Chapter 2: Stalker-bun
Edited by DrummerMax64 & DancingLunarWolves
Nick had begun at the scene in Tundratown, and as much to his dismay, found all the prints that would have been helpful to have been wiped clean by Larry's antics. The only thing that was useful was an empty spray paint can he found in a nearby dumpster, though no paw prints were found on it.
All the while he was in the alley, he had the certain suspicion he was being watched. He felt his hackles rising, and with each new gust of wind thought he smelt something familiar, but as he would search his surroundings, he'd find no other mammals around.
He finally assigned it to the fact that he was simply working without Judy for the first time in a very long time. As he packed up his gear and shut the door to his cruiser, he thought he saw a familiar pair of black tipped bunny ears across the street. When he popped open the door, standing on his seat to get a better vantage point, the ears were gone.
"Huh..." He scratched his head, shrugged his shoulders and called in his findings to Clawhauser, as well as where he would be going next.
By the fifth crime scene he'd visited, he was growing slightly annoyed at the complete lack of evidence this mammal left behind. He hadn't even been able to find a single strand of fur or pawprint at any of the locations. Now after five hours of searching, and with his stomach growling protests against searching a sixth location, he finally decided to take a break for lunch. He called Judy and asked if she'd like to meet him for lunch at one of their favorite food stands downtown, to which the bunny whole-heartedly agreed. Nick was quite grateful to see Judy already at the stand when he arrived. Even though it had only been half a workday without her by his side, it was half a workday too long in his book. After ordering, they chose a park bench situated under a massive elm tree in the nearby park, relaxing as they swapped stories about their day so far.
Judy's appointment at the clinic had gone well, with no abnormalities to report, besides the doe's growing addiction to cricket burgers and fish, much to Dave's and the staffs' amusement. Nick described the tedious tasks of searching for clues without a single shred of evidence to show for i.
"Don't worry," Judy replied with a bright smile as she nudged him with her elbow. "I'm sure some evidence at one of these scenes will just hop right into your lap."
"Judy! Nicky-poo!"
"Ah great..." Nick grumbled beneath his breathe as both rabbit and fox looked up, startled to see Jessica waving and jogging towards them with a large backpack over one shoulder. "How did your sister find us."
"Don't ask," Judy huffed in annoyance before putting on a false smile. "Jessica," she drawled, "how are you doing today? Enjoying Zooto..."
Judy halted when Jessica reached their bench and jumped onto it...in between them, while plopping the backpack she had with her onto Judy's lap. The police doe gave a startled 'what?' as she and Nick had to un-entwine their paws before they were crushed by the dark grey rabbit as she snuggled into the park bench, twisting closer to Nick in the process.
"Enjoying the view?" Jessica giggled to Nick as he glared down at her, then anywhere else but at her when he noticed her rather low cut top revealing a little more fur than he had wanted to see.
"Jessica...what do you want?" Judy left the pleasantries behind when she noticed her sister scooting closer to her husband. Nick moved away, only for Jessica to scooch closer.
He moved further away.
She scooted even closer to him.
Nick finally moved off the bench and onto the other side of Judy, having the grey doe in between himself and Jessica. A flash of what looked like annoyance flared in Jessica's eyes before she settled back upon a more cheerful gaze.
"Oh, nothing much," Jessica finally replied, scooting closer to Judy with a smile. "Just wanted to explore more of this city and was surprised to find you two. Such a crazy random happenstance and coincidence ain't it?"
Yeah, really...Judy thought as she gave a polite laugh. "That is a crazy coincidence," Judy parroted. "Though Nick should probably get back to the cruiser and to his case, isn't that right Nick?"
"Oh!" Jessica's ears perked up. "You're working a case? What's it about?" Jessica turned and leaned towards her sister. "Is it an exciting one? Is it about another mayor?" She leaned in closer and gave a seductive grin towards Nick. "Do you need some help?"
