*Authors Note* Alright gonna jump right into this one. Read and Review!
Judy's eyes slowly opened as she felt sunlight fill them. Shielding her eyes from the light as she slowly sat up. She felt the warm breeze of a summer morning and looked around once her eyes adjusted to the light. Seeing she was outside near the Hopps burrows. The sun just peeking over a treeline.
Judy heard the sound of a light snore and turned her head. Seeing Nick sleeping on his side facing where Judy had been. Nick's hand still on Judy's side since Judy slept against his arm all night. Judy smiled lightly and lay back down slowly. Nick stirred a bit and his arm tightened around Judy's abdomen. Pulling her in a bit closer to his chest.
Judy smiled and rested against Nick. Letting him sleep till he was ready to get up. Judy could hear the playing and laughing of her siblings in the distance. Eventually, Nick's eyes slowly opened and he yawned lightly. Judy smiled at him, still resting against his shoulder lightly. "Morning sunshine." She greeted.
Nick blinked a few times before smiling back, stretching lightly. "Mmmgh. Morning. We fell asleep out here?" He asked. Looking around a bit.
Judy nodded lightly. "Yeah. Still slept good though." Giving a light giggle.
Nick blushed a bit and sat up. His arm dangling a bit loosely. "Heh. My arm's asleep. Probably from you sleeping on it." Nick said. Trying to move his arm but only managing to twitch his fingers. Judy gently grabbed Nick's arm and lay it across his lap. Nick gave a light smile. "Thanks. It should come back in a minute."
Nick kept lightly twitching his fingers. Eventually moving to clench his hand and move his arm. He moved his arm in a circle at his shoulder. Making it pop a few times. "Ahhh there we go. Much better."
Judy stood up and looked around. Seeing the kids playing off in the distance. The boys wrestling around with each other. Nick stood up as well and rubbed his injured arm. "Wow. I honestly can't feel any pain anymore. " he said cheerfully.
Judy smiled mischievously and gave a light punch to the injured arm. Nick groaned a bit and clutched his arm. "Ahh ok that one hurt." Nick said painfully.
Judy giggled. "Oops. Sorry." She said sarcastically. Nick rolled his eyes and picked up the sheet. Judy picked up the blanket and they both carried them back into the house. Several of the kids were sitting on the chairs in the living room eating breakfast. Judy folded up the blanket and put it back in the suitcase she brought. Nick found Bonnie and asked where he could put the sheet, to which she directed him to the laundry room.
Nick came back out of the laundry room. As he made his way to the living room, Bonnie handed him a plate of breakfast. Nick smiled at her. "Thank you Mrs. Hopps." Nick went in the living room and sat down. Judy stood up and walked to the kitchen to get some herself.
Bonnie was cleaning up dishes. Several plates of equally served food sitting on a nearby table for those who hadn't eaten yet. Bonnie smiled at Judy as she walked in. "Morning. Did you sleep okay out there?" She asked worried.
Judy nodded and helped her mother with the dishes. Drying off whatever she could by hand and putting it away. Bonnie eventually turned to Judy. "You two didn't get...intimate did you?"
Judy blushed bright red and dropped the glass she was holding. She managed to catch it after bouncing it around in her paws a few times. "N...No mom we didn't."
Bonnie kept cleaning the dishes. "Well, that's a relief. Uhh I mean...that you didn't do that...HERE." Bonnie stuttered.
Judy shook her head and held up her hand. "Mom stop. We slept next to each other outside. That's it. PG rated." Said Judy.
Bonnie smiled slightly and kept quiet now. Judy walked back out to the living room. Some of the kids had surrounded Nick while he talked to them. Telling stories of what him and Judy have done on the police force so far. Of course keeping the more graphic stuff out. Judy smiled and sat on the couch and listened.
