Darkness

Chapter 5

I DON'T OWN THE ARTWORK!

Judy and Nick rushed into the station, almost late for the meeting. The bull pen was busy with Police Officers discussing their cases. They leaped into their shared seat. Right on time, Bogo walked through the door, rocking his purple flower sticker.

"Everybody be quiet!" He commanded. All attention shifted to him. "Hand your files over to Officer Wilde."

A look of confusion swept through the room, but they followed the Chief's orders. Nick scanned through them. Calvin Hobbs, a nine year old polar bear from Tundratown. Nothing genetically spectacular about him. Ginger Hunts, a ten year old Jaguar from the Rain Forrest Distract. Again nothing genetically spectacular. Seven year old Alex Clawstein, a young lion from Sahara Square. All of them were kidnapped at night, either from their room while they slept, or while their parents were away.

A migraine threatened to over take Nick, this didn't make sense. The culprits didn't have a specific type, they were all over the place.

"Chief, I'm sorry, but I think my theory was wrong." He said.

"Explain Wilde." He ordered.

He explained everything the best he could. Everyone took turns brainstorming. Before long, they all agreed on a course of action. Within an hour Chief Bogo had camera crews and the media at the ZPD for a press conference.

He took the podium. "Four children have been abducted, and the mammals responsible tried to abduct a fifth, but was stopped by Officer Hopps and Officer Wilde. Unfortunately, they escaped. The suspects in question are a female panther, an adolescent ram, and an adult tiger." Bogo said sternly. "They are still at large."

A reporter cuts him off, "What does this mean for Zootopia?"

"It means we are placing all mammals with children on a nine o'clock curfew. We implore you to be vigilant. Lock your doors and windows. Keep a close eye on your children. Don't leave them unsupervised." He said.

Soon the press conference ended and Judy and Nick were off duty, free to go home.

Nick made several calls to old friends/connections who owed him favors, and was able to determine that neither Mr. Griz, nor Madame Wish had the children. He found it hard to trust their word, but he did.

He and Judy sat on his old pull out couch, watching the newest comedy movie. Try as they might, they couldn't get their minds off the case. To be more accurate, Judy couldn't get it off her mind. All Nick could think about was her.

He stretched, his body sore from their high speed chase. His body made popping noises.

Judy cocked her head. "You ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, just sore from earlier." He yawned.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" She offered.

Being mischievous, he said, "You could always give me a massage." He waggled his eye brows at her teasingly.

Judy found herself blushing, but decided she'd do it as a way to pay him back for the pizza. "O-ok." She agreed.

"Wait, what?" He blushed.

"Take ofF your shirt." She said.

Nick could feel his whole muzzle flushing with embarrassment. "Ok." He complied, and peeled off his shirt.

Judy found herself gawking at him. He was lean, but muscular. His chest was covered with creamy white fur. She could understand why Madam Wish tried to buy his DNA, Nick was very easy on the eyes. Any vixen would be lucky to have him for a husband. The thought of him married to someone, made her heart ache.

Lately, she'd been having weird feelings blooming in her heart. Feelings about him. As she looked at his body, it all clicked together, she was in love with Nick. Quickly, she pushed those feelings to the back burner of her mind. What good would those feelings do her? She was a bunny. He was a fox. Biology damned romance between them. Friendship would have to suffice.

She put her paws on his shoulders and started rubbing.

He let out a moan. "Wow. Could I hire you to be my full time masseuse?"

"Har. Har." She rolled her eyes.

"No, seriously." He laid down, stretching out on the couch. "Name your price and I'll pay it."

"Just shut up." She giggled.

"Aye, aye, Officer Fluff." He chuckled into the couch seat.

Judy's paws were soft as pillows, but strong enough to work out all the knots in his back.

"Hey, Nick." She said.

"Hmm?" He moaned.

"We have this Wednesday and Thursday off, and mom and dad have been bugging me to come visit. So, I'll be going to Bunny Burrow." She said, rubbing the small of his back.

"Well, have fun." He said, teetering on the verge of sleep.

"There having their annual Carrot Day Festival, it's a big event. Lot's of bunnies and other mammals come out to celebrate." Judy found herself thinking out loud. "I wonder if Gideon will show up. He and I are friends now, he's become a really nice guy. You'd probably love his blueberry pies."

"Probably." Nick muttered, sleepily.

"And of course, Mom will try to do her infamous match making. My siblings, Hannah, Nellie, Molly, Robert, Danny, and Evan just graduated high school and are of marrying age." Judy sighed thinking about her family. Her mom and dad were old fashioned bunnies, with low ambitions, who thought she and her siblings should just join the carrot farming business, settle down and start big families.

The only exceptions, or black sheep in her family, was her sister Jewel, and of course her. Jewel was born from the same litter as her, and was also her favorite sister. She had grass green eyes, and honey blonde fur. At sixteen she quit school to marry the love of her life, and a young buck named William Harris. Her parents, unsurprisingly, signed for them to get married. William got a job working for a local construction crew. At seventeen Jewel had a small litter of three. Two girls, Jasmine and Peony. And one boy, Ace. Will and Jewel agreed, that three children was plenty. They wanted to be able to savor their children's lives. Having dozens of hundreds of babies was stressful, and made it difficult to remember names. And sometimes it was hard to feed and dress a large family. So, Jewel was the first to break the tradition of having hundreds of children.

Then Judy broke the mold by becoming a cop. (Jewel's children were Judy's favorite, even before she was a cop, they looked up to her.)

Judy just knew that her parents would be on her case about finding a bunny to settle down with. Her mom would try to make a match at the festival, probably.

She continued thinking a loud. "Then there's me. I wonder who mom will try to marry me off to this time. She hasn't tried to match me up with Tommy Pond or Zack Jumper, yet."

Nick's ears pricked up. Judy would be around other eligible guys? Her parents would probably try to arrange a match for her? This angered him. He loved her, and he wanted her. Yet, they were not only different species, but she was prey and he was predator. He couldn't have her, but maybe, just maybe, he could postpone any match making, and have her to himself for just a little longer.

"Could I come with you?" He asked. "After all we've been through today, I need a little vacation." He made up the excuse.

Her face lit up, "Of course. I'll finally get to introduce my partner to all my family."

She continued rubbing his back, until he dozed off. She stood up and draped his shirt over him.

Dumb Fox, she thought. Feeling bold, and knowing this might be her one, and only chance to give him affection. She leaned down and planted a kiss on his muzzle, before she slipped out the door.

Nick awoke an hour later to discover she was gone, and that he had a strange tingling sensation on his muzzle.