Chapter 35: Grieving pilot

Judy was fuming as she forcefully lead the antelope, arms cuffed behind his back, down to the precinct's holding cells. To make her mood worse, while he had mainly stayed quiet while inside the squad car, the moment he was walked inside the building, that he started to try and defend himself despite already being repeatedly told to save it.

"-They- My friend's in the hospital!" he tried to argue, had turned back to look at Judy. "Because of what they did!"

"What happened in Bana City doesn't give you the right to start beating up civilians over here!" Judy shot back, glaring daggers at him. "That fox you gave a concussion to can easily have permanent brain damage now. And for what? Being born in Urusia didn't make him any more guilty of what happened in Bana than you are guilty of the bombings in Furbanti. What you are, Mr. Savanton, is in deep trouble for what you did to the fox, so let me remind you of your right to remain silent."

Stopping at the holding cells, she had him stand next to her as the doors were unlocked and opened automatically for them, courtesy of Officer Johnson at the operating desk for the room. Unlocking the cuffs, Judy hooked them back on her tool-belt, shoving the antelope inside for good measure. "And I can recommend using it," she added for good measure. A part of her mind noted with sickening irony that this was the cell that Trigger used to occupy.

Her prep gripped the metal bars separating the two of them. "Didn't even know if he would make it or not until yesterday," he added mournfully. "Didn't stop that fox from saying we deserved to get gassed."

Judy closed her eyes, taking in a long, hard breath to steady her nerves. "There are people outside grieving for those they did lose. If all you have to worry about is family in hospital, then count yourself lucky." she said. "But the difference between us and the monsters who caused that attack is not about what does or doesn't happen to us, but how we respond to those things. I am sure those Urusian thugs are more than happy to justify what they did. What makes them monsters is not their feelings of needing to do something, but of what they chose to do. That was your mistake today too. I'll be seeing you in court, whenever they'll find the time to book your trial."

Truth be told, as she turned to walk away and get started on the piles of paperwork that this will cause, she already found herself hoping that this guy would get a light sentencing. After all, he was hardly the first person to react violently due to their grief. Trying to ignore her swirling emotions and thoughts, she went off to find Nick. Last he had told her, he was already planning on occupying their cubicle to get started on the paperwork for this arrest. While Judy wanted him to be with her all the way until she locked the prep up, she allowed him to leave her when it was apparent that he wasn't actually needed. Personally, she strongly suspected that he used the excuse to leave before he could lose his temper at the antelope for attacking a fox.

Lost as she was in her thoughts, she nearly walked right past him on her way to the office cubicles, only alerted to his presence by him calling out to her as she nearly stormed right past him through the precinct kitchen.

"In a hurry, Carrots? What's the rush?" He was busy grabbing himself a cup of coffee, and was leaning against the counter with an amused expression. Next to him, Count was also holding his own cup of drink, sporting an even more amused expression.

Judy skidded to a stop, turning to the two. "Nick! Count! I was just… uh," her ears fell in embarrassment. "I was on my way up to find you, Nick," she finally admitted, earning herself a chuckle from the two.

"Someone's doing poorly with their SA!" Count teased. "But seriously, where did you think Wilde was going to be?"

"Up in our office," Judy answered confidently. "Where you said you'd be!" She shot him a hard glare, because after all, if she was the one who had to actually book that antelope, why wasn't he upstairs already working at their paperwork for this arrest?

Nick held up his paws defensively. "I was gonna go up and start the files just as I said I would, Fluff," he said quickly. "I didn't expect to run into County down here in the process. Just stopped to say 'hi', and that's where you found us."

"Ugh, fine," Judy relented. "How are you holding up, Count?"

Count gave her a shrug, but his gaze and tired eyes said everything. "It's been what? Not even two days? But he's… I think Trigger's finally come to accept that he's family's gone. So you can imagine how he is. Bogo asked me to look out after him and report back, but I mean, what's there to say?Talking to him is impossible – you know that really well. He now says even less than we first arrived. Remember how he hardly used to say anything? Well, he's worse than that now." He hesitated when he saw how Judy was glaring back at him. "And don't look at me like that, Hopps! You know I'm trying! Excuse me for being completely out of my element on this one."

