Chapter 3: It's Just One of Those Days

Zootopia….Nick and Judy's Apartment….2 am

Nick was tossing and turning in his sleep, the occasional half formed utterance would escapes his mouth, the twitching and spasming of his limbs against some imagined assault going on in his mind's eye.

Inside his mind, Nick was running, as if being chased, the sound of screeching tires and revving engines. He ran until he found a door, running full force into it, it burst open to find himself in an idyllic field of blue flowers, the noise seemingly calm.

Nick looked around and realized that the blue flowers were that dreaded flower, his sense of relief replaced by panic, as he tried to find a way out of the field, he made it to a nearby tree, resting a paw on it's trunk. A sticky black tar seemed to stick to his paw.

He instinctively pulled away from it but it grew, reproducing and claiming more of his paw, then his arm, it started to grow into him. Nick frantically tried to pull it off, but it was growing back too fast. It enveloped him, he could feel it infiltrating every pore, infecting him, making him gag and choke. He fell into blackness.

He froze, seeing an impossible vision, of himself, Nick was gagging on the night howler serum, a vision of his memory in the history museum.

"No, Nick, don't do this, fight it." Pleaded Judy.

.

"But he can't help it, can't he? Since preds are biologically predisposed to being savages" echoed Bellwether's voice from the ether.

Nick watched as his savage self, pursuing her, he was frozen, helpless, watching, seeing and experiencing at the same time.

"Hunt her." Whispered a voice. "Hunt her. Kill Her."

His muscles were tensing, his blood felt like it was on fire, he could smell her now. Her fear, he could even hear her heartbeat, it was beating fast, and it was exciting him.

"No, stop!" Nick pleaded with his savage self.

"I know you hate yourself, and I know why." echoed Sid's voice from the dark

"It's because, we both know that on some level, on some primal level…You enjoyed it."

A column of light from above illuminated the area just as in the experiment cell, and yet the diorama also existed in this space, the circular cell and the diorama. The qualities of both places seem to intermingle in a mélange of surreal motion, as if both places existed in the same place and time.

His savage self, crept closer and closer. Teeth exposed, shiny from saliva, waiting for the moment. Judy stumbled, just as she did in the museum,

"Oh Nick, no, no." Judy pleaded.

"Stop!, STOP! Damn you!" Nick screamed at himself, trying to reach for his savage self. But his feet couldn't move like they were in cement blocks.

Nick snapped at Judy's neck, she let out her scream, the same blood curdling scream from the museum. Except this time, it was cut short by the loud snap of her neck, and the guttural growls of a mad fox tearing into rabbit flesh.

Nick collapsed to his knees and sobbed, the scene slid back into the shade of the ether, a voice from above him.

"Why did you do it Wilde?" asked a deep voice.

Nick turned up to see Chief Bogo.

"I didn't. This didn't happen." Nick replied.

"Of course it did, her blood is on your paws" replied the chief pointing.

Nick looked and saw his paws drenched in blood, Judy's blood.

"No!" Nick recoiled in horror, he turned to see others surrounding him.

"Why did you kill Judy? She was innocent, she didn't hurt anyone." Said Clawhauser.

"I can't believe you would do that, bro" Said Finnick.

"I warned her about Foxes, but she didn't listen, and now look what you've done" said Stu.

"Why did you kill my baby!?" screamed Bonnie

"I couldn't, I wouldn't, I swear I didn't…" pleaded Nick.

"She went through hell to find you Nick." said Kaiden

"She didn't deserve this." Said Kit.

Nick dropped to his knees, and covered his eyes, just wanting it to be over, he could feel the guilty gazes of all of them, hearing Sid's maniacal laugh surrounding him, as if to remind him. For a moment he thought he was still in the cell, that maybe he never left, was never rescued and everything that happened since then was simply a dream.

"You're a savage." They all said.

"A killer."

"A demon."

"A monster."

