Jack and Nick barley even spoke during their ride over to the ZPD, and although the high speeding car was filled with silence there was no sense of awkwardness, only urgency. The duo quickly parked their vehicle, jogged into the building and straight to chief Bogo's office; the chief already waiting at the table with a few documents on the table along with his reading glasses next to them. Normal circumstances of being called in for the two is literally getting a call from the chief; the pager was only used in time sensitive emergencies and missions. Jack had gotten this on only two occasions in the past and both times they were some of the most dangerous missions he's taken due usually to lack of information as well as time, this was Nick's first time dealing with the pager.

"Thank you two for showing up in such a timely manner, and that is, I'm afraid, all the pleasantries I can offer you. The mission you will be up taking will be commenced in exactly 28 hours from now."

The two gave Bogo a rather shocked expression even having already expected a very short brief time.

"Barley a day!? Chief Bogo there's no way that's enough time to-"

"Your entire schedule for the next 28 hours has already been planned to make sure you get the most amount of information and prep possible, including the exact hour and time you will be sleeping and waking up today for maximum efficiency. Before I set the pager off I was already prepping the schedule and information with an informant who will be helping with the de-briefing and case."

The two hadn't even noticed that in the corner of the room was another figure silently sitting down and waiting to be introduced, the two only looking at him as they heard the sound of the animal getting out of his chair. It was a rather rough looking otter that if it wasn't for the suit he was wearing you might guess he got picked off of the street.

"Nice to meet you two, my names Oliver, I'll be telling you about the mission and the information I have personally gathered regarding it. I'm sure you're not happy being called last minute and being told you have almost no time to prepare but out of all the options we had, you two were by far the most fit for this mission."

Jack and Nick glanced briefly at each other feeling a little bedazzled by the situation, waiting to see what the otter what was getting at.

"You see for the past few months I've been working almost entirely off the radar and under cover as a handler for the drugs of a huge and relatively new underground distributor. I'm sure you are both aware of a very similar scenario that was happening not too long ago after supposedly taking care of it.. or at least taking care of it as much as we had known at the time. I know that you Nick of all people were wondering the most about what really happened that day."

"I'd prefer you get to the point.. sir."

Nick said plainly interrupting Oliver, but the otter didn't at all seem upset by this and silently obeyed his wishes.

"Essentially we know for a fact who's in charge, or the people I should say, in charge of the destruction of the previous new upcoming dealer that was attempting to sell the new drug based off the night howlers. These groups of men already have strong connections to the drug world and had been watching the situation and battle between you're small but capable unit and the previous dealer trying to spread the drug. We don't know if they knew of your mission the day you infiltrated his building, and it's very unlikely they did, but essentially they had been planning on destroying their base and taking the drug for a long time before that.."

The two paused for a minute thinking about what he said before Jack asked a question.

"So why is it that we haven't heard any news about this for such a long time, that was many months ago at this point."

"The simple answer to that is that this group is smart, very smart in fact. While observing the little war between you two the group had learned a valuable lesson essentially, that spreading the drug organically by word of mouth, dealers, and trying to get underground partners onboard was to weak a system. This method was even less effective for that Cheetah due to the fact that he had been gone from Zootopia for a long time and nobody really knew his name anymore, he had to establish new connections that your team consistently severed very cleanly, however.."

Oliver paused for a brief moment to recollect his thoughts.

"As a result of this conflict, this group had learned this lesson without the repercussions of being dismantled or jailed like the Cheetah. In fact the whole reason the group cropped up was in resistance to this cheetah almost appearing from thin air trying to take the underworld for himself in such a short time span. But more to the point, as a result of this alliance of dealers learning a lesson from your previous case, they've managed to remain incredibly discreet. They have made absolutely no attempts to sell the drug or even mention it's existence other than with a very select group of people. They were so smart about this in fact that truly their only weakness was in knowing that they still needed chemists and groups of people to actually make the drug, package it, and guard it during this silent period. And that is where I came in, I was one of the few hired guards for the underground facility."

Oliver looked over at the two to see their reaction thus far, as expected they were both taking the case very seriously.. but the otter momentarily stared at Nick for a brief moment. After Oliver had talked with Bogo before bringing the fox here they were both slightly concerned about him taking on a mission of this caliber again so soon after the incident, especially given the case was directly linked to Judy's death.

Oliver was a very good agent at reading people and getting in with them for information, so far he hadn't detected anything from the Fox to suggest he was feeling too angry or getting overly emotional thus far. Oliver briefly looked over at Bogo who blankly stared back just for a few seconds and gave him a quick nod. Neither Jack nor Nick was sure what this was about but Oliver didn't seem interested in telling them directly.

