Two days passed as Gary recuperated under Dr. Madge's care, with Larry and Wilfred keeping watch over him and the others visiting on their spare time. Yesterday, Dr. Madge remarked that Gary had healed well enough to return to his daily routine, so today Gary, Larry and Wilfred would be returning to their Tundratown base. Before that, though, they would go to Gary's rented place at Savannah Central to pack up and leave for good.

After a morning shower and perking up, Gary began to leave his room, no, the room he spent a few days recuperating in. He took a look around it as if saying goodbye, even though he knew that with Dr. Madge being a friend of the pack, such sentiment would be unnecessary. This wasn't even his house, anyway. The pack might pay her another visit when the situation called for it. Gary shook his head. Was he being too giddy from the prospect of going home that he ended up thinking such trivial things? He then just closed the room and bolted outside to see Larry, Wilfred and Dr. Madge in the living room.

"Glad to see you're doing well," Dr. Madge greeted Gary.

"Yeah," Gary gave a rather sheepish reply, "Thanks for everything, Doctor."

"Well, that's what friends are for, right?"

Friends, huh? Gary wasn't sure if that was the right word. Family sounded better, but he felt that such a word need not be spoken, or maybe that wasn't the proper term either, but nevermind.

"Boris is already outside," Wilfred informed Larry, "Should we take off now or should I ask him to wait a bit?"

"Let's leave soon," Larry replied, then turned to Dr. Madge, "Thanks again for helping us, Doctor."

"Sure," Dr. Madge, "don't worry, if you're going to be busy later, make haste. We can always chat again some other time."

The wolves nodded as they exited Dr. Madge's house and got in their van, and as Boris drove off the wolves waved goodbye to Dr. Madge. They then went straight to Gary's rent, located somewhere around Elm St. It took Gary no longer than fifteen minutes to pack up everything by himself and speak to the landlord that he was leaving. The landlord inquired about Gary's utter absence from the flat for a few days, to which Gary only replied he had to go out of town on short notice and just returned very recently, and the landlord replied nothing. On the way back to the wolves' Tundratown base, Gary perused his belongings that he just packed up from the flat as Larry looked on without saying a word. Gary then checked his phone, to which Larry took notice wordlessly. Gary glanced aside towards Larry, then smiled as he began reading his messages.

"I mostly worked odd jobs those days," Gary opened up.

"Well, that doesn't sound so different from what we've always been doing," Larry continued.

"Yeah, but in retrospect," Gary let out a sigh, "I think that just didn't work out well."

Larry merely patted Gary on the shoulder, then began running his paw on Gary's arm.

"Then I guess I should fix that up," Larry smiled as he locked eyes with Gary, "First, you need to be fattened back up."

The wolves chuckled. Then Larry noticed Gary focusing on his phone, though he said nothing yet. Gary then gazed out the window, apparently restless. Something he read had bothered him.

"What's wrong?"

That jolted Gary.

"Oh, um..."

Larry didn't speak, though his face hinted his questions.

"My last client," Gary then spoke up.

"Ah," Larry only replied with a smile.

"I was escorting her home when we came across some bears," Gary continued as Larry nodded in understanding. So that was what happened.

"Sounds like it's a hostile neighborhood."

"I guess so. But that wasn't the first time I scuffled with them, actually."

Larry then patted Gary again as he said, "Considering what we do, making enemies is just a natural consequence. I'm just glad that you manage to survive through all those."

"But-"

"Hush," Larry quickly gestured Gary to stop, "Whatever it is you're trying to tell me, I will say this: I will not let you suffer your problems on your own, especially if that problem could kill you."

Gary then wordlessly grasped Larry's paw and shook it. Some silence passed before Larry started asking Gary again.

"So, what did your last client say?"

"She's asking if I'm ok, and also if the cops have called me."

"The cops?" Larry sounded nervous. Gary only nodded.

"While we were chased by those bears, I thought I saw a police car some distance away and I told her to run for it. So it really was a police car, after all," said Gary with a relief.

Larry then gazed on Gary's phone as he asked, "So, did the police really call?"

"There seemed to be a few miscalls," Gary replied, "I know some of these numbers, though there's a few unknown callers. The police may be one."

