A/N \\\ If you are here looking for Chap 15, and are not able to see it. You have my most sincere apologies. I do not know what issue FF is having, but it seems to be long lasting and systemic. I have multiple tweets and emails out to support about it.

I am working towards adding an AO3 version of this, as soon as AO3 sends me the invite, as well as posting on DA (Despite the rather pathetic text functionality there.) I just hope that this update to Chap14 shows up and doesn't cause it to vanish along with 15.

Now then... Here is the 14th installment. Hope you enjoy.

Note: I am going to periodically use an internal dialog technique from time to time that I am totally stealing from another author. I loved it so much I'm test driving it here in hopes of using the same technique in my original works.

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author.

I do not own and claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back in Therus as Bobby returns to the kitchen after Judy informs him that he'll be bypassing the initial auditions.

Lizz watched Judy for a moment. "Well, that was an interesting start to the morning."

Judy shrugged. "Bobby was one of the few friends I had as a kit. For the longest, it was just Bobby, me, and Sharla. But, as happens, we all kinda lost track of each other over the years after we went to college. I hear from Sharla from time to time. She ended up as an aerospace engineer, though she still hopes to get to space some day.

As she has explained it, due to the number of smaller mammals willing to go, it's unlikely anyone larger than a rabbit is going up any time soon. I made me dreams of being a cop a reality, and Sharla has gotten as close as she can be without actually going into space. It's Bobby's turn, and I just happen to be able to help him get there, just like I talked Sharla through a few things when she almost lost her job."

"What happened?"

"Bellwether happened. Sharla is a black sheep."

"Oh! Wow. And she's an aerospace engineer? That's got to be a hard field to get into. Being a sheep right then, in such high stakes industry must have been really hard."

Judy nodded. "It really was, but she had several inventions, and a dozen patents to her name that are used on the current space station and various satellites. Hard to turn down an applicant that has that on their resume. Still, we haven't talked in over a year. A few texts here and there. She's busy, and I'm busy being a cop."

"I get that. Drifting away from friends as each of your lives move forward. Sometimes you just have less in common with them than you did when you were kids. Especially when you live far apart. I have a few friends like that. A solstice card, the occasional, what's up, text. Even those happen less often."

"Yeah..." Judy looked down. "Which, when you don't have a lot of friends, or even know how to make them, can be really hard."

Lizz smiled warmly at Judy. "Well, you've made a few in the inter-community, that much is clear. Plus, as we have talked about, I consider us friends."

Judy smiled shyly. "Thank you Lizz. That means a lot. After everything, I always worry that mammals will still hold things against me. I suppose the girls could be considered friends, but not close friends. Not, invite over for bad movies and ice cream, friends. I am hoping that it what we can be."

Grinning, Lizz nodded. "I think we both could you that kind of friend."

"Agreed. Now, I know why I was here early, but why did you want to meet for breakfast? Not that I'm complaining, mind you... It's nice."

"There is that. Really, I wanted to have breakfast with you this morning so we can actually get to know each other a bit better. I mean, we are both cops, we're in inter-species relationships with our partners, and that's a good start, but who is Judy Hopps? What made you want to be a cop?"

Judy gave a lop-sided grin, one ear falling slightly. "Me? I'm just a farm girl with bigger dream than being a carrot farmer and pumping out a few dozen kits." Looking down at her stomach. "My current condition not withstanding. These will be the only ones we have for awhile, if we even have another set, and that's something Nick and I will have to talk about before hand."

Lizz chuckled and rubbed her own belly. "I totally get that. But what turned you into that person?"

"I really can't say what it was, I just always knew I wanted to do something else. Then, when I was nine, I got picked to put together a play for the carrot day festival. Yes, we have an entire carrot themed festival. It's really more of a harvest festival, but carrots are one of our biggest crops, thus the name and theme.

Of course I roped both Sharla, Bobby, and another friend into being part of it. I wrote it, Bobby did the music, Sharla did the mechanics and special effects, which wasn't really that much. The end was where we announced what we wanted to be when we grew up. Chris is a tax attorney, so I guess that's pretty close to being an actuary. Still not quite sure what that is. Sharla wanted to be an astronaut, and she's pretty close like I said. Bobby always wanted to be a famous musician, and as we've noted, he's still trying to get there. Me. I wasn't sure when I started, but I loved watching cop shows."

"Oh, that must have been a rude awakening."

