A week had passed since news of Bellwether's escape with no luck in finding her. The specialized task force that was called in believed there may have been a possible conspiracy that lead to her escape but no leads were ever found. News crews reporting the story stirred up a frenzy in the city which caused even more difficulty for the police who were looking for her. Prey animals were once again fearful of predators, though not as hateful as they had been in the past. There was an understanding that the predators were not the enemy, but who knew when one would be attacked by the wicked serum and turn into a crazed killing machine. The ZPD were struggling with the increase of predator related complaints and many officers were forced to work overtime. Things had gotten very tense in the city.

Nick and Judy were on patrol, working yet another double shift late one night, when one such call came in from the dispatch.

"Unit A113 we have a noise and disorderly conduct report coming in from 578 Miller Ave. Are you still available?"

Judy grabbed the radio transceiver, "This is A113, we copy and are en route."

Nick nodded at his partner from the driver's seat and flicked a switch causing the roof of the patrol cruiser to burst into flashing colored lights.

"Copy that A113, caller complained of a fox acting suspiciously. You've got that partner of yours under control, right Hopps?"

"I hope so, he's driving," Judy smiled at her partner. Judy was grateful for Clawhouser's humor. He had really stepped up in the past week trying to bolster team morale with his jokes and by purchasing extra doughnuts, snacks and coffees for the cops who barely had enough time to sleep. Even Judy, as upbeat as she usually was, was feeling the stress of the situation and it was affecting her mood.

Nick smiled back and wondered if he knew any foxes who might hang around Miller Ave but that area was pretty far from his usual stomping grounds.

When they arrived they were relieved to see that they didn't have to look far for the cause of the complaint. An obviously drunken fox was arguing loudly with an aggravated pig in his bathrobe.

"I've got the fox," Nick suggested, "you take the pig." It was always recommended, especially in instances of inebriated animals, to match species. Animals, no matter how progressive, always responded better when dealing with their own kind, or the closest thing possible.

Nick approached the fox and he could hear the pig yelling about "savage behavior." The drunken fox stumbled and barked back at the pig. He appeared to be in his early 60's and reeked of beer and he was slurring his words.

"Hey friend," Nick called to the older fox, trying to come off as friendly, "what's happening this evening?"

The drunken fox glared at Nick for a few moments. It was obvious the fox was drunk to the point where he couldn't even focus his eyes.

"The fuck are you, a stripper?" the fox growled.

Nick smiled at the thought, "Heh, no it's officer. You seem like you've been partying tonight. What's your name pal?"

"I'm not giving my name to some faggot stripper." the fox grumbled as he swayed in place. Nick was finding the drunk fox less amusing.

Judy approached Nick from behind and spoke softly so only Nick would hear her, "The hog says your friend there was yelling and broke a window. We have to bring him in."

"I was thinking that was going to be the case, this guy is so far gone." Nick turned back to the older fox, "Hey pal, how about we go for a ride. Get you off the streets, somewhere warmer."

Nick reached for the fox's arm but he only pulled himself away from the cops and began slurring swear words in their direction. Judy was nearly void of patience and so she called to the drunk in her most commanding voice, "Sir, you are clearly inebriated and have caused enough of a disturbance. You need to come with us right now."

The drunk stared down at Judy before blurting out, "Fuck off long eared rat."

Judy sighed and nodded to her partner. "Magic?" she suggested. For the past week Nick and Judy had been coming up with clever little plans and code names to help make their jobs easier.

Nick nodded and moved towards the fox, feigning friendliness, while Judy moved behind the older fox casually and pulled out her handcuffs. While Nick distracted the drunkard, Judy was going to grab and cuff him. However, as soon as she touched the fox he jumped and reacted by swinging his fist backwards into Judy's face. The blow wasn't hard but it did catch her off guard and she fell to the ground.

Nick reacted like a flash. Quickly, he grabbed the old fox and pressed him into the side of a nearby car. Nick twisted the old fox's arm back and quickly slapped him in cuffs.

