This chapter is also available as an audio drama on YouTube!
youtu. be/R1N-zghe_W0?list=PLIVs1D93vz38riF4nqo5uTmGpoU1yWeko
Nick was not sure, if Judy was crying, laughing, sobbing, giggling or everything at once. She was just holding him with her arm around his neck, and hugging him firmly. The fox just patted her with his healthy arm on her back, giving her a soft kiss on her neck.
"Hey, carrots." Nick said softly. "Maybe you could let go of me for a second?"
"Uh-uh." Judy shook her head softly.
"The doctor is still standing right beside the bed…"
"Uh-uh."
"Judy." Nick said with a smile.
"No." The rabbit even hugged him tighter, being afraid he could vanish just like her dream.
"I will have a look at you later, Mister Wilde." Doctor Greenwood smiled and winked to his patient, then left the room.
"The doctor said I was unconscious for two days, but depending on your behavior one could easily think it were two months. Don't worry, Judy. I am not going anywhere."
"Don't worry?" Judy lifted her head and turned it a bit so she could look at him. Her eyes were red and swollen. "You scared me to death and you are saying I should not worry?" She sobs but this time with a smile.
"Oh, carrots. I was awake the whole time; it was just a hustle." He winked and Judy was sobbing and laughing again.
"Just cheating death and already huffing me, dumb fox!"
"Loyal bunny." He stroked her back again, tickling the base of her ears. "The doctor said, you were not leaving this uncomfortable chair the whole time. And even nearly knockout a security guard to get in here in the first place. With anyone else I would say he is greatly exaggerating, but knowing you it might even be true."
The rabbit giggled amused and kisses his cheek. "For you I would even have gone to hell and wrestle with the devil." Then her look got more serious. "You really gave me the creeps; you know that? For a moment I thought, that I have lost you."
Nick waved aside and smiled sly. "Nah, I am too big to get lost easily."
Judy's looks were getting even more sad. "Nick, I am serious. When I thought I might lose you, I awaken about something: I do not want you to leave me ever again."
"Carrots, I am not going anywhere without you."
"Would you swear it?"
Nick hold up his right paw and said smiling: "Boy scout honor!"
"I thought about a more romantic vow…" Judy snickers, her ears and cheeks becoming hot. The heartbeat monitor was starting to beep faster and Nicks' facial expression was a mix of emotions. Judy let go off him and hopped from the bed to hide her embarrassment about the knee-jerk comment. "Whatever, are you hungry? My siblings baked a blueberry cake for you, and after nearly three days without food you must be starving."
"Well, it seems that your reflexes are all within the range, Mister Wilde." Doctor Greenwood finished his elaborately examination of Nick. "I have scheduled you for a MRI this afternoon. But as much as I can say now everything looks good."
"When can I leave the hospital? And how long must I stay on sick leave?" Nick sounded quite enthusiastic about to work again. But maybe it was only getting out of hospital or even getting back to Zootopia.
"Mhh, actual you could be discharged in a few days. But I want you to come in every other day for a checkup and to change your bandages." He made some notes in Nicks medical journal. "Going back to work is a different kettle of fish. As long as your fractures are not healed completely you are not allowed for regular service, but only desk duty. But I want you at least on sick leave until end of this week. Do you have a family doctor in Zootopia?"
On the thought of staying two more days in the hospital and being at least four more days on sick leave, Nicks' ears dropped. "No family doctor, sorry."
"Me neither, that is aside from you Doctor Greenwood." Judy added with a smile.
"You two should get one, then. I'm too far away in case of need." He smiled softly. "I can give you an introduction for Doctor Alisson. She doesn't regularly take new patients, but I know her for quite a while and she is internist for multiple species." He hesitates for a moment, then added with a wink: "And she is specialized for inter-species reproduction, too."
Judy blushed, as did Nick, and the accelerated heartbeat monitor made Doctor Greenwood laugh lightly. "Just a suggestion, think about it and give me a notice if you wish me to give her a call. We will see again after the MRI." He shook his hands with Nick and Judy, then left the two alone.
"I have taken a few free days until Wednesday, but I will talk to Bogo if I could have another four until Sunday."
"And where should I stay for the rest of the week? I am not actually welcomed by your parents', carrots." Nick made a hangdog face and seemed to be deeply disappointed, even he did not say anything.
"Either we can stay both in the guest room of my parents, or none will. I am not staying there without you, Nick!" Judy's look was determined. "But we have a few days left to decide about this. And I will talk to them later, perhaps tomorrow."
