A/N So mainly this has all been drama mixed with fluff which is how the buildup is going to be. Yes I have some "lemon" I think they call it or w/e planned, but that will be later.

Again thanks for all your reviews. It really helps me define my writing better.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Oh, I own nothing.

Chapter 5 - Secrecy is a fickle thing, especially at the ZPD

Judy ran out of the bullpen before Nick could walk in. Tears running down her face, almost blinding her, she managed to dodge Chief Bogo and duck into a nearby storage closet. She hugged her knees to her chest as she let all of her pent up emotions loose. The last 2 days had been probably the most miserable of her life. She was quite content to just sit there on the floor for the next century so she wouldn't have to face anyone ever again, but fate had other plans apparently.

A light tapping of claws on the door stunned her enough to stop her crying long enough to stare fearfully at the door.

"Judy, sweetie, can I come in?" came the voice of one of Judy's best friends.

"Yes, she whispered. "You can come in Ben."

A sliver of light spilled through the doorway revealing Office Clawhauser looking down at the sobbing bunny. Sidling in he quickly sat down and held his arms out. Judy slowly crawled into his hug. Burying her face into his puffy shirt she let forth a new stream of tears.

"Whoa there fuzz, I only got the one shirt today," Ben joked.

Judy chuckled slightly through her tears before leaning back and resting on his knee. Wiping her face with her paws she tried to slow her crying.

"Okay miss bunny. What's got you locked in a closet crying enough tears to float your own canoe?"

Judy sniffed and ran her sleeve over her nose. "It's nothing Ben. I just felt like I needed to cry. I'm fine now."

Ben cast her a look that that just screamed LIAR. "Honey, I know why you're in here. I know what's been killing you the last couple of days, and you do too. So let's not beat around the bush for too long because Bogo will skin me and turn me into a rug once he finds out I left the desk. What's been going on with you and Nick?"

Judy's head shot up, her eyes wide and alarmed. "N-Nick?! There's n-nothing going on with me and Nick. He's my partner. He's my friend. My best friend. Nothing could ever be going on between me and N-…" She broke off her rant at Clawhauser's raised brow. And then something inside her just snapped.

"FINE! FINE! I love the stupid asshole, alright? I love the smug prick with his stupid smirk, and those stupid glasses, and his obsessive need to always be right! I haven't been able to stop thinking about him for months and then after he kissed m-"

"HE KISSED YOU?!" squealed Ben. "O M Go-"

"BEN SHUT UP! I can't stand this. I can't take it anymore. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't even do my job. Nick even had to falsify records to keep me from being fired yesterday." Judy collapsed back into the corner.

There was a short pause before she spoke again. "When he kissed me, I was so surprised that I couldn't think straight. I knew that I loved him but I wasn't sure if he actually felt the same way or if this was just some spontaneous event brought on by a sappy movie and a few beers loosening his inhibitions. I left because I needed time to process it. I still couldn't wrap my head around it yesterday. There were so many conflicting emotions going through me. When I noticed Nick acting weird too, I thought he might have just been feeling guilty and that he may not have meant it. Then in the patrol car he told me it was just a mistake, which is what I feared. How could I put myself out there if I was just going to get rejected?"

Judy let out a heavy sigh. "And then last night. When I watched him walk home. Ben you would have been heartbroken to see him like that. It was as if his whole being had been extinguished. I realized that he and I were both in the same position. In trying to make sure we didn't ruin our friendship by revealing our feelings, we devastated each other. A-and that I…" Judy began sobbing again, "I broke his heart by trying to not break mine!"

Judy curled up into a ball and was all but shrieking into her shoulder. Ben quickly picked her up and pulled her to his.

"Shhh, Judy. You don't need to be so sad. You really don't. I know that Nick feels the same way you do right now." Judy glanced up at Clawhauser, eyes full of tears. Ben smiled at her. "It's been all over his face the last couple of days, just the way yours has. And, if you promise me you can keep this between us, I know for a fact he's been in love with you since the Academy."

Judy raised her head in shock. Since the Academy? He's been in love with me for that long? Why has he never said anything before now? Did he really think I couldn't or even wouldn't feel the same way?

Drying her eyes, Judy looked up at the smiling cheetah. "Thanks Ben. I needed that more than you can imagine. First thing after work I'm going to sit down with Nick and-"

Both friends stopped fast as the door burst open. There stood an enraged Chief Bogo, a sheepish looking Nick Wilde, and the entire 1st Precinct in various states of mirth behind them.

Bogo stepped up to the closet and began speaking very slowly but very angrily. "Clawhauser. You know you aren't supposed to leave the desk during your shift. But if and when you do, you also know you're supposed to detach the intercom microphone from. Your. SHIRT!"

Ben looked down in horror to see the active dispatch microphone still around his collar.

The entire staff was now rolling on the floor unable to contain their laughter.

Judy looked from the microphone to Bogo's angry glare to the incapacitated officers and finally to the half-lidded emerald eyes of her smug fox.

"Oh sweet cheese and crackers…"