Hey everyone!

After so many cries after the cliffhanger in the last chapter, I decided to put a bit more time to writing, to show you what happened next as soon as possible.

And to address Combat Engineer's review on the last chapter:

I understand your point of view, but it's not the way I intend to portray Nick in this story. Of course he could've gotten the first place, but that wasn't his goal. He simply played the cards he was given in the way it fit him best. He is a prankster by nature and years of habit, so just playing along the rules simply isn't him. He never had an obligation to prove his (or his species) worth, the only goal was to graduate within boundaries set by Bogo. So Nick never failed anyone, not even himself. Also, holding himself back is crucial, as he doesn't want anyone to notice his savage state.

Oh, and I can't promise that there won't be more cliffhangers in the future. ;D

Chapter 22

"NICK! ABI!" Judy screamed at the top of her lungs, finally managing to get away from William's grasp by elbowing him in the ribs. The buck staggered back with a groan. The grey bunny darted to the burning structure, or what was left of it. Two walls were still standing, but soon they also surrendered to the raging element. Now, in the place of a huge barn lied a pile of burning wood, with the bodies of her siblings and her best friend buried under it.

Judy collapsed to her knees, not noticing the fire truck as it pulled around. Not even registering the tears when they streamed down her cheeks. Her mind went completely blank and her heart gripped with unspeakable pain. She also didn't pay any attention that her mother approached her from the back and pulled into a hug. The older doe couldn't stop her tears too. It all didn't matter.

Abi was gone…

Her two other siblings were gone…

Nick was gone…

And she couldn't do anything about it.

.

.

It took quite some time for the fire fighters to put out the flames. They used every tool at their disposal to quicken the process. All of them were bunnies and many of them knew the Hopps family very well, so they spared no effort in snuffing out the fire. Every second counted for the possible survivors, but the captain of the team was a realist. He'd seen too many situations like this and deep down he knew, that it was practically impossible for rabbits to survive such a collapse. That would be the same for the fox, even if he was bigger than them. Not with the weight of the wood that fell down on them. Worst part was, he had to pass on this information to the family. Of course, they will conduct a thorough search, but his experience told him that they'll be looking for bodies.

With this heavy burden on his small shoulders, he headed to Bonnie and Steward Hopps.

He took off his helmet as he got closer. "Bonnie, Stu…" He nodded in a greeting.

The two mammals were wearing grieving expressions. "David…" Replied the buck.

"We put out the fire and we'll start searching the rubble now." He informed them and seeing their faces he let out a tired sigh. "Look… We'll do our best, but it would be better if you don't get your hopes up, trust me."

"No!" Said a strong voice behind him. David turned around to see Judy with her little fists clenched tightly. "Until I see it with my own eyes, I refuse to believe that they're…dead." The last word barely managed to leave her mouth, as if she was scared that by saying it, she'll lose the little faith she had left.

"Oh, Judy…" Her mother whispered and hurried to hug her daughter.

Stu gave the captain a firm nod. "Find them, please."

.

.

Judy wanted to be part of the search, pretty much as her entire family, but only she was allowed. Though, she still had a heated argument with the captain of the firefighters and even flashed her badge, willing to use any argument at paw to participate in the search.

She hated to admit it, but while she wanted to find her family members and Nick, she also did it to quench that painful pang of guilt that tormented her. The doe also wanted to go in, to find Abi and the other two and get them out. But she was stopped from doing it and didn't want to talk with William since then, even though he tried to say something several times. But that was a matter for later. Now, she had to focus on the task at paw. Dressed in a proper suit, along with protective boots, Judy was carefully stepping over the charred remains of the construction. Only three rabbits were allowed to walk on the pile as any additional pressure could have crush whoever was under it. But the doe could see the expressions of the firefighters, they weren't looking for survivors, rather for corpses. The mere thought gave her shivers. Judy gritted her teeth and tried to disperse the dark thoughts by shaking her head. It wasn't the time for thinking like that.

