Evie was the first one over to the cooler that outsized her to such a degree that she could probably have lived out of a structure the same size. This however didn't stop her from scrambling up the front, and wedging her feet and hands into the seam of the top, and pulling with her paws until the top started to budge. While she wasn't able to get the top completely open she was able to open it far enough to see inside.
Meredith, confused by the happy chuckles and the smiles on Butch and Zoe at the sight of the cooler, moved to help Evie with the lid. Opening it the rest of the way as the red squirrel happily danced on the edge of the cooler. She was constantly impressed by both the strength of the small mammal as well as her energy. In fact that energy was used as a source of teasing against Zoe a couple of times over the past few weeks when she had showed up in the morning tired and claiming she just wasn't a morning mammal. Inside were various bottles of beer, including a small tray situated at the top of the cooler with smaller bottles of strawberry beer, of which Evie was quick to grab one.
"Sweet, these are so hard to find in Zootopia." Making quick work of the twist off top before hoping down and waiting for her Kangaroo to catch up. "Find something that's to your liking Meredith, its tradition to relax on the last night of training, and Jack always finds something for everyone."
Meredith walked over to the cooler and looked over the bottles as Leon did the same. Leon however made a questioning noise as a particular brown bottle showed up as he dug under the top tray of Evie's drinks. Pulling the bottle out revealing a yellow brown bottle in German. He glanced over at jack as he smirked and reached, on instinct, into his right pants pocket but grumbled as the small mettle P-38 he used to always have in his pocket wasn't there.
Leon looked to the corner when Jack whistled. Sitting in a chair and leaning it against the wall on the rear two legs and his ears down along the back of his head in a very relaxed posture, Jack tossed a P-38 to him with a smirk and a nod. Leon caught it without any effort and used the side of it to pull open the top of the bottle. "Keep it." The rabbit remembered the night after Leon had spared him. The skunk had mentioned he always carried one of the small metal can openers, and after realizing how handy the simple device could be, had started carrying one as well.
Meredith watched the exchange with interest. There was obviously a level of respect and even a sort of comradery between the two even after Leon had given Jack one of those black eyes he was now sporting like a bunny raccoon and the broken nose. Meredith looked at the generic local light beer she had selected as nothing else struck her as interesting, then looked to the others. Jack had a black leather bound flask in his paw, as did Butch. Evie was happily drinking down her second strawberry beer already, and Zoe had a dark larger. When she looked over at what Leon had in his paw her interest was peaked. "What is that?"
Leon looked past the bottle he had just tipped up to take a sip and held up the P-38, before bringing the bottle away from his mouth and swallowed. "Oh its just an old military designed can opener. Very handy, especially when you are weeks on mission and need to get into a can of rations."
"Or cut through rope bindings apparently." Chucked Jack with a knowing smirk on his muzzle. This comment got the others attention too as they had never seen one before.
"No the drink you silly skunk." Shaking her head.
"Oh, Ingwerlimonade Ingwerbier" Giving Jack a side glance before focusing on Meredith. "Want to try it?"
"Sure, try anything once right?" Taking the bottle, she took a quick swig and swallowed. At first it tasted a bit sweet, but then it got peppery on her tongue and throat that quickly spread into a pepper like burn in the back of her throat. "What the hell," Meredith coughed and handed the bottle back, after which she promptly punched the laughing skunk in the shoulder.
Rubbing his shoulder, "Damn Meredith, you do realize those punches hurt right?" The entire show getting chuckles all around. "Its alcoholic ginger beer. Sort of like a geared up ginger ale." That got Evie's attention though who, having finished her second bottle was now climbing up Leon and perching on his shoulder.
"You're stuck with her now Mate," Zoe chuckled, "Once she's willing to perch on your shoulder you're hers."
"Can I try some?" Evie asked.
"I don't see why not." Looking around he smirked and grabbed the bottle cap that he had pulled off of the bottle, bending it back into its originally shape and pouring a bit into the cap. It was more like a bowl for Evie than a cup, but it worked.
