Chapter Twenty-Four

I'll Get You, My Pretty

Gibbs took the elevator past the bullpen and up to the Director's office when he finally arrived at Headquarters the next day. He and DiNozzo had met the team who came to gather evidence at the crime scene, and they hadn't finished up until the early hours of the morning, so he'd relented that both of them needed some sleep. As he passed the reception desk, he slowed his pace realizing it wasn't Cynthia but a woman he didn't recognize seated at the desk. She was middle-aged with iron-grey curls cut very short and wearing an equally grey suit.

Holding two coffee cups, Gibbs walked right past her and into the office, ignoring her shout, "Excuse me, you can't just go in there."

Leon Vance looked up when his door burst open, frowning. "It's all right, Isobel. I need to speak with Special Agent Gibbs, anyway," Vance said to the woman who stood in the doorway looking very cross.

She nodded tightly before shutting the door.

"You know, the reception desk is there for a reason. I'm aware you had a more… personal relationship with Director Shepherd, but I prefer my guests to be announced," Vance said, remaining seated behind his desk.

Gibbs ignored the dig and sat at the conference table away from Vance's desk so Vance would have to raise his voice if he chose to remain where he was. He put both Styrofoam cups down in front of him.

"Never waited for Morrow's secretary, either. You said you wanted to see me when I got here," Gibbs said nonchalantly. He was still irritated with Vance for his decision to send a team other than his own to DiNozzo's apartment the night before, but he wasn't going to let it show… yet.

"Well, then it's time you got used to the fact some things around here are going to change," Vance said, not nearly as successful as Gibbs at keeping the irritation out of his voice. He scowled as Gibbs sipped his coffee.

"Where is Agent DiNozzo?" Vance asked abruptly.

"Agents are required to get some rest after a late-night call, unless that's changed, too," Gibbs said glibly.

"And yet you're here, and he's not," Vance said.

"I just got here. He needed to have his shoulder checked," Gibbs replied, sipping his coffee.

The lines around Vance's mouth pinched. "And you believe his account of the events of last evening?" he asked.

"If DiNozzo said it, I believe it, because it'll be the truth," Gibbs said, this time allowing anger to leak into his voice.

Vance leaned back in his chair. "The FBI is conducting the investigation, so I've informed Miss Sciuto and Special Agent Balboa to turn over all their findings. I know you're unhappy that I selected Balboa's team to collect the evidence, but they were the team on call last night. It would be a breach of SoP to have your team there since it was a team member's apartment where the altercation allegedly occurred."

Vance looked up, clearly expecting a challenge.

"Did occur. I know why you did it, just not what I would've done," Gibbs said, draining the last of his first cup and clenching his fists. He and a damn member of the FBI walked in on it – there was nothing alleged about it. SoP be damned.

"Well, since I'm the one sitting in the big chair, it's my call that matters. The Director of the FBI informs me that Jenny Shepherd is undergoing a complete medical workup along with a Psych Eval. Until that is complete, SecNav has placed her on medical leave, and I'll be covering in the interim. If it's decided she's medically competent, there's still the matter of her illegal activities, including her suspension to be handled at a later date," Vance said.

"So, it's really SecNav's call that matters. Understood. That it?" Gibbs asked, aware that ticking his new Acting Director off probably wasn't a good idea but not really caring. He didn't like the man's arrogance or attitude.

"Any progress on Gunnery Sergeant Burns murder?" Vance asked in a clipped tone.

Gibbs suspected Vance didn't like his attitude any more than he liked Vance's. "Unknown, but I'm about to find out," he said, standing up and moving toward the door, taking the second cup of coffee with him.

Vance did nothing to stop him. Gibbs winked at Isobel as he walked past, and she glared at him, too. Even when he slept in, he managed to piss people off. He thought getting a medical evaluation was exactly what Jenny needed, but guilt still twisted in his conscience that she was going through everything alone. There was nothing he could do to help her; she'd made the decision long ago to cross a professional line with her unsanctioned op. Maybe the tumor had already begun wreaking havoc back then, but he supposed they'd never know. She'd meant something to him once, and even though he knew he needed to protect DiNozzo from her vengeance, he wished there was a way he could ease her pain, as well.

What a fucking mess.

