****The Next Day****
Nick was finally allowed to see Judy in the hospital. After a long night of no sleep before, he called the hospital straight away the next morning to see if she was ok. Thankfully, she wasn't dead. She did have major wounds, though.
"Carrots?" Nick said quietly as he opened the door to her room.
Judy smiled. "Hey, Nick," her voice came out weak. He hated to see her like this.
He walked towards the bed, and sat down in one of the chairs beside it. "How're ya doing?"
"I'm...ok," she breathed. But her fur looked pale, and her ears were droopy. "Just a bit nauseous."
Nick nodded, looking down at the floor. "I'm so sorry, Judes."
Judy looked at Nick, a confused expression on her face. He has never looked, or acted this serious before. "Nick," she began. "It...it isn't your fault."
"Yes, it is!" His voice rose a little, but not in anger. It was more in frustration. "I...I let those low life's get away with it!"
"Did you get the evidence to Bogo?" She asked, calmly.
"Yeah," he nodded, but still looked worried. "But, they made me take a break till you were back. I'm not really the top of the police department."
Judy closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Well, I'm in in here for two more weeks. Then, I can go back to work a week after that. So, we won't be working for three weeks." Judy hated that. She wanted to work. She felt like she was slacking if she so much as missed a day of work, except for Sunday's, of course. Those are the days they were assigned off. But she wasn't supposed to miss three weeks. That's what bothered her.
"Ok, well, we could always go and do something like we usually do on the week after you get out of here," Nick suggested.
"Yeah," Judy nodded. "Or, we could try and crack that case!"
"Um, no, carrots," Nick said, plainly, as if it was easy to see. "You're in no condition for that."
"I don't care," she said. "We're gonna try to solve it for the next two weeks I'm in here, and then we're gonna try to close it on the third week-"
Suddenly, Judy's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. She picked it up, and nearly fainted when she saw her parents on the screen. "Hey, mom! Hey, dad!" Judy answered, attempting to sound as happy as possible.
"Hey, Jude the dude!" Her dad said.
"Oh, hello, darling!" Said Bonnie, trying to speak through the phone as well. I told you we should've done FaceTime!" She whispered harshly to her husband.
"Anyways," Judy laughed. "How are you guys?"
"Oh, we're great!" Said her dad once again. "How about you, honey?"
"Oh, I'm doing great! No need to worry about me!" She lied.
"That's wonderful! Well, me and your mom were wanting you to come down and visit us soon!" He said.
Judy nearly had a heart attack. "Uh...n-not right now! I mean, I am very busy! I could visit maybe next month? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I could!"
"Well, ok, honey," her mom said, sounding a bit upset. "Have fun. We love you!"
"Oh, and remember," he dad cut in. "If you get a boyfriend, make sure-"
"Dad, I will tell you! I promise! Goodbye!"
"Bye, sweetheart!"
She hung up.
Nick couldn't help but laugh.
"What?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I heard your little conversation. You lied to them."
"Look, Nick, I know I did, but...I kinda had to, or else, they would freak out, come here, and-"
"Hey, I totally get it, carrots," Nick cut in. "I was like that with my parents, once."
Judy let out a sigh of relief. "Hey, who are your parents?" She asked, realizing that she had never asked about her friends parents before.
"Well...I...I really don wanna talk about it now," he said, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"O-ok..." Judy bit her lip, awkwardly. "Sorry," her voice came out in a near whisper.
"No, no, it's ok," he reassured. "It's just...not my concern right now."
She nodded. "Yeah." Judy felt that no matter what she did, she could never figure out anything about Nick. Yes, she did get to hear about his past that one time, but she didn't really know about his parents at all. Nick hasn't met Judy's parents yet, an she wanted to keep it that way. She was scared that Rey would freak out- her dad, specifically- and say something horrible to Nick. She knew they were pretty stereotypical of foxes. Even if they did work with Gideon, they would probably still be a bit suspicious about "city" foxes. She nearly rolled her eyes just thinking about what her dad would say. "Our Judy is friends with a fox? I told you, Bonnie! We should've given her that taser!
"Whiskers!" Nick pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Oh, sorry," she laughed nervously. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
"None of your business."
"Ok, whatever."
They sat in silence for a while. Judy began to think again. But it wasn't about her parents, this time. It was about what Nick had said to her when she was dying out in the street. "I love you." The words were clear. What did that mean? He loved her as a friend? A partner? Or was it more? She wanted to ask, but she was almost too afraid to. She was afraid that he would make fun of her if she got the wrong idea about their relationship. Or, it would be so awkward, that he would never speak to her again. So, she decided not to bring that scene up again.
It's not like I like Nick in that way! Do I? She fought with herself. But, even if I did, which I don't, we couldn't be together. I mean, it's an interspecies relationship! Those are frowned upon! But...I kinda like him...no you don't! What is wrong with you, Judy?! You're a bunny, he's a fox!
