in his paws and stayed like that.

Tommy was instantly worried. "Will, are you okay?"

William finally pulled his face from his paws and looked to his little brother, with tears in his eyes. "I'm going to be an uncle!"

Tommy's eyes grew wide seeing his brother's reaction as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Will, don't do that to me! I was worried!"

"Did you think I wouldn't be happy for you? Or excited? Tom, this is wonderful news! I still can't believe I'm going to be an uncle! You're going to be a great father!"

Tommy chuckled weakly. "Well...I wasnt sure...it's big news and all."

"Tom, this is not news that would make me sad, or worried, or angry. I really wish our parents were here to see this...They would be so excited for you."

The wolf couldn't wipe the grin off his face as he put the car back in drive and headed out into traffic. They patrolled for about an hour, stopping two speeders and catching a shoplifter before their hunger got the better of them. The brothers drove to a Bugga Burger. They left and locked the vehicle and the pair stepped inside, enjoying the cool airconditioned building. The uniformed officers received respectful nods and waves from the young in the building. They ordered and enjoyed a peaceful meal together. They spoke about new plans for a larger house, one that could accommodate a room for the new kit. William smiled the whole time as he explained that it would not be needed. He would move out leaving the house for the new family and find an apartment down the road. He felt that between living with a brother or the apartment, this would be the best way to handle this situation. Tommy kept trying to get William to reconsider but there was no negotiating with the lupin as he had already made up his mind.

"No Tom, you are getting the house and that is that...Call it a wedding gift."

Tommy had just finished up his burger and now toyed with his fries. "You really don't need to do this, brother...But thank you...I really am the luckiest mammal alive."

William laughed as he picked up the trash and put it all together on the tray. "Yes you are little brother, and don't you forget it! Ready to go make the world a better place?"

45 Minutes Remaining

"Car 14, we have an animalnapping in progress. You are the closest unit. Please respond."

Tommy was the first to grab the pawset as he answered the call for assistance. "Ten-Four, what are we looking for?"

There was a moment before the radio buzzed back to life. "Vulpes vulpes, captor and the victim. Male, early thirties, black pants, white polo shirt, running on paw in the Rainforest District."

"Understood, Car 14 enroute."

Tommy put the pawset back and looked to his brother, fear and worry in his eyes. "Do you think...it's that fox from yesterday?"

William keyed the lights and siren as he steered the cruiser towards the Rainforest District. "I hope not, Tom...I really hope not."

In a matter of minutes they had arrived in the district and started looking. They got word over the radio that the ZPD had blocked all roads heading in or out of the district so the suspect had nowhere to go. They parked and started to pound the pavement, looking for anyone who had seen the fox. There were more dead end reports than they really cared to hear, but they were not the only officers working the streets. They had seen a few others, like Pounceton and her partner, looking. They stopped on a low wall for a quick break.

"We have been out here for over a half hour, Tom...where the hell is this fox?"

Tommy shrugged as he rubbed a paw over his face. "I don't know Will...I just hope we find him soon."

There was a few moments of silence between them when Tommy started to sniff the air. His eyes opened wide in surprise and he inhaled deeply. "Brother...I can smell that kit...they're close by!"

William started to sniff as well; he couldn't smell the kit, but he could smell the father since he had spent more time with him. He looked over into an alleyway and thought he saw the red fluff of an ear or tail disappear behind one of the dumpsters.

He pointed to it as he started to walk towards it. "Right there Tom, I think I just saw him."

The lupine pair started to approach the alley, sniffing the air as they approached. Suddenly, the fox popped out and bolted down the alley away from the officers. The wolves gave chase right away as the fox dipped and sprinted, using every bit of his natural agility to make their lives more difficult.

Tommy keyed his pawset as he ran. "Dispatch, suspect spotted on Monroe heading towards the Ficus underpass! Send backup!"

Dispatch responded quickly. "Be advised, suspect may be armed."

He heard it but only barely as they sprinted trying to catch up, only to see the fox disappear into an old multi-story apartment building, overgrown and abandoned. They stopped outside looking over the massive building, worry clouding their minds.

"We need to call this in," William explained. "The chief will know what to do."