Nick went on about a job they had in busting a small crime ring in Sahara Square. A group bullying smaller groups into paying for 'protection.' Mr. Big used to do something similar, but with businesses that were abusing their rights or their success. A Mafia Robin Hood is a way one would describe how Mr. Big operates.
Nick had a smile on his face as he spoke. Getting all dramatic with the story as he talked about how Judy and him busted the gang. The kids listening intently.
Stu walked in from his room and smiled. Leaning on a doorway and listened as Nick told his story. Watching him entertain the kids. Once Nick finished his story, Stu walked up. "Alright kids. Go on outside and play. It's too nice of a day to be cooped up in here." Said Stu.
The kids hopped up and walked outside. Stu walked over and sat on his chair. "So, Jude the Dude, what's the plan today?" He asked.
Judy finished her breakfast and set her plate next to her on the couch. "Well we have to go back to Zootopia today. Nick's got a doctors appointment later, and I have work tomorrow."
Nick paused for a moment then hurriedly got his phone out. "Oh and I got a doctors appointment later today at 5."
Stu looked up at Nick, appearing slightly worried. "Oh well you guys should get going then huh?" A slight hint of disappointment in his voice.
Judy drooped her ears and nodded. "Yeah we do. Wish we could stay longer."
Nick nodded. "Yeah really. I loved getting to meet you guys."
Bonnie walked in at this point. She smiled at Nick. "Awww. Well it was nice to meet you too Nick. You two are leaving?" She asked.
Judy nodded and stood up. Checking the suitcase to make sure everything was packed. Nick stood up. Stu stood up as well and walked over to Nick, shaking his paw. "Well Nick it was great to meetcha. Don't be a stranger ya hear?" Said Stu.
Bonnie stood next to Stu and patted Nick's paw lightly. "You get all healed up and protect our daughter too." She said worried.
Judy sighed. "Mom!" She whined. Nick laughed smiled at Bonnie. "Don't worry. She's in good hands." He said confidently.
Judy walked up and hugged both of her parents. "Stop worrying so much guys. I'll be fine." She kissed both of their cheeks and grabbed her suitcase. Nick picked up his as well. "You two take care. We'll let you know when we wanna plan another visit sometime." Said Nick.
Nick and Judy walked out the door. "Bye guys! Be safe!" They heard Stu call out. Judy waved at her siblings as they walked past and said her goodbyes. Nick waving as well.
Judy smiled up at Nick as they walked. "Soooo how did you like my family?"
Nick smiled back. "They're a nice bunch of rabbits. Wouldn't mind coming back again sometime."
The sound of the train pulling into the station caught their attention. Nick spoke again. "But alas, time to go back to the busy city. Bet you wish you could stay here huh?" A slight smile on his face.
Judy kept walking and shrugged upwards while looking up. "Well it's not THAT bad. The country is nice and home-like. But I love the city too." She said cheerfully.
Nick and Judy soon boarded the train. While they really enjoyed their trip to Bunnyburrow, they were rather eager to get home.
Meanwhile
Dawn Bellwether walked out to the yard of the prison with all the other female inmates. The prison was built off into two wings. The male and female halves of the prison. The two yards were connected, but split by a fence down the middle. A large, barbed wire fence surrounding the perimeter as a whole.
Dawn noticed Doug, her old ram associate that perfected the Night Howler serum, standing against the fence. She walked up to him and offered a kind smile. "Doug." She said in greeting.
Doug turned and nodded upwards. "Dawn. How goes it?"
Dawn sighed and looked back at the other, much larger inmates in the yard. "About what you would expect. But an old colleague of mine wanted me to tell you something."
Doug's ear turned towards her to listen. Dawn spoke. "If you get called to testify on the ZPD's behalf soon, do it. That's all he told me."
Doug looked over at Dawn. A confused look on his face. "Who told you?"
Dawn paused for a moment then shook her head. "No one Doug. Just remember the message." Dawn turned away and walked back into the yard. Doug kept his confused look before walking back to his side of the yard. The two other Rams that Doug was convicted with, Wolter and Jesse, were waiting.
