Well it's finally here folks! Topsy Turvy is officially complete! And as always, there will not be an author's note at the end of this chapter. But just so everybody is clear, no this is not the last story in the series, there will most likely be three after this. HOWEVER, I want everybody to know that I will be taking a sabbatical to participate in NaNoWriMo, so it might be a while before you all hear from me again.

And with that, I will say adieu, and I will see you all... in a month!

Bob

Epilogue

Jethro had to head back to the office for a few hours to write up his reports and check on Stan's report. But when he got in, the younger man wasn't around. A part of him wanted to call Stan and tell him to get his ass back here, but he just felt too drained to do anything.

He was still angry. This whole time, he saw Phil Taylor as a victim, and he was worse than Graham and Huntington, hell even Darklin, put together. He enjoyed murdering those women.

He stood in the middle of the squad room for a good five minutes, just looking around at the empty space. He should have enjoyed the quiet, it so rarely happened around here, and in the last few days there was never a moment to just relax. The bull pen was always moving, always buzzing. His mind was always working. Now there was nothing left to do but reports. The worst part of any investigator's job.

With a heavy sigh, he turned from his desk and made for the elevator. It took him down to the basement. He strode through the automatic doors and stopped in front of one of the autopsy tables.

Stan was already there, staring down at the remains.

These ones were smaller than the other ones. This was Jamie Taylor.

As much as he hated to admit it, DiNozzo was right. Logically, he knew that it wasn't their fault. They couldn't have seen this coming. But he couldn't stop blaming himself. He must have replayed the day twenty times, and every time, he kept trying to find a way to save Jamie. Maybe if he and DiNozzo never split up. But the only thing that would have done is kill them too.

Maybe if they brought Stan and Morgan with them when they headed to Quantico. Maybe that would have changed the events of today.

"This shouldn't have had to happen," Stan said quietly, never taking his eyes off of Jamie.

Jethro nodded. "I know."

.

"Aw, poor baby!" Sasha cooed as she gently touched Tony's face.

He cringed, but at the same time tried to look strong and tough. "It feels worse than it looks."

"It looks like you just got blown up."

Tony thought about that for a second. "Ok, so it looks the same as it feels."

She giggled.

Sasha was the mail girl. Every day, she came and openly flirted with Tony. He never complained. She was beautiful with an hour glass shape, vivid green eyes that contrasted to her mocha skin. Tony knew she wanted him, but the last few months he neglected his flirting. He had a lot of time to catch up on.

"You know," she started, leaning forward, smiling. "If you need someone to take care of you, I have room at my place."

Tony leaned back, his smile brightening. "Oh? You have a spare room?"

"No."

Wow. Normally, Sasha wasn't that forward. He knew that she liked him, but she never outright solicited him before. And let's face it, he could use it.

He chuckled. "I may take you up on that."

Captain Carnec stepped behind her, scowling. Sasha straightened up and left to deliver the rest of the mail.

Tony smiled maliciously at his boss. He took the last two days off to recuperate, but his anger hadn't faded. If anything, it got worse. And he still blamed Carnec. "Captain," he seethed.

"Not anymore," came Carnec's gruff reply. He dropped a letter on Tony's desk. It had the Baltimore Police Commissioner's official seal on it. "I've been told to take an early retirement."

Tony leaned forward and stared at the letter, dumbstruck. At Carnec's age, an early retirement was just a polite way to fire you.

He hadn't expected this. He wasn't thrilled with his boss, but he wasn't a rat. He had plenty to give to the Commissioner, but he hadn't said anything.

"Is this how you treat people who take care of you? Glad to see that loyalty is important to you."

"Captain, I didn't—"

Carnec cut him off. "Save it. I don't have to listen to your aggravating voice anymore. Good luck finding somebody else to put up with you." The man left before Tony could say anything else.

Denny and Detective Halloran approached him. They didn't look angry, which was definitely a shock. "I didn't rat him out to the commissioner."

Halloran nodded. "I know. I did."

Tony blinked. Surely he heard wrong. "What?"

"A kid died because of Carnec's pride. He screwed up last week, and he had no right to blame you for that. I couldn't let him get away with it."

Tony took a second to absorb all that was said. He was grateful, to be sure. Halloran had worked with Carnec longer than he worked with Tony, but he took a rookie's side over his captain. "You know the new captain isn't going to trust you, right?" Trust and loyalty are important things for cops. If Halloran was willing to complain about a captain he worked with as long as Carnec, what would the new guy think of him?

But Halloran had the nerve to laugh. "I wouldn't worry too much about that." He walked back over to his desk and picked up the cardboard box on top of it. Tony hadn't even seen it there.

Tony slowly stood up; his body still an aching mess. Apparently two days wasn't long enough to recuperate from a beating and an explosion. Go figure.

Did Halloran get fired too? Was he transferring? Did Tony screw up his life as well?

"And from now on," Halloran called for everyone to hear, "I expect you to refer to me as Sergeant Halloran!" And then he disappeared into Carnec's old office.