"You really didn't leave the hospital the last few days, did you?" Nick looked astonished.
"And leave you alone? No way!" She smiled and put her paw on his arm. "And by the way, you already have quite some fans in the Hopps family, beside me that is. Annie and Annabelle convinced all younger siblings that you are really cool, and Evelin told me most of the older siblings like you, too."
"Well, there are also some dissenting voices I guess." Nick thought back to the argument at the table a few days ago, then sighs.
"Just a few stubborn rabbits, there are a few in every family." Evelin said, leaning in the doorframe. Both, Judy's and Nick's head turned around quickly.
"Hey, Eve!" Judy exclaimed and jumped from the bed, arms reached out to hug her younger sister. "This is the second time you managed to sneak up on me!" she laughed.
"I practiced a lot, but you are also quite distracted lately." Then Evelin faced Nick and giggled. "Wow, awake with that cute smile he is even more handsome, sis!"
Nick stayed cool with a sly grin outwardly, but the heartbeat monitor betrayed him again with an accelerating beeping. "Okay, this thing has to be switched off!" he murmured and both bunnies laughed.
"Hello, I am Evelin, or just Eve for my friends." The younger rabbit made a few steps in his direction so Nick could stay in bed and shakes his paw. "I have heard so much about you!"
"As you are still here I guess Judy only told my positives." The fox winked, being sly again, and shakes her paw.
"Oh, I got all the exiting details, including how you managed to get her to kiss you in that bar." Evelin had a serious look for a moment, and Nicks' acting failed complete, looking like someone punched him in the stomach. Then Eve suddenly laughed full-throated and turned to Judy. "For a fox he is really gullible, how had he survived your moments of sarcasm during heat?" Nick still looked puzzled when Evelin patted his arm. "Don't worry, I know you didn't trick her into anything." She winked at him and Nick snorted.
"Dumb bunny."
"Hey, no reason to get personal!", Evelin crossed her arms and looked annoyed.
"Wha…? No, I mean… That was just…" Nick was risking his neck with careless talk and wagged his arms, looking helpless to Judy who was leaning against the wall, watching amused at the spectacle.
"She is fooling you again, dumb fox."
"Sly bunny." Nick murmured and lean frustrated back into his pillow. "As if one of you is not enough, you are now overpowering an enfeebled fox!"
Evelin was still snickering and winked to Judy. "You really got yourself a sweet one, I envy your great fortune, sis!"
Judy grinned: "Yep, as a full-time cop you have to mess around with what you get."
Nick pouted and chuntered. "I should call the nurse, you two are obstructive for my healing."
Judy wanted to reply something, but Evelin was faster: "Your ego doesn't count, my dear." Judy clapped her paws in front of her mouth and snickered again, accompanied by some more murmuring by Nick.
"Why am I still messing about with you…" Nick rolled his eyes.
"Because you know, you love me." Judy chirped sweetly, winking in his direction.
"Do I know that?" Nick made a thoughtful face, then sighed. "Yes. Yes, I do. And you are my one and only real weakness, you know that carrots?"
"Yes, absolutely." She winked and then blow a kiss to him.
"Oh, come on. I don't even get a real one after all?" Nick pouted again.
"I can help out for Judy…" Evelin offered, grinning from ear to ear.
Judy stood there with her hands on her hips and tripled with her feet. "Don't you dare! This is my fox; you can trap one yourself!"
"Excuse me, if I may say something…?" Nick started sheepishly, but was interrupted by both rabbits at once.
"No."
Nick helplessly throw his healthy arm in the air and dropped back into his pillow for the second time within minutes. "What have I done to deserve this?"
"Maybe nibbling from our favorite carrot?"
"Eve!" Judy blushed and beat her sister on the arm, who only giggled; even Nick snickered, finally losing his awkwardness slowly. "I should never have told you that! Don't let that one slip when Mom or Dad are around, they would kill Nick and take me for a ride."
"Isn't that my job, carrots? Like, literally?" Nick added with a wink. Judy scowled at him and Evelin laughed.
"You two are really a great couple!" Evelin determined, then with a wink to Nick: "And I really mean it this time. I'm really happy for you two." She smiled widely at both. Nick and Judy shared a look, then smiled, too. "But don't forget your promise when time comes, Juju." Eve winked at Judy, who blushed again with a careful side glance to Nick, who looked between the two bunnies inquiring.