Sighing wearily, he glanced over the railing to see down into the bullpen. Tim and Laura were at their desks, and Ziva was just emerging from the elevator after her morning at FLETC. No sign of DiNozzo, but Gibbs had warned his SFA that he had to get Ducky's clearance before he'd be allowed to put his ass in his chair.

Gibbs took the elevator down a floor since his knee was bothering him this morning. The rain always made it ache. He strode off the elevator and went directly to his desk. "Talk to me, McGee?" he barked.

"Boss!" McGee said, looking up, eyes round and wide. "You're here. Where's Tony? What happened last night?"

Gibbs had left a message for McGee that there had been an incident at DiNozzo's apartment, and they'd both be late that morning. He knew the junior members of his team would have questions, but he didn't want to get into it on the phone, and their murdered Marine took priority.

"Case first. What've you found?" Gibbs asked.

"You are just arriving? And Tony is still missing? What is going on?" Ziva asked, moving to stand in front of his desk. He glared at her, narrowing his eyes and daring her to disobey him.

She pressed her lips together. He could see she wasn't satisfied, but she held her tongue. Good, that was progress.

Laura watched from her own desk, eyes flicking back and forth between Gibbs and whoever was speaking.

Gibbs scowled and ignored both women, focusing his attention on McGee.

"Okay, I found a secret email account on Burns' computer, and he's been having an online affair with a woman in Des Moines. Laura checked out her background. She's a teacher who hasn't missed any work, so she has an alibi for the morning of the murder," McGee said.

"The mistress is called Emily Parker, and she seems to be the opposite of Christine Burns – very social and outgoing, involved in a lot of groups and charity organizations," Laura said.

"I couldn't find any electronic trace that Christine Burns knew anything about the mistress, however," McGee said.

"How can she be a mistress if they are in different parts of the country? When do they see one another?" Ziva asked.

Laura shook her head. "They don't. Online affair only as far as we can tell. They met in a chat room during an Alzheimer's fundraiser. Gunny's mother died of Alzheimer's."

"Then, she cannot be a mistress if they are not sleeping together," Ziva said.

"I'm sure Mrs. Burns would disagree with you. He was far more engaged with this woman than he was with his wife, and the emails are very steamy," Laura said, her lips pinched in disapproval.

"More like explicit," McGee said, his face coloring.

Ziva shook her head. "I do not feel it is the same. What about Commander Pescatore?"

"There's a complication there, too. You remember how he was late the morning of the murder because he had to drop his car at the shop? Turns out, his wife dropped it off, not him," McGee said.

"That means –" Ziva started triumphantly.

"He lied," Gibbs finished. Ziva was as sure the CO did it as Tony was convinced it was the wife. Gibbs just wasn't sure if their convictions were entirely to spite the other, however.

"So, where was he?" he asked.

"I'm heading over to the base at fourteen hundred hours to meet with him, so I can ask just that question," McGee said promptly.

"I will come with you, McGee. Now will you tell us where Tony is?" Ziva asked.

"Probably with Ducky having his shoulder X-rayed," Gibbs answered, sitting at his desk and taking a gulp of his second coffee.

"Why Ducky?" Laura asked.

"Because the idiot refused to go to the hospital," Gibbs said irritably.

"Hospital? Why did he need to go to the hospital? Did he re-injure his shoulder? What happened last night, Boss?" McGee asked.

Gibbs grit his teeth. This wasn't something he could ignore. He supposed it wouldn't remain quiet for long, and it better it came from him. "Director Shepherd broke into Tony's apartment last night at gunpoint. He subdued her, but the FBI now has the case," he said sourly, leaving out the finer points.

"Because crimes against Federal Agents fall under their jurisdiction," McGee said, eyes wide

Gibbs remained silent. There were benefits to Need to Know, and he hoped giving them the basics would subdue further questions. Apparently not.

"The FBI? I cannot believe you would allow the FBI to handle a case involving one of us again. Do you not remember when they accused Tony of murder? Why were we not called to investigate?" Ziva asked, outraged. Her mistrust of the FBI had grown exponentially since her suspension.

"We couldn't be the ones to investigate since it's Tony's apartment. A defense attorney would claim we tampered with evidence for our partner. Why would Director Shepherd break into Tony's apartment, though? What was she after?" McGee asked.

"How did he hurt his shoulder?" Laura asked.

"Hey! Our case first," Gibbs bellowed.

