Chapter 18
"Ugh...god...why does this keep happening to me?" I questioned out loud as I brought my right black paw out of a soft place that it was resting and to my forehead before groaning in slight pain as I began to massage said head.
'What is it with me and passing out?' I questioned myself angrily as I began to scan where I now was with my leaf green eyes.
After scanning the room I realised that I was in a bedroom of sorts as my body was lying under the plain white covers of a bedsheet except for my right paw that I had used to massage my head. After quickly looking under the white coloured bed covers I realised that I was still dressed in the clothes I had worn yesterday.
The bedroom that I was in had walls that where painted a light mossy green whilst the door to the bedroom was a dark oak colour. Toward the left side of the bedroom there was a small light brown clothes draw that literally sat next to the bed. On top of the small clothes draw there was an old and slightly retro looking alarm clock that seemed to be made completely out of metal except for the alarms face which I assume was made out of glass. After looking around the room once again to confirm that I was in a bedroom a thought made itself clear in my mind.
"Why...am I in a bed...?" I said out loud as a knock on bedrooms front door caused me to spring out of bed and fall onto the white carpeted floor.
"Uuuuggggghhhh...why..." I groaned loudly in pain whilst closing my eyes as the oak coloured door began to open slowly revealing a surprised looking Nick Wilde who was holding a steaming hot cup of coffee in his right black furred paw. Nick was dressed in a light green Hawaiian shirt which matched well with his grass green eyes as well as red and blue striped tie which seemed a little odd to me. Nick was also wearing a pair of light grey trousers with pockets on either side with his left paw being housed in the left trouser pocket.
"Well it seem your finally awake then Ben." Nick said in a happy tone of voice as he made his way over to my groaning form whilst I began to open my leaf green eyes which immediately locked on to the smiling fox that was Nick.
"Nick...what are you doing here...what am I doing here...where am I Nick?" I questioned the smiling form of Nick as said fox smiled slyly at me as he offered the steaming hot cup of coffee toward me to which my expression began to darken slightly.
"Nick the last time I checked kidnapping was illegal...and the last time we met I said something to you. Do you remember what I said Nick?" I questioned the fox in an low and angry tone of voice as I stared at Nick with a scowl plastered on my auburn red furred face.
"Well." Nick said trying to sound confident and happy even though I could tell he wasn't happy or confident with the question I had just asked him. "All I can remember is you being drunk and a slight family reunion with Judy and her brother." Nick said as I began to stand up off of the carpeted floor before glaring at Nick as said fox took a small step back whilst he also began to look at me nervously and in slight shame.
"Wow Nick. You would really lie to me? I know you remember what I said Nick so tell me. Now." I said almost yelling the last part of my sentence as I took a step forward towards Nick whilst Nick on the other paw was beginning to look more and more worried as I continued on speaking.
"You know what I don't need to even ask if your lying to me Nick. Its obvious." I said as Nick let out a long sigh before he made his way over to a small table that was to the right of the bed which was similar to the small clothes draw that I had noticed to the left of the bed. After placing the cup of coffee down on the draw Nick turned to look at me with a sad and defeated look plastered on his auburn furred face whilst I continued to glare at the fox in question.
"Ben...I...I do remember what you said...and I'm...I'm so sorry about what happened with Bogo...I should have listened to you..I didn't...think..." Before Nick could continue I cut him off by growling at the fox before I began to speak in an aggressive tone of voice.
"You didn't think. YOU DIDNT THINK. You didn't think that your own brother would tell you the truth. I trusted you Nick. I thought you would listen to me. But you didn't did you." I said continuing to talk to Nick in my aggressive tone of voice whilst Nick looked down toward the white carpeted floor in what I assumed and hoped was shame and regret.
Just then my head began to ache once again as I let out a pained sigh before bringing my left black furred paw up to my head in an attempt to quell the pain as I began to massage said head.
