A/N: After a really long wait, I'm back! I meant to get back to this story but I've been so busy lately that I haven't gotten a chance to get back into this fic. Enjoy!

Their first stakeout spot was positioned right on the edge of the Rainforest District. There had been a few sparse calls about suspicious animals lurking in and out of the shadows in that area, making it a supposed hotspot.

But Nick knew the truth.

They were in the wrong area, at the wrong time. Most of the undesirables that operated around here wouldn't go about their business for several hours. They wouldn't see anyone doing much of anything. Personally, Nick was glad they would be spending the next couple of hours doing nothing. He had been a nervous wreck ever since he'd agreed with Judy on taking the case, and had been struggling to keep his cool facade intact... until Bogo told them where they'd be positioned for the night.

He was now able to relax for at least another 24 hours until they got their next assigned position, probably at yet another incorrect spot. He let out a long sigh as Judy parked the car on a dimly lit street. She turned to him and grinned, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting comfortable, scanning the area around them.

"Are you ready, partner?"

Nick raised an eyebrow at her, reclining his seat and putting his arms behind his head.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, definitely ready." he said distractedly, allowing himself to smirk.

Maybe he should feel at least a little bad. He knew his partner was eager to make an arrest, to solve a brand new, exciting case… But he couldn't risk her getting hurt. Sure, she might be bale to handle herself when it came down to it… But did he really want to take that chance? Looking at her now, her ears perked as she listened intently, her eyes wide with excitement as she searched for danger…

He let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes. Nope, she was better off safe in the middle of nowhere.

XXXXXXXXX

"Nick! Nick, wake up!"

Nick's eyes shot open as he bolted upright. He hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep, but judging from how difficult it was for him to register where he was, he must've been pretty knocked out.

"Geez, Carrots, relax. Ugh…" he groaned, rubbing one eye as he glanced at the clock on the dashboard. They'd been sitting there for over 4 hours.

Judy grinned as she watched her drowsy partner finally come to.

"Sorry, Nick, but look!"

Nick looked to where she was pointing, squinting and struggling to see what she was so excited about. He entire body went stiff when he saw them. Two shadowy figures, huddled in the darkness of the alley almost a block away. Nick saw Judy's hand moving towards the gear shift, but before she could touch it, he grabbed her wrist and shook his head no very slowly. She opened her mouth to question him, but saw how tense he was and moved her hand back into her lap.

"If they see us barreling down on them, they'll bolt. Especially if they see our lights." he whispered. "Just stay quiet and don't move."

He looked back at the figures in the shadows and let out a long sigh. The sooner they solved this case, the better. Without saying a word, he began hastily unbuttoning his shirt.

Judy noticed his movement and looked over at him. Realizing what he was doing, her face turned a deep red and her mouth went dry as she covered her face with her ears.

"N-Nick? W-What are you-"

Nick couldn't help but smirk as he shrugged out of his shirt and set his badge and gun on the floor of the car.

"Relax, Carrots, it's not what you want it to be. Just can't have them knowing I'm an officer. Stay here, I'll be back." he winked.

Judy didn't have a chance to respond before he hopped out of the vehicle and ducked into the bushes with his usual swiftness. She watched, her eyes wide with worry and confusion as she saw him hurrying along the bushes that ran the length of the street, his eyes on the two figures, waiting for his moment.

The figures turned their backs for a moment, and Nick suddenly slipped out of the bushes, his fur matted and his pants dirty from his trek. To anyone who didn't know him, they'd think he was simply another shifty lowlife, lurking about and getting in trouble. Judy had to hand it to him, he as convincing. She only hoped he'd be convincing enough.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Nicholas P. Wilde! Where have ya been, ya slacker?"

Nick did his best to smirk as he shook the enthiusiastic albino fox Frosty Holmes' hand. He'd known Frosty since they were teenagers, both of them running from the cops as they picked pockets and scammed soccer moms at the park. He found it funny how after not seeing each other for over three years, not much had changed… Other than the fact that now Nick could take Frosty to jail for all the crimes he'd committed. Bu that wasn't important right now.

