All Up in the Fur

Chapter 2

2

After such a busy morning, and with the evidence left at the lab for analysis, Judy and Nick had decided to grab lunch while they waited. Nick had wanted to go to Buga Burger while Judy had wanted to go to Salad Palace. In the end they had decided to meet in the middle and just go for ice cream at MooMoo's Kitchen.

Now each with a chocolate fudge sundae, the two friends could finally relax for the next thirty minutes.

Judy spooned a chocolate-laden mound of ice cream into her mouth as she listened intently to the end of Nick's story.

"And that's when I woke up again. Little guy snores like a bear," he said. "I decided to give up in the end. Even rolling him over does nothing. Fortunately he's having the leaky roof in his van fixed today."

Judy chuckled. Somehow she couldn't imagine such a small fennec fox making such a racket. "Well, that explains the bags under your eyes. I just thought you two had been up playing video games all night."

"Well..." He glanced up at the ceiling and scratched his ear. "Does two a.m. count as a late night to you, Carrots?"

"It does when you have to be up at six, Nick!"

He laughed and stirred the melting remains of his sundae. "You've shown up at work sleepy before now, Fluff."

"Only when Bucky and Pronk have their karaoke night."

He laughed again and Judy smiled as she scooped for the remains of her ice cream. A movement near the counter grabbed her attention and she looked up to see a spotted wildcat leaving the shop with a cone in each paw. He glanced back at the highland cow behind the counter who gave the feline a smile and wave. The cat returned it politely, but something about their attitude seemed forced.

Probably just having a bad day.

She shrugged it off and licked chocolate off her spoon, and almost choked as she caught her fox companion staring at her with a fond smile on his lips. She felt a deep blush forming under her fur and she froze with the spoon still in her mouth.

"What?" she choked out.

He shrugged and looked back down at his now empty glass. "Nothing. Shall we head back then? Surely the lab tests will be done by now?"

She made a grunt of agreement and let the spoon drop back into the glass as she slid from her seat. Still trying to hide her blush, she kept a little behind Nick as they left the cafe, avoiding his eye as he held the door open for her. It had been happening a lot lately and she was starting to question what was going on. Surely she shouldn't light up like a beacon so easily?

"Well, I've had a coffee. I've had some ice cream." Nick folded his arms behind his head and nodded. "I think I'm awake now."

"Good." She gave him a sly smile. "Maybe you can keep up with the investigation now."

He placed a paw on his chest in feigned hurt. "You wound me, Carrots. I thought I was doing well today."

She hopped into the driver's seat of their car and turned on the engine as he climbed in beside her. "I have to admit, I'm quite excited to see what this evidence brings up."

"Once again, it's chewed wood, Carrots."

...

A skunk paced up and down the laboratory, muttering to herself as she read over notes and tweaked machines and chemical compounds, taking readings and other things that confused Judy greatly.

The rabbit cleared her throat to get the scientists attention.

"I'm sorry, Miss Odeur?" she said.