Serendipity's Shadow
Rated T
Chapter 41
This isn't part of the plan! This kid wasn't supposed to be here.
The child grey fox stared at the group in a panic. All she was planning on doing was see if she could find some street treasure to pawn off. When she saw a rabbit leading a tiger into the alley, forcing her to hide. What she wasn't expecting however was for it to turn into a double-crossing. The set of garbage cans she was hiding behind offered a small comfort of safety. That is until curiosity got the better of her. When she saw the red dot appear on the tiger's head, she tried to get a better look. Which is when the garbage cans lose balance. She tried to catch them but only ended up falling over them as they toppled. Which in turn made everyone's attention turn on her.
"Fuck." The girl mumbled under her breath.
Judy didn't have enough time to process what was going to happen next. Dean turned back to lunge at Judy while ordering his men to take care of the girl. Judy guessed he was planning on using Judy as a living shield…again. But a bullet lodged itself in both Fenton and Dean. It wasn't a fatal shot, Judy made sure Nick wouldn't make it fatal. Once they were out for the count Judy went for the two guards who were approaching the child.
"Pick on someone your own size." Judy yelled, tackling one to the ground. "Run!"
The girl seemed paralyzed in place. Her sight was set on the gun that had slipped from the grasp of the guard Judy tackled. Judy became distracted by pinning one guard down. The other cocked his weapon then aimed at her head. Judy flinched at the sound giving the one guard pinned down the chance to escape. To Judy's horror, the man kneed her in the stomach to try and knock her off. The pain and panic for her baby made Judy's heart go wild. But it also made her adrenaline rush, giving her the strength to not let go.
"Get off." The one holding the gun ordered.
Judy didn't dare look at him. She kept her focus on the one who dared to kick her womb. Judy knew if she looked at the gun holder he wouldn't hesitate to shoot. What she wasn't planning on was the additional sound of another gun being cocked.
"Put the gun down!"
All three paused in what they were doing to look at the child. With a firm grip, proper stance, and steady aim, Judy was mildly impressed. The little grey fox could hold her own.
The guard that was threatening Judy threw his gun down.
"Kick it to me." The child ordered.
Only once the guard complied did Judy decide to make her move. Feeling a sliver of a mother's rage Judy kicked him in the groin. Then she kicked him to the side before standing up. Judy felt her previous wound which was still healing grow hot and irritated. But that was less as concerning as the possible damage that the baby could have received. Being smart Judy never turned her back on the guard that wasn't moaning in pain. Only once Judy grabbed the gun on the ground and stood by the girl did she lower her guard…a tiny bit.
"I suggest you grab your friend there and get some help for your boss" Judy stated holding her stomach in comfort. "Don't follow. If you do the snipers won't hesitate to pull the trigger on your life."
Judy silently thanked Nick for teaching her how to lie decently through poker.
"Let's go." Judy grabbed the girl's shoulder leading them out of the alley backward.
The girl didn't argue, she knew full well she just got involved in something way over her ten-year-old head.
When Judy and the girl rounded the corner the sound of a car's tires spinning made the two flinch. A large black van with dark-tinted windows zoomed in to a stop in front of the two.
"Get in."
Judy couldn't help the smile that graced her lips hearing the voice come from the car.
"Finn?"
"Yeah, yeah. Hugs and kisses later. Get your fluff butts in the car!" Finnick yelled the last part.
Judy didn't hesitate to help the young fox into the van of the temperamental fox.
"How did you know where we were?" Judy asked once Finnick sped off.
"I wished upon a star. How the fuck do you think I found out? Nick called." Finnick grumbled wondering why he agreed to help again.
"You weren't part of the plan." Judy laughed, forcing the girl to wear a makeshift seat belt.
"Nick called saying he only trusted me for the pickup. He also said he had something he needed to do to make Ermine lose even more control."
"What?"
"Knowing Nick…it won't be clean." Finnick looked in his rearview mirror. "Who's the kid?"
"She is…I don't know." Judy shrugged. "What's your name sweetie?"
The girl remained quiet, looking between Judy and Finn with suspicion.
"Do you have parents we can call? Or somewhere we can drop you off safely?"
Again, the girl remained silent on Judy's questions.
"She deaf…or mute?"
"Finn!" Judy warned.
"I plead the fifth."
"That's not how it works."
The girl watched the two argue still choosing to remain quiet.
"So…what are you gonna do with her?"
"…Take her back to Nick's?" Judy suggested.
"I'm sure he'll be pleased."
A few moments of silence passed before Judy decided to ask Finn a question.
"Do you know Nick's private doctor?"
"The doc? Yeah, why?"
"…I might be bleeding."
Judy could feel the hot liquid slowly seep into her shirt. It wasn't gushing or life-threatening so Judy wasn't too concerned there. But she also needed the excuse to be examined for her unborn's sake.
"Shit, you okay?" Finnick asked looking worried. He wasn't as good at pretending to be heartless with Judy as he was with Nick.
Judy looked at the girl with a new light. She had helped her mother at times with her siblings. But she never took on a parental role. As a student, officer, or everyday woman she had never seen the world through a parent's point of view. Seeing this girl now who was barely clean, wearing clothes that were far too big, and had a defensive look in her eye, Judy desperately wanted to care for the girl. Judy had been a cop long enough to know this girl was on her own.
"Judy? You alive back there?"
"Yeah, sorry, just thinking. I'll live by the way. But I don't want this getting infected."
The rest of the ride to Nick's apartment was silent as Judy prayed her child was fine, this girl was okay, and Nick wasn't doing anything too crazy.
AN: 3 posts in 1 week! I'm on a roll BABY!