A/N: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand…the chapter you've all been waiting for is here! It's a long chapter, so really. ENJOY YOURSELVES!

26

Nick!

Judy dragged her feet down the halls. She gave up way too easily! She should have fought more, but she knew that she could do nothing. Dr. Barns might have tranquilized her if she hadn't left. Maybe it was for the best, but…Nick…

Judy continued to sob as she walked down the hallways. Her last moments with Nick would never be forgotten. That fox would never be forgotten. His name would be known everywhere. Judy would make sure of it.

Suddenly, she heard a blood curling shout. But she was practically positive that it was her name that was being called out. Judy turned around and perked her ears forward. It was coming from Nick's room! Judy didn't hesitate. Her feet took off running down the hall. She didn't stop, instead she ran right through the room and the sight shocked her.

Dr. Barns pointed his gun at Dr. Tales. Judy stood in shock for a moment, taking in the scene, before returning to her senses.

"Stop!" Judy shouted. Dr. Barns sent in a venomous look that made Judy's blood stir. What was going on?

Judy was so grateful that she was wearing her police uniform. If she wasn't, then she wouldn't look so intimidating without her gun. Dr. Barns saw as Judy drew her gun from her side and pointed it at him.

"Drop the gun, Walter Barns!"

Dr. Barns stood in shock for a moment. She had just used his first name. That probably meant business, but he wasn't going to lose this thing. He was going to win this battle.

"Judy Hopps, drop the gun," Dr. Barns spat.

"That's Officer Judy Hopps to you," Judy responded, tempted to load her gun. "Now, explain to me. What is going on here?"

"Barns had the antidote all along and he was trying to kill Nick!" Dr. Tales shouted. Dr. Barns glowered at Dr. Tales and pointed his gun closer to the leopard, indicating that he was about to shoot. But before he could, Dr. Barns felt a sharp pain in his head and he dropped to the floor. Judy stood above him, pointing her gun at the badger.

"You what?" she hissed. "You were going to kill Nick all along?!"

"Well, that was the plan," Dr. Barns shrugged. But Judy loaded her gun and clenched her teeth together.

"This is no time for jokes," she growled. "Why would you want to kill him?!"

Dr. Barns only gave a grunt and looked away from the bunny. Judy grabbed hold of his shoulders and shook them, vigorously.

"WHY?!" she demanded.

"Why do you even care about him? He's a fox. Foxes used to eat rabbits!" Dr. Barns said.

"Because he is my best friend and I love him!" Judy replied, saying more than she meant to. But she went on. "He's the most extraordinary fox ever, and he can't die. Not yet. There is no reason for him to! So tell me. WHY DO YOU WANT TO KILL HIM?!"

"Because he's a FOX!"

Judy didn't expect the blow, but Dr. Barns brought up his back legs and kicked Judy straight in the jaw. Judy stumbled backwards with a yelp. When she looked up, Dr. Barns stuck his gun at Judy's throat. Her heart pounded. What could she do?

"Listen to me, rabbit. I have my reasons for him to die, and you have your reasons for him to live. The only one who gets what they want it the one who has the power. That's me."

Dr. Barns turned around for a second and glanced at Dr. Tales—who was creeping towards him with his claws out. The badger furrowed his eyebrows and aimed his gun at the leopard before releasing the bullet. Dr. Tales fell to the ground and blood instantly flowed out of his bullet wound. Judy let a scream escape from her before she covered her mouth with her paws. Dr. Barns turned around again to face Judy and let an evil smirk creep on his face. He shrugged with the smug look on.

"See? I'm the powerful one here. So you better back off little bunny, so that I can finish my job with Nick Wilde."

"NO! YOU CAN'T!" Judy screamed.

"Oh, yes I can." Dr. Barns looked at Nick. "And, I think I know a way to get rid of you, too."

Judy didn't understand what he meant, but she knew that it wasn't good, especially with the look that he gave her. He looked between the two of them and then nodded.

"Yes, that'll work," Dr. Barns said.