Tony was stunned, to say the least. Out of all possible outcomes that was the one he least expected to happen.

Denny turned to him with a grin. "For the record, Halloran isn't the only one who reported Carnec. The entire squad did."

Tony smiled. He thought it was kind of ironic. He was the only one who didn't make a complaint, but he was the one who got sole blame.

He turned to his partner, the smile gone. There was still something they needed to talk about. "I don't wanna transfer."

Denny's smile fell.

Tony grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to a more secluded place in the hallway. He took a deep breath before he started. "I don't want to get a new partner. I don't want to change cities, or start working for a federal agency. Ok, look, I know that I screwed up, and I am so sorry."

Denny sighed heavily. "Why Lea? Why my sister?"

Tony's breath hitched. "Because I trust her. Den, for three months," he paused, not wanting to finish his sentence, but knowing that he had to, "I was afraid. And shamed. I let a girl take advantage of me and I did a lot of things because… I didn't feel like a man anymore." He paused. It was strange, but everything he thought he should have felt when he admitted his rape, he was feeling now. He felt relief that he could finally let it go.

Damn it, Gibbs was right. He did need to talk about it.

"I needed somebody that I could trust to help me get my life back." He shrugged helplessly. "I didn't know what else to do. So, can we," he stopped to clear the lump from his throat, "Please, just work together again?"

Denny sighed heavily. Tony knew he reacted to his words, he just couldn't be sure if it was a positive or negative reaction. "I'm gay," Denny finally blurted out.

Tony blinked. He wasn't expecting that. "I know."

It was Denny's turn to blink. "You know? Since when?"

"I've always known." It wasn't something he consciously thought about, but he still had a hunch. Denny never let him meet any of his 'girlfriends,' and he barely paid any attention to Sasha, and she was gorgeous.

"Why the hell didn't you say anything?"

"Because I wanted you to be able to tell me, not have me say it for you!"

Denny blinked again. "It doesn't bother you?"

"Why would it? Den, you're like a brother to me, that doesn't change just because you're gay. I actually think it's a good thing."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Tony smiled, "cuts down on the competition."

Denny was silent, still stunned for a second. Tony was a little afraid that he said something wrong. Finally, Denny burst out laughing. "Only you, Tony."

Tony put his hands in his pockets and gave his partner his best impression of a remorseful puppy. Nobody could ever stay mad at a remorseful puppy. "Does that mean I'm forgiven?" He batted his long eyelashes.

Denny stopped laughing. He met Tony's wide, sad eyes and sighed heavily. Tony didn't take that as a good sign. "I have a boyfriend."

That confused the hell out of the younger cop. "Ok."

"It's Stan Burley."

Once again, Tony blinked. Then he blinked again. His brain mushed out and the only thing he was capable of doing was blink. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Burley?"

Denny glared. It was impressive, but not nearly as scary as Gibbs'. "That a problem?"

Tony's brain was still mush. "Burley?"

Denny rolled his eyes. Then he walked back into the squad room. After about three seconds, Tony followed.

"Stan Burley."

Denny plopped down at his desk. "Did I just break your brain or something?" He asked exasperatedly.

Tony sat down, much slower. "Mush."

With another chuckle, Denny picked up his phone. At Tony's confused look he said, "I'm calling the Vatican. I just witnessed a miracle.

That got Tony's brain to reform enough to scrunch up a piece of paper and chuck it at his partner.

Denny laughed harder. "You know that could have been important." He unscrunched the paper and stared at it. It was an envelope.

Tony blanched. He could think of only one thing that letter could be. Another job offer from Fornell.

Denny stared at the return address for a full minute. Tony waited with bated breath. He wanted the chance to fix things with his partner. He didn't want to work for the FBI. This was make or break time, and he knew it.

Finally, Denny rescrunched the envelope. "I was wrong. It's just junk." He tossed it in the trash bin.

Tony at last released his breath, a smile already forming. Denny was going to give him a chance.

Halloran came out of his new office. "DiNozzo! Morgan! Got a case for ya!" He handed Tony a small slip of paper before he went back and sat down.

Tony turned to his partner. "He got used to his new role way too fast."

Denny was staring at the door. "Definitely."

With a groan, Tony stood up and grabbed his jacket.

"You gonna be alright to work a case?"

Tony thought about that for a second as he limped forward. Then he threw his arm around Denny's shoulders. "Now that you mention it, I may need you to support me down to the car." He batted his eyelashes again.

Denny chuckled and ducked out from under his arm. "Yeah, you're fine."

Tony lightly smacked him in the back of the head. Denny whirled on him, completely stunned. "What the hell was that?"

That was a good question. Apparently, the younger cop spent way too much time around Gibbs. But instead of voicing that, he just shrugged. "You had it coming." He kept limping for the door.

After a second, Denny stepped forward. He picked up Tony's arm and wrapped it around his shoulders. Tony's smile widened as he playfully punched his partner in the ribs. They headed for the elevators to go work yet another case.