2 The Mission
~0~
0355 Coronado California, west coast based Teams main base.
Just as Nick and his team are walking up the loading ramp of the giant C-130 Hercules aircraft, Nick notices Senior pull up in his Humvee.
"What's up Senior?" asks the very curious todd "You've never seen us off before!"
"We just caught a mole feeding intel to Savage. I figured you might be interested so you can adjust the operations plans you've got finalized accordingly."
"SHIT!" exclaims a very upset fox "Now Savage 'll know our drop points and LZ's for pickup and have them covered. That'd make for a really nasty surprise …! Please tell me that that little shit Franciosi wasn't able to transmit that he'd been caught…"
"Nope, that was the only positive note. We waited until he signed off by telling Savage that there wouldn't be any further transmissions coming from this end to grab him."
"Thank the gods for small favors. We'll make the necessary adjustments while we're airborne … thanks for the info." adds a now only slightly relieved Nick.
"Not a problem. I need the package back safe and sound, and all of you deviants as well." admits Senior.
"No promises, you know that, but we'll do our best."
"I know you will, that's why you were picked for the mission, regardless of the fact that Savage pretty much demanded that you go."
Knowing that the team is more than a little curious, Nick has to yell to be heard over the roar of the aircraft's four engines and the whine of the hydraulics of the loading ramp closing at the rear of the plane as he heads up the loading ramp.
"I'LL FILL YOU IN ONCE WE GET AIRBORNE…!" was all Nick would yell as everyone straps in for the take-off.
…
Once airborne, everyone unstraps from their harnesses and the group gathers around a fold-up table for a briefing update.
"Okay, here's the skinny" begins the frustrated vulpine "Senior informed me that he caught Franciosi on the radio telling this Savage character about our plans, which means we've gotta change shit … already."
"Well for fuck's sake…" begins a highly pissed-off Midnight.
"I know already damn it, okay?" says Nick to head off the onslaught of negativity that was sure to come from the other three members of the Team.
"So … now what?" asks Goldie.
"We already know that we can't scrub (call off) the mission, so what are our alternatives?" asks a concerned Midnight.
"Well, I've got an idea or two to run by y'all" admits Nick "so let's get started…"
…
Roughly 14 hours later, three battle hardened and one rookie Team members are loaded down with over seventy pounds of gear each including their HALO jump equipment and their all black fatigues, are psyching up for their jump into a cloudless, moonlit night.
"Don't forget" yells Nick over the roar of the engines and the wind rushing by the aircraft at 120 knots (roughly 140 miles per hour) "The fuses on the flashes and frags were reset to three seconds by Ian. Don't fuck up and try to cook 'em off!"
After getting a thumbs up from the team members the wait is almost over when the jump light goes from red to yellow, then finally to green prompting the team that jump time is here.
As four heavily laden Team members rush towards the earth at around 120 mph, the fall from 30,000 feet to their 'chute opening altitude of a mere 2000 feet, takes only 120 seconds – two minutes.
After studying the aerial maps that were printed off of updated satellite photos and knowing the direction that they'd be entering the ville, the Team knows (assumes actually) that the package (Judy Savage) would be in the only decent structure in the area. With that assumption, the first salvo of frag grenades were to be dropped onto the closest huts in the village – all occupants (except the package) were to be considered hostile and therefore targets of opportunity. Few females and no young of any kind were observed in satellite images taken only hours before the team left their base in Cali.
Hoping that the former ZIA agent has sent most of his fighters to each of the three previously pre-planned drop zones, Nick, Midnight and Wolfie wait until Goldie drops her first flash-bang grenade to disorient the anticipated few fighters (while closing their eyes tight to preserve their natural night vision) that are left in the small 'ville (village) to drop their frags, adding disorientation to the oncoming carnage that will be made by the deadly fragmentation grenades.
When the frags go off, they completely destroy the fragile huts they landed on, killing any occupants that might have been unfortunate enough to still be inside.
Knowing that they had only roughly five minutes until Savage's fighters would be arriving from the closest drop site, the four Team members quickly detached their glide chutes as they landed and advanced toward the main structure in the compound, firing their M4's and AR10's at anything that moved, killing several rabbits that showed up with weapons in paw.