Judy's glare went away when she recalled her own argument that she had gotten yesterday for nothing more than wanting to try and help Trigger out. She barely started talking when the pilot had lashed out at her before storming off back to his and Count's shared room, hiding underneath the bed and growling at her when she tried to follow him in.

"Yeah, you know what I'm talking about," Count's voice returned her back to the here and now. "Look, I'm not going to give up. But at least give me the luxury of being pissed off at his dumbass suborn nature. Wilde at least knows better than to criticize me for it." Next to him, Nick flashed him a reassuring wink.

"Where is Trigger, anyways?" Judy finally asked. "Hiding, or-?"

"Nah, he's here," Nick answered quickly, pointing off to the side. "Surprised you didn't notice him yet. But, um, might be better to let him be."

Following his finger, Judy felt her mood dampen even more when she saw him sitting alone in the most isolated chair in the room, pressed tightly against the wall and simply staring at a untouched glass of plain water resting on the table in front of him. "Nick? He shouldn't be alone like this."

"You want to butt your way in again? Be my guest," Count said, speaking for both himself and Nick.

She felt her fists tighten as she turned to face the two of them, feeling all too well how she was smaller than either one of them. "Count, this is to you mostly," she spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I'm going to ask questions which you will think are dumb, but they are not."

"Okay," Count gave her a nod. "I'm game."

"Has he been eating anything?" Judy turned to look in Trigger's direction again, hoping to answer her own question with an affirmative.

"Uhh… I don't think I've seen him eat anything since we were in Bogo's office," Count's voice confirmed from behind her head. "Just drink some water every now and then, but that's about it."

"And sleep?" Judy asked quickly, already knowing the answer.

"Judy…" Count was also at his patience's limit. "It's only been a couple of days. He's still in shock."

Her fists slowly unclenched as Judy relented to the situation. "Listen, Count, back home-"

"-Which he doesn't have anymore," Count reminded her quickly.

Judy shot him a glare again for being cut off like that. "I know that! But if you let me finish! Look, stereotype and all, but my family is huge. Really, really huge. But what that means is that there's someone dying from all reasons all the time. Grief in the warren is completely normal. So what I want to say is that… I guess I have a bit more of a clue as to how to help than either one of you."

Count crossed his arms, shuffling over to Nick. "And the part where your large family continues to exist must have slipped past your mind, right? This is different, Hopps. He doesn't have anyone close to lean on right now. Just us. And last time I checked, a pilot which he can barely stand and two cops who arrested him hardly make for good company."

Judy smiled defiantly at him. "Which is exactly why we are the ones who are needed to help him right now. Since he is that isolated, then it's more imperative that we help. So if you two are going to just stand and watch, I'm not." Not waiting around for their answer, she turned and walked over to the lone pilot, sliding into a chair opposite him. She didn't say anything, letting him start talking on his own time.

It didn't take Trigger too long to react to her presence. "What do you want, Judy?" His voice was tired, and he didn't even bother looking at her direction as he spoke.

"Just wanted to check up on you," she gave him a reassuring smile. "How are you feeling? Are you hungry?"

"Like shit," he grunted. "And no. Do you mind? I don't want to talk right now."

As much as she was willing to do as he wanted and leave, Judy wasn't going to back down just yet. "Listen, Trigger, I know it's now what you want to hear right now, but I just wanted to remind you that we have, in this building, people who can help you. Especially now. No one's blaming you for feeling like you are, but being alone will not help you. Trust me on this one."

He grunted again, turning his head a little to finally look at her. "I can't."

"Why not?" Judy prodded on. "It's not like you have anything left to hide. And I don't know how it's done in Ocelotia, but here, professionals have a non-disclosure requirement. I… I know it's hard to just open up about your emotions, but for you right now, it's important."

"I said I can't!" Trigger growled again, tensing up. "Can you go already?"

Judy shook her head. "You're the one making it worse for yourself! And everyone else around you as well! You need help!"

