A Fresh Start

A Desperate Situation

*A/N: Hey I am back! Im sure you had all given up hope by now of this ever updating BUT i always keep my word and being so close to finishing I cant afford to give up...right? I have been very busy with school and life and my mental state has taken a turn for the worst. I've gone through a lot this year and had lost my motivation but I'm here again and aiming to finally get this done in any spare time I have. Thanks for understanding and I'm very sorry*

Nick parked his car a street away, by a dark alley and then walked the rest of the way. As he approached the old building, Nick took a shaky breath and began to walk stealthily, keeping on the alert. He had ensured backup wasnt too far away if things went hairy yet not too close that they couldnt still look for Judy themselves. 'Please let us find her,' Nick muttered to himself repeatedly. Doubt flickered through his mind as he came to the conclusion that the place seemed empty. Yet that didnt deter him from snooping around regardless. The air was chilly and mist blew from the fox's mouth as he breathed. The night was dark and Nick started at every movement in the shadows and every subtle noise. As he walked on through the warehouse area he noticed a flickering light in the distance. Furrowing his eyebrows, the fox rushed silently over. "Carrots?" He whispered, his heart beating hard in his chest as he came to a trailer door. There was no reply. Nick felt disheartened. Perhaphs he had come to the wrong place.

CRASH! Nick ducked out of sight as the door swung open and hit the side of the trailer. A polar bear marched out, wearing a frown. The fox's eyes widened as he noticed Swiftfoot march out after him. They were both muttering in hushed angry voices. Nick pricked his ears. "What's going on here? Why hasnt the money come through?" The polar bear demanded in a growl as they walked off. Swiftfoot looked uneasy and distractedly swung the door behind him. However it didnt click shut and remained ajar. Swiftfoot was too caught up in his conversation to notice. This was Nick's chance. He must be in the right place. After a moment's hesitation he ducked into the trailer, closing the door behind him. Wilde kept his hand on his gun in case of any trouble. "Hopps?" He called softly. A muffled yelp came in response. "Carrots! Is that you?"

Nick rushed over in the direction of where the noise had come from. 3 large wooden crates sat in the middle of the floor. Papers were sprawled all over a small desk and metal draws sat stacked unevenly on top of one another. Empty alcohol bottles were strewn all over the floor. In a word, this place was a dump, but Nick expected nothing less. A thump came from inside one of the crates. The fox stiffened and slowly walked over to the nearest crate. Butterflys swarmed in his belly as the anticipation of what he may find inside got the better of him. He tried to lift the lid but it was sealed shut. The officer surveyed the room for something he could use to prop the lid open. Bingo! Conveniently, a crowbar sat on top of the stack of metal draws. Nick had to stand on his toes but he managed to swipe the tool. Another thump came from inside the crate, followed by muffled straining noises. "Hold on I'm coming" Nick declared as he put the crowbar to work on the crate. It was sealed tight and took just about all of the vulpine's strength but eventually, he managed to pry it open. First with a creak and then a crack as the top popped right off. In the same instant, a bunny burst from the opening, only to topple over a second later and fall right back in. "Carrots! Oh my goodness, you do not know how relieved I am to see you" Nick gasped. He reached into the crate and noticed Judy had her arms and legs tied together as well as a piece of masking tape over her mouth. "Hold on a sec, Fluff. This may hurt a little" he warned as he quickly but as carefully as possible ripped the tape from her mouth. Judy gasped as he did so. Fur stuck to the tape. "Sorry" he murmured. The bunny looked up at him with large round, relieved eyes, pooled with tears. "Nick" she cried, "You came! You found me!" The fox was almost taken aback for a moment. "Of course" he replied, shocked. Then he softened his eyes as he looked into Judy's warm, lavendar eyes. "I coudnt go on without my partner against crime." He smiled. The bunny smiled back. "Thanks Nick. Now can you untie me. We have some crooks to catch and some girls to save. I just hope we can get to them in time.."