And then suddenly, everything became deathly quiet, Nick was trembling, he felt a presence and opened his eyes, to see Judy standing before him, covered in her own blood, looking at him saddened, tears welling in her eyes, her voice breaking.

"Why did you kill me Nick?"

"I thought you loved me?"

"Judy! Oh god, No, please No!" Nick broke down, tears falling from his eyes, as she faded into the blackness.

"Please come back!"

"Judy!"

"Judy!"

"JUDY!" he screamed.

Nick awoke and snapped up in bed, he was covered in cold sweat, his paw reaching out towards the dream, he was shaking, still in that area between sleep and awake, he looked right to catch sight of a pair of amethyst eyes and a concerned rabbit face looking at him, reaching for him. The form said something, it sounded muffled.

Nick instinctively pushed himself away and towards a nearby wall, retreating into himself holding his arms around his chest, reeling away.

"No, stay back, I don't want to hurt you." He said sobbing.

Judy had scrambled to her feet and dashed over to Nick.

"Nick, it's alright, shhhh." She came over and started to pet him, his fur soaked with sweat. She held him and tried to comfort him. She could feel his heart racing.

Judy had realized which dream it was this one particularly bad. As a matter of history, the dreams would range from a stir of awakening, or even tremors in his sleep. Judy would pet him in those instances to calm him down, she remembered the first time she saw it, his random tics and spasms, and the barks coming from his throat but losing all strength by the time it escaped his lips. She had never seen any canine have a nightmare before, and at first she thought it was some kind of seizure, but she read that these kinds of things happen to canine group mammals of which the fox is one. Sometimes the dreams were bad, but never this bad, not enough to cause him to retreat out of bed the way he just did.

"Nick" she addressed him, he was still reeling from her.

She reached and grabbed his head, with both paws on the side of his head and made him look at her. Nick was panting still trying to catch his breath, he was trembling, the fear still in his eyes.

"Nick, it's alright, it's over. I'm right here." She reassured him.

Judy rubbed his cheeks sweetly and hugged him, placing her head next to his. His defensive posture softened, he caught the smell of her, it calmed him, and he wrapped his arms around her. His trembling slowed and eventually stopped.

"Please Nick, say something." She pleaded

"I'm here carrots. I'm here." He finally spoke.

Judy continued to pet him.

"Nick….what happened?" she whispered.

"It was the same dream." He whispered back.

"Tell me what happened."

"It's the same thing that I told you before."

"I know, but tell me what you're thinking."

"I feel…..broken."

"Why?"

"I feel like, they scooped out what I was….and put in something else."

Jud put her forehead against his. She could see Nick against the almost pitch black of their apartment and rubbed the back of his neck ever so gently.

"You're not the only one who feels that way." She replied.

"Carrots?"

"The truth is, and I know we don't like to think about it, and I know we don't want to admit it…."

"What?"

"Sidney broke us." She admitted.

Nick sat silently, letting the concept sink in.

"I know, We don't want to admit that he succeeded, but he damaged us. He broke us."

"You still blame yourself?" Nick asked sadly.

"Yes. Yes I do. Because…I let this happen." She whispered, ashamed.

Nick and Judy sat in the quiet of their embrace for what seemed like forever. Nick took a ragged deep breath, still quite disturbed by the dream but feeling her warmth, listening to her breath, feeling the small movements she made to keep holding onto him.

"Maybe you're right, carrots, we are broken. And maybe that's ok."

"How can you say that?" she asked.

"Because we have each other…. Maybe we're supposed to take those broken pieces, of you and me, and glue them back together. Maybe where we broke, fits together, with each other." He replied

Judy looked into his eyes, she could feel Nick's gaze as he looked into her eyes lovingly.

"I love you, Nicholas Wilde."

"I love you, Judith Hopps."

The two shared a sweet and gentle kiss there in the dark, they could feel each other's breath intermingling with the colder air of the apartment, the sound of air passing their respective noses, the warmth of their embrace.

"We should…..get back to bed." He whispered, taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh.

"I know."

