Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the movie Zootopia are all owned by Disney the great and powerful. Any and all registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

Stayin' Alive was one of five Bee Gee's songs written for Saturday Night Fever in 1977. If you can remember 1977 you remember the song. Heck, you probably remember it even if you can't remember 1977.

Stayin' Alive

"Haven't seen the weasel," the nervous looking raccoon assured Nick and Judy. "Is he wanted for something?"

"Missing probation meetings. Going to be in deep shit if he doesn't report in." Nick handed the raccoon a card. "Give us a call if you see him. Or tell him to call us. If he calls us in the next twenty-four hours we can keep him out of jail. He waits longer..."

"I'll call you if I see him," the raccoon lied.

Nick closed his eyes and groaned when the pair returned to the car. "He won't call. He thinks we want to arrest Duke."

"We could have told him we're worried about Duke."

"And have people think we're tight with him? Not good for Duke's health. As far as all his friends know we're the enemy and they won't help us."

"One more stop," Judy said and started the car. "I know how to find him."

Nick figured out where Judy was heading within a couple blocks. They eventually parked in front of a small white house in a suburb and Nick knocked on the door. "Police."

"You two?" the middle aged female sneered when she answered the door. "I wish you'd stop persecuting my son."

"We're not persecuting your son, Missus Weaselton. We simply need to see him."

"What has he... What do you think he's done?"

"We're not looking to arrest him. Is he here?"

"No."

"Do you know where he is?"

"No."

"Do you know how to get a hold of him?"

"No."

"This is important. We think Duke may be in danger. He may know and have gone into hiding... But we're worried about his safety."

"You're worried about... Danger? Serious danger?"

"Potentially. We can't be certain. But we want to make sure he knows."

"I... I'll see if... Can you wait here a minute?"

"Certainly."

Nick and Judy stood at the front door as Duke's mother went back into the house. Judy could hear muffled conversation from somewhere in the house and a few minutes later she returned. "He's really not wanted for anything?"

"No Ma'am."

A speaker they couldn't see asked what he considered the more important question, "Dat is really dem?"

"Of course it is," his mother replied.

Duke came out from around the corner, covered in dust. "Cleanin' under da bed in da guess room," he told the detectives. "Ma, you shouldst goes to da kitchen while I talks wit da defectives."

"I want to hear if they threaten you so-"

"Go, Ma. Dey wouldst not haves da noive to tries anyding heres."

Mrs. Weaselton reluctantly left her son.

"Looks like you already heard that Bellwether's fans might be out for your hide," Nick remarked dryly.

"Onest in me life I tells da trut in court, and dis is how I gets repaid?"

"I'm pretty sure you told the truth in order to avoid a prison sentence yourself," Judy pointed out.

"Going to stay under the bed until she's recaptured?"

"Iz was cleanings. An' Iz does not haves foim plans at dis point. But Iz does not wants me mom to be a poitential target. How longs untils you gets da sheep back in da slammer?"

"Heck of a question," agreed Nick. "And we certainly can't say. Department is worried about us, we've been ordered to leave town."

"Youse has beens ordered out of town? Dat is funny."

"Glad you think so. We wanted to make sure you had a head's up before we left."

"Tanks. I... Stays safe... Youse has a safes place ta goes?"

Judy answered, "We're going to Bunnyburrow. Where I grew up."

"How longs wills youse be deres?"

"I told you," Nick reminded him, "we can't predict that. They want us to stay until she's been captured."

"Yeah," muttered the weasel. "Like dat is gonna happen witout youse two around, and witout me tellin' youse which end is up."

"The ZPD has a lot of good officers," Judy retorted. "Dawn won't be fooling anyone this time. She'll be back in prison in no time."

The weasel frowned slightly, "Dis Buddyburrow is really safes?"

"They watch grass grow for recreation," Nick told him. "A missing button was the last major crime, seven years ago. The annual contest to grow the biggest rutabaga is front page news for-"

Judy gave her husband a dope slap. "City animal. If there isn't a drive by shooting every five minutes Nick think nothing happens. Bunnyburrow is a wonderful town, where most people love their neighbors and get along."

"Ma!" Duke called.

"Yes, Dear, are they threatening you?"

"No, Ma. Iz is goin' to Buddyburrow."

