Chapter Text
Fox Pox: A Nick-is-Sick Story
Chapter 1: Black Goo
"It was great meeting you, Officer Wilde," the vixen smiled as she leaned to take her kit's paw.
"Bye Officer Wilde!" the nine year-old fox kit waved. "When I grow up, I'm gonna be just like you!" he promised with all his heart. "Heck-choo!" He sneezed across the picnic table and scrubbed his nose with his sleeve in a way only a child could. His mother smiled apologetically, and they were away. Nick scrubbed his snot-speckled paw on his pants leg. Gross. Ah well.
"See you in ten or fifteen years, kiddo," Nick smirked a little when he turned to wave one more time. Nick sipped his coffee idly, looking out over the community event he'd become a part of (been drafted into). Coffee With Cops was meant to be a low stakes, low stress event for members of the community to come and socialize with members of the ZPD. After all, it wasn't only when crimes were happening that you should interact with public servants. And since Nick was the only fox police officer, he was of course a novelty that had to be shown off. At least, that's how he felt it was.
All the long tables set up around the pavilion had little banners and streamers, lots of seating, and plenty of coffee and donuts for all. PTA's from local schools, a few community leaders, and others had banded together to make this happen roughly every three months or so as best they could-- sometimes they missed a month or two, but with budgeting who was counting anyway.
Nick had done his best to show up freshly groomed, uniform clean and with his most winning (nonthreatening, close-lipped predator) smile at the ready. The red fox smiled at passersby, entertained whatever children came up to him, and occasionally got up to refill his coffee cup to keep with the theming. He could handle this, no sweat.
Officer Fangmeyer the tiger seemed uncomfortable around civilians, doing his best to smile without his fangs but really struggling to do so. Officer Rhinowitz the rhino was being used as a jungle gym by no less than a dozen children and had sort of given up on life, sitting there while he was being climbed on and occasionally sipping his coffee. Officer Delgato the lion was surrounded by no less than four lionesses who doted on his every word while he charmed them with his natural charisma—show off. Officer Snarlov the white wolf looked like he wanted to shoot himself, surrounded by PTA members that were gossiping about this and that. Nick smirked a little. His ZPD family was nothing if not varied and interesting.
As the event was winding down in the late afternoon, it was finally time to return to the ZPD building. Nick couldn't believe he got paid to do that. Being the foxy face of the ZPD for a day? Charming the locals? Nice. He'd have to brag to Hopps that he'd sat at a picnic table all day and been his ever-smooth self, and hadn't done a lick of paperwork since sun-up.
Sweating a little, he scrubbed at his brow as he came into the air-conditioning. He paused in the atrium, just enjoying the air exchange. Whew, maybe sitting under the summer sun all day hadn't been the best idea. He didn't want his handsome red fur to get bleached or something. Heading into the office area he lifted a paw at any who greeted him, and found his partner at her desk busily typing.
"I hope that's not tomorrow's work you're getting ahead at, Hopps," he leaned on the cubicle half wall with his most charming smile. "That would defeat the purpose of, uh, what's our Partners in Crisis therapist call it? Pacing ourselves?"
"Pacing ourselves so our willpower doesn't outstrip our physical workload," Judy said automatically, still typing. "And it's-- maybe some of tomorrow's work. Just a little."
"Oh lookit that, five o'clock already!" Nick pointed. "Stop what you're doing and step away from the keyboard slowly!" he made a finger-gun at her with both hands. Judy chuckled and mock surrendered with both paws up. Shaking her head and saving her work, the grey rabbit click-clicked out of her reports and told the computer to shut down for the day. "I know a taco truck with our name on it!" Nick made a you-and-me gesture with his thumb.
"Tacos? " Judy said, hopping down from her desk chair and stretching her back out as best she could. "Isn't that pred food?"
"First of all, that's speciest. Secondly, I found a nice chain one that has fish ones and mushroom-and-pepper ones. I bet if you ask nicely, they'll have some timothy grass ones for you'uuuu!" Nick teased with a reassuring, con-mammal smile. Judy rolled her eyes. Speciest. Just a little bit speciest. Both of them were guilty. Ah well. "You'll like it, I promise." he wiped the sweat from his brow again, energy level flagging a bit. "I'm ready to get outta here, though, whew..." he said with some effort, blinking a few times. "Too much coffee and not enough real food is gonna make me drop."