"We're good," Nick said quickly as he tried to avoid looking at Judy's sister, who was leaning forward a little too far for his tastes. "I'm good, she's good. We're all good and will just be on our way." Nick leapt from the bench and lent a paw to Judy to help her off. Judy politely handed the backpack back to Jessica before grabbing her husband's paw and walking away in a slightly rushed manner. "I'll drive you home, Carrots."
Jessica followed them as they departed, letting out a sigh as they walked away though waving cheerfully as the cruiser vanished down the street. "So close that time," the bunny murmured. Looking down at her bag, she offered herself a grin. "I still have my Plan B though." She rifled through the bag and grinned as she saw what she was looking for. "I hope Dad hasn't used this too much," she said as her paw wrapped around a purple device.
Sighing deeply, she placed the device back into the bag. "Sorry love, but some pain is necessary if you are to realize you belong to me."
"That was close," Nick stated once they had entered the car. "How does she find us? Is there some sort of radar in your families ears that can help locate each other?"
Judy scoffed at the idea, though after running into her sister twice in two days, she wouldn't be surprised herself if Jessica had somehow figured out how to do just that. She patted Nick's arm. "How about you just focus on the case and I'll focus on making us some blueberry muffins for when you get home. Maybe do something to relax?"
"Pawnopoly again then?" Nick said with a smirk.
Judy groaned. That wasn't what she had been thinking of.
"Twister?"
The rabbit doe's eyes glistened with mischief and Nick made a mental note to find where he had stored that particular game. "How about Sleeping Bullty and a large popcorn?" he offered.
"Done!" Judy laughed. "Though you're cooking the popcorn."
The drive home to drop off Judy went by quickly, and before Nick had known, the day had passed by as well. He visited an additional seven scenes, cataloging anything he could find, but was still annoyed at just how little evidence this tagger was leaving behind. Though he was also growing more and more annoyed and more than a bit worried over how the artwork was becoming more risqué in displaying foxes and bunnies and their...activities.
I'm so glad Carrots wasn't here to see these... he had thought on one particular tag, especially when a child from a family of beavers passing by tugged on Nick's pant leg and asked him what the fox was doing to the bunny.
So it was a slightly exhausted fox that trudged into his and Judy's apartment around 6pm, dropping his keys in the bunny head shaped bowl on the desk by the door. His wife looked up from the sofa, smiling as she placed the Costkoala magazine down.
"Still looking for prams for the little ones?" Nick said as he shuffled over to Judy, slumping onto the couch with a tired sigh as he loosened his necktie. His paw found itself over Judy's growing belly, feeling several light kicks.
She nodded. "A few have come on sale, but are still expensive." Biting her lip, she glanced at the magazine. "My brother Paul and sister Delani have offered to make us a pram for our kits, and I'm thinking that might be best."
"At least cheaper," Nick said, earning a light scoff from Judy who affectionately pushed him gently. "Hey, call it my inner hustler, but it would save us several hundred dollars if they made it."
Nick licked his lips, an action that did not go unnoticed by Judy.
"And..." she asked.
Nick scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "And...we might get a pie or two from Gideon while we'd be out there visiting."
"I knew you were after the pies- oh!" Judy gasped. Nick flinched and moved to look at her directly.
"What's wrong, Carrots?" he asked nervously. Both of Judy's paws shot to her stomach as a pleased smile graced her lips.
"Nothing, they just...really kicked hard." The doe caught Nick's glance and smiled. "Guess they are practicing for the police academy already."
Nick rolled his eyes, but laughed as he pushed himself up from the sofa. "Well, I'm going to change into something more comfortable before making some dinner." He made his way towards the hallway before poking his head back around the corner. "Anything you'd like? Carrots, peas, salad, shrimp, fox?"
Judy grinned a predatory smile as she licked her lips. "What was that last one again?"
"Shrimp," Nick guffawed before the door to their bedroom shut, and locked, she noted with a giggle.
The rest of the evening was fairly domicile for the pair. They both prepared dinner, eating on the couch as Nick updated Judy on the events of the day, how the case was going since their lunch together and how things had reached a standstill evidence wise. Judy had called home and had been surprised to learn that her folks hadn't known that Jessica had come to the city, and had actually been gone for several weeks. To say that Bonnie was concerned was an understatement.
