"Friendship comes in many shapes and forms, some that no other considers the elements~
The sun had started to wake up turning the once pitch black fire-flied night into a dazzled array of reds, pinks, yellows and blues. City, just starting to make its appearance, continued on its everyday routine as if nothing had changed from the previous day before. Little did it know that less than twenty-four hours ago, a major case was solved that hadn't been cracked in two weeks prior. A case solved by a resigned bunny and a street-conman fox. Red and blue headlights worked to start tucking away the ewe criminal known as Bellwether along with her two henchmen, leaving our two unlikely heroes to stand and wander in open environment among the masses of the blue uniforms. A single resigned gray bunny stands with support of a scarlet-orange fox to keep weight off her gashed leg wrapped in a handkerchief.
Rubbing their groggy eyes, they limped along to the cruiser where the buffalo stood talking to another officer giving some sort of command or something. He noted them coming forward, and with a stern puff of air from his nostrils in the dim light, he silenced the bunny that approached about to speak with a twist of his hoof thrusted forward.
"Don't. Say. Anything." He grunted. "Just… get yourself cleaned up and meet me back at the station in 0036 hours."
The pair casted a glance at one another before noticing he was wandering off himself back to one of the cruisers. ZPD wrapping up their scene left the two animals to do nothing but limp over to the ambulance to begin the examination with Ms. Hopps and her leg injury. With Nick's assistance to leap her onto the rolling bed in front of the stationary van, the nurse there immediately opened up the makeshift bandage very carefully and took a look at the gash. Tossing it to the side and rolling her pants leg up, she applied some antibiotic spray leaving Judy to wince and let out a subtle whimper at the sudden sting from the medicine. The gazelle, not to confuse her with the famous singer, made true notice to the vulpine standing very quietly in the distance, took notice of his thoughts as he had been there with the handkerchief in his hand.
"It's a good thing she had you around." Nurse Romingo retorted.
The comment drove him out of silence with him staring at his cloth from his kit years. "Sorry?"
"I would like to think it would've turned for the worst had this bunny here had not have you around. And from what I understand, you two have made yourselves quite the unlikely duo."
That last bit there made him shy a small smile that cornered his mouth.
"I can't even begin to image what that notorious Bellweather could've done had she gone on further with her plans. And I'm your friend here feels the same."
Nick being reassured by the sympathy of this stranger animal, he grew his signature coy smile. "Thanks."
With a small nod, she wrapped up the bandage good and taught finishing up the procedure. "She'll be fine. I've applied some antibiotics to the cut to prevent any further erosion, and this won't take but a minute…" she paused to apply a needle with some weird stuff inside of Judy's leg which was at all not pleasant. "… To prevent any sort of infection trying to start. And since rabbits depend on their legs, we don't want anything bad happening to their most important tool now do we?" The snarky gazelle left off a coy smile with that comment.
Nick raised a brow to the comment, but uttered a chuckle underneath his breath. "Thanks nurse."
"Anytime. I must say I'm quite aback to hear a fox and a rabbit team up together, and definitely was shocked at first hearing the full details overhearing your partners, but I can see you two are polar opposites of each other. That's why you were able to solve the case so wonderfully."
"Oh, how so?"
"Well for example…" she helped Judy down while continuing. "You are night and she is day. You are the brain and she is the speed. Catch my drift?" She gestured one of her hooves.
"I'm afraid I don't follow." He shook his head puzzlingly.
"She means Yin and Yang." Judy chipped, feeling rather genius for getting the connection.
"Who and who?" Nick queried.
"Oh Nick!" She giggled. "Did you not learn a thing in history and economics class as a kit?"
He scowled rather distastefully at that remark.
"What she's trying to explain is that Yin and Yang, an ancient Chinese theology in Taoism, represents the very balance itself." She drew a circle with her two arms to demonstrate and motioned her arms in continuation to explain further. "See, the balance itself is separated by Yin, the dark-black, and Yang, the light-white, almost two fish-like appearances if you can imagine trying over and over towards each other in a circle."
He was trying to follow but she could tell she was going to lose him if she didn't defy it simpler.
"In terms you can understand, Yin and Yang complement each other on the natural balance even though they are quite the opposite. You and I are examples of that illustration. While you are tall, lean and stealthy with a thorough cunning mind, I'm small, can fit in most tight spaces and am light on my feet acting with wits. There are times of quick thinking, and then there are times of deep diving. Like for example, figuring out where Mr. Manches went versus getting that cart away from the approaching train." He nodded affirming he understood that part at least.
She continued on. "I may prove to be difficult with others but that helps me stay focused on a case. And you're easy going attitude allows you to have the best poker face on the block, especially in investigations. We depended on each other to get this case wrapped up before Chief Bogo even knew what hit him! Ironically though…" she paused putting a paw to her chin rubbing it. "… I seem to the Yang, and you seem to be Yin. Funny out that works! It's not necessarily the case but sometimes the opposites do become each other not with /all/ the characteristics in full tact…"
She stopped to soon realize he was having a blank face and not impressed.
