...Episode 11 "Dance to remember"

The fox and the bunny had followed the polar bear already for a while among the crowds of mammals.

It was still part of the grand stage area, but far away from the place they hand entered.

In middle of following the huge mammal leading them to their destination, Judy quickly gave a couple of side looks at Nick. Even as Judy had tried to comfort him about meeting Mr Big again,

she could see how nervous he was. Only thing she was worried about was, how Big was going to react if they both would get caught with their wires. Maybe Big already knew. Or maybe not. However,

as these thoughts started to creep on Judy's mind, she started to feel a bit nervous too.

She had also completely forgot that Levron was probably there too. This might have been a rushed idea.

Just as she was about ask Nick if he was okay, they entered to the small open area near the middle exits,

clearly deserted from mammals, because everybody knew to give respected space to the known mammal.

Judy and Nick could already see a long sized wooden table, and familiar shrew family sitting on small seats on top of it, with couple of polar bears guarding him like always. Big was in middle of the conversation with his daughter as they approached his table carefully. Raymond stopped next to the bunny and the fox,

about one meter away from the table. Raymond cleared his throat respectfully, getting his boss's focus on the guest's next to him. Both shrews turned their gaze to the mammals before them, stopping their conversation right away, as large smile crept on their face.

"Judes oh my god, you look so beautiful!" Fru squealed in wonder as she saw her good friend.

"Thanks Fru, you too!" Bunny shot back happily.

"I must admit Judy my darling, you look stunning this evening." Mr big said with smile, like he was almost talking to another daughter.

"Thank you Gerald." Judy said back with respect and leaned closer to recieve kiss on her both cheeks from the shrew.

If anyone could have seen Nick's face now, it was even more stunned than it was when Judy was greeted as part of the shrew's the family last time.

She had used Mr Big's real name! Only his closest family was allowed to talk to him like that! Either Nick was dreaming,

or Judy really had not joked when she told about spending time with Mr Big's family. Nick closed his mouth shut quickly as Fru turned her gaze to him.

"Judy, you didn't tell that you were dating Wilde! You could have told me, i wouldn't have judged." Fru gave a bit hurt look to her friend.

The rabbits face turned red as hell and she spoke hastily.

"Nononono Fru you got it all wrong, Nick and i are just friends dancing! He just wanted to show me good time between friends and teach me to dance and stuff!"

"MMmm, for a friend you sure picked quite sexy dress to take your first dance lessons..." Fru shot playfully to her, making Judy roll her eyes.

"It was not my intent." She said shyly.

"She does look quite something, i admit." Nick said with warm smile as he look'd at the bunny next to him, making her turn her gaze away and blush a bit from all this attention. Nick could not see the odd look that Fru was giving him for a second, almost like inspecting him. Suddenly Big spoke.

"Nick, it is refreshing to see you after all this time." He stated bluntly.

"I-it is?" Nick asked uncertainly.

"Yes. I like your suit choice... If i remember correctly, that was the same vest suit you used the last time when you dined with my family." He said darkly.

"... I.." Nick look'd a bit scared for awhile, not knowing how to answer. Judy gave Big a tender side look, as if asking him to go easy on him.

The shrew sighed and spoke again with a bit friendlier tone.

"Nick, what is done, is done. I should not linger on these... memories that we share between each other. You are close to Judy. If she sees you in positive light,

maybe i should forget the past and see to the future. She has told good things about you. And you did help her to solve the case. For that you have my gratitude. I shall be generous. Cleaner table is better way to... Start things."

Nick was speechless for a while, wondering if it was a trick or something. But after a while he realized, that it was not.

"Thank you mister Big, thank you! I promise that i-"

"Yeah yeah boy, quit brown nosing me, ugh. Have some back bone. You are cop now like her."

"Dad!" Fru shot from between because of her father's manners.

The shrew just chuckled a bit.

"Nick, we are okay from now on. Just don't ever think about trying to sell me another rug again, or we continue from where we left."

"Got it." Nick answered with relief.

"Same goes to behavior for the bunny next to you. She is like one of my own. Disrespect her or get her in any trouble, you answer to me.

Understood Nick?" At this point the shrew just tried to play a game of power with the fox a bit, but it did not mean that he didn't entirely mean what he said.

Nick's expression came from relief to a whole different mood.

"... I would never do anything bad for her. So you can stop talking about such things right away. Understood?"

He shot back in sudden anger, almost deafeningly to the shrew. When it came to talks about Judy, he became completely different mammal.

Fru and Judy saw that the tone was a bit challenging, making them wonder how Big would react to this, a bit scared almost.

Judy did not like where the subject had suddenly gone but what embarrassingly surprised her the most as messed up as it was, was the fact that Nick's way of suddenly talking about her like all male and protective, turned her on. Yes, great time to think things like that. Sweet cheese and crackers Judy...

Even Fru had rarely seen anyone talking to her dad like that. Not many had the guts for it. And it was the last thing she expected from this fox.

There was something going on here...

After an awkward silence and the fox and shrew eyeing each other for a while, mister Big started to laugh in amusement as all of them carefully watched him.

"Ahahaahah, Nicky my boy, i believe you. Surprising. She trusts you, so i should too."

Nick relaxed a bit, in a bit of fear that his sudden outburst might had earned him a backdoor icing for a moment.

"Now that we got you two comparing your manliness out of the way..." Judy started awkwardly, making Fru giggle. Even Nick and Mr Big could not hold but to peek a little smile.

"You are here to meet Steve Levron." He said casually.

"... I" Judy went quiet.

"Darling, i am supposed to know everything. He will be here shortly."

"... Do you have any idea why he wants to meet us?"

"Meh, i can only guess. I must say that i am eager to know myself. Ah would you look at that. Here he is."

Nick and Judy turned around at the same time, to see the familiar bunny in tuxedo with satisfied smile on his face.

"You two made it, how gr-" The bunny froze as he saw Judy and his eyes widened for a moment.

It took time for him to gather himself and he spoke.

"Miss Hopps, you are quite a sight this evening. No words can express how much your beauty pleases an eye.

I am glad that we are able to meet like this under better circumstances, as i promised. Allow me."

The bunny gently took Judy's paw and gave it a light kiss as courtesy.

Only one that watched Nick's reaction was Fru Fru, and for a moment she could have sworn that Nick wanted to rip the male bunny in pieces.

Judy was a bit against this intimate greeting but accepted it just for good manners. The bunny took his gaze from Judy to Nick,

but his expression was still the same.

"How lovely that you could make it too Wilde, i was hoping we could meet each other in different light."

"Whatever light that is, i don't want no part with it buddy." Nick said bluntly.

"Well, we are never going to move on with our friendship if you are so negative." The bunny chuckled.

"You must be touched in the head..." Nick answered in confusion.

Levron gave amused look to the fox and started to laugh.

"Mr Wilde, i like you already! Straight forward. Just like my colleague. It's a good trait."

"Aaaand that might beee?" Judy shot in between, to see if Levron would just blurt out the name of his employer.

"Nownow officer Hopps, i know that those wires on you both would love to know all about my friend, but that would be most unprofessional of me."

Nick and Judy suddenly froze like statues. How on earth did he know?! Mr Big was probably going to be furious.

They could only wait for his reaction to this accusation but then Levron walked past them and made his way to the shrew on the table.

All the polar bears gave him a low bow in honor as he came to Mr Big.

"Aaah, Gerald Corleone... It's always pleasure to see you Gerald. How are you doing?" He said like he was talking to his good old friend.

"Thank you Steve, everything is quite fine." Mr Big answered just as pleasantly.

