As Nick came to he looked around. I'm still in the hospital. God my head hurts, what a weird dream.
But as he looked off to his left he saw a small figure in the far bed. "Carrots? Is that you?" he said going to get up, only to find himself cuffed to the bed.
"Hello? Is anyone out there?"
Hearing this, officer Trotman walked in smiling.
"So your awake then? Good, wouldn't be any fun seeing you all chained up if you were asleep the whole time."
"Trotman, what is your problem with me? In fact never mind. What happened to Judy? And why am I cuffed?"
The officer walked over to Nick."Both of those have the same answer" she said with a smirk. "You tried to kill her. Nearly succeeded too. If the Chief hadn't taken you down then she would be just another victim of predators. More to the point, a victim of you Wilde."
Nick looked down at his paws. The right one was covered in blood, with a small shred of blue uniform and grey fur attached to his claw.
"Ever since you joined the force, officers have been falling like domino's. You might have everyone else convinced you are some sort of hero, but I can see right through you. You're just another pred who enjoys seeing prey get hurt." she said prodding him in his injured ribs.
"I see you still have a problem with me then! Good to know" he said, a smile appearing on his muzzle."You know, I'm glad it was you."
"What do you mean, "glad it was me?" glad what was me?"
"I'm glad it was you guarding me. Anyone else and I might feel guilty about what I'm about to do" he said, the smile growing into a large toothy grin as he lifted his uncuffed paws.
"WHAT?! But how?"
She reached for her tranq-pistol only to find it wasn't there,as she looked up she saw Nick playing with it.
"I'm a con-fox, and you just got hustled" he said firing at the pig and bringing her down
He dragged her to the bed and cuffed her to it, then got into some clothes Judy had brought him days ago.
I told Bogo I was leaving after the funeral, and I don't care what has happened, I still am.
He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a small note, then walked over to his partner and tucked it under her paw. "I'm sorry Fluff, but looks like I'm going to break one more promise. Take care."
Nick placed a kiss on her forehead and walked out of the room.
"Mr Wilde?" a voice came from behind him.
It was Dr Otterman.
"You should be resting, what are you doing here?"
"Are you asking why I'm walking around? As I assume last time you saw me I was cuffed to my bed?"
The otter looked very uncomfortable at the question.
"Well... I mean yes, but my main concern is your health. You are far from ready to be discharged, with your wounds and the fact you have recently been exposed to night howler serum."
"I feel fine doc, and I'm discharging myself right now. You can't keep me against my wishes, and I was uncuffed as soon as Officer Trotman saw I was no longer under the influence of the drug" Nick said, walking over to the vet and shaking his paw. "Thank you for everything you've done, and please take good care of Officer Hopps"
Nick left the building through the back entrance to avoid the reporters he was sure would still be out front.
Looking up he saw his car.
What in Zootopia is that doing here?
Then it hit him. Judy must have been using it when he was in the felt a little annoyed but it soon passed.
Well it wasn't like I was using it. If I had been awake she would have asked, and I suppose I would have said it was ok. He considered going back in to get the keys, but thought it would be a little too risky.
"Well knowing Judy, she would have put them with my stuff every day anyway" he chuckled.
"Wait! She would have done."
He reached into his bag hoping beyond hope he was right, and pulled out two sets of keys, one to his apartment, and the other to the car that was standing in front of him.
Thank god she's such and honest and dumb bunny he thought, getting into the car and driving towards his apartment.
Judy woke up a little confused.
She looked around at the white walls, the large bed, and noticed the smell of disinfectant which was unmistakable.
This confusion was not helped when she looked over to the other bed in the room, only to see an unconscious officer slumped against it cuffed to the railing.
She pressed the call button and a nurse rushed in. "Its good to see you awake Miss Hopps, can I get you anything?"
"Umm no... but would you mind explaining that?" she indicated the other bed.
The nurse looked round and a small gasp escaped her, "I wish I could, but this isn't good. That officer was meant to be guarding a criminal." she said rushing from the room.
She came back in with a vet Judy didn't know. They checked Officer Trotman, but as soon as they realised she was not injured they calmed down.
That was until they realised that their patient was cuffed to the bed, and they didn't have a key.
A call was put into Chief Bogo, and he promised to send someone down as soon as possible.
The vet came over to Judy, introducing himself as Dr James Howlerwits.
"How are you feeling? That was quite a nasty wound."
"I feel fine, but can you tell me where Nick is?"
The vet looked confused, and seeing this Judy smiled.
"Sorry, Officer Nick Wilde, I gather he was brought in as well."
"Oh, well Mr Wilde was in police custody, until he... wasn't" the wolf looked rather sheepish at this statement.
"Wait? What do you mean in police custody?"
