The Hostage
Inspired by the comic, "Kidnapped" created Tani
A/N: I'd like to thank again my two editors, Selaxes and NightWolf0179 for their help with the story. Like I mentioned to them, this story seemed to have a life of its own and quickly wrote itself. If it were a sentient being, we'd all be in trouble.
I found the comic in Pinterest and have posted a copy of it in my site at Deviant Art. Unfortunately, I have no way of doing so on FanFiction or AO3. The original artist was Tani and it was translated into English by sunny4u. Recently, ZNN released an updated translation of the comic on their website. The link is zootopianewsnetwork dot com slash 2017 slash 03 slash comic-kidnapped-original-by-tani dot html#more. I can only say that I'm not a fan of their translation as Nick describes Judy as a moron rabbit, bothersome bunny and a load to bear. Having vented, I now bring forth the usual disclaimers:
All characters are owned by ©Disney except for the OC, Courtney Brushmarke. She is owned by artbirchly of Deviant Art. Any resemblance to actual persons or mammals, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Nick happily hummed a merry little tune as he walked towards the apartment that he and Judy now shared. It had been several weeks after the "Brushmarke Incident" and Internal Affairs, along with the Zootopia Fire Department and the Mayor's Office, had recently concluded their confidential investigation of the fire that had occurred at the restaurant of the Palm Hotel and Casino.
The results of the investigation had determined that no party was directly at fault. Except for the unwise actions of one skunk, Courtney Brushmarke, who had mistakenly poured, in her drunken panic, her Belver Bears Intense 100 proof vodka on the fire. The fire that Judy had inadvertently started when she had accidentally knocked down the lighted candle on their table when Nick and Judy were having their first date. Of course, all parties involved recognized that Judy would not have knocked down the candle in the first place had it not been for the speciesist remarks uttered by said skunk.
All things considered, had Judy not intervened, no one would have been the wiser and the skunk would have gotten her comeuppance. However, Judy's sense of justice would not allow any mammal, no matter how speciesist they were, to be charged for a crime they did not commit. So, she had gone to Bogo to 'fess up for accidentally starting the fire. Bogo had not been happy to hear her confess to the 'crime' but he was obliged to launch an investigation with the assistance of the ZFD. The Mayor's Office had become involved since their poster couple for the Mammal Inclusion Initiative could be embarrassingly comprised if they were found to be at fault plus the Brushmarkes had been hefty donors to the Mayor's last re-election campaign.
Nick had participated in the discussions between the three departments because he felt Judy shouldn't take the blame for anything. At the hearing and after much haggling, the DA had agreed to drop the arson charge if Courtney did community service and attended a sensitivity seminar. The Brushmarkes anger had been mollified when Bogo agreed to levy administrative charges against Nick and Judy for failing to deescalate the situation properly and for conduct unbecoming ZPD officers. Nick further agreed to this only if Judy would be assigned a week of parking duty as punishment while he would take a week's suspension. He argued that the MII campaign would be hurt if Judy were seen as a lawbreaker. He, on the other hand, would be seen as a natural scapegoat and he didn't mind as long as Judy was protected. Bogo happily took this offer, as he would not have to suffer Nick's smart-alecky wisecracks for at least week. Judy was very angry that only Nick was to be suspended but he had managed to convince her in the end that it was better for all parties.
Though, Nick would have been lying if he said he did not have another reason for why he took all the blame. The fox had a surprise and he needed time to prepare. It also gave him time to reflect on all that he and Judy had gone through and where they stood in their relationship. He definitely was a very lucky mammal, Nick believed, for someone like Judy to even consider him as a partner. He, even after having spent almost half of his life conning other mammals out of their hard-earned cash, had somehow managed to turn his life around and was now a respected and decorated officer of the ZPD. All because one very beautiful and determined bunny had decided that he was worth believing in.
