Set One
Judy and Nick kept sleeping.
Set Two
Judy and Nick kept sleeping.
Set Three
Judy and Nick kept sleeping.
Set Four
Judy arrived in Bunnyburrow around 4:30. She had told her parents she was coming home but she didn't want the whole family greeting her, in the way that they'd seen her off three months before. She knew she would see them when she got home, but she just couldn't take them making a fuss the moment she stepped off the train. It would feel too festive, and there was no reason to celebrate. Not that she planned to wallow in her misery. She'd pull herself together and put on a brave face as soon as she could. There was no point in making everyone around her as miserable as she was. Particularly not since she'd always been one of the optimists in the family.
It was just her parents, in the main farmtruck, blue with the cheerful "Hopps Farm" lettering on the side. She tried to think how she'd feel if she were really here just for the weekend, which was what she'd told her folks. She wasn't ready to confess everything— the mess she'd made of her own life and of Zootopia, and how she'd quit the police force. She'd have to tell them by tomorrow night of course, when they'd expect her to get ready to return to the city. But this was just Saturday afternoon, so she had time to work up to it.
Her parents came over and hugged her hello. Then her father took the carrot-patterned suitcase and they all went to the truck.
"It's nice that you can get away and see us," her mother said.
Judy put on her fake grin, like when her parents had called after her first day as a meter maid. "It sure is! It's good to be home."
Her parents exchanged looks and she wondered if she'd overdone it. After all, she had told them that Zootopia was her home now. Maybe she shouldn't sound quite so eager to be in Bunnyburrow.
"I mean, it's a nice change, the fresh air and everything." She hoped that was better. She did know she would have to prepare them for her return being permanent, but she didn't feel quite ready to lead into that. Maybe it would be a gradual explanation.
Her parents made small talk on the way home, and Judy was able to ask questions. She was interested in how her various siblings were doing, and the drive was not long enough to cover everyone. She knew it would be a challenge to be the upbeat big sister in a few minutes. Her older siblings had all left home of course. And some of the younger ones were off at college, although they all still visited. She hoped they wouldn't be over her first night back. Even if, as far as they knew, it was first trip back home after her big move, she hoped that wouldn't make it seem like a special occasion.
She suddenly imagined a surprise party to celebrate. How would she endure that? After all, as far as her family knew, she was a heroine, the bunny cop who made good. They wouldn't blame her for "breaking the city." No doubt they were proud that she'd exposed "the inherent savageness of predators," as some of the press had put it recently.
Judy wished she had someplace else to go, not Bunnyburrow and not Zootopia. She thought of the old song, "How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm, after they've seen Aerie?" How could she live among animals that hated and feared foxes and other predators? And it would probably be worse now that there seemed to be support for that hatred and fear. Still, this was her family, and she knew they loved her. And it wasn't like she could make it on her own.
They arrived at the house and her siblings of course rushed out to the truck. They surrounded her, all talking at once. It was overwhelming, but in a good way. She didn't have to say much, just hello to each one, which took awhile in itself.
Meanwhile, Nick kept napping in the sunshine.
Set Five
Judy kept leaning against Nick as the cops cuffed Bellwether and the three corrupt police-rams. They'd done it! She and Nick had cracked the case, for real this time.
"You OK, Carrots?" Nick quietly asked.
"Yeah, thanks." Her leg hurt like the dickens but the pain was almost worth it.
Bogo looked down into the diorama. "Well done, you two."
"Thank you, Sir." Judy tried not to beam.
"I'll overlook the damage to the train and, what's that, a stuffed elk?"
"A deer," Nick said. He turned his head and spat out some of the stuffing.
"Tasty. Hopps, what's wrong with your leg?"
"I scraped it on a tusk."
"It was a little more than a scrape," Nick said.
Bogo ordered McHorn and Trunkaby to go get a ladder. "We'll have you out of there and to a hospital as soon as we can."
"Really, Sir, it's not that bad." She tried to put on a brave face.
"Well, I think we can let a doctor decide that."
"But, Sir—"
"That's an order, Hopps."
"I'm no longer under your supervision, Sir." She realized she was still calling him "Sir," but that was out of habit.
"Really? You did all this just as a citizen, with no interest in rejoining the force?"
"Wellll..."
"I think she'd like to come back," Nick said. "Assuming you won't put her on parking duty."
"I'll see what I can do. And you, Fox?"
"Nick Wilde."
"Right. Are you just another concerned citizen, Wilde, or do you have law enforcement ambitions?"
Judy grinned as Nick was struck speechless.
Then Trunkaby and McHorn returned with the ladder. The rhino carried Judy up and out. Nick felt like he should, but he knew it was easier for a larger mammal. He climbed up on his own right after them.
The ambulance soon arrived. Nick insisted on going along. He held Judy's paw on the way. She found it very comforting, although she teased, "Don't look so worried. A mastodon scrape isn't fatal."
"I'm just worried about your insurance, since you may've lost those sweet, sweet public employee benefits."
"I've only been off the force for a few days. It'll be fine." She squeezed his paw and he squeezed back.
When they got to the hospital, they had to wait awhile since it wasn't considered an emergency. They wanted to hold paws again but this was more public and they suddenly felt self-conscious about it.