Hello everyone!
Wow, and I mean WOW! I never imagined that this story could get over a hundred favourites. Thank you so much! *bows in respect*
Okay, if this reaches the 200 mark I'll write a special, bonus chapter. Extra fluffy or really mysterious, we'll decide on that later ;)
So, to not leave you hanging any longer, here's what happens after the cliffhanger.
Chapter 12
Falling down, Nick clenched his teeth, bracing for the impact. It came hard, knocking the air from his lungs. The fox's body tumbled on the solid surface until he managed to grab an air vent. He was lying flat on the roof of Zootopian train, speeding for the main station at Savanna Central. Again, the vast knowledge of the city saved his hide. Nick finally could let out a sigh of relief, certain that those two wouldn't be able to follow him. Leaving them far behind, he now had two problems to think about. First was that, while he postponed it for now, he'll have to deal with the source of this attack. That required some investigating as well as countermeasures in case it all goes in the wrong direction. The other problem was just the minor issue of getting the bullet out and not bleeding to death. He touched his wounded side and flinched with pain. *Let's vote on solving the bleeding problem first or I won't even get to worry about the attackers at all.*
He reached for his phone and surveyed its state after the fall. The screen was cracked but it was still functioning. With only one free paw he wrote a text message.
Don't tell the bunny. Got shot. Basement, Bush Ave. 31, in 30 min.
Nick
He sent it and hoped that she'll abide his wish of not telling Carrots about the situation. Seeing that ever so determined and righteous face either sad of annoyed about hiding this from her would be too tempting to not crack a few jokes. He tried to chuckle, but it came as a bloody gurgle, drops of the red liquid spraying on his shirt and the train's roof. *Jokes aside…* He thought when the spasm subsided. *I don't think I'll last too long…*
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Vivian was cleaning up after the breakfast, having send Judy to take a shower, when her phone signaled a new message. She wiped her paws and unlocked the screen to read the text. Her face went pale under the red fur. Still, she acted without wasting any second. The vixen ran into her bedroom and grabbed her medical bag throwing in several items, like bandages and disinfectants. When she got it fully packed, Vivian tapped on the bathroom door. "Judy!" She called out loud. "I need to leave immediately, I have an urgent patient. Make yourself at home, the keys are on the shelf next to the door and there is more food in the fridge. Ah, right! Your clothes are on the bed. Take care." And before the bunny could answer in any way, she ran out of the apartment.
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Nick finally collapsed on his bed, panting heavily. His mouth had a metallic taste, due to the blood he coughed up. He was no doctor, but he read books about anatomy and spitting blood meant that the bullet damaged either his lungs or some part of digestive tract. He wasn't exactly a fan of any of those options, because that meant a more serious injury than he originally thought. Nick checked his watch. *15 minutes left.* If she won't arrive soon, there's really a possibility that he could die. He thought about Judy. About her smiles, angry expressions, smug grins when she outsmarted him… It all merged into one blurry picture as his eyesight started giving up.
"Sorry Fluff…" He whispered to the emptiness of his underground home. His eyelids were feeling heavy for quite some time now and it was starting to get too difficult to keep them up. *Oh well, at least I don't need to worry about those thugs anymore…* He closed his eyes and imagined a picture of smiling Judy, wanting it to be the last thing in his mind. But the bunny that appeared in his thoughts wasn't smiling. She was shedding tears. *Why are you crying Carrots? Did something happen?* He reached out to her but she was too far. *What's wrong? Did someone die?* She nodded slightly and looked directly at him.
A shock penetrated his body and the fox sprang up from the bed. "Carrots!" Nick screamed in the darkness of the room. He still felt the piercing pain in his side but he was awake again. He rubbed his eyes with both paws and slapped his cheeks. *What's wrong with you?* Nick asked himself. *You're not going to let some dumb thugs get the better of you.* The fox leaned his back on the wall and kept pressuring the wound, trying to slow down the bleeding, even in the slightest. He also kept doing math in his mind, to keep himself awake. *5 times 7 equals 35, 11 times 14 equals 154, 44 divided by…*
He didn't get far when the door slammed open and a slightly older, female version of himself stood at the door. "Nick!" She cried out and approached him.
