Within minutes of Nick calling in to the station, Judy's apartment was filled with cops securing the crime scene. Officers made sure to tape off the room and prevent any of the other residents, who had begun to crowd, from getting too close.

Mammals were moving around examining the area, taking photos and looking for anything that could lead to Judy's abductor. Kidnapping cases are always treated with utmost care as every minute counts to find the missing mammal. The longer they are gone the greater the chances are that they won't make it back alive. The fact that its one of their own, and someone who is such a great friend to everyone in the precinct, makes everything that much more urgent and personal.

Judy's neighbors who had gathered around were being questioned if they heard or noticed anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. Out in the hall among them was Nick who couldn't stand to be in her place anymore. Seeing it being treated as a crime scene was making him a little emotionally unstable; he was barley able to keep back the tears. He'd never expect anything like this to happen to her; of all people in the city, why her. Her tried to process it, but he couldn't even think straight with everything going on. He never knew he could feel this way about anyone, but there he was standing in the middle of the hall broken with nothing but 'her' in his mind. Her face, her voice, her contagious laugh, that smile that could light up a whole room; those traits that made up who that bunny is now haunted his mind as thoughts of never seeing her again plagued his mind. Nick knows the success rate of finding kidnapped mammals, especially an adult female, is very low. They usually find them eventually, but it isn't pretty. The fox couldn't bring himself to think like that, he doesn't want to imagine what they'd find.

"Officer Wilde?" Nick looked up to see another officer facing him with a look of concern. The fox recognized him as officer Burton, a lynx who had joined not long after himself. He was one of the many 'firsts' of his kind that came to be after Judy showed just how capable smaller officers could be in the field.

Nick looked at him with a blank stare, "Yah, what is it," he said rather coldly. The lynx knew that usually he wasn't like this, but under the circumstances he didn't take much offense to his tone. Everyone knows how close Nick and Judy are, practically inseparable. So for this to happen, it's understandable for the fox to act up.

"The chief says he wants to see you back in his office, and he wants you there as soon as possible."

Nicks first instinct was to object; he felt like he had to stay and find out what happened. But the more he thought, he knew he was no help here and he would only get in the way. There are plenty of other capable officers, who aren't emotionally unstable, who he trusts can get the job done. If anyone can find her, it's them. Plus, it's not very smart to disobey an order from Bogo; it won't end well.

"Alright, I'll get heading over, thanks," Nick said with less hostility this time. "And sorry for lashing out, it was uncalled for."

"It's fine, I can't begin to imagine what you're feeling right now."

"Yah," Nick whispered, turning away from the lynx to go downstairs, "It's not fun."

Nick made it outside and was amazed at how quickly the media had already crowded around the scene. He knew that they'd try to keep everything quiet for now, but eventually the truth would come out either in a statement to the press, or from a leak of information. That made the fox think of Judy's family. How were they going to react? When they do hear about it, he can only imagine the dark cloud that will hang over their home. Bonnie and Stu seemed very protective over their daughter when they came down for a visit, and to hear she's been taken would crush them.

Nick was about to cross the street when he met the gaze of an eager looking reporter. Nick sighed, knowing what was coming. The reporter, a female coyote, walked over towards him causing the fox to quicken his pace. Unfortunately, no one escapes the press.

"Officer Wilde," the coyote called out to Nick, getting the fox to sigh in dismay. He really wasn't in the mood for any of this.

"Yes," he faced the reporter looking apathetic.

"Mind shedding some light on what's going on in there?" she asked eagerly. It was as clear as water to Nick that this was some new reporter who was trying to make their mark with some big story. Unfortunately for her, Nick wasn't handing over any information.

"No, have a nice day," he said, his patience thinning.

"What about your partner, Officer Hopps. Do you think she'd answer a few of my questions?" Nicks body stiffened up and he clenched his fists. The mention of her name was almost enough to set him off, but he was able to control himself. Seeing how he was acting, the fox forced himself to call down. This isn't him, he knows it. But he can't help it, not with what's happened.

He faced the coyote and saw her face full of optimism, she couldn't have been any older than 21; it reminded him a lot of Judy. He softened his gaze and let out a small sigh, "I doubt she will." That seemed to put a damper on her mood. "But don't let that stop you. I bet you'll get that big story that will send you right over the top."

"You think so?" She asked, that optimistic smile returning to her face.

