**The Rookie Mistake**

Prompt: Zootopia fanfiction Nick finds out that a rookie officer forgot to mirandize a suspect

The bustling streets of Zootopia buzzed with life, a chaotic orchestra of honking horns, chattering citizens, and the distant sound of a street musician playing a lively tune. Nick Wilde adjusted his tie as he stepped into the precinct, ready to tackle another day as a full-fledged member of the Zootopia Police Department. Becoming a cop had been a long journey, one that had taken him from the scrappy hustler of the past to a dedicated officer striving to make a difference. This was his chance to contribute to a city that had once shunned him. Nick made his way to the briefing room, where the early-morning meeting had already begun. The room was filled with officers, each one a vivid representation of the diversity that Zootopia was known for. His partner Judy Hopps sat at the front, her ears perked up in keen interest as she briefed the team on the previous day’s case involving a stolen delivery truck. "Okay, team," she concluded, “we need to break this down and follow through. This is our chance to make sure those responsible learn that crime doesn’t pay!” Nick admired her enthusiasm, but as he was about to voice his opinion, the door burst open, and a young rabbit hopped in, slightly out of breath. His uniform was oversized, and he carried a stack of files that were barely contained in his arms. It was Officer Sam, a rookie who had just graduated from the academy a few weeks back. “Sorry! Sorry! I’m here!” Sam exclaimed, and as he hurried to a seat, a file slipped from his grasp, splayed open and dropping a mountain of paperwork around him. Judy couldn’t suppress a grin. “Welcome, Officer Sam! We were just going over the case—” “I know! I know! I swear I was going to be here on time, but my alarm didn’t go off, and…” Sam sputtered as he attempted to gather up the scattered papers, inadvertently one of them glittered with the word “confession” stamped boldly on it. “Don’t worry too much, Rookie. Orientation is tough,” Nick offered, his voice light, hoping to ease the anxious rabbit. As the meeting continued, Nick couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Sam’s demeanor was off. The rabbit was twitchy, almost as if he was bracing for something to go wrong. Nick decided he’d keep an eye on him. Hours later, they were back at their desks, and Nick was reviewing the case reports when he heard a commotion outside his office. The sounds of voices arguing drew him to the doorway. Sam was animatedly talking to Sergeant Bogo, who had his arms crossed and was glaring down at the rookie. “I can’t believe you forgot to mirandize the suspect, Sam!” Bogo said, his voice low but thunderous. “You know that’s procedure, and it could end up jeopardizing the entire case!” “I’m... I’m so sorry, Sergeant,” Sam stammered, ears drooping in shame. “I got caught up in the interrogation, and I thought he was just talking to me as a friend—” “Not an excuse! You treat every suspect like they are a slippery eel. They’ll wriggle out of anything if you give them the chance. We don’t do friendships in the interrogation room!” Bogo stomped away, his frustration boiling over. Nick watched as Sam’s shoulders slumped even lower, and an idea sparked in his mind. This rookie was in over his head, and Nick couldn’t simply watch without offering a paw. “Hey, Sam! Can I talk to you for a second?” Nick called after the rabbit. Sam looked up, ears perked just slightly, but he hesitated before heading Nick's way. “Is it about the interrogation?” “It is, but I’m not here to make you feel worse,” Nick said, settling himself on the edge of his desk. “I’ve made my fair share of rookie mistakes too. You see, it’s all part of the ride.” Sam blinked back the worry in his eyes. “But this could ruin everything. They’re going to throw out our confession—” “Not if we don’t let it,” Nick interrupted. “I know how we can salvage this.” “How?” The eagerness returned to Sam’s face, and Nick couldn’t help but smile. Nick suggested they head back to the precinct interrogation room. “Let me show you something,” he said, leading the way. As they entered the empty room, Nick gestured for Sam to take a seat. They reviewed the criminal’s story based on what they had gotten before the error in procedure. “Focus on what we can use. Let’s dig into our notes, and try to build the case knowing they’ll be scrutinizing every detail.” Sam’s brow furrowed with concentration, and slowly but surely, the tension in his body began to dissipate as they pieced everything together. Hours slipped away as they ran through potential angles, dismissing the impossibilities while drafting their new approach. Later that afternoon, with a great deal of work and teamwork, they drafted a new strategy that would circumvent the problem caused by Sam's oversight. Interrogating the suspect with clever questioning, they managed to extract critical information. As they finished, Sam’s eyes sparkled with gratitude. “I didn’t think we could turn it around. You really know how to think on your feet, Nick.” “Hey, sometimes it takes a little bit of trouble to learn the best lessons,” Nick replied with a wink. “You’ll get there, Rookie. Just remember: the most important part of being an officer is learning from your mistakes.” Judy walked in just then, her tail wagging. “What are you two up to? Looks like you’re plotting something!” “Just coming up with ways to make sure Sam here becomes the best officer this precinct has ever seen,” Nick said, raising an eyebrow at the still-anxious rabbit. With a cautious smile, Sam spoke up, “Thanks for having my back, Officer Wilde. I won’t forget it.” “And I’ll see to it that you don’t become known as the rabbit who forgot to mirandize the suspect,” Nick laughed. As they left the interrogation room together, Nick felt a newfound bond forming, one forged in trial and error, camaraderie, and a shared goal—to serve and protect, but most importantly, to learn. Zootopia was a big city, but every officer—rookie or seasoned—had their part to play.