At The Begining: A Zootopia fanfic Nick x Judy

chapter. 3 A Friendly Face

After being wheeled into the room by a nurse, Judy was told a doctor would see her as soon as one was available. That was an hour and ten minutes ago. Rubbing her paws up and down her face in an effort to stay awake, she muttered, "What is taking them so long? And where is Nick?" She hadn't even seen a nurse to ask about him.
Another 15 minutes ticked by and she was going stir-crazy. It had taken 20 minutes in the ambulance to get here (the EMTs didn't see a need to speed since she wasn't a critical case) and she'd already been sitting here for an hour and twenty-five minutes (yes, she'd been counting) and she couldn't stand the inactivity any longer. At least if Nick were here, she would have someone to talk to. And with Nick being Nick, she was sure to laugh at something he said.
G

lancing around the room again, she finally spied the nurses' call button. Of course, it would be on the other side of the wolf-sized bed. Being careful of her leg, she rolled over on her hands and knees and crawled to the button. Reaching over to press it, the door opened, and a slender roe deer nurse walked in.
"Oh," the nurse said, seeing Judy with her arm stretched out and her fingers on the red call button.
Judy suddenly felt like a kit with her paw caught in the cookie jar, causing her ears to flush a slightly darker shade of pink. Dropping her paw, she sat back and turned around, so she was sitting properly. "Um, hello."
"Well, hello, there, I'm Kimberly. It looks like I came here just in time." She smiled sweetly at Judy and asked, "So what can I do for you?"
"Well, I was just wondering when I'd be able to see a doctor. I just need a few stitches and don't want to sit here all night."
"Oh. Yes. That's why I'm here. All the doctors are seeing other patients and won't be available for another hour or more."
Judy's jaw dropped and despair crossed her face. "What!? Why so long?"
"There was a large traffic accident about 40 minutes ago and it has all the doctors tied up with multiple critical cases."
"There aren't any doctors available to see me? I'm sure it won't take more than 10 minutes."
Kimberly hesitated a moment, then thought it couldn't hurt to ask. "Due to the savage attacks, we've been pairing prey doctors with prey patients, but if you don't mind seeing a predator doc . . . tor . . ." Kimberly's voice trailed off seeing Judy's expression of shock. Maybe she shouldn't have brought it up. She was a bunny after all. They seemed more fearful of predators than most prey mammals.
"There's a predator doctor who can see me!?" Judy exclaimed, excitement now brightening her expression. "Yes, yes, get him! Right away!"
Kimberly was shocked by the bunny's sudden excitement and it took her brain several moments to process it. Finally, she asked cautiously, "You're sure you're okay with a predator seeing you?"
"Yes, yes," Judy said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "My best friend is a predator, so I have no problems with them. I mean, come on, I'm more likely to get stepped on by an elephant or a rhino than attacked by a predator. And a predator doctor is just as competent as a prey doctor." Judy was beaming now. Her chance to escape the hospital would soon be at hand. Now all she had to do was figure out where her sly fox had gotten off to.
Kimberly shared her smile. Although the little bunny's logical mind and fearless attitude towards predators surprised her, it warmed her heart to see it. Many of her closest friends here at the hospital were predators, and it dampened her spirits to see some of the other prey nurses and technicians shying away out of fear of one of them going savage. With a wide grin, she answered, "If that's how you feel, then I'll get Dr. Pardsen right away."

Watching the friendly nurse turn away, Judy spoke up, "While you're out, can you check the waiting room and see if my friend is there? His name is Nick. Nick Wilde."

Looking back, Kimberly nodded with a bright smile. "Sure thing, sweetie. Anything else you need?"
"I could use some water. My throat's pretty dry."
Nodding, Kimberly said, "I'll be right back with that."
Watching her go, Judy leaned back on her paws while waiting for Nick, her water, and the doc—in that order. She didn't wait long before the door swung open and Nick bolted into the room.
"Carrots!" Before Judy could do more than sit up, Nick was there, wrapping her up in a tight hug and lifting her off the bed. Ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs (they were bruised after all), Nick enveloped her in a crushing hug. Carrots was all that mattered to him right now, and feeling her in his arms again released a lot of the pent-up stress he'd built up at the long wait. He was sure something had gone wrong.
Setting her back down, Nick stepped back with his paws resting on her upper arms as he looked her over. "You're okay, right? Your leg will be fine?"
"Well, I haven't seen the doctor yet, but the pain meds the paramedics gave me are working so my leg doesn't hurt that much."
Nick started to nod, but then his eyes widened and his ears pricked forward. "Wait! You haven't seen a doctor yet? But the sheep at the registration desk said you were seeing the doctor and couldn't have visitors!"
Judy shook her head. "No doctor. I've just been sitting her waiting for the last . . ."—she paused to count up the minutes—"1 hour and 35 minutes." At Nick's surprise, she sheepishly said, "I've literally been counting the minutes until I saw you again."
Chuckling, Nick hugged her again. Boy, did it feel good to hug her! He never imagined hugging anyone could feel so good—and she gladly welcomed it! "It's okay, Fluff, I missed you, too."
Judy sniffled a bit. She did not want to start crying again but having Nick back in her life felt so good. And he was being so sweet to her. And the hugs—that was a surprise. Nick didn't seem to be the touchy-feely type, at least that was impression she got back on the gondola 3 months ago. She was glad he now seemed comfortable with her touches because she gladly welcomed his.