Serendipity's Shadow
Rated T
Chapter 45
Nick stood frozen at the door. Trying to come up with every possible word that rhymes with baby. He had to have imagined it.
"Being pregnant is my business, Doctor. And I will take care of it."
I'm not imagining it.
Nick was ready to knock on the door until he felt the familiar touch of being pickpocketed. Reacting on instinct Nick turned and grabbed the offender before they had time to react.
A…kid?
"Let go, Bastardo!" The little grey fox yelled.
"Give me back what you took." Nick glared at the kid. "And then we'll talk."
"Are you loco or something? I didn't take anything!"
Nick gave her a deadpan stare before showing his wallet that he stole back from her back pocket.
"Cómo?"
"You didn't invent stealing kid."
"Nick?"
The sound of the little fox girl yelling at Nick caught both the Doctor's and Judy's attention. Opening the door Judy watched as Nick scolded the child while also showing off.
"Judy…" Nick looked away long enough for the girl to run away back into the kitchen. "Is…is everything alright?"
"Yeah. Why?"
The way Judy answered without missing a beat made Nick wonder if he had gone loco.
If she is pregnant that must mean she has a…partner? Or she still doesn't trust me…
Nick suppressed his ears from sagging as a wave of sadness washed over him. Putting on a happy facade, Nick responded to Judy.
"Well since the good doctor is here I figured you had gotten hurt again."
Judy paused assessing his answer before smiling contently.
"Just…just checking up on something. My stitches tore open a little."
Nick wanted to vomit in disgust at himself. Was he that oblivious to his surroundings? Judy was showing signs of early pregnancy just like how his sister Gwen did. And he allowed her to be the target in this risky plan that he couldn't oversee. Judy's stitches being torn open seemed small compared to the child she could be carrying. The child that she gave up on having when she was with Nick.
"All patched up?"
"Yep. Good as-STOP IT!"
Nick flinched at Judy's switch in tone before feeling someone hiding behind him.
"Again! Really?"
Nick had to ask the child as it was obvious she was going for his wallet again.
"She stole my phone three times already." Judy approached the girl holding out her hand expectantly. "Give them back."
The little girl stared defiantly at Judy.
"That's not going to work, Carrots." Nick crossed his arms disapproved of the little vermin's presence.
"Shush, Nick." Judy sent Nick a quick glare before returning her focus to the kid. "Give it back…please."
It took a minute but eventually, the child relented under Judy's gaze. Pulling out from her multiple pockets was Judy's phone, Tia's bracelet, Nick's phone and wallet, and a box of cigarettes Judy assumed the kid stole from Finnick.
"Way too young for these." Judy was disappointed that a child could already be addicted to tobacco.
The kid mumbled to Judy's surprise since she refused to speak a word until Nick showed up.
"What?" Judy kneeled to her level making herself appear smaller.
"I don't smoke." The little girl eventually admitted. "Addicts pay decent money for cigarettes when shops are closed."
"Where are your parents?"
And that is when Judy lost the small connection she had made with the little girl. The kid flinched at her question before running away back into the kitchen where Tia was looking for her bracelet.
"Wait, I…I'm sorry." Judy's ears sagged.
"Don't take it personally, Fluff." Nick helped Judy back up to her feet trying his best not to stare at her abdomen. "And I know you have a big heart but sometimes…people young and old will abuse that kindness."
"I know."
Judy knew Nick was correct. But that didn't stop her heart, which now had a bit of maternal instinct, from wanting to connect to a child in need.
"What's is with the little thief anyway?" Nick eventually asked, trying to figure out if he should ask about her maybe baby or not.
"At the wrong place in the wrong time kind of deal." Judy shrugged walking into the kitchen to return Tia's bracelet and toss Finn's cigarettes.
"When did she…oh she's good." Tia praised the girl who smiled with pride.
"Please don't encourage her." Judy pleaded before taking a seat at the table.
Nick rushed to the table pulling a chair out for Judy before she could actually sit.
"You, okay?"
"Yeah. You?" Nick tried to play it cool.
Judy stared at him trying to decipher what was going on inside her head. At first, she was confident that Nick didn't hear her earlier shouting match with the doctor. But she wasn't going to have anyone tell her to give up being a cop just because she was going to become a mother. Which led to said shouting match.
That's what I get from asking the doctor to do a check on the baby.
