(AN: Hello everyone. Sir_RedFox here with another installment of The Long Hustle: Vol. 1.
Quick recap, we learn that Judy's brother Derek was in a car wreck, killing three of her younger siblings. Nick confessed that he knew of Derek's drug addiction and that he is going to take the undercover operation. Jack was acting weird. And finally, Judy made it clear that she wanted to be alone and away from Nick for a while.
As always, want to thank everybody for their patience. I know I should be tossing more than two chapters a month out. Please inform me of any overly bearing errors in this chapter, being slightly rushed. Also, if you enjoy reading this story, please follow or favorite.
Lastly, if you can, please leave a review. Whether you enjoyed it, hated it, thoughts about it or what's to come, or what you hope to happen in the next installment.)
Ch. 10, Skeletons:
15 years ago...
Jack was in a heavy sleep in his bed, in the crowded apartment. Though being the oldest out of his siblings did allow him to have his own bedroom, even if it was small. If his brothers or sisters got on his nervous, he could escape into his room.
It felt like the night had become hot, making him kick the covers off the bed. Jack tossed and turned as sweat started soaking his white shirt and pajamas, which were clinging to his body. The heat was beginning to become too much for him.
Without warning, the door to his room swung open, slamming against the wall with a loud Whack! Jack jumped up in shock and surprise. Standing in the doorway was his mother, panic, and fear across her face. Behind her, Jack could see the yellow and orange glow of a fire, as thick black smoke poured into his room.
"Jack! Get up. You have to help me" his mother spoke in panic.
Before Jack could ask her what was going on, his mother grabbed his arm and forced him off the bed and out of the room. Jack could see the walls of the living room engulfed in flames.
There was no time to ask what was going on, or why the apartment was on fire? His mother held his hand and dragged him behind her.
"Go! Get your siblings!" She said in panic and haste.
Jack went to his sibling's room. The first room had his young sister Heather and a few of his brothers: Jesse, Kyle, Robert. Jack gave each them hard shakes to wake them. Seeing the apartment in flames put fear and shock into them. Trying to keep his wits about him, Jack led his siblings out into the living room. Their mother was trying her hardest to fight off the fire with a small extinguisher they kept under the sink.
Before Jack could make it to the other room with his siblings, a large chunk of flaming debris fell from the ceiling, blocking the door. The flames from the rubble were too hot for him to move. What else could Jack do, except call out to his mother? Their mother ran over, fire-extinguisher in hand. The blast of white smoke weakened the flames.
"Jack" his mother spoke, grabbing him by the shoulder and turning him to look him in the eye. "Get them out of here," she said pointing to his siblings. Jack understood. Get his siblings out to safety, before things could get worse.
Jack lead his siblings to the front door, making a quick stop to the bathroom to grab towels to protect them from the flames. Jack grabbed towels, tossing them in the tub and ran the water to make the towels soaking wet, before draping them over his younger siblings. One by one, Jack led them out into the hallway. Before exiting out himself, Jack took one more look back. His mother was still combating the flames. With a loud CRACK, the ceiling came crashing down creating a firey wall of debris between them.
"No!" Jack screamed out, wanting to run back in to help her. The only thing stopping him was the sound of his mother's voice. Jack, hearing her shout through the wall of flames to get him and his siblings out. Against his wishes, Jack obeyed his dying mother's request.
The hallway of the apartment complex was no safer. Most of the walls were set ablaze, and so were parts of the ceiling. They held each other's hands as they passaged through the fiery abyss. With another loud crack, the roof collapsed on top of his two brothers, Kyle and Robert. Heather screamed out in fear. Jack ran back to save them.
"Heather. Jesse. Keep going and get out of here," Jack ordered them. There was no way for him to lift the heavy debris, but perhaps he could push it off. With his back facing the fire, Jack pushed against the rubble. He could slowly feel the damp towel start to fail, feeling the flames heat burn through, scorching his back. Jack pushed through the pain, to try and left the massive wooden beam. He caught the scent of his fur burning. Next was the horrible burning sensation of his skin cooking and blistering. Still, through the pain, Jack tried with all his might to push the beam, only for it to nudge a little.