He had fallen for her – hard - when she had saved his life from the deranged panther over a year ago. And when Bogo had attempted to bully her into resigning, he had come to her defense in order to buy her more time. He had no idea at the time whether it would have worked or not, but fortune had seemed to smile on them. They had successfully cracked the Missing Mammals case, even despite the many handicaps Judy had faced, with the help of her pluck and determination. Then came the ill-fated news conference where she had unwittingly shown her own speciesist background. Nick had been hurt and had foolishly thrown away the friendship she had proffered all because of pride. That had been three months of seemingly endless agony.
During that time, Nick was a different fox. He found himself needing his solitude under a small bridge, needing to be alone, far more often than what was considered healthy. The dread he felt ate at his very core, and he spent every single second of his time waiting and hoping for Judy to come back to him. And when she had, his heart filled with song again.
With Judy by his side, he was inspired and motivated to follow in her pawsteps on the long road to the elite Precinct One. She wanted him to be his partner, after all, and that was an offer he couldn't refuse, even though the process itself was bound to be a grueling experience.
That had been more than a year ago. He had struggled during that period, gathering up courage to speak to her about his love for her. And each time, he had lost nerve. Now, after working together for almost half-a-year, the fates had interceded again and they had become more than just professional partners. They had professed their love for one another and she had moved in with him. Life couldn't be sweeter…or could it? Nick knew he wanted more than what they had and he was sure Judy did too but he did not want to force anything. And yet…the specter of those three months continued to haunt him. So he had made a decision. Which was why, in the middle of the week, he had the object he so very needed in his pocket and was happily whistling away his cares as he made his way back. But the fates are fickle mistresses as he was soon to learn when he received an urgent call from Clawhauser to report to Precinct One's Situation Room immediately.
As Nick, entered the Situation Room, he saw Chief Bogo, Delgato, Fangmeyer, Grizzoli, Wolford, Snarlov along with McHorn huddled around the city map. He heard the chatter of the exchanges amongst the various units and saw the board where numerous scenarios were laid out. "Hey Chief!" Nick greeted Bogo, "couldn't wait to see my handsome face that you had to call me back in the middle of my suspension?" he smirked. The Cape Buffalo stood silent. None of the others in the room were smiling. That's not a good sign if I can't get a rise out of the Chief, Nick thought.
"Wilde! We called you in because we have a hostage situation. A mentally unstable hyena has holed himself up in a construction site and has an IED strapped to his body. He is threatening to blow himself up and the hostage unless we meet his demands," said Fangmeyer, as she directed his attention to the live feed from the scene.
Nick wondered why he was being asked to come in considering there were more senior officers present. "What are the demands and who is the hostage, Chief?" as he started to put on the spare uniform that he had kept in his ZPD locker.
Bogo began to read off a piece of paper he was holding. "The demands are: I am perpetually being discriminated upon and life is not worth living as predators cannot keep a job simply because we are feared. I will make the world pay by blowing it to hell!"
"The hostage," Bogo continued, "is Officer Hopps. She was on parking duty when she came upon the hyena threatening several bystanders. She managed to get the others to safety by offering herself as a hostage. We have the site surrounded but we need to plan our strategy in order to make sure no one else gets hurt."
Nick went cold. His partner on the force and in life was in dire danger. He knew now why Bogo had called him in despite being suspended. They needed his hustling skills in order to make sure the situation didn't get out of hand and to keep Judy alive. If the hyena was as desperate as he sounded, one could never tell what could set him off. That dumb beautiful bunny, always rushing in to sacrifice herself for others, Nick thought. I'll never forgive myself if something were to happen to her.
Fangmeyer moved to the center of the room, pointing to the map with her paw, "We need to get a bullhorn out there so we can negotiate with him," she said. "He's inside the building so we'll need to draw him to a window where a sniper can…"
"No!" interjected Nick. "Sniping is not an option! Ever since the Nighthowler Case, predators and prey have been at each other's throats. Judy and I have been able to bring some semblance of calm to the hysteria because of our relationship. However, shooting the hyena will only stir up more unrest."
Bogo added, "We can't raid the place because of Hopps and the threat of an explosion. By our calculations, he has enough explosive on him to level the place."
Nick continued, "Also," as he pointed towards his other colleagues, "you larger mammals can't negotiate with him. You're part of the problem."
