Again: Thank you for your patience 3 Hope you enjoy this next chapter :)

Chap 14: Visist

Gideon woke to the steady tapping of rain on the hospital window. The room was dark, save a small reading lamp by the visitor chair in the corner of the room. It had to be early-morning; the nurses had still not started the breakfast rounds. His belly made a rumbling sound, which he assumed was a good thing since he had not had much of an appetite yesterday.

He wanted to sit up, but his head felt like it weighed twice as much as usual, and the throbbing in his shoulder did not help. He felt around with his right arm until he found the small remote control Nurse Tracy had shown him yesterday. After a few tries he managed to raise the back of the bed to the point where he was almost sitting up, though a little reclined to keep the strain of his neck.

The next project was trying to reposition the pillows behind his head, which was not easy with just one working arm and a broken collarbone.
"Dammit" Gideon muttered as one of the pillows slipped off the bed and down on the floor. He was becoming exhausted and then frustrated because he was exhausted.

"Oh honey, let me do that"
Vera had silently opened the door to find her son huffing and puffing, reaching over the side of his bed while trying to reach the pillow. Anyone lesser would maybe have found his attempts comical, but Vera did not.

Gideon studied his mother in silence while she repositioned his pillow and folded down his blanket. She looked better than yesterday. Her fur was neatly brushed and she had changed into a fresh cardigan. However, she had a contemplating look on her face that made him uneasy.

Vera pulled one of the visitor chairs up to his bed, sitting down with his paw cupped between her own.

"Mary is visiting today" she said softly.

Gideon first reaction was a jolt of relief and anticipation, before the small, almost sad smile on his mother's face made him pause.

Vera watched her son's reaction as she spoke. The way his eyes lit up at the news, the way his whole face seemed to relax, wiped away any doubt she might have had.

"Were you going to tell me?" Vera's voice was soft and a little melancholy, but Gideon could not detect any anger or disapproval.
"Yea" he said slowly. "We were planin' on telling you"
Gideon tried to read his mother's face, wary of her reaction.

Vera sat in silence. She had already had the previous evening to get used to the idea, but Gideon confirming it still affected her. It was nearly unheard of in these parts. Yesterday, after she had talked to Travis, her mind had been a muddle of worry. Now she was still worried, and the thought of her son choosing a prey, a sheep, for a mate would take some getting used to. But she had come to terms with that she would have to get used to it. If anything, they were going to need someone in their corner.

But she was not quite able to hide her reservation.
"How long have you two..?"
"About a month now"

Gideon knew this had to be hard for his mother to accept, but she seemed to be trying.

"Ma-" he began.
"I'm going to be honest with you honey; it's a shock" she firmed her grip around his paw. "But it shouldn't matter, and you must know that I love you no matter what"

Vera's eyes started to tear up as she stood from her chair and embraced Gideon in a warm, gentle hug.

"I know Ma" Gideon put his good paw on his mother's back, starting to feel a little teary himself.

"My brave, brave boy, I'm so proud of you. But if you hadn't woken up I don't know what I'd do" Vera mumbled with an uneven voice into the pillow behind him.

Over her shoulder, Gideon noticed Nurse Tracy stepping into the room. As she saw Vera embracing Gideon, she gave him a soft and understanding smile, before quietly leaving to tend to the other patients first.

Mary impatiently shifted her weight from one leg to the other as she stood in the Hopps' driveway. Judy had already left with Nick in the Hopps' family lorry, wanting to stop by the Tri-Burrows police station first. The small lorry did not have room for an extra passenger, which left Mary to ride in the van with Bonnie, Stu and about a dozen of the kits that wanted to visit their favourite pie making fox in the hospital.

The Hopps van was built with rows of seats going length- wise in the back of the van, meaning you had to sit sideways. Luckily, Mary could to sit in the front with Bonnie and Stu. The worst of the concussion was wearing off, but she still got dizzy easily and suspected a drive to Central sitting sideways would make her nauseous.

She straightened her jacket for what had to be the hundredth time. She was anxious to get going, everything in her ached to see Gideon again. Though the Hopps' being there would be an obstacle, she would deal with that problem when they got there. Right now, all she could think about was getting to see Gideon again, to talk to him, to feel him and know that he was alright.

