After revealing the press conference to Nick, he was a little surprised to hear she wanted him beside her given the situation and experience from last time.

"I want you there with me, Nick." She begged. "I want to make things right but I need your help. Will you help me?"

"Yea, sure."

Needless to say, Judy and Nick knew they weren't going to sleep well that night knowing that the looming press conference was around the corner.

The next morning

And well… they didn't. The sun was shining to awaken our heroes at 9am and Judy being an early riser awoke before Nick who was still twisted in the sheets on the floor. Glancing over at the vulpine, she noticed his fur was all ruffled from the night before; likely from tossing and turning during the night. Somehow she had managed to keep her fur relatively under control despite the fact that she kept dozing in and out thinking about what would be said at the press conference happening today. Would she be scripted or would she be on a free will basis? What kinds of questions would they ask? Would they wonder about her status as an officer? Would they question the relevance to the predators within the case? Would they question Nick if they knew he had helped her with the case? Looking at her clock, she went to proceeding to turn it off as it would go off in half an hour and she was not going back to sleep.

Deciding she should probably get the bags out from underneath her eyes, she hopped out of bed and limped in her night shirt and pants over to her field uniform and half considered putting it on after her shower. Deciding against it, what she did do was grab her dress blues and her teal t-shirt with her blue leggings, her toiletries and carefully went past the sleeping fox to the door in hopes of not waking him. Closing the door shut, she limped down the hall to the bathroom to step inside, lock the door and get ready. Looking at herself in the mirror, she winced seeing the convincing shadows underneath and cursed herself for overthinking too much.

"I really need to just shut my brain down at night." She said to no one.

Getting herself undressed and grabbing her brush, she stroke through her head, ears, and back of neck where it needed the care most along with floofing her tail. After doing one better thorough brushing and after feeling satisfied with her work, Judy went to get dressed in her t-shirt and leggings combo. After that came washing her face and brushing her teeth to make sure she was ready and presentable for the presentation. Satisfied she was ready to go for the day she inhaled a breath and paused for a moment to look at her reflection.

"Okay Judy, you can do this. Just keep calm and think neutral. You don't have to answer anything if you don't feel comfortable."

After taking one more breath to reaffirm her focus, she grabbed her carefully folded dress blues, her folded pajamas and exited the public bathroom to head back to her apartment. Creaking the door open, she still found her fox compadre asleep. Hmm… to wake him or not wake him, she pondered to herself. If I do wake him he might get fussy, but if I don't wake him, he might take his grand old time getting up and I'll be late for downtown.

"Okay… wake him." She decided with a nod.

Setting her clothes down beside her, she limped over to the motionless body. Now how he didn't hear her and that creaking floor she would never know. Raising a brow and smiling deviously, she bent over and lowered next to his ears. His face was facing the other direction but she could see he was snoring with a tongue dangling out from his jaws. With a paw raised over one of his ears, she gripped it gently in her grasp and waited a few more moments before shouting.

With a deep inhale she shouted right in his ear,
"WAAAAKE UUUUP!"

Nick barking in surprise was bolted up several feet in the air before coming back down with a loud thud. He groaned having known he probably bit his tongue, again, and popped a bone or two in the process. He laid there in a sort of twisted position, rear side facing one side, his head another while glaring at Judy who nearly toppled herself over while laughing in response.

"Geez… a softer wakeup call would've been more preferable." He complained.

"Sorry." She apologized quieting her laughter. "But I'm up early and ready to go. If I'm going to have to do a press conference, I want my fox to be just as presentable as me."

"I assure you Carrots," he started as he sat up arching his back. "that I'm perfectly presentable 100% already." Feeling a pop in his back he whined. "Providing I don't fall apart first."

"Har har. Come on, get yourself ready. We've got breakfast to fetch before I have to head into Savannah Central for the conference."

"Oh? What's on the menu?" Nick asked.

"I don't know, haven't thought that far ahead. Now get to the bathroom and clean up."

"Geez, a please would suffice." He stated with a huff.

She rolled her eyes.
"/Please/ get going." Judy requested.

"All right." He answered as he stood up and did a mock bow. "As your mistress commands; ouch! There's another one."

"Hmm… hurry up quick enough and you might just get a massage from me."

"Massage? From your dirty paws? No thanks." He retorted with an dismiss of a paw.

"Cut the crap Wilde. I assure you my paws are the cleanest in the neighborhood. PROBABLY even cleaner than yours."

"Ouch, that hurts Carrots."

"Just get going all ready!"

"Okeh, okeh!"

After a moment of him stepping outside the door frame, he popped his head back into view.
"Uhh Carrots?"

"What is it now Slick?" She asked crossing her arms.

"Do you by chance… have a spare brush I can borrow?"

She jolted being caught off guard by the question.
"Oh umm… not really? Let me see what I can do for you. I think I have a spare somewhere…"

After fiddling with her drawers for a few minutes and digging deep in there, (just how much space does she have to search?), she did find one brush and was about to hand it off to him. Nick reaching for the utensil was interrupted when she retaliated for a second.

"Oh no. Wait a minute… I'm not about to lend a brush to a stranger that hasn't even showered for at least a couple of days! Promise me you'll shower THEN you can use this brush!"

