Chapter 13:

The Silent Treatment

Judy had been gone for the past few days and Nick didn't want to admit to himself how much it was driving him insane. He didn't know where she was, how long she'd be gone, and being alone on duty was going to make him tear his hair out.

Yes he had been beyond pissed at her after their big fight last week. He had vowed to himself that he would never speak to her again. That lasted all of five minutes until he began to regret it and want nothing more than to apologize and hold her close to him.

He didn't want to admit these things though. He had too much pride for that. At work he put on the sly fox face and acted as if everything was peachy keen and like he didn't care whether Judy came back or not. He knew everyone had been slowly anticipating him and Judy being in a relationship but he just blew it off. He had to pull off the persona Judy wasn't his problem anymore and that he didn't miss her. That he didn't regret their fight. That he hadn't been in love with her for months. That their kiss was everything he could have dreamed of and more. That all he wanted was to hold her and kiss her all day long...

No, he wasn't about to admit those things. At least not out loud.

He walked into the ZPD station with his usual cup of morning coffee and the first thing he heard was Judy's voice.

"How was Bunnyville?" Clawhauster asked as he munched on a donut.

"Same old, same old. Although it was nice to see my family again," Judy replied.

Nick cleared his throat.

The two looked up and Clawhauster waved. "Hey Nick. Judy's back."

"I see," he replied. "Hello Judy."

"Hi Nick," she replied twisting her hair around her fingers. He knew that was what she did when she was nervous. There was an awkward silence for a moment then Judy looked at her wrist. "Well, would you look at the time! Gotta go to work. Don't want Bogo to get mad!" Then she ran off.

Nick rolled his eyes. "She's not wearing a watch."

"What happened between you two?" Clawhauster asked. A few days ago Nick had walked in with a huge bouquet of flowers and the two had been inseparable. Now they would hardly look at each other.

Nick waved it off. "It's not important."

"So something did happen!"

"Again, not important," Nick said walking off.

Before long he ended up in the patrol car with Judy. It was very familiar, a slow day on patrol. Although he didn't think at this point there would be any chance of them taking a stroll through the park and sharing a passionate kiss.

There was an awkward silence between them. Neither of them knew what to say although both felt like they should say something.

Nick was trying to think of the right words to apologize. He didn't want things to be like this between them. Yes he and Judy were always at each other's throats, but it was just part of what made their relationship so dynamic. It's what made them work. And he wouldn't trade anything about Judy for the world.

"So, um, Judy…"

Suddenly Judy noticed Sam coming out of a Chipotle up ahead. "Hey, it's Sam!" she said pulling over.

Nick looked up ahead. "Sam?"

Judy got out of the car and walked over to the brown rabbit carrying a Chipotle take out bag. She gave him a hug and the two exchanged a kiss.

Nick stared in shock. He felt like he'd been punched in the throat. For a few seconds he watched them laugh and talk and hold hands. When they kissed again he couldn't decide whether he was going to be sick or explode from anger.

He got out of the car, slammed the door and stormed over to them. "Judy, who is this?" he said seething with anger.

Judy's heart was pounding but she stood her ground and looked Nick in the eye defiantly. "This is Sam. Sam, this Nick Wilde, my patrol partner."

So that's what he'd been reduced to? Just her patrol partner?!

Sam extended his hand. "Nice to meet you Nick."

Nick ignored the hand. "How do you know each other?"

"We used to go to school together," Judy explained. "He's my new boyfriend."

"How long have you been dating?!"

"Just since the weekend. We went to Francesca's in Bunnyville," Sam said. "Although I have to say I've liked Judy for a really long time." He nuzzled her neck.

Judy watched Nick for a moment. He looked angry, actually furious. But she noticed something more behind his cold exterior. He looked hurt. She tried to ignore it. She had been hurt too. Now he knew how it felt. She turned to Sam and placed another kiss on his lips for good measure.

For a fleeting second Nick could feel his poker face expression falter but then a renewed sense of anger hardened his expression. If Judy didn't want to be with him anymore, if she'd rather be with this jerk, he didn't care but he wasn't going to stand around and watch the two of them suck each other's faces.

"Newsflash Carrots, we're on duty. I'm going back to the car, you've got five seconds to get in or I'm leaving without you." He went back to the patrol car and got in. He tried not to look at them but out of the corners of his eyes he saw them kiss again.

A few seconds later Judy got in the car and Nick started to drive.

"That was some performance you put on out there," Nick said through his teeth.

Judy glared at him. "That wasn't a performance! I really like him."

"I'm sure you do."

Judy crossed her arms and looked out the window feeling tears in her eyes. "Why do you care?"

Nick didn't say anything. Because I love you, he thought.