"Jack..." Heather called out to him. Jack looked up to see Heather standing in the center of the hallway, frozen in fright. Jesse was making his way down the hall. Before Jesse knew it, the floor collapsed under him, dropping him into a pit of fire.
"No!" Jack cried out. Dropping the beam and rushing to save his brother from the pit. Before he could reach in and try and rescue Jesse, a giant flame burst through the hole.
Heather stood there, crying. She was all that was left. Jack could not fail her. He would not fail her.
Covering Heather up in what remained of this towel, which wasn't much. Jack cradled her in his arms. Jack turned his back to the flames as he sidestepped the hole in the hallway. The fire scorched more of his fur and skin. The thick smoke burned his eyes and thick in his throat, making it hard to breathe and see. He just needs to find the staircase. Jack held Heather close. Now and then, flaming bits of the ceiling fell onto his back. Jack's head felt dizzy, and his eyes started to water from the hot smoke in his eyes.
Damnit, where is it? The Staircase. Jack had to keep going. He promised his mother he would make it out, and Heather was all he had left. No matter how weak he started to feel, he pushed on into the fray, in hopes of making out the other side.
Present...
Jack awoke from his nightmare. His breath was heavy, and his body drenched in cold sweat. Looking around the dark bedroom, he could barely make out anything. At the sound of a soft moan, Jack looked at his right side. Skye laid there, still sleeping comfortably with her arm wrapped around his stomach.
It was all a nightmare. One that always recurred during this time of the year. The day that he lost his entire family. Well, other than Heather that was.
It was early in the morning, and It was still dark outside. Jack laid back down but didn't fall asleep. Fearing another nightmare, staying awake felt like the better option. It was only an hour or two before he had to get up anyway. Laying back down, he wrapped his arm under Skye. Still asleep, she moaned and nudged closer to him. Laying next to Skye, made him feel safe and secure for once.
The alarm on Judy's nightstand went off, waking her to the barely lite morning. Flipping off the alarm, she got out of bed to pursue her daily routine when working with the ZPD. Putting all her gear on, and giving her badge on her Kevlar vest, she was ready.
Judy went and unlocked the door. The last few days have been rough between her and Nick. Being so frustrated with him had decided that she would sleep alone, and Nick could sleep on the couch, for a while.
Walking down the hall to living room, Judy turned to see Nick, wearing only his white muscle shirt and boxers, in a rough position. Half of his body was on the couch, while the other half had slumped to the floor. The blanket Nick used became bundled into a ball during the night from Nick's kicking. The coffee table in front of the couch had a bottle of Buck Daniels open.
"Nick...?" Judy said in a soft tone. Nick gave her no response. Judy repeated saying his name till her patience ended and gave Nick's leg a good kick. Nick's eyes popped open, and he jumped up on the couch. Nick adjusted his eyesight and looked at her.
"Time to get up and get ready," she said. Nick, still looking half asleep, nodding his head that he understood. Judy watched, shaking her head in disappointment, as Nick stumbled down the hall to the bedroom.
By the time Nick was ready, Judy was already waiting for him in the cruiser. Nick stumbled in and slumped against the window. Judy drove to Precinct 1 before saying something to Nick. "You're hungover again."
Nick turned his head to look at her. "The couch is great to sit on, but sleeping on his a whole different story. A little booze helps make it a little comfortable."
"Sure," Judy snarked at Nick.
"Well, what do you want me to do Judy?" Nike snipped back. "I'm doing everything I can. How many times do you need me say 'I'm sorry?'"
"I don't know Nick" she cursed at Nick, anger, and frustration in her voice. "How about you say it a thousand more times and see if anything changes."
Nick gave her a disgruntled sigh and slipped his aviator glasses over his face. He wanted to sleep the rest of the way to the Precinct.
Jack left Skye's hotel sweet early. Skye was still asleep when he left. Figuring it best for her not to know where he was going, or try to explain himself.
Jack made his way downtown of Savannah Central. Otterton's Floral Shop was a couple of blocks away. It was still early, with the sun's rays illuminating the top of the towering skyscrapers. Otterton's might not be open yet, but he could wait. Jack had heard Otterton was the best florist in Zootopia.
