Epilogue

One month later...

Things had continued to improve at NCIS, which Tim loved. Jimmy and he were slowly getting back to the way things had been before and the team was starting to gauge that the others at NCIS were starting to forget about what had happened or at least not assume that Tim was going to go postal and kill them. Gibbs had gradually reduced the number of times he cautioned Tim about going places alone, which Tim appreciated. He liked having time to himself. His mother had met his parents and things were proceeding as well as they could on that front, which made Tim feel relieved. There would be more that had to be done for things to feel natural, but they were getting there.

And the balance he'd been trying to find was becoming more and more a reality. His life could never be completely in balance, but he knew that and accepted it.

It wasn't perfect, but he felt more than okay which was a relief. He'd had so many problems, so many struggles, but they were all helping him fit into the human life that he could never leave. It would, he hoped, feel less and less like a trap and more and more like a blessing.

Right now, he was sitting on the beach, staring at the water and enjoying the almost-foreign feeling of not wanting to get into the water. He just enjoyed seeing it, hearing it, and knowing that it was there.

The seals were starting to head back into the water for their evening feeding. From a human perspective, Tim had to admit it was kind of funny how awkward they were on land and how graceful they were in the water.

"How did you know they'd be here?"

Tim jumped in surprise.

"I thought you were staying back, Abbs."

Abby grinned. "I couldn't. I'm too inquisitive. How did you know they'd be here?"

"I didn't. I just wanted to come. You're the one who was so focused on them."

Suddenly, one seal broke off from the others and waddled over. Tim sat up and looked around. The beach seemed vacant. The seal twitched its whiskers and then waddled toward a place where there were rocks to hide them from view. Tim followed...with Abby close behind.

Then, to Tim's surprise (again), the seal stretched upward.

...removing its seal skin, leaving his father standing before them.

"I can't believe you did that! Isn't it against the rules?" Tim asked.

"She already knows."

"And I got to see! Wow! Thank you!" Abby said. "That is amazing! So cool! That might be the coolest thing I've ever seen in my whole entire life!"

The selkie smiled at her excitement.

"I felt she should receive a reward for the work she did. This is it. I cannot stay."

"I understand," Tim said. "I didn't expect to see you at all. I'm glad I did."

"Things are well for you and your mother?"

"Yes. A little awkward still, but getting better. Thank you."

The selkie nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Abby said.

The selkie did as she asked.

"Could I..." She looked at Tim who shook his head at her. This was a bad idea. She ignored him. "I told you about DNA before."

"Yes," the selkie said.

"Could I take a sample of your DNA when you're a seal? I promise that this will never get shared anywhere. I just really want to see it. See if I'm right."

The selkie stared at her in silence for some time. Then, he raised an eyebrow.

"What will be done with this DNA when you are finished seeing it?"

"I'll destroy it," Abby said, although Tim could tell that it pained her to say it.

Another long silence. Then, to Tim's surprise, he nodded.

"I will not change again. Farewell, Tim," the selkie said. It was the first time he'd used Tim's name and it was also a surprise. "We will only see each other if the seals come this way again. It may never happen, but then, again, it may."

Tim grinned. "I understand."

Then, the selkie returned to his seal form and waddled close enough to Abby to let her take her DNA sample. She was giddy with excitement as he flopped back into the water.

"I can't believe it, Tim! It's so amazing."

Tim smiled at how happy this made her. In a way, it was like what had driven his mother when she was young. Abby had joy just in knowing that it was all real. She wanted to see the scientific details, but knowing that it was real was more than half the beauty of it.

"Tim, is it okay that I took some of your time with your dad?"

Tim smiled. "It's fine, Abby. I wasn't expecting to see him when we came here. I'm surprised he did what you asked."

"I'm just that persuasive," she said. "Do you want to know what I find?"

"Of course."

"Good. It'll take a while since we don't have the full sequence for a regular seal DNA. I can't just compare. I don't know how long it will take to finish it."

"Do you think it'll matter?"

"I don't know, but it'll be interesting...because you're interesting."

"I don't know if I need to be that interesting."

"You just can't help it, Tim. You're interesting."

They laughed and left the beach together.

FINIS!