A Friendly Hustle

by Blkdragon7

A few years after the Missing Mammal & Nighthowler cases, Nick and Judy are officially mates. They have managed to keep it a secret until they discover that their friends Lizz Fangmeyer and Mike Wolford are also in a mate level relationship. To help their friends, Nick and Judy draw Lizz and Mike to a restaurant to reveal their knowledge and their own relationship.

65. Chapter 65

Here is the 65th installment. Hope you enjoy.

Notes live at the end of the chapter, so here is the obligatory, on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

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The weeks that followed went smoothly. The press ran stories about the change to the ZPD rank structure, and a few news agencies even did stories about their own failures. ZNN ran a special series reviewing their own failings and how they were making changes to ensure that they did their part and ensured such travesties would not go ignored in the future.

The task force arrested dozens of mammals from prosecutors, judges, and business leaders, to every day mammals. With several follow up press conferences led by Nick, though they were far more normal and didn't have the visceral impact of the initial. That said, it became clear by the second press conference that the ZPD had a special task force investigating and hunting down the mammals that had committed the atrocities the media had looked the other way on. One clearly led by Nick.

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Bogo's office, a week and a half after the initial press conference and two more since due to some very high profile arrests.

Bogo shook his head from behind the desk, pouring out a measure of bourbon for himself, Nick, Delgato, and Mike. "I swear. When Judy convinced me, or I should say, browbeat me, into signing off on your application, I figured you would wash out in the academy, at the most, you'd end up barely passing and I could assign you to some backwater station on the outskirts.

Probably get rid of Hopps too." Bogo chuckled as he passed out the alcohol. "Oh, if I had known then… You two are a force of nature itself. I don't get it, and I don't have to. I just have to support you and point you in the right direction. Hell. With how well the Task Force is going, your ability, with Judy's help, to coordinate across a dozen agencies to make it work. Your success in front of the press, and teaching your rabbit how to do that right. It wouldn't shock me if you ended up Chief of Police yourself one day.

With the most recent arrests, including high ranking members of the bloody ZBI, congratulations are in order. You and your rabbit have created something that will far outlast your leadership of this task force. Making the world a better place, is I think her mantra. Well, you've done that. From the first day you worked with her."

They all held up their glasses, Nick giving a smirk. "I'd take that job only if Judy was the commissioner. In that vein." Holding his glass up higher. "To making the world a better place, one mammal at a time."

Their glasses met and the alcohol was downed. Bogo sighing as he put it and the glasses away. "Alright. Unless you have something pressing that cannot wait. Go home to your mates." Bogo glanced up at Delgato. "That means you too, Eric. Go collect Jeff from the lab and get out of my precinct. I don't want to see any of you until Monday." Glaring at Nick. "That means, not on the cameras either. And none of your dung, either. Stay home. Be with your mates. Mike, I'm sure there are some things that you and Nick as your First can do to keep him occupied and away from things for the weekend?"

Mike laughed. "I can think of more than a few things. I'll keep him occupied."

With a nod, Bogo reached over and turned on his computer. "Good. Now get out."

Nick turned off the screen, while Mike handed Bogo his bag. "Nope. That means you too, sir."

Bogo looked them all over with a frown. "Excuse me?"

Ben suddenly appeared at the door Delgato opened. "Sir? My relief just showed up. But he's not supposed to be here for hours."

Bogo looked at his other officers and chuckled. "I see. Conspiring to mutiny? Insubordination?"

Nick laughed. "No, just sending a mammal home to get some rest of his own that won't do such a thing on his own. I expect Patricia is already down stairs waiting for you both in the lobby."

Ben looked between the officers. "Both? What are you talking about, Nick?"

Nick gave Ben a look. "Benji. Most of the precinct has known for a long time. Take your mates home already. You're both off the clock, so drop the act and get going."

Bogo choked. "What?"

Eric rolled his eyes. "Look. You two are good, but you are not as good as the fox, and the fox has been teaching the rest of us. We all took a vote this morning before the bullpen. You all need a long weekend together, and you need to know that we all know, that we appreciate your concerns, and that they are unfounded. While we all try and keep the PDA under wraps on the job, you manage to keep it non-existent, and it is hurting all of you. So, get out of here."

As they stepped out into the hallway, Higgins and McHorn were standing there. Higgins chuckled. "We're your escort to make sure you both actually make it out of the precinct. Please don't make me carry you, boss. That would be embarrassing."