Judy chuckled darkly. "Cringe-worthy. I just can't watch them anymore as anything but comedies. I mean, don't we all wish that the mammals in forensics and special services could just click a button and tell you everything you needed to know?" Putting on a nerdy voice. "It's the fur of a thirty year old badger who lives in the Meadowlands near the Calabassas bridge, because blah blah blah..."

Lizz laughed with a lite slap to the table. "Oh gods, yes." Putting on her own nerdy voice. "They died at exactly Four fifty two and ten seconds from the third stab wound." Sighing. "But, if they could do that, we'd be out of jobs."

"Nah. They'd still need someone to actually carry out the arrests and give out parking tickets."

Lizz laughed. "You're right, and it's the truth. That is so not how things work, and it can be such a pain working with a mammal, a witness or a loved one, who has seen those shows. Entertaing though when the criminals think they know it all from those shows."

Groaning, Judy laughed. "I know. So frustrating sometimes, and you can't just yell at them. Though when you get that wanna be master theif that thinks they have it all figured out because they watch CSI or something, it makes it easier to get them to get over on themselves."

"So wish you could just scream sometimes."

Judy laughed. "I know it. That's what the cruiser is for. Done it more than once. ... Anyway. As I was finishing up writing the play. That's when I decided I would be a cop for the play, to make the world a better place. When we performed it though, something happened and it became real, not just something I picked for the sake of having something pie in the sky like the others.

Right after the performance was when I had the fight with Gideon, getting Sharla's tickets back from him and getting scratched. My parents thought I was just doing it for the play, but it just resonated with me. Lots of cliche's I could use for it. Lightning struck, etc... But when I said that on that stage, I felt it hit me. I still remember it. Felt like any other possibility was washed away with this conviction that nine year old me didn't understand. Not even sure I understand it now or can really describe it effectively, but after that... there was no other options in my mind. I was going to be a cop.

I started reading everything I could about police procedures, the law. I stopped by the sheriff's office and took every bit of information they were willing to give me, recruiting data, manuals, requirements for joining. I used my computer time at school to search the ZPD's website for anything I could find, which is when I became obsessed with joining the ZPD. I took countless online practice tests until I could ace every single one, even ones I hadn't tried before.

I became single minded. My grades, which I'll freely admit were lack-luster, suddenly became all A's. My parents initially were ambivalent about it, my grades went up, I worked harder on the farm. After a year, I was doing the work of bucks twice my age. I was stronger. I got up early and ran the farms perimeter. I looked up workout routines to prep for it. I ordered work out tapes, self defense courses, and even built my own obstacle course. Some of my siblings still use it. Gods... I broke my arm twice and refused to back down.

My parents realized that it wasn't a phase when I was twelve and started trying to talk me out of it. There had never been a bunny cop, not even in the local sheriff's office. The big city was too dangerous. There are big predators, like lions and tigers, that might snap and eat me because I was a bunny. You get the idea. They didn't directly block me, but they made it harder, and that just made me work harder.

Funny thing. My doctor mentioned how strong I was as he was taking off my second cast. We talked about my workouts and how I had hit a plateau. He told me it was because I needed more protein in my diet. Something like the protein shakes or bars like predators used. Then gave me a list of beans and such I should eat more of, and after that I ate them ravenously and broke through. Even snuck a few bites of Bobbies fish jerky. It was salty, but I felt like I was on fire when I ate enough of it. Eating fish wasn't a common thing for me back then. I had to sneak it, being a bunny and all, but it helped get me ready. I became a protein bar addict."

Lizz watched the play of emotions across Judy's face as she continued. "Through high-school, bucks really were not something on my mind. I never had an interest in them. Every time one would bother to talk to me, it was to tear down my dreams, tell me how it was silly, as well as how great they were and how I should get with them and they'd help me be a real doe. My parents, mainly my mother and older sisters, threw bucks at me like it was a contact sport. I had more blind dates while I was 16 then everyone else in the county combined."

Putting her face in her paws with a chuckled grown, Lizz peaked out at Judy. "Oh gods, seriously?"

Judy laughed. "Yeah, seriously. Then I got asked to prom, and damn but he seemed so sincere. I wanted it to be true so badly. He didn't tear down my dreams right out the gate. Didn't talk himself up, but talked me up. Complimented me. Which is probably why I fell for it. You saw the results."

"Yeah. I watched you totally wreck like a dozen bucks, many larger than you. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Jack Savage training tapes I ordered online."

Lizz threw her head back. "Hahahahaha! Oh no! You too?"

Judy looked up at Lizz confused. "What?"

"Which set? I of course ordered the large mammal set."