"What did she want Doug?" Wolter asked.
Doug shook his head. "Nothin boys. Just saying hello."
Also Meanwhile
Artie was typing madly on his computer and laptop. A hand on both the two keyboards. Several empty jugs of fruit juice sitting next to him. He had clearly been at work for hours. Artie's eyes a little bloodshot from focusing and staring at the LED computer screens.
His fingers danced across the keyboards. Typing in codes as fast as he possibly could to crack the systems he was trying to get into. Occasionally reaching over to grab a jug of whatever fruit juice he had open, and sipped it.
Finally, his hands came to rest on his lap. Leaning back in his chair with a grin on his face. After a few moments, the computer tower beeped and ejected a CD. Artie grabbed it and put it in a CD holder and labeled it 'ZPD Files'. There was another CD case nearby labeled 'Media Pathways'.
Artie grabbed his phone and sent out a text to SBoss. "It's done. All Closed ZPD files, and all television pathways. I got access to all of them."
After a moment, Artie received a reply. "I will be there soon. Time for you to learn everything."
Artie closed his phone and stood up. Getting the jugs and tossing them out. Putting the last one he got back into the fridge. Artie cleaned up what he could before waiting in the living room. After about an hour, Artie heard a car pull into the driveway and someone come to the door. The door opened and Artie turned to see who it was.
In walked a somewhat tall snow leopard. Only around a foot taller than Artie. The leopard was wearing a white t-shirt. Carrying a file in one hand, and a large plastic bag in another. The Leopard set the file on the table and carried the bag into the bedroom furthest to the back.
Artie walked to the table and looked at the file. He opened it and found two papers on two people. A female snow leopard named Tracy Snowly, and a 15 year old boy named Ricky Snowly. Just then the snow leopard walked back into the room and sat down at the kitchen table.
Artie sat down across from him and looked at the leopards face. He was middle aged at this point. His eyes a deep orange and black slits for pupils like a cats. Despite his above-average medium size, this snow leopard is very muscular. Almost like a professional bodybuilder.
Artie looked up at the leopard. "I am Artie McCoy. And I take it you are SBoss?" Artie outstretched his paw to shake.
The leopard paused for a moment before grasping Artie's paw. Shaking it firmly. "Yes I am." His voice practice, and medium toned. A voice of one who has spoken to crowds of many, and to crowds of importance.
Artie tapped his finger on the two files. "And who are they?"
SBoss sighed lightly. "My wife and child."
Artie nodded and pulled his hand back. "Oh. Good looking family." Artie added.
SBoss reached forward and pulled up the first page of both files. Artie leaned forward and saw in bright red letters, 'STATUS: DECEASED'. Artie lowered his ears lightly and felt his stomach sink.
"I'm...I'm sorry." Artie said. Worried that he had angered SBoss.
SBoss pushed the files to Artie. "My wife and child were killed. I tried to find out the reason why it happened and got so very very close, only to be forced off of the case." Said SBoss.
Artie looked up at SBoss. "Who are you?"
SBoss sat up and rested his arms on the table. His fingers interlocking. "I am a former police officer of the ZPD. My wife and child were killed by mistake when the target was me. Two people knew the whole details. One of them was Mr. Big."
Artie listened but gave one more nod. "But we talked to Mr. Big already. Did you get everything you needed from him?"
SBoss continued. "Mr. Big did what he did to protect his livelihood and his money. While the result was the death of two innocents, I cannot deny I would have taken similar action in his shoes. That's why I had you hack his IP. You're going to clear out all of his bank accounts in four days, and leave him broke. I won't take his life, but I will take what he was protecting."
Artie raised his eyebrow. "So then who's the other one at fault? And who are you? What is your name?"