He spoke into his radio explaining the situation to the chief. There was silence for a long while as the chief processed this information.

"Understood. Go in and secure that kit. If he gets entrenched in that building, we will have a standoff and we don't want that. TUSK is on the way and officers will be there soon...Get that kit!"

William looked over at his brother, a weak smile on his muzzle. "We go in brother."

5 Minutes Remaining

They pushed open the first door, tranq guns at the ready. They scanned the first entryway and found nothing, but they could hear pawsteps upstairs. William looked up the winding staircase to see a figure running up them and they could hear the quiet sobs of the kit. William nodded to his brother as they slowly made their way up the stairs. The creaking sounds of the wooden floor beneath his paws set William on edge as they climbed up floor by floor. The smell of stress was powerful, not just from the wolves, but they could clearly smell the fox as well.

One floor above them, they heard a door slam shut. The pair quickly rushed up to see where they heard it close. They stood at the top of the stairs looking at the door. William nodded to his brother who started to creep towards it, hearing the sobs from the kit inside...but also the adult could be heard crying too. Tommy, with gun in his right paw, reached out and gripped the doorknob with his left paw. Suddenly, the sound of the downstairs door getting kicked in startled both wolves but a moment later, three gunshots rang out from inside the room in front of them. They both fell back onto the floor as William felt a sharp pain in his chest, instantly followed by a throbbing sensation on the back of his head from hitting the floor. He was momentarily dazed by the impact, and as he started to stir he noticed his brother, laying motionless on top of him.

William tried to get up but the stabbing pain throbbed sharply. "Tommy," he croaked out. "We need to move away from the door."

He started to back up a bit, enough to look down at his brother. His fur instantly stood on end and his heart stopped as he saw blood on his brother's white fur. Panic gripped his mind as he looked into his brother's sightless blue eyes, blood dribbling down his forehead from a pen-sized hole. He gripped his brother's chest in one shaky paw and shook gently, hoping that his eyes were playing tricks on him.

"Tommy, wake up! We need to move!"

His brother didn't respond. William's breath came in short, pained gulps as the realization started to dawn on him. His sight blurred with tears, his throat tightened and his mind swam painfully. His brother's eyes were dulling over...There was no light to them.

"Tommy please! No! Please wake up! No, no, no, no, no! PLEASE!"

Then he was being pulled back, away from his brother. Before he could get pulled away, he gripped his brother's uniform and buried his face into the fur on his neck, inhaling his scent deeply and screaming his name. His grip broke as he was finally dragged away, leaving bloody paw streaks on the hardwood floor, still calling out his name, voice shattering as he was carried out to an ambulance.

Seconds After the First Shots

Justin Reynarks stood there staring at the door, smoke rising from the barrel of his pistol. He was frozen in place as he heard the screams from the officer outside the room. He knew he just killed an officer, hearing the despair from the one still alive. He heard the name Tommy. Justin's heart plummeted as his eyes filled with tears. He shot the wolves that he met yesterday and killed one of them. He listened, still rooted in place as he heard one being dragged away, still calling out that name. The fox crept up to the door and looked through one of the bullet holes and saw no one in the hall. He opened the door and found a wolf lying on the floor in a small pool of blood.

"Daddy, w-what's going on?"

He looked over his shoulder to find his son standing behind him, tears streaming down his face. He moved and blocked the door from his son's view as he spoke. "Go s-sit in the c-corner son. I will be right back."

The kit sniffled but complied and went to stand in the corner. When he was sure he would not be able to see from his vantage point, Justin stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. He rushed over to the dead wolf on the floor and took his head in his paws. Seeing the sightless eyes and bloodstained fur, he lost all control of his emotions.

"No please...this can't be happening! Please no, no, no!"

He cried and tears fell freely to the wolf's face as he cradled the wolf's body close to his chest. "I'm so sorry! Please! P-please forgive me! Oh why?"

He sobbed for a few minutes before closing the wolf's dead eyes, straightening out his uniform and laying his paws on his chest. He stared down at the body for a while, remembering what that wolf had done for his son the day prior. Sobbing quietly, he stepped back into the room where his son had squatted down on the floor hugging his knees close and crying quietly. He looked up hearing his father enter the room.

