"These things are disgusting," Judy said as Nick handed her a Pawsicle. Her ears drooped as she examined it carefully and then handed it back to him. "I'm not eating a Popsicle made from the bottom of a fox's foot."

Nick smiled as he licked his Pawsicle and raised an eyebrow from beneath his gun-metal colored glasses. "Soooo, you have something against fox feet, Officer Hopps? Because you're always thumping your cute little bunny feet against mine in your sleep."

"I like your feet," she whispered under her breath as mammals walked by, " their warm. I just don't fancy licking someone else's."

"Uh-huh," he said licking his pop again, "so you'd lick my feet then?"

"Nick, be serious."

"I am Carrots, it's ok, I'd lick yours first and then we could see how it goes from there."

"Shut up Nick," Judy hissed under her breath, "Finnik is coming back."

Nick knew that despite herself, she was blushing beneath her slate colored fur and the smile on his lips never left as handed her back her Pawsicle. "Well," he said slyly, " if Finny is coming back over here, then you better start working on your Popsicle or he'll think that you don't like it. He doesn't give these things away for free you know." Judy held the red frozen treat in her paw and closed her eyes as she stuck her tongue out tentatively, not quite touching the pop. "Now come on Darling," he said coaxingly, "you don't want to hurt Toot Toot lil fweelwings."

"Bwah," she said, "nope, cant do it."

"Hey Fam," Finnick said as he walked up on the pair while carting a few loads of Popsicle sticks, "sorry about that. I needed to get these out of the trash before sanitation came through. What's up?"

"Night Howlers," Nick said as he flicked his used Popsicle stick onto the cart. Then he reached down and plucked Judy's melting treat from her paw and started working on it.

"Nick, give the lady back her pop."

"She's watching her figure."

"Watching it do what?" Finnick said as he eyed Judy curiously.

"Work," Nick replied, suddenly feeling territorial, "and eyes up here Finny, I got a favor to ask of you."

"Favor? Nick you know Finnick don't help the fuzz."

Nick laughed. "I know pal, but you're always quick to help a friend. And I need you're help." Finnick folded his arms and gestured to Judy with his eyes. Nick caught his drift and acted quickly. "But first, let me help you." The red furred fox turned and grabbed the largest crate of Popsicle sticks with Finnick in tow grabbing another. Judy knelt down to pick up a crate as well but Nick called out over his shoulder stopping her in her tracks. "That's alright Darling," he said, his charming smile full on, "Finny and me got this, you just stay right there. Judy's ears flopped down and she poked her hip out, placing a paw on it as she scrunched her nose up at him. Oooh the sass, he thought to himself as he smirked.

"And what exactly should I be doing 'right' here?" she said, making quotation marks with her fingers.

"Why you have the most important job of them all. Watch the last crate and make sure that no one runs off with it, please."

"Popsicle sticks, you want me to guard used and sticky Popsicle sticks?"

"Hey one creature's trash is another creature's lumber yard. We'll be right back." Nick could hear as thumped her left foot against the ground in frustration but was relieved that she had stayed put. Once he and Finnick reached the back of his van, the small fox spoke.

"Ok Nick," he said in his gruff sounding voice, "lay it on me."

"I need you to level with me Finny, somebody is moving the Night Howler serum again and I need a lead."

"Hmm," the fox said as he rubbed his chin, " I haven't seen anything but I've heard about a weasel with a vendetta."

"Duke, the bootlegger?"

"No, somebody by the name of Trey. Never met him but I heard that he's got a powerful anger against foxes."

"Foxes?" Nick said shocked as his eyes widened and his ears pulled back. "Why?"

"Who knows? I do know that he was asking around for someone who knew how to make the serum."

"So he already has a supply of the plant growing somewhere," Nick whispered under his breath as he rubbed the fur on the back of his neck.

"It seems like," Finnick grunted as he hoisted himself up into the van, "but the weird part is that it's been months since he's been asking around and yet he hasn't hit one mammal yet. None."

Nick thought about letting Finnick in on the Jaguar that had been shot with the poison right before he had, but decided against it. "Any addresses for me?"

"None but I heard that Ram, Jessie, keeps heading out to the country for some reason. Bunny hollows to be exact." Nick was about to say something but then he smelt it. Blood. Flesh. Fur. It rushed at him all at once and it seemed to knock all of the air out of him. His ears folded back as he gripped his head in his paws and stumbled. He could hear Finnick calling out to him in alarm but he was powerless to respond. He gasped for air but with every breath, the scent of feral carnage became stronger. He fought for control of himself but fell to his knees as his stomach wretched and the contents of it came forth on the ground in front of him. Judy's voice from behind and arms around him helped to stabilize him, bringing him back around but he was still a little dizzy as she helped him up. Nick was happy that he wore the reflective sunglasses so that no one could see the vulnerability in his eyes even as he saw the abundance of concern in theirs. He quickly moved out of Judy's arms and dusted himself off.