Judy groaned internally wondering if her secret was out. Or if Nick was feeling guilty over her previous wound being torn open again.
"Asqueroso just kiss already." The kid mumbled bringing Judy out of her train of thought.
"What?"
"I wish."
"Nick!" Judy glared.
"What? I thought honesty was the best policy."
Judy ignored the grown annoying fox for the young annoying fox.
"We are not together."
"El mentiroso."
"What?"
"Liar." Tia answered Judy's question.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"And I'm not a liar." Judy stated firmly to the kid.
"Could have fooled me."
Judy glared at the child before deciding this was a losing battle.
"Everything went how I expected, for the most part, sadly."
"So, Fenton was the mole?" Nick asked, taking a seat across from Judy next to the kid.
"Yep."
"And the thumb drive?"
"Which one?" Tia asked feeling smug.
The most crucial part of the plan. Something Tia liked to call bait and switch. Make someone look over here while the real prize is over there.
"Real one is right where I left it in Bogo's nameplate. The fake one Fenton destroyed originally had a lovely email kindly saying to screw-" A child is present, Judy! "To please rethink his life choices and turn himself in for the greater good.
Nick and the kid gave Judy identical looks of disappointment. Feeling the embarrassment burn on her cheeks Judy turned her attention back to Nick.
"What about you? Where did you go?
"Uh…me? I went-"
The elevator dinged announcing a new presence. Everyone was tense for a split second before Nick's driver emerged from the doors.
"Sorry to interrupt Sir. You forgot your package in the car."
Sensing a way out, Nick jumped in excitement from his chair making Judy and the kid flinch in surprise.
"I almost forgot. Thank you, my friend. Here get yourself a treat…" Nick felt his pockets for his wallet before realizing what happened. "This is getting old kid!"
This time though the girl relented a lot quicker and threw his wallet on the table for Judy to throw to Nick.
"Kids." Nick shook his head both impressed and displeased. "For your troubles friend."
Giving his driver a hundred percent tip, Nick grabbed the box of goodies.
"What's that?" Judy watched as Nick practically danced back to the table.
"What every cop needs at the end of a long day."
Judy raised her eyebrow suspiciously at Nick as the kid grabbed the lid in excitement.
"Donuts!" The kid exclaimed happily while Judy questioned rather to slap Nick or to laugh.
"You idiot." Judy giggled while grabbing one that was shaped like a carrot.
Nick watched her enjoy the donut contently. That is until the kid made her presence known again by taking two donuts at once.
"Manners, kid. Ever heard of them?"
"Bite me."
Real mature. Nick mused as he watched Tia actively keep out of arm's length of the kid.
"What is this kid's name anyway?" Tia eventually asked also making sure the kid wasn't within pickpocketing range.
Silence filled the room as the three adults stared at the kid expectantly. What they didn't expect was for her to throw her second donut at Tia's head before running off to what was Judy's room.
"Okay one, that kind of hurt, and two…what is with this kid?" Tia asked picking up the destroyed delicacy.
"That's what I want to ask." Nick being dramatic feigned a dismayed look of pain. "My home is no longer my home." Immediately dropping the act Nick glared at Tia. "Now it is a hospital, hideout, and daycare apparently."
Tia smiled sheepishly before walking back into her room for safety.
"Are you ever going to stop bullying her?"
"Probably not." Nic answered honestly.
His main grievance towards the ferret was mainly the fact she put Judy in danger and interrupted his alone time with the said bunny.
"Nick…can we talk?"
Judy asked, placing her paw on his arm with a pleading gaze. Nick didn't even hesitate to answer. Especially since he was hoping it was her talking to him about her maybe baby. And somewhere in his land of dreams her asking to adopt the kid on their wedding day. But even Nick knew that was too big of a fantasy to come true.
"Always, Carrots."
Judy smiled at Nick, happy to feel safe and vulnerable with him again. But as quickly as that good feeling came the baby had other plans.
"Hold that thought."
Not wasting a second Judy ran to her room to throw up what was once a delicious donut.
What is happening to my life? Nick had to ask himself.
AN: Tried adding some more diversity to the story and basically just used this as a filler chapter. I can't speak or write Spanish so google translate was a help, but I can't do full Spanish sentences (google translate isn't that awesome). And I just refuse to butcher a language (I say as I butcher the English language every day :p). Hope this can quench your thirst for a short while my dear readers.