He did not have time to ask about that promise, because a sheep in a lab coat entered the room with a wheelchair. "Hello, Mister Wilde. I'm picking you up for your MRI."
"He isn't half bad, Stu. Just think about if she would bring someone like Zackery Milligan home." Bonnie Hopps was sitting at the kitchen table, nervously polishing the same apple since more than five minutes.
"At least he is a rabbit." Stu answered stubborn.
"He is an idiot, Stu." Bonnie answered, rolling with her eyes.
"But he is a rabbit."
"He is a petty criminal!"
"But he is a rab…"
"Oh, shut your mug, Stu!" Bonnie appeared impatient. "I would even prefer seeing her a freaking lion instead of this rabbit." Stu snorted indifferent. "Furthermore it seems this fox is making her happy. Shouldn't this be the most important thing for us?" She sighs.
"But maybe he is only taking advantage of her! Didn't you see, how Jude is under his spell? You cannot trust a fox, everybody knows this!" Stu sounded frustrated and walked the kitchen up and down. "Maybe…"
"Maybe", Bonnie cut him off, "everybody is wrong and our daughter is the one we should listen to. Since when do you don't trust her judgment? I still do!"
"Me, too, Bon." Stu dropped himself onto a chair besides his wife and sighs again. "But why had it to be a fox? Couldn't she found herself a nice rabbit? She is my little girl, and I wanted some grandchildren from her. No Hopps bunny was ever childless."
"We have so much other little girls, you will have enough grandchildren." Bonnie said, then offered after short hesitation: "Or maybe they even will have their own…"
"Good grief! Are you serious? A fox and a rabbit having biological kits?" Stu was getting nearly an attack thinking about it and jumped from his chair again. "Is this even possible?"
"I don't know, Stu." She was reaching with her paw for his. "But don't you think Judy deserves our support either way?"
"Oh, Bon, what have we done?" Stu sit down again, holding Bonnies paw with his, looking really worried.
"We raised Judy to be open-minded, kind-hearted and optimistic." Bonnie smiled softly and Stu put his head down onto her paw. "I think we did everything absolutely right, my dear." She patted her husband on his head.
"I don't know what I should do, Eve." Judy sat with her sister in the waiting room. "This never happens, I always have a plan and know what to do." She was a mess.
"Oh dear, this fox really got under your skin." Evelin smiled happily to her sister.
"Yeah, and I don't like it. I cannot think very well even when he is only talking." Judy sounded frustrated.
"Judith Laverne Hopps, totally in love and be at the mercy of her own emotions." Evelin laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day!"
"Ha, ha." Judy pokes her tongue out at her sister, but grinned, too. "But back to the topic, I have to talk to Mom and Dad today or tomorrow. And this will be really unfunny."
"I think you should talk with Mom first. She takes it more easy." Evelin proposed. "Are you deliberate about whether you two should stay at the burrow after Nick is dismissed?"
"I would like to, it's rarely enough that I see the family. Staying at the Hotel would be really a waste. Furthermore, I still wait for a reply from by boss, Chief Bogo. He was in the field when I called. "
"How long do you plan to stay?"
"As long as Nick has to. I will not leave him alone in Bunnyburrow." Evelin grinned at her, fully aware of her protective instincts towards the fox; Judy rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Eve!"
"It's just too cute, Juju." Evelin snickered. "I am really happy for you two, always feared you would end up as an old maid." She winked at her. "He is doing you good."
"I know." Judy smiled and had a glance in her eyes.
A nurse came into the waiting room, looking inquiring. "Officer Judy Hopps?"
"That's me!" Judy waved at her.
"There is a phone call for you from the ZPD, line seven. Just enter star - star - 7 - hash on the phone over there to accept it." The nurse said and left the room again.
Judy walked over to the phone, entered the code and waited for the connection to be established. "Officer Hopps, hello?"
"Hopps." It was Chief Bogos voice, "Your phone is offline."
"Oh, sorry chief. I forgot to charge it and the battery must have died."
"I got your application for four more days of vacation." The cape buffalo didn't sound too enthusiastic about the idea, and Judy sighs.
"Yes, sir."
"You are all right?"
"Yes, sir."
"And your partner is awake and not at risk anymore?"
"I think so, sir. He is currently being examined but everything looks good so far." Judy could not quite keep her disappointment out of her voice. Those questions could only lead to the decision to get her back on duty, and leaving Nick alone. She considered to tell a small lie about Nicks' health status, just to stay a little longer. But she couldn't cross this line, even now.
