Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the movie Zootopia are all owned by Disney the great and powerful. All registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

Author's Note: While I whine about relative lack of reviews in relation to the number of hits I've never abandoned a story. However, on a few occasions I've cut a story short and wrapped it up sooner than planned. Having cleared the air (I hope) on that, my next update on this story may be a revision of first few chapters. As reviewers know from my replies I had ideas in mind for several Zootopia stories, and wasn't sure what I wanted to write. I had three different working titles. I had four or five story-lines. One theme was Nick not being trusted, with two variations - he either needed to prove himself, or he still was a hustler and crook inside the police force (a bit darker than I usually write). In another Judy dealt with the stereotype of rabbits being sexually very active. There was a screwball comedy with a love-struck rabbit in full pursuit of a fox. And there was a police procedural. A new street drug, nicknamed 'Wild', seemed to be a night howler derivative. Athletes took it to be more aggressive. Some thought in enhanced sexual performance. Some just wanted to feel 'tough'. ODs were dangerous – or simply an aggressive small animal trying to bully a large could be dangerous. I wasn't sure which I would write, and you can see pieces of some of those as I started. This has morphed into more of a standard romance with difference in species replacing the classic difference in social class/race/religion/citizenship/sports team followed/political affiliation for source of conflict. I don't plan to write any of those early ideas. This will be finished. It may be finished sooner rather than later (i.e. cut short). Next update will likely revise early chapters.

Imagine I'm in Love with You - from the Beatles

It's not like me to pretend
But I'll get you, I'll get you in the end
Yes I will, I'll get you in the end

Imagine I'm in Love with You

Judy breezed into the First on Wednesday morning looking at peace with the universe, "Morning!" she sang out to Clawhauser.

"You look happy."

"Watched a wonderful movie last night."

"Who did you see it with?"

"Why do you assume I saw it with someone?"

"You look too happy to have watched it alone."

The rabbit laughed, "You're right. I watched it with... a friend." She scampered off to the detective division.

"Bad, very bad," the cheetah thought. "She'd have said Nick if it was Nick."

The fox himself came running in a few minutes later, for his customary arrival at the last minute. He waved to the animal at the front desk.

"Stop!" Clawhauser ordered and Nick skidded to a halt.

"What's up?"

"Judy was at a movie last night – with that Rick."

"Did she say that?"

"No, but she was evasive when I asked."

"Maybe you should dig out the hot lights and rubber hoses. It's awfully hard to get an answer from a female if she doesn't want to give one."

"But, Nick–"

"Sorry, gotta run. Need Alces to okay work for the Mayor's Commission." The fox sped off.

Alces' door was shut, with the sound of conversation coming from within. Nick wisely chose to wait at his own desk. "Had the most wonderful idea for getting kicked off the Commission," he told Judy.

"You're trying to be kicked off?"

"Well, I don't want to make it obvious, but meetings where animals just sit around talking or arguing do nothing for me."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well, first I'm asking Alces to not give me any work today, so I can prepare for tomorrow's meeting."

Judy looked puzzled, "You want off the Commission, so you want the day off work to prepare for it?"

"Not taking the day off of work. I plan to work hard – and it will be for the Commission. So I don't want Alces giving us any assignments, unless necessary."

"And this will accomplish... What?"

"Hey, you and I are fairly low on the Commission. The big shots want to be in control. They don't want people like us acting independently. So, show some initiative and you get thanked kindly for your efforts and shown the door. The squeaky wheel gets a boot to the rear. I plan to present a good idea. They can take it or leave it. They leave it, and I'm off the Commission for proposing it. They accept it, but they resent me for bringing it up and let me go."

"Going to tell me what your idea is?"

The fox grinned, "And spoil the surprise? I think not." He took out a piece of paper and started scratching down thoughts. Ten minutes later he noticed the Captain's door open and Detective Hairus emerged. The chances of Alces being in a good mood after talking with the bear were slim, but Nick needed to hit the moose with his proposal before he and Judy were assigned a case.

"Yes?" the Captain snarled at the sight of the fox in his doorway. "Sorry. Lousy mood. Say something that will make me feel better."

"Uh, bad news. I got nothing. Nothing that will help you feel better anyway. You remember Judy and I have another Mayor's Commission tomorrow?"

"I know how to read a calendar. You came in here to ask me that?"

"No. I had an idea this morning. A great idea. And, well, commissions, like the mill wheels of the gods, turn real, real slow. So I'd like to get the mill wheel rolling today. I'd like to be given the day... Not off. I'm not asking for off. I'm asking to have the day to do work for the Mayor's Commission."

