Two days had passed since Nick and Judy had settled into the safe house and Bogo still had not contacted them. Nick was handling the wait better than Judy, but both were getting a little stir crazy. In an effort to to calm an anxious Judy, Nick had fished out a board game he found in the otherwise empty bedroom closet. They were in the midst of an argument over the unfamiliar rules when the phone rang. Judy was there before it could ring a second time.
"Hello?" Nick ambled over and leaned against the counter near Judy He watched her face intently, knowing it would give away if the call was good or bad news. He was concerned when Judy put a paw over her mouth, eyes wide. "What do you mean?" Judy's voice was horrified. Nick's concern became alarm when tears began gathering in her eyes. "Where are they?" The tears began to fall, wetting her cheeks. Nick moved towards Judy, but she took a step back and raised a paw. "How did this happen!?" She was on the verge of hysterics. She listened to the phone for another minute before angrily slamming it onto the base. She stormed away from the phone towards the door that exited the apartment. Nick caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder just before she could grab the handle.
"Judy! Calm down. What happened? What did Bogo say?" Judy spun around and angrily knocked the paw from her shoulder.
"My family's been attacked! I have to go help them!" She turned back to the door, but Nick wrapped both of his arms around her, holding her tight. She began to struggle violently and the two toppled to the floor.
"You have to calm down! You can't help them like this. You won't make it a hundred feet from the door before the military nabs you if you go off half-cocked!" Nick was trying to keep his voice down, knowing how sensitive Judy's hearing was now, but it was difficult to maintain a low level during a struggle. Judy paused.
"What do I do? I can't stay here! I have to do something!" Her voice was still angry and distressed. Nick gave her a little squeeze.
"I know you do and I am not saying we do nothing. We just have to make a plan first. Figure out the best way to help them." Judy angrily huffed and threw her head back, thudding it against Nick's chest. She took in a deep breath and let it out.
"Alright, Nick. You can let me up." Her voice was level, but still angry. Nick decided to err on the side of caution.
"Promise you won't run." Judy closed her eyes and took another breath, then let it out.
"I promise." Her voice was calmer than before. Nick cautiously opened his arms and Judy rolled off him, then climbed to her feet. Nick sat up, watching her intently for any sign she might bolt. She rolled her eyes when she noticed what he was doing and stuck out a paw for him to grab.
"Don't worry, Nick. I promised I won't run and I won't." Nick nodded, grabbed her paw and let her help him up. As soon as he was standing he used his hold on Judy's paw to pull her into a hug.
"I promise we will help your family. We will. We just have to think of a plan." Judy nodded into his chest. They stood there for a moment, enjoying the other's touch. A thought occurred to Judy and she pulled away from Nick, just enough to be able to look in his eyes. He smiled at her determined look. Judy spoke.
"I think it's time to call Mr. Big."
After calling the number Mr. Big had given to Judy to use in times of emergency, he agreed to smuggle them out of the city. The plan was to hide them in a limousine heading to Bunny Burrow under the guise of Fru Fru visiting the devastated family of her daughter's Godmother and namesake. They arranged a discrete location near the safe house and agreed to rendezvous with the limo there in two hours.
Now, they were driving through the countryside, having successfully gotten through the security checkpoints surrounding the city without raising suspicion. Nick and Judy were sitting in the back seat, thankfully without being crowded by two polar bears. Fru Fru was sitting in the seat facing them with her daughter in a specially designed booster complete with seat belts that would allow the arctic shrews to ride safely in the vehicle designed for much larger animals. Judy and Fru Fru had excitedly exchanged stories and gossip for nearly an hour, with only occasional comments or questions for Nick, who spent most of his time observing Judy, bemused to see the usually tough and determined rabbit acting so girlish. During a lull in the conversation Fru Fru glanced at Nick and finally took note of how intent his eyes were as they laid on Judy. Her face lifted in a coy smile.
"So, Nicky, tell me, how are things?" Her high voice was slightly teasing. Nick turned his head to her, a little confused that she would ask. So far she had pretty much ignored him.