"Carrots…" he droned looking at her with a deadpan glare.

"PROMISE!" she asked arching the brush forward.

He sighed.
"Fine. I promise." He droned again.

"Good. Here. And you can use this too." She replied to him handing him her brush and shampoo.

"And please for the love of god don't use it all…" she droned to him as was turning around.

He beckoned her with a dismissive wave as he headed out into the hallway. Heading on down the hall, he strolled with the objects in hand taking in a merry expression.

"Geez… sometimes she can be so bossy." He thought to himself.

"Don't do this, don't do that…" he mocked rocking his head briefly.

He huffed.
"But… today is a big day for that fluff ball… I guess I better behave and be on time with my shower or I'm never going to hear the end of it from her." He continued thinking to himself.

Nick approached the public restroom and lifted the shampoo she had lent him.

"What is this stuff anyway?"

He made a startled face realizing what he was reading.
"Lilac? UGH! Of course!" he commented chuckling.

Giving it a good shake, he measured to see how much was leftover.

"Hmm… seems like enough… but it's going to take me forever to get all of my fur covered! And I bet she's a short hair too…"

He looked at the bottle closely to read the fine print.
"Yup. She's not a medium-fur. Peachy. All right Nicky my boy, time to get to work!"

Stepping on inside and locking the door behind him, he whistled in admiration. The facility was well kept despite behind public to all the renters on the floor; he didn't figure that there weren't that many given the eerie quietness of the complex, and it was clean and practically untouchable. The three individual stalls on one side and the three urinals all appeared to be in top shape; and there was one shower and two sinks with mirrors to attend to the needs. Dropping his clothes he went to take the shampoo in and start up the shower head knob and make it to adjust to his size. Cursing to himself he felt the brutal icy water hitting his auburn fur, but he slowly, and patiently, waited for the water to warm up. What would have taken maybe fifteen minutes for Judy to take her shower will take twice if not three times as long for Nick to take his to get not only his top fur but also two layers underneath; not to mention his tail that was the worst receiving end in brutal tuffs and ruffs.

It did take Nick a good forty five minutes to fully take his shower after repeated washing and rinsing, and in the meantime Judy was fidgety and rapping the floor with her good foot while leaning against the side of her bed waiting for him. At one point it dawned onto her she didn't even think of lending him a towel. She blushed knowing what was coming… or what could potentially be happening, and hoping that he was done if not close to being done, she grabbed, thank goodness, a spare towel that she too had underneath and took it to the restroom hopping on down the hall. She rapped on the door calling out to Nick.

"Nick? Nick I thought you should know I brought a towel. Sorry for not lending you one beforehand!"

She paused to lean one ear against to the door to see if he heard her. It was faint but there was still a mist in the background.
"Okay! I'm going to leave it in front of the door all right? See you back in the apartment!" she hollered again to him.

He didn't respond, but she hoped he would soon figure out that he was towel-less and would find one on the ground in front of the door for him. Near close to the end of his shower, his ears perked as he thought he heard some muffling in the background. He paused for a moment to listen but then shrugged it off. Finishing the last rinse, he arched his back relieved that the pops were no longer happening due to the heat of the warm water. Turning the knob off he realized he had made a horrid mistake; there was no towel! And it didn't appear there were any blow driers either… seriously how does a complex like this not have a tool to dry off fur!? Cursing to himself again he carefully stepped out of the shower onto the cold tile floor heading to the door. Dripping wet fur treading the floor, his literal puddle was convincing enough that he was soaked. "Maybe perhaps she realized her mistake and gave me a spare?" he thought to himself. Carefully opening the door and peeping out, he did spot a folded square on the floor in front of the door. Arching his brow, he smiled; "Thanks Carrots." Grabbing the spare towel, he reentered and locked it before proceeding to dry himself off. As usual after giving himself a thorough drying, the electricity from the rubbing made his fur turn into browned marshmallow puff with a bushy brown tipped stem sticking on the end. That was quick to disappear as he grabbed Judy's brush and started combing himself out. Extra soft and fragrant, his soft fur gleamed with each stroke that he thoroughly took to get himself clean.

After about ten minutes or so he dressed and grabbed the amenities to walk out. Arriving at the door frame, he paused to perch his ear against the door to make sure his companion wasn't doing anything inappropriate.

"Okay, I'm coming in Carrots!"

"That's fine Slick." He heard from a muffled voice.

Opening the door, he slid in to immediately start hearing thumpthumpthumpthumpthump coming from the good foot while she was sitting on the edge of her bed with her arms crossed.

Hearing him step in, she looked over at him crossly.
"Well it's about time Slick!"

"Carrots please~ I have twice as much fur as you do so I take twice as long to turn myself into purfection!" he stated as he grinned matter-as-factly.

"Nick, I don't have time for your silly jokes. Now let's goo-ahhh!"

She had made the mistake of jumping off her bed. Realizing her bad leg had other plans, she collapsed on the impact of the sharp pain.
"Still forgetting one of your tools is a little rusty?" he joked.