"I don't!" Trigger stood up, leaning over her and baring his teeth. "So watch it!"

Unfortunately for him, after years on the force, Judy was used to such intimidation tactics. "You need to start eating again!" she pointed as his mostly full glass, ignoring the furious glare she was receiving from him as she refused to do as he asked. "Not whatever you call that! And you need to start talking! If not us, than to someone! Even Count works, if you don't trust us cops. But I'm worried about you, Trigger. And so is Nick! And so are James and Dahlia! Especially James! You think I didn't ask Bogo why he's needed out on patrol all the time now? Even after we all know what you hid from us for so long, we all still care! And you know the funny thing about it? While I mentioned him, so does Count! We're all worried about you! Again, we know why you're feeling like this, but the way you're acting is wrong! Do you really think your family would want to see yo-"

"Shut up!"

A furious growl was immediately followed by the glass of water flying past her head, shattering into shards and splashing water after hitting the wall behind her. The pilot was breathing hard, expression a mixture of raw anger and anguish as he struggled to glare at her through a fresh layer of tears.

Judy's ears fell flat over the back of her head. "Trigger, I- I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"You should be!" Trigger whimpered, using his arm to vigorously rub at his eyes. "Why couldn't you-? I asked you to leave!" Slamming his seat against the table, he shuffled away from her, walking past a stunned Count and Nick as he left the room.

"Nice going there Hopps, real smooth!" Count didn't waste any time in rubbing in her mistake. At least Nick was polite enough to keep his opinion to himself, finding his drink do be very interesting and requiring all of his attention.

Feeling guilty and ashamed, Judy turned to look at the mess behind her, wiping off some spilled water of her arm slowly. Her own words spoken to Count just moments ago returning to her with a vengeance. But an even larger part of her was also now starting to get angry with him. "And what were you suggesting to do, Count?" she demanded, walking over to him and Nick. "I didn't see you helping!"

"You mean like what you just did?" Count countered. "I was doing what you should have been doing: keeping away and letting him go through this by himself. He needed space, and you came right over and stomped all over it!"

"No, Count!" Judy shook her head furiously. "You- you promised to help! Not to step aside and let him become even more miserable!"

The pilot leaned down closer to her. "I was helping! By leaving Trigger alone!"

"He doesn't need to be alone!"

Despite her significantly shorter stature, Judy's outburst actually caused Count to lean away from her quickly, eyes wide in shock. "If... that were the case, then care to explain the broken glass?" he finally asked her.

"I'm not-" Judy chose her words carefully. Something that she found herself thinking as ironic considering that it's far less of a big deal to say the wrong thing around Count than Trigger right now. "Just because I didn't know what to say doesn't mean that I am wrong. He lost his family, after not having seen them for how long? Why do you think not having anyone around him is supposed to help, Count? He needs you right now, just like you promised to do! He needs all of us! Nick, you too! You of all mammals knows what it's like to have no one care!"

Her partner stared back at her solemnly, but didn't say anything.

"Judy…" Count broke the silence. "Maybe you're right. But as I have to keep mentioning, I know Trigger for far longer than any of you. And since you brought it up, how long has it been since I was able to talk to someone I care about? But that's not the point. Point is, you know the right thing to say? Then sure, that can help. But say the wrong thing like you did? Congratulations, you just made things even worse. Trigger was always better at sorting his problems out on his own. Besides, I don't know what it's like to lose my family. And certainly not you, with your half a million siblings." Normally, Judy would punch him hard for the cheap jab at her family, but this time, she let it slide. "Perhaps the closest one here is Nick who knows what it's like. And even then, it's not the same. Wilde can still make amends. Trigger can't."

"So what do you want to do then?" Judy asked him.

Count raised his hands. "I don't know. Stay close, but out of the way. If he will need us, he'll ask."

"I- no, Count. That's not good enough! You… We always complained that he was too easy to read because he never hides his emotions. But he also never talks! I don't think he will realize he needs to talk to us until it's too late. He might do something…" She wasn't sure she wanted to admit where this train of thoughts was leading her, but the past week of long days, the occasional night shift, and all in full riot gear to stand guard against angry citizens was just too fresh on her mind. Like the antelope she had arrested just earlier today. "I don't want him to do anything stupid," Judy finished quietly.