"You'll never get away with this!" Judy exclaimed.

Dr. Barns pointed the gun back to her throat. "Oh, but I already have."

Judy looked at Dr. Tales and he moaned loudly. He wasn't dead yet, but he would be within a matter of minutes. Dr. Barns would get in severe trouble when they were through. That is, if she could somehow beat him.

And then, right as Judy was getting used to the pain in her jaw, she felt a kick in her stomach. She fell backwards against the wall and blood—from the jaw wound—spilled out of her mouth. Judy watched as Dr. Barns turned around and escaped into the back room, doing who-knows-what.

Judy glanced at Dr. Tales—whose breathing was shortening. Despite her pain, she crawled over to the injured leopard and knelt down by his side. She was no doctor, but she knew how to give encouragement to other animals.

"Hey," she whispered. Dr. Tales looked up at her and sucked in a deep breath. Judy looked at his wound in his stomach. Blood oozed out and dripped down onto the floor. Judy accidently knelt in the blood and the warm, sticky substance stained her uniform. But Judy didn't care. A life was in danger.

"I'm here," she said. "It's going to be okay. I'm going to go get another doctor."

"N-no," he wheezed out. "You can't. D-Dr. Barns is g-gonna kill N-Nick if you g-go."

Judy looked deeply into Dr. Tales' eyes.

"But I can't let you die. I need to get you help."

"No, I won't let you. Save the one that you love, Officer. He's the one that needs major saving. I'm proud to have died for a good cause; to die for another life."

Judy watched at his breaths came even quicker and shorter.

"No!" Judy shouted. "No! Please, don't leave! Don't die!"

"Save that fox…" and those were the last words that Dr. Tales ever mumbled before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Judy began to breathe hard as she mumbled, "No," over and over again. She couldn't believe that this doctor was dead and that he wouldn't let her go get help. She could've saved both of them! Judy balled her paws into fists. Dr. Barns was going to pay for this!

Judy ran one of her blood-stained paws down Dr. Tales' face and gently closed his stiff eyes. Then she looked away from the dead mammal. She couldn't stand this scene anymore.

When Judy looked up, she saw Dr. Barns in the protective suit while holding Nick. Judy jumped back from the sight. This wasn't going to be good.

"Ah, so I see you spent your last moments with Dr. Tales' last moments. That doesn't seem like a good way to spend them, but it was your choice."

Judy gritted her teeth and glared at the badger.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" she asked, venom filling her tone.

"Nooooooo. He is," Dr. Barns growled, dropping Nick down to the ground. Judy winced as she heard something crunch inside of Nick, like a bone breaking.

"A-and how will he do that? He's almost…dead!" Judy spat out.

"Oh, like…THIS!"

Dr. Barns jumped forwards and kicked Judy in the stomach again, sending her flying backwards. Her back hit the wall before she slid down to the ground. Who would've known a badger had that much strength in him?

Judy winced and whimpered in pain as she heard a gunshot. She expected to feel a bullet burst through her skin, but she suddenly realized what was going on when she heard glass shatter. Dr. Barns had shot Nick's glass cell. He picked up a piece of the glass and made his way towards Judy. He looked down at her, proud of his work, before kneeling down by her side. He grabbed her arm and sliced the piece of glass against her skin. Judy screamed out in pain and yanked her arm away from him.

"You see, rabbit? I'm in control. And I can make whatever I want happen."

Judy looked up to see him walk back towards Nick and pick him up. She understood what he was going to do, and if Nick was going to die, then so should she.

"B-bring it on," Judy spoke, feebly. She went into a coughing fit and coughed so hard that blood sputtered from her mouth. She licked her lips and tasted warm blood filling her mouth.

"I'm sort of sorry that I have to do this," Dr. Barns said. "But, then again, I'm not sorry."

Doctor Barns placed Nick by Judy's side and she gently stroked him. She stared at the dying fox, and for the first time, she felt no emotion. She and Nick were going to die. Together.