While Nick crashes through the front door of the main building, Wolfie and Goldie follow close behind, splitting to the right and left to cover Nick's flanks (sides) as Midnight quietly moves around the structure to cover the rear of the building.
Moving quickly from room to room in the seemingly empty building, the three Team members come to a room that smelled heavily of a frightened prey mammal.
With Wolfie kicking the door open, Nick and Goldie followed him quickly through the opening with weapons at the ready, they find the room … seemingly empty … except for a rope that was tied to one post of a heavy wrought iron bed frame, the other end of which lead directly under the bed.
With the initial shock of finding a seemingly empty room over with, finely tuned hearing could distinguish a gentle sobbing coming from underneath the bed.
"Mrs. Savage … are you in here?" quietly asks Goldie, figuring that the frightened doe would be more likely to answer to her voice rather than one of the males.
"Mrs. Savage, we're members of an Animalian special operations Team and we're here to rescue you."
"I-I-I can't come out … not like this…" comes the quiet yet tearful reply from beneath the bed ...
Stepping over to the bed, Goldie squats down to peer into the darkness.
"What seems to be … oh, I see…" comes the understanding reply.
"Nick, we have a problem here…" begins Goldie.
"Which is what, exactly? We ain't got time for this shit, we're kinda short on time!" comes the terse reply.
"Nick, the doe's naked … and there's no clothing of any kind in sight!"
"WHAT?"
"I said-"
"I heard you … Shit! … Wait one …" comes the frustrated reply.
With a quick huff, Nick quickly strips off his web gear which basically holds most all of his equipment (the most notable item still strapped to him was his Sig P226 pistol, which is secured in a drop-leg holster) and hurriedly strips off his camouflage shirt, leaving him in just his wife beater (sleeveless tank-top style undershirt) to cover his torso.
After removing his shirt, Nick quickly takes out his K-Bar knife and quickly cuts off the sleeves just above where his elbows would be and two or three inches off of the bottom of the garment.
"Here" he remarks as he paws the modified garment and knife to Goldie "cut her loose and have her put this on, it ain't much but it's the best we can do under the circumstances." He announces as he retrieves his weapon and puts his other gear back on.
After Nick and Wolfie turn around to give the poor doe some privacy, Judy crawls out so Goldie can cut the rope and allow the doe to cover herself as best she can.
"We're otta time!" remarks Wolfie heading for the door "We gotta get movin'!"
"I'm afraid it's a bit too late for that…" comes a voice that Judy has come to hate.
…
"JACK!"
"That's right Judith, your loving husband…" smirks the striped buck, who now has a rabbit sized version of a Sig Sauer Legion pressed firmly to the back of Judy's head.
Quickly turning, the Team members see a slightly disheveled rabbit buck who has seemingly appeared from out of nowhere. Upon closer observation, they quickly notice that a small throw rug has been displaced revealing a trapdoor that had been concealed under said rug.
"How wonderful!" quips the smirking buck "Team members, especially one Nicholas Wilde at my mercy and my new bride so close at paw."
"What's your play Savage?" asks Nick, trying to keep the former ZIA agent's attention.
"My play is simply this Wilde, that you and Judith will stay while the rest of your team … wait … there seems to be one missi-" as Jack feels the cold steel of a gun barrel suddenly press against the back of his head.
"You were saying douchebag?" sarcastically adds Midnight with a very evil grin on his muzzle.
"There's no way you'll pull the trigger" smirks the buck. "I know your orders are to bring me back alive. However, even though I do hold the upper paw here, I'll be happy to be taken back alive." Jack admits as he drops this pistol and kicks it to one side. "With my connections, I'll be out in a few days and-"
"NO! … No! That's NOT going to happen!" comes from an unexpected source.
As everyone's attention swivels to Judy, all mammals in the room notice that she has Jack's discarded Sig in her paws.
"Really Judith?" questions the buck sarcastically "I'm seriously surprised that you even know which end of that thing to hold!"