Count let out a groan, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You mean like killing Hareling? He's sure is someone who goes off the deep end, isn't he?"

Judy's jaw dropped at just how casually he said this. "Count!"

"What I'm saying, Hopps," Count made sure to emphasize her name. "Is that I might have been slacking on helping out. I mean, what am I supposed to do? All he does anymore is cry himself to sleep, if even that. And I'm a combat pilot. I don't know what to do in these situations. You want my help? Tell me what to do, because I am far more likely to make things even worse than you just did. After all, I'm in the penal unit too, so just keep in mind at how well I sorted out my own issues before you come crawling to me for help."

"Count," Judy repeated his name without knowing how to follow it up... Well? "First of all, you can't just go and blurt out these things like that! What if someone overhears you? You had no issues hiding everything before, why stop now? The last thing Trigger especially needs right now is for the rest of the precinct to find out about him. Or worse, for it to leak out into the public."

"Judy?" Count spoke her name with an uncharacteristic patience. "I know that you want to help. Okay, fine, since you called it out, so I won't just talk like that. It's just that, after all this time when we had to tread over nails in keeping our mouths shut? It's rather nice finally not having to worry about saying the wrong thing. Say what you want about our unit, but we never had to hide anything from anyone, and with everything else that we didn't have, that was something that we did. And as for Trigger? Perhaps you can start by apologizing to him."

"...Right."

"Like right now."

Movement from the edge of her vision tore her away from her thoughts as Trigger came back, broom and dustpan in his paws. She stared at him as he started to sweep, dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning," he growled at her direction, not looking up from his work.

"Well, I can see that, but…"

"-But what?" Letting out another angry growl, he swept up a large pile of shards right into and over the dustpan, scattering the pile into a new mess. Another whimper escaping him, he sagged against the brook, slowly collapsing on the ground and burying his head between his knees. There was no mistaking how he was feeling as his shoulders started to jolt, choked sobs escaping past his knees.

Glancing at Count and Nick, who gave her a reassuring nod, Judy walked over to the pilot, carefully avoiding the sharp glass on the ground, and stopped next to him, placing an arm on his quaking shoulder. What happened next, though, completely took her by surprise.

One of Trigger's arms arced around her, and with a hard tug, pulled her over to him into a tight, albeit quivering, embrace.

Judy allowed him to do so without resistance, even if it meant that her face was pressed hard into his shoulder. "It's going to get better," she tried to reassure him, hoping that her voice wasn't too muffled for him to hear her. "It will be hard, but it will also get better."

"H-how do you know?" He whimpered back at her, unintentionally gripping her tight enough for it to start getting painful. "You can't bring them back. N-no one can!"

Ignoring the discomfort of his tight embrace, Judy heeded Count's advice. "I know I can't, Trigger. No one can. But it's not about changing the past. We can only move on from it and do the best we can." No matter the pain in the embrace, she far more preferred this than him throwing glass at her head. Because if anything else, even if Trigger himself realized it or not, this embrace told Judy that he trusted her enough to allow himself to be so vulnerable to and rely on her for help.

Trigger relaxed his grip so that he can look at her. "What if I don't want to?" he admitted.

"Trigger…" An idea came to her mind. Not a good one, but perhaps it is good enough. "Trigger? I want to show you something."

He stared at her curiously.

"Look, you aren't the only one who lost someone important in the attack. Several precincts are already completely filled with people who decided to let their anger and grief out on each other. We're getting close to being filled too. And I just… I want you to see what it looks like when someone doesn't move on. Please, Trigger, don't be like them. This city's already had I don't know how much property damage… We've had several murders already. Y-You've seen the army being brought in to help bring back the peace. They didn't even do that during our Nighthowler crisis. So please, I want you to go with me."

He looked guilty as he started at the floor, paw that was still holding her clenching again. "I'm already a convicted murderer," he admitted. "What would it change?"