They all paused, none of them looking happy with the directive. McGee's mouth worked soundlessly and Ziva crossed her arms, her expression mutinous.

"Now!" Gibbs barked.

They all jumped this time and returned to their desks, putting their heads down. It was only a few minutes later when a drained-looking DiNozzo entered the bullpen, arm in his sling with the strap keeping it confined to his body back in place.

Gibbs was perturbed seeing his usually vibrant agent looking so depleted. He watched his progress until he stood in front of Gibbs' desk, handing him a folded piece of paper with Ducky's handwriting on the front.

"Tony! What happened?" McGee asked, noticing his arrival first.

"Why did the Director break into your apartment? What did she want?" Ziva asked.

Gibbs scanned the paper, reading Ducky's instructions that cleared Tony for desk duty. Of course, he had refused to take any painkillers. Gibbs was actually pleased to know that when his agent went home to Jeanne, she'd ensure that he took care of himself. There'd be benefits to having his stubborn agent involved with a doctor.

Something told Gibbs that DiNozzo had finally met his match when it came to outright bullheadedness. He also couldn't help but notice the Kevlar vest that had rested on the bed while Jeanne checked Tony's wound. His agent was a natural protector, but something about taking the time to care for her whilst under attack spoke more of tender feelings than natural instincts. His rambunctious, playboy agent was in love.

"Pipe down, peanut gallery. I know you missed me," Tony said, shit-eating grin in place once again.

"Are you going to tell us what happened or remain as constricted-mouthed as Gibbs?" Ziva asked, aggravated.

"That's tight-lipped, Zee-vah, and I find it interesting you're watching the bosses and my lips so closely. See anything you like?" Tony asked, raising his eyebrows and waggling them suggestively.

Ziva rolled her eyes. "So, you are not going to tell us what happened with the Director?" she asked.

Tony glanced over at Gibbs, and he could read the unasked question in the younger man's eyes. "Haven't heard from the FBI. Acting Director Vance says he'll let us know," Gibbs said, holding Tony's gaze.

I didn't give them any specifics.

Tony nodded minutely.

Thanks, Boss.

"So, where are we on the Burns' case?" Tony asked, putting away his mischievous side and becoming the competent Senior Field Agent that Gibbs always knew he was.

"McGee, fill DiNozzo in. The rest of you – get back to work," Gibbs said, daring any of them to refuse. "We still have a case to solve."

/* /* /* /*

Tim pulled the agency car into the NCIS garage, sliding it into a spot and killing the ignition. He and Ziva were returning from interviewing Commander Pescatore, and the tension in the car was thick and strained. The Commander had told them that yes, his wife had dropped off the car, and he'd waited to put his kids on the school bus. A check with the school had confirmed this, and his apparent alibi had Ziva steaming.

"How can we be sure this bus driver remembers the specific day he put his children on the bus?" Ziva asked for the tenth time.

Tim sighed. "Probably because it was unusual. His wife stays home."

"Then why did they change their routine this particular morning? Something is not right," Ziva said.

"I don't know, but the bus driver says he was there," Tim replied.

"I am going to investigate the bus driver. Perhaps she is friends with the family, and it is a cover over, no?" Ziva asked.

"You do that," Tim said, thinking Ziva was barking up the wrong tree. She just didn't want Tony to be right about the wife. Again.

"Speaking of a cover over, what is going on with Gibbs and Tony and the Director? Why will they not tell us what really happened?" she demanded.

"Cover up, Ziva, not cover over," Tim said, unable to stand it anymore. "That one I believe has more to the story, but you know trying to get anything out of either Gibbs or Tony if they don't want to talk is like pulling teeth. Maybe Abby knows something," Tim said, perking up a bit. He, too, would like more information.

"That is a good idea, McGee. We should go see Abby now before we go back to our desks," Ziva said, climbing out of the car.

When they reached Abby's lab however, it was disconcertedly empty. No loud music, no machines beeping out a find, no perky Goth jumping from spot to spot. It was rare for Abby's lab to be silent, so in the words of its frenzied keeper, something was hinky. Ziva's confident stride took her across the room where she swept Abby's office, her soft-tread shoes not making a sound as she moved.

"Clear," she said, and Tim's stomach twisted. She was treating Abby's lab like a crime scene, and it made him uncomfortable. Abby was fine.