"Nice to see you too Fru." Levron turned to female shrew with warm smile.

"Awww thank you Steve, you should visit us more often. It's been long time since we all dined together." Fru said happily.

"My apologies, but you know, my duties keep me busy. Like always."

Judy and Nick were a bit out of the situation. They did not know that Levron was this close with Big's family.

They did not know was it good or bad. Judy suddenly spoke carefully to the shrew.

"Gerald i-.. About the wiring, i can exp-"

"Judy my darling, there is no need to be scared. I knew you both were bugged the whole time. You are on an undercover operation.

Like i said, it is my job to know these things sweetheart. Steve already told me all this on the phone. Ease up both of you." Mr Big said calmly.

Judy and Nick gave a bit embarrassed look on each other and then Levron turned to them with a smile.

"See, we are all friends here. I assume you should call your team on this particular spot, am i correct?"

Judy stared at the other bunny a bit confused and Nick did not even know what was going on anymore. How did they have so much Intel on their operation?

These mammals knew so much about all their objectives... Had there been a leak from the inside? That was only way they could have all this info.

"I..." Judy tried to speak and all she got was reassuring smile from Steve.

"Come on miss Hopps, there is no need to be so guilty. Knowledge is power. Just inform your colleagues where you are."

Nick gave unsure look at Judy. After a while Judy figured that she might as well call them. The operation was already fully exposed to the mobsters.

This was not going to be good report for Bogo. She could already wonder how much he would flip. She slowly took her paw to her ear and clicked the small button,

activating a green light on the object.

"Ummm... Snowball, Hotshot, Light-feet and Howler. We have the location, over. The table where the Vip's sit, is inside the grand tent, close to the western middle exit.

Stay about twenty meters from the location, eyes sharp for any trouble. Over and out."

"Copy that Hopps." Everyone answered the same time, and Judy turned off her mic with one click.

"Seriously? A code names?" Levron asked in amusement and laughed with mister Big.

"What is wrong with the code names?" Nick suddenly asked, trying lighten up as well, since the mobsters were not even upset about their operation.

"I just find it amusing that you guys act that extreme. We are here to celebrate like all the other fine mammals here." Levron said casually.

"Are you now? Bogo told me that you had personally requested us both to be present at this event. So what is it that you want Levron?" Judy asked in frustration.

"What do i want? A fresh start! In this coming up months, me and my higher employer are... Kind of coming more public for the mammals, and we figured that it would be nice that we are in good terms with the fine police, like Gerald here."

"What?" Nick asked in confusion.

"I guess what i am trying to say here is... It would be nice if you two would have a little heart to heart talk with you good Chief Bogo.

There is nothing to investigate about me. I am an honest business male. I just want that the ZPD would consider investigating things that matter,

then wasting their resources on investigating an honest mammals like me. They should chase mammals that do actual crimes. Just a thought. Like i said, a fresh start."

Judy and Nick just stood in confusion from the bunny's words. Was he seriously this stupid? Judy took a step closer and pointed her claw to the smugly smiling bunny.

"Okey Levron listen to me. I don't know how smart you think you are, or how you thought that this was going to go in your mind, but you are suspect for attempted buying of night howlers. You seriously think that sweet talk with us is going to make all of that go away? That we would just tell our chief to stop investigating your operations and leave you be? I will rather see you behind bars."

"... Well was worth of shot." Levron said casually.

"Huh?" Judy said in confusion.

"Yeah. I'm just glad that we have common understanding now. More stalking for me it is."

"You think this is some kind of game?" Judy asked angrily.

Suddenly Mr Big came between the conversation.

"Judith my darling, as much as it might hurt, i am with Steve here,

as much as i would love his annoying wolf employer to be gone from this city-"

"Harsh Gerald." Levron chuckled in between. Mr Big continued like he had said nothing.

"There is no point ongoing with the investigation like this Judy. Even in years you could not affect his empire,

just like you could not affect mines. The mammal that your department is after, is just as much connected as me.

It is pointless to waste your resources on things like this, when you mammals keep this city safe and peaceful in where it matters. In the streets chasing robbers, violent mammals, and fast drivers. That is what keeps Zootopia a great place to live, not investigating things such as these."

"... Gerald, he was trying to buy night howlers! Those cause more trouble than any of the things you said!" Judy said now like the mammals she was dealing with were crazy.

"Daddy, you know that Judy is right." Fru Fru spoke in the middle of the conversation all of a sudden.

Nick and Judy watched as the shrew took a look at his worried daughter and he then sighed.

"Steve, did you really try to buy such things for him?"

"Allegedly. Remember that these two are bugged." Levron said casually, earning a dirty look from Nick and Judy.

"Please don't tell me that this was again one of those stupid ignorant Wolf's ideas? What did he plan to do with those?" The shrew asked seriously.

"He was going to hand them as a gift to the museum of Zootopian history. After the Bellwether case, all of the night howlers found from the city and the farm lands were burned to the ground, as we all know. He had heard about a possible deal that would still have some leftovers that were never found, so they could be presented in the vitrine glass at the museum, under the subject Famous and dangerous night howlers, the substance that almost destroyed Zootopia we once knew. ."

The toxin itself would have been neutralized from the flowers after handout, and he would have earned quite a price and fame from it all."

"... Sounds like him." The shrew shook his head.

"Seriously?" Judy asked in wonder and confusion, not knowing if to believe it. Nick had been quiet for a long time before he suddenly spoke.

"Why did you run?"

".. Pardon me?" Levron asked.

"If this was your explanation for the flowers, why did you run when we busted you all from the spot? It would have been valid explanation after surrendering peacefully.

But you chose to run with the case. Why?"

Now Judy turned her gaze from the fox to Levron, expecting a valid explanation.

And she also asked something on top.

"Then money we found was also printed. It was not real but still almost identical. Explanation for that too?"

"Well a little marathon is always nice, right? Was such a refreshing air that night. And for the money... Well that is kinda odd.

I could have sworn it was real money when i counted them the last time. You guys might have mistaken." Levron said casually.

It took while for Nick and Judy to understand that he was just straight toying with them. He was even smiling with his bullshit excuses.

"Those are the most stupid excuses i have heard. There is something shifty going on with you, and i know that there is more to this. Can't you see it too Gerald?"

Judy turned in concern to the shrew.

"I am trying to stay away from their business as much as i can. I can't stand his employer. That arrogant wolf can do his work for the city as much as he wants,

as long as it does not affect my business. But Levron, do tell that annoying imbecile this. Don't deal with that flower stuff anymore. The bunny ahead of us will never stop chasing your organization if you deal with such things. Just a reminder."

"I will be sure to send the message to him personally. Do i also tell that you called him annoying imbecile?" Levron chuckled.

"Please do. In fact pressure those words much as possible."

"Will do." Levron laughed.

Judy and Nick just followed their odd conversation from the side before Judy spoke in between.

"So is this it?"

"Is this what babe?" Levron ask'd with smug smile.

"... Don't call me that ever again. I was asking if this was all you wanted to do? Subtly just trying to ask us to leave the investigation on you and mammals connected to you,

and after that just give as bad excuses of your actions, and trying to act like some criminal mastermind? This is how you wanted to waste our time?"

Levron's already smug smile just turned bigger as he placed his paw under his chin, as in wondering if there was anything else. After a while he spoke.

"Yeah, you pretty much nailed it."

"... Well good work jackass, let's see if you act so smug after i put you and mammals you deal with in prison. You can tell your wolf that too." Judy shot angrily.

"You are quite something miss Hopps, i like female with fire in her heart." He flirted smugly to the bunny, making her wince in disgust.