"Well, under these circumstances I see no reason for you to stay on vacation any longer, Hopps. I need my best officers on duty." Judy's ears fell down and she let her shoulders sink. "But maybe I can make some concessions to you." The chief snarls as always, but Judy swore she could hear a little smile in his voice.
"Sir?"
"We have got a request for administrative assistance from the precinct in Bunnyburrow. A dispute between neighbors ended bloody with a zooicide. Under normal circumstances I would have send Fangmeyer and Pawlstake. But as you are on the ground already and know the locals, I am considering to schedule you for this request."
"This would be great, sir! You won't be sorry about it, I promise!" Judy was all eager again, wobbling with her nose and tail.
"Should I send you a replacement for Officer Wilde?" Chief Bogo already knew the answer, but had to ask nevertheless.
"No, Sir. I think I will cope with it on my own. Also Ni… I mean Officer Wilde will be eager to do the paper work."
"That would be a first…" Bogo mumbled and Judy grinned. "Well then. I already announced your appearance to the local sheriff for tomorrow. He will brief you with all details. Good luck!"
"Thank you, Sir!"
"And, Hopps…"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Best wishes to Wilde from the whole squad."
"Thank you, Sir!" The line clicked and Judy slowly hang up the phone.
"What is it, sis?" Evelin asked impatiently when Judy stand thoughtful and motionless for a few seconds.
"Well, it seems as if we will stay for a while…"
"Good news, Mister Wilde." Doctor Greenwood helped Nick, who was struggling with his casted leg and arm, to climb down the metal barrow of the MRI. "I could not see any edema, crushes or bleedings inside your brain, so I'm not expecting any long-term effects. How bad is your headache, on a scale from zero to ten?"
"Painful, but sufferable." Nick said with a relieved face. "I would say, maybe a strong six."
"I will tell the nurse to give you some light painkillers for the next few days. What about nausea or vomiting? Any seizures or aphasia?" The doctor blazed with a small flashlight alternating into both eyes.
"A small nausea when I get up from laying down." Nick followed the flashlight with his eyes from the left side to the right side of his field of vision. The rabbit switched the flashlight off, nodded pleased and noted something in Nicks medical journal.
"It seems that you really had an angel patronizing you; for the severity of the accident you really get off lightly." He smiled. "But you should treat yourself with care in the next weeks; take things nice and easy. And if you notice any aftereffects, you should go to the next emergency ward."
"I think I can do that." Nick smiled and shakes hands with the doctor.
"Well then, we will closely monitor you the next two days. Do you have an accommodation for the days after your release?"
"Not yet, Judy wanted to talk with her parents if we can stay for a few days." Nicks look was getting sad and his ears drooped. "But maybe I should vote for a hotel."
The old rabbit eyeballed Nick, then putting his hands into the lab coats' pockets. "I heard from Miss Hopps, that you weren't well received by her family." His voice was easy, almost fatherly. "Don't take it to heart, Mister Wilde. It's a countrified area and most older people in Bunnyburrow are quite old-fashioned. But I would not count the Hopps' to the hard-liner. They were probably only caught on the wrong foot. I really think you are a nice guy with a good nature. Even when putting aside my own long lasting knowledge of animal nature, I saw how Miss Judy Hopps looks at you." Nick smiled embarrassed and the Doctor continues smiling. "If you could win her heart, I bet you will win her parents, too. You just have to give them some time to better know you. At least you saved her little kit, and actions speak louder than words." He patted the fox on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Doctor Greenwood. I will give my best to don't disappoint neither you nor Judy." Nick smiled eased.
"Speaking of, I think Miss Hopps is impatiently waiting outside." Doctor Greenwood went ahead and called a nurse with a wheelchair to assist Nick.
"Nick!" Judy jumped from her seat and rushed to the fox who was moved in his wheelchair from another rabbit in a white lab coat. "Thank you, I will take him now." She smiled to the nurse, then pushed Nick to the group of chairs around a table where Evelin was waiting with another rabbit. When Nick arrived at the table he saw three more small bunnies, sitting together on one chair and drawing on a writing pad. "This is my brother Patrick." Judy pointed to the other adult rabbit that had a brown fur as against Judy's and Evelin's greyish. He seemed to be about the age of Judy and Evelin, but that was hard to tell.
"Nice to meet ye'!" Patrick waved with a paw to Nick, who replied with a smile.
"Hi Patrick."
