Author's Note: Possible One-Shot or Full-Fledged Story (dependent upon reception).

"You al'right Dillon? You seem a bit tense."

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Dillon, paws failing to loosen around the steering wheel "Job's just not what it's used to be, Walker."

"Nobody expected it to happen," sympathised Walker, hand squeezing his partners shoulder and patting his back "Just remember you saved her, that's all that matters."

"Yeah," sighed Dillon "Guess I did."

"She gets to see her family, thanks to you," affirmed Walker, leaning from the passenger seat towards his partner "We're ZPD, someone has to do it, protect the people, keep them safe so they can go home; and you were lucky enough to get home and see your family, too."

"Anyway, how is Jenny? Kids still a pain?"

"Ha," Dillon chuckled "You don't even know the half-"

+"Officers under fire at the fruit market, multiple perpetrators armed and hostile; all available Downtown units, please respond!"+

"Is that Hopps?" asked Dillon, although he received nothing in response from Walker; Walker instantly knew, her voice instantly recognisable taking the radio transmitter without a second thought and bringing it to his mouth with a scowl forming +"Officers Walker and Pride, en-route; ETA 2 minutes!"+

"Hit it Dillon!"

The patrol car growled to life, and soon its roar resounded down the side-roads as its engine was pushed to the limit, sirens blaring, and lights blasting streaks of blue; Walker checking the straps on his vest, before unlocking the shotgun from the mantle, hastily filling it with shells whilst Dillon worked his magic with their vehicle. The skills to come top of the class in ZPD driver-courses were truly something to behold as the lion navigated his way through the packed and panicked streets, civilians a passing streak in the window as the sounds of gunfire grew louder.

Screeching to a halt, and passing the loaded shotgun to his partner, Walker dived out the door. The whole market was a mess; abandoned stalls were everywhere, hastily dropped goods and possessions littering the floor, and there by a couple of stalls to the right of the market was one of the officers under fire.

"Judy, stay down!" yelled Walker, letting off a pair of shots in exchange for a few cracking by his head before throwing himself down and into the side of the vehicle "Argh, damn it! Where's Nick?"

"He's by the stall," pointed Judy, panicking "He's been shot!"

Indeed, opposite the car, and by a stall some 20 yards away, Nick lay on the floor, curled and doubled over in pain; his hands hiding a bullet wound on his hip, with each application of pressure from crimson-stained hands eliciting hisses and groans. A fire began to burn in Walker's stomach, anger and rage seeping up from unknown stores, as his heart hammered in his chest, determination growing; the downside of it being that his determination led to selflessness. Dillon was now by his side, shotgun at hand, quickly firing off a shell at the perpetrators that were dug in behind a couple of vans and a stall, before quickly ducking down; a round cutting through his mane. A shave too close for comfort.

"Don't worry, we'll get him back," assured Walker, gripping Judy by the shoulder, looking her dead in the eyes "I promise."

"Okay," she cried in return, looking on to her partner "Hold on Nick, we're coming!"

"Take your time, carrots!" he groaned in return, any humour lost as he resumed his painful position "Take your time."

Soon enough, more officers arrived; a couple more vehicles pulling up and forming a semi-barricade next to Dillon and Walker's car, and they too soon joined the gunfight. With the extra manpower and concentrated fire, Walker peeked over the top of Judy's car, trying to get a clear look at the perpetrators. Aside from automatic rifles, he spotted glances of peaked ears, long snouts, sharp teeth, paws.

"Timber wolves," groaned Walker, handgun drawn to his chest "Why's it always got to be timber wolves?"

"They're getting pinned down," assessed Dillon "Now's a better time than ever to get Nick."

"Affirm'!" agreed Walker, turning to the officers at the barricade "You four, cover me!"

Soon enough, the four officers, a wolf, rhino and a pair of tigers, took their positions and opened fire upon the timber wolves; staccato barks echoing throughout the market as the vans became pocked with silver holes. With the volley of rounds, Walker crouched low and made a dash for Nick's position, sliding to the floor as he reached the fox's side, withdrawing a tourniquet from one of the pouches on his belt.

"Don't worry, buddy," he smiled, hands reaching towards Nick's wound "Now let me fix you up."

The fox's protection of his wound relented as he pulled his hands away to his sides, revealing a long red streak of a wound, blood leaking across and soaking into his uniform. Soon after, spitting a piece of tape from his mouth, Walker pressed his tourniquet onto the wound with one hand, and held Nick's leg with the other, as the animal in question tensed up and tried to squirm. Settling back down, the tourniquet was soon tied, and Nick ready to be moved.

"You're lucky it's just a flesh wound, Nick" grinned Walker, picking up the fox, holding him with his left arm.

"How about you tell me I'm okay once we're out of here?" groaned Nick, one hand clasped to his side, the other to Walker's arm.

"We're coming back! Give us some cover!"

Once more, a storm of rounds was exchanged between the wolves and the ZPD, tens of bullets skipping off the ground, producing puffs of dust and other material, whilst others cracked over head, and many more slammed into vehicles and buildings.

"Now or never, Nick!"

Walker, picking up Nick, made for a crouched run across the distance, towards the safety of the patrol car with Judy and Dillon. Time however seemed to slow, Walker seeing every bit of the shootout; from the slightest of glints on torn metal to the molecules of dust that carpeted the floor. Although this was not the only problem, as a gunshot later, he staggered to the floor with a gasp, and a burning pain in is side as if someone had run him through with a hot poker.

Walker had been shot, and he was now doubled over in the open with Nick; far from safe. The pair's chances of survival were diminishing with every second they were exposed, and Walker knew it. It seemed that either they both had to die, or one of them had to make the sacrifice to save the other. He saw the panic, the fear, in Dillon's and Judy's eyes; the hopelessness and suffering setting in. It was a look he'd seen before, the look given before the people you know and love die. But Walker had no time for letting people die, and with a great effort, made it so; hurling Nick the remainder of the way, leaving himself in the open.

Judy was immediately by Nick's side, checking him over like a mother, holding his head in her hands as he brought a paw to her shoulder, giving her that classic loving and sly look he always had reserved for her. Dillon however looked on in disbelief, desperate to save his friend as he was held back by the rhino, practically clawing at the opportunity to run to his partner's side.

Grimly accepting his situation, with the rate of the police fire lessening, Walker did what he did best; fight on, despite the odds. He rolled onto his back, propped up on his left arm, grimacing as he raised his handgun with his right. He aimed and fired a trio of shots, downing a timber wolf as it exposed itself, falling to the floor with little resistance. Another however was not so careless, and before Walker could react, a round hit him in the chest, entire vest shifting as the round cut straight through; there was no pain, only the feeling of a great force hitting him in the chest and air being forced from his lungs.

The officer crumpled to the floor, right arm spread out towards his partner and fellow officers; his friends. Vision clouding, hearing fading, the last things he saw were the stares of sorrow. Dillon roaring a defiant 'No,' fired his own weapon, disregarding accuracy and technique entirely; emotion ruling his actions. Nick could only look on, Judy by his side as she looked on helpless.

"Brandon!"