"I think anyone who opened their heart enough to love without restraint and subsequently were devastated by loss knows that in that moment you are forever changed; a apart of you is no longer whole. Some will never again love with that level of abandon where life is perceived as innocent and the threat of loss seems implausible. Love and loss, therefore, are linked."

Nick's eyes lay halfway open, his fur and uniform stained with tears and sorrow. Completely lost in sadness he stared at the sight beside him. There lay Judy, her shallow breaths and the beeping machines adding to the ambiance. Nick quietly sobbed and continued to stare upon her unconscious form. "...Carrots...I hope you can't hear me… would be pretty embarrassing if you saw the big bad wolf sobbing like a baby….never let them see that they get to you...yea right.." He sat in silence a moment more knowing that even the embarrassment of him crying his eyes out would be worth it. "Wake up carrots...wake up…"

Feeling more tears coming on, he set the roses on the nightstand and proceeded out of the room. Many officers attempted to comfort Nick as he walked through the lobby. Like a grenade, he growled and each and everyone of them backed off, even Chief Bogo was surprised at such an action. That drive home was unbearable for even the toughest mammal. NIck found himself head first into the steering wheel every time he felt that rush of emotions. Many times did he startle himself with the honk of his cruiser's horn, and many more was he startled by the horn other drivers impatiently waiting for him to adhere to the green light. He couldn't risk driving any more, it was too risky in his state he realized, not to mention the 2 or 3 times he gently swayed his cruiser toward a lingering ditch on the side of the road. No, that wasn't the way he needed to think, it would only worry judy more than he ever could.

Safely parked and well into the complex of apartments, he stared at his door with an almost lost gaze. He flashed back to the day he offered Judy the apartment just across from his. It was nicer, bigger, and somehow cheaper than the small little bunny hole she had when she first joined the academy. Would she be able to call it home again he thought. Only time would tell. That night, he sat in his bed, unable to sleep, still flashing back to what happened days prior.

(5 days ago)

The sound of gunshots echoed through the air again and again as civilians suddenly scattered from the area. 2 police cars sat in front of the Zootopia bank receiving hit after hit from pistol rounds. 3 suspects, A white timber wolf, and 2 pigs, sat behind pillars just in front of the entrance of the bank holding their ground against the few police officers on scene. 2 officers sat just behind the hood of their vehicle while another puma lay across the way behind the hood of his. "This is officer Hopps on the scene, 3 suspects sighted at the Zootopia baah!" she screamed as bullet grazed the top of the the hood. "Nick, officer Tucker, get them suppressed! I say again, this is officer Hopps reporting in, 3 suspects sighted in front of the Zootopia baaahh!" she screamed as another bullet grazed just above her. "Oh that's it!" she said as she leaned out of her cover and fired a few rounds at one of the unsuspecting pigs. Eventually she was able to disable him with a hit to the leg before returning to her report. "Code 132 at the Zootopia bank, We're engaged and returning fire, please advise."

"You're not hurt are you Judy?"

"We're fine for now Clawhauser."

"Oh good, You're just so cute and cuddly, I don't know what i'd do if you got hurt."

"Clawhauser, the backup."

"And I mean just look at that nose."

Judy sighed. "Clawhauser, the backup please."

"Oh right right. Backup is on it's way."

Nick tapped Judy on her shoulder making her spin around in fear. "Someone's a little jumpy."

"We're getting shot at, what did you expect?"

"Well Clawhauser seemed awfully concerned."

"Don't you start Nick."

"I just think he's a really nice guy."

"We're not talking about this now or later Nick, just find a way around this would ya?"

"I would but that wolf leader of theirs is pretty handy with his aim, almost took me out 2 times actually. We're not getting close for anything, unless you could go invisible or something.."

"What about Tucker?"

"Oh yea is he ok?"

"So much for teamwork Nick." she disappointedly stated before removing her radio. "Tucker, can you hear me?"

The puma responded from behind the car on the right side of the entrance to the bank. "Um...barely."

"Do you see a way to flank at all."

"Not on my side but I do see a statue on the left side though. Maybe that'll work."

Nick shifted to the left side of the car and peeked around. "Not enough cover behind that thing."

"For you guys maybe." Judy enthusiastically responded. "You guys cover me alright?"

"You sure about this carrots? That's a lot bullets between here and there. Did I mention their aim?"

"I'm the only one small enough to fit behind it and we need the advantage."

Nick groaned in disagreement. "Alright but be careful and please, lay down as many bullets as you can ok?"

"Yea yea I got it." Judy shifted around Nick as she began to make a run for it. "3….2….1...and.."

"Go!" Nick screamed as Judy hopped out of cover. Both him and Tucker fired with their lives as Judy sped like demon towards the statue. Eventually she made it allowing the two male officers to assume cover once again.

Judy returned her radio to her paw and spoke. "I got a good line of sight over here, now we just hold this defense until backup shows up."

"This is more of that Rabbit's luck huh?"

"How about Lady luck?"

"No, she doesn't belong here. Last time she was here, I lost 40 dollars."

"40 dollars that I happily spent."

"40 dollars that I will get back."

"Funny, shoot back and we'll discuss that arrangement."

"Done and done."

The shootout continued for another full 3 minutes until it was clear the gunshots had calmed down a little. Judy took note, quickly springing her attention back to the station. "Clawhauser, where's our backup?"

"Oh thank heavens you're still alive, I didn't hear anything for a while and…"

"Not the time Clawhauser."

"Uh right, down the street."

"Get the donuts ready then, we're bringing back a success."

"Looks like the big bad wolves are running out of ammo, less bullets flying."

Judy let out a sigh of relief as well as Tucker on the other side. "Good, let's subdue them and wait for the team to pull up."