"You know in a lot of ways like Nick here, you might consider me a bit of a.. con artist."

Oliver said trying to somewhat lighten up the mood to the two's surprise.

"However I'm a highly trained con artist, one who's put their whole back and work into it as a legitimate career designed for infiltrating and information gathering, I'm the type of guy that gives you the information you then use to further infiltrate and execute an arrest or in very extreme cases kill the target. I was actually stuck in the facility for a few months as a guard trying my hardest to get it friendly with staff there and get as much intelligence as I could, I had almost no communication to the outside world due to the severity in security for all personnel in this facility. In fact even in terms of my charm I got lucky in the few people I was able to get it on the most with had a good amount of knowledge about the factory and what was going on."

Nick and Jack started to look a little confusingly at the Otter who picked up on their facial cues.

"The reason I'm telling you all of this is that I want you to understand how tight their security is and how smart these people running the strings are. Nick, this will by far be one of the hardest missions you have ever gone on, and even in terms of Jack here it might end up being up on his list as well."

Oliver went up to Bogo's desk and started handing out papers to the two who instantly started looking at it while still listening to the Otter.

"The reason I haven't bothered mentioning the names of this group is because you're mission actually has nothing to do with apprehending them, that job will be given to the ZPD as well as the SWAT after you're mission success. Essentially the reason for this timely mission is because only within the past day have I been able to get out of the facility, and now that I am here I have no chance of ever getting back in there. Tomorrow at night there will be an incredibly huge meeting with almost every single one of the big underground names in drug dealing and distributing meeting this group; although some people in the group are already some of the big names, I'm talking about almost everyone. Not even the subordinates of these people seem to know anything about a meeting and it's being kept very secretive like everything else they've done. If this meeting is successful then there will essentially be absolutely no chance of keeping this drug off the street, it will be wide spread almost everywhere in an instant with no chance of circumventing it."

Oliver paused looking at the two briefly, their expressions hardened at bit as they looked over at Oliver rather than the paper as he continued on.

"Your mission will be to infiltrate the underground facility that is directly below the estate in which the party is happening, during the party itself. Unlike what you might think their security will most likely be at its most lax as the reason being their security is already limited due to their abundancy in keeping the information leakage minimal to none, and thus the distribution of security will be for themselves and the party.. not the facility. So in this brief window of the party taking place you to will enter an underground sewer system as detailed in the information I gave you, take as many photos and physical evidence as you possibly can, and exit the facility preferably the way you came. The minute you guys give us the signal or we see you leave the building the entire estate will be surrounded and we will try to make an arrest on everyone there. Do you two get the picture on how big this really is now."

The duo didn't respond and only feverishly scanned the information in the papers absorbing as much as they possibly can. Oliver ended up actually cracking a little smile at how well the two were handling the briefing and mission.

No signs of cracks in pressure or nervousness, it seems these two are the type that actually do better under pressure, something not even all M16 agents have for as skilled as they are.

Bogo cleared his throat and coughed into his paws.

"Well then, if you two have no question for Oliver here then I think we should get you started on your preparation for the mission as soon as possible."


The snow fell particularly heavy that day in Tundra town. It was a seemingly quiet night in the city with only a small bit of commotion and noise being produced from the district, with some of that noise being directed at the estate somewhat distant from most of the city, near the outskirts.

The place was quite a sight to behold considering it's relatively remote location, three stories high with mixtures of marble concrete decorating most of the mansion alongside other colorful adornments. Although not obvious at first glance the place was to anyone with a discerning eye almost littered with guards and security keeping a very watchful eyes on the place.

The sound of a limo zine slightly hummed out through the air as it parked near the gated entrance. The driver got out of his seat and opened the back door to a stern yet well kept looking wolf in a suit. Adjusting his tie he walked over to the two polar bears near the entrance, flashed a strange looking card to the two, and then continued walking inside past the gate and to the entrance of the somewhat lively mansion.

Off in a farther distance from a vantage point through some bushes were Oliver and Bogo as well as even a few ZPD officers near them. And In other various seemingly remote areas surrounding the building were other ZPD officers as well as SWAT waiting for the right moment to strike, seeming almost invisible despite the location. Oliver was holding a pair of binoculars watching the wolf walk through into the building.

"Wade Oxford.. that's the last one if the list is to be believed."

Bogo huffed from his nostrils. "I would have thought Mr. Big would be a part of this, I've never been so sure on the reports about his group not being into the drug trade."

