AN: Sorry I took so long updating! I promise I'll get the next chapter out before the end of the week!

Chapter 8 – Backfiring

Nick had raced to Judy's apartment and was currently pacing back and forth in front of her apartment door. He thought about trying to call her, but he knew she wouldn't answer because she was on a date. He had sent her a text asking to meet her here, but she hadn't replied. He was mulling over what to do if she turned up with that bunny in tow. "I guess I could hide, or maybe I should just confront him here and now," Nick thought as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Judy trudged up the last set of stairs to her apartment floor, weary with the raw rage that simmered in her gut the whole way home. She had ignored the several buzzes from her phone, wanting to calm down before she faced what she assumed would be a very bewildered rabbit on the other end. "Assholes never think they have done anything wrong," she thought as she turned the corner.

She stopped at the site of Nick's distressed look, the fur on his neck and head was standing at odd angles and his ears were flat against the back of his skull. He was possibly the last mammal she wanted to see right now, okay, second to last mammal. She sighed and tried to keep the anger out of her voice when she said, "What are you doing here?"

Nick froze mid-step and made a "fox caught in the garden" face. "Hey, Fluff. I… I texted you I'd be here."

Judy didn't reply and just walked past him and unlocked her door. "Come in then."

Once inside Judy's small apartment, she rounded on Nick and stared him down with one eyebrow raised. Nick fully felt how awkward it was that he showed up at her place, late at night, on the day he knew she had a date. She seemed really, really pissed that he was here.

"Hey, so… yeah." Nick's silver tongue failed him.

"Nick, can whatever this is wait. I'm tired and just want to be alone alright," Judy ground out, trying to bite down her irritation at Nick's intrusion.

Nick straightened up and regained his conviction, "No, no. I'm sorry but I promised I would be honest with you. I went and talked with Octavia tonight."

Judy's irritation gave way to confusion, "Octavia? The nurse from ZGH?"

"Yeah, I was concerned… about your Dr. Fleet, so I asked her about him." Nick paused to gauge Judy's reaction. She stood there with her mouth open, stunned. Nick continued, figuring he should get it all out as quick as possible.

"She told me that he's a speciesist. That he treats non-rabbits like crap, even the kits. I just want to make sure you don't get hurt." Nick finished in a rush.

Judy just stood there for a moment. She slowly closed her mouth and shut her eyes. Nick could see her hands visibly shake as she opened her eyes again. She fixed him with a stare and said in an eerily calm voice, "You went behind my back."

Nick winced and replied, "Only because I was worried about you!"

"You really think I'm just a dumb bunny, don't you." Judy continued, the calm slowly leaking away and giving rise to the fury she had been fighting all night. "I'm just some poor helpless creature who needs to be protected. Some pathetic mammal that needs to have her decision made for her." Judy's voice continued to rise, she clenched her eye's closed balled her up her fists and screamed, "If you got a problem with me, you tell me to my face!"

Nick smothered the anger he felt at the words she yelled at him. He knew she wouldn't be happy that he had not said something to her before talking to Octavia, but he didn't expect this explosion from her.

Judy still had her eyes closed and her body shook. She was breathing heavily when she finally opened her eyes again. Nick was still there. He hadn't left like Judy had expected. He walked closer to the shaking bunny with a concerned look on his face and put a paw on her shoulder and asked in a soft voice, "What happened, Carrots?"

Judy closed her eyes again and took a big breath. This time she could feel her eyes fill with angry tears. When she opened her eyes again, she looked so miserable Nick could help but pull her into a hug. Judy cried against Nick's chest and he paws slowly stopped shaking.

Judy said something but it was muffled in Nick's shirt. "What was that, sweetheart?"

Judy pulled away and rubbed one of her eyes with a paw, "I said, I feel like such and idiot."

"Well, why don't we just sit right here on your couch and tell your pal Nicky all about it." Nick steered her over to her small couch and sat down with an arm around her shoulder. Judy told Nick all about her horrible date.

"I feel like such a naïve kit, I can't believe I didn't see through that bastard from day one!" Judy grumbled.

"Hey, a handsome face distracts from a mammal's flaws. How do you think I did so well as a scam-artist," Nick grinned as Judy rolled her eyes.

Nick's grin faded and he said seriously, "I'm sorry I didn't say something sooner. I just didn't want to risk our friendship over a bad feeling in my gut."

Judy turned her big purple eyes to Nick's green ones, "I'd trust your gut any day, Nick. I'm sorry I yelled at you, I didn't mean to take out my anger at you. Thanks for looking out for me, and not leaving."

Nick smiled at her, "I'll always be there for you," Nick mimed punching her on the chin, "Partner."

"Now, we can't let the Dr. Flop-head spoil the evening! Why don't you change into some pajamas and I'll order some take out?" Nick said pulling Judy off the couch.

"Can we watch some bad Sci-Fur movies?" Judy asked.

"Anything you like, Carrots."

Nick placed an order to their favorite take out spot, Kung Poa Panda, and waited for Judy on the couch. There was a knock at the door. Nick got up thinking, "Well that was fast!"

Nick opened the door to reveal Dr. Harrison Fleet. The two males stared at each other for a second then simultaneously said, "What are you doing here!"