"And tomorrow you get the day off for the Commission meeting."

"Hey, I didn't ask to be put on it. I was drafted."

"And I think you're a goldbrick."

"Seriously, talk with Bogo tomorrow. He'll confirm I came in with big proposal... Tell you what, there is a chance this could fall through. I need to talk to someone in Forensics. If he shoots me down I give it up. Give me a chance to run my idea past him. If he says it's a good idea I'll be working on it rest of the day."

The moose looked skeptical. He was sure Nick had an angle he was working. He was sure the fox always had an angle he was working. But it might really involve the Mayor's Commission and there were some important animals on the group who could make life difficult for him if he refused the fox's request. "Tell Hopps she's partnering with Readover for the rest of the day – his partner's out again. You call me in an hour. Forensics shoots you down and you got Hairus for the rest of the day – Nyte needs a break. You skip work today, Bogo doesn't hear anything from you tomorrow – you and Hopps will have a month on graveyard shift, and I don't give a damn who your friends are. Clear?"

"Absolutely. I'll tell Judy and head for Forensics. I'll update you within the hour."

The moose nodded agreement and Nick hurried out.

Judy's work with Readover was strictly routine. After she finished interviewing witnesses at a gas station robbery she went outside and took out her cell phone. "Rick? Trudy. Got a minute?"

"For you? Always. But five minutes tops, I'm in the middle of something."

"Will you ever tell me about your job?"

"Not if I can help it. My boss is a– But we don't have time for me to describe him properly. What's up?"

"I remember you made disparaging remarks about hip-hop and–"

"No I didn't."

"Yes, you... Can we compromise on you being less that complimentary?"

"I'll accept that."

"I went along with your movie suggestion, so–"

"And you loved it, or at least claimed you did. So you're going to drag me to–"

"Drag is such a harsh verb. I think you'll really like this concert."

'Rick' sighed, "For you, I'll do it. Any details you're willing to give me ahead of time?"

"This group is going to be big someday, but word of mouth is just starting. It's a hip-hop R-pop fusion with–"

"R-pop?"

"Raccoon-pop, but the trio is three otter females. Their group is called Otter D-Lite."

"Utter Delight?"

"Otter, Otter D-Lite. They don't have a big venue this Friday. Place is called Under the Bluffs on the Lower East Side. They'll be filling stadiums in a year."

"So I'm going to come in on the ground floor of their popularity? Sounds sketchy."

"You'll love them," she promised.

The fox sighed, "I'm in."

"Don't sound so reluctant, Rick. I bet you love it."

Around the corner Readover listened the last of the conversation. He had gone in search of Judy when his own work was over. "Clawhauser was right. It sounds bad. She's going to break Nick's heart."

Judy arrived home that evening to the smell of food cooking. "How was your day," Susan called from the kitchen.

"Long. Thanks for cooking. When's dinner? Do I have time to change?"

"Go ahead – fifteen minutes or so. Oh, Terry invited me to something at the U this Saturday."

"Terry?"

"Finnick's brother."

"And what is this 'something' he invited you to?"

"Departmental picnic or something. It'll be while you're playing football on Saturday afternoon."

"Picnic? You're sure it's not some kind of a frat party of something? You shouldn't go."

"I want to meet some more students."

"You hardly know Terry."

"Uh, Jude? The way you get to know people? You hang around with them. It's not like I'm dating him or anything. I'm probably doing him a favor."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I figure he probably doesn't show up with females very often. I mean, there aren't a lot of fennecs around and I imagine most vixens would just turn him down. So I get to meet some more people and he gets seen with an attractive bunny. It's got to help his rep. You know, everyone thinks rabbits are hot."

"So you're going to be an escort? I don't believe it!"

"I'm not going to be an escort. He's doing me a favor and I'm making him look unnerdish."

Judy went to her room, but got out her cell phone instead of changing, "Nick?" she asked when he answered, "what do you know about Finnick's brother Terry?"

"Terry? He's a student at the U, in electrical engineering, and–"

"I know that. I want the important scoop on him."

"Well, he's a decent poker player, but when he got a really good hand he gets this tic with his left ear. It twitches and–"

"No, really important. Is he safe?"

"Safe?"

"He asked Suze to some kind of departmental picnic. At least that's what he told her it was. Do you know if he's in a fraternity or anything?"

"I know he's not in any frat... You really have negative stereotypes of fraternities, don't you?"

"She's my sister!"

"And everyone knows fraternities are dangerous for young females to visit, and foxes are sophisticated, and rabbits? You should hear what they say about rabbits!"