The Nick collected Judy and himself off the floor and got back into bed, Judy stayed close and cuddled with him, laying her head inches from his, staring into his eyes, Nick could see her features, her drowsy but concerned expression. He petted her with his paw, tracing his finger along the edges of her muzzle. The beautiful vision before him, his fears seemed to melt away by looking at her. He smiled at her, which she was able to make out in the dark and smiled back in response. They just looked at each other, Green reflecting to Purple and back again. Nick and Judy, Judy and Nick, a fox and rabbit, who loved and cared for each other more than life itself.

They both drifted off to sleep, trying to claim the remainder of the night before the morning would come and work would continue, always holding onto one another and never letting go.

The beep of the alarm, intruded into their sleep, Judy was the first to awake and hit the snooze button on the alarm. Nick had turned a moan escaping his throat, but still not awaking. Usually they would alternate who would awaken first, shower first, and start the day. She knew today was Nick's turn but in lieu of last night's disruption, she decided to give him a few more minutes of rest.

She arose, walking to the closet, pulling out a pair of uniforms, one for her and him, she added his name tag and badge to the appropriate place on his shirt, fortunately for her, her badge and name tag were on the vest and required no moving from shirt to shirt like Nick's, she lightly brushed her uniform, then Nick's, looking over at him, smiling gently, her partner, in every way there was to define that word, she was grateful for it. So many ways life could have fallen into place, and she got the better of the many possibilities. More than just chasing her dream, but better that she has someone to share it with, she mulled these thoughts, as she loaded the coffee maker with fresh grind. She knew this would waken him better than any alarm clock, Nick loved coffee, but it had to be 'good' coffee, none of that freeze dried mass produced stuff. Nick made a point to get imported coffee beans, whole beans too, to which he would grind down into fresh granules, usually the night before.

Judy set the grinds into a filter, filled the machine up with water, and set it to brew and put the decanter in its spot. A short while to brew, she would take this opportunity to shower, and let the aroma do it's work to waken her favorite fox.

As she showered, she could hear the thump of footpaws clambering on the floor. She giggled to herself, as predicted the aroma of said coffee had indeed awoken the orange fur ball. Judy finished her shower, quickly brushed her teeth, and finished the rest of her morning routine. With her towel wrapped around her, she opened the door to find Nick sipping his coffee

"Oh yeah, that's the stuff" he remarked to his coffee.

"Oh, should I be jealous?" She joked.

Nick quirked an eyebrow in response

"Well I thought I was the only thing in this apartment that 'stimulates' you?"

"Oh carrots, you know nothing gets me going like you."

Judy leaned over from the sink and kissed him on the cheek.

"Morning, sleepy head."

"About last night, or this morning….whatever…..thanks. It helps, really."

"Anytime." She smiled softly.

They stared at each other for a moment, just studying each other, and as quick as the moment happened, it ended.

"I poured you a mug." Nick said, motioning his coffee mug.

"And your uniform is ready for you….after you shower of course."

"Thanks, fluff." He replied.

Judy sidestepped passed Nick to let him into the bathroom, and to get dressed, she felt Nick brush up next to her, hearing him take a deep breath of her scent as she passed. She looked back to see him smiling back at her, his eyes bright again, looking back. No words were exchanged, just glances and smiles, he stepped into the bathroom to clean himself up for the day.

Later…

With the familiar feeling of home left behind, the uniformed pair were making their way to the station, soon it would be the start of another day, Nick and Judy would once again become Officers Wilde and Hopps, the professional and talented duo. Back to behind the badge, and the no nonsense attitude that came with it. This is why Judy and Nick enjoyed as many moments as their civilian selves as they could, for they didn't allow themselves to have those moments when they were working, concern yes, empathy yes, but the kisses and hugs and loving glances, no, they had to maintain a fair and impartial, professional tone and look, especially for them, they were the first rabbit and fox officer, and much was expected of them.