Evie took a sip and after a moment took another sip with a smile. "That is good, nice spicy to it too." Happily humming as she held the bottlecap in both paws, her feet gripping Leon's jacket to keep her stable. "Hay Jack, these come in my size?" When Jack gave her a nod she gave a quick yippee before tossing the empty cap back onto the table and making the long jump back to the table and over to Zoe, hopping, then taking a few quick hops before scrambling back up the cooler.
The next hour and a half went by with relaxed conversation, everyone seeming to follow an unsaid rule that there would be no talking about the mission to come nor the training they had all just gone through. Meredith was surprised to learn that among his other talents with explosives and construction engineering, Butch really loved to cook. Mostly in a southern style like BBQ and even cajun style. When he explained his cajun style shrimp she caught her mouth watering on more than one occasion.
Zoe, as she started to show signs she was becoming intoxicated, opened up first by wrapping a very strong arm around Meredith and holding her closer than Meredith might have usually felt comfortable with, especially as Evie decided to roam over to her own shoulders between the two. Zoe apparently had a hidden passion for herbology. While she never learned where exactly they lived, Zoe had started a hydroponics planting of strawberries for her mate which Meredith had thought was sweet, as Evie made it very clear she absolutely loved strawberries.
As Meredith talked she noticed that Leon, had made his way over to stand next to where Jack sat. One foot against the wall he leaned against as him and Jack spoke quietly. A small smile on both mammals and the occasional light chuckle. They were relaxed, or at least they wanted to look like they were relaxed. She noted the occasional nose twitch on Jack and one of Leon's tells was an ever so slight ear twitch. Before she could walk over to talk to them however Jack stood up from his chair, capping his flask as he did. "All right everyone, get a good nights sleep and enjoy tomorrow. We meet here at 04:30 the following day, all of your gear will already be in the trucks. Mission brief will be en route." Jack gave a rare smile. "You all did fine work these past few weeks. Remember to relax, it will be a while before we are back in Zootopia."
Jack looked around the room one last time before silently leaving the room. As Jack left, Leon walked over to Meredith and calmly slipped an arm around her waist, "Have these mangy mammals been treating you ok Meredith?"
"Mangy, Leon you would us." Butch laughed. "I am at least rabid."
"Right you are Butch." Laughed Meredith. "Calling Butch Meredith is an insult to all of those good mammals."
Leon smirks, slides his left foot back and puts on a show of a low bow, while his arm never left Meredith's back, his other arm tucked in and his paw was over his chest. "I humbly beg your forgiveness Lord Butch the Rabid." This was preceded by a roar of laughing from all of the other mammals. "If the Lord would forgive Meredith and I, perhaps his grace would let us retire."
Butch, laughing the entire time lifted his paw, and put his muzzle into the air with the best aloof expression he could muster. His paw waving gently to them. "Be gone then."
Leon chuckled "Well Gentle mammals we will see you in a little over twenty-four hours."
Butch smirked at Zoe and Evie, "Actually I was planning on doing a nice relaxed family style dinner tomorrow. My gram lives in Sahara Square, it's an old place but its home."
Leon looked at Meredith, who spoke up first. "We wouldn't miss it Butch."
After getting the address and time to arrive as well as exchanging contact numbers Meredith and Leon ducked out of the room and made their way downstairs to the main lobby. The older and larger cat that had been at the desk during the day was once again exchanged for a younger officer. One that Meredith recognized as they walked by. "Have a good night Jason." Snickering as she gripped Leon's arm. She haddn't seen her brother since his graduation now nearly a month ago. No doubt he had heard about Leon, and she couldn't help the enjoyment she was getting teasing him by walking by with just a wave of a paw.
"Don't you want to talk to him at least?" Leon asked as he was pulled towards the front door.
"Absolutely not." Smirking as she draped her tail over Leon's, something foxes reserved for family and intimate partners, though she was pretty sure that a bunny would be more likely to do this if they could. Once they were outside her phone went off with a ding. "I'm sure his mind is just going nuts right now." Taking her phone out and glancing at the message, from her brother, and giggling happily. "And that's a confirmation.