Dr. Barns pried Nick's mouth open—with his protective gloves on. He was about to place Nick's jaws over Judy's gash, but then he heard something burst through the door.

Judy looked up and saw Officer Hermit and a few EMT's. She had no idea how they got there—Officer Hermit most of all—but she was grateful that they came just in the nick of time. (This is no time for puns, Judy. Get a hold of yourself.)

Judy watched Officer Hermit run over and Taze Dr. Barns. He pinned the badger to the ground and knocked him out, quickly.

Nick fell down by Judy's side and thankfully didn't get any of his saliva in her wound. Judy managed to gather up energy and stroked him as Officer Hermit took down Dr. Barns and the EMT's looked at Dr. Tales' dead body.

Judy nearly passed out from the pain she was in, but she couldn't.

"Judy!" Hermit exclaimed, kneeling down by her side. "Are you okay? You look terrible!"

But Judy pointed at the container lying down by Dr. Tales' dead body. "I-it's the cure. Get it," she mumbled. The officer looked over to where she was pointing and nodded.

"Okay," he replied. He jumped up to his feet and darted over to the antidote. He scooped up the container in his paws and carefully took it over to Judy. He laid it in her paws and she took it.

"We have to give it to him," she coughed.

"Should he drink it or do we give him a shot with it?" the German Shepherd asked.

"We have no time! He could die any minute now! Just pour some in his mouth. But put on Dr. Barn's protective gloves just in case."

Officer Hermit pulled the gloves off of Dr. Barns and slipped them onto his own paws. Then he set Nick on his lap and opened up his mouth wide. He grabbed the container and poured a bit into his mouth.

"I don't know how much he needs. Hopefully this is enough. And hopefully it isn't too much," Officer Hermit said. Judy looked at Nick. He almost looked dead, but she saw his chest rise and fall. Good, he's still breathing.

"He needs to swallow it," Judy spoke.

"I know. But I think he will soon. Maybe if I cover his nose, he'll have to breathe out of his mouth, but in order to do that, he has to swallow the medicine."

Judy nodded. "Try it. But if he doesn't swallow within 20 seconds, uncover his nose."

Hermit clamped his paw over Nick's nostrils and looked over at Judy, hopefully. He pressed harder on his nose so that Nick had no choice but to swallow. It was already slowly going down his throat since his head was titled backwards, but he needed to swallow all of it.

"Look, he's swallowing it!" Hermit exclaimed, a smile on his face. Judy looked and the medicine in his mouth was all gone. He had swallowed it. Judy let out a sigh of relief and relaxed against the wall.

"I just pray that it can cure him in time," Judy said.

"It better," Hermit said. He crawled over and sat by Judy's side. "Let's get you cleaned up."

But she shook her head. "No, we have to stay with Nick."

"But you're injured. You can pass out and if you do, it won't matter if Nick's here or not because you'll be unconscious."

He had a point. And she was slowly losing consciousness. She did need something for her gash in her arm and for the bruises she had from Dr. Barns throwing her and kicking her everywhere. Come to think of it, he was the savage one.

"Okay, but clean me up right here," Judy replied, stubbornly. "Go and get a doctor.
Officer Hermit saluted and dashed out of the bloody room. Judy glanced around and realized that there was blood everywhere. Blood surrounded the cold, dead body of Dr. Tales. Blood dripped down onto the floor from Judy's gash and it was also on the wall. She must have touched it with her wound.

Judy petted Nick once more. It made her feel better and calmer. She prayed that the antidote healed him in time. She realized that she hadn't cried much since this whole incident. She stopped crying when she returned to the room minutes before this.

Judy's droopy ears perked forwards when she heard a whimper-like noise escape from Nick. Was he healing, or was he just whimpering because death was near?

"Shh," Judy shushed. "I'm right here, Nick. It's gonna be fine. I promise."

She heard a huff from him as he exhaled from his nose. Judy became hopeful, though she kept on telling herself not to be.

"You can get through this, partner. I know you can," Judy said, managing a smile. "And I'll stand by you through it all."

