It has been about a week since the fiasco and Nick was healing much faster than he (or the ER doctor) expected him to, especially considering his injuries (and his shitty luck).

Nick had absolutely no doubts that it was all thanks to his overly dedicated bunny - and he couldn't be more grateful at getting to have pretty much all of Judy's attention on him.

His occasional whining over the past five days wasn't all warranted, the deep aches and the itch caused by the healing cuts and burns were more of an annoyance than true pain. And well, Nick wouldn't be himself if he wasn't a least a little bit dramatic. Sure, maybe he played the sympathy card juuuuust a tad bit more than should be acceptable (he's a fox, always pushing the boundaries), but even Nick knew when to stop.

For instance, he knew he needed to suck it up and be a male after waking up in the middle of the night to his best bunny whimpering in her sleep, trapped in a nightmare…

Nick felt guilt pull at him. The next morning, Nick carefully caught one of Judy's paws and thanked her for taking care of him, and absentmindedly caressed her wrist with his larger, padded thumb... she nearly burst into tears on the spot.

Nick felt all warm with affection, and was about to pull her into a hug (maybe sneak a cuddle) until she suddenly lunged at him and started patting him down like he was wearing a wire to blackmail her later.

Okay, okay - so he did that once… or twice… maybe a few times, he'll concede - but it was with the damn ridiculous carrot pen. It was their 'thing'.

Actually… Nick was starting to hope that one day soon they will get to be a 'thing'. Yea, all the time they've spent together in Nick's makeshift home the past few days has only encouraged him to pursue his best friend romantically.

Now he just has to make a move… and at some point, let Judy in on it.

Phoebe sighs and drops her head onto the desk in front of her, earning a sympathetic grimace from her partner through a mouthful of doughnut. She's contemplated eating herself into a food coma just to deal with the tantrum she new was coming her way.

During Nick and Judy's absence from the ZPD, their fellow officers were hard at work investigating the scene of the crime and putting a notice out on the criminal raccoon. Needless to say, however - they didn't get very far. Other than the makings of the IED, little else could be found at what was left of the scene. Judy herself had even revisited the scene, taking photos and texting back-and-forth with her partner. However, she didn't stick around for long before she was hopping back to her bedridden partner's side.

Well. Not-so-bedridden anymore. In face, Officer Wilde was due back at work today - cleared for duty.

For desk duty.

And worse yet, Officer Hopps was being assigned a beat that'll take her around the areas they've received some intel about - rumors stating that some gang members frequenting a new 'establishment' in that area.

With another partner.

That's not Nick.

Ben had sympathized (and then laughed raucously) about her misfortune of receiving the wonderful job of informing the most popular (and tight knit) dynamic duo that they'd be split up for the next week - a one week sentence that she knows will more than likely turn into a two week deal, because the fox officer will no-doubt piss off the boss due to proximity alone. There will be too many opportunities for Nick to irritate the boss, and while not all stereotypes about foxes are true - in Nick's case, this one is.

"Oh my god, stop sighing. You're spoiling the donuts, which shouldn't be possible - but you are."

The floppy-eared bunny huffs out a laugh before yawning - masking her intent to steal one of the pink-sprinkled donuts off Clawhauser's paper plate with an exaggerated stretch. By the time the cheetah notices, the donut is successfully acquired and half-eaten. Phoebe almost chokes herself holding back a laugh at the affronted look on her bestie's face.

"You are lucky you're cute, bun-bun."

Phoebe rolls her eyes - no matter how many times she's told him not to call bunnies cute, he always 'forgets'. So she doesn't take his bait; instead, she chooses to enjoy the sprinkled donut as she notices a certain grey, amethyst-eyed bunny skipping across the lobby ahead of her fox partner and his friend trailing behind her.

Before the rabbit can get a word out, the cheetah gets off his seat and bids her a cheery 'farewell' - "And this is when I take my break - have fun!"

He's so not getting donuts tomorrow. She'll intercept them and throw them in the dumpster - or eat them herself, even if it puts her in a coma for days. She'll get her revenge!

"Good morning Officer Thianta! Anything new while we were out?" Judy loudly greats from the floor in front of the large desk.

Phoebe swallows her donut bite, luxuriating in the next two seconds of quiet before she delivers them the 'bad news'.

Because yea… their case on Gassy had been reassigned to another team. And while she's not looking forward to telling the fox that he's chained to his desk for a week, she's definitely not looking forward to telling both of them (especially Judy) that one of their cases had been reassigned. The last time this happened, Judy nearly lost her mind. Her and Delgado still aren't on speaking terms to this day.

"Good morning - I see you have your partner with you today. Welcome back, Officer Wilde."

The fox officer who just stepped up behind his partner smiles lazily and shoots her a wink and a salute. "Good to be back, Miss Thianta - I trust that no one cried too much in my absence?"

