A/N

Alrighty everyone. I hope I didn't scare you off with the last chapter. At the end of the story I will share with you some alternate endings I had in mind and why I ultimately chose the one I did. Without further delay, let's see what happens next. See you down below.

-Don

Chapter 29

Hope

She was within reach of her partner. Tears streaming down her face as she made one last ditch effort to grab his paw before he let go.

"NICK!" She cried knowing the fox was on the verge of giving up – knowing the chance of his survival was dwindling. Judy was so focused on grabbing the fox that it took a moment for her to realize the support from the branch under her had vanished. She was now air born plunging into the darkness. Judging by the height they were falling, it would roughly be 6 seconds before the 2 officers crashed into the rugged terrain below them.

There was no escape.

Judys closed her eyes tight. She didn't want to see it coming. Suddenly she felt a paw grab her arm. Nick pulled her with all of his strength into his chest. He quickly embraced her wrapping himself tight around her body. If he could take most of the impact from the fall; perhaps she could survive to see her family again – to continue to make the world a better place.

To live on.

Before Judy could open her eyes to realize what was happening in that moment all of the air was knocked out of her lungs. She remembered a loud cry of pain before the immersion of cold water. Everything had gone pitch black. This must have been what it felt like to die. Dark and cold. She couldn't feel Nicks arm wrapped around her anymore. All she could feel was an intense aching pain on the right side of her body. She floated in the endless darkness unable to register movement. It was as if she was awake while also in a deep sleep at once. Moments later her body broke the surface of the water.

"I need an ambulance here ASAP! Officers down I repeat officers down!" A voice broke amongst the sound of the river currant.

Judys brain shut down shortly after hearing the faint voice.

She opened her eyes briefly to see the night sky full of stars with a full moon. The cold feeling of water was no longer present although now she felt restrained unable to move her neck. Her body was being carried on a stretcher by a zebra and kangaroo paramedics. Suddenly the weight of the stretcher shifted as she was now seeing the ceiling of the back of an ambulance.

"Riddley get the oxygen hooked up to her while I check her vitals" the zebra ordered as she began grabbing supplies. The kangaroo made his way past her doing as instructed.

Judy now becoming more conscious began feeling the sharp aching pain on the right side of her body again. The pain was becoming much worse.

"N...Nick.." she groaned hoarsely struggling to speak. The zebra turned around to see the bunny regaining consciousness. She reached down grabbing Judys paw.

"It's going to be alright officer" she spoke calmly. "Right now I just need you to focus on breathing as best you can." She looked up to see the oxygen machine was ready. "We're going to need to do anesthesia for her. Quickly."

Now feeling a mask go over her muzzle Judy tried to open her mouth again to speak.

"W..where's...Nick.." she coughed feeling a drowsiness come over her. Her eye lids felt like they weighed a ton as she tried to stay awake. Surely Nick was being recovered to be placed in the ambulance with her right?

Judy gave into the anesthesia now drifting into a deep sleep.

A faint beep could be heard in the distance. A group of voices ensued though it was difficult to make out any words. The world was pitch black except for a tiny bright light – a light at the end of a dark tunnel that seemed to stretch for miles. Judy attempted to run towards the light but she couldn't. It felt like she was running in slow motion. No feeling in her legs or hands. Nothing but the light and a beeping sound that seemed to be getting louder. Was the noise coming from the light? A distinct voice amongst the group could be heard. One that was clear.

"Judy" the voice echoed. "You're great...you know that right?"

It was Nick.

Judy opened her mouth to call his name but nothing came out. She tried yelling at the top of her lungs but no sound came.

"I'm sorry I was hard to put up with sometimes.." Nicks voice spoke now with a hint of sadness. "It's just...I wish we had more time." A paused ensued. "But the time I did have with you was some of the best moments of my life. Wouldn't trade it for anything."

'Nick..' Judy tried to say. The words still wouldn't leave her lips.

"Gosh I.." he spoke again. "I always teased you for being so emotional but..I miss you. So much.."