The young fox's eyes grew wide seeing his father. "Daddy! Are you hurt?"

The fox looked himself over and found his white shirt covered in blood. He quickly tore it off and threw it into the corner as he wiped his eyes. "N-no Tommy, I-I'm not hurt...Daddy is okay."

He sat down on the raggedy couch in the room and sobbed quietly. The little fox in the corner climbed up and wrapped his tiny arms around his father and cried into his fur.

"Please don't cry Daddy!"

Justin wore a weak smile as he stroked his son's ears back, a few of his own tears landing on his son's ear.

"I'm sorry, Tommy…it's just...Daddy did something bad...and it makes him very sad."

The kit looked up with a smile. "Just say you're sorry! That's what Mommy says! Tell them you are sorry! Then we can go home."

He smiled at his son...If only it truly was that easy. He said nothing more and only continued to try to comfort his son when his cell phone started to ring in his pocket. He pulled it out and didn't recognise the number. He went ahead and answered it anyway.

The voice that greeted him was gruff and stern. "This is Chief Bogo, of the ZPD. We have the building surrounded and we would like to discuss your son...will you help us understand what is going on here?"

Justin felt new tears burn through his eyes. "H-How is the officer...I-I shot...I know there were two...please tell me he's alive!"

Bogo did not respond right away...deciding if this fox deserved to know. His anger burned deep in his chest, knowing that one of his officers lay dead and alone in that building...all because of that one fox.

He made his decision. "That's none of your business at this moment. Come out with your son, and we can talk more about it later."

The fox looked out the dirty window seeing police lights flashing off the buildings and movement on a rooftop not far from his location.

He sighed deeply into the phone. "I know how to end this...Give me a few minutes, Chief...You will get your resolution."

He hung up, not giving the chief a moment to reply. He looked down at his son with loving, sad eyes. He stood up and paced around the room for a minute before looking back at his own son.

He knelt down in front of Tommy and put on his best smile. "I need you to do something for me Tommy...it's very important...I need you to promise...okay?"

The kit looked deeply into his father's eyes and nodded. Justin sighed...knowing full well what he was about to do...knowing it would hurt and likely haunt his son for many years..but it had to be done.

He held back his tears as he delivered his request. "Listen close to me very closely, Tommy. I need you to never be like me...I need you to be better than me. Strive and grow, as you will face mammals that will try to tear you down, hate you because you are a fox. You have to prove them wrong, use it to grow, and get better, be better. Take their hate, and their prejudice and turn it into your strength. There is one last thing I need of you…"

Tommy didn't like what he was hearing and started to cry. "Daddy...w-whats going on?"

He gulped a few times, trying to keep his voice calm. "I need you to forgive me, because I have done terrible things. I am so sorry that I will be going away soon. You have to listen to your mother, but remember what I told you...Never forget...and make me proud to call myself your father...Can you do that?"

The kit looked none too happy with this, but in the end, with tears streaming down his face, he finally nodded.

Justin smiled seeing this agreement from his son. "Good. Now, if you go over to the window, you should be able to see the nice police officers down there."

Tommy giggled and headed over to the window, looking out and waving at the police he saw. Justin however felt nothing, no joy, no happiness, as he slowly unloaded the gun completely and left the magazine on the couch in the room. There was only one way he would see this end, since he couldn't live with himself after what he had done. He saw TUSK on the roof across from his window, looking through a rifle at him. Silent tears ran down his face as he leveled the empty pistol on his own son who was still waving out the window...and he waited.

"I love you, Tommy."

The window cracked in a spiderweb pattern as a single bullet flew through it and struck Justin Reynarks right where his neck connected to his body, instantly slicing his spinal cord and dropping him to the floor in a heap. He was still conscious as his young son rushed to his side, pushing him over to look into his face. The young fox was crying hysterically as he tried to figure out what was happening. He placed his paws on his father's throat as he tried to stem the flow of blood.

"Daddy! Please! Don't go!"