"Point taken, Mister Wilde," Judy sighed. "Weren't you ever worried about your sister?"

"Yeah, and she still married him. But Josh is okay."

"Will you check on Susan this Saturday for me and make sure she's safe?"

"You want me to spy on your sister?"

"Spy is such a harsh word. Think of it as practicing your surveillance skills."

"What's a three letter word for practicing surveillance skills?"

"Fine, I'm asking you to spy. But she's fresh out of Bunnyburrow, and I worry about her."

"I know a rabbit who was fresh out of Bunnyburrow, and she did just fine."

"She was more mature. And she still was led astray by a smooth-talking fox. You can't trust foxes."

"That's it blame the fox. Everyone always blames the fox. Terry is not going to try anything. Suze is more mature than you give her credit for. But just to make her paranoid older sister happy I'll check up on their picnic this Saturday. Are you happy now?"

"I'm happy. Thanks, Nick."

Before the Thursday meeting at City Hall Judy and Nick chatted with Bogo outside the conference room. Once inside the chair called the meeting to order. After the formal approval of the minutes for the prior meeting the chair began to speak, but was interrupted by Nick, "Could we begin with something not on the agenda? It concerns greater small presence within the force."

As Nick had hoped, the chair-animal looked slightly annoyed, "Can it wait until the end – if we have time?"

"I think it should be discussed now. This is supposed to be a private meeting, and the room has been infiltrated."

Animals looked around the room, seeing nothing. "What are you talk about?" one demanded.

Nick smiled and got up from his chair. He preferred speaking on his feet, and the break with customary discussion at the table might also serve to irritate a member or two of the Commission.

"Smalls," he told them. "I've asked a team of smalls to enter into the room." He glanced at his watch. "In three minutes they will fire a tranquilizer dart into a member of Commission, this will demonstrate that–"

"Who?" a member of the Commission demanded, looking around nervously. "Who gets the dart?"

"I've left that to the discretion of the team. The point is that a hostage situation is one of several situations where smalls would be tremendous assets to the force. And there are already a number of smalls on the payroll. They are not officers, but they serve in forensics labs, IT, our call center, data entry, and even with the EMT division." Nick doubted if any of the members were listening to him. They were all busy scanning the room, looking for the smalls, wondering who would receive the dart.

Nick couldn't have been happier as he continued talking. He wondered if even Judy was listening to him at the moment. He knew the tension he had created with the announcement insured his removal from the commission. In the back of his head there were two moderate worries. One was that the smalls might have failed to sneak into the room and he would simply look foolish in a few seconds when no dart was fired. The second worry was that his team might choose Judy as their target. He had told them to go for any animal in the room, and the tranquilizer was supposed to be completely harmless, but he still didn't want his partner to be the victim. Suddenly the fox jumped in the air and emitted a "YIPE!" Landing, he quickly reached his paw back and pulled a dart from his rear. "Not me!" The fox's eyes glazed slightly. "You weren't supposed..." As he fell forward the closer members of Commission heard him mumble, "Oh shoooooo..." on his way floorward.

As Judy jumped from her chair to check on Nick's safety a hamster in a white lab coat stepped out from behind a waste basket. He gestured and a mouse and a shrew carrying something which resembled a bazooka, and certainly represented the delivery system for the tranq dart, came out of hiding on the other side of the room. "Good job," he called to them. "You may leave." The pair departed and the hamster asked, "Can someone lift me onto the table?"

A member of the Commission lifted the hamster, who addressed the chair. "I apologize for the overly dramatic demonstration. My name is Wheeler, Doctor Vaughn Wheeler, and I am an assistant director of the forensics laboratory and, if I may boast, the lab's expert on morbidity. While my request may be inappropriate I would beg your indulgence for a few minutes so that I might be allowed to explain some of Detective Wilde's proposals."

In the pause while the chair considered the request one member whispered, "Morbidity?" to the animal beside him.

"Has something to do with corpses," came the whispered reply. While the answer was neither as wide as a church door nor as deep as a well it seemed enough to satisfy the curiosity of the first animal, who asked for no further details.

The chair nodded permission to the hamster, but asked "I am curious why Detective Wilde was the target."

"The team followed my instructions," the hamster told him. "First, it didn't seem fair to choose another animal as our target, and second, I was hoping for the opportunity to address you myself. I fear Detective Wilde suffers from feelings of humility–" As he spoke those words Judy and Bogo looked at each other in total disbelief. Humility was not among Nick's shortcomings. "Detective Wilde mentioned to me, during our discussion yesterday on how to bring smalls into the role of officers, that he felt inadequate for the work of the Commission and he hinted he would tender his resignation after making his presentation. He even had plans to put my name forward. However, I feel the presence of an active officer is more valuable than a forensics expert. I firmly believe Detective Wilde has excellent suggestions to make to the Commission on training and other issues he and I discussed, and finally my own work keeps me too busy to be considered even if he had been able to propose my name for this august body."