"It's gonna make you poop," Judy promised him. "Why do you think I skipped it this time around?"
"Oh-ho'h? Please tell me you have a story for this," Nick grinned. "And if not you someone that saw you get sick!"
"Why exactly would that be a good story?" Judy punched his shoulder as they made their way to the locker room area.
"Because poop jokes are hilarious! You're never sick!" Nick said, walking a little diagonally. Wow, had it always been this hot in here? Maybe it was the summertime seeping into the building. Their AC was usually so good there at the ZPD.
"Gross," Judy snickered with a roll of her eyes, opening her locker for her civilian clothes. "Meet back in five." She said, ready to head into the ladies locker room area. Nick seemed frozen in place, hunched at his locker, holding himself up with one paw. His breathing was a heavy. "Hey Nick, staring at it isn't gonna make the combination lock turn!" she moved about so she could see around him. He looked pale. "Nick?" she frowned. Even as she watched, a few droplets of sweat climbed down Nick's face, down his muzzle, and dripped off his chin. He was squinting at nothing, indecisive. "Are you okay?"
"Carrots, I don't-- I don't feel so good," Nick suddenly wavered on the spot, reaching to hold his head and brow. He was so hot, all of a sudden. So hot. "Judy," he called loudly like she wasn't a few paces away from him. "Judy, I don't--!" He suddenly veered to one side and vomited violently across the tile.
"Whoa!" Judy hopped backward in horror as the fox fell to his side, clutching at himself. He started gagging animatedly, tail tucking. "Nick?! Nick!" she dropped her things and rushed to his side to cradle him.
"Whuh-luh'hhhh..." was all Nick could seem to manage, ears turning backward in distress. He had double vision.
First aid training from the academy jumping to the forefront, Judy seized his muzzle and forced it to one side so he wouldn't choke himself on his own sickness. Nick's legs bicycle'd weakly. "Help! Someone help!" Judy cried. Nick vomited again, a black sludge that was far too dark to be just coffee and donuts from the event today. "Th-th-that's it, that's it, Nick. Just get it all out, you'll be okay! You'll be okay, I promise!" she cradled his torso across her lap, making sure he had a clear path to the floor from his maw. "SOME-MAMMAL HELP US!" she screamed.
The hall filled with police officers and staff in seconds. Nick was as pale as a sheet, shaking like a leaf, black sludge dripping from his maw and coloring his teeth.. Bogo emerged from his office in a split moment. "Get paramedics in here!" he pointed to a random officer, who ran to the nearest wall-mounted phone. Thankfully the ZPD was self-contained enough to have medical staff on call for injuries or-- whatever this was. "Back up, back up everyone!" The old water buffalo went into crowd-control mode. "This is a bio-hazard, back up I said!"
"What is that?!"
"What's the matter with him?!"
Nick stared blearily at the floor tiles, black gunk smeared on his muzzle. He was soaked with sweat, shaking all over. "Judy...?" He whimpered aloud. "Judy help!" He let out a moan before the weight of his own head made him hang weakly down. The world tilted and he fell into darkness as the paramedics stampeded into view, parting the crowd.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Nick awoke in a hospital bed, in Zootopia General. The clock read 11:19pm. Judy was curled up in a chair that was far too big for her, poking idly at her phone. She sensed movement and stood. "H'oh Nick! You're awake! You gave me such a scare!" she pocketed her phone and rushed to take his paw. The red fox mouthed something, but no words came out. He blink-blinked and tried again. He touched his throat, plastic hospital bracelet scratching his neck a little.
"Heyyy, looks like the anti-inflammatories took nicely. Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Wilde," a pleasant beaver in doctor's attire came in, clipboard at the ready. "Having trouble speaking, I wager?"
Nick nodded.
"Doctor Leathertail, what's the matter with him? He just pitched over and puked all over everything and passed out," Judy said, holding his limp paw with both of hers.
"Well we just got his vomit, mouth swab and blood sample back. It's a pretty stark case of Fox Pox, Officer Hopps." he smiled as pleasantly as he could. "Let me guess, you missed them as a kit?" He asked Nick. The doctor's knowing smile was not unkind. Nick nodded once, mute. "Yes, it can be a lot worse in adults than it is in children. You're in for a rough couple'a days, unfortunately. Maybe a week or two at most." The doctor flipped a few pages, scratching a couple of things down. Setting the clipboard aside, he came close and rubbed Nick's fur the wrong way a few times, parting it so he could get to the skin. "Ah yes, there we are." Under Nick's fur was a vast network of little red spots, welts and raised indents. "That's gonna turn bad in the next day or two, this is just the calm before the storm."