"Sorry. Anyways, that's what she means. To put it simply, you and I are Yin and Yang, and we depend on each other to make a balance to help each other out. And that, my friend, is why we were able to solve the case so splendidly! With added help of course~"
"I must say, you do ramble little bunny!" Romingo giggled.
She flushed at the comment. "Well… I was at the top of my class for a reason."
"Not to worry, not to worry~!" She waved it off. "Anyways, you should be good to go in about three weeks, enough time it to heal and get back its strength."
"Three weeks!?" She yipped. She was not about to have that.
"I'm sorry Ms. Hopps. But we do have to take precautions very seriously for you rabbits. Especially with those legs." She jabbed her hoof at her injured leg's direction. "I'm going to give you a prescription to a small dosage of acetaminophen, just in case your pain comes back to you or if you feel too stiff. It's mostly to help your leg not tighten up so much while healing."
"But… but… my case. My work!"
"I understand Ms. Hopps. But there's nothing more that we can do." She held a clipboard to her chest as she was writing down a doctor's note. "We have to take the natural course and let things heal. Until then if you sincerely want to do work, maybe do some paperwork at the precinct?"
Judy squirmed at that word. Paperwork… there was nothing more she hated, other than crowds, than having to sit there and type data for file after file all day long when she'd rather be in the field of action.
"I thought so. Until then, take it easy and rest up. Don't do anything exhilarating as it may open up the wound again and cause it to bleed out."
She finished wrapping up the note and passed on the piece of paper. Feeling beaten and unable to rebut, she took the flimsy paper from the gazelle's hoof.
"There. Take this to the medical clinic at the station and they should be able to provide you with what you need. Doctor's orders. There is a number for the office at the bottom; call us if you need anything more."
"Thank you nurse." With a sigh she started to hop along to Nick.
"Oh! I almost forgot! Wheelchair or crutches?"
That stopped her instantly and she pondered for a moment.
"Can I do both?" she requested.
"Well… normally we only allow one pair of utensils for a patient. But I guess if you're going to be just walking easy then I don't see the trouble of it. All right; I'll add it. May I?" Gesturing out her hoof for the piece of paper, Judy handed it and Nurse Romino made the adjustment to her prescription. Handing it promptly back to her, Judy yawned in exhaustion waving her off as she headed back to the van to close up shop and leave. Looking at the sky it was bright blue and blinding at this point, her normally-bright morning attitude was definitely not present.
"So uh… what now?" Nick asked.
"Well… I'm being given plenty of time to report to the chief. I guess I could report to the station just to check in with the guys and file my case…"
"What are you implying?" he inquired.
"That we go to my apartment long enough to just grab my suit and then hop back on the train!"
"I honestly don't think he expects you to be suited up Carrots."
"Are you nuts!? Of course he would! He would want any animal…" she stopped mid-sentence realizing she was without a badge. "Oh yea…shoot!"
"Uh-huh. Remember what the docs said? To rest up?" he veered.
She glared at him for a moment, but sighed knowing he was right. Then she beamed idea hitting her head.
"Carrots?"
"Say Nick… it WOULD look professional on me and better on my end if I showed up EARLY to report the case~"
"But fluff… he SAID NO GO TO POLICIA! Not until a day and a half from now." He retorted with a paw gestured.
She waved it off. "Oh I won't be in there long… 10 mins tops. Just enough to drop in the file and then be on my way. All I have to do is the initial file details with Clawhauser! Easy peasy!"
Nick promptly placed both hands on his hips. "And get in trouble with Chief Buffalo Butt for reporting in on a case unannounced without your badge~"
"Oh he won't mind. Besides, there's something I need to ask him anyway."
"Carrots look at yourself! Look at that leg!" he gestured both paws out towards her making her look. "Remember it was you who went all out to do a case even without your badge and get yourself injured in the process. Had it not been for me it could have gotten much worse!"
"But it DIDN'T did it?" She coyed. "And besides, I'm pretty sure mentioning to the chief that a stealthy fox helping me with the biggest case in the century might just be enough to… I don't know… clear your name and your past reports? To look past that for a possible position of a partner, don't you think?"
He took a moment to think it over, but grunted scowling at her. "I hate you rabbit."
"It's decided then. Let's go! Just a hop, skip and a jump and… ow ow ow ow ow!" She started to try and hop on her own but was quickly realizing that couldn't be done. Collapsing to the ground at the sudden pain made her realize how much of a cut she really had on her injured leg.
"Easssy." He kneeled to help get her balanced. "I WILL help get you to the station, but ONLY to get your prescription needs. You need to walk don't you?"
