A/N: Weeee. No more hate for Jack in this story. Makes me so happy because I was exactly trying to accomplish that. However, it is not the end of Nick and Jack's rivalry though. That's all I'm saying. Also, congratz to CAPTAINPRICE79 for getting the reference. :)

Disclaimer: (Refer to last chapter.)


Jack and Nick arrived at the ZPD, with Nick's eyes kept opening and closing repeatedly. He never expected the shot that Mac gave back at the Rainforest District to be that strong. Even though it was a quick sip. Meanwhile, Jack was all fine and mighty.

Nick grabbed the handle weakly and opened the door, breathing in the fresh air to get his mind straight again. He needed that.

"What's the matter, Wilde?" Jack said, coming out of the car and closing the door. "I thought you were tough."

Nick got back to his feet slowly. "It's been a while since I had a drink over there…" he said, lazily. He walked to the ZPD slowly, making his way to the restroom to wash his face. Until Judy popped up right in front of him.

"Nick!" she said with a smile.

Nick jumped and patted his chest from the shock. "Don't… Do that…" he warned.

Judy's face turned to confusion. "You look tired," she said.

"Just… A little dizzy…" he assured. "I just need to go wash my face up and we can go have lunch…" He pushed her aside slowly and kept walking to the restroom only more careful this time.

"He'll be fine," Jack said with a smile. "I'm sure he's not so use with the air freshener in my car."

"He didn't puke, did he?" she asked.

"Not at all." Jack was trying to cover Nick by not telling her that both of them were having a drink. And luckily, she bought it.

"Well, I'm so glad you two are okay. Honestly, I really thought you wouldn't."

Jack chuckled. "Not at first that is…" he added. He glanced at Judy. "Tell me, Hopps. How long has it been since you two were… Partners?" Jack wanted to say 'lovers' but he didn't want to get too personal.

"Almost a year now," Judy answered, with full confidence. "We always had the idea to show everyone that natural enemies CAN become a good team. Apparently… It's not just us."

"Not just you? What do you mean?"

"Oh… Well, you see…"

"Alright, Carrots!" Nick cut in with a grin on his face. He looked more wide and awake now. "Let's go. Sorry for the hold up." He turned to Jack. "It was nice working with you, Agent Savage," he said, saluting.

Jack nodded back and watched the two leave the station. He sighed and placed a finger on his forehead. "Time sure has changed…" he thought.

Later…

"So how did things go with Savage?" Judy asked, sucking on the straw to her ice lemon tea.

"He's actually really cool," Nick answered, looking at his phone with a can of soda on his left. "I didn't know he was actually part of the navy even. Then he got recruited into MI6 during one of his accomplishment back then."

Judy stirred the ice in her drink with the straw and thought for a while. "I found a lead, Nick," she said softly, hoping no one would listen.

"On the loan shark case?" Nick asked after he almost choked on his drink.

She nodded. "I found a jacket on the lighthouse. Wolfard is doing inspection on it now."

"With his nose?" Nick joked.

Judy sucked on the straw and nodded.

Nick quickly looked away to his phone to avoid her unintentional cute looks.

"So… What about Savage's case?" Judy asked, looking outside.

He looked back up to her and stared at her. "Well… We know one thing," he started. "We know there is a group of loan sharks called Orgullo de Gatos. All of them are part of the cat family."

Judy quickly turned to her partner. "Cats…?" she said.

"Yea. Manchas use to be one of them before he worked for Mr. Big."

"Manchas? As in, THE Mr. Manchas that use to hunt us after being shot with the Night Howlers?"

"That's the one. But he should be safe. If he's with Mr. Big that is."

"Nick," Judy said, standing up. "Voxroy told me about a couple of cats at Cliffside. He actually saw both of them but didn't take a good look on their faces. It was dark after all. And he was also wearing a straitjacket, so, you know…"

"Well… Can't blame him for being crazy."

Judy sat back down and tapped her fingers a bit, thinking. When suddenly, an idea hit her. "Do you think we can get Max to help us?" she asked. "He was in the Robin Hood before right?"

"I doubt he'll talk anyway," Nick said. "He said he's leaving all that behind already. Did you hear? Sophie moved in with him for the moment."

"Is that so? Huh… Guess that makes more sense…"

Nick thought for a moment. "But then again… I could be wrong. I could never really tell what he's thinking since it's been a while. He's changed a lot too. So who knows?"

"We could try," Judy suggested.

The fox nodded and started texting to his friend in hopes he would reply soon. However, after a few minutes, still nothing. "Looks like we'll have to wait for the reply," Nick said.

"Do you think we should call him in to help with Savage?"

Nick stayed quiet and stared at the table. "I don't think that's a good idea… Savage knows that two of the Robin Hood members are foxes… That's why…"

"He doesn't trust you?"

Nick nodded once. "I'm guessing that if he sees Max, I think he might take it very personal."

Judy's phone rang and she checked it. A message from Wolfard saying, "Get to HQ now."

"We gotta go," Judy said, standing up and finished up her drink fast by sucking on the straw hard until there was nothing in her glass but ice. She sighed as the cold air breathed out of her mouth. "Wolfard just found something about the jacket."

Nick took the straw out of the can and chugged his soda carefully, not to choke on it. Just like Judy, he breathed out a sigh. "Let's go then," he said.

Meanwhile back at Jack's safehouse. It was in the Palm Hotel in Sahara Square, first-class too. He placed his suitcase by the door and loosened his tie after taking off his suit jacket. He looked out the window at the train that was coming from Bunnyburrow on the right to the main city. He sighed. "What a lively place…" he said to himself.

He felt so comfortable. It was nothing like back in England. So much freedom here. His phone started vibrating but thanks to his big ears, he managed to hear table shaking. He picked it up. Unknown caller. However, the number was very familiar.

"Savage speaking," he said, inserting a paw in his pocket.

"How is the case going?" said a female on the other end of the line.

"Could be better," he answered, chuckling sitting down on the bed. "I don't think it's a strong lead though. So I'm going to continue finding something worth investigating."

The caller giggled. "Well, I'm sure you'll find it in no time," she said. "And Jack…?"

"Hm?"

Silence at first. "Just… Don't take it too personal, okay…? I know what you've been through."

He stayed silent at first. "Okay…" he said, nodding. "Don't worry about it, Nadya."

"Take care, Jack," she said before hanging up.

Jack sighed and placed a paw over his head, looking down blankly but his mind full with mixed thoughts. He knew he didn't want to take the case too personally but… His mind kept changing his decisions.

He looked at the files that was on the table. He walked over to it and grabbed a blurry picture of a fox wearing a black muzzle. "Ghost…" he said to himself. He clenched his other paw into a fist and frowned.


A/N: Uh oh… I think the suspense is coming in hot. Not really though. It's still too soon. Glad I manage to post this on my regular schedule. Sorry if it's not long enough. At least I'm happy Nick and Jack are getting along with each other.

I'm sure some of you are confuse with this 'ghost' that Jack was mentioning. If you read Trust Issues, you'd get it. Unless if you wanna get surprised, then don't read it. Best advice from me. Anyway, off to write chapter 8. :)