Work Text:
Almost Cost Me
After making sure Bellwether was back in prison, Judy and Nick went back to the ZPD headquarters to fill out some paperwork. As usual, that process was tedious but necessary. After all was done for the day, Judy and Nick were about to leave for the evening.
“So, any plans for the night?” Judy asked Nick.
“Yeah, right,” Nick rolled his eyes. “I’m taking a quiet night to myself! Still got plenty of convicts to re-catch!”
“That’s fair. Wanna walk me home?”
“Sure. Just let me visit the little fox’s room first.”
“Sure thing!” Judy nodded. “I’ll wait out here.”
As Nick headed to the restroom, Judy sat down in the lobby of the ZPD. Given the near-late hour, the lobby was empty, save for the front desk. Judy was scrolling on her phone and saw a news report about the Tundra Town and Lynxsleys. She smiled.
Suddenly, however, the personal effects of this case began to swell within Judy and the concern and fear she had about Nick came to her mind. That was closest she ever came to losing Nick. Yes, they had argued before; more or less, that’s what their friendship was founded on. But this time, she almost lost him permanently. She had managed to keep that out of the forefront of her mind during the case. Right now, it was all she could think about. In a moment, Nick almost wasn’t there anymore. For a moment, in Judy’s mind, it felt like he wasn’t.
That was more than painful. It was terrifying.
Judy started to find it hard to breathe. She almost lost Nick. She almost lost the most important person in her life. Tears welled up. She had to put her phone in the empty chair and pressed her paws to her face, trying to regulate her breathing. But it was impossible. She cried. She usually fought that urge when it all possible.
This was time it wouldn’t be denied.
Nick approached, sighing, “You know, I like Rodney, he’s a great janitor. But you’d think an elephant would be better remembering to refill the paper towel dispense…” He stopped when he saw Judy. “Judy?”
Judy looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Judy rushed out of the chair and hugged him with all she had.
“Whoa, whoa!” Nick hugged her back. “What’s going on?”
“I almost lost you!” Judy cried. “Nick, I’m sorry!”
“Judy, Judy. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I’m sorry. I was… trying to be the hero and… and… it-it almost cost me the most important person in my life!”
Nick sighed. “I’m sorry for not being more honest with you. If I had said what I said before I said it… we could’ve worked all this out before we…” He sighed. “I’m really sorry for that.”
Judy calmed down and sniffed. “What a pair we are.”
“Yeah. But it’s why we work.”
“Yeah. We do.” They broke the hug and looked at each other. Judy wiped her eyes, “Thanks, Nick.”
“Sure.” Nick sighed, “Listen… it’s been a long day. But… I think we need to talk some more. Wanna get something to eat?”
“I’d love that.”