"You foxes …" Leon just shook his head with a chuckle as he was pushed sideways by Meredith pushing her shoulder against his.
"Ahh you love me." Smiling wide.
"Maybe." Smirking as they continued walking the familiar route back to the hotel.
"Maybe?" Meredith Growled playfully and nipped at his ear.
Leon paused their walk and turned to face Meredith, wrapped his arms around her and placed his nose against her's. "Yes I love you." Smirking as he gently kissed her, intending to give her just a small loving kiss. Meredith however had different plans as her paws gripped his shirt and pulled him towards her, deepening the kiss slowly. Her tongue teasing his lips which he gladly parted to play his own tongue along hers. They both continued as his paws pulled her hips against his own, they only parted when they both had to breath.
"Leon?" Meredith asked.
Opening his eyes after the kiss to look into her emerald eyes he saw something new. Something like a hunger as she looked into his eyes. "Meredith?"
"Lets get back to your room ok." She spoke softly with a soft growl after she was done speaking.
"I thought you wanted to go for a walk? It isn't all that late yet." Leon protested.
Giving Leon a light growl she takes his paw in her own and guides them all the way back to the hotel without even another word. Leon couldn't help but notice how her tail swayed from side to side with an agitated flick of the tip before changing directions. She continued to drag him past the mammal at the front desk without their now customary short chat with her. Though when Leon flashed an apologetic look at the mammal, he was surprised to see a knowing look with a mischievous smile of her own on the brown bear's muzzle.
The ride up the elevator was silent except for what Leon thought was a slight whine from Meredith as she watched the floor numbers on the digital screen with a tap of her foot on the floor that sped up until it was almost one constant thumping drone. Once the door opened it was back to being nearly dragged by Meredith to his room. She used the key she had been given and once inside she pushes the door shut and kissed Leon with the same passion they had shared outside. A deep growl came from her skunk as the kiss continued and she responded in kind as her paws gripped him tightly.
The longer they kissed and the tighter they embraced the more Meredith was aware of the skunk she held. His sent starting to overpower the musk mask that he had applied after training was an exhilarating thing for her. The scent of male and she thought perhaps the smell of pine, as well as the scent of excitement. When she broke the kiss she did so slowly and slipped her paws up along his chest. "I love you too Leon." Gripping his shirt she turned him around and pushed him onto the bed.
Laughing as he was pushed around by Meredith, landing face down on the bed after he was pushed he had to spin himself back around. He had, in his time working for the government of his country, had occasion to seduce women and even once another male. He was however surprised when he turned around because when he did he was met with a vision he didn't think he would be seeing. The contrasting beautiful orange fur, her belly a light grey in a tantalizing pattern that extended from her neck down along her chest and tapered inward after her belly in a triangular pattern as his eyes descended towards her legs. Her strong legs now bringing her slowly closer to him as her hips swayed from side to side and her tail swaying in the opposite direction. Not a stich of clothing hiding her from him, and he found himself nervous.
It wasn't that Leon didn't know where this was going, and he was quite excited about that. He however knew what this meant to her, and as much as he wanted to continue as she slipped into his lap and started to nibble on his ear he needed to be sure. "Meredith," his voice lacked his normal confidence, "are you sure?" Leon shivered as her paws slipped under his shirt and up along his belly and chest.
"Well fox females take the lead, so shouldn't I be the one asking if you are ready?" Smiling as she give his ear one last nip before leaning back a bit and using her paws to pull his shirt off. Her eyes tracing as her orange furred paws contrast wonderfully against his black fur. "Do you want to continue?"
Leon looked up after she removed his shirt. There was no way she couldn't tell that his body wanted to continue but he was searching for her eyes and when they met, he smiled. "Yes Meredith, I do." He said softly, his paws wrapping around her and sliding softly up her back. "I want you, and nobody else."