"Why is that, Nick?" Fangmeyer asked curiously.
"You'll be feeding his inferiority complex seeing as how you're bigger than him. That might set him off. He's not intimidated by a smaller species like a rabbit or myself. I'm going in alone to speak with him."
Turning to Delgato, Nick asked, "Hey, Del, you still have some smokes on you?"
"Sure Nick," the lion replied. "I never knew you were a smoker, though," as he passed Nick a stick.
Nick shrugged. "I was but quit because of Judy. Hell of a time to quit though. I'm sure she'll forgive me seeing as how stressful this situation can turn out to be," he said as he placed the stick in his mouth.
Nick stood outside the abandoned construction site where the TUSK Force had the area cordoned off. The general public and media had been moved to a safe distance three blocks away in case the explosives went off. Nick put on the standard issue bulletproof vest mindful of how it had once saved his life.
As he stood there, planning how he would have to negotiate, Bogo came up to him.
"Wilde! The suspect is mentally unstable. We don't know what may set him off so preaching to him will be useless."
"If that's the case, Chief," Nick said, "we may have no choice but to use force. Have a TUSK team on standby to move in on my signal in case things go south. Oh, can you hold on to this for me, by the way?" Nick asked Bogo as he passed him the small box he had had in his pants pocket.
Bogo looked at him skeptically as he held the box in his hoof. "Is this what I think it is?"
Nick shrugged. "I picked it up this morning planning to surprise her with it when we were to go visit her parents this weekend in Bunnyburrows. In case I don't make it, please give it to Judy," Nick spoke as he looked the Cape Buffalo in the eye.
"And what if both of you don't make it out alive?" queried Bogo.
Nick's shoulders sagged at the thought. He then straightened them and looked defiantly at Bogo squarely in the eye. "That would mean a lot of paperwork for us so I'm going to make sure that's not going to happen. But if it does, give it to her parents. I'm sure Judy would want that." As he turned to face the building, he said, "Wish me luck Chief. I've got a bunny to rescue," as he straightened his tie. With that, Nick lit the cigarette in his mouth, tossed the match aside into an ash receptacle, tightened the bulletproof vest and started walking towards where the love of his life needed his hustling skills like never before.
Judy ached all over. She had been powerless to stop the hyena from pounding her like a rag doll as he had threatened to blow himself up if she even retaliated. After he had tied her hands in front of her, she had helplessly taken hit after hit from the perpetrator's vicious assault. She hacked up a bit of blood and spat it out on the floor, tasting its metallic tang. Sweet cheese and crackers! Not a good sign. Could have some internal bleeding there, she thought to herself. She slowly willed her aching body to a sitting position and with her back literally to the wall, she observed her captor and tormentor through a half-closed eye swelling up from the beating.
He was a spotted hyena, the largest of his kind. From what she had gathered from his crazed ramblings was that he had been kicked out of his clan mainly because of his foul temper. He had been unable to keep a steady job ever since. His last job had been at this very construction site where he had been let go by the llama supervisor for challenging the smaller prey mammals to fights for perceived speciesist slights.
He had his back to her as he glanced outside, checking on the movements of the ZPD. "Man, those cops sure know how to make a racket. Lucky for me I have a hostage so they don't dare come in the front door." He turned back to face her and saw her glaring at him. He growled, strode over to where she sat and grabbed Judy painfully by her ears. Judy gasped in pain but didn't say a word, which infuriated him further. "You brought this on yourself, dumb bunny. Did you think a single bunny could easily overpower a large predator like myself?"
Judy stayed silent but privately she thought, if you weren't wearing that bomb vest, yeah, I could. You're lucky I can't do anything right now or else you'd be singing for the Zootopian Tabernacle Choir as their guest soprano. No one touches my ears!, she seethed.
Suddenly, an announcement came from outside. Attention! This is the ZPD! We're sending in our negotiator. Tell him your demands.
Nick walked into the room, the lit cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, paws in pockets.