"Stay there and shut up," Nick barked angrily, the friendly facade completely obliterated, "Hopps, you alright?"

Judy rubbed her nose as she stood up. She wasn't even bleeding. "I'm fine." She turned to the old fox, "Sir, you have the right to remain silent."

Judy continued to recite the old fox his rights as Nick frisked him for weapons and ID. He found the Fox's wallet and stared at the ID card for a good minute. Nick looked into the old fox's face and then back to the ID before shoving the card back into the wallet. Judy was leading the old fox by the arm into the back of the cruiser. After being slammed into a car, the old guy didn't have any fight left in him but he didn't mind sharing his feelings towards the arresting duo.

"Taken in by one of my own kind. What kind of world is this? What happened to comradery? A traitor, that's what you are. A no good filthy son of a bitch," the drunkard slurred.

"Did you get an ID?" Judy asked after he tucked away their catch. Nick waved the wallet as he hopped into the driver's seat.

"When we get back, you should let me process this guy, you go make sure he didn't break your nose," Nick offered.

"I doubt it. It doesn't even hurt anymore," Judy rubbed her nose and smiled, "although, it was awfully sweet how you came to my rescue."

Nick gave her a weak smile as he pulled into traffic but he swerved and nearly caused an accident when Judy grabbed the wallet off his lap.

"Woah Nick! Maybe you should let me file this guy in while you take nap. You seem jumpy."

Nick glanced nervously between the road and the wallet and sighed to brace himself for what was coming up.

Judy read the name on the ID aloud, "Cameron Wilde." She looked over at Nick who stared straight ahead at the road with tired eyes. She then looked back to the old fox who had fallen asleep in the back seat. "Hey look at that, you guys have the same last name. You two wouldn't happen to be relations? Would you?" Judy tried to sound like she was joking but she wasn't nearly as good at masking her emotions as Nick.

Nick glared at her from hooded lids. "I've never met this guy before, but I wouldn't mind processing him as quick as we can so one else jumps to the same conclusion."

Judy nodded in agreement and looked back at the sleeping drunk. There were plenty of foxes in the city and Wilde wasn't an uncommon name but even in a city as large as Zootopia, if there were two animals of the same species and last name, chances were high that they were related somehow. Judy wasn't about to press her partner on the matter but she now wished she had gotten a look at the old fox's eyes. Judy knew Nick's mother had brown eyes so Nick's father would have to have the same uniquely bright green eyes as him.

Judy told herself the fox in the back wasn't Nick's father but could possibly be a more distant relative, like a third cousin twice removed.

Judy and Nick drove in silence all the way to the precinct to drop the fox into the drunk tank. When they tried to pull him out of the car though, the old fox vomited all over the back seat of the cruiser and onto Nick's pants and feet. Nick cringed and Judy offered to process the fox while Nick went to the locker room to change. Nick agreed and Judy brought the groaning fox into the ZPD headquarters.

Judy processed the old fox as quickly and quietly as she could and no one took any notice of the new inmate. She was about to return to the cruiser but she couldn't shake her feeling of curiosity. She grabbed a bottle of water and brought it into the drunk tank. The fox was sleeping soundly on the bench. If she could just look at the old fox's eyes. She stood over the sleeping fox. She could take a peek. None would be the wiser.

Judy leaned over and carefully placed her paw above the fox's eye. She gently peeled the lid back. The eye was rolled back into its socket but with the intrusive light, it rolled around before focusing on Judy. She let out a gasp as the old fox grumbled.

"I WAS BRINGING YOU WATER AND YOU WEREN'T BREATHING SO I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF YOU WERE OK AND YOU ARE SO I'M LEAVING NOW OK BYE!" Judy lied quickly as she dashed out of the drunk tank. Her heart was racing as she made her way back to the cruiser.

Nick was already at the car. His fur was still damp and he hadn't yet put on a new uniform top. Instead he wore just the pants and an undershirt as he cleaned the back of the car. A few other cops walked by and made jokes about the condition of the car but Nick didn't seem to hear them. He was just dumping out paper towels full of puke.

