Author's Note: The original name of this was When the Whistle Blows. But then he changed it to Hush. And... I don't know which I like better. But I just have to say this is a really impressive story and I don't want any credit for this. (Except Cal doesn't write the graphic scenes. He tells me what he wants and then I write them... like towards the end of that chapter with the metal rod. I wrote that.)

Anywho, thanks for checking this out. It's really fast paced, I know. But the thing is... it's just... yeah.

Butters knows this route so well he could drive it with his eyes closed. Except it seems new to him as he speeds down the road and nearly slides into another car as he fishtails into the driveway. As soon as he parks his Chevy he scrambles out and slides on ice as he runs for the sidewalk.

In mere seconds he is on Kyle's front porch banging on the door desperately.

He's sure his mind isn't playing a trick on him. That person he saw tonight is Kenny. He is absolutely certain of this. He knows his best friend, no matter how many years separate them. And seeing him like that makes Butters begin to wonder what had actually happened.

Back then they were told he ran away. He left without a note, or even saying goodbye to Karen, and parted ways with his life in South Park. He left them and didn't even care to say goodbye. The rest of his friends in high school had grown bitter toward the mere thought of him; now he isn't even a memory.

Which is what makes Butters reconsider his actions right now.

What makes him think Kyle would care about Kenny after all these years?

The door opens and Butters is met with the sight of a nearly naked Kyle, who appears annoyed that he now couldn't finish whatever he was doing. Bebe runs up to the door as well; she is wearing nothing but a fleece blanket around her presumably naked body.

"Go away, Butters," she hisses with a fiery blush. Her blonde locks are tousled every which way and her collar bone is lined with hickeys and red bite marks.

"I need your help," Butters says to Kyle, who gives him a look, sighs, and moves from the door.

"I seriously can't give you any more money, dude," the redhead answers with a slight look of pity on his face. Butters just shakes his head and sits on the chair opposite of the couch in the living room. Kyle says nothing as he takes a seat across from him.

"That's not it, I swear! I just don't know what to do... I had one last delivery to make and it was on Lexington, y'know that skeevy area downtown?" Kyle nods. "And I went into the apartment and... Kyle, I think I saw Kenny McCormick."

The redhead's emerald eyes flicker as they catch Butters' gaze. Both Bebe and Kyle remain silent as they peer at the blonde before them, wondering what brought this on and if it was just wishful thinking.

"Butters..." Bebe begins uneasily, folding her arms over her chest, "Kenny's gone."

"And if you did see him of course he'll be living down there."

"B-but!" Butters counters, his voice is full of desperation as he realizes he's about to lose Kyle's interest. He will be sent on his own to figure this out. Maybe there really wasn't anything to figure out. Maybe it was all in his head.

No, it couldn't be, Butters decided as he sees the doubtful look in Kyle's eyes. He knows it's Kenny, and knows he's in trouble.

"But it wasn't his house. It was some guy and he had him on a leash."

"A leash?" Bebe asks with wide eyes. Butters nods.

"And he's missing a finger and he's so skinny and... w-whether or not it's Kenny this person needs help. I just don't know what to do."

"You should have just gone to Cartman," Kyle replies with a bored look on his face. Butters glares. "I don't give a shit if you have beef with him. He's the cop. I'm just the law student."

"Or you could go to Craig..." Bebe offers in a softer tone. "Here, sweetie, I'm gonna call Wendy. This sounds like something up her alley." The blonde brightens at this. Wendy could actually get something done; even though she herself is a law student, like Kyle, she works at a call center for domestic violence and sexual assault. She has the resources and the means to get something done if need be. Butters just hasn't talked to her since graduation.

"Kyle, this is someone who needs our help. Even if it's Kenny... why... why don't you care?" Kyle snaps his head to look at him with a furious expression on his face.

"I do care but we can't help every victim in Denver. And if it's Kenny he-"

"He doesn't deserve to be abused, Kyle! No one does!"

"Tell that to Karen."

Butters remains silent and lowers his eyes. He knows he needs to drop this conversation with Kyle; Karen is a touchy subject. No one talks about her. So he sighs and pull out his phone. He stares at the number on the cracked iPhone screen and shakes his head before he pockets the phone once more.

"I can't call Cartman."

"If you want something done for the Kenny doppelganger then he's the guy. No one else really gives a shit."

"Bebe does." Kyle stands up and shakes his head before he leaves the room. Butters lets out a sigh and stares at the floor with a somber expression. Kyle has no right to be mad at him and he knows it.

This is how it's been for years; since Kenny left. No one just wants to admit it. Being friends with everyone was like beating a dead horse. And right now Butters was wondering if it's worth it.