"Training?" Bogo asked. "Wilde had an idea that might work?"

"Excellent, in my opinion." He looked at the chair. "Your permission to elucidate?"

"Go ahead, I'm curious myself."

"Detective Wilde and I discussed this at length. The exact details would need further refinement – and the approval of the Commission and the Mayor, of course. But the basic idea grows from the fact the Academy has eight tests which must all be passed in order to join the police force. These are all valuable skills, but are geared towards the abilities of large animals. Some shorts, such as Detectives Hopps and Wilde, have met the challenge, but it has made it difficult for shorts and impossible for smalls. The demonstration today was intended to show that there are valuable skills which are not currently being tested. Skill sets which smalls possess, and where large animals would certainly fail. Detective Wilde's idea was to expand the number of physical tests at the Academy–"

"But–" one animal started to object, but the hamster continued.

"Those animals at the Academy would still be required to pass a total of eight tests, as exists at presently. But it would be eight from a list of a dozen or more potential tests. The variations in skills tested create a situation where no animal could possibly pass them all – or be expected to. It would make every officer recognize the value of each skill set, and respect his, or her, fellow officers for the talents each would bring to the force. The test assessments might also provide a better method by which to evaluate the duties at which all officers might be most effective."

Dr Wheeler remained silent as conversation buzzed around the table. Finally the chair-animal addressed the hamster. "Did you and the detective have a firm list of proposed tests?"

"No. We held a very preliminary conversation on the subject. I think other smalls, and other officers, as well as the instructors at the Academy must have input into the dialogue. But that is why I feel it is vital for Detective Wilde to remain on the Commission and work toward bringing his ideas to reality. And now, I wish to thank you for your time. I will return to the forensics laboratory and let you finish your important meeting."

"If you don't mind, Doctor Wheeler, but, our agenda for the morning already having been blown to pieces, I think some of us might like to question you a little more."

"I am at your service," he assured them.

When the meeting adjourned Bogo carried the sleeping fox back to the First.

Nick awoke, seated at his desk, leaning forward and dozing – a small pool of drool under his cheek. "Wha..." the groggy fox yawned. "Where... How?" He yawned again. Judy was sitting at her desk, typing on a report. He shook his head to clear away the fog and asked, "What happened? Did I get tossed from the Commission?"

"Er... No."

"What?"

"Doctor Wheeler told the Commission you were brilliant and shared some of your ideas with them."

"The rat!" Nick muttered.

"Don't let a rat hear you," Judy warned. "Species stereotyping."

"You know what I meant... Wait, he told them I had great ideas?"

"They were great ideas."

"They weren't my ideas."

"They weren't?"

"Well, maybe some. He and I got brainstorming the other day. He's really smart."

"Yes. And he thinks you're very smart too – and he managed to convince the whole Commission."

"So I'm still on?" the fox said glumly.

"Even better – you're more important now! You're in charge of the task force for small unit recruitment and integration."

The fox closed his eyes and a pained look crossed his face. "They should have just shot me instead of hanging a target on my back. That job's impossible."

"You can do it!"

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "It's impossible. But, imaging I manage to do the impossible, the Commission will take full credit. The Commission or the Mayor. But, if it more likely fails, guess who gets blamed for the failure?"

"Would it make you feel better if they asked Doctor Wheeler to serve on the task force too?"

"He's on the Commission now?"

"No, but he talked about the importance of bringing different voices into the discussion, so they kind of leaned on him to serve on the task force."

The fox gave an evil grin, "So, I'll have my chance to 'thank' him properly?"

"How about you see if you both can wildly succeed first?"

"You and Judy need to report to Alces immediately," Clawhauser told Nick as the fox came in on Friday morning.

Judy stood, waiting for Nick inside the squad room door with the same message. The moose glared at the fox as Judy closed his office door shut behind them. "Well, I knew you had an angle," he told the fox. "Congratulations. You've got half the detectives on the force royally pissed off with you right now."

"What you are talking about?"

"Your showboating at the Commission yesterday. Rumor is you're now fast track to a captaincy, and a lot of animals resent you leapfrogging them for promotion."

The fox shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He glanced at Judy, "What language is he speaking?"

"Don't play dumb," the moose warned, his voice rising.

"We... I really don't know what you're talking about," Judy told the moose, "And I was there."