"Abi!" She yelled and all of them stopped to listen for any response. "Nick!" Many pairs of bunny ears listened intently for a tiniest sound.

But no one replied.

Fighting back the bitter tears that wanted to flow again, Judy continued to wander over the burned wooden elements and kept calling their names. After half an hour later she was still there, in turns yelling and listening for any response, any sound.

But there was nothing.

Even with all her determination, she started feeling the strength and hope seeping from her body. The vision of the four mammals emerging from the pile somewhere, all safe and sound, had to give way to the brutal truth. At that moment, Judy couldn't withhold a quiet sob. And that was her breaking point. She had nothing to stop the tears that flooded her vision.

She cried.

She cried for her siblings, but mostly she cried for her friend, her fox. The one who just barely got his life straightened up and was going to start again. It wasn't fair…

"Why…" The doe whispered with a hoarse voice and stomped her hindpaw on the beam she was standing on. "Why, you dumb fox?!" She cried out and stomped again, with more force. Her sobs filled the silent air around her.

"You know, Carrots... You're kinda'… stepping on my back." Said a muffled voice.

Judy's ears shot up and her gaze fell down on the wooden beam. Her trembling fingers eventually managed to get a flashlight from the pocket of her suit. The stream of light pierced the darkening air and went over the place she thought the voice was coming from.

"Nick?" The bunny dared asking, scared that she'd gone mad from grief and was hearing things.

"Well, yeah. Who did you expect, Santa Claws?" Replied an incorporeal voice, now laced with sarcasm.

She'd recognize that voice anywhere. "NICK! You're alive!" She yelled, her heart instantly filled with relief and joy. And then she spotted him in the light, just two feet below her. A patch of his red fur, even if a bit singed, visible among the debris.

"Not for long if you keep stomping on all that wood." He groaned.

"Right! Sorry! I'll get help!" She quickly climbed to a higher spot and started yelling at the search team. "I found Nick! He's alive!"

Things went on quickly from that moment. The entire firefighting team mobilized themselves immediately, their captain swiftly giving out orders and organizing the rubble removal operation.

"Get me proper lights in here, now!"

"I want the exact location of the survivor!"

"Where's that crane? Bring it here ASAP!"

"Ambulance in 5 minutes and I don't care how you organize it!"

Luckily for the fox, he was in a spot that allowed direct removal of the wooden debris from top of him. In other case, they'd be forced to find another route to him through the remains of the burnt building. Everything was prepared within minutes and the rabbits began the careful process of removing the burnt wood. Judy literally forced her way to be right next to the spot under which Nick was buried and captain David didn't argue, seeing that it would be pointless.

"Nick!" She yelled to her friend. "Are you okay? Are any of your limbs trapped under the debris? Can you feel your limbs?" And she also asked a question that filled her with dread. "Is… is there anyone else with you?" She said with a trembling voice. The fact that he survived filled her with happiness, but she couldn't forget about the three of her siblings. The only answer was silence. Judy's ears fell instantly when she didn't register Nick's reply to any of the questions.

In the meantime, the crane lifted another large beam and all that was left, was a broken wooden pillar, one of those that supported the construction before. With all the light supplied by the huge lamps used by the firefighters, the grey bunny could now see Nick's frame. The fox was on all fours on the ground, his back right under the pillar. His fur ruffled and singed in many spots.

"Nick!" She tried again, once more fighting back tears.

"Geez, stop shouting…" He managed a grunt. "And you might want to wait with this piece of wood here, I think it had some nails sticking out."

Judy's eyes grew wide when she understood what he was saying. Nick wasn't just buried alive. The falling building almost skewered him. Her lip trembled and she opened her mouth when the fox spoke again.

"Besides…" Another grunt escaped his mouth and to the doe's utter shock, Nick started to get up. He supported himself on his legs and with great effort and a pained expression, managed to stand up. He was still bent low, the pillar stuck to his back, but he was now just on his hindpaws, supporting his arms on his knees. "I think these guys need more attention."