"Oh shush you!" she barked grimacing. She had to take a moment of hissed breaths before getting back up.

"You got it Carrots?"

"I'm good, I'm good."

"Okay, so since we're going to probably be walking around a lot, I'd recommend the wheelchair again." Nick suggested.

"Ugh… really that thing again? I think I'd be fine with the crutches." Judy complained.

"No-no… listen to Doc Nicky. You want to be on your feet and back on the force?"

She grew a half smile on her face and arched a brow in amusement.
"Doc Nicky?"

He coughed to clear the air.
"Never mind that. Do you or do you not want to be back on your feet?"

"Oh so you're a doctor now huh?" she giggled teasing him.

"Carrots, I'm a master of the arts. Now please answer me~"

"Okay okay. Yes, yes I do."

"Then listen to me, take the wheelchair. You won't regret it."

She rolled her eyes and huffed in relent.
"Fine, I'll take the stupid chair but we're taking the stilts just in case."

"That's a good bunny~"

She huffed.
"Don't do that." She moaned with half lidded eyes.

Nick only shrugged in reply. While they tidied up the apartment and got their belongings together, Nick asked when the couch would be delivered. Judy not even thinking about that went to check her phone for any confirmation emails on her zootunes email account. After confirming it was sent out that morning to be shipped it would be sometime before it figured its way out there; they agreed based on the destination time they had time to do the conference and maybe do a quick lunch before being back to greet the delivery mammals.

"Do you even know if that thing is coming whole or in pieces?" He asked.

She shrugged to indicate she didn't.
"Even if it isn't, I'm sure there's a way to figure it out or the mammals will help us out."

Nick didn't look so convinced.

"All right, if you say so."

Grabbing their belongings and heading out the door, they were quick to head down the steps. Before Nick brings down his lapin's leg accessories, he decided he would gracefully carry her down bridal style. A moan and groan later with a narrowing of the eyes, she let him do his silly thing, though at this point she was starting to think she really could walk on her own. Nick didn't mind though, and did he mind being her pack mule for her? No, no he didn't. If she was going to be his future partner-in-crime, then he needed to earn her respect properly. Since the train routine was second nature to them now, they decided they would grab a bite once they were in downtown city center. That is not to say that meanwhile on their train ride, Judy thanked Nick and told him how much she really appreciated for him sticking with her on this; that earned a dismissive shrug and soft smile from the Reynard.

The train routes with the adjusted changing at the stations with the wheelchair and stilts for a couple of rounds got them into the main train station by 11:30, a little too close to call in Judy's preference. They decided they would go grab a doughnut for each, a tea for Judy and a coffee for Nick. Nick half tempted to take her into the Snarlbucks close by but she rejected that idea right away. "I distaste going inside there. They're snobs and they're way too expensive anyway." Nick shrugged it off and made a mental note he would try to convince her later that not all are snobs and they're in vast locations for a quick bite to eat on a lunch break. So instead they found the closest coffee shop near the center, a comfortable place named Jaggin's Quick-In's run by a male white tail deer brewer. After they got their breakfast they went back to the center of the hall with haste, and finishing their last nibble or last lick of a finger from their doughnuts, they realized the press was long waiting for the hall to open the doors and let them in.

"Ugh… great." Judy complained rubbing her temples.

"Hmm…" Nick thought tapping his chin while sipping his to go cup and looking around.

He caught sight of a rabbit mother heading with her kid towards the hall. His ears perked up and his eyes went wide with almost a hint of a sparkle.

"I think I got an idea!" Nick said with a grin wagging his tail.

"Nick? What are you scheming?" Judy asked with a hefty raised brow.

"You'll see~" he answered with a singsone tone and a grin to match.

Leaving his companion alone for a minute, he cautiously approached the matriarch with her kit in paw.
"Ma'am… do you mind helping us with a favor?" he asked the rabbit, whom in question perked her ear. Within moments, the quad group was able to get inside the building without the press paying too much of a notice to them.

"Thank you so much for helping us out. It really means a lot." Nick thanked putting a paw of gesture to his chest.

"It's not a problem at all! Anything for the bunny cop that my little girl looks up to." She replied.

"And you my dear were exceptional with your acting!" Nick whispered winking at the female kit who only replied with a toothy grin. "You keep practicing and you'll be able to fool your parents of anything~"

"Nick!" Judy hissed reprimanding him.

After Nick waved goodbye to the mother rabbit and kit, he turned to Judy who gave him a rather displeasing scowl.

"What?" he asked shrugging.

She crossed her arms.
"I can't believe you hustled that poor mammal into thinking you were a lawyer for a major case and couldn't face the press alone."

"Carrots, you gotta admit that kid was good. She made it convincing you were her older sister that recently got into a fight."

"Even so… the press would've gone after me, not you."

"Errr… TECHNICALLY it wasn't a lie. I DID help /someone/ with a case so TECHNICALLY I was a lawyer."

"Ugh… whatever. Next time just ask someone a simple yes or no please."

"Oh sure, just go the legal way around it." He remarked pretending to contemplate the pros and cons. "Carrots, if you want it to be convincing you have got to play the part! And you did so, mind you, making it appear legit."

