Partnership Like No Other
Ch. 7
"Too Quiet for Comfort"
Her first week as a meter maid started and Judy exited the apartment while her partner was still sound asleep in the bed they shared. She exited very quietly and made her way to the ZPD hoping that Bogo changed his mind and let her work at the normal post. The morning meeting began and Judy sat in her chair silently staring at the chair that Nick usually sat in next to her and sighed. As Bogo gave out the assignments she just said nothing, she was not in a good mood and was missing her partner so much right now. Bogo finished giving the assignments and approached her.
"Hopps, it is only two weeks that you are on parking duty. It is very quiet in Zootopia ever since you and Wilde took down the Bulls, and Bellwether is still in jail along with her henchmen. I hardly have any assignments for the rest of the precinct. Just try and make the best of things, but keep your eyes wide open, it really is very quiet, and something may be coming down. Let's just hope it doesn't come down until your partner Wilde is fully healed from his wound. The last thing we need is you being targeted because you're alone."
She sighed.
"Yes, Chief Bogo, I will definitely pay attention to my surroundings."
She took the orange maid vest and put it on over her uniform and exited with her ears down.
'Back to being a dumb meter maid. Come on Nick, please heal faster.'
She got in her little car and made her way to her post and sat waiting for the sound of expiring parking meters. Hours passed, and she heard nothing, so she decided to take a break and made her way to Snarlbucks where Alex was behind the counter making coffees. She got in line and waited to be served not realizing one of Arron's brothers were also in the Snarlbucks under cover.
'Lookie here, bunny cop is demoted back to a lousy meter maid and that good for nothing fox that took down my brother is nowhere. Maybe he was fired, because everyone knows that a fox can't be trusted and are good fakers too. Maybe it was just a front to get himself off the hook for hustling pawsicles.'
Jason looked up from his morning paper and hit Blake on his shoulder.
"Calm down Blake, we will get our revenge on those two cops and the other foxes that helped take down your brother Arron and Simon down. But we can't make any sudden moves, the big plan will come together soon trust me."
Blake peered at him with his Cyan eyes.
"You better hope it does Jay, I do not like the idea of joining forces with a bunch of sheep either. That just destroys my dignity as a Bull. Who knows if they will betray us like they betrayed that fuzzy little gray bunny and that dumb fox."
~In the meantime, Alex was behind the counter~
"Hey Officer Hopps, how is everything and why are you wearing that vest? Also, where is Nick? Don't tell me he went back to his old ways and got himself fired?"
A little fox looked up.
"Yo Alex, no Nick hasn't gone back to hustling. I am on my own now. What I heard is he is on leave because of the injuries he sustained from the Bulls case. You best watch your tail too, you forget they only took in two of the bulls and there are two still free. So, you better keep that big yap of yours shut before I bite yo' face off understood!"
Judy looked down just realizing that the one speaking was Finnick.
"Hey there Finnick, what brings you here for coffee?"
Finnick sighed.
"Were you not paying attention to what I just told this idiot! I told him that he better shut his yap, because there are still two members of the Bulls out there and they could be planning a big thing to get revenge. I heard this around time, so cottontail you best watch yo back while you are reading the meters, they will use you for bait to lure Nick out. They will not care if he is injured or not and you know that neither will Nick if anyone touches his Carrots! Heed my words both of you, now big mouth can I have my usual?"
Alex got offended by that.
"Stop calling me big mouth, I am no longer involved in the whole thing and have no intentions of starting anything either. Just glad I can return to work after hiding for so long during that case. Here is your coffee, have a good day Finnick and we will both be careful."
A female voice was heard behind them and a female fox that looked exactly like Rixie was seen wearing a blue outfit winking at Alex. Alex turned to the fox with light orange and tan fur with blue eyes smiling.
"Hey Rox, you in town to see your sister Rixie the agent now? You haven't been around since we graduated college, and you dumped me because of my involvement in the bulls."
She glared at him.
"Yes, I did break-up with you after I found out about your involvement in those Bulls that wreak havoc in every town that they come to. Yes, I am also here in town to see my sister Rixie, and who would this bunny be?"
Judy looked at the female fox and stared.
"You're Rixie's sister, I don't recall her mentioning she had a sister. You sure you aren't trying to pull a fast one on me?"
Roxie looked at her with her eyes slanted.
"Yes, I am sure, and you are?"
Judy looked up at her.
"I am Officer Judy Hopps, of the ZPD and a very good friend to Rixie too."
~At the table~
Blake glared at the female fox with his cyan eyes.
"I had no idea that this town had so many damn foxes in it. I suppose she is going to train to be a cop too."
Jason also spotted the fox and tapped Blake.
"Let's go, before we get spotted? We must meet Woolter at 230p sharp to lay out our plan of revenge on those who dare cross the Bulls! Until Arron and Craig come out you're in charge let's go. I can't have you spotted and blow the plan, boss."
~Back at Judy's apartment~
Nick was lying in bed and saw a note on the nightstand from Judy.
'Nick, I made you some blueberry pancakes, before I left this morning for my parking duty. Make sure you eat it all and get some rest. I'll see you after work love Judy. Enjoy'
He smiled as he carefully got out of bed and made his way to the kitchen to warm up his pancakes that Judy made him. He sat on the couch and propped up a pillow as he ate and watched the news. Then there was a knock on the door and Nick got up carefully and answered.
