Epilogue

Six months later...

Tony was reading his emails before heading to work, when he got one from HR. Excited, he opened it.

Agent DiNozzo:

Your transfer from the Bahrain Field Office to the Norfolk Field Office has been approved. You will be expected to report to Norfolk on May 1st to begin the transition. Upon completion of the attached forms, you will receive a moving allowance to assist you in finding suitable lodging in Norfolk. You may also choose to stay in base housing for a period of no more than six weeks, if necessary.

Your replacement in Bahrain will arrive March 1st and you will help with the transition before leaving Bahrain.

Any questions should be directed to Maralee Hanson.

Tony smiled and was ready to do a happy dance. Vance had already verified that this would be coming, but to see it in writing was exciting. He'd warned his team that there would be a change in leadership soon, but he was glad to see that it would be done so gradually. On the one hand, he did want to get back to the States, but on the other, he didn't want to leave his team in the lurch.

He got up to start his coffee going when there was another ding in his email and, at almost the same time, his phone started ringing. The phone was probably more important than the email, so he answered the phone, first.

"Hello."

"Thomas Allen McGee!"

For just a second, Tony had no idea who was talking or what had been said. Then, he realized.

"Did you hear me, Tony? Did you get the email I sent you?"

"Tim, you sound so giddy that I didn't even recognize your voice," Tony said, laughing as he sat down at his computer again.

"I'm running on an adrenaline high and I haven't slept in nearly a day," Tim said, excitedly.

Tony opened the email from Tim and saw a picture of Tim holding a tiny baby. Tim looked exhausted, but he was grinning from ear to ear.

"I see it. How's Delilah?"

"She's sleeping. It was really hard, but everything went okay. She was on bed rest, but that didn't matter in the end. Labor lasted a long time, but she got through it, and Thomas was born about three hours ago. I haven't been able to calm down enough to sleep, yet. Delilah didn't have that problem. Neither did Thomas, but I was just there. Watching. I didn't have to go through it, so I guess it makes sense."

"Well, congratulations, Tim. Really."

"Thanks! I'm still shaking." And even his voice was a little shaky.

"Are you sure you're okay, Tim?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just wound up. You know me. I was... I was so worried the last few weeks that I think Delilah wanted to have the baby just to get me to leave her alone. I'll probably crash in another hour or so."

"Thanks for calling me while you're mostly coherent."

"I'm glad I'm sounding coherent. I don't feel very coherent. Tony, I'm a dad! I'm a father! And you're an uncle. No matter what else. You're part of this."

Tony smiled, feeling touched anew that Tim felt that way. It was special to be unofficially admitted to another family, especially since he didn't have much family of his own.

"Thanks."

"Hey, while I'm still thinking more or less straight, you were going to be getting stuff about your transfer soon, weren't you?"

Tony laughed, wondering at Tim's mind that he could be so wound up about a new baby and still be wondering about Tony's transfer.

"I was reading the email just before you called."

"And?"

"Norfolk."

"When?"

"May."

"That's still almost six months."

"Yeah, but it's a definite date. I'd rather take my time and do it right than rush and leave things undone."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Tim?"

"Yeah?"

"Go and lie down. I'll bet that as soon as you stop moving, you'll fall asleep."

"I don't know, Tony. I'm pretty wired."

Tony looked at the picture again and he could imagine Tim's expression right now. It was probably similar to when he was wired on Abby's Caf-Pows. But this wasn't from caffeine.

"Because you're not letting yourself stop. Try it. You can give me details later and send me more pictures. Your baby looks like a deformed lizard right now, but I'll bet he'll be a lot cuter later on."

"A lizard? He's not!"

"I didn't say he was. I said he looks like one. All newborns are ugly lizards. It doesn't last long. They get cuter. Go and lie down."

A deep breath. "Okay. I'll try it. You probably have work, anyway, don't you."

"Yeah, I do. But congratulations again."

"Thanks, Tony!" Another deep breath. "Maybe I will go and see if I can stop moving around."

"Good idea. Call me later. When you've slept."

"Okay. I'm glad you'll be coming back, Tony."

"Me, too. Bye, McDaddy."

"Crazy, huh. Bye."

Tony hung up and grinned. Tim would probably be a little embarrassed by that phone call later, but he was honored that Tim would even think to call him if he was that wound up.

Knowing that Tim had a son and that he wanted Tony to be an uncle only cemented Tony's desire to be back on the East Coast.

May couldn't come fast enough.

...and maybe they could plan another road trip.

FINIS!