No Turning Back

Chapter 12

A/N: I want to apologize for the long wait. Plan and simple I hit a block in the story. I had an idea, but it got deleted (on accident) and so I had to start over from scratch. This chapter in particular gave me much trouble. So thank you for sticking with me through this.

Oh by the way I sort of made up a contraception.

NTB

Nick woke up, to the feeling of his body tightening. The nagging headache was starting to put a strain on his eyes. He was glad he drew his curtain last night. "Yup, here comes my heat." He said to no one. He took his phone off the charger and scrolled through his contacts to find the precinct, pressing call.

"Zootopia Precinct One. Officer Clawhauser here how can I help you?"

"Hey Clawhauser. It's me, Nick. I need you to take me and Judy off the schedule for the next 2 weeks."

"Is it that time already? Ok. I can handle that." There was a moment of silence. Then his signature squeal. "Ooh! Are you two going to spend it together?" The excitement in his voice was palpable

"Yeah." Nick sounded more morose than he should.

"Is something wrong? I mean I heard you two have already… you know."

"I went Alpha on her last night. I've never done that before and I'm afraid I'll hurt her, unintentionally." Nick sighs. "It's too soon."

"Oh. Well can't you guys just stay apart like normal?"

"I really think that will cause more harm than good. It was because she was trying to put space between us when I…" her trailed off.

"You didn't hurt her already, did you?" The cheetah sounded worried.

"No, just a bit aggressive. That is before she slapped me."

"Nick, I know you. Even if your natural instincts are trying to fight you. You'll still the stand up guy, you have always been. I do just want to say that for you to go alpha at all means she's the one. Maybe focus on that." Ben's optimism gave Nick a small glimmer of hope in his dismal state.

"Thanks, Ben. I needed to hear something like that. I just hope… well I just want to keep her safe."

"And you will. She trusts you. We'll see you in a couple of weeks."

"Alright, talk to you soon."

After the call ended, Nick felt a little bit less stressed. But he needed to be with Judy, the urge was starting to make him edgy. He checked his phone and noticed he missed a text while he was chatting with Ben.

"Hey Nick. I'm on my way to my doctor. Then I guess we should meet up. I'm thinking my place."

"Carrots. You don't even know how nice it is to hear from you. I called Clawhauser and got us off the schedule already. That's fine about your place. I'll pack a bag."

"Oh sweet cheese and crackers. It must be everyone's heat. This place is busy. Thanks for taking care of that."

"No problem."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just feeling my symptoms. I think I'll feel better once we are together. Your scent tends to soothe me."

"Glad to be of help. I want you to know I'm not scared. I know you are worried. But I'm not."

Nick didn't know how to respond. He was worried, but having her say she wasn't filled him with dread and relief at the same time. Dread that he would hurt her in a way that her faith in him would be ruined. And relief to feel when you partner trusts you no matter what. Before he could respond another text popped up.

"They just called me back. I'll see you soon."

Xoxoxo

If there was something that she hated more, than it was coming to this particular doctor. It's one thing to have to come once a year. But this particular visit required another exam. The bob cat nurse walked in and told her to change. "Paper looks good on anyone." Judy thought to herself.

The koala doctor walked in. She was always a nice animal to talk with. But it was going to be awkward this time.

"Good morning, Ms. Hopps. Looks like you are about to start your heat. It says here that you've started a physical relationship. Which means a incredibly uncomfortable and invasive exam." The doctor said with a wink, in her foreign accent. Judy giggles slightly.

"Just delightful. This is exactly how I wanted to spend my morning." Judy says ironically

"I take it I'm not your cup of tea." If she hadn't know the female was married to male koala she would have thought she was trying to pick her up.

"Not so much. My new mate is a wonderful guy, just um a predator."

"Oh that is complicated." The doctor started the exam and after a couple of minutes of being poked and prodded. "Everything looks normal. By looking at your chart you would skip your shot on occasion. But if you have a steady partner, it is of vital importance you continue to come in every cycle. It helps to curb his instincts. Especially if he is a predator." All Judy could do was nod. "Since this is your first heat with a partner, I'm up-ing your dosage and I recommend you taking 24 hours to allow it to work before engaging in the activity." Judy blushed at her doctor being so blunt about this. The doctor must have sensed her uneasiness, then threw a cheerful smile at Judy. "I'm sure it will be hard on your partner to contain himself for so long." Judy chuckled nervously. "Is there something you want to discuss?"

"I guess I just don't know enough about male heat. So I'm a tad nervous, at what to expect."

