Authors note: I've been off doing exams for a while, I plan to slowly get back into writing. Updates should really start picking up, starting in about 1 week.
.
-Judy-
.
Judy's mind was awash with though as she travelled through the city towards the precinct. She rattled through the possibilities of how Nick could have been accused for a crime that she knew he couldn't of committed. Was it false identification? A deliberate distraction by whoever he had been investigating, she had heard him mention real villains getting away didn't he? Was it some joke that spiralled far out of control? Whatever it was, she was confident that he could be quickly placed on bail and then have the charges dropped. That was, however, until she saw the protest crowd outside the station.
.
To say it was large was a bit of an overstatement, none the less there were many mammals in the ever growing crowd. She counted more than there were during the rallies back in Bellwethers day and, unlike then, they were all united on the same front. A few officers stood by the side-lines and she heard abuse being kicked at some of them by the more aggressive protestors. News crews were already appearing, setting up cameras to record the event as it unfolded, and reporters were interviewing the protestors. The signs and placards hovering about varied, but many carried the same kind of message: 'one law for us all'; 'we demand justice'; 'muzzle the muzzler' among many. A few onlookers saw Judy, dressed in her uniform, and directed their anger towards her. Rushing through, Judy tried to ignore the screams and shouts but some words, particularly 'Apologist' and 'traitor' got through. Be strong for Nick, she thought, never let them see that they get to you.
.
"Welcome back Judy, I've sort of lost my marbles here. Don't know what's going on with all this chaos and…" Clawhauser tried to say as he desperately juggled phones and emails
"I need to see Nick," Judy pleaded.
"No can do hon, just… just pop into the bullpen and catch Bogo. I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding. He'll be out soon enough."
"I hope so," replied Judy, as he ran off to catch the morning briefing. Entering the Bullpen, she was shocked to see the normally boisterous mood replaced with a quiet tension. Some officers, like Francine, looked away from Judy as if she was tainted. Others, like Fangmeyer, gave her a look of sympathy. She even heard a few snide remarks, stating that 'she was in on this' in the background as she took her seat.
.
"Quiet dow…" Bogo said as he paused, trying to comprehend the uncharacteristic silence of his men and women.
"As you all know, one of our officers has been accused of an incredibly serious crime. Personally, I believe there is no way that he could have done it, however we have standards to uphold. Standards I intend to uphold fully as we progress through this investigation. That means that the accused will remain anonymous, but will be kept in custody for both his, and others safety. I'm sure you all know the accused's real identity, but you will not speak it to anyone. Anyone who lets it slip loses his or her badge. Immediately."
A murmur went around the bullpen, and Judy saw angry glances being thrown about the room. She saw Francine tense up, but Bogo was already responding.
"Officer Francine, I know you feel strongly about this subject. But we have a legal code to uphold. Just be rest assured that I will be treating the accused as I would anyone else. This annoys me as much as it annoys you but that's tough. In terms of assignments, I…"
The door burst open as Clawhauser, panting, came in. "The protest… speaker…."
"Later, Ben"
"Gazelle… speaking…"
Bogo paused, "this will be interesting. Plug in your phone, I'll get the projector and speakers."
The two set to work and quickly got a front projector running. Turning on the news on his phone, the entire room fixed their eyes on the news report playing in front of them.
.
The ZNN logo flashed as the two anchors, a snow leopard and a moose, began to speak.
"We have a breaking news story. A ZPD police officer, currently only known as Officer N, was arrested earlier this morning after he was accused of forcibly muzzling a college student, Miss Millie Kruger, at a college party he was seen attending. We have yet to contact the ZPD, but aim to do so in the next hour or so."
The news screen switched over to a video feed of the protest, as the female anchor took over.
"Forced muzzling has been shooting up the social agenda in recent years with many harrowing reports of women and even young children being subjected to it by abusive partners. Meanwhile, ZPD has always used judicial muzzles to assist in the safe capture of dangerous criminals who pose a bite risk. To many, these two uses of the metal device have always been separate yet, today, we have seen a shocking change in the situation. A ZPD Officer was arrested this morning for the forced Muzzling of an innocent college student and social mentor, Miss Millie Kruger, seen here speaking at a rally."
