Author's Note: As promised, the last chapter! (Well, technically a small epilogue.) I do plan on writing a sequel, sooner rather than later. Thank you everybody for reading! And thanks for the feedback! I enjoy reading your thoughts and opinions. Until next time…


Epilogue

"You haven't opened my present yet," Lucky prodded.

It was New Year's Eve, and Tony had just been tentatively released from the hospital. So far, he'd spent the whole day locked up in Gibbs' house, high off of vicodin, and waiting for the next time he could go to sleep. For whatever reason, Lucky still stuck around like an exceptionally stubborn burr. Either he'd grown somewhat fond of Tony, or maybe he just didn't have anywhere else to go, but the fact was, he stuck close by for nearly a week. He was like a stray cat they kept on feeding just because he chose to show up over and over again.

He seemed happy and healthy, if a little unfocused and driftless. Not exactly whole, but that would only come with time. He was looking into getting his GED, and maybe after that, who knows.

"Christmas is over with, Lucky," Tony reminded him in a dour tone. "Save it for next year, okay?"

"No," Lucky insisted. He tossed the small wrapped package into Tony's lap. "Besides, tomorrow is next year."

Tony rolled his eyes. "I want to sleep right now."

"You slept all morning, fatty. Now come on. Open it." Lucky watched with great anticipation.

Tony decided to humor him and unwrapped the package. He held it up and blinked at the Pez dispenser. "It's a Hello Kitty Pez dispenser."

"I was thinking you could put your vicodin in there. Who wouldn't want their pain relieved by a cute kitty cat?"

"You have a sick sense of humor," Tony deadpanned. But when he shook his head, he was smiling.

"I know." Lucky got up from the floor and declared, "Alright. I'm out of here."

"Where're you going today?" Tony asked.

Lucky shrugged. "Who knows, but outside there's sun, so I'm sure there's somewhere to be."

"Be careful."

"Always."

"And call me every once in a while."

"Of course."

Tony knew as he watched Lucky go that he wouldn't be seeing him again for a long while. Call it a gut feeling or a sixth sense, but Tony just knew.

And later, when Gibbs got home from work and groused about the dirty dishes piled up in the sink and the underwear and socks strewn around the carpet, Tony could only smile.

"What the Hell are you smiling about?"

Tony's answer was simple. "Wouldn't you like to know."