Thank you very much for your kind words from the last chapter, which was great fun to write, and now I give the longest chapter I have written to date!

Brace yourselves, heartstrings will be pulled...

Seeing Judy fall from that cliff had had Tala screaming so loud she thought her lungs might have burst out from her chest. It was a moment she would never forget, and a moment she vowed to never relive. The look on Judy's face, a mix of confusion and fright, yet not a sound escaped her lips, was horrifying as she disappeared into the mist. She had thought it was a dream, a terrible, terrible dream, but the growl of remorse that had ripped from the fox that fell down with her was all too real.

Yet nothing was quite more horrifying than the fox beside her, the fox she had heard so much about but had never met. The look of his face was unforgettable. Ears fallen back in fear, his eyes wide and green and petrified, and his cry for her sister utterly heart breaking. That was how she knew him. His face. His face gave everything away, played a picture of what her sister meant to him in one expression alone.

And then the little white fox appeared who she would later learn to be Finnick, Nick's once upon a time ally and friend. He had run up behind Tala and grabbed her around her middle, holding on so tight it was as if he thought she had the strength of a rhino. But she didn't move an inch, only wobbled with Finnick's hasty grasp. It had been silent other than Nick's heavy panting beside them as he stared down in disbelief over the cliff, as if waiting for Judy to be climbing up the side of it.

The two splashes that rippled through the air proved that wasn't going to happen.

"No…" Finnick breathed, sounding so low for someone with such a low voice. He finally understood, and Tala began to cry, blinded by thick, relentless tears whilst the shock paralysed her body.

"She's alive." Nick simply said in a gruff yet certain voice, as if holding back tears of his own. Tala looked at him in vain surprise, but the fox was already running.

"And where the hell are you going?" Finnick shouted, but he never got a reply as Nick disappeared into the woods, unnervingly fast. Tala could feel the confliction in Finnick, his paws slacking on her as if he wanted to take off running after the red fox. She could have shuffled out of his grip if she wanted to, but she was trying to decide if Judy really could have survived the fall, and if so, what next? If she survived it, so would that vixen, and what then?

"I want to go, too." Tala said at last, wiping her eyes. "I need to find her."

"No way, kid, I'm taking you straight back home."

"She needs me." Tala protested. "She needs her family."

"What are you to her? Niece? Daughter? Sister?"

"Sister."

"Then you have a mom to get back to, and you rabbit moms are vicious creatures. Come on, I'll find Nick after."

But Tala refused to move, standing her ground as she stared with empty eyes in the direction that Nick had disappeared. But then again, Finnick didn't try to move her, either, probably as torn as she was. She couldn't go back without her big sister. Their mother would never allow it, and would come here herself if she had to. Baring that in mind, her parents were probably already on their way, calling out to their lost daughters among the many, as frightened as everyone else at what could have happened.

"Please." she said in a broken whisper.

Finnick sighed heavily, looking grimly at her. His insanely large ears twitched constantly with the slightest sound, but one noise in particular snatched his attention. In seconds, Tala was hearing it, too. It was shouting, mammals calling out for those lost; Judy, Nick and Tala. Tala looked at Finnick, who seemed to be in deep thought, planning their next move.

"No funny business, all right, kid? You do exactly what I say, when I say it." he said at last.

"Fine." She agreed without hesitation, and they made their way after Nick.

They saw everything. Finnick kept hold of Tala the entire time, clearly not trusting her at all, and rightly so. Never before had Tala wanted to get into a fight as much as she did then. She saw everything from the moment Nick stood over his sister with protectiveness she had never seen before. And Judy saw it, too, and was as taken aback as Tala and Finnick.

They were hidden in the undergrowth, Finnick's eyes never shifting from the scene unfolding, yet his grip firm on Tala beside him. They had practically jogged the way down here, Finnick using his ears for guidance, and after following the river for about five minutes Nick's growl greeted them from the shadows. Finnick had snatched Tala like she weighed nothing at all, shielding her in the bushes and at a safe distance. He pressed a nail to his mouth and his eyes were daring, so despite herself Tala remained still and quiet, like she was told.

But it was so hard. After the fleeting moment of joy that her sister was alive, dread soon took over.

