Chief Bogo had reached his limit—Judy’s overzealous pursuit of a case that technically wasn’t hers anymore had finally tipped the scale. And because Nick knew, with absolute certainty, that Judy would never agree to stop working if he was still allowed to, the order had landed squarely on both of them. Nick had always been good at enforced idleness.

Two weeks. No cases. No digging. No “just checking one thing.”

Mandatory leave didn’t bother him in the slightest. He flipped channels lazily, green eyes half-lidded, perfectly content to let time slide by.

Judy, unfortunately, was vibrating.

She ricocheted around the kitchen like kinetic energy given fur, cupboards opening and closing, flour drifting through the air in soft white puffs. The counter was already a disaster. Bowls, trays, sprinkles, sugar—evidence of a mind that refused to slow down just because a badge had been temporarily taken off her chest. Nick watched the reflection of her movement in the dark TV screen and smirked.

He craned his neck to watch her reach for something far too high for her without climbing. She did it anyway. Nick didn’t get up. He knew better. She’d refuse the help out of sheer principle.

Nick smirked, lifting his head slightly. “Y’know, Carrots, if you keep moving like that, you’re gonna wear a hole straight through the kitchen floor.”