The camera focussed on the springbok, who nervously addressed the crowd. "I was always told the ZPD was there to protect. Yet… last night… I was violated by an Officer of the law. He said that… he had a right to muzzle anyone who was… naughty… and said that he would get away scot-free with it."
"Many protestors have gathered, angry at the perceived risk of the ZPD covering up an abuse of power in its ranks. From what we gather so far, the Officer in question has been arrested and is being treated like anyone else accused of the same crime. We have no way, however, of verifying these claims. Many are angry, however, and believe the ZPD aren't going far enough. Chief among them is famous singer Gazelle who, after the Night Howler incident, chose to tackle the muzzling epidemic by charity work and raising awareness".
Judy noticed Clawhauser move and squirm as Gazelle arrived on the stage and comforted Millie. "Millie here is an inspiration to all girls. She helps those who are abused and stands up to the wrongs in society. Yet, someone who pledge to do the same thing in the ZPD chose to try and silence her with a muzzle. We need to know who this criminal is so that any other victims of his can speak up. We need the ZPD to protect the city, and to abandon rather than protect this wicked mammal."
The news report cut back to a discussion, as the officers in the bullpen began talking to themselves.
"Ben…" Judy looked up and saw that Bogo was trying to talk to a very cationic looking Clawhauser.
"Ben, can you hear me." The Cheetah remained silent and still, with just his eyes wandering left and right.
"Listen, I know this is hard on you… Gazelle's just a mammal. She's wrong sometimes…"
Judy saw Clawhauser twitch a bit, then faint.
"He… he probably crashed. Needed turning off and on again. Could you take him to the medical office Francine?"
The elephant sighed and picked Clawhauser off the floor by the scruff of his neck. Carrying him like a kitten, she took him out of the room.
"Anyway, back to assignments. Just resume yesterday's tasks. Hopps, could I see you after?"
Judy got up to reply but was interrupted by Delgato, "They're talking about him again!".
Once more, the focus of attention was on the still running news article. A discussion was well underway, with the moose anchor talking with several journalists. One of them, a bespectacled Mole, was speaking at that moment.
"Once more we see how the entire system is corrupt. Lionheart, Bellwether, now the ZPD. Protecting the big crooks while arresting the little ones. The fact that they haven't given us the identity of this perpetrator is a scandal."
"Mr Molliet," the Moose Anchor replied, "We all know that they have brought out a perfectly legal injunction to protect the accused's identity while the case is ongoing. We can't say his name."
"But we can release basic identification details in order to help previous abusers identify him."
"You refer to age, height, species, colourings, previous activities do you not? With respect many species are represented multiple times over in the ZPD."
"And some only once, such as Foxes."
"What are you insinuating?"
"I am stating, quite legally, that the abuser was a Red Fox who works for the ZPD as an Officer. Just so happens there is only one, mildly famous individual, who fits that description."
Oh sweet cheese and crackers, thought Judy, as she heard the bullpen erupt with anger around her.
.
.
-Nick-
.
One would of thought that fainting would have given Nick a reprieve from his muzzle. That it would have helped pass the time until it was removed or given him some dreams to distract him. Instead, Nick had lived out the scout incident once again. The muzzle fully enveloped his mouth and clawed into his snout while the straps at the back of his neck dug into his skin. With each tug and pull, things only got worse. The kicking and insults of the 5 onlookers only got worse and worse, far outmatching the ferocity that they had displayed in real life. Nick struggled and broke free, running once again into the night and towards his spot. More digging and clawing, and the dreaded device was somehow off. Yet, as Nick tried to move his mouth, he felt his lips sealed together. He tried to scream yet the sound came out as a strange grunt from his nostrils. The back of his head and snout were getting tighter as his teeth fused. He got up and ran, where he planned to go he didn't know, just far away from here.
.
Wherever here was, it wasn't back there. Nick got up with a jolt and fell off the bench he had been sleeping on. Landing hard on the floor, he realised his hands were uncuffed. The muzzle, however, was still firmly attached. Every part of his body shook with terror and he vainly tried and failed to scream. Scurrying into a corner, Nick began to try clawing at the muzzle once more even though he knew that this type wouldn't come off without a key.
