A/N: I'd like to thank GhostWolf88, Guest, PizzaSteve3902, Aninat131, jozsamarcell7, Cimar of Turalis-WildeHopps, Tinbuzzard11 and DrummerMax64 for their reviews of chapters 8 through 10! And to DrummerMax, Happy Birthday Buddy! I hope this update will add to this joyous day for you.
"Aww, you really didn't have to get me anything, Mrs. O," said Nick as his mother pressed a large brightly-wrapped parcel into his paws.
The music and dancing in the bullpen had gone on for half an hour after Nick and Judy's little talk before Mrs. Wilde had the band stop so Nick could open his presents. Max, Roger and Errol were now standing by their instruments quietly watching the unwrapping. Nick had just unwrapped a framed photo of his graduation day from his mother and was now about to unwrap a gift from someone who could not make the party, but was watching the whole proceedings via video chat from Judy's phone: Mrs. Otterton.
"Nonsense, dear!" replied Mrs. Otterton, "After all you did to help save my husband, this was the least I could do."
"Eh, I was just along for the ride, it was Carrots who did all the driving," Nick replied modestly. He weighed the package in his paws and felt it; it was both light and soft. "Gee, I wonder what this could be…" And then on cue Max started a drumroll as Nick opened the package to reveal a handsome forest-green sweater.
"Ooh, this is nice!" said Nick as he held the garment up against his body and felt it through his fingers, "And so soft…"
"I thought it would bring out the color of your eyes, dear," said Mrs. Otterton proudly.
"She knitted that herself!" declared Judy.
"Really? Well, thanks, Mrs. O!" said Nick to the camera, "This'll come in real handy next time Carrots and I are working Tundratown." He folded the sweater neatly and laid it down next to the framed photo.
"This next! This next!" said Clawhauser, waving a thickly-stuffed envelope at Nick.
"Okay, thank you Benji," said Nick as he took the envelope and turned it over in his paws looking for the flap.
"Well, technically it's not just from me, it's from a bunch of us," said Clawhauser, gesturing at several other officers who murmured in agreement, "I was just in charge of purchasing."
"Izzat so? Well, thank you all of you!" Nick called out. He opened the envelope to reveal:
"A book of Tim Howlton's coupons? Thanks!" Nick flipped the first page, "Certificate entitles bearer to one free cup of coffee. Perfect!" And then he flipped to the page and frowned a little: "This certificate entitles bearer to one free box of a dozen doughnuts."
Nick flipped through the book some more, his suspicions growing by the second. "Free cup of coffee, free box of doughnuts, free box of doughnuts, free box of- oh, Timbits."
He lowered the book, gazing at nothing, "Gee, I wonder how I am ever going to eat so many doughnuts."
Clawhauser put on his most innocent face. "Well, we thought maybe you could always make arrangements to share."
"And just who might 'we' be?" Nick playfully asked the chubby cheetah.
The party carried on for a few more minutes after that until Chief Bogo marched up to the podium and blew a whistle, silencing everybody.
"I do hate to interrupt these celebrations," announced the Cape buffalo, "But as you can see, the clock on the wall reads 8:53, which means you all have seven minutes to put this bullpen back in working order or all of you will be on parking duty, including the civilian guests. IS THAT CLEAR?!"
"Sir, yes sir!" affirmed Judy. "Everyone, clean-up positions, move!" she called out.
The clean-up went by like clockwork at Judy's direction: the smaller officers removed the food and decorations, the bigger ones replaced the tables and chairs, Nick took away his presents and stashed them in his locker, and the Thrashes and Errol evacuated the room with their instruments along with Finnick and Mrs. Wilde. By nine o'clock on the dot, the whole room was back in order and every officer was standing at attention awaiting Bogo's commands.
"At ease!" said Bogo, and everyone took their seats. Sweeping his eyes once around the room and snorting in satisfaction, the chief slid on his glasses and regarded his clipboard.
"Now, today's assignments. Wolford, Fangmeyer-"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Now who on Earth could that be?" Bogo asked in exasperation.
