So Little Time - Part 1.
I have noticed that the heroes are always eating or taking refreshments in my story. I wonder why *permanently starving author*
Dear guest who craved hot cocoa after the last chapter, what do you think I was craving? ;)
Real love is unconditional love. Unconditional love is a decision we make within ourselves. The process is one of intention and the decision to be a loving person. If I decide to love you, that is my inner decision. There is nothing the other person can do about it. -
David R. Hawkins
The sky was still a crystal clear dazzling blue in the day, and the air was mildly warm and as of yet perfumed by the late summer blooms. Nightfall came earlier each evening though, and there was a chill in the air at night that clearly showed autumn was coming to the city of Zootropolis.
One week remained until the promised meeting at Rocky Hills on the weekend when Nick was supposed to have some time off from his studies. And Judy was still tied up in weekend duty at work. Bogo hadn't lifted his sentence so far. The only reference he had made to the issue was to ask Judy grimly one Friday afternoon whether she was done playing the obstinacy game and ready to sign the inquiry form, that would allow her pre-qualification test copy to be pulled out of the archives and examined for fraud.
'Um,' Judy had replied intelligently. 'No. Sir.'
A rather heartfelt grunt was all the reply she got. And thus another weekend had dragged by at work, and another Monday found Judy grimly steeping some aromatic oolong in her favorite willow-patterned oversized mug. It was her day off, she got two random days off a week to compensate for working on Saturdays and Sundays. And she got a bonus on her salary for doing the weekend shift. And Bogo's especial wrath.
The latter bothered Judy very little. She knew that one way or another, with the big concert approaching, the chief would find out the truth about the scheme she and Nick had been involved in. Then he'd understand her unwillingness to push for an inquiry and hopefully commend it. Until then Judy could very well grit her teeth and do it, if it wasn't for the fact that she'd be missing out on seeing Nick -!
And she'd promised herself. She'd promised herself she'd say something to him this time. She had to. The Savages being potentially present at this scene didn't faze our heroine in the least. She could easily have found an excuse to shake the pair of them off for a bit and speak to Nick in a tete-a-tete. If she were actually at Rocky Hills! How was she going to be there with this weekend shift thing?
Judy drummed her feet on the floor in frustration in her characteristic gesture, lounging in her seat at the oval dining table. What if she didn't make it? Then they wouldn't get to discuss their action plan for the presumed day of attack and she wouldn't get to tell Nick - to tell him -
Judy jumped in her seat as her phone buzzed on the tabletop. Diving for it, she saw with a flutter of nerves that it was Nicholas Piberius himself. He was only replying to her earlier message though of course.
'Well what do you suggest we do Carrots?' Nick's message ran. 'We said we're not taking Chief Buffalo Head into our confidence. You can't wriggle your fluffy self out of weekend duty. And I have to keep my long nose down here and be a good fox, if such a thing exists'.
Judy let the air out of her lungs with a heavy whoosh and started typing her reply.
'If I can't come,' she wrote, gritting her teeth at this idea that was becoming a reality. 'I don't much like the idea of Savage and Skye dropping in on you on their own. Who's to say we can trust them fully and that they'll give each of us a faithful account of their expedition anyway?'
'Agreed,' came the ready response. 'Your point Fluff?'
'I say we call in some back-up,' Judy typed wearily. 'Unofficial but trustworthy back-up. I say we take Finnick and FruFru in on our plans, and see if either or both of them can come over to Rocky Hills to assist the discussion.'
'That... might not be a completely useless idea Rabbit,' Nick pinged back eventually.
'Har har,' Judy typed, rolling her eyes. 'Try and hide your astonishment at my good ideas Mister Wilde.'
'I will,' Nick replied, a small fox smiley face accompanying these words. 'I'll talk to The Finnicky Fox when I have my break, OK? And you get a hold on Miss Shrewmother.'
'I will-' Judy was writing as another message arrived from Nick.
'Everything OK otherwise Carrots?' Judy read, her eyebrows raised. 'At the penthouse and all?'
'Um, yes,' she replied. 'I mean other than the massive attack that is being planned for one of the major events taking place this fall in the city, everything is peachy. Why?'
'No reason,' was all the response she got. 'Gotta run.'
'Well...ok,' Judy said, laying her phone down again and reaching for her mug. Her eyes fell on the pot containing the begonia Savage had offered her and Nick on their first memorable meeting at the penthouse. It was standing proudly on one of the windowsills, the leaves sleek and shiny. It had really been thriving very well.
Judy cynically remembered the significance the plant was supposed to convey, as Jack had explained it to her during their last encounter. She wondered humourlessly whether its healthy state was supposed to signify that the warning it carried was well-grounded. Then, shaking her head at this display of rabbit superstition worthy of her grand-aunt Mabel, Judy Hopps drained the last of her tea and sprang to her feet, eager to scoot down to FruFru's hair salon and ask her tiny friend when they would be able to have a rather serious chat.
'Always when I'm eating Wilde,' Finnick complained over the phone, slurping on his noodles noisily.
'That's because you're always eating you pig,' Nick replied, rolling his eyes heavenwards as he perked his ears up an extra notch trying to make sure no one was in the vicinity and likely to overhear this rather important conversation. Given the fact that officer Wilde had actually crept out on the roof of the main building of the Rocky Hills' training center and that the weather was really quite chilly and windy, no one was likely to bother him anytime soon.
'An animal has to eat,' Finnick countered in a dignified tone of voice, the effect somewhat stumped by the fact that he was still chewing audibly.
'Whatever,' Nick sighed, hunching his shoulders against the chill. 'Did you get my messages?' He had summarized the events of the previous weeks as well as he could over several longish text messages he'd sent Finnick, highlighting the goings on involving Jack Savage, Skye, Margaret Frost and the presumed attack-to-be that was being planned out. Nick hadn't much time in which to call his friend so he preferred getting a head start on the discussion. Finnick could thankfully be trusted to read, digest and destroy information as it came in.
'I did read them,' Nick heard the weary note in Finnick's reply and strained his ears further. 'Nick boy... what is this new mess you're neck-deep in now?'
'You have no idea Big Guy,' Nick blew the air out through his nose in tired frustration. 'The most capital, most messy of messes. Here's Skye alive, Savage jumping from being in cahoots with Frost to supposedly helping us, and Hopps tied up at work so she can't make it out here before this shindig some Big Boss is planning for the big fall concert. City's going to blow big time buddy.'
'And that's always a bum for business,' came the grumbled reply. Nick smiled despite himself.
'I appreciate your personal concerns Old Man, but lives could be lost with this do, don't you think that trumps business cataclysms?'
'That depends,' came the laconic reply accompanied by some more munching. Then, as Nick raised his eyebrows in silence, Finnick added, 'Oh I don't mean females and kits, keep your tail screwed on Wilde. But there's a politician and tax inspector or two in town I wouldn't mind putting through a bit of Night Howler serum shake up.'
'Hear hear,' Nick bent his head. 'Or rather not, don't forget you're speaking to a representative of the ZPD here Big Guy! Don't go incriminating yourself in my hearing.'
'No,' Finnick agreed, his tone as ever forlorn at the mention of his ex-partner in crime's new chosen path.
'To cut to the chase,' Nick proceeded, 'It would be a-mazing if you got your tail into helping Hopps out however you can over this - she's going to ask FruFru Shrewmother to do as much - keep an eye on Savage while you're at it, any leads you can find on Frost, and come out here to this forsaken hole and see me along with Savage and his forgiving wife if Hopps really can't make it the coming weekend. Act as go between I guess.'
