Never Time to Say Goodbye

Chapter 1

I remember the day when everything changed for me. It was that rainy day, back in August, when I was trying to explain to you how easy it was to read Chief Bogo.

Nick and Judy made their way across the ZPD lobby as they hurried to the morning briefing.

"Everyone has a tell, sweetheart," Nick smirked as Judy looked at him doubtfully.

"Take Bogo for example. When he's about to deliver bad news at a press conference or in the bullpen, he always takes his glasses off first." Judy leaned in to listen as Nick spoke softly. "And if he puts them in his front pocket before he talks, look out."

"Oh yeah, what about me?"

Nick laughed and stopped walking so he could slap his knee and grin at her. "Carrots, when it comes to tells, you're an open book."

Judy moved with lightning speed and whacked him hard on the arm.

"Ow!" Nick wailed, as he put on his oh so sad, I'm such an abused fox face.

"What, you couldn't tell what I was about to do?"

She chuckled as she pushed open the large door and marched ahead of Nick into the crowded bullpen.

Nick smiled as he followed her. "Sly bunny."

We ended up making a bet on it; the loser would pay for dinner at that fancy new place that had just opened around the corner from the station. As luck would have it, that very day Bogo took off his glasses right before he stuck us with night patrol for the next few days, to cover for Delgato and Snarlof.

Of course we knew the bet was a sham, since we'd both win, no matter who was right. Except for the occasional Gazelle concert or meeting at a bar with the other officers, both of us were terrible at inviting the other to spend time together off the clock. I'll never forget that little teal number you wore, or how excited you were to be eating dinner in the most beautiful restaurant you said you'd ever seen. I honestly barely remember what the place looked like, because I couldn't take my eyes off of you.

After they kicked us out at closing time, I was so glad when you agreed to meet me for breakfast a few days later at that little diner we'd always talked about trying. I figured it would be my last chance to spend time with you before you headed back to Bunnyburrow for a few weeks of vacation.

Judy picked at her veggie omelet.

Nick paused between gulps and glanced at Judy. "What's eating you, Carrots? Is the food ok?"

Judy nodded, but her ears drooped a bit lower as she looked up at Nick; her violet eyes seemed almost pleading. "It's my parents." Judy looked down at her omelet before sighing and putting her fork down. "They're trying to play matchmaker and introduce me to some dumb bunny when I go home to visit. I mean, I want to get married and have kids someday, but I wish they would just butt out of my personal life."

I should have been more sympathetic, and I regret the joke about how you'd be a great mom someday, but I had a plan to avoid messing up my kids by never having any. I saw you closing up, and yet I kept driving right off that cliff, over and over. It was my way of pushing you away, a reflexive movement I'd developed a long time ago. I guess I was also, in my own weirdly overprotective way, hoping you could find someone who deserved you more than I did.

You're an open book, at least to me, Carrots. But the dumb fox that I am, I made myself ignore what you were trying to tell me. I'd gone down this road a few times before, and I had always ended up back in the same place that I started, lonely and even more bitter. I just couldn't stand the thought of that happening to us.