A/N. First I would like to thank follow writer Selaxes for helping me out with proof reading and editing for me. I read his stories Nothing to Fear and New Directions and highly recommend them. I would also like the thank those of you who have followed, favorited, and reviewed. For a first time writer this is very beneficial and will help to keep pushing me to write. For this chapter again I got to writing and just couldn't stop so the rescue turned into a chapter all by itself. The next one will slow things down a bit and maybe well get to see "if it could work."


"Look at this fine mammal here. She was picked up a few days ago and I personally checked to make sure she is a fresh catch." Outwardly Finnick was stone cold showing no emotion as the jaguar paraded a badger around the makeshift stage. She was maybe 12 or 13, eyes looking at the floor, and shaking. He knew fresh was a codeword for virgin and knew it would catch a high price and from the look he saw from her she knew it too and was scared as to what was going to happen after the bidding.

"Look at those beautiful blue eyes," the jaguar grabbed the girl's muzzle and yanked her head up revealing ice blue eyes though full of fear. "Imagine those eyes looking up at you as you bring her into adulthood." It took Finnick everything he had to not throw up but he knew he had a cover to maintain he just hoped Nick would come soon. The bidding started at two thousand dollars and was very quickly raising when a loud detonation caused him to drop to the floor in pain.

Judy was surprised at the speed and efficiency the SWAT team worked. She heard about them but was never part of an operation before and now got to watch everything on the multiple screens in front of her. All the charges detonated at the same time and followed by flash bangs to create as much confusion as possible. Simultaneously ropes dropped from the roof as the cougars slid down while the jaguars provided cover for them from the smashed windows. Once the first team hit the ground the cover team slid down with the cougars providing cover. The wolves and tigers came sprinting in clearing the back rooms before coming into the back section of the main floor, while the rhinos tore the main door from its hinges creating a bigger hole as two pushed through at the same time.

"We got squirters, two on bikes racing along the waterfront," Judy looked at the overwatch cameras and saw two badgers on dirt bikes trying to get away as fast as possible. They didn't make it far as the snipers hit them on the first shot and saw the bikes throw sparks as the skidded across the ground and the limp bodies go rolling limbs flailing around, one of them rolling into the water they were driving by.

"Divers move in, we got a suspect in the water and I want them all alive," Leon called into the radio Judy saw a boat move in within seconds as two otters dove into the water to grab the badger.

While Judy was watching the snipers Nick was paying close attention to the main force. He too was amazed at the speed they moved, once the roof teams hit the ground they rushed to the stage and shipping containers around the space to gain the high ground vantage point dropping several guards as they reached for weapons. The rhinos rushed the main audience and only a few tried to run and again they were put down before they got too far and the rest decide to just lay down than deal with getting shot.

"SHOTS FIRED, MAMMAL DOWN!" one of the wolves called out, all eyes went to the cameras seeing flashes coming from the side of one of the vans they were trying to get to and a wolf grabbing his leg behind a wooden box trying to stop the bleeding. Every time one of the team members would try and line up a shot a hail of bullets would strike the cover they were using causing them to duck back.

"Stay still Melvin, put your tourniquet on and keep your head down! We need backup now!"

"Team one moving to assist on your location in thirty seconds, coming from behind them watch your shots," three rhinos and the otter who placed the breaching charge rushed to the aid of the wolves. The otter had found a balcony and was scaling it to get to a higher perch while the rhinos charged headlong at the thin sheet metal wall separating the teams.

"Coming through!" screamed the lead rhino as he sprinted at the wall causing the thin rusted metal to buckle and part of it to collapse. The sudden explosive appearance of three charging rhinos made the wolverines caring the rifles spin around and try to run, right into the waiting sights of the SWAT team dropping them before they got a few steps from the cover of the vans had been providing. One however was able to keep his composure and raised his rifle at the charging rhinos he got off a single shot before a dart suddenly appeared from his chest. The otter had found a hole big enough to line up a shot and took it before and more shots could be fired.

The SWAT medic quickly rushed to the injured wolf while the rest of the team moved to clear the vans. "All clear, we need medical now! We have an injured officer and several of these kits are in bad shape, we may need to airlift them to Zootopia General." The lead rhino called over the radio after getting the clear signals from all the other teams.