Laughing herself, Judy grinned. "I ordered them all! I had to work to figure out how to modify some of the larger mammal techniques, but it also gave me insight into how larger mammals fight."

Lizz groaned and dropped her head. "Oh gods. Savage designed the defense courses we all take, and few of us expand outside of that. No wonder you are undefeated in the ring. Nick is the only one that seems to be able to even give you a challenge."

Grinning evilly, Judy glanced to see where Erin was. "Oh, yeah. I've trained a lot more than just that. That was just the base. I'll ask my teacher if they're willing to give you some pointers. As for Nick. It's no secret that he worked for Big at one point, so he trained with them. He never did anything specifically illegal for them, but he was still taught."

"Oh my gods. So the two of you should probably be registered as lethal weapons."

Judy's grin shifted to a sly, but bashful smile as she pulled out her wallet and handed a card from it to Lizz. "Since you mention it."

Lizz looked at the card confused as she took it from Judy, her eyes getting bigger as she read it. "Judy! You can't be serious!"

Judy nodded. "Yep."

"But... That is a rating that I thought only someone my size could get. How?"

"Weapons training by my teacher, muscle strength compared to my size. Nick has the same rating."

"Gods. I had no idea. Did you have this at the beginning?"

"I did. I had a private test with the Major, and then she would only let me fight tigers and larger. My big challenge was that I hadn't had much actual experience, just the skills. And no... I don't count my BA days. The people we did end up actually have to fight were mostly thugs and such, barely better then basic brawling. Now you know the reason Nick and I have both managed to KO McHorn."

"I guess so." Handing Judy the card back to Judy. "Now I also understand why both you and Nick have the on-duty endorsement. That's not something that's too common. I was shocked when I hear that you and Nick had it. Only a dozen officers I know are qualified, and Bogo has to sign off on it. Nothing against you guys, but given your size, it just never occured to me. I guess his, I don't care, attitude missed some details about you when you first got assigned to the precinct."

Judy shrugged, slipping her wallet back in her purse. "I suppose so. But no one considered me as anything but a political stunt. A PR stunt that would end up getting myself killed. I didn't belong, and as much as I understand that looking back on it. That I was put on Parking duty as much because no one would partner with me and no training officer would take me on, as Bogo wouldn't or couldn't see me as more than just a tiny, cute, bunny. I had to have gotten a boost to somehow get through the academy, as if the Major would have let that happen. If anything that polar bear was harder on me for that very reason. She wasn't going to let me get through unless I could hang with the big preds, as it were."

Lizz looked down, her ears back in embarrassment. "Yeah, that sounds like the Major. You know... I'm sorry Judy. I was one of those."

Judy smiled up at Lizz. "I think we touched on this already. Don't worry about it. I won't lie and say that it didn't hurt, especially when I learned the truth behind the reasons for me getting parking duty. Yet, I can also understand where you and everyone else were coming from. It's the hazard of being the first. I had to break through all those stereotypes, as has Nick. Who trusted him when he first got to the precinct? Just me, and oddly, Bogo. Yet, look at us now. Both of us have made sergeant, and no one even questions it. There are three foxes, two red and an arctic, a bunny, and a jackrabbit in the academy cycle that starts tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yep! The major emailed me this morning. They're the first recruits since Nick and I of our size class. She wants Nick and I to come make an appearance and give some encouraging words, do some guest classes, things like that. Hazard of both of us being valedictorian I guess."

"Oh, that's amazing! I really hope Bogo agrees to let you guys do that. I suspect that the real reason is that, while yes, you were both top of your classes, you are what motivated them to try. The example you and Nick have set has really made change."

"Bogo had already replied when I saw the email this morning." Judy looked down thoughtfully. "You really think so? I know I'm miss make the world a better place, but it is hard to see sometimes."

Glaring at Judy and her smirk. "Okay. First. You absolutely have made the world a better place, for every mammal in this city and beyond. Yes, you screwed up the press conference, and then you spend the following months trying to fix it. Don't think we didn't notice which side you sided with. Don't think for one second that we, predators, didn't see you and Nick risk your very lives to fix that mistake and bring the real villain to justice. Judy, you might have been The Bunny Avenger at one point, but you are a true hero, like it or not, to so many more mammals than you think."

Sighing and looking up at Lizz. "So I get told all the time. Kits look up to me. Even Nick has his fans, and let me tell you, he was completely floored the first time we got stopped and it was him they wanted selfies with."