Oliver responded neutrally to the chief. "Most likely Mr. Big allowed for this little arrangement to take place considering it's on his turf, but he probably doesn't know the details of what's going on, if you aren't sure of the previous reports then I think this is enough to suggest he is most likely not involved in that type of business."

Oliver looked down at his watch.

"Jack and Nick should be entering about right now, from this point forward we'll just have to wait and see if they succeed."


Boom! I mini-explosion could be heard around Nick and Jack as they tried looking past the smoke on the wall in front of them. As expected the sewer really did have just two walls separating them from entering the underground facility and right into the storage area. Nick and Jack were in their usual dark infiltration outfit and geared up for a multitude of potential dangers that might happen during the mission.

"Do you hear anything Jack?"

Nick said looking at his partner as he was standing very still near the storage, his ears up and his eye's closed.

"…No nothing, as far as I can tell no guard heard the explosion, as expected their nowhere near this room; not that there are that many in the first place according to the report."

Jack quietly started walking into the room as Nick followed counting a few things on his finger to make sure he had the area and guards memorized. With each having a flash light in hand they kept to the right wall and looked around the storage area, mainly filled with boxes and equipment and specifically avoiding the camera they knew was overlooking part of the storage in the right corner of the room.

The two were now hugging against one of the walls almost right underneath the camera; Nick staying in place as he watched the bunny very skillfully jump up and around a few crates and over to some very tall storage shelves. Climbing up the shelves Jack made his way to the top toward the celling, eventually ending up right next to the camera overlooking the place. He carefully began to unscrew a small lid on the camera and take something out of his pocket as Nick started a conversation.

"So are you sure this isn't the storage where the actual drugs are placed, it looks almost identical to the pictures, plus if we leave early maybe we'll even get to test some of it out ourselves."

Jack rolled his eyes a little as he finished sticking a small device into one of the wires. Once he was sure of his work he quickly jumped back down and didn't bother hiding from the camera at all, Nick also relaxing from against the wall.

"Both storage rooms have the same dimensions and probably the same crates, it might even be somewhat designed to look identical to confuse infiltrators you know. But if Oliver's information is to be believed they only store the actual drugs in a particular spot in the other side of the building. Now no more lollygagging."

Nick not saying much in defense started following Jack silently again, but in the back of his mind he was still trying to think of more quips to defuse the situation just a little bit. Usually he was quiet good at it but he found himself running dry on the humor for this particular mission.

"Don't worry about the joking Nick, it's stressful for me to but this isn't a typical mission, we can talk a little more once we change the camera system and take out the two guards."

Nick almost scoffed at his answer as the two very slyly exited the storage into a big corridor keeping themselves out of view.

"You know I don't appreciate you using sophisticated M16 equipment to read my mind and try to calm me down, it's rather cold of you. Whatever happened to just animals talking in person, we've become so reliant on technology to do everything for us that nobody even bothers making conversation, they'd rather just text and read people's minds, it's a shame really."

Nick heard the sound of a click as the door in front them started to slowly open as Jack somewhat smugly looked back at the fox.

"…You done?"

Nick casually walked into the room. "Yeah yeah fine I get it only talk after the camera system is disabled, let's get this over with shall we?"

Jack followed him as Nick walked through the room filled with a lot of equipment and technology not necessarily related to security. But the two eventually popped in front of a somewhat big white box with multiple switches and buttons of various kinds attached to it, Nick crossed his arms and looking almost disappointingly at the device.

"Seriously, this really exists? They just left access to the entire camera system on this remote box because they were too lazy to bother installing or replacing the old one?"

Nick took a somewhat large device out of one of his packs and started tinkering with the box.

"Just be glad it makes this part of the mission a breeze, we still have the latter half of it after all."

Just then a small little button on the device Nick was holding blinked green as it was attached to the box and injected in a few different wires.

"Don't remind me.."

He stood away from the box as the two examined it for a quick second. Jack put his hands on his hips almost proudly.

"Well then looks like everything is set.. let's begin walking shall we?"

From the view of the security camera's there was but a very brief flicker of all the rooms even though the picture itself stayed consistent, the actual guard in charge of looking at the camera didn't even notice it as he was busy looking through his phone. And with the camera systems all but disabled the two very smoothly and easily started going across the entire facility.

There were few to almost no guards even in the building and of the few actually guarding they were being rather lackadaisical about it. The guards in their way were easily taken out and hidden without much issue as the two proceeded further and further into the building. Along the way other than a few easily breakable security doors and some laser systems that needed to be disabled without an alarm setting off the mission went on with relative ease.

