Chapter 6: Calm before the storm
Rape.
That word, uttered from the lips of the wolf entered Nicks head and proceeded to smash the thoughts that Nick had spent the last week getting into some form of order. He didn't know how to respond, his internal thought process just kept coming back and focusing on that word and what it meant. He would never. He couldn't.
John sat and observed the reaction of the vulpine with silent curiosity. Most mammals knew what they did to deserve such punishment…some even took pleasure in it. However Nick seemed genuinely horrified by the news. The colour had vanished from his face, even his fur seemed dulled and his expression was frozen in a mixture of bewilderment and panic. But to make up his mind he needed more information.
Nick's mind was struggling to react and Johns silent behaviour was only making the situation worse. His lack of emotion and the cold, neutral way he had delivered that word was driving Nick mad. His mouth moved but nothing came out. His throat felt dry and his paws clammy. "When? Who? I couldn't have!" The panic was clear in his voice and had not gone unnoticed by those around him. A few looked up from what they were doing with raised eye brows before continuing.
John took a drag from the cigarette hanging from his mouth before blowing if out again. It was a simple and quick act but to Nick it seemed to take forever as he waited to see if the wolf would believe him. "You sure about that?" The question wasn't delivered with any malice or sympathy, only neutrality and a raised brow. He gave no indication of what he was thinking.
Nick found himself staring at the wolf again. Did he really think that he was capable of such an act? Or was he just investigating the possibility? "How-what?" He forced out.
"Nick how much of our time in Kenya do you remember?" Scars spoke with the same neutrality from earlier thought the question was useful for the vulpine. It caused Nicks mind to pause and began to function again as the question gave him something to focus on. But truth be told he could remember Johns warning or was it advice? He honestly couldn't tell and that was about it.
"I'm guessing by that silence not a lot and to be honest with how much you were downing its not really very surprising" That gravelly voice dragged Nick back to the conversation. "Your file didn't say anything about a drinking problem before but that doesn't mean you done have one"
Nick didn't feel the urge to punch someone very often but John's cold and clinical reasoning was really starting to push his buttons. "There's a big difference between getting drunk and raping someone!" His anger was clear in his voice as he snapped at the wolf. John however didn't even blink.
Nick did have a point but it was still possible "Thats true Nick but its happened before and will happen again. So ever been so pissed you don't remember anything?"
Nick thought for a moment and only one instance came to mind. "Only when my father died. But that was years ago" Nick didn't realise it but he was speaking through gritted teeth with his features contorted into a snarl. He also didn't notice the other members of the squad watching from afar. They weren't surprised at the fact John wasn't fazed by the hostile stance of the fox but unlike most of his contemporaries he usual didn't jump to violence.
After hearing Nick's admission John thought for a moment. A historic rape allegation was possible however in this case unlikely. Nicks low status was the thing that made it unlikely as the only thing a person would get by accusing him would be sense of justice. Fair enough but would the police really spend time, money and resources on convicting a con fox? In John's experience no, no they wouldn't. That left him with two options, either Nick was lying or he was innocent.
With what he had seen of the fox John found himself leaning more and more in favour of the idea the Nick was innocent. Nick hadn't shown any violent behaviour even when drunk. He'd snapped and given angry retorts at people but he hadn't attacked or even threatened anyone. Still that's how monsters operate, they hide behind a mask and only take it off in front of their victims. He knew the fox hide behind a mask but he just didn't know how deep that mask was.
While John sat there deep in thought Nick's mind was still in turmoil but one emotion was dominating them. Anger. A almost savage rage was tearing his mind apart. He was enraged by the idea that John didn't appear to believe him and even more angry that someone would falsely accuse him of such a thing. 'John right though. How do you know you didn't do this?' That fucking voice was back and it was sowing the seeds of doubt in his mind and it was making it even angrier.
John sensed the raged from the fox "Getting pissed isn't gonna achieve anything" This did little to cool the temper of the vulpine who in Johns eye's looked ready to take on a company all by himself. It impressed the wolf in all honesty, but anger needed to be controlled to be useful otherwise it could have the opposite effect. As the wolfs first NCO had told him "anger, use it but don't lose it"
"How can I calm down knowing this! I've been condemned to this for something I didn't do!" His anger was clear to all around and more and more mammals found themselves watching the exchange. They stopped however when John noticed them.
"You have every right to be angry Wilde but its not going to make a bit of difference" He spoke in a calm, matter of fact tone and before Nick could give another angry retort he spoke again. "Your in Somalia, thousands of miles from those who have put you here. Deal with each problem as it comes and your first problem is how to get home alive, cause you wont get answers here."
Nicks anger simmered. As much as he wanted to punch John, to beat him until his teeth came out and he couldn't see. He had to admit he was right. He couldn't do anything about it out here. That and Nick seriously doubted he'd be able to actually hurt John…and get away with it. "And don't think your special either. You aint the first to wrongly end up here" That caught Nicks attention.
"What do you mean?" The hostility was still clear as he spoke but it was beginning to dissipate. He was tired and now had even more confused and unpleasant thoughts floating around in his head.
John took the final drag from his cigarette and threw away the but. "Well, put it this way. I'm the only member of our team that deserves to be here" This was the first time since the mention of…that word that the wolf had shown emotion. There was a small amount of…sadness or regret? It was difficult for Nick to tell it was so fleeting.
"BLACKWELL!" The Scottish accent of the Captain reverberated through the evening air the impatience obvious to all. "GET OVER HERE!"
John sighed before speaking with the emphasis on his exasperated tone "What have I done this time? I better go and see what's pissed him off this time" He stood but as he walked away he turned one final time just as the fox had lay down once more. "For what its worth, I always believed you" Without another word he disappeared around one of the trucks that had been carrying their heavy equipment.
Nick sat up dumbstruck. 'That, that bastard was stringing me along! Why!' Despite the deception Nick was relived by the fact that there was at least one person who believed him. But any other thought's were cut off as he began to feel sleep over take him. 16 hours of marching really did take it out of you and the throbbing from his muzzle was still there. However one thought did enter his mind before he slipped into the comforting darkness.
'We should never play poker with that guy…wait who's we?'