"Hold it right there copper! Keep your paws where I can see them. Don't come any closer. Also," as he waived the gun in Judy's face, "take the damn vest off or else the bunny gets it."
Nick slowly brought his paws out of his pockets, stripped the vest off and tossed it outside behind him. "Is this okay?" he asked.
The hyena merely smirked. "Boy, they really underestimated me. First a bunny, now a fox."
Judy's heart began to race. She hadn't expected Nick to be the negotiator and now she was scared for him. She had been prepared to die today. But not if Nick was in the same room as this crazed hyena with the explosives. And what was with the cigarette? He never smoked before.
Nick coolly looked at the hyena. Inwardly, he was incensed when he caught sight of Judy being held in the hyena's grasp by her ears. His rage took on greater proportions as he noticed the bloody trail from the entrance of the doorway leading to the wall where Judy obviously had been leaning. Considering the beating she's taken, she's definitely one tough bunny if she's still conscious. Stay calm and focus! You can ask for some 'private' time later with him if you get out of this alive. She's probably pissed right now since no one touches her ears! Except for me maybe, as he inwardly chuckled.
Taking the cigarette out of his mouth, he announced, "Nicholas Wilde of Precinct One. I'm here simply to talk with you. Tell me what it is you want. What are your demands?"
"I'm simply disgusted by this godforsaken world where it's impossible to get a job simply because I'm a hyena," ranted the male captor, as he waived the gun around for emphasis. "I will end this world and I'm going to start with her!" as he pointed the gun at Judy's chest.
Nick could smell Judy's fear from where he stood and as he gazed at her, his heart was breaking for the pain she must be going through. Her left eye was fully shut due to swelling and he could see that she was having some difficulty seeing out of the right. He hoped that there wouldn't be any permanent damage. He observed that she hung limply in the hyena's grasp. That's not good. She's taken one hit too many if she can't move at all. He knew he had to bring this situation quickly to a halt as he could also hear Judy's ragged breathing, which meant she needed medical attention as soon as possible.
Nick maintained a nonchalant air as he took the cigarette from his mouth and waived it about. "You've got a point. Trust me. I've been there. However, I wouldn't do something this stupid, if I were you. There are other ways to air your grievances."
"Ha!" barked the hyena, "The fox is trying to teach me! Why, I never thought I'd live to see the day that would happen! For a low-life fox such as yourself, ragged clothes suit you better than that police uniform!" he rudely said. "I'm guessing that you're even too dumb to even read. Or do you happen to be a hustler? Everyone knows foxes are cheats and liars!"
Judy had been barely able to focus on the exchange as the pain was threatening to make her black out. However, when she heard the hyena insult Nick, she felt a sudden rush of anger that overrode the pain. No one calls him that! He's my fox! He's the best mammal there is out there! How dare he!, as she furiously looked at the hyena. If I get out of here, I'm going to ask for some 'private' time with this creep, she inwardly fumed.
Nick continued where he had left off, again pointing at the hyena with the cigarette in his paw. "Let's just assume everything you said is true," he said with a small smirk, "but the hostage has nothing to do with it. I'd appreciate it if you set her free so that we can get medical attention for her."
"Oh, I'm going to let her go," chuckled the hyena, "but after I'm done with everyone else," as he put down the gun and reached for the lighter to light the fuse of the sticks of dynamite strapped to his chest.
Judy saw the movement and she realized that if the bomb went off, Nick would die as well. "No!" she yelled as adrenaline coursed through her. She managed to twist her body in the air and kicked the lighter out of the hyena's paw. It spun around through the air and landed directly in front of Nick.
The hyena grabbed Judy by the neck as he began to strangle her in his paw. "Damn you, bunny! Looks like you're having a hard time understanding the situation you're in!" He picked up the gun, cocked and pointed it at Judy's head. "Believe me! I'm going to make it crystal clear for you right now!"
"Hey! Dumb-ass!" Nick yelled.
The hyena whirled around to face Nick, his rage further fuelled by the fox's words. He hesitated however; he didn't expect Nick to reach down for the lighter, pick it up and then toss it high in the air towards him.
Nick yelled, "Catch!"