"Butters?" Bebe says, walking into the room with a cup of tea. To his relief, she is fully dressed now. Butters takes the cup gratefully. "Just ignore Kyle, you know how he is..."

"Like something crawled up his butt and died?" Bebe laughs a little and shrugs before she sits on the arm of the chair. "We used to be so close."

"He's so busy with school, once he's accepted into law school things will be a bit easier." Butters scoffs and rests his head on her shoulder. At least they're still close. Butters doesn't want to imagine losing Bebe; after Kenny left, they became closer. And now they never go a day without talking to each other.

"Whatever," he mumbles, "what did Wendy say?"

"You're not going to like this..."

"But I can't call Cartman!" Butters cries vehemently, then rests his head in his hands. "It's going to start up a bunch of shit again and-"

"Just because you dated for two years doesn't-"

"Don't even talk about it!" The blonde woman sighs and squeezes his neck softly. "I... I have to call Cartman." Bebe takes his hand in hers and squeezes gently. He smiles a little and pulls out his broken phone.

As soon as the man he hasn't spoken to in eight months answers the phone he's a fumbling mess. But he tries to muddle his way through what he has to say and finally cuts through the passive-aggression. When he finally is able to say why he's calling rather than try to make up excuses, he realizes he has gotten somewhere.

"Kenny... Kenny McCormick?" Cartman says quietly over the other end. Butters hears his voice waver and he waits for him to continue speaking. "You actually think you saw him?"

"Yeah."

"Like our best friend Kenny?"

"Yes, Eric!" Butters fumes. Kyle pokes his head into the room at his outburst, then disappears in the kitchen once more. Butters smiles as he smells food cooking; good, Kyle isn't that mad at him. He was also happy to hear he still isn't the only one who refers to Kenny as "best friend".

"Where was this at?"

"Some apartments on Lexington, like... gimme a sec," Butters rifles through his pocket and pulls out the written address. "2821 North Lexington." He hears Cartman type something into the computer at his desk and then clear his throat.

"And... and did Kenny or whoever this was doesn't live there, right?"

"N-no, I don't think so. There was only one name on the buzzer." How did Cartman know this?

"Do you remember that name?" Butters looks at the name on the receipt once more.

"Rodrick Moore." He hears the furious clacking of keys as Cartman types away once more.

"Butters, are you available right now?" His eyes narrow and he glances to Bebe.

"...yes?" He wasn't so sure about this. Bebe shakes her head wildly and Kyle wears a grim expression as he stands on the other side of Butters.

But Butters has a good feeling about this. He isn't excited about seeing Cartman, especially with how they left things off, but it seems as if Cartman is on to something. Maybe it really is Kenny. Maybe they were going to be able to finally find their best friend. Maybe things could finally go back to normal.

His thoughts abruptly stop at that. No, if he actually saw Kenny tonight things were far from normal. There is something going on, something wrong, and... if that is Kenny, he's too afraid to even say who he is. The past seven years he has been through something Butters isn't quite sure he can imagine, or wants to imagine, and it makes him grow nauseous to even consider how damaged Kenny is.

But he is going to help him. Cartman is too. Somehow they will figure out a way. He just has to know one thing.

"Cartman," Butters begins nervously, "do you know if that really is Kenny?"

Kyle leaves the room and Bebe covers her mouth as they all hear Cartman's reply.

"It is."

Butters leaves Kyle's without another word. He runs to his car, prays it will start right away, and flies down the street. His mind is a whirling mess of thoughts and emotions; it's enough to make him nearly physically sick but he pushes that feeling down as he nears Cartman's apartment. There were so many questions he has, so many thoughts and the fact that Cartman knows... what all does he know?

What all has he known? And why hasn't he said anything.

The more he thinks about it, the angrier he gets. His foot is lead on the gas pedal as he speeds down the streets. He doesn't quite care that he could get stopped; with Cartman on the police force he could probably figure a way out of a speeding ticket or citation. It doesn't matter, anyway; what matters is they found Kenny. They found Kenny after seven years and they are going to finally be able to bring him home.

And then they can find out why he left them all behind in the first place.

He finds himself staring at Cartman's apartment and afraid to make the first move. He hasn't said a word to him in eight months and suddenly they were going to buddy up and figure this out? He can't think about it; instead Kenny is what's important. For all they know he's been kidnapped and is being held hostage. Of course that couldn't be it. Honestly, Butters thinks dismally, he's probably a prostitute.

Butters doesn't have time to even knock on the door. The door opens and, much to his surprise, Craig Tucker grabs him by the shoulders and practically shoves him in the house.