'I'm here Nick I won't leave you..' she attempted to reply with no luck.

"Never knew my other half would be a bunny.." Nick chuckled. "Anyways...I love you Judith Hopps. More and more every day...until we see each other again.."

'I love you..'

Judy now tugged with all of her might to call back to him. He sounded so close. With one final attempt, she gave it everything she had.

"Hopps! Hopps calm down!" A loud voice boomed. Judy had awoken in a hospital room with several mammals present looking at her with concern. The beeping noise she had heard was coming from a heart rate monitor.

"It's ok sweety relax it's alright!" A hippo nurse called holding the bunny down. Judys face was soaked with sweat as she attempted to catch her breath. To the right of the bed stood chief Bogo. A look of relief grew on his face as he saw the bunny coming back to life.

"Chief!" Judy spoke flabbergasted. The buffalo nodded quietly now with a hopeful grin.

"You're safe Hopps" he replied reassuring the bunny. "It's a good thing we arrived when we did. That was quite a fall.."

Judy looked back at the nurse who eased her grip. Behind her stood officers Fangmeyer and Delgado. In the doorway present was Wolford leaning against the frame. Francine was peeping through the door from the hallway to see what the commotion was. All of her police comrades were present...all except..

"N-Nick! Where is Nick!?" Judy jolted up causing the nurse to lean forward to restrain her again. Bogos eyes shot down to the floor. Two of the officers left the room followed shortly by the 3rd. "Is he..alright?" Judy questioned now staring at the police chief. The buffalo took a deep breath sinking his shoulders.

"Will you excuse us for just a moment?" Bogo requested glancing at the nurse. She quietly nodded making her way to the exit.

"I'll be just down the hall" she spoke softly looking back at the chief. She then gave a look of sorrow to the bunny. "It's going to be alright sweetheart..be strong."

The door closed behind the hippo. Bogo turned back to face Judy. "Now that you're finally conscious I advise you reach out to your family. They should hear from you immediat-"

"Chief" Judy spoke now more sternly. Her eyes locked on to his. "Where is my fox?" Her voice quivered speaking those last few words. Bogo folded his arms taking a deep breath. He turned away unable to maintain eye contact with the bunny before him.

"Hopps..." Bogo began hesitantly.

"If I survived that fall I know for a fact he did..." Judy spoke. "H-he's much more resilient than me.." She began to tremble as each passing moment of silence followed. "Tell me.."

"Judy.." Bogo paused. "The reason you were able to survive is likely from him shielding you from the full impact of the fall...he's.."

"Don't..." Judys voice was shaken. "D-don't you dare say.."

"The medic reported he has 4 shattered ribs...a collapsed lung along with severe trauma to his head." Bogo spoke firmly still looking away. "He would have died from the sheer blood loss if the ambulance hadn't arrived moments after we recovered his body." Judy winced as she heard the injuries listed off. Those didn't even include his injured left arm.

"They are doing everything they can to make him comfortable.." Bogo continued now finally bringing himself to face her. "They..they say he likely has another 32 hours Hopps at the most...I'm..sorry."

'Comfortable..' she thought.

Judy frantically scurried to the side of her bed pulling at the ivs in her arm. An excruciating pain throbbed through her body. "Where is he?! I need to be with him right now!" Bogo moved forward now holding her back. "H-he...needs me!" She cried fighting the buffalo.

"There is nothing you can do for him at this time! You need rest now settle down!" Bogo argued holding the bunny down. Judy wouldn't give up however – she never did. "ENOUGH!"

Tears began to well in her eyes. "NO! I will NOT lay here while he is dying!" She screamed now clawing at his hooves. "You don't understand if I can just get to him I-I..can"

Bogo fell silent only keep a pressure on her. He could hardly take the look of pain in her eyes.

"I know this is a hard situation believe me we a-"

"No you DON'T know!" Judy screamed furiously. "You were always hard on him for being a fox! You were always hard on me for being a bunny! You never truly cared! Not about him or me!" She pushed back with all of her strength ignoring the throbbing pain. "LET. ME. GO!"