Once again the only one that paid attention to Nick's reaction was Fru Fru. She saw how Nick's left paw went into a fist and after a while he seemed to calm down.

Okay, she was going to have a quick talk with this fox.

"It seems that she is not very fond of your flattery Steve. Better lay off." Mr Big sighed and shook his head.

"I like challenges." He winked to Judy.

"Shut up you jerk, i am done talking to you. You have wasted enough ZPD's time for one day. Come on Nick, let's go, we did our job here."

Mr. Big spoke quickly.

"Judy, please do enjoy your evening. Shall we have dinner at next weekend? There are things that we need to discuss." He said casually. Judy could see that he tried to imply that whatever he was trying to imply was important. Maybe even revealing something about his competitor? Judy just gave calm smile and nodded.

"Okay, Gerald. I will be there."

"Good. Now go on and have fun you two. I have things to clear out with Steve here. Excuse us." Mr. Big motioned them to go. Raymond stood aside from behind them and Judy turned around, after giving one last annoyed look to the flirty looking Levron. Nick respectfully bowed to Mr. Big, and got answered with respectful nod.

Just as he was about to leave with Judy, Fru suddenly said something.

"Wilde. There is something i want to discuss with you before you leave. Now. At side in private please." She said seriously.

Nick, Levron, Judy and Mr. Big raised an eyebrow to this odd request. Nick gave confused look to Judy, who look'd just as confused.

"Judy, it is okay. I just want to talk to him real quickly. I will return him to you in a moment. I promise." Fru assured.

"... O-okay, Nick, i will be at the buffet table over next to that show light stage nearby. I'll see you there."

"Okay carrots, I'll be there." Nick said with hesitant tone and after a while Judy turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

Nick stood in silence under Fru's gaze. Suddenly Levron spoke and chuckled.

"Did you just call her carrots?"

"Who ask'd anything from you?" Nick shot back. He really did not like this bunny at all. Nick was never rude mammal and in different circumstances he would have even joked around with the bunny, but he hated him the moment he flirted with Judy with that nasty non subtle peek in his eye.

"Oh, I'm sorry if i offended you officer Wilde, it just sounded funny."

"Not as funny as your poorly tailored suit." Nick shot back with grin.

"Uuuuuu, well played. We are going to be good friends." Levron laughed and look'd at Nick in odd admiration. This bunny felt almost a bit creepy to Nick.

"I doubt that."

"I just got a feeeling."

"Now that you two got that out of the way, i shall borrow you for a while. Follow me." Fru rolled her eyes and signaled the fox to walk to the far end of the table.

Nick gave questioning look to Mr. Big and got small accepting nod before moving away from the two with Fru Fru.

There was moment of silence after Mr. Big spoke.

"That story about the museum of mammals history was creative Steve, i give you that."

"I have my moments. Those two are going to be a problem to my employer." Steve answered.

"Yes, they will look into your operations for a while. Just stay careful and everything will be alright. They will give up eventually."

"I guess so, but after tonight, they are going to pay a lot more attention on us. That is, if they connect it to me. After what they are about to witness tonight, they could jump to wild conclusions.

I hoped we didn't need it but, you know how he is. Every single influential mobster is under this tent right now. He wants them to witness what he has created,

to make an impression. A live show. All of them are waiting it to begin any moment now."

"If i may ask, where did you acquire the night howlers for tonight's theater?" Mr. Big ask'd after a while.

"From the suitcase locked in ZPD evidence room. We have sleeper agent working inside the ZPD. Always passing viable information and acquiring things we need.

That officer managed to get paws on couple of howlers from the case. That is all we needed."

"How do you know that they won't go full savage? If they do, your little show will be fiasco." Mr. Big ask'd in small concern.

"They won't. He made sure that his mammals in the labs got the new serum right. I assure you. It's just like he already explained to you on the phone."

"Good. I want nobody dead this evening."

"Some of the subject testers might die, if the things get too heated though. But that is none of our problem." Levron said casually.

"... I really do hope you know what you are doing."

"... It still isn't too late for you to come into the project. If this night goes well, most of the criminal families will. You would make lots of money.

You might be impressed about what you are about to see."

"I want no part in your risky ideas. I have seen enough pointless violence for a lifetime. And i have enough money.

This new generation can have its own enjoyments, and i have mine."

"... I can respect that." Levron said back.

"... But i will tell you, if something serious happens to Judy this evening, i will shut your operation down, and i will personally tell it to that wolf."

"Gerald, she is known from her capabilities, if the reputation is to believe. She survived Roy Briggs. She has arrested over thirty dangerous mammals in half a year. She is famous of being good in the fight. She has the odds in her side. I know that she and her team will shut tonight's showdown at sometime, just like they are supposed to. That is the real reason i asked them to be here anyway." Levron said casually.

"He could present this show to the cartels in private. Why make it so public?"

"You know how he can be. A bit stubborn when he chooses something."

"He is touched in the head." Mr. Bog snorted.

"... That is probably also true, but i love him like a brother."

"Whatever, just hope that no civilians die. That is where i draw a line. Or he hears from me."

"... Will do Gerald... Now enough of politics and plots. Champagne?" The bunny smiled.

"... Mhhh, sounds appropriate." Mr Big sighed and signaled one of his polar bears to get a bottle.

NICK AND FRU FRU _

After the two mammals were about ten meters away from Mr. Big at the long dining table, Fru Fru stopped walking. Nick gave a bit scared look as the shrew turned her gaze to the fox, inspecting him for a moment. Nick only stared back in awkward silence before he spoke.

"Well Fru, please do present what you needed me for." Nick said with his charming smile, trying to lighten up a bit.

Fru just stared back like he had not even said anything. He was getting a bit nervous.

"Uhhh, so what is it that you want to ta-"

"How long have you been in love with Judy?"

The silence settled once again between the two and Nick's jaw hanged open as he was processing what she had just asked. He did not know what to answer.

Fru Fru sighed and spoke again.

"Are you trying to deny it?"

"... I.. I uhh.. I-" Nick stuttered under the gaze of the shrew as his brain was screaming him to run away.

"Just admit it."

"I... How do you-"

"I am a female, i pay attention to things. I don't know if she has noticed, but you are quite poor at hiding it. Only a little observation and i knew.

When did you plan on telling her?"

"I mean i... It's not what you think. It's uhh, complicated."

"How?" Fru shot straight away. He was not going to escape from this one.

"It's not.. How is this any of your-"

"My business? I happen to be very close friend of hers. So i believe i have something to say about someone looking at her like a future wife.

You know how popular she is. You should move on with telling these feelings to her. She deserves to know."

"I... But it's not that simple, she would freak out if i just told such things!" Nick blurted out in panic. This sudden intimate conversation was making him very anxious. She was the only one who knew his biggest secret now. He was not mentally prepared to just talk about it to a mammal he barely knew.

"So you do love her, don't you?" Fru asked seriously.

Nick did not know if he should just escape the situation or just go with it. The look he was receiving from the shrew strictly told him to go with the second option.

After a while of collecting himself, he spoke quietly, turning his nervous gaze away from her.

"I do."

"There we are. That was not so hard was it? So, i think she deserves to know that."

"Look, i can't tell her. We work together at the same job, she would never throw her career away for such-"

"So is it forbidden to have relationship between two officers?"

"What? No! But i..."

"Seriously i do not see anything holding you here."

Nick sighed as he was trying to fight back and now he brought back his gaze to the shrew with a bit of sadness in it.

"She might not feel the same way about me."

