Chapter 20: Epilogue
"You know," Tim said. "Back when I started this book, I wouldn't have had any idea how to finish it properly."
Ziva smiled, running a finger across the top of the stack of paper on edge of the desk. It was dark in the squad room, but the desk lamp lit up the top sheet. It read: Deep Six: The Continuing Adventures of L.J. Tibbs – The Last Case. "I did always say that Tommy and Lisa were terrible for each other. I prefer the way you ended it."
"...but..."
"But, if you ever write about me without my permission again, I will throw your typewriter off the top of this building and smash it into a million tiny little pieces of which you will never find all, no matter how hard you look."
"Fair enough."
Tim gathered up the pages and placed them into a large manilla folder, addressed to his publisher, and left it in his outbox for the mail courier to pick up in the morning.
"I do not think that Vance would approve of you using the agency's postage to send out your story," Ziva said.
Tim shrugged. "It certainly wouldn't be the first time."
Ziva laughed. Tim drank in the sound. "You are such a dunce, Timothy McGee."
With a smirk, Tim wrapped an arm around her waist a drew her in for a long kiss. "And you are such a romantic, Ziva David. I always knew you liked my writing."
She hit his arm and her let go.
"Shall we?" he asked, stretching out an arm in invitation.
She sighed in faux-irritation, but then gave him a quick smile. "Let's go home."
They both gathered their things and headed for the elevator. The ding was loud in the nighttime hush that had taken over the office.
"Although," Tim said, suddenly struck with a thought, "the next book could be about your team." He held his hands in front of him, as if presenting the possibility in grandeur. "Think about it. Special Agent Lisa and her adventures in Paris. I could – "
Ziva slapped the back of his head. "Do not even think about it," she said as the elevator doors closed.
The end