"That shows how little you actually know about me." smirks the doe right back. "I have over a hundred brothers, and am well enough versed about guns to know how to shoot one … accurately!" she counters drawing a bead on the buck.
"Mrs. Savage-" begins Nick.
"STOP! Don't ever call me that again!" shouts Judy angrily "I may legally have this prick's last name, but as his widow, I can easily reclaim my maiden name since we never had sex!"
"My dear Judith" grins Jack, "in order for you to be my widow, I'd need to be-"
*BANG*
Everyone in the room (especially Jack) was totally shocked to hear the gunshot …everyone that is except for Judy.
"Dead…" finishes the buck, looking down at the suddenly bloodstained white shirt that was under his black suitcoat which was open in the front because the buttons had been torn off while he was in the crawl space under the hut.
"Sav-Hopps …!" yells Nick, as he desperately tries to stop the furious doe from doing further damage.
*BANG*
This shot drops the striped buck immediately, passing through his left eye and out through the back of his head, scattering blood, skull fragments, fur and brain matter all over the wall behind him.
"You'll" *BANG* "never" *BANG* "hurt" *BANG* "anyone" *BANG* "ever" *BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG* click-click-click- "again!" as Judy continues to pull the trigger on the now empty weapon. The shooting continues even as Jack lies dead on the floor.
"I really wish you hadn't done that!" Nick gently scolds the doe as he carefully takes the weapon from her now slack paws.
"He-he deserved it … and more." says Judy softly "And I couldn't take the chance that he'd go free…"
"I know and I understand," quietly answers Nick "but Jack was our easy walk out of here to the chopper (helicopter). With him dead, we'll have to shoot our way out."
"Sorry?"
"Well," comments Wolford "thanks to the body cams at least we have valid proof of death."
"That's s'posed to make me feel better Wolfie?" questions a now sarcastic Nick "Really?"
"What's done is done!" remarks Midnight tersely "Call the chopper and let's get moving. Once the locals figure out why the gunfire's stopped, they're gonna wanna make sure that everything's okay … or not."
When the realization as to what she has done quite suddenly impacts the small doe, she attempts to vomit – unsuccessfully.
"What the actual fuck!" exclaims a now concerned Nick.
"Judy, when was the last time you ate anything?" immediately asks Sarah as another bout of dry heaves racks the poor does body.
"I-I … I'm not sure … the reception … I think?" confesses the doe shakily wiping at her mouth. "Jack wouldn't let me eat or drink anything as long as I withheld sex from him!"
"Shit!" exclaims the canine "That's almost two days ago! Nick, she needs something to eat and drink! NOW!"
Digging around in one of the cargo pockets on his uniform pants, Nick tosses two energy bars and his camelback hydration unit to the medic: "Here, these should do for now, they're oatmeal and peanut butter, and make sure she gets some water, but hurry up, we're about otta time! While you do that, I've gotta call in our ride home…"
~0~
AN: conversation in bold, brackets [and italics] will be off site commo while Nick will be in italics only.
~0~
Quickly Nick keys his throat mic on the secure radio, not needing to worry about comms with Savage dead:
"Guardian Angel, Guardian Angel, this is Suicide One, how copy?"
[Suicide One, this is Guardian Angel – authenticate - November - Bravo – over."
After taking a quick look at his CEOI, Nick answers "Guardian Angel, I authenticate - Papa – over."
[Suicide One, authentication confirmed. Is that you Nightstalker?]
"Affirmative Angel One. One Eyed Jack, you nasty Aussy bastard, that you?"
[Sure is! What's yer pleasure Wilde?]
"Proceed to LZ Alpha One, it's the closest and has the best area for a pickup of the Team plus one. Be advised it will likely be a hot LZ. How copy?"
[Good copy. Time to LZ is zero three mikes (three minutes) so move yer Yankee arses...]
"We'll pop smoke when we arrive. Suicide one out."
…
"Midnight, can we go out the same way you came in?" asks Nick, turning to the large cat.
"Not a chance" answers the panther "while there's plenty of room, we'd be heading the wrong direction … we'll have to go out the front otherwise it'll take too long to get to the LZ."
