"What do you mean failed?" The growl of his voice tempered under a thin showed of control he maintained. Gerhard sat behind a heavy wood desk, his paws clenching the edge as he glared at the female squirrel in front of him. His desk had little on top of it, a laptop on the corner, a combination phone and intercom opposite the computer, some pens in a holder, and a mat for writing on so as not to damage the desk underneath.

The female stood in front of his desk strait backed and without flinching when the larger male spoke. Her fur was well kept, and her clothing was crisp. She wore black slacks, a black button down shirt, left open enough to show just a hint of cleavage, and a suit jacket over all of that. The jacket was left unbuttoned so she could keep her paws in her pant pockets. The only bit of color on her, other than her gray fur, was a silver chained necklace that held a single pendent about the size of a challenge coin, in the middle of which was a deep red enamel painted hourglass.

Her voice was stoic and without emotion. "Sir, the agent has missed two check ins and reports show that Mr Forest is still at large. His sister's status is unknown however it is assumed that she is still alive as well."

"I thought your women were the best Natalia. I did give you their files yes?" When the female nodded he continued, "And you understand what he is capable of?" another nod, "Then you know that you just made a very dangerous mammal very angry?" Gerhard was an overconfident skunk at times, but one thing he never did was underestimate someone. Size or species a determined mammal could be dangerous either by spreading an idea all the way to violent force. "Handle it Natalia, or you and your ladies will be facing a firing squad."

The threat of a firing squad did make Natalia flinch ever so slightly. The small group of orphaned females, all squirrels, trained in very specific skills all centered around the purpose of singular lone target elimination was her own idea. It had saved her from that very firing squad when her disgraced husband had shamed himself and her along with him. Gerhard had made good on his threat then, and she didn't doubt he would do the same again. She straitened more, if that were possible, bowed her head and turned on her heals. Walking strait out of the door and into the hall. She was on her phone moments later. "Have number two meet me in my office in one hour."

Back in his office, Gerhard grumbled and picked up the phone on his desk. Dialing out he waited as the phone rang and was answered. "This is Anatoli."

"Anatoli, we have a problem. The ladies fouled up. The missed on his sister and did not eliminate him."

"That is troubling sir, he will not sit idle." Anatoli's voice was sharp but concerned.

"Have his picture circulated and add more boarder patrols."

"It will be done sir, might I also suggest an award if he is subdued?" Anatoli asked.

"What ever you think will keep vigilance high."

"Very good general. Consider it done." Anatoli hung up the phone and immediately went to work on his newest task.

General Gerhard hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair. "Next moves on you Leon." Scratching his chin. There was still so much to do, and the last thing he needed was a vengeful kit, least of all one trained as he was.

Gerhard opened the drawer to his right and pulled out a file, opening it he looked over the pictures within the folder. At least this project was going smoothly so far. The pictures were labeled with dates, three days between each. The showed the progress of a test launch pad being constructed. They were nearly half complete with the work, and he had been promised that they would be ready for a first test by the end of the month.

*oOo*

Leon was the first to stir in his bed, a slight crack in the shades had left some of the morning light in casting a thin beam across his eyelids. Opening his right eye slowly he could see the offensive beam of light, little bits of dust flitting through the beam some up, some down, and some from side to side. Then he noticed the weight on his arm and the warmth next to him. Glancing to his side he saw Meredith and a gentle smile graced his muzzle slowly.

She was still asleep, facing away from him with her head resting on his arm with about a foot of space between them. That space filled with the fluffy fox tail that rode along his side as he faced upwards. Part of him needed to get up to head to the bathroom, but he wanted to stay where he was and not disturb the hybrid sleeping next to him. He wanted to continue to admire the beautiful orange fur that was cast in that originally annoying beam of light.

Huffing in annoyance as with every morning once you are aware of the call of nature, it always got worse. Deciding he needed to extract himself from under the sleeping hybrid he attempted to move his arm from under her head. As he did, she groaned in protest at the feeling of something under her moving and gripped his arm with her paws and settled back down. He chuckled and groaned at the same time, it would seem he was going to have to wake her up. Leaning forward to whisper in her ear he caught a hit of her natural scent, giving him pause as he smelled his own scent mixed with it. That pause caused him to smile as he moved his muzzle right next to her ear. "Meredith .. I kinda need that arm."

She moved a bit and gripped his arm more. "Nooo … I'm comfortable." Even moving herself backwards into his side and curling up next to him.

"Meredith, I really need to go to the bathroom." He couldn't help but chuckle at how adorable she was acting.

When he mentioned his need to relieve himself her ear perked, and she let go of his arm and lifted her head off him as well. "Fine." She gave him an overdramatic pout which quickly changed into a wide smile. As the skunk nearly jumped out of bed, she watched in amusement as he raced off to the bathroom. "Sooo, striped boxers for a striped mammal hmm?" Her voice dripping in amusement.