"I know Balboa's team caught a case over night because they weren't here this morning. Maybe Abby worked straight through and had to go home to catch some shut eye," Tim said, knowing it was wishful thinking. Abby was more likely to catch a nap on the futon in her office than leave mid-day.

"Abby," he called, knowing it was pointless. She wasn't there.

"McGee, did you say Balboa's team caught a case last night?" Ziva asked, standing disconcertedly near.

She'd moved across the room so stealthily that Tim didn't even notice and was leaning so close, he could feel her breath against his ear.

He turned, startled. "Yeah. They were on call," he said, taking a step back to give himself some personal space. He knew that space invasion was a tactic that Ziva, Gibbs and Tony all used to intimidate suspects. Tim had never been able to pull it off comfort, however, and he certainly didn't know why Ziva would want to intimidate him. The expression on her face was calculating, and she narrowed her eyes at Major Mass Spec as if the machine had somehow offended her.

"What if–"

"Agent McGee, Officer David, what are you doing here?" Acting Director Vance asked, interrupting Ziva's question. He'd entered the lab and stopped short finding them there.

"Director Vance. What are you doing here?" McGee asked, startled.

"We were looking for Abby. We wanted to look over the ballistic results on the Burns case," Ziva lied easily.

Vance's hooded eyes watched them closely, a toothpick twirling rapidly in his mouth. After a brief yet uncomfortable pause where Tim thought the man could certainly see his thumping heart through his shirt, Vance said, "Ms. Sciuto is temporarily away from the building, and I'm on my way to meet her. The lab is being monitored in her absence. I suggest you leave Ms. Sciuto a message to contact you when she returns."

"Away?" Ziva asked, apparently not as intimidated as Tim was. "Is she all right?"

"She's fine, Officer David. I'm sure you both have work to do," Vance said, clearly dismissing them.

"Yes, sir," McGee replied, nodding as he passed the man on his way out the door. Ziva followed more reluctantly.

Once they were behind the closed elevator doors, Ziva hit the stop button. "Something is amiss. I think Balboa's team was called to Tony's apartment last night, and Abby is running tests on the evidence," Ziva said.

Tim thought about it, and her theory certainly had legs. Why else would the Director – Acting Director – be in her lab knowing Abby wouldn't be there?

"But Gibbs said the FBI is handling the case," he said.

"They have used Abby's work before, yes? Their own lab often mishandles evidence," Ziva said. "Perhaps they are working with Balboa's team, and they are now sharing their evidence."

"I'll talk to Abby when she gets back. For now, we need to focus on our case, or Gibbs will have our heads," McGee said.

Ziva pursed her lips disapprovingly, but she released the elevator so they could return to the bullpen. Tim could see Tony leaning on Gibbs' desk, his long legs sprawled in front of him as the two spoke in hushed voices. Tony looked tired, and McGee was surprised that he allowed his mask to slip so openly. It must've been a more harrowing night than Tim had guessed.

Gibbs spotted them first, and he alerted Tony to their presence with a jerk of his head.

"There you are, McFeetdragger. What took you so long? I need you to run a trace on a number," Tony said immediately, back on his feet, and the weariness being instantly replaced with frenetic energy.

Tony could make a fortune if he could bottle however it was that he managed to do that.

"What did you find?" Gibbs asked, watching their approach.

Ziva pressed her lips together, and Tim knew she didn't want to answer with Tony there. "Sergeant Pescatore still has an alibi. His wife dropped off the car, and he put his kids on the school bus. Driver confirms it," McGee said succinctly.

Tim was surprised when Tony didn't even stop to gloat or needle Ziva about her disproven theory. Instead, he thrust some papers into Tim's hands.

"Can you run a trace on this number?" he asked impatiently. "I want to know if the other number was dialed."

Tim looked at the papers. One number was a law firm, the other was the copy shop where Christine Burns worked.

"Tony, I can't just trace it without proper justification," Tim said. They'd all been extra cautious since Ziva's trouble with the search warrant.

"Do it, McGee," Gibbs said. "Christine Burns' boss gave us his okay."

Tim's eyebrows raised. "And the law firm?" he asked.

"One of my police contacts clued me in on an inheritance Peter Burns got when his mother died. My buddy also had a parent die from Alzheimer's, and he apparently knew Burns was donating a large sum to research," Tony said.

Tim's fingers slid across his keyboard. He always enjoyed connecting the dots through the cyber world where there were clear lines and logical steps to follow.

