This is the final chapter of what I must point out for the last time was a parody. Unlike a lot of my stories, this one has a happily ever after ending or at least it is optimistic for the possibilities. that one will emerge. Just as we all hope that this year will be the one to see Tony finally being appreciated. Let's hope his love interest is someone who won't want to neuter him before they go out. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, followed, faved or simply read along.

Internal Conflicts

Chapter 8

Epilogue

Session 18: Epilogue:

As he walked through the door and took a seat on the sofa, Dr Wilder gave his client his usual visual examination – assessing his physical state. Thinking back to the differences he saw in the individual who'd walked into his office some weeks ago to the person who walked through the door today, they were astonishing. Mike had turned up believing himself to be the character that he had played for the last eleven years. He'd been exhausted and desperate, convinced that he was losing his mind. He couldn't eat or sleep, couldn't stop pacing and was subject to crippling panic attacks. As the psychiatrist took in his clear eyes and rested countenance, he felt tremendous satisfaction at the progress that had been made in a relatively short period of time.

Smiling, he got the ball rolling. "Hallo Mike, how are you today?"

An answering grin displayed perfect white teeth in a tanned face. "Good Doc. The Triathlon was so much fun and I bettered my PB* by 1 minute 30."

"Well you certainly look the picture of health. It's good to see." George enthused. "So are you ready to go back to work next week?"

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to this year. Hopefully this will be a good one for Tony."

"I noticed you gave an interview the other day." The Psychiatrist noted slyly.

Chuckling, his client grinned even wider. "Yeah, I might have expressed the opinion that Tony has been treated like the idiot child by the rest of the team and stuck in the corner for years. Felt good to say it out loud after all this time. Hopefully Tony will get some more adult roles this year – we both deserve better than what they'd given us for too damned long."

Dr Wilder looked at Mike, feeling like this summer had brought about a new incarnation – fighting fit and filled with confidence and happiness. He looked to be so much more comfortable in his own skin. Days like this were why he loved his job so much. Sure they had done a lot of work to get to this place and it hadn't been easy, but in the end when he saw the results it was well and truly worth it.

Leaning forward, he invited his client to kick things off with a relaxation exercise before they moved on to the desensitisation techniques that would help counter triggers that might be encountered once he returned to work. Thinking back to his inability initially to do the self-hypnosis technique when he first started coming, his ability to focus and apply himself now was excellent. All in all they had a great session and both men were feeling pretty pleased with the way the session progressed. Glancing subtly at his office clock, Dr Wilder started wrapping up their session.

"Well, you have made a remarkable recovery, Mike. You look rested and settled. Your sleeping much better and the last couple of sessions I haven't seen you slipping into your on-screen persona unintentionally. I'd say you are good to go after kicking MIC4 butt. You can come back once a week for this next month to follow-up since you're going back to work and I want to monitor your progress and make sure you don't destabilise around people who might be triggers. After that we'll reassess. See how you feel about finishing up."

Standing up from the sofa and walking to his desk he returned and handed Climately a pile of papers in a file.

Mike glanced at it. What's this?" he asked, opened it up and seeing a list of names.

"The first lot are a list of Hollywood agents. Perhaps you need to find one that will watch your back to make sure that the writers stop trashing your character and committing constant Retcon. Personally I think you're selling yourself way too short, you're a fine dramatic actor, never doubt that for a minute. You're so much more than just the comic relief." He assured him, seriously.

The second list are lawyers who specialise in media and entertainment litigation. You might think about filing a suit against the EPs and screenwriters for the malicious and intentional character assassination of Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. Not to mention the dumbing down of the character, the trivialisation of the role of NCIS senior field agent. The character assassination they've practised on your character over the last eight years is a very serious crime, in my humble opinion. And I'm not the only one that thinks that way, either."

He chose his words carefully. "There's even an argument that could be made that utilising so much of your own real life to create the backstory of Tony makes them culpable for the endangerment. After all, they've benefited from incorporating elements of your past and your associations which have made it so much more difficult to untangle where the character ends and you begin. That creates an environment where the delusions of disturbed fans are able to flourish. Not exactly fulfilling their duty of care, one would think."

The other man just shook his head, not really knowing what to say to that.