"Okey-dokey" Stu said, shutting the sliding doors of the van shut as the last kit buckled in. "That's the last of 'em"
He jumped into the driver's seat, and meticulously started adjusting the mirrors. Stu Hopps prided himself in being a cautious driver, something that frustrated anyone that had somewhere they needed to be.

Bonnie gave some last minute instructions to Jane, who had volunteered to watch the remaining kits while they were away.
Finally, everyone was in the van. Mary glanced at the dashboard clock, realising that it had already been an hour since she got the text from Travis saying he was on his way. With the speed Stu was keeping, they would probably not be at the hospital before lunchtime.

"I don't think she's got any paw in this"

Wolford was absentmindedly tipping on his chair with his feet on the joint desks he and Fangmyre had been offered in the quaint small-town police-department that was the Tri-Burrows police. He had loosened his tie and top buttons of his uniform shirt, his paw in his pockets while he rocked back and forth in his chair.

"She was married to a Pack leader for ten years" his partner pointed out while reading through Eva Wolfskinsky's statement. They had gone to the small rented cottage where she lived in Bunnyburrow the same afternoon they arrived. The Chief had considered her a flight risk, and even if she did not have any direct involvement with The Pack anymore, she was crucial if they were going to bring Rex and what remained of The Pack down for good.

After the media attention this had received, the Mayor had suddenly decided that bringing an end to organized crime in Zootopia was his re-election sales point. In addition, the goodwill he received from the neighboring Tri-Burrows could come in handy if he ever decided to run for president. Something he found himself considering more often than before these days.

Chief Bogo had uttered some choice words about opportunistic politicians when he informed Fangmyre of the developments over the phone, but the extra subsidies was undeniably welcome.

"Oh, come on Fang" the timber wolf rolled his eyes. "Kidnapping her own son? There is no motive"
"I'm still not ruling out the possibility she could be involved just yet" The tiger replied, turning a page in the statement.
"You can't see past her past" Wolford accused.
"And you can't see past a pair of pretty eyes and a fluffy tail" Fangmyre shot back, giving his partner a challenging look.

Wolford stopped rocking his chair, eyes narrowing at the tiger doing the paperwork.
"No, I'm just trying to see the whole picture"
"And a pretty picture it is" Fangmyre retorted calmly, though the tip of his tail did a small flick.
"Shut up Fang" Wolford snapped, though the corner of his mouth angled up just a fraction of an inch.
"Did I hit a nerve there Wolfy?"
"Don't call me that"
"What, Wolfy?"

Wolford shot out of his chair and across the desk, lounging for Fangmyre. The tiger had anticipated the move though, and just as quickly jumped out of the way, sending his chair to the floor.

Fangmyre laughed tauntingly at his friend, who pivoted where he landed to face him. Wolford leaped again, and this time Fangmyre stood still, allowing the wolf to knock him to the floor.

"You're losing it"
"Am I?" Fangmyre retorted, before flipping over, trapping Wolford in a chokehold. "Want to repeat that statement?"
"Aghr" Wolford gurgled as he fruitlessly tried to pry Fangmyre's arm away.
"Tapping out?" the tiger asked tauntingly.

"Seriously! We leave you alone for three days and you're already trashing the place"

Both officers looked over to see a rather smug looking Nick standing in the door, followed by a not that amused looking Judy.

"I knocked over one chair" Fangmyre argued, without loosening the grip on his partner.

Wolford tried to wrangle his way out of the chokehold one last time, before slapping the palm of his paw against the worn floor with a sigh.
"What do you want rookie?" He asked while rubbing his neck. "Aren't you two on vacation?"

Wolford doubted that Nick would tag along with officer Hopps to Bunnyburrow for the promise of blueberries alone. The tod had a knack for getting information from others, a skill Judy, though a by-the-book excellent officer, lacked. Which was probably why she had brought him along. Wolford wondered why the Chief had not just kept her on duty and out of the way until they at least had something solid to go on.

"Can't we visit two good pals?" Nick shot back, fake hurt in his voice as he strolled over to them. Reaching their desk, he casually glanced down on the papers scattered across it.

"Apparently not" Fangmyre said, placing a big paw over the document Nick was discreetly reading.

"I brought my Mom's famous carrot cake" Judy chimed in, holding up the basket she was carrying.