As the duo continued searching the area they were able to acquire two pieces of crucial evidence they were seeking, multiple pictures of the facility along with chemical sets and machines helping produce the drug, and a few documents from computers containing information about the chemical equation and ingredients. However this had been considered the easy part of the mission, as the two neared their final portions they found their movement being slowed down almost not wanting to face it, until finally they arrive at their final obstacle.

In front of them was what seemed like an average door, the room to the other storage area with the drug samples that they were required to take. But what made this mission so difficult other than the very low prep time was this door right here. Due to how last minute the entire mission plan and even information was there was no information on this security door other than the fact it by far had the highest security. It wasn't even locked but the second the door would open multiple alarms would be triggered and an underground auto shut down would commence, with no way of preventing it from happening.

"What do you mean there is no way of disarming it!"

Jack almost barked angrily at Oliver who wasn't doing a very good job of hiding his nervousness, expecting this reaction.

"As I just said.. I didn't have enough time to gather a way to get past this door safety, the fact I even have this information at all was already by complete chance thanks to befriending security. This door has multiple layers of security behind it's functionality to the point that even blasting the walls to the storage area would still trigger the alarm. Essentially the plan is once the alarm is triggered, run to the spot of the drugs, store a sample into your bag and escape as security floods the area.."

Even Oliver felt a bit speechless after he mentioned that detail to two, it was a completely insane request along with being almost close to a suicide mission to accept. Before Nick or Jack could retort, sense Oliver already knew what they would say, he looked down at the ground and closed his eyes welling his words with a sense of urgency.

"Believe me if there was any other way we would have already told you! Do you think under normal circumstances this kind of mission would even be approved by the board? They know how big and important this is, and yet despite how ludicrous my solution was they accepted it, and now I'm asking you too."

Oliver humbly bowed down to the two almost not knowing what else to do in this situation, no amount of smooth talking would make this sound good.

The two paused looking down at the Otter before Nick spoke up.

"So is this why you decided to mention it now.. so you wouldn't have to say it to Bogo?" Oliver said nothing in response and continued keeping his position. Jack let out a sigh and tried relaxing the tension a little bit, laying against the wall closing his eyes.

"So what do you think Nick? Personally I already made up my mind, but I'll leave the decision up to you."

Nick looked up at the ceiling for a moment scratching his chin.

"Same for you then huh? Well.. I suppose it can't be helped then right?"

Oliver looked up at the two out of his bowing position in surprise to see the two staring at him wearing the same smug smile together. Oliver let out an almost exasperated gasp as a smile of his own crept on his face.

"Thank you.. you two really are the only ones who can do this, or who will for that matter. I-"

Nick put a finger up against the Otters lips.

"Say no more, you can thank us by buying dinner after the mission."

The two starred at the door for a moment longer bracing themselves for the challenge up ahead. They knew where they had to run back to but the possibility of getting to that place in time without getting shot was slim. They double checked on their multiple loaded pistols and gave each other a long stern look. The two almost without hesitation grabbed each other's paws and gave them a tight squeeze as they continued to stare at each other, a small smirk appearing on Nick's face.

"Remember bunny.. after this were going to squeeze that damn otter of all the money he has at a restaurant, and drink together just like we always do."

Jack's face curved into a smile of his own while keeping a very intense expression alongside it.

"It's a date!"

And in that exact second the two simultaneously kicked the door to the storage area open, instantly triggering the sound of the alarm throughout the facility as the two ran in break neck speeds through the entrance and towards the storage area where the drug was being kept; a bag and gloves already set for taking the evidence.

The sound of clinking wine glasses could be heard throughout the living room of the lavish mansion on the first floor. About 40 or so people seemed to be at this party including some of the close members to the various drug lords and dealers there, nobody at the party was expecting anything but a positive outcome.

And just then as a deer sporting a stylish black suit was laughing with some white wine to a guest he heard a little beep in his pocket. He looked down at his pants and quickly picked up the phone flipping it open.

"Hello."

"It's terrible Mr. Buckington, all of the alarms for the underground facility are going off! Someone's broken in but none of the cameras are showing anything a-and."

The deer without a single flinch covered the phone at looked at his confused female panther guest he was talking too.

"Sorry I have to take this call, I'll be right back."

He casually strolled away from the guests and into a little area off the side where he couldn't be heard.

"Calm down you fucking idiot. Send all personnel not immediately within the area of the guests down into the facility and take care of it. Make sure nobody at the party knows what happening, for all intents and purposes the problem has been dealt with and there as good as dead, got it?"