"How do you know?" Fru Fru ask'd now a bit more tenderly.

"Firstly, i am a predator. Second, she got uncomfortable just seeing me shirtless. Third, sometimes when i say a bit.. Intimate compliments to her,

trying the ice a bit, she goes all bothered and quiet. I don't know what she is really thinking, and it scares me. I don't want to destroy what we have now, because it works. She is too important to me. The last thing i want is her to distance herself away from me. So you see my problem here?"

Fru Fru was quiet for a moment and spoke.

"You are still going to have to tell her eventually."

"I... I know.. But i decide when."

"... You know, i have got to know her in these months as we spent time together, and Judy is one of the few mammals i know, with a completely pure heart.

Even if she would not feel the same way, she would never push you out of her life. She is not like that. You know that."

"... You may be right, but i don't want to risk it. She is everything for me."

For a while Fru did not know what to say as he look'd at the sad fox. After a while she spoke tenderly.

"Just... Just talk to her. You have to."

"... I will... But not today. For now i just want to take her to have fun. The time will come when i have to talk to her about this.. But it's not today."

The shrew was quiet for a while as she gave compassionate look at the fox and spoke.

"Okay. I won't talk about this to her. You do what you think is for the best."

"... Thank you."

"... Now.. I think she has waited you quite a while now. Go have fun with her." She said warmly.

Nick just gave small nod and after a while and turned around, ready to find Judy.

"And hey Wilde." Fru suddenly spoke.

Nick stopped but didn't turn around.

".. Good luck. I really hope it would work out between you two."

Nick stayed quiet for a moment before he sighed.

"... I can always hope." He spoke quietly.

In a moment he was gone and Fru sighed as he watched the fox's tail disappear into the crowd. She took a moment before she started taking her way back to her father.

After a while of walking, she came next to the male shrew, who turned his gaze into her's with smile.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize that the bunny was no longer with her father.

"Ummm daddy, where did Steve go?"

"He had business to catch up."

"Oh."

"Do you have everything with you darling?"

"Huh? Uhhh, i do."

"Good. We are going to leave."

"What? Why?" Fru Fru asked in frustration. The party had only gone forward for couple of hours.

"Because i say so. Let's go." Mr. Big said to her daughter as almost in command.

CLOSE BY _

Nick finally made his way through the dancers and chattering crowds to the buffet table where Judy told she would wait for him.

After a while of searching with his gaze, a warm smile came on him as he saw that beautiful bunny, right at the end of the table.

There she was, wondering what she could eat from the table as the choices laid in front of her. Nick noticed that her ears were drooping.

I guess that she took it to herself that operation had been kind of failure. Sigh, always thinking about the work. Time to put the smile on that face,

Nick thought with grin as he sneaked up behind the bunny. He just stood there for a while, following as Judy tried to figure out what to eat.

"I would like to suggest the cinnamon rolls. They are quite sweet."

Judy quickly turned around and gave a small smile, despite her clearly depressed mood.

"Thanks Nick, all of this food just looks so fancy, it's hard to even know what half of these contain."

Nick chuckled and walked next to her.

"Hey carrots. Tell me what bothers you."

"... Bogo will be furious." Judy let out and grabbed one of the cinnamon rolls Nick suggested.

"Let him be, this is hardly our fault. They have connections, so we got a little played. It happens."

"I just... I wish that we could have gotten anything useful on record. Levron told nothing that would help us with our case. All we have is half an hour of useless banter on tape. This operation was disaster, and i let everyone down."

"Hey, stop that. You did not let anyone down. Tonight's whole operation was supposed to be peace keeping right? Our primary objective was not to squeeze information out of that weirdo. We did what we could. So don't think that chief will be furious about anything. So now, this little bunny is going to stop moping in such thoughts, and get that smile back on her face." Nick grinned after he spoke to her warmly.

It only took a moment of brow wiggling until the bunny snorted and started to laugh a bit.

"There it iiiis."

"... You are such a goof."

"Someone's ears are still droooopiingg, let's fix them." Nick chuckled mischievously as he lifted her ears up with his paws, making Judy giggle and hassle him away.

"Dumb fox."

"I know, let us see what goodies we have here." Nick chuckled and turned his gaze to the food next to them and rubbed his paws together like evil mastermind.

Judy giggled and shook her head.

"For such a lean guy, you eat quite a lot."

"Hey, you do not understand my passionate love for the world of flavors."

The bunny rolled her eyes and took another cinnamon roll as well from the table.

"Nick, can i ask something?" Judy spoke with sudden interested tone as he watched Nick munch the food like a homeless.

"Mmhhhph?" He muttered as an answer as he ate.

"What did Fru Fru want?"

For a while Judy saw Nick's eyes widen and he almost choked on his food.

After clearing his throat he spoke again.

"N-Nothing important. She was asking about was I am enjoying the party with you."

"Well the way she requested your audience, i thought it would have been a bit more important than that."

"Yeah umm i dunno, go figure." Nick muttered, trying to change the subject. Judy still gave a bit doubting side look at him until Nick grabbed two garlic claws that were supposed to be dipped in some odd sauce, and turned his back to Judy. After a while of adjusting something,

Judy stared in confusion.

"Nick what are you doing?"

the fox turned around, the garlic's now molded at her upper front fangs, making them look even longer.

"Muauahhaha, is that a digestible bunny i see?! Prepare to be a dinner for the feared Count Foxyla!" Nick chuckled in evil voice.

It took Judy about one second before she bursted out laughing and held her stomach.

Fox could not help to stay in character as Judy was laughing hysterically and covered her eyes probably partly in embarrassment as some mammals stared from the side.

After a while of them both laughing, Nick closed his mouth and munched the garlic fangs, swallowing as he gave wide grin to the bunny that was gaining control on herself.

A moment passed after Judy managed to speak, still giggling a bit.

"Nick you are probably the funniest mammal i've ever met."

"I get that a lot. Now that we got that sad mood out of the way, how about we continue from where we left off?"

"... What do you mean?"

Nick gave charming smile and slowly handed his paw over to her, asking her to grab it.

"We were supposed to enjoy the evening remember? Since our job here is quite done, let's move on to having fun. May i have the honor fluff?"

Judy blushed a bit and gave a shy smile as she slowly grabbed his paw.

"Okay.." She said quietly and felt her tail wiggle a bit as his handsome emerald eyes stared at her tenderly.

"That's the spirit. Now let's go. Pawerton is about to play something good. I just got a feeling."

AT THE DANCE FLOOR _

As Nick and Judy arrived to a nice looking open spot among the mammals, they just waited for the next song to start.

Nick chuckled as Judy was rubbing her other elbow with her paw, watching him carefully.

"Don't be so stressed carrots, I'll take good care of you." Nick winked.

Judy's eyes widened a bit and she blushed as she turned her gaze away from his flirting eyes. The fox was driving her crazy.

"Nick i.. Maybe we should not."

"Shhhh, here it comes. Wait for it." Nick raised his claw as the Pawerton spoke from his booth, ready to announce a next song to everybody.

"Ladiiees and gentle mammals! Next up we are going to get some frisky speed on those feet! Let's give it up for our beloved Jaguar, Adam Black!

Let's hear one of his most loved hit singles, Moves like Jagger!"

(Youtube: Maroon 5 - Moves like Jagger)

Judy rolled her eyes as she saw Nick's flirting look glow close to her face.

"Prepare for a ride bunny."

"I have really not listened this guys music a lot. My sisters all loved him, and spoke about his music for so long time when i was young. At some point it got annoying,

so i refused to listen to him. Is he good?" Judy asked with smile as Nick leaned back from her.