Officer Johnson got up and answered the door, revealing two smartly dressed sloths: Flash 'Hundred-yard-Dash' Slothmore and his girlfriend Priscilla from the DMV.
"Are…we…late…for…the…party?" Flash asked.
After the two sloths were thanked and sent on their way Bogo resumed passing out assignments, giving Nick and Judy their task of patrol duty last. But instead of leaving right straight away the two hung back, and once Bogo himself left, Judy turned to Nick.
"So what did you think, Nick? Did we get you or what?" the bunny asked proudly.
"Oh, you got me alright," said Nick, "Just don't count on that ever happening again, because next year I will be extra-vigilant!"
"I dunno, your mom and I make a pretty good team," said Judy, "Besides, I gave you a six-month window for your next birthday party, you really think you can stay extra-vigilant for that long?"
"You'd be surprised, Carrots. In fact, after today I doubt you two will never surprise me again."
"I dunno, the day is still young…" Judy muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" Judy piped up.
Then before Nick could react she sidled off the chair, facing him. "By the way, I'm so sorry I didn't manage to get you a present too."
To that, Nick almost gawked. "After this? Believe me, Carrots, this party was way more than enough. You owe me absolutely nothing."
"Still, at least I can give you this one little thing," said Judy, holding out a folded piece of paper.
Nick took the paper and read it: This certificate entitles bearer to ONE free pass on wearing the Costume of Shame to work.
"I seem to recall us making a little bet in the lobby just before the party," said Judy, "but because it's your birthday I thought I'd give you a pass on it. Unless you really do think the party was enough..."
"No no, I accept! Here!" Nick passed the paper back to Judy, "I hereby redeem my gift certificate, and resolve to be more careful next time I make any bet that involves the costume of shame."
"Good," Judy smirked as she tossed the paper in the recycle bin and turned to leave the room. Then she paused, noticing Nick hadn't gotten up yet. "You coming?" she asked.
"In a minute."
Judy started for the door.
"And Carrots?" Nick called.
Judy spun around.
"Thank you." He said.
Judy nodded and smiled warmly at him, and as he watched her leave the room Nick returned the expression. The fox leaned back in the chair and stretched, sighing in contentment. So many great gifts that bunny had given him over the year and a half he had known her. And speaking of gifts…
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a novelty pen in the shape of a carrot with a little button and a tiny speaker on the side. He pressed the button:
Click. Whirr.
"Believe me, when it comes to planning surprise parties, I really am just a dumb bunny."
Click. Whirr.
"…I really am just a dumb bunny."
"And thank you for not making me use this to get out of that bet," Nick muttered with a hint of triumph. He tucked the pen back into his pocket, "I'd prefer to hang on to this little carrot this time."
After Nick left the bullpen he found Judy at a sitting area behind the front desk in the lobby, along with his mother, Finnick, the Thrashes and Errol, all muttering among themselves. For some reason all of them looked tense, excited even. Except for Errol, whose expression Nick found himself unable to read.
"Oh good, I'm glad you're all still here, I've got things to say." He said as he approached the group.
"Nicky…" his mother stood up to face him, "Would you sit down for a minute? We have something to tell you too."
"Sure, but me first," insisted Nick. He put his paws on his mother's shoulders and gazed into her eyes. "Mom, thank you. I am so glad that even after ten years, you haven't lost your touch as the birthday master."
Then he looked down at Finnick, "Finn, a pleasure seeing you at the party. Carrots and my mom must have done some real talking to get you to come in at seven in the morning."
"I told you, free meal, I'm in," said Finnick, "And that look on your face was so worth it." He looked at Mrs. Wilde, "But next time, let's have the party at a decent hour, 'kay?"
"Of course." Said Mrs. Wilde with a chuckle.
"And Max," Nick turned to the younger Torch Key raccoon, "Thank you for your role in all this too. And it's great timing that you're here today, because I have something for you."
He dug around in his wallet, and pulled out a business card. "Remember the other day, when you said you were looking for work? Well, I pulled some strings, and I think I've found some people who can help you out with that little problem."
Max took the card, and his jaw dropped as he read the name. "Spotwood-Jingle Talent Agency? That's the most exclusive agency in the city! They even represent Gazelle!"