"Well the officer who was outside said he was dangerous, and put him in cuffs, but he seems to have escaped"
"I need to talk to the officer. Where are they?" Judy had a little panic creeping into her voice.
The vet just looked over to the pig still propped on the floor.
As she was still cuffed, it had not been possible to move her.
"I should have known. Could I use a phone? I need to get hold of Chief Bogo."
As Judy dialed the precinct Bogo walked in. She hung up the phone and looked in confusion at her boss, " I was just about to ring you sir."
"Why? What's wrong? And where is Wilde?" He looked a little confused as he saw the pig still sitting on the floor.
"From what I can gather sir, he didn't like being locked up. Officer Trotman is the result."
"What do you mean "being locked up"? He wasn't locked up. And why did I have to trudge down here to unlock an unconscious officer? " The buffalo was looking even more confused as this conversation was going on.
"I think you should talk to the Vets sir. All I know is this is what I woke up to."
Bogo walked out without another word.
Several minutes passed before she felt something by her side. It was a piece of paper. What on earth is this? she thought opening it up.
'Dear Carrots,
Looks like I have lied to you again. You are safer if I'm nowhere near you. I promised to keep you safe and I now realise I can't do that. I attacked you and that is something I can not forgive myself for.
I am also breaking my promise to tell you everything. But all you need to know, is that soon you will be safe, and with any luck my past will never hurt you again.
I would like you to have my apartment. The key will be with Finnick, so move out of that shoe box you call a home.
Remember I will always care for you, and that if there was any other way this could end, I would take it.
All the love in the world,
your favourite sly fox.'
Judy went to read over the letter again but was interrupted by a holler from outside the room.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SHE ARRESTED HIM?" Bogo stormed into the room with Dr Otterman, "Can you wake her up?"
"I can, but it would give her a very bad headache" the vet commented.
"Do it. I need to know what she thought she was doing, and where Wilde is now."
Bogo unlocked his officer and placed her on the bed, before the vet gave her a quick injection.
She was quite groggy at first, but seeing the Chief of police standing over her she woke up rather quickly.
"Good morning officer" Bogo said, his tone leaving her in no doubt she was in deep trouble.
"Sir, I'm sorry I let him get away, I.."
"What do you mean get away? He is one of your fellow officers, not a criminal"
"Sir, he attacked officer Hopps and he ran. An innocent mammal doesn't run "
"He was under the influence of night howler when he attacked Hopps. And as for running, he woke up paw cuffed, and being told he was in police custody. I'm sure that didn't improve his mood after finding out he had attacked his partner."
Bogo heard a small, shaky voice behind him. "Sir, we need to find Nick... Now.
I think he's planning something"
"What do you mean? How could you know?"
She held out the letter.
As he read it the look on his face turned sombre. Bogo grabbed his mobile and rang the station.
"Clawhauser!... shut up! Get an APB out for Wilde now,... No, just do it." he hung up and looked at Judy.
"I'm sorry Hopps, I should have seen this coming".
"No Sir, I should have" she said looking up at her boss, "but it isn't too late."
Nick found Finnick's van down on the docks.
"Freeze" he shouted as he saw his friend loading up his van, with what Nick assumed were stolen goods.
Finnick dropped the TV he was holding before swearing loudly.
As he turned round and saw Nick he swore again.
"Do you know how much that cost?"
"I have a feeling I have a better idea than you." he said with a smirk.
"So what? Yo gonna bust me now?"
"As entertaining as that would be, I'm not a cop anymore. I just wanted you to give these to Carrots for me"
"Forget it, I ain't doin a thing for you, do it yo self."
"After all I've done for you? You won't do this one little thing? Did I mention that this was for you?" he handed over a brown envelope.
"Wait... this a lot of money man, what you plannin?"
"I'm just taking a trip, don't worry man. Plus I owed you."
Finnick just shrugged, "What eva man, now if yo don't mind, I got stuff ta do."
Nick just laughed before walking away.
Turning on his phone he noticed Judy had called five times, along with several messages from Bogo and even Clawhauser. He turned the phone off putting it in the glove box.
He drove over to the cemetery and said one last goodbye to the last two mammals who had died for him.
"I've had enough of this happening, so I'm going to make sure no one dies for me again"
"I thought I would find you here, you really are quite predictable"
"Wolford? How on earth did you find me? Even I didn't know where I was going until I got here."
"That isn't important. I have one question for you.
Do you blame me for nearly killing you?"
"What?...NO, no of course not, why would you think..."
"Then why blame yourself? Judy's fine, hardly a scratch, whereas you! You need to be in a hospital, and I have orders to get you there."