'Like I've nothing else to do you exploiter,' Finnick sniffed in would-be irritation.
Nick smiled in some relief. He knew Finnick well enough to guess he would do it and that he could be counted on.
'You said so yourself buddy, business'll suffer something terrible if the attack takes place,' Nick reminded him. 'So you better come along nicely and do what you can to uphold order and peace.'
'Oh bite me Wilde,' Finnick replied absently. 'What time would we have to head out of town? I've a gig Friday...'
'Hopps'll get a hold of you and let you know,' Nick told him. 'Buddy, I owe you big time, way to hustle. Oh, bring me some instant noodles or fries or... anything good while you're at it, would you? I'll soon fit through the doorcrack with the muck they feed us here.'
'Mmph,' Finnick replied non commitally. 'Awfully chatty demanding extra favors Wilde. Pulling me into a political scandal as it were.'
'Political?' nearly moving to put his phone down already, Nick froze. 'why would you say that Old Boy?'
'Not obvious?' Finnick sounded genuinely surprised. 'Wilde, there's some big shot behind this doozy. Ain't no way it's someone in the biz. Ain't no one has the bucks to finance a shake-up like that except Big. And Big don't stand for such a skirmish, cause it's plain terrorism is what it is. There's someone clean and shiny on the outside and loaded with the public's money who's behind this. You mark me Nicky.'
'I mark you,' Nick muttered, his mind racing, the cold forgotten, at the true ring in Finnick's words. His thoughts were interrupted as his friend's voice came down the line again.
'So I have to drive over there to your hole with this... rabbit crook and his vixen?'
'Pretty much,' Nick agreed. 'You don't have to make small talk buddy, everyone knows that's not your strong side. They'll likely natter away between the pair of them anyway, Hopps says they're all made up and chatter all the time.'
'All made up,' Finnick repeated evenly. He paused for a second before adding, 'You're not getting ideas here, are you Wilde?'
Before Nick could recover or ask what sort of ideas, Finnick's voice came hurriedly down the line again.
'Customer just buzzed through Nicky. Business is picking up. Talk later.'
'Ta,' Nick said automatically as his line went dead. 'And... thanks for your help,' he added, putting the phone down. He ran a paw over his brow and frowned over the weather-beaten bleak training grounds below.
'Ideas?' he repeated absently.
Thank you all for your kind words and feedback! :)
For the record, the short updates are me posting snippets of chapters as I write them up and proofread them to some degree, these are not full chapters, which is why it says 'Chapter 20 - part 1', 'Chapter 20 - part 2', etc. I do squash the snippets up properly into chapters once they are all written up for everyone's convenience. But I post them as I go at first cause I realistically have the time to write up only short bits at a time, yet I know that everyone reading is impatient to know what happens next, so there you go!
The good news is that, first, my extended travels will finally be over next week - woot woot! So not only should I be over time zone hopping and related fatigue, but I will also have my laptop back and be able to type things up much more efficiently :) And secondly, as you can all probably guess by now, we are reaching the key point of the story, the showdown with the evil plot revealed, and of course, our heroes somehow coming to terms with their... feelings :) yay, this is so exciting, everything has been leading up to this! I am reasonably pleased with such tense segments as we have already faced so far (like Jack and Skye reuniting) but this should be up to par of course, fingers crossed.
Dear Spanish speaking guest, I could actually decipher a small part of your last comment as it's so similar to French - 'espero que todo salga bien'. Si, todo salga bien, no problemo :)
Dear English speaking guest - no problem, glad you're enjoying it :)
Brutus - are you the same Brutus as the one who commented before or not? In any case the inquiry situation will be cleared up soon ;)
WingedKatt - thanks, I actually love reading and snatch quotes from whatever book I am into at the moment :) Twake care too!
Jgk641 - no sweat, we're nearing the end of the story and all the good stuff, I won't leave you all in the lurch at this point!
AeonFeral - thanks as always for all your support, hope you're keeping well ;)
FullTimeFangirl931 - keep up the good work!
Judy arrived at the entrance of FruFru's hair salon somewhat breathless from her quick dash over from the penthouse. She was pleased to see that her rushing hadn't been in vain; FruFru hadn't yet abandoned the premises, though the 'closed' sign was already displayed in the shop door and FruFru's field mouse assistant was just heading off, her minute tote bag clutched under her tiny arm. Nodding hastily to the mouse, Judy ducked her head to avoid scraping the door frame as she hurried into the salon.
'FruFru!' Judy exclaimed, as soon as she'd caught her breath. 'I was hoping I'd be in time to catch you!'
The shrew turned on her heel, her hairstyle, elegant as ever, swaying precariously as it followed her motion.
'Judy!' she exclaimed, a smile illuminating her kind features. 'Come to see how we're getting along here Miss Landlady?' she asked teasingly, putting the last of the miniature cans of hairspray she'd been sorting onto a neat shelf over the counter.
'No- I mean of course, to some degree, but I don't need to ask how you're doing,' Judy corrected herself. 'Your business has been a hit and a wonder from day one FruFru.'
FruFru's cheeks flushed and she preened at the compliment.
'I wouldn't call it a wonder,' she replied modestly. 'But mammals seem to like what we're offering. We already have some regulars, and quite a few animals came in because their friends had liked the job we'd done and recommended us. If clients keep pouring in this way we might need to think of hiring an extra pair of paws.'
'That's great FruFru,' Judy said warmly, somewhat relieved at how the practical side of her and Nick's purchase of the building seemed to be running itself rather smoothly at least, thanks in huge part to the combined effort of FruFru and Finnick.
'We had a reporter drop by early this afternoon,' FruFru had obviously been dying to share this tidbit. 'Wants to write a small featurette up on us in Paws Weekly.'
'Oh my gosh!' Judy exclaimed, her eyebrows raised. 'FruFru that's great! And the extra publicity can only help!' The thought of a reporter brought Margaret Frost back to the forefront of her mind and she groaned. 'FruFru, what I came to see you about... I really need to talk to you - in private - is there any chance you'd have some time to spare?..'
FruFru, her curiosity clearly peaked, fished for her cell phone in her smart shiny purse.
'Let me see how tied up I'm supposed to be at home tonight,' she said in a business like manner, tapping away hastily with her sharp little claws. As the reply pinged back almost immediately, she read it over and a satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. 'It would appear we are in luck,' she announced, stowing her phone away again. 'The Mister is back home early today and holding down the fort with JuJu. We can safely take some time for a cup of tea I reckon.'
'Awesome!' Judy said enthusiastically, cupping her palms and reaching them out so FruFru could hop onto them. 'I've some carrot cake to go with the tea in the fridge, you must be starved after your shift.'
'Won't say no,' FruFru said happily, sitting down on Nick and Judy's sofa five minutes later as Judy carefully placed a thimble of green tea and a tiny slice of carrot cake in front of her, balancing them on a small tray improvised from a coaster.
'Tuck in, there's plenty,' Judy responded, grinning. She gathered her thoughts as FruFru chewed on her morsel enthusiastically.
'So what's cooking Judy?' FruFru asked, her voice thick over the bite of cake.
'Well may you ask,' Judy muttered. As briefly yet fully as she could, she recounted the events of the fateful night Jack and Nick had walked into that very living room, only to find Judy closeted in with the very much alive Mrs Skye Savage, Jack and Skye's consequent reunion, Jack's confession of what was brewing for the day of the big concert, and, last but not least, how Judy was stuck on weekend duty over her refusal to sign the inquiry Bogo would have her sign.