It was that bit of news that found Nick and Judy curled together on the couch, Judy snuggled up against Nick's chest , her nose buried in his fur as he tenderly rubbed her ears. It was something he knew calmed her and judging from the flickering of her ears all throughout dinner, she needed some 'cuddle time' before they went to bed.
He knew it was working when Judy began purring softly. When he sighed, the fox felt her smile against him as her smaller paws twirled his chest fur.
Nick leaned down to place a kiss on her head when he felt movement from her.
"Kits can't ever calm down, can they?" Nick asked with a chuckle. Judy responded with shaking her head, her ears flopping back and forth as she giggled and placed her paws on her stomach.
"Anxious about if they'll be this rambunctious when they're toddlers?" she asked with a sly grin.
"Am I worried that they'll be out trying to arrest mammals for littering while still in diapers? Yes, yes I am."
Judy rolled her eyes, elbowing Nick gently in his ribs before leaning back to place a kiss on the underside of his muzzle. She didn't get far before his muzzle leaned down to meet her own, his paw soon coming to rest on the back of her head...
I'm a bunnie girl, in a bunnie world...
"Really?" Nick huffed at the familiar ringtone. There goes the mood...he thought to himself as he flopped back into the couch.
"Judy sighed, then moved off the couch, making sure to sway her hips just slightly, watching Nick's eyes never leaving her rump in the reflection off the television screen.
"Eyes off the fluff," Judy scolded teasingly as she answered the phone, hearing a quiet mumble from her husband of, "I like your fluff...".
"Hey Trisha, what's up?"
Nick watched, wondering why their friend would be calling them this late.
"I'm where?" Judy asked, the bewilderment in her voice quite apparent. "I'm at home with Nick...what do you mean I'm at the 10-7!"
Nick moved to a sitting position on the couch before shuffling off, coming up behind Judy and placing his paws on her shoulders. Shooting her a confused look, she held up a single paw. "Hold on, Trisha...what do you mean I was at the 10-7? I'm not allowed to drink while...oh for the sake of radishes! We'll be there in ten."
Judy snapped the phone shut as Nick rubbed her shoulders. The doe let out a huge sigh, before looking above her. "Jessica's causing trouble at the 10-7. Apparently Petey thought she was me and let her in but she couldn't get by Trisha."
Nick let out a low pitched whine. "Can't we let someone else deal with it? I'm sure Detective Oats would be more than happy to book a bunny. Maybe annoy someone else with his cliches. I mean, you can smell crazy on her."
"She may be crazy, but she is still my sister," Judy grumbled.
"She's hitting on me when we're married."
Judy growled. "I wish I could say she's adopted and that real Hopps' does know better than that..."
Nick let out his own heavy sigh as he started for their bedroom. "I'll throw on a shirt."
"I'll grab the keys," Judy replied. In a few moments they were out the door, heading to the 10-7."
As Nick hopped into the passenger side, he cast a snarky look at his wife. "Do you think Jessica would fit in the trunk?"
"Oh hush!" Judy said, though couldn't help but smirk.
"I know that look, Carrots," Nick smugly replied. "You've thought of it..."
"Maybe."
"So is that a yes?"
"Nick..."
"On the roof then?"
"There's no bug guard up there."
"Perfect then!" Nick reached back towards the backseat. "I think I have some rope back here somewhere..."
"Nick!"
The ride over to the 10-7 was made in relative silence, both mammals dreading what they'd find upon arriving. Thankfully it was brief, though all hopes of a quiet evening together snuggled up for warmth died upon seeing the three figures waiting outside the 10-7. Petey, the large rhinoceros bouncer had a tiny, squirming grey bunny in one hoof, while a second brown doe in a blue 10-7 shirt was impatiently tapping her foot in the entryway. At the sight of the fox sized car, the held bunny squirmed all the more, waving at the Nick inside and blowing him kisses.