Bogo's shoulders slumped, despite the smile on his muzzle. "Fine. But don't think I will forget this." Trying and failing to glare at his officers. He forgets that they care about him too sometimes. Putting an arm around Ben. "Come on, kitten. Lets get out of here." Then kissing Ben on the top of the head. The click of a camera going off. Both looking up to see Nick grinning. "That's five grand right there. The Young Mammal's Fund is going to be ecstatic with the donations."

Ben gasped. "What?"

Nick chuckled. "Simple. I made a bet with the rest of the precinct, as well as the captains of several others and their officers, that I could get you, while in uniform and still in the building, to show some PDA. No one believed me, and so bet against me, save these four. Proceeds from the bet to go to the Young Mammal's Fund that was set up to help care for all the young that we aren't able to find the parents of, or who need counseling and care their parents can't afford because of what they have gone through. Gazelle set it up."

Bogo groaned. "You would do something like that. I supposed a donation of five grand is worth it. Will this help?" Pulling Ben into a passionate kiss that caused his tail to snap straight out and puff."

Having taken several more picks, Nick laughed. "That kiss just tripled our money. Del, whats the total now?"

"With the Mayor and Deputy Mayor's contributions for getting a kiss like that, in the precinct, and in uniform… that will push the total donation to over fifty grand. Congratulations sir. It's all going in you and Ben's name."

Bogo nodded. "Well, for a good cause like that, I suppose I can let it slide. Now, I guess I have my mates to see to, and a long weekend, barring something exploding, to get to."

Nick and the others laughed and nodded as they all turned and headed out of the precinct. A collective groan could be heard as the first photo hit the precinct group chat, every mammal knowing that they had just lost. The more intimate, and passionate, photos reserved only for those who made additional bets.

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The task force successfully reuinited dozens of kits with their parents, arrested dozens more mammals that worked for Kit Services, members of the former oversight group, as well as would be foster parents who were just using the kits they were assigned as slave labor, and worse.

The council hurriedly passed a law providing for mental health counseling at the cost of the city for those that needed it after their abuse at the paws of Kit Services. The funding to be applied through vetted charities, the primary being the Young Mammal's Fund.

The council also openly discussed simply wiping out Kit Services and starting over. Forcing every employee to undergo new background checks and be rehired. The surprising part was that most of the mid and lower level employees welcomed the idea. The higher ups, and a lot of the field agents that would pick up kits, and who were most at risk in such a scheme were vehemently opposed. Which, given the issues discovered with Kit Services up to that point, was points in favor of the plan.

Due to the reduced number of officers, thanks to the efforts of the task force. The task force members, even detectives like Nick, Chromest, and Ghalt, had to do at least one or two days worth of regular patrols, which meant wearing their actual uniforms.

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Thursday, three weeks after the press conference

After their doctor's appointment the previous Tuesday, there was a conference call scheduled for that Friday evening with the doctor to discuss scheduling the inducement of Lizz and Judy sometime later the following week.

Nick and Mike were parked behind a billboard running a speed trap on the IZ210 in Haymarket near Vole Gardens. Mike driving and Nick handling the radar gun. Taking it easy after the earlier high-speed chase they had participated in and then had to back off the actual arrest due to who was in the vehicle.

Nick pulled the trigger and watched the display. "70 in a 65. Meh. So not worth it, and it's a soccer mom van. So, maybe?"

Mike shook his head and leaned back against the headrest. "Nah. You were right the first time."

"Ooh! 77. Or not, other side... Ah, there we go, 85. Blue Forerunner, Medium sized."

"I see them." Mike grabbed the steering wheel and hit the gas, pulling quickly into traffic and giving pursuit as Nick hit the sirens."

Nick rolled up his window to cut the wind and siren noise. "So, how are you and Lizz doing now that you're out in the open? Gotten any flack at the precinct that I haven't seen? Enjoying the new apartment? From what I got from my aunt, she should be moving some time next month, and it'll probably take Jacob about a month to fix up the townhouse for you guys." Grabbing the radio, he keyed that mic. "Dispatch, this is CR323, in pursuit of speeder. 85 in 65. Blue Forerunner. Plate, Z484G66. No backup needed at this time. Will advise."

The radio barked to life with one of the many dispatches. "Roger CR323."

Mike shrugged as he drove. "No. No issues, but since we are almost always together, that might be part of why. That and the fact that Bogo is clearly not going to tolerate anything probably helps too. Got some weird looks when we went out to a park for some fresh air. We're both trying to just ignore the looks though. It can be hard at times. I suppose having our Nightwolf shadows helps keep those that might get vocal from feeling empowered to do so."