Meredith smiled and pushed Leon onto his back before kissing him deeply again. That evening no more words were spoken, even still Meredith and Leon learned more about each other than either would have thought they would when they first met. Meredith had never felt closer to another mammal than she did that evening both physically and emotionally. Leon was both gentle and rough with her at the same time and she felt as if each touch, each caress, each kiss was speaking to her until they fell asleep exhausted in each other's arms.
When morning came around Meredith woke up with a long yawn and a drawn out stretch which also made her noticed a particular soreness which she had expected after her first time, but it also was a quick reminder of what they pair had done. Smiling wide she rolled on her side and was surprised that her skunk was no longer in bed. Before she had a chance to look and see if he was in the bathroom the door lock clicked and Leon walked in holding a cardboard tray with two cups and a paper bag.
"Oh I was hoping to get back before you woke up." Leon walked over to the bed and set the cups and bag on a table before leaning over and giving her a loving kiss on her cheek. "How you feeling?" He couldn't hide the beaming smile, and he didn't want to. "By the way, I have a whole new respect for those legs." Snickering as he remembered a moment from the night before where she had accidently kicked him in her excitement. The mention of which had Meredith looking away for a moment as she felt her cheeks warming.
Her interest however was drawn to what he had brought in with him, the smell of coffee and food bringing her hunger into focus. "Did you get that from the bakery?"
"Emm hmm." He nodded as he pulled a cup out of the tray and waited for Meredith to wrap the sheet around her before handing her the cup. Leon watched her as she sipped from the cup and seemed to have a whole body enjoyment as she sighed. He couldn't help but think that he didn't deserve this woman, but he would make sure to try to be the male she did deserve. Her fur was a mess, she was wrapped in a sheet, and was obviously still waking up but she was still the most beautiful mammal he had ever seen.
"What?" Meredith had noticed that Leon was staring at her.
"I was just enjoying how beautiful you are is all." Leon smirked.
"Oh cut the shit. My fur is a mess, I'm pretty sure I'm a bit hung over, and your stamina makes me feel like I ran a marathon. You need to be more careful when it's a woman's first time." Giving him a mock growl before sipping her coffee.
"Well the way I hear it, I shouldn't need to worry about that ever again." Leon was unable to resist teasing the vixen rabbit.
"Well, I mean I am only half fox so if … you don't want …" Her ears laid flat against the back of her head in an obvious sign of unease.
"Meredith," Leon put his paw under her chin and lifted her gaze to his own. "I agreed to last night knowing full well what it meant to you and I'm not going anywhere. I love you."
Meredith smiled and her ears lifted happily. "I love you too Leon." She turned her head slightly to rub her cheek before reaching up and dragging him to sit next to her. Leaning over she rubbed her cheek and under her muzzle against him, aggressively scent marking him. Her heart swelling when he did the same. The action eliciting a happy grumbling from Leon.
"Emm I never would have thought that would feel so good, but you know you didn't really need to do that." Leong smiled devilishly. "The way Vie acted you've already made sure that everywhere I go I'm broadcasting that I'm taken." Leon laughed as Meredith quickly hid behind her coffee cup. "She said to tell you congratulations." Right after the words exited his muzzle, he was rubbing the shoulder that Meredith quickly slugged. "Ok here, occupy both paws please." Leon pulled a carrot muffin out of the bag and handed it to her.
Laughing as the muffing is put in her paw she watches as her skunk retrieves his own cup of coffee. "So what's the plan for the day?"
"Well I'm going to walk to the hospital to visit my sister for a little bit. I'm told that even in a comma they can hear us. I need to tell her that we will be gone for a while and I wont be visiting until we are back."
"Give me a couple of minutes and I'll come with you." Meredith moved to get out of bed, and with both paws occupied she stood up and now stood in front of Leon naked as the night before.
Leon took a moment to enjoy the view before pulling her close to him and nuzzling her warm belly enjoying the almost purr he could hear with his ear pressed against her. "Why don't you enjoy your breakfast then take a shower." Chuckling, "There's still some remnants of last night's activities." Making a show of glancing downwards and then laughing when her instinct to punch his arm was stopped by the fact that both of her paws were occupied. "Then why don't you call your parents. I'm sure they would like to at least talk to you before we head out tomorrow. Don't you think?"