"Things are great Fru Fru. Had a lot of excitement lately, but I can't complain. Well, I could. But, I did sign up for a life of adventure when I became a cop." His smile and tone were pleasant, as always. Fru Fru's coy smile did not diminish at the vague answer.
"Lot's of excitement, huh? That must be nice. I haven't had a lot of excitement since I had little Judy." She reached over and stroked the sleeping toddler's downy fur. "I don't suppose you've thought about settling down?" Fru Fru's coy smile stretched a little wider when Nick's eyes twitched towards Judy before jumping back to her. Nick knew he had been had when he saw how pleased Fru Fru was. He decided to be gracious in defeat.
"Sure I have. But, a career is important. I want this one to last a little while longer before I go messing with it." Fru Fru understood immediately that it was not his own career that Nick was speaking of. Judy watched this exchange with a small amount of confusion, sensing there was more being understood than said, but not sure what that was.
"I can understand that. Good luck, Nicky." Fru Fru turned back to Judy and engaged her in more small talk. Judy let herself be pulled into the conversation, but only after a lingering glance at Nick, who was now looking out the window. What had he meant just now?
About two hours later the limo was nearing the Hopps' Family Farm when they encountered an obstacle. A military jeep was blocking the road, along with two soldiers. One of the soldiers, a coyote, informed the polar bear driver that the area was declared a biological hazard and no-one was allowed in. The driver was forced to turn around. Judy suggested another farm nearby, one owned by a family friend, and said it would be a good place to look for her family. A few minutes later they were parked in front a farmhouse similar to the one Judy grew up in. Seeing some of her siblings on the porch, Judy took off her seat belt and made to get out. Her head snapped to Nick when he put a restraining paw on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Cottontail. Colonel Biao might be watching this place. You can't leave the limo." He turned to Fru Fru before Judy could object. "Could you have the driver ask for Judy's parents to come here?" Fru Fru gave Judy a sympathetic look, then answered Nick's question.
"Of course." She turned towards the open privacy window. "Leroy? Be a dear and ask nicely for Mr. and Mrs. Hopps to come visit me." The polar bears answer floated from the driver's cabin.
"Of course, ma'am." Was the gruff and polite answer. The entire limo shifted as the enormous mammal exited the vehicle. The many rabbits that were crowding the porch and watching the unfamiliar car shrunk back at the sight of the huge predator. None of those present had ever seen such a large animal in person before. Judy watched through the tinted glass as Leroy stood a respectful distance from the porch and asked to see Mr. and Mrs. Hopps. Most of the little bunnies stood frozen, but a few scurried inside. Neither of Judy's parents came out. Instead, one of Judy's siblings, only a year younger than Judy herself, approached the polar bear. She had light brown fur and she was wearing blue jeans and a yellow plaid shirt. Leroy lead her to the limo, opening the door for her.
Fru Fru, sensing that what was coming next was going to be a personal matter, asked him to take her and little Judy to meet the rest of the Hopps family. After Leroy had gathered Fru Fru and her daughter he ushered the brown rabbit into the limo. Once the door closed behind the younger rabbit, Judy was no longer able to hold herself back. She rushed forward and threw her arms around her younger sibling. Brown eyes widened.
"Judy? Is that you?" She wrapped her arms around Judy and squeezed. Judy nodded frantically, burying her face into her sister's neck.
"It's me Carly. It's me." She pulled back so she could look into her sister's eyes. "I came as soon as I could, but no one's told me anything. What happened? Where's mom and dad?" Carly teared up and she looked away.
"It's bad Judy. Really bad. We lost thirty five. Dad, too. He was trying to stop that monster!" Carly began to sob. Judy pulled her back into a tight hug and cried with her, devastated at the loss of her father and so many of her siblings. After a few minutes, the tears began to slow. Carly looked up from where she had buried her face in Judy's shoulder and spotted Nick, who had been doing his very best to be quiet and still, so as to not interrupt the grieving sisters. She gasped and pulled away from Judy, actually falling to the limousine's floor in her haste to get away from him.
