Chapter 7

A/N: Once again, another 1,000 views in a space less than two days! The total tally is now just over 3,000 views! I cannot thank you guys enough for this milestone! In this chapter, Nick wakes up from his sleep after being admitted to the ZGH. Hope you like this latest addition to the novel!

"Oh my god, Nick! I can't believe it! You're awake!" squealed Judy as she wrapped her arms around Nicks neck tightly. She stayed there for about a minute until she finally let go. "I'm so glad that you are still alive!" she said giddily.

"Oh, I'm so glad you are still standing strong..." wheezed Nick as he coughed violently. He put his paw on Judy's cheek, wiping a stray tear on her grey fur. His eyes rose up for a bit. "Oh, I should apologize shouldn't I?"

Judy looked confused. What has he got to say for himself? "For what? What have you done to make you wanna apologise to me?" she asked as she rubbed her temple. Nick thought about it for a second. He didn't want to say something wrong. "For making you worried... It's all my fault. I mean-" He sputtered. "I mean, I- or, we wouldn't be in this mess if I would have just kept focus on that bastard of a jaguar..." Nick said before he looked away from Judy. "I should have took the shot whilst we had the chance."

Judy sighed with discontent. "Nick, look at me. Please?" As she said that sentence, he looked towards her again. Judy, wanting to see those eyes of his said to him in an annoyed tone; "Please?" Nick looked at the end of his bed for a while until he felt the urge to bother to move his cranium in her direction. He eyed her legs lazily, not wanting to make eye contact with her because of the guilt he felt.

Judy rolled her eyes as she got more annoyed and her hunger for Nick's handsome face increased. "In my eyes, Nick." in which Nick did almost immediately. Judy put her paw on his forehead, stroking his ears and began to explain. "First of all Nick, you did the right thing by not shooting that feline immediately, at the ZPD we give the criminal the chance to give in unless absolute necessary." she assured with a smile. "Secondly, it is not your fault. In fact, you made me feel thankful for having an amazing person by my side. If that idiot pointed that gun at you, I would do the same for you."

Nick revealed a genuine smile to her, knowing after he had the guts to listen to her, he would be happy to listen to her any time. He then looked down to look at her bloodstained uniform. "Where did all those bloodstains come from?" Judy looked down and scanned her body. "Oh, this? This is when I put pressure on your open wound. It was spilling out like a fountain you would find at the Rainforest District!" Judy paused for a moment after she realised something. "Oh, that reminds me." she smirked jokingly. "You have someone else to thank for saving your life."

"Who's that person I need to compliment?" asked Nick as he folded his arms.

"A friend of mine that I have known since I moved into Zootopia. His name is Frank Howl. He runs a small bakery near where I live." Nick's eyes lit up. "Is it the wolf who makes those amazing blueberry muffins that makes peoples eyes twinkle and taste buds explode with joy? Oh I know him too! He is a great animal!"

Judy was surprised that Nick knew someone who was pretty new to the scene of business. She was just going to ask Nick what he knew about him until she saw Nick's arm reach out to her and grabbed her police vest that pulled her forward with it. Judy gasped silently wondering what the hell was going on. "N- Nick? What are you doing?" Nick ignored Judy as he smiled when he unclipped her badge from her vest and started to polish it clean of blood with his wrist. "What?" he answered jokingly. "I just want to keep your prized possession clean of anything icky. I want to see it shine in the light of the sun, not being obscured by anything that prevents from showing your commitment of being a police officer."

"Oh, okay. Thanks Nick." said Judy as she presented a weak smile. She felt disappointed. Her feelings towards Nick have changed dramatically since that dream she had in the waiting room. She felt that she meant to him so much that she treated the dream as an epiphany. She knew she wanted him and she hopes that Nick felt the same way. Judy also felt relieved that Nick didn't make a move on her yet. She felt that she wasn't ready yet, she wanted to do something special for him, and second of all, Finnick was still in the building. That reminded her to tell him that he was here.

Nick handed back her badge, free from blood. "Here, carrots. I believe you would want this back." said Nick with a smile "Thanks Nick. Once again, you are not as useless you think you are." said Judy sarcastically as she clipped her badge back where it belongs on her vest. "Oh, I was meaning to tell you, Nick" began Judy. "Your pal, Finnick is here. He is in the restroom. Well in terms you will understand, the shitter at the moment."

Nick's ears perked up and his jaw dropped a bit. She had never hear Judy swear before. But he couldn't complain, he swore all the time but most importantly, he knows that Judy has actually met him "Hm, okay. Did he speak to you? Did you get to know each other a little more?" Nick asked Judy.

"Oh yes, yes, yes." Judy said in a louder voice. "We started to talk about how you and him met and what you did together before you started doin' your hustling schemes" she started to lie. Karma got to her as she blurted out; "We also started talking about you and I explained to him how I felt for-" she suddenly stopped as her lavender eyes widened when she realised what she said. 'Crap, Judith! What were you thinking?!' she thought to herself.

"Felt for who?" questioned Nick and he arched an eyebrow, leaning up from his bed. As Nick leaned up, a very sharp pain came from his chest. So sharp that it travelled through his whole body, from his chest to his legs. "OW! F- FUCKING HELL THAT HURTS!" he shouted in pain. Judy immediately heard how painful it was coming from his voice. "Nick, calm down! Just lay back in your bed, okay?" she said calmly gently putting his head back on the pillow. "Well, that was stupid..." said Nick assuringly. Judy sighed in relief and in discomfort. "Thank you, Jesus!" she said to herself quietly. "Just stay there and rest your head ya dumb fox." she said playfully swatting his nose gently in a playful manner.

"You better make sure that happens then, okay doc?" a voice was heard coming from the corridor. Judy turned towards the door, listening to what was going on out there. "Cuz I don't want a fucking guard telling me to leave when I just got here." Nick and Judy realized who that was.

"Yeah, thanks doc." the voice said. When there was silence, the door was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang. Nick's heart nearly leaped out of the huge hole in his chest. Bright light flooded the resting room as a shadow of a small figure was seen at the door.

"Finn! How's things!" said Nick with a lack of enthusiasm. "Hey Nick! Doin' good my homie!" shouted Finnick. "Hey Judy, the doctor has given some extra time so lets make this quick."

"Oh, goodie." said Judy with a huff. She wanted to be alone with Nick now. She wanted to away from that rude, obnoxious animal. But, she didn't want to hurt Nick's feelings, so she just rolled along with it and started to talk about her experience coming to Zootopia to the two foxes.

A/N: Okay guys, the next chapter might not come out until next week. I have studies to do and I need more creative thinking time, otherwise I might get a bit more repetitive in later chapters and I don't want my fellow readers to be bored! Once again, thanks again for the moral support! Hope to see you again with another great chapter! Cheers! :-) -RetractedEmotions