"His angling for an important position on the Commission. Feeling is that when a small unit is created he'll be made captain."

"But he was trying to get thrown off the Commission!"

"You can't even tell your partner the truth?" the captain accused Nick in a harsh voice.

"She's telling you the truth!" the angry fox retorted. "I was doing my damn best to get thrown off the Commission! I was rude. I was obnoxious! I was out of order! I was going to have the smalls knock-out a member of the Commission and I'd be tossed out on my ear. Instead the little traitors shot me in my rear!"

"Bogo told... You were trying to get thrown off the Commission?"

Judy spoke up, "But when Nick was unconscious Doctor Wheeler, from Forensics, told the Commission how smart Nick was, and what good ideas he had, and how Nick should be allowed to work on his ideas."

"He sold me out," Nick groaned. "Sold out by a hamster. It's supposed to be easy to fool academics – they think they're too smart to be conned."

The moose looked confused, and remained silent for a moment, trying to digest the claims. "You were trying to get thrown off the Commission?"

The fox nodded his head in agreement.

"But the animal you brought in to help you with the con shot you with a tranq dart?"

"And now I'm supposed to in charge of some impossible task force! It's going to fail – and then I'll get the blame."

"But I was right when I accused you of having an angle, right?"

"Yeah, but it was to get thrown off the Commission!"

The moose leaned back in his chair and laughed. He laughed until tears began to flow.

"It's not funny!" the fox protested.

Alces brought himself under control. "Yes it is," he gasped wiping away the tears. Then he grew serious, "But I think if the job can be done you're the animal to do it... Any chance you can get that hamster on your task force?"

"Already done," Judy assured him.

"Good. The job will be damn hard – but do your best. I don't want to ever hear an officer of the First gave a job less than one hundred percent."

"Yes, sir," the fox nodded glumly.

"Oh, and word of warning. Watch out for Nyte 'til she cools down. The idea you might beat her to a promotion has her livid. I don't want to lose two officers."

Nick asked, "She wouldn't hurt Judy, would she?"

"Oh course not. I'm saying if she kills you she gets arrested for murder." The moose paused a second. "I'd better tell her to make it look like an accident."

For two and half days Judy had ignored Susan's hints that she'd like to be invited to hear Otter D-Lite. Susan was reduced to asking directly to accompany her sister and was turned down. "Finish your school stuff," Judy told her. "Go home for the rest of the summer."

"But it's more fun here than Bunnyburrow."

"I thought you wanted to become a doctor in Bunnyburrow?"

"That doesn't mean I can't have fun now."

"Work on school. Go to bed early – you have that picnic at the U tomorrow."

"I could still go out tonight."

"Not with me. Oh, and tomorrow? Don't accept any drinks from open containers."

"I'm not an idiot. And you sound like Mom."

"No, Mom is 'Why aren't you married?'. Dad is 'Be careful.'."

"I still think I–"

"No."

The venue didn't have a lot of space, and enough animals had heard of the trio that the place was crowded.

"What do you think," 'Trudy' shouted to be heard over the noise as the otters went into their first number.

The fox shrugged, "Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk, it's still rap and roll to me."

Something in the second number attracted his attention and he listened more carefully. "Not too bad," the fox admitted, "I can clearly hear the jazz influence."

'Trudy' rolled her eyes, "So everything in music for the last fifty years comes from jazz?"

"The last hundred and twenty – but only the good parts."

"I don't care where it comes from," she said taking him by the arm, "but it's taking us onto the floor now. Let's dance."

"But–" he attempted to protest even as the determined bunny pulled him out.

The number of people dancing on the crowded floor insured that no one looked good. And the very crowd which kept anyone from dancing well hid the shortcomings of those like 'Rick' who danced poorly.

It was hot, and loud. Animals bumped into him as he did his best to copy 'Trudy's moves, and he bumped into them in return. He was starting to enjoy it very much on those occasions when the crowd pushed him into the the rabbit, and the smile on her face said she also enjoyed the close contact.

"Well," 'Trudy' demanded, "did you have fun?" as the applause died down at the end of the final number.

"I had fun," he admitted. "But I'm not sure if it was the music or being here with you. It wasn't the dancing."

"As long as you had a good time."

"I had a great time."

The rain had started before the otters finished, but in the noise of the building no one heard the downpour. Everyone became aware of it as amplifiers were turned off.

"Why is the parking lot so far?" several animals grumbled as the exodus began.

The rain intensified. Many animals ran for their vehicles. A few continued to walk at their normal pace to project an aura of being above nature. The fox and rabbit were among those who sought the shelter of different storefronts between the club and parking lots.