"If we can prove Christine Burns contacted the law firm that was handling the inheritance, that's a motive," Gibbs said.

"And we can get a search warrant for her car from that," Tony said. "She called from work because she knew we'd check her home phone. Sneaky, but it can still be traced."

/*/*/*/*

By later that afternoon, the case was wrapped up, and Christine Burns had been arrested and charged with the murder of her husband. It turned out, she not only had known about her husband's desire to donate a significant portion of his inheritance to Alzheimer's research – the disease that had killed his mother – but also about his mistress in Iowa. Pete had planned to divorce her and begin anew. Mrs. Burns never thought they'd be able to trace her through her work phone.

Despite Tony's annoyingly superior smirk, Tim was glad the case was solved and finished. The bonus was that it was done at a reasonable hour. He'd convinced the team to go out for a celebratory round of drinks – even Gibbs, and Tim was hoping that everyone would be in a good enough mood to share some details of what had taken place the night before.

Before they'd finished closing down their computers however, the elevator dinged and regurgitated Abby, Special Agent Balboa, and Acting Director Vance into the bullpen. Noticing the team preparing to leave, the new group came over and joined them, all looking rather grim.

Tim noticed that both Tony and Gibbs tensed, each putting down their bags and phones. Tony's face gave nothing away, but Gibbs narrowed his eyes and took a step toward Tony, covering his partner's six.

"Good, you're all still here. We just came from a meeting over at the Hoover building where we turned over all the evidence from the break-in at your apartment, Agent DiNozzo," Vance said briskly.

Tony nodded; his face impassive. Abby's lower lip trembled, however, and Tim noticed her mascara was streaked as if she'd been crying. Concern ratcheted up in Tim's belly.

"It has been determined that Jenny Shepherd is not mentally competent to be held responsible for her actions, therefore, the FBI will not be pursuing a case against her at this time," Vance said, his deep voice carrying well across the bullpen to the other members of Balboa's team and various other personnel who were straining their ears to hear.

"So, what happens next?" Gibbs asked.

"She's been declared unfit for duty and has been removed as Director of NCIS – permanently. SecNav will announce her replacement once his decision is made," Vance said.

Tim thought he sounded rather smug, and he assumed it meant that Vance would be the next one to take the helm.

"I meant what happens to her," Gibbs said, a bite in his voice.

Vance clenched his jaw and instead turned towards Tony. "Her condition is irreversible, and it's been determined that she is a danger to both herself and others, so she will remain hospitalized. This way, the threat to both you and Dr. Benoit has been neutralized. NCIS will take responsibility for any medical bills that either of you may have incurred."

Tony's face paled slightly, and a tic worked in his jaw. Abby's eyes widened, panicked as she looked over at Tony. Oddly, Laura didn't seem the slightest bit confused by this news.

"What?" Tim couldn't quite stop himself from blurting. "Jeanne Benoit was there? In your apartment?"

"Do not tell me you are sleeping with that woman again. Clearly you are still not thinking with the right head," Ziva hissed, throwing her arms in the air.

"Officer David, no one asked your opinion," Gibbs barked, glaring heatedly at his Mossad Liaison who pressed her lips together, furious.

For the first time, Vance looked uncertain, obviously realizing the can of worms he'd just opened but unsure of the context.

"I apologize if that wasn't already public knowledge. I'll be in my office if you'd like to discuss anything further," he said, making a hasty retreat up the stairs.

"I'll, ah… return to my own team. Glad it all worked out, Tony," Agent Balboa said, clapping Tony on the back and returning to his desk where his team was now huddled.

Tony's rage had been contained until it was just the team present, but now Tim could practically see sparks igniting from his blazing green eyes.

"Officer David," he snapped. "In future, you will restrain yourself from comments on my personal life in case you want to find yourself suspended again for insubordination. Are we clear?"

"Do not make me laugh. You do nothing but comment on our personal lives. Enough with your distractions. You cannot seriously be sleeping with that woman," Ziva said, either not realizing Tony was truly angry or not caring.

"Who I do and do not date is none of your concern, Officer David, nor is it to be debated in front of the Director," Tony said, teeth clenched.

"And not with your superior officer under any circumstances," Gibbs added. "Would you have made a comment like that if it was me?"

