EPILOGUE

Five Weeks Later

'Honey I'm home,' Tony called cheerfully to Kate as he returned to the office after his recuperation.

'Tony!' she looked up in surprise. 'Hi. I didn't think you were due back yet,' she simply said before turning back to her computer and the report she was typing.

'Oh really,' DiNozzo deflated. 'Funny Caitlin I sort of expected a more enthusiastic welcome back then that. 'he walked to his desk. 'Silly me.'

TONY!' he smiled his mega watt smile as Abby bounded into the room her face beaming. 'Oh God it's good to have you back,' she raced around his desk to give him a hug and he now had his back to Kate and couldn't see her waving frantically and shaking her head at Abby.. 'We've all missed you so much,' Abby told him. 'Especially Kate.'

'Oh really,' he looked over his shoulder and gave her one of his sly gotcha looks.

'Oh yeah,' Abby continued. 'Kate couldn't get on with any of the temps they had here while you were off in hospital and then recovering,' she gave Kate a cheeky smile. 'Well you just take care and I'll see you later,' she gave him a kiss that had Kate wondering yet again about if there was a relationship between them or not. 'Oh Ducky is going to pop up and say hello too but he's just busy at the moment.'

'Yeah see you later Abby,' he smiled as he watched her go and then turned back to Kate

'Oh you did miss me, you do care,' he gave her a puppy dog look that was quickly replaced with another smile before he sat down at the desk the grin getting wider by the second and Kate wishing the ground would open up and swallow her or wondering how she could possibly get away with wringing Abby's neck.

DiNOZZO,' Tony jumped to his feet as Gibbs entered the office bellowing his name.

'Yes Boss, I'm here. I'm not late,' he glanced at the clock. 'I'm early actually.'

'I know,' Gibbs stopped in front of him and then smiled. 'Welcome back Tony,' he said before poking the younger man in the chest. 'We missed you and it's good to see you back fully recovered but be warned, if you ever pull that stunt of not contacting me again and denying me the opportunity of deciding if you go solo or not, I will kill you myself. Understood.'

'Yes boss. Totally,' Tony fought to suppress the smile that threatened to break out. It was good to be back, hell yeah he was home again and it felt damn good.

It was two hours later when Gibbs got the call and before he'd hung up Kate and Tony were already on high alert.

'What's up boss?' Tony asked

'Both of you go and pack we're going to Baltimore'

'Baltimore,' a frown creased Tony's brow

'Yes DiNozzo Baltimore,' Gibbs shook his head at him. 'You do remember it don't you.'

'Of course boss.' Tony said softly and Kate could tell that he wasn't very happy about going back to Baltimore and she had to wonder why

'Well we're going there, now both of you go and pack. You've got forty minutes before he leave.'

'Yes boss,' the pair said in unison as they switched off their computers and headed for the elevator.

Great, just great Tony thought to himself as he got into his car and headed home to pack. Baltimore held so many memories most