She wanted to help Judy the moment she attacked the vixen in Nick's defence, but it was over seconds after it started. She had that trunk so hard that even Finnick cringed and momentarily closed his eyes, and for a brief moment he even looked like he wanted to run out and help. But what on earth could they do? The two predators were much larger than them, and in far more aggressive minds. They'd only get in the way if not very hurt.

But Nick was bleeding, and his exhaustion was evident. He sounded so tired and hurt when he spoke back to the vixen, even when he tried to be sarcastic, wincing with each word. He was wobbly, too, even on all fours, and the vixen wasn't all that much better. But she was better than him in that moment in time, despite her own wounds. From here, Tala made out a scratched eye and wounded neck, and a slightly torn ear. But she had so much anger fuelling her, more than Nick, and it took one look away to over power him.

Yet he protected her sister to the bitter end, refusing to let her claws so much as touch an ear. He was so desperate to keep her safe he lay over her, now sheltering her from view, and it was in that moment that everyone's prayers were answered.

The vixen went for one final attack, and in the next moment she was trapped and twisting violently in a net, screaming for her freedom.

Tala bolted before Finnick could figure out what was going on. "Kid, no!"

There were officers everywhere, all over the place, torch lights blinding and ordering voices deafening. She avoided all of it and ran straight for the now unconscious duo, calling out to her sister who she still couldn't see because of Nick's body. A buffalo, presumably the one in charge of this operation, was bellowing for a medic, and never saw Tala's approach.

She skidded to her knees, her trousers instantly soaked and filthy from the mud, and stared at the two unconscious police officers.

Nick lay with his eyes closed, his cheek nuzzled in the crook of Judy's neck. If not for the circumstances, anyone would have thought they were sleeping. For a moment, Tala was taken aback by the peacefulness, and gently reached out to Nick's face, but thought better of it and pulled back. Instead she nestled herself on the other side of his tail and assessed the pair.

Very carefully she lifted Nick's snout up with her paws, her nose twitching at what she saw. Awful wounds bled through his white fur, but it wasn't anything too serious, yet he would most likely need stitches. But when she looked at Judy, Tala knew exactly what was wrong with her.

She was breathing very hard, and her eyes were open but unseeing.

"Hey!" shouted Finnick, racing through the cops trying to control the vixen, who was still thrashing about violently in her net.

"Move him." She said stiffly when he reached her.

"What?"

"Move Nick!" she shouted, frantic now. "She's in shock!" she turned to the ZPD mammals. "Somebody help! My sister's in shock!"

Moments later, without question, Finnick and a wolf dragged Nick as carefully as possible off of Judy, freeing her for examination. Rabbit shock was series, as if it wasn't caught and treated quickly, she was going to lose her life. Everyone knew this and were taking no chances. Flipping her cautiously onto her back, Tala whispered reassuring words to her whilst the medic, a grave looking beaver, wrapped her gently in blankets.

"I'm right here, sis," Tala whispered as she held her limp head up, aiding the medic in coaxing water into her mouth. "I'm right here. Nick's here, too. You're both okay, just stay with me Judy, we'll get you better."

"Carrots?" came a groan, and when Tala looked back, Nick's heavy eyes met hers. He blinked, looking confused, until they fell on her sister beside her. "Carrots?!"

"Nick, she's fine, she's going to be fine-" it was Finnick talking, trying to block his view in the process, yet with such a deep voice he sounded anything but consoling. Beside her, Judy coughed against the water gently washing down her throat and she shivered. She went unconscious again, her head limp and rolling into Tala's chest. Her breathing slowed, and the medic confirmed that her pulse was normal again.

"She needs a hospital, Chief, or she'll go into shock again. She has to be monitored." the medic informed the looming buffalo, who looked solemn.

"Judy!" Nick cried, outright panicking now. Judy was being put on a stretcher, Tala keeping tight hold of her paw, but her heart broke as she listened to Nick's protests and sheer worry. "No, I have to go with her! I can't leave her, not again!"

"Go on, kid," Finnick shouted when he saw her hesitating, trying to keep Nick at bay whilst the other officers began to intervene. "I've got this."

Her ears drooping with uncertainty and guilt, Tala followed the gurney, establishing her relationship to Judy and asking for a phone, needing to get in touch with her parents. She looked back one last time, but she couldn't see Nick anymore, only his shouts for her sister. She dropped her chin to her chest and followed the medic quietly.