"Bribes don't work here Hopps" Wolford said, crossing his arms. Though he took a long whiff of the delightful sweet smell coming from the basket.

"It's not a bribe" Judy said sincerely. "It's just carrot cake, with frosting" she added.
"Raisins?" Wolford asked, wrinkling his nose.
"Of course not"

Wolford hesitated for just a fraction of a second before extending his paw.
"Alright, hand it over Hopps"

Judy handed the wolf officer the basket with a sweet smile, but not before shooting Nick a quick look of triumph.

After breakfast, which had been some rather bland porridge, Gideon sat impatiently waiting for visiting hours to begin. He eyed the clock on the far wall for what had to be the third time in under two minutes.

He was starting to get nervous. The last time Mary had seen him, he had been snarling and growling, sinking his teeth into the flesh of another mammal. Maybe it had changed the way she felt about him.

He straightened his back as much as he could manage when he heard the door handle to his room starting to turn. And though he was glad to see the mammal entering the room, it was not the one he longed for the most.

Travis stepped into the room, holding a four-pack of beer in a see-through plastic bag. Gideon had to smile; Travis never bought bags at the grocery store, but rather used the free ones by the fresh fruit and vegetable isle. Travis saw his smile, and held up the bag with a self-conscious look on his face.
"It didn't feel right giving ya flowers mate, and a six-pack was a bit excessive, so I figured" he shrugged.
"Thanks"
"How ya holdin up?" Travis asked, eying his bandaged head.
"Better" Gideon said honestly. He felt better than yesterday at least.

Travis noticed how Gideon kept looking expectantly at the door, like he hoped someone else was going to follow in behind him.

"Mary's gettin' a ride with the Hopps' clan. Can't drive with the concussion, and I couldn't exactly take her on my scooter" Travis explained.
"Concussion?!" Gideon exclaimed. "Ma said she was fine"

"Calm down, she is. Four stiches n' a concussion, nothin' else." Travis said while holding his paws up defensively.

They were quiet for a while as Travis stood by the hospital bed, setting down the beer by his feet. Gideon was forming a question that had bothered him ever since his mother came by this morning.

"Is there talk in town? You know, 'bout me 'n Mary?"

Travis frowned, burrowing his paws in his pockets.

"'Course there is" he answered, his voice strained. "Was clear ta any pred what ya were doin: Ya were protectin' your mate"

That was the first time Gideon had heard anyone call Mary that; his mate. He had not even called her that himself, he did not know if she would like it or not. Just like marking her with his scent, it was not something that was as common among prey as among predators.

"Mammal's talk more 'bout the wolves though" Travis added, seeing the look on Gideon's face. "Two of 'em still being missing 'n all. Got two big-shot officers from ZPD trotting around askin' questions. Should be helpin' more with the search if ya ask me"

"Ya got one of 'em good though" Travis curled his upper lip to show some teeth as he spoke, which was very unlike him. "Hopefully he bled out in a ditch somewhere"

Gideon felt a cold shudder down his back. He had acted on pure instinct, and jumped right for the large wolf's neck. Even though he hated the wolf for what he had done, for the threat he had been to Mary, he hoped the police found him alive.

There was a steady knock on the door, followed by the mild features of Nurse Tracy as she poked her head inside.

"Sorry to disturb you while you have a visitor" she said as she parked her medical trolley in the hallway. "But it's time for your pain medication again"
She came in holding a plastic cup of water and a small container with brightly coloured pills. She shot Travis a quick professional smile before climbing up the stepladder by the side of Gideon's bed.

"You feeling any changes after we reduced the dosage?"
"Just feel like a constant headache nurse, but nothing too bad" Gideon said, swallowing back his pills.
"Stiches bothering you?"
"Itches like crazy"
"Good, that means their healing" she reassured him. "Just keep yourself from scratching them. When the bandages come off you'll have to sleep with a cone to keep you from scratching them in your sleep"

Gideon did not look forward to that part.

Climbing back down the stepladder, her eyes fell on the plastic bag by Travis' feet.

"Is that beer?" She said while looking at the ferret in disbelief.
"Hm? Oh yea, at's a gift for him" Travis nodded towards Gideon. "Ya know, instead of flowers" he said with a chuckle, finding the idea quite funny. The nurse apparently did not share his humour.

