Author's Note: Thank you earthdragon for requesting this epilogue. I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to add another chapter or not, so I'm glad you said something. I also feel more satisfied with this ending than what I originally had.

Thank you all for reading and for your reviews! :)

The Cemetery - Epilogue

There was a slight overcast as Tim made his way through the various grave markers. The weather forecast had predicted heavy rainfall in the area but Tim didn't care. He would be returning to work the next day and knew this would be his last chance to make a trip like this for at least a couple of weeks. It really didn't matter if he went today or in two weeks, but he knew that if he waited he would just talk himself out of it and put it off longer, and he'd been putting it off long enough.

At first he wasn't able to find it and wondered if the cemetery attendant had given him the correct plot information. But just as he was about to turn back he saw it, next to a large oak tree.

Lissy Brewer

Beloved daughter and friend

She will be missed

Tim stared at the headstone, uncertain of what to say or do. After the accident he had been to weak to leave the hospital and attend the funeral. He kept telling himself that he would visit her grave, that he would pay his respects. He owed her that much. Upon leaving the hospital however he found that the sting of the loss was still too close to his heart and he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even if the pain hadn't been present, there was the issue of his guilt. He'd been blaming himself for Lissy's death for years, even if he didn't know it. But it was time to let it go.

Over the past few months while he'd been recuperating Tim was finally able to recall everything that had happened to him "in between" and it was this recollection that brought him here. Seeing Lissy, knowing that she held no malice towards him for her death, that she still loved him, it was enough to bring him to the place of her rest and find the closure he needed to say goodbye.

"Hey Lissy," he said quietly. He imagined her voice, accusing him of being late and he smiled. "Sorry about that."

He sighed, trying to think of what to say.

"It was good seeing you, back when I got hurt. I don't think I would have had the strength to get back without you. So thank you for that."

You had the strength, you just needed to be reminded. Another imagined response.

"I guess you're right, as usual."

A slight breeze picked up and he turned up the collar on his jacket. The last thing he needed was to get sick just before coming back to work. Tony would have a field day with that.

"I think he knows by the way," Tim said. "Tony I mean. He came to see me a couple of months ago and after making his usual wise cracks he was quiet for a minute and then said, 'If you ever need to talk, about anything, I'm here for you.' It seemed so out of character for him that I wasn't sure if I believed him or if he was trying to be funny. But then I looked at him and I could see his sincerity. He's stopped by a couple of times since then and it's like something has changed. At first I thought maybe it was because I got shot and he was still worried but that's not how Tony deals with worry. He either lashes out or he makes a joke out of everything. Lately though it's like we're actually friends. I mean, I always thought we were friends, but it actually felt like it, you know?

"Which leads me to believe he found out about you and the accident. I'm guessing he had some help, too. Neither one of them have said anything about it though, which I'm grateful for. Maybe someday I'll sit down and talk to them about it, but I think I need to get my closure first."

He sighed.

"I love you, Lissy. I always have and I always will, but I need to move on. I know that's what you'd want me to do."

He crouched down and touched the headstone.

"Goodbye."

He stood and took a breath.

"Timothy McGee?"

Tim turned and found an older woman standing there with a bouquet of flowers. At first he wasn't sure who it was, but recognition dawned on him, and he smiled.

"Mrs. Brewer," he said.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, sweetie!" she exclaimed wrapping her arms around him tightly. "It's been so long!"

"Too long," he replied as they pulled away.

"How have you been? What are you doing with your life?"

"I"m good. I'm a federal agent now."

"A federal agent! That's quite impressive. Must be a trying job."

You have no idea, he thought, but told her, "I manage."

"How are your parents and Sarah?"

"All doing well. Sarah's studying at the university and mom and dad are both working."

"How are things with your father? Have they gotten any better?"

Tim laughed. Mrs. Brewer always wanted to know everything about every aspect of your life. She wasn't a gossiper by any means, she just liked to know those things. While she was very inquisitive she also knew when to back off.

"Things are going pretty well. Still a little rocky, but it's much better."

"Good, good, I'm glad to hear it."

She looked down at her daughter's headstone and a silence fell between them. She knelt down and laid the flowers on the stone.

"I can't believe it's been so long. Jack and I used to come visit her grave once a month, but then we moved and it became more difficult to make the trip up. I haven't been here in three years."

"How is your husband?" Tim asked, changing the subject.

Mrs. Brewer smiled sadly. "He's gone I'm afraid, two years next month."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It was his time to go. Besides, he gets to be with his little girl, and that brings me comfort."

Tim smiled. Lissy had always been a daddy's girl. Her relationship with him was something Tim had envied and it had been a major aspect when deciding to propose to her. He knew how close the two of them were, and he wanted to be sure that Mr. Brewer fully approved of him before he tried to "steal away" his little girl.

"So are you visiting the area?" Tim asked.

"I actually just moved back. I was having a hard time taking care of things by myself, and while I had a few friends there it just never really felt like home. So, here I am, back to the place of my roots. Besides, Rebecca lives here still and after losing Jack it will be nice to have family around again."

"I didn't know Rebecca was still here," Tim said. "Didn't she go of to Princeton or somewhere like that?"

"She did, but she came back here after getting her degree. She's teaching English at the community college." Mrs. Brewer paused. "You should come by and see her. I know you haven't seen her since the Christmas before the accident, but she really thought highly of you."

"I don't know..."

"I'm not saying right now, but sometime soon. She and Lissy were close growing up, as close as sisters could be without being the same person. She'd love to see you."

Tim thought about it.

"Maybe I'll stop by sometime," he finally said.

Mrs. Brewer grinned ear to ear. "Good," she said. She jotted something down on a piece of paper she pulled from her purse and then handed it to Tim. "This is the number for the main house. The two of us have cell phones but heaven knows I'm still trying to figure out how it works, and I don't have her number off the top of my head. Give us a call; we'll arrange a dinner date or something."

Tim took the paper and smiled. "Thanks, Mrs. Brewer." There was a clap of thunder, not too loud but it sounded rather close. "Looks like the rain is coming," he observed. "Do you need a ride home?"

"My friend Eloise brought me." Mrs. Brewer turned and motioned towards a silver car parked just a few feet from Tim's car. "But thank you for the offer."

The two of them walked over to Eloise's car, chatting a little about days past and the good times they used to have. When they reached the car, Mrs. Brewer gave Tim another hug.

"It was so good to see you," she said. She pulled back and Tim saw her eyes were glistening. He noticed his own eyes felt a little wet. "Don't be a stranger."

"I won't," he assured her. They said their goodbyes and Tim watched as Mrs. Brewer and Eloise drover away.

The rain started to come down as he closed his car door. He sat a moment, his eyes fixed on the spot where she was buried. For the first time in years he could feel the peace and contentment he longed for after the accident. He still missed her, and it still made him sad to think about, but he knew he was going to be okay.

He turned on the ignition and began the drive back to D.C.