Judy closed her eyes, just for a moment, and leaned back against the wall. She didn't mean to let it, but soon the darkness of sleep engulfed her into unconsciousness.

##############################################################################

When Judy opened her eyes, she was in the same room as she was before, but this time she was lying on a cot. She was feeling a lot better and she looked at her arm, wrapping with gauze. Her bruises on her back and stomach still ached, but they weren't as sore.

Judy looked over and found Nick lying on a cot next to hers. She didn't know how much time had passed, but Nick was looking better! He wasn't as sickly as earlier, though he did still look majorly feeble. But the fox was sleeping, not unconscious. The cure must have been working!

Then Judy looked at the ground and realized that Doctor Barns was still there. She didn't know why he wasn't taken away to prison yet, but Officer Hermit was probably too busy to take him. He was still knocked out, anyways.

"Good morning, sleepy head."

Judy glanced up and sat Officer Hermit sitting down by her cot.

"Morning?!" Judy exclaimed. "How long was I asleep?"

The bunny sat up quickly and looked around the room. "And why is he still here?"

"Well, I didn't have time to take him away. But don't worry, I tranquilized him so he won't be up for a few hours," the dog replied. "And good news. Nick is recovering! That cure must have been an emergency cure, so it heals quickly."

Judy's face lit up in the brightest smile she smiled in days. She threw her arms around Officer Hermit and laughed, joyfully. Nick was gonna be alright!

"Thank you, Hermit! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" Judy shouted over and over again. After nearly squeezing the life out of him, Judy let go with a confused face on.

"But…how did you know to find me?"

"Well, your walkie-talkie went off and you were saying some pretty severe things about Nick, like how you were asking if the doctor was going to kill you. And I heard you say Nick a few times, so I knew where you'd be."

Judy realized that she probably landed on her walkie-talkie when Dr. Barns kicked her around. Thank the Lord that she was still in her uniform. It was quite a bloody uniform, though.

"I'm just so glad! Nick would be dead if it weren't for you, Officer Hermit. I owe you big time," Judy said.

"No." Hermit shook his head. "It's my job, Hopps. Our job."

Judy grinned widely and threw her arms around Officer Hermit once more. "You will be honored greatly, Hermit. And I'll make sure that Chief sees to it."

They pulled apart and Judy turned to look at Nick. He had moved to his other side. He was definitely healing.

"Can he talk yet?"

"I don't know. I guess you could wake him up and ask, but it'd be cruel to disturb him," Hermit shrugged. Judy set a huge smirk on her face.

"Well, he's disturbed me many times at the worst possible moments, so now it's my turn."

Judy slipped off of her cot and walked over to Nick's side. She knelt down in front of his face and began to shake him.

"Mr. Wilde, get off of your fuzzy butt," Judy whispered. She shook him once more and she saw him move a bit. She could tell that he was waking up, but he chose to ignore her. Judy continued to shake him.

"Nicholas Piberius Wilde!" Judy exclaimed. "You will treat me with respect and open up those beautiful green eyes of yours and look at me!"

Nick's eyes shot open quickly and he flinched backwards when he saw Judy in his face. Judy sat back and began to laugh.

"You poor, poor soul," Judy giggled. "Guess you didn't expect to see me in your face this morning, did you?"

Nick shook his head.

"Come on, Nick. Use words. I haven't heard that voice of yours in weeks," Judy commanded. But Nick cocked his head and looked at her. Then he shook his head.

"Oh, so you can't speak yet?"

Nick nodded.

Judy sighed. "Well, at least I can tease you all I want and you can't reply to me."

Nick narrowed his eyes and glared at her. Judy laughed.

"Nick, your facial expressions are so great! I wish that you could always be mute like this so that I can see your face like this all of the time!"

Judy continued to laugh and then looked over at Hermit.

"Come over here, Hermit. You have to see this!"

Hermit shrugged with a smile on and walked over to Nick's cot. He knelt down by Judy's side and waved at Nick.

