A.N. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKAy, this took WAAAAAAYYYYYYY too long to get out. Everything is explained in the previous chapter, so go read that. Otherwise, enjoy!

Chapter 10: Clues and Bonds

Clawhauser's POV

Nine days after the startling warehouse discovery, Judy sat in the corner of the window in her apartment looking outside as the cloudy skies rained down gloom, contemplating life when she heard a knock on her door. She walked over to her door and opened it, to find Clawhauser at her door, holding a box of donuts.

"Heyy Judy... I uh... I know you're not feeling alright, but I just wanted to drop these off for you…" Clawhauser said, holding out the box.

"Thanks… Clawhauser…" Judy replied.

"Well, I guess I'll be going then…"

"No, wait!... I..." she sighed "I could use the company, you know, to take my mind off things…"

"Oh, ok then…" Clawhauser said slightly nervous as he walked into Judy's apartment.

Clawhauser sat down on a chair and Judy went back to the window. He waited a few awkward moments before finally speaking.

"So, um... How are you doing?..." Clawhauser immediately regretted asking this question, as tears started flowing down Judy's face.

"Oh, no I'm sorry Judy I- I didn't mean..." He got up a put his paw on Judy's shoulder.

"He was a great guy, I liked him just as much as you. I mean, not like you obviously, you loved him and were getting married, I just-" he sighed, "He deserved better. He deserved you." Suddenly, Judy turned around and hugged him, taking Clawhauser by surprise. He patted her back, not knowing what else to do.

"Thank you Ben," she said wiping away her tears. She laid her head on his cushion like stomach, "I just... we were going to get married and... I love him... so much..." tears started streaming down her face again. Suddenly, a phone started to ring.

"Doh! That'll be mine, hold on a mo'-" Clawhauser said, digging through his pockets. Judy went back to the window as he retrieved his phone from his pocket.

"Yes, hello? Yes, this is him. I mean this is I. Oh... Why? Wait, what?... WHAAT?!" Clawhauser yelled in disbelief. This finally caught the attention of Judy who was staring through the window the entire time.

"Yes! I will, thank you!" Clawhauser said before hanging up.

"What was that?" asked Judy, hoping for the best but expecting the worse.

"The DNA tests from the mangled fox we found! There's no mistaking it, it isn't Nick! He's alive!" Clawhauser said with a big smile on his face.
Judy jumped up and kissed him on his cheek causing him to blush, "OH MY GOD I KNEW IT! THANK YOU CLAWHAUSER!" she yelled excitedly before grabbing her jacket and running out the door.

Nick's POV

Nick woke suddenly, to a bright light shining in his face. He tried to move his arms to block the light but found himself restrained. He looked down at his body to find his wrists, ankles, and waist held to the hospital bed by several hospital like leather and velcro restraints. He searched the room and found himself in a sort of hospital and laboratory room fusion. After looking around a bit, he went back to trying to escape his restraints, but to no avail. He went back to scanning the room and saw a camera pointed right at him.
"Hey! HEY! HELLO?! LET ME OUT OUT OF HERE! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! LET ME-" He stopped screaming as he heard footsteps coming closer to his room. The door opened to reveal an attractive but depressed looking vixen, wearing a revealing nurse outfit and a strange collar around her neck. She walked over to a table next to NIck's bed with an assortment of tools and started preparing something.

"Hey, what are you doing? What's that?" The vixen didn't reply but simply continued to prepare her tools.
"Look, I don't know what's going on, but we need to get out of here! Dawn Bellwether, she has something planned, I-" Nick was interrupted by the vixen,
"I can't help you," she stated.

"Why not? Don't you understand what she's going to do, what she's done before?! She-" Nick was cut off by the vixen, as she repeated herself.
"I can't help you."

Nick sighed as he laid back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling.
"What's your name?" he asked the vixen. She hesitated for a moment before continuing her business.
"Come on, you have me tied to your bed and you haven't even told me your name yet? What kind of a date is this?" he said jokingly before feeling a pang of guilt for saying that behind Judy's back. After waiting a moment, he spoke again.
"My name's Nick. Nicholas P. Wilde," he said, trying to get the vixen to say something. After a while, she finally spoke.
"Jess…"
"What?" Nick said looking over at her.
"My name's Jess… Jessica Frostfang…" she said looking at Nick shyly.

"Nice to meet you Jess." Nick said, grinning, which returned a small, shy smile from the vixen

Judy's POV

"The body belonged to Martin Sholtz, a fox not unlike Nick in bodily appearance. However, because his face was mauled off by some unknown mammal, we could not be sure until we got the DNA tests back." said the CSI otter to Judy, "He was reported missing about a week ago by his wife after he left work at 7:45 PM 3 days previously but didn't return home.

"Thank you Maria," Judy replied to the otter, "was there any other belongings found with the body other than his clothes?"
"Just some cash and an envelope." The CSI replied.
"Alright, thank you. I'm going to alert his wife now." Judy said, gathering her things.
"One more thing Judy," the CSI said, stopping her before she could leave, "The envelope is titled to a 'Judy,' I suggest you check it out."
"Oh… thank you, I will." Judy said with a confused frown before walking out of the building.

A.N. WHOOO BABY, does it feel good to be back! I actually had a lot of fun writing this chapter, and I'm really sorry for keeping you guys waiting until now. Hopefully, I can continue this inspiration streak until I finish the story.

So, on another note, where is Nick being held? Will his new vixen friend help him escape? What relationship will form between the two? And what is in the note addressed to Judy?

FIND OUT in the next chapter!

Peace!

(P.S. Depending on how this story progresses, would you like to see some Nick x Jess and Judy x Jack shipping? I originally started this out as a Nick x Judy story, but with a 2 year break and some new ideas flowing, I might change it to a Nick x Jess and Judy x Jack story. What do you guys think/want? Please give me feedback on the chapter overall, it helps me write for the next few chaps!)