"Carly? What's wrong?" Judy was confused and concerned by the tawny rabbit's fearful actions. Carly raised her arm and pointed at Nick.
"It's a fox! Just like the one that took mom!" Judy turned to look at Nick, confused. He looked back her, a clueless expression on his face. Judy turned back to her sister, kneeling in front of her. She reached out and placed a paw on Carly's knee.
"Carly, this is Nick Wilde. He's my partner, a police office like me. You know Nick. I've sent you pictures." Judy's calm voice soothed the frightened bunny. She lowered her arm and took a second, closer look at the red fox. He was familiar…
"Y-Yeah. Nick. Right. I remember now. Uh, the converted criminal, right?" Nick and Judy both smiled at the apt description. As Judy helped Carly off the floor, Nick asked a question.
"You said a fox took your mother? She wouldn't happen to be an arctic fox, would she? Thick white fur, a blue and a green eye, a little taller than Judy?" Carly gave a dip of her head.
"Yeah, that's her. She walked in after one of those monsters on the news came tearing through. She grabbed mom and some of the little ones. Actually, she said something…" Carly screwed her eyes shut, trying to remember a night she desperately wanted to forget. "Something about a Crawleon Pharmacy Building." Nick and Judy looked at each other. Nick saw immediately that there was no force on Earth that was going to stop Judy from going to this place, wherever it was. Judy saw in Nick's eyes the promise that he would be right there beside her.
"Don't worry Carly. We'll get mom back and get the mammal responsible for harming our family!" Judy turned to Carly and grabbed her shoulders. She locked eyes with her and tried to convey how much she meant to keep her word. Nick didn't want to interrupt, but the feeling that they were being watched was growing to intolerable levels.
"Judy, Carly, I'm sorry, but we have to go. Colonel Biao could be watching and this limo is way too suspicious." Carly perked up at the mention of the tiger.
"You know Colonel Biao?" She questioned. Nick and Judy's eyes widened.
"You know Colonel Biao?" They spoke in unison. Carly looked from Judy to Nick, confused.
"Yeah, he's the guy that led the rescue team. The house was pretty badly caved in and him and his guys dug us out. Pulled me and at least a couple dozen more of us out of there. He was nice. Even made sure we were all okay. He promised to stay at the hospital and watch the hurt ones." Judy felt a lump form in her throat at hearing these words. Biao had helped her family? Nick focused on a different detail.
"He's at the hospital with your family?" Nick's voice was alarmed. Judy immediately caught on. Biao was testing them for the mutagen! Judy spun to face Nick.
"We have to get him away from my family!" It was almost a shout. Nick was staring at the floor, eyes rapidly moving side to side as he thought frantically. He screwed his eyes shut and bowed his head as he came to a dark conclusion.
"I'm sorry, Judy. We can't." Judy was nearly staggered by this admission. Then she got angry.
"What do you mean,'We can't'!? You know what he'll do to them!" Judy really was shouting now. Carly looked frightened and confused, ears hanging down and paws held to her chest as though to shield herself, her gaze switching from rabbit to fox as they argued. Nick shook his head and raised his gaze to meet Judy's.
"He'll give them the best medical care possible. Carly said they were injured. How can we take them from the hospital without putting them at greater risk?" His voice was firm and reasonable. Judy wasn't having it. She clenched her paws and threw her arms down.
"We can't do nothing!" She snapped at him. Nick waved a paw to the side, as though to knock the idea away.
"Of course not. We save who we can. We go to this Crawleon Pharmacy and we get your missing siblings and mother back. That's the best we can do right now." His eyes jumped to Carly, who flinched a little from being noticed. "Did you tell Colonel Biao about this Crawleon place?" Judy just barely held herself back from interrupting. Carly hesitated, eyes swiveling between Nick and Judy.
"Uhh...No? I mean, I'm pretty sure I didn't. But, I don't know for sure if noone else did either." Her voice was meek. Nick nodded seriously.