That was one request that Justin Reynarks would never be able to follow. He could feel his son's paws trying to stop the bleeding, even as his vision faded to black. The last words he would hear from his panicked son were three words that made tears fall down his still open eyes. He laid there, cold and hearing his son's sobbing. 'I deserve nothing better for what I've done...goodbye son.'

15 Minutes After First Shots

Benjamin Clawhauser was not ready for a first day like this. Already called out to a hostage situation right after he had set up his locker. Hell, even his fur still smelled like the academy and here he was, kicking in a door with the precinct chief. The team rushed up the stairs after the first shot from the sniper, with the cheetah following close behind. As they crested the stairs, Clawhauser froze in place, his eyes locked on the white wolf lying on the floor. Bloody ZPD uniform, and a bullet-riddled, broken body. His heart dropped; he was not ready for this. Day one on the force and he was staring at the body of an officer he had known only by name. The sound of a screaming kit got his attention and he looked up to see Chief Bogo carrying a fox out who was covered in blood, and crying hysterically.

When the chief brushed by with the screaming mammal, his eyes fell to the scene inside the room. There was a blood-soaked fox lying on the floor with two officers administering first aid. Clawhauser could tell from the look in his eyes...that fox...the father of the kit...was long gone. His head spun and he rushed out of the building, needing to get away any way he could. He stumbled down the steps as tears filled his eyes, his stomach doing somersaults. Breaking out into the damp air of the rainforest, he rounded a corner and released the contents of his stomach to the wet ground with a terrible retching noise. After he could breathe again, he slumped against a wall, tears still in his eyes as he lost all control of his emotions and sobbed loudly.

Chief Bogo soon came over and patted him on the shoulder. "Clawhauser, right?"

The cheetah wiped away his tears as best as he could and nodded. "Yes sir, Benjamin Clawhauser...it's my first day."

Bogo nodded and sat down next to him. "I'm sorry...we needed all the help we could get on this...it's not supposed to be like this on your first day. Go ahead and take the rest of it off. We have a lot of work to do here, but you need some time over this."

Clawhauser nodded sadly and stood on shaky limbs. "I think I'll go to the hospital...Go see the other officer since all the others are busy here…"

Bogo nodded sadly. "The officer you are looking for is William Wolford...He just lost his brother...Thank you Clawhauser."

4 Hours After Shooting

William opened his eyes and found himself staring at a paneled ceiling, hearing the soft drip of an IV line and a heart monitor beeping quietly. The smell of alcohol and stress filled the air. He slowly looked over to the bed next to him to find it empty. It only cemented the fact that his brother was gone. His eyes stung as his tears flowed down his face. Everything came crashing down around him. A knock on the door brought him back to reality, if only just.

"W-Who is it?"

The door opened a crack and a very trim looking cheetah stepped inside. "It's Officer Clawhauser. T-today was my first day, and they don't need me right now. S-so I wanted to come meet you."

William only nodded quietly and waved a paw at a nearby chair. The cheetah brought the chair over next to the wolf and sat down while leaning in closer. William turned to give Clawhauser a weak smile.

"Sorry if my mood is a bit...sour."

Clawhauser waved his paw dismissively. "No...Don't apologise. You have no reason to after what you have been through."

He quickly cursed himself for bringing that up. The images of the white wolf lying on the floor in a pool of blood flashed back into his mind with painful vengeance. It caused his stomach to turn heavily. Wolford however simply nodded as fresh tears silently marred his fur.

"Yes...My brother...H-he...he was going to be a father…"

Silence filled the minutes after that until the wolf chuckled.

"Oh man...when we were kids, he used to get into so much trouble. He would tell jokes that would...well...tick off the older and sometimes larger mammals in school...I always had to fight something bigger than me."

Clawhauser felt tears fall down his face as he asked one of the hardest questions he could ever ask of this wolf.

"Will...will you tell me about him?"

Wolford sighed as he thought long and hard about that question. He turned to face the newly minted officer while a tired smile crept across his face.

"Yes...he was worth knowing...his memory should be shared...thank you Clawhauser."