Judy gave him a hard look. "So that you don't get to the point where you commit a murder which even you won't be able to deny ever doing," she answered firmly. "Whether or not what you did or didn't do with Hareling is not the issue here. What will be is if you decide to attack an innocent citizen like a lot of others already did."

"They killed my family, Judy!" Trigger sobbed. "Why can't I kill them back? W-why am I supposed to just let them get away with it?"

"Because…" Judy bit her lip, halting herself before she said something that she will regret again. "You don't know who was responsible for that, and who is just as innocent as you and everyone else are. We all want the perpetrators brought to justice… Remember that I'm a cop. But at the same time? We can't just go and destroy others just because we're angry. If nothing else, and… I realize just how angry you got at me for saying it, but I just can't help but emphasize it. Would your family want you to ruin your life over what happened to them?"

As she expected, but still hoped against, her last statement earned her an angry growl from the pilot.

"My life is already ruined!" Trigger stood up suddenly, punching the wall nearest to them. "Don't you get it? I have nothing left! What do you think will happen to me when the war will be over? Best I can hope for is to be killed fighting in it!" He leaned his head against the wall he just hit, eyes closed as tears leaked past the lids, breaths heavy and uneven as he struggled not to collapse.

"Trigger, no! Don't be like that!" Judy blurted out, horrified by the admission. To her relief, even Count and Nick looked equally horrified as her. "Please! You've got to see at least some way out of this! That's what we want to help you with!"

"There isn't a way out!" Trigger yelled, clawing at his head in agitation. "Just leave me alone! Just forget about me!" Noticing a concerned Nick and Count approaching, he snarled in their direction. "All of you! Just stop!"

Realizing that she was indeed losing him, Judy had to change tactics and fast. Remembering about that antelope from earlier, she knew that this was her chance. "Not yet. You're acting too much like those people we have to keep arresting, both for their own safety as well as everyone else's. It's scaring us... All of us. So I want to only leave you alone after I first show you the others," she said firmly. "Take a look at them. Then I will give you time to yourself. Okay?"

Trigger lowered his arms, paws clenched into fists. "Difference between them and me," he seethed, "is that they were able to do something. Something that needed to be done."

That caught Count's attention. "Uh, Trig? Look, I don't have it as bad as you do, but seriously… Judy's right. You're scaring us."

"No Trigger," Judy continued. "The difference between you and them is that they were able to not think about what they were doing. They acted out on their emotions and did something that they willallregret when they're able to calm down. I don't want to see you get to that point."

"So what do you want to see me get to?" Trigger spat. "I can't keep going on like this! I just can't!"

Judy walked over the last few steps and put a paw on his knee. "We'll figure something out," she said reassuringly. "I don't know how. I know it's not going to be easy. But we'll figure out something. Please, Trigger? Come with me. It's just down by the cells where you used to sleep. You know the way there really well." She watched with relief as his fists slowly relaxed and uncurled.

"If I go with you," Trigger didn't even try to hide his displeasure his her. "Are you finally going to leave me alone?"

Recalling her argument with Count, Judy wasn't actually quite ready to give in to his demand. At least, not if she couldn't figure out a way to hustle him into letting her get away with something more in line with what she wanted. "If I do, but I get the feeling that you will need to talk to someone, whether you actually want to or not," she warned, "then I will send someone else instead. James is always a good start, since I know you get along with him well. Nick is also… he has more in common with what you're going through than you think. And if no one else, remember that Count knows things already that non of us officers know. I can leave you alone if you want, but if we need to, you won't be alone."

Trigger stared down at her, wiping his eyes so that he can see her better. Finally, a slight nod was all the confirmation she needed.

"It won't take long," she reassured him, grabbing one of his paws and leading him away from the mess that still needed cleaning. She stopped next to Nick and Count, wondering if they will join her.

Nick gave her an apologetic shrug. "I need to talk to Count," her partner explained. "I know this might sound rather cliché, but… Trust your instincts on this, Carrots. You've got a good heart, but your mind tends to get you into trouble. Trig here needs more of the former, and less of the latter. And Strikes?" Trigger glanced at Nick, surprised at being addressed directly. "When you're done, come and find me. I have something you might need to hear."

