Nick stared at the sleeping kits in his arms. He wished he could feel so peaceful but he knew there would be no sleep for him. His phone lit up flashing Chief Bogo's number. Nick frantically answered.

"Chief! Please tell me she is ok!"

Bogo sighed heavily, "She is alive but in critical condition. Delgato and Fangmeyer are standing watch over her. I'll have them call you when we have any news."

"Thank you chief I'll be waiting."

"Hopps is strong, Wilde. She'll pull through." Bogo said before disconnecting.

Nick laid Judy's kits on the couch, he needed a drink. Nick opened the cupboard and reached for a bottle of scotch. He froze when he saw the Rose wine in the very back of the shelf. He had purchased the bottle for the express purpose of using it to propose to Judy. Jack had beaten him to her though. The rabbit had asked her out for an interview about the Nighthowler case. They were dating before Nick had even graduated the academy.

Nick sat on the kitchen floor staring at the wine. He had been too scared to act but could never bring himself to move on. Nick noticed his phone was alight with a picture of Judy and her parents. He wanted to ignore it but dutifully answered the Muzzle time. Judy's parents were sitting at their family computer.

"Hello Nick, I hope we're not interrupting anything it's just that Judy's not answering her phone. She and Jack aren't with you by any chance are they?" Bonnie asked.

Nick rubbed his eyes, "No she and Jack aren't here. Have you had any visitors tonight?" he asked carefully.

"Oh are they coming for a surprise visit?" Stu perked up excitedly.

"No! I mean, that's not-" Nick started.

A bell sounded in the background, "That must be them!" Bonnie said excitedly.

"I'll go get them!" Stu said happily.

"OK honey. And don't worry Nick we won't tell them that you told us."

Nick tried to speak but Stu came back in pale as a ghost with the local sheriff.

"I'm sorry to tell you this but your son-in-law Jack Longear is dead." The sheriff said thumbing his hat nervously.

Bonnie let out a short scream. She and Stu looked to Nick on the computer screen.

"I'm sorry." He said crying, "I was too slow to save him."

"And Judy?" Stu asked.

"She is still alive in critical condition at Zootopia General Hospital. The best doctors in the city are helping her now."

"Nick where are her kits?" Bonnie asked frightened.

"Safe and sound." Nick said glad to finally give some good news. He stood up to show them.

"Is that Judy's blood on your shirt?" Stu asked

"It's Jack's blood Nick lied. He quickly turned the phone away from himself and showed the sleeping kits. He could hear them sigh in relief looking at the sleeping bunnies. Nick turned the phone back to himself.

"I'll keep them safe until Judy recovers." He promised.

"Stu and I will be there in a few hours." Bonnie said.

"I'll make up the guest bed for you."

"Oh no you don't need to do that." Stu began.

"I insist." Nick said firmly, "Judy's house is officially a crime scene and I'm closer that most hotels."

"We wouldn't want to impose." Bonnie told him kindly.

"It would be an honor and I'm certain it would make Judy happy."

"Alright if you insist…."

One of the kits woke up crying. "Someone needs me." Nick said as a goodbye.

"Ok we will be there sometime in the morning." Stu said.

"We'll met you at the hospital." Bonnie said before ending the call.

Nick quickly calmed and changed April before she could wake her sisters. The tiny bunny yawned and fell asleep once more. He wished that he could be so calm. He needed to run, or drink, or fight; something, anything other than just sitting here waiting for a call. The kits needed him though, and a drunk fox isn't good for much. He sat next to the sleeping bunnies eventually falling into a fitful sleep.

Nick woke with a start to knocking at his door. He answered it revolver in hand. His mother stood waiting for him.

"I saw the news." She said hugging him.

She held him for a long time before letting herself in. One of the kits began fussing.

"Oh hello little one." She cooed gently picking up June, "Aren't you just adorable."

"Only when they're asleep." Nick mumbled brewing coffee.

"I guess your first taste of fatherhood wasn't as sweet as you hoped?" She smirked, "I hope this doesn't dissuade you from having your own one day."

"They were the least of my troubles last night." Nick answered pouring coffee.

"Are you going to go see her?" His mother asked.

"As soon as she wakes up." He answered, "I know she'll want to see her kits when she wakes."

A flicker of pain flashed over the vixens face, "Nick, you should go alone."

"But her kits-"

"Will be fine with me I've watched babies before." She put her hand on Nick's knee, "Judy just lost her husband, she needs your support. I know what she is going through and she can't do it alone. If her kits are there she will need to be strong in front of her babies but let her have the time to mourn her loss. She will need it."

Nick held his mother's hand, she rarely talked about losing dad. This was actually the first time that she had admitted how much it hurt to lose him. Nick knew it had torn her apart to lose his father but she would never let him see her cry.

"Ok Mom. I'll go alone." He told her gently.

"Then get going." She said, "You should be there when she wakes up."

Nick kissed her on the cheek before running out the door. He was in front of Judy's room within twenty minutes. Delgato and Fangmeyer had been replaced by Trunkaby and Higgins. Neither knew quite what to say to him.

"She's still asleep. Her bleeding has stopped but it's too soon to tell for certain." Higgins reported.

"Thanks guys. Mind if I sneak past you?" Nick said emotionlessly.

"No one is allowed to be alone with her right now." Higgins told him.

"He's right," Trunkaby said opening Judy's door, "that's why we aren't letting anybody in."

Nick tried his best to smile and darted inside. Judy was asleep beneath a tangle of wires and tubes. He pulled a chair next to her bed and waited. Judy stirred after nearly an hour. She mumbled and twitched fearfully. Nick held her paw and waited for her nightmare to subside. Judy's breathing calmed and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Nick?"

"Judy!"

"Where are my girls?" She asked anxiously.

"They're safe with my mother." Nick assured her, "Your parents should be here soon."

"Did they really kill Jack?"

"I'm sorry Carrots." Nick said looking away.

Judy squeezed his paw, "Thank you for protecting my girls."

"You were the one that protected them."

Judy's eyes grew large, "Nick, I can't feel my legs."