"You ok Nicky?" Finnick asked, "them darn elephants must be putting something new in the Jumbo Pops."

"No, no," Nick replied as he wiped his mouth and stood tall, "it must have been something that I ate earlier."

"Well when you find out whatever made you sick, you need to find whoever served it to you and knock all of their teeth out."

Nick laughed, bravado full on, as he straighten his uniform. "And you know it bud, see you around Finny."

"See ya Nicky,"

Nick did his best to hold himself up until he made to their cruiser but once inside, he slumped into his seat. Judy said nothing but started up the car and pulled off as he did his best to monitor his breathing like Dr. Bovian had instructed him too.

"What happened back there?" Judy asked finally as they stopped at a red light.

"Later Judy," he said quietly, "please later."

"Ok," Judy agreed as she reached out and squeezed his paw gently before she began driving again.

Where had the scent come from, he thought, he hadn't smelt since the night that he we went savage. And it came on all of a sudden without any warning. Mr. Otterton had been right, but what else would he be right about? Would any urges come back? Mr. Otterton was an Otter married to an Otter with Otter children so he would never have the urge to maim or hurt them, but a fox... He was a natural predator and Judy was a natural prey. What if one night, while they were alone, an urge hit him and he committed an act so unforgivable, the price to pay for it could only be death? Nick turned to look at Judy when they were stopped at another light and she smiled at him. Big lavender eye gleaming, her inner radiance and beauty shining through. And it could all be gone, taken away by one crazed act brought on by a poison that he was supposed to have been cured of months ago. Why had he been such a fool as to have thought that this relationship could've worked? Maybe before the serum but not afterwards. If there was chance that he could hurt Judy, even the slimmest of one , then he couldn't be with her. As much as it would destroy him inside, he couldn't take that kind of a risk. Not with the life of the only living person that he loved.

"We're here!" Judy exclaimed as they parked in front of the building that she rented a room in. They got and he followed her up the stair, dreading what he would have to do but knowing that he would have to do it anyway. Fishing for her keys, she unlocked the door to her room and opened a window to let some air in before she plopped down on the bed and sighed. "Today was rough one, don't ya think? We could always order in if you're hunger but I really think that you should get some rest."

Nick began to feel faint hearted as he struggled with whether or not he should go through with this. Her body, the warmth and comfort that it possessed, the bed that she lay on, they were all so inviting and they called out silently for him. Perhaps could he sleep for just a little while, cuddle with her for a bit and then when she was sound asleep, sneak out. Would that hurt her less? No, she deserved better than him stealing away from her like some animal in the night. Walking over to her dresser, he began to pick up his meager belongings and watched Judy's reflection in the mirror as she sat up confused. "Nick, Nick what are you doing?"

"I'm leaving," he said, giving no trace of the emotional storm that raged on within him. If it was one thing that the streets of Zootopia had taught him, it was how to keep his true self hidden, even now when his whole body seemed ready to rip apart at the act of leaving her.

"Leaving? Where? Why? You're sick, you really shouldn't be ..."

"Its over Judy," he said flatly, still not betraying himself.

"What?" Judy whispered in shocked disbelief.

"We had a good run, I'll admit that," he picked a pamphlet that the doctor had given him the day he was order to see him and stuffed it in his pocket, " but it's done. We're over."

"Nick," Judy said as she hurried off of the bed. Her ears drooped and her nose trembled in a way that pulled at him. The need to hold her in his arms to take away the pain he was causing her was so strong, it was like a literal ache. "You can't just... why?"

He debated on whether or not to tell what had happened but decided against it. She would only try to help and her offer to might break his resolve. "Because I'm a Fox and you're a Bunny and it will never work. I'm very sorry, I really am. Now," he said as he side-stepped her in the small space, "I really must be going if I'm going to find lodging for the night, but you take care,ok?" He saw the tears began to fall from her eyes and before she could say anything, he quickly closed the door and hurried down the stairs. It was dusk outside and once he had made it to the front porch, he slumped against the door, his energy fleeting. Then he heard it, the very faint but very distinct sound of Judy crying her room. He looked up. Her window, it was open. For the first time in years, for the first time since he felt his mother dying in his arms, tear pooled in his eyes. Sadness, though was quickly being replaced with rage as he thought about the person who had done this to them, the person who had ruined their happily ever after. And for what? Because he hated Foxes?! Nick wiped his eyes and stood tall as a new resolve began to fill him. He was going to find out who had shot him with the Night Howler and he was going to make him pay.