Judy leaned to see, then her paw jumped to her mouth. "Should I be wearing a mask or something?!" She gasped in horror.
"Oh no, its quite safe," Doctor Leathertail let go of Nick to scratch into his clipboard a bit more. "It's only carried by-- and suffered by-- foxes," He assured her. "You can't even carry it if he coughs all over you. The virus evolved exclusively to vulpes-vulpes. Foxes, that is!" He gestured to Nick, who was said vulpes-vulpes. Judy slowly lowered her paw, returning to Nick's side rather sheepishly. Nick did not look amused, touching his throat this way and that.
"What do we do? Is there medicine, or...?"
"Unfortunately, no," the doctor shook his head. "Fox Pox is no different than the flu or the common cold. Its always changing and evolving. No one's been able to stamp it out entirely. We can only guess at what strain will pop up every school year, for small children. We can vaccinate and cross our claws, but not much more than that." Judy wilted at his words. "Why, when I was in elementary school, I remember all the fox moms would throw Fox Pox parties to get their children infected all at once, then buckle down for a week or two while the fox kits innoculated each other all at the same time."
"On purpose?! That's barbaric!" Judy gaped at him in horror.
"Very!" Doctor Leathertail agreed, nodding with a chuckle. "Anyway. It seems that when Mister Wilde signed up for the ZPD he only listed you as his emergency contact. When he's ready to exit the hospital, do you have reliable transport to get him home without infecting any other foxes?"
"I have-- our cruiser, yeah," Judy knew she would probably eat some paperwork and get a scolding for using her police cruiser for such a thing, but-- it was for a good cause. She looked over at Nick with a softer expression. "He didn't list any family?" Nick looked away even as she said it, ears splayed uncomfortably.
"Afraid not. His next of kin was listed as deceased," the Doctor flipped a few pages to double-check. "Marian Wilde. No siblings or other traces the hospital could find. I'm afraid you're all he has."
"That's not an afraid thing to have," Judy said, fists resolutely on her hips. "I'm his ZPD partner. In sickness and in health!" Nick and the doctor exchanged a glance. Well, when she put it that way... Nick tried mouthing words a few more times, but not a single sound came out.
"Now, I've got some general help packets, some health packets, a packet of what to expect, and some things for you to sign," Doctor Leathertail weighed Judy down with paperwork and a singular pen. "Until his symptoms are completely gone, he is not to be out in public. Understand?"
"Er-yes," Judy was busily signing release forms, medical NDAs and the like, head spinning a little.
"Again: Do not, under any circumstance, expose Mister Wilde to another fox while he is like this," The doctor reiterated, lifting a finger as he spoke.
"Yes, Doctor," Judy nodded obediently.
"Alright, well, you are free to go. I'll send a nurse with a wheelchair, hospital policy, and you get a nice long vacation at home, Mister Wilde!" The Doctor actually bowed a little. "Good luck!" Nick silently mouthed something foul, folding his arms and shivering.
It took ten minutes to get Nick wheeled out of Zootopia General, twenty minutes to get to his apartment in their ZPD cruiser, and only a few moments to paw through his things to get his key.
The miserable fox stood there, hunched over, shivering, fumbling. Judy reached and took his paw in hers, guiding it to the keyslot to get his door unlocked. Nick huffed-- the only sound he could seem to make, waddling weakly inside. He stopped just inside the doorway, turning around to face her. He looked--- well--- humiliated. She blinked, tilting her head a little, ears perks. He looked sweaty and disheveled and weak. His tail was tucked and his brow was drawn together with effort. He made a little shoo-shoo motion with one paw at Judy, clutching the thin hospital blanket around himself. Even as he did so, a line of snot emerged from his muzzle.
