Disclaimer on chapter one.

AN: Finally the end. Hope you enjoyed the ride, this definitely got bigger than I ever expected it to. Tell me what you thought, thanks.

Chapter Thirty Four

Grayson stood on his porch, his jacket zipped tightly, collar pulled close to his neck, staring off into the Colorado wilderness. His mind was lost in thought, rumbling, tripping, and leaping through the last year. It was hard to believe it had been an entire year since the carnage in the mountains, but time had surly passed. He had lost his mentor and best friend exactly one year ago when Levi had died.

Dusty had become a stable figure in his life now, taking over the role Levi had vacated. Zack had recovered fully from his wounds and rejoined his post with the Navy. He was currently serving on a ship at sea, making Grayson miss him terribly. They had grown closer than ever while they had lived together. A noise behind him brought him from his memories, causing him to look over his shoulder.

"You ready?" Dusty asked. Grayson took a moment then nodded slowly, giving a small smile. "Good to see you smile."

"Yeah," Grayson replied softly as he walked down the steps toward the truck. He didn't turn back when he heard the door shut, or when he heard the click of the lock. Sliding into the middle of the bench seat, he waited for the other two to join him. Dusty settled in behind the wheel while his Aunt Janie sat in the passenger seat. All three where quiet, as Dusty steered the truck towards the airport.

Grayson was starting to get excited about this trip. It had been the Agents at NCIS' idea that he visit, but as soon as it was on the table he jumped at the idea. When Kate had called Grayson had felt his mood lift. They had stayed in contact early in his recovery, but busy schedules had taken their toll on communication and it had slowly faded to a few emails here and there.

Once at the airport, Dusty parked the truck and Janie helped Grayson get his bag from the back. The three walked silently toward the ticket counter. Grayson used the machine to get his ticket printed and then moved towards the security checkpoint. As they neared the line he stopped and turned towards his Aunt.

"Thanks," he said softly as he gave her a hug. She smiled as he released her.

"For what?"

"Everything," he replied with a deep breath. "I wouldn't have made it, if it weren't for you."

"You're family, kid; I can't let you fall on your face."

"I don't even know what to say to you," Grayson said turning towards Dusty. "I can never express the gratitude I feel for all that you've done for me in my life. No one else thought I was worth it but you and Levi."

"You're my family, all I got," Dusty said gently while gripping Grayson's shoulder softly.

"I gotta go, plane's gonna leave with out me," he said softly as he went to leave.

"Grady," Dusty gently called him back. Grayson stopped and turned, his head cocked slightly to the side.

"Yeah?"

"We want to tell you something," Janie continued and Grayson looked from one to the other.

"What?" Grayson asked but he had an idea what the answer would be. He had noticed the change in their relationship.

"Dusty asked me to marry him," Janie said with a smile. "And I said yes."

"I'm happy for you guys," Grayson replied with a smile. He walked to his aunt and enveloped her in a hug before turning to Dusty with his hand out. Dusty smiled and pulled Grayson tightly to him.

The flight to DC was uneventful and boring for Grayson. He tried to sleep but couldn't quite nod off. After what seemed like forever, the jet finally touched down and Grayson headed for the door as quickly as he could. Moving through the airport, he made his way to baggage claim, retrieving his bag. Locating the nearest exit, he moved outside and hailed a cab, giving the man the address for NCIS headquarters.

His mind floated back, as he rode towards the building, of the last time he had been in DC. It had all be different then, Levi had been with him. He felt the tears building and took a deep breath to shove them down. Fighting the darkness of the memories, he forced himself to remember happier times.

Once at NCIS he called Kate and told her he had arrived. She met him at the security check in and took him up to the bullpen area. Aside from the initial greetings neither broke the silence until they reached Kate's desk. She pointed to the chair and he slid into it with a nod.

"Good to see you, Grady," Tony said with a smile as he looked up from his desk. Grayson smiled back at him with a nod. Tony rose and walked to the edge of the desk Grayson was sitting at and leaned down.

"How's things on this end?" Grayson asked leaning back in the chair.

"Getting better. Gibbs is grumpy."

"Understandable," Grayson replied with a shrug. "How would you feel in his shoes?"

"Aside from the job issue? He's a pretty lucky man if you ask me," Tony replied as the two of them watched Kate walk up to Gibbs.

"I take it those two are still together?"

"Yes. Seems strange to me, but I guess it works for them. Never thought Kate would go for a guy like him."

"What, you thought she'd want a guy like you?"

Tony's head snapped sideways as he glanced at Grayson. "No," he said with a short forced laugh. "Just not…the boss."

Their conversation fell short as Kate and Gibbs walked towards them. Grayson could see the smile on Gibbs' lips as the older man came closer. Grayson stood from the chair and came around the desk.

