Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

The atmosphere felt like a cloud of needles barely pressing into her skin. She didn't know what to say, what to do. The two foxes simply stared at each other. Nick's tail was puffed out, and she could see the hairs on his neck struggle against the tight collar of this shirt.

"Do you want anything to drink?' Renard said, "Either of you?"

"Uhh-" Judy stammered.

"No." Nick said, full stop.

He led them into a dining room. The old wooden table was marked with little off colour scars- areas where food stained or the polished finish flaked off- and a little centerpiece of rusted silver. The wallpaper was off little green trees against a blank background. It fought with the fine china and crystal in little display cases on the wall, the last vestiges of its once bright colors desaturated from the sun.

"What happened to Winona?" Renard asked, as he pulled out chairs for the two officers.

"She went missing six days ago," Nick said, tracking him as he crossed to the other side of the table He laced his fingers together and spoke from underneath his brow. "And I was hoping you'd have some answers for me."

"Then shoot, kiddo."

"You should refrain from calling me 'kiddo', Mr. Stark." Nick growled. Judy shivered. He clamped his teeth down hard with the last syllable. It reminded her of the Museum, so many months ago.

"When was the last time you saw or contacted Winona Stark?" Nick said.

"Two and half weeks ago." Renard said.

"What happened then?" Judy asked.

"We had…" Renard shook his head.

"You two had…?" Nick said, leaning in.

"It's not going to sound good, but," Renard sighed, "We had a fight."

"What about?" Judy asked

"Does that matter?"

"It might." Nick said, "What caused your fight?"

"Does it really, truly matter, Nick? We just had...another fight. That's all."

"Let's set this straight, Renard," Nick said, "My mother has been missing for six days, you can't tell me anything beyond 'You had a fight'. You also happen to have a history of violence, at least two domestic abuse arrests in your lifetime. From where we stand, it doesn't look pretty." Nick said, "So just talk. Unless you have something to hide."

"What are you saying? Are you saying you suspect me?" Renard asked.

"It isn't a bad assumption, given the situation, Sir," Judy said.

Renard looked at her. His breath had hitched, and he grasped for solid words. Leaning on the table with his elbow, he stuck out one finger towards Nick.

"Look, Nicky, I was a bad guy in my younger years, I know. I know I've never been good in your books but it has been years, years, since I ever even thought about laying a paw on your mother."

"I don't know that. Last I saw you, you were still an abusive asshole." Nick said, "So talk. Tell me what happened, then I'll decide whether or not to cuff your ass on suspicion of murder."

"I DIDN'T KILL MY WIFE." Renard said, standing up with tears clinging to his fur. He collapsed back into his chair, wrapping his hand over his eyes. "I didn't...I didn't even know she was dead."

Judy and Nick exchanged glances. "We-we don't know if she's dead, sir." Judy said, "We just know she's missing."

Renard looked back up at her, a his open mouth and red eyes pleading with her. He looked to Nick, whose gaze finally snapped back to the older fox. "But, that doesn't mean she's alive either. We're just looking."

Renard nodded, "I see."

"So what happened." Nick said

"I don't want to say."

"Why?" Judy asked. Renard looked down at the table.

"It's not-"

"Tell us." Nick said.

"Look, I'm sorry I just-

"Tell me what happened."

"It isn't that -"

Nick stood, looming over the table, shoulders hunched like a gargoyle. "Tell me what happened."

"YOU HAPPENED." Renard slammed his fist into the table which made the little silver centerpiece clink. "You...you happened," His voice was calmer this time. Nick stood straight now, and it was if light re entered the room. He gulped down the words, letting them simmer in the silence which weighed down on Judy's chest. Her eyes flicked between them. The ceiling fan turned, and Nick blinked quickly.

"What...exactly, does that mean?" Nick said, Judy heard his hand tighten.

"You were always a smart kid, Nick." Renard said, "Didn't surprise me to see you become a cop. But you're the first Fox in the ZPD, and partnered with the first Bunny too. And, she's a hero too. It was all over the news."