Meredith eyed Leon when she had wanted to punch him. She would get him for that later, even if he was right she needed a shower for multiple reasons. "All right, but come back to me as soon as you're done ok?" Her voice was soft as Leon stood and kissed her lovingly.
"Of course Meredith, I wouldn't dream of anything else." Giving her cheek one last caress with his paw he smiled and walked out of the room on his way to visit his sister one last time before they departed.
At the hospital the nurses mostly waved hellos to him having gotten used to seeing him most days even if not in the morning. On the fourth floor in the east wing was a wing of patients that were all in various states of long-term incapacitation. Before he could enter the wing the new security, even knowing who he was, enforced the identification checks on him as well as a quick wanding with a metal detector.
When he walked into the room, he looked at the empty bed that used to be his sister's roommate. There had been a male puma in that bed who had been in a coma as well. The family had decided to terminate care. Shaking off the feeling of dread that came from looking at the bed he walked past the room divider to where his sister was laying in bed.
He had hoped that perhaps he would walk around the divider and his sister would be laying there looking for him. While she was laying there, she still had her eyes shut like in peaceful rest, even with the intubation tube coming out of the side of her muzzle and wires connected to her head and running under the blanket. The monitor on the wall he had learned monitored brain function only producing a very small and steady wave on the screen. That was what the doctor had mentioned allowed for a small amount of hope, where the puma's next door had been flat for days.
There was one thing that brought a small, if sad, smile to his muzzle. On the table next to Elizabeth's head was planter filled with daisies. A small card on the pot said 'Get well soon – Wilde Family'. Leon pulled a chair closer to Elizabeth's bed and took her paw in both of his as he gently caressed the top of her paw.
"Hay sis, this is going to be the last time I'm going to be able to visit for some time. I'm going with a team to put an end to the way our home has been acting, hopefully once and for all. Hopefully when you wake up things will be better for all of us." Leon leaned forward to get closer to his sister. "I also wanted to tell you that Meredith and I have been getting very close over the past few weeks, we well we marked each other last night." Leon chuckled a little self consciously, had his sister been awake she would likely be able to smell that. "I think you and her will get along well. You're both stubborn as hell and she's a strong one too. She likes to punch me in the shoulder all the time, not that I mind it's adorable to be honest."
Leaning back again to straiten his back, he kept one paw wrapped around his sisters for a moment in silence. "Sis, I really need you to get through this ok. You're all the family I have left and we've made it through so much already." Leon couldn't help a tear as he thought about all the things that they had been through together. Now there was a chance to live outside of that situation, and perhaps be truly happy. He wanted his sister to be able to enjoy that with him. He didn't know exactly how long he had been there in silent thought, but when a nurse came in to change out a few things his cheeks were noticeably damp and the clock had ticked off almost an hour. The nurse, smiled when Leon looked up and signled with his free paw to give him just one moment.
Leon stood up and pushed the chair back into its place before going back to his sister and taking up her paw again. Giving it a gentle squeeze, he leaned in and kissed her forehead, "I'll see you when I get back, you hang in there Liz." Slowly he released her paw and walked towards the exit. Thanking the nurse for the extra moment before walking out of the hospital.
In Elizabeth's room the nurse was humming to herself as she added a new IV bag and changed out blankets. As she was tucking the young skunk back into her new bedding, she noticed the young woman's paw move ever so much which caused the nurse to gasp and look up at the skunkett's face. Her eyes were still shut and there was no change of her expression, but she did notice a single tear leaving her eye. The next thing that the nurse looked at was the brain function monitor seeing a long streak of activity before returning to the same small wave as before. She immediately ran to find the doctor, to inform him of what had occurred.
When Leon got back to the hotel room he walked in to a sight that brough an immediate smile. Meredith had earphones in and was dancing to the music only she could hear. Her back to Leon so that he got a wonderful view of her backside in the snug fitting jeans she had put on, her tail swaying tantalizingly until she turned around and yipped in surprise at the suddenly present Skunk. Meredith, upon seeing Leon, ran over and warped her arms around him nuzzling against his cheek. "Hay you." Noting the still slightly damp fur she pulled back and removed her earphones. "How was your visit?"