"Hey, Frosty. Just been around, you know me." he shrugged as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Been around? Doin' what, man? Hitting the gym?" Frosty laughed as she walked around Nick and looked him up and down. "Tryna impress some girl?"

Nick couldn't help but laugh, wishing he could see the look on Frosty's face when he eventually found out about Nick's training at the Police Academy.

"You could say that." he smirked, resisting the urge to glance back at the police cruiser hidden a block away.

Frosty grinned, nudging the silent dark-colored porcupine that had been standing at his side.

"Always a ladies' man, this one, Len. Meet Nick Wilde, my old partner."

Len, who apparently would rather be doing anything else just grunted and looked around them.

"Nice to meet ya, kid." he turned to Frosty, ignoring Nick. "Are we done here? I got places to be and I don't exactly like doin' business in front of other animals."

Frosty rolled his eyes.

"Relax, Len. Nick won't snitch, he's a pretty bad influence too." he laughed, punching Nick's shoudler, who simply shrugged and laughed.

"Learned from you, Frost."

Frosty grinned, waving Len off who looked grateful to finally be leaving. Nick watched him go further into the alley until he couldn't be seen anymore.

"...But honestly, what're you doin out here?" Frosty's eyes narrowed slightly as Nick turned back to him. "I haven't seen you in years and suddenly I run into ya in an alley near the Rainforest District?"

Nick glanced around them for a quick second, searching for an answer.

"Well, ya know. With all that Nighthowler business a while ago, turns out it's hard to trust honest conmen selling pawpsicles on the street." he chuckled. "Came lookin' for some other place to sell my stuff."

Frosty watched his face, then shrugged.

"I get that, those idiot cops that busted up the Nighthowler ring has everybody on high alert. Can't even peddle bootleg movies or fake watches anymore without being turned in."

"Is that what you've been up to?"

"Nah, man. You know I've always been more large-scale stuff." he grinned. "I've been selling info, it's easier to get rid of. That's what I just gave Len."

Nick raised an eyebrow, his fingers twitching in his pocket. This might be the lead they needed. All he had to do was remain calm and gently pry out of his old friend where he was getting his merchandise from.

"Info? What kind of info?"

"...Why? You were never this nosey when we were kids…"

Nick shrugged, trying to keep his heart from pounding out of his chest. Even though they were friends, Frosty had always been unpredictable. He'd carried a gun since they were 12 years old, and if he felt threatened, he wouldn't hesitate to pull it out. Nick silently regretted leaving his behind. He would have to simply talk himself out of this one.

"Because I might wanna get in on that. You know I've got connections." he shrugged. "People love knowin' stuff."

Frosty stared at him for a moment, thinking. Nick could tell he wans't sure if he should keep talking to him, and he sincerely hoped he hadn't given away his true intentions. Searching this conversation so far, there wasn't any way Frosty could know he was a cop… Not yet at least.

"Hm." Frosty shrugged. "Mostly names and numbers, I mostly help animals get in touch with other animals that can help them. They pay me for it and I'm in the clear."

"Help them with what? Illegal car insurance?" Nick joked, hoping to diffuse the situation a bit more.

"Nah, man, more profitable stuff. You know what I mean." Frosty laughed, checking his watch.

"Ah, yeah." Nick tried not to gulp audibly. He knew what Frosty meant. He meant ransoms, assassinations, bank robberies… They'd helped out with that sort of thing when they were younger, running messages between contacts for heists and such.

"Yup, animals contact me askin' for info, I get it from my suppliers over at Sahara Square, and do a quick drop somewhere like here. I get my money and I'm done. Whatever happens after that has nothin' to do with me."

"Yeah, right, obviously." Nick said, hating the way his voice cut out at the end.

Frosty looked at him, an eyebrow raised. He was still suspicious, but Nick Wilde had always been tight-lipped, even with him. If he didn't wanna talk about something, he wouldn't, and honestly Frosty preffered it that way. Never did much good being too buddy-buddy with anyone as a lowlife, even someone like Nick.

