Worst night ever?

Nick: Carrots! Are you ok? Can you walk?
The area was dark but displays of old relics could be seen from Judys position on the floor. Who would have thought Bellwether was behind all of this? That they'd be running for their life in a museum? A stabbing pain shot up her leg as she watched Nick wrap it in his handkerchief.
Nick: Blueberry?
Judy: The case! You need to get it back to Bogo! Go on without me!
Nick: Not happe...

Before Nick could finish both of them were, for a lack of a better term, rammed across the floor. They didn't have time to recover before they were pushed again but this time into one of the displays bellow. A sealed off section in the floor like some kind of prehistoric battle pit. Bellwether stood at the top, looking down at them with a smugness that would put even Nick to shame.

Bellwether: It's a shame Judy, I really did like you.
Judy: What're you going to do, kill me?
Bellwether: No, he is.

Before either could react, Nick was hit.  Judy pleaded with him to fight it as Bellwether berated her with the speech Judy had given to the news reporters a week ago. Judy could do nothing as Nick convulsed and held himself. He rolled to his legs. His smugness was gone. His sly grin was replaced by angry, terrifying snarl, and his eyes were no longer that bright green replaced by a murderous red.

Judy: No... Nick...

It wasn't meant to be like this. Judy was saddened more for the loss of her friend than what her fate was about to be.

Bellwether: Byebye, bunny.

Judy closed her eyes, tears forming. For a moment the thought of death flashed by, but her family and more so Nick, were the prominent flashes. All the time she spent with Nick was flashing by. Like a movie of her most happiest moments going by in slow motion. Time felt like an eternity and Judy couldn't bare it any longer. As she opened her eyes what she saw confused her. Nick, mindless, was laying beside her. His snout ever so slightly brushing against her wounded leg as he gave the faintest of whimpers. Judy called his name, but no answer. Reaching her paw to his head however made him react gleefully. He sat up putting his head into her hand smiling like only he could. Judy began tearing up. Even in this state, he saw her as someone he could trust.

Bellwether: No... that is impossible! The world doesn't work on magic and rainbows! You two, get down there and take of the rabbit!

Bellwethers henchrams leapt into the pit. Judy frightened now more than ever could do nothing but hug Nick. She could have taken on easily she thought. If her leg was ok, if Nick hadn't been hit, but two of them in her state? Nick on the other hand broke free of judys grasp. Facing the rams he began snarling, his teeth shining in what little light there was. The rams, while capable, were a bit hesitant. They were, in their own way, still afraid of predators. Especially ones hit by the Nighthowlers. Bellwether was having none of it, yelling at them to do their jobs, as she aimed the dart gun at both of her rams asking if they'd like to join the fox.

Judy tried to hold Nick back. They only wanted her. If Nick would be ok, then that'd be fine, she thought. The only thing running through her head was him making it. Nick , even with his mind locked behind the nighthowlers, had other plans. He broke free of Judys grasp and lept one of the rams. He may have grabbed a lot of fluff, but the tinges of red here and there made it clear that he wasn't toying with him either. The ram, none too happy, had several decent scratches and one deep bite mark on his arm. Nick landed and flip on his feet. He was eyeing the injured ram and readying another attack when WHAM, he was slammed into the floor by the other. He hadn't even had time to get up before he was tossed at the nearby wall, several times, until Judy screamed out, begging them to stop.

"Nick?" she pleaded as she held him to her chest. "Please wake up, Nick..." His eyes opened ever so slightly as he glanced up in a small whine. Like the whimper of crying child. He gave her nose the smallest of licks before his breathing slowed, and his heart stopped. "NO! Wake up, Nick! WAKE UP!"


Just as the words rang through her head, she shot up. The patter of rain could be heard outside, the clouds coating the city in a haze of gray. Judy was sweating, tears in her eyes, her heart racing like mad. She clawed for her phone and ran to her desk. "Please be ok, please be ok..." Judy thought as she hit Nicks speed dial.