Turning the street corner and looking up ahead, he could see Otterton, standing in front of his store. Probably wanting to get things ready for when he officially opened the store. Jack caught up to him before Otterton closed and locked the door behind him. It took a bit of pleading on his end but was able to convince Otterton to allow him to buy a small bouquet of white lilies.
Jack watched as Otterton clipped a dozen bulbs and placing them on a fresh pad of white paper, on top of a plastic sheet. Otterton rolled the paper and plastic over the lilies without bringing any damage to them. Paying Otterton and overly thanking him for letting him quickly make such purchase, while not technically being open yet.
With the bouquet in hand, Jack made his way to Savahana Central's cemetery. There, walking among the tombstones, he found the plot he was looking for, the Savage family plot.
Nine tombstones stood before him. The largest of the nine stood in the middle of the eight smaller headstones. There engraved in the stone was his mother's name, Rebecca Savage. The smaller Tombstones, four on each side, held the names of his siblings.
Jack laid a lily on each of the graves of his siblings. The last of the flowers in the bouquet he put on his mother's grave.
"Hi Jack" someone called behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know whose voice that belonged to.
"Hey Heather," Jack said to his sister without turning to look at her. It had been awhile since he and Heather had talked, much less seen each other. Now, here they both were, together with the rest of the Savage family. He could hear Heather walk up beside him.
"Haven't seen you here in a long time" Heather said.
"Been busy" he lied.
"Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure the ZBI have you working 24/7, three hundred sixty days in the year."
Jack sighed. Heather had no idea how much harder it was for him to visit. Heather was pretty young when it all happened. She wasn't asked to bring her brothers to safety, only to fail. She doesn't remember how horrifying the screams from his mother were. She didn't have the scars on her back, reminding her of that failure.
Heather with her bouquet of flowers, having roses instead of lilies, did what Jack had done earlier. Heather laid one rose on each of his siblings grave next to the plants he placed. Lastly, setting the rest of the roses on her mother's grave. "It is good to know that you come and see them more often than I do," he said to her.
"I try to visit every time one of them has a birthday, during Christmas, and on today. What are you doing here?"
"Here specifically? Or Zootopia in general?
"Both"
"In Zootopia on a case. Figured while I'm here I should visit, been too long since I've come."
"You're too hard on yourself Jack. There was nothing more you could have done. And Mom, all of them in fact, would be proud of what you've become." Heather said.
Jack couldn't help but smile. "Says the family doctor" he smirked. Heather stood up from the ground, walked over and hugging him. The both of them made their way out of the cemetery. They talked, which felt good. Heather said she would be staying for awhile to help some lower-income districts. His phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Skye. He was needed to meet her at the Precinct.
Judy sat next to Nick in the bullpen. The same morning routine went as usual. Bogo walked in, and cops hoot and hollered on his arrival. Bogo made his announcements and gave the officers their selected duties for the day. The only ones left in the room were her and Nick, along with Nala and Wilford. The door opened walking in Terra and Basil.
"Ah, Doctor Basil" Bogo announced. "Please take a seat. Terra, you may go."
"Actually Chief," Basil pipped up, "I would much prefer if Terra stayed."
Before Bogo had a chance to counter-argue at Basil, the door opened again, walking in were Jack and Skye. The last one to walk through the door was a moose. The moose was tall, having to bend down to get his antlers in the door, and wore a suit like Jack's. On second glance Judy could see that the moose was a lot older. The hair on his chin was white as snow, wrinkles forming around his eyes and nostrils.
"Is everyone accounted for?" The moose asked.
"Yes, but we do have one uninvited guest that needs to leave," Bogo said, looking at Terra as he said 'uninvited' guest.
"Chief, If you have invited me here on what I believe this to be, then Terra will need to be there to assist me with such evidence in a crucial operation."
"We can not trust an intern with such a high profile case like this," Jack said.
"If I might ask," Judy heard Nala call from the back. "But what exactly are we doing here?"
"All will be explained, as soon as Ms. Terra leaves," Bogo said.
"On the contrary. Ms. Terra's assistance will prove helpful to me, and I fully vouch for her" Basil said.
