It's been almost two weeks since Nick Wilde has returned from his vacation. Just yesterday was his last appointment at the doctor to make sure the wound was healing without problems. It had resulted in a more or less circular spot on his abdomen. He did not like it, but soon fur would grow over it.

At his first night back in his own apartment he predominately thought about the night he heard Judy's conversation with her parents. It made him feel good to hear that they were not his enemies, nor enemies of Judy. He often thought it was not only stupid, but really inappropriate to think of her parents as enemies in the first place.

And how odd it may sound he actually looked forward to his first day back at work. After all he would see Judy more regular again.

She also occupied his mind the past week. That meant he was staring at the ceiling or waiting for his coffee maker to make the brown life-potion, he needed every day, and thought about what his relationship with Judy actually was.

They were work partners. Thank you Captain Obvious.

They were best friends. Yeah, but is there more?

He wouldn't go as far as to call it love. He felt like in limbo. He neither loved Judy nor was it simple friendship. No it wasn't simple at all. It was something complex and yet it developed so fast. He met Judy just a year ago and in just 48 hours they became something you could call colleagues. In the following months, apart from a certain period they were completely apart from each other, they grew to become friends. Yes even in this meantime Nick predominately thought about her and about what she had done and what he had lost. When she came back and the case was solved it was even better. And until two weeks ago they were best friends, partners and buddies. But what do they have now? Did Judy even know that they had this thing?

He asked himself the same questions over and over again and came to the conclusion, that he had no answer.

So he focused on his work instead, that mostly consisted of Paperwork, patrol with Judy, Paperwork, chatting with Clawhauser, Paperwork, actually meter maid duty (I will never prank Bogo again. Ok maybe I will) and oh who had guessed: Paperwork!

That was until a Monday morning two weeks after his vacation. The day promised to be horrible. Coffee Maker did not work, the Snarlbucks coffee he spend far too much money for fell him out of the paw after only two sips. He was not a morning person and especially not a Monday person. As he finally arrived at the station he had to race to the bullpen to be punctual. At least he managed that.

Judy was not that happy though, that Bogo came into the room in the same second Nick closed the door. He was satisfied that Judy had no time to actually scold him for that. Bogo began giving out the assignments. As – once again – all assignments were given out before his name was read he expected another day with Paperwork. But instead Bogo lifted his gaze upon the two smallest members of the police force and ordered them into his office.

Shit.

That can't be good, can it? Is he still mad about this glitter-prank?

Judy seemed to think the same as she threw a frown at him and stood up to follow Bogo out of the bullpen.

He closed the office door behind him and sat down, or more stood on one of the chairs, looking up to Bogo, who rested his arms on the solid wooden table.

"I have a special assignment for you."

"A case for us?"

"Actually it is only for Wilde."

Please have mercy buffalo butt.

"For me? Oh you are spoiling me."

"…Exactly. I guess you watch the news?"

"Every day, while ironing my shirts."

Bogo gave him a glare, but he heard Judy chuckle quietly and that saved him from losing his smirk.

"So I guess you have heard of the murder cases recently."

Now he did lose his smirk. In the past weeks since he was injured, three people had been killed in a torturous way. A female antelope was shaved completely and shot. A male hare was shot in and hung on his ears under a bridge. And a male lion had the word 'Traitor' slit into his chest.

"You want to tell us you have a lead?" Judy asked. She was particularly shaken by the events. She just had visited him when the news about the hare came in. Judging from her reaction the picture of a hare hung on his ears will haunt her forever. She slept in his apartment that night. If it weren't for the circumstances he would have been happy about that.

"Yes. We found a bar, whose owner buys a certain flower, which can be used to make the tranquilizer, the lion victims was drugged with, just before the attack. However this flower can also be legally obtained as ingredient for an ale. So we have no proof."

"And what is my part in that story?"

"Well…just recently the bar owner fired an employee and is searching for new ones."

"You want me to work at a bar?"

"Yes."

"Could be worse…"

"No drinking on the job Wilde."

"Oh come on, I am literally working in a bar, how can I avoid getting drunk?"

"Nick, you won't drink in that bar." Both Judy and Bogo stared him down.

"Geez ok. No drinking."

"Show me your hand, Wilde."

"I didn't cross fingers!"

"I didn't ask that."

I swear if you won't stop smirking MY smirk, I will punch you right in your buffalo face.