They reached the corner just before the station would come into view. Judy leaned over and gave Nick one last kiss on the cheek, like a swimmer taking a breath before diving into a pool.

"I love you, Nick." She said.

"I love you too, Carrots." He replied, as he looked over at her.

"Are you ok?" he inquired.

"I just wanted you to know. Sometimes I think, you don't know how much I do." She said, smiling at him.

"Of course I do, Carrots, of course I do." He replied petting her on the head, with a small smile on his lips.

As they parked at the station, they shifted attitudes, it was like a switch, and it was understood between them. They walked into the station and head into the bullpen, the nickname for the meeting room that patrol officers would receive their assignments. Being detective trainees, they had to wait until Bogo assigned them to Rollins and detective work, to have to split time between patrol assignments and detective work. They had to split the difference, wear the uniform to work, while keeping plain clothes in the trunk of Nick's car in case they needed to change.

This was only a temporary thing thankfully, as to when Wilde and Hopps would be released from this back and forth and become full detectives and the promotions that came with it, left to their own devices, and work the cases as they saw it, that was up to Bogo. He however did see potential in the duo and was working them through the process as best as he could.

The meeting continued in standard fashion, with assignments being given out, Bogo giving folders to each team.

"Hopps, Wilde….You with Rollins again, your case has had a development." Said Bogo.

"Alright, you each have your assignments, get to them. Dismissed!"

The mammals in the meeting stood and each filed out in single file. Hopps and Wilde, trailing in the rear, as they walked down the hall a familiar silver timber wolf rounded the corner, Gideon Frost, the former commander of Wolverine Risk Control and previously former ZPD officer, now rehired as deputy chief after the "Plague Incident", in the months since then Nick and Judy got to know Gideon as the kind hearted wolf that he always was, it was a shame that such a fine officer was pushed out, and now back in. The bombing of the ZPD earlier that year left precinct one without a lot of good cops, the deputy chief especially, to which Gideon was tapped to fill that role.

"Hey guys." Gideon said cheery to the duo.

"Hey Gideon." They both replied.

"Off to work with Rollins again today." Frost asked.

"Yeah, apparently a break in the case, we are going to check on it now." Judy replied.

"Well, good luck with that. By the way, you good sports for going back and forth like this, I know the personnel shortages are taking a toll on everybody."

"It's alright, it's the least we could do." Replied Judy

"I know, but I understand what it's like to have to put your career on hold because of 'circumstances'. So I want you to know, Bogo and I are doing our best to get you to where you want to go, as fast as we can."

"We appreciate it Frost." Replied Nick

"Anyway, stay safe out there."

"Thanks" the two replied and walked on, watching Frost take some files towards the bullpen.

Wilde and Hopps made their way to Rollins's desk, when Rollins came out of the break room, as he was speaking with an officer.

"Hey you two!" Rollins addressed.

The duo spun around.

"We got to go, like right now, down to the ME's office, don't bother changing, let's go."

The three went out to Rollins's car and climbed in, and made their way towards the Zootopia Medical Examiner's office.

"So what's the development?" asked Judy.

"Your suicide, doesn't appear to be a suicide." He replied

Judy and Nick looked at each other, almost feeling vindicated.

"Was it a homicide?" asked Judy.

"I don't know, the ME said she would explain it when we got there, but she said it definitely wasn't a suicide." The cougar replied.

Later…..Medical Examiner's Office

The ME's office was a cluster of tile, laminate and steel. Cooling units, and exam tables for conducting autopsies, thankfully they were just here for a preliminary report; The trio had walked into the office of Dr. Jenna McCafferty, one of the Medical Examiners for the city of Zootopia, she was Giraffe, tall and spindly, but delicate at her work and capable. While most just called her Doctor or McCafferty, her personal affiliation with Detective Rollins and his penchant for annoying his friends has earned her a nickname from the old cougar.

"Stilts! It's good to see ya." Chuckled the cougar.

"It's good to be seen, Catfish."