"Hey Nick. I'm glad that you're feeling better."

Nick set on his famous sly smile and glanced at Hermit. "Thanks bud. I'm glad too."

Judy's eyes lit up. His voice was a little crackly, but it was Nick's voice none-the-less.

"Oh my gosh, Nick!" Judy exclaimed. She jumped forwards and wrapped her arms around the fox, hugging him tightly. "You're back! You're here. And you won't ever leave me again. You hear that?"

Nick nodded. Judy let out an irritated grunt.

"Use your words, Nick!"

She pulled away and saw the fox shake his head.

"Oh, so I see. You speak for Hermit, and not for me?"

Nick nodded. He looked at Judy's irritated face for a little longer before bursting out in a fit of laughter. Then he cleared his throat so he could talk.

"Carrots, you're just too cute." His voice still wasn't completely back, but Judy was happy hearing it. She hugged him again, tighter this time.

"I thought I lost you."

"Lost? Me? Come on Carrots. Old Nick here can't really die."

Judy pushed him away with a please smile on her face. "You sure know how to ruin an emotional moment, don't you?"

Nick nodded. "Don't you know it."

The two of them were having too much of a good time to notice the awakening Dr. Barns. The badger glared at the dog and the bunny sitting down by Nick's bed. He saw Officer Hermit's back to him. Maybe, just maybe he could grab his gun and finish the job…

"So, which one of you cured me?" Nick's scratchy voice asked.

"That would be Hermit," Judy replied. "You have him to thank."

"It was nothing." Hermit shrugged. "I was just doing my j-"

Officer Hermit whirled around and found Dr. Barns holding his gun in his hand.

"Now, you two back of very slowly so that I can finish my job!" the badger hissed. But Judy stood up and held her ground.

"No!" she growled. Dr. Barns let out an irritated growl.

"You know what? It's your choice. Nick can thank you for this." He loaded the gun, aimed it at Nick, and shot it. Nick let out a yelp and Judy screamed. She turned to the badger with tears burning in her eyes.

"You see? My job is already done. Thanks to you, Judy."

Judy squeezed her fists and glared at Dr. Barns. He was so focused on her that he didn't pay any notice to the dog that yanked the gun out of his hand and tackle him down to the ground.

Judy turned to Nick and saw that blood was already soaking his sheets and shirt.

"Nick, don't you dare go. You have to stay with me. Please!" The tears fell out of her eyes, easily. Judy sat on Nick's cot and rested his head on her lap. "Don't die on me. I almost lost you once. I'm not gonna lose you twice!"

Nick looked up at the crying bunny. "Y-you're crying over me? How sweet."

"How can you think of jokes at a time like this?" Judy sobbed. "Is that all life is to you? Just some practical joke?"

"You know h-how I am, C-Carrots. E-everything's a joke."

Judy let a sad smile take over her face.

"You know you l-love me," the fox coughed.

"Do I know that? Yes, yes I do," Judy replied, a few of her tears landing right next to Nick's head. "I do love you."

Nick smiled. "I know."

Judy fondled Nick's head, the soft fur brushing against her paw pads. Nick set on his sly smile and looked up at Judy.

"Hey, I-I'm okay."

"I know you are," she whispered. "You sly fox."

"Dumb bunny."

Judy let out a laugh, despite her tears. "You see? It's all a joke."

"You started it."

"I did, didn't I?" she continued to cry as she petted his head. "Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Just then, Hermit ran over to them. "I tranquilized Doctor Barns again and I found some rope to tie him up with since I forgot my handcuffs."

Then he looked down at Nick with concern. "Come on, bud. We gotta get you cleaned up. You'll be okay. Just let me check out that wound."

Nick nodded. He licked his lips and swallowed to wet his parched throat. "Okay."

Hermit sat on the end of the cot and unbuttoned Nick's green Hawaiian shirt. He looked at the deep wound for a few moments before looking up at the fox with a small smile on his face.

"You're gonna be just fine, Nick. The bullet didn't go through any organs or anything. It was more to the side of your body. The only thing that it wounded is some flesh, pretty much."