"Oh boy, it's time to see why your sisters like him, you frisky little bunnies..." Nick wiggled his eyebrows.

Judy giggled and raised her eyebrow.

"What is that suppose to mean?-"

The song suddenly started and she watched as Nick started to whistle with the song and stomp his foot on the ground with the drums.

Judy giggled as Nick started to speak the words from the song as he started to take small steps towards her.

Nick made his way to her and firmly and gently took her paws and started to spoke on top of the lyrics as he gave her a smooth spin,

"You say i'm a kiiit, my egoo is biig, i don't give a shiiit." Nick said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Well how accurate of you!" Judy laughed but gave a surprised gasp as Nick took her both paws and started to control her hips,

moving with the rhythm. Judy could only turn red as possible from her cheeks to her ears as Nick started to sing the chorus for her.

Now she started to understand why her sisters were listening this music. At the time she could have not related herself to this kind of music,

but now she could relate way too perfectly as Nick whispered to her ear.

"I don't need to try to control youu, look into my eyes and I'll own you-"

Judy could feel the shivers go down her spine. Way too accurate.

She could only smile happily as Nick was making her have time of her life. Almost like she was experiencing the feelings she should have supposed to feel when she was about six years younger. In her head it sounded almost pathetic. All her sisters had lived their life to the fullest, when she had avoided all that, chasing her dream of being a police officer. So what she felt now was overwhelming. She had never felt this strongly for anyone.

Not even close. She just felt as butterflies fly in her stomach as Nick was giving nothing but subtle gazes to her and singing the lyrics with the song.

He had to feel something for her. Just anything. Or was it normal for bestfriends to do things like this with each other?

It might have been wishful thinking once again. He was so handsome and funny, that he would probably get any vixen in the city. But she loved him as mammal. His heart. All the rest was just bonus. But did he dance with other females like this? Was she just one among many? Or was she a special case?

She was woken from her hazy thoughts as Nick gave a last whistle and winked to her as the song ended.

The roar of clapping and the yelling came all at once, making Judy wince a little. Nick clapped his paws together and gave thumbs up to the Pawerton's direction.

Judy was not going to be able to contain herself much longer as she stared that handsome smiling fox on the green spotlight, turning his gaze to her.

"We having fun yet whiskers?"

"Yeah! I just... You have to teach me dance sometime. You never told me that you were so good at this!"

"Had a lot of free-time. And besides, you did good. You just have to learn how to relax. All that tension from being in super cop mode makes you stiff."

"I guess..." Judy smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I know you too well fluff. You ready for another one?"

"Mhm." Judy nodded shyly, earning a comforting smile from him. The hunger to go kiss him furiously lingered in her mind every second. It was painful.

The cheetah spoke to the mic from his booth, earning everyone's attention.

"Next up we have something soothing and romantic for you all. Let's grab that one special someone by her paw, won't we? Let's show some love everyone!"

At that moment Judy knew that i was over. Her heart stopped. This is the moment where she knew that Nick would draw a line. She was way too nervous to go to that road anyway.

She had never danced slow dance with anyone, and she had no intention of trying her luck now. She could only look away in complete awkwardness as the song started.

(Youtube : Pieces of a Dream - You and I)

She did not even want to create eye contact as she spoke silently. The song started to play on the background.

"I... I think that we should skip this one. We have already played our undercover roles well enough. So you don't need to-" She practically jumped as she saw Nick an inch away from her. She carefully raised her gaze to see the serious looking fox. That look that pierced her soul and made her legs melt.

The shivers went down her fur and her nose twitched a bit as Nick kept looking at her. She spoke nervously.

"N- Nick i... I have never danced slow d-dance with anyone. You don't have to-"

"Well then i would be a poor best friend if i would not guide you through your first one. Just take my paw Judy."

Judy could only stare back to the smiling fox. Her tail wiggled furiously as she muttered something distant, carefully grabbing his paw.

She was about give final protest but let out a small yip instead as Nick took a gentle grip of her paw and moved his other paw to her lower back,

gently pulling her in almost a hug.

"Now we just take slow steps carrots. Simple as that." Nick said soothingly. Judy could only feel the fabric of his vest against her cheek. They were moving just like all the other mammals around them. The dance indeed was simple enough, just like in the romantic movies she loved. Experiencing it herself was quite something else.

She closed her eyes slowly, savoring the moment as she felt Nick's strong chest against her. She could have sworn that she heard Nick's heartbeat, even trough the music.

She wanted this moment to last forever.

Nick smiled warmly as she watched the bunny so relaxed against him. Without her notice, he took a deep silent inhale through his nose. He felt like bit of a creep but her scent was too intoxicating for him. It had taken quite a lot of bravery from him to get her dance this kind of dance with her. But now it was more than worth it. She did not seem as uncomfortable as he had thought. This was going to his memory box as one of the best ones in his life. Suddenly Judy spoke quietly.

"Nick."

"Hmmm?" Nick just hummed as answer. She spoke quietly with her eyes closed against his chest.

"I am glad that i followed you to that ice cream shop that day."

Nick's eyes widened as he pondered her words and large smile came on his muzzle as he answered warmly.

"Me too Judy."

For the first time since the dance Judy opened her eyes and slowly turned her gaze to his.

She was about to kiss him in front of all the mammals right now. She did not care any-

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELPPPPPPP!"

"THEY ARE FIGHTING, SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!"

"SOMEONE CALL THE ZPD!"

A complete sound of panic were heard about ten meters away from them, earning everyone's attention. To Judy and Nick it was like waking from deep sleep.

What on earth had just happened? Whoever had just ruined the most perfect moment of his life, was going to pay for this. They look'd at each other only for a second and stormed themselves to the direction of the screams' through the crowd.

"What on earth?! Just freaking great!" Nick mumbled as they came closer to the odd voices.

They finally got their way out of the panicking crowd and arrived to the same buffet table they had been moments ago.

The first thing they saw, was a huge bear and a rhino, fighting against each other on full storm. The crowd had backed away from them,

leaving them quite a lot of space for this brawl. Most of the mammals ran away in panic, but some of the mammals just stood in fair distance, observing the scene. The place was in complete disaster. They had broken about five chairs and both of their faces were bleeding.

The rhino gave another powerful punch straight to bear's stomach, making him groan and back away a bit. First thing that came in Judy's mind about the scene was wild guess of very personal argument mixed with too much alcohol. Great, their night was ruined by a punch of drunken idiots. She cleared her throat loudly and clearly before practically roaring to the two fighting mammals.

"Excuse me!"

They did not react.

The bear swinged his fist to rhino's eye, making sure that it was going to leave a mark. The Rhino shook his head and took a bottle of champagne from the table, smashing it to his head,

making it shatter completely.

"Oh you will fucking get it now!" The bear roared and punched the rhino in his face, making one of his teeth crack out.

Judy had enough of this madness.

"Okay you two, time to stop this stupidity and greet the ZPD cell! Don't make me use my weapon you two drunken idiots!"

Nick also reached for his weapon from his suit as he followed the situation in frustration.

This was the thing that ruined the best night in his life?

Two drunken mammals?

The moment he reached for his gun, both the bear and rhino turned their furious gaze to the two officers.

Judy felt like her heart stopped for that moment as she look'd the bear in the eye. She had seen that same look half a year ago on Manchas. It could not be.

It did not make any sense. They had talked to each other when they fought! A mammal gone savage could not talk. Her nose twitched as she just stood there in sudden panic,

not knowing what to do until she saw Nick pulling out his weapon, the same scared look on his face.