"y-yes sir!"

the animal replied at the end of the phone as the deer flipped it off, turned around with a smile on his face and approached the same guest as before.

"Now, where were we?"

Once the two snatched evidence of the drug, the bulk of it laying mainly with Nick, they started sprinting down the hall way making no attempt not to be seen, they knew the faster they went the better their odds, there was no time for being careful.

"There they are!"

A wolf guard atop of a large railing shouted as he saw the duo running down a very long stretch of room where a multitude of chemistry sets was in display. Without hesitation the two started running to avoid the bullets the guard was shooting at them as more started flooding in from all corners of the room, almost like a swarm of bees.

Nick held tightly to his pistol. "I'll take some of the right railing you take the left, once we reach into the hallway I'll keep my gun pointed forward as you cover any possible other entrance from the sides are behind."

Nick saw Jack shoot a few bullets and the sound of a guard falling off the railing to his left.

"Already on top of it."

As Jack finished his reply unexpectedly the two already saw a few guards with pistols appear in front of them, they were being surrounded faster than they had anticipated.

But even so Nick didn't falter. Without hesitation he calmed his breath and started shooting a few bullets at the two. One made direct contact with one of the guard's arteries as the other two bullets hit the second guard in his chest knocking the wind out of him and causing his gun to spray bullets into the ceiling and railing above, also coincidentally taking out a few guards coming out of a room up there.

The two instantly pushed past the guards on the floor and into the hallway, being a little more careful with the multiple doors around them.

"How the hell did you become such a good shooter anyways."

Jack said with a happy smile on his face between his panting from running as Nick let out a smug chuckle.

"Don't ask me bunny because even I don't know the answer, just ask whatever god created me."

In that instant on the other end of the hallway a guard popped up ready to fire, but Nick was quicker on the trigger and in a few shots quickly took him out as he fell on the floor. "Ahead on right!" Nick shouted out as he was reloading his gun, the bunny catching his signal pointed his gun past his shoulder to shoot another guard that was behind the previous one, taking him out instantly as well.

Despite guards coming out left and the right the two were making it very quickly toward their destination, a few lucky misses and mostly precise shots coming from the duo making them seem almost unstoppable to the barrage of guards pouring out to them.

We can do it, we can make it!

Was what Nick started to say to himself as they entered the final long stretch of room which afterward lead them to the storage area and the explosive exit they created. But just as they started sprinting out in the open, time suddenly started to slow down around them.

Footsteps… Jack and Nick both heard it above them to their immediate right, they looked up as they were running only to see a railing filled with 6 different guards all holding machine guns and an entrance that wasn't there before leading upward to something. Without hesitation the guards slowly started to pull the trigger as the two instantly darted to the left near the wall as a hailstorm of bullets followed.

They quickly ducked behind it as the rain of bullets continued; getting their breath back for the first time sense they started running.

"Haaa damn.. that was close.."

Nick said relaxing a little bit from behind the wall.

"Y-Yeah.. a little to close" Jack said next to him in a strained voice.

Nick's ears perked at the tone of his voice.. with concern he quickly turned his head over at the bunny next to him only to see him clutching on the bottom side of his stomach, blood spilling out and leaking through his paw.

Panic immediately spread over Nick's face and in his eyes as he quickly scurried up above the bunny carefully looking down at him and holding him slightly.

"No no no no no Jack! S-Shit!"

At that instant memories of the incident with Judy started to flood back into his mind, seeing the female bunny bleeding before him, seeing her body unconscious in the hospital bed... Nick started darting his eyes back and forth around the bunny and at the wound, his immediate reaction to start getting his first aid kit out as jack grabbed his arm with his other paw.

"N-Nick stop… there i-isn't enough time, it won't do any-"

"I have to do something!"

He shouted in almost defiance at Jack as he didn't respond right away.

Jack took a moment to collect his breathe straining his head up a little.

"Ah N-Nick, you have to leave me here… if you escape you can still-"

But without even listening to his words nick promptly and carefully lifted up the bunny in one of his hands.

"Wrap your arms around my neck…"

Jack looked up at Nick confused at first but before he could utter a word he barked.

"Just do it!"Almost like it was an order.

Not finding the words or time to argue with Nick he did as he said and held on to him tight, alleviating a bit of weight on his arms as Nick suddenly stood up and without hesitation sprinted down the other side of the hallway away from the guards pouring through.