"Good to see you, Grady," Gibbs said with a nod.

"Hear you're back on your feet," Grayson replied.

"Not completely. They won't let me return to full time field agent status."

"That's too bad," Grayson countered.

"I'm still hoping," Gibbs replied roughly with a sarcastic twist.

"We'll see," Kate replied softly. Grayson noticed the look Gibbs shot her direction.

"Sometimes it doesn't heal, Gibbs," Grayson continued. He flexed his stiff leg and shrugged. Grayson noticed Tony shrink away after the comment and head back to his desk. Apparently no one else wanted to be a part of that conversation. Grayson waited for whatever was to come.

"So the doctor tells me," Gibbs replied the disappointment in his voice. Grayson looked at the ground a moment before he picked his head up.

"Time heals. We may never be the same person we were before, but time heals and life moves on. You've got something great," Grayson said as his gaze settled on Kate. "My leg is only about seventy percent, they put pins and screws and all kinds of metal in it to hold it together. But I can walk. I may not play football, but I can walk. I got family, I lost Levi, but I got family to help."

"You're a good kid, you know that, Grady?" Gibbs said softly.

Grayson smiled and looked around. Gibbs' team was working at their desks, oblivious to their boss' conversation. Even Kate had moved away so the two could talk. The office seemed to be filling up with more people as they talked.

"I hear Zack's back in service."

"Yeah, he's at sea. I miss him."

"Good to hear you too finally get to be brothers. Family is important," Gibbs replied as the two moved towards Kate's desk.

"I seemed to have picked up a lot of that in the last year," Grayson replied with a smile. Gibbs smiled in return and nodded.

"You'll always have family wherever I am."

"I never thanked you."

"For what?"

"For believing in me."

"No thanks needed."

As they reached Kate's desk she smiled up at them. Gibbs' cocked his head to the side trying to decipher the look of mischief in her eyes. He looked up and saw most of the Agents from the building milling about in the bullpen and shook his head.

"What's going on, Kate?" Gibbs asked gruffly.

"Little surprise party for you, don't be grumpy. Enjoy the moment," Kate replied as she stood and pulled Gibbs to the center of the room. Everyone seemed to take the cue and gathered around, Grayson being sure to stay close to Gibbs' team.

"Everyone wanted to get together and give you a farewell, Boss," Tony said. Grayson looked at Gibbs' a moment before the older agent explained.

"I'm retiring, Grady. Can't be a field agent with my knee anymore."

"That's too bad, the agency is losing a good man," Grayson replied softly. Gibbs nodded and looked around. Grayson couldn't help but smile as he saw the stubbornness in Gibbs' eyes. "I think they want a speech."

Grayson laughed as Gibbs tossed a glare in his direction. Grayson simply shrugged and smiled as the older man shook his head. Gibbs declined giving a speech, but did remain as all the other agents came and talked to him.

As the room began to empty out, Gibbs grabbed Kate by the arm. Grayson sidestepped slightly to avoid being in that conversation and moved over to Tony and McGee. Grayson saw the two junior agents watching the couple with smiles on their faces.

"She's gonna get head slapped now," Tony said with a grin.

"Nope," McGee replied shaking his head. "I don't think Gibbs would ever head slap Kate."

"Probly not," Grayson replied.

Later that evening Grayson sat with Kate and Gibbs' in Gibbs' basement. Grayson stared at the half built boat and smiled. He had observed Kate and Gibbs all night and noticed the comfortably they shared with each other. He knew it would last, as the two of them completed each other.

"How're things going in Colorado?" Gibbs asked drawing Grayson from his own mind.

"Better. Dusty and Aunt Janie have been tremendous in all this. They've really helped me get through the rough parts."

"Good," Kate replied with a smile.

"Dusty asked Aunt Janie to marry him. How about you two? Seems things are going well," Grayson continued. He watched the brightness flash in both their eyes. Gibbs looked at Kate.

"I wish I wouldn't have fought it for so long," Gibbs replied gently as he took Kate's hand. "Things are going well."

"I'm just glad I can live my life again. No fears or worries."

Grayson stayed in DC for a week before he returned home to Colorado. As he sat on his front porch, contemplating everything that had happened in his life, he knew that in the end things were going to be all right. The chill air wrapped itself around him and he decided it was time to go inside. His life had been turned upside down, but he decided, the new view…wasn't so bad.

The End.

AN: Hope you enjoyed the ride. Another completed story from me. Thanks to all for your support in this story, for reading and sending reviews my way. I'll try to update my other stories but with my new work schedule I'll have to adjust for a while. But have no fear, I hope to be writing again shortly!