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion at that point. The hyena was tracking the lighter as it flew towards him in a high arc when all of a sudden the fox's hind paw landed directly on his jaw. Nick had leapt from his standing position in order to land a roundhouse kick to the hyena's head, stunning him and making him drop the rabbit.
Nick immediately scooped up Judy's limp body and began running towards the exit with her. "Relax, Carrots, it's me, Nick. I'm here to rescue you," as he whispered to Judy hoping that he wasn't too late. He reached for the police radio he had hidden in the back of his pants. "This is Wilde! The hostage is secure," as he spoke into it. "Clear to engage! IED is not viable! I repeat, IED is a dud!"
BANG!
She heard the sound and she initially thought that they were both dead. She immediately recognized, though, that it wasn't the sound of an explosion but of a gunshot instead. She felt Nick stagger as if he had missed a step but then he continued running. She noticed a rose beginning to bloom on the right side of his chest. She suddenly realized that he had been shot as the blood from the wound began seeping into his uniform. "Nick? NICK!" she screamed at him hoping he would stop as she tried to staunch the flow of blood with her paws.
Nick continued running as he merely smiled down at her, smirking as he coughed, "Gotta say, sweetie, you are one hard bunny to take care of."
They passed the TUSK team as they exited the building. Once outside, Nick collapsed and they both fell to the ground. Judy began to yell, "Medic! Medic! Officer down! Officer down!" as she painfully crawled over to his prone form and feverishly attempted to apply pressure on the wound without much success as she herself began to cough up blood.
Bogo sat in the waiting room of the hospital surrounded by the various members of Precinct One. Clawhauser and Francine Trunkaby were consoling one another, both of them emotionally distraught over the news of Nick and Judy being severely injured. Delgato was in the smoking lounge, chain-smoking. Fangmeyer continued to pace up and down the hallway of the Trauma Centre. Grizzoli, McHorn, the two wolves, Snarlov and Wolford, were sitting down as well, absent-mindedly looking at their mobile phones while waiting for news from the attending physician.
Suddenly, two elderly rabbits rushed into the room to confront Bogo. "Chief Bogo, I presume?" said the elder male rabbit, wringing his paw, as the female rabbit beside him looked on, both of them looking distraught.
"Ah, yes. You must be Mr. and Mrs. Hopps, Judy's parents. I wish I could have met you under more pleasant circumstances. Please have a seat." Bogo said as he indicated the empty space next to him.
As they sat, their faces silently begged him for more information regarding their daughter and as to why they had been summoned from Bunnyburrows. He wished he did not have to deal with this now but protocol demanded that in the event of a police officer suffering from a life-threatening or severe injury, the emergency contact provided by said officer needed to be informed. Bogo knelt before both the bunnies as a courtesy so that he did not tower over them when he gave them the news.
"Your daughter, Judy, was critically injured when she was captured as a hostage." Bogo began. "We were able to rescue her with the help of her partner, Officer Wilde, who also happened to be seriously wounded in the process of the rescue. I can't go into more details, as this is an ongoing investigation. According to the doctors, she suffered from a collapsed lung, several broken ribs, minor facial fractures, a fractured clavicle and severe hip contusions. She would have died from her internal injuries if not for the timely rescue by Officer Wilde."
As he listed her injuries, the eyes of Stu and Bonnie grew wider and wider with fear. "Is she okay?" whispered Bonnie. "Where is she now?"
Bogo nodded towards the emergency room doors. "We're waiting for the physician now to let us know how both of them are doing. As I had previously mentioned, Officer Wilde was also critically wounded in the rescue and we're also waiting for news about him."
Stu waived his paw as if dismissing the news about Nick. "I don't care about that fox!" Stu exclaimed, "What about my daughter? What are they doing for her now?" he demanded angrily.
Bogo's steely gaze fixed upon Stu's eyes with contempt. Stu was taken aback. He could have sworn the Cape Buffalo would have hit him if not for the presence of the others. Stu heard the other police officers muttering indignantly at him.