Nick nodded as he held on for some maneuvering. "It can be." Flipping the switch to engage the loud speaker, he hit the mic again. "ZPD! Pull it over! The lights and sirens are not just for show!" Releasing the mic button. "Have you guys gotten hit by anyone vocal yet?"

Mike sighed as he swerved around a car trying to get out of their way. "Not yet. Are they running or just stupid?"

Nick glanced at the speedometer. "We're at 90. Give them another mile to grow a clue, or we hit 95, and then they're running." Hitting the mic again. "ZPD! Pull Over. NOW! That is not a suggestion!"

A few minutes later they were on the side of the freeway with Mike writing the old she-wolf a ticket and getting an earful about being respectful of his elders. She was in a different pack, so he couldn't threaten her with a report to the Alpha, and his status as Designate was meaningless to her. He could report her to her alphas, but he knew old she-wolves like her, and knew it would do no good. He did get the pleasure of informing her that one more ticket and she'd lose her license. He just hoped that she would get it for something minor and not for hurting someone.

Watching carefully as they walked back to the cruiser, and ignoring the vulgarity laced ranting of the old wolf before she pulled away, in a manner that had them both considering pulling her over, again. Instead they decided to just make notes on her record about it, ensuring the next time she got pulled over, it would be included. Nick looked up at Mike. "Lunch?"

Mike nodded. "Yeah, I could eat. Let's get close to somewhere first."

Nick nodded. "Totally."

Ben's voice suddenly came over the radio. "Charlie Romeo 343. Nick, Mike. You there? Over?"

Grabbing his radio from his lapel as they weren't in the cruiser, Nick responded. "This is 343. Go ahead."

"Where are you guys?"

"IZ-210 over the Canal district. Just finishing up that stop we reported. What's up?"

"Chief wants you both back at the station as quickly as you can be. You are authorized code 3."

Nick looked at Mike with worry. "Dispatch. Please repeat. Did you say we are code 3 back to base?"

"Confirmed."

Mike ran for the cruiser, jumping in the passenger side. "You drive."

A few moments later, Nick had the cruiser seat and controls adjusted, sirens on and shooting down the road. Mike glanced at Nick. "What the hell could require this?"

"I don't know and I'm freaking out."

"You and me both, buddy."

As they pulled into the garage, they saw Delgato and Anderson waiting, and carrying a pair of duffle bags. They approached as Nick and Mike jumped out of their cruiser, Mike yelled ahead. "Hey guys. Do you know what's up?"

Delgato nodded. "Yep, and I'm not allowed to tell you." Opening the back of their cruiser and tossing both bags in. "Both of you in the back. Our job is to escort you."

Mike and Nick quietly got in the back, both of their ears down and struggling to keep their tails from tucking. Nick looked at the lion as he adjusted the seat. "Guys. What's going on? We're kinda freaking out here."

"What I can tell you is that both of you are off the clock as of this moment."

Nick looked down. "Is it something I did?"

Delgato looked back with a friendly smile. "No. Well, yes, but not like that."

Anderson grabbed the radio. "Ben, we have the cargo, are we clear?"

"Affirmative. You are clear, Code 3 to Savannah General."

Anderson keyed the mic again. "Roger." As Delgato started the engine.

Nick and Mike looked at each other, responding in unison. "Why the hell are we going to the hospital?"

The possible reasons swirling in their brains as Bogo's voice came over the radio. Anderson had not released the mic when they had asked. "Because you are both good cops and have not looked at your phones. Your mates are both in labor. Delgato, get them to the hospital before all their kits are born."

Mike and Nick shared a look of both joy and terror, then turned to lion in the drivers seat and yelled in unison. "Drive!"

Anderson flipped on the sirens as Delgato hit the gas, the large mammal cruiser bursting out of the garage and onto the street, mammals dodging out of the way and they roared down the driveway. Barely slowing, Delgato turned onto the road and accelerated, cars dodging out of the way.

Five minutes later the cruiser came to an almost screeching stop in front of the hospital. All four officers nearly thrown against the front of the vehicle, had they not been wearing their seatbelts.

Anderson jumped out, opening the door to the back. "Move it!"

Nick and Mike leapt from the back of the cruiser, duffle over their shoulders as Delgato picked up the radio. "Z884 to base. Package has been delivered. Anderson doing escort."

Ben's voice came over the radio. "Roger Z884. Stay on site and provide backup. Report in with updates."

"Roger dispatch." Delgato quickly parked and pursued Nick, Mike, and his partner into the hospital.

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A few moments earlier.