"Hey, sorry for not making the bed…" He croaked.
"Very funny, you dumb son! What have gotten yourself into?" Vivian rummaged through her bag and took out the necessary stuff.
"Instead of asking 'why', shouldn't you focus more on the wound? The bullet's still inside. And I believe I've also been coughing some blood." He hissed in pain when she lifted his arm and tore open the shirt. His entire side's fur was plastered to skin with blood. The vixen gasped at the sight. "Oh my… Nick! We need to get you to a hospital, now!"
Nick clicked his tongue. "Can't you deal with it yourself?"
"Are you mad?! Even I would need an operating room!" She fumbled with her phone, trying to dial a number. Her son's hand shot forward and grabbed her wrist. "No hospital…" He muttered through his teeth.
Vivian struggled with him for a moment, but stopped when she saw his gaze. She bit her lip. "Fine. Lie down."
He groaned from a sting of pain, but listened to her and lied flat on his back. The vixen reached for her bag, after a second her hand returned in a blur and stabbed Nick in the arm with something. His eyes went wide when he realized that she injected him with a syringe. The contents flowed into his body and started its mischievous work.
"What the-" He wanted to stand up but Vivian placed a paw on his chest and held him down.
"Stay still, you stupid son!" She muttered, holding the phone in her other paw, calling for an ambulance.
"What did you do to me?" The room was getting blurry again but this time it wasn't from the blood loss.
"Stopped you from killing yourself."
Nick chuckled nervously, dazed by the drug. "It's called a hustle, swe…"
He fell into the darkness.
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When Nick came to, the first thing he saw was a white ceiling. He was still feeling dizzy and his side ached, but much less than before. He lifted his head to discover that he was lying in a hospital bed, attached to various medical equipment, measuring his state and life signs. *Damn it…* Nick fell back on the pillow, gathering his thoughts, making sure that they're in order.
"Finally!" A relieved voice came from the door. Vivian hurried to his side and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You landed in the surgery in the last minute, any later and you'd be…" Her voice trailed off. "You scared me to death." She finished after a moment.
"I'll try to remember not to do that again." He mumbled, not looking at his mother.
She reached out and placed her paw over his. "Nicholas, what happened?"
The fox sat up. "Sorry, I can't tell you."
Vivian dropped her ears. "Nick… please, whatever happened to you we can talk about it. You can trust me, you know that."
He pulled back his paw from her grip. "It's not a matter of trust, mother."
The vixen flinched hearing his tone. Helplessness showed on her face. She was losing him again.
"Nicky…" She pleaded.
Nick glanced at her. *You dumb fox, what are you doing again… Wasn't the last time enough?* He let out a tired sigh. "I'm sorry. It's something that I have to deal on my own." She looked crestfallen, but then he continued. "I trust you. I'd trust you with my life. Hell, I just did that. But you know better than anyone that I don't like bringing up my problems. And in this particular case I don't want you to be caught in it, because you're very important to me. You know that, right?" Nick looked her in the eyes and she answered with a caring gaze.
Vivian sniffed and let out a nervous giggle. "Good to know that I'm so important, that you won't talk to me for nine years."
Nick's ears drooped as he heard her words. He hung his head. "I'm sorry… mom."
The vixen couldn't hold it in anymore and she leaned to hug him, placing her head on his chest and crying. Crying the tears she withheld for almost a decade. Nick, in a rare occasion of opening his heart, accepted her feelings and hugged her back, wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, mom." He whispered.
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Judy sat on the couch, sipping tea and taking in the recent events. She was surprised how different were the characters of Nick and Vivian. Like fire and water. Still, Judy really liked the vixen. She was so hospitable to her, never judging the bunny for her drunken behavior and even covering for her in the ZPD. It seemed silly, but Judy felt around her like with her own mother, even though she was a fox. That's why it was even more of a mystery why Nick would avoid contact with her for so long. She had a feeling that Vivian would probably tell her the reason if she'd ask, but it seemed improper to do that. And Nick… She sighed. Nick would NEVER answer such a question, that's for sure.