Bogo, Jack, Skye, and the old looking moose mauled it over with each other before agreeing. "Very well, Dr. Basil. She may stay on board, but you will be held in full responsibility for her actions. Understood?" Bogo said, towering over her and Basil. Basil stood firm up against Bogo. Terra, feeling overwhelmingly nervous as Bogo stood over her.
The old moose finally took the podium from Bogo. He pulled out a pair of glasses from his inner shirt pocket and opened a file folder in front of him. He cleared his throat before talking.
"Officers of the ZPD and ZBI, you all are here for one important reason. The increased use and distribution of the Blue Sky narcotic.
"I am Director M of the ZBI. Agents Savage and Skye have come to me, proposing an undercover operation with one of your officers. Nick Wilde" M said holding his hand out toward Nick as if presenting him.
"His partner, Judy Hopps, will be the head runner for this operation from the ZPD; along with Agent Savage and Skye. For the past three days, we have selected everyone here to help see this operation through. You all are considered brave, smart, and experienced in the field" Bogo and M gave Terra a quick glance, knowing she's not suppose to be here. "But most importantly, you all are loyal when comes to serving the badge you wear."
"If anyone feels differently, then now would be the time to leave," Bogo said. No one got up and left, only glancing around to see if anybody would. No one did. "Then that settles it. Within one month, Officer Nicolas Wilde will be going undercover."
Once everyone became informed on the mission, they were allowed to leave. Basil and Terra made their return to the forensic lab. The day came to a close as Terra finished her task for Basil.
Basil sat at his small desk on the countertop. Holding and examining a small vial filled with Blue Sky in one hand, and rubbing a small poker-like chip his other hand. On the poker chip, written in gold coloring, said '3 years of Sobriety.'
Basil remembers all too well of his younger and stupider experimental days. Back before even finishing his second masters. He wanted to understand the effects a drug can have on a perp: the way they think, act, respond while high on the narcotics.
He started off small with catnip, working his way up to harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and meth. As smart as he was, he had grossly underestimated the addictive power the drugs had on his willpower. Basil had become a destructive mess in denial of his substance abuse, before finally being forced into rehab.
Though it was a long road to take, he had finally gotten clean. The sobriety chip on his key-chain reminded him of that. Three years now, and only returning to Narcotic Anonymous centers for a new chip after reaching another year of sobriety.
Everyone knew of his drug-fueled past, but no one liked to talk about it. But Basil was not going to hide from it when confronted about it by a co-worker or friend. He even asked Terra if she knew of his drug addiction. Terra, sweetly playing dumb to the question, but Basil could tell that she was lying. He never let her see that and accepted her kind gesture.
"All finished with today's work, Doctor" Terra called out to Basil. She was packing her books into her school bag. Basil snapped out of his trance looking at the Blue Sky narcotic in the vail.
"Very well. Have a good night Terra."
"Night, Doctor." Grabbing the last of her school books and made her way out the lab, stopping right in front of the door. Tarra turned back to Basil who was looking over some mouse size files on his desk.
"Doctor...?" she asked in a soft and shy tone.
Basil looked up from his desk at her, " Yes?"
"Earlier today, in the bullpen, when I was asked to leave, and you insisted I stay." Basil gave an understanding nod and 'yup' as he turned back to his paper work. "I have to ask. Why are so trusting for me to be apart of this operation? Not in any disrespect, because I'm honored to work on such an important case. But, I have to admit, I didn't think you would keep me on as your intern for so long."
"Terra, are you trying to tell me that I was wrong in choosing you in helping with this operation? If so, please tell me now, so we can both turn our resignation to Bogo."
"No no. I am a hundred percent on board with helping on this assignment. I'm just wondering why you are so trusting of me to help on this case?"
Basil told her to go to the large filing cabinet and pull out a folder reading: CANDIDATES. Terra did as she was told. Going to the filing cabinet, opening the drawers, and flipping through the folders till she found the file Basil requested. Pulling the folder out of the cabinet, Terra could see how massive the file was, bursting at the seems with stacks of papers. The only thing holding the file closed were two large rubber bands, stretched to their limit. Terra looked at the file in bewilderment, not knowing what to make of it.
"Do you know what that file contains?" he asked. Terra shook her head, having no idea what the large folder contained. "In that file are all the letters sent to me, requesting I hire them as my lab intern."