'Oh my... powdered chignon,' FruFru said dully, her mouth hanging open since quite a while, the remaining tea and carrot cake abandoned on the tray in front of her.
'You pretty much said it,' Judy sighed, slumping on the other end of the couch.
FruFru closed her mouth with a small click of sharp teeth, digesting Judy's words in silence for a moment. Being FruFru, the first thing she commented on was the affair closest to her heart.
'You didn't get to talk to Nicholas,' she asked Judy. 'About.. you know-'
'How could I?' Judy asked woefully. 'With Savage and his recovered vixen there having a scene? And their three teenage kits to boot. What a night is was, creamy cabbage stew!'
'I'll bet,' FruFru sighed over the lost opportunity, before rallying. 'So where we stand now is... this chief of yours is in the way of your dashing off to see Nick, and out of the most noble intentions too it would seem.'
'Oh Bogo's intentions are noble, no doubt about that,' Judy agreed. 'They are just being manifested at the least helpful time. Not to mention there is a huge disaster being planned for the big fall pop concert by some really bad animal out there,' Judy turned her earnest gaze to look at her friend. 'FruFru - you don't think, your father - I mean-'
'Oh no Judy dear, don't you worry, ' FruFru shook her head hastily, her tendrils flying around. 'Daddy would never do anything like that. He isn't a terrorist for goodness' sakes. He considers himself a businessman (yes yes. I know what you have to say about that). I am not saying he can never be, er... forceful. But that would be strictly behind closed doors and to settle affairs, not to attack innocent mammals enjoying themselves at a public event!'
'Whoever is behind this has a lot of cash at their disposal,' Judy commented wryly.
'So it would seem,' FruFru agreed, sighing. 'My bet is on someone outside the mafia circles though... Daddy is the one doing by far the best, and he can't be behind this. I would say indeed, a rotten politician... a public figure.'
'It was last time,' Judy agreed, rubbing her temples. 'We could go over the possibilities I guess, brainstorm. Argh, but this is exactly why I need to go over all of this with Nick, you see, and here I am, stuck in the office every weekend!'
'So you are,' FruFru agreed. 'And from what you said, this Bogo of yours is unlikely to budge,' she twirled her thimble in her paws absently, lost in thought. 'He sounds just like Daddy,' she added, grimacing comically. 'That's the way it's going to be young lady, whether you like it or not,' she imitated in a low raspy voice intended to sound like Mister Big's. Judy giggled despite herself.
'Something terribly like that,' she agreed with a sigh.
FruFru brightened inexplicably at some thought of her own.
'You should corner him back,' she suggested, straightening the folds of her skirt decisively. 'Bogo I mean, not Nick. Maybe Nick too,' she added as an afterthought, chuckling. 'But back to your chief... it's the only way I ever got around Daddy myself.'
'How can I ever corner him?' Judy asked, bemused. ' He's the boss.'
'That may well be,' FruFru agreed primly. 'But you've got brains Miss, so use them. Find a compromise, something he can live with that would make him lift his weekend shift punishment, but wouldn't mean you have to hand that inquiry over right away and jeopardize your plans... surely you can think of something?'
Judy absently picked up a crumb of carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting from the tiny tray and munched on it.
'Maybe I can,' she agreed finally, a touch doubtful. 'It's Bogo and he's tricky to toy with without infuriating him. But if I were to find a way-'
'Then you'd make it in time to see Nick the coming weekend,' FruFru concluded with a flourish. 'And wouldn't that make the risk of tackling Bogo worth it?'
Judy had to agree that it would.
So Little Time - Part 3.
Well now, the month of November was rather hectic around here -_- No matter, it is over and done with and we can now carry on! :) Full steam ahead I say.
Thanks all for your messages in the meantime and your reviews and feedback, more specifically,
kaijuking28- thanks and great questions; Nick and Judy's work is aware of the move because you have to let your employer know about this sort of thing for paperwork. They both just gave their new address and, while the paperwork might have gone ahead through Clawhauser, nobody really paid attention. Nick and Judy are known to be work partners and best friends and their colleagues just assumed they were bunking together to save on rent (as they actually were initially!) As for Nick talking to Finnick, I al afraid he hasn't confided in anybody very much. Definitely not a heart to heart like what Judy had with FruFru! Nick finds it hard to talk about his feelings (he finds it hard to have feelings, full stop). So there haven't been any conversations besides what we've seen, where Finn might have alluded to what he can guess of what's going on in Nick's head, but nothing more!
WingedKatt - see, Judy made it, all good :)
jgk641 - thanks, and don't worry, story will continue full steam :)
FullTimeFangirl931 - hope your Christmas prep is going well :)
AeonFeral - thanks for all the support :)
Storytime!
The autumn weather seemed to be competing with itself day after day in the gloomy training grounds of Rocky Hills Centre, to prove to anyone and everyone who cared enough to take notice that it could do autumn, no problem. Oh, it was autumn weather alright; not the cosy kind that has little gusts of cheerful wind rustling auburn swirls of maple leaves along and rocking the slender branches laid bare gracefully. No sir, this was the kind of autumn weather that dragged each dawn in more bleak and morose than the one that had preceded it, the only difference from one morning to the other being that either we were starting with a dense bone-chilling fog you could cut through like so much curds gone sour, and then switching to a nagging icy drizzling rain, or the other way around.
This particular start of the day was a winner though, Nick Wilde thought, as he stood a bit straighter, trying to ignore the mushy mud underfoot and not to shiver in the merciless draught. The waxy whitish grey clouds were hanging so low it was stifling, and the steady pitter-patter of nasty piercing drops held a promise to outlast daylight. This hardly mattered as the ground was freezing anyhow, and just being outdoors for five to ten minutes straight had an animal dreaming of nothing more than to be back indoors, snuggled up in bed with a steaming cuppa. Especially an animal forced to be out there in nothing but a sports T-shirt and shorts. How did their ancestors manage, the fox officer reflected wryly, nothing but their own fur to get around? No wonder they used to hibernate all winter long. Hibernation... that sounded great right about now.
Nick would have gladly slept till spring, maybe even longer. The weather was not even first and foremost to blame for this, or the merciless training he had been put through in the past weeks. If it had been balmy and sunny day in and day out, and if the ZPD officers had had nothing harder to do during their courses than kick a beach ball around idly, it is still doubtful Officer Wilde's spirits would have been much improved. Our hero was exhausted mentally and emotionally; he found his thoughts circling in an endless futile loop around the attack planned for the concert, the malicious Miss Frost and her evil and mysterious benefactor, the dangerous serum the bad guys had obtained, Savage and his wife whose trustworthiness was still to be doubted at best, and of course, Judy.
How was she holding up? Was the pressure getting to her? What, for the sake of decent coffee everywhere, was the 'thing' she had wanted to talk to him about for weeks now? Nick had convinced himself that, whatever it was, it was bad news as far as he was concerned. This conviction stemmed from many a childhood memory of his mother telling him sternly that they had to discuss 'something important' after dinner. This something important would inevitably be discovered as having to do with the latest report of her son's misdoings at school having reached her ears (which in turn, if our faithful reader has not yet realized this on their own, would translate in cut back allowance money or reduced going out privileges for the young Nicholas Piberius).
"I'm explaining this one time only lads," old Grizzlyfur the bear instructor of Rocky Hills training centre, was booming in his rumbly voice, as he walked back and forth in front of the lined up officers and talked them through the exercise they were to execute. "So perk those ears up and listen closely!"