.
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The foxes stayed in the embrace for a long time, Vivian's sobbing quieting down eventually and she just enjoyed holding her son in her arms. She squeezed tighter, never wanting to let go again.
"Mom, stitches." He groaned painfully.
She gasped and released her grip. "Oh, sorry!" The vixen sat back on the edge of his bed.
"Good afternoon Mr Wilde." Said a voice from the door. A badger in a nurse's uniform walked into the room. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, apart from lead shortage in my body I seem to be rather fine." He quipped, any sincerity disappearing from his gaze and his eyes snapping back to being completely unreadable. Vivian sighed seeing this reaction.
"If you're that snarky after a life-saving operation then you're fine in my book." She commented while getting off the bed. "I need some coffee." The vixen headed for the door, but paused briefly to wave a finger at him. "And you behave yourself, young man."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes…"
When Vivian left the room, the fox directed his attention to the badger. She approached him, a sterile bag with ampules in her paw. "Since you were rolled into an emergency surgery we didn't have time to perform standard blood tests." She took out the ampules. "I will need three samples from you, don't worry, it won't hurt." She reached for the PVC in his arm, but Nick quickly covered it with his paw.
"No."
"Sir, it's just a standard procedure."
"For which I don't give my consent." He replied firmly.
The badger was slightly surprised by his reaction. "Mr Wilde, this is a procedure to assess your state of health and rule out the possibility that there are any infections."
Nick gazed directly into her eyes. "Universal Medical Regulations, section 3 - Rights of the Patient, chapter 2, clause 6, sub clause 'B' – Every medical procedure, treatment or test requires informed and voluntary permission from the patient." He recited.
She looked dumbfounded, her mouth ajar. "Sir… the procedures… I need to inform the doctor and family members…" She mumbled and headed for the door, but Nick's voice held her in place.
"Section 2 – Confidentiality, chapter 1, clause 1, sub clause 'A' – Every member of health care profession shall not share patient's personal information without the patient's permission."
She swallowed nervously, taken aback by his voice. She felt like listening to an automatic record. "The doctor…" she managed before he interrupted again, eyes fixed on her face.
"Section 2 – Confidentiality, chapter 4, clause 2, sub clause 'D' – Breaking the rule of confidentiality may result in being suspended in their profession, have their licence revoked or face criminal charges and imprisonment, depending on the individual case." Nick said and leaned forward. "If you tell anything about my decision to any doctor or my mother, I will file a complaint and issue a lawsuit." It wasn't a threat, the fox simply stated a fact. The female took a step back. "I won't tell anyone!" She squealed and ran out of the room.
Nick relaxed a bit and stared out of the window. The sky was already turning yellow signalling the incoming evening. He was glad that he could deal with the blood testing problem while his mother was not present. The fox couldn't take any chances when there was a risk that someone would find traces of Nighthowler serum in his bloodstream. *At least, not until they complete a cure for it.*
A ringtone drew his attention. He knew it, because it was from his phone. Someone removed it from his pocket and placed it on a small table beside the bed. He checked the number. *Carrots?* He flipped the green icon with his thumb and laid flat on the bed.
"Hey, Fluff. What's up?"
"Hi, Nick. How are you doing?" The fox could hear a hint of uncertainty in the bunny's voice.
"Lying on a bed." He replied with a smile.
"Oh… really?" Obviously she didn't anticipate a response like that. And Nick knew an opportunity when he heard one.
"What? Wanna' join me?" The fox grinned.
"No, I don't!" She fumed back. "Geez, is there any trace of seriousness in you?"
He shrugged. "Dunno', never saw it." Nick knew that she rolled her eyes. "What's eating you, my furry friend?" The fox addressed the concern in her voice.
"Well, you know… about yesterday…"
"Liked my shirt?" Nick interrupted with a smirk. "No, don't say anything. I already know the answer."