"You're what?" Mrs. Weaselton asked, coming out from the kitchen. "Buddyburrow?"

"Bunnyburrow, Ma'am," Judy tried to explain. "We were telling Duke we were going to Bunnyburrow and... And I don't know why... Maybe he was telling you that we're going there?"

"Nah, dis Buddyburrow sounds like a goods place to rests and recreates for awhiles. And since youse is goin' I taught dat I wouldst goes along and keeps youse safe."

"Nick and I will be-"

"No, no. I insists. Outta da goodness of me hearts I feels like I oughts to."

Judy sighed in frustration.

"Are you applying pressure on my son to force him out of Zootopia?"

"No, we aren't," Nick assured her. "Apparently he feels it would be safer for-"

"I figures dey mights need me help," Duke told his mother.

Mrs. Weaselton was silent for a moment, remembering her son hiding in the disused guest room. "You would feel safe in this Bunnyburrow, Dominick?"

"Yeah, Ma. Dey gots a kid ta pertects and dey probably wants all da help dey can gets." He turned to Judy, "When does we leaves?"

Judy gritted her teeth, "Nick and I will be on the nine-thirty train this evening." "And you won't be saying a word to Jade." She turned to Duke's mother. "The police department of Zootopia is concerned for the welfare of all citizens." "Even the undeserving."

"You have a curious way of showing it," the older weasel sniffed.

Judy studied the platform as they waited for the train. Having Jay with them gave her an incentive to be extra cautious as she scanned the various other passengers waiting with them. None looked like a threat. Of course, the most dangerous animals never looked like a threat. Dawn Bellwether hadn't looked like a threat. The memory only made her more tense. Normally the fact many were prey species would have helped her relax – although marriage to Nick hadn't erased all her prejudices. But when Dawn Bellwether recruited underlings from prey species it meant she couldn't trust the ancient instincts of her species. She closed her eyes and counted three as a figure hidden beneath clothing bulky enough to hide his species ran onto the platform with seconds to spare. In her heart she had hoped Duke Weaselton would not travel to Bunnyburrow – or at least would take a different train. "You don't need to ride with us," she told him as he joined them.

"I figures youse is worried about da animals dat mights be after youse," he assured her as they doors opened and animals climbed into the train cars.. "I plans to help protects youse and da off-sprung."

Jade looked at her father, "Whas an off-sp'ung?"

"We all are," Nick told her.

"Your father means everyone has a mommy and daddy. Off-spring are the children of their parents."

Judy nursed her irritation as the weasel settled in a passenger seat near them.

"An' dis is da famous Jade Wilde?"

"Remember, Jay, you don't talk with strangers," Judy reminded her daughter. "And they don't come any stranger than Duke Weaselton."

"Mommy and Mister Weaselton don't always play nice, Furball," Nicked explained. "Mommy once arrested him, and he once pulled a silly joke on mommy that–"

"It wasn't a silly joke," insisted Judy.

"Yes it was. But he sometimes helps Mommy and Daddy and we sometimes take him out for cannoli, so we're really all friends."

Judy and Duke both opened their mouths to protest, both thought better of it, and both closed their mouths.

"Cannoli?" Jay asked.

"A wonderful weasel dessert, with a fried shell stuffed with sweet ricotta cheese and maybe pistachios or other goodies." Nick held up his hand over Jade's head. "You need to be this tall to eat them... And we need to find out if you have my allergic reaction to chocolate first."

Duke changed the subject. "Where does ones stays in dis Buddyburrow? Is dere a nice hotel?"

"No hotels," Nick told him. "A new motel. You might try that. There are some beat up old cottages out of town that-"

"The Bungalows are closed," Judy said.

Nick thought Judy had indicated they might still be open. He wanted to ask if she'd checked. He decided that sticking Duke at the epicenter of potential criminal activity in Bunnyburrow might be a bad idea, and said nothing.

"Youse will be ins dis motel?"

"We'll stay with my mom and dad a couple days, then Nick and I will be roomers," explained Judy.

"Rumors? Youse will be a rumor? How does youse becomes a rumor?"

"I don't understand the question... A roomer is someone staying with-"

"Iz knows what a rumor is, Iz is not stupid. A rumor ia somethin' fake an' two animals can't–"

Nick coughed to get the attention of the two. "I believe that what we have here is a failure to communicate. Judy means roomer, r-o-o-m-e-r, someone who is staying at a rented room. And Duke is hearing rumor, r-u-m-o-r, a story going around that is often false."