"Ben are you OK?" Nick questioned with worry clear and evident on his face as he took a small step forward toward me as I continued to rub my head whilst groaning in pain.
"Ugh...just...just leave me alone Nick." I yelled loudly in both anger and because of the pain that my head was in. But instead of taking a step back once again Nick took another step forward toward me as I began to growl at Nick as a warning to back off.
"What's wrong Ben. Let me help you...I..I have some painkillers if that'll help?" Nick said as he stopped his advance on me as the pain In my head began to gradually ease as I looked toward Nick with my leaf green eyes whilst Nick gazed at me with worry evident in his eyes and on his facial features.
"...No...I'm fine Nick...just leave me be..." I said as I turned away from Nicks upset and worried looking gaze as said auburn furred fox let out a sad and tired sigh before speaking in a wavering tone of voice.
"Ben...I...I cant express how sorry I am for the way I acted before...I was only thinking about myself...and watching Judy seeing her brother again made me realise how much I've missed counting on you having my back Ben. I miss the old times."
Nick said in his still wavering voice as he began to reach out his right black furred paw toward my shoulder as his ears kept themselves lowered to his head.
"...me too Nick...look I want to trust you I really do...but my minds all over the place at the moment Nick...I...I don't even know who I am anymore..." I said as I felt a firm but reassuring pressure on my left shoulder as I turned my head around before looking at Nick with both sadness and worry plastered on my auburn red furred face.
"What do you mean Ben?" Nick said as I let out a small chuckle whilst turning away from Nicks gaze as I focussed my leaf green eyes on the white coloured carpet as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"...Nick...are you sure you know me?" I questioned Nick in a low and defeated tone of voice as I continued to stare at the white carpeted floor with my leaf green eyes. Nick on the other paw was just staring at my defeated looking form with a shocked and bewildered expression plastered on his auburn furred face as he retracted his black paw from my shoulder before taking a step back.
"What kind of question is that Ben? Of course I know you. Your family Ben. I've known you for years Ben...your practically a brother to me and you ask me that...Ben...Ben...are you OK Ben?" Nick asked in worry as I began to collapse to the floor with my right black paw plastered to my head as I began to cry out in pain whilst writhing on the floor in a useless effort to try and null said pain.
Nick immediately came over to my writhing form as I continued to roll around on the white carpeted floor in pain whilst Nick began to panic at what was happening right in front of him.
"Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh...m...my head..." I cried out loudly in as my head felt like someone had swung a sledgehammer directly at my forehead whilst I began to have another set of new memories that began to appear and flood into my mind. Each new memory was like another excruciating blow to my mind whilst Nick gazed on in fear and panic.
"Ben...Ben can you hear me...what should I do...how can I help?" Nick yelled in both fear and worry but I couldn't hear him as all I could see and hear where the new memories that where flashing through my mind as I continued to yell and scream out loudly.
'Shit...what should I do...come on Nick what would Judy do?' Nick thought as he continued to look at my writhing form before he swore under his breathe as he quickly dashed out of the bedroom and towards his apartments main hall.
After dashing to the apartments green walled main hall Nick hastily made his way over to the apartments living room before he rushed over to his favourite dark green coloured couch which had his police uniform strewn across said couch. Nick ears immediately turned toward the bedroom that I was in as I continued to scream out and yell in pain whilst Nick swore once again under his breathe before he began to search through his police uniform looking for the thing he that could get help. His phone.
"Come on...where is it.." Nick said as he desperately searched through his navy blue police uniforms trouser pockets before he felt the familiar plastic cover of his phone with his black furred paw.
Nick quickly pulled out the phone from his pocket before quickly swiping his right black furred paw on the phones screen to unlock said phone before Nick began to quickly dial the number 911.
As the phone was ringing Nick could here the cries of pain from Ben grow louder and louder as Nicks phone continued to ring. "Come on come on..." Nick said with worry etched into his voice as the phone abruptly stopped ringing before a new York accented and deep sounding male voice began to speak through the phone.