"Wha-what?!" He cries in alarm; both at the sudden force and the fact that Craig is here. The raven-haired man sits down on Cartman's leather couch and opens his laptop.

"You can confirm that you saw Kenny?" Butters raises an eyebrow.

"Y...yeah? I'm pretty sure it's him." Craig clasps his hands over his mouth and closes his eyes. His hands are shaking and Butters sits in the tense silence, waiting for answers. "What's going on?"

Suddenly this seems more like a well thought out rescue mission and Butters has somehow found himself caught in the middle.

"You know I'm a private investigator," Craig begins, his eyes are still closed. The blonde nods, although Craig can't see him, and bites his lip. "I've been tracking Rodrick Moore for trafficking the past three months."

"Like drugs...?" Craig laughs sadly and looks into Butters' eyes.

"I wish," he replies, then turns the laptop. Black and white pictures of the man he saw tonight appear in a file. In a couple photos he is completely alone, in a few more he is with a man he doesn't recognize, and in three he is with a group of men and one woman.

Butters nearly throws up when Craig opens the next folder.

There are girls, women, children, boys, men... all ages, all races, in what looks like the back of a freight truck, in the back of vans, in basements, tied up, broken, tortured.

"Oh my God," Butters gasps as he sees one picture that stands out to him; Kenny. He's thin in the photo, pale yet purple and black from head to toe. In the picture he is leaning against a girl who appears a few years younger than him. Their hands are bound and their mouths are gagged. They're prisoners. "Oh my God..."

"Cartman and I have been tracking them for the past few months. We've been undercover, which is where Cartman is right now. There is a sex-trafficking ring all the way from California to New York. Their route is Interstate 80, which at the very center is Nebraska. Since we're a border state, many of the leaders and clients like to stay in Colorado. It's less obvious. We went up there last month and Kenny wasn't with them, meaning they're on to us."

"How?" Butters chokes. He isn't sure how to handle all of this information. They have been investigating one of the most rattling cases Butters had ever heard and yet he hasn't even heard of human trafficking; at least in the United States. This was happening? Everyday?

How long have they known Kenny was a part of it?

"H-how does this... how do you know they've found you out?"

"Because," Craig practically hisses. His cheeks are slightly flushed. "We're undercover. Cartman has been portraying a leader from Bulgaria, and I'm one of his..."

"Slaves?" Craig shakes his head.

"Victims."

Butters stares at the photos on the screen, then at Craig, and finally his hands. This has been going on for so long... years even, and he was just finding out now. Craig and Cartman may have found the biggest case of the century to rock the United States, and most likely the world. Once the ring is busted... the United States won't be the same.

"Can't you just tell the cops?" Craig laughs and shakes his head once more.

"That's the thing... cops are buyers. The feds are buyers, the government's buyers. They're all in on it. We've been writing a list with proven documentation of who is involved..."

"And...?" Butters presses. Craig sighs, then opens a document. A seven-paged file full of names is right before his eyes. Names of high officials he has seen on the news, names of news reporters. There is no way they could leak this information without turning the entire nation upside down.

Cartman is fresh out of college after an accelerated course, and Craig is just an apprentice under another private investigator. Together they are working on something far bigger than either of them could possibly imagine. And Butters has found his way in the middle of it.

The front door opens and Cartman looks at the blonde with wide eyes. As Butters catches his glance, a new feeling of appreciation drums in his chest, and he can't help but smile at the sight of his ex-boyfriend.

"Craig filled me in," Butters says. Cartman lets out an exasperated sigh and throws his coat on the ground. Butters is ignored as the brunette's gaze now fixes on Craig.

"We're fucking screwed." Craig closes the laptop and turns to face his partner with a neutral expression on his face.

"We'll figure it out."

"No, no man. They want you in tonight." Craig's jaw actually drops and Butters bites his lip. He knows by the looks on both of their faces this is a major setback. "And that's not it... I was there, I was fucking there. I heard him, man. He's fucking dying. They're gonna kill him tomorrow."

"What?!" Both Craig and Butters cry in outrage and horror. Butters swallows back another wave of nausea and Craig begins to pace back and forth in the small apartment. Cartman nods and pulls out his phone.

"I got a picture of him. I don't know what that fucker is doing to him, but..." Cartman turns his phone to Craig, who loses what little color he had in his face. "We've gotta finish this tomorrow. I, man... if we're doing this. If we're busting them, you've gotta go. Otherwise we're fucked." Craig looks at the picture, and Butters is able to see the plea in his eyes as he looks back to Cartman.

"And you're gonna get me out?" Cartman nods.

"Dude, I'll fucking kill 'em all. You'll be fine."