"Do you think you could check with everyone else and make sure? Also, could you find a way to contact Colonel Biao? A phone number, maybe. Also, let Fru Fru know it's time to go. And don't tell anyone we were here or it's going to cause you trouble. Big trouble." Carly looked to Judy, who was glowering at the floor, arms crossed. Sensing her sister's gaze, she looked up. Judy's face softened at the somewhat frightened look her sister had. She smiled as best she could, trying to reassure her younger sibling.
"Go on, Carly. Please." She reached over and squeezed Carly's shoulder. Carly nodded.
"Alright Judy. I'll be right back." She turned and exited the vehicle. Judy jumped onto the seat and watched through the tinted glass as her sister ran to Leroy, touching his leg to get his attention. She looked away when she heard Nick clear his throat. Nick spoke once her gaze was on him.
"Look, I know you're upset about Biao-" He paused when Judy raised a paw.
"No, no. You're right about him. I don't think he'll hurt them. They're safe, for now. We need to just focus on saving my mother and the rest from Volpe. If she's responsible for these catastrophes, then I want her in custody. She might even be able to get rid of the mutagen and we can finally get the government off our backs." She walked across the seat and sat next to Nick as she talked. When she was done she leaned back and closed her eyes. She heaved a sigh. "I just want our lives back and for everything to go back to the way it was." Nick glanced down at her paw, then took it into his own.
"You don't want everything to go back to the way it was. Do you?" There was something in his tone Judy had never heard before. She raised her head and opened her eyes to look at Nick. His eyes were down and his ears were drooping, almost pressed to his head. She was shocked to realize he was feeling insecure. She leaned forward and wrapped both of her arms around his side.
"Dumb fox, I didn't mean that. I'll always love you." She leaned up and gave him a kiss on his cheek. The smile he gave her warmed her heart and she couldn't help smiling back. The two looked up when the door was pulled open. Judy released Nick as Leroy leaned in and carefully placed and secured the special booster that held Fru Fru and her daughter. Fru Fru spoke up as soon as Leroy pulled away and closed the door.
"Oh, Judy, your family is wonderful! They are all just so nice. I see where you get it from. Hm?" Fru Fru noticed how close Nick and Judy were sitting and the coy smile returned to her face. "Oh, getting comfortable are we?" She laughed when Judy slid away from Nick with an embarrassed look on her rabbit face. "Oh, don't be that way, honey. I don't mind. Nicky's a fine fella. Why, he even became a cop, just so he could be near you. If that's not love, I don't know what is!" Judy was covering her mouth with one paw and had her head down, staring intently at the carpet.
Nick watched her amusedly, always enjoying how cute she was when she was flustered. He turned his head to Fru Fru when she called his name.
"And you, Nicky. I know you renounced your shyster ways and I'm very proud of you for that. But if you hurt my Judy, I'll make you wish my daddy had you iced! Capiche?" Nick smiled and reassured Fru Fru.
"Trust me. The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt Judy." He smiled over at Judy as he finished. She raised her eyes from the floor just long enough to catch his loving gaze. Her eyes immediately returned to the carpet and she pressed her burning ears to her neck. Fru Fru smiled knowingly at the pair.
"That's good to hear. Judy deserves a guy that'll take care of her." All three of them looked to the door when it opened again. Carly hopped in and she was holding a white business card. She immediately walked up to Judy and held it out to her.
"This is one of the cards the Colonel gave to us. It has his number." As soon as Judy accepted the card Carly turned to address Nick. "I asked around and nobody fessed up to telling him anything, so I think you're safe. Please, bring my mother home." Nick's face was serious as he nodded. Judy slid from her seat to stand before her sister. She pulled her into one last hug, then walked her to the door. Leroy was waiting patiently and closed the door for them once Carly had made her exit. Soon, they were back on the road, heading for Zootopia. Fru Fru interrupted the ensuing silence.
"So, what's the plan? How are we going to save Judy's mother?" Nick looked up from where he had been staring at the floor, contemplating that very problem.
"The first step is obvious. We need to learn more about 'Crawleon Pharmacy'."