The atmosphere in the garage, on their first real day back at work, was odd. Florence was given the day off so she could go to the hospital, so in many ways, it felt like the old team again; Cabe's absence prevented that nostalgia from truly coming through.
"I know he's enjoying retirement," Happy said, "and I know he still helps us from time to time. But a day like this just sort of reminds me how much I liked having the old timer around."
Sylvester came down from the loft. "Where did Toby go?"
"Going to get the kids from day care. He should be back any minute." Happy cocked her head. "I'm a terrible person and forgot to ask earlier. How's little Tilly?"
"Hanging in there," Sylvester said. "She's trying to open her eyes, but just gets them the tiniest bit open and then closes them again. Might be due to the light. I've heard of preemies going blind from the incubator. Florence worries that we won't have the skills necessary to be the parents she deserves."
"You guys will do great," Paige said. "Most folks find a way to be what their children need. And the want to do so is often half the battle."
"I know. Florence is just so worried about it. She keeps coming up with every little thing that could go wrong and convinces herself that that's going to happen to us. You should have seen how she reacted to the flowers everyone sent. I'm torn between worrying about her and thinking I'm somehow not reacting properly to everything."
"Everyone reacts to stressful situations in their own way," Paige said. "You know that. And one way you've always managed to be strong is knowing that your strength would help someone else. But…" she touched his shoulder. "If you ever need to break, come over. We'll be there for you, and you won't have to worry about upsetting her. Right, Walter?"
"Hmm?" He looked up from his desk, and seemed to interpret the tone of the conversation correctly. "Yes. Of course, Sly."
Sylvester gave a small smile. "Thanks, Paige. And Walter. I appreciate it."
The garage door creaked open, and the two Quinn – Curtis children raced in ahead of their father. "Uncle Sylvester!" Tad said, running right past Happy. "How is Tilly?"
Happy smiled.
So did Sylvester. "She's doing well, Tad, thank you so much for asking."
"Boss?" Toby said. "There's a big ass box just got dropped off. It has a bunch of 'this end up' and 'do not throw' type stickers on it. Are you expecting anything or is this definitely a bomb?"
"Toby, let's not be dramatic," Paige said. The team followed her and they circled the package. It was big, tall, and had a lid on the top which had small holes in it. "I don't think this was delivered through the mail."
"Oh boy, now I'm thinking it actually is a bomb," Sylvester said anxiously.
"I'm sure it's not a bomb, Sly," Happy said, motioning to Tad and Ellie to stay back.
"That gesture just now did not help convince me."
"Hello! I'm a present."
The team jumped backward. "Did the box just talk?" Happy said. "Or am I just going crazy?"
Walter was staring at the package, his brow furrowed.
"Walt?" Toby said, waving his arm in front of his friend's face. "Earth to Walt. I think he's buffering."
"Hmm?" Walter said, jolting out of wherever he'd been in his mind.
Toby rolled his eyes. "The box is addressed to you, are you going to open it?"
"Technically…"
Happy rolled her eyes. "Don't technically us. Your name is on it, it being left at the garage doesn't change that. Stop being a wuss and open the box."
"Stop being a wuss!" Ellie said, trying to mimic her mother's tone.
"It sounds like a toy," Paige said, bending over the box.
"Watch this be some scheme from a competitor, a way to rub in our faces how advanced they are," Walter mumbled.
"By sending a talking toy?" Toby asked.
Walter shifted. "I don't know. It's possible."
"It's from Mr. Yates," Paige said. "I'm sure it's not a flex."
"A flex?"
"It's what the kids are saying these days, Walt," Toby said. "Keep up."
"Think of it this way," Tad piped up. "It says it's a present, not a bomb."
"Well, isn't "I'm a bomb" the last thing you'd expect a bomb to say?" Toby asked, raising an eyebrow at his son.
Tad looked at him as if he'd just solved all the mysteries in the universe. "Good point, Dad."
Rolling her eyes, Paige lifted the top off of the box and immediately jumped back in surprise. "Oh!"
The team peeked into the box in such a way that the creature inside would have seen each of their foreheads and eyes.
"It's a bird."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
Happy glared at Walter. "You said it could have been a toy."
"Hello!" The bird said. "I'm a present!"
"Ooooh, boy," Sylvester said, backing up and shoving his hands in his pockets. "It talks."
Toby lifted the cage out of the box, handing the papers inside to Paige. "Our first pet since Ferret Bueller! This is a special day." He set the cage on the table and grinned.
"Is this bird legal to own?" Paige asked.
"Sadly, yes," said Sylvester. "The only illegal bird in California is the Quaker Parrot, or Monk Parrot."
"Why sadly?" Tad asked.
"I don't like birds," Sylvester said. "You know that."
"He didn't mean that," Toby said, reaching into the cage to pat the bird on the head. It pecked at him. "Whoa, sorry. I was just trying to tell you that Sylvester loves you."
"I absolutely do n – "
"Sylvester loves you," Toby said loudly, bending to be face to face with the bird as he repeated more slowly. "Sylvester loves you – hey!" He jumped back as the bird stretched up toward him. "I don't think he likes me."
"What are we going to name him?" Tad asked, his arms around Ellie's shoulders to prevent her from getting too close.
"Birdie," she said with a grin.
"Let's think of something a little more creative," Tad said.
"How about we name it Get That Thing Out Of Here?" Sylvester asked. "Who sends a bird as a 'sorry your plane crashed' gift anyway? Like is there some sort of dark humor in that? Oh, this thing's wings are clipped, it can't fly, oh haha, neither can your plane."
"I don't think that's what he was going for, Sly," Paige said. "He just…gives extravagant gifts. I guess."
"Maybe the bird was meant for Thomas Beek," Toby said, nudging Happy.
"I hope not," she said. "Though I do like the idea of him getting a giant scorpion delivered today."
"No, a small one, they're more dangerous."
"Hello. I'm a present."
"Yes," Paige said. "Yes, you are a present."
"Is it just me," Sylvester said, "or did that last one have more attitude to it? Like we're doing this whole bickering thing, and hello, he's a present."
"So you're saying we should appreciate and enjoy the bird?"
"No, I'm saying that makes it even more terrifying because it can read rooms and adjust its tone accordingly. Get rid of it."
"Aww, Sly," Paige said. She leaned over the cage. The bird cocked its head to see her. "That's Sylvester," she said, throwing her brother in law a playful smirk before turning back to the bird. "Sylvester loooooves you."
"Why don't we name it Sylvester?" Toby asked jokingly.
"Do not name it Sylvester." He said, folding his arms.
"What are you going to do if Tilly is scared of a bird?" Toby asked. "Hide behind her? Come make friends with Other Sylvester."
"No, Toby," Walter said. "We shouldn't name the bird Sylvester."
"Thank you, Walter," Sylvester said.
Walter snapped his fingers. "The bird's name is Super Fun Guy."
Sylvester groaned.