"This is Bobby…" Judy was now pointing to one of the three little kits, that had some funny brown patches within his light grey fur. Bobby was waving shyly and then hiding snickering behind his two sisters. "And those two did you already meet…"
"Annie and Annabelle, right?" Nick smiled without showing too much of his teeth and waved to the two giggling bunnies."
"Nicky!" Both shouted, then jumped on the table and rushed to the fox, landing in his lap and trying to hug him with their cute little paws.
Nick laughed and put his healthy arm around both of them, tickling their head. Evelin snickered: "Awww, how cute!" She holds on to this moment by making a few photos with her phone and winked to Judy. "I think, you got some competition, sis!"
"They were whining for two days to visit ye', Mister Wilde. And when Eve messaged that you were finally awake and according to the circumstances feeling okay, they finally persuaded me to accompany them for a visit." Patrick said with a friendly smile.
"I missed you too, my little bunnies!" Nick smirked to the beaming two kits in his lap. "And you can call me Nick, Patrick." He offered with a smile towards the male rabbit. Bobby was now standing alone on the chair, torn between staying in a safe distance to the foreigner and cuddling him together with his slightly younger sisters. He gave himself a start and finally lumbered shyly towards Nick. The fox carefully put his open paw slowly on the table. Bobby still appeared somewhat skeptical, but then hugged Nicks' big paw with his cute little arms. "Hello, my little friend." Nicks voice was gentle and finally Bobby crawled quickly over the fox's arm and joining his sisters with a proud smile.
"Wow, you are honored Nick! Little Bobby is one of our shyest siblings, he is not getting warm with strangers easily! That he even wanted to come along with his sisters is exceptional. But such a quick familiarity is really a first time!" Patrick was amazed and Evelin made a few more photos while Judy put her arms around Nicks upper body from behind, smiling happily from ear to ear.
"You really know how to capture a bunny's heart, my dear." She kissed him softly on the cheek; and of course Evelin made a photo hereof, too. "Hey!" Judy protested mildly, but Evelin and Patrick were just giggling at her, and even Nick was smiling with a sly grin.
"You know, if I hadn't those casts, I would offer them a really good show." He winked and Judy considered him with a played angry look, then took a chair beside Nick.
"By the way…" Patrick started, and because of his changed voice Judy knew what was coming next. "Mom and Dad really wants to talk to you, Judy." Then he paused before he continues. "And with you, too, Nick." The last part got both, Judy and Nick, by surprise; but Evelin smiled lightly.
"So, did Mom finally convinced the old grumbler, that Nick will not devour their children?" Evelin asked nonchalantly and the two little girls giggled amused. Only Bobby was looking somewhat worried, but finally started to smile when Nick didn't dash forward to swipe him. Judy on the other side still looked somewhat skeptically and her brother just shrugged.
"I don't know you, Nick, but I think you are a nice guy. And if Jude likes you…"
"You bet!" Judy said determined.
"…that's sufficient for me, too; and Mom is thinking alike, I believe. And Pa will listen to her." Patrick winked to Judy. "As always. We Hopps were always somewhat matriarchic." This time he winks to Nick, who gulped with an expression on his face that made everyone laugh – beside him that is.
Nick was laying in his bedside, Judy besides him and snuggled into his healthy arm and his tail. When visiting hours were over, the other Hopps' left and they could share some private time in his sickroom. Judy wouldn't leave the hospital today, but promised that she would talk to her parents the next day. She also told Nick about the new case she had assumed, still not knowing much details herself yet.
"A zooicide here in Bunnyburrow?" Nick sounded astonished and worried. "You should not do that all alone, carrots. As long as I am on desk duty you need another partner!"
"Don't get upset, Nick." Judy stroked his arm and smiled. "You have to go easy. And it is a neighborhood dispute, not a madcap serial killer."
"And why did they request for administrative assistance then?" Nick still sounded worried and hugged her more firmly. "It may be dangerous, Judy."
"There is only a really small police department here in Bunnyburrow, and a zooicide is such an exceptional case, they simply don't know what to do. They normally have to deal with a few shopliftings or vandalism on the fields. And our job is always dangerous to some degree, be it in Zootopia or here in Bunnyburrow. I will keep you up-to-date and promise you to be guarded, okay?"
"Do I have a choice? No. No, I don't." Nick sighed but also smiled softly. Judy gave him a sweet kiss, touching his cheek with her paw.
"Don't worry, I don't want you to undergo the same dubiety and anxiety I had for the last days. I promise, Nick."
"Thank you, Judy. I love you." Nick smiled dreamily and they both snuggled below the blanket.