Once again, at the end of a lengthy epic, I find myself compelled to throw in a second author's note. So, bear with me, or skip it, as you choose.

First many, many thanks to the readers with special gratitude to those who took the time to review. Whether you reviewed here or caught me in one of my other haunts, I appreciate that you took the time to tell me you read and liked my work. I continue to be amazed and very grateful that there are those of you who follow my work. The author humbly thanks you.

Second... don't ask about Leah's fate. It's been deliberately left up in the air. I know where she went. And I do have plans for another story involving her and Gibbs, if there's enough interest in it. But it will be several months down the line, so you'll just have to be patient. Sorry. insert evil author grin here

Finally, but by no means least, I must once again give a great big, jumping up and down, THANK YOU to my writing partner, my twin, middleagecrazy. You, my girl, are truly awesome and without you these works would not be anywhere near the fabulous fun pieces they become. I cannot imagine working with anyone else and here's to making our dreams come true!!

There are more stories on the horizon, but you may need to give us some time... the twins have a project they're going to focus on that will take them out of the fanfic arena for a while.

E-mail is always gratefully accepted.

For those of you who are interested, here is the full text of Leah's letter, reprinted with out interruption.

Dear Jeth,

Please, hear me out before you get angry with me. When I left DC fifteen years ago, I felt like I had failed everyone. It wasn't easy to leave, but I honestly thought that it was best for everyone.

When I came back east five years ago, I was terrified of seeing you again. I loved you the day I left and I never got over you. Finally, last spring I couldn't wait any longer, I had to know what I would feel when I looked in your eyes. I wasn't prepared for the tidal wave of emotions.

While I was gone I learned a lot. I learned that you can make a career out of running and hiding. I learned that if you're good at it, staying just one step ahead of danger can be almost as addicting as any other drug.

I learned that that spending so much time hiding behind other identities, you tend to lose your own.

Jeth, I don't know where we go from here. There are three words in the sentence: I love you. I'm certain I know what two of them mean, there's only one I need to work one.

I don't know who I am these days, other than some tired, bitchy, suspicious cop who sees conspiracy everywhere. I watched your young pups; Tony, Kate, Abby and Tim and I wondered when I got so damned old. I may not be a kid anymore, but I know I'm not who I woke up to this morning either.

You probably know what's coming, and you probably want to hate me right now. Please don't. Try not to, at least. I need some time to just be Leah. Not IA, not NCIS, not Jeth's girl, just plain old Leah. The Leah I was before Trainor and Ketterer stole a part of my soul.

I'm not running. I have a job, something I'd been thinking about for a long time. My lawyer, who I met during the whole stalking nightmare, has been begging me to work for him as his investigator for some time. I'm taking him up on the offer and moving back west for a while. I'll stay in touch; I'll e-mail and I may even phone. But I need some space to get back to me.

The next time I see you, Jeth, I want to look in your eyes and say I love you and know that I truly mean every single word. Until then, know that you have my heart, whoever I am...

Leah