In that moment when he had seen Jack on the ground bleeding, a multitude of emotions had flooded through the fox's mind. Everything from panic, to anxiety, to stress to depression to anger… it all weld up inside him as the tragic memories of his last big mission instantly came out to haunt him. But In that moment, that small time frame of all these potent emotions and memories almost attacking him from all sides.. instead of letting those memories halt his advance, preventing him from moving or making an action, he instead felt a surge of motivation within him. His brain started working at almost ten times the speed it normally could in that exact instant, and Nick was able to instantly lay out in his mind a plan...

As Nick was running down the hallway his feet started to feel strangely light, his entire body felt like it was in fact in the best shape of his life, he didn't even feel weighed down by holding up an entire bunny. His sprinting was faster and more calculated than ever before as he with relative ease started avoiding gun shots and guards left and right of him. Using his other free hand he held a pistol and started aiming it at a few guards in his way directly, observing something else strange. As he held his sight near one of the guards head and pulled the trigger, he started to notice how abnormally slow the time it was taking to hit the trigger was. He could feel the millisecond that the bullet had left the barrel and immediately moved his gun towards another guard, the guards themselves not even reacting as fast as they were before.

He was expecting the guard to start running or at least point his gun at him in response but.. he looked like he was almost frozen in time, and so without waiting another second he clicked the trigger again firing another bullet directly at his head. Never before had Nick had anywhere close to this much time to be able to align a shot so perfectly and move on to the next target with ease, but Nick didn't question the reasoning and continued forward, slowly but surely making his way through the new exit he was planning to run too.

Indeed if anything the memories of his failure had surged within him an entirely different emotion, one that had completely thrown out all other feelings in his body and replaced it with something new… determination. In his mind at that exact moment he was only thinking to himself.

I won't let that happen ever again! As long as there is breathe in me I'll never let anyone hurt this bunny… hurt Jack. I have already failed once and damn if I'm going to fail again, If they want to take something this precious away from me, they can do so over my cold dead body!

Jack almost couldn't believe what he was seeing happen before his very eyes. Never once had he seen Nick run so swiftly yet so incredibly calculated before. Even on sharp turns he would take his momentum into account and actually jump on walls and turn himself around, almost taking after the bunny in some way. And his shots seemed almost unreal, anyone caught in his sight didn't even have a chance to react, every shot was a single and very deliberate shot that completely took down the target without fail.

Against all impossible odds Nick was shooting down every guard in their path and avoiding every single bullet that grazed by them. As the two continued to go further unscathed some of the guards actually started to flee instead of trying to shoot back. They could feel an old instinct of fear run through them as the fox in front of them with cold savage eyes took them out one, after the other, after the other. Even with a multitude of questions running through the bunny's mind at this moment the most confusing of them that he could feel was wondering where the hell Nick was going.

And suddenly as he asked that question to himself he found themselves on a railing.. they had somehow looped around onto the railing above where Jack had been shot. There it is.. Nick saw the opened up secret passage way that had sparked a thought in his brain earlier. The whole time they were running and being shot at the two guards next to the actual passage halted their guns, unlike everyone else they weren't trying to follow them… and if they weren't following them, that that meant they had to be guarding something; the passage itself! It was at that moment that Nick knew it lead to an exit, and after the two had taken so much time to catch their breath from the rain of bullets, Nick had a feeling their old exit would be blocked.

Nick sprinted at the two guards who in panic pointed their guns at him, to which just like everyone else Nick swiftly took out now holding one of the Jack's loaded pistols having discarded the other ones. And with a swift right turn he headed straight up the stairs and passage running for dear life and still hearing a few gunshots behind him. When he got up there he seemed to be in an office of some kind but had no time to discern, he saw the door and swiftly broke it open using his momentum and feet.

Just as the door snapped open a gasp could be heard throughout the living room as all the guests confusingly looked toward the sound. And in that same instant a Fox holding a bunny was suddenly seen sprinting right to the middle of the living room and jumping straight over the large table where the guests were gathered. Every single eye in the room was fixated on the fox above them in complete shock, even the guards themselves didn't pull out there gun or responded in any way completely flabbergasted at what was happening and unsure of what to do. Eventually Nick landed back down on his feet and continued sprinting right out of the front entrance.

And of course in that same instant Oliver and Bogo from a large distance, still staying vigilant in their task noticed someone suddenly coming out of the building with incredible speed.

"Who the hell is that.."

Bogo said as Oliver swiftly put the binoculars back on, seeing Nick running out with Jack in one of his hands.

"It's him! It's Nick! Sound the signal, go in now!"