"Hello this is Jerry Jumbeaux owner of Jumbeaux's café. Who is this and how can I help?" The voice of Jerry Jumbeaux answered whilst Nick on the other paw swore loudly as he cancelled the call before he looked at the back of his phone only to find a sticky note with the words 'Finnick was here.' After seeing this note Nick began to quickly type in another number as he once again waited for the call to be picked up hoping that Finnick hadn't messed with this number like the other.
"Come on Judy...pick up...please...I need you..." Nick said as he could hear the screams of pain from the bedroom begin to die down at a quick rate as Nick desperately hoped that Judy would pick up the phone as quickly and as soon as possible.
"Uh...hello...is that you Nick. What's wrong?" The calm and collective voice of Judy said as Nick let out a relieved sigh before he began to quickly make his way back to the bedroom whilst still holding the phone to his right auburn furred ear.
"Judy you need to come over here quickly I don't know what to do...Finnicks messed with my phone and I cant call an ambulance...Judy I don't know why but...Bens screaming in pain...I think somethings wrong with his head..." Nick said in worry as he reached the bedroom only to find said fox in question passed out and sprawled onto the white coloured carpet that covered the bedrooms floor.
"Nick you need to calm down OK. You cant help Ben if your panicking alright." Judy said in an authoritative but friendly and calm tone of voice as Nick on the other paw took a few deep breathes as he began to calm down and focus.
"Alright Judy...I'm calm...what should I do?" Nick asked in a calm but still heavily worried tone of voice as Judy spoke in her calm and collective voice once again.
"Alright Nick the first thing you need to do is to make sure that Ben has a pulse. Just check his neck for a pulse Nick OK." Judy said as Nick let out a small sigh as he made his way over to the unconscious auburn red furred form that was lying down on the white carpeted floor.
"Come on Mr pulse...where are you?" Nick questioned himself anxiously as he placed his phone down next to the unconscious form of Ben before he placed his right black furred paw onto said unconscious fox's neck. Nick placed his paw in a couple of locations on Bens neck searching desperately for a pulse to which he couldn't find.
"Come on Ben...don't do this to me dammit...no..." Nick said in both anger and fear as he continued to desperately search for a pulse whilst Judy yelled from Nicks phone which was still on the carpet.
"Nick. Pick up the phone and tell me what wrong...Nick...NICK...PICK UP...please." Judy yelled desperately from the phone but Nick couldn't hear the calls as all said fox was focussed solely on was the unconscious and unresponsive form of Ben. Nicks green eyes showed pure shock and grievance as he gazed upon the auburn red furred form of Ben whilst said foxes face showed a peaceful look on his face.
"...Its...its not...fair..." Nick said as his auburn furred and slightly black tipped ears began to lower down to his head as he began to clench his black furred paws in anger before he let out a pained and grievous sigh as he looked down at the white furred carpet that covered the bedrooms floor.
"Nick...please...p...pi...pick up the phone..." The broken voice of Judy said from the phone whilst Nick continued to stare at the floor before he began to shut his grass green eyes as he could faintly hear Judy begin to cry from the phone. 'Why...why, why, why did this happen.' Nick thought as he tried his hardest to hold back the tears that where threatening to leak from the foxes grass green eyes.
"Judy..." Nick said in a low and saddened tone of voice as he began to open his eyes and raise his head once again as he heard Judy respond on the phone as Nick continued to clench his black furred paws tightly.
"N...Nick...what happened...is...is Ben OK...Nick...please." Judy said in a saddened and broken tone of voice but before Nick could reply said fox heard pained groaning. And it wasn't coming from himself.
"Uuuuugggggghhhhhh...what...what happened?" The familiar voice of Ben said in a low and weak tone of voice as Nick quickly looked toward Bens direction to see said fox slowly open his eyes before putting both of his black furred paws up to his head in pain.
