Judy ran down the steps of the Thorneycroft Orphan's Home as Nick walked up the sidewalk. "Oh, Nick!" She stopped short at the sight of the heavy bandage on one side of his face. "You didn't tell me it was that bad."
"It's not." The fox held out his arms. "Get in here."
The bunny threw herself at him and buried her face in his chest. "I don't ever want to do this again."
"Me either. Next time you can go undercover and I'll hang out here taking it easy." Nick grinned as Judy pulled back, sputtering indignantly.
"Easy! Do you think it was easy, waiting around? Not being able to help? Not knowing what was happening to you?"
He saw the pain in her eyes and his own turned serious. "I don't suppose it was, Carrots. At least it's over now. Wolford and those two guards were the last of Bellwether's animals and they're all locked up and charged with attempted murder of a police officer. They won't be going anywhere for a long, long time."
They started up the lawn to the orphanage. "Did Wolford ever say why he was involved with Bellwether?" asked Judy.
"Not really." Nick rubbed the bandage, wincing.
Judy looked sympathetic. "Does it hurt?"
"It's not too bad. The doctor gave me something for the pain, and I have to go back in ten days to get the stitches out. I just hope it doesn't leave a scar." The fox's eyes darkened. "I don't want a reminder of Bellwether every time I look in the mirror."
The bunny laid a soft velvet paw on the fox's arm. "Nick…"
He put his paw over hers. "It's all right. Either way, it's all right." For a moment they were silent, then he said briskly, "Wolford isn't talking, at least nothing that makes any sense, but I think maybe he just…" Nick shook his head. "Honestly, I think maybe he had feelings for Bellwether. She was definitely the one in charge, she gave all the orders, he followed her around like a cub." Nick shivered. "I tell you, Carrots, I was born a fox but that little sheep...she had more of the soul of a predator than any animal I ever met. Maybe that's what Wolford liked about her. Anyway, she's in the prison ward for the criminally insane and I hope she stays there for the rest of her life."
"We can hope. Doug is gone too. You know how he got a deal for his information?" Judy giggled. "Instead of prison, he was sent to a work farm three hundred miles from Zootopia. And remember how before you went inside, Mr Big promised to have his animals protect you?"
Nick nodded. "He kept his word. If he hadn't, I never would have made it."
"Well, before Doug was taken out of the city, Mr Big sent him a message, promising to ice him if either of us got so much as a bent claw."
Sister Margaret came out on the porch surrounded by children as Nick and Judy climbed up the steps. The badger held up an imperious paw. "I want you all to be careful. You can see Nicholas is hurt."
"I'm all right." Nick's sharp green eyes twinkled as Judy gathered the children and took them into the orphanage. "And as long as Judy's around, I don't have to do anything anyway." He turned serious. "I want to thank you for letting her stay here."
"It was my pleasure, Nicholas." Sister Margaret smiled at him fondly. "I can see that as long as Judith is around, I don't have to worry about you at all."