"Okay, Nick. You can do this." He motivated himself. "Just act natural and remain calm."

He nodded at himself and made for the door. He placed his hand on the handle and took in a deep breath before opening it and stepping out. Judy was gazing at the floor and her head shot up to face Nick when he came out. She smiled at him as he took a seat on the chair.

"So carrots, what do you do in your free time here at home?" He asked trying to make light conversation. "I mean there's no laptop, T.V. or even a radio."

Judy pointed at her alarm clock. "Actually, that alarm clock is part radio."

"Really?" Nick turned his attention to the device on the table. He clicked on the button and soon a relaxing tone started to play. It was definitely a violin being played he thought.

"That's kinda cool." He admitted.

"Thanks. There isn't really much to do here, and even if there was my neighbors would just complain about the noise." She explain.

Nick's left paws fingers tapped on the table in rhythm with the music. Judy giggled at the sight of Nick enjoying this kind of music.

This didn't go unnoticed with Nick and he put on his trademark grin again, finally starting to feel at ease. "What? Just cause I'm a shifty fox means I can't appreciate the more higher class music?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Uh... It's not something you'd expect."

Nick simply rolled his eyes and adjusted his seating to find a more comfortable position. He found a better one, but would rather use the word manageable to describe it.

"What about you?" The bunny asked leaning back and placing her arms on the bed to support her.

"I do have a T.V. However, I can no longer afford the premium package thanks to my wonderful legit job." He chuckled.

"Awww. Is the little ex-con missing his old way of life?" She teased and giggled afterwards.

"No. I just miss my old income." He shrugged.

Judy rolled her eyes and focused them on the stew which was warming up, but still had at least another 30 minutes to go.

Nick exhaled slightly and thought of how he could shift the conversation to what he'd rather talk about. "Now since you obviously don't entertain yourself here, where do you than go for a little fun?"

Judy looked at him as if he was joking. "You think this farm girl is the outgoing city type?"

"Don't tell me your life just revolves around the ZPD." Nick said leaning on the desk.

"Well, I mean I do get to spend the whole day with you which is fun." She gestured at him. "It's hanging out with a friend and making the city a better place at the same time"

Nick's smile faded a bit when he heard the word 'friend'. Making him wonder if he should continue down this path. Judy saw the sudden change in his expression and mentally cursed herself. "Friend! Really? That's all you could come up with?"

"However." She started. "I wouldn't mind the two of us spending time together off duty." She set the bait hoping he'd take it.

Nick saw a chance of this still working out. "Oh yeah? What do you suggest?" He leaned closer to Judy.

Judy saw his grin return to it's old self and smiled. "It would be nice visiting your place sometime."

Before Nick could respond the music stopped and a pop song came up. It was familiar, one he had his neighbors play the other day and by the looks of it one that Judy seemed to enjoy. Her head swayed from left to right and she hummed along with it.

Nick couldn't help but stare. He wondered what she'd look like if she moved her entire body to the beat without holding back.

Judy caught on to his staring and stopped. "What? You think it's silly don't you?"

"No, no. It's short of cute." He said.

"Nick, what have I told you about calling me cute?" She asked crossing her arms, but still kept her smile.

He shrugged. "It is what it is carrots. If you want me to use a stronger word you'd have to do better than that." He gestured his paw at her.

"And tell me, Nick. What word would you than use?" She asked leaning in a bit closer.

He took a good look at her body, taking in every detail made available to him. He kept himself as calm as he could, but his heart was bonding at a million beats per minute. He had her where he wanted her, so why was this getting harder as he went on. He didn't want to take things too far. He just wanted to create a stepping stone on which to start this journey.

Judy felt a warmth in her body as Nick's emerald green eyes examined her. She couldn't deny that she enjoyed the feeling. She thought on the comments they made that sent graphic images through her mind. She knew this was more than just some primal instinct. She'd been growing closer to him ever since they've been on that first case.

"I-I would... say-" Nick was chocking on his own words, unable to think of anything.

Judy's expression became one of worry. "Nick are you alright?"

Nick shook his head. "Yeah, I'm f-fine." He looked away in embarrassment and smelled the air around him. "T-that carrot stew smells good." He said trying to pretend nothing happened.

Judy was lost for words. She had been expecting this to escalate and was left disappointed and worried about Nick. She stayed silent and this set the tone for the rest of the night. They listened to the music and made small comments here and there.

Soon the stew was finished and they ate up enjoying the warm meal. However, the mood made it feel like it was missing something. Nick thanked her for the meal and after an awkward goodbye and a quick yet short of rude encounter with Judy's neighbors, who were only then getting home, Nick left.

After Nick left Judy slowly started to get ready for bed, continually replaying the nights events in her head. She wondered if she was to forward, but than again she was just playing along with Nick. When she was done she laid down on her bed still in deep thought. She decided that she wont let the next night end up like this. If Nick couldn't make the first move, than she would.


07:35, ZPD Headquarters.

Judy sat on her and Nick's chair at the bullpin waiting for Nick and the daily roll call to take place. Her paws her folded together and rested on the table as she stared at the wall in front of her. She was going over what she would say to Nick when they had the chance to talk.

Moments later Nick stepped in wearing his trademark grin and aviators with a coffee in his left paw. "Come on Fangmeyer, you can beat him." Nick encourage the wolf arm wrestling with officer Johnson the lion.

Just after he had said that the lion smashed Fangmeyer's paw down on the table. Cheers were emitted from the others and Johnson nodded his head proud of his victory. Nick payed no mind, took a sip of his coffee and got up on the chair with Judy, placing his coffee on the table in front of him. Judy opened her mouth to say good morning when the hippo announced that chief Bogo is coming in. All the officers stood up and where told to once again take their seats.