Judy sighed with irritation. "Nick, I swear…"
"You're welcome." He said, placing an arm over his eyes.
There was a slight pause. "Sorry?"
"You're welcome, Carrots." Nick repeated. "Look, I know you enough to predict what you're going to say. So don't sweat it, but maybe don't turn sleeping with my shirt into an everyday ritual, ok?" His words were rewarded with a quiet snigger.
"Okay." Judy said in a much more relaxed tone. "I'll make a note of that."
"I imagine that my mom already dealt with your absence today?"
"Yes, she… Hang on a minute, how do you know I'm not at work." She inquired from him.
Nick chuckled. "Carrots, seeing in what state you were yesterday it's a miracle that you can even talk normally today. And after…" He noticed Vivian coming into the room with a cheetah in a doctor's coat. "Oops, sorry Fluff, got to go. I'll talk to you later." Before she could protest, Nick hung up.
"Good afternoon Mr Wilde, I am doctor Smith and I'm responsible for your further treatment."
"Nice to meet you, doc."
Vivian rolled her eyes, but the cheetah smiled.
"It's always good to be in high spirits. How do you feel?"
Nick shrugged without much enthusiasm. "Like a shot fox after a surgery."
Doctor Smith chuckled at his response. "Is he always like this?" He directed those words at the vixen. Her reply came in form of an embarrassed sigh, universal for every mother with a grown up son.
"When can I go home?" This question surprised the two doctors.
"Nick! You're freshly out of surgery! There's no way you're going anywhere." His mother hissed.
The cheetah nodded to her words. "I'm afraid your mother is right. We cannot let you leave in such a short time after a serious surgery. Additionally, you have lost a lot of blood. My recommendation is for you to stay at the hospital for a week."
*I don't have a week.* Nick thought to himself. Therefore, he had to act now.
"I'd like to be discharged today."
"Nick!" The vixen gasped in shock and her son held up a paw before she could say anything else.
"This my own decision, within my rights as a patient. I am fully conscious, without any mental condition or under effects of any medication. Therefore, I can be discharged whenever I want, right doctor?"
The cheetah let out a sigh. "Technically, yes. You are correct, but there's still an issue of the shooting. I am required to inform the authorities about this incident."
Nick shook his head with a laugh. "No need! Do you think that the ZPD will even look at a case of a fox being shot? Hardly. So my advice is to not mention it to them, to save your time, their time and cut the cost of paper that you'd surely need to fill out all the required paperwork. And I'll make it simple for you." To Vivian's horror, he tore away all the monitoring cables that were attached to him and slid off the bed. "You'll need only one sheet of paper and lend me a pen."
.
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Half an hour later Nick was walking out the main door of the hospital, his mother right behind him.
"Nicholas Wilde, I did not bring you to a hospital just to watch you leave and endanger yourself again!" He could tell that she was angry, but that anger came from her motherly care about a certain stubborn fox. To stop it from escalating he had to resort to a really underhanded tactic – honesty.
Nick spun around and grabbed his mother's shoulders.
"I'm not doing this because I want to! Yes, I'm still wounded and I know the risks. And one of those risks is that the mammals that attacked me will come back for me. Would you prefer me to wait in a hospital room, waiting to be executed or let me deal with this on my own terms?" She listened to him with eyes wide open. "I can handle it. But I don't want to involve anyone else, not mammals at the hospital, not you or my friends, especially officer Hopps, so don't even tell her about this. Right now, go home and let me solve this, please. At least I won't have to worry about you getting hurt."
Vivian tried to think of an argument against his logic, but ultimately failed. Her ears drooped as she nodded in silence. The vixen gently placed a paw on his chest, right next to the wound. "Just be safe, that's all I'm asking."
"I will be fine." He assured her.
His mother leaned forward and gave him a small kiss on the cheek before strolling into the direction of the cabs waiting in front of the main entrance.
*I'm sorry… But this is the best way to keep you safe.* Still, he didn't want her to leave in such a sad state. "Mom!" He called out to her. "Can I drop by for lunch someday?" This time, she showed him a genuine, warm smile.