She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, let's just find the chief and get this over with."

"I thought I heard trouble." A booming voice sounded off in the distance.

"Oh, chief!" Judy shouted.

She was rolling her wheelchair with crutches in lap, but when she heard Bogo she immediately halted and saluted so fast they fell off a couple of feet in front of her.

"At ease, Hopps. And for pity's sake, clean up your mess!" he commanded.

"On it Chief." Nick replied with a smile.

Bogo was speaking to Officers Fangmeyer, Grizzoli and Delgato that would be keeping the crowd in check for the conference and was giving them instructions. When he heard the bickering in the background, not that he cared too much for it, he looked to see it was the rabbit he was looking for. The fox…

"And you are?" he questioned with a brow.

"Chief, sir, this is Nick. The fox that I recommended to you that should join us in the force?"

"Ah yes, I think I remember you." He replied with a stiff maneuver to put his arms behind his back.

"The one who stood up to me in the Rainforest District a few months ago." He droned with a raised brow.

"My apologies, but someone had to reassure you that Car-Officer Hopps was doing her job perfectly." Nick replied with sincerity.

He snorted.
"No matter, at this point I don't care. What I DO care about with my officers is HOW they're SUPPOSED to be dressed for an interview." He pinned his eyes at the rabbit with daggers.

"Don't worry sir; I brought my blues just in case. I… wasn't sure if I should be prepared or not."

"Quite right. Now go get yourself changed and I'll brief you on how to address the public."

"Yes sir." She replied with a nod.

"Oh, and Hopps?" he asked just as they were wheeling away.

He turned a half shoulder towards them.
"We will speak about your umm… fox and his application after the conference."

"Yes sir." She replied calmly but used her strength to hold back a gleaming smile.

"You think he's onto me?" Nick whispered once they were out of range.

"Oh nonsense." She replied with a dismissive wave. "He really is a softy once you get to know him. Err, I think."

"Uh-huh…" he replied unconvincingly.

It didn't take long for Judy to change into her Dress Blues for the conference, albeit with a little bit of Nick's help getting into it. Readjusting her black tie, she took a deep breath and sighed looking at herself in the mirror of the restroom.

"It's okay Judy, you have Nick this time to cover your back. You won't mess this up."

Though her heart was pounding, she was reassured that Nick would be there to back her up with answers for any unexpected questions if necessary and to dodge ones she didn't feel comfortable answering. After making the final adjustments, she met Nick outside with crutches under her armpits and him pushing her wheelchair along.

"You sure you don't need this?" he asked for what seemed like the third time.

"Nick, I answered you before and I will answer you again. Unless it's an emergency situation I will be fine. Besides, even if I limp I'm faster on my feet than that cursed thing." She replied.

"Fine, but I'm keeping it close by just in case."

She simply rolled her eyes. Meeting up with Chief Bogo, he introduced to her what was going to happen. Under jurisdiction everyone is going to know about the updates, but what is to be said is kept on a low key basis. Just because they MAY have started research with the Night Howler serum that Nick surrendered that night does not mean the press needs to know every detail. She was to keep things strictly neutral until the ZPD could come to complete factual conclusions, not hypothesis guesses. She may choose to elaborate her details with the fox if she wishes, but warned her to choose her words wisely as they can twist any detail into the wrong statements and that it might backfire her with whatever good she may have to say. With an affirmative nod to understand the directions, the trio went to approach the now new crowd with flashers and blinkers waiting for the podium to have its guest speaker.

"You are free to say I'm not answering any further questions at this time, do you understand Hopps?" he asked with sympathy toward her knowing full well of the case she's involved in.

"Yes." She mumbled quietly.

"Very well. I will go ahead and get the conference started; I will signal you when to come up."

"Yes sir."

As she watched him walk off into the crowd she couldn't help but stare at the crowding animals calling out Chief Bogos name. Biting her lip, she paused recognizing her nervousness and her breathing quickened a little. However, a welcoming gentle paw touched her shoulder and she looked up to see Nick genuinely smiling at her to reassure her it's all right. With a silent 'thank you' smile she looked to the crowd again, and after a few minutes Bogo waved for her to come up. Taking a gulp, she started limping forward with the stilts in clutch and Nick leisurely trailing behind. Approaching the podium, Nick put her wheelchair to the side, took a hold of her crutches with one paw and held out his other as base for Judy to shift her weight to get herself up onto the podium to face the microphone. Nick taking a couple of step backs to stand beside the chief and out of the picture, Judy faced the crowd who was quick to blind her with flashes going off in milliseconds and thousands of reporters calling out 'Officer Hopps' name. Taking a couple of nervous titters, she looked to a beaver eager to get his question answered.

"Yes?" she began.

"Officer Hopps, Channel 5 news, is it true that the ones going savage were actually not influenced by DNA as originally speculated?"

"No that is not the case, and I sincerely apologize for making such a wrong assumption before. I was blind with mere fiction over fact."

"So what is going on with the case?"

"The case involving the mammals you mean?"

The beaver nods.

"At this time the ZPD is doing proper research to come up with a conclusive answer in regards to what happened with the mammals involved with the attacks. So as of right now we cannot give you any further details until we know for certain what they are."