When Leon came back from the bathroom he couldn't help but smirk, Meredith had turned to face his direction, laying on her belly. Her head was resting in her paws staring at him with a devilish smile as her tail flitted from side to side in an almost hypnotizing way. When she noticed the growing smile on his lips she raised an eyebrow. "What ever you are thinking Skunk, just don't."

"Oh? But you don't know what I'm thinking, Box? Or is it Funny?" He had made the mistake to look away from her as he said it and was promptly hit square in the muzzle by a pillow. "Hay, don't hit the hungover one in the head with pillows. Its rude."

Giggling as she turns onto her back leaning her head backwards to look up at him. "Awww got a headache? That's the punishment for drinking so much." Now she wore an open mouthed smile giving Leon a perfect view of her entire front as she was, and not something he didn't appreciate as she was beautiful, he found his interest mostly on her teeth of all things. She had the K9s of her fox ancestry but she also had larger front upper teeth as well. They weren't all that noticeable normally as they were not the same as would be expected on a bunny but they were larger.

When Meredith noticed where he was staring she became self conscious and spun around and quickly got to her feet. "Staring is rude too you know." A paw guarding over her muzzle.

Leon shook his head and stepped in front of her, taking the paw she covered her muzzle with and pulled it away. "Don't hide it Meredith."

"But, its … so wrong." Doing her best to keep her lips over her teeth. "I wanted to have them removed or shaved down but there were many reasons not to, not least of which is that I'm a medical professional."

Leon shakes his head again and places his paws on her shoulders. "Meredith, they are a part of you. Unique, just like you. Like your ears," His paw tentatively brushes along one of her ears that were pointed like a fox but long like a rabbit, "And your fur," his paw caresses her cheek, "And even your scent." Leon is shocked when Meredith leans forward quickly and locks his lips with her own into a passionate kiss that she holds as he returns it. After that as he slowly breaks the kiss he smiles. "And you are beautiful."

Meredith looks down and then wraps him in her arms. "You are an idiot."

Wrapping her loosely in hi arms and nuzzling the side of her head. "Guilty as charged." He smiles when he hears her chuckle.

Running her claws gently through his fur she pulls away and clears her throat as she looks directly into his eyes. "What am I going to do with you Leon?"

"Breakfast?" Smiling and chancing kissing her cheek. "After getting dressed of course." Tilting his head, "Or not if you don't want to." Laughing hysterically as she pushes him away with a sly smirk.

"Breakfast while dressed." Walking over to her clothes she begins to redress, stealing a few looks at Leon as he dresses as well.

"Good, I hear that coffee shop has great blueberry muffins, and my inside source says they are making fresh muffins this morning."

"Those are my favorite." Standing up, "Quick they sell out fast."

Leon chuckled as he pulled a shirt over his head and tucked it into his pants. "Ok ok." Smirking at how much like a little kit she was acting at the moment.

The pair made their way to the café ordering coffee and muffins. Vie giving a particularly interesting smirk at the pair when she picked up on the scent marks on both of the mammals. Those same mammals walked to an outside table embarrassed but looking forward to their coffee and muffins. Which at the first taste Leon was surprised at how fantastic they were. "There has to be drugs in these."

Meredith laughed and shook her head, "No, just good ingredients. They only make these when they get a fresh shipment in from the burrows. Mom's family supplies them with most of the fruits they use here, but the blueberries are particularly good. So when they get a fresh harvest, we get muffins." Smiling as she takes a bite of her own with a sigh of enjoyment. "So, I figured after this we can check on your sister. Though I have to warn you they are probably still holding her in a coma. If I were her doctor, I would wait at least a few more days before we try to take her out."

Leon's mood sobered quickly at the mention of his sister, his tail twitching showing his agitation. "I understand. I also understand that this all might turn out poorly." Sighing Leon took a sip from his coffee as he leans back. "I, don't want my sister to die Meredith she is the only family I have left. I also know that it isn't up to me at this point." Leon looked down at his half eaten muffin in thought only looking up when he felt the warmth of Meredith's paw on his own.

Leaning across the table with her paw on Leon's she looked to him. "Leon, we are going to do everything we can for Elizabeth."

Leon smiled a sad smile. "I know you will." Turning his paw to take hers in his, he ran his thumb over the top of her paw. "You need to understand though, they will continue to come after both of us and anyone I am associated with eventually." He notices her start to look at him.

"Whatever it is we can figure it out Leon." Gripping his paw a little tighter. "You don't have to do it alone." She noticed when he looked down and couldn't meet her eye for eye. "What did you do?" Remembering what his sister had told her before everything went downhill.

"I told Jack that I was helping him." Sighing, "After the news of what happened, I couldn't stand the thought of them using that thing here. Hurting my sister, hurting my friends here, hurting you." When he looked up she was obviously upset.

"By helping Jack you mean going home?" Glaring at him and squeezing his paw tighter. When he nodded, "You're going to what? Go kill this general whatever his name is?" Waiting again until he nodded. "Then what?"