Nick and Mike rushed into the hospital waiting room with Anderson hot on their heels. Mike located the nurse at the receptionist desk and led the three over. Seeing Anderson following them in uniform cleared most of those in the waiting room out of the way. "How do we get to maternity? Our mates…"

Nick picked up as Mike blanched. "Our mates have gone into labor and we were told they were at this hospital."

The sow looked up. "Names?"

Mike and Nick looked at each other confused, and Anderson stepped forward. "Sorry, first time fathers. I was the same with my first." The nurse nodded with a smile. "Nick WildeHopps and Mike WolfordFangmeyer. Their mates are Judy HoppsWilde and Lizz WolfordFangmeyer respectively."

The nurse nodded knowingly. "I thought as much. Maternity is on the 5th floor. That hallway." Pointing. "Will get you to the right elevators."

Anderson smiled and took the too flummoxed males by the shoulder, guiding them the direction they needed to go as Delgato arrived.

The nurse looked up. "If they need police escort, they shouldn't be going there. Do I need to call security?"

Delgato diverted to the nurse with a smile. "No. They're both cops, just first time fathers. Chief Bogo assigned my partner and I to keep an eye on them and make sure they made it on time, as their mates are also officers."

Laughing lightly, she smiled. "Oh. Must be the rabbit and tiger they brought in. Never expected to see a rabbit and a tiger demanding to be put in the same room. Crazy."

Delgato shrugged. "Well, neither of them are normal, and since the tiger is mated to the wolf, and the rabbit to the fox, what can you do?"

Shaking her head. "Too bad they can't have natural kits. Good on them for going with artificial insemination."

Delgato grinned as he turned to walk away, glancing back. "Actually. They're both having their mates kits. Healthy hybrids. Bunny/Fox and Tiger/Wolf. At least so they claim the doctor told them."

The nurse's eyes went wide. "Really! That's amazing! I'll have to stop by and get their doctors name."

WIth that Delgato jogged away and caught up with them just before the elevator doors closed. Both Nick and Mike had their ears folded fully back and tails curled up. They were clearly freaking out.

Shaking his head, Anderson sighed. "Guys. Calm down. This is like the best hospital in the city, hell in the country if you believe some mammals. I cannot think of anywhere better than here for them to be."

Nick took a deep breath. "Yeah, but what if they didn't call Domi. What if the doctor can't make it? What if…"

Anderson put a hoof on Nick's shoulder, silencing him. "Nick. Buddy. I was where you are now not three years and two calves ago. Trust me. You will be fine. They will be fine, and your young will be fine. From what all you have told us, the doc is impressed with both ladies and doesn't even expect the need for anything but a natural birth. Right? Plus, doesn't your mate's sister work here, maternity for smaller mammals?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah. She does. Still, I need to find out who she called and make the calls she hasn't yet."

"Yes, and you can do that when we get there. We still have 2 floors to go. Just calm down. Get it together. Think of it like going into a fire-fight. You can freak out after, but right now you need to stay calm and collected so you can support your mate. Right?"

After a moment, both Nick and Mike smiled, Mike nodding. "Okay. Right. Freak later. Right now we need to be there for them." Nodding again with more vigor and mirrored by Nick as the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

The elevator doors opened on — chaos. Not the chaos one would expect for a busy maternity ward, but more like an ER in the middle of a crisis. Doctors and nurses screaming over each other, running this way and that, and a large fennec fox standing on the nurses station counter trying to yell orders over all of them.

Upon seeing Nick and Mike, Domi lept towards the elevator, using several doctor and nurses heads as springboards. Landing in front of the stunned officers. "Nick! Mike! You have to get them to let me in to see Lizz and Judy! Something happened that triggered their labor, but I can't get in to see them since we got here and everything went sideways."

A rabbit doe ran up at that moment. "Domi! What is going on? Why are you screaming at everyone?"

Domi turned to the rabbit. "Oh, Jan! Thank the gods." Grabbing the rabbit in a hug. "I have two patients in there, and these morons won't let me in to see them and are not listening." Waving at the doctors and nurses running about.

"Who?"

Domi indicated Nick and Mike. "The fathers. I'm sure you can figure it out from there."

Looking into the elevator, Janet Hopps blinked. "Nick?! Oh my gods. That means Judy and her friend, the tiger!" Her face got suddenly dark as she spun and located the head physician. With a massive leap, bouncing off the chest of a hippo nurse and making the nurse stumble in shock, Jan landed on the head of the head doctor, a moose. Grabbing the moose's antlers, she hung in front of his eyes. "Doctor Jacobson. Why are you keeping my sister and her friend's midwife out of their room? Do I need to have my brother-in-law place you under arrest?"