Already wide, Judy's eyes somehow grew even bigger when she noticed three bunnies curled up right beneath the fox. Speechless, she put a paw over her mouth. It took some effort to speak again and the doe gasped. "Is it… are they…"

"They're fine… I think. The kids are only asleep, but your sister passed out a moment ago, get her a medic. And watch for her legs, they might be broken." He hissed through gritted teeth, struggling with the weight.

Judy's heart almost burst with a mixture of relief, joy and gratitude. It was now obvious to her that Nick shielded them from the debris with his own body. That's why he was on all fours - to protect those under him.

Within moments the paramedics reached the survivors, taking care of the bunnies on the ground first. Partly because of one nagging fox, who refused to be treated before them. Judy wanted to dart to her friend's side, but the paramedics wouldn't allow that and this time she didn't argue. No matter how much she wanted to do something more than just standing around, this time she had to leave things in the paws of the experts. The three siblings were quickly recovered from the spot they were lying and transported outside the rubble, where they underwent a proper check-up from the medical team. The rest of the rescue team gathered around the wounded and burnt fox, two paramedics by his side and the firefighters next to the beam, ready to remove it.

"I'm not going to lie, this will hurt. But we'll take care of you." Said one of the two medic bunnies.

"Fair enough." Muttered the fox through his clenched teeth. The paramedics grabbed Nick's arms to hold him down, while the crane pulled up the beam.

It detached from his body with a displeasing sound of metal pulled out from living flesh. A painful grunt rattled in the fox's throat and that sound, along with his contorted face made Judy's heart tighten in her chest. Several large nails were sticking out from the broken wood. They gleamed with crimson in the lamp light.

Nick noticed the doe's expression. "Don't panic, Carrots. I think I'll manage. No gut or lungs pierced, else I'd have blood in my mouth. Trust me, I know." He tried to soothe her worries.

"We'll be the judges of that." Stated one of the paramedics. Although they had a slight problem, as a fox would never fit on a bunny sized stretcher. But Nick solved this problem by slowly straightening up and, step by step, making his way out of the rubble on wobbly legs. Rabbits from the rescue team supported him from both sides and he didn't argue. Their pace was slow, but they eventually got to the waiting ambulance and led the fox inside. Judy wanted to come along with them, but the vehicle was accustomed to smaller patients than Nick and there was simply no place left for her. Once the door closed, the driver turned on the siren and drove away towards the Bunny Burrow hospital.

.

.

It was the middle of the night when Judy was still sitting in the corridor of the ER unit, anxiously waiting for an update on Nick's condition. True, he was walking and fully conscious, but his body must have been severely damaged by the falling debris. Not to mention the nails. She tightened her grip on the jeans she was wearing. Judy wanted to trust Nick's judgment on that, but her memory kept showing her the long, bloodied pieces of metal that were pulled out of his body. What if-

"Judy." Said a female voice.

She raised her head to notice her mother. "Mom…"

The older doe sat down next to her daughter and placed an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "He'll be fine." She said softly.

"I hope so. How are Abi, Alex and Olivia?" Since Nick didn't have anyone close around, Judy volunteered to go with him and her parents accompanied their three children.

Bonnie smiled. "They're okay. They all breathed in some smoke but it's nothing serious, thanks to Nicholas. He wrapped his shirt around their faces to prevent them from inhaling more of the toxins." Judy nodded at this information, a new wave of appreciation for the fox flowing through her. "The doctors said that Abigail's legs are broken and it'll take some time, but she should be able to regain full mobility."

"I remember Nick saying something about her legs…"

"Mhm, she told me that one of the support beams fell on them. But Nicholas got her out with the help of the kids."

"Got her out?" She blinked, as she remembered how those beams looked like. "Wait… those things are massive, how were they even able to lift it?"

Bonnie shrugged. "Alex said that Nicholas did it on his own. They only pulled Abi from under it."