"I gotta get goin', you need a ride home?" Frosty offered. "My car's in the very back."

"Nah… I'll walk." Nick forced a smile and shrugged. "I gotta meet somebody before I head home anyway."

"Ah, I hear ya. Tell her I said hi." Frosty grinned, winking before he turned on his heel and ducked off further into the alley.

Nick rolled his eyes. Of course Frosty thought he was going to meet a girl at this late hour. As he turned and walked slowly back to the police cruiser, he couldn't help but smile at the way his life had changed. Yes, he was going to go meet a girl, but not the way Frosty thought he was. Glancing over his shoulder, he was glad to see Frosty's rusted convertible turning sharply around a corner before disappeared entirely.

He waited a few more minutes before bolting towards the cruiser and jumping into the passenger seat.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"How'd it go? I couldn't see you! Did you get info? What happened? Who was that?"

Nick rolled his eyes as he pulled it shirt back on and pinned his badge back on.

"Slow down, Carrots. Breathe."

Judy's cheeks tinted red as she took a deep breath and let it out.

"Better?" Nick smirked as she nodded slowly. "Good. I'll explain everything back at your apartment."

"My apartment? Why mine?"

Nick shrugged, closing his eyes as he put his arms behind his head and reclined back in his seat.

"It's closer and I need a shower."

Judy rolled her eyes as she sighed and put on her seatbelt. Nick had been spending plenty of time in her new apartment, it was much bigger than her last one, with an actual livingroom, bedroom, and kitchen. But she wanted answers now, not later after his shower.

"Fine. But do we at least have a lead?" she looked at him.

Nick was silent for several moments, before he let out a long sigh and gave her a wide grin that sent chills down her spine.

"Sahara Square."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As he spent the night on Judy's couch, Nick couldn't help feeling a tinge of regret at even telling her what had happened. She'd turned around and called Chief Bogo as soon as he'd finished, and Bogo told her he'd see them in the morning to decide when they'd continue their investigation in Sahara Square. She'd been so excited that he'd had to force her to go to bed, telling her that Bogo would take them off of the case if she showed up half-awake the next day.

It was real now. They had a lead, it was a real investigation. It was only going to get more dangerous from here… and it was his fault. He should have simply told Judy to throw the cruiser in reverse and bolt out of there, but he knew she wouldn't let the investigation go that easily.

The sooner they solved this case, the better. At least, that's what he told himself.

Why was he so concerned about her? They'd been through so much during the Nighthowler case, this case might be a piece of cake… So why was he so worried about her safety? Judy Hopps could easily take care of herself, she'd done it plenty of times before. But now simply the idea of her getting hurt caused this sharp ache in this pit of his stomach.

He sighed, getting to his knees on the couch and looking over the back of it. From this angle, he could easily see his dozing partner in her bedroom. He sighed, resting his chin on his hand. She looked so small like this. Would he ever be able to see her as the strong, independent police officer he knew she was? He knew he needed to, she would notice how weird he was acting eventually. She wasn't stupid, or oblivious. He'd already admitted to her how concerned he was, but he highly doubted she truly understood how deep it went.

Something at the back of his mind had been whispering something to him that seriously bothered him. Maybe he cared so much because he saw her as so much more than just his partner and best friend. He wasn't sure what exactly it was, but he felt as if she was the single most important person in his life.

He couldn't deny the warm feeling in his chest whenever he thought about her, the spark of joy he felt when she smiled at him, or the way his stomach dropped when he saw her upset. He watched her curl into a ball around the stuffed fox he'd won at the Zootopia Days' Fair, and he couldn't help but grin. His eyes widened suddenly as realization dawned on him. He knew what he was feeling as he stared at her, and it worried him even more.

How was he supposed to choose between doing what he had to do to solve the case, and protecting his partner... if he was falling in love with her?

A/N: Ayyyyyyyy! Lol please review im desperate XD