Most of this I come up with on the fly, so I'll get inspiration from where ever as long as it clicks so feel free to make suggestions. And one more thing… admit you were thinking of your/a friend's dog at the end of last chapter.
Round Two
Terence Hopps had turned out to be the the best thing to happen since arresting former Mayor Bellweather. His crew, who had accompanied him to the city, were making strides in creating an antidote for the Night Howler Serum and it is ready for use.
Four days since being reunited, Nick's hunger had hit him full force. The last bit of activity drained him of the dregs that he was running on.
He spent his time either eating or sleeping, sometimes he fell asleep at his food dish with his muzzle still in the bowl.
Judy was glowing now that she was by his side, she didn't go very long without physical contact. Brushing by him, grooming him to sleep, curled together for a afternoon nap, watching him sleep.
And since her return, his weight was returning to a healthy range.
There was only a short period of time when they both were awake at the same time due to him being nocturnal and she being diurnal.
They spent this time playing small games together, his favorite is the tail game. Judy has a fascination with his fluffy tail, and she tends to bury her head into it. So Nick moves his tail each time she tries, and watches her become frustrated.
She eventually developed her own pounce where she hides off the edge of the bed, and leaps like a Fox (which she learned by watching him hunt back at their den) and when she is about to bury herself in the russet fur, he moved it out of the way.
Eventually she gets upset and changes her target from the tail to the owner, which's starts a game of chase.
She always wins as one: her body was more adept at quick turns and his forte is short sprints which wasn't suited for the confined space, and two: his endurance isn't quite up to par with his usual standards.
When she inevitably crashes into him, her eyes shine with amusement which she tries to hide with annoyance. Annoyance that disappears when he reaches over and renews his mark on her, which he has done so many times the past few days that a mole wouldn't know that they are different mammals (because they are practically blind, they rely on their noses so they have one of the best sniffers out there).
Bonnie and Stu watch them from the other side of the glass.
They had been keeping a close eye on their daughter and her Mate. Even when all animals were primitive, they still had distinct personalities that differentiated each individual as unique. So they watched to see what kind of mammal Judy had chosen as a mate, and they saw a new side from Judy.
Everyone treats different mammals in different ways. A mammal will act differently with friends than a boss, who is treated differently than with family.
But only with a Mate, a true Life-Mate, will a mammal hold no mask, put up no act. The inner workings are laid out bare and will have no fear of what they see in return. All the mistakes and accomplishments both come together to create a individual unique to one mammal and no one else.
Judy was always polite to everyone and always the first to speak up in defense of others. And apparently she was also very touch hungry.
She also nipped his ear more than once, which the poor todd didn't understand.
When a Fox is feeling frisky, both todds and vixens, they are straightforward and blatant. A Rabbit Doe is different, while bucks are insistent, doe's are not. A doe would do subtle actions or behavior like wiggle her tail when he can see it, and while if he was close enough, he might bat at it but otherwise he's done nothing else. Another is when they are dozing she might be a little restless, shifting more often needed to get comfortable, things of that nature. But it seems like that body language doesn't translate well to the todd. Scent is a whole other can of worms. Bunny pheromones are an all or nothing sort of deal. Because Rabbits can go into heat at any time, when she does releases scent it will trigger the start of a heat cycle unless already pregnant. It is not a good idea to go into heat that often unless she tries for a litter.
Stu is thankful for the todd's inability to read Rabbit behavior. He focuses back onto the conversation
"-to do is choose the first one to try it on"
Stu chooses to speak and it's not what anyone expected him to say "Try it on Nick here, because I don't think Jude would be all that happy seeing her mate like that after what she did for him."
Terence shrugs and walks in with the other Scientists and Vets. They want to record as much as they can and since Nick hasn't a shown a single act of aggression, he is a perfect opportunity to gather this information.
They don't exactly appreciate the overwhelming musk of Fox but they carry on.
The clear syringe finds its mark on a hindquarter with a yip and Nick's vision quickly started to blur. The squeak from Judy never reaches his ears as he blacks out.
They take him to another room and they wait.
And wait.
And wait.
Seven hour later is when Nick opens up his eyes. Unfamiliar faces surround him.
"I know I'm pretty, but why are you watching me sleep. Better yet, who are you and where am I?" Is not the first thing they expect him to say.
"I'm Dr. Terence Hopps, and you are in Precinct One's Isolation Cells which have been converted into a guarded medical ward to contain mammals who have been infected with Night Howler. It has been twenty three days since you have been infected." Jaws drop, eyes widen, and ears fold.
Bonnie slaps him on the back of head "You can't tell him like that, you need to be more tactful."
"Three weeks… I've been out for three weeks? I don't remember much other than what I had for breakfast. Three weeks… wait… Night Howlers? Care to fill me in?"
"Seems like you missed out on quite an adventure, the only thing that we know of that day was you ended up hijacking a train and blowing it up. You ended up revealing the new Mayor, Dawn Bellweather, as the mastermind using Midnicampum Holicithias, a toxic flower often referred to as Night Howlers, to cause predators savage."