"Longer then I thought, sorry about that hun." His paws rested just above her hips on either side. "I have to remember to thank your parents for the flowers. They sent a beautiful planter of daisies."
"Probably my mom. She may be a cop, but she grew up on the farm." Chuckling as she wrapped her arms around Leon again and pulling him close. "She's going to come through, somehow. She's your sister after all, and if you can pull through what you did than she can pull through this."
Leong breathed in deep as he returned the tight embrace. "I really hope you are right Meredith." Leon nuzzled his muzzle into the scruff of Meredith's neck and held onto her for a moment, like a mammal afraid that if he let go she would just disappear. Then with a sigh he loosened up. "Ok enough of that, we have a couple hours before we have to be at that party. What do you want to do until then?"
Meredith couldn't help but give Leon a predatory smile which he immediately responded. "Not enough time for that m'love. But I promise I'll give you a proper rutting again soon."
"You pig" Slugging his shoulder with a laugh before she kissed him. "Lets just enjoy the beautiful weather than shall we. If we walk to the place Butch said we have to go, it will take us almost an hour. We can take our time, and pick up some things when we get close. Never go to a party empty pawed."
Leon and Meredith made the slow walk from the hotel to the party paw in paw the entire time. Except for when the stopped by a small local market to pick up a desert and some drinks. The party was low key, smelling of all sorts of delicious food items some for the predators and some for the prey in the small group. Of course when they arrived the other three members of the team picked up on the change in the couple almost immediately. Butch dragging Leon over to the charcoal BBQ to talk 'male things' and Zoe with Evie pulling Meredith away to talk as well.
Butch's grandmother joined them for the meal and desert and proved to have a very similar personality to Butch, though she was far more polite and demanded the same from her grandson. She had yelled at him multiple times for his manors and as if flipping a switch would settle down almost immediately and be the pleasant older canine with a southern twang. Everyone present knew that she may be old, but she was sharp as a tac.
When the evening ended all of the mammals went their separate ways with a few hugs, a few solid paw shakes, and perhaps a very sober set of 'see you tomorrow morning'. Meredith and Leon took the municipal bussing system back to the hotel, at one point during the ride Meredith dosed off against him, earning a few sideways looks from some of the older mammals on the bus. Leon just smiled at them regardless of the look. The obvious species differences between him and Meredith as well as her being a hybrid was likely the cause of the looks but compared to how they would be treated starting tomorrow this was nothing he couldn't brush off.
When their stop was nearing Leon woke the sleeping bunny fox and found he had to encourage the exhausted vixen all the way up. They were both slow to prepare for bed, neither expecting or wanting to do much that would be a repeat of the evening prior. After Leon set an early alarm he slipped under the covers and was immediately wrapped in his vixen's arms. "Just hold me ok." She said softly as she rested her cheek on his shoulder.
"Of course, my love." Leon slipped his arm around her and held her close, even protectively as they both quickly descended into sleep.
Morning came quickly for the couple, Leon's alarm sounding off in the dark and silent room. At some point in the night Meredith had turned on her side facing away from him, and he had curled around her back, his tail over her hips and snuggled comfortably in her arms, along with her own. "Time to get up my dear."
"Not dear, fox." Meredith said with a pouty voice but her ear twitched as it focused back on the alarm that was still going off.
"Bunny too." Snickering as he reached with one paw to grab his phone and shut off the alarm. "But we need to get moving. I gave us a little extra time to sleep but now we need to move to be on time." Leon kissed the back of her neck as he tried to worm out from behind her, eliciting a complaining whine from his hybrid vixen's muzzle, as well as a quick pull of his tail before she let it go.
Meredith rolled over once Leon was out of bed. "This is cruel even for you."
Leon chuckled, "Well you signed up for it, and its going to be worse. I'll do what I can to make this as easy for you as I can though." Looking at her lovingly for a moment before Leon moved off to get dressed. He was about to go back over to the bed to make sure she was getting up before he heard her moving and getting dressed as well.
