Nothing to fear

Chapter 1

Judy Hopps barely waited for the automatic glass doors to open before plowing through into the bright fluorescent lights of the Hospital Emergency Room, a frantic glint to her amethyst eyes as she scanned the interior. There was a diverse cross section of Zootopia's citizenry that sat on the cushioned chairs and benches in the waiting area of the Emergency Room. No one looked overly sick or injured, most of the mammals simply looked bored or anxious to be away as soon as possible. The receptionist behind the desk looked up as the uniformed bunny stood rigidly in the middle of the entryway, her paws clenched into fists as she looked around. The groundhog waved Judy forward with a nod and an understanding smile.

"Through the door, Trauma four," the groundhog said as she tripped the lock from her position behind the reception desk. "There are a few other officers back there so you shouldn't have any problems finding your friend."

"Thank you!" Judy said in relief before stepping through the heavy doors, the first officer that she saw being Fangmeyer.

The white furred wolf was talking to another officer that Judy had seen around Precinct One but didn't know her personally. It irritated the bunny that the pair of them were joking and laughing until Fangmeyer saw the rabbit approaching and actually backed up a step with his paws up. "Slow down Hopps," the wolf said. "It's not that bad. Seriously. It isn't life threatening." he turned his head while keeping his light brown eyes on Judy. "It isn't, is it, doc?"

"I have seen worse," a disembodied voice said from the Trauma Room. "I have also seen better. Now, if you do not mind I would like to finish my work."

Judy glared at Fangmeyer, who actually gulped in apprehension, before the bunny pushed him out of her way and entered the treatment room and shut the door that would have slammed had it not been equipped with a hydraulic return that slowed the heavy panel at the last moment with a hiss before the latch clicked. Bent over a draped body a red panda fished around for a moment before withdrawing a pair of forceps and dropped a lead pellet into a stainless steel tray with a loud 'CLINK!' and dove back in. Sitting in a reclined position with a sheepish expression was Nick Wilde, a wide smile on his muzzle, his emerald eyes slightly unfocused. At any other time there would have been a curtain to keep a patient from watching the proceedings, but the fox wasn't overly interested in where the doctor plucked buckshot out of his leg.

"Hey, Carrots!" Nick slurred slightly. "You know they have really good medicine here!" he said in an exaggerated whisper, his smile spreading into a grin until the doctor dug a little deeper into the fox's leg that elicited a yelp of pain from his patient. "Ow! Hey. Doc. kinda felt that one."

"So I gathered, Officer Wilde. Unfortunately I can't authorize any more pain medication without completely anesthetizing you," the red panda said as he leaned closer to the fox's leg and narrowed his reddish-brown eyes. "I'm afraid the next few extractions are going to hurt a bit. They are a little deeper than I like, but I want you to tell me if you feel like your leg changes, as in the way it feels. Such as if there is a burning feeling, or if it seems like it is getting cold or if you lose feeling altogether. Can you do that for me, Officer Wilde?"

"Sure!" Nick said as he relaxed against the back of the raised bed. "Hey doc? Is it okay if I have Carrots come over here so I can hold her paw?"

The doctor sighed and glanced up over the rim of the glasses he wore. "If it will keep you from squirming around it would be a most welcome distraction."

Nick's tail began to wag furiously, the thrashing of his caudal appendage moving part of the drape that covered him exposing the fox and showing Judy that he was sans uniform pants and underwear. "Sweet berries! I don't have any pants. Don't look Judy!" Nick said, his ears folding down in embarrassment, the insides turning a dark pink that the bunny was sure made its way down his fur covered cheeks. "Of all the days to forget to wear underwear..." he lamented as he tried to replace the drape.