"Now Wolford, both you and I know that isn't going to happen. As for my health, well lets just say I'm not sure it will be a problem soon. And I don't blame myself for what has happened. Only what will happen if I don't remove myself from the picture."
"I would ask what you mean by that, but I have the feeling you wouldn't tell me."
Nick just smiled, offering the officer a cockroach cluster.
"I need you to do something for me. Meet me at Savannah square at 3.00" he said as the wolf took one,
"Nick, I told you I have my orders, and.." Wolford stopped as his head started to spin.
Nick stepped forward catching his friend.
"What did you..." Wolford started to say before Nick interrupted.
"Still a fox bud. And I couldn't have you stopping me, my car will be in Savannah square at three, pick it up, get it to Bogo, and give him the letter that will be in the glove box."
Wolford nodded, then passed out.
Nick wrote a quick note telling the other mammal what to do just in case he hadn't got everything, before leaving.
After a very long and angry rant from the Chief, Wolford was not in the best of moods as he found Nicks car.
He felt someone bump into him, but before he could find out who it was they were lost in the crowd.
Wolford felt the new lump in his pocket.
He reached in and pulled out a key.
Wilde what is going on? he thought, as he unlocked the car and found a note on the seat.
'Hi Wolford,
Sorry about the whole drugging you thing, might have been a little over the top.
Please get this car to the Chief, along with the envelope in the glove box. There is also one in there for officer Hopps. Tell her I'm sorry, and I'm doing this for her.'
Thinking this was possibly the strangest thing he had ever found himself caught up in, he drove to the station.
Wolford knocked on his bosses door receiving a short sharp, "Come" in response.
"Sir, I don't Know what Wilde is planning, but I don't think it is going to end well. For him anyway" he said, handing his boss the letter. "Is officer Hopps still in hospital?"
"No she's in the station. She went home but someone had been there. She is a little shaken.
Also officer Wolford, it is still OFFICER Wilde. I don't think I have lost him yet," he said opening the envelope.
'Hello Chief,
I know I have a lot of explaining to do, and I would love to tell you all this mammal to mammal, but this is the best I can do.
As you know I have a long and not so squeaky clean past. But I never thought it would catch up with me the way it has. To put it simply, I do not want to leave the force. The ZPD has both become my family and my home, but as I say my past.
The most important thing is to get Judy somewhere safe, preferably Bunnyburrow, at least for now.
I hope you can remember back to a case twelve years ago,Case 725.
The Vixen involved was a Tammy Wilde Snow.
She was my wife, my kit hood sweetheart if you will. And I never knew what had happened to her. She just disappeared.
That was until I had a little visit about five years later and was told exactly what had happened to the love of my life, but never who had done it.
I then had a visitor while in the hospital. And they told me that if I didn't leave the ZPD, and remove officer Hopps from my life forever, the same thing would happen to her.
Get her somewhere safe, please do this for me, I hope to see you all again some day, but I don't see me making it out of this mess alive.
Officer Nicolaus. P. Wilde'
Chief Bogo scanned the paper, his eyes going wide as he got about half way down the page.
"What Exactly did officer Wilde say?
You said you had a feeling whatever he was planning wasn't going to end well."
"Yes Sir. He seemed determined, or accepting at least, and something he said earlier has been bugging me. He said he didn't think his health would be a concern much longer."
"Thank you officer. please find Hopps and ask her to come up, I need to see her." Wolford could see worry in the large mammals face as he turned to leave.
"Judy! Chief needs you in his office" the wolf called as he spotted the first rabbit officer walking toward the main entrance.
"Come on Wolford, I want to go home and recover. Maybe even try some of this relaxation the vet keeps telling me about."
"Don't shoot the messenger. Oh and Nick said to give you this", he said with a smile.
"WHAT?! You know where Nick is?"
"Not a clue, but I have seen him. He seemed ok, well at least that was until he drugged me." He said with a chuckle.
Judy opened the letter and started reading as she spoke.
"He drugged you? Why would... he... do... Oh no, no no no." She then sprinted towards Bogo's office offering no explanation as to what she had just read."
Bogo's door flew open, as the bunny rushed in.
"HOPPS, WHAT.."
"Read this Sir. We need to find Nick." Bogo could see the panic in Judy's face.
"NO, I need to find Nick, and I think you should see this, I got one too."
They swapped letters and as the chief read Judy's letter, he knew why Nick had held the cards so close to his chest.
And why in the end, sacrificing himself was nothing, to how he would have felt if anything happened to Judy.
'To the cutest, smartest and most lovable dumb bunny I have ever met.
Hi fluff butt, I hope that one day you can forgive me for everything I have put you through. I can only hope this letter will answer some of your questions.