Nick kept sprinting down through the yard towards the gate as a few of the guards behind him started to chase him, but before they could get anywhere near him the fox had disappeared behind two ZPD cars that rammed their way through the gate and right past him. And in that same instance more ZPD cars, officers and even SWAT vans started to completely surround the building almost appearing from thin air along with eve a helicopter.

Nick started slowing down as he saw a few officers approach the somewhat bloodied fox, but before they could say a single thing to Nick he shouted out. "Get the ambulance! Jack needs a hospital right now!" The officers stood still for a second but soon nodded at him in response and started running away from the estate, probably to an ambulance on hold by somewhere.

"Ah… Nick"

Nick's ears perked a little as he looked down at Jack, dropping his gun from his other hand and using it to support him further.

"Ah t-thanks.. it was getting hard to hold on.. I think I'm losing to much b-blood."

Jack said meekly trying his hardest to make a pained smile.

Nick clutched the rabbit tighter. "Don't worry just hold on a little longer, an ambulance will be here any second and you'll be ok!"

The fox said almost desperately, half trying to convince himself on the matter. Jack looked up at Nick with a shaky look in his eyes as he all of the sudden started to chuckle weakly.

"Hey Nick… do you think I'll get a chance to try wine at the restaurant too, I think that damned otter owes me more than just a dinner.."

Jack's breathing started to become a bit more rapid as Nick clutched him even tighter, trying to halt a few of his tears.

"Of course bunny.. you'll get as much wine as you want, by the end of the day we'll have to pay the butlers to carry us all the way home."

Jack let out a small giggle as he felt his eyelids close.

"I'd... like.. that."

Nick paused looking at Jack as the ambulance started showing up in the background.

"Jack?... Jack!"

Suddenly two animals from the ambulance hurried in front of Nick and took Jack from his hands putting him on a bed.

"W-Wait I-"

One of the animals stood in front of nick as the bed was being taken into the ambulance.

"Don't worry sir, I just checked his pulse and he's still breathing, he's just unconscious, we'll take him right away to the-"

"Take me with you!" Nick suddenly shouted out slightly surprising the animal as he calmed his voice down a little.

"…Please."


There was a strange type of silence in the ZPD infirmary that day, a single room with Nick sitting on a chair across from Jack, where the only sounds that could be heard was Jack's occasional breathing and his heart rate monitor. The scenario was very eerily similar to what happened almost half a year ago, with Judy. A small part of Nick almost felt like running away right now, just taking Jack out of his bed and running far away from this room… but of course, Nick knew that thought wasn't logical, and so he held onto his fists and forced himself to sit still.

Meanwhile chief Bogo was just a few rooms down from where Jack and Nick were.

"So.. how is he."

He said somewhat plainly but with a subtle hint of concern under his gruff tone. The nurse shook his head at him.

"Sorry chief we don't know yet, were still waiting on the scans from the doctor, until those are complete we don't really know how much damage has taken place."

"I see…"

Bogo said somewhat solemnly, not feeling sure on what else to ask the nurse.

"..Uhm sir, should I ask Nick to let him rest? I know we are working on the scans but visitor hours are almost over and, I know you're st-"

"Let him be."

Bogo replied softly yet with a certain authoritative sternness his tone tended to have.

"But sir-"

"I said let him stay Tina. You don't need to know the context of what that fox has been through up to this point, he deserves to know the answers sooner than anyone else."

That was all the chief said to her before getting up and leaving the room, the nurse only nodding in return.

Nick continued to sit next to Jack in silence; he couldn't help but think not of the events leading up to this point, but of the day before and his time before Judy's death. He remembered one of the biggest grievances he had with her untimely passing, not just being unable to save her or spend time with her, but never getting close to her. For the longest time he had kept all those feelings and emotions he had felt for Judy inside, locked away in a tight steel cage. He remembered at the time telling himself that it was because of their species, a bunny and a fox being together just wouldn't work, besides how would it affect their job as partners? what would others think?

But in hindsight Nick was able to see past those thoughts of his, all of those were lame excuses, excuses that Nick himself knew he didn't truly believe in. No, the real reason was he was afraid of opening himself up. Way before Jack and Judy that's what his entire life has been like, feeling too afraid and unsure of ever open himself up to others. It was like a little mask he wore to protect himself from feeling any pain from others during his con artist life style, the gazelle he went to after the bunny's passing had told him something similar awhile back too. Judy got closer to Nick than any other person he had ever known before her, she had opened up a lot of things inside Nick that he tried hiding away, as well as a new emotion he hadn't felt before, love.