"OK you two let's move in now that the scene is secure it's your show again. I need to go check up on my wounded officer." Leon and Bogo were already at the door leaving Nick and Judy to play catch up.

"I knew they were good but I didn't know they were that good," Nick was still amazed at the SWAT teams skill in the takedown. "Carrots it took them under three minutes to clear the entire warehouse, it's amazing."

"Thank you," Leon looked over his shoulder back at Nick, "I train them every day for just these types of situations." They walked from their staging location to the warehouse as the sirens of the ambulances and backup cars echoing all around the buildings and the dock workers all staring at the location where the takedown took place wondering what was going on.

They reached the warehouse at the same time the first backup officers arrived to set up the crime scene. The four walked in and saw the bidders all sitting along one wall and the traffickers along another wall, all were sitting on their knees with their paws zipped behind them, SWAT members walking up and down the lines making sure no-one was talking. Nick spied Finnick and scratched right about his left eye, a sign they had come up with years ago when a con was going well. Going into the back room an ambulance had worked its way to take care of the wounded officer, Leon and Bogo heading straight to it as Nick and Judy went to the gathering location of the kits.

Judy couldn't believe her eyes, sitting in front of her being tended to by the medical mammals we kits ranging from five to sixteen. All different species and genders, though mostly female. Most were very thin and had a distant look in their eyes, some were lying on the ground either from varying sicknesses or the sheer joy of being freed they had collapsed. There were two kits on stretchers with IV bags hooked into their arms with several mammals surrounding them, in the distance Judy could hear the thumping of the Zootopia General helicopter coming in.

"Nick, who could do this to these poor kits." Judy couldn't help but stare at the scene around her. All these poor kits, was someone looking for them? Was someone missing them, would their families be found, was it too late for some of them? These things were eating away at her.

"Some mammals are just sick individuals who deserve to be locked up and have the key thrown away. It's these types that I wish we had the death penalty for, but they'll get what's coming to them in prison." Judy looked up at Nick and saw the fire in his eyes, there was something about all this that had hit Nick hard but Judy didn't want to press the subject at the current time. Nick would open up when he was ready, right now all that concerned her was they were all taken care of and the find one specific kit, Lisa.

"Come one Nick, let's find Lisa. I at least want to bring her home today and we can help out with the rest of these kits as we track down their parents later. Right now we have the parents for one, let's find her and get her home." Judy scanned the group hoping to see her and praying she wasn't one of the ones on the stretcher.

"Carrots, it's her!" Nick pointed out to a golden fur cougar sitting, staring out the open bay door as the helicopter landed. They rushed over to her and Judy put a comforting paw on her shoulder.

"Lisa?" The cougar spun around and retreated from Judy's touch.

"Yes?" She had a hurt look in her blue eyes like Judy's paw had burned her. She put her head down, "Sorry, you scared me and the way… you touched me…" Tears started to fill her eyes, her legs began to shake as she sunk to the ground.

Judy rushed to her and grabbed her in a comforting hug and slid to the ground with her cupping the cougar's head on her chest. Lisa began to cry uncontrollably, wetting the uniform shirt Judy wore. Judy herself began to cry not wanting to imagine the horrors Lisa had been through the past two weeks.

"It's ok, you're safe now. No one will EVER hurt you again." Judy openly wept for the kit in her arms. Nick walked over and knelt down wrapping both of them in his arms and tail trying his best to shield them both. Judy looked into Nicks' eyes and could see the pain he was feeling as well.

"We'll have the doctors look at you then bring you to your parents. I know they miss you deeply and would like to know your safe." Nicks' voice was quite and for the first time Judy had ever heard not filled with sarcasm but with something else. Something she had only heard in her own parent's voice, a caring loving sound that began to slow the crying from both ladies. Lisa just picked her head up and shook it before burying her face back into Judy. A tent was being set up for the kits to be examined as Judy walked up supporting Lisa to it, Lisa hopped up on a bed as a doctor came in.

"I'm sorry Officer Wilde but for this exam, I'm going to need you to wait outside. Officer Hopps, I will need you to stay please." Nick looked at Judy and just nodded signaling he understood why he had to wait outside. While waiting he saw Leon and Bogo chatting outside the tent and joined them.

"Great work Wilde," Bogo held out his hoof as Nick took it and gave it a firm shake. "We have been after these monsters for years. There are more out there and this will drive them more underground but at the same time it will show that we mean business when it comes to our kits in this city."