"Carrots, call back upUNF!" He gasped as the rhino waved his arm with incredible force, making him fly to the crowd of mammals behind him. Judy winced as she heard painful grunt escaped her partner.

"Nick!" Judy screamed in horror and turned her gaze to the bear just in time to see that he was trying to swipe her with his massive claws.

Judy rolled out-of-the-way through the floor just in time to dodge possibly a deadly blow and clicked her earplug in panic as her heart beated like a war drum.

"Officer Hopps, requesting backup at grand tent immediately! Two mammals gone out of control, officer Wilde is down!" Judy screamed in fear and could feel everything blur as she had to dodge a kick from the raging bear. Only one little mistake could have meant the end of her life. Just as the bear was about to charge her, barely giving her time to breath,

the rhino yelled to the bear from behind, gaining his attention.

"Did you already forgot your opponent!?" The rhino roared and grabbed the buffet table, throwing it straight at the bear like it was made of plastic.

The wooden table shattered in pieces as it hit the bear in full force, making him fall to the ground and groan in incredible pain. The rhino might had accidentally just save her life. These mammals were out of their mind! They were about to kill each other in front of the civilians. What on earth had they taken to be so strong?!

It had to be night howlers, there was no other explanation. But it was confusing, they were not on all fours, biting anyone randomly in animalistic frenzy.

They were conscious about their actions. They talked. They could coordinate their attacks and lift objects. But that same savage look shined in their eyes.

"I am not done with you." The rhino said angrily as he approached the remains of the table, bears feet sticking out from under.

Judy pulled out her taser from its holster and pointed it at the rhino, trying to steady her hands despite the fear.

"Don't move! I will give you one chance! Surrender right now, and get down on the ground!"

"I don't fucking think s-ARRGH!" The rhino roared as an electric shot hit his back. All of the four of their officers stood about three meters away from the rhino,

all of them pointing their tranquilizers at him. Hailie had given the shot on rhino's back. Judy observed in relief as the rhino look'd like he was going to fall down at any moment. The first thing that came on her mind was finding Nick. If something bad happened to him-

"You are all dead!" The rhino mumbled in anger and turned slowly to face all the four officers, all of the suddenly feeling the fear strike in them as the rhino look'd at them with fire burning in his savage eyes.

They could not see as the mammals in the crowd muttered between each other in amazement. What was wrong with these mammals?!

Why were they just standing there?! How long had the fight lasted between the bear and the rhino before they even got here? Judging by all the trashed chairs and all the marks on their both faces, it had been going on for a while.

"Everyone! Shoot now!" Suddenly Nick yelled to the bunny next to him, who had fallen felt to the ground. The relief that hit her when he saw her partner standing next to her, made all her fear go away at that instant. Right as everyone heard the command,

Judy, Nick, Luke, Rasheed and Oliver all blasted their tasers at the same time against the rhino.

The light-show that followed was quite something to witness as all five beams hit the mammal. The rhino's eyes widened in shock as his legs became light as feather and his mind blacked out. The stage trembled a bit as the rhino fell to the ground like a statue, not moving anymore. For a moment Judy was scared that they might have done very badly. She had never seen anyone take that many volts at once. As the silence settled in the area and music had completely stopped from the hall,

couple of mammals started to mutter all kinds of things as they followed the situation. Judy raised an eyebrow and yelled to them, as she saw some of them take pictures with their phone.

"What on earth are you all thinking you're doing?! This is not a show, all of you could have gotten hurt badly! Officers Howelton, Garnett, clear the area of civilians!

Fring, Coonway, check the rhinos pulse!"

Everyone nodded nervously and started to proceed with their objectives. Judy turned her gaze at Nick in concern and hopped up from the floor.

"Nick, my god, are you injured?! Are you okay?!

Nononnon you are bleeding!" Judy hassled.

Nick had indeed taken quite a hit, but could still stand.

He was bleeding a bit from his side, but the wound was not looking that bad. There was still a slight amount of pain in his face.

"I ummm, think he broke my tailbone. And i fell on someone's' champagne glass with my left side, but it did not cut deep.

My vest is having an ugly hole though now."

"We need an ambulance for you Nick, you don't know if that cut deep. It could be serious!"

"It's not whiskers, I'm more annoyed about my tail. It hurts quite a bit. I uhh... Where is the bear?"

Judy turned her gaze to the broken table with all kind of food laying on the floors and suddenly the concern hit her even harder.

"The crazy rhino threw a table at him!" Judy yelled and ran over to lift the wooden table pieces to see if bear was still alive.

"Seriously?" Nick asked in wonder as he followed her lead. The whole table had been heavy as hell and all the food on top added, it was nearly impossible to throw something like that at someone. Suddenly in middle of their operation to trying to dig up the bear, Luke yelled from the side.

"Officer Hopps, the rhino still has a pulse! Quite an rapid one i might add! How is this possible, i can still hear him muttering something!?" He ask'd in fear.

"Well at least he is alive. Call an ambulance and someone inform chief Bogo what happened here! These animals are under the influence of night howlers!

Handcuff the rhino please."

"Will do Hopps." Rasheed said and handcuffed the unconscious rhino.

"Officer Hopps, their behavior was not savage. They were not in all fo-" The lynx started.

"I know. But... Just call Bogo. Please. I know what I'm talking about here. I promise."

"I'm on it!" Oliver yelped and took out his phone.

Suddenly a scenery of flashing lights arrived to the area, with loud crowd of mammals with them. The media had arrived inside the grand tent. They sure acted fast. The place was swarming with ZNN reporters.

Judy winced as she saw the mob coming closer and spoke quickly to the remaining officers.

"Good, now all of you go and keep the press congress far away as possible. We don't need this right now. We have to take care of these two. Understood?"

"Will do." They all saluted and ran to meet the reporters.

"I'll help you lift this up carrots." Nick joined Judy as she was lifting the pieces of the table.

"Nick, you should lay down... Don't open you wound any more than it already is..." Judy said in deep concern as the small trail of blood kept dripping down his vest to the floor.

"Don't worry whiskers, what kind of representation do i give about myself to the others if i can't take a little scratch?"

The fox chuckled but none of this was funny to her.

"Nick, please."

"Don't worry i got it."

Nick lifted the piece of the table aside with her and it revealed what seemed to be, an unconscious bear. His face was in really bad shape with bruises all around it. Judy checked her pulse quickly. It was hitting so fast that she almost jumped.

"Carrots, what's wrong?"

"Nick... I think whatever they have ingested or taken, might had killed them on a long run. His pulse is out of control! We need to get those medics in here and fast.

I think he has concussion too."

"Okay, for now let's just handcuff him and wait for them to arrive and get to the bottom of this. And Nick..."

"What?"

"I have feeling that Levron had something to do with this. The coincidence is too high."

"... What would he have to gain from something like this?" Nick ask'd, not entirely sure that she was right. He did not like the bunny, but he knew that Levron was not stupid. That he had already proven. Cocky maybe but not this stupid.

"I might be wrong but.. I don't know.."

"Look, let's not jump to wild guesses for now... Maybe we should just.. What the heck?!" Nick yelped and stared behind Judy.

"What?" Judy turned around and saw that the rhino, despite being stunned multiple times and handcuffed, was standing.

"... No way. That's impossible." Nick said quietly.

The rhino shook his head, as if trying to get some sense to the situation. He muttered something that they could not make out at all,

before he quickly turned his gaze to Judy and Nick. The savage look still lingered there, but it was not as strong and wild as moments ago.

His eyes widened as he turned his gaze in panic to his side, as in wondering to make a run for it. He then turned his gaze back to them.