The two exchanged a friendly hug, and conducted themselves on either side of her desk. Wilde and Hopps sat in the large chair next to Rollins, it's size large enough to seat them both.

"So you decided to move back to the city, eh?" inquired Rollins.

"Well, you know me, can't keep away from all the excitement of double homicides and overdoses." She joked darkly.

"So who are the unis?" she motioned towards Wilde and Hopps

"Oh, them, they are in training, kind of taking them under my wing, teaching 'em the ins and outs of being a detective."

"Well, Catfish, I never thought you would ever be able to teach. Course, I know you like the sound of your own voice, so maybe it fits." She joked.

"Aw, come on Stilts, be serious."

"Oh I am, I KNOW you love the sound of your voice."

Rollins shook his head with a smirk in response.

"Oh you know you missed me, Catfish." She smirked back.

"If I say yes, can we move on." The cougar replied seriously.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you're right" she replied taking the casual tone out of her voice.

"So what do you have for us?" Rollins said.

"Firstly, did you bring that file we talked about?"

"Yes, I did."

Rollins took a file out of his coat, it was the toxicology report on the cougar that was at Zootopia General and handed it to the Giraffe. She opened a file she had on her desk, and the cheetah's file and looked back and forth between the two files.

She muttered to herself, as she used a highlighter on both files. Judy had a foreboding feeling, as the Giraffe was marking between the two files, each stroke sounding the same in pairs.

"Yup, it looks like my suspicions were right." Dr. McCafferty said.

"Let me guess, this is the part you tell me the pavement didn't do it." Stated Rollins.

The giraffe looked up from the paper work, putting a cap on her highlighter, and closed both files handing them to Rollins, who in turn handed them to Judy.

"Nope, heart attack." She said matter of factly.

"Heart attack?"

"Mmhmmm."

"What would cause that?"

"Massive cardio vascular stress caused by…a as of yet identified substance. Poor kid would have been dead walking down the street. But what the hell was he doing on a bridge?"

Rollins shrugged and turned to Wilde and Hopps

"Hey that cheetah kid, what was he like when you picked him up?"

"He was acting like it was a game, he kept saying he wanted to run, just keep running." Said Judy

"He wanted to run? What the hell?"

Rollins and McCafferty bantered questions back and forth, Judy let their voices just fall into the back ground, she opened and looked at the files, and read the highlighted parts, she tried to think on what the cheetah was saying, trying to think of what the tiger could have been doing.

"What are you thinking, carrots" asked Nick as he noticed Judy deep in thought.

"From what symptoms we've seen, we think it has an effect on Dopamine reception, Norepinephrine." Echoed the Oryx doctor's words

The word "Norepinephrine" stuck in her mind, she had heard it somewhere before, something she read but couldn't place it, had something to do with excitement.

Her eyes went wide as if the connection suddenly became clear.

"Adrenaline Rush." She spoke out loud

Rollins and McCafferty went quiet and turned towards the rabbit.

"What did you say?" asked Rollins.

"The Oryx doctor at Zootopia General, told us that the drug affects the Dopamine and Norepinephrine chemicals in the brain." Explained Judy her eyes still wide, as if still fully engaged in her realization.

"Yes, Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter in the fight or flight response, triggered by adrenaline from the adrenal glands." Explained Dr McCafferty.

"This chemical, whatever it is, must make you feel good from doing things that get your adrenaline going." Concluded Judy.

"That's why the tiger was at the top of the bridge, he was trying to scare himself, get his heart pumping. The same with the cheetah, he was running to get his adrenaline going."

"That makes sense, anything that would be dangerous or risky, something that would scare you or excite you would do it." Suggested Rollins.

The doctor pulled out an evidence bag that contained a single item, an inhaler, with an unmarked vial attached to it and put it on the desk.

"I found this on the tiger when they brought him in." she explained.

Rollins picked up the bag and inspected the inhaler, giving it to Judy.

"Is this what chemical came in?" asked Judy.

"Yep…It looks like you guys have a new street drug on your paws." She replied.