"Youse needs ta bes more clear," the weasel chided. Judy just rolled her eyes at the comment. "Dis roomer ding," Duke continued. "Wouldst Iz be betters off like dat? How does one finds a place?"

"Don't know how long it will be 'til they collar Bellwether," Nick reminded him. "Assuming it takes a little time you'd be better off in a rooming house. I know a rabbit who knows everyone in Bunnyburrow, so she'd be the person to ask for help. But you need to be nice to her."

"An' dat wouldst be..."

"Judy," Nick confirmed. He addressed his wife, "Don't you think Duke might be happier if you could find a suitable place for him to stay?"

Judy could think of several suitable places for Duke to stay. She wouldn't say them in front of a child. "I'll look," she sighed.

They arrived in Bunnyburrow the next morning. Judy and Jade went to work with Bonnie in one of the Hopps' gardens but Nick begged off. "Think I should go downtown and let Constable Warren know we're around."

Judy giggled, "You really enjoy being a detective, don't you."

"Nope. Just seemed like common courtesy."

"Going to say we're available to help him if... I guess that would be insulting."

"Probably. It would sound like I think the locals are incompetent. Just a social call... Oh, and Duke's name might come up."

Judy gave Nick a kiss, "I love you 'cause you're so smart."

While there were legitimate reasons for dropping in to talk with the local law enforcement officers it also provided Nick with an excuse to avoid working in the garden.

The large rabbit had his feet up on the desk when Nick entered. "Morning, Detective."

"Nick is fine. Not here on official business."

"Good. Heard you and Judy got in this morning. Brought your daughter with you?"

"Yes. Oh, we try to keep her out of the papers as much as possible."

"I'll mention that over at the paper, but they may want a story on you and Judy. Just a vacation? Stayin' awhile?"

"Can't wait until you read it in the paper?"

"Just curious. Oh, someone else came in to town. Weasel. You happen to see him on the train? I heard tell he sounds like a tough."

"Duke Weaselton. Mostly a petty crook–"

"I'll keep a cell open for him."

"He can keep his nose clean; I hope he will. Judy and I know him from Zootopia. But if you stop by and tell him you and your deputies will be watching him might help keep him in line. He's actually in Bunnyburrow for the same reason Judy and I are."

"I'm not waiting for the newspaper, I want you to explain that."

"How much Zootopia news do you get out here?"

"More than we need, in my opinion."

"Hear about a prison break a week ago? Dawn Bellwether... You remember the Night Howler thing in Zootopia around six years ago?"

Warren closest an eye and stared at the ceiling for a second. "Not really. Big fuss. You and Judy were heroes."

"Dawn Bellwether was behind it. There's a fear she would want revenge on Judy and me, ZPD told us to clear out of town – worrying about us was distracting officers from their duties."

"The ZPD asked you to leave town?"

"Yes."

"Damn. That is serious. We need to worry about hit animals showing up in Bunnyburrow to bump you off?"

"I doubt it. She's probably trying to re-group her followers in the city – and avoid getting caught. My guess is those are her two highest priorities. Hurting Judy or me may be on her to-do list, but I don't think she'll bother us here."

"And the weasel? You said he was here for the same reason? You said petty crook, not a cop."

"He was on the edge of the gang, turned state's evidence to stay out of prison."

"So, another possible revenge target?"

"Could be."

"I'll tell the deputies to keep a little closer eye on strangers. Not used to having three targets in town."

"Four... Well, we sometimes get the news media out trying to take pictures of Jade. They might really send someone out to try for a story."

"Okay, we'll keep an eye out for any strangers. We'll let you and Judy know if we see something."

"Thanks."

Nick stopped by the office of Julius Flywheel after visiting the Constable to see if the lawyer was in.

"Fox Ridge seems to be doing nicely," the rabbit said in a glum tone.

"You sound unhappy. You should be patting yourself on the back."

"I should have charged you more for that lease template I designed for you."

"Which you swore would never work. I think you're kicking yourself for being wrong. Hey, you're following Fox Ridge?"

"I have it as a regular search, just to see what's happening. Seems like nothing but good news. You hear of another struggling town, let me know."