Frowning in confusion at the request, Trigger simply nodded again.

"Hey, Trig?" Count awkwardly gave his fellow pilot a quick hug. "You know I'm not gonna leave you, right? Remember what Tabloid loved to say? 'Stick with Trigger and you'll make it', right? Don't be afraid to rely on us either." When Trigger's breathing started to falter, Count gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "Go with Hopps, see what she wants to show you. But Judy? What Nick just said. Don't let your head make you do something stupid again. Trigger's had enough."

Filling silly but reassured, Judy took the coyote and lead him off. Since he was still visually very far from normal, she had them take a longer, convoluted route down to the holding cells. The path she chose was through the less used corridors, allowing them to only run into the odd ZPD officer until they arrived at the doors still guarded by Officer Johnson.

"Bob? Mind letting them through? " Judy hoped that he wouldn't question her too much over why she had brought the pilot over. "It'll only take a minute."

With a disapproving shake of his head, the lion officer at least did punch in the commands to unlock the doors and let them through. Despite being in here just a short while ago, it was already enough time for her to be caught off guard by just how full the holding cells were. No wonder the other precincts were complaining about being out of room.

It really was a sad sight of just how poorly people were dealing with each other out in the city.

Approaching the barred doors, Judy looked through the crowds inside for her quarry. "Mr. Savanton? Mind coming up?"

Moments later, the antelope showed up through the crowd, glaring down at her. "What you want, cop? Come back to gloat?"

Judy took a moment to stop herself from lashing out. After all, he was in jail for a stupid reason, but he still had a valid one for being angry. She was just the target of his anger at the moment. "I didn't come here to gloat," she spoke slowly, making sure that her voice was clear, and not returning any of the anger he was showing her. "For what it's worth, I hope the judge gives you a light sentence. What that fox said-" She knew exactly what was said that lead to the commotion causing the arrest. Like too often, someone had a phone out and had recorded the whole thing, video already safe in the ZPD evidence servers. What was even worse, the files pulled up on that fox that started the commotion had fled Urusia after nearly getting hit as a civilian when Ocelotaia accidentally bombed residential areas in Furbanti. In short, neither the fox nor the antelope were entirely right nor entirely in the wrong. "-what he said was completely stupid. Hurtful and spiteful, and very, very stupid. But being stupid is not a crime. Hitting someone unconscious and risking permanent brain damge? That is a crime. You're not in here for getting angry over what someone said. You're in here for what you did because of that anger. But that's not the matter here, I didn't come back for that…"

Turning behind her, she pulled a silent Trigger over to the bars. "Listen, despite what you did, I do think you're a good person, and hope you get let go easy… And this here, he's is my friend. He's been working with us here for a while now, and… He's Ocelotian like you. From Bana City. So I wanted to-" She found herself cutoff as Trigger brushed her aside, stopping just shy of the bars and staring at the mammals inside. However, he didn't say anything, simply grabbing the bars and holding onto them as he stared at the other Ocelotian stuck inside.

Savanton watched Trigger carefully, eyes traveling up and down and across the rough, unkempt fur and tear-streaked muzzle. "You're also from Bana, wolf? Did she bring you to show me how I'm supposed to act like despite what happened? But you… You look like… Oh… Who was it..?"

"My family," Trigger breathed out, voice quivering once more.

The antelope's eyes widened while his ears folded down in shame. Pushing his arms through the bars, he reached out for Trigger. "Hey?.. Look, I don't exactly know you, but? ...Come here."

Despite the thick metal bars between the two of them, the antelope was able to wrap his arms around Trigger, pulling the coyote into an awkward hug as the two simply stood close to each other. The other people in the holding cell gave the two room to silently let their emotions go through them, especially as Trigger started to quietly sob again, pressing his head against the antelope in an attempt to find some solace against his grief. But the battle to contain his composure was lost as he completely fell apart from within Savanton's hold.

Even Judy backed off, letting the two of them alone as she moved over to the door where Officer Johnson was also observing the scene in silence. But as she came over, he whispered over his opinion to her.