"What?" Leon looked up confused.

"Then what? There is a power vacuum and who ever is next in line takes over and is most likely worse then before, with access to that, thing. You know your sister told me you were a damn fool. You just go charging right in and thing you can fix it all just by a little bit of force. Leon it doesn't work like that. The work you did, didn't fix anything it just stopped a small part of something while someone else played the angles." Sighing as the skunk looked down at the table like he could escape into the glass top. "Did you even consider what would happen to your sister if you don't come home, how she would feel? How about how I would feel?"

Meredith's voice cracking made him look up in time to see two things. The first a tear rolling from her eye, the second a very orange fist coming towards him. The next thing was the odd feeling of pain in his eye and a few seconds of feeling like he was flying. Which was really him falling out of his chair.

"What did you do to my daughter Leon?" Nick's nose flaring, smelling his daughters sent mark on him, and he had noticed his on her.

"Dad, stop." Meredith was calling to him as her father lifted Leon by the scruff of his neck. "DAD! Shit, NICK!"

Hearing his name had him stop. "You were crying and the scents."

Judy came running up next to her daughter. "Nick, you really need to calm down. Put Leon down." Her nose twitched as she picked up on Leon's sent closer then he was. That had her turn her attention to Meredith with a raised eyebrow. Her paws went right to her hips as she noticed the wetness near her eyes and the fact that Meredith was chewing on her lower lip, which showed off her front teeth. "Ok what's wrong?"

"How about, we move somewhere with less mammals around?" Meredith wiped the wetness from her eyes. Looking around and not a few mammals were taking notice of the little commotion.

Nick kept a grip on Leon as they walked into the park. Judy and Meredith following. Once they were all away from the little shop Meredith looked at her father. "Dad just let him go."

"But .. "

"Dad." She glared at him. "He could have overcome you any moment now, he's not out of respect for you. You're lucky you got that swing in, in the first place"

Judy then leveled Nick with a glare of her own. "You're also lucky we aren't in uniform. Officer slugs civilian, really Nick."

"How is it me that's in trouble all of a sudden?" Nick looked flustered as he released Leon, not missing the fact that the other male stood strait after being released like he had not been hit at all. Though a smug smile graced Nick's muzzle as he noticed the swelling that had started.

Judy, the calmer head at least, was the first to ask. "Whats going on Meredith. Mike told us that Leon got a, how did he put it, wee bit drunk last night, and that you had come to collect him? We were coming to check on what happened and there you two were."

"Mom, its fine."

"It's not fine, you were chewing on your lip. I haven't seen you do that since you were seven." Judy said.

"Dumb dumb over there signed up to help Jack." Looking at Leon.

Judy walked over to Leon and motioned for him to lean closer. When he leaned over he received a prompt slap across the muzzle. Which to his credit with her he took without complaint.

"See now you .. " Nick stopped talking when his wife hoped high enough to land one on him as well. "Oww … why?"

Marching back over to her daughter and taking her paw she walks her just out of ear shot of the two mammals and start to talk.

"What just happened?" Rubbing his cheek and looking at Nick.

"Hopps." Nick said rubbing his as well. "Hows the eye?" Never taking his eyes off the females that had gone from serious, to a little bit of laughing, to serious again.

"Hurts." Leon said simply as he tilts his head confused both women seeming to tear up for a moment before they hugged and went back to talking again, now glancing at them both which made a shiver run up his spine. "I don't like that look."

"Well, at least you can learn I guess." Managing a chuckle. "Leon" Turning to face the shorter male. "Sorry I hit you, I thought with the scent mark that you two … and that."

"Nick, nothing happened. We slept together but we didn't … sleep together. She didn't want me to be alone with where my head was at."

"Good, I'd hate to have to kill you." Nick smirked.

Leon chuckled, "Yah I'd hate that too. I won't hurt her." He looked back at the two women talking and managed to smile.

"You care about her don't you?"

"Very much so, its because of her and my sister that I want to help Jack." He said.

Nick put a paw on Leon's shoulder and sighed, "I understand. Its one of the reasons I wanted to work with the ZPD. What better way to help protect the one I love and spend more time with her? Turns out I'm pretty good at the job too."

"So I've heard. I still have to help Jack. I can't let them come after my sister and me again. You know as well as I they will find out about." Looking at Meredith "All of you."

"I know you will do what you have to do. Just, be smart about it son. Going off half cocked never got any mammal anywhere good."

"I'm starting to learn that." Watching the pair get into a short argument before both ended with a huff and Judy with an exasperated expression, both of her ears up high and her paws waving about.

Judy and Meredith come back to them paws on her hips. "Your stubborn daughter has something to tell you both." Looking at Nick.

"The fact that you can see stubborn coming from anywhere but me." Nick smiles a sly smile at Judy which has her rolling her eyes.

"I'm going with you Leon."

"What?!" Both Nick and Leon said at the same time.