"Ohhh, no. I don't think so, Nick," Judy slipped past him and into the apartment. "You literally have the plague of your species. I'm not going anywhere. I already put in my PTO with Bogo and he's agreed; We're sweating this out together." Nick mutely face-palmed, shoulders rising and falling in a silent sigh. "I know, I know, rabbit in a fox's den, you never invite me over-- but this is an emergency. You literally collapsed at work." Nick made a shoo-shoo motion at her, this time with both paws. His blanket fell around his ankles and he clutched at himself, shivering. "I said no," she scowled at him, bending to get it and throw it around his shoulders again. He sneezed, green gunk spraying spectacularly. Judy flailed a little, scrubbing at herself, but she would not be turned away. "I'm one of hundreds of siblings. I know how to take care of someone that's sick, don't worry!"
Great. A week with Hopps in his den. Sick and weak. Stupid Fox Pox. Nick walked in an unsteady path, flopping onto the couch in front of his smart TV. He pulled his hospital blanket tight around himself and sat there to shake. Judy stood there in the doorway, looking a little surprised he'd given up so easily. She perked her long bunny ears, looking around curiously, then remembered to shut the door and lock it. He smirked just a little, wondering how long it would take her to either run away screaming, or recall she'd brought no supplies for herself for her week-long stay. This line of thought eventually overheated him a little and he parted his blankets a bit, slumping backward into the couch. He slouched, staring at the blank screen. The clock read past midnight.
"Its uhm, it's probably past every-mammal's bedtime," Judy tried, coming across the room to him. She kicked a pizza box and an empty french fry box on her way there. "I know foxes are nocturnal, but I'm gonna get you to bed, okay?" Pulling on the blanket and not on him, she tugged him along and down the stubby hall to the bedroom. The smell of tod rocked her little bunny senses. Nick was nothing if not vigilant with his musk-mask, deoderent and such in the work place, but here-- wow, she could REALLY tell a fox lived here. A male fox. A very healthy male fox. A very healthy, male--! She crushed that line of thinking quickly. Whew, when had he done the sheets of his bed last? Didn't he have a washer and dryer in this dump? No wait. Not her business. Not her time to judge him. Nick sprawled into the bed, slowly curled up in a ball and shivered. Taking several trips, Judy found a trashcan in case he puked, a big cup for ice water, and a box of tissues. Putting it all on the bedside table, she pulled at the bizarre rat's nest of blankets and towels that was Nick's bed. Very strange--- don't judge, don't judge, he could live how he wanted, she reminded herself. She got into the closet and shoved some things around until she found a winter blanket or two. She unfurled them and threw them atop the mighty heap. The extra weight and warmth seemed to please him. Only his nose and eyes and ears were sticking out. "Alright, try to sl---!" the red fox's eyes were already closed. Tilting his head back, his maw was splayed open to display all his teeth and his tongue was lolled out onto the pillow, breathing loudly. Judy's brow knitted with worry. She clambered up onto the bed to get a better look at him. His brow was moist. Leaning over him very, very carefully, she used thumb and forefinger to at least rest his tongue in his mouth so it wouldn't dry out. She pricked herself on one of his fangs, yelping a little. Her finger went into her mouth and she tasted blood. "Okay, you sleep," she leaned and kissed his sweaty forehead without thinking, then slapped a paw over her mouth. She'd-- she'd not meant to do that. That didn't count. That didn't mean anything. Quickly retreating, she turned off the light and closed the door. Nick was dead to the world for the night. Judy knew she was going to hell for sure-- there he was practically dying of illness and all she could think of was those pointed fangs ripping off her ZPD uniform. Straight to Hell, all the way to the bottom.
THE NEXT DAY...
Nature's call urgently woke Nick and he clutched at himself in pain. Dripping all over with sweat and rolling out of bed, he immediately started shivering as soon as he was out from under the six or eight blankets he'd burrowed under. Everything was sweat-stained. He hobbled desperately into the bathroom, closing the door harder than he meant to. Everything came rushing out faster than he meant, very graphically. God this was bad. His body was a toxic waste dump, and it showed. He had to flush several times, never sure when he was done until minutes went by with nothing else happening. No wonder his mother had kept him away from those stupid "Fox Pox parties" as a kid. Getting him sick on purpose just hadn't set right with her, and she'd kept him safe like a good mother should. He prayed for mercy to his deceased mother, holding his sides.