"No. But… I have a feeling you'll be making them all cry this week, because Bogo's got you on the desk until further notice." After it's out of her mouth, Phoebe grimaces. She could delivered the news a bit more delicately - too late now.

If she didn't already have drooping ears, they'd be drooping now from the look on the fox officer's face and strained silence. Judy recovers before her partner.

"What?! Why? The doctor said he has a pass to go back on duty! Albeit, he said that Nick should 'take it easy', but he's cleared him for routine canvases and patrol -"

"Maybe Cheif Bogo didn't get my full report from the doc?"

"He got the documents from the doctor's - he's still got you on desk duty."

Nick grimaces and Judy frowns. Huh. Definitely better reactions than she'd originally anticipated. Either Nick's more tired than he's letting on, or a part of him already knew this might happen.

"Sorry 'bout that, Carrots. Looks like it'll be a boring week for us -"

Before Phoebe can get a word in, Nick's friend, Finnick, beats her to it, "Nick, the bunny cop only said you were on desk duty. Not… Judy."

"But -"

To her surprise, Judy turns to grin cheekily up at Nick. "Yea. Desk duty for you."

"So you get to go out and hit the pavement looking for Gassy and I'm supposed to sit and look pretty at my desk?"

"You'd just be sitting and 'looking pretty' in the car most of the day anyways - your desk should be more comfortable." The smaller fox snarks - the deep voice still gets to Phoebe sometimes. Despite herself she smiles.

Judy fights back a smile and nudges her friend's arm, "Yea - and you could, you know… actually get some of that backlog of paperwork done from our last three cases."

Nick glares down at his partner, "I thought you finished them?" Judy just grins back up at the fox officer, feigning innocence and playing the 'cute' card. Sly lady, Phoebe smirks because unfortunately, this part of the news, Judy's not gunna like.

"Actually Judy, Bogo has reassigned the case file for that… night. You and Nick are no longer on it. He's got a new assignment lined up for you, and you'll be working with Officer Fangmire."

Judy gasps, and simultaneously both foxes step away from the surprised rabbit officer and cover their ears.

"WHAT?!"

Phoebe blinks, thankful for her deafness and that she had the foresight to turn down her aids before she came in this morning, if the pained looks of the wolves and foxes in the vicinity are anything to go by.

The next few minutes are a blur of too many words and a frantic exchange of files before she's watching her grey furred counterpart marching off towards the Chief's office, her fox partner reluctantly trailing behind her.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to how quick that bunny flips her mood." Finnick drawls, flicking his amber eyes up at her. Phoebe smirks down at her newest drinking buddy - not that he's aware of this yet.

"Well, see ya cottontail." The fennec goes to turn towards the exit and he's barely taken a few steps before she suddenly remembers something.

"Wait!" Phoebe winces and feels her cheeks blush in embarrassment at the flinch from the fox.

"What? Does the boss still wanna see me?" Phoebe waves a hand in dismissal. "Not today, no." She can't help but smirk when he gives her an expectant look. She can't suppress her excitement - this was something she was looking forward to today (or whenever the fennec showed up) pulls open a drawer in her desk before pulling out a folded piece of lined paper. She then waves it in the air like she's gotten the winning ticket and is flaunting it.

"You might want this." Phoebe grins at the surprised but hesitant and suspicious look on the shorter fox's face as he scrunches his nose after grabbing the paper.

"And… what is this?" He asks in a suspicious tone - suspicious enough that Phoebe can't help but roll her eyes at the ridiculousness of it.

"If you must know, it's a note from a certain winter fennec who'd like to hear from you sometime soon."

"Oh my gawd - that look is adorable." Phoebe squeals happily inside, not wanting to frighten off the poor guy - he looks so lost and also like he might just tip over if she teased him. "Yea - so, you know… read that when you get the chance… like as soon as you are out of here."

She tries so hard not to laugh at the way he blinks owlishly up at her, and it takes her waving her paw at him in goodbye before he mimics the action slowly.

His daze is so cute and she has the impulse to give him a squealing hug and ohmygosh is this what Clawhauser feels all the time? "Goodbye, Finnick. See you later." She coos at him, and it still takes him a little bit to get the memo that that is his cue to leave.

"Uh. Yea." The fennec finally looks behind him and notices that a line is starting to form. He looks back up at her and gives her a curt nod and a gruff 'bye' before turning on his heel to quickly leave the precinct.

Phoebe sighs as she notices the line starting to get a little longer.

"Hey bun -"

Before Clawhauser finishes his greeting Phoebe has already jumped down from her seat and is making her way towards the breakroom. "SorryI'mgoingonmybreaknow BYE!"

Ben blinks at the retreating bunny's back for a moment before an irritated elephant clears his throat in annoyance to get his attention.

He guesses he deserves this.