"I promise. Oh, and my Uncle Charlie works hard to try and only let good news go out... It's real enough, but you're not supposed to hear any bad news."

"In town to gloat?"

"Long story. Can I take you out for lunch?"

"Um, how about Friday – if nothing else comes up? Had a ton of work hit the desk in the last month."

Nick decided that would give him a good reason to avoid work in the garden for another day and said goodbye to the lawyer before heading to Gideon Gray's pie shop for a bite of lunch.

He chatted with Gideon for awhile after eating then hurried back to the Hopps home as slowly as he could.

The gardeners and Nick sat on the front porch, shelling peas. Jade seemed to remember every weed she'd pulled, or insect she had seen, and wanted to tell her dad about them all. In between Nick told Judy of his visits downtown.

"Aren't these the best peas you've eaten in your life?" Judy asked at dinner.

"The freshest for sure."

"The bes', Daddy, the bes'!"

"Well, that too," admitted Nick. "And I'm sure it was because you picked them and shelled them."

"Jay is quite the little gardener," Judy smiled as she cuddled with her husband in the bed that was too small for him.

"She gets that from your side of the family. My people don't like to get their paws dirty."

"I've seen pictures of the dens you foxes had in the bad old days."

"I mean Meadows' side: investments. Wilde side: tailors – but neither side got their paws dirty."

"The farmers are the animals that feed us all, Mister Wilde."

"And you do a wonderful job... I wonder, back in my hustler days, which would I find it harder to believe? That I'd end up married to a farmer – or married to a police officer?"

"May I remind you that I wasn't a farmer when we got married. How about the idea that you'd married a rabbit?"

"No way I'd ever have believed that. Clearly impossible."

Thursday Nick was able to lure Judy and Jade away from the garden with a promise of introducing the youngster to Gideon's pie shop. As they walked downtown the little animal's eyes went wide when Nick told her all the varieties available.

"So, Furball, what do you think you'll have."

She simply looked confused at the large array of choices.

"Why don't you have blueberry today?" suggested Judy. "That's what I'm going to have. It's my favorite."

"Can I t'y them all?"

"You can try a different kind on our next visit."

"Can we come back tomo'ow?"

"Maybe."

The bell over the door tinkled as they pushed it open and wonderful smells assailed the child's nose. "Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Mista' Duke is he'e."

The weasel sat at a table in one corner, several empty plates in front of him."

As they placed their orders Judy whispered a question to Gideon, "The weasel over there?"

"He spends a lot of time, just sitting, eating pie."

Gideon returned to the kitchen and Judy told Nick, "I'm going over to talk with Duke."

"Worried about him? He decided to come here for himself."

"I'm afraid he might be bored. And a bored Duke might get into trouble."

Judy went over to talk with the weasel. "How are things in Bunnyburrow?"

"How cans youse stands dis burg?"

"Nothing to do?"

"Udder dan dis pie shop... We needs one of dese in da city."

"Nick and I tried to warn you. Why don't you try looking at this as a vacation?"

"A vacations? Duke Weaselton doest not takes vacations."

"Why not try it... You could do something you've always wanted to try. Find a hobby. Learn to dance. Take up painting. Try gardening. Buy some tackle and fish. Do something for fun!"

"Doze all sounds like woik."

"You were saying you... Just a suggestion. Think about what you want to do. Oh, you said you liked the pie?"

"Great stuff."

Judy returned to husband and daughter. "He's bored," she explained. "I suggested he get a hobby – take up painting or fishing or something. He wasn't interested."

"It was nice of you to..." began Nick. "Did you suggest he try writing?"

"Writing? Duke can hardly speak."

"I'm sure that an affectation. The stories his grandmother told him about life in the mob? A publisher would want that."

"He said he had no interest in doing anything but run his hustles."

"Ah, but the suggestions you made would get him no money. Hold up the possibility of a profit and Duke will work his tail off for it."

Nick went over to chat with Duke and share his idea.

The weasel seemed interested. "Dere coulds be money in da story of gran?"

"I think any publisher in Zootopia would be interested."

Duke looked like he was thinking. At least, in Nick's opinion, it looked like the weasel was thinking. One could never be certain of Duke's thought process... Assuming he had one. Judy would have bet money he didn't.