Ziva took a step back, surprised and wary. "Of course not, Gibbs, but you would never make such a foolish mistake," she said.

Tony took a step closer to her, teeth bared. "It wasn't a mistake. I'm in love with her, Ziva, and we've been back together for a while now. That isn't about to change, so you better get used to it," he said, daring her to disagree.

"And you're obviously still having trouble with the chain of command," Gibbs said, sounding more defeated and older than Tim had ever seen him.

"It sounds to me like you're jealous," Laura said, shrugging.

"Jealous? Of him?" Ziva asked, outraged. This assumption more than any of the rebukes seemed to affect her the most. "He is nothing to me."

"Yeah, it kind of sounds that way to me, too," Abby said curiously, and Tim noticed she'd stepped up next to Tony and linked her arms through his, resting her head on his shoulder.

Tim's thoughts were tumbling over themselves in such rapid succession, he couldn't keep track of them all. Tony and Jeanne were back together, and he hadn't even suspected. Memories of the last time Tony had fooled them all with his undercover mission struggled to the surface, reigniting Tim's feelings of anger and shame. Still, in all the time he'd known Tony, he'd never heard him outright display his emotions so plainly or admit to really loving anyone – not seriously, anyway, and Tony looked damned serious now.

And the idea of Ziva being jealous was just incomprehensible. She kept her true feelings more tightly locked away than even Tony – except for her anger. Like Gibbs, she had serious anger issues. She certainly wasn't acting like her normal, cool and detached self now, though.

Then there was the fact that only he and Ziva seemed surprised by this news. They'd been kept in the dark, and Tim couldn't quite conceal the hurt he felt by that omission. Although, he could concede that Gibbs and Abby had probably been more sympathetic to Tony's break-up than he and Ziva had, but why had Laura been included? Tim had been trying to ignore the blatant flirting between Tony and Laura for the past couple weeks, and he'd been waiting for Gibbs to spout off about Rule Twelve. Had it all just been a ruse?

"Do not be ridiculous, Abby. Have you all forgotten that this woman has accused Tony of murder not all that long ago?" Ziva asked heatedly.

This did seem to take Laura aback, and she turned startled eyes on Tony.

"If DiNozzo isn't worried about it, there's no reason you should be," Gibbs said.

"You must remember all the lies and secrecy the last time they were involved. I know you did not like being deceived," Ziva said.

"If I'm not worried about it, there's no reason you should be," Gibbs said, scowling.

"But Gibbs– " Ziva began.

"Ziva, we're both telling you to back off. You've got a whole lot more reason to follow the chain of command and not put a toe out of line right now," Tony said pointedly.

"And why is that only me and not you? You're the one making questionable decisions," Ziva said, sneering.

"Ziva, with Director Shepherd gone, NCIS might not need a liaison," Gibbs said, his expression intense.

Ziva pulled back, nostrils flaring. "What are you saying?"

"We're saying you need to be mindful of following orders – all orders from your superiors," Gibbs said, glaring pointedly at Tony.

Ziva huffed. "This is ridiculous. Have I not been a valuable asset to the team? Why am I being held to a different standard" she asked.

"You're being held to the same expectations as other agents. If you can't do that, there's no need for a liaison officer. Stop overestimating your own value," Gibbs said, glaring.

"Very well. I can see none of you are going to pay attention to my concerns. I no longer feel like drinking. I am going home," she said, picking up her bag and walking out without glancing back at anyone.

Tony sighed, seemingly resigned, and Gibbs shoulders slumped.

No one moved or spoke for a prolonged moment. Abby finally broke the stalemate, "So… what's this about going out for drinks? I'm in. I could use a stiff drink."

Tim looked to Gibbs for confirmation that their plans were still on.

"Yeah, let's go. Case is still finished. DiNozzo, I'm driving. You can call Jeanne and ask her if she wants to meet us there," Gibbs said.

Tony's eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open slightly. "Say again?"

"I know you've met her family. It's about time she got to know yours," Gibbs said, shrugging.

Tim couldn't quite place the look on Tony's face, but he knew he didn't imagine the sudden glistening of his eyes. He didn't think he'd ever get used to seeing this new vulnerability in Tony, but perhaps they were all ready for a new normal.

Author's Note:

If you noticed the chapter count went up, you can thank my beta, Unilocular who suggested the story needed an epilogue. (It's still not finished yet, but I'm working on it.)