Chapter 8: Monday Always Sucks

….

Monday

While Nick and Judy were on their normal patrol, Judy gets an unexpected phone call from Dr. Clawson.

"Hello, yes, this is Judy Wilde, what can I do for you Dr. Clawson? Why are you calling me so soon?"

"Well Judy, there are some...irregularities with the kits blood work, and I really need to speak with you both, preferably in person. We don't believe that it is anything that is life threatening or even very serious, but anything unusual should be addressed as soon as possible. In addition, there are some possible issues with the kits seeming accelerated growth. Have you noticed abnormal weight gain in the past week or so?"

"Actually, I did notice that I seem to be gaining weight faster than normal, and my 'bump' seems to be getting a bit larger than I expected. Let me call the chief and schedule time off as soon as we can. I'll call you back as soon as I find out when, thanks."

"Hello, Clawhauser, will you connect me with the chief please? What do you mean why didn't I just call him? You know we aren't supposed to call him directly unless it's an emergency! Will you just…..thanks. Chief, this is Judy, I was just contacted by my doctor, and she needs Nick and I to come over to her office as soon as we can get there, something about the kits blood work. It's ok to go now? OK, thanks I'll call and let her know that we're on our way. Yes, I'll let you know if it's anything serious, thanks so much, 'bye."

'Dr. Clawson? Chief Bogo gave us permission to see you as soon as you can work us in…now?" Judy looked at Nick, who nodded "yes, of course, we'll be there as soon as possible, around fifteen to twenty minutes, thanks so much".

…

20 minutes later in Dr. Clawson's office…

"Ok, let me start off by telling you again that we do NOT believe what I am going to be telling you is actually serious or dangerous in any way to your kits. Here's what we know….first off, the bloodwork. As I'm sure you are aware, we always type and cross match kits blood to be able to look for possible donors in case of an emergency, starting with the mother, then the father. Both of your kits actually seem to match ALL known blood types, perfectly. Judy, there has NEVER been a blood type recorded that would match both predator and prey…perfectly…. ever! This is absolutely unheard of in medical science to date, especially between a bunny and a fox. What we would like to do, with your permission of course, is to take one last draw from each kit. We want to try to crossmatch the samples with all known major predator species and prey species blood types as a verification procedure. As you may or may not know, most prey are type "A" – either A, A positive or A negative, and most predators are type "B"- either B, B positive or B negative with very few exceptions. Occasionally different pred or prey types will be marginally compatible, but there has NEVER been a type that seems to be compatible with every known blood type.'

'There is a possibility that we, the scientific community, using the genetic template from the kits blood, can create a type of-of 'artificial' blood if you will, that can be use like a universal donor for both predator and prey alike. We will do our best to keep names out of the research, and we would us a generic term like say, type "M" for 'mammal inclusive' or "U" for 'universal' as the new blood type. PLEASE consider this!"

"Dr., can you please give us a few minutes alone, so we can talk this over privately?" asked Judy.

"Why certainly, I'll tend to a few other patients while you consider my request."

"Nick….what are we gonna do? I hate the thought of doing more tests on the kits, not to mention the fact that if their names get out, they might be taken from us and used in...in...some sort of terrible medical experiments…"

With a very exasperated look Nick replies "I don't know sweetheart. On the one paw, we'll be placing the kits and ourselves in a very precarious spot. On the other paw, we'll be accomplishing something on a grand scale that you really wanted to do since you were little. To make the WORLD a better place. Since Dr. Clawson indicated that this is NOT a life threatening situation, I think we should tell her that we need a few days or so to really consider this."

With a small smile on her muzzle and tears in her eyes, Judy nodded slightly in agreement. Nick peeked out of the door just in time to catch Dr. Clawson's attention on her way by.

"I'll be in in a second" she said.

After Dr. Clawson sat down at her desk, drawing a deep breath Judy started "Ok, here's what we'd like to do. Since you have indicated that this isn't really a serious issue, we we'd like to take a few days to consider everything. We feel that it would only be fair to give us time to make a more informed decision."

"Of course dear, I understand completely. Ok then, let's move on to the other issue at hand, the reason I asked about your weight gain. I've done quite a bit more research on interspecies pregnancies. I have since discovered that, as a rule, hybrid kits tend to come to term at an accelerated rate. That being said, the rate depends entirely on the species involved. In your case, it is beginning to appear that the six months will be the very latest that we can expect for the kits. Five months may more likely be the case now. I would suggest that you be prepared to deliver in the next couple of months to be on the safe side."