"Your daughter," Bogo angrily said with emphasis, "is safe precisely because of the brave actions of that fox! If Officer Wilde had not managed to subdue the perpetrator, we would now be having a conversation relating to the shipping of her remains. I am proud to have both of them under my command even though they are in a romantic relationship. They have both proven themselves to be able to work together professionally under the circumstances and I believe it is this bond that allows them to be successful."
Bonnie and Stu heard the heartfelt murmurs of approval from their daughter's fellow colleagues.
"At present," Bogo continued, "we have yet to know the status of Officer Wilde who was critically shot in the back by the deranged mammal during the rescue operation. He managed to carry her outside the building despite his injury where he collapsed due to blood loss. If you should thank anyone for saving your daughter, you should be thanking that fox, if ever he survives the operation. That's the second time he's put his life on the line for her. You can't imagine how much he loves her." Bogo concluded as he chided Stu Hopps.
Stu and Bonnie both looked down chastised, ashamed at their treatment of Nick. They had been very much against the relationship from the beginning, afraid that Nick was only there to take advantage of Judy. They knew he was coming over for the Carrot Day Festival this weekend and they had planned a family intervention to get her to stop seeing the fox. Now, the very idea made them ashamed of even having thought of it.
The opening of the operating room door saved the Hopps from further embarrassment as the attending physician came out. All eyes locked onto the middle-aged camel clad in the green operating robe as he stripped off the latex gloves and removed the operating mask.
"How are they, doctor?" asked Bogo.
"They are both doing well, Chief Bogo. Officer Hopps is quite a fighter and one tough bunny. She'll pull through and just needs a few weeks of rest and being out of the field for a while. Officer Wilde is quite lucky as well. It must be the two rabbit's feet that he carries all the time that are rubbing off on him," he chuckled at his own joke. "Anyway, the bullet missed vital organs and we were able to extract it from him without any issues. He'll also need a few weeks off to recuperate. Here," he said as he placed a small vial containing the spent bullet in Bogo's hoof. "I understand you'll need this for evidence against the shooter."
"Thank you, Doctor. May we go in to see them?" asked Bonnie.
The camel chuckled. "Like I said, you have a very headstrong daughter there, Mrs. Hopps. She wouldn't take no for an answer and climbed into the hospital bed of Officer Wilde once we wheeled them into the recovery room together. I'd give them a few minutes to be alone," he winked as he smiled.
Bogo groaned as he slapped a hoof to his head as the members of Precinct One hooted good-naturedly. Those two will be the death of me, I swear!
Nick awoke from the operation to find Judy lying next to him in the hospital bed. This is getting to be a recurring thing between us, Nick smilingly mused. Maybe I should make it more permanent?
As he took stock of his situation, he was aware of the dull ache that he felt in his chest. Overall, that seemed to be the only issue but at the moment, it hurt him to even move a little. He then worriedly scanned Judy's face. The puffiness from her eyes had gone down slightly and she was sporting several large bandages on her face for the injuries she had suffered. Her right arm was in a sling and it looked like her chest was wrapped up tightly as well. She had her left arm draped across his chest and was lightly snoring, her little button nose twitching in her sleep. She looks so cute and adorable in her sleep, thought Nick.
"Don't call me cute, Slick," she muttered in her sleep.
Nick was startled. That was just coincidence, right? She's probably dreaming about us right now. Okay, things to keep mentally filed away in case she's telepathic…"
The door to the hospital room opened and he watched as Chief Bogo and Judy's parents filed in. At this point, he no longer was embarrassed and merely smirked at them in smug satisfaction. "Lady and gentlmammals, thank you for all coming. We'd get up but we're currently indisposed right now," he said with a chuckle.
"Shut it, Wilde! At least have the decency to act civilized in front of her parents!" chided Bogo.
"Why should he respect them if they don't treat him fairly?" asked Judy as she awoke from her nap. She made no move to pull away from where she lay on Nick. "This mammal has done more for me than what they could imagine," she said as she sat up in the hospital bed while glaring at her parents, "and he doesn't deserve being treated like a criminal."