The wolf sat there and proceeded to tell the eager cheetah all about his brother: his antics, his pranks...his wife. Through it all, they laughed at the funny moments, beamed with pride at the best moments, and cried together on those times that were precious and heartfelt as the realization came back that there would be no more of those moments. Tommy's life would take more than one day, but Clawhauser would not be dissuaded. He sat there on the first night until 8am the next day listening constantly to every single word. The nurses admonished them both and only after that did the pair fall asleep. Clawhauser never left the chair as he leaned his head on the edge of the bed the wolf slept on.

When the cheetah returned to work, the images flashed through his head and caused him to nearly lose his breakfast. The closer he got to work, the worse it got. Chief Bogo actually found him outside doubled over a trashcan losing that breakfast.

The buffalo went to his distressed officer and rested a hoof on his back. "Clawhauser, are you alright?"

The cheetah wiped his snout and looked up at Bogo with pain in his eyes. "Please Chief...anything...I will do any job in the ZPD, just please don't make me do field work...I just can't take it."

Bogo took pity on the officer and maybe even shared his sentiments a bit. "Well...Officer Hornner is retiring in a few weeks. Until then you can work in records, and when he retires, I can move you to the front desk. It would save me the trouble of finding a replacement for him. Would that work out for you?"

Clawhauser nodded sadly. "Not exactly where I saw my ZPD career going...but after what I saw yesterday...and speaking with Officer Wolford...I just can't. I can't see that again."

Bogo nodded and helped the mammal back into the precinct and into the med station for some help with his nausea. He went back to work writing his speech for the funeral he had started right after the event. He returned to his office and flopped down in his chair. The buffalo pulled out his reading glasses, then from one of his drawers came out the speech for Tommy. The paper was wrinkled and damaged by his tears. So many tears he shed yesterday as he wrote every emotion he felt onto that paper and cemented the words with his tears. He sat there pondering as his eyes started to sting all over again. How does one compile an officer's life in the ZPD, a damned fine officer, who was the life of the precinct of five years...how do you wrap all that up into a speech?

He would try to explain who he was, how he lived and who he is survived by. His heart hurt anew as he remembered that he had just announced that he was getting married. His fiancée was now alone and still distraught. Everyone handles grief differently...she up and vanished. He hoped he would see her at the funeral. He really disliked the idea of simply losing her too. He sat there staring at the page, the writing on it blurring as he started to drag his pencil across the page and continue the speech.

2 Days After Shooting

Clawhauser went back to the hospital after his shift in records. He stepped in and found the wolf smiling at him. The fur beneath his eyes was still somewhat matted from the tears, but he seemed happier. The cheetah sat down in his usual spot next to the wolf, taking his earbuds out with a chuckle.

"Well...all these stories about your brother have me listening to Gazelle now. I actually really like her music...like...a lot!"

Wolford chuckled at Clawhauser's remarks. "Well, Tommy always did love her music."

The feline opened up a small box with a smile. "Doughnut?"

"Cops and doughnuts Clawhauser? Are you trying to make this as stereotypical as you can?"

The cheetah let out a hearty laugh. "No, I'm not, but they are quite good and I figured you could use something other than hospital food. A treat or something."

Wolford nodded and took one. He laid there in his bed, watching TV and thinking deeply. The news was still reporting on the shooting, so he had changed the channel to music videos. Gazelle came on and he had to suddenly pin his ears back to his head as the cheetah let out a high-pitched squeal in his excitement.

"Tommy, you know that kin-"

Wolford stopped himself and Clawhauser looked back with a worried expression on his face. Tears came anew as he realized his mistake, but they were not so much of sadness anymore.

"Ben...I called you Tommy."

"I-I know...I'm sorry."

Wolford chuckled in good humor. "No, you don't understand...you are starting to remind me of him."

"I know...I just...with all the stories you have told me, I just feel like...I've known him for a long time. I'm sorry."

Wolford reached out and put his paw on Clawhauser's shoulder with a smile. "No...keep doing it. For whatever reason, I feel like keeping his memory alive is the best way to remember him. Now, let me tell you about his antics."

AN: Thanks to DrummerMax for his editorial magic on this piece! There will only be one more part to this back story and will parallel the events in ITaB but all from Wolford's point of view. Now you will learn what went through his head, why he did what he did...and the internal struggle with the son of the fox who killed his father showing up.