"I know," said Nick with relish, "But the owners and I go way back. I showed them a video I took of you performing on the street, and it got them fired up. They want to audition you, and once they take you on I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting a new job. In fact…" Nick checked his phone, "They should be opening up right about now, if you'd like to give them a call."
"Thank you! Thank you, I will!" said a breathless Max as he dug out his own phone. Reading the number on the card he feverishly dialed and turned his back to the group, "Hello, may I speak to Mr. Jingle please?" he said.
"You know Gazelle's agents?" Judy asked Nick incredulously.
"I know everybody, how many times do I have to tell you that?" said Nick.
"You didn't know him," Judy retorted, pointing at Roger.
"That's true, but now I do, and my record stands." Nick shot back. "And Roger," he regarded the elder raccoon, "Great performance back there. And thanks for coming, it was a real honor to meet you."
"Oh, it's not over yet," said Roger with a trace of a grin, "I hear there is a little soirée at your mother's tonight. If you'd like I would be happy to come, I can tell you what I remember about making the Robin Hood movie."
"Sure, sounds like fun!" Nick replied. And then everybody quieted down as they heard Max raise his voice.
"Uh-huh, great! Great, see you then! Bye!" said Max as he ended his call. He turned around and faced all the mammals surrounding him. "Audition this afternoon at one o'clock," he stated.
"That's great, Max!" said Judy.
"Congratulations, son!" said Roger proudly.
"Yes, thank you! And thank you, Officer Wilde!" said an elated Max.
Nick waved him off. "Please, call me Nick. And there's no need to thank me."
"Yes there is!" piped up Roger, "That was a wonderful thing you just did for my grandson!"
"I quite agree." said Errol from beside Roger.
Nick was startled; besides their brief greeting at the party he had never heard Errol speak before, the golden jackal had always just stood by in the background. And now his voice sounded different from before: higher, crisper, and with a light English accent. And when the jackal stood up, facing Nick, Nick saw something off about his smile; somehow his teeth didn't seem to line up with his mouth.
"I'm terribly sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, I didn't want to distract from the rest of the party," said Errol as he removed his sunglasses. A pair of slightly familiar hazel eyes greeted Nick, but he couldn't place where he'd seen them before. And then Errol blinked and Nick saw something else: the fur on the jackal's eyelids were red while the rest of his face remained yellow-furred. Was he… wearing a mask?
"It was a very nice surprise two days ago, when I got a call from my old friend Roger concerning a surprise party," Errol continued, tucking his glasses in his pocket, "And then yesterday morning he introduced me to Officer Hopps and your very charming mother, who were most persuasive. And of course, I always did love wearing disguises."
With that, Errol reached behind himself and grabbed his own tail. Before Nick could react, there was a loud shrrrip sound and the tail came right off in his paw. Nick gaped; the tail had been attached by some kind of velcro.
"Excuse me a moment," said Errol as he reached behind himself again. "Ergh, ugh!" He struggled with something on his behind for a second, and then two things happened: Errol's potbelly disappeared right in front of Nick's eyes, and a long fluffy red and grey tail sprang forth from the hole in the jackal's trousers. "Ahhh, that's better," muttered the 'jackal' as he wagged the tail back and forth a few times, "I was getting rather cramped in there."
Realization started to dawn over Nick as he and everyone else watched 'Errol' reach under the collar of his turtleneck and pull off a realistic furred mask, revealing the face of a red fox in his seventies with greying fur and a charming smile. He looked spry for his age, and even at forty years older and without the iconic bycocket hat he was instantly recognizable. The fox threw out his arms, holding the mask in one paw and the detachable tail in the other, "Happy birthday, son!"
Nick couldn't even try to hide his joy and enthusiasm. "Brian Bedfurd!" he cried as he embraced his childhood hero.
A/N: the Spotwood-Jingle Talent Agency belongs to 1tT4k3sTw0. And I must give kudos to ConfusedGoatee, who predicted the last part as far back as chapter 2. Oh, and I must also credit Cimar, who came up with the concept of detachable tails in the first place. :)