Nick's POV:
As I peeled the bandage from my chest for the last time, I gazed at the scar in the mirror. The scar was no longer lined from the stitches as they had finally dissolved.
Grabbing my uniform out of my closet, I hung it up in the bathroom before stripping down and starting a steaming shower.
It had been two weeks since the incident at the movie theatre. I was doing much better as my side was basically completely healed. Judy had let back in last week, but Bogo banned her from leaving the precedent since her neck was still bruised and sore. Of course, containing Carrots was not something that Bogo wanted to do, but he also knew that it would be best if she wasn't on the field without me anyways.
Stepping out of the shower, I dried off and got into my uniform.
I felt good to be in uniform again. I never thought I would be so happy to return to work in all of my years of conning. But here I am. Officer Wilde, ZPD, making the world a better place, as Judy would put it.
'Shake it off, shake it off, sh-sh-sh, shak…'
Well, that's my alarm to go. I checked my fur in the mirror before adjusting my badge and pocketing my keys, wallet, and phone.
Being back felt like I had opened a gift on Christmas. The best part is, is that Judy doesn't know that I am coming back in today so I get to surprise her.
"Morning Clawhauser! How are you this morning?"
Clawhauser giggled, grabbing another donut from the box. "Great. Nice to have you back Nick. Judy was starting to drive us crazy. She told me you weren't coming back until tomorrow though."
"That's what she thought. Where is she by the way?"
The cheetah grinned before saying, "In her cubicle, she got here early to finish up the case files she had been working on. Don't be late though, roll call is in ten minutes."
"Got it, Ben, see ya!"
Heading down the long hallway located off to the right of the lobby, I followed the line of cubicles big and small until I found the one labeled, Hopps/Wilde. Sneaking up behind Judy, I made sure to be extra careful as her ears can pick up a pin drop.
"Nice try slick, but you will have to be better than that."
"Wha…?" Before I could say another word or even scare her as I had planned, she had sprung out of her chair and leaped into my arms, giving me a big hug.
"I missed you," she mumbled into the shoulder of my uniform.
"I missed you too, Carrots."
Gazing past her and onto her desk, I spotted an open case file. The tab read, The Mastermind.
"Don't tell me that you finished it without me, Carrots?"
"Sorry, Nick. But consider it a welcome back gift." With that, she pulled away from me and stared into my eyes. "Nick, I thought I lost you."
I was shocked at the sudden change of subject. All I could do was stare, waiting and confused.
"I guess that is the price that we have to pay for making the lives of the innocent people of Zootopia safe, huh. But that doesn't mean that we can't be careful. Nick, promise me you'll be careful. I know you can't promise to stay safe so at least promise me that you will be careful."
I grinned my charming Nick Wilde smile. "Only if you do first," I said, reaching up and brushing the slightly discolored spot on her neck.
"Sly fox."
"You know you love me," I said, milking the moment for all it was worth.
"Do I know that? Only if you promise."
"Promise, you?"
She smiled and turned to clean up her stuff. "Yes."
As we were walking down the hallway to roll call, she answered.
"Do I love you, yes, yes I do."
(A/N: I know that this is not exactly the perfect ending that some of you wanted but… there will be an epilogue and I have decided to do a sequel. I am excited as I hope some of you are. Make sure to follow my page to see if anything changes. When I have the title, I will put it in the A/N at the end of the epilogue. Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed the Mastermind, but don't go just yet as there will be one more chapter. Thank you all for your help and support along the way. It has been quite a ride. Don't forget to tell me what you think and give me any suggestions. As always, cya next time!)