Epilogue

One Week Later

Oak Hill Cemetery

15 miles North of Camp Lajune, North Carolina

The black ford bronco pulled into the cemetery and idled for a minute before the engine shut off. It sat in silence for a longtime, the engine popping and ticking as it cooled. Finally, Terry stepped from the vehicle and made his way to his sister grave. He carried a bouquet of red roses, Kelly favorite flower. He tenderly placed the flowers in front of the headstone, then stood at attention and saluted. "Hey, Kell-bell, I…" Terry chuckled at the absurdity of it. He hadn't used Kelly's nickname it….too long. "I'm sorry I haven't been here in…in a while." He stopped again and cleared his throat. This was harder than he thought.

"But I just wanted to tell you that I got the bastard who hurt you. I…" Terry stopped again, tears coming to his eyes. One would think you'd get over something after nearly thirty years.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there, kid. I wish…I wish you could be here. I've got a beautiful wife and two of the greatest kids on this earth, one who's name after you by the way, that I wish you could meet. And Sam, he's the male version of you, smart as a whip, but can still put us all in stitches when he wants to. I forgave Jack, if you didn't know. I know that's what you would want. I'm guessing that you know what's going on down here and Tony and Kate came back to NCIS. I'm an agent now, too." Suddenly, Terry's phone rang and he answered, irritated that he'd been disturbed. "What?" He listened for a minute before saying, "Ok, I'll meet you there in an hour." Then he hung up.

"Well, duty call's. I'll see you around, kid." Terry said. Then he turned and walked back to his truck, feeling whole for the first time in a longtime.