"But what we had heard was it was caused by a drug. Can you further elaborate on that?"

"The drug that we know at this current time, Midnicampum holicithias, or the Night Howler drug, was the cause of the chemical induction to make the victimized mammals go savage, pred or predator. Now at this further time we don't know much of it and are looking into it. No further updates."

The crowds start shouting her name again; satisfied the beaver could not get any more, she scans the crowd for another question. She gives head to a female giraffe in a red suit.

"Officer Hopps, is it true that at this very moment you're not officially back on duty yet?"

Judy was taken aback by that statement.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"We had heard rumors that you resigned your position until further notice. Can you give us any light on that subject?" she asked.

"How did they find out I quit? They must have made it public when I announced it in front of Bellwether" she thought to herself. Looking back at the chief for affirmation, he shook his head and she immediately knew what that meant; "Don't give anything sensitive away." Turning back forward and thinking, she looked up and replied,

"At this current time… my actions are being reviewed. I do not know the current status of my position, but," she paused to think the next part carefully.

With a small gulp she continued on.
"I know that… considering my involvement with the case, I know that you shall receive your answers as this will all come to a conclusion together, I hope."

"So… you openly admit that your actions were wrong?"

"I'm sorry; you'll have to be more specific in what you're referring to with 'my actions'."

"We know that you admit fault to wrongly specifying the cause of the savage attacks. But what we want to know is, while the results of the attacks were going on, you openly resigned and disappeared without doing anything about it. Why not stick around to help?"

She blinked.
"I beg your pardon?"

Another mammal spoke up, a cheetah in a black dress.

"Quite right, while the predators were being wrongly accused and treated unfairly during the attacks, you stood by and did nothing while, mind you, Mayor Bellwether was all but doing anything of finding a way to calm things down."

WHAT? How dare she insist that she did nothing with stepping out of the picture. She did everything she could in that current position… didn't she? Judy did her best to keep herself calm while Bogo stepped in briefly to address the crowd. He assured them that while these events were occurring, Officer Hopps was acting to the best of her knowledge and in no way did she know that her actions would lead to such confrontations. He apologized to the crowd on the ZPDS behalf. After Bogo was done, Judy added something in beside him.

"Thank you, sir. Noting to the chief, I would also like to add that I only wish the best for the cooperation of the future between prey and predators. I know, deep in my heart, that it was wrong to address the situation the way I did, but I look to see past my mistakes and only for the future. I know that it can't happen in a day, or a week, or a year, but I know with understanding and better…" She had to pause to think of the right word, "… knowledge, that we can make the world a better place. I will take one more question."

Scanning the crowd once more, she picked a female antelope with curly hair and red loop earrings in a formal black blouse and black pencil skirt.

"Amelia Shoner, ZNN, technically two questions if you don't mind me asking. While we are working to resolve the Savage case, what is being done currently with a new mayor? And two, in light of what you said in cooperation, how can you be so sure we can trust predators now that we now know it was a PREY behind this that is now currently behind bars?"

"At this current time I have no knowledge of what's happening with the new mayor."

That wasn't a lie as the details weren't disclosed to her… yet. Probably would need to have the council have an election for a new mayor, or have a vote with the assistant mayor to step in after extreme background history review to make sure they didn't continue any of Bellwether's plans.

"Now as regards to trusting others be it prey or predator, for now the one thing we know is that the predators were not acting on their own instincts, but rather were forced by that drug. How? I am not sure. But what I know for sure is Bellwhether had a reason for doing what she did as does anyone when they conduct an action into play. No one knows for sure why it happens; maybe there's a specific reason or maybe they do it just to do it. My point is, if you are to look at someone, and see them for exactly what they are, then we can't move forward."

She looked back briefly at Nick who perked his ears and she smiled at him before returning to crowd.

"But, if we are to understand each other, mistakes and all, if we adapt and learn to realize someone is much more than what they appear to me, then at the end of the day we can and we will become a true Utopia and work with each other will all skills big and small no matter what we look like and how we act. I know it's a lot to take in that a prey was behind this but, what I also know is we're all better than that at the end of the day. We can't come to a straight conclusion with every instance that happens… but rather, find a way to solve it coherently or otherwise we will never move forward. Thank you, no more questions."

Ending the conference Judy started to leave the podium with Nick quick to help her down. Some of the reporters caught this act and was staring intently at the two and how they were interacting, gazing wide eyed and murmuring. Both did notice the reactions and while Judy withheld a subtle groan, Nick only kept his ears neutrally angled pretending to not care nor notice the actions. Setting Judy back up on her wheelchair, Judy asked very quietly to Nick at just a tad of a whisper, "Did I do okay?"

With a snort, the tod rolled his eyes. "Got a little personal there at the end Carrots, but you got your point across."

The doe snorted back and gave a playful punch to his shoulder before they collected her crutches to place them on her lap. As they were beginning to head back to the Chief to join him heading back to the station, they could hear some ruckus in the background but didn't pay much attention to it. However, Judy's lapin ears could pick up a word or two was being expressed in the protest, it made her skin crawl.

"Nick… please hurry on to the Chief." She pleaded.

