"Strong "

She felt like giving up. No, she already gave up. She hugged her knees looking out the window from the top floor of an abandoned apart-itat. She stared at the small police badge in her paws. Her thumb glided across its bumpy frame. She didn't deserve this badge. She felt like a failure, a loser, just a bunny at the bottom of the food chain. She had lost everything. How did she ever think she could find that missing mammal?

Her ears perked from hearing soft footsteps behind her. Her paws grasped against her badge, hiding it.

"Go away." She said with a low voice. The footsteps stopped.

Nick's ears and eyes were down in concern. Judy had her back towards him, hugging her knees with her face buried in her legs. He sighed loosening his tie and putting on a smile he walked up to her again.

"Come on Whiskers!" He exclaimed loudly. "Get that detective mind going! Let's go and look for clues, interrogate some animals! Play with that taser!" He grabbed her shoulder.

"Let go of me!" She wrenched her shoulder away making him flinch, retracting his paw back. She whirled at him, her eyes glossing over as she spoke. "Just leave me alone! It's over! I'm not a detective anymore!"

She threw her badge at him, hitting him in the chest before falling to the floorboards. His eyes widened from seeing her precious badge, that she regarded with honors, now on the filthy floor like garbage. Judy turned away from him burying her face back on her knees. He gingerly reached down to the little badge, picking it up carefully.

He rubbed against the gold metal, dusting it off before taking a seat beside her.

"You know..." He started slowly. "I thought you were doing a real good job."

"What part of "go away" do you not understand?!" She cried, lifting her head back up. This time with hot tears running down her cheeks. His breath caught.

"Just leave. Me. Alone!"

She shoved him back harshly but instead of him leaving, he continued to stay where he was. His eyes soften and put his paws out to her. She cringed and shoved him again and again. and again. He ignored her attacks as he continued to lean in with his arms out. Judy let out a sudden sob, her hits lessening until her paws laid lazily on his chest. He gently wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close making her weep onto his shirt.

"It's okay, Whiskers...it's okay, everything is going to be fine."

"No it's not-" she began with her voice crack. "I'm a failure, what was I thinking when I joined?!" He bit his lip refusing to say anything. He patted the top of her head, knowing that is all he can do.

"I mean, a little bunny like me?...they were right for making me a meter maid. I really

can't do anything-I was never meant to be an officer." She sobbed ever harder. Nick let out a sigh, unsure of what to do. With his eyes towards the city, his mouth began to move.

"I met animals who told me I was nothing too." Judy immediately went quiet. "Animals told me all sorts of stuff, "you're vermin"..."your a scavenger"..."your nothing but a rat"..."stupid", "naive", "nothing"...and it hurt because it was true, in some ways."

She pulled away looking at him straight on. "No! You're nothing like that!" She argued with a hint of anger. He gave her a glance, letting out a sniff.

"Judy-what I'm I?"

She shook her head. "But that's not "who" you are! That is just stupid stereotypes!"

He smiled and touched his nose. "Exactly." He grabbed her shoulders, their eyes locking.

"Look at you, Judy...look at what you already accomplished, you're not a weak, cute, little bunny. Do you really want to give up? Don't you want to prove to these ignorant animals what you are?"

She blinked the last remaining tears cascading down. "Yes-" her eyes narrowed. "Yes! I won't give up! Not when I am close!"

"That's my bunny!" He grinned. They both stood up simultaneously, the tears and melancholy gone. She put out her paw towards him.

"And I want you there by my side, partner." She said. Nick gave her a sleepy gaze and grabbed her paw.

"Always...partner."