Nick knew that he was about to do it.

"Don't..." Nick said, trying to calm him down. But he had already made his mind. He stormed his way towards the crowd, and worst of all, it was where the reporters were.

Nick and Judy stormed after the rhino, as he ran like a train from hell towards the reporters and the officers speaking to them.

One of the otter reporters screamed as she pointed to the rhino, who was charging the area.

Nick and Judy yelled as loudly as they could to everyone ahead of them.

"OUT OF THE WAY! EVERYONE RUN!"

The mammals scattered with their equipment, yelling in chaos as the rhino came closer. All the officers turned to see the mammals run towards them.

And he was coming fast.

"HAILIE LOOK OUT!" Oliver yelled and jumped to push the fear frozen officer to the side from rhino's charge, probably just saving her life.

The rhino kept going by the small area through the reporters, pushing some mammals out of his way in rage. He swinged his huge fists all around the mob,

hitting quite many mammals on his way out of the place. The mammals flied around the tent as he was making his way to the exit that was getting closer.

The situation was getting really bad. Nick and Judy made a quick stop at the area of where some of the reporters had fell down, to see if anyone was seriously hurt.

Some Labrador reporter had gotten in the way pretty badly, since he was bleeding. Judy ran to the whimpering mammal with Luke and saw as Oliver and Hailie ran to other wounded mammals, trying to see if anyone else was seriously injured. Most had been quite lucky, but were still in bad shape.

The rhino stormed out of the exit curtains, entering the park area and disappearing from the place, leaving complete chaos inside the grand tent.

"He is getting away!" Hailie screamed from the floor, her leg also badly hurt.

"We have to call all the officers on the area! There are too many injured mammals in here, we have to help them!

Where are the freaking ambulances?!" Judy yelled and took out her phone, trying to apply pressure to the dog's wound.

Nick felt determined to not let the rhino go. He could hurt more mammals at his escape through the park, and enough mammals had already suffered.

He quickly helped one of the sheep's that fell down to get back on his feet and stormed after the rhino.

Judy saw this in yelled in panic after the fox.

"NICK DON'T! YOU ARE WOUNDED!"

It was too late. Nick had already left the grand tent and entered the park. The panic hit her as he applied pressure to the whimpering dogs wound. She could already hear the ambulance sirens from a far. She thought about storming after her partner but the situation with all the wounded was too crucial.

The panic about the thoughts that what could happen to Nick, if he was careless, started to haunt her mind.

Out of nowhere another figure stormed towards the exit. Judy saw as officer Coonway ran as fast as he could after Nick.

"I got this Hopps, he needs help!" Rasheed yelled to the bunny and made his way out of the grand tent to the night air.

"Thank you.." Judy muttered, a small amount of relief hitting her, when she now knew that Nick would have backup.

Nick was already catching up to the rhino, seeing the large figure hop over the bushes and still run as fast as he could with his hands tied.

The mammals were kind of lucky, since the park area was not as thickly crowded as the tents, making the rhino run freely without needing to push anyone out of his way. Most of the families and teenagers just stared in confusion as the rhino ran past them, with sweaty fox on his tail,

huffing for air. He was maybe closing in on the rhino but what then? He had no power to stop him, and he knew that his small tranquilizer would only slow him down.

Still, something had to be done. Suddenly he could hear a familiar voice about couple of feet behind him, making him quickly look who it was.

"Figured you need some help foxtrot!" The raccoon huffed and reached his way next to him.

"I think i do! But I'm trying to figure out the plan here! We will catch him eventually but he will kick our butts when we do!"

"Well we just have to hope that we get lucky!"

"I have lived with that lifestyle so far, let's hope that it holds now!" Nick laughed despite the scary situation.

They were almost out of the park and saw as the rhino pushed one waiter out of his way, as he was finally at the exit out of the dance festival.

Nick saw as the backup arrived from the east road with sirens on, but they would never be able to block the rhinos escape in time. He was way too fast.

They went through the main gates and kept on with the chase, both huffing loudly from the hard cardio. They started to lose the distance more and more.

How on earth was the rhino not tired?! He had just fought a bear and taken 5 shots from tranquilizers, and ran about one kilometer without getting tired.

They had to figure out something fast. Suddenly the raccoon yelled to him in the middle of huffing air.

"He is headed to the same area where we parked our cars! I have an idea! But i need your help!"

"Whatever you can figure out, I'll take it! If he makes his way into the city and the streets, we might lose him! Or worse, he hurts even more mammals!"

They saw from far away as the rhino jumped over the concrete road barriers, running on the same street they had parked their police vehicles.

The backup cars were just enough late to block his escape, and the vehicles almost hit the barriers, making a full brake stop just in time.

The doors opened and several officers stepped out, with Bogo coming out of the closest one.

He yelled to his two huffing officers in confusion.

"What the hell is going on here?! Where is officer Hopps?! I get my radio bombed about savage mammals, wounded civilians, requests of backu-"

"There is no time to explain chief, one of the criminals that caused all this is getting away!" Nick pointed at the street and Bogo saw the Rhino run about twenty meters away from their location. Nick kept on with the chase and raccoon followed his lead, hopping over the concrete barricades with the fox.

Bogo stared the situation wide eyed and stormed after them with about ten other officers with him.

"I should have my running shoes on..." Bogo muttered.

Just as they reached their parked police cars, the rhino was already very far away. Raccoon yelled Nick to stop as they came next to the cars.

"Foxtrot stop! I have an idea, i request the keys to your vehicle!"

Nick stopped running and turned his gaze to the raccoon in confusion.

"But he is getting away! What are you doing Hots-"

"TRUST ME WILDE! Just throw the keys!"

Nick gave hesitated look at the raccoon and dug out the keys from his pocket and threw them to his paws.

The raccoon shoved the keys to the car's tailgate, opening it.

Bogo and the crowd of officers stopped on the spot in confusion and Bogo roared like they were touched in the head.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?! YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE TO CATCH THAT MAMMAL AND HE IS ABOUT SIXTY METERS AWAY ALREADY!"

"I don't know! Coonway told us to stop!" Nick shrugged his shoulders under Bogo's furious gaze, who now turned it to the raccoon, preparing to demand explanation, until his eyes widened.

"You guys forgot that we have the big ones for cases like these. And i know how to use them." Coonway huffed and pulled out a large gun with his both paws out of the trunk. It was a sniper tranquilizer with letters 50- ZAP written on the side.

"Woah!" Nick said as the raccoon pulled the bipod out from front of the gun and adjusted it on the ground.

"Are you sure that you can..." Bogo let out in suspicion as the raccoon went down on the ground and adjusted the gun against his shoulder.

"I need silence and concentration. I got this. He is running straight."

"But the next turn is only about twenty meters away from-" Nick tried to remind.

"Shhhh..." The raccoon let out and closed his other eye. He let out a deep inhale and adjusted the scope with his claw.

He loudly took the safety off and adjusted the volts to the maximum level before inhaling again.

Bogo spoke nervously.

"Officer Coonway, he is getting aw-!"

BLAM!

Their ears ringed as he took the shot. All the officers froze and turned their gaze quickly from the raccoon on the ground to the small spot of an mammal far away from the street, who fell down after about one second later like a stone, spinning in the air from the force and hitting himself against some car in front of him, making the safety alarm go on from the car. The silence took them all as Raccoon let out another inhale and chuckled proudly. All the mammals about a hundred and twenty meters away opened their windows of their apartments, to see what was all this racket.

"Holy shit." Was only thing Nick could say as all the officers stared at the distance with their muzzles open.