"It's not much different from ours. Mostly they experience muscle tightness and headaches. Some other symptoms are species specific. But for the most part, they just want to rut. It relieves the tension in their body. Temporarily."

"Do they ever totally lose control of their senses?"

"Like going primitive? No, they can get feisty and if they are equipped with claws or fangs they might be more inclined to use them. But never completely go savage."

Judy breathed a sigh of relief. "That's really comforting. I know he's worried, but I'm sure I can go into this in a steady state of mind. I think it will help."

"I'm sure everything will be fine. Most males are able to control themselves."

"One more thing, what do you know about, males going alpha?"

"Oh! Now I see your trepidation. It really is just a state of mind. If he has already imprinted on you, then he'll just be overprotective. His baser instincts will want you to be close for his validation. It won't take much to cause him to feel his place as your mate is in jeopardy, especially during his heat. Just be prepared to be wearing him like a coat until the heat passes."

"Ok, that's really helpful. I think I can handle him being clingy. He won't like snap or growl at anyone who talks to me, will he?"

The doctor let out a hearty laugh. "I have never heard of it, but there is always a first." Judy, realizing that the doctor was teasing her, laughed some also. Feeling a lot better about this. She thanked her doctor and left.

Xoxoxo

Judy made home, in a state of more surety then she had in days. She knew that no matter what was going to happen, it would be ok in the end. But when she arrived at her door. She paused, as the weight of Nick's emotions washed over her. Her foot started to stomp nervously. She fought the tiny urge that wanted her flee, by straightening her shoulders, taking a deep breath and shaking the nerves out of her arms and paws.

The door opened and she saw Nick sitting at her breakfast bar. He jumped off his seat and went her, pulling into his arms. She could feel all the tension his heat was causing. But as he took generous inhales of her scent, his body started to loosen up. "You don't have any idea, how badly I need this, you right now." Judy blushed at his comment. She was about to tell him about the doctor's recommendation, as he began to nuzzle her neck. Her weakness, was feeling his breath on her neck.

"Nick, we need to talk." Her words were coming out breathlessly

"Um hm." He responded, as his teeth nipped into the soft flesh. Judy whimpered at the sensation. She tried to pull her steadily growing lustful mind out of the fog, to warn him. But knew she couldn't push him away without upsetting him. She decided it was better to be direct.

"Well maybe a few more seconds." She thought to herself and his paws made their way down to her bottom. Feeling him touch her every where was making her insane with need. She knew her own heat was to blame.

"Nick, doctor said no sex until tomorrow."

She said as elegantly as she was able. He pulled away looking confused. "Just this first heat, but we need to wait." Nick made a whimpering sound. Which Judy found endearing. She reached forward and stroked the side of his face. "I think we need to talk, anyways."

Xoxoxo

They ordered lunch and talked. Mostly about nonsense, until Judy's curiosity got the better of her. She had just put down her bottle of water on the coffee table as Nick picked his up.

"So when were you going to tell me you imprinted on me?" The drink of water Nick had taken, was sprayed out across the room. Causing Judy to chuckle. Nick coughed trying to remove the irritation of water in his throat and wiping his face. He stared at her terrified.

"How? When did? What?" He said

"I hadn't deduced it for myself until it was pointed out to me. But it's fairly recent. Especially with you going Alpha last night. So…?"

Nick looked at the plate of food in his lap, he was deep in thought. "I'm not entirely sure. I mean it happened so naturally, that I didn't notice it. But then I guess when you started dating and I would get really depressed. Ask Finnick? Wait, don't. He would have some pretty unsavory stories." He looked up into Judy's eyes. "Maybe some time after the Night Howler case. I don't think it happened during. But probably soon after, once we became friends."

"Oh, Nick." Judy said sympathetically. She took his plate away and hugged him. "Why didn't you tell me? You've been suffering for so long."

Nicks's body relaxed in Judy's hold. He began to nuzzle her neck. Breathing in her scent. He could feel the symptoms of his heat lessen. Only to give way to his burning desire. He had remind his baser self that he couldn't do anything until tomorrow. But it didn't stop him from taking a few nips at her neck. He could feel her shudder at the sensation. "I didn't want to hurt our friendship. You meant so much to me, but I didn't think I could handle you saying you didn't feel the same. I just strived to be the best friend I could be. But now in hindsight, I guess that's why my previous heat cycles have been so brutal."

All Judy could answer to Nick's revelation, was to pull him closer. She hated the fact that she couldn't just let him work out his need for her right there on the couch. But knew she would make it up to him tomorrow, for every painful moment he sacrificed in the past.