"You heard the mammal, out the front it is. Let's move!" commands Nick as he shoulders his M4.
"Nick what about the doe?" asks Sarah. "In her condition I doubt if she'll make the LZ under her own power!"
"Fuck … use the rope and my old sleeves to make a sling and tie her to my back, I doubt if she's in any condition to run three klicks!"
"Are you sure boss?" asks Midnight "I'm the biggest and can more easily carry her the distance!"
"Just do it, we ain't go time to argue." replies Nick hotly.
As Sarah fashions the sling, Judy admits "I-I think I'd rather be with him anyway…!" shakily pointing to the fox.
Rolling his eyes, Midnight knows it would only waste time to argue "What the fuck ever…!"
"Nick," begins Wolford as he reenters the room after having been posted by the front door as a lookout "I've got some good news and some bad news …"
"Spill Wolfie, we ain't got time for games right now!" commands an exasperated Nick as Sarah finishes cross slinging the doe to Nick's back.
"Well, the good news is that the bunnies have provided us with a truck to get us to the LZ…"
"And the bad news is …?"
"They brought at least a half-dozen more tangos with 'em…!"
"Great. Just - fucking - great… okay … Midnight, dump the long barrel for the AR10 and use the carbine upper, we're going out the front door hittin' 'em hard with everything we've got. Sarah, you can toss your last flash-bang then we'll dump more frags on 'em as we exit the front door, rifles set on 3-round burst. Kill everything in sight. Wolfie, you drive, I'll ride shotgun, Midnight you and Goldie take the package and-"
"NO! I'm staying with you!" yells the doe as she clings to the fox with all her might.
Letting out a frustrate huff, Nick knows to not argue "Fine … change number eighteen … same plan except just as I climb into the truck, I'll cut the sling so I don't crush Hopps when I get in. Judy, when I cut the sling, you slip around and get on the floor of the truck, out of danger from being hit by a stray bullet … got it?"
"Y-yes…"
Good … ok, here we go…"
…
After totally being taken by surprise by the sudden detonation of Sarah's flash-bang in the early pre-dawn light, the large fluffle of rabbits is decimated by the four Team members (plus one) as they emerge from the building. As rounds from three different caliber weapons and at least three more frag grenades kill or wound a large portion of defenders as the Team climbs into the idling 5-ton truck that was left after the occupying troops left over 50 years ago, more fighters emerge from a nearby tree line.
As Wolford throws the truck into gear and Nick fires out of the window on his side of the truck, Midnight unleashes the firepower of his .308 caliber weapon from the box of the truck while Sarah sits tight, hoping and praying to whatever gods she worships that she doesn't have to shoot anyone, questioning why she joins the Teams if she was going to have to take another mammal's life in the process… she's a medic – a healer after all damn it!
…
Managing to put some distance between themselves and their enemies, the Team suddenly bursts into the small clearing that is LZ Alpha.
"Shit, shit, shit!" curses Nick loudly "The LZ is supposed to be big enough to land a chopper!"
"Yeah, well it ain't and we ain't got time to go to Bravo…" Wolford reminds the fox.
Tossing a red smoke canister into the clearing, Nick keys his radio:
"Guardian Angel, Guardian Angel, this is Suicide one, over! Red smoke out…"
[Suicide One this is Guardian Angel. I see red smoke. What the actual fuck Wilde …!]
"I know already damn it … is Hickey Boy with you this flight?"
[Wouldn't go anywhere without the bloke – will the tangos be coming from the nor'east?]
"Affirmative. What say we give the tangos a warm 6-barreled welcome?"
[Copy that - wait one …]
And with that the early dawn is disturbed with the whir of an M134 Minigun spooling up and suddenly a long red streak of 7.62 caliber tracer rounds goes crashing into the tree line where a number of enemies were just exiting, mowing the rabbits down like blades of grass, turning them into a fine red mist.
When two double harness mammal retrieval sets were suddenly dropped from the hovering UH – 60 Blackhawk helicopter, it doesn't take long for the Team and their package to quickly step into the rigs and be lifted to safety … that is until …
After entering the chopper, Midnight, Sarah, Wolford, Nick and Judy were untangling themselves from the harness when Nick suddenly lets out a blood-curdling scream…
"NICK!" comes the concerned yell from Midnight and Goldie simultaneously.
