"You've got to be kidding me!"

"It's final, Hopps!"

"Chief, these animals broke into our home! They stole my cellphone!"

"And I've got officers looking into it right now, but you and Wilde are off of this case. Here."

The Chief took a small plastic bag out of the top drawer of his desk and slid it across the surface toward Judy. Judy picked it up and opened the bag, grabbing her cellphone out of it before tossing the plastic in the trashcan next to the desk.

"I managed to get that back, but my word is final," the Chief finished.

"This isn't fair."

"To who?"

"To Nick!"

"If I'm correct, Wilde has personal ties to this case, and since you have personal ties to Wilde, you both are off the case!"

"Nick receives no justice on this."

"Justice for what? Keep in mind Hopps that Wilde's past with these animals has nothing to do with the case. Wilde has let his emotions cloud his judgment; he has no need to seek justice for this."

"Well, then what happens now?" Judy sighed heavily, knowing that the Chief was right.

"You and Wilde go about your lives. I have officers looking into the breaking and entering, and theft, of your home."

"And Plains?"

"What about him?"

"He gets away clean with this? You aren't concerned about why they broke in and stole my phone? Why they toyed with Nick and I for weeks?"

"Hopps, no offense, but the crime isn't that serious, and you've got your cellphone back. Plains is threatening to sue the ZPD for his assault–"

"He wasn't assaulted!"

"It's your word against his, and I don't need a lawsuit on my tail! It's final! You and Wilde will leave Plains alone!"

"You can't check security tapes or anything?" Judy scoffed.

"He is threatening to sue us!"

"Ugh!" Judy yelled, throwing her paws in the air. "Plains is a conniving, scheming, lying–"

"It doesn't matter what he is, he has a restraining order on both of you!"

"What?"

"You heard me, Hopps! Do. Not. Get. Involved."

Judy balled her paws into tight fists and held them at her sides as she tried to control her anger.

"Fine," she finally huffed after a few seconds of silence. "How's Nick?"

The Chief hesitated.

"He's fine."

"Yes, because if I was forced to face a fear of mine, I would be 'fine' too," Judy spat bitterly.

"Watch it, Hopps."

"What about the assault charges?" Judy shook her head in frustration.

"Plains agreed to drop them under the conditions that the restraining orders were put in place. He then threatened to sue if the conditions were violated."

"Okay, done," Judy nodded. "May I see Nick?"

"He's in custody downstairs. You can get him if you like."

With a final nod, Judy made her way to the door. As her paw touched the handle, the Chief called out one more time.

"Oh, and Hopps, you and Wilde take the rest of the day off to cool down."

"With all due respect, Chief, after what you did to him this morning, I was planning on doing that anyway," Judy replied without turning to look at him.

Judy then walked down to the basement where temporary custody was set up. She talked to the security guards, filled out the paperwork, and retrieved Nick's personal belongings. Then, she sat on an uncomfortable plastic chair in a small waiting room as she waited for them to release Nick. The sight of Nick almost made Judy's heart break. He was ruffled up, clearly exhausted and traumatized. When he saw Judy, he didn't say a single word, he just hugged her. She held him tight for a few seconds before the two went back upstairs and outside to their SUV. Judy didn't feel like leaving just yet, so they sat in the car, the engine turned on and the air conditioning unit on.

"You okay?" she asked nervously, not really sure what to do.

"Yeah," he replied nonchalantly as he smoothed his ruffled fur.

Judy was somewhat taken aback by his calm reaction. What was he feeling? Was he mad at her for not doing more? Could she have done more?

"Really?"

"Yeah, honestly. That was, uh, that was crazy," he chuckled lightly.

Judy reached out and took his paw, squeezing it gently; she was going to be here for him no matter what.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"What's there to talk about? You were there, Carrots."

"I know, but I just want to make sure you're okay."

Nick looked up at her and squeezed her paw back.

"I know you do, and I promise I am. They removed the muzzle as soon as we got here, so it wasn't on long. I just had to breathe and remain calm."

"I was so worried," Judy whispered.

"I was worried too, but this case is over, and I think it's time to leave the past where it belongs," Nick said before he leaned in and kissed Judy's forehead gently. "Thank you, Carrots."

"For?"

"For being here for me."

Judy smiled and kissed him deeply as a reply. They had been through so much in the few years they had known one another, and they knew that they would go through so much more, but that was okay. They were life mates, and these things were part of the description, which in a way, made it even more special.

"It was my pleasure," she smiled sweetly after pulling away.

She then started the car and began to pull out of the ZPD parking lot.

"Hey, Carrots?"

"Yeah?"

"I really hate being muzzled," he laughed as he grabbed his sunglasses from the pocket in the side of the passenger seat's car door and slid them over his eyes.

Judy couldn't help but laugh.

"I really hate you being muzzled, too."

"You do?"

"Of course, and besides, nothing can contain you."

"Ha, you've got me there. I'm one in a million. However…"

"What?" Judy asked as she looked over at him.

Nick smirked as he returned the glance.

"You muzzle me, but you know, in a good way. I love the way you muzzle me," he stated with a wink.

At that, Judy and Nick burst out laughing.