"I can't live, if living is without you

I can't live, I can't give anymore"

- Badfinger

The train rattled along the tracks through the city. Judy sat cramped among the morning's commuters. As she swayed back and forth in her seat, the bunny couldn't help but feel...empty. When she'd first arrived in Zootopia, the sprawling metropolis had seemed so enthralling to her; now it looked washed out and lifeless. None of it seemed important.

Screeching to a halt, the tannoy announced their stop in its usual flat monotone. Not that it needed to; Judy knew the route to ZPD Headquarters like the back of her paw. She moved to leave the train-

"Outta the way!" An elephant barged his way past her, eyes fixed firmly on his phone, not even looking around. Judy's fur bristled with rage. She called out:

"Hey, stop there!"

Too late. The offender was already gone. She knew she didn't have the heart to chase after him: her mind was elsewhere. Instead, the bunny took a few deep breaths in a vain attempt to calm herself down, and carried on her way.

Never let them see that they get to you.

Naturally, Bogo had agreed to give Judy extended leave, enough for her to recover.

Not that she ever felt she would.

Nevertheless, the doe made her way towards the Chief's office. The spring in her step was absent, still on edge from earlier. Her colleagues seemed equally sullen; light hearted jokes and banter were replaced with a silent, almost funerary atmosphere. Even Benjamin Clawhauser, the life and soul of the place, could only manage a regretful glance upwards at the bunny.

She delivered a sharp knock on the Chief's door, foot thumping in agitation. At what precisely she didn't know; nothing provided any comfort or relief. The bunny felt isolated and powerless to do anything. It made her...frustrated.

"Come in," came Bogo's curt instruction, slicing through her thoughts. The doe bit down on her lip, gently pushing open the imposing office door. The buffalo was sat at his desk, half-moon spectacles perched on the end of his nose. He saw the tiny rabbit officer approaching, cast her a brief look and brushed aside his usual mountain of paperwork. "Ah, Officer Hopps," Bogo said quietly, voice even and restrained. "have a seat." He gestured at the oversized chair on the opposite side of his desk.

The bunny, with great effort, propelled herself up onto the chair; frustration stirred within her. It was all too formal. "Chief," she muttered, ears pressed against the back of her head.

Bogo ignored the discourtesy; given the circumstances, he understood her frame of mind. After all, he'd seen it far too often. "Now then," he began, sliding off his glasses and folding them together, "I've arranged leave for you effective immediately." The buffalo set his glasses down on he desk, before sliding out a piece of paper and scribbling in a signature. "Take as long as you need Hopps," he ventured awkwardly, at a loss for words, "to...compose yourself."

Judy's nose twitched in annoyance at that. "With all due respect Sir," she growled, trying and failing to control her temper, "I don't think something like this can just be forgotten about after a few weeks at home." Bogo's eyes widened but, adrenaline taking over, she continued:

"N-Nick was everything to me! The most important mammal in my life!" Her passion rose with each breath, paws digging into the hard underside of her chair. "And he's never coming back! Not today, not next week, not ever!" Furious tears welled in her eyes, "I-I just c-can't do it!" She slumped back in her chair. "I can't."

Bogo breathed in deeply, nostrils flared. Judy cringed, realising just how much she'd said. Had she pushed him too far? "Chief, I'm-"

"Don't bother Hopps," the buffalo began in reply; he clasped his hooves together. "I understand." The bunny cocked her head, somewhat surprised.

"You do?"

"Yes, I do," he sighed wearily. "You're not the first officer to lose a partner on the force." He adjusted the badge pinned to his shirt, "And I fear you won't be the last. That's the painful part." He hauled himself up from his desk, arms behind his back, and circled behind the bunny. "I know how you feel Hopps. We all feel it. Wilde was one of us. He proved us wrong." A faint smile crept onto his lips, "Just like you."

Judy gazed at Bogo, his eyes full of remorse. "He proved himself wrong as well," she said. "Thanks Chief, it means a lot." She paused. "And I'm so sorry if I was-"

"Impertinent?" The buffalo raised an eyebrow playfully. She could swear he'd picked that up from Nick. "Think nothing of it. I know what you must be going through. Now," he crossed to the door, "I suggest you go and take the time off that you need. We'll manage without you. Just." He swung the door open. "And remember, you're not in this alone. The ZPD takes care of its own."

Judy slid off her chair and made her way towards the door. Too exhausted even to cry, the doe did her best to smile at Bogo as she left. Sniffling softly, she mumbled to herself:

"Us bunnies. So emotional."