She grunted. "Fine. Get my tools then drop off my starting words to the case file and,"
"Nuh-uh-uh-uh. Remember what the doc said? Remember what Chief Bogo said? Three weeks of rest, one and a half days to report in. ONE AND A HALF DAYS Carrots! It can wait. Once you have your items, you're done; remember?"
She gawked. Judy just hustled him like literally twenty seconds ago and he rebelled just now. She was so going to have to get back at him later for that.
"You know I'm right when I say this. Once you grab your things, you're not going to have time to report in. You'll just want to go home and rest."
He did have a point there. Her fluttered eyes reminded her that while normally her kind would be up and at em to work the day ahead, she had lost a full night of sleep working hard on the case the night before.
"Yea I guess you're right." She admitted.
"Of course I'm right. I am the stealthy fox." He scoffed. She simply snorted at the remark.
"Fine. I will do what Chief Bogo asks. But I'm reporting in early to get a starter up on the case."
"There, see? We can agree on this compromise. Now no more talk about this silly case until tomorrow. Until then, it's all about you getting your things and laying back."
***********************************
The two promptly headed over to the police station to check in at the medical clinic to grab Judy's necessities. On the route in, a very enthusiastic cheetah was there to greet them with sprinkles practicing gushing out of his mouth as he said hello to them. They were also greeted from a few other officers as well, the other patrolman just doing so simply out of respect for the fame brought to those two. After grabbing what was needed, Nick wheeled Judy from station to station; and after getting her address and track directions, they went ahead and hopped onto the train to head to her apartment.
The trip from the Central Station of Savannah Central to her apartment downtown was a rather gruesome one; long and tiring. They had to change at least two stations before getting on the one final one. Judy having the lethargy overtake her she fluttered falling asleep with her head against the back of the seat. Did she really do this every single day to report in? Nick looked down at her and smiled admiring her… umm… adorableness with being fatigued and never admitting it. Best to let her enjoy the ride and get that beauty sleep she was supposed to have long ago.
Arriving at the final station Nick very grumbly heaved the wheelchair wrapped in one arm with his other to support the weight while Judy groggily walked herself along with the two crutches to head off the train and to the called in cab to get her home. In the midst of heading to the apartment, she easily slipped off again into sleep again and unfortunately she did not wake up when they arrived at the destination. Nick giving up on waking her after a few sparse attempts took the pitch of the payment and gave an extra tip for the driver to wait until he got all the belongings and the knocked out bunny out of the car. Waving off thanks to the driver, he held the sleeping bunny in his arms and looked up at the scaffolding of the building. She lives on the third floor and it's a long way up with no way he'll make it all in one trip. Sighing, he walked up the front steps inside and looked over to the front desk where the armadillo in charge of the Grand Pangolin Arms looked up from her screen prying her glasses down to look at him cautiously. Nick explaining the situation, she spoke no response but gave a single nod.
"Take her up to her room; I'll grab her tings inside."
Going on ahead up the flights of steps, he very carefully tip toed them up onto the creaky floors being wary not to wake her up any further. Approaching her door he looked down at her sleeping still very hard and not even shifting one bit. "Dang! She sleeps hard!" He thought. "No wonder rabbits are morning animals." He pondered for a moment and very carefully setting her down on the floor against the wall, he prayed and apologized to her having to search her pockets for her keys. Finding it he shifted the object in his paws flinching as it jingled; and she did stir, but no waking up. Letting out that breath of relief, Nick opened up the locked door and let the door open on its own. If his expression at the sight of the room couldn't say that he wasn't impressed at the audacity of it, then nothing else would. He felt a sudden chill behind his back and turned himself around. Gasping in shock, he had a near heart attack with the sudden appearance of Ms. Dharma standing behind him with Judy's wheelchair and pair of crutches.
"Here are her tings. Make sure you don't lose her key."
Nick looked at that armadillo as she shuffled back down the hallway perplexed. "How in the heck did she travel up here so fast? Especially with those little legs!?" He thought. Shaking it off, he picked up Judy once more and carried her inside to the sunlit room. Dropping her keys on her desk he carried her over to her bed to lay her down and cover her up. In-between the desk and the bed her phone dropped and thudded on the floor. Noticing the expensive item after covering her up, Nick picked up the phone and smiled sliding his finger to unlock the iCarrot. Heading over to phone and contacts, he went ahead and added himself as a new contact for her adding in his number and address. Setting it down on her desk across the bed and searching his pockets, he found a crumbled piece of paper of little importance and scribbled something placing on top of the phone. Going back to the door to bring inside her wheelchair and crutches, he took one last glance at the sleeping rabbit plopped underneath covers and dreaming happy.
A soft smile caressed his face as he gazed that last glance.
"Sleep well carrots." He stated quietly.
With that he slipped out of the door, locking it in the process and pulling it shut, head on out of the apartment complex to get on with his day ahead, or go crash with Finnick in his van.