"Anytime, son. Anytime."
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Judy was through with watching the TV, the last interesting thing was the evening news and most of them were completely boring. That's when she finally decided to cave in to her curiosity. The bunny took the photo album she's been purposefully avoiding since Vivian left the apartment. Since it was her 'sick day' anyway and her own flat was far from being the cosy and pleasant place the Vivian's apartment was, Judy decided to stay until the vixen would come back. And the album was the most interesting item in her eyes. But she resisted the urge to look through it, out of respect for Vivian's and Nick's privacy. However, the bunny reached her limit and now was shuffling the photo covered pages. Wondering if she should just start from the beginning of randomly jumping from one photo to another, her eye caught a sight that was extremely rare. Right before her, there was a photograph of Nick smiling in an honest, natural way. No sly grins or witty smirks, just a plain smile. And standing right next to him was a female ferret, a shy smile on her face. But Judy's gaze was now focused on one more detail – she had her paw wrapped around Nick's arm. Questions, possible answers and suspicions flooded her mind, as well as a tiny sting in her chest. But right as she felt it, Judy shook her heading shaking off the thought that she could be jealous of another female being close to Nick. He was her friend and it just concerned her that there could be someone that was closer to him than her. Not realizing that she contradicted herself, the bunny kept staring at the picture.
"Oh dear…" Said a voice behind her and she sprang upwards with a shriek.
Vivian took off her coat and hanged it by the door.
"O dear, oh dear…" She repeated and approached the bunny, who was now clutching her chest, trying to calm her breathing.
"I-I-I'm sorry! I just thought…" Judy stuttered, searching for words.
The vixen sat next to her and shook her head. "Sweetie, I don't mind you looking through the album. I told you to make yourself at home, after all. It's just that this photograph…" She let out a sigh. "Let's say it's best not to mention it around Nicholas, ok?" Judy opened her mouth, but Vivian raised a paw. "I know you're curious and I don't blame you for that. But it's not my place to tell you the history of this picture, Nick would never forgive me if I did."
The bunny's ears fell behind her head. "I understand." She said quietly. Judy knew it meant that if she ever wanted to know more about this, she'd have to wait until Nick opens up to her enough to trust her with this story. Judy feared the thought that it could never happen, because this would mean he didn't trust her.
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The moon was almost up when Nick arrived at the Golden Hoof and strolled inside the club.
"Basker!" He yelled as he approached the gangster.
"Nicky, boy!" The goat waved off two female dancers sitting with him. This was business talk. "You've helped me save a lot of money yesterday." He raised a glass with a wink.
"I'm thrilled." The fox replied and sat down. "But someone isn't as happy as you." He lifted his shirt to demonstrate the bandages wrapped around his torso.
Basker put down the drink. "Oh, I see. Well, someone wins someone loses."
*And you're perfectly fine with this, you bastard.* Nick knew that the goat will not even lift a finger to help him, but he could at least talk him into pointing a finger.
"I know all the faces that were at table yesterday. But none of them are the type to hold a grudge over a couple thousand dollars and even if, they'd be aiming at you first. That means either you organised this or pointed me out as a scapegoat." Basker's nose scrunched hearing the word. He glared at Nick with visible irritation.
"We had a deal, Nicky. I've fulfilled my end of it and so did you, there's no reason for me to go after you. At least, not for now." The emphasis on the last word was clearly a warning, but to Nick it meant that the goat was starting to lose his cool. He folded his arms.
"Does Gazellini use rhino triggermammals?" The fox inquired of him.
For a brief moment the gangster's face showed surprise but he quickly replaced it with a smirk. "Not that I know of."
Nick replied with a smug grin. "Work on your poker face." With these words, he left, leaving the puzzled goat behind him.