'You thought we would trust a fox without a muzzle? Your even dumber than you look'.
My old friends, thought Nick as he tried to preserve at least part of his sanity. He didn't want to go back into another nightmare, so he focussed on a small piece of graffiti and tried to drown out the bad thoughts with the hope that Judy would be coming. 'She's always there to save me', 'She'll be here soon'.
.
She wasn't there soon, but two other friends were.
"I hope you know how to hustle out of this one," came the deep voice of Finnick. Beside him stood Manny, looking inside with puppy dog eyes of sympathy. Evidently unsure of what to say, Manny stuttered out some words before Finnick took over.
"If I didn't have two angry looking guards beside me, I'd slip through and pick your lock. Not sure what to do after that though."
Nick tried to utter something out, but all the others heard was an incomprehensible set of wheezes as air escaped Nicks lips.
Finding some confidence, Manny found his voice: "Nick, I was with you that night. I'll be your witness in court next week. I'll defend you down to my last word."
Nick looked up and managed a thin smile at the two friends.
.
It seemed like an eternity, but it was only 30 minutes. 30 minutes in which Nick had picked at the straps vainly. Although dulled by last night's adventure, they still did damage and red spots appeared across his face as blood matted his fur. Nick, in his pit of self-pity, barely heard the door to the cellblock open and the light patter of feet coming down the hall. His ears pricked when he heard Finnick say hurry, but it was the scream that woke him.
"NICK!"
Squeezing through the bars before the other guards had time to react, Judy rushed up to Nick and rapidly undid the locks on the metal cage. She pulled it off and threw it across the room while Nick, pausing for thought, tentatively felt the fur around the snout strap and the back of his head. He sniffled a bit, before grabbing Judy in a tight hug and bawling his sorrows out. The pain, the mental torture, the confusion and betrayal, he let it out onto Judy in the largest release of emotions in his life. He no longer cared about not letting them see that they get to you. He had carried the burden long enough and just wanted to let it go. While he was so glad that Judy, his Judy, was here he would have let it go to anyone. Finnick, Manny, heck even Bogo or Flash; he could no longer carry all this.
.
"I'll get you out Nick. Don't worry. I'll work night and…"
"No."
"What?"
"No, I'm not important…"
"Nick you Dumb Fox, you're the most important thing in this world."
"No, you listen to me. Once you and Manny give your witness statements, got back to my old case."
"No…"
"Yes, please. It's more important. Far more important. I was so close but… we can't let them get away."
"Let who get away…"
"Someone is kidnapping, drugging and muzzling people…"
"What?"
"They know they're almost caught and are planning on moving their operation. You have to stop them."
"I don't…"
"Talk to Manny, I have info on the carrot pen. One of the scouts, Daniel Oxley, is involved."
"My place is here with you."
"A nut job sent me to prison with no evidence. I've been in this situation twice before. Crazy accusations don't stick."
"Nick, outside…"
"I don't care Carrots. There is something far bigger going on out there. Please, protect the city. I'm fine."
"Someone on the news revealed that you did it. Not by name but…"
Nick paused, his mouth opened slightly, before he stuck to his guns once more.
"Ignore the rubbish you parents will send you. Help my family if they need it. But stick to the case."
"I won't be ashamed if you're selfish just this once. My place is by your side."
"You solved the night howlers in less than 48 hours. My first hearing is next week. I expect you to finish this and then you can be by my side."
"Are you… Are you sure?"
"Yes. Finish this before I get out, I'll pay for a celebration date at the best restaurant in town."
"And if it all goes wrong. If I'm still working when you get released, or your found… guilty…"
"Then you pay for it fluff."
"Dumb… Dumb Fox," Judy said, with a smile crawling across her face.
"Your Dumb Fox," Nick said, finally smiling too.
"Your sly Bunny".
The two hugged once more and Judy squeezed out of the cell. Nick watched her, Manny and Finnick disappear before he climbed back onto his bench and relaxed in an attempt to get a decent snooze.