Judy could tell what had happened, but her partner clenched his fists. Judy lay a paw on his arm. He didn't seem to notice. He spoke between barred teeth, his voice cracking out like broken glass, "And how did that cause a fight?"

"She wanted to see you." Renard said. Nick's gaze regained its fire and flicked back towards his step-father.

"And you didn't."

"Seventeen years, Nick," Renard said, "And not a single goddamn word. Not fucking one. Not to me, not your own goddamn mother."

"It was because of you."

"Bullshit." Renard said, "Maybe I pushed you away, yes, and I'm sorry for that. But you chose to leave. You chose to not speak to her. I didn't make you."

"I was a child, Renard." Nick spat.

"But you're not one anymore, are you Nicky?" Renard said, "You haven't been in a long time. Blame me all you want, but you are the reason why we fought. You're the reason why you haven't seen her in years. You're the reason she's missing today."

Nick looked back down at the table, his ears flat against his skull. He bit into his tongue, trying to will the liquid in his tightly closed eyes away. He opened his mouth to take a breath, but he didn't speak. Nick didn't see, but Judy watched as the indignation in Renard's face fade away. She might even venture to say that he was regretful, and his uncertain, wandering eyes finally seemed to take into account the entirety of the fox before him.

She wondered what Renard was seeing now. She wondered if he could remember Nick as a little kid. She wondered if this table had been home to many of these types of arguments over the years, if this one was just to be another filed away in the domestic cases it had witnessed.

"Why didn't you come back?" Renard said.

"I don't know." Nick said, his voice sounded as if had been thrown across rocks, "I was busy."

"Oh," Renard said, "I see."

Nick turned away from the table, eyes still closed as he gulped down his emotions. "You're sure you don't know what happened to her?"

"I have no idea where she is." Renard said, as he stood up from the table and moved around it toward his step-son. He wringed his hands, "You don't think I did…"

"Honestly, Renard, I did a little bit." Nick said, "But maybe we've both grown up."

Renard looked down towards the ground as well, "Yeah. I guess we have."

He may not have been his father, but Judy saw a little bit of the same regret in both of them. Renard said, "But she did say she was going to contact you soon enough. I'm sorry that she never did."

"I am too."

"You know, kiddo…" Renard put his hand over Nick's shoulder, "I'm sorry about all this."

"You don't need to be." Nick said, "It's not your fault. It's not anybody's."

"Yeah, you're right."

Nick looked up at him. He pushed his hand from his shoulder, and walked towards the door. Judy hopped out of her seat and followed, leaving Renard. He followed them to the hallway as Nick opened the door.

"We'll be following up with you if we have anymore questions," Nick said, "Sorry for bothering you, Sir."

"No, you didn't bother me." Renard said, "I'm sorry, Nick. I really am. For everything. I'm not your father, but, stay safe out there, alright, kiddo?"

Nick swallowed. "Yeah. you too."

He left. Judy stepped out to follow when Renard said, "Keep an eye on him for me, will ya?"

Judy looked back at him, and nodded, "Of course, Sir."

"He's a good kid. Always was. I am proud of him, even if I did little to put him where he is today. I hope one day, he'll see that." Renard said. "Make sure he's okay. He won't ever tell you."

"I know." Judy said, watching as her partner climbed into the squad car. "Goodnight, Sir."

"Goodnight, Officer Hopps." Renard said, "And if my wife is alive, and you do find her, tell her I'm sorry. She was right, just like always."

Judy nodded, as Renard closed the door. She hopped into the car beside Nick. He was silent, looking out the window, his muzzle resting on his arm. She put a paw over his other arm, and he perked up towards her.

"You okay?"

He shook his head and sat up straight, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah." Nick said, he coughed, "I'm fine. Let's get out of here."

Judy looked at the clock.

"It's getting late." Judy said, "How about we call it a night for now, and come back again tomorrow fresh and new?"

Nick let out a steady stream of air as he looked down at his lap, "Yeah, you're right. I'm not going to be much use to you like this tonight, Carrots. Get us back to the station."