He got the information he needed. His suspicions about the goat disappeared after this conversation. That left him with option two. There were three mob bosses at the table and Nick knew that the two of them would never hire rhinos for the job. He wasn't sure about Gazellini, though. But Basker's answer told him everything. *He knew.* The fox clenched his paws. He spent too many years as a hustler and a conmammal to be fooled by a face like that. And now he had a clear target, the deer known for having a very short temper and being a sore loser. Nick didn't want to act rashly as the gangster needed time to cool off, before he could listen to any reason. But the fox's presence alone could pose a threat to his mother of the bunny, so the best course of action would be to lay low for a while. Or disappear from the city. Nick sighed inwardly. He couldn't put it off any longer and considering the situation, this was a perfect time for it.
*Time to get enlisted…*
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The next morning Judy slipped into her uniform, preparing for the day in work. Yesterday she accepted Vivian's invitation to supper, but insisted that she had to get back home before the night. Now, with her uniform, badge and unchanging determination she was ready to go out and continue making the world a better place. Stopping by for coffee at Snarlbucks, of course.
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Nick couldn't get any proper sleep on that night and when he woke up at six in the morning, he decided that lying in bed any longer would be a waste of time. And he had little time, considering a mobster that was out there to get him. Therefore, he got dressed, changed his bandages and left his room, heading for the nearest bar to grab some grub on his way to the main precinct of the ZPD.
An hour later, the journey prolonged by the fact he took a more secure route, Nick walked into the police station, the application form from Judy in his pocket. As usual, the first thing to notice there was Clawhauser. The cheetah was chomping through another box of donuts, two empty ones already lying next to the feline.
"Hey there, Benjamin." Nick called out to him.
Clawhauser flinched hearing the fox's voice. "Oh, umm, hey Nick."
"Chill, buddy." The fox approached the reception desk. "Remember, we're cool as long as you keep to our agreement, okay?"
The cheetah fidgeted a bit. "I know, I know… But Nick, is it really alright? I mean, even drunk, I don't think Judy would act like that if she wouldn't like you…"
The fox ran a paw down his face. "Benjamin, listen to m-"
"Nick!" A merry voice filled the entrance hall as Judy walked out the bullpen and ran towards them. Nick shot a warning glare at the receptionist.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" The bunny asked when she came to a stop next to him.
"We-ell, I thought about it and it seemed like a good time to drop by and apply for Clawhauser's position. I just hope that those donuts are on the house." He quipped with a grin.
Judy chuckled and the feline grabbed the pastry box and held it up as if Nick was trying to steal them.
"You're really applying?" She hopped from one leg to another. "That's great! Good for you!" She punched him playfully on the side. On his wounded side. Not expecting it, Nick instinctively clutched his wound and a painful grunt escaped his mouth. *Thanks a lot, Carrots. That really helps…*
"What's the matter, slick? Can't take a friendly nudge?" She joked with a smirk.
"Har, har…" Was all he could manage, without giving out his current state. But it was in vain as Nick heard a sharp intake of air from the bunny. He felt his shirt getting damp. *Oh no, nonono!* Apparently the stitches were torn and he was bleeding again.
Judy grabbed his paw, her voice now full of distress. "Nick! What is this?! Your wounded!"
"Just some strawberry juice…" He croaked in a lame attempt of weaselling out of it.
She struggled with his arm. "Just show me, you dumb fox! Is it serious?"
Nick kept clutching his side, refusing to let go. But Judy eventually managed to shove off his paw and lift the shirt. Her eyes widened when she saw the bloodied bandages.
"Strawberry juice, my butt!" She exclaimed, eyes narrowed and angry. "What in the world happened?!" The bunny paused for a moment as if remembering something. "Wait a minute… your mother left yesterday for an emergency… don't tell me…" She eyed him with an accusing stare.
*Damn it Carrots, you're too good a detective…* Nick thought.
He gave in, partially due to the growing pain and her persistence.
"Fine, you got me… I got into a fight with a rhino in a bar and forgot that they have a rather sharp horn. So here I am, with a horn shaped hole in my side, satisfied?"
"Like hell I am." She grabbed his tie and pulled him with her, heading to the elevator. "You're coming with me. A medic will look at you."
He was forced to tag along, like a domesticated fox on a leash.