"Roger that carrots, Tucker move up with me." Both Nick and Tucker made their way forward giving warning shots as a way to keep the enemies behind cover. Finally reaching the pillars, Tucker quickly rushed the two pigs to the ground cuffing them with minimal resistance. "Wait where's the wolf? Nick quickly noticed.

"How could he have escaped, he was right there?" Judy said as she watched the road.

"I don't know, that's what I'm-" Nick stopped as his arm was suddenly thrown behind his back, and another wrapped around his neck.

"Take another step and Mr. Wilde gets a little taste of his own medicine."

"How do-"

"Don't be surprised Wilde, everyone back home knows who you are."

"Do they-now? I can't imagine I've-done anything that amazing."

"You sure know how to play the innocent canine when your cop buddies are around don't ya?"

"How about you-let me go and you won't have- a face full of hurt, sound good?"

"What kind of joke are you playing Wilde? I got your precious gun aimed directly at your back and my finger firmly on the trigger."

Nick couldn't help but snicker. "And 3...2...1…"

A sudden sound of the wolf grunting made itself known as Judy's foot collided with his face. Like a rock he dropped to the ground unconscious. "Try watching your back better next time."

"Is letting you have the spotlight sometimes that bad, I knew you could handle it."

"You could've been seriously injured Nick, stop playing around."

Her eyes were obviously seething with a mix of worry and anger staring Nick down with what only could be described as a death stare. "Ok ok, sorry geez. Thank you for saving me at least, didn't know soft bunny paws were so effective."

"It's called a kick Nick, you could've done it too. And my paws are not soft."

"Sure they aren't, and giraffes aren't tall."

Judy only groaned in annoyance as 2 extra cars pulled up. Nick and Tucker were quick to shove the suspects into Tucker's cruiser with the usual resistance. Tucker was quick to offer, fairly quickly, to escort them back himself with one of the additional backup cruisers following close behind. Without a moment to spare, he was off like the wind.

Nick could only shake his head in utter disappointment before turning to the 2 lone officers still on site with their cruiser. "Me and carrots are gonna sweep the inside of the bank, we'll need you on standby just in case."

"Trying to hog all the glory again Wilde?" One of them retorted.

"Who me, no way."

He huffed at that statement. "Sure." He shot back.

They all nodded, Nick and Judy quickly taking their first steps back towards the bank when suddenly a call came to Nick's phone. Confused, he looked at Judy who place her hands at her sides in a frustrated motion. "I thought I told you to keep your phone off during the missions?"

"I...um, did."

"Say what?"

"My phone's on silent."

"Nick." She reinforced with a forceful tone.

"I'm serious this time really. He slowly but surely answered upon picking it up. "Hello?"

"Bye bye bunny…." The whispery voice stated before hanging up.

"What in the world?"

"Who was it?"

"Couldn't tell, they had a voice changer on."

"Well what did they say, it could be a clue to another crime if they tried so hard to disguise?"

"Bye bye bunny."

"Bye bye bunny?"

Suddenly that realization took hold. "Judy behind the pillar now."

"What's going on?"

"Just hide now."

As Nick pushed her behind cover, he quickly scanned around the surrounding area. The string of clothing stores just around the block, the park across the street, nothing. That is, until his eyes focused on the Office buildings a football field away, the glint of something on the upper floors caught his attention. "Nick you're being paranoid, there's nothing going on."

"Don't do this now carrots, trust me on this one."

"Let's just get into the bank and check on the people."

"No wait!" Everything seemed to slow down as Judy stepped into the small opening between the pillars and the entrance of the bank. A loud gunshot and glass breaking pierced the air, Nick was forced to throw his body directly in front of her's. That when he felt it, the pain shooting through his lower stomach and eventually his heart as he felt Judy's body shake in response. She dropped into his arms almost limp and lifeless, holding her own shoulder in pain and crying out in agony. "Carrots!" Within seconds he lept with judy in arms within the Banks walls, the two officers fleeing behind cover and calling in the origin of the shot. Nick, in his own amount of agony, got to his knees slowly before opening to Judy crying out over her shoulder. "No no, breath rabbit, breathe."

"Nick...it's….only a shoulder….it won't kill me….but it hurts so much…."

"Stay conscious Judy, just stay here with me. Stay...awake...Carr.." As much as Nick was trying to comfort her, his consciousness was also fading, the blood loss was much more significant in the area he was hit as the bullet seemingly went straight through. Both him and Judy collapsed in that moment, the two officers quickly make haste to get them to a hospital.

(2 days later)

"Well Mr. Wilde." The doctor began, "You got quite lucky. It seems the bullet just barely grazed your intestine, by mere millimeters in fact. You should be back on your feet within a couple more of days of recuperation, better yet, you should be thankful you lived at all."

"And what about Judy?"

"Ms. Hopps? Well, it seems the shock was a bit different for her. She was affected far more by the situation and It was quite hard to get the wound under control for both of you because of how much blood you two were losing."

"Forget about me, what about her?!" he said grabbing him by the collar.

"Well we stabilized her and stopped the blood loss despite the significant scale in which you were both losing it. But the shock of the initial incident caused her to become delusional in it all. We were forced to induce a coma in order for her body to fully heal as well as her mind." Nick let out a sigh of relief as he released the doctor and dropped helplessly to his pillow. "Judging by that expression, you'll be eager to see her. Of course you'll have to wait until your time here is up Mr. Wilde. In the meantime keep calm, would you?"

The doctor soon shut the door allowing Nick to mentally drift into thought. It was then that he made the realization, the horrible realization who the voice over the phone was.

(Present Day)

Nick continued to silently stare into space, the full moon backdrop to his continuous sorrow. "How could I let that happen?"