Or what? Nick thought in dull rebellion, wrapping his long bushy tail around his legs discreetly in an attempt to feel slightly warmer. What did old Grizzlyguts know that would actually help them out on their job? What use could he possibly be to them?
This was hardly fair, and a part of Nick's mind acknowledged that even in his sullen state. The instructor, who had been a highly successful and decorated ZPD officer for many years himself, had been in quite the mix-ups in his day (at times working closely with Bogo, who wasn't 'chief' at that time as of yet). Some of his exploits were still talked of widely in the profession, like the rather daring yet incredibly rewarding raids he had conducted with his teams, that had ultimately led to the downfall of the criminal empire of no other than Skye's own father, the criminal overlord Mister Snow.
Nicholas Wilde was in no mood to feel enthusiastic over these or any other stories that had to do with the police force at that moment however. Though his face, by habit of the many years of hustling behind him, was quite expressionless, in reality what he most felt like doing was hunching over, burying his face in his paws and just letting out one loud groan of despair, frustration and disappointment. Why did things have to go this way? He was sure, nearly a hundred percent sure, that anything that had Judy so hyped up and that she 'just had to tell him', was somehow going to throw the quiet comfort of the life they had shared at Zootopia's penthouse right out the window.
She would tell him she wanted out, Nick thought for the umpteenth time. Maybe the extra good news would be that she'd started dating someone while he'd been away and wanted to move in with that fella now. That would be like the final shot.
"Wilde!" Grizzlyfur's bark made Nick jump. "You're up!"
Oh great. Way to go Nicky boy, hell of a time to zone out, Nick cursed himself. When he was supposed to be on his best behaviour since any strikes on his record would mean he would not be getting time off on the coming weekend, which in turn would mean he wouldn't be able to meet the others who were all coming way out there to see him and cooridnate their actions for the pre-planned concert attack.
Nick shot a lightning glance at McHorn, who was standing to his right in the line. Luckily, the rhino was loyal to his friends and colleagues and he could take a hint fast. Just what was required.
"You gotta go through the jungle gym vine thingy, but only using your arms, tails and legs not allowed Wilde," McHorn muttered urgently at Nick, mercifully managing to lower his usually thunderous tones to a bare whisper. "You grab the flag on the other end and bring it back in your jaws, only use your arms on the way back as well."
"Wilde?" Grizzlyfur was frowning.
"Sir! Right this moment," Nick replied, taking a smart step forward, not before throwing a look of pure gratitude at his rhino buddy. I owe you one, big guy.
That being said, Nick added to himself, as he approached the vine set-up and peered at the red flag fluttering some distance off in the murky light, what stupid stuff they make us do out here. It's like cubscouts for dummies. By what stretch of the imagination will I ever need to climb all around some ropes using nothing but my arms in my actual working career?
As it happens, dear reader, it was definitely a morning where Nicholas Piberius was wrong about a lot of things. He was wrong that Judy had probably started seeing someone while he was away. He was wrong that she wanted to move out from the penthouse. And he was sure as sure wrong that his current training would be useless to him in the future. As it transpired, it was very useful, and sooner rather than later.
Judy could hardly contain herself, she was so excited that she was actually bouncing up and down on the sleek black seat at the back of the Savage's luxurious car. She had made it! She had been liberated for the week-end by a very reluctant and grudging Chief Bogo and she had just made it on time to join the rest of the little gang at Savage's undercover chocolate shop as they set off to Rocky Hills to meet up with Nick.
The young rabbit officer was so elated and as of yet disbelieving of her rare luck (Chief Bogo was hardly one to back down easily once his mind was set on something) that she was having difficulty in composing the text message she would shoot off to Nick to let him know that she was coming after all.
"I still can't believe you managed to free yourself!" FruFru squeaked gleefully from the seat next to Judy's, every bit as ecstatic as the bunny was herself.
"I know, right?" Judy beamed down at her friend.
FruFru was seated between Judy and Finnick in the back, while Mister and Mrs Savage were in the front, Jack at the steering wheel. The vehicle, being a rather lavish brand's sleek sports line, might have been a squeeze for three medium to large sized mammals trying to fit on the back seat. As it were, Finnick and Judy were both rather small and FruFru of course hardly counted as occupying a full adult space. Thus the three were rather comfortably placed as they sped out of the big city and onto the highway. Judy's heart was beating rapidly; she was looking forward to finally seeing the town she should have gone to for her own special training (had it not been for certain backstabbing interfering criminal would-be journalists, aka Margaret Frost) and of course she could hardly wait to see Nick again. Her throat went dry as she wondered whether she would get a chance to have her heart to heart with him this time, what with the rest of the small group present. With some effort, Judy pulled her thoughts back to the present as FruFru chattered excitedly.
"It was a lot thanks to what you had advised me FruFru," Judy said earnestly, smiling at the excited shrew. "So thank you, I really owe you one. I ended up sort of... telling Bogo a half truth."
"Meaning?" FruFru questioned eagerly.
"I told him I wasn't against having the inquiry form filed, the one for double checking whether my prequalification exam had been tampered with - but I told him I needed it to happen at a later date. I underlined that it had to do with work, that there was this case I was working on that just had to be dealt with before the whole prequalification test thing was riffled through."
"What did her say?" Frufru gasped.
"Oh, he was hardly happy," Judy snorted at the memory. "But I stood my ground. I reminded him that I'd come in for work every week-end like he'd ordered me to, and that he had told me I had to do that till I signed the inquiry form - which, I told him, I was doing, just that the date that I requested the official inquiry to be launched would be for the week after the concert is to take place."
"Clever bunny," FruFru giggled. "Bet your chief loved that."
"Like I said, he wasn't thrilled," Judy heaved a sigh of relief that the whole ordeal was behind her, as she cracked open a pack of coconut flavoured ghee biscuits she'd hastily purchased at a deli for road trip snacks and offered one to FruFru. "But he's fair, Bogo is. I think even those on our team who find his punishment excessive sometimes will agree that he's fair. He huffed and he puffed, like he was going to blow a hut down in some fairy tale... and then, much to my disbelief, he grumbled, 'have it your way then Hopps', and before I knew it he was putting his seal on the inquiry form, approving the late date I had asked for it to be submitted, and nodding at me that I was free for the week-end! So off I went like the proverbial hare, and not a minute too late as you lot were already piling into the car, weren't you?"
"Yes!" FruFru nodded energetically, her curly tendrils flying around emphatically. "And was I happy to see you arrive Judy! I am lucky myself to have managed to slip off, but baby is with her daddy and my pop is coming over for the entire evening to play with her as well, so she'll be plenty occupied. I have to say that I am very satisfied we all get to attend this meeting as planned; this pre-planned attack business and what we are going to do about it has to be talked over decently."
Judy opened her mouth to agree whole-heartedly when Jack's voice from the front cut her off.
"When I want your opinion crook, I'll ask for it," he exclaimed irritably. It took Judy a bewildered moment to realize he was addressing Finnick; apparently the pair had been conversing for some time, their voices rising steadily until FruFru and Judy were forced to take notice, abandoning their own rather more cheerful exchange.
"Just lending you a paw Long Ears," Finnick replied indifferently in his low voice, munching on some hot pepper taco chips. "Is all."
"I have been using this app since three years and it has given the best instructions for avoiding traffic as compared to the dozen others out there," Savage parried in an annoyed voice. "And if I find crisps all over my seats, you'll be hovering my entire car till it's spotless Mister Finnick."
"Ain't no need for the Mister," Finnick replied, ignoring the comment about the crisps as he continued to stuff his face. "And that's a good app for traffic inside the town that is, but on the highway you want to tune into the radio channel. They've always the best advice for avoiding road accidents and such."