"...Ben...you...cant...you had no pulse..." Nick said in shock as he gazed upon the confused and surprised expression that was evident on Bens face.
"OK...um...Nick are you...OK?" Ben questioned Nick in a tired tone of voice but before Ben could say anything else Nick immediately lifted said fox up before bringing the confused auburn red furred fox into a strong hug whilst Nick began to openly sob into Bens chest.
"...No this cant be possible...you weren't breathing...y...you had no pulse..." Nick said as he tightened his arms around Ben as he continued to sob openly whilst Ben on the other paw still had his auburn red furred arms by his sides being to surprised to return the hug immediately.
"Um...I'm OK Nick...its...um...its OK." I said in a surprised but calm tone of voice as I slowly hugged Nick back as he continued to cry into my chest.
"NICK...Nick is Ben OK? Just answer me please Nick...alright...I..im coming over just hang on." I heard the distressed and panicked sounding voice of Judy say as my ears swivelled toward the direction of Judy's voice before I turned my head toward the same direction as my ears. Judy's voice seemed to have emitted from a phone that was lying on the white carpeted floor around about a meter from where me and Nick where standing.
"Uh...Nick...where you on the phone with Judy?" I questioned Nick as said fox began to break away from the hug before he let out a long sigh of relief as he began to speak.
"Yeah it was. I didn't know what to do when you collapsed to the floor screaming so I went to call for an ambulance but...when I tried to call 911 the number rang Jumbeauxs café instead of the emergency services..." Nick said before he began to growl slightly as he clenched his black furred paws in anger whilst on on the other paw just looked at Nick with confusion sill plastered on my auburn red furred face.
"So your phone didn't work to well. There's no need to get so angry and worked up about it Nick. Its not like someone messed with your phone or something right...right Nick?" I said jokingly as Nick began to growl louder as soon as I said this which caused me to take a cautious step back from Nick. Said fox must have noticed this as he let out a frustrated but regretful sigh before looking towards me sympathetically before speaking.
"Ben...Finnick hacked my phone so I couldn't call the emergency services...I mean I work for one of those services Ben and that's not even the worse thing. What if you didn't wake up Ben? Yes I could have performed CPR but what if that didn't work and needed professional help?"" Nick asked as my eyes widened in realisation at what could have happened.
"I guess your right Nick...but still it was only a joke I'm sure. I don't think Finnick would want to kill me yet I mean I haven't known him that long." I said in a neutral tone of voice as Nick began to make his way to the phone that was still laying down on the white carpeted floor.
"Yeah I guess your right Ben. But you can see why I'm angry." Nick said as he picked up the phone with his right black furred paw before bringing said phone in front of his grass green eyes.
"So Judy's on her way to your apartment then Nick?" I questioned said fox in a suave and sly way whilst Nick looked at me with a puzzled expression plastered on his face as I smiled slyly at him.
"Well that's a surprise to me. I didn't know Judy was coming over." Nick said in a confused tone of voice as my sly smile began to slip from my face as I changed my look to one of confusion.
"Didn't you hear her on the phone Nick? She sounded worried for both me and you before saying that she was coming over." I said as Nick began to laugh out loud whilst I on the other paw continued to gaze at said fox in confussion with my leaf green eyes. After a few seconds Nick slowly began to cease his laughter as said fox placed his left paw on his stomach in an attempt to cease his laughter quicker.
"Ha, ha, ha nice joke there Ben but its definitely not your best one." Nick said as he looked up with his grass green eyes only to come face to face with the confused expression that adorned my face.
"Uh it wasn't a joke Nick...didn't you hear Judy on the phone?" I questioned Nick as I watched the expression on said fox's face change from happy to a mix of worry and fear.
"Judy's coming over...here...today..." Nick said as he took a step back away from me as I only nodded my head in response to Nicks question as said fox began to look around the room in worry, his green eyes showing panic as clear as day.