First things first. As much as I have tried to hide it, I love you Judy Hopps, and I would have loved to have spent my life with you. But that isn't ever going to happen now.
Anyway that isn't what this letter is about, this letter is about keeping a promise I made to you.
Where to begin? How about my past.
I have kept rather a lot from you but I think now is the right time for you to find out the truth.
As a young fox I got into conning as you know, but what you don't know is that I wasn't alone. My partner was called Tammy Snow, and we grew up on the streets together. At the age of eighteen we got married, and I thought we were happy.
I know I was, especially after she told me I was going to be a father. But one day she was just gone.
I spent over a year looking for her but to no avail.
This brings me onto Alex.
I did some work for her boss. Just driving mostly but I overheard some things I shouldn't have.
Five years after Tammy disappeared I was told what had happened to her.
She was killed to send a message to me, a message I never received, so she died pointlessly, because of me.
From that moment on I swore to myself I would never let another mammal in. Never let another mammal mean that much to me. But most importantly never let another mammal get hurt or killed for me ever again. Then a certain bunny turned up and I couldn't keep my promise.
I could never forget what happened to Tammy. But I hoped that part of my life was behind me. Then Alex came to make sure that now I was a cop I wouldn't be doing anything "stupid". She also reminded me of what her boss was capable of, if I did.
I won't let you get hurt because of me. I'm almost positive I'm not going to make it back, but better me than you. Because that day you found me and made me help you, you saved my life. I had been dead inside for years. I was just existing, and because of you I was able to live again. Thank you.
So please live your life. You're still young and trust me, any mammal would be lucky to have you. Settle down and have a couple of hundred kits. Go save the world the way you saved me.
With all the love in the world, your sly fox.
P.s the car is yours, use it.'
Chief Bogo's thoughts were interrupted by Judy as she finished his letter.
"He, he was married? Why did he never say anything?"
"I know why." Bogo said, a pained look on his face. "Case 725, we never found who did it. Until now, I didn't even knew who the victim was."
"What happened?" Judy asked
"I thought you would ask. That's why I had Clawhauser bring up the file, but I'm not sure Wilde would want me to show you this."
Judy took the file but didn't open it, "I...is it that bad?"
"To this day, it is still the worst case I have ever worked. To be honest with you, if this ever happened again, I would leave the force."
Judy placed the file on the desk, "Well then, that just means we need to find Nick even sooner, and I don't think anything in that file will help, so where do we start looking?"
"We don't start looking anywhere, you are going to Bunnyburrow. This is not a request, its an order, you are going home. By your own free will, or if I have to send an officer to take you. It's up to you.""
"Sir, I cant just.." Judy was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.
"Come" the buffalo grunted looking up from the rabbit.
Fangmeyer and Wolford walked in."Sorry Sir, I thought you wanted to see us. We can come back." Fangmeyer said as he saw Judy sitting staring at them.
"Not necessary, I need all three of you to hear this." the chief grunted, turning to the newcomers. "You two are my best investigators. I'll give you the full run down later, but in short, a threat against officer Hopps life has been made. That is why officer Wilde has gone AWOL, I need you to find him and bring him in. With as little force as possible. Can you do that? "
Judy looked round at the two officers as they nodded.
"Sir, I can help. If anyone can find him its me."
Bogo just sighed, looking up at the two other officers "Can you two find and bring Wilde in, without force?"
Fangmeyer stiffened, "Sir, we can try, but he has already incapacitated two officers, and we have to put our safety first."
"YOUR SAFETY?!" Judy shouted, "Being one of his 'victims', what is your opinion Wolford? Is Nick dangerous? Were you in danger? Did he..."
"HOPPS, CALM DOWN" Bogo roared, before turning to the wolf. "As much as Hopps may be overstepping herself, she has a point. Did Wilde show any malice in his actions towards you?"
"No Sir. In fact from our talk and the note I was left, I believe it was the last thing he wanted to do. I think he was just scared I was going to try and lock him up like Trotman did."
"Then no force. Got that?" Both investigates nodded.
He turned back to Judy.
Seeing she was still not convinced about leaving, he sighed.
"Hopps, do you remember what happened last time I ignored Wilde?" Judy looked at him as her ears dropped behind her head.
"I lost two good officers.
I can't have the same happen to you. Wilde could be a great cop, but right now he doesn't trust me With good reason I suppose. The only mammal he does trust is you. And if he thinks that you're not safe in the city, he's probably correct."
Judy knew there was nothing she could say to change Bogo's mind, she also knew he was right.
AN: Hello my faithful followers, I would like to thank you all again and say I will update as soon as possible, bit whiles you wait why not check out my new story?
As always would love to hear your opinions and feedback, love ya all and as always keep those ears pointy and that tail wagging.