As animals crowded under the shelter of the store entryway the fox put his arms around the rabbit and pulled her close, to give other animals more room. They listened to the sound of the rain and the boom of thunder for several minutes. The storm showed no sign of abating and many of the animals dashed out in a frantic run for their vehicles. Even though there was now room the fox continued to hold Judy closely. The rabbit didn't mind. Eventually three couples remained, with the other two couples kissing and cuddling and not caring how long the rain continued. 'Rick' nuzzled her ear and whispered, "So... Do you kiss on the third date?"

'Trudy' froze, thrill and terror making her incapable of speech for a minute. Finally she stammered, "I... I... I want to so much it would be a bad idea."

"Excuse me?"

She wondered how to confess her fears; continuing in the voice of Trudy might make it easier. "Before you asked me out, Rick, there was this male I was head-over-heels for. I wanted him. I wanted him so badly it hurt. But he wasn't ready for a relationship with me. Not that minute anyway. And... And... You and I have gone out three times. If I kissed you now I'd have ideas in my head – crazy ideas in my head – about our future and I'm afraid I'd be putting pressures on you that you aren't ready for, not this minute anyway. I'm afraid of going crazy on you."

"I understand... He hurt you?"

"He didn't mean to. He thought I was just... just... He didn't realize what he meant to me."

"So, tell me, Trudy, if he decides someday he wants a relationship?"

"Don't know how to tell you this, Rick, but you'll be dumped like a sack of moldy potatoes. I think he needs a little more time to decide. And I need a little time to get my head together so I won't go crazy on you this time, like I did on him. Don't make me crazy. You wouldn't like me when I'm crazy."

And so saying she grabbed him by the arm and jerked him into the rain, where she started dancing with him.

"Um, you're telling me you don't want to go crazy?" the fox asked.

"Yes."

"And we're dancing in the pouring rain."

"This isn't crazy. This is a happy dance. Everything is wonderful. Even if you waltz poorly."

"I think this is a fox trot."

"Then you're even worse than I realized."

"I think I dance better when I'm dry."

"I think we need lessons."

"Maybe... If I can find the right partner."

"Better hold me close when you say something like that," the rabbit warned him, and he followed the advice.

One of the remaining couples under the shelter were a pair of otters, who laughed and joined Nick and Judy on the wet cement dance floor. They danced very well and Judy watched them with envy. "Don't you dare try that with me," she warned as the male otter dipped his partner.

Meanwhile the remaining couple, a pair of cats, remained dry. "That looks like fun," she remarked.

"If we weren't cats."

"It still looks like fun."

"We must maintain our dignity."

She seemed exasperated by her date's unwillingness to take a hint. "If a fox and a rabbit can dance in the rain, so can we," she told him and jerked him out onto the sidewalk with the others.

He screeched like a cat suddenly finding himself in a deluge.

When Judy returned home Susan was watching television. "You're home awfully late," the younger rabbit scolded.

"You didn't have to wait up."

"And you're wet! Soaking wet!"

"Yes, isn't it grand?"

"And you're drunk!"

"Not a drop to drink. I feel wonderful. Wonderful and wet. But more wonderful than wet, and I am soaked."

"Are you sure you're not sloshed too?"

"Nope. Now, if you will excuse me I am going to dry off and–"

"Did you have sex with Rick?"

"And that is none of your business."

"You did! You told me you loved Nick and you had sex with some jerk!"

Judy shook her head in exasperation. "You may be eighteen, but you need to grow up. A person can feel wonderful without being drunk or having sex... Oh, and I'm not on drugs either. I had a fun evening. We got silly afterwards and danced in the rain." Judy smiled. "And life is wonderful... Except I'm worried about what my crazy sister is going to do at a campus party tomorrow."

Nick had called the university to verify the Electrical Engineering Department was holding a picnic, and checked out a campus map on-line to pinpoint the location: a small park near the baseball practice diamonds. The rain on the previous night had emptied the sky's supply of clouds and the day was perfect. The fox decided no elaborate disguise was necessary. Unfamiliar clothing and remaining at a distance would keep him from being identified. He purchased a sandwich and soda to go and scouted for a place to eat and observe as the departmental picnic began.

Susan had a large plastic cup of beer. Nick wondered if he should keep a tally for Judy – who was certain to interrogate him. But it was the only drink he saw the younger rabbit consume. Terry was the animal she talked with the most, but she talked with other animals as well. At the distance Nick could hear nothing. It appeared one or two of the animals Susan talked with edged away from her somewhat abruptly. "She's in can't stop talking mode," was Nick's diagnosis. There were two male rabbits at the picnic, probably students in the department, and both of them approached Judy's sister at different times. In Nick's opinion she seemed to try to get away from one of them more quickly than seemed polite, and the fox wondered what the male had said to upset her. Nick finished his sandwich and drink and made himself comfortable.