"Here's an idea," Jack's knuckles were showing as he gripped the steering wheel rather tighter than necessary. "How about all the mammals who want to make it to Rocky Hills inside this vehicle and not behind it, on paw, try and -"
"Oh, tut tut, the both of you," Skye cut in suddenly, just as Judy was opening her own mouth to make a peace treaty herself. Judy blinked at the vixen's tone and exchanged a raised eyebrows sort of look with FruFru. Skye sounded as if she had been holding back tears, their was a queer catch in her tone. What this had to do with Judy had no idea, it could hardly be linked to Jack's and Finnick's bickering after all (which, though irritating, was rather more amusing than distressful.) Finnick and Jack broke off at her plea, Finnick wriggling in his seat uncomfortably and Jack throwing his wife a concerned look. The rabbit criminal could hardly focus for a long period on Skye though, the navigation demanding most of his attention, and the vixen had her face turned towards the window. Judy saw Jack open his mouth as if to speak and then apparently think better of it. Officer Hopps appreciated his discretion; she was nowhere near such a frame of mind herself though. This outfit was important to the success of her mission, and all the animals would have to cooperate and be in top shape, like it or not. If Skye Savage had something on her mind distracting her from the urgent business at paw, well then -
"Excuse me Skye," Judy poked the vixen on the shoulder, startling her out of her reverie and making her turn to look behind her shoulder. Judy saw that the vixen's lashes were indeed moist as if with held back tears. "Do you want a ghee cookie?" Judy asked in a businesslike tone.
"I-" Skye blinked dubiously at the packet. "I suppose," she said finally, cracking a tiny smile and accepting one. Judy was aware of all the other animals in the car ostentatiously going about their business, Jack watching the road and steering, FruFru texting her husband and Finnick munching on his chips. She could tell that they were all following the exchange though.
"Is something bothering you?" Judy went for the direct approach. "I don't mean to butt it, but you can imagine how tonight's discussion is important for me and the ZPD. If there is something weighing on your mind..."
"No!" Skye replied at once. "I mean... oh, a little. But it's silly Officer, I'll be fine. I won't tire you with my-"
"Silly or not, why don't we hear it," Judy suggested gently.
"We-ell," Skye nibbled the corner of her spicy cookie absently. "What I mean is, there's hardly anything you can- oh, well anyhow... It's just, it's about my son Officer, my youngest son."
Judy saw Jack throw Skye a quick frown, but he remained silent. Clearly whatever this was, was news to him.
"Yes?" Judy prompted carefully. "Your Sylvester, the one you got back from the orphanage?"
"Indeed," Skye inclined her head.
"Is he ill or something?" Judy asked in some alarm.
"Oh nothing of the sort," Skye raised a quick reassuring paw. "Ease yourself on that matter Officer. Not ill but rather a bit lonesome. He is ecstatic to find himself with his brother and sisters again, not to mention me and Jack, but apparently he had made quite a few friends at the orphanage during his years there. Particularly the one, a little boy even younger than himself, who he sort of took under his wing let's say. And it seems he rather misses his entourage from this foster home," Skye rubbed her brow irritably. "Which I can perfectly understand, but what can I do? I even checked the home's rules and regulations out and I could have taken the youngster on an outing to hang out with Sylvester, given the orphanage gave me their consent... but it was risky enough showing ourselves there once, when Jack is supposed to be undercover and I am supposed to be deceased or at least overseas."
"Yes of course," Judy inclined her head sympathetically. "You did what you could Ma'am. Don't beat yourself up about it."
Skye raised her head to look at Judy with a quirky twisted half-smile.
"Officer, you'll see if you ever have children of your own... it's not because you can't do anything, or, even more so when you can't, you just... you feel unwell when any one of them is unwell. Keeps you up at night sort of thing," she hung her nose again moodily.
"Oh," Judy was momentarily silenced, this reflection putting her in mind of her own parents. If this was legit, Mr and Mrs Hopps must have felt 'unwell' quite the many nights in their life, she mused, what with her two hundred plus siblings and their endless daily issues and problems. "How about I go and get the kid to come on an outing with me, if they let me at the orphanage that is, and we can meet up with you and Sylvester someplace safe and discreet downtown?" She suggested, her ears perking up at the thought.
Skye gave her an abashed look.
"Officer," she said hesitantly. "You are most kind, but I, I was merely sharing. I would hardly expect you to give up your time, after everything you've already put yourself through for our family - really, and there is nothing in it for yourself-"
"There doesn't have to be," Judy said in her usual decisive manner. "And it's what we do at the ZPD. We help folks out."
Skye surveyed her for a full minute in astonished silence before finally saying, in a somewhat shaken voice,
"You are rather unlike any mammal I have met in my line of work Officer Hopps," she swallowed somewhat compulsively before adding in a slightly husky tone. "I would be very much indebted to you if you were to render our family this service."
"It's all settled then," Judy nodded for emphasis. "We'll arrange it with the home; don't tell your son anything before we have their permission though. Let's try and aim for the week-end of the concert? I should have time before Nick comes over from Rocky Hills and before we all have to actually go to the show, and you lot will come over to Zootropolis in the daytime I guess? We'll try and arrange it for the middle of the day and early afternoon?"
"It sounds like a plan," Skye said warmly, her smile illuminating her features.
Suddenly aware again of the other occupants of the car, Judy looked left and right, realizing that everyone had been listening in intently into her exchange with the vixen. Judy gave FruFru a pointed look, at which the shrew launched herself hurriedly into a gabbled account of the latest anecdotes of the doings at her hair salon as if no significant conversation had just taken place.
"Are you happy Big Eared Fox Sir?" Jack inquired loudly in turn, also with the air of one who didn't notice any particular conversation having taken place. "We are out of the city suburban area, and not a traffic jam in sight."
"You wait till we've cleared a hundred miles before cheering," Finnick grunted back. "There's still every chance we'll get bunged up."
"No there isn't," Jack shot back. "We'll be at Rocky Hills before the clock hits six, you mark my word."
So soon! Judy's heart rate sped up again. They'd be there so soon! What would Nick's face be when he saw she'd made it? She beamed happily at Jack's reflection in the rear view mirror and was surprised to see him return a tiny and brief but legitimate grin.
Well. If taking the little orphan out to see Sylvester Savage ensured his parents were happy and stayed true to their promises, Judy told herself, it was well worth the trouble.
So Little Time - Part 4.
BrutusDeagon - yup, and even more is happening now, but we don't get to see yet if she told him ;) hang in there!
Thanks all for your support, story continues :)
Nick stood by the side of the road under a cheerful if barren chestnut tree, peering from left to right a bit nervously. He'd gotten off the training and he was on his free time (thanks to McHorn's help and intervention, Grizzlyfur hadn't noticed Officer Wilde had been zoning out, and Nick was approved for his afternoon and evening off with a clean record.) The main difficulty had then consisted in shaking Taggart and McHorn off his tail after that. Both of them were also free to head out, and both naturally expected him to come along and join them for dinner and drinks at the pub downtown.
It wasn't obvious to come up with a cover story on the spot, it wasn't like he could say he actually knew somebody whom her had to see in this tiny isolated village after all. Still, the tale he'd eventually spun about some relatives coming over especially to see him on his leave time, and how he was ever-so-sorry but he'd have to abandon his ZPD buddies, given how the fam' had made the especial effort of trekking all the way out there, one thing and another, seemed to go down rather well with the other two. Taggart was not of a suspicious type and McHorn, if he questioned Nick's explanation, seemed to trust the fox cop to know what was best for him and merely told him they'd see him later, back at the training centre.