Sboss spoke more. "The second individual had a choice to turn away and make it so he could never do business in Tundra Town and make an enemy of Mr. Big, or do what Mr. Big asked of him. Which resulted in Mr. Big accepting him into his crime syndicate, and lead to the deaths of my wife and child."
SBoss leaned forward a bit more and growled lightly. "My name is Leon Snowly. And Nicholas Wilde is the reason my wife and child are dead."
Several Hours Later, Zootopia General Hospital
Nick was sitting in the exam room. The doctor removing the stitches from Nick's arm. The wound had sealed up nicely but still needed a bit of time to fully heal. At this point, Nick would no longer need the sling. The medication would also no longer be needed either. As long as Nick didn't do any heavy lifting or stretching, his arm would heal fine in a week or so.
Nick walked out of the exam room. Judy waiting in the waiting room. She smiled up brightly as she saw Nick walk out without the sling, or bandage on his arm. She quickly walked over and hugged him happily. "No more sling huh?"
Nick smiled and nodded. "Yep. I'll be back to normal in a few days. Only got a scar." Nick looked down at the small horizontal line on his arm from where the wound had closed. Nick checked out of the hospital and walked out with Judy. Nick raised his eyebrow at Judy. "Hey Carrots. Remember that picture you took of us a couple of days ago? When we were walking down the street?" Nick asked.
Judy thought for a moment before pulling out her phone. She scanned through and pulled up a picture of her and Nick. Nick had his mouth open and tongue out, a grin on his face. His eyes a little widened. Judy had her tongue poking out of her mouth and her eyes half closed in an uninterested look. She held up the phone. "You mean this one?" Judy replied.
Nick looked at it and nodded. "Yeah. Send that to my phone, would ya?"
Judy raised her eyebrow and sent the picture to Nick's phone. "Can I ask what for?" She said.
Nick smiled as he got it and saved the picture. "It's a cute picture."
Judy raised her eyebrow suspectingly with a small smile. Suspecting that Nick had plans for the picture. She decided not to inquire about it further in case Nick was planning a surprise of sorts. Nick was busy going through his phone, appearing intent on doing something. After a few minutes he gave a light smile and closed his phone. Putting it back in his pocket.
Judy smiled up Nick intrigued. "What did you do?" She asked.
Nick smiled lightly. "You'll see."
Judy pouted and smiled. "You like to leave me in suspense don't you?"
Nick shrugged lightly and smiled down at her. "Do I like to leave you in suspense? Yes. Yes I do."
Judy giggled at his conference speech quote. They eventually reached the apartment after an hour or so of walking. The sun was on the edge of the horizon now. Night would soon be on the city. Nick and Judy walked into their apartment. Nick quickly walked to the couch and sat down. Sighing and looking over his arm.
Judy walked in as well and sat next to him. "Feeling okay?" She asked.
Nick nodded. "Yeah fine. It's been in that sling for so long I'm not used to being out of it yet heh." Nick giving a light, amused chuckle.
Judy leaned against his arm. Lightly running her finger over the scar on his arm. "Now we both have one." Said Judy.
Nick paused for a moment before he realized that she was talking about the scar on her leg she got when they were running from Bellwether.
Judy eventually got up to make dinner while Nick took a quick shower. Nick came out and sat on the couch now wearing a tanktop and shorts. Getting comfortable. Judy eventually walked up with dinner and handed it to him. Nick took it and began to eat. Judy having her own plate. Nick had turned on a classic movie. One of those ones that is generally liked by all the public so it plays all the time.
Once Judy had finished her food, she put her plate in the dishwasher and went to take a shower as well. Right as the shower turned on, Nick heard a knock at the door. Nick smiled bright and jumped up. Walking to the door quickly.
At the door was a delivery boy. He held up a box and smiled. "Package for a Mister Wilde?" He said cheerfully. Holding out the box and a clipboard needing a signature.
Nick nodded and sighed for the package. "Thanks kid. Have a good night." Nick said.