With everything appearing perfectly innocent, his stomach full, and the sun shining, the fox began to nod off. Suddenly a heavy hand came down on his shoulder, "Got some ID, bub?"

Nick turned and found himself staring at a blue wall. Looking up, the blue wall revealed itself to the be mid-section of a rhinoceros in a campus security uniform. "Uh, sure," he said and pulled out his badge and driver's license.

The rhino held the card up close to his thick glasses and moved it back and forth slightly to bring it into focus. "Nick Wilde? The Nick Wilde?"

"Well, I'm the only one I know."

"The Judy Hopps Nick Wilde?"

"Yes, I–"

"Surveillance? Who are you watching?" the rhino asked eagerly. "I applied to the police academy, but they said I didn't pass the eye exam. What's going down?"

"Nothing's going down. There's this overprotective sister you asked me to–"

The rhino looked hurt, "You won't tell me 'cause I'm just a campus cop? Hey, this job is important too!"

Nick sighed, "You got to keep this under your hat. I'm probably wasting my time here. Someone claimed a rabbit was being used as a courier for some stolen diamonds. 'Rabbit' that was the only description. Do you know how many rabbits there are in Zootopia? Ever noticed how different species will say all the animals in a different species look just the same?"

The campus cop nodded in agreement.

"So, anyway, this report from a questionable source says some rabbit is a courier for stolen diamonds. So we've got a bunch of officers out watching unfamiliar rabbits. Now, you got to keep this quiet because if it's true the smugglers will know we're on to them they change the method. And, if it's not true the police look silly with all the wasted animal power watching innocent rabbits."

"Yeah... Yeah, I can see that. So, who you watching?"

"Well... I didn't get your name."

"Crusher, Theodore Crusher. You can call me Thud."

"Okay, Thud, got a female rabbit over there. I was told it was a picnic for the Double-E department?"

"Right."

"Okay, see the female rabbit?"

The rhino stared hard, but even with the thick lenses it was in vain. "Uh, little help?"

"Over to the right... Denim cut-offs and a pink crop-top."

The rhino found a blur which matched the description the fox provided. "Uh, huh. You think she's the courier?"

"Nah. No way she's carrying anything with what she has on. I think I'm wasting my time. But I have to do my job. I noticed her talking to a couple rabbits who looked like they're part of the department. They both talked with her. Can you tell me anything?" He'd include that in his report to Judy on her sister's activities.

"I don't know student names... Unless they're real trouble-makers. Two rabbit bucks in Electrical Engineering? I've caught one with weed a couple times. If it's just a joint the policy is to give them a warning they ignore. Other is a garlic head. He must do three, four bulbs a day."

"But no other trouble for either, as far as you know?"

"Nah. Biggest pains in that department are a faculty member with attitude and a grad student with a ton of parking violations."

"Thanks. Really sounds like I'm wasting my time. But it's in the job description. Oh, I actually know one of the students. Fennec named Terence. He's staying close to the rabbit at my request."

"Probably staying close to the rabbit for himself," Thud chuckled. "Hoping to get lucky. You know what they say about rabbits."

Nick flushed with anger and nearly punched the rhinoceros in the gut before reason checked him. It is bad luck to hit an animal twenty times your size. There was a chance the rhino would not even realize Nick had hit him. If the rhino should recognize he'd been hit, the stereotype of rhinos was that they were short-tempered. Even if the rhino didn't realize Nick had punched him, the fox might break bones in his paw with the attempt. "They allow talk like that for campus security? We're warned about that at the station, and my partner is a rabbit."

"Uh... Hey, don't tell my boss, please. We aren't... Just a slip. Blue code, right?"

"Hey, I won't report you. I'm just reminding you that you need to be careful about repeating stereotypes. Good way to get in trouble. But we all say stupid things sometimes – which includes me," Nick assured him. It was always better to leave behind someone who owed you a favor than an enemy. And the fox wasn't entirely sure of his own legal status on the campus – there was a chance he was trespassing. "So if I say something I shouldn't. Tip me off so I'll be more careful. Anyway, I was asking about the fennec over there, he give you any trouble?"

"Nope... The whole department is pretty quiet – except for that one faculty member and one grad student."

Hoping to create a greater feeling of camaraderie with the huge animal Nick asked an open ended question, "So, what department has the most troublemakers, in your opinion?"