As more rounds clang off of the side of the chopper, the mildly panicking coyote crew chief screams at the top of his lungs into the ship's intercom: "PULL PITCH, PULL PITCH, GET US THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"
As the aircraft suddenly lurches upwards rapidly gaining altitude, Wolfie and Judy spin to look towards Nick, they're greeted with the sight of a terrible amount blood pouring out of the upper thigh of the vupline's right leg.
"SHIT!" practically screams Goldie as he grabs here field medic bag and frantically begins searching for several items.
"Get his undershirt off and place it over his thigh." instructs Goldie to Wolford "We'll swap it out when I can find - ah, there they are."
Proceedings are suddenly brought to a stop when the entire early morning sky is lit up with towering walls of flame and followed quickly by thundering explosions and a massive shock wave that rocks the aircraft violently.
"What the actual fuck!" exclaims Midnight loudly.
"Mop-up!" comes One Eyed Jack's slightly amused voice over the intercom headsets "Command called in three F-15E Strike Eagles to make sure that the entire 'ville is taken out. No kits in the area, only tangos and NO survivors this time … ya gotta love napalm in the morning…"
Snapping her attention back to the task at paw and utilizing her newly found surgical scissors, Goldie quickly cuts the pantleg off of Nick's injured leg, immediately blanching at the size and severity of the wound.
"What the literal hell?" inquires Wolford as he sees the extent of the wound.
Looking towards the side door of the chopper that the mammals had entered from, Midnight quickly spots the guilty culprit: "Ricochet … there's a spot on the edge of the door that a round must've hit and glanced into Nick."
Quickly recovering, Goldie sets to work: "Wolfie, keep holding Nick's t-shirt against the wound until I can put on a tourniquet … Midnight, help hold Nick down, I'm gonna have to give him a shot of morphine and you know how he hates needles…"
"Is-is there anything I can do to help?" asks a badly shaken but concerned Judy.
"Maybe later" says Goldie considering her words carefully "but for now, please just say out of the way, there isn't much room in here as it is."
After a few seconds, Goldie gives Nick a fox sized shot of morphine.
"That should help with the pain and should calm him down…" comments the canine.
"So … what now?" asks Wolford.
"Nick's pulse is weak and he feels cold" answers a very concerned Goldie. "He's not gonna make it unless we get some blood into him."
Noting the blood type indicator that is worn on the shoulder of the unit's sleeves, Goldie makes a quick determination: "Wolfie, you and Nick are the same blood type – roll up your sleeve, I can give him an emergency transfusion right here. I doubt if a unit and a half will be quite enough considering the amount of blood that he's lost, but it's our only shot at keeping him alive until we can make it to … shit…"
"What?"
"I seriously doubt that Nick 'll make it to our initial drop off point, we've gotta get him more blood-"
"How about you?" asks Midnight.
"I can't. Nick and Wolfie are both Pred B Negative, I'm Pred A positive, it'd kill him!"
"T-take some of mine." volunteers the small doe.
"Hopps-" begins a well-meaning Goldie.
"I-I'm PP (Pred/Prey) positive." continues the doe quietly "I'm a universal donor. It's one reason my littermates or I were always required to be somewhere close around the farm back before the farm took off and became what it is today."
Taking a few moments to consider the offer, Goldie finally relents.
"Fine, but I can only take around a half of a unit, you can't afford as much of a loss as Wolfie can … but I need to check you out first, you're covered in blood yourself!"
"But … I'm not hurt …" asserts the bunny.
Quickly turning again to Nick, Goldie discovers three small caliber bullet holes in the fox's torso, a grazed left arm and a tear on one ear.
Opening her med bag, the canine withdraws three tubular objects that Judy immediately recognizes as "Tampons?" she asks "Really?"