"This is a hospital!" Tracy said sternly. "And any alcohol mixed with his pain medication could be fatal"
Travis ears fell back as the now angry nurse approached him.
"I'm confiscating these right now"
"But.."
The squirrel barely reached up to his shoulders, but still managed to be intimidating enough to make him take a step back as she grabbed the plastic bag.
"Mr. Grey can have them back after he's been discharged" she stated. She had to hold the cans in both arms like a stack of firewood to be able to lift them off the floor.

"Now, Mr…?" she narrowed her honey eyes at the ferret.
"M-Mustela" Travis stuttered, completely taken aback.
"Mr. Mustela" Tracy repeated, her voice cold and professional. "In the future; I would appreciate if you refrained from bringing unauthorised substances into this hospital"
"Ye-yes Mam"
Gideon had to clamp his lips together to keep from laughing.

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back on my rounds" she quickly sent Gideon an apologetic glance before walking to the door.

Travis stood gaping, watching the nurse's thick curled tail disappearing through the door. When a couple of seconds had passed, and Travis still had not moved, Gideon carefully cleared his throat.
"Her name's Tracy" Gideon said, unable to hide his amusement.
"Shut up" Travis muttered, snapping his mouth shut.

Travis stood in front of the vending machine in the hospital lobby, eyeing the small rectangle pack behind the glass. The irony of getting the urge to smoke at a hospital did not escape him, but he wanted a cigarette all the same. He rummaged around his pockets for change. In his usual overalls, he knew where every single dime and bolt was, but he had not worn these jeans in months. They were his "good jeans" in the sense that they only had two permanent stains and one tear at the knee.

Picking up his pack of cigarettes, he walked out the main entrance. There was an empty bench just outside, and Travis slumped down on it, grateful that it was bunny sized so he did not have to climb up on it first before sitting down. That was always a hassle.

Lighting one, he took a deep draw from the cigarette, drawing the smoke all the way down to the bottom of his lungs. Travis held his breath, feeling the mix of menthol, tar and nicotine coat his insides, before letting it go in one big puff of smoke. He had smoked on and off since high school, though he had managed to stay clear of them for over a year now. But he could not remember ever needing a smoke as bad as he did right now.

Shit, Gideon had looked awful. Bandaged and bruised, he had a drained look over his eyes that never went away, even when he smiled. At least he had smiled. Travis remembered the angry nurse and groaned. He had no idea what had happened there, she had just taken him by surprise he guessed. At least it had cheered Gideon up to see him getting it handed to him by a bloody squirrel. Travis was certain he was never going to live that one down.

Taking another therapeutical draw of the cigarette, he closed his eyes against the remaining of the afternoon sunset. October was just around the corner, but the sun still gave some warmth.

A faint beep and the metallic sound of a door unlocking drew his attention. Just beyond the revolving doors of the main entrance was a smaller door with frosted security glass, clearly used by the hospital staff.

Travis coughed in the middle of an inhale as the same nurse, Tracy? Trixie? He could not remember, walked out, and paused to put her access card in her coat pocket.

She wore a tailored grey coat open over a pair of black slacks and a white sweater, a burgundy coloured scarf effortlessly thrown over her shoulders.
He had to admit that she looked good. He could imagine her on one of those billboards advertising the fancy brands, like Preyda or Chamel, wearing jewellery that cost more than what he made in a year.

Travis swore under his breath as she turned around and caught him looking at her. Putting her paws in her coat pockets, she started casually walking towards him.

If hanging out with a fox for most of his free time had not made him self-conscious about his own thin and mangy looking tail, hers certainly would. It was almost as big as she was. The feathery light fur bouncing with every step she took, shining like bronze in the dull gleam of the low autumn sun.

Travis had the sudden urge to put out the cigarette he was holding. Instead he took a defiant draw, slowly letting the smoke out through his nostrils as he met the approaching nurse's gaze.

"What?" he spat. "Ya gonna confiscate my smokes too?"

"No" she replied calmly, unfazed by his rude tone. "Although, I think I would be in my right to do so" There was a hint of a smirk on her lips as her eyes quickly shifted to something above his head.