"Oh hey slick Nick, I was just about to come to do that," Judy tried to say cheerfully. Nick just looked back at her with tired eyes. She rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a wet rag from the bucket of soapy water Nick had already gathered. She went to the other side of the car to begin cleaning on that side. The two animals worked on the car in silence. Judy's mind was screaming questions to Nick but her sense of tact held her back. Nick was being uncharacteristically quiet. Did he know something she didn't?

"So I've got the old guy all processed and in the drunk tank. No one said anything. I didn't even put your name on the arrest report. I figured mammals wouldn't talk as much," Judy couldn't take the silence anymore but Nick just gave her a short hum. They went back to cleaning but the silence and her curiosity was killing Judy.

"So I know I already asked but, you know, you both have the same last name so."

Nick stopped and glared at Judy.

"I know, I'm sorry it's just-"

"Stop it! I know what you're thinking and what you're going to ask and I'm telling you don't," Nick barked angrily at her. Judy had never heard Nick speak with such malice before. She flinched as if the words were a baseball bat ready to swing down on her.

"Ok, I'm sorry," she replied meekly, "it was just such a coincidence, and I saw his eyes so I thought."

"No! You didn't think anything! There is no connection between me and him," Nick was on the verge of yelling angrily at her now.

She knew it was a lie, why else would he be so upset? She sat in the car in silence trying to hold back tears that threatened to fall. Nick scrubbed furiously at leather seats. Judy let out a small sniffle as she went back to cleaning the carpeted floor.

Nick threw down the cloth he was using and ran his hands over his head and down his neck. He closed his eyes tightly and took a controlled breath.

"Look, carrots, I don't care who that guy is. I don't care what his name is. I don't care what he looks like," Nick looked into his partner's eyes, "I know who you think he is but I am going to tell you, he is not that person. For all it matters, that person died when I was four. I don't even remember what he looks like. Please, you have to let it go."

Judy nodded her head, "Ok, I'll drop it. I just don't understand how you don't care. I mean, he's right there Nick! He has your eyes!"

Nick balled his fists together and spoke through clenched teeth, "I'm choosing not to care. It's a skill. Doing otherwise isn't going to help anything."

"But Nick, you are never going to get this opportunity again," Judy pleaded.

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE JUDY! DROP IT! I AM FUCKING DONE TALKING ABOUT THIS SHIT!" he screamed at her.

Judy watched with her paws over her mouth as he stormed off. She fought with herself to keep from crying. She slammed the cruiser doors shut and hid on the floor of the passenger front seat and let her tears run freely. She couldn't get the image of the enraged Nick out of her head; the way his ears folded down to nothing, the way his fur puffed to make him look gigantic and menacing, and worst of all, the way his mouth wrinkled and twisted showing off all his sharp white teeth in a monstrous way. Nick had changed for an instant in a way that frightened her and reminded her of the dangers she put herself through just by being around him. What value did trust have when he was still a fox who could tear her to shreds whenever the mood struck him?

She knew this way of thinking was wrong. He was mad certainly but he wouldn't really hurt her, no matter how scary he got. After a few minutes Judy's tears had run their course. She struggled to get her breathing back under control but once she did she finished cleaning the car and put away the supplies.

She looked at the clock, there were only 15 minutes left in her shift and Nick hadn't come back to her. She decided that no one would miss her for those 15 minute and she left to leave for home.

Normally Nick and Judy walked together to either of their places but now Nick was nowhere to be seen. She checked the precinct on her way to the locker room to change but sh couldn't find him. After she was dressed in her street clothes she stopped to the reception desk.

"Hey Benny, have you seen Nick?" she asked.

"Hmm? Oh yeah he came through maybe twenty minutes ago? He was out of uniform so I think he was leaving for the night," Clawhouser smiled at the little bunny.

"Oh ok, thanks," she smiled weakly at the large cheetah before she turned to walk home alone.