Tony Dies
An NCIS Fanfic.
He was sitting in his favorite chair, looking out the living room window at the world outside. It was early in the morning, and children were leaving their homes to catch a school bus at the end of the street. Parents dragged themselves to cars to head to another day at the office, and the elderly were outside, tending to flower beds or sitting on porch swings to greet the new day.
Anthony could appreciate the livelihood of the world he was viewing. The sun cast a delicate glow over the waking world. Days like these had been happening for thousands of years, and it was comforting to know that no matter what, tomorrow it would all happen again.
He adjusted himself into a more comfortable position. He loved this chair. He'd had it for almost fifteen years now, and while it wasn't in the same shape as the day he had purchased it, he liked the way it molded to him; his chair would forever hold his imprint within its fabric.
Anthony could not deny that at the end of one's life, it was easy to think one had made a difference in the world; that one could leave it and not be forgotten.
He knew he had affected many lives, and that even if there was no one left to remember his name, someone out there had him to thank for saving the life of a grandparent, thus enabling them to be born.
The house was quiet; it had been for over five years, ever since his lover had passed. Sometimes Anthony would walk through the halls and listen for whispers, begging the old house to reveal its secrets. It never did.
The paper boy was late again today. He was supposed to have the papers delivered before seven but it was past eight now. Anthony knew that even if he were to venture outside to get it, he would never read it.
There were particular parts of his life that he no longer acknowledged; people he no longer thought of. When you reach a certain age, things you once loved don't hold the same meaning. Anthony had accepted this.
He gave a heavy sigh, and sank deeper in the chair. He could see a faint reflection of himself in the glass. The short gray hair had white peeking through. Anthony had grown used to the maze of wrinkles on his face. His jowls sagged away from his jaw bone, a sign that his skin was growing looser as his weight decreased.
He ate like a bird nowadays. Sometimes his housekeeper would fix him a casserole or lasagna. But usually he ate a sandwich while watching a movie.
He had not eaten breakfast this morning. There was no point. He knew that his time on this earth was growing short. He had no regrets. He had lived the last years of his life exactly as he wanted. He had surrounded himself with love and friendship. Every goal he had once had had been accomplished. He was finished, and the finality felt good.
Anthony DiNozzo Jr. spent the last few moments of his life watching the world outside, never feeling as though it had passed him by. Instead, he felt content. He would shortly be seeing his lover again for the first time in five years, and it was an exciting prospect.
The housewife across the street had just set out on her morning jog when Anthony fell asleep.
And at ten minutes to ten, Anthony DiNozzo breathed his last, and woke up to a familiar face.
A/N: Okay so while this is sad, I know, I also wanted it to end on a positive note. Three guesses as to who the lover was. While some will read the title and think I'm spoiling the end of some great NCIS case, in reality the title is completely truthful.
I hope you enjoyed the story. Please leave me a note and let me know!
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Disclaimer: NCIS is the property of Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill.