Author's Note
Me, being new to writing these kind of things, I'm unsure, and would like to have a better idea of the ratings system, this chapter contains a decent amount of blood, and I'm on the fence about changing the rating to M just to be safe. What do you guys think?
Nick's POV
I felt pain throughout my whole body. The first thing I sensed was touch, my hand was under pressure, not in a bad way of course, more of a caring way. I was able to slowly lift my heavy eyelids, adjusting to the rather bright light. I couldn't really lift my head, but I saw a bunny. Judy to be more specific, holding my paw. Her head rested on the bed near my legs, face down. The beeping noise coming from my side laid out clearly where I was. I felt my body realize I was awake, and I felt my motions returning. I could move my head just a little, but found it no use since I was rested on a pillow anyways. I squeezed Judy's hand lightly. Causing her to gasp softly. The mere three seconds of her staring at me felt like an eternity. She looked so happy and relieved, yet so upset and scared. She then went to hug me, but stopped herself halfway, processing that it would probably hurt me. Instead she just squeezed my paw back.
"Good to see you're awake." I heard faintly, Judy's mouth sealed. I did my best to look around the whole room, and as I searched my left, I saw a wolf, covered in white fur, Alex. I was sort of surprised he showed up, considering I don't hang out with him outside of work.
"I thought it would be nice," Judy sniffed, "To have more than one person here for you." She concluded. I was doing my best to not tear up, but it wasn't easy. Alex slowly got out of his chair and left the room. Judy just continued to stare at me, a half-smile on her face. Alex returned shortly, with a doctor right behind him. I'll try to spare you the pain of all the details, but basically the doctor said it was good that I was awake, but I would be stuck here for awhile.
"How long exactly do you think he will be here?" Alex asked. Good question, I'd love to know, but talking wasn't really on my schedule at the moment, but Alex seems to have my mindset down.
"Well judging from what we recorded of his injuries, I would say give him at least five days, then we will see how he is doing. Since not everyone heals at the same speed, he could be here long past then, but stay optimistic about this one, he has miraculously dodged the possibility of death, even with odds being strongly against him." The doctor laid down, causing Judy to sigh. I would have reacted to this news, but I was too busy looking back at Judy, wondering what she was thinking.
Judy's POV
I walked around the bench towards Nick, about to tell him that we don't go back empty handed. Then a sharp pain shot through my ears. Gunshots. Time seemed to slow as I saw blood staining Nick's fur about his body. I screamed as Nick fell backwards, processing what just happened seemed to take forever, but in just one second I was already behind the concrete flowerbed next to me. I held my tranquilizer tight, so tight my hands were hurting. Quicker than I have ever moved before, I jumped up and aimed in every possible angle that Nick could have been shot from. Nothing. I fell back against the short concrete barrier, pulling my tranquilizer against my chest. I started breathing heavier, as if I wasn't enough already, and my heart was pounding quicker than ever.
I didn't want to peek around the corner. My best friend, lying there in a his own blood would await me. I sat still for what seemed like forever, until my gut told me to do something. I lost my mind after what had happened, I couldn't focus at all. I checked my watch, almost two minutes have passed. I kept trying to snap myself back to reality, then a thought occurred. Nick could be alive, and he could need medical assistance. Not a moment later I jumped out once again from the wall and took sight of everything around me. Nothing out of order except for Nick. I dashed over to him and placed my ear against his chest, his heartbeat gave me hope. I wrapped my arms around him and tried to pick him up, but failed. My body was still shaking, and I felt weaker than ever. I placed one arm under Nick's, same with the other, and dragged him across the cold, slick, floors of the mall. Even though the mall was very dark, as it was closed, I could still see the blood trail Nick left in his tracks. I found myself at the mall's front doors. Without looking behind me I pushed backwards through them, Nick right in front of me. I dropped Nick as a I heard running. I spun around, tranquilizer in hand.
"Judy, wait, stop!" Two officers yelled at me in unison, a wolf and a bear. If I could pass out from being relieved, I would have. The two officers carried Nick back to the group of squad cars and ambulance located across the parking lot.
"How did you guys know?" I choked, still in pain after what had happened. The wolf that helped me with Nick happened to be Alex, the guy he spoke with before we left. After boarding Nick in the ambulance, Alex knelt down next to me and grabbed my shoulders, making me flinch.
"We got a call about gunshots, and after finding out that they we around this general area, everyone was scared to hell. Judy, I can't express this more, but I promise you, Nick will survive." He told me. I started sniffing every other second at that point. I didn't want to disagree, that would only drag my spirit down even further, but I couldn't help but question it.
"How can, can you, you be so sure?" I stuttered, questioning his honeyed words. Alex, still on one knee, shook me very lightly. A look of confidence on his face.
"I'm sure because of you. He could never die knowing he abandoned you. Let's take you home, get you cleaned up, you do not want to look in a mirror." I slowly looked down after Alex stood up. the majority of my suit had blood stains on it, my paws drenched in blood, which was in the process of drying. He lost so much blood, how would he survive? Alex turned back to face me, the bear who carried Nick now with him.
"Let's get going, Alex and I will get you situated." The bear said with a deep, but calm voice. The three of us walked up to a squad car, the bear took the driver's seat, Alex took the passenger. I sat in the back, alone. Alex made sure to tell everyone where he was going, before the car left the parking lot.
"Judy, got an address for us?" Alex said in his smoky, moderately deep voice, turning his head towards me. I stayed silent for a moment before telling him. He nodded as he wrote it down. My mind was still just a cluster of emotions, and I didn't say another word the whole ride. The car bounced as we pulled into the driveway of my apartment. This wasn't like my old apartment, I didn't have obnoxious, loud neighbors, and I had a noticeably larger living space. Alex opened the door for me, and even put his hand on my back as I got out of the car. I didn't mind his interactions, it made me feel more secure about Nick for some reason. Once we went inside, Alex took my shoes to the sink to wash them, and I went to my bedroom to change. I threw a towel from the bathroom on the floor, and threw my blood stained uniform on it. I put on pajamas, because I just wanted to fall over and go to sleep, even though it was an hour before noon. When I walked out of my bedroom, I couldn't see Alex or his fellow bear. I heard something come from the kitchen, so I figured I would start there. I walked in only to see Alex towering over the stove, since he was at least twice my height.
"What are you doing?" Was my first reaction. He turned to me with a smile, and I noticed he had a pan on the stove. I drooped my ears.
"Well, I figured I would make something for you to eat, how does french toast sound?" He said, still holding his smile. I love the sound of french toast, but a stranger freely making it in my house is what made me want to say no. I was about to rudely ask why I can't make my own food, but Alex has done nothing but be nice to me.
"Yes, actually, it does. Also if you don't mind me asking, why are you doing all this, and where is the bear?" I spoke softly. Alex sighed, his smile fading. He eyebrows fell down.
"Judy, you mean a lot to Nick, and well, you mean a lot to everyone. You are Nick's only true, close, friend. Sure I hang with him a bit at work, but we don't really do anything other than talk a bit. Your fellow officers, such as myself, look up to you, ironically. You have such an optimistic spirit, so I figured during your time of need, I would like to help you retain said spirit. Oh and Jordan left." He said, having to take a breath halfway through his explanation. I took a moment to realize what he just said before smiling, rubbing my eyes. I then walked into the living room and dropped myself on the couch. I didn't bother to turn on the television, no sound what so ever, with the exception of the occasional movement of Alex in the kitchen. I closed my eyes, and let sleep take over my body.
"Alex to Judy, Alex to Judy, do you copy? Over." I heard, I opened my eyes slowly, one after another. The first thing I saw was Alex on the other side of a table, right against the couch. I sat up and leaned over the small table Alex had set up for us. We both ate our french toast, and Alex was able to get a few laughs out of me during our periodic conversation. "So Judy, what do you think of my absolutely amazing, delicious french toast?" He asked, making it very obvious he was joking.
"I love it, in fact you may be the greatest french toast cook ever." I followed up, the sarcasm radiating off of my words. Alex's eyes widened.
"I don't know Judy, that's quite a title you're giving me. The stranger making french toast in your house unsupervised while you sleep." He laughed. I joined along side him. I don't know why, but I felt as if I knew Alex, he was nice, witty, but there when you need him. He reminded me of Nick. My smile faded, my horrendous memories pushing their way into my mind.
"Carrots, look up here," Alex said. I raised an eyebrow at what he called me, "Don't think about me right now, think about the delicious, french toast the stranger made for you!" Alex said in his best imitation of Nick. I tried to fight the urge to laugh, but it didn't work. For the next two hours, Alex put a movie on my TV for us to watch. Every time him or I mentioned Nick, he calmly comforted me, or changed the subject.
"Nick would love this movie." I said, letting my mind drift back to my closest friend. Only partially aware how much Alex is trying to turn me away from his hospitalization.
"I think Judy also loves this movie. In fact, I think Judy would also love some popcorn," Alex said pausing the movie and jumping up. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me along with him to the kitchen. I didn't mind.
It was bizarre, having someone I've known for only a couple hours feel like a close friend. After hours and hours of Alex distracting me with movies, food, and even basic conversation. He left for the night. I was going to ask him to stay longer, but I already felt too awkward. I looked at the clock, it was ten o'clock. I took a deep breath and went to my bedroom. I think Alex was so great to have around, because he was so much like Nick, yet, I guess less obnoxious, My thoughts of Nick came back pretty quickly without anyone or thing to distract me. I just stared up at the ceiling, thinking, why did he have to get shot, why not me? Why did Bogo choose us to go to the mall? I couldn't force my self to sleep with these thought, but I was overtook by slumber eventually due to just how tired I was.
Nick's POV
"Judy, did I ever tell you how important you are to me?" I passed onto her as everyone was leaving. Her ears fell behind her head and she shrugged.
"Well, no, not really, but I think I already know the answer." She said. She knew how much I cared for her. She knew damn well.
"Yes you do, and Carrots," I motioned to her with my arm as she was about leave, "Could you have Alex visit me again next time?" She gave me a warm smile before turning around once again to leave my vision.
"Sure Nick, anything for you." Then she disappeared for time being. Here I sit, now alone in a hospital room, with nothing more than a television, and a doctor to tell me how bad of a condition I'm in. I had a thought, what if I called my mother and told her about what had happened? I didn't just have this thought, I pondered it for hours at a time. I haven't seen my mother in person for a good four years, and haven't talked to her in probably a good two. It was hard for me to do something such as a simple call to her because we weren't very close during the last half of my childhood, and once I moved to Zootopia, that didn't really help. I thought about seemingly random topics to keep myself entertained while tied to my hospital bed. I thought about what exactly happened at the mall that day, I had passed out, so I had no clue, and no way could I, or would I ask Carrots. I also thought about Alex. I wondered why he was in the hospital room with Judy. From what I could tell, Judy was there for hours, and that would mean Alex was too. Sure I talk to him every now and then, but I really didn't know him that well, other than his name and that he liked joking around. I was thinking about all the golden conversation going on at the ZPD about me and Judy, when someone knocked on my door.
"Come in." I coughed, before the door swung open, revealing a familiar wolf.
"Hey, I thought I'd check in with you by myself for the day." Alex said, closing the door behind him. I thought he came because Judy wanted him to?
"Heh, well at least you're not just here because Judy dragged you along." I joked, trying to sit up just a little bit in my bed.
"I'm here because I need to talk to you." He said, with his serious voice.
"Why else would you be here Alex, I wonder." I scratched my chin, raising an eyebrow. He let out a soft chuckle.
"Very true, but in all seriousness, it's about Judy. I've been hanging out with her for the last few days, and to say the least, she misses you. More attached then anything I've ever seen before." Alex told me, concern in his voice. Of course she misses me, I'm her best friend.
"Oh please Alex, she has every reason to miss me, I'm her closest friend, who was just nearly killed." I rolled my eyes. Alex kept his serious face, that meant be prepared.
"Judy called me seven times yesterday Nick. Six of those times she was trying to distract herself with a social life so she wouldn't think about you. I had to redirect conversation about you over a dozen times. Even though you are okay, she is still worried to the point of crying at midnight." Alex claimed, almost angry, but sympathy caressing his words. I sat in silence. Judy was really worried, like beyond normal. I then focused more on what Alex said. I was deeply confused.
"So, you distract her, and try to make her stay positive?" I questioned. He nodded his head. "Did she call and wake you at midnight?" He said no and shook his head along with it.
"She did call me at like three in the morning one time, and since I had to go to work that day, she was very sorry, and apologized deeply, but that's about it for late calls." Alex explained.
"How long exactly were you with her?" I investigated. I actually enjoyed the fact that Alex was so willing to help Judy, after all, the best I could do it talk to her while she is here.
"Let's see, hmm," He began counting on his claws, he kept going, until he started over, "The day of the incident, about all day up until about ten o'clock, the next day, maybe seven or so hours, then I had to work the following afternoon, but got off early by Chief Bogo, so probably another five, yesterday about the same as before, and finally today we were here, which I guess really doesn't count." Alex ended. He also noticed my jaw was open. Pretty sure he is insane to take such a task. Judy's company is fine, but eleven hours in one day? I think I'd run out of things to say to her. I did find it strange that Alex was with her at midnight, but I was just assuming such based on what he told me, so I could theoretically be wrong.
"Okay I get the point, she is struggling." I flatly accepted. Alex smiled before giving me a salute.
"Well, that's all I wanted to tell you, anyways, goodnight Nick, see you tomorrow." Alex said, turning towards the door.
"Wait!" I said, coughing mid sentence, "Please don't leave, stay for another ten minutes." I begged, desperate for conversation. Alex sighed then pulled a chair up to my bed. Alex stayed for another forty minutes before leaving. To say the least, if I wasn't stuck here in the hospital, I would have offered drinks on me. I slumped deeper into my pillow before falling asleep with a smile.
Author's Note
I changed my original plan for this story in what I think is a good way, but anyways hope you enjoyed chapter two. Let's just say Alex has a more significant role in the story as he was going to. Please leave a review and offer criticism, compliments, or ideas for me, I will indeed enjoy it, as long as you use logic.
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When I got into writing this, I didn't think I would refuse to stop writing it.