"Leon, I'm not made of tougher stuff than I look." Grumbling. "I don't want special treatment."
Leon chuckled, "Oh I know your made of tough stuff, proved that when I mated you dearest." Leon couldn't help but laugh when he was hit in the back of the head by a flying pillow missile. "All right I guess maybe I deserved that." Turning around to face her, she was already ready to go which caused a smirk to grow on Leon's muzzle. "All right lets get this show on the road shall we?"
The pair made their way to main entrance of the hotel, giving a nod to the desk clerk as they made their way out. The air was cool and crisp in the early spring air. Even with the clime control systems the city used the early mornings always seemed to leak through what season it really was. The stars in the sky still shown bright against the dark canvas, though there was the sliver of color starting on the far horizon above the city lights. As they walked towards the station only the occasional early morning worker was on the roads such as food delivery vans and news paper delivery cars.
Once at the station the pair made their way up to the conference room where other than Jack, they had been the last to arrive. The room was quite as the other mammals checked their gear over, pausing at the entrance of Meredith and Leon just long enough to nod to them before continuing reviewing the equipment. Leon gently guided Meredith over to their own gear, ripping apart what was in the pack and on the table for clothing before repacking it and changing his clothes with no care as to the fact that he was in a room full of other mammals. As he did so Meredith did the same, reorganizing the pack in such a way that her medical supplied was at the top of the pack, she had learned quickly during training to keep the items she was most likely to need at the top, putting things like her ration packs at the bottom with the exception of a few snack items she put in a side pouch.
As Leon finished up reviewing his gear and putting things where he wanted them for best access, he noticed one additional item that had not been in his original equipment list. An empty leather holster much like the one he used to carry. As he picked it up Jack walked into the room already in his gear, and pack on his back. In his paws he held a box that he placed on the desk in front of Leon. "You didn't think I'd actually let you go into this unarmed. Plus, part of our plan revolves around you being in the military, I can't have you looking out of the part."
"Well that explains why you put a full uniform with full honors in my pack. The papers said disabled, for services to the state." Smirking, "Nice trick. I assume the others all have uniforms as well?"
"Of course, except for Meredith of course. You did find the appropriate garment yes?" Looking at Meredith who nodded meekly. She had found it, and it was fine material, it was just not something that would hide much of anything. It was obviously designed to cover fur but not hide her shape. "Good, we will acquire winter overclothing when we get to that point. Remember its still early spring, and much of the north will be snow covered as we move to the central district."
Leon opened the box that had been placed in front of him, inside was an H&K P12 which meant it was chambered in .45 ACP. Removing the magazine, he noted a full magazine, plus two extras in the box, he then also expertly pulled on the slide just enough to see that there was a round chambered as well. After checking over the firearm he holstered it and attached the holster to his belt.
"All right everyone lets get moving. We have a plane to catch." Walking out of the room Jack expected the other mammals to follow him. Which all of them did, as they exited a few officers in the building watched as they passed. When they neared the back exit a doe and a fox were waiting by the door. Butch, Zoe, and Evie all continued on with silent acknowledgement of the Wildes before leaving the building and loading into the truck waiting. Meredith and Leon however paused, a silence between the four mammals grew before Judy wrapped her daughter as much as she could in her arms, the pack her daughter wore prevented her from much more than a light hug.
"You be safe Meredith, but remember don't give up either." Judy couldn't help but smile proudly as she stepped back and let Nick step up to his daughter.
Nick dove right in and hugged his daughter close, nuzzling her cheek softly. "Just don't do anything reckless like your mother ok. She's always diving in head first and you're a lot like her sometimes."
"Dad I'm more like you, and you know it." Chuckling. "I get all the good parts of both of you."
"Yah, you do. A true funny." He playfully yips when his own daughter gives him a half hearted hit on the shoulder before hugging him again. This time however when Nick breathed in he could smell the scent mark that he had been ignoring. His eyes glancing over at Leon who stood a respectful distance away. "Go ahead honey, I just want a quick word with your mate." He whispered into her ear.