The doctor almost stumbled back, grabbing the counter and blinked as he focused on the rabbit that was suddenly so close to him. "Doctor Hopps? What? Who? What midwife? We could use all the help we can get!"

Nick, Mike, and Domi had walked over, Anderson and Delgato running interference for them. Janet pointed to them. "Domi is my girlfriend, and the midwife for both of them. Their mates are here and you need to start talking. What in the name of all that is unholy is going on here?"

Doctor Jacobson blinked and looked down at the fox and wolf. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"

Domi leapt up on the counter again. "Simple, you simpleton! The fox is married to the bunny, the wolf is married to the tiger, and they are having their respective mates hybrid kits. I specialize in hybrid births, which is why doctor Reddillis recommended and they hired me. Just in case, as is literally happening at this moment, the doctor is unable to get here. She is stuck behind the traffic caused by the accident that will have the ER here exploding in the next twenty minutes and is causing the chaos around us right now. However, I have been unable to access my patients since shortly after we got here, and your inexperience in hybrid pregnancies is placing the mothers and their young at risk! Let alone the fact that you have ignored the fact that we know at least part of what they were dosed with!"

"They're already at risk. Both mothers are unconscious. They were conscious upon arrival and demanded that they be put in the same room. I would have argued but the rest of the females that were with them made sure it happened. However, the young are in distress, the labor seems almost induced with it's severity, and we're reading lowered O2 levels in their blood and therefore to the young. It is probably why the young are in distress."

Domi cursed and vaulted for the room Lizz and Judy were in. A security guard trying to block her way only to be bodily moved by Anderson. Anderson smiled down at slightly the shorter deer buck. "Son. You don't want to get in the way and put yourself at risk of liability at this point."

The buck frowned, looking up at the elk bull. "Sir? I don't understand."

"I'm not sure I do either, but that fox is the midwife for both ladies."

"But one of them is a rabbit."

Anderson nodded. "Yes, a rabbit married to and carrying the kits of a fox, and who demanded she be put in the same room with her best friend, a tiger. Fear of predators is not something that rabbit has in her makeup. Let me show you a video." He then pulled the guard further aside and played him the Delgato video, pointing to the lion still standing with Nick and Mike.

The guard's eyes just about fell out of his head as he watched it. "My gods."

Anderson nodded again. "Yeah. If you want to do anything, you'll start taking orders from the midwife."

Domi stepped out of the room with a very dark look on her muzzle. She quickly made her way over to Nick, Mike, and Janet, her phone to her head. "Doc… Yeah, I don't know yet what is going on, but we have major complications. Something is suppressing the O2 in the both mothers blood. … … Exactly, they are in Auto-protective labor from what I can tell, but are both also unconscious. … Yes, I have to assume they ingested something. According to Judy and another mammal present it was Ergot and something else, but I haven't been able to get the food sample tested yet. … Yes, that is my next call so expect a confirmation call shortly." She then hung up, and turned to look at Janet as she dialed another number. "Jan, my love. I'm sorry. There are a few things you don't know about me, or why I do what I do."

Janet looked at her mate confused. "What?"

Domi gave Janet a pleading look. "Look. Trust me on this. I need you to get both mothers on gurney's and up to the rooftop helipad to meet a transport I am about to arrange. We'll be taking them to a hospital that specializes in hybrids, because non-hybrids are the exception there. It's where both Doctor Reddillis and I are from. I was going to tell you eventually, but this situation kinda necessitates it."

The line clearly picked up as Domi's attention switched suddenly. "Hello. This is agent Domi Sandpaw, hybrid overwatch, Zootopia. ID number 882HC766. I need two transports, a medical emergency for transport to Hop General. Pregnant tiger with wolf pups, pregnant rabbit with fox kits. They are category one protectives. Both are unconscious, unresponsive, and are in auto-protective labor that appears to have been induced by something they ingested, which may include Ergot. Second is for their mates and entourage, so send a big one. They have an elephant and rhino as part of their group. Pickup is Zootopia General rooftop helipad. … … Yes, you can confirm with Doctor Reddillis. … Thank you. We'll see you there in five."

Maria and the other ladies walked up at that point. "Domi. I have the samples of what they ate." Holding up several evidence bags. "What should I do with them?"

Domi nodded. "Great, that will help treat them faster once we get them to the Hop General in Von. As for what to do with them, for now, hold onto them." Domi wasn't paying attention, but she got several very shocked looks from the mammals around her.

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A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to dcballard . com ( Direct: ascensionnovel . / scribblings (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

You should really be checking out my bestest bud, Bear678, and his story What Foxes May Come.

So keep those reviews and comments coming. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.