"It'd be best you don't return any of them yet," Boris chimed in, "Give me the numbers later. I'll look through them later and let you know which is who."

"Thanks."

Gary could surmise why Boris said that, and why Larry didn't seem fond of the police's involvement, so he said no more words about it.

"Oh, and you said your client asked if you're ok?" Larry asked.

"Oh, yes."

"Then tell her you're fine, and that you haven't heard from the police yet."

"Ok."

Gary then continued messaging as Larry looked on. Larry's own phone then buzzed and he checked it out, and he smiled as he began relaying what he read.

"Raul told us Lionheart wants to see us again tomorrow. Same place, same time."

"Ok," Wilfred and Boris nodded.

"That's cool," Gary perked up, "You guys still keep in touch with him?"

"I guess it may have more to do with the fact that he was Zootopia's disgraced mayor and that we were his accomplices," Larry replied somewhat gravely, though he smiled as he turned towards Gary, "Though it does look like he has taken a liking to us, going so far as asking about you the last time."

"Oh?"

"Why don't you talk to him tomorrow? He'll probably be all business about it, but some small talk wouldn't hurt."

Gary only nodded. His phone then buzzed, and he looked at it in a slight bewilderment as more messages poured in. Larry was curious.

"So the bottom line is," Gary tried to summarize the wall of text he was reading, "she's happy that I'm okay in the end, and she wanted to actually pay me for my service, but she's currently not in town."

"That's rough," Larry replied. All those trouble and Gary would not be receiving compensation? What the hell. He's glad he got to bring Gary back with the pack; anymore of this kind of client and Gary might end up starving to death. Larry then glanced af Gary as if awaiting for response.

"I'll just keep in touch with her in this case," Gary sounded deflated, then he looked at Larry who wore the same kind of expression, "Sorry. I guess going solo wasn't really a good idea."

"Really," Larry retorted. Gary could feel slight ire from him.

The pack just entered Tundratown when Gary's phone rang.

"Hello? ... Oh, Iryn, hi! ... Tomorrow at your office? ... Oh, I see. Ok. ... Ok. ... I have something else to do tomorrow, can I confirm the timing later? ... Ok, great, see you."

Larry wondered what happened as he saw Gary beaming. Gary then shared the story.

"So, my last client, name's Serfin, by the way, is friends with this bear Iryn whose dad hired me some time back," Gary explained in cheer, "And since Serfin is out of town, Iryn wants me to see her at her dad's office to pay me instead."

"That's... great!" Larry cheered, but then he noticed Gary suddenly looking troubled, "Uh, what's wrong?"

"Is it- Are you ok with this?" Gary asked to Larry's bewilderment, "I mean, I'm back with you guys, and I-"

"Oh, silly boy," Larry patted Gary's head in relief, "That Serfin is your client, right? Yours. So whatever you get for that job, you've earned it. Don't think about us for this."

Gary perked up, though there was still a hint of nervousness.

"We'll be meeting Lionheart tomorrow at The Vistas, Downtown, at 4. So how about we take you to that Iryn at, 2? 3?" Larry scratched his head as he continued his questions, "Uh, where's the place, by the way?"

"Here," Gary showed a screenshot of the address.

"Oh, good, not very far from The Vistas. Ask her if she can see you at 3."

"Ok," Gary then proceeded to make a call, "Hello? ... Hi, Iryn, what about I see you at 3 tomorrow? ... Great! ... Ok, bye!"

Not very long after, the wolves arrived at their Tundratown base. Wilfred insisted on helping to carry Gary's stuffs back to his room and blitzed off as Larry and Boris flanked Gary on their way to the living room. Larry then nudged Gary to open the door much to Gary's curiosity as he did so.

"Welcome home!"

Gary was awed at what he saw. Raul, Lucas and Connor were in the room. There were some lavish dishes on the table at the center, and there was also a hung banner that said "Welcome back, Gary!" Gary beamed as the three in the room rushed to hug him.

"Welcome back," Larry told Gary. The white wolf could hear the other's voice cracking as Larry joined in the group hug.

"Thanks. Thanks, guys," Gary could only give a soft reply while wiping his eyes.