"Wait….WHAT!" exclaimed a slightly horrified Judy.

"I'm sorry dear, but nothing else I can think of would explain your accelerated weight gain and admitted 'bump' growth. That should be more than enough for now, please call if you have any more questions in the meantime"

"Uhhhh...well…damn…." Was the only thing that Nick could say.

…

As they sat in the patrol car Nick asked "Well, how do you want to handle things now?"

"I guess we need to talk to Bogo about the maternity leave thing first" said Judy.

"I agree. As far as the timing thing, since the station is closer to the hospital, I think we should see how close to the possible delivery date you can work. If things go as fast as Clawson expects, it would be much better to be at work than halfway across the city. I know it's not the best situation, but better safe than sorry. If you aren't comfortable with that I understand, just throwing out suggestions here..." said Nick, obviously more concerned than he had let on at the doctor's office. "Let's do this…we'll go back to the station and talk to Bogo. When we're done there we can call our parents and let them know about the probable move up on the due date. But we will NOT say anything about the blood work, they'll be more concerned than we are. It'll just stress everyone out unnecessarily, OK?"

As Judy nodded in agreement, Nick keyed the radio "Officers Wilde to dispatch"

"This is dispatch, go Wilde"

"Clawhauser, show us 10-19, we need to have a face to face with the chief ASAP."

"10-4 Wilde. Attention all units, unit 416 is shown as 10-19, dispatch out"

"OK" said Nick, "let's get this over with." But as he looked at his partner, his wife, he saw a look of pure dread on her muzzle and her eyes wet with tears. "Carrots...Judy...?"

"Nick...I-I'm scared, scared out of my mind. What are we going to do? What if something is wrong with the kits...or with me? I don't know how much more of this uncertainty I can take..."

Nick reached over and pulled the frightened bunny into his lap and hugged her tighter than he ever had before.

"Judy, listen to me...I'm scared too. I don't know what my life would be like without you or the kits. If something happened to you, what would I do without you? I don't know anything about raising kits. Nothing. If we lost the kits, we would both be such a mess I don't know if we could ever recover. If I lost all three of you I would lose my mind. I've been by myself before, but never actually alone, thatwould be different. I would not only be alone, I would be so lonely that I don't think I could survive. The only way that we're going to be able to get through this is together. Where is that tough little bunny that keeps pushing me through all of the tough times? I need her now more than ever. Let's try to soldier through this, at least until we get home. Then we can go to bed and have a cry fest until we can get our shit together enough to at least call our parents...OK?"

"O-ok, I'll do my best."

"Now THAT'S the bunny I know and love..."

"Dumb fox."

"Teary bunny. Owwww! "

…

Back at the Zootopia Central...

As a very somber Nick and Judy enter the front lobby, they are greeted by Clawhauser "Go ahead you two, the chief is expecting you. I'll let him know that you're here."

"Ok, thanks Spots" replied Nick.

Nick knocks lightly on the door..."Alright, come in you two."

As the pair took a seat, taking a deep breath Judy started "I'm sorry chief. I don't know how something that normally is relatively simple got so...complicated. Let me explain what we know so far and then we can take it from there. But please, what we tell you now STAYS between us. You can't tell anyone about this, especially Clawhauser, until we have more information.'

'To start with, we just found out that the kits blood work is...'abnormal'. I guess unique might actually be a better word, at this point we just aren't really sure. The doctor told us that ...the kits...have blood that is...compatible with ANY species, predator or prey." As Judy noticed the startled look on Bogo's muzzle she continued "they want to take additional blood samples so they can try to manufacture some sort of 'artificial' blood that can be used on any species in case of emergency. Chief, we're afraid that if certain mammals find out they may take our kits and study them like some sort of…of…freaks and we will never see them again. And to top it all off, we learned that because the kits are hybrids, they tend to grow faster, so my due date will most likely be greatly accelerated. I'm only three months along and may deliver in only two more months. We still have NO idea how large the kits will be... I may need a C-section to deliver my kits. I'm so frightened right now I just can't think straight." With that Judy totally broke down, tears streaming down her muzzle.

Totally speechless, Bogo looked at the distraught couple. "Wilde...I mean Nick...aaarrghhhh...if I even remotely though that you did any of this deliberately I would wear your hide for a coat!"

"Just to be fair sir" began Nick "I don't think six of me would be enough to make a coat for you".