Lizz nodded. "Oh, I believe it. Both of you are so self deprecating. Look what you have done for Mike and I? You're here as moral support for me, and what do you ask in return? Friendship. Someone to talk to. The personal crusade you have taken on with the cases of all those mammals that were wronged. I guarantee as what you are doing comes out, you will be their hero's too."

"I..." Judy looked to the side towards the kitchen, collecting her thoughts. Sighing as she turned back to Lizz. "I don't go looking for that."

"I know you don't. We all do. Yet, it is because you aren't content just being a cop, or even just a good cop. You and Nick both have a sense of justice that forces you to go that extra step. To look beyond the situation of the moment. It is what makes you such a great team, and the more I think about it, it is what makes me want to be more like you."

Judy blushed, her ears falling behind her. "Lizz!"

Lizz grinned at the embarrassment clear on Judy's face. "It is true. You two are what we all should strive to be as cops. That's why you're being asked to go teach some classes, give a speech or two and motivate those recruits. The Major knows what you guys are. She is not out of the loop. I can only imagine the ear chewing she gave Bogo after the whole Nighthowler things and she found out how you got treated."

Judy fliched with a laugh. "You think so?"

Lizz nodded with a laugh. "I do. Now... You have been around Nick too long. And‽ Don't leave me hanging. What did Bogo say in his reply to the Major's request?"

Smirking, Judy leaned back. "He's agreed and sees Nick and I doing classes as a way to get me back into things sooner, which he knows I want. At the academy, I can teach classes and have the kits close at hand. Not that we won't have help. We will have Vivian, who would be mortally insulted if we didn't ask her to look after them while we're on the job. We will also have my sister Jessica and her soon to be husband. He's a weasel, so they're going to be seeing my doctor to find out of they too can have kits."

"That's awesome. It's good that you'll have that kind of support. Now... What about your other cases?"

"Yeah, that's a conversation that Nick and I will have with Bogo next week. We're going to propose the task-force at that meeting. We decided not to wait until I'm actually back, but bring it up now so it can be planned for, resources moved around, etc... The meeting to discuss the training and such at the academy just provides the perfect opportunity."

"Ah! Sneaky."

"Well, I did marry a fox."

"So you did. Now, what about you. What happened after you graduated highschool?"

"Well, you kinda know at this point. Ended up roommates with Maria, became a vigilante because it didn't look like I'd actually get to be a cop, while taking all sorts of extra course on law, investigation techniques, interrogation methods, etc... I'm telling you. Some of the looks I got from some of the instructors. I think the interrogations techniques instructor was the worst. We had to do mock interrogations. I was planning on going the PI route before the MII passed."

"I've seen you in an interrogation room. You. Are. Scary. When it is both you and Nick, tag-teaming a suspect. I've observed the two of you crack open a hardened career criminal like an egg."

Judy chuckled. "Thank you. The instructor made me go first. I'm think he figured to make a point, to make an example out of me. Had students from the acting classes there playing various criminal characters. I was interviewing a leopard first as a suspect in a robbery, and I went in hard." Snapping her ears straight back from her head, level with the floor. "Add a hard eye and edge to the voice. I had him in tears inside five minutes and had everything I needed." Her ears falling behind her head, eyes softening and glistening. "My second one was a wolf and I went full cute and innocent and had everything I wanted inside four minutes. The instructor was flabbergasted. No one had ever broken someone that fast, and there I was, a tiny little rabbit and I had one guy just spilling his guts because he couldn't resist the cute and another that was absolutely terrified of me. Even flinched in the hallway when I ran into him a few weeks later."

"Having again watched you work, I believe it."

"So yeah, after that, the MII got passed and suddenly they couldn't reject my application anymore. Next thing I know I'm in the academy and working harder then ever before. Right about the same time as Maria got her break. You kinda know the story from there."

"I suppose I do. I mean, after you came back and everything came out it was a bit of a shock. Just watching you deal with the protests made a lot of us look at you differently. Like I said before, we noticed which side of that line you were walking. Since then, you by yourself, and then with Nick, have both proven to be some of the best officers we have. Your smaller size has proven to be as much a benefit as anything. The whole thing with Nick mounted on the back of Mike, as funny as it looks, is crazy effective. Until I saw his scores, I had no idea Nick was that good a shot. Spooky good."

"It's his ability to see magnetic fields."

Lizz blinked and cocked her head. "His ability to do what now?"