The wolves enjoyed their celebratory dinner as they exchanged stories, as the rest of the pack were itching to hear from Gary about his days away from the pack, and at the same time eager to share their life without Gary around. At times Gary repeatedly apologized for running away like that, but in the end they all thought as long as Gary was back, everything would be fine.

It was almost midnight when Gary got back to his old room with Larry following closely. Gary stood motionless for a while after opening the door. The room was tidy; no doubt Larry must have been taking care of it all those time, except during his recovery days, in which case it was probably Connor who cleaned it up. Wilfred had stashed Gary's stuffs by the desk opposite of the bed, and as Gary sat on the bed, Larry sat beside him. Larry then petted Gary before telling him to get a good rest and leaving the room, though not before hinting at the desk. Gary smiled. He was now home again. Maybe for now he would get a rest and deal with everything tomorrow.

Gary looked at himself in the mirror as he buttoned up his jacket. When was the last time he wore that jacket, the pack's official business attire? He grinned as he straightened up. Today was shaping up to be a little busy, but that one good night's rest was reinvigorating enough. And that warm morning shower felt so pleasant, he ended up under the shower for half an hour, much to his pack's amusement. Or was he singing too loudly in the shower? Anyway, and that creamy morning soup was divine; Who cooked that? Gary chuckled at his own imagination. He then checked his desk and opened the drawers one by one. They still contained the same stuffs from that night when he ran away, except for one drawer which he remembered was empty but now housed his old phone. He sighed as he perused it, finding out that Larry had called him perhaps about the time when he just decided to head to the train station that night. Gary shook his head. Those were bygones, and he would rather not think more of it on account on how much stress it gave Larry.

Some hours later, Gary, along with Larry, Lucas and Raul, was on the way to the building where Iryn's father's office was. Gary had asked Larry before if it would be ok if he were to tell some his contacts that he was changing his number, and Larry didn't mind as long as the numbers were not the ones Boris had barred based on his screening.

"Okay, I'll be back soon," Gary told his packmates once they arrived at the office building, and they merely nodded as they waited in their van. Gary then found Iryn in the office, her father being absent for the day.

"Good to see you well, Gary," Iryn greeted as she reached for an envelope. Gary nodded merrily.

"Gotta say I'm surprised you managed to get away from the Ursines, though. Serfin told me she thought you were dead."

"Well, that was indeed rough," Gary sheepishly chuckled, "I also thought I might not make it."

"But you got some help, I take it? Serfin said there was a few howls after running away from the Ursines."

"Some... unexpected help, yes."

"Sorry that it happened," Iryn sighed, "I heard from Serfin she wanted to take shortcut home so late at night. That idiot."

"She just didn't want to reach home so late."

"Seriously, what was she thinking? Just because she hired you doesn't mean she could just drag you right into danger like that."

"She probably never knew about the Ursines," Gary mused, "Anyway, at least all's well in the end."

"If you say so," Iryn then handed over the envelope, "Anyway, like I said, Serfin won't be able to see you for the next few days, so I'll pay you in her place. She'll pay me back anytime later."

"Thanks," Gary replied as he slipped the envelope into his jacket, while at the same time giving her a folded up note, "Oh, by the way, if you need to contact me in the future, I'll be using a new number."

"Oh? Just how bad was your animosity with the Ursines that you even had to change your number?" Iryn hinted a chortle as she read the number in the note.

"It was something unrelated, actually, I guess. My... brother gave me that phone." Eh, she didn't need to know the details for now.

"Wow. I wonder how he felt if he knew you do dirty businesses like this."

"He gave me an earful the other day, actually," Gary replied, and Iryn chuckled with him.

"Well," Iryn adjusted her glasses, "I guess I'll have to go back to work."

"Ok," Gary stood up and saluted Iryn, "Thanks again."

"Yeah, same here."

Gary only nodded as he left. Well, perhaps if Iryn were to ask for his help again, it would be the pack's business, no his own anymore. He hasted outside thinking to head to the parking lot, but he found the other three standing outside the building instead.

"Whoops, did I make you wait?" Gary spoke.

"No, not really," Larry replied as the four of them began walking northward, "The Vistas is within walking distance from this building."

"Parked there," Lucas chimed.