It wasn't such a huge lie, Nick reassured himself, as he hastily walked two miles out south of the liveliest part of the village. It wasn't exactly family coming out to see him, but it was just as important if not more so. He'd texted Judy instructing her to tell the others not to drive out downtown, to avoid being seen, all things considered. He'd noticed after perusing the map of the arounds on his phone that there were some diners out in those parts a bit further off, and he'd felt it would be a much better idea for them to all convene there for their discussion than run the risk of bumping into McHorn and Taggart or any of the other police trainees on Main Street.
He was still amazed Judy had talked Bogo round. That bunny, she was really something else... But it had to be believed, for she'd sent Nick a selfie snapshot of herself, FruFru and a munching Finnick zooming along in the back of Savage's car.
A sudden noise made Nick look up, for it sounded like a distant well-tuned motor. Sure enough, within seconds a sleek black vehicle zooming along came into sight. It came to a halt not far from where the fox stood, parallel parking smartly and neatly not ten feet from him. Before Nick could so much as take a step towards the car, the back door burst open and Judy literally exploded outside.
"NICK!" She cried out, in jubilant glee, pouncing over to him and grabbing his forearm in way of greeting.
Nick had to swallow, his throat suddenly and stupidly dry at the sight of her. She had obviously rushed to make the departure, she looked sort of breathless but her eyes were shining. The fox could hardly lie to himself at that point, he was really, really glad to see her, despite whatever the thing she had to tell him was.
"Hey there partner," he said, his voice catching a bit in an unfamiliar way. He cleared his throat hurriedly and tried to regain his usual jokey tone. "Fancy meeting you way out here," he added. Ah, that sounded better. He twisted his arm easily within her grasp and shook her paw instead, taking hold of it, in a semi-formal and semi-humorous way.
"And you," Judy beamed back, her own voice rather serious though. She held on to Nick's paw when he'd prepared to pull it away and looked up at him intently. Her eyes, Nick felt, were really way too bright, making it somehow impossible to look away. That sort of thing should be prohibited.
Luckily, or unluckily for our hero, the rest of the small group was not far behind Judy as they poured out onto the pavement and surrounded the pair.
"Nicky boy," Finnick was clearly just as happy to see his pal. "You still hanging in there?"
Nick and Judy somehow broke apart as the others flocked around them.
"You bet Big Guy," Nick quipped back at Finn. "Remember to get me any snacks this time?"
"I did," Finnick nodded. "But I ate it in the car. Helped pass the time." He held up his empty crisp packet innocently, making Nick groan.
"I have brought you some refreshment Nicholas," FruFru squeaked, bustling over and proffering a neat little sack in cheerful chequered cloth. "I could hardly cater a pot of coffee over all this way, but I did get you some ultra refined chocolate."
"Your goodness makes my heart bleed with gratitude, oh kindest of Shrewmothers," Nick responded, his eyes shining as he accepted her gift.
"You look ill Officer," Jack commented, looking Nick up and down as he strolled up after FruFru. "Food must be rubbish indeed. And you must be put through a lot of physical exertion. Oh well, it's all worth it for your measly pay rise and heightened status in the pen."
"We are very pleased to see you doing well," Skye butted in, giving her husband a pointed look. "And we stand at your service Officer, as promised."
"Grea-at," Nick rolled his eyes at the married couple. "In that case, and if you'd all agree it was best to continue this chit-chat indoors instead of lounging out here and catching our deaths of colds, there's some cafés down that street," he jerked his thumb behind his back.
"Lead the way Nick," Judy grinned, her eyes darting all over the little town and attempting to take everything in.
"Your wish is my command Carrots," Nick winked at her and was rewarded with another starry eyed look. Really, what was it with her looks? "Let's... go get seated somewhere everyone," he finished, addressing the group at large rather lamely.
"Chow time," Finnick pronounced, sealing this decision.
The little corner street dinette they settled their hearts on had been decided on because it seemed at the same time crowded enough with animals buzzing and sipping their stew, that they were unlikely to be overheard, and not so over-crowded that they couldn't find a table big enough to accommodate all of them without mammals seated right next to them hanging on to their every word curiously. It had not on any account been a choice based on the fare available.
"Which hardly matters," Savage commented dryly, as he perused his menu sceptically. "There's hardly likely to be any restaurant around here that has even heard of Michelin stars... look at their drinks section, 'black tea'. That's it? Have they no notion of Earl Grey?' He heaved a sigh. "Goodness but this is why I hate leaving the city."
"And why I hated being away from it for years on end," Skye agreed soothingly. "But this is rather exceptional, isn't it?"
"Depends," Finnick shrugged. He had already placed his order on a double cheese and extra fries, his usual fare be he at a fancy or very low-key place. "You wait; if this business with the serum goes wrong, we'll all be eating behind bars Miss, or underground, and that's a fact."
The whole little party sobered at his rather truthful observation, and no one complained anymore at the food selection or anything else. Our heroes placed their orders one by one as the mule waiter came over to their table, untucking the pencil from behind his ear lazily.
Once their drinks were served, along with a big bowl of crisps ('Really? More?' Judy asked Finn incredulously as he dove for the bowl as soon as it was set down on the tabletop) all eyes swivelled to Nick and Judy, seated at the head of the able, and FruFru, Finnick and the Savages surveyed our friends in anticipating silence. Judy took her cue.
"Well," she said, looking from face to face, for all the world like this was another debriefing session at the office. "We should all go over the plan then."
"Let's re-establish what we know of the case first Bunny?" Nick offered, crumbling a biscuit absently into his extra tall coffee.
"Hm," Judy inclined her head. "Yes, let's. We know that there's an attack planned on the night of the concert showdown between Gazelle and El Lamo, the one taking place at Palm Tree Arena."
"That Frost is working for whoever masterminded the whole affair and that the serum has been secured by the criminals and, apparently, re-enhanced by some diamond powder that makes the whole thing even more deadly and unstoppable," Nick added.
"Yes," Judy massaged her temples. "Yes. Given how massive the event will be, how many animals will be attending... this could have disastrous consequences."
"And we don't know who is behind the whole thing ultimately, do we?" FruFru added in a squeak.
Judy nodded her consent.
"Not only don't know, but I can't even be sure we'll know at the actual event - perhaps it's someone rich and influential who will stay safely tucked away at home while the whole scene unfolds," she added bitterly.
"Don't focus on that right now Carrots," Nick soothed. We need a plan for D-day, then, if we catch Frost red-pawed, she'll crack and give us the name and all the information. She's hardly the courageous self-sacrificing type... beg pardon for talking your couz down like that," he added to Skye.
"No offence taken," Skye returned, shaking her head. "What is the plan then, Officers?"
Judy mulled over this for a moment.
"It sort of falls into place for each of us, doesn't it?" she said. "You, Jack, keep going along with your cover, like you're still operating on the side of the criminals. Keep an eye on Margaret Frost... Me and Nick will go to the concert with our actual tickets, I mean, we've been planning to go since ages anyway, it's hardly suspicious. You'll tip us off as soon as you feel things are about to start happening, try to detain Margaret as long as you can, we'll arrive as soon as we can to wherever you are at that point."
"And we'll have back-up on the ready," Nick added. "No fooling around Carrots, we call Bogo and everyone else in as soon as we feel we have sufficient proof something is going on."