Terra looked back at the file. When she first wrote to Basil for the intern position, she knew there would be other candidates applying for the same job. She had no idea the how many mammals were applying for the same position.
"In that folder are letters from a variety of mammals, of different size and sex. A lot of them showing great interest in knowledge and the science of forensics, which I hope they continue to pursue. But do you know why you were chosen?" Terra shook her head.
"Terra, I chose you because I know your story. When you were about six years old, I believe, you came home from school one day and found the front door to your house wide open. Inside, you found your mother on the floor of the kitchen, dead." Basil could see Tarra becoming a little unsettled from this conversation. Basil wanted to tread lightly with Terra about this.
"The death of your mother was ruled a homicide. Someone had broken in, attacked your mother, and..." Basil wanted to say rape, but chose a less tragic inducing phrase. "had sexually assaulted and defiled her."
Basil could see tears start to build up in Terra's eyes. "In your mother's case, a suspect was arrested, charged, and given a life sentence in prison. On paper it all made sense. The defendant knew the victim, your mother, no alibi for the time of the murder, and already had a criminal record. But, the mammal they charged with her mother, would constantly plea that he was innocent. Even you didn't believe him."
"No," Terra said, trying to hold back tears from running down her face. "No, I didn't. By the time the court ruled him guilty, I was convinced he had killed my mother. It was the first time, since finding my mother dead on the kitchen floor, I felt a glimmer of happiness. Justice had been served and he was going to rot in prison for what he did to my mother. I happily went on with life knowing he was in prison."
"And rot he did, at least for ten years," he said to Terra. "In those ten years in prison, he wrote countless letters to anyone that would look back into his case and prove his innocence. It wasn't until a young forensic scientist took up on the challenge.
"Reopening the case, and using the advanced strides forensic science has made, tested the DNA found at the crime scene. As it turns out, he was innocent the whole time. None of his DNA matched that officers found at the crime scene. In ten years he lost his job, his wife, or ever getting to see his children grow up before him because he was falsely accused of murdering your mother."
"I remember," Terra, through sniffling tears, said. "I remember when I first heard he was innocent, I didn't know what to think. Part of me didn't even want to believe it." Wiping tears from her eyes. "Three things came to my realization after finding out that day. One, an innocent mammal spent ten years of his life in prison, for something he didn't do. Two, I spent ten years of my life hating the wrong mammal and rejoicing in his prison sentence. And third..."
"And third" Basil cut in. "Realizing the real murder rapist was still out there. In fact, the one that truly killed your mother was able to kill and rape three more female mammals in their homes before being caught." Basil let Terra wipe the tears from her cheek. She never told anyone of her mother's death.
"That's why I chose you, Terra. To you, this isn't just a job. You want to make sure that what happened to you never happens to anyone else. You want to make sure that the innocent are proven innocent, that one never wastes their life hating, and to make sure the real criminal is caught.
"One too many forensic scientists become blind to what their job is supposed to be. We don't work closely with our officer friends because we're not here to play hero and capture the bad. When doing our job, we have to stay unbiased to make sure justice is carried out properly. We are here to make sure the right bad guy is caught. We use everything to our ability not to prove that someone is guilty, but to go through many tests proving the results are accurate as can be." Basil took a quick pause, and continued. "that is why you are here Terra because you believe in that. Ever since the young forensic mouse proved, who killed your mother."
Terra was silent for a good minute, whipping away the tears on her face. Done, Terra looked up at him. "Thank you, Doctor. I won't let you down."
Basil smiled, "I know you won't, my dear. Now, hurry along and get a good night's sleep for your classes tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow evening."
"Thank you, Doctor. I will" Terra turning and opening the door, stopped before walking out. A quick thought popped into her head. "How did you know it was a mouse?" she asked Basil. "How did you know it was a mouse that reopened the case?"
Basil looked up at her. "Why my dear. I thought it would be obvious. How many other high intellectual mice from England would take such a risk in reopening the case" he said and gave Terra a wink.
Tarra never knew, till now, it had been him this whole time. The thought brought a big smile to Tarra as she left. Basil went back to work, reading through the mouse size papers and folders on his desk. He soon found himself become bored. A rare occasion to happen while engaged in his work.