"You shouldn't have brought him here." He shook his head at her in disapproval.

"But-" Judy looked up at him. "They're both Ocelotian, Bob. And they both mourn what happened in a way that even Count can't, since he was able to avoid knowing anyone in Bana City. I mean, look!" She motioned over where the two were still holding onto each other, not caring about letting everyone else see them both express their grief and fear.

"Judy…" Johnson shuffled nervously. "Trigger's been smuggling drugs through the precinct," he explained. "Both him and Count. If anything, they belong back in that cell with everyone else."

Not wanting to make noise, Judy took to grinding her teeth and gripping her paws into tight, frustrated fists. "They didn't do any of that, Bob," she explained, careful not to raise her voice. "So please. He just lost his family. You and everyone else… Please, help him out. Whatever you think he did… well, he didn't."

"You know that for a fact?"

Judy crossed her arms defiantly. "Actually, yes. And if you really want to check, go and ask Bogo. I- I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you what's actually going on, but Bogo knows what he's allowed to say and what he isn't. He'll let you know. You're an officer he trusts. Only reason he didn't make an announcement about it is because there are some officers he doesn't trust not to spread rumors around. But even before you find the time for that, Trigger needs us now more than ever. I already asked Count, and he is trying, but… he's also failing. That's why I brought Trigger here."

"What about yourself?" Johnson asked after a moment's silence between the two.

Judy frowned. "I thought I had a better idea of what to do than I did," she admitted. "I was the reason he came down here looking the way he did… That was my fault. Because I wanted to help and instead ran my mouth."

Johnson couldn't help but give a slight chuckle at this admission. He even started to reach out to give her a playful rub over her ears, as he would for any other officer given the situation, but stopped when he remembered that this is Judy, and so he fulled his paw back to his side. "I do recall a large number of us in this precinct would very much agree with your assessment, considering a certain first press conference of a rabbit officer we might know of." He winked down at her. "But don't get your tail in a ruff, we know how you were set up to fail. That Bellweather played her cards well. Good to see you at least learning from it."

"Yeah? Well…" Judy really couldn't emphasize just how much she hated being reminded of that conference. It had started out so well, and then went and ruined her life in less than a minute. Well, no, she was the one who ruined her life then. Set up or not, she shouldn't have fallen for the trap. Even now, she would sometimes wonder what she would be doing if Nick hadn't accepted her back as a friend after what she had done to him then.

"-udy Hopps?" Bob waved a large paw in front of her muzzle. "Didn't mean to scare you there. Err, well, you know what I mean."

She let out a nervous chuckle. "You didn't scare me!" she reassured him hurriedly, "just caught me off guard!"

"Perhaps. But you still kinda just veered away after starting to say something." Johnson made a show of looking over her with a critical eye. "You sure you're not letting the pilots get to you?" His own muzzle went from grinning back into a frown. "I'm not sure if you're spending too much time around them or not. Especially as of late. He's not a good person to hang around with. Might know his stuff when it comes to aircraft and drones, but otherwise? Better keep away, I think."

Judy shot him a glare, letting him know that she was not approving in what he was saying in the slightest. "I know Bogo keeps you busy with several cases," she needed to emphasize that she wasn't blaming him personally for the opinion. He was a good cop, after all, and was only looking after her own well-being. "-And that your exposure to them is very limited at best. I've heard most of what our rumor-mill has to say about them, and how to put it? Most of it is simply wrong. They're both good people, Bob, despite what you might hear. However, Trigger's going through a very hard time right now. Does he act out in ways that are often inappropriate and only make things worse? Yes. Do I wish for him to realize what he's doing and change things for the better? Absolutely. But is it our place to force him to change faster than he's capable of? I doubt it."

Johnson gave her a shrug. "Just saying…"

"Bob," Judy gave him a hard look. "We're literally standing at the entrance to the holding cells, which are nearly at capacity due to mammals affected by the attack lashing out at each other. Several other precincts are already full, and that's with the DA letting a lot of people with lesser charges go. Trigger's still outside of those holding cells. Are you really telling me that you think he's dangerous?"