"Yes, really…" affirms Goldie, inserting one of the items into a bullet hole and withdrawing the plastic applicator tube, immediately stopping the flow of blood from that particular wound, then moving on until she had successfully plugged all three, then placed a gauze pad on the flesh wound to his left arm. Quickly turning her attention to Nick's much more serious leg wound, Goldie tears open two OD green packages that are marked 'Kwik Klot' (Quik Clot™). Opening the first pack, she unrolled the bandage and has Wolford remove Nick's blood-soaked undershirt and replace it with the wadded-up bandage before using the second bandage to secure the first wad by wrapping it around Nick's thigh a couple of times.
"Now, both of you get ready for the transfusion…" prodded the medic.
After transferring one and one-half units of blood from Wolford and a half unit from Judy to Nick, Goldie tells the rest of the mammals "That's all we can do for now except pray."
After his co-pilot informed him of the fact that Nick has a serious and life-threatening wound, Johnny Longtail - aka One Eyed Jack – had immediately diverted to a friendly Navy carrier in international waters just off the coast of South Vietnam and informed them that there was a critical casualty and a rescued hostage on board the aircraft.
Upon landing on the flattop, the Team plus one was transferred to a shark looking helicopter called AirWolf. Goldie was informed that there were several units of Pred B Negative blood already on board and that the Team was being flown directly to Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany where a top surgical team would be waiting for them.
Judy was relieved to find out that a set of clothes had been donated by one of the female members of the carrier crew which she quickly changes into. While the underwear and jeans were almost the right size, the t-shirt was a bit too large and hangs enticingly off of one shoulder.
…
After takeoff, the passengers settled in for a what was anticipated to be a very boring 13-hour flight.
With Wilde resting more or less comfortably on medium sized mammal a gurney for the flight, the rest of the Team was trying to catch a little rest on the (sort of) comfortable seats in the main fuselage of the aircraft – except for a certain lapine.
Judy made a seat for herself on the oversized gurney beside Nick.
"Hey there beautiful…" comes Nick's voice softly, slightly startling the doe.
"H-hey … how … how are you feeling?" she asks tentatively.
"Not really feelin' much of anything right now … thanks to Goldie!" comments a slightly loopy Nick.
"It's because of the pain meds." casually answers the female canine. "I put a morphine drip in your IV." she adds.
Turning his attention to the small doe perched on his bed Nick offers her a soft smile.
"You know" begins Judy wistfully "I kinda wish you've come into my life sooner, then I maybe I would've gotten married to you instead of Savage."
"So, why did you?" asks Nick, partially trying to keep the conversation going so he's less likely to pass out, and because he's actually interested in hearing her story. Besides, she IS kinda cute after all. (Where the hell did that come from?)
"To get away from the family farm mostly." admits the doe sadly "After it took off and dad managed to get large contracts from the government and big cities like Zootopia, I was pretty much forced to get more education since my folks were hell-bent on me eventually running the entire operation. So, I ended up with masters degrees in agriculture, business administration and accounting." she adds with a downcast look.
"Not the life you wanted, even being a bunny, I take it?" asks the slightly bewildered fox.
"No … not really." Judy readily admits "I had dreams of becoming a police officer in Zootopia when I was a young kit. But, by the time I was about to enter high school, the farm took off and my folks had other plans for me. How about you? What made you decide to do … what you do?" asks a curious doe.
With the morphine loosening his normal inhibitions* somewhat, Nick shares "Hmmm … well, I guess it started with my dad ... I never really knew him since he died when I was around six or so. He was in the Army … Special Forces actually. This entire SNAFU was a result of him being deployed to 'Nam when he was in … but, that's a story and more for another time if you don't mind. He died sometime around my sixth birthday. Mom told me it was due to Agent Orange poisoning. He was in terrible pain all of the time … various cancers, tender joints, fatigue, his fur fell out in clumps… it was terrible.
"Anyway …" his voice breaking and tears beginning to pool in his eyes, Nick presses on "But I'm getting a bit off point … the reason that Jack, or whatever his real name is – was adamant about MY being involved is because my dad and his squad evidentially ended up in the very village that you were kept in when he was over here. It was part of the orders that they had to seek and destroy known Viet Cong sympathizers. They ended up killing most of the villagers including Jacks father and maybe his mother, we really couldn't tell for sure.
