Serendipity's Shadow
Rated T
Chapter 23
Tia glanced between the fox known as Shadow and Judy. She stood still waiting to see if the Shadow was a threat or not.
Nick cared very little for the ferret's presence. When his men were able to get Judy breathing again Nick had to act fast in getting her help. Nick had his men load Judy into the car to monitor her as he drove at top speed to get to this hotel. Beforehand he ordered for this room to be set up like a hospital. Then got a doctor who owed him a favor to get there and be ready to treat Judy. Nick had to watch helplessly as she was taken from his car to the top floor, and then into the room where he was forced to stay out. Somewhere in his time of solitude, his personal Hunters messaged him saying they located the black-footed ferret called Cynthia Mustela. And shortly after Nick's personal men called to say that the Badger and other Hunters were at the Warehouse. But Nick couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Judy was fighting for her life. all he could think about was how grand life was when Judy was involved. Then the crashing horror of what life would be like without her. Nicholas Wilde the Shadow of Zootopia was utterly terrified that Judy could die.
"Sir." The doctor's assistant, a young male antelope, called from the doorway. "She's stable."
Nick didn't hesitate to be rejoined with Judy. But he was once again not prepared for the sight that greeted him. Judy was unconscious and looking anything but stable.
"Her head wound is pretty minor compared to the wound on her side." The doctor, a middle-aged moose, stated calmly packing up his kit.
Nick remembered that Judy had been grazed when his sniper put Ermine's weasel's hand out of commission. He made a quick mental note to talk with his sniper.
"If I had to guess what happened…when she was in the water the current propelled a sharp branch at her. Cutting into her skin creating such a big gash. Luckily, it wasn't deep. The main problem we have now is to make sure she doesn't have any more water in her lungs. But I'm confident she'll get through this night just fine. And will be up and walking within a week." The doctor smiled hoping this information could appease the Shadow.
"…When will she wake up?"
"Hard to say." The doctor answer as he began to leave. "I'd bet my entire practice it will be by tomorrow for sure."
Nick remained quiet for a second before bursting into a small laughing fit. The doctor and his assistant froze in fear.
"Don't you know Mike?" Nick turned to face the doctor who refused to look back at the Shadow. "Whenever it comes to me one must be willing to bet their life…not their profession." Nick warned.
"…Tomorrow midday at the earliest." The doctor stated hesitantly.
After he let his doctor go, Nick began to make himself comfortable. He took off his soaking jacket and made himself a fine glass of scotch. Then he pulled up a chair beside Judy's bed. He watched her unconscious face waiting for any sign of discomfort or consciousness. It reminded him of times when she'd sleepover. There would be times he'd wake up before her. And instead of getting out of bed to start the day. Nick would lay in bed just to watch her content sleeping face.
Nick's ice had melted completely in his untouched scotch glass. He really didn't plan on taking a single sip tonight as he wanted to be completely sober when Judy would wake up. but the smell and physical presence of the alcoholic drink put Nick into a calm. So Nick, reluctantly, went to dump out his water-diluted drink for a fresh one. That is when his phone went off informing him that the ferret had arrived. Nick really didn't want her there. Partially cause he blamed her for Judy's condition. But Nick knew he needed to talk to Cynthia now. When Judy isn't able to be involved. He knew that any other time Judy would protect her viciously from his interrogation. So now was his only chance.
He watched from the shadows as Cynthia entered the room. For a moment he wondered if his facial expressions matched hers when they saw Judy in this condition.
"Judy." Cynthia began to run towards Judy.
Nick chose this moment to announce his presence by placing his drink loudly on the table next to Judy's bed. It worked, as the ferret came to a quick stop.
"We finally meet." Nick calmly turned his gaze to the ferret for just a split second. "Cynthia Mustela." He didn't want to pry his gaze off Judy any longer than necessary.
He tried to ignore her labored breath, she was poorly attempting to hide her fear and relentless glances between him and Judy.
"I suggest you take a seat." Nick gestured to a chair at the end of Judy's bed. "We need to talk."
The ferret hesitated before taking a deep breath and obeyed his words. Once he knew that she had seated herself Nick reluctantly turned his gaze away from Judy to look at the ferret. He could only imagine how pissed he looked as the ferret sat completely still under his gaze.
"I need you to tell me a few things…and I suggest you be completely honest with me." Nick forewarned. "Agreed?"
The ferret nodded obediently.
"What did you take from Ermine?"
A moment of silence passed between the two before the ferret answered meekly.
"I stole a copy of files off his computer. Quick Shot may be a criminal but he's…organized. He has saved messages between him and his crew. All highlighting past, current, and future crimes. I think it was his way of blackmailing his crew into loyalty."
You did this with me. Now I own you. Nick stated to himself thinking that the ferret was correct in her theory.
"I also copied other things that I haven't gotten a chance to look at. I knew that the thumb drive alone can be used to put Ermine away for a long, long, long time."
"So why get personally involved?" Nick asked even though he already had guessed the answer.
"A safety blanket of sorts." The ferret looked down at her paws. "Me getting that thumb drive already signed my death warrant with Quick Shot's crew. So by making it personal I figured the ZPD would have no choice but to keep me alive. So I brought myself forward as a witness…hiding the fact I even had a thumb drive in the first place. I figured that way my safety would be a top priority, not that thumb drive." The ferret looked at Judy with guilt. "But that might have been the wrong move."
"…Does the chief of police know any of this?"
"Judy said she didn't know if we were being watched or listened to, so…no. I guess not." The ferret answered Nick unsure of her answer.
I guess I'll have to contact him soon. Nick realized annoyed at the thought of talking to the useless water buffalo.
"One more question." Nick leaned forward. " Do you know Ermine's plan? He wouldn't have attacked me so openly if it wasn't something big."
"…I don't. I was nothing more than a sex toy for that animal." The ferret stated, sounding ashamed for ever having feelings for Quick Shot.
Nick grew even more annoyed as emotions started to get involved.
"Leave." He tried to hide how annoyed he was that this conversation wasn't going to go where he wanted it to.
"What-"
"There is a room to the left outside of this one, sleep there." Nick snapped bitterly.
The ferret stared at him in fear for a moment before standing up to leave.
"Your lucky." Nick stated. "If Judy didn't value you and this had happened…you'd be in a condition worst than her."
Tia allowed his words to grab hold of her in fear. She remembered back to the picture where he seemed like just a mischievous young fox. That image did not fit this fox. But the fox before her now didn't seem like the Shadow either. The Shadow always seemed more cold, calculated, and powerful. This person in front of her was nothing more than an angry, scared, and tired mammal. Who just wanted the one they cared about to be safe. Tia was sure that he wouldn't have let her off with a 'calm' questioning if the situation was different. Nor that he would only ask three questions. This Shadow was too vulnerable right now to act like the Shadow that Zootopia deserved.
