Chapter 2 Old Demons
Lost wouldn't be the right word to describe Nick, more like intentionally avoiding the route to Mr. Big's.
"Nick, I know you're not lost." Judy looked sternly at her partner, who was trying to no avail to hide his guilt. "Why are we not headed to Mr. Big's? He is offering you a chance to clear your name."
Nick slowly brought the car to a halt, "I don't think I could drive myself there, not after what I did to them, can you please drive?"
Nick looked at his partner who had just noticed how tired he looked, "Nick, is there something wrong?"
Nick sighed and collected himself, "Not anything a small nap won't fix, could you drive us there, if I'm right I'm guessing we are about two hours off course."
Judy simply opened her door and helped the tired fox to his new position in the cruiser, "Thanks, I really appreciate this, carrots."
Judy took the car and proceeded to Mr. Big's as Nick dozed off in the passenger seat.
Nick was suddenly aware of a stone sidewalk and a glowing sign, he slowly came to his surroundings and saw that he was outside of the lodge the night of his muzzling. He began to run, he wanted to be as far away from the malicious animals that had done that heinous thing to him, so he ran and ran until he couldn't run anymore, and when he stopped, he realized he was hopelessly lost in tundra town.
Alone and sad the small fox kit curled up on the ice covered sidewalk and started to cry, "Alphonse, take me to that poor kit."
The commanding voice was followed by large, resounding footsteps.
"My dear, are you lost?"
Nick looked up to see a small rodent with white hair delicately groomed, she was none other than Grandmama Big.
"Y-y-yessss ma'aaam," Nick sobbed.
"I see dear, Alphonse, pick him up I will feed him and see if we can find this poor little gentleman's mother."
The large polar bear stooped down and held out his hand to the young kit, "It is okay, I no bite," the bear said in a thick accent.
"Come, come we must be getting to a warmer area, you don't look like your winter coat is in dear, and I will not have a small kit catching a cold under my watch."
Nick slowly crawled into the bear's paw, he liked this small old woman, she didn't see him as shifty or sly, she saw him as a sweet helpless kit, just like his mother. The trio made their way to a black limousine, and the ride back seemed to be over as soon as it began, mostly due to Grandmama Big petting Nick's snout as they rode.
Alphonse carried the two into the house and once the bags were all in the house she had another bear, Vlad, make Nick a bowl of warm soup. Nick sat down at the table, "Tell me dear what happened to your nice little uniform?"
Nick started to tear up and sob his story to Grandmama Big, "There, There Grandmama won't let any of those mean boys hurt you, now I want you to look brave and healthy as you see you mother."
The tiny, elderly rodent fed Nick soup and pastries. Nick enjoyed the elderly rodent's company, and he was exhilarated he saw his mother come through the doorway.
"I am so sorry…," Mrs. Wilde paused for a name to be produced.
"Just call me Grandmama dear, you must have been worried sick about your son."
Mrs. Wilde almost burst into tears to see her son's uniform so torn, she was about to ask him what happened, but Grandmama Big cut her off.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you dear, I could barely understand his sobs when he told me, if you don't mind, I would like to talk in the other room about this,"
Mrs. Wilde nodded in agreement, and the trio went into the study adjacent to the dining room.
"Dear, I am afraid the ranger scouts attacked your son with a muzzle and tore his uniform, he apparently didn't want you to see him like this, so he ran, and when he stopped he noticed he was lost, and that's when I heard him crying and took him here."
Mrs. Wilde stood in shock, "Why would they do something like that?"
"I don't know dear, children are a mystery in their own way, but Nick is special, I wouldn't mind looking after him for you."
Mrs. Wilde looked at the rodent," I-I'm not sure I could afford it."
The small rodent held out a hand, "No charge dear, he reminds me of my brother, and besides, he will need a new activity that doesn't involve hateful peers and a muzzle."
Mrs. Wilde was barely holding herself together, "Thank you so much, Grandmama."
The small rodent looked warmly at Mrs. Wilde, "It's the least I could do for that sweet kit of yours, dear, now every day after school I will have Alphonse pick him up in the family car, and he will be back every night at eight, does that sound good to you dear?"
Mrs. Wilde could only nod in agreement as she fought back the tears.
"It's okay dear you can let it out," Mrs. Wilde began uncontrollably sobbing and Grandmama big petted her snout the same as she had done with Nick.
The very next day, just as promised, a black car pulled up with Alphonse at the wheel, "Mr. Wilde," he said to the teacher directing the pickup.
"WILDE, DO WE HAVE A WILDE," the teacher was surprised as nick walked up, "I'm sorry, but I don't think this is for you, Nick."
The teacher looked apologetically at Nick as the bear stepped out, "AH YOUNG MR. WILDE SO GOOD TO BE SEEING YOU AGAIN," the large bear laughed in his heavy accent.
"ALPHONSE!" Nick shouted joyously and ran towards the bear, who in turn scooped him up and put him on his shoulders.
"Miss I am to be picking the young mister up from school from now on, I hope this is being clear now."
The baffled wolf stared at the fox sitting on the burly polar bear's shoulders and barely muttered, "Y-y-y-yes s-s-ssir."
Nick smiled and said, "It's okay Miss Cassidy, Alphonse helped me find my momma when I got lost."
The wolf gathered herself and replied, "Ah I see Nick, I will make sure that you leave with mister Alphonse from now on, now you be good for you mother okay,"
Nick's face lit up, "Yes Miss Cassidy," and with that the duo left for the Big's residence.
Nick spent many years at the house playing with the others, listening to Grandmama's advice, and minding himself around Mr. Big, after a long time in the company of a crime boss, Nick picked up a few underhanded habits, and eventually had a falling out with Mr. Big at 16 over a rug.
A few more years had passed and Grandmama's health started to fail, Nick pleaded with Mr. Big to be able to say goodbye to the one who had taken him in, and eventually Mr. Big let him visit.
"Is that you Grandmama?" Nick wanted to be gentle.
"Oh Nick, It's been too long, dear."
Nick felt very guilty, "Yes Grandmama, yes it has, I'm sorry about that."
The elderly rodent smiled, "I know my grandson can be stubborn at times, but you should have known better Nick, you are better than that dear, I still remember that innocent little fox I picked up all those years ago."
Nick started to tear up, "I still remember that too Grandmama, you have always been so kind to me, I could never repay you for all you have done for me."
The little rodent held up her paw, "You don't owe me anything, I was simply showing a little kit some kindness he so desperately needed."
Nick's voice started to break, "I have been terrible, I have been shifty, underhanded, and sly, I don't deserve any kindness."
The small rodent was getting frustrated, "You are much more than that dear, you are better, even if you can't see it now, someday someone will show you the light, and dear I want you to know no matter what, Grandmama loves you, and you will always be a part of the Big family, even if my grandson doesn't acknowledge it."
The little rodent fell asleep as she was exhausted from her sickly state, Nick sat sobbing by her side.
"I love you too Grandmama."
A few weeks later Grandmama Big passed, Mr. Big allowed Nick and his mother a seat at the funeral, after which he confronted Nick and told him not to return his house ever again.
That day nick went home and laid down in his bed, moments later he was back in his patrol car being gently shaken by Judy, "Hey, Nick, wait are those tears?"
Nick noticed his cheeks were damp and chilled by the air conditioning in the car, "Just a bad dream, nothing to worry about."
Judy didn't believe him, but she didn't want to prod either, knowing Nick, it took a lot to make him cry, so it would be best to get the visit over with and maybe talk later while he is at his apartment.
They both got out of the cruiser and Nick wiped his eyes, "I'm ready," Nick said, and they started towards the imposing front door.