"I'll go too," Skye chimed in. "I'll wear a heavy disguise and blend in with the crowd. I'll text you my seat number and hang around if I can be useful. I know my cousin, I'll see by her face when she's plotting something, and I'll know instantly by her expression if she suspects something is up and is trying to run away."
"You'll do nothing of the sort Love!" Jack exclaimed angrily, just as Nick was opening his mouth to say that that was a good idea. "You'll stay with the kits, what's this talk now?"
Skye turned to survey her husband coolly.
"The kits can stay behind with Aunt Em just fine," she parried. "And I am telling you right away, Jack Savage, I am there just as well to keep an eye on you, and make sure you aren't taking your vengeance on my family a mite further than you ought."
The couple stared each other down in silence. Judy nibbled on her rice noodles, watching them. She wasn't bewildered in the least by this speechless exchange of looks (as Nick and Finnick apparently were, if one were to judge by their expressions). She knew very well, after years of observing her parents, that animals who have been married for a number of years could often square off without actually needing to argue something out. So well did they know each other and anticipate each other's next move, that they could figure out who would end up having the final word without actually needing to talk it out. In this case it was obvious that Jack was the one who finally concluded that he was unlikely to win this one.
"Have it your way," he shrugged, feigning indifference, as he turned back to his food. "Keep me posted on your whereabouts though, Love, this is hardly a benign venture."
"Haven't we been in enough of those by now?" Skye returned, tittering.
"I've got a ticket too," FruFru announced, as the tension from the Savages' exchange was lifted. "I came by much too late to purchase one, but, oh well, I asked Daddy to pull some strings and get me one, given how important this is, and he did. I'm in a top box, good and proper."
"You're going too?" Judy was torn. "FruFru, oughtn't you stay at home? If anything happened - I mean, JuJu is still so small-"
FruFru laid a tiny reassuring paw on Judy's arm, which was easy to do because the shrew was actually seated on the tabletop, given how the chairs were much too large for her.
"Don't worry yourself Judy," she said brightly. "I'll look after myself. And rest assured that it is actually much easier for us small mammals to beat a retreat in case something happens, particularly from the vantage high point I've picked out."
"Well, ok..." Judy dragged out, unconvinced.
"I'll come by the back," Finnick said, draining the last dregs of his frothy mango shake with a loud slurping noise. "Happens I got in helping some of the guys there with lugging the lighting equipment around."
"How on earth?.." Judy started incredulously.
"He knows everyone Carrots," Nick winked at her. "Same as me."
"Right," Judy smiled. "So... that's all of us sorted for the big day."
"There's hardly more to be added," Skye agreed. "Because we have so little information at this time."
"Information," Finnick grunted. "We'll have that, and in spades, come the shindig. Mark my words."
"We'll have to act fast," Jack agreed. "Events will nnfold any which way." He sipped his 'plain black tea', and Judy marvelled at how he and Skye both seemed entirely unconcerned as to their involvement in so brutal a scheme. You could see their experience shining through, she though cynically.
Nick was looking around the empty plates contemplatively.
"If we're all done talking over potential disaster and bloodshed," he said lightly, "What do you all say I take you lot next door to where they make awesome pie and angel cake? Seems we deserve a decent dessert to fortify ourselves."
"Let's," FruFru agreed. "Even if it's quieter than here, we're done talking business, so it's fine if we're overheard."
They were done talking about the heavy stuff, Judy realized with a jolt, as all the others agreed and started pulling their wallets out to pay. Which meant she was free to go ahead and talk about her business with Nick... if she could find a suitable moment that was!
Her heart was pounding so loudly as she counted out her tip that she was amazed the entire diner didn't turn around and ask what that rabbit's problem was.
So Little Time - Part 5.
And here we go, story continues :) Thanks all once again for your support!
BrutusDeagon - I'm getting nervously excited myself, finally we are nearing the big event!
imjustlikehumphery - just keep reading to find out :)
wildehopper - same thing, but I am not sure it will go as she anticipated :/
Spanish speaking guest - if I understood correctly, your question is about the building they own? All the flats are rented out and they earn quiite a bit on that, rent being high in the city centre. Plus, there's FruFru's hair salon bringing business and money in, not to mention that they'll probably have other shops and stuff open up as well.
AeonFeral - thanks for the feedback, I'll get back to you shortly :)
Once out in the fresh (or make that 'brisk, biting, bracing') air, the small chattering group of heroes hastened after Nick to the pastry café next door he had indicated. No one felt like stalling in the open given the weather. Which was all very well, Judy reflected grumpily, but she was hardly likely to have any opportunity of even two words together alone with Nick if they just kept piling in and out of eateries. Once inside Jacky's Angel Pastry Shop, however, her spirits lifted somewhat. It was hard to stay down upon entering and being greeted by the warm air perfumed with the delicious wafting scent of the many freshly baked pies and cakes. Once Jacky herself (aka Jacqueline Heavyfoot, the rather middle-aged but still incredibly spry and nimble sheep owner and head baker) showed the gang to a round coffee table set with a beige linen tablecloth and a set of willow-patterned crockery, Nick, Judy and their companions all seemed to relax into their comfy plushy armchairs and heave a collective sigh.
"This is something much more like," Jack commented happily, perusing one of the lovely paw-written menus (the writer having displayed rather a flair for calligraphy). "This is rather more what I recognize as a selection of teas. I wonder such a distinguished establishment can succesfully prosper way out here."
"There's always the rare gem, even in far out little towns," Skye replied absently, her own gaze running steadily down the list of available selections as well. Oh, café noisette - how fortunate, it's been ages since - and tarte tatin? A winner combination indeed."
"Which one's are with chocolate?" Finnick grunted, frowning at the menu. "Too much foreign gab. Can't they say in plain - oh, 'triple chocolate cake'. That sounds about right."
Judy was opening her mouth to ask whether anyone would share a slice of carrot cake with her as she honestly didn't feel like she was hungry enough for a whole slab, when FruFru suddenly piped up.
"It seems they have bite-sized shares of many of their desserts up at the counter," she chimed. "To sample before placing your order if you have trouble choosing I guess. Anyone fancy helping me up there so I can get a morsel?"
"Of course, for you a couple of bite-sized pieces equals a whole meal Miss Sly Shrew," Nick laughed at her.
"You've got me," FruFru heaved a mock sigh and at the same time gave Judy a tiny discreet wink. As Judy blinked back, non-plused, Skye suddenly seemed to come to.
"That sounds like an idea Mrs Grande," she addressed FruFru charmingly, pushing her chair back. "I would be happy to convey you there on my shoulder, if you'd just hop on." She turned to look back at her husband, who had sunk deeply into his armchair and was perusing his phone idly, a steaming mug of Earl Grey having been already placed in front of him on the tabletop. "Aren't you coming Jack?"
"I know what I want Love," Jack tore his eyes from the screen to look up at his wife in brief surprise. "I'm good just where I-"
"But we can take a shot of ourselves stuffing our faces with all the samples this way, and send it to the kits," Skye chuckled, talking over him and taking a firm hold of his sleeve. "And it isn't any fun if it's just me!"
"What?" Jack was throwing his cup a nostalgic look as he nevertheless obediently scrambled to his feet to follow Skye. "What for? You want them to go on and on after that, but then why didn't you bring us some, you said you were off on a business trip, we never get to go anywhere-"
"Wait for me!" FruFru skidded carefully across the coffee table, somehow managing to trample Finnick's paw resting next to his menu on her way. "So sorry," she called, giving him a somewhat significant look over her shoulder, as she jumped into Skye's cupped paws.