Glancing up in the same direction, Travis was greeted by a large red NO SMOKING ALLOWED sign on the wall right above his head.
Great. What a wonderful first impression he was making today.

"But I'm off duty" she added. "And, I guess you've had a rough couple of days"

"Gid has it worse" Travis shrugged, the cigarette remaining between his fingers, although he did not take another draw off it.

"That doesn't mean you have it easy" the squirrel replied, her expression softening.
"Whatever" he muttered, growing rather uncomfortable under her gaze. She had the most extraordinary eyes. They played in the sunshine, flickering between a warm orange and golden yellow.
"If you need someone to talk to-" she shuffled around her pockets before taking out a small white business card. "The hospital has a trauma group that meets once a week" she held the card out to him.
"Yea, thanks but no thanks nurse" he scoffed, eyeing the card sceptically. "I ain't the huggin' 'n cryin' type"
"Ok" she said simply, instead laying the card down on the bench beside him.
"In case you change your mind" she smiled carefully.
Travis kept his eyes straight ahead, avoiding looking at her.

"Alright then" she muttered when he had not acknowledge her for a while. Burying her paws in her coat pockets again, she turned to walk towards the parking lot.
"Have a nice evening Mr. Mustela"

Travis closed his eyes for a second, feeling thoroughly shitty. The nurse was trying to be nice, when in all fairness he had given her absolutely no reason to be.

"Hey nurse" he called after her, making her turn around again. "If ya ever need your car fixed or somethin'" he began, flicking the half-smoked cigarette into a puddle before meeting her eyes. "Come down to Beaver Dam Garage, I'll give ya a discount"
He thought it sounded like some really lame radio jingle when he said it out loud, but at least it made her smile.

"You know, I might just take you up on that one day" she chuckled, giving him a quick wave before walking off into the maze of differently sized cars in the parking lot.

"I'm sorry Carrots" Nick sceptically eyed the bouquet of flowers he had been tasked with holding while Judy drove her parent's old lorry towards the Tri-Burrow Hospital.

"You can tell me he's a changed fox all you like. But someone who went around clawing up little bunnies in his childhood, then grew up to be crazy enough to run in and challenge three full grown- gangbanger- arctic wolves head on, has to be at least a tad unstable"

"Just wait until you meet him Nick. He's as sweet as pie" Nick sent her an unimpressed glance.
"Really Carrots, we're doing bad puns now?"
"Pun not intended" Judy assured him, a half smile on her lips.

Judy had to agree with her partner though. Even though Gideon's actions were recklessly heroic, and she was grateful that he had saved her friend and probably helped avert a kidnapping, she failed to understand why he would risk his life like he had. He had no kits of his own, or relatives, in school. And it was not like he had happened to be nearby. He had been safely in his bakery down in Market Street.

Gideon, the adult version of him at least, struck her like the mild type that avoided conflict as far as possible. When the kit and cub had come into his bakery, it would have been reasonable to keep them safe, call the police and stay put. Instead, according to the witness accounts she had begged Fangmyre for a peek at, Gideon had dropped everything and run like his tail was on fire.
Judy chewed the inside of her cheek while she pondered. Nick was right, it did not make much sense.

Travis had been gone for about thirty minutes when Gideon again heard approaching voices in the hallway outside his room. It had begun to annoy him that he had so little bearing on his surroundings; he had no idea what the hallway outside looked like or where in the hospital building he was. Beside the now blue sky, he could not see much else through his window either.

The voices in the hallway drew closer, and Gideon recognised the steady chatter of Hopps kits.
"Wait, wait. Jenny, let go of your brother's ear" Bonnie's voice carried through the chatter. "You wait her, can't have all of you barging in on poor Gid all at once" Stu explained.

Gideon's heart started beating faster in his chest. He was straining his ears to try to make out Mary's voice, and even though it was unconscious; his nostrils flared in an effort to catch her scent.

A rather unnecessary knock on the door announced their intention to enter. Bonnie and Stu Hopps walked in, the first holding a basket with jars of apple-marmalade. And then, behind them, holding her jacket in her crossed arms, was Mary.
Gideon let out a breath he did not know he was holding as his eyes locked with hers. Apart from two patches of gauze on her cheeks, she looked unharmed.