"What for?" he asked with a half-lidded smile.

"Just do it." She commanded.

"Okay then, you're the boss." He answered in a singsong tone.

Truth be told, Nick knew what was going on as well, though he chose to show he wasn't reacting to it. The single twitches of his ears indicated he was indeed listening; someone in the crowd was not pleased with the results of the conference and he silently prayed to whatever deity above that the officers on duty would respond to this mammal soon if he kept going like he was. Catching up to the chief across the park, they walked into the entrance of the City Center Station with an excited chubby cheetah waving to Judy who saluted Bogo.

"Now, with that behind us, let's see your application." Bogo insisted to Nick, holding out a hoof.

"Uh… yea. About that Chief…" Judy replied with a titter and fished for the paper in her pockets.

With one look at the folded catastrophe, Bogo grunted and sighed.
"Clawhauser, see to it this fox gets a new clean form and submits this in to me please."

"Yes sir!" the cheetah replied, keeping firm his salute towards his chief.

"Very well… I have other matters to attend to. Wilde, when you're finished submit it in to Clawhauser. Hopps, be careful on your recovery and I shall see you soon."

While Judy and Clawhauser said "Yes sir!" in unison, Nick remained silent.

As soon as they saw Bogo up the stairs and disappeared into his office, Benjamin relaxed and squealed excitedly at the sight.
"Oh… Em… GOODNESS! I can't believe this is happening!"

"What is Clawhauser?" Judy asked unable to hide a grin on her kiddish confidant.

"Why, the first fox officer of course! First we have Judy as our first rabbit, and then we have… err… what was your name again?"

"Wilde. Nick Wilde." The tod replied with a lazy two finger salute.

"I can just see it now! The invisible Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde on the force! Here to kick butt and protect the city!" he declared with a squeak of delight.

"Easy there Benjamin! *laughs* I haven't even made it through the academy yet." He replied with a fond head shake. "Say…Mind me calling you Benny?"

"Nick!" Judy barked.

"Relax Carrots, if by chance I'm here as an officer, by calling someone by one of my /ingenious/ nicknames means the mammal is a friend of mine." He tutted with a paw to his chest.

The doe arched her brow.
"Really? And is that how you're going to talk when facing Bogo?"

"Oh he'll be special. I'll have to come up with a good name for him~" he replied rubbing the bottom of his chin.

"Enough of that! Don't you have a new application form to fill out?" she asked gesturing him with a matter-of-fact position.

"Oh right right right!" Clawhauser reacted pulling himself out of his fan-based trance.

With some shuffling around, Clawhauser pulled up a new clean form for Nick to fill out. While Nick was reapplying the information just as he had it before, Judy casually glanced in their direction amidst lost in thought. Soon enough the first fox to the ZPD would be submitting in his form to be reviewed and hopefully accepted into the academy, and if he blazed through the academy just like she did she would have a future partner in crime by her side. Ben was right, they would have a lot of fun fighting crime and protecting the city, quick to defend the citizens in the name of Trust, Bravery and Integrity. Then that thought pulled her into another trance. Looking down at the badge of her chest she was now wearing again, out of respect for the ZPD, she plucked it from its position to give it a gentle rub with her right thumb.

"…wrongly accused and treated unfairly during the attacks, you stood by and did nothing."

Those last words stung like ice in her mind as she gazed at her reflection on her shining badge. Was her efforts ending up all for nothing? That no matter how much of a difference she tried to make, that it ultimately backfire at her like her very words towards Nick? Was it worth it to come back to the city she loved still filled with prejudice, anger, resentment and fear? Her heart started to thump and her head became slightly dizzy when a bunch of flashbacks came at her like a freight train. The initial reactions of the conference… the savage polar bear attack file… the protests at Gazelle's rally… a misjudged beaten tiger for simply picking up a lollipop for a crying lamb… a bunch of innocent mammals taken away and the shear glare they sent towards the camera… a crime scene where both predators and prey resulted being injured…

She didn't mean for things to roll out the way it did, it just… happened. She was no hero. Just like what she said at the mayor's office, she mumbled those five words.
"I don't deserve this badge."

Unaware she had spoken out loud she heard a voice call out to her a few times. The third time it clicked and she looked up, emerald eyes meeting violet and a most hurtful expression on the tod's face was looking straight at her.

"What… what did you say?" the tod asked perplexed at the statement.

"Nick. I…I" she croaked, ears drooped and breathing hitched, she was on an edge of breaking with her lips quivering.

"Judy… why on earth would you say that?"

Glancing around Nick, she noticed Clawhauser peeking his head out from behind the desk with his paws only just visible on the edge of it. He also had the caught in the headlights expression as the phrase just about stabbed him in the heart.

"Clawhauser, I am so so sorry!" Judy apologized relearning how to speak.

If her ears could drop further they would have, and her shoulders sagged as she held the most prized possession of her life loosely in her palms.

With a sigh she pleaded not breaking contact with her badge, "Nick I… I want to go home."

With a sigh he closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath.
"All right. I'll take you back to your apartment."