The young man nodded and took his clipboard back. Walking down the hall. Nick took the package to a table and opened it. Inside were several framed pictures that Nick and Judy had taken together. Some goofy, some cute, and some regular.
Nick had also ordered some adhesive hooks he could put on the wall without using nails or pins. While Judy was in the shower, Nick hung up the pictures. Totalling 8 of them in all.
One was of Nick after he graduated from the academy. Another of when Nick was trying to take one of just himself, but Judy had just happened to jump over his shoulder, resulting in Judy on Nick's shoulder smiling at the camera with her mouth slightly open, and Nick having a startled look on his face. And two of them were the picture they took on the street, and one of Judy sleeping against Nick's chest at Bunnyburrow. The rest were just simple pictures they took on the job, or at the apartment.
Nick finished and stepped back to look at his decorating. Having put the pictures in two rows of four. Judy had finished her shower, and walked out in sweatpants and a tshirt. She noticed the pictures and stood next to Nick. Smiling as she looked them over.
"Sly fox. I like it." She said happily as she leaned against Nick. Nick smiled and put his hand on Judy's side.
"Well I figured I thought it was about time we did some decorating." Nick said.
Judy jumped up and kissed Nick lightly on the cheek. Making him blush a bit. "Well you did good. We'll have to add more sometime."
Nick smiled lightly as both Judy and him looked at the pictures. Knowing that even though their time together has been short so far, there were many good times ahead.
Later that night, Lavvy Farms
Leon was scrolling through his own laptop over the closed case files that Artie had pulled earlier. Artie standing behind him and watching. Leon finally found the file he was looking for. The case file for Tracey and Ricky Snowly. Artie read the file as fast as he could. The file showed that they died in what seemed to be a car accident and not evidence of foul play was found. However the circumstance of the accident left that to question.
No evidence could be found despite the circumstance, and the case was considered closed. Leon eventually spoke. "And you pulled this from the current ZPD closed files?" He asked.
Artie nodded. "Yeah. All of these files are still there. Snowly if I may ask, why do you need this file?"
Leon closed the photo viewer and pulled the disk out. Giving it back to Artie. "Once I bring new evidence to light, I can reopen this case and crack it wide open. Everyone who was involved, namely Mr. Big and Nick Wilde, will go to jail once I get what I need." Said Leon
Artie nodded. "And how are you gonna get the proof you need?"
Leon turned and smiled lightly. "I'll get it straight from Wilde's mouth. Wilde knows what he did, and he knows that I know what he did. Problem is, I can't prove it. I can get him to talk."
Artie kept listening. "Well the file is in ZPD. How are you even gonna get the clearance to it without getting noticed? A civilian can't reopen a case file."
Leon stood up and walked to his room. He came back out shortly after with a few papers. "I won't be a civilian."
Artie looked over the papers. One of them was an application of employment to the ZPD. The next was a written letter from Leon. The third was a written letter from the Mayor in response. And the fourth was a certificate that read 'Zootopia Police Depeartment Drug Unit.' Artie smiled as he saw the last one.
"Is this why you had the Growlers made?" Asked Artie.
Leon shook his head. "No. Part of the reason. I am hired as Zootopia's leading investigator in drugs and paraphernalia that comes through the city. The city is beginning to question the ZPD's ability to get the job done with Nick Wilde getting shot. So I sent this letter to the mayor telling of my credentials in the ZPD back when I worked for them. A few days later, I got a letter saying I got the job. Until my work with the Growlers is finished, and Nick has paid for what he's done, we will then take our eyes to the city. We will show Zootopia just how useless the ZPD, and the mayor truly are." Explained Leon.
Artie smiled more. "And when do you start?"
Leon cracked his knuckles lightly. "Tomorrow morning."
*Authors Note* Alright we know who SBoss is now. And we have a slight grasp of what he's after. That chapter was a little shorter but the ones following this one shouldn't be. Read and Review!