"Foxes have the ability to see magnetic fields, such as the Earths magnetic field. He's tried to explain it and it really doesn't translate, just like me trying to explain to you the tapestry of sound I hear, though that might be easier. But yeah, foxes can see, kinda, magnetic fields, and how mammals interfere with them, because we all have our own. Out in the wilderness, Nick could track me from beyond the horizon, here in the city, he'd need to be pretty close, but he'd be able to do it."

"Note to self. Never kitnap you, unless I'm going to take Nick too."

Judy grinned. "Probably for the best. So, that's me. What about you? What turned you into a cop?"

"My story is hardly as dramatic. My dad was a cop and I always looked up to him, until one day he didn't come home. Worst part. It wasn't on the job. He was off the clock and driving home. Got hit by a drunk driver. According to what I was told, he died instantly. Against recommendations, I have since looked it up. I'm very glad I was already with Mike, because I really needed his support after I read the file."

Her ears falling, Judy reached out to Lizz's paw. "Oh, Lizz."

Wiping a tear from her eye. "Yeah. Exactly why they suggest that you don't. Though the driver got 45 years in prison for it. Was his 5th accident, second with injuries, and third DWI when his license had been permanently revoked. Along with the fact that the car he was driving wasn't his. It was a co-workers who he'd grabbed the keys for at an office party. He won't get out for another year on parole, if he does.

My dad was up for detective when it happened. Bogo was just a local precinct chief at the time and rallied the other chiefs to confirm his promotion so my family would benefit from the pension he wouldn't have gotten otherwise."

"Nick's right. There really is a soft, gooey, center to the stone and scowl."

"There is, but it is hard to find. He stands with his officers to the extreme, which looking back on things with you, is a real disappointment in us as cops and him as our leader. Though he's made up for it I think. Which also is why so many of us, after the events with you and everything, were confused when he personally escorted Herd and Metri out. He actually looked angry, not his usual scowl, but literally angry. Many of us thought it was because of the accusations. I know better now.

But that is what made me want to be a cop. To follow after my dad and, if I can borrow your phrase, make the world a better place. I worked my tail off, got good grades, my criminology degree, other certificates, trained, and landed third in my class at the academy. Being a tiger, no one really questioned it, other than me being female, but as I'm on the larger side, even that was just in passing.

Still, being a female tiger had its drawbacks. There are not many females to begin with on the force, and tigresses, you can count on one paw. So there was also a lot of questions from that side. My family was supportive, even if they didn't understand. Which is kinda why I am not too worried about today. They've always just wanted what would make me happy."

"And anyone with any sense, what so ever, can tell that Mike makes you happy and in case you weren't aware, you make him positively giddy."

"Yeah, the damn goofball. He actually howled when I told him I was pregnant. We were in the cruiser chasing a speeder, and he stuck his fool head out the window and howled."

"Okay, so maybe you can tell me, because I don't get it and Nick just can't seem to explain it. What the heck is with canines and sticking their heads out the window?"

Lizz laughed. "Hell if I know. Mike just can't seem to articulate it, and I've tried it. It is so very much a canine thing. He says something about the wind in his nose."

"That he can smell the whole world, or something like that."

"Yeah. Makes no sense to me, but that's just one of those differences of experience that I don't get."

"I'm surprised Mike didn't know you were pregnant. Nick knew before I did and bought a test on the way home. Said that my scent changed."

"Oh, Mike knew. Same thing. Said my scent changed, but said it is rude to talk about. We had a conversation about what's rude to talk about with others versus his mate. He was just waiting for me to confirm what he knew by smell, which is a trip to me. I have a good sense of smell, but it is not that good."

"Same. The details they can get is spooky at times."

"It is. Now that he talks to me about it, it amazes me all the more that we managed to keep things a secret, but then again, since he knew what others might be able to scent."

Judy nodded. "Like I said. Besides just feeling right, it was one of a dozen reasons Nick and I moved into together. Rather than gong through the scrubbing and masking routines you to did, we could explain it away."

"I rather wish we had thought of that."

Judy shrugged. "It just worked out for us. So, what do you like? Are you a scifi girl, a closet nerd, or a RomCom chick?"

"Oh gods. I can't stand RomCom's. They're painful to watch, and the writing is just..."

Judy sighed. "Oh thank the gods. So, what is your preference?"

"I'm more of an action movie type. I love me Die Hard, and if you don't think it is a Solstice movie, then we may have issues."

Grinning, Judy laughed. "It ain't Solstice until Hans Grubear falls from Nakitomi plaza."

"Oh good. I was worried. I just don't get how mammals don't think it is."