Putting the files to the side for the night, he pulled out his violin case and placed it on top his desk. Opening the case, he took a moment to admire the mouse size violin. The redwood was shining bright and reflective from its recent waxing. The strings were tight and ready to be struck by the bow next to it.
Basil picked up the violin and placed it in its playing position, under his chin. With the bow in his other hand, he though for a minute on what to play. One song came to mind, which seemed more than appropriate. Slow and soft, Basil strung the bow across the violin's tight strings. The bow's hairs were vibrating the strings and creating the musical sound of the song called 'Moon's Guidance.' A solo violin piece, telling the uplifting story of a boy playing the only song his mother taught him in the moonlight, on the night of her passing. [ watch?v=76kiq9D_dx0 ]
Basil finished the song, and the music faded, he let the sound of silence linger for a minute. Packing up the violin, Basil headed home for the night.
It had grown late, and Nick sat on the couch, flipping through channels with the tv remote. Nick found nothing good on TV that night. Nick poured himself a glass of Buck Daniel's Whiskey.
Judy watched the pitiful fox from the hallway entrance. She felt a little sad seeing Nick like this. Judy went to the kitchen, retrieving a glass, and back into the living room. She told Nick to scoot over a bit and flopping down beside him on the couch. She held her cup out and shook the empty container at Nick, wanting him to pour her a drink. Obliging her, Nick poured her a drink.
"So, you're going to drink with me now?" Nick asked.
"Well, it does make you look less pathetic when I do." She said looking at the amber colored liquid in her glass. Her body did a quick shiver once the strong scent hit her nostrils. Nick was already pouring himself another drink.
"Nick," she said not looking at Nick directly, but at the whiskey in her cup. Swirling and swishing it around. "I know I haven't been easy to be around lately. With everything, thats happened in the last few days. And, I know none of this is your fault. I guess I was mad that you kept it from me."
"Judy," Nick said, putting his glass down to look at her. "I know at this point; they probably sound like meaningless words. But I truly am sorry, for everything."
Judy looked up from her glass at Nick. "I know you are Nick. I know. And I forgive you, for everything. Besides, you forgave me when I felt like I didn't deserve it" Judy said, chuckling at the thought, referring to that time with her and Nick under the bridge.
Gulping back her drink Judy's body shivered from the burning taste. Before she had a second to breathe, a coughing fit started up. Nick watched and laughed in his delight. She couldn't help but laugh along side him, even with tears of pain flowing from her eyes. It felt good to hear Nick laugh again.
"God, that burns," she said.
"Yeah, this stuff is a real gutter burner," Nick said.
A few seconds of silence passed before Nick announced that he was going to take a shower. Saying the hot steamy water would help go to sleep faster on the couch.
"The couch?" Judy questioned. "Figured you'd want to sleep in our bed tonight."
Nick was a little surprised by this. Sleeping in the bed would be a Godsend for him. She could see Nick trying to figure out if she was hustling him or not. "Only if you want me in the bed," he said.
She smiled and gave a nod of approval to the dumb fox. Smiling, Nick clapped and rubbed his fox hands together. She held back her laughter at how goofy Nick looked hearing this news.
Nick told her he would hit the shower and be in their bed waiting for her. Nick left down the hall. She could hear the shower water start to run.
Why wait, she thought. Getting off the couch, Judy made her way to the bathroom, leaving a trail of her clothes behind her. Undressing herself, one piece of clothing at a time. Now naked in the hall, she saw that the bathroom door was cracked open. She entered, being as quiet as she could be, stepping over Nick's pile of clothes and stepping in the shower joining Nick from behind.
Nick was lathering up his fur with bubbly shampoo when he heard Judy enter the shower. He called out to her by her nickname. Before he could turn around and face her, he felt her arms wrap around him. Judy pulled him in close, and let the warm water run down her back. For the first time in a long time, she felt happy and at peace.
(AN: Okay, so a lot of ups and downs in this chapter. So, what are the next steps for Nick, Judy, and the rest of the team? You will have to wait and see in Ch. 11, Preparation. Again, please leave a review telling me what you think and what are your hopes to come. Till next time, Sir_RedFox.)