The last thing Nick remembered was watching the doors of the ambulance van close on Judy, before he felt a sting in the side of his neck and slipped into darkness.

When he awoke again, he was groggy and uncertain, all of his muscles stiff and his throat felt hoarse. He could hear the rain outside, hammering against what must have been a window, and reluctantly he opened his eyes. He was propped up in a bed with white sheets in a small, pale room, and by his side sat Chief Bogo, who looked annoyingly pitiful. He looked down, noting that he had bandages wrapped from his hips to his lower chest, his shirt absent and his trousers wrecked, like rags on his legs. His head was pounding, but when he closed his eyes through a wince, he could only think of one thing.

"Where is she?" he asked, his voice croaky.

"Safe and well, but asleep. You can see her in a moment, but I need a word." Bogo replied, and the relief that washed over Nick felt like a thousand bricks had been lifted off of him. But he could guess what was coming. Him and Judy being positively reckless, that they were told not to get too far involved, that they were incredibly stupid and moronic and-

"I'm sorry." Bogo said, carefully watching Nick's expression.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry for asking Judy to get involved, and you. I'm sorry for being an irresponsible chief, Wilde, I need you to know that."

"Sir, I…" but Nick was lost for words, and instead closed his mouth and let the surprise take over his expression. Bogo actually chuckled at it.

"I nearly lost two of my best cops tonight, and I will regret that for the rest of my life." He said solemnly. "I asked far too much from you, and look where it got the pair of you? And Hopps' family, too."

"It's not over, sir," Nick said, struggling to sit up. "Ffion said there's an organisation, a big one."

Bogo nodded. "I know, and were working on closing that network as of now. But not you two. I'm giving you both a month's paid sick leave; that should be enough time for the both of you to recover, see a specialist if need be."

"That won't be necessary." Nick protested.

"It's the least I can do." He said sternly, his authority creeping back into his voice. "Now, can you walk, fox?"

The walk down the hall was agonisingly long, and Nick was an impatient fox. He winced several times, clutching his midriff, and his mangled shirt hung hopelessly from his shoulders. It was only a small hospital, mostly occupied with rabbits, so must have been on the outskirts of Bunnyburrow. Bogo had given him the room number, unable to follow down the halls due to his side, and remained in the larger mammal section of the hospital. His footsteps echoed, damp and squeaky with his still wet paws and none-receded claws, which would return to their dormant state in a few hours. Judging by the quietness of the building, it was the early hours of the morning, and since Nick was still wet from the rain outside, he couldn't have been here for any longer than an hour.

Finally, he found the room he was told to find, and suddenly he felt nervous. What if she was awake and afraid of him? He couldn't blame her. He knew he must have looked like a monster out there, despite the circumstances. What if she cowered away from him? She had never seen him like that… he had never seen himself like that. Taking a deep breath, he slyly poked his head around the doorframe and peeked in.

In a large chair, three rabbits slept. He recognised her parents from the many times their photo came up as they rang her mobile, and the third, a young rabbit, slept peacefully between them. They looked so tired and worn, almost as bad as Nick felt, but peaceful nonetheless.

Judy slept, too, but in a rightful bed. Nick had seen Judy asleep many times, often at her desk at work or in the passenger seat after a long night shift. But he had never seen her asleep in a bed before. There was something pleasant about it, seeing her in her most vulnerable, innocent state. She was attached to a heart monitor, which beeped along with her steady heartbeat, a reassuring sound. Her ears were folded back, her eyes gently closed, and her paws limp at her sides.

Slowly Nick moved to her bedside, careful not to wake her sleeping family. Upon closer inspection, he could see small plasters dotted here and there, one on her shoulder, one on the tip of her left ear, and possibly hundreds more in places he couldn't see. Her wrist was bandaged, probably sprained. Yet she slept silently, not dreaming, just swimming in darkness. He knew when she was dreaming; she twitched an awful lot.

Gently, the most gentle he had ever been in his life, he smoothed a scruffy bit of fur on the crown of her head. His paw trailed to the fuzzy area of fur behind her unwounded ear, before working its way to cup and cheek and fold around her neck. She didn't stir, but sighed deeply, falling further into her slumber. Nick smiled, something he hadn't done for a long time, and it felt odd now.

What had brought them to this?