Stu and Bonnie both looked at each other and nodded. Stu took his hat off, held it to his chest and approached the bed. "We'd like to apologize to Nick and you, Jude. We heard from Chief Bogo how he's saved your life twice already. We were wrong in assuming the worst of him. Nick," as he turned to face him, "I'd like to offer my apologies for threatening to shoot you with my shotgun earlier and a father's heartfelt thanks for saving my daughter." Stu said as he extended his paw to him.
Nick grimaced in pain as he lifted his paw to shake Stu's paw. "The pleasure was mine, Mr. Hopps. She means the world to me."
"Just call me Stu. No need for formalities. Now, to show you we are sincere in our apology, we'd like to have you both recuperate in Bunnyburrow for at least the next two weeks. You both are going to need assistance to get around and you'll have Judy's two hundred seventy five siblings around to help. We've spoken to Chief Bogo about it," Stu nodded in Bogo's direction, "and he agrees with us that this is the best option."
Bonnie chimed in as she stood next to Stu, "It will also give us a chance to get to know our daughter's boyfriend better. And I'm sure Nicholas will be happy to hear about some of your childhood adventures as well," she said as she smiled at Nick.
"I definitely would like that, Mrs. Hopps. I'd be happy to go if Judy agrees to it as well," Nick said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Judy groaned at this. "No! No embarrassing stories or childhood photos! We'll go but I want you to promise you won't do that to me!" Judy said with panic in her voice.
Bonnie chuckled as she said, "Just call me Bonnie, Nick. No promises Judy," she said as she laughed at Judy's discomfort. "It's a parent's duty to embarrass their daughter in front of their boyfriend."
Judy, resigned to the fact that Nick would tease her constantly once he heard all the embarrassing details, agreed. "Fine! But no shotguns," as she glared at her father.
Stu chuckled at this as he raised his paws in defense, "Don't worry, Jude the Dude. We'll even hide the fox taser and other Fox-Away products from Pop-pop as well."
"Jude the Dude?" snickered Nick.
Judy turned around and glared at him with menacing eyes. "You repeat that one more time and I'll be the one shaving you from head to paw, mister!"
Nick saw the promised threat in her eyes and wisely nodded acquiescence. Another thing not to call her! Nick mentally filed away.
The conversation continued for a few more minutes and then Stu and Bonnie excused themselves, saying they had to catch the last train out to Bunnyburrow. As they carefully hugged her goodbye, they elicited a promise from Judy that she would text them once they were on their way.
As Judy' parents left, Bogo addressed both of them. "You two were very lucky today. You both could have been killed out there. Having said that, good work Officers!" Bogo said, a rare smile appearing on his face. "The hyena is in custody and they'll be processing charges for kidnapping, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts for assaulting an officer of the law but not for possession of explosives. By the way, Wilde, how did you know that the bombs were fake?" queried Bogo.
Nick tapped his nose. "I noticed that he kept us at a distance and would never let anyone near him. However, after I kicked him in the face, I was close enough and I couldn't smell any TNT on him. I know what it smells like ever since I took the bomb-disposal classes at the academy. You can't forget that distinct odour."
Judy then asked him, "Why were you smoking a cigarette? I never knew that you smoked."
"I never have. That was part of the hustle, Carrots. You see, hyenas have a strong sense of smell just like foxes and wolves. Knowing you were there as a hostage made me scared. I didn't want him to smell my fear so I used the cigarette to mask it. I didn't want him to have the upper hand in the negotiations. Remember? Never let them know that they get to you."
Bogo shook his head in admiration at Nick's explanation. "I will make sure that this mammal will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law given his priors," Bogo assured the both of them. "No one hurts two of my best officers and gets away with a slap on the wrist. I'll make sure he goes away for a very long time," he promised.
"I'd like five minutes with him alone in the cell if I had my way," growled Nick, his ears flattening in anger over the memory of the injured Judy dangling helplessly in the hyena's paws.