"This entire thing, his marrying then kitnapping you was to get your parents to put pressure on the Defense Department to get you rescued. When Jack included a patch from my dad's old unit in the packet that he sent your folks, the patch had a note on it with two words printed on it. 'Send Wilde.' Jack gave a time limit of five days for us, mainly me, to get here or he was going to simply keep you there as part of his private harem to restock the area with bunnies."
Rolling Nick's narrative over in her mind, Judy's thoughts for some reason suddenly turn to something he said when he first addressed her in the aircraft … "Do-do you really think I'm beautiful?" she asks suddenly.
"Of course. Why would you think otherwise, I mean, I'm sure you've heard it hundreds of times…!" comes the unexpected answer.
"Yeah, I heard it a lot once I got into high school" she answers bitterly, "mostly from bucks that simply wanted to score, put another notch on their bedpost so to speak. Funny thing is, I can't ever remember Jack telling me that … ever."
"Well, you are. Nice figure, pretty face, gorgeous fur…and your eyes. I can't ever remember seeing that color of eyes before, but they fit you…" Nick adds with another soft smile as he gently strokes her cheek.
Noticing the goings on between the two, Midnight gently nudges Wolford and Lee, inclining his head towards the todd and doe.
"You're not too shabby yourself…" answers Judy quietly, placing a small paw on Nick's cheek, suddenly remembering that she couldn't stand to be separated from the todd even during the firefight on their way to the truck and clinging to him after he'd been hit during the first chopper ride. And even now, perched on the edge of his gurney, somehow being more at ease sitting near him, and actually touching him. And those big beautiful green eyes…!
"You know" she continues, not having any idea where the words are coming from "If I had to choose, I wouldn't actually mind having a mammal like you as a husband and mate."
Momentarily stunned, Nick finally manages to find his tongue, shocking not only Judy, but the rest of the passengers in the 'chopper: "I accept. I'd be proud to marry a lady such as yourself, as long as I don't need ta try and farm, since I may not have both of my legs after this little SNAFU!"
"I-I-I …"
"I-I'm sorry" answers Nick quickly "I don't mean to presume. Ummm, if you don't mind, I'm feelin' a bit tired…" trying to put a temporary end to the suddenly uncomfortable conversation.
"S-sure you catch some sleep; we've got a long flight ahead of us if memory serves … we can talk more later." answers the still shocked doe gently patting the todd on the arm.
Mere moments later, the badly wounded todd totally crashes.
…
"I guess congratulations are in order." comments a concerned Sarah. "I hope you realize what you've done."
"Which would be … what?" asks a curious Judy.
"According to fox traditions, the vixen takes the lead in everything, especially when it comes to choosing a potential mate. Everything from asking the todd out to proposing marriage to having sex and when they'll have kits. You basically proposed and he accepted, so unless YOU have a valid reason to stop the wedding, you're gonna be wed to a fox."
Seeing Judy's slightly uncertain looks, Sarah continues, hoping to soften the blow somewhat: "It might be for the best, even though you just lost your previous husband, although I'll admit that actually killing Jack wasn't really part of the plan and all, but … Nick's chances of losing his leg are probably greater than him keeping it at this point so he'll need plenty of emotional and financial support since he'd not be able to be in the Teams any more, and will probably be let go by the military. With your family connections, at least that'll mean something."
"My folks 'll freak when they find out that Jack and I have parted ways so to speak," admits Judy sadly "not to mention the fact that I was the one that actually killed him! All of which means that I'll probably be ostracized from the family, meaning that except for what little bit I'd managed to hide away in a private account, there'll be no money from the folks or the farm.
"While I can't say that I actually love Nick, I believe that there's at least something there, a spark of sorts. As long as he at least feels the same way about me, I guess I have no real objection to marrying him."
"There's definitely something there" admits Goldie "I'm not sure how deep it goes, but at least it's a start."
Letting out a long sigh, Judy turns to the now resting todd and gently runs a small paw down his long snout.