"You didn't name me a Hotshot for nothing."

HALF AN HOUR LATER ON THE PARK _

Nick and Judy sat at the back of the ambulance,

following the situation around them. The wounded reporters and civilians were checked by the paramedics, just like them.

Judy was relieved that no one had died. That would had been a nightmare. And they successfully managed to capture both of the mammals,

thanks to Nick and Rasheed. Bogo was trying to calm down the press and paparazzi as they swarmed around the police and ambulance vehicles,

dying to get some kind of interview about tonight's events. The bright lights flashed all over the place, making it seem like a light show.

Nick suddenly turned his gaze to the bunny next to him and spoke with joking tone.

"Well carrots, this night could have gone much worse. That was quite a dance to remember."

"Not funny Slick..."

"Sorry." Nick chuckled awkwardly and kept looking around.

"I just wish that we find out what made them go like that."

"We will. They don't call ZPD's lab workers being good at their job for no reason."

"I know.."

"I am just mad that our dance was interrupted like that."

"... Me too." Judy sighed and look'd around her in sadness. There was no cheering her up from this one. But he could not blame her.

Bogo suddenly walk'd in front of them both and spoke.

"Wilde. How are your wounds?" Bogo ask'd sincerely.

"It's going to leave a cool scar i guess. You think females will dig it?"

Bogo rolled his eyes and spoke.

"Next time don't act like a hero after criminals while you are bleeding badly. Take your partner's advice. I care about my officers well being."

"Awww i love you too." Nick wiggled his eyebrows making Bogo facepaw himself.

Judy shook her head and smiled despite the bad situation to fox's goofiness and spoke.

"Chief, where do we go from here?"

"... We need you at the station Hopps. There are couple of things that we need to clear about this operation. I also want to hear if you got anything important on the tapes."

Judy gave apologizing look at him.

"I... We might have failed on that part."

"Don't worry Hopps. The main thing is that everyone is alright. I'm going to have quite a night ahead of me though, figuring all this out."

"Always happy to be at service." Nick shot with smile from the side and winced as his ribs hurt a bit.

Bogo rolled his eyes and spoke.

"Wilde, you can go home and rest. Same goes to all of you. Unless you want to be the targets of all this media.

Report to station at nine in the morning. Understood? " Bogo pointed to all of his officers around him.

All of them nodded and Bogo left the scene and went to speak something with the other officers.

Oliver, Rasheed, Hailie and Luke all waved to them both and made their way to the police vehicles.

Nick turned his gaze to the bunny next to him and spoke.

"Hey carrots."

"Yeah?"

"You mind giving me a lift to my place before going back to station?"

"Of course Nick. Did they patch you up well enough?

You sure you have everything you need?"

"Heheee, i love when you are all caring and stuff."

Judy smiled to him and yelled to Bogo.

"Chief, I'm going to take Nick home and meet you at the ZPD in fifteen minutes, okay?"

Bogo turned around and gave small nod in confirmation and turned back to speak with some reporter.

"Let's go Slick, we should go through the pharmacy and buy some painkillers for your tail and your wound. We have time. Okay?"

"Sounds... Much needed whiskers. Thanks."

Nick swallowed the pills in his hand as Judy pulled in front of his place and turned off the engine.

There was a moment of silence before Judy spoke.

"You going to be okay with the stairs Nick?"

Nick laughed and winced again as his ribs felt a bit sober. Judy gave a concerned look at him.

"Aahh don't worry carrots. I'm good."

"Are you sure that you manage to work tomorrow?"

"I'm fine whiskers. You know that i would never skip a day of teasing my best friend."

Judy gave small smile and turned on the engine again.

"Nick..."

"Yeah?"

"I want to thank you for... Dancing with me. I was having fun, as long as it lasted." She said with smile.

"Judy. It does not need to be the only dance."

Judy blushed and her eyes widened a bit as Nick was giving that look again and used her name. She had to hassle the fox out of the car and fast, or she was going to sexually assault him any moment now.

Suddenly Nick coughed to his paw and turned away. He thought that he had made her freaked out again.

"i meant that if you want to learn to dance.. You know.. Can give.. Lessons.. All that..-"He muttered and opened his door.

He stepped on the cold pavement and was about to close the door before Judy spoke.

"Nick."

"Yeah?"

The look on her was something odd that he could not place. For a moment it looked like she wanted to cry.

"Hey carrots what's wrong?"

"I... Nothing Nick. I just wanted to say goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

Nick just stared back and gave a warm smile back to her.

"Good night."

He gently closed the door and stared the bunny through the glass. She look'd like she still wanted to say something but quickly pressed the gas pedal and drove away.

Nick stared after her way still long after the car was gone and sighed.

"Dumb fox." Nick muttered and started walked inside the building.

.._

AT THE DOOR .._

Nick walked through the hallway and arrived to his door. He gave a depressed look at his door lock and took out his key.

Please don't be hard. I don't have energy for this right now. He sighed and pushed the key inside the lock and turned it.

He heard loud click. Of course it worked on first attempt. I am too coward to open my heart to someone i love but at least i get better at opening my front door.

Nick closed his eyes and entered the apartment. He took his vest off of him and threw it on the floor in frustration.

It took him a moment to realize something. Why were the lights open?

"Wadap?"

Nick's fur spiked up and he felt like he almost had heart attack. He turned his gaze to his couch.

Roy Briggs was sitting on his sofa with his feet on the table, munching potato chips and changing channels from the Tv with remote in his hand.

"You took forever Nicky boy. I'm not going to lie, i was bored as fuck. You don't even have cable, so no late night porn for me.

All the other channels are just complete trash. It's just commercials. This is why i stopped watching tv. It's just shopping tv over and over again.

Who the fuck would want to buy a weird looking machine that cuts chicken and fish into a cubes and shit? What happened to eating normally?

Mammals are so fucking lazy these days. Oh and by the way, i ate your cricket sandwich. Sorry dude. I can't resist mayo."

...

AUTHORS NOTE _

It took me quite a while to get this chapter done. I had really fun writing it. It took so... Many... Hours...

Right, now that VOLUME 1 is offically done i can relax and have whole two months of holidays from writing.

Just kidding lmao you will get new one in a week. :D

So without further adue to the reviews.
_-

-Fox in the hen house- You can never have enough fluff 3

-Mathew5641- Nick can be cheeky bastard XD And yep, more time i get, the better i can create. Thanks for understanding. Like i think about one chapter in a week is pretty decent outcome. You have to keep Zootopia alive. Morgan freemans voice is something that if your friend would posess, you would make him read whole books for you.

-bsmith1138- Lol Levron is like Jack Savage 2.0 except he is a criminal... Or is he? Btw, i love your avatar picture XD

-fragolette- Music is love, music is life.

-theoriginal0n3- Thank you so much! Makes me always happy to know that someone is passionate about your story!

-KevinStoner- Truth has been spoken.

-OneWolfe- I went back to check what you meant and i agree. The first three epsiodes were something where i just tried my best to figure out how the story would go.
Episode one and two are more like an Intros than actual episodes XD and you know me, i am master of close calls. I think i am low key driving people insane.
Someone sent me a priv message in deviant art about my story and said "Dude, i love with the teasing it's cute and all but it's gone about ten episodes now, can you just make them fuck already?" I swear i almost flipped my laptop from laughing so hard. Some people XD. It made my night tho. I love straight forwardness.

NOW when thats out of the way, i'll bid you all a due.

Stay awesome people. I hope you enjoyed. Stay tuned.

RANDOM DON'T READ _

Skyrim remastered is awesome.