After he'd cleaned and steadied himself a bit, he re-emerged to find Judy waiting for him. He blink-blinked, mouthing words he had no voice for. "Good morning, sleepy fox! Its almost afternoon, actually!" she said, ever the brilliant ray of sunshine. His head rotated a bit, towards the wall clock. 11:47?am! He'd slept almost twelve hours. "I went back to my place for a few essentials, and stopped at the corner store for a few things too. Are ya hungry?"
Nick made a limp-wristed shooing motion with both paws.
"Nope, sorry. You're stuck with me," Judy insisted, shaking a finger at him. He despised that gesture. Without warning or ceremony, the fox grabbed the collar of her shirt, walked past her and started dragging. "Hey! Hey quit that!" she said, digging her feet into the rug. They struggled back and forth. He was twice her size, he could toss her out easily-- except he couldn't. She stubbornly fought him, and his whole frame was shaking with effort. "Hey hey hey hey!" Her shirt was slipping this way and that, revealing her firm middriff just a bit. She swat-swatted his paws and he let go to pant animatedly. Was he so weak he couldn't get someone half his size out of his apartment?! He cursed himself, palms on his knees to pant. There was a short silence. She watched him wheeze for a bit, interlocking her fingers at her waist as her ears went down and back. "Nick, I-- I don't think you should be alone right now." she said softly. He looked at her pathetically, dark under the eyes.. "Yeah you could lay in bed and sweat for a week, but you can't just-- just-- stew in your own germs. You won't get better." Her eyes cast themselves down and to one side, and she held one elbow with the arm opposite. Nick regarded her a little suspiciously, then gestured. "Yes its your apartment and its not the best circumstance, but-- w-well, I wanna be here for you," her lip quivered a little.
Nick gestured at himself, then the apartment.
"Yes, foxes are solitary," Judy said, smiling a little bitterly at how well she was understanding even his basic hand motions. "But bunnies are communal. And you're--- you're my fluffle," she gave him big soft purple eyes of pleading.
Nick flinched visibly, shot right through the heart.
Judy watched him sag in surrender, male pride blown to smitherines. "Just let me, uhm," she turned this way and that. "Oh yeah, your phone! You can text me, even if we're in the same room. That way you can use your words if you need to." She found it in the little bag of effects the hospital had given him. "Now then! You get settled, and I will see about some food. You haven't eaten in over twelve hours, and you need to get your strength up!" She watched him settle onto the couch to paw through the bag of items. His police uniform was in there too, stained black with sick. He plucked his phone and badge out of the bag, then tossed the rest into a corner. That--- looked a little too easy for him to do. No wonder his place was a mess, if he just threw things places and left them there. Judy went into the tiny closet-sized pantry to see what sort of food Nick kept around. She was greeted by a little stack of ramen noodle squares, two jars of peanut butter, and some olive oil. "Oh wow," Judy said, brow knitting in concern. She leaned into the fridge instead. Stale bread, four take-out boxes, and four boxes of canned soda. "Yikes," she muttered to herself. Yeah, he was not gonna survive on his own like this, he didn't have any food! Her eyes wandered. Messy living habits aside, this place really needed a woman's touch. Years of watching her mother care for others slowly flooded to the forefront. Judy had no children of her own, but she did have a warren mother's instincts like any other rabbit-- and this place needed help. A lot of help. She got her phone out to start a grocery list. Then she paused. Then she Zoogled:
What do healthy foxes eat?
Insects, eggs, fruits, berries, and pred-safe societal staples like fish, Zoogle told her helpfully. She stole a glance at Nick while he pawed about on his phone, shivering. Oh right. Getting back into Nick's bedroom (Wow that was a strong tod smell!), she came out with his blankets. He only protested a little while she swaddled him up again and put a pillow behind his head. He was clearly embarrassed, so she didn't offer any quips or jokes-- but he didn't fight her either. He knew he was in rough shape. She put the TV remote in his paw, then went back to her list-making. After a time he thankfully started flipping channels and settled on a program:
"In the criminal justice system, predator-on-prey offenses are considered especially heinous," said the TV. "In Zootopia, the detectives who investigate these felonies are members of an elite squad known as the special vixens unit. These are their stories."
Judy peeked over the lip of the refrigerator door as a very busty vixen swept onto the screen, bespectacled and holding a larger-than-life firearm. She arched an eyebrow, which caught Nick's eye. He offered the patented triple-eyebrow-waggle. She rolled her eyes, smirking. Tods.
END OF PART 1