As Judy broke a tiny smile, Bogo yelled "SHUT THE HELL UP WILDE, I'm trying to be serious here!"

Nick looked Bogo straight in the eye and said loudly "Yes sir, I know, and that's exactly my point. I think that Judy and I have had more than enough seriousness for one day, thank you very much" his voice rising slightly more with each word.

Bogo stared at Nick for a long minute, his gaze softening a bit and replied "Yes, I believe you probably have, and I apologize for yelling. Judy, I still have you paperwork on my desk for your maternity leave, I'll sign and date it right now. And as a personal favor to you both, I'm going to assign paternity leave for Nick effective immediately. I'm sure you both can use the time constructively. Take as long as you need, I'll take whatever heat comes down from the powers that be. Now, get the hell out of here and go home. And please…keep me informed."

As Nick and Judy exited Bogo's office with a half thankful smile/half smirk Nick turned and said, "Thank you Chief, I always knew you weren't the heartless bastard that you try to portray."

…

Upon arriving home, Nick carried Judy into their home straight into the shower and turned it on full force, both of them fully clothed,

"Nick" Judy shrieked "what the hell are you doing?"

"Carrots, we can't carry this funky assed attitude around with us, we have GOT to break the mood so we can at least start thinking rationally. This seemed like as good a way to wash that crap off as any. Now, let's...get...naked..."

As they washed each other's fur, the tension and depression they had been wearing for most of the day seemed to dissipate and go down the drain with the water from the shower.

After a good shower, with no 'extracurricular' activities, the couple retired to the bedroom. As Judy snuggled up comfortably to her fox "You know, this wasn't such a bad idea...sly fox."

"Beautiful bunny."

"What the hell are you even talking about Slick?" said a slightly aggravated Judy "Can you seriously look at me, with this HUGE bump, and…and say with a straight muzzle that you still find me beautiful? I'm calling the nuthouse right now and have you committed, because you are insane!"

"Fluff," said Nick grinning "you are, without a doubt, more beautiful now than ever before, bump and all. You have no idea how absolutely gorgeous you really are do you?"

Judy giggled and said "You dumb fox, are you trying to seduce me? Because if you are...you're out of luck. No funny stuff until after the kits are born."
"Well, you can't blame a mammal for trying" he replied with a wink."Seriously though, we need to call our parents and let them know about the probable change in due dates. We are NOT going to mention the...uh…details about the blood work until we know more, OK? And given our current state of…undress, let's NOT do Muzzletime…"

With a long sigh and slight grin, Judy agreed and dialed her folks as Nick dialed his mother. "Ok, here goes..."

JUDY ~ 'Hey dad, is mom around? We need to talk to you for a few minutes. She is, great, put the phone on speaker please. Yes, I know you always do dad, just...never mind, that's not important enough to argue over. We don't want to alarm you guys, but we got a call from my doctor earlier today and...no mom, there is nothing the matter, it's just that since the kits are hybrids, I will be due in the next two months or so... Yes I know that's not what we told you before, it's just that...mom...MOM...MOTHER, will you pleeeeease stop. No, there is nothing else, we just wanted you to know about the change so you wouldn't be caught off guard when the kits do arrive. Yes, Nick's calling Victoria, as we speak. Yes, we'll let you know if anything else changes, love you, 'bye."

Nick ~ "Hello, mom? No, I didn't think someone else would be answering your phone...why, should there be? Are you being...naughty...Yes, of course I'm joking. At least I think I am...anyways, listen, we got back from Judy's doctor a little bit ago. No there are no real problems...but...no mom it's not serious, it's just that with the kits being hybrids the doctor has moved Judy's due date ahead or back, whichever, a bit. Yes, that's right, the kits are due in around two months or so, we still don't really know for sure. Yes we know that's not much time. Bogo has granted Judy her maternity leave beginning immediately, and believe it or not, old Buffalo Butt actually granted me paternity leave as well. Yes, I'll be able to work on the nursery full time until it's completed. We'll let you know if anything else happens as soon as we know. I'll talk to you soon...love you too, 'bye."

And with that, our slightly less depressed couple called it a day.

A/N: 4/16 was the release date for Zootopia, it seemed like as likely a unit number as any. Code 10-19 is Officer(s) return to station.

USA Patriot-the kits names were announced to the parents, Darlene and Gideon first because the parents were more anxious to learn the names since there was special meaning to them, then to the rest of the Hopps family because everyone else was just curious.