"Hey, Rix and Jack, what brings you here?"
Rixie entered the apartment.
"Not much just decided to check up on you for Judy since Bogo stuck her on Parking Duty because of your absence. Anyway, besides that Jack and I found some information that might come in handy to you Slick. We were snooping around the old lumberyard where the Bulls were doing their dirty work and the scene of the murder of the owner too. When he and I discovered that two of the 4 bulls in the gang are still free here in Zootopia. One is the other twin to Arron and Craig, who as of right now is the head when and if his brothers, and the right-hand man Simon ever get out. Let's hope they don't and the other member Jason is also free. So, there are still two bulls out there and Jack just found out that Woolter is also still out there after Bellwether and Doug were taken into custody."
Jack looked at Nick.
"Which means you dumb fox, no offense Rix that your partner Officer Hopps can still be in danger. Let's just hope she keeps on alert if she is half the cop she claims to be. Because if she lets her guard down she might be the bait to lure you out injured or not to take you out Officer Wilde."
Nick glared at Jack.
"I am not a dumb fox, you stupid rabbit! Besides I know my Carrots will not let her guard down, she is a great cop and I am sick of you putting her down because she chose me over you Jack! Deal with it Savage Judy is in love with me and never will fall for you understood! Now get out of my face before I make you! Rix thank you for the information just please relay it to Judy somehow. And get that ignorant Rabbit out of my face before I wipe that grin off his damn face!"
Jack lunged for Nick and Rixie pulled him back.
"Let's go Savage before you get yourself hurt by a fox! I told you to be nice, but no did you listen? Of course not, just trying to pick a fight with an injured officer that can take you down if he really wanted to so back off him, will you? Let's go find Judy."
Nick slammed the apartment door and hurt himself opening the wound again. Through the wall he heard a voce of one of Judy's annoying neighbors.
"Wow somebody is in a pissy mood I see! Drink a beer and you'll be fine!"
Nick banged on the wall.
"Will you shut up already! I am not in the mood today I swear! Damn I opened it again!"
He ran to the bathroom and took off his shirt, cleaning out the wound and covered it back up again deciding to leave his shirt off. Then he decided to drift back off to sleep being careful not to hit his wound again.
~Judy's break ended, and Roxie followed her out~
Judy noticed and looked at her.
"What is it Roxie? Why are you following me?"
Roxie showed her the badge.
"I'm Officer Slye, a recruit to the ZPD at the same precinct as you Officer Hopps. Chief Bogo told me to find you and watch how the job is done. No don't freak out I am not your partner's replacement I can assure you of that. Besides I have my eye on another fox that is not your partner Officer Hopps. I just haven't had a chance to tell him because he was busy."
Judy looked at her.
"Call me Judy, and okay we basically just sit in this lil car and listen for expired parking meters and put tickets on the cars."
Roxie sat in the car with Judy as she drove around listening for meters. Roxie heard one and watched as Judy wrote the ticket and stuck it on the parked car. They heard a lot of meters beep and and Judy handed Roxie a machine and they each took a side of the parking lot and put the tickets on the parked cars. Finally, the day ended, and Judy heard a familiar voice.
"Hey Rix and Jack, what brings you out here? I am just about to end my shift for the day. Oh, by the way Rix I met your sister Roxie, you never mentioned you had a sister to me or Nick."
Rixie spotted her sister.
"Roxie, you're an Officer at the ZPD? I thought you were going to join the agency like me? What made you change your mind anyway?"
Roxie looked at her sister.
"They told me I don't have the skills to be an agent and that I should be a cop. So, I went to the academy and here I am an Officer of the ZPD and Officer Hopps is my mentor, and then after Officer Wilde returns we will all be a team."
Jack laughed.
"Wow, teaming up with that pathetic sly fox, well Judy you better watch out another fox joining might umm cause a problem if you get my gist?"
Judy crossed her paws.
"In your dreams Jack, besides she likes someone else. You are still mad because I chose Nick over you get over it! What brought you two out here besides you putting Nick down Jack!"
Rixie cleared her throat.
"Anyway, to warn you about the last two remaining members of the Bulls that is still free and a certain ram that also escaped from the Night Howler case! We just want you to watch your back, our sources say that Woolter is teaming up with Blake Cattleson and Jason Allen Ferren from the Bulls to seek revenge on you and Nick. They might use you as bait to lure Nick out to his demise so be alert please. We already let Nick in on it and of course Jack here pissed him off like usual. So be aware that you will go home to a real pissy fox. As for you Rox congrats on joining the ZPD with two of my best friends. Where are you staying in Zootopia anyway?"
Roxie smiled at her.
"In the same apartment complex as Officers Wilde and Officer Hopps 5 doors down to be exact. See one of the perks of working for the ZPD is that the apartments are already paid for and all we must worry about is buying food and the electricity bill. So, if you'd excuse me it's been a real long day, I am heading home to get some much-needed rest. See you tomorrow Judy. I hope to meet our other partner Officer Wilde soon."
Judy waved to Roxie and Rixie as she made her way to their apartment and opened the front door.
"Nick, I am home. Are you awake? Nick?"
She felt two familiar paws wrap around her waist and smiled.
"You sly fox, how are you feeling? Don't you think you should be careful, so you don't open the wound again?"