Judy shrugged. "I don't' get it either. We have a watch party every year, we'll have to invite you and Mike this year. We watch Die Hard, then Scrooged with Bill Moorray. After that we will pick at random from things like Nightmare before Solstice. We even have a copy of StarWars Solstice special."

"That sounds like fun. I have heard of that Solstice special, and none of them good."

Judy took a sip of her drink, thinking a moment. "Oh, it is fun. Will be interesting with the kits this year. We'll probably have to set up a second TV with some cartoons. Now, in that vein... What does the name Tim Curry, mean to you?"

"HA! You can tell the quality of a person by where they know Tim Curry from. So lets do the Time Warp again..."

Judy's smile took on a mischievous edge. "He is quite the devil."

"Oh, yes. Legendary, but I'd still suggest McHail had it coming."

"I couldn't say either way on that one, but he has certainly had some Cardinal rolls."

Lizz grinned. "Nice one. Those Musketeers just didn't have the Hook."

"Going to dead PAN it, eh?"

They both broke down in laughter, Judy recovering first. "Okay. What about Horror?"

Controlling her snickering, Lizz's eyes sparkled. "Well, IT depends on the movie."

"Oh, it's going to be a real Red October, then."

"Not horror, but I see you have a Clue."

"You'll just have to join me on the Congo line."

Lizz and Judy were laughing with wide grins, Lizz surrendering. "Oh, now that one was a stretch, and you win."

"Blame Nick. He has force fed me a diet of B, C, and D movies. I have to say, if even for just a Split Second, I'm become a Rutger Howl fan."

"I see. Going to Ladyhawke in more references."

Judy chuckled. "Oh, that was terrible. You're going to Omega Doom us with references like that."

"And you said mine was bad. That was so contrived, I'll end up in a Blind Fury."

"You'll have to take that up with Nick, given that we are in Wedlock."

"Ouch. You're going to end up Wanted: Dead or Alive after that one."

Both of them laughing still, Judy wipes away a happy tear. "Okay. I yield. You win that round."

Sighing as she pulls her laughing under control, Lizz looks down at Judy. "Can I ask you. You don't have to answer if you are uncomfortable, but what happened? I know both you and Nick are sergeants, but... He's a senior sergeant at this point, and you are still just a sergeant. How can he outrank you, of all mammals?"

Judy sobered up at the question, looking up at Lizz and seeing nothing but genuine curiosity. "It's simply a fact that, when you have a formal reprimand in your file, you get passed up for the next few promotion cycles."

Lizz flinched. "Oh. Wait, is that because of the incident with the fox and the call center?"

Judy nodded. "Yeah. Remember, I did kinda abuse my position to block Kit Services, interfering with their supposed investigation, etc..."

Shaking her head sadly, Lizz sighed. "That's right. You told me about that, what... two days ago now? Three? It seems so long ago at this point. It really has been a lot. Still, that is so unfair to you."

Judy shrugged. "It is what it is. It won't prevent me from taking the detective exams, and the people that review those have different views than those that review for the current cycle."

Lizz laughed. "That's what I have heard. It's always a group from different precincts for what you are going up for right now."

Shrugging again, Judy nodded. "Yeah, and few bother to dig deeper then the executive summary."

"That is the truth. Have you been on a review board yet?"

"No. I expect I will be some time shortly after I get back. I was up for the current one, but..."

"You went on maternity leave like me. I was scheduled for that one as well."

"Cool! We'll get to do it together than. I can feel the power already." Judy took on a wicked grin and gave a truly evil cackle.

Lizz's ears splayed to the side and her eyes went wide. "Judy..."

Snickering, Judy took a drink that finished her tea. "Oh. The look on your face."

"Wait, did you just." Lizz groaned, realizing that Judy had just had it over on here. "Oh for the love of. You really have been around Nick too long."

Judy laughed. "He might agree with you. Anyway. It is time for me to make a pit-stop. When do you think your family will be here?"

Glancing at her watch, Lizz smiled. Soon, so I think I'll do that as well. Want help down?"

"Sure. Thank you. They gave the chair with the stairs, but it is still not easy."

Lizz got up and helped Judy down from her chair, they then headed to the restroom.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N \\\ Is there more to come? Yes... Yes there is. I'm editing away on this and my original works. Muse is even giving me some time to not just edit, but work on some original WIPs, finally! That's going to slow down updates here, but there is still plenty coming.

Keep the reviews and comments coming, it's making Muse happy, which lets me work on this and other things. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.

If you are truly enjoying this, you can check out my original work by popping over to my blog, Scribblings. You can link to it here: dcballard dot com and then select Scribblings Blog.