"The Medical is... Nah, med students just blow off a little steam. Chemistry. Two of the faculty and one of the grad students were part of the Night Howler thing. You're right, I shouldn't stereotype. All three were sheep. Who'd have thought sheep would come up with that?"

"Exactly," Nick agreed.

The fox watched Judy's little sister for another half hour. Both rabbit males tried to talk more with her, but from the distance it appeared she had no interest in either. She even linked arms with Terry at one point, which Nick took to be a way to avoid the rabbit trying to talk with her rather than a sign of affection for the fennec. She dropped Terry's arm as soon as the rabbit left. "Probably the garlic head," Nick decided. A softball game started, which appeared to pit grad students and a couple faculty members against the undergrads. Terry joined in the game and Susan watched from the side and chatted with a couple other females who might have been guests also, or students who chose not to play.

Nick's feelings toward Judy were strong enough he'd been willing to spy on her sister for her. They were not strong enough to force him to endure watching a department softball game, and with a sense of conviction that Susan was not involved in any sort of wild fraternity orgy the fox left.

"Susan told me the picnic was perfectly harmless," Judy told Nick as they headed for the pool hall so the rabbit could have another lesson from Mirage.

Nick shrugged, "Looked like a couple animals had too much to drink, but I'd mostly agree with her. Did she mention the rabbits there?"

"Just in passing. Says she's hoping there are more interesting males in the medical school."

Mirage seemed agitated when they reached the pool hall. "You seen that blister Finnick? I swear, I catch him I'm going to nail his hide to my living room wall!"

"What happened?" Judy asked.

"I've been hustled."

"When?"

"That match last week. That bastard Sahara Slim hustled me, and it was that damn fennec who set up the match."

"What do you mean, hustled you? You won."

"I should have realized it was too easy."

Nick confessed, "Judy and I still aren't sure what you're talking about."

"Slim's agent was here. Re-match on Sports-Net Two. Forty-five thousand creds for the winner, five grand for the loser. But the zoril suggested a five grand side bet, so it's basically winner take all. And I'm wiling to bet the bastard got some endorsements going too. That match last week was just a teaser to get television interested."

"Can you beat him?" Judy wanted to know.

"How the hell should I know? He's got a sense of what I can do after playing me, but I've got no idea in the world what he can do... Going to kill that damn Finnick."

"Don't know if this will make you feel better," Nick told her, "but Finnick wasn't in on the hustle. He lost his shirt betting against you."

"Good," the cat muttered.

Judy spoke, "I was, uh, hoping for a lesson."

"Oh, yeah. Hey, I promised one on the house, didn't I? Look, right now I am way too pissed off to be fit company for anyone. Another day, okay?"

"Okay," agreed Judy, then spoke a word of encouragement. "You can take him! You're good!"

The cat managed to chuckle, "Thanks." She then made an obvious glance from Judy, to Nick, and back to Judy. "And you can take him," she purred, "especially if you're not too good."

Nick put an arm around Judy, "Don't go insulting my partner's virtue," he warned playfully.

"I'll leave her virtue in your paws," Mirage smirked, "I think you both like it that way... Hey, thanks for last week. If I can get you in for the televised match do you want tickets?"

"Of course."

"I may get my butt kicked, but I'll go down fighting. And warn Finnick to stay away from me if he wants to stay healthy."

Nick didn't mind shooting pool with Judy. He enjoyed her company. And he was learning to appreciate how she looked in her tight jeans as she leaned over the table to line up a shot. Did he like her enough that it didn't matter she was a rabbit? That meant less and less to him each day. She was a female he cared deeply for. That meant much more than species. What would her family say? He didn't care what they said about him, but family was important to Judy. What would they say to–"

"Nick?"

"What?' the startled fox asked.

"Your turn. Where was your head?"

"Daydreaming," he lied.

"Was I in your dreams?"

"Always," he laughed and examined the table for his best shot. "Even before I knew you I dreamed about you every night... Except you looked a little different."

"So... What did I use to look like in your dreams? A vixen I imagine."

Nick studied the table. "It's a secret I seldom reveal, but I'm a neck man. A female can't have her head too far from her body. You used to be a giraffe in my daydreams."

He leaned over to take another shot.

"Before you do anything," Judy warned, "remember I have strong legs, kick with accuracy, and know which butt cheek the dart hit. Now, what were you thinking about, really?"

"An attractive female with long ears and a sexy little tail – who happens to have strong legs, kicks well, and whose threats are making it hard to concentrate right now."

"Me? Really?"

"You, really. But I'm still going to win – and you're paying for pizza."