"Yah, of course. It's Zootopia is it not. Anyone can be anything, just as long as you work hard for it," Nick quoted what Judy would always say.

"Thanks officer, I really needed to hear that."

"No problem, now have a nice day," Nick waved as he got into his cruiser. He smiled for a few moments, knowing he had done good with that. Then his thoughts strayed back to the reason he was here in the first place and his smile vanished. The fox exhaled and turned the car on, the chief was probably growing tired waiting for him.

It wasn't long before Nick was walking through the precinct where he was very noticeably being stared at by his fellow officers. News always spreads too fast here. Nick walked past Clawhauser who tried to say something, but for once he couldn't find anything to say, at least nothing that would get the fox to feel any better. He wished he could do anything to help the fox, but he's been working the force long enough to know losing a partner is something that only gets healed by time. But in this case, there's still a chance that Judy will come back alive; though the chances are slim, he won't give up hope on that bunny.

Nick eventually found himself at Bogo's door, feeling reluctant to go in. He knew whatever it is that they are going to talk about will be uncomfortable for the both of them. But he can't just stay out here forever, so he knocked on the door. There was a slight pause of silence before Nick heard the chief call him in. He opened the door and walked in. At his desk, Bogo was looking down at a set of documents looking more stressed out than usual. The fox has a feeling he knows exactly what those papers are for. Nick hopped up on the seat across from Bogo and waited for the buffalo to say something.

It took a few moments but eventually the chief looked up and stared at the fox with something he's never seen come from him: sympathy.

"How are you holding up, Wilde?" The Chief asked his officer with concern.

"Since when did you grow a conscious," Nick jokingly replied with a half hearted laugh. His boss didn't look too impressed. He sighed and shook his head, "Honestly? I feel like the world's collapsing in on me and there's nothing I can do." He felt the tears starting to come back, but managed to hold them.

"Trust me when I say I know how hard it is to lose a partner that you're close with. There are many of us who have been there," Bogo told Nick, sharing the same pained look.

"But there is still a chance that she's alive," Nick snapped a little, thinking the chief was already signing off on her death.

"I know, and I will do everything I can to try and find her, but I also have to prepare for every possible outcome. We won't be able to do anything until we get some sort of lead, which most likely won't happen until forensics process everything which can take a couple of days."

"How do you expect me to wait around for a couple of days when I could be out looking for Judy?" The fox protested, getting more irritable. Bogo saw this and gave his subordinate a look of warning. Nick reluctantly backed down, for now.

"You won't be doing anything but going home. I'm putting you on administrative leave for the time being. I want you at home relaxing and taking it easy for now. And when you get back I'll assign you something that doesn't involve officer Hopps." Bogo stared with harsh strictness.

"Sir, that's not fair. I'm her partner, I should be out there searching for her," Nick argued. He couldn't do this to him.

"Officer Wilde, I suggest you bite your tongue. You are tied too close to the case, you're too emotionally attached. We don't want you making rash, impulsive decisions that could get you in trouble. Now I suggest you do as I say, do you understand."

Nick so badly wanted to fight back and demand that they let him work this case. Judy is his partner and closest friend, he deserves to be put on the case. But he also knows the rules, and knows it would be useless to try and fight the chief. There was no way around this. "Yes sir," The fox answered in defeat.

"Good, now get yourself home and try to get your mind off things."

Nick left without any further words, still upset by the whole situation, yet not having any control over any of it. Going home and sitting around doing nothing was the last thing the vulpine wanted to do, but he had no choice in this; his paws are tied. All he could do was sit around and hope that they would find her and quick, because the longer that she is gone, the greater chance that he'll never see her again. Nick isn't ready to face the reality of living the rest of his life without Judy; it isn't a future he wants to endure.

Here y'all go, another chapter in less than a week which I say is an accomplishment for me. I hope you enjoyed it. It seems Nick is a little unstable, who knows what he'll do in the near future. Its my spring break this week so hopefully I'll have a new chapter up soon.

Thanks to everyone who favorited and followed the story, it's honestly more than I expected. Thanks to the person who left a comment, I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter and hope this one doesn't disappoint. And finally thanks to the person who Left me a suggestion.

As always, feel free to Favorite, Follow, and I always love reading your comments (seriously it's a real addiction problem) so keep them coming.

Keep On Keeping On

Peace Out