"Thank you sir. Leon how's Melvin." Nick turned to Leon and saw behind him a wolf being loaded into one of the ambulances.

"He'll make a full recovery, lucky the bullet passed through without hitting anything major. He'll be out a few weeks to fully recover but he will be right back kicking in doors with us again soon enough."

"That's great, I am sorry about him getting shot. Now sir about the other suspects? What's going to happen to them?" Nick looked to Bogo trying his best to indicate Finnick without raising suspicion.

"It will all be taken care of. You and hopps will be there for each interview and we can go from there." Bogo gave him a slight nod and wink so Leon wouldn't see.

"Yes sir, well be there first thing in the morning to help with the interviews then start finding the rest of these kits' homes. But if you excuse me we already have one to return home." Nick reached out and shook Leon's paw before heading back into the medical tent pulling his phone out to call Lisa's parents.

"We lucked out chief," Leon said watching Nick disappear into the tent, "I wasn't so sure when I heard about the bunny and fox being part of the force. But time and time again we have been proven wrong. They are the type of officers we should all strive to be." Leon looked up at Bogo.

"Yes Leon we are lucky and to think I was about to fire the bunny for doing the right thing almost a year ago." Bogo shook his head trying not to think of what would have happened had he really did fire Judy. He turned around to observe the scene before him. "Ok Leon lets clean this up and get back to hunting the rest of the traffickers."

"Yes mam, precinct one. Just ask the receptionist Clawhouser for Judy and me when you arrive. No thanks are necessary Mrs. Mitchell we were glad to help and bring your daughter home. We will see you soon, goodbye." Nick pressed the end button on his phone telling the Mitchells' about finding their daughter and a few details of the rescue. He knew they had a two hour drive and didn't want them to worry about what their daughter had endured after leaving home. He was about to pull up Furbook when the curtain opened and the doctor walked out.

"All finished Officer Wilde, she's a little dehydrated so we have an IV in her now. I didn't find anything wrong during the exam, no signs of physical abuse at all. I understand you want to reunite her with her family as soon as possible. so once the bag is done call the nurse to remove it and you can take her home." The doctor handed Nick a card on it read Doctor Nancy Reed Kit Psychologist. "She's an excellent psychologist, even though I didn't find any physical harm. Only she knows what psychological damage has been done. I suggest you give it to her parents and have them make an appointment right away."

"Thank you doctor I'll be sure to pass on the info," Nick stuffed the card into his pocket and walked into the exam space. Judy was holding onto Lisa's paw as she snoozed peacefully.

"She fell asleep once the IV was put into her arm, poor girl has slept in days. She was so scared to fall asleep and something happen to her she forced herself to stay awake." Judy looked at the sleeping kit and smoothed the fur on her head as she whimpered in her sleep. "She ran away because her dad was apparently working too much and yelled at her when she asked him to play, apparently he has been very successful but his job takes him away a lot. She was on the streets only two days before she was grabbed after stealing some food. How beautiful she is how could anyone ignore her, I swear when I have kits of my own their needs will always be put first."

Nick walked over to the other side of the bed and looked at Judy fighting hard to not cry, her amethyst eyes stained red from all the crying she already had done. He put his paw over hers on Lisa's head, suddenly she calmed down and stopped whimpering as a slow smile made its way across her muzzle. "I believe you, when I find my mate I hope she will be as good a mother as I can tell you will be Judy."

"Nick…" Judy looked up at Nick, he hardly ever called her Judy. Always carrots, fluff, or some other name for her but hardly ever Judy. "You'll be a wonderful father as well I know it, any vixen will be lucky to have you." They stayed staring at each other for a while just gazing into each other eyes until Lisa started to wake up. They lifted their paws from each other and broke the gaze they had. Judy looked down at the floor as Nick brought his paw to his muzzle faking a cough.

"Can I go home yet," Lisa asked groggily.

"Your bag is almost done, I'll let a nurse know and we can be off to the precinct where your parents are going to meet us." Judy jumped down from her chair and walked out the curtain. Nick took Judy's seat and reached up to the cougar as she took his paw.

