A/N: I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. We're mixing it up with some drama. Don't worry, the "M" rating is still coming.

One reviewer asked why the chapters were so short and I'll simply say I have all of this written down already, however I am constantly rewriting certain parts so my "finished" parts come out as soon at they are done.

Oh, and I own nothing.

Chapter 4: Misery loves company, but how much is too much?

Later that afternoon, they sat in their joint office, writing up the day's report on the thief and his apprehension. Judy finished her report fairly early and filed it to be brought to Bogo. Grabbing her bag, she headed out for the night. Nick, ever the curious one, decided to see exactly what Judy had put in her file to be done so quickly. Opening it up, he briefly skimmed the document before letting out a strangled gasp.

"Officer report, Judith Hopps, Sahara Square, Suspicion of theft.

At 1500 hours officers Wilde and myself apprehended a male tiger matching the description of a suspected thief. During a brief chase, I, officer Hopps, apprehended the suspect by utilizing extreme physical force, potentially causing damage to the suspect's face and neck. Suspect was cuffed and transported to a holding facility to await arraignment.

Sworn statement by Officer Judith Hopps."

Nick's hands were shaking by the end of the paper. Does she even understand what this could mean? This could get her suspended, possibly even charged! Excessive force is never to be employed in the way she did, and even if it was, you don't just write it down and send it to the Chief!

Quickly rebooting her computer, Nick carefully reworded her statements, trying to downplay the events in a manner that may get the Chief riled up but not to the point she was dismissed from the precinct. Forging her signature was easy, but erasing the words from his mind was far more difficult.

Why would she do that? Is it because of what I did? Oh god…is it so she could be sent away from me? Have I ruined our friendship that much that she would be willing to toss away her life's dream?

Nick logged off his own computer and slowly shrugged his bag onto his shoulder. Shuffling into the lobby, he was only slightly shocked to see that the day shift had all gone home. Vaguely waving at the antelope on desk duty, he pushed his way out the door and stumbled down the stairs. Normally he would grab a taxi after a long shift, but tonight he needed to walk. He had to walk. As if it was an unconscious penance for his actions. Normally the streets at night weren't the safest place to be, but usually his badge was enough to warn off any potential threats. Tonight however, the very air itself was his protector. Such misery flowed from the fox that anyone within range cringed and fell back.

Unbeknownst to him, a single pair of eyes followed him from the minute he left the ZPD to the second he disappeared inside his apartment lobby. Eyes brimming with tears.

Eyes of brilliant violet.

If you had told any officer at Precinct 1 that the next morning was going to be even strange than the last, they would have called you crazy, put you in a straight jacket, and locked you in the drunk tank for the day. But by the end of roll call, almost every single officer would rather be in the drunk tank than be witness to what was going on. If the sight of the unbreakable Judy Hopps being without her normal spunk was unsettling, then the small mammal in the front row was downright disturbing.

Head buried in her paws, Judy sat weeping uncontrollably. Her fellow officers were in shock. Not a single one knew what to do. Francine made an attempt to pat her shoulder but it only resulted in an even greater amount of tears to spill forth, causing Francine to immediately retreat. All of the officers started glancing at each other nervously. Nothing breaks Hopps. Nothing. She faced Nighthowlers without a care in the world. She's taken down animals 10 times her size without ever hesitating. She even beat down Bogo into letting her work with a broken leg before she went to the hospital. Whatever could do this to her had to be something major.

Judy's ears twitched suddenly. A look of fear flashed across her face and she immediately bolted from the chair and out the side door, still crying. If anything this new action confused the room even more until the main door swung in to show what appeared to be the world's most miserable fox, shuffling through into the bullpen.

An immediate understanding swept the room as every officer realized the seriousness of the state of their two friends and exactly what must be going on between them. This wasn't simply partners having a disagreement as they thought yesterday. This was something so much deeper. Nearly everyone in the precinct knew about Hopps and Wilde. Their chemistry both on and off the job was legendary. Something horrible had severed that connection and neither of them looked like they were going to be able to recoup.

Nick slowly walked to his regular chair, barely registering that Judy wasn't there waiting for him. As he sat down, he noticed there was water that had splashed onto the chair and table. Starting to wipe it off, he realized that it wasn't water. The feel of it, slightly denser. Different smell. They were…tears? Why would there be tears on the desk?

Suddenly wide eyed and fully alert, he looked up to McHorn who blinked, then nodded his head toward the side door Hopps had just left through. Nick was halfway down from his chair when Chief Bogo walked through that very door.

"WILDE! Sit. Down. Now."