A/N: Extended scene

"This is great," Judy said, stepping out of the foyer of Mystic Springs Oasis and onto the small side street. She glanced over her notes yet again, hardly daring to believe how much information she'd gotten, especially about the car. With the info Yax had provided she should be able to locate the vehicle even if the license plates had been changed.

"Well, that was fun," Nick drawled out behind her. She didn't have to look to know the expression on his face was a distinct 'can I please be done now' look. Sure enough, he continued, "Now that you've got that info, and any moron can run a plate, I'd say that I've finished my part of the bargain. So may I please have the pen?"

Judy stopped in her tracks. As Clawhauser had pointed out, she wasn't in the system yet, which meant she couldn't run a plate. "Shoot," she said. "I'll be Clawhauser can't run the plate for me either." She turned toward Nick and saw him frowning at her with his paw outstretched. He was waiting for the pen. She almost handed it over, but something he'd said caught her attention. "What was that you said about any one being able to run a plate?"

Nick groaned. "Come on, Judy. You can't keep me on the hook forever." He was starting to look less angry and more hurt. Judy was almost surprised that, despite how much everything else had changed, she could still read his visual ticks like an open book. It probably helped that she'd learned to see the hard-to-spot stuff years before. Nick's ears were drooping, not pressed back. His tail dragged through the grime of the sidewalk; and no matter how disarming his smile, his eyes were still glassy to the point that Judy could see her reflection if she looked hard enough.

"Not forever," she said, trying to keep her voice gentle, "Just long enough to find out where Mr. Otterton went. It'll be fun, like when you helped me find Jan and her littermates."

Nick sighed, rubbing a paw across his muzzle." Except that I already knew where they were before you decided you needed to find them. Mr. Otterton is a missing mammal whom I am acquainted with but not close to, and there's a lot more at stake than your stuffed rabbit."

Judy glared at him. "I wasn't trained then, I am now," she said. She turned and hopped into the buggy. Nick followed suit.

"I know that," he said, "but did you ever think of what might happen if the perp is just the slightest bit faster than you?"

"There aren't many things that are faster than a bunny."

"But there are mammals faster than a bunny; specifically they may be faster than you. What'll you do if you try busting one of them?"

"I'll follow my training and call for backup. Why do you care?" She turned to glance at Nick while they waited at a red light. For just a moment she thought she glimpsed something of the original Nick she'd known back in Bunny Burrow, but then the mask slid back into place and he was frowning at the traffic.

"Maybe you're right," he said, "Why do I care?"

"Nick." She paused, something was off now, and while she didn't like the level he'd sunk to, she still needed to apologize. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

"It's fine," Nick brushed the comment off. It rather obviously wasn't fine, but Judy doubted that she'd be able to get Nick to admit to it. He was acting the same way he did when he got too hungry. Judy checked the small clock on the buggy's dash.

"Nick," she said. "When was the last time you ate?"

"This morning," Nick said, not turning to her, "Why?"

"No reason." She drove for two more blocks before she found what she was looking for. "Wait here," she said. She darted into a parking space, turned off the buggy, and hopped out. "I'll be right back." She was gone before Nick could argue. Two minutes into waiting for her order she realized she had forgotten to make sure she had her pen, only to find it tucked safely into her belt. She wondered if Nick would have taken the chance to run. It didn't take long for her order to finish and then she was back out to the buggy. Nick was still waiting inside. He looked at her quizzically.

"Should I be worried?" he asked when she tossed a small paper bag on his lap.

"Just eat it," Judy said, "I don't want to deal with a cynical Nick who's also hungry."

"What is it?" He hadn't even opened the bag yet, instead looking at her for the answer.

"Blueberry muffin," Judy replied. She pulled her own carrot scone out the second bag and started eating. "My treat."

"Thank you." At least he hadn't forgotten all of his manners. He opened the bag and pulled out the muffin to start eating. "How'd you know that was there?" he asked between bites.

"Mom gave me the address before I moved here," Judy said. "The bakery uses fruits and veggies from the Hopps' farm, so mom knows the owner.

"I'll have to visit it again sometime," Nick said. He had slowed down to savor the muffin rather than devouring it. "Hopps' blueberries are the best."

"I'm glad you still think so," Judy said. "Now that you've been fed, care to tell me if I take a right or a left at the tee up ahead?"