"What will I do if or when mom and dad find out what truly happened to Jack? What will they do when they find out I'll be marrying Nick? What will I do for a job? I guess I could work for one of the accounting firms in the city since dad basically controls everything around Bunnyburrow. What if Nick actually loses his leg? What will we do for money?" worries the poor doe. "I guess we'll find out soon enough…"
Settling back and finally snuggling up against the resting todd, Judy manages a bit of sleep herself, waking only briefly when the chopper stops somewhere to briefly refuel before again resuming its flight to their final destination.
…
Upon landing directly atop the bases medical center in Germany, Nick is rushed to a waiting emergency operating room while the remaining Team members and Judy are quickly escorted to the waiting area, even though various staff members were giving them a furry eyeball due to their unkempt condition and having weapons in paw.
Barely able to sit and get comfortable, the four tired mammals suddenly find Senior in their midst.
"You three" indicating Midnight, Wolfie and Goldie "go to the armory and turn in your weapons and unused ordinance, then head to the barracks and get cleaned up and get some rest. You can turn in your AAR's later. Mrs. Savage-"
Quickly catching an attitude, Judy cuts the massive buffalo short "I don't know who you are, but don't EVER call me that again!"
"I apologize ma'am … my name is Senior Master Chief Adonis Bogo. I happen to be the Team's commanding officer. If I may be so bold, is there a particular reason you don't wish to be called by that name? While I understand that your husband is regrettably deceased, you are still technically his wife."
"That's right Mr. Bogo, Jack is dead and I'll admit to killing him myself. Do with me what you will, but if I ever hear that name again after what I just went through, I think I'll scream…" admits the frustrated doe.
Somewhat taken back by the doe's candid admission, Senior tries to calm the fully agitated civilian.
"I'm not exactly sure I understand ma'am, if you don't mind, would you be willing to explain a bit further? And, please call me Senior, it's much easier to remember." requests the large bovine politely.
While recounting the events as clearly as she can remember, beginning with her kitnapping, Judy brings Senior up to speed on the happenings of the mission and the chopper ride back.
Pondering the doe's verbal report, Senior tells her: "For what it's worth, even though part of the Team's mission was to bring back Savage alive, your actions are understandable. I'm sure that there'll be no official repercussions. That said-" Senior's phone goes off, interrupting his train of thought.
"Hello? Yes …. Yes … no, I don't think that that would be a good idea. No, keep them there … I'll let her know … okay, thank you." and promptly hangs up.
"As I was saying," continues the buffalo returning to his former train of thought "If you truly think that you'll be marrying Wilde, I'll have the necessary papers in my office ready for you to fill out and sign. The phone call that interrupted me was my staff NCO letting me know that your parents are in my office wanting to know your condition."
"They're here? Already?" asks the again stunned doe.
"I'm afraid so. I have no idea how they almost beat you here from the states, but the fact remains that they are actually here. I can either give you a ride to my office now or you can stay and see how things are going with Wilde for a while … to give you a chance to absorb things and be ready to face your parents with whatever you deem necessary to tell them. Then you can catch a ride on any of the base taxis to my office. Just let the driver know where you want to go, he or she will know where they're going."
"I-I think I'll stay here, at least for a while. I'll need to settle things with my parents, as much as I'm NOT looking forward to that. Thank you Senior…"
~0~
AN: The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV - Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles.
A normal grenade's fuse time is around 5 seconds – in order to eliminate the possibility of an enemy combatant picking up the grenade and throwing it back, a soldier will sometimes 'cook off' or hesitate throwing an armed grenade for a couple of seconds.
A 'hot LZ' means that there is or will be incoming enemy fire on a landing zone.
Colored smoke denotes that the unit will be at or has arrived at the designated location when the helicopter is inbound to the location. Generally, the color of smoke is up to the team leader, but many use green smoke for a 'cold' LZ, yellow for unsure and red for hot.
SNAFU -Situation Normal, All Fucked Up – generic term used when something goes wrong.
AAR – After Action Report – a detailed report of the entire mission.
*I have no scientific proof that a morphine drip will actually do what it has been suggested to do in the chapter, I simply use it as a vehicle to get Nick to talk about something that he normally is very closed mouth about.