~~

What a long day. The string of thefts going through the town were getting a bit ridiculous. Judy had been working late quite a lot to try crack the case, but Nick just couldn't let her strain herself any longer. He had sent her home in hopes she'd get some rest before coming back to work. Nick took it upon himself to work the case solo and let Judy rest for tonight. She was always so gungho about every case.  Even this one, despite the thefts not being of anything overly expensive. Some electronics, silverware, your basic stuff. There was no indication the thief was dangerous, but Judy didn't want to take the chance. Nick agreed, as he had seen plenty of dangerous shady folk in his time. Heh, he might even know the perp they're after from somewhere. Nick shuffled through a couple files before he was interrupted by his phone. Startled he reached for his phone. No animal calls at nearly two in the morning unless something is wrong. "Carrots, you ok?" a worried Nick asked.

Judy: You're ok!

She was crying even harder now, happy to just hear his voice.

Nick: 'course I'm ok, Carrots. What's got you so worked up?

Judy: I had a dream, a-a nightmare. We were back in the museum... we didn't change the formula to blueberries...

Judy explained as best she could through her tears and the sobbing. She'd stopped from time to time, just to ask Nick to talk to her. He didn't mind at all. Anything to stop Carrots from crying. She had gotten to the part where she was having flashbacks of their time together. Hearing her talk so fondly of even their rather rocky beginnings warmed his heart. From booting the baby carriage to the talk at the bridge, Judy had been describing them all.

Judy: and then... you didn't attack. Not me. You laid at my side, nuzzled my hurt leg. You saved me Nick, but...

Before she could continue she was lifted into the air. Startled for but a moment, she knew right away who it was. The comfort of his arms and how he held her was unforgettable. She started to tear up all over again.

Judy: Why... you came all the way home...

Nick scooped her into his arms and sat against the wall near Judys bed, bumped the two paintings that hang there.

HEY! DONT KNOCK AGAINST THE WALLS!

YEAH, JERKS!

Nick: If EITHER of you open your mouths ONE more time tonight, I will personally arrest you BOTH for disturbing the peace. GOT IT?

...

Nick: Goodie. Now go ahead, Carrots. But what?

Judy laid her paw on his, grasping it ever so gently. "You died in my arms."

Nick could feel she was refraining from crying, shaking a bit. "I'm too stubborn to die, ya dumb bunny."

Judy squeezed his paw a little tighter. "It felt so real. I was so scared I lost you. I don't want to ever lose you." she whimpered as she forced herself not to cry. "I just wish this could last forever."

Nick moved his paw from Judys grasp, confusing the bunny. Had she upset him? Maybe he was getting situated? She just wanted to hold his paw, to keep him there as long as she could. Before she could ask what was wrong, a small box was in front of her face.

Judy: W-what's this?

Nick: I've been trying to build up the courage to ask for a month. I don't think there's a better time than right now. This is your forever, Judy.

Judy, shaking, grasped the tiny box. Even for a bunny it was as small as could be.

Judy: You never call me Judy.

Nick: Open it.

The small rabbit lifted the tiny chest-like box's lide. She couldn't help by cry, not now. Looking back at her was the most beautiful thing in the world. A ring, but not just any ring. Her ring. It could have been a key chain ring for all she cared. It was a tiny little ring fit for a bunny, with a little orange carrot gem set in the center.  She spun around, wrapping her arms around Nicks neck, bawling her eyes out.

Nick: I take it that's a yes, right?

Judy pushed his muzzle aside with a grin, still teary eyed. "Of course it's a yes!" she proclaimed as she gave him a peck on the nose.

Nick was doing his best to keep his composure. He didn't want his bunny to see him cry. Not because he felt bad about it. He cried in front of her all the time. Especially during that deer movie where the mom gets iced. That one always gets him. This time though she was already so emotional and he didn't want to get her too worked up. He couldn't stop a couple of tears from getting past him, though.

Judy: Thank you, Nick. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Nick: You'd be a dumb bunny, but without you I'd be a dumb fox.

Judy pulled him down into bed, rolling over and laying against his chest.

Nick: Sleep well, Carrots.

Snuggled together, listening to the rain, the sly fox and the dumb bunny drifted off to sleep. Both happier than either could be without the other, more so than ever.

...

[crying intensifies] "AWW THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED!"

"SHUT UP YOU IDIOT OR THEY'LL ARREST US!"


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Small disclaimer: I know the nighthowlers wouldn't really work like this and that they make you extremely angry, aggressive, and just want to tear shit apart. I figured using the old concept of Nick protecting Judy could work well for a dream or nightmare without changing what ended up happening in the end.