AN: This story was originally drafted as a webcomic by CharlotteRay on DeviantArt. The cover art and plot for this story are hers and are used with her permission. Please enjoy the rest.

Part 1 - Return

It felt awkward during the trip back to the city. Sure, it was just as silent as the trip out to the burrows, but Nick had been unconscious at the time. Now that the fox was fully aware, Judy had expected at least a little conversation. But he just stared out the passenger window as she drove; a blank expression on his face.
Maybe he still had some healing to do, the bunny concluded, recalling how beat up Nick had been when she brought him. His right eye still hadn't fully recovered; a reddish hue having taken over the white from a burst vessel. Maybe there was something else as well. They rode back to Zootopia in general silence.

Night had fallen by the time they had returned to the precinct. Parking the patroller in the lot, Judy offered to accompany Nick home. The fox left the vehicle without a word. She followed him a ways away from the precinct in silence, worry starting to grip at her thoughts.
"Nick?" The bunny finally called out.
He stopped, but didn't look back.
"Nick? Are you okay?" She found the courage to ask.
The fox's ears lay flat as he registered the question.
"No, Carrots," he quietly answered. "I'm not okay..."
Judy felt distraught by his response.
"What's the matter? Come on, you can tell me," she pressed.
Nick gave out a sigh of defeat. He looked up towards the city skyline as he gathered his thoughts together.
"I'm just... Tired."
The bunny didn't quite grasp the problem.
"Tired?" She repeated. "Tired of what?"
"EVERYTHING!" Nick exploded as he turned to face her. "I'm tired of everything."
Judy wasn't quite sure how to respond.
"I'm tired of the collars," he continued. "I'm tired of people treating me like SHIT because I'm a fox-NGHN!"
Nick's collar had registered his tension and cut his raving short with a shock. The fox concluded that he wouldn't be able to vent out like this and gave out another sigh.
"I need to be alone," he said as he walked off. "See you later, Carrots."
"Nick! Nick wait!"
Judy's words fell on deaf ears as he kept on walking. The bunny resigned to leave him be.
"Yeah... See you later..."

Judy couldn't help but think of Nick on her way home. Was he really going to be okay? She hoped that he wouldn't hurt himself more than he already was. Similar dark thoughts were floating through her mind as she reached the familiar comfort of her apartment. The bunny stripped off her uniform and flopped onto her bed, not to sleep, but to rest herself as she tried to shoo away the horrible thoughts. Judy heaved a sigh as she lay there, thinking.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of her phone, sitting on her nightstand. She eyed the device for a moment more before pawing it; it was a call from an unknown number.
"Hello?" Judy cautiously answered.
"Carrots!" A familiar voice echoed back.
"Nick?! How'd you get my number?"
"That's not important!" The fox told her. "Can you please open your door?"
The bunny complied with the odd request and opened up her apartment, only to have the implied fox fall onto the carpet.
"Thanks, Carrots..."
"Are you alright?" She asked in concern from behind the door.
Nick merely chuckled.
"Aren't you going to ask how I found your apartment?" He countered.
Judy smirked as she helped him off the floor.
"I decided not to question it."