Chapter Eighteen
Agent Finnick

	The world was swimming in a realm of darkness. Things felt familiar somehow, like Nick had done all of this before. More soft beeping somewhere close yet far away. Periodically shadows would pass overhead. Birds flying against the moonless sky, Nick assumed. Then there were voice too. familiar voices that didn't really say anything discernible. More like mumbles in the dark. The strangest yet most pleasant were the soft touches. To his cheek, his head, and even his chest made him feel warm in the cold darkness. The touches were often times associated with the shadows and the voices.  Thankfully, they were all soothing. Nick noticed more than once that there were even kisses. Some to the head, his hands, there was even one to the lips. But at night it was quiet, there was no one around.
	When Nick opened his eyes the room was almost entirely dark. There was a small light in the corner of the room casting just enough orange light in the room to keep if from being pitch black. Another hospital room, Nick gathered when he saw all the devices he was hooked too. How long had he been out? What time was it? Thinking even when it was a little bit made his head hurt.
	The door to the right creaked opened for a moment then closed. Nick didn't see anyone come in. He thought perhaps a doctor got the wrong room but maybe it was someone sneaking in to get him. Nick could hear the beeping of his heart monitor speed up. Quietly he tried to reassure himself that it was only a doctor or a nurse making a mistake on the room. Nick's heart jumped to his throat when he saw a pair of tiny hands grabbing the edge of the bed. Followed by a tiny fox pulled himself up.
	“What are you doing?”
	The sound of Nick's voice caused Finnick to rear back nearly falling off the bed. “You scared the crap outta me, man!”
	“Me? You're the one creeping around on a guy who just woke up from a coma. I thought you were a damn ghost or something.”
	Finnick started laughing resting his hands on his knees to keep from falling over. It wasn't long before Nick joined in, his laughing was more controlled for fear of making his head hurt more. In the moment of blissful humor, Finnick embraced the larger fox giving his back a hard slap. Nick returned the hug with the same enthusiasm.
	“I'm glad you're okay, Nick. We were worried about you, dude.” Finnick sat down on Nick's lap.
	“What happened?”
	“You got the three dart treatment from the baron, you were in a coma for almost a week. My girl, Shii, had an antidote ready for you but the serum had already got into your system. I'm glad it still worked.”
	“Yeah, me too. Wait, what happened to the baron? And Judy. And Honey. Are they okay?”
	“Easy, Nick. You need to calm yourself. The baron's behind bars right now. The ZPD is working closely with the ZIA to compile enough evidence to put him away for a good long while. As for Judy, she's doing good too. She's burning through her time off coming in here to see your lazy ass.”
	Nick chuckled, despite the growing feeling of missing his partner. It wasn't as severe until he mentioned her name, now all of his thoughts were on her. Nick fidgeted with the tape over his IV insertion wishing she was there right now.
	“I'm not surprised. There were times I could almost hear her talking to me.”
	“I wouldn't be surprised. She's been here everyday since you came in, you owe her a lot dude.”
	“I know I do, I hope I'll be able to repay her.”
	“As for Honey? Nobody knows where she's at. She took off right after we busted her dad. She's probably pretty pissed. Not just at you and me but Lavender, her 'girlfriend', is one of my best agents. Fooled the poor girl into falling for her.”
	“That's pretty low, Finnick.”
	“Listen, I'm not proud of what I did. I did my job and my job is to get results. This guy was about to wipe the ZPD off the map.”
	“But why her?”
	“She might've known something. It would have been invaluable, plus it was the only way I could have kept an eye one her...for protection.”
	“Furthermore, why the hell did you rat us out?”
	“I needed a diversion to get my crew in position. It was the only way to get the drop on the baron.”
	Nick's face when cold for a moment as he put a hand on Finnick's shoulder. Finnick glared back at hims as if he knew what was coming. It was a question that Nick had asked himself when he was in the coma. Subconsciously his mind worked out a million responses that the small fox might have.
	“How long have you been an agent and who else was involved?” Nick gripped the side of his head, the pressure slowly building.
	“There were just the six of us. Me, Pearl, Lavender, Bleaker, Barker, and Shii. As for the other question, I've been an agent since before we met.”
	“The whole time? How...how? Were you investigating me?”
	“This may come as a shock but I wasn't investigating you. I was looking for your old man. I thought you'd know where he was. That's why you found me in that dump of a bar. I knew you hung out there.”
	“What? My dad,” Nick scoffed. “My dad's dead, pal, sorry to break it too you.”
	Finnick crossed his arms looking up at nick for a long moment. Nick shook his head and flopped back on his pillows in dismay. Was there anything in his life that wasn't a lie?
	“Oh my god, he's not dead.”
	“Nope. Remember that year I spent in jail. I was actually working on a lead that HQ got on your dad. We found out he's working with an overseas company to bring in new drugs, or weapons, or maybe even both. We don't really know.”
	“Figures. What about you, were you ever my friend?”