But out of everything about himself that was the one he was most afraid of unlocking, the one with the most potential for harm. And so even from Judy he kept it secret, and before he had even known it she was gone. But yet, had he learned his lesson? No, not at all. Jack had taken over his life around the same time Judy had left his. He was a great friend beforehand when he had Judy but not in the same way he became afterward, he became beam of light and pillar of support for the fox during that trying period of time, and somehow managed to even succeed in getting Nick out of such a terrible rut.

And before he had even known it his locked up feelings had turned a new color, had changed into a different tune and once again started to try and come out. In fact they leaked out even stronger than ever before with Judy thanks to that one accidental kiss that drunken night. Yet even with this realization, and the feelings being stronger than ever before, he still rejected them.

And now… here you are again Nick. Alone.. in the infirmary, with the bunny you care about more than your own life, you have no idea if he's going to make it… and you didn't tell him a damn thing. You had so many opportunities that day, you could have not lied to him about what happened that night.. told him after the movies, even during training but still, you hide them.

Nick started bending down slightly in his chair holding onto his knees tightly, the fox starting to suddenly feel a somewhat familiar welling of emotions.

You stupid fox, when are you going to learn your lesson. Even if you learned it now you don't even know if it's already too late!

Nick almost dug into his own knees as the emotions kept boiling higher and higher, eventually tears starting to trickle down his closed and straining eyes.

"Stupid fox…. Stupid fox!"

"Well… not all the time."

Nick's facial expression took a complete 180 as he opened his eyes wide in surprise, he hastily turned his head over towards Jack to see the bunny awake and looking over at him.

"You know.. you have a bad habit of beating yourself up to much.."

"Jack!"

Nick quickly got out of his seat and went towards the bunny holding his paw gently.

"Jack are you-"

Suddenly the door to the room was opened up before he could say anything, the two animals quickly darting their eyes over to an ant-eater in a doctor's outfit.

"Oh I see you're still here, I suppose the chief let you stay after hours."

Nick gave his full attention to the ant-eater. "Doctor… how is he, is he going to be.."

The doctor unexpectedly laughed a little at Nick's comment.

"Oh he'll be quiet alright Mr. Wilde don't you worry. After a full scan it seems that the bullet had completely missed all vital organs, and not only that It didn't even hit any major nerves or well.. anything at all."

Jack seemed even more surprised than Nick at this revelation looking almost confusingly at the doctor.

"Seriously!?"

"Very seriously! In all honesty the angle of the shot and location was incredibly lucky, the only part you could consider negative was the heavy bleeding but considering how fast we were able to get you here and transfuse blood it was of no issue, I think you should be able to leave the hospital in less than two weeks' time and able to walk fully capably. Ah but you'll probably want to wait at least a month before doing any-"

Suddenly Nick went up and almost comically hugged the doctor with all of his might.

"Ooohh thank you thank you thank you doctor! I could just kiss you right now if you uh.. weren't an ant eater, and I maybe knew your name."

The doctor only smiled and laughed at Nick's antics.

"The names Dr. Agnus… but I'd prefer you don't kiss me now that you know my name."

Nick looked down at the doctor for a moment and somewhat awkwardly released his hold and stepped back.

"Ah right sorry, well it works out sense I have a strict code against kissing folks with the last name Agnus anyways."

Jack started to snicker at the situation going on in front of him. In fact his snickering very quickly started divulging from a giggle into a small laugh… a big laugh even. All of the sudden Jack found himself almost laughing uncontrollably despite the pain in his lower right stomach. Nick looked back at the bunny but let out a somewhat relieving sigh at seeing him act up so much.

"Alright bunny come on it wasn't that good of a gag, I don't want you opening your wound after all; that can wait for another joke."

Jack's laugh slowly subsided as he wiped a few tears from his eyes.

"Haha no it's… it's not that. It's just I'm… so happy to see the old Nick back."

He said as he gave the fox healthy wide and closed eyed smile, completely taking Nick by surprise at Jack's response. Nick slowly walked over to the bunny and gave him a gentle but heartfelt hug as Jack returned the favor.

"I'm sorry Jack… I promise I'll make it up to you."

Nick let go of the hug and put his hands on his shoulders giving him a smile.

"How about this… the very day you get out of the hospital I, using all of Oliver's money, will take you out just like I promised. It'll be one of Zootopia's best and most expensive restaurants out there, with equally as expensive wine."

Jack let out a snicker upon hearing Nick's proposal and smiled up at him.

"Really I should be the one doing something for you sense you saved my life but.. I suppose using Oliver's money isn't really a favor sense were both taking something from that. So in that case… you got yourself a deal."