Chapter Summary
When you walk a beat, you need to be ready for anything, whether it be some nipped up feline with their claws out...or a bloody street miracle.
Chapter Notes
Warning: Written quickly, not beta'ed, and edits are not in depth. Will continue to edit and refine if I spot problems. Also I know there are scaling problems...unsure really how I can fix that...
Foot patrol was always worst in the summer, even in temperate Central, where it didn't get past 98F most days. Though today it was a whooping 103F...It really was the worse, especially if you were Judy Hopps. Judy Hopps who has worn High Vis Street Patrol gear every day on the job since she started. The expensive synthetic weave should have kept her cool when it was hot, warm when it was cold, and let her fur and skin breath when she ran. Too bad that the stuff had a two year expiration date and her replacement sets were still being delivered through Central's Supply Service. No, it really was worse for the dumb Bunny, who sweated underneath her kevlar and duty belt and all the damn pads.
It was only a god send that she had such big ears, the heat sink on her head the only reason she was not passed out at the moment. That and her inane fantasy of making her long time partner, Nick Wilde burst into flame with her mind. He always wore a Service Set, A for long sleeves, B for short. Today was B. Though, instead of a real tie he wore clip on now. It was cheaper and safer that way. He was whistling dixie, enjoying the sun...whether or not it was a facade to annoy her had yet to be determined. Knowing him, he had some sort of elaborate device meant for storing pawcicles and was holding out on her.
It would only get worse and worse, as the sun started to reach it's zenith. They'd have to start advising any homeless to start to seek shelter, and maybe ask the kids to stay inside. It was only a godsend that no one was out and about now, most at work, at school, or just staying inside with the AC on blast.
Only the city workers on the front lines were out. Oh, how Judy's heart went out to their comrades in arms. The utilities guys, the street cleaners, the social workers, and the garbage men...
"OFFICERS! OFFICERS!" The high vis yellow of a city garbageman's vest waved at the end of the street, the chubby hippo waving it about. His coveralls wrapped around his waist given the heat. It was a little hypnotic, how he rolled his hips. He stood in front of his smoking garbage truck, the front end open and the engine sizzling. Though by the sound of things, it wasn't engine problems that needed help.
"Central, this is Hotel-14 on Foot Patrol, show us responding to a flag down by a city garbageman. Over." Nick called into his shoulder. He left first contact to Judy most days, a lot of animals felt more comfortable with a bunny than a fox, even a few years into the MII.
"Clear copy, show your responding. Over." Came the soft voice of their dispatcher.
"What's going on, sir?" Judy asked softly, lopping up and looking up at the hippo.
"Geez, our radio's down 'cause the engine's out-and-and-and-." The hippo stuttered and spluttered, something on his mind. Weren't there usually two guys per truck? Judy's eyes glanced around before she responded.
"Calm down sir, what is the matter?" She tried to soothe the hippo, who shook his head.
"Come on, Ted needs our help!" He reached and grabbed her hand, as Nick ampled up. For a big animal, the hippo was quick on his toes. Though Judy was quicker.
"Sir! Please, step back, and take a breath. What is going on?" Judy was not one to let a stranger, especially a stranger bigger than her, grab her. A couple years on the street told her to be careful.
"mmmmmm!" The hippo didn't seem to be able to articulate himself.
"BOBBY! BOBBY! YOU GET SOME HELP YET?!" Came the gravely voice of the hippo's partner. Distress and fear in his voice. It came from a shadowed alley, between the buildings. The angle of the sun leaving it cool. "mmmmmm!" The hippo nervously shook his fists before jogging off towards the voice, words failing him.
Nick patted Judy on the shoulder, no rest for the weary. The scene that met them was...mundane. A lion, teenaged or maybe couple years out of high school, with a greasy mane was kneeling off away from a dumpster. He wore his coveralls properly, in contrast to his partner. His paws were shaking in a strange way, his back bent down almost like he was praying...he looked up. Two fingers of his big paw coming up and down...
"Help!" He sounded hoarse before he leaned back down, that big lion chest inflating and uninflating. Judy's blood froze, Nick's ears folded back. Closer they got, no longer did they lop and amble, they ran.
"Officers..." The lion named Ted wheezed, hunched over as he was over a tiny furless bundle. Wrapped up in a dirty yellow blankie. Nick's voice is distant as he calls for RAs into his radio, and Judy kneels down next to this tired hero.
Sirens sound in the distance, as a soft little mewling cry breaks in that hot shaded alley, on the hottest day of that dreary summer...