George was in stride though, and carried on regardless as he expressed his opinion bluntly. "Since they make so much money out of the show - the number one drama and all that - and your character generates so much revenue, I think you should get a bigger slice of the pie as compensation for them blurring the boundaries so successfully. No wonder the lunatic fringe find it so ease to slip into an alternate reality. So I reckon the least they can do is pay for the pieces of you they'd used. Especially since they have also trashed Tony DiNozzo the way they have, Talk about have your cake and eat it too."

He smirked, "There's a highly credible rumour doing the rounds that a bunch of fans calling themselves 'Hands Off Our Very Special DiNozzo' have decided to launch a Class Action against the show's producers. They are claiming mental anguish and deep psychological harm done to them having to see Tony attacked constantly over the past eight years. They are also claiming to have experienced deep and lasting trauma when Tony was forced to lock lips with an abusive harpy. Hey their words, not mine!" He protested.

"Where was I? Oh yeah then there's the Anti-Domestic Violence group 'It's Never Okay To Knock an Injured Tony Over on Cement and Hold a Loaded Gun to his Body Protection League' who have reportedly joined the suit. As have several Feminists groups who find the excuse that Ziva David is standing up for women's rights when she engages in shockingly blatant acts of domestic violence to be abhorrent to their principles. They reckon that that scene in Tel Aviv has done untold damage to the movement and have contributed to giving young females a deplorable role model to aspire to. Even the "Olive Growers Association against Violent Sociopaths Kissing in our Groves" are up in arms over the love scene. They claim that it gives them a bad name inasmuch as Olive Growers appear to endorse domestic violence against men because it takes place in an olive grove." He frowned as he looked out his window.

"I know there's more groups than that. Um… oh yeah there's the OODAs." Seeing Mike's quizzical expression he explained. "They're the "Outraged over Dead Air" law enforcement group, claiming that it paints federal agents and cops as idiots who are unprofessional by not following the most basic of procedures and protocols. And then ,the last ones to join at the moment are the "Stop Flogging the Crap out of our Mini Cooper Car Club." They don't like the way that Ziva mistreats her car and feel that she's encouraging cruelty to dumb cars. I think the Prisoner rights group –"It's Illegal to Kill Suspects in Elevators When They Won't Stop Talking Society" are considering signing on too but are still considering their options. So if it gets to court, it's gonna be one Hell of a stoush!" He predicted, gleefully.

"Okaaay," Mike responded feeling dazed by all this information, before looking at the names on the last page. "So what are the other names? They sound like the stage names of exotic dancers." He said, diplomatically.

George chuckled. "Hardly – their pen names. Jordan says they are fan fiction writers. This one here, "He pointed at the first one on the page. "Is apparently a walking encyclopaedia of canon for the show's 11 seasons. What they don't know they research, either by checking out the relevant episode or by looking up the episode transcripts online. One wonders why the writers don't keep the script transcripts handy themselves to refer to them so they don't make ridiculous continuity errors on a regular basis."

"And what about this one? Sounds like a children's' story book character." He asked, pointing to one name, halfway down the page."

"Oh yeah, that one… he is supposed to be really great at writing comedy. Not the mean, bullying let's all make Tony look like a complete dick and he's the butt of all jokes, sort of comedy. That would have to be the lowest form of wit and the easiest to write. This fan fic writer apparently is able to write comedy that is witty and intelligent, without sinking to playing the dumb Tony card simply to get a cheap laugh."

Curious about where this was leading, he pointed to the last pen name on the bottom of the page with OC beside it. "And this one?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh… they are well known for creating original characters who are strong and independent without being Mary Sues. Jordan says that many of Tony's fans want to see him given a steady love interest who is going to be an equal partner in a healthy adult relationship. They feel that he deserves to be happy. Oh and not be killed off."

"O…kaaay," Mike drawled a second time. "That's good to know but why did you give their names to me, Doc?"

Just that these are people who actually know the canon for you and the rest of the cast and seem to write plots that are far more in character than the people that have been hired and pay to write for the show. My advice is that the next time you negotiate your contract, get your agent to demand they hire people who have actually watched the show and know the canon for the episodes they are writing. According to Jordan she would recommend any of these guys on the list, she says they are top notch."

The End

End Notes:

*PB Personal best.

For the guest who wanted to know what MOTE stood for - Michael & Cote