"Can we just leave her? It seems like she's enjoying herself here," Nick asked. The glare Judy sent him was enough to silence him as they exited the car together, paw in paw.
"Hey! None of that! My fox! MY FOX!" Jessica crooned as she glared at Judy.
"Knock if off, fake-Judy!" Trisha yelled, before bouncing up to Judy and giving her a big hug. "Missed ya cutie!" Judy returned the embrace, nuzzling her friend and giggling softly. Trisha smiled as she moved back. "Okay, now I know you're the real one. That was a real Judy hug! Unlike that imposter!"
Trisha glared up at Jessica. "I don't know who you are, or why you are impersonating my Judy..."
Nick raised his paw, pointing to the wedding band on it. "Um, actually..." Judy nudged him gently.
"Just let her be, she's on a roll," Judy said with a grin.
"But.." Nick's sentence was halted as a coaster bounced off his nose and he went crosseyed to look at the hit spot. "Where did you even keep that?"
Trisha stuck out her tongue and winked at the fox.
"Now," Trisha started, jutting her finger back up at Jessica. "I don't know who you are, or where you came from, but there will NOT be any impersonating of my Judy at my bar! Petey?"
At a nod, the rhino dropped the struggling doe to the ground, who landed with a squeak on her rear. She was up in an instant, heading for Nick to give him a hug when both Judy and Trisha stepped in front of him.
"Jessica..." Judy growled.
"Imposter..." snarled Trisha.
"Mine!" Jessica replied. She bounced on her feet in front of them, throwing shadow punches their way. "Oh, so you two want him then too? Huh? Huh? Huh? I'll fight ya for him!"
Everyone blinked in surprise at the Jessica, who was slowly trying to work her way around the two bunnies acting as fox guards. She continued unabated. "Of course I have the better looks and I doubt he'd fall for you, Jude the Dude...who is pregnant?!"
Jessica ground to a halt, staring, her mouth agape. "Who knocked up Jude the Prude?"
"That would be her husband, Nick," Trisha growled taking a step forward before turning to look at Judy, her paw pointed at Jessica. "Who is this doe?"
"Jessica?" Judy asked in a calm voice, though her mind was a rush of thoughts. "What's going on? You helped plan Nick and my wedding."
"And tried to tongue-wrestle with my best-mammal in the broom closet," Nick offered. "By the way, Finnick's still waiting for you to call."
"Who?" Jessica asked. "And why would I want to kiss anyone but you," she asked the tod. "And why are you saying you two are married? You haven't even gone on a date yet! What tricks are you playing, Judy? Trying to steal my fox?"
Judy was now completely confused. "Jessica, something's wrong with-"
"Yeah, you're blocking my fox from me," Jessica retorted. "Now move!"
Jessica made a quick dodge to her right, trying to move around Judy, but even pregnant, the officer was faster. Each time Jessica made to move around her, Judy was already there.
"Fine," Jessica growled, rolling up the sleeves of her green sweater. "I'll just go through you."
Judy raised an eyebrow, but could do little more than that before Jessica tried to jump over her. Thankfully, Petey caught the grey doe mid-air by her feet.
"Oh no you don't," Petey growled. "Want me to grab a few ZPD members inside?" the rhino huffed.
"I..." Judy looked at her sister, wondering what had happened to the loving sister she had grown up with. It was like she had reverted back towards before she and Nick had even started dating on their first trip to Bunnyburrow years before. "That...might be a good idea."
"Sounds good," Petey stated. Trudging towards the door, Judy and Nick couldn't help but see the look of abject fear in Jessica's eyes.
"Oh no you don't!" Jessica screamed. Leaning up, she grabbed a hold of Petey's arm and bit down.
"Yeeeooowwch!"
Petey dropped the bunny, who landed on all fours before sprinting away down the street and into the darkness.
"Jessica!" Judy shouted, stretching out her paw but to no avail.
Her sister was gone.
AN: Big thanks to BlueLighthouse for letting me use his OC's Trisha and Petey here. So much fun to include them here. So thank you Blue and go check out his stories!