Judy ran into the hospital room where Nick was staying, but he wasn't there. She grew worried and went to the receptionist.
"Could you tell me where Nick Wilde is?" she asked innocently.
The jaguar receptionist smiled at Judy. "He checked himself out about an hour ago."
Judy's heart started to pound. He could be in trouble! She thanked the receptionist and ran out of the hospital, pulling out her phone. She dialed Nick's number, and listened to it ring. On the last ring, Nick picked up.
"Carrots?" he asked quietly.
"Nick! Oh, thank goodness! Where are you? Why did you leave the hospital?"
There was heavy breathing on the other end of the line. "Judy…something's wrong. I took the cure, but… It's happening again. I'm losing control. I…I need you."
Judy gasped. "Nick, where are you? I know what's going on! Tell me where you are!"
There was silence for a minute, until Nick replied. "Do you remember where we first met?"
Judy nodded. "Be right there. Hang tight!"
She jumped into her squad car and drove to the elephant owned ice cream shop where she had first met her best friend. When she arrived, she saw Nick leaning against the wall, his eyes closed in pain. Judy jumped out of the car and ran to him.
"Nick, what's wrong?"
Nick looked at her. "It's taking control of me again, Carrots. I can't…I can't do this. I won't be able to control myself."
Judy hugged him. "It will be alright, okay? I went back to where the bears were and heard their plan. They changed the flower so that the cure would only temporarily stop the effects. The only way to stop the effects is to destroy the source…and the bears have it."
Nick listened intently, trying to stay conscious. "Okay…okay…we can do this."
Judy nodded. "That's the spirit, Nick. Just hold onto me."
Nick tried to focus on Judy, but his thoughts were drifting. He could feel himself going savage, and he had to get away from Judy. He thought her presence would help…but it wasn't. The flower was still effecting him.
"Judy, listen to me, okay? You need to get away from me. Go find the source and destroy it. I…I can't help you."
He groaned and doubled over as the venom of the flower traveled through his veins. His thoughts started to change, and he knew that soon he wouldn't have any control.
Judy grasped his hands. "No, I'm not leaving you!"
Nick knew he didn't have long left. He pushed Judy away from him. "I said get away!"
Judy felt panic rising up. She was losing her best friend…again. "No! You said you needed me so I'm staying!"
Nick's look of pain turned into a snarl and his fell on all fours, growling at Judy. She backed up away from him.
"Nick…please, don't do this!"
Nick was no longer in control. The flower had taken complete control over him. His primal instincts came out, and he wanted to hurt Judy. He advanced towards Judy as she kept backing away.
"Nick…no…" Tears fell down her face. "Stop! This isn't you!"
Nick got in a crouching position, ready to pounce on the bunny in front of him. Judy panicked and grew closer to her car. When Nick pounced, Judy jumped out of the way, and Nick collided with the car, knocking him out. Judy's legs were shaking and she was panting. She grabbed Nick's front paws and dragged him to the back of her car. She opened the truck, and threw Nick in, using all of her strength. After closing the trunk, Judy collapsed in a fit of tears.
"I lost him," she cried. "I lost him!"
Her head fell in her lap as she cried, and she knew that the only way to have her best friend back was to destroy the source of the Nighthowlers. She may have to do this by herself, but she was going to get it done, no matter what.
She walked to the driver's side and climbed into the car, calming herself down. "Come on, Judy, it's time to focus."
She started the car and drove to the Rainforest District with Nick passed out in the trunk. She felt terrible for leaving him back there, but he wasn't himself anymore. She had to accept that.
As she was driving, she heard a groan come from the back of the car. Judy slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the side of the road. She grabbed a weapon and jumped out of the car, walking to the back. If she had to keep knocking him out, she would. She opened the trunk, and Nick tumbled out onto the road. She raised her weapon (a bat) over her head.
"If you make any sudden movements, I will knock you out…again."
Nick felt his thoughts coming back to him. This was getting annoying. He knew had control for now, but this had to stop. They had to stop this ever-changing change in control. He shook his head, before standing up on two legs. He saw Judy glaring at him with a bat over her head. She's going to kill me, he thought. He placed his hands in front of his face.
"Easy, Carrots. It's me right now. But…you may need to knock me out again, just in case I turn savage."
Judy dropped the bat in relief and ran to Nick, embracing him. "I will do whatever I can to make sure you stay yourself," Judy muttered, her face in his shirt.
He chuckled quietly. "Okay, enough of this." He pushed her back. "I'm going to stay here in the car. Lock it while you go to the bears."
Judy shook her head. "If it's you, I need you! I can't do this alone!"
Nick sighed. "Judy…listen…if I go savage again, I might hurt you. I almost did the last time. Just trust me, okay? I need you to do this."
Judy's lip trembled as she hugged Nick again. He hugged her back and muttered, "You need to knock me out again. I can't hurt you unconscious."
Judy nodded as Nick jumped into the back of the car. "So you don't have to lift me again."
Judy held the bat over her head. "Close your eyes."
She knocked him unconscious, wincing as she did so. Then she closed the trunk and climbed back into the driver's seat.
"Time to destroy that cursed flower."