EPILOGUE: Normal

Maybe it was all that food, maybe it was pure exhaustion – or maybe it was something else – but Colby only had one nightmare that night, and he actually fell back asleep afterwards. Maybe it's 'cause I wasn't lyin' there worryin' about whether or not my team was gonna take me back.

Whatever it was, Colby was grateful. So grateful, in fact, that he overslept his alarm. Of course – my first official day back and I'm gonna be late…

But he managed to get out the door with five minutes to spare. Okay, so maybe not late. But no coffee – and if there's any traffic at all I will be late.

Pulling onto the highway, he glanced in his rearview mirror and sighed. About three cars back was a gray sedan he was pretty sure was tailing him. It had to be today – really? I do not wanna deal with some nutjob following me to work. Not today. He thought about calling Don, then decided that was a bad idea. I'll just handle it. He suddenly slid over two lanes and took the exit. It was an occupational hazard – always having multiple routes planned. Thankfully, the gray sedan didn't reappear.

He pulled into the FBI parking garage in record time. Still two minutes to go, he thought grimly, and then was suddenly distracted by the sight of David – leaning up against a gray sedan? – obviously waiting for him. He parked, and sat there frowning for a moment. Why would David follow me? What, is he afraid I'll have another "incident" and crash? Someone knocked on the window, and he looked up. David.

"You comin' out, Colb?" David's voice was muffled through the car door.

"Yeah," Colby muttered, and pushed the door open. "You followin' me, David?"

"Yeah, man –" David grinned. "It was the only way to make sure we got here at the same time. But seriously, cuttin' it a little close this morning, huh Colby?"

"Overslept."

David blinked. Really? Not sure if I should believe that or not...

"So why exactly did we need to get here at the same time? Somethin' goin' on I should know about?"

David smiled again. "You'll see."

"Somehow I'm not sure I'm gonna like this."

David grabbed his arm. "Come on, man, we're gonna be late."

Gonna be? We're already late, David. And you followed me to work. Not exactly how I was hoping this day was gonna start. But he let himself be dragged along, out of the parking garage and into the main lobby.

"Colby – David – hey!"

Colby turned to find Don, Liz, and Megan all headed towards them.

"What, did you take the scenic route or something, Colb?" Don slapped him on the back. "Ya know, bein' late to work your first day back isn't the best impression to make..." But he was grinning.

"Yeah, Granger," Liz added. "Now you're gonna make us all late."

Megan just smiled at him.

Colby narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You planned this." It wasn't a question.

"Yup." David laughed. "You didn't think I followed you in this morning just for fun, did you?"

"No –" But Colby didn't really want to tell them what he had thought, so he shut his mouth.

"Come on, guys, enough standin' around." Don started waving them towards the elevator.

"Says the boss," Liz teased.

Colby found himself next to Megan as they walked. She smiled over at him. "You didn't really think we were gonna let you just walk in all by yourself this morning, did you?"

"Honestly? I didn't think anything about it. I was just tryin' not to be late." He shook his head. "You guys didn't need to do this. I woulda been fine."

"Yeah, well, this is just as much for us as it is for you, Colby. It's a new start. All the pieces put back together."

They were getting in the elevator now, and Colby repressed a slight shudder. Okay, so maybe havin' the whole team here wasn't such a bad idea.

Suddenly Don's cell phone rang. "Eppes." He listened for a moment. "Yeah, okay, be there in ten." Then he snapped the phone shut.

They were all looking at him.

"Let's go guys – get this elevator turned around. We got a case."

Colby smiled. Everything felt... just like normal.

END