A slow smile crept across her tired face, "Thank you, I feel safe knowing you guys are around." She closed her eyes and dozed back to sleep, no whimpering or shaking this time with the smile still on her muzzle. Nick looked at the kit holding his paw sleeping quietly, for the first time in his life he thought about what it would be like to have kits himself. Growing up in a broken home then on the streets he always said he would never bring a kit up in that environment. But now, with his respectable job and home maybe he could. He tried to envision what his family would be like, a kit or two a loving wife but over time he tried to imagine what his wife would look like his mind went blurry.

He was lost in thought when Judy came back in with a beaver nurse, he was so deep in his own world he jumped a bit as the curtain opened up. The nurse unhooked the IV bag and removed the catheter from the cougar's arm.

"You can take her now, though be gentle she's been through a lot." The nurse departed leaving the curtain open this time.

"I already called for a car to bring us to the precinct. It should be waiting outside now for us." Nick picked up the sleeping kit in his arms draping her tired head across his shoulder as they walked out to the waiting car. Judy opened the door as Nick climbed in, Lisa barely moving as he scooted across the seat giving Judy space to come in. The driver hit the lights but no sirens as it pulled out of the warehouse. After clearing the opening flashes from cameras blinded the two in the back of the car, the press wasted no time getting to the docks once they found out a major raid had happened.

Nick and Judy heard one of the reporters call out about them in the back of the car and immediately every camera was pointed at them, the squad car had to slow down as reporters began yelling for comments. The driver finally hit the sirens causing them to step back, once he had a clear path he gave an extra bit of gas to get away from them.

"Sorry about that, but hey it looks like you'll both make the front page again."

"Ha ha, very funny Clarence." Judy gave a fake laugh and just shook her head. This would reach Bunnyburrow soon and she would have to start fending off calls from her parents all over again, just like the night howler case.

Except for the reporters, the rest of the drive was uneventful. Judy kept stealing glances at Nick as he cuddled the kit softly in his arms thinking about how great a father Nick would be. Nick saw out of the corner of his eye the looks Judy was giving him and smiled softly causing Judy to look away and blush. As they pulled into the secure lot Lisa began to wake up, they got out and walked to Nick and Judy's office to wait on Lisa's parents.

"Nick, Judy, the girl's parents are here." They didn't have to wait long as Clawhauser called over the intercom just as Judy opened her computer to start filling out paperwork.

"Ok Benjie, we'll be right down," Nick called back into the speaker. "Ready to be back with your parents," This time to Lisa.

"Absolutely, I was stupid to run away. It will never happen again I swear."

The two officers walked out of their office and to the elevator to bring them to the lobby with the small cougar walking behind them. The doors opened in the lobby with the cougar parents backs to the small group.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, we have her," Nick said. The elder cougars spun around as Nick and Judy parted allowing the family to see each other again.

"LISA!" "MOMMY! DADDY!" the whole family cried out together and sprinted at each other. They collided in a massive hug and crashed to the floor in tears. Everything stopped in the lobby as faces turned and watch the family reunion, there was hardly a dry eye in the building.

"I'm so sorry, I was so stupid to run away."

"No honey. I was stupid," the male cougar said taking his daughter's face in his paws, "I should never have yelled at you. I promise I will spend more time with you and your mother, no more long trips away. If I have to go you'll all come with me, were a family and family sticks together no matter what."

Nick and Judy watched as the family mended the strained relationship of the past few years, not even realizing they held each other. Nick had his paw on Judy's shoulder while she lightly grasped his chest while softly crying.

Nick looked down at his partner, "Well carrots, now that this is taken care of it is Friday and you promised me some savory carrot meals. Let's head out and get the things we need and go to my place."

"Judy looked up at Nick, his sly smile plastered to his face, "Sure thing partner, let's get changed and clock out. I think we've earned a bit of an early checkout."

The passed the family and Nick stopped to give the business card to the father who thanked him profusely. Nick mentioned it was all in a days work and no need to thank, prying his paw away from the cougars before he crushed it he walked to the locker room to change. He met up with Judy at Clawhauser's desk.

"Alright Benjie were out for the weekend," Nick said casually, "You ready carrots? Let's get to my place to make that dinner. I'm starving."

"O M Goodness," Clawhouser shot his hand to his face so to not make his signature high pitched squeal. "Those two are so cute together, and dinner together, at Nicks place. This is going to be too good to keep to myself."