He shook his head slightly, not wanting to go down that road. She was safe. She was alive and safe because he went back for her when she needed him. He would never forget the look on her face before the cliff, when she saw him in the shrubs and the tears of relief that strained her vision. It was a look that told Nick she still believed in him, even now, and it was the most reassuring thing he ever witnessed.

But there was something else that nagged at him. It was a small thing, yet it spoke a thousand words to him. He remembered smelling her fear as he prowled behind her, both hers and Ffion's, and of course that was to be expected. But she did something she was probably very unaware of doing. The moment he stalked over her and realised who he was, her heart rate had slowed and her scent drifted from fear to something else. She wasn't afraid of him. In a moment he had been most feral around her, most dangerous, he couldn't smell an ounce of fear on her, only Ffion.

He pulled his paw away and sighed, smiling slightly at the detail as it replayed back to him. She wasn't scared of him, not even a little. She trusted him.

"Mr Wilde, right?" the voice started him so much he almost jumped out of his skin. He hastily moved away from Judy's side when he realised her father was awake, rubbing at his eyes groggily. He moved from the chair, rearranging the youngest rabbit so that she snuggled into his wife's side. "Tala told me about what you did."

"Tala?" he asked, glancing at the youngster.

"Judy's sister; my daughter, if you will." Her father established.

"W-what did she tell you, sir?"

He smiled tentatively. "That you saved my little girl's life out there. Tala told me you almost gave your life for my Judy; is that true?"

Nick looked back at Judy, remembering his actions from start to finish in order to protect her. "I guess I did."

"Then I have to thank you, Mr Wilde."

"Nick," Nick corrected. "Please, call me Nick. Mr Wilde is my dad."

"You Nick, me Stu." He replied, and Nick smiled nervously. If Judy was awake, he knew that she would have been laughing at him right about now. "I need to ask you to do something, though."

"What is it?"

"I need you to go back to the city."

Nick's gut instantly ordered him to say no, not in a million years, but the look on Stu's face kept him silent for a moment longer than he intended. "Sir… Stu, I can't do that. I can't leave her again."

"I know, and I also know she'll hate me for doing it. But I want her here, getting better, without the memory of tonight still fresh when she looks at you." To his credit, Stu did look remorseful, which halted Nick's anger from rising to the surface, instead his heart raced with frustration and disbelief.

"I won't tell her you left willingly, I'll tell her I sent you away. She won't hate you."

"She can hate me all she wants no matter what the circumstances, Stu, but I can't just leave her here without so much as a goodbye, not after what happened tonight." He swallowed. "I need her, and she needs me."

Stu sighed heavily. "I give you my word that I'll tell her to go back as soon as she's fit. I just don't want her suffering any more than she needs to."

"And what about him, dad? What about his suffering?" it was Tala, wide-awake, clearly having listened to more than she should have. Nick stared, remarking on her incredible resemblance to Judy, right down to the stubbornness in her eyes.

But he wasn't going to argue, as much as it truly hurt him. "It's okay, I get it. She needs to be with you guys first." He looked up from her sleeping face, locking his gaze onto Stu's. "Promise you'll tell her I didn't want to go."

"I promise." He nodded.

"This isn't fair!" Tala shouted, inadvertently waking her mother. Nick smiled sadly at her.

"It's okay, kid," he said quietly. "Just look after her for me." He solemnly reached out for Judy's paw, squeezed it tightly, and then left the room as silent as the dead of night, the rain somehow sounding incredibly loud now.

When he reunited with Bogo, who was waiting quietly in the waiting room, his face said it all, or why else would he still be here? "You knew."

"I'm sorry, Wilde. I didn't want to have to tell you, but Mr Hopps was adamant of it. It's for the best." Even Bogo didn't sound convinced at his own words, meaning even he thought this was a cruel act by anyone's standards.

"It's fine." Nick muttered. "Just keep me posted, yeah?"

"I'll have an officer on site with her twenty four hours a day, I assure you."

"Good." He mumbled. "It's the least she deserves."

In begrudging silence and mute annoyance and hurt, they walked back to Nick's room to gather his things, what little there was, and discharged himself from the hospital.

The drive back was very long, very quiet, and very lonely as Bunnyburrow disappeared in their wake.

Don't panic! There's still at least two more chapter's to come, which will hopefully be up by Friday :)