Bogo pressed a button calling for the nurse to come in. "I need her sedated immediately!" He shouted while trying to keep hold. Moments later the nurse along with the fellow officers rushed into the room. The nurse came rushing to the side of the bed.

"Judy...Judy honey we need you to calm down.." she spoke sincerely. "I understand you're a fighter but please."

Judy wrestled for a moment longer before letting out a defeated cry. She was indeed a fighter. Nick saw that in her as well. Judy began bawling in that moment. She couldn't remember a time she had ever cried to the point of hyperventilating. This couldn't be real. None of this could be.

Bogo slowly eased off of her now taking a step back. "She needs time alone" he muttered making an exit. He briefly turned back before leaving. "And you're wrong. I would give my life to protect any of my fellow officers because I do indeed care very much."

The other officers shortly followed behind him.

"We're here for you Hopps. Be strong" Fangmeyer called out as the door closed.

The nurse stayed behind unsure of what to say to the bunny.

"P-please just leave me alone.." Judy cried covering her eyes.

"You..may not remember but I'm the nurse who took care of you a few weeks ago...when you and your partner had that incident with the tranquilizer" the hippo spoke nervously. She took a seat in the chair beside the bed. Judy didn't answer. The hippo attempted to speak again. "I could tell you meant a lot to him...he stayed that whole night refusing to leave your side."

Judy glanced over. "H-he...did?"

The hippo nodded. "Yes ma'am. Wouldn't even leave to change clothes.."

Judy thought back to the argument her and Nick had the day she was on patrol with Silvia. She thought about what she said to him.

'You don't know how it feels to wake up in the hospital..wondering why your partner...your friend.. isn't even there with you... to tell you...everything will be alright..'

"Ugh.." She shook her head sniffing. As if she needed another reason to feel terrible in that moment.

The hippo stared confused for a moment. Judy took a deep breath.

"Have you..seen his condition..?" Judy questioned hesitantly.

"I only saw a glimpse of him when I was taking you back from the emergency room" she started. "I won't lie to you it wasn't pretty.."

Judys lip began to quiver. She was trying with all of her strength to hold it together. She didn't want to start crying again – at least not in front of anybody.

"I need to see him..." Judy mumbled.

"I know...but you need to rest. You're not in the best condition either.. it's only been roughly 4 hours since your incident.." the nurse replied softly. "It's a merical you're even awake right now."

"How long am I stuck here?" Judy sighed.

"We can't legally force you to stay here. But if you must go we advise you at least to stay until tomorrow evening. We'll need to get you prescribed on pain medicine as well.."

Judy leaned back in her bed frame. "They said he has estimated 32 hours.." she whispered. She turned over to look at the nurse. "Will you promise me something?"

The nurse was caught off guard by the gesture. "I.."

"Will you do everything in your power to have him transferred here whenever they are finished with him in the emergency area?" Judy asked cautiously. "Please..because otherwise I will limp down there myself regardless of my currant condition.."

The hippo stared at the bunny with a look of admiration. She was persistent. The nurse stood up making her way to the door.

"Call your parents in the morning when you wake up" she spoke up putting a hove on the door handle. "They should know their daughter is still alive after what she just went through.."

She then turned back looking at Judy. "And yes, I will see what I can do about your friend. I promise."

A/N

Well here we are, 1 more chapter to go. I may need a tissue for this one lol. Can't believe the journey is almost done. To my emotional viewers please don't come at me with pitch forks! The ride isn't over yet. It has been fun sharing my creativity with you all. After the next chapter I spoke on a "bonus" chapter/epilogue. For those who are interested that epilogue will cover where Silvia ends up after the events of what happened. Think of it as an end credits scene. Well...Dun Dun Duuun...tune in next time for Chapter 30. The conclusion to "The Golden Carrot". Thank you for sticking with me this far.

See you soon.

And as always. You be safe out there.

-Don