As Nick startled to wheel Judy out of the station, he glanced behind to a fatty kitty slowly emerging from his den. With a wink of his eye saying, "Don't worry. I got this" and a genuine smile across his lips, Benjamin smiled in response and curled his tail in easement relieved that someone was looking out for his little sister Judy.

Arriving back at the apartment, Nick gave Judy a few minutes to change privately. After she had changed and he had locked the door behind, Nick found his lapin back in her blue shirt with black leggings lying down on the bed with the bad leg hoisted on the other one, and a frown plastered on her face while she stared at her desk. The ride there was inevitable, but it was awkward and erringly quiet still the same. Neither spoke to each other; they didn't even give so much as a glance; and while they themselves were surrounded by noise and clatter, they were a literal void of the death zone trap. With a nervous rub to the arch of his neck and a sigh, he strolled over to the bedside next to her.

"Hey Carrots… mind if I?" he asked asking for permission to sit.

Judy didn't change her position but she did nod to the tod. With a squish of the mattress and a spring of a bolt, Nick sat with elbows resting on his knees and glancing over at Judy with a frown himself to match hers. With a flick of his ears twisting back and a sigh, he looked over.

"So Carrots… want to talk about what got you so upset?"

No response.

"Okay… don't talk. It's cool. If you don't want to discuss this that's fine."

"No." she blunted out in a reply continuing to look away.

"Sorry?" He asked, confused at the remark.

"No." she repeated with a huff. "The cheetah was right. I did /nothing/."

"Carrots, did you not hear what the cheif said during the conference? You were acting to the best of your knowledge." He countered with a wave of a paw.

She pulled herself up and rested on her elbows looking at him as she rebutted.
"Nick, I ran away! That's not acting to the best of my knowledge. That's being a coward."

"Carrots you were scared. Any other mammal would have acted the same way given the situation."

"It still doesn't mean I was right! I shouldn't have ran away!" She winced. "I should have acted."

"The situation wasn't entirely your fault. We have Bellwether to blame too."

Her brows crossed and she had a frown of shame when she looked at him.

"But /I/ initiated that start up! Hundreds, maybe even thousands of innocent mammals were scared, mistreated and judged upon because of ME! MY MISTAKE!" she furthered emphasized with a pound to her chest with her paws.

"/I/ STARTED THIS! *hick* /I/ hurt those mammals! *hick and tears starting to flow* And I hurt you!" she barked turning her head to the side in shame.

As he gazed at her releasing the tear ducks staining her clothes, his brows furrowed and he felt bad for her. His heart was pounding for her but there was nothing he could say; she was right. Had she chosen her words carefully, then maybe the outcome would have been a little different. And her words did sting his heart at the time;

…a biological component… you know. Something… in their D.N.A… For whatever reason they're reverting back to their primitive savage ways.

… and yet, she came back. That fuzzy wuzzy little tail of hers came back and apologized to him. He will admit that despite being fumed at her, he honestly didn't know what to do. He didn't necessarily want to go back to the life of selling pawpsicles but he couldn't face the idea of joining the police force either. That trust was broken and the indecision was created due to that dumb bunny. There was just something about her that made him contemplate what or who he was… was it her charisma? Her eagerness? Her naiveness? Something made him go into a literal limbo while he vegetated for those few months he was away from her. And when he got the call from Finnick that she was back in the neighborhood looking for him… to him, that alone brought, for the lack of better word, a ray of light into him and his life. Crazy as the idea was, he couldn't believe she was indeed back for good, he had to see it himself. Just play it cool Wilde and don't show emotions he told himself when a gray blur hopped down that hill.

And when she had that sincere apology facing away from her,

…I have to fix this, but I can't do it without you.

Was she really admitting her fault? Time to start recording this with that dumb carrot pen.

And after we're done, you can hate me because I was a HORRIBLE friend and I hurt you…

Wait was she? He thought as he was recording this conversation.

And you can walk away knowing you were right all along. I really am just a dumb bunny.

Is was at that moment she was genuine, and, exhaling a heavy sigh controlling his own tears from falling out, he turned to face her… He didn't want to see her get that upset. All for something so small she did. And it didn't help that he contributed to her current state of emotions for leaving her like that. He didn't want to see her cry then and he certainly doesn't want to see her cry now. Yes the damage is done, but knowing she can admit fault to it, certainly she can move on? Frowns were not the best look to this happy-go-lucky doe.

"Carrots," he muttered. "But look where you've come now. You know your mistake and you made a sincere apology to the public, now you're going to take action. Right?"

"What difference does it make? No matter what I do, mammals are still going to hate me for it."

Whoa wait a minute… what is she talking about? He thought to himself.

"And there will always be a mammal who acts that way fluff. You can't change everyone's opinion."

Her fur soaked on her cheeks and her clothes brutally stained with dark spots, her whimpers slowed to hiccups. "But… but…"

"Don't 'but' me Carrots."

She picked up the faintest curl of his muzzle that was trying really hard not to turn into a snarl. Her fired up eyes and drained throat looked at him with wide-eyed wonder.

"Listen to me Carrots, don't EVER repeat those words again you hear me?" he asked through seethed teeth.