"Oh, so are you a doctor now, too? How many degrees did you get in college?"

Hermit grinned. "My mom was a nurse. I know quite a bit about health stuff."

"I guess that's a good enough answer."

Hermit chuckled. "Come on. We gotta get you to the ER before you lose too much blood."

Hermit stood up and picked of Nick, bridal style. He turned to Judy.

"Come on, we have to go."

"No, I'll stay in here with Doctor Barns. Somebody needs to watch out for him."

The dog nodded. "Good girl," he winked. "I'll be back. In the meantime, call some more officers and have them take him away."

"I will," Judy replied. "Now go. And quickly!"

Hermit nodded and dashed away with Nick. Judy watched them all of the way out the door before grabbing her walkie-talkie.

"Clawhauser? It's Officer Hopps. I need some officers here at the Zootopia Central Hospital to take away a criminal. What? No, it's a long story…"

##############################################################################

Judy paced the hospital halls. Earlier that day, officers came and took Dr. Barns away. It was nearly midnight now. Nick had just been released from the ER hours ago, but he still wasn't allowed to have visitors until the tranquilizer medicine wore off of him.

"Hey."

Judy saw Hermit approach her with a bag of food in his hand.

"I got us some dinner. I figured that you'd be hungry."

"Thanks, Hermit. You're a good friend."

Hermit handed her a carrot salad as he grabbed himself a bean burrito. They both ate in silence in the hallway, enjoying their food.

"I think that he's good," Hermit said.

"I hope so…" Judy mumbled. "I can't believe I said those things. I didn't want them to slip out."

"What things?" Hermit cocked his head.

"That I loved him and stuff. I was just…so scared. I thought that he was dying and I had to tell him things before he 'died'," Judy sighed. Hermit grinned widely.

"Finally!" he exclaimed. "Oh, thank goodness!"

"What?" Judy asked, confused.

"Everyone, I mean EVERYONE knew that you two had a thing for each other. Especially you," Hermit explained. "It was quite obvious."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Judy snorted, crossing her arms and eating her salad.

"Oh, sure," Hermit replied, sarcastically. "You even just said that you loved him. Don't even go trying to deny it."

Judy rolled her eyes. "Why did I even say that?" she muttered. They continued to eat their dinner. Judy was really liking her salad.

"Where did you get these at?" she wondered.

"Just the cafeteria down the hall," Hermit replied.

"Well, this is good. Thanks."

"No problem."

After they finished their dinner, a nurse walked out of Nick's room. Judy and Hermit stood up quickly, waiting for the news.

"Well, he's awake," she said. "You can go and visit him for a bit, one at a time."

"Thanks," Judy smiled. Then she turned to the German Shepherd. "Hermit, you first."

"No, no," he refused. "Ladies first."

Judy smiled and waved at Hermit before she walked into the room. She was a little nervous to see him, especially if Nick brought up the things that she was saying to him earlier.

She found a little chair by his bed and sat in it. Her eyes met Nick's and he gave her a wink.

"What's up, Carrots?"

Judy scooted the chair closer to his bed.

"The sky is up," she snorted. "Oh, and the stars. I bet that they're beautiful tonight."

"I'm not one much for stars," Nick replied. "Oh, except for this one that you're looking at."

Judy giggled and lightly punched Nick in the arm. "Stop it," she smiled.

"Hey, I'm not wrong," he replied, smoothly. Judy shook her head and looked away. She glanced around the nice, bright room. But it was kinda of plain. The cream walls should have been a light blue. And the furniture. It looked too rough. It needed to be replaced with…

"Are you off in la-la land again, rabbit?"

Judy looked over and met Nick's eyes. "Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just looking at the room."

"It's not much of a view, but it'll do," Nick shrugged. "However, the one you're looking at is quite a view, isn't it."

Judy giggled. "Come on, Nick. You can shut up."

"Me? Well, how dare you. I guess I'll just turn away and look at the plain walls while you can look at the view's back."