"Wait... you're sending him in tonight?!" Butters squeaks; he probably sounds as terrified as Craig feels. They both nod and Craig walks into Cartman's bedroom.

"He's 43, he has to go in."

"43?" Cartman sighs heavily.

"They don't... they're brainwashed. I don't know how. Who you saw is Kenny. But he doesn't remember that. All he knows is he is 42, and his purpose is to be a human sex and torture toy."

"Wh-why?!"

"My lead follows back to Jonny Wright in South Park. He owns the strip club Kenny used to work at... remember?" Butters grimaces; he definitely remembers that. It's the reason why Butters couldn't have Kenny over at his house when they were younger. "He's the Colorado, Utah, and Nevada leader. Then there's Dave Whittacker is in the Midwest region next door. Rex Livinston is in the Eastern Region, and Otto Lombardo's Western. The trade off is usually in Nebraska, exit 420. Not too far from Lincoln or Omaha and away from all of the weigh stations. The Lincoln Airport is the International Trade Point."

"And you're sending Craig into this? What if they..."

"Craig has six years of judo, he'll kick their asses if they try anything. And he has a hidden pager to directly call Wendy if anything happens. He's going in to try and help Kenny remember. Kenny knows 43 is coming to replace him... he'll trust him."

"How... how is Kenny?" Cartman looks down at his phone, and Butters glimpses at the screen. The man he saw tonight is completely nude as he is carried, passed out, by two large men, and completely covered in blood. Butters can't help but wonder if Kenny is just ready to die. Is the thought of death his only comfort?

And then, as Cartman zooms in on the picture, Butters stops him.

"I wanted you to confirm-"

"What did they do to him?" The brunette sighs as he looks at Butters, then quickly slides the zoomed in picture to his face. "Eric, what-"

"The first time I saw him, they... they wanted me to... spend the night with him, y'know." Butters tenses. "They've all done it. Newcomers get an initiation thing and... anyway, I didn't but I went up with him. I asked them why they did... that..."

"A-and?"

"He was at the perfect height and had a neutral voice, so they castrated him to stop him from further going through puberty. It's why he's so popular."

Butters stares at the broken face on the screen and tears burn his eyes. He feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up into Cartman's eyes.

"He'll be safe tomorrow. So will Craig, as well as the victims here. Tomorrow we're finally busting these guys." Butters nods shakily and turns when he hears footsteps from Cartman's room. Craig has a cut on his cheek, and somehow managed to handcuff and gag himself.

"Good boy," Cartman says with a sad grin. Craig glares at him and gives Butters a long look; in that expression Butters can sense his overwhelming fear.

"Let me help," Butters finally offers. Both of the other men stop their preparations and Butters clears his throat, "I... I can help. Somehow, please...?" Craig shakes his head.

"They know who you are. If you're there, it's a dead giveaway. Just go home, you've done more than you know," Cartman says, then sends him a small, genuine smile. Butters returns it uneasily, and before he can even consider his actions, hugs Craig. The raven fumbles with his movements, then simply rests in Butters' arms.

The bright blonde gives a final squeeze then looks at Cartman with a worried glimmer in his eyes. Then, too, he hugs his ex, who seems taken aback by the gesture, but accepts it no less. The brunette's eyes brighten when he finally pulls away.

"Actually, there is something you can do." Butters tilts his head. He is willing to anything in order to help them. "Go into my bedroom, under my bed there's that broken floorboard, y'know...?" his cheeks tint and he gives a nod of recognition, "in there you'll find recordings, transcripts, notes, and files on every person we've been tracking. Put them in your pizza bag, and go to Stan's."

Butters stares in disbelief at Cartman, who nudges him toward his bedroom.

"And if I call you, don't answer except if I call you twice in a row with the first call ending after three rings."

"What?"

At that, Cartman and Craig walk outside. Butters watches them until they disappear into the unforgiving night, and then walks to Cartman's bedroom.

He follows the orders Eric gave him word by word, and pulls at the broken floorboard Butters knows all too well. He reaches inside and feels a thick pile of documents, then pulls them out in bunches at a time. He stares in awe at all of the files, and shakes his head.

What has he gotten himself into? This was almost a deathwish.

But it was worth it and he knows it. Because all of this information will help to save Kenny and out more people than he wanted to comprehend. He will be able to help save the lives of so many people abducted.

Cartman and Craig are the whistleblowers.

And as Butters stuffs the documents and recordings into his pizza bag, he realizes he will be the one to either make them heard, or hush them.

At that, he zips his bag and hops in the driver's seat. Starting his car once more, he types in a number and presses his phone to his ear.

"Hey, Stan, it's Butters. I really need your help..."