"Ditto," snarled Judy, clearly upset that Nick had almost died because of the deranged mammal.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that from my two officers who apparently are still groggy from their pain medication." Bogo cautioned, as he crossed his hoofs over his wide chest, the warning clear in his tone and glare as he chastised them. "Leave him to the system. Any other action would be ill advised." He then turned to Nick and said, "I believe this is yours, Officer Wilde," as he returned the small box Nick had given him earlier that day.
"Thanks for keeping it warm, Chief," Nick gratefully said.
Bogo snorted. "Next time you need someone to babysit your possessions, get someone else, Wilde," he said as he turned to leave. "And I don't expect the both of you back until three weeks from today. Doctor's orders. As of today, you are both on paid medical leave. Take the time off to recuperate and get it out of your system. I hear Bunnyburrows is lovely this time of the year. I want my best officers back in tiptop shape, physically and mentally, when they report back for duty. And as a small bonus, I don't get to hear Wilde's wisecracks for at least another three weeks."
"Aww, Chief! I didn't think you cared," snickered Nick.
"Shut it, Wilde!" Bogo said as he glared at him. "Don't make me regret asking the Mayor to rescind the disciplinary action against the both of you and reinstating you retroactively with pay considering the bravery both of you exhibited today in the line of duty!" he warned, his hoof on the door handle.
"Thank you Chief! Give our love to the wife and kids," Judy said cheerily as she tightly grasped Nick's muzzle in her paw to keep him from speaking.
Bogo grunted but she saw the amusement in his eyes just as he turned and left the room.
She then spoke to Nick, "Officer Wilde, before I let your muzzle go, I must give you fair warning," she sweetly cooed as she nestled in closer. "You have exactly thirty seconds to explain what is in that box or else I'll be calling for the doctor to patch you up for another wound. These teeth can do more than just eat bouquets," she said as she waggled her eyebrows.
Nick sighed. "Be it for Bogo to spoil a surprise. Anyway, it's a Promise Ring. I was going to give it to you during the Carrot Festival in front of your parents. It's meant to say that I promise to be with only you. It's also my way of saying, I promise to always love you," he said as he opened the box to show her the simple little silver band studded with a carrot shaped topaz stone. "I want us to move on to the next step in our relationship. I want to ask us to become exclusive to one another. Judy, will you be my mate?" Nick said as he held the ring up to her.
Judy was overwhelmed with emotion. Although it wasn't an engagement ring, it definitely made her feel all the more special. She knew she wanted to be with him forever but she knew they had to do this in baby steps. The fact that Nick was proposing to be her mate meant that they would be telling all other mammals that she was taken. She blinked back her tears of joy as she answered him, "Yes! Yes! I do want to be your mate, Nick!" sang Judy as she excitedly slipped the ring onto her left paw. She then turned to Nick and said, "I want to get a ring just like this for you but in the meantime, can you bend your head down a little?" Judy asked mischievously.
Nick did as he was told. Judy lovingly ran her chin along the top of his head, between his ears, and across his muzzle finally marking his nose as she explained, "Rabbits and bunnies used to chin their partners in order to let others know that they've been taken. The myth that rabbits are promiscuous isn't one at all. Rabbit culture is a bit loose when it comes to sex but just like red foxes, once we find our mate, we remain monogamous. Chinning is the way we tell other horny bucks and does, Hands off the merchandise!" she said with a grin. "If you're coming to Bunnyburrow with me, I want to make sure that everyone knows you're mine!" she said proudly.
Nick could smell her desirable scent all over him but the one on the nose was torture! "No fair, Judy!" Nick whined as he desperately tried to lick the scent off his nose. "I won't be able to concentrate if all I'm smelling is you. It's driving me up the wall with desire and it hurts to move. Please get it off," Nick pleaded as he continued to try licking it off with his tongue.
Judy laughed at the sight of Nick's tongue crazily trying to lick off her scent on his nose. "Well, I can think of other ways to take your mind off that scent," she suggested sexily as her left paw travelled southwards.
Nick's eyes grew wide as saucers. "Carrots, I really can't move here!"
"Who said you had to do the moving, lover?" she said huskily into his ear.
Nick knew it was going to be a long night with a very horny bunny.