Chapter Text
Chapter 13
Epilogue
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tony DiNozzo looked up at the familiar voice greeting him, the umbrella over his table shading his eyes from the sun.
"DiNotezo, I've been hoping to see you around." Fornell dropped onto the seat across the café table from the ex-NCIS agent. "Do you mind?" he asked, holding open his hands to indicate the table.
"As long as you're here as you and not as Gibbs' emissary," Tony told him dryly, though he flashed a cautious smirk.
"Nope, strictly as my own man," Fornell quickly assured him. "Besides, you know I've never given you a rough time over Jethro's stupidity. Not about to start now. I just wanted to know how you're doing now that the dust has settled. I'm assuming it has settled, yes?"
"For the most part." Tony nodded.
"Good. Good to hear. I wanted to let you know that I'm around if you need anything, and I was hoping to get a good word in for any future employment you'd be looking for." He snickered as Tony flashed a big grin and held up a hand to stop any comments. "But the grapevine says that I'm likely too late. Again."
"Sorry, Fornell, but yes, you are. I'm enjoying a last leisurely weekend before I start at Homeland on Monday. Tom Morrow finally got his wish; he got me back on his team. I've been thinking I should have followed him when he asked me to. But I refuse to start a new chapter with a fuckton of regrets.
"So," Tony raised his head and waved at the sky then his cup in front of him, "the sun, a cappuccino, a day on the beach tomorrow, and a Monday starting with a clean slate." He focused a speculative look at the older Italian. "So why are you here offering me any help I might be lacking instead of offering it to Gibbs?"
"Oh, Jethro gets my help too." Fornell nodded. "I'm probably the only reason he didn't starve to death the first week after the bomb blast."
Tony snickered but kept his attention on the man. Tobias returned the look steadily.
"But you're both my friends," Tony raised a surprised eyebrow at that, "and the two friendships don't have to intersect to work. I will throw something in here to advocate for him, no string attached," he added quickly as Tony's eyes narrowed.
"He said Rabb passed on his message that he'd like to apologize whenever you're ready to hear it. Just want to let you know, he still means that. He knows how badly he fucked up things with you, and that bothers him more than losing the rest of the team and his job. But he's pulling his shit together. I think he's actually starting to enjoy retirement, and that's all I'll say on the subject."
Tony continued sitting silently, his steady gaze almost looking through the older man. Fornell held his eyes just as steadily, letting Tony work through everything he'd said at his own pace.
Finally Tony nodded a couple of times and gave a small, easy smile. "Thanks for that, Tobias. And it's getting late, so I think it's time for me to go." Tony stood up, picked up his phone and sunglasses off the table. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you around. DC's not that big. And… it would be nice to do this again sometime."
"Any time, Tony," Fornell agreed almost eagerly. "And anything you need, you know how to reach me. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the new job. Tell Morrow he's lucky to have you."
With a flash of his usual megawatt smile, Tony tapped the table twice before slipping on his sunglasses and turning away.
Fornell leaned back in his seat, a soft smile lighting his face as he watched the young Italian walk away.
The end