"Hum," Finnick sniffed a tad irritably. He patted the pockets of his thick grey coat thoughtfully for a moment. "Lighter, Wilde?" he asked, addressing his red-furred friend.
"What?" Nick raised a comical eyebrow back at the other fox. "I'm on special training with the Police Academy Centre Big Guy! I don't smoke anyhow, but if I was caught with a light and a pack of cigarettes, well, that would be the end of a couple of months of damn solid effort, and a short end at that."
"Ah," Finnick inclined his head. "Shame." He peered through the café window and his face brightened. "There's a hippo out on the pavement puffing a smoke," he commented happily. "He'll share a light."
"Smoking before dessert?" Nick's incredulity was heightened. "And I thought you'd given up good and proper anyhow?"
"Did too," Finnick shot back, buttoning his coat up as he stood up. "Only have one on special occasions now, as it were. Force of circumstances."
"Then... don't let us keep you," Officer Wilde replied, shaking his head in bemusement at Finnick's departing back. "You believe this guy Carrots?"
"Um," Judy answered, her throat suddenly rather dry. "No. I mean yes. Sort of?" She was hardly in any position to kid around about Finnick's smoking habits for she recognized a helping paw when she saw one, even one as minute as FruFru's who had so easily removed the many occupants of the table so that Judy could have a few moments' one on one exchange with her partner.
"Something up Carrots?" Nick asked her with a slight frown, picking his coffee mug up. A sudden thought seemed to strike him and he stopped with the coffee half way to his lips. "Oh, you wanted to speak to me, isn't that right?"
"Yes," Judy could feel her heart hammering against her ribs once again and clasped her paws tightly in her lap in an attempt at calming herself. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Finnick outside; he had apparently struck up a conversation with the hippo smoker. At the counter, FruFru and Skye were examining the cake selection and sampling tiny pieces set out for that purpose as Jack waited patiently, his elbows leaning on the countertop.
Judy had told herself she only needed a couple of minutes and a one on one with Nick. Well, she could hardly complain, she had her shot wide open.
"Nick," she tried, gathering her courage and lifting her gaze resolutely. "What I wanted to tell you-"
Nick's phone buzzed loudly from his pocket at that exact millisecond, making both of them jump.
"Geez," Nick said, and then, "Oh, it's a call," as it buzzed again. "Carrots, sorry, this is rude, but I just gottta check it ain't McHorn or Taggart calling me to tell me I need to leg it back to the Training Centre or that something came up-"
"Yes, of course," Just rubbed the sweat off her brow discreetly, mentally cursing whoever had chosen that precise instant to call. A second later she felt rather regretful however, as Nick announced, having checked the screen,
"Oh, it's my Mom Carrots." he pulled an apologetic face. "I had told her I had tonight off, she was waiting for a moment to call me and catch up on how I was doing."
"Ah," Judy replied, chastened. "You'd better pick up Nick."
"I could call her back, but-" he started.
"It'll be latish by the time you're back at the Centre," Judy shook her head. "Pick up!"
"Just give me a moment - oh, I don't need privacy for this for goodness' sakes Carrots," he added, waving away Judy's attempt to leave him in peace. "Mom!" he added into the receiver. "Long time no speakey. Yes, I got my time off, go ahead, act surprised," he rolled his eyes at Judy who giggled.
The bunny officer shifted in her seat as Nick updated his mother on what was going on.
"I did get the time off Mom, you see... well, try to downplay your reaction to mild incredulity next time. Har har," he winked at Judy who gave him a wan smile back. "I'll have the next one off as well, you'll see. Yup, a real and proper week-end. Yup, still coming back to town, me and Carrots have tickets for the big El Lamo/Gazelle concert, remember? Of course I'll visit you before that."
Judy's expression softened and she hid a small and sincere grin at the warmth that crept into Nick's voice despite its usual jokey manner as he reassured his mother.
"I dunno, I think we'll be back at the ZPD HQ early afternoon, they have a coach to tow us back. I'll swing by yours soon as I'm cleared off duty, there'll be plenty of time before the shindig... ah but you know I never say no to blueberry pie Mom."
Of course he'd be visiting his mother on his week-end off in Zootropolis, Judy thought idly. It had been ages since he'd seen her, being stuck way out here for the training and all. He'd have time to see his Mom before they had to head to the concert... where, Judy frowned to herself, heaven alone knew what they would have to face.
What would Mrs Wilde say if something happened to her son mere hours after she'd treated him to coffee and blueberry pie at home, after she'd seen him depart for the pop concert? That was what an unwelcome little voice chimed in the back of Judy's head suddenly. She became aware that her partner had hung up after saying bye bye to Mrs Wilde and was tilting his coffee mug back and forth on the table precariously, his gaze far away. She wondered suddenly whether he were not thinking along the same lines.
"Nick..." she tried tentatively, and he turned to look at her, snapping back to reality. "Nick, about the concert... if something happens - what I mean is, we don't know what we're up against -"
"That's part of our job description," Nick cut her off, not unkindly, but firmly, the crease between his eyebrows belying the smile that accompanied his words. "Come on now Carrots, we've been in our fair bit of scrapes by now! We've prepared everything as best as we could, we'll call Buffalo Breath and Co in for back up at the slightest; relax and enjoy your carrot cake and weird tea concoction thing, there's nothing more to be done at this point."
"Yes," Judy agreed slowly. The same annoying but reasonable voice was still talking at the back of her head. With sinking spirits she acknowledged what it was saying.
It was hardly the time for her confession. Nick's nerves were on edge, and so were hers, more likely than not, with this pre-planned attack conspiracy business. Nick had to head back to Zootropolis, see and reassure his Mom and then go out to the potential crime scene with her, Judy, and there was just no good adding extra stress on top of that at this time. She would have to wait till after the concert - which would, it would go well, she told herself stubbornly - for a quiet moment, perhaps back home at the penthouse, to tell him.
"Anyway, you were going to say something Carrots?" Nick prompted right on cue.
"Yes, I was," Judy sighed in agreement. "Nick..." she faced him, spreading her paws wide as he arched an eyebrow at her questioningly. "I've gone and promised to take this orphan kid on an outing, friend of Skye and Jack's youngest son, so they could meet up, cause the latter was lonesome for the friend he left behind. Wanna come with, if you've time after seeing your Mom and before we have to go to the show that is? I'm sure the kid will be reassured by both of us turning up to escort him."
"What?" Nick blinked at her. "You're being incredibly generous towards the Savage Duo Carrots-"
"Do my sharp ears deceive me Officer?" Jack interrupted, having finally strolled back towards their table at that precise moment and accidentally-on-purpose bumped Nick's chair as he pushed his way to his own seat. "I would rather argue that it is ourselves who have been more than generous, driving your partner back and forth between the big city and this hole, burning up who knows how much gas in the process."
"Chauffeur duty suits you Long Ears," Nick parried, as Skye, FruFru and Finnick all gathered around the table once again too. "You're grumpy enough to be one, you should go pro... get a cab and a black cap, that sort of thing."
As Savage rolled his eyes and opened his mouth for another retort, FruFru looked at Judy questioningly from under her dark fringe, her beady eyes shining eagerly. Judy grimaced at her friend and shook her head a bit. The shrew's expression dropped and she had to conceal a sigh of disappointment.
Busy in discussion with Jack, Nick hardly had the possibility to attend to this quick non-verbal exchange. He did however feel acutely that Judy had not at all told him what she'd been planning to, and he puzzled over it somewhat uneasily all the way through coffee and dessert, as the others chattered and munched around him.