"Are you sure you are going to be alright with the twins? I could always take a day off and we could spend it together." Judy peeked back at Nick as she put on her badge. When he didn't answer, she silently tip toed behind him, hopping on his back as he looked down into the crib. "Did you even hear what I said?"
Nick smiled, then booped her nose. "We're all good. Besides, we trade off next week. I think I can handle a few diaper changes." He rubbed the cheeks of the two sleeping bunny newborns, a tired, but gentle smile crossing his lips. "I have to teach these cuties how to hustle after all."
Judy slid down his back, giving him a loving elbow to his side. "And then I'll have to unteach them." Watching Nick's solemn expression return, she hugged him. "Okay, I'm going to go. I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. You just call if you need me." Hopping up again, she kissed his cheek. "Keep an eye on your dad girls. He's a slick one." Leaning into the crib she left the twins with a motherly kiss on the forehead.
Nick followed Judy to the door, helping her go over her checklist as she made sure she had everything. As she touched the doorknob, he covered her hand with his and hugged her from behind. "We're going to be okay Judy; don't you worry. Daddy will be here for his girls." He rested his head on her shoulder, kissing her neck and making her ears stand on end.
Turning her head into his kiss, Judy moaned into Nick's mouth, feeling his free hand rub up her side, sending tingles down her spine. As she breathlessly broke away, she finally lowered her ears, relaxing into his grasp. "I think my mom can watch the girls later on tonight. Then you can take care of me, maybe?"
"Oof, I don't know. I guess I can fit you in. I have to check with my two bosses in the other room. Maybe we can make that happen..." Nick's hustler smile returned for a moment, then he kissed Judy's neck. "You make that call after you shift. We'll work that out okay?" With a small pat on her behind, Nick opened the door, letting the blushing Judy start to leave.
As she walked down the stairs, she held her lips, hiding her blush from Pennington who waited outside for her. "See you tonight, Papa Fox." She waved behind her, and opened the passenger side door of the cruiser. As she watched her home disappear in the rear view mirror, her smile dropped, and she held her head in her hands, beginning to sob.
"Need a minute Judy? We can pull over if you want." Pennington pulled Judy into her side, driving as she held the crying rabbit. "Is he still not himself?" As Judy nodded, Pennington slowed the cruiser, and turned down a side road. "Want to talk about it? I've been taking the course on victim assistance. I might not be the best at it, but nothing you can tell me can be worse than two kicks to the head."
Judy looked up at her, with tear reddened eyes, then laughed awkwardly as Pennington pointed at the small stitch on her forehead. "I don't remember it, but I'm sorry. It's all a blur." She sat up, leaning back into her seat and staring at the ceiling of the cruiser. "It's not the same Nick. He won't even talk about it. He just seems so..." Looking out of the cruiser's window at the passersby, she turned on her side. "Broken."
"We've noticed. But he says it's just father fatigue." Pennington lifted her hat with her trunk, then scratched her head. "Last week when we came by to visit, I don't he said 10 words to us when we asked how he was doing. He just had this look on his face, like nothing registers anymore."
"I thought maybe after having the girls, maybe he would come back to himself. And sometimes I see a flicker...but then it's gone. He looks at me, and then it goes away. Like I disgust him now." Judy bit her lip to stop herself from crying. "I can't blame him. I have these flashes. I remember bits and pieces, and then I look at him, and I want to just run away. But I don't know why."
"What you two went through, I have to admit is the worst thing I could imagine. Maybe he just needs more time. Just like you need more time. You could have taken as much sick leave as you wanted." Pennington parked the car, reclined her seat, and switched off the radio. "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but Bogo always tells me to try and convince you to take that sick time. Nick isn't the only one who isn't them-self. No one could fault you for feeling upset, downright pissed about it. The thought of it makes us all pretty mad. That's why we have a whole group of people searching for that sheep. I wish I was there to catch her myself." She stroked Judy's back with her trunk. "I want to be the one who puts her lights out for good."
"That's..that's not enough for me. I want to do things to her that scare me. I want Nick there when I do it. I want him to see her gone for good, in a bloody heap, after she begs and apologizes. I want to stand with him as we snuff out her life light." She sat up, her eyes lost, her hands clenched together tightly. "I want to put her through everything she put us through. I want to get enough Nighthowler to fill her up twice over, step on her bulging gut until it all sprays out. I want to take my service revolver, heat it up, and shove it inside her over and over again. I want Nick to bite her neck, and bleed her dry, while she says our names over and over again, pleaded for it to end. Then I want to- " Judy flinched as she felt Pennington's trunk punch her on the back. Turning over, she saw Pennington's stern look, and the police radio's mic in her hand. "Francine...what...what are you doing?" Judy looked down at her clenched fists, seeing the blood dripping from where she unconsciously broke her own skin. "Francine, it's not what you think. I'm fine! I swear I'm fine, I'm ready to go back to work."
"You can't come in today. I'm not going to report anything I heard today, but you better never say it again." Pennington kept her eyes on Judy, one hand on the mic, the other close to her taser. "I'm calling it in that you got sick in the car. We are going back to your house, and you are not coming back until you get some help. The both of you. And if you don't, I will speak up."
Judy saw the fear and worry in Pennington's eyes. She looked at herself in the reflection on her badge. The bags under her eyes, the tear strains on her cheeks, her quickly twitching nose all became realized. "Oh my god..you're right. Something...something's wrong with me." Judy sat back in the seat, weeping silently to herself as she heard Pennington make the call. "Please take me home. I need to be with Nick." As the car started, she snatched the sick bag from the dash, and vomited, recalling what she had said.