Meredith blushed deep, noticeable even in her ears if any mammal had been watching. She whispered back to her father, "Go easy on him, it was my idea after all." Kissing his cheek, he walked outside with her mother following.
Nick walked over to Leon who stood relaxed, and having caught the glance, he knew that Nick had smelled the mark on his daughter. "Sir, I wanted to thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful."
"First, you are welcome but that was Judy's idea. Second, I told you its not sir its Nick." Smiling and pulling the skunk into a hug. "She could do far worse and I know it. Probably better," Nick tossed in with a chuckle, "but far worse. You keep her safe you hear me son."
Leon was caught off guard by the hug, but returned it. Neither of their species being known to be big on physical contact outside of their family and mates, skunks even less so than foxes. "Nick, I will protect her with my life." Pulling back he grasps the fox's paw in his own. "If I have anything to say about it, she will come back home safe, sound, and no worse for wear. I swear to you Nick, her safety is more important to me then disposing of that filthy piece of trash that ordered my sisters death."
Nick grasped the other males paw with strength. "That's all I wanted to hear. Good luck son."
That was the second time he had said that to him, 'son'. It struck a cord in Leon that made him feel pride and even a bit of belonging. With a final nod Leon walked outside to join the rest of the group, with Jack hollering to get his ass in gear. This brought back mission memories which had him laughing as he climbed into the truck, which started moving before he had even sat down.
Meredith had been chatting lightly with Evie as Leon sat down next to her. Their discussion being about the headset that the squirrel now wore, which was much different than what she had when they were training. "Oh this is my own design." Pulling it off of her head, it was a headband design with extensions that supported in ear speakers. Extending from these however was an array of little antennas that fanned out along the inside of her ear. "The design gives great communication reception and allows me to act as a repeater for all of our communications so that if someone were out of typical range, I can bounce that signal out to the next team member. Since we, Zoe and I, ware usually on an elevated position we are perfect for that as well."
"Stronger line of sight signals." Leon injected as he sat down.
"Exactly right Leon." Evie smiled. "At any rate this connects to the system in my pack. It's a bit heavy for me to walk with all day, but luckily I get carried for the most part by my beautiful Zoe."
"Yah what a Pain, I get to carry her, her gear, and my own as well." Zoe grumbled, though it was obvious to everyone that she was teasing. Even still Evie gave the appropriate response of a pout.
After light conversation Leon spoke up. "Where are we headed?" He had peaked out a side window and noticed they were heading towards the lakes and not towards the airport which was in the opposite direction.
Jack smiled, "You'll see." His smile causing a groan from the three mammals that worked with him regularly.
After another ten minutes of driving the trucks came to a stop and Jack opened the rear doors to allow them all out of the truck. They were just outside of the city limits and the dark skys had started to recede into the morning oranges and yellows. The moon was still visible on the horizon just above the tallest buildings of Downtown Zootopia. Behind them however as the climbed out of the truck was a large pier, and tied up to one of those piers was a Grumman G-21 Goose.
A large, well fed, bear was making his way up the dock toward the group with a wave of his paw. He wore a tan button down shirt and khaki shorts along with an old military captains cap. As the bear came closer he made his way over to the group. "Well how do ya all do. Go ahead and load up and we can be up and running shortly."
Butch looked at Jack with no small amount of shock. "You're using Baloo again, after last time?"
Jack looked up at Butch and shrugged. "He got us there safely, and he's the only one crazy enough to fly us over the border."
"Crazy is an understatement." Butch shook his head as he headed towards the plane. Greeting the bear on his way by before disappearing into the back of the airplane.
Meredith leaned over to whisper to Jack. "Everything ok?"
Jack just smiled, "It will be fine Meredith, go ahead. I just have a few things to discuss with the pilot before I join you."
Meredith took note of that being the same smile that had the others groaning before, and when she got a better look at the aging plane she couldn't help but admit to herself that there was a feeling of unease growing in her belly.