"Oh you poor dear" Bonnie said, walking up to him and putting her basket down on the chair besides the bed.
"How are we doing?" Stu said following his wife.

Gideon could not take his eyes of Mary. She was still standing by the foot of his bed, looking at him with her big blue eyes. Gideon thought she looked like she was about to cry, and the fact that she had not moved since she entered worried him. The way she clutched her jacket to her chest reminded him of that time at Beaver Dam Garage, when she had said she was in love with him.

"Are you alright dear?" Bonnie tried to reach through to him.
"Yea. Sorry Mrs H, just a bit groggy, at's all" he excused, forcing his eyes away from Mary for a few seconds.
"Of course, we won't be long. But the little ones would love to see you, if you're feeling up for it?" Stu asked, hooking one of his thumbs in the straps of his overalls, while placing the other paw on Bonnie's shoulder.

Just as Gideon was about to dutifully assure them that it would be no trouble at all, a loud metallic crash came from the hallway outside. The subsequent yelling from two of the Hopps' sisters could probably be heard through the whole floor.

"Jessica!"
"It wasn't me!"
"Was too!"
"Liar!"

Bonnie and Stu were already on their way out the door, Gideon could just catch Bonnie muttering under her breath.
"Oh, please don't be anything expensive this time"

The door slammed shut behind them, muffling the loud discussion of who was to blame as the rest of the siblings chimed in.

Mary could not move. She had not been prepared for this. Gideon looked worn and drained; it was as if his fur had lost some of its colour. He had a bandage around his head, leaving only his ears free. He had more bandages running across his chest under the green hospital gown, and his left arm rested in a sling around his neck. Everything came flooding back: The blood, the screaming, and Rex's horrid breath filling her nostrils.

Gideon could not stand the way Mary looked like she was about to unravel right in front of him, when he was unable to move out of the stupid hospital bed to hold her.

"Mary-"

That was all it took. With a shaky sob, Mary ran over to him, discharging her jacket carelessly on the floor.

Gideon did not care that his head pounded, or that it pulled painfully at his stiches. He reached over the side of the bed regardless, pulling her up into his lap with his good arm. He nestled her against his chest, holding on to her as tightly as he could manage with one arm.

"Mary, Mary- Lovely Mary" he whispered into the wool on her head, drawing deep breaths as he did.
Mary pressed her face against his chest as hard as she dared, feeling his reassuring heartbeat against her forehead.

"I thought you died, I thought I'd never see you again, there was so much blood, and you didn't wake up and I couldn't-"
The words flooded out of her in a breathless mishmash between sobs. The emotions had pooled up inside her over these past days as she had tried to hide her true feelings for Gideon as best as she could.

"Sssh darlin'" he soothed, though his voice was growing unsteady. "I'm alright, it's alright"
He pulled his head away from her, placing his paw under her cheek. "Let me look at you"

Her tears were soaking the gauzes on her cheeks. Gideon ran the tip of his fingers over them, feeling a now familiar slow burning rage flickering back to life. He only allowed the flame to burn for a few seconds, before focusing back on the present.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, gently cupping one of her cheeks in his paw.
"I should be asking that" Mary sniffled. She leaned her head into his touch, ignoring the sting the pressure caused.
"Does it?" Gideon pressed.
"It's nothing" Mary assured him, reaching her hoof up to the bandage around his head.
"How about you?" She asked while running the tips of her hoofs gently across his forehead. "You must be hurting badly"

Gideon could not deny that he was in pain. His head was still spinning from the effort it had been to pull her into the bed, and sharp, white-hot pain was shooting out from his collarbone. Right now however, it was insignificant because Mary was alive and with him, and that was all he cared about.

"At doesn't matter" he whispered, burrowing his clawed fingers further into the wool on the side of her head. Mary's eyes flickered down to meet his, but before she could form the words to protest his statement, his lips locked onto hers and her mind went blank. It was like the last drop of medicine that cured the illness.

Gideon relaxed into the pillows behind him as Mary melted against his chest, carefully circling her slim arms around his neck. With a little effort, he managed to work his tail out from under the covers. He compensated for his arm by circling it around her back, embracing her with his tail.

"Well Carrots" an astonished voice sounded from the doorway, making Mary and Gideon freeze mid kiss. "I guess that explains it"