The 1st Precinct of the Zootopia Police Department was unusually quiet this morning. Where once there had been the usual background noise and officers going to and fro, there was only silence now. Every officer that morning had formed two separate lines; one on the left side of the entry way, the other on the right.
The mood was solemn, for this was no ordinary day in the department. Officers looked across the line they were in to the other line. Chief Bogo, the no-nonsense, gruff, and often times irritable head of the Zootopia Police Department stood in the very back and center of the lines. He narrowed his eyes, seeing a figure walking towards the building.
"Every one stand at attention!" ordered the Cape Buffalo.
Instantly, backs were straightened, shoulders pushed back and facial expressions turned stoic as the figure put his paws on the door and walked in. As the figure walked through the lines, every officer saluted as he passed them, finally making his way up to Chief Bogo and stopping.
"Officer Jack Wolfard reporting for duty, chief!" said the wolf as he saluted the head of the department.
Chief Bogo looked around the room, and quite uncharacteristically of him, smiled as he addressed the entire precinct.
"Don't just stand there, give him a round of applause!"
Not only did Jack Wolfard receive applause, there was shouting, screaming, hooting and hollering as his fellow officers grabbed hold of him and raised him up.
"Let's hear it for the best cop in the entire department!" yelled Chief Bogo.
"Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!"
Jack laughed hysterically as he was made to crowd surf through the throngs of officers carrying him. Finally he was put back down on his feet in front of Chief Bogo, who had more he wanted to say to the wolf.
"Good to have you back, Jack," said Bogo, shaking the wolf's paw.
"It's good to be back, Chief," said Jack as Nick Wilde came up and gave his partner a huge bear hug.
"There's my partner!" exclaimed the fox.
Jack smacked his partner on the back several times as he was overjoyed to not only be back on the job, but also to be back with his partner and best friend, Nick Wilde. Jack, who had sustained a terrible abdominal injury from a gunshot when he had unknowingly stumbled onto a robbery in progress at Zootopia City Bank, had spent the past six weeks in the hospital and two more weeks at home resting.
The wolf had been barely clinging to life when paramedics were finally able to administer care to him. He'd been in a coma after completing surgery and not even the doctors could guarantee that he would come out of it, but Nick knew better than that.
Every night after his shift, the fox would come down to the hospital, talking to the unconscious wolf, telling him everything would be okay, that he would be out on the streets before he knew it. Nick didn't mind that he had been proven right.
"I told you you'd make it, Jackie boy," said Nick. "You know what the first thing you said was when you woke up?"
"Yeah," said Jack. "I saw you sitting there and I asked you if I'd missed the wedding-sure glad I didn't!"
As the roaring and clapping gradually subsided, Chief Bogo decided to address the precinct once more.
"Alright, you lot, settle down," he said, then faced Officer Wolfard. "Jack, I have a couple things I'd like to present to you before we start the shift." Bogo reached into his pocket and pulled out a brass medal with a blue ribbon around it.
"Officer Wolfard, in recognition for your service to this department, and in honor of your heroism while on duty, I'm pleased to present you with Zootopia Police Department's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Star!"
Everyone present again erupted into cheers and applause as Chief Bogo put the medal around Jack's neck and shook his paw. Nick shook his partner's paw as he appeared to be in shock from receiving such recognition. Wolfard, like most officers on the force, knew that such an award was most often received posthumously. He was glad to be receiving it while still alive.
"Now, there's one more thing I'd like to give you that I think you've really been looking forward to." Bogo looked over at Nick. "Officer Wilde?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Don't just stand there. You're getting something, too."
Nick went over to stand next to Jack. Again reaching into his pocket, the Chief pulled out two small boxes and gave one to Jack and the other to Nick.
"You've earned it," said Bogo. "Wilde, consider this an early wedding present."
Nick and Jack looked at each other before carefully pulling the lids off the boxes. What Nick and Jack beheld inside made their eyes light up.
"A . . . a gold shield!" said Jack
"Me too!" exclaimed Nick.
Bogo offered a congratulatory paw. "Well done, Detective Wolfard and Detective Wilde."
Jack had passed the detective's test a week before he had been shot, but the results of the exam had not yet been posted. Being in the hospital clinging to his life, the wolf had not really concerned himself with whether or not he had made detective.
Nick was a different story altogether. Having much less time on the job than his partner, Nick had no expectations of being promoted to detective anytime in the near future; in fact, he had not even taken the test to be promoted. There were-under certain circumstances-occasions where officers could receive a promotion without taking an exam. Chief Bogo must have thought enough of Nick's skills to make him a detective.