	Again Finnick shot Nick a frustrated look. “Nick, yeah I was always your friends. It was an unexpected perk to the job. I knew from the first night we spent in jail together that you didn't know anything about your dad. I stuck around because I liked your style. You had ambition, I was hoping to see some shred of goodness in you. Try to have you join my team, if I only knew that all I needed was hips and legs like Hop-Along, it would have saved me some time. Dude, I've never been prouder of anyone before.”
	“I hope you don't blame me for not hugging you and singing a bromantic love song with you just yet.”
	“I don't expect that, Nick. I don't expect you to forgive me at all. I'm not sorry I deceived you, because in the greater scheme of things. I saved lives, a ton of them. If that cost me my best friend ever, then I think it's worth it. Look inside your self, boy. You feel the same way.”
	Nick didn't say anything, he just looked down and sighed. Finnick reached out and touched the larger fox's shoulder giving it a squeeze. Nick smirked and shook his head slowly.
 	“What a mess we are, huh?”
	“You know, we're not that different after all. Both of us are bad guys with hearts of gold. Ones an agent the other a cop. I smell a sitcom in the near future.”
	Nick laughed, holding back a wave of confused tears. His heart hurt but he could understand where his friend was coming from. If it came down to it, Nick would make the same choices. If the decision was made for the greater good, then he would make it.
	“Finnick, is my dad really alive?”
	“Yeah.”
	“Do you know where he is?”
	“I do but  I can't tell you, at least not yet. I'm working with my superior to get clearance to release that information to you. As soon as I can, I promise I will.”
	“Thank you so much, bro.”
	“No problem. Now, why don't you get some sleep, pal. I'll see you in the morning.”
	“Yeah, nothing like telling the coma patient he needs more sleep.”
	“Listen, butthole. Everyone in Zootopia is asleep except you and me. If you want to stay up all night that's on you, I only suggested it because I know your ass can't get out of this bed.”
	“Hey when you come in tomorrow, will you bring Judy with you, please?”
	“You know I will.”
	Nick slunk down in his bed trying to get cozy. Finnick slipped out of the room closing the door behind him leaving Nick alone with his thoughts.. His mind was racing with everything the small fox had said. Part of him was still angry about everything that happened. All the lies and deceit but it couldn't be helped. It was all in the past now and Finnick was one of Nick's closes friends. Through it all they'd been there for each other. It was inevitable that he'd have to forgive him. That thought made Nick smile.
	Then Nick remembered the box, the ring he'd given to Judy in Tundratown. Did she still have it? There was a chance she lost it in the scuffle with the baron. Nick wanted to call her and ask her if she'd seen it. To ask her if she knew what it meant. Nick told her he was too cowardly to give it to her in person. Finding the strength to ask her to settle for him wasn't easy. But, a smile traced his lips. If Judy really wanted to marry him that would be a dream come true.
	“I miss you, Judy.” Nick whispered letting his eyes grow heavy as sleep took him away to a dream world.

	While Nick slept peacefully he missed the sound of the door opening. A dark figure stepped into the room. The only noises in the room was his soft snoring and the soft bleeping from the heart monitor. The large figure was dressed all in black, a hood pulled up over their head. It stood next to the bed, a gray hand slipped out from its pocket to take Nick's hand. He squirmed but didn't stir from his sleep. With the other hand the figure pulled the hood back so Honey could get a  better look at the sleeping fox. There was a sad look in her amber eyes as she studied her friend's face.
	“Oh Nick, I don't know where I fit in this world anymore. With you being a cop and now Finnick's an agent. Lavender was a lying bitch and now that my dad's gone too. I'm the only one left behind and I have nowhere else to go.”
	“Pie...” Nick mumbled and inhaled sharply, rolling on his side.
	“Yeah, pie indeed my friend. I miss you. I miss the way the three of us use to be. If there was ever a point in my life I wish I could go back to, if there was just one wish I could make. I would wish we could be back there again, in that apartment just the three of us. Loving each other the way we needed to, seeing each other through all the bad thing.”
	Tears welled up in Honey's eyes. “I'll never find a home like that again, will I?”
	“Blue...ber-” Nick rolled onto his back again.
	“Blueberry?” Honey sniffled, a desperate smile spreading across her face.
	Nick lay still for a long time. Honey leaned close touching her lips to his. A soft peck to rekindle a forgotten romance or maybe just to ease the pain in her heart. When she pulled away Nick smiled, a smile so lovely that it spread to Honey's lips as well.
	“Oh Nick.”
	“Judy...” Nick whispered.
	Honey sighed and shook her head. Even though the smile faded the remnants were still there. “I love you, Nick. But I know you're not mine anymore. I guess it's time to be moving on.”
	“I'll miss you...”
	“I'll miss you too, Nick. I love you.”
	“Carrots...”
	“What are they feeding you, you stupid fox? Whatever it is, it's not enough?”
	Honey pulled her hood back up and blew one final kiss at the sleeping fox before slipping back into the hall leaving Nick alone with his dreams.