"I...im not ready..." Nick said in a worried tone of voice before he suddenly stopped looking around the room as he turned his attention toward me and stared directly at me with a sly smile plastered on his auburn furred face. I began to back away from said fox whilst Nick on the other paw began to walk forward toward me with the sly smile still present on his face.
"What do you mean your not ready Nick...its only Judy who's coming over right?" I questioned Nick as I felt my back collide into one of the bedrooms walls as Nick continued to approach me before he chuckled slightly.
"Do you remember when you said if me and Judy where a couple in the police car?" Nick questioned me as he stopped just in front of my surprised and scared looking form as I nodded my head to answer Nicks question as he continued to smile slyly at me.
"Well Ben were not a couple yet but I really like Judy. The thing I cant ask her out myself. I've tried but I just cant seem to do it. But you can. And you can ask her out as me." Nick said slyly to which I immediately voiced my opinion to the sly smiling fox that was Nick.
"What do you mean ask her out as you Nick?" I said to which Nick smiled at me mischievously before he made his way over to the small clothes draw that was next to the bed. Nick the proceeded to pull out a light green Hawaiian shirt that was identical to his own as well as a pair of grey trousers that were once again identical to the ones he was wearing.
"You see Ben. Me and you look rather a like now don't we." Nick said slyly as I looked at him before quickly looking over my own body as I nodded my head in an affirmative answer.
"Yeah...I guess we kind of do.." I said to which Nick chuckled in response before he pointed his left black furred paw to the shirt and trousers before pointing said paw towards me.
"A...are you serious Nick?" I questioned the still slyly smiling fox as he nodded his head before throwing the shirt and trousers at me to which I caught with my black furred paws. After catching the clothes with my paws I looked up to Nick with my leaf green eyes showing pure surprise and shock as Nick continued to smile.
"I'm serious Ben. If you want to stay in my apartment then do this for me. Consider it an entry test." Nick said as he began to walk out of the room as I looked down in bewilderment and surprise at the clothes that where in my black furred paws.
"You'd better get changed quickly Ben. I don't know when Judy will get here." Nick said as I let out a long tired sigh before I made my way over to the bed to get changed into Nicks clothes.
"Looking good there Ben...but your missing something." Nick said as he threw a dark indigo and orange striped neck tie at me to which I didn't even bother to try and catch as I looked at Nick angrily. Both me and Nick were standing in the apartments small hallway which lead to the apartments front door.
"Come on Ben just put the tie on and everything will be fine. Trust me." Nick said as pulled out a bag of blueberries (which I guessed he got from his kitchen) from his right trouser pocket before he popped a blueberry into his mouth.
"You do know that about fifteen minutes ago you were crying openly in front of me Nick. If I recall I stopped breathing...cant you just give me a break..." I asked Nick in a tired tone of voice as I picked the tie up off of the floor before putting said tie on. Nick shoved another blueberry into his mouth before his smirk began to disappear from his face as he looked at me in slight guilt.
"Your right Ben and I'm sorry...but please...just help me do this.." Nick said sadly as I sighed in defeat before there was a loud knock on the front door of Nicks apartment which caused both myself and Nick to look toward the door.
"Hello...Nick...Nick its Judy...please open the door I have a first aid kit If you need it.." The panicked voice of Judy said from outside the front door as I gulped in fear whilst Nick ran behind me before pushing me towards the front door.
"You can do this Ben." Nick whispered from behind whilst ceasing his pushing as we had reached the front door. As soon a she had done this Nick scrambled over to the kitchen once more before finding somewhere to hide in said kitchen.
"Thanks for the support Nick." I whispered to myself before I took a deep breathe in as I reached for the doors handle. 'Come on Ben.' I thought to myself as I began to open the apartments main door bracing for what was to come next.
'Just say what Nick would say.' And with that final thought I opened the door fully before gazing upon the worried looking grey furred and female rabbit that was Judy Hopps.
"Hi carrots. How are you?"