"Thank you, sir," said Nick to the Cape Buffalo. "I won't let you down."
Bogo glared at him. "See that you don't, Wilde."
Judy came up from behind Nick and threw her arms around him. "Oh, my handsome fox is going to be a detective!"
Nick turned around and the two embraced in a kiss. Not wasting an opportunity to once more applaud a special occasion, the officers present now erupted in "oohs" and "aaws" at the site of the two lovers.
"Knock it off," growled Bogo. "Don't make me turn the hose on you two."
Nick and Judy did as they were told, ceasing their kiss, they instead gave the chief a smug look of satisfaction. Grumbling and shaking his head, Chief Bogo and the rest of the cops walked off to their respective posts; ready to begin their shifts.
"Are you ready for the meeting with Dr. Schwartz today, Nick?" asked Judy as they walked around the precinct building.
"You bet," said Nick. "Though I am worried about what the test results will be, and then we have dinner over at my Dad's house tonight-gonna be a busy day for sure."
"Then the wedding next week," added Judy.
Nick sighed. The fox was very anxious about two major events in his life. Today he would learn his chances of conceiving children with the love of his life, and next week he would be making a commitment to spend the rest of his life with his love.
As soon as their shift had ended, Judy and Nick went directly to the office of Dr. Murray Schwartz, a fox who was considered by most in the medical field as the top specialist in genetics and genetic compatibility involving inter-species reproduction. Nick and Judy were so eager to get the results of the tests that they didn't even bother changing into civilian clothes before leaving the precinct building.
Dr. Schwartz's office was the picture of tranquility and peace. Several plants were placed in his office, giving off a refreshing smell. Nick and Judy, sat across from the Dr. desk holding paws as they awaited his arrival.
"I wish he'd get here," said Nick. "I think I'm going to have a panic attack."
"Take it easy," said Judy, patting his thigh. "No matter what we find out today, we'll get through it."
Nick grinned at his soon to be wife. "As long as you're with me, I can get through anything, honey bunny."
The fox kissed her on the cheek right before Dr. Schwartz, a middle-aged fox with a bit of a belly on him and wearing thick glasses enter the room. Before sitting down, he extended a friendly paw to them.
"Mr. Wilde, Ms. Hopps, or should I say, Officer Wilde and Officer Hopps, how are you today?"
"Fine," said Nick, shaking the doctor's paw. "Though were ready to hear the test results."
"I understand," said Schwartz, sitting down. "I've done a thorough examination of both your DNA and your fiance's, Mr. Wilde."
"And?" said Nick, waiting on bated breath.
"I wish I could have happier news, but it appears as though your chances of conception are 50/50."
"Fifty-fifty?" said Judy. "So, it could go either way?"
"That's right," said Dr. Schwartz. "There's no reason to give up hope, mind you. Perhaps you should look at the this as a glass half full situation, hmm?"
Nick sighed. "I wish you had better news for us, doc."
"No reason to get discouraged, Mr. Wilde," said Schwartz. "Let me show you the very reason I got into the field of genetics."
The older fox took hold of a picture frame that was on his desk and turned it around to show Nick and Judy. "You see that lady rabbit in the picture?"
"Yes," said Nick, wondering what his point was.
"She's my wife," said the doctor.
"Your wife?" said Judy.
"Yes, and we've been married over thirty five years," said the doctor. "Now, let me show you another photo."
Dr. Schwartz showed them another picture frame. Judy didn't have to be told who the seven younger animals were on the photo.
"Those . . . those are your children!" exclaimed the rabbit.
"That's right, Ms. Hopps. Seven healthy, happy children. Best of all, because of the bio-diversity, they've hardly been sick a day in their lives and not one of them was born with any complications or defects."
"Wow," said Nick, staring at the picture of the doctor's children.
"You want to know what our chances were of conceiving back then, Mr. Wilde?"
"What?" asked Nick.
"I was told by the top specialists at the time it would be less than twenty percent, and yet, here I am, proud father of seven wonderful children. I think that says that we doctor's aren't always right about things, wouldn't you? Besides, medicine has come along way from back then, so don't you two give up hope. Life . . . life finds a way."
Nick and Judy rose to their feet and thanked Dr. Schwartz, with Nick giving him a hardy handshake.
"Thank you, sir," said Nick.
"Your welcome," said Dr. Schwartz. "And please, would you two be so kind as to call me if you are able to conceive? I like to know about my success stories."
Nick and Judy gave the doctor each huge smiles, letting him know that they would indeed tell him of any good news.