The young doe's eyes widened. How strong was Nick right now? She remembered, that when the barn was constructed years ago, her father and ten other bunnies weren't able to even budge it. Those muscles she's seen earlier clearly weren't just for show.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of opening door and a rabbit in doctor's attire walked out of the ER. Judy sprung to her hindpaws and hurried to him.

"How is he? He won't become a cripple? What about those nails?" She bombarded him with questions and the buck raised his paws to stop her.

"Slow down, please. He will be alright. Luckily, the nails didn't pierce any organs so it wasn't life threatening. He has a few cracked ribs and a lot of bruises on his back, but apart from that it's all fine. Still, he'll need some time to recuperate." The doctor explained. "You can go visit him now if you'd like. We moved him to room 3." He pointed one of the sides of the corridor.

Judy's ears perked up and she turned her head to Bonnie. The doe smiled and gave her a small nod before getting up from the chair. "Let's go."

The grey bunny hurried down the corridor, shouting over her shoulder. "Thank you, doctor!"

Very soon she was at the door to the room with a big number 3 painted on them. She knocked.

"Come in." Said a male voice from inside.

Judy walked in and saw Nick sitting up on a hospital bed. He was wearing blue scrubs and had bandages wrapped around his arms in few places. And she managed to take only one step before he lifted a finger and waved it at her. "Uh-uh. I know you, Fluff. None of those rib cracking hugs of yours, I don't want to end up on the operating table. Explaining the injury would be embarrassing." He cracked a joke, a sure sign he was feeling well.

She chuckled and approached his bed, really restraining herself to not to jump at him.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

"I've had better days." The fox replied lying down on his side, facing her. "You won't mind if I…"

She waved her paws if front of her. "Oh no, of course not! I am sure you must rest a lot right now."

"We-ell, the doc said that if all is good by Sunday evening then I can go home."

"That's terrific! It means you'll be able to participate in the graduation ceremony!"

He laughed, but not too much as his ribs and back still hurt. "That's my Carrots, all about work." Nick grinned at her. "You'll work me to death." He accented the last word.

Her ears slowly fell down. "That's not funny, Nick. Back then, I really thought you're…

"…dead?" He finished for her. "I sure don't feel like dying yet. But I'll keep you posted."

This made her roll her eyes, accompanied by an irritated groan. "Really, when are you going to grow up? I'm serious here."

Nick sent the doe a wink. "Maybe you shouldn't be. C'mon, being serious is boring. And you know me, I'm all about entertainment."

Her face was suddenly very solemn. "Then why jump into the fire?" She stared at him intently.

The bunny surprised him with this question, but he quickly slipped into a funny-guy attitude. "Hey, what better way to get some… thrill… and…" His voice trailed off under her gaze. *Oh boy… Here comes the death stare…* He stopped himself from smiling. *You're too cute for your own good.*

"Ok… I can give you three answers. A funny one, an honest one or a lie." Nick counted by showing his fingers.

She didn't even need time to think about it. "You're joking all the time, so I'll take the honest one." Judy folded her arms, her ears up again and listening carefully.

The fox let out a sigh and his ears drooped in defeat. "Eh, figures… " He looked directly at her. "I saw your reaction when you've learnt that your siblings are inside. I didn't want my friend to wear that expression. Remember the Rainforest District? You saved my life there. Now I had the chance to pay you back." Nick explained to Judy. And it was the truth. *Well, at least part of it…*

"Oh, Nick… " She moved her paw to touch his forearm. She brushed his fur in silence, gazing at his face.

After few moments nick cleared his throat. "Um… Carrots? This is getting a little awkward." Her eyes widened and she withdrew her paw instantly.

"Sorry, I just…" The doe began, blush decorating her cheeks, but she didn't continue that line. "Thank you." She said eventually and gave him a caring smile. "For saving my siblings."

He smiled back, ignoring his increased heartbeat.