"I did that?" Nick voice carried disbelief
"Yes you. You and Judy Hopps." The fox face slips behind a stoic mask
Two pairs of eyes glance at each other in worry. What is happening?
"And how is Officer Hopps doing?"
A pit grows in Bonnie's gut
"She is still currently infected, you are the first to receive the antidote."
"So I'm the Guinea Pig." A squeak of indignation is heard from one of the Vets.
"You are hardly the first to be infected, there was already a treatment for Night Howler poisoning but not for anything of this magnitude."
"Ok then, in that case, give me an AMA form."
Bonnie's eyes narrow "Aren't you going to check on Judy?"
Green eyes harden "No."
Terence speaks up "Due to the nature of Night Howler poisoning, you are not allowed to leave until we can confirm there are no lingering effects."
"Then I do not want any visitors, and ask that you all leave."
…
Judy is restless, where have they taken her Mate? The wall opens and her mother and sire enter.
They sit with her, and her mother brushes her ears.
Their ears are droopy, they are sad.
Why are they sad? What happened?
They left with her Mate, and they came back without him. Where is her Mate? While she begins to panic, she felt a prick on her hindquarter and falls asleep.
What happened between these two before Judy came home? Stu and Bonnie didn't know but they soon will find out.
After the second day in Zootopia, Judy was glowing with happiness. At first Bonnie thought that it was that she was finally a Police Officer. But thinking back her first day wasn't all that happy, gloomy even. Then after the third day, Judy was just a mess. Bonnie never saw her little trier be so depressed.
These past few days saw Judy happier than she has been in a long time, even if she probably wouldn't remember.
When she saw what Judy's name did to Nick, it showed her something. He was hurt, so much so that he had to hide within himself. He weakly tried to hide it but even if he did try Bonnie raised too many kits to be fooled.
Who hurt who? Both of them are in pain, one sinks into a depression and the other becomes a robot.
The only way to fix this is to confront Judy on what happened. They were working together before they turned savage, so they must have fixed it once.
So that means that they can do it again.
Judy wakes up much quicker than Nick did, she yawns and stretches.
"Judy? How're you doing?"
"I'm fine." She's not.
Her eyes scan the room "Where am I?"
Bonnie reaches out and puts her paw on Judy's arm "You're not fine, your ears are droopy. But there are more pressing matters than where we are." Bonnie takes a breath to resolve herself "What happened between you and Nick?"
The unexpected question causes Judy to inhale sharply "How do you know about him? Did he contact you? Is he here? Did he leave something? A note or a number?" Her eyes shine with unshed tears.
They did not expect a flurry of questions, they expected her to get defensive or to deny knowing a Nick. (Except for her younger brother; there are only so many names after all)
Bonnie answers her "Yes Nick is here. Both of you were admitted into quarantine because you two had turned savage."
Judy flinches as her own voice flashes in her head 'It's not like a bunny can go savage.'
The tears fall as she mumbles with a tiny hiccup "I'm so stupid."
Stu immediately says "You are not stupid Jude"
Judy shakes her head "Yes I am, I spout out some nonsense about biology and everyone takes my word for it. What was I thinking, I didn't study medicine like uncle Terry. What made me think that I was qualified to answer that question?"
Bonnie blinks "Question? Do you mean the question from the conference from when you found Cliffside? If that is what you're upset about, you already solved it. You and Nick found where the serum was being made and destroyed it. You guys figured out who was behind it and recorded a confession. I think you fixed that mistake."
Judy finds the floor very interesting "But it doesn't fix what happened after."
"And what happened after?"
"We had an argument. Actually was more like him chastising me, he felt betrayed after he opened up and he trusted me with personal information about himself. After I tried to defend my actions, he proved his point. He accused me of being scared of him. Didn't even take much to make me reach for the stupid Fox repellent dad gave me."
Guilt tore through Bonnie and Stu. They had cultivated that mistrust into all of their kits. They worried about their kits, why wouldn't they, they worried about all of their kits.
However that mistrust had damaged their daughters relationship with a mammal that would've doted on her, one who would've treated her like a queen.
There is still hope though. After all they had fixed their relationship once "Do you want to speak with him?"
Judy's ears perk up "He wants to talk?"
"Actually he kicked us out and said he doesn't want visitors." Judy's heart shatters
"But your not a visitor, you are just another patient who is going to share an examination room with him."
Judy isn't encouraged "He doesn't want to see me." Judy is defeated, her heart shatters at the thought.
"He doesn't need to see you. Only hear you, once you get you say, I bet you that you'll be best buds again." Stu tries his best to cheer her up
Bonnie doesn't know if this a good time to tell her of what happened after they went savage. It's inevitable, but Judy can only take so much before something breaks.
End note
How many of you thought that I was going somewhere else with that chapter title?
AMA form: Against Medical Advice form. It is a form for when a patient is unwilling to stay in a hospital and wants to leave. It a waiver absorbing the hospital of any damage that may happen after you leave because of improper or unfinished treatment.
