Not really so much of a story progressing chapter, but like… a break ya know? From all the tension these two have been through. Hope you guys like this. Please leave reviews k gurls and gaiz? I'd love to have my marrow tickled some more.
"Mr. Wilde…" he heard from a distance echoing far away.
"Mr. Wilde…?" this time the voice seemed a little clearer closer.
"Mr. Wilde…" He felt two paws placed lightly on his shoulders as he slowly opened his eyes. "Hnnnh?" he managed to let out weakly.
"Detective Wolfstein is here to see you," a porcupine nurse said in a gentle voice as she stood over him.
"I apologize for the rude awakening Mr. Wilde, but he says it's important" she looked at him regretfully. "Let me know if you need anything ok? I'll be at the front desk" She smiled and left the room.
Nick let out a fatigued groan. The whole night of saving Judy really took a toll on his body. He felt like he was aching from every fiber of his body. Judy. I gotta see her today!
His weary eyes sprang open suddenly with great anxiety and excitement. His body immediately conflicted with his emotions however, delivering a great deal of pain as he attempted to sit up quickly.
He lied back down in a labored groan and looked around. The clock showed 8:06 AM. He sat up carefully and slowly trying his best not promote anymore pain.
There were three knocks on the door. Nick looked to his left.
"Hey Wilde. How you doing?"
"Great. This whole hatchet to shoulder massage is doing wonders for me. You should try it sometime, lemme give you my masseus' number." He sarcastically answered
Wolfstein laughed. "Well I'm glad you're still the same old Nick. Come on, I promised ya I'd take ya to Judy. Unless you'd like to enjoy your massage a little more?"
Nick smirked and chuckled a bit. "Take me to Judy, please."
Wolfstein immediately withdrew his laughter, cleared his throat, and nodded slightly. "Well come on, let's go see that tough little rabbit shall we?" He offered as he left Nick's room with a smile.
Nick smiled too mostly because of the sheer excitement and underlying dread of seeing Judy. He got out of the bed and slowly walked over to the door.
At first his legs were just not having it, but slowly found strength to keep up with the walking pace.
"You gonna be alright, Wilde?" Wolfstein asked concern "Do you need crutches or something?"
"I'll be fine." he reassured in a semi-annoyed tone.
Wolfstein just nodded and continued leading them toward the ICU.
"Alright. She's in there… in 3rd door on the left. I think you can just stay until whenever the nurse kicks you out. So take your time." He smirked and patted Nick on the back.
Nick returned an appreciative smirk. "Thanks a bunch, Wolfstein. For everything… You're alright."
Wolfstein cocked his head back slightly, rolled his eyes jokingly, and pawed the air. "Pfft. It's nothing Nick. For all that you two have done for Zootopia and all of us… I'd say I didn't do enough. Haha. Now get in there. She's waiting for you." He playfully started scooting Nick into the door.
Nick chuckled and nodded as he headed in and approached Judy's door. His right paw gripped the handle as he took a deep breath.
He was scared and excited. Scared to face her and her injuries, but excited to see her alive.
For minutes he just stood there with the door handle in his paw. Just staring at its metallic sheen with two wide eyes. He felt ridiculously nervous like he about to compete for the gold medal in some important sport at the Zoolympics.
Finally, he took one deep gulp and turned the handle, pushed the wooden door open and stepped in.
His heart stopped. His eyes as wide as dinner plates.
Large machines surrounded the bed with a thick web made of wires and tubes.
An incessant rhythmic beeping could be heard from one machine closest to the bed. A gas exchanging sound emitting from the pump of another machine could also be heard.
He slowly maneuvered around these medical devices to get to the foot of the bed.
And there she was.
Her legs, some of her torso, arms, ears, and half of her face wrapped thick with bandage and gauze.
Her mouth was slightly gaped with a tube fed into it. It looked like it was helping her breathe… or feeding her? Nick's heart sank at the thought of that.
Her usually spry and twitchy nose was now relatively motionless.
There were catheters in her arm hooked up to an IV drip bag. Some sort of a saline solution.
His heart ached just seeing her like this. Tears began to form in his eyes, but he curbed those feelings as quickly as he could by remembering how happy and grateful he is that she is alive.
He found a chair and pulled it up close next to her bed and sat down.
At first he just stared for minutes and occasionally rubbed his face vigorously with his paws.
He calmed himself and tried to just focus on her.
She seemed so peaceful and quiet. Her face seemed relaxed and very very tired. Completely still and unmoving.
The fox just sat there weakly smiling not making a sound.
The machines' bleeps and air exchange noises were the only sounds that could be heard in the room.
Suddenly he decided to slowly lean forward and rest his head on the pillow Judy's head laid.
He gently reached out with his left paw to stroke her forehead gently and lightly caressed her cheek and chin with his knuckles.
His arm retracted as he let out an exasperated sigh.
He closed his eyes. Oh Whiskers…
For about 10 minutes, it was just him, Judy, and his thoughts stewing quietly.
…
He opened his eyes and reached out again to very gently caress her cheek.
This time he spoke. "Hey." He greeted the unconscious bunny.
"It's me Carrots. I uhh… I'm just checking up on you… Making sure… you're… you're ok."
He felt a little awkward as closed his eyes with his head still on her pillow. It's like he was talking to himself.
But he had heard patients in comatose actually do hear everything… they're just unable to respond. This notion encouraged him to speak again.
"I just wanna let you know you're ok. You're gonna be ok. And I got those guys!" He chuckled a bit. "I got those bastards who did this to you… so… so that's-that's good… And Bogo said they're gonna be given a few life sentences. All thanks to you Whiskers! And me of course!" he chuckled quietly and then gulped sheepishly.
He stared at the white walls thinking of other things to say to her.
Nick reached out to hold her right paw with both of his.
He rubbed her fingers and palm for a little bit.
Slowly he pulled her hand up and placed a small soft but long kiss on the tip of her knuckles.
He gingerly placed her paw back down by her side.
Nick sighed again and sat up to look at her face.
She's so cute. I can't wait until she wakes up… If… she wakes up. She will. She will.
He shook his head a bit to take his mind off of that topic and looked at her once more.
"Judy… I uhh… I know you're probably taking a break… and that's good… but don't forget to wake up later ok? I err… I'm… I need you here. I need my partner in crime… Well I guess… technically partner in law… Anyway… I'll visit you everyday! So you better wake up soon, ya got that, cottonbutt?" He spoke sternly with his eyebrows furrowed playfully.
Her response was just her still beauty and silence. He smiled anyway as if she had actually replied to him.
Nick sat back into the seat and stared up at the ceiling for a little while.
He looked back down and took a deep breath.
"Judy… I hope you can hear me now. I just want to let you know. I'm never letting you go again… and… and I… I love you… Ok? So… just… remember that." He spoke almost in a whisper.
He was sniffling and completely choked up at this point with a few tears already rolling down his cheeks.
"Remember to come back ok? I need another chance to tell you this in mammal (like "in-person" hehe). I promise I'll say it right this time…"
"I promise." He sniffled once more and wiped the tears away from his eyes as he stood up from his seat.
He pulled the blanket a little higher up to Judy's chest. Nick glared at the AC vents. It's so friggin cold in here. With his paws, he gently tucked some of the blanket under her making sure not to leave her limbs in any uncomfortable positions.
He took a step back and took a good look at her once more. The fox leaned forward and placed another soft kiss—this time on the rabbit's forehead.
He gave her a caring half-lidded smirk and walked toward the door.
"Rest up, Jud. I'll be back later." He assured as he left the room.
Always appreciated some silence and quiet in story telling. Hope you guys enjoyed this. She's ok though! I hope…