"Life was such a wheel that no man could stand upon it for long. And it always, at the end, came round to the same place again."
― Stephen King, The Stand ―
"No chief, that's what I'm trying to tell you. Nick IS the fox with the collar."
Bogo groaned and brought his hooves to massage the headache gathering at the base of his horns.
Hopps, why is it that nothing is ever simple with you, hmm? The chief complained internally.
I assign you parking duty, and you chase a weasel through Little Rodentia.
I ask you to find me an otter, and you come back with the mayor … twice.
I ask you to find a partner, and you choose a known con-fox that you've somehow managed to convince to join the Academy.
I make the mistake of putting you two together and give you a simple patrol downtown, and what happens? You show back up at the station with the leaders of a catnip ring stuffed into the back of your cruiser.
And now this.
"So let me get this straight, Hopps. Wilde has a shock collar around his neck. You caught him running a con with a former associate. You confronted him and he seemed 'uncharacteristically agitated' and 'emotionally unbalanced'. And you're in the back of an ambulance with Wilde and the fennec on your way to have him evaluated at Zootopia General."
"Yes sir, that's right."
"Hopps, how the hell did we get here?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"I ... I don't know, sir. Nick's isn't … I mean he hasn't been making sense. It's like he doesn't remember anything that happened before the Night Howler case. He's acting like … like …"
The buffalo didn't need to be a rabbit to hear the hitch in Judy's voice.
Bogo was one of the few mammals who knew the whole story of how Nick and Judy had met and solved the case. The good and the bad.
In the aftermath, Bogo had been surprised and intrigued when Wilde had submitted an application to join the force. In anticipation of the fox's interview, the buffalo had compiled a thorough dossier on the fox's activities; Judy's recommendation carried substantial weight with the chief, but the buffalo was not one to trust easily. Bogo intended to confront the fox with his past in order to gauge his mettle.
But true to the reputation of his species, the fox was full of surprises. Nick had swaggered into Bogo's office, took one look at the pile of manila folders on the chief's desk and laughed.
"Won't be needing those, boss."
"Oh?" The buffalo had peered over the edge of his desk. "Is that right?"
"Oh yes." The fox had said with a smirk as he climbed into the chair in front of the chief's desk.
"Listen chief, I've got a pretty good idea of what we're doing here, so tell me if this sounds familiar…
"You did your homework, and dug up a bunch of my old history. History you were going to throw at me and see how I explained away my 'dubious dealings'. First time we met you made it clear that you didn't have a very high opinion of foxes, and I doubt whatever's in that profile did much to change your mind.
"But Carrots sure as hell proved you wrong about the worth of rabbits, and whatever else you are you're not proud. If you were wrong about her, you could be wrong about me."
The fox smiled smugly.
"I mean, I did just help save the city from a psychotic sheep who was looking to pit predators versus prey in a good old fashioned race war …
"So you'll give me a chance, if only to ease your guilt for setting Hopps up to fail. But, you're not expecting much hence the stack of dirty laundry."
"That sound about right?" Nick had leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms, looking decidedly self-satisfied.
Bogo had snorted in irritation.
"But like I said you won't need it."
The fox's smile faltered.
"Because I'll tell you exactly who I was and who I am."
And so Nick did, leaving nothing out. If anything he was harsher on himself than the dossier was.
When he was finished, the fox had looked Bogo square in the eyes. The chief saw the intensity that flickered there. Here was a mammal – lost in the desert and dying of thirst, who had stumbled on an oasis.
"Now let me tell you who I want to be."
Bogo pressed the intercom button on his handset.
"Clawhauser, I need a cruiser ready to take me to Zootopia General in ten minutes."
Without waiting for a reply, the chief returned his attention back to the call.
"Hopps, it's clear that something serious has happened to Officer Wilde. I'll be there in twenty."
"Y-yes sir!" Judy said, quickly regaining her composure.
"And Hopps?"
Again there was a pause.
"Yes, chief?"
"If I understand what you're saying, then you need to know that Nick is not himself right now. Those collars do things to mammals. The best thing you can do right now is be there for him."
"Yeah, ok … Thanks chief."
Bogo grunted and hung up the phone.
Nick wondered if he was going mad. This gave him a small measure of comfort.
He supposed that if he truly had gone mad, he wouldn't have the presence of mind to question his own sanity.
He shivered at the thought and drew his hind paws up to his chest, wrapping his paws around them. Like most public buildings and movie theaters, the air conditioning in Zootopia General seemed to be permanently set to 'Arctic Blast'. Normally his fur would help take the edge off the chill, but he was dressed in a barely concealing paper examination gown. He wished he'd spent more time in Tundratown; maybe then he'd still have his winter coat.
Looking absently around the room, Nick couldn't help but compare the room to the clinic by the warehouse. They'd definitely nailed the decorating sense, at least.
Nick looked around for a clock, but could find none. It felt like he'd been in here for an eternity and the waiting was killing him.
The last thing he wanted was to be left alone with his thoughts, for they kept turning back on themselves in a vain effort to understand the day's events. He was no closer to any kind of understanding, and the questions seemed only to multiply.
If he could just do something … like he had with the Popsicle job. At least he could focus on that, keep the image he'd seen in the apartment out of his head.
A knock sounded at the door to the examination room.
Nick knew that knock, its cadence.
The door opened and the squat form of a badger – dressed in a white coat over green scrubs, and carrying a clipboard – stepped into the room.
"Officer Wilde?" The badger smiled pleasantly. "My name is –"
"HONEY?" Nick gasped.
The badger gave a start and blinked in surprise.
"Uh … If you don't mind, I'd prefer Dr. Madge Badger, Officer Wilde."
She studied him for a moment, before continuing.
"I've got some good news for you. All the tests we've run have come back, and you're in excellent health."
Nick stared at the badger. Sure, her fur was better kempt and she wasn't wearing camo, but it was definitely Honey. Just like the fennec was definitely Finnick, and the vixen in that picture was definitely...
"Um … Officer? Are you there?"
Nick's attention snapped back to the badger.
"Uh, sorry doc. I guess I'm not feeling like myself."
Honey glanced down at her clipboard and then back at the fox.
"Yes, your partner is very worried, and said as much."
Nick scoffed, "I doubt that, he's never been one for getting sentimental."
"No, I meant Officer Hopps."
Nick shut his eyes and brought a paw to rub at the bridge of his muzzle. "Right, of course. How could I forget?"
Honey looked quizzically at Nick.
"Well, in any case … I think you've been wearing that horrible collar for long enough, don't you?"
Nick's eyes snapped open.
The badger leaned forward a small metal key in hand. Nick recoiled briefly, but then watched Honey intently. The doctor reached behind Nick's neck and he heard a soft click. The collar fell loose, and Honey pulled it away from the fox revealing the unnaturally thin fur underneath.
Nick's gaze was fixed on the badger and it radiated disbelief. Slowly, as though unsure of himself, Nick brought his paw to rub the fur of his neck.
It was bliss.
"Thank you ... thank you."
The fox spoke softly and his words were soaked with gratitude. The doctor was momentarily at a loss.
"So, uh … what's next doc? Can I get my clothes and get out of here?"
"Clothes yes, but we're going to keep you overnight for observation. But you shouldn't get too bored! Your partner's dying to see you."
The badger walked to the door, stopping to pause in the opening and peering down the hallway.
"Oh, and it looks like your mom just arrived!"