Judy rolled her eyes. "The poor fox. I guess I hurt his feelings. Again."

"When was the last time that you did that?"

Judy stopped. She couldn't say it, but that last time that she did was back in Bunnyburrow when he thought that she was never his friend.

"Carrots?"

"Hmm?"

"What was I…like? When I was, you know…"

Judy's eyes looked at the floor. She stared at her feet for a long time. How could she explain this to Nick? She didn't want to make it sound so bad, but it was.

Finally, Judy looked up. She breathed in heavily.

"It was heartbreaking for me. Sometimes, I ran off since I couldn't bear to look at you in that state," Judy explained. "How did you know that you changed?"

"Carrots, I didn't lose my mind. Though I wasn't myself, when I changed, I knew that I was changing," Nick replied, fiddling with his sheets in his paws.

"Oh."

"What else?"

"You…you liked to attack the glass a lot. One time you bit your tail and wounded it. Sometimes you acted like a new born pup. You'd chase your tail and roll around. All that kind of stuff.

"But other times, you really scared the heck out of me. Especially when you almost….When you almost…"

Judy shook her head and looked at the ground. She pushed back the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"Died?" Nick cut in.

"Yeah," she whispered, not looking up. "I, um…said somethings that I hope you don't remember. I kinda confessed somethings to you and I know that you'd tease me forever and ever if you remembered…"

"Carrots…"

"But…you're back. And I'm glad." Judy looked up. "That's all I'm gonna say."

"You're holding something back, Fluff. A lot of stuff. I need to know," Nick said.

"I-I'm not," Judy replied, standing up. She took in a deep breath. "Well, it's been nice talking to you, but I have to go. It's time for Hermit to see you and…"

"Judy…"

She looked up.

"Don't go. Please."

Judy looked into his beautiful emerald eyes for a few moments before looking away.

"I'm sorry, I can't."

Nick felt like he'd been struck in the chest. His heart pounded as he watched Judy walk away. Maybe he had pushed her too far, but he wanted the truth. At least there was always tomorrow to talk to her…if she ever came to visit him again.

##############################################################################

Nick's recovery was slow, but within 2 weeks, he was free to go. During those 2 weeks, Judy came to visit him often. But she never said anything more about him and his rabies.

When Nick was released, he decided to go see Alay first. It had been a while since he'd seen her and he never saw her ever since their breakup. She must have been heartbroken and Nick knew that she'd love to see him.

The fox approached her apartment and knocked on her door. He was nervous to see her. He was even afraid that she got a new boyfriend during that time, but she was pretty true to him.

Nick saw her face fill with emotions as she opened her door and saw him.

"N-Nick? Is that you?" Alay gasped. "But I thought you were-"

"Dead? Long story, sweetheart," Nick winked. "Can I…come in?"

"Oh, of course," Alay replied, stepping back. She let him into her apartment and told him to sit down in her living room. He did as he was told and she sat down next to him.

"Why are you here?" Alay asked.

"I came to see my girlfriend," Nick replied. But Alay looked at the floor.

"Nick…" she slowly looked up. "I need to tell you the truth."

"The truth? What do you mean? What truth? I'm confused…"

"Nick." The arctic vixen took Nick's paw. "Weren't you ever a little suspicious about me? About who I was? Who I truly am?"

Nick looked at Alay and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Nick, the fox who you are looking at is not the fox you know," Alay sighed. "Well, wait. Actually you do know her."

"What do you mean?" Nick was getting irritated.

"Nick, I need you to look deep into my eyes—deeper than you have ever looked before—and tell me who you see."

Nick did as he was told. He cocked his head around as he looked at the arctic vixen. Those blue eyes…The pointed muzzle shape…that personality…

Nick's eyes suddenly opened up wide.

"Sis?"

MUAHAHAHA! YOU GET TO SUFFER WITH ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER!

Ya'll are gonna LOVE this next chapter! I mean it! So stay tuned and REVIEW!

BTW, sorry if there are typos…