"Nick… what are you?" she started to ask croaking but stopped thinking. It clicked and she knew the answer to her own question.

"Wait… you're not talking about the precinct are you?"

"Yes of course that's what I was talking about!"

"You… you heard me?" she mumbled.

He flailed his arms.
"Of course I heard you! Hell, the whole station probably heard you!"

"Nick…"

"You uttered those words clear as day fluff!" he yelled pointing at her. "THAT'S what's hurting me. Right now."

She bulged her eyes at his pointing of a claw.
"Nick… I…"

He then drew his paw to his chest.
"Yes it did hurt me when you carelessly stated those words, but that's all in the past. This rabbit that, as far as I can see, worked her butt off to keep her job that /she/ loves; and even went so far as to bringing a conman off the streets to help her, not even any official help, with /her/ case that she put her entire career on… and now she's doubting HERSELF for one small mistake?"

"Nick… but the one mistake I made now has turned the city that I love upside down."

"SO WHAT? You love what you do don't you? What does it matter what other's think if you're happy with what you're doing?"

She said nothing.

"What's hurting more right now is the fact that I'm hearing you 'giving up.' The Judy Hopps I know wouldn't give up all for some trivial reason as this."

She shook her head frustrated. Was what he not getting here?

"But Nick, I HURT you. With MY mistake I could have easily ruined the rest of your life. What if you got severely hurt or killed or even arrested because of me? If that had happened…"

He failed his arms up again.
"That's all in the past now! It didn't happen and you're here now aren't you? Quit dwelling on the past, get over it and move on!"

"URGH!" she moaned gripping her head fur. She was starting to get a slight headache again.

"Nick stop yelling! You're not helping me by throwing your temper on me!"

"YOU'RE the one that needs the mood adjustment! You're acting like a kit!"

She gasped.
"HOW DARE YOU!? How could you say that calling ME a kit!? Why in all my life I'd never thought I'd be so insulted,"

She stopped to see him having an almost breaking point on his face. His brows were completely furrowed, his muzzle snarled, his eyes filled with rage and yet… he was very heavy and stuttering in his breathing, and his paws were clenched. Blinking momentarily, she took a second look to his eyes to see they were starting to become somewhat… what was it… misty? He was holding back tears! She realized she had gone too far, again.

"Nick, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to,"

She got cut off when she was pulled into a tight embrace with his body shivering.

Her ears drooped.
"Nick… it's okay if you need to release any tears. You're right; I went too far and I'm not believing in myself." She mumbled while resting her chin on his shoulder.

His shivering stopped and she could hear the faintest sound of a whimper and a sniff. After a moment to recollect their breathing he pulled her away for her amethyst to meet his emerald eyes. She knew she was in for it.

"Carrots… no… Judy, please for all the things mighty, don't ever doubt yourself or what you do again." He let out a sigh to collect his next train of thought. "Don't go throwing away your badge just because of one small incident. I don't want to see you give up for something you worked so hard to achieve. You have an opportunity to fix your mistake, I couldn't do it when I was younger."

Then it clicked. What he meant when he was saying that. He was talking about the Junior Ranger Scouts and how he was so horribly mistreated and muzzled just for being a fox, a predator. He's right; if he could go back in time to fix that he could, but that's not possible. He can't go back to fix that, and for him to see her giving up on something that could be fixed, right here, right now, means so much to him. He doesn't want to see her end up like him, defeated.

"Oh Nick…" she pleaded.

"Don't." He brought a finger to her mouth to silence her. "I don't need your sympathy."

"I wasn't," she muffled through his finger.

After he withdrew it she continued.
"I wasn't going to…"

"Just… *sigh* just promise me that you'll never end up like me okay? Do this old tod a favor and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise how you should run your life."

She sighed happily.
"I know. Never let them see they get to you right?"

He nodded.
"That's right."

She sighed again.
"Thanks Nick."

"Anytime Fluff."

Time passed for a few moments as they were awkwardly looking around. It was starting to get into the golden hour by the time they were done with that dramatic-event.

"So… we never actually got to eat fully. You want to do that?" Nick asked.

She nodded.

"So, carry out or do you want to go hunt for a diner of some sort?"

She got caught back at that statement raising a brow.

"You mean… like a date?"

He gave her a dead pan glare.

"No Carrots… I didn't mean it like that. I just mean two friends who are just hanging out and finding grub to eat."

"Eww. Grub?" she joked laughing.

"What? No I mean… Grub for me, salad for you... *facepalm and groan*"

She continued and laugh rolling herself back onto her bed kicking in the air. Well, despite him messing up his wording, he was pleased to see his companion laughing again while he hid his smirk. Laughing definitely best suited her and her quirky personality.

"No no… I know what you meant Nick." She remarked wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

After a moment, she collected herself and sat back up.

"So, do you have anywhere particular in mind?"

"Well no, not really… do you?"

She shook her head.
"Nope!"

Pulling out his phone, he unlocked it with a passcode and pulled up the internet.
"Hmm… let's see.."

Authors notes: And with that I end another. albeit longated, chapter. I apologize for kinda abandoning this. I've been a little busy as of late but I'm going to try and keep this going~ Thanks for the read!