So they planned to leave immediately after meeting Lionheart. Gary merely nodded.

It was a few minutes before 4 when Gary and Larry entered The Vistas while Lucas and Raul waited nearby. The bar was rather quiet, like the last time Larry came to meet Lionheart. And in fact Lionheart was seated at the same table as the one before. Lionheart waved at them with a big smile, and the two sat across him upon being gestured to.

"Pleasure to meet you again, Larry," Lionheart greeted before turning towards Gary, "and you too, Gary."

Both wolves replied with a smile and a small salute.

"I didn't get a chance to speak to you directly yesterday," Lionheart talked to Larry, "but I believe you, both I suppose, are aware of my request this time?"

"You are following up with the visit from your guests the last time by paying them a visit in return, yes?"

"Correct," Lionheart confirmed, at the same time catching a glimpse of Gary. The white wolf appeared noticeably excited like the last time. Lionheart smiled before he continued.

"I will bring along four others with me, and I'm planning a three-car convoy, and we will be departing in two days. I trust that is reasonable enough?"

"It is, Sir."

Lionheart then handed over an envelope to Larry. It was noticeably thicker than the last time.

"You can read all the details inside."

Larry merely nodded as he slipped the envelope into his jacket.

"It's great to see you two looking chipper," Lionheart proceeded, "Especially you, Gary. I heard you were unwell the last time."

"Eh, that happened, Sir," Gary replied, trying to not look too sheepish as he spared a glance at Larry, who then playfully jabbed him back under the table, "But I've never felt better."

"Sounds great. Well, I'm afraid I have another appointment in fifteen minutes," Lionheart then stood up, and the two wolves followed as the three of them left The Vistas, "We can talk again another day."

"Of course, Sir," the wolves spoke in unison, much to each other's amusement as they traded sly glances. Lionheart only made a mild chuckle.

That evening, Larry shared the mission with the pack, although he said a full discussion would be held only tomorrow. After Larry briefed the pack of whatever would be needed in general, the packmembers went off to do their own works that night. Lucas and Boris was in the garage to tune up the van, Raul was at the computer working on documentations, Wilfred was in the storeroom to check some supplies, and Connor was tidying up the pack's wardrobe.

Gary was in his room, staring outside the window. He earlier had helped Raul with the documents, as well as Wilfred with ferrying some supplies into the storeroom, and now he was spare. There certainly would be more works tomorrow, and then the following day would be the start of a major job for the pack. Gary felt a little nervous. It's been months since the last time he worked on anything so significant. Would he be ready- No, the better question would be whether he could execute the job properly. He still feel doubts on whether he should work with the pack.

Gary heard a knock on the door, though as it was ajar, he didn't need to do anything as Larry came in with a bowl of food. He put the food, some milky broth, at the desk and then approached Gary as the two leaned at the window. They merely traded smiles for a while before Larry spoke up.

"Are you worried about something?"

Gary didn't immediately answer, but his fidgeting hinted that he didn't want to say what he was thinking.

"Is it that you feel this big job comes too soon?"

A pause later, Gary nodded. Larry then wrapped his arm over Gary's shoulder.

"Then you should get your rest soon. That broth should help you relax."

"Actually..."

"... Yes?"

Gary slumped as he continued, "I'm just... just worried that I..."

"Worried that you'll what?" Larry pressed the question as gently as he could. It seems that Gary was still plagued with self-doubt.

"That I'll hinder you."

Larry proceeded to muss up Gary's head, and the white wolf sheepishly smiled back.

"This is a pack job, Gary. I'll support you, just as how you'll support us."

"Yeah, but..."

"Have faith in yourself, Gary. Do your best, tell yourself you can do it. If you falter, I'll help."

Gary wasn't sure if he should force a smile.

"I sometimes think that perhaps I wasn't careful enough to cover your shortcomings, but this time, I'll make sure whatever the problem is, I won't let them get to you."

Gary merely turned to to Larry with the happiest smile Larry recalled he had ever seen. Never had Gary felt this... well, even he couldn't quite describe the kind of joy he was feeling right now. Gary then looked out to the city, took a deep breath and exhaled in bliss. Tomorrow would be a better day; that's what he would believe.