"Morning everyone." The chief started. "Two items on my docket today; First off officers Delgato and Wolford. You along with officers from precinct two will be providing security for the mayor at today's announcement of the opening of the new public.

The two wolves looked at each other knowing that this would be a boring day.

"Secondly." The chief continued. "Officers Hopps and Wilde will be receiving a third party to there on going investigation. They will meet me in my office afterwards. Everyone else will proceed with the assignments they had yesterday."

Everyone got up and left while Nick and Judy turned to each other, both wondering who this would be and why he/she would be joining. They made their way to the chiefs office.

"Nick when we get a chance we need to talk about last night." Judy said when they got to the door.

Nick sighed. "Carrots I-"

Judy shushed him. "Not now, Nick." She looked at him with concern, but change her expression to a more professional one.

Nick nodded and opened the door, waiting for Judy to go in first. He followed her and closed the door again before his eyes fell on the jackal sitting on one of the chairs. He noticed three chairs were laid out with only one left unoccupied and meant for him.

"Officers Hopps and Wilde, meet Mr. Christoper Jackalson." The chief gestured at the jackal.

"Pleasure to meet you." Christoper said kindly. "You can call me Chris for short." The Jackal wore an officers uniform and a set of reading glasses.

"Nice to meet you too." Judy responded and let out a paw which he took hold of and shook.

"Hey ya Chris!" Nick greeted and took his seat.

Chief Bogo cleared his throat grabbing their attention. "Mr. Jackalson is from tech support and will be helping you on this case."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "But sir, we're already getting help from them." Nick noted.

"True, but you'll need someone in the field with you." Chris Interjected.

"In the field?" Judy asked confused looking at the jackal and back at the chief.

"Yes, well you see." Chris started. "We were unable to to match the wolf thanks to our aged technology. However, we did manage to see a scar on his right nostril."

He picked up a picture on the desk and handed it too Judy. "We ran a search based on that and other details and found a possible suspect." He took another picture of the suspect and gave it too her. "A Mr. Andy Kozlov."

Nick was startled by the name. He'd heard it before when he was dealing with Mr. Big. However, Mr. Big has different ways of dealing with people. "So what's the plan?" He asked a bit worried.

The chief picked up the file on his desk and opened it. "You three have been authorized to go out on a stakeout. This investigation-" He forced his index finger onto the table. "-Could lead to something more than just arresting a murderer."

Nick raised his eyebrow and removed his aviators, keeping them held in his paw. "We're not going after a crime boss are we?"

Chief Bogo smiled in a dastardly manner. "Oh yes you are."

"We wont let you down Mr. Chief Bogo sir." Chris saluted.

Judy grinned at the thought of another big case. "Yeah Chief, you can count on us."

Nick remained quiet, but kept a smile as not to show his doubts. When you've seen what his seen, you tend to be less enthusiastic about going up against a crime boss.

"Judy and Nick, you will be placed in an apartment near the the area where we believe his most active. Chris, you'll mammal the van equipped with the necessary... uh equipment." Cheif Bogo explained.

"Wait a second." Chris said displeased. "I have to stay in the van?"

"Yes. We can't have you drag all that stuff inside the building and risk suspicion. "Chief Bogo pointed out.

"So they get a bed and shower while I'm stuck with a chair and deodorant spray?" He asked gesturing at them and then himself.

"Yes. The vehicle in question is in the parking lot. This is all you'll need to know about where to stay and what to do. If we find anything here we'll inform you." The chief explained.

The mammals traded glances and waited for further instructions. "That would be all. You can leave now."

They left the office and made their way to the van. It was a simple white van on the outside. However, on the inside at the back was three large screens and a mobile computer.

"More aged tech. What fun." Said the jackal sarcastically not looking forward to this.

"We should probably gather our things first." Said Nick reading through the file. "There's a lot of instructions in this thing." he chuckled.

"I'd hope so. This is our first stakeout and I want to do it right." Said Judy placing her hands on her hips.

With a whisper Nick said. "We'll need more than good instructions to survive this."

Judy was of course able to hear Nick's words. "You don't think we can handle it?"

Nick closed the file and looked at Judy. "I think we're dealing with experts."

"Look on the bright side." Started Chris. "Least if you make it out alive you wont still smell like a dead carouse." he said referring to the lack of showers he will be taking.

The two of them snickered at their new teammate. "Come on, we wont be gone that long." Nick insured.

"These kind of things could take from a few hours to weeks, even months." He lifted his paws in the air for empathizes. "Not to mention I'll be living off snack bars and cricket chips."

He stepped inside the van to inspect it. Judy took the file from Nick and went over it herself. One thing caught her attention. "Nick?"

"Yeah carrots?" Nick asked putting is aviators back on.

"This thing says we'll be using a one bedroom apartment." She nervously.

Nick seemed emotionless and blinked a few times. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"You sure?" She asked a bit skeptical.

"I'm sure carrots." He said with a reassuring smile.

Chris stepped back out. "Okay, she's good to go. You two ready?" He asked clapping his paws together.

"For the job? Yeah. For the cold? Meh." Nick answered leveling his paw at the last word.

"We're good to go." Judy confirmed.


Note: Hey everyone, sorry this took a bit long, but that happens from time to time. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter even though it didn't have any real intimacy. That will come I assure you.

Also, I added a character that will come in regularly, but don't worry he wont take up much space. His just there as a side character. Feel free to let me know what you think in the reviews and have a good day/night.