The lion made sure that Trigger wasn't within earshot for the answer. "I'm saying it's a risk," he admitted. "He's a trained combat pilot, which means he at least went through basic, probably even more. We do know he's killed before, but I don't know how much of that wasn't by bomb or missile launched from far away. But what's I'm saying is that he has the mentality to do harm, and the skills to back it up. But I think you'll agree with me that I am hoping that I'm wrong on this one."

"Bob…" Judy patted the back of his hand reassuringly. "I understand your concern. And to be honest? I'm too afraid of what he can do if he decides to do so. Which is exactly why we need to keep a very close eye on him. Spend more time with him, not less."

Another shrug from the larger officer. "It would be nice if Ocelotia can finally take them back. We're not a hotel."

Judy gave him a combination of a grin and a grimace. "I know several people who share that exact sentiment. First and foremost is Chief Bogo. But since they're here with us, that's our problem. But I, for one, don't mind watching out for them."

"Just… Don't let him get to you."

This time, Judy did grin. "Sounds like advice Nick would give me."

Her grin was returned by Johnson. "Well, he's not wrong!" He stiffened up, expression turning serious. "Speaking of someone, Hopps…"

Since he was looking at something behind her, meaning in the direction of the holding cells, Judy already knew what to expect before she turned around, finding Trigger standing close to her, sniffling occasionally as he stared at the two officers, not saying a word.

"Ready to head up?" Judy asked carefully, guessing for him. Her question was answered with a short nod of his head. "Back up to your… That room Bogo is keeping you and Count in now?"

Another nod.

She let out a sad sigh. It was only the middle of the day, and he was already wanting to hide up in the temporary sleeping room again. But looking over the distraught pilot, she had to wonder just how little sleep he's been getting lately. "Okay, I'll take you up," she grabbed him by the paw to physically guide him again. "And Bob? Thanks for letting him in."

"Just occupying the desk, Officer Hopps. ...And Trigger?"

Trigger glanced at the lion.

"Things'll get better. Just give them time."

While knowing that he was only meaning well, but fearing that it might also cause Trigger to anger again, Judy bid the officer a quick second farewell and pulled the pilot after her down the corridor. Again taking a convoluted path to avoid others, she did circle the two of them around back to the kitchen where they had left Count and Nick behind.

Those two were still there, talking quietly over a shared bowl of cut apple slices between them. While Count was relaxed and leaning back against his seat, Nick looked rather somber and rather deep in thought. The mess near them due to the broken glass from earlier was gone, the floor clean and slightly damp from being mopped up, with all of the supplies missing and presumingly put back into storage.

Nick, at least, perked up when the two arrived. "Carrots! How did it go?" He grinned at Trigger, standing silently behind Judy and still grasping her paw. "Well, you're here with her, so I take it that things went as well as they could. Listen, I was just talking with County here now we've come to the conclusion that you and I need to have a talk. Carrots, you also need to talk to County, but since you're both here, how about it, Strikes?"

Trigger opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. Failing at even answering the question, he closed his jaw and settled with shaking his head.

Nick stood up from his chair, making sure to slide it back close to the table. "Tell you what, Trigger? I'll take you up to that room of yours. We'll talk there." Trigger hesitated, but relented and gave the smallest of nods. "Carrots? County? Give us an hour of privacy. Two, preferably. So with that, Trig?"

Nick gently pushed the pilot away from Judy, guiding Trigger away from the room, leaving Judy behind with Count.

"Count?" Judy turned to the remaining pilot. "Nick said you wanted to talk?"

Count chuckled a little. "Not really, actually. Maybe a little, but it was more to get him alone with Trigger. But if you want, let's head up to your office. I don't know if it's legal for me to help out with paperwork or not…"

Judy shook her head. "No, it won't be. Besides, I don't think you'll even know how to fill it out properly. But? Thanks for the offer." She glanced at her phone, wincing at the time. She really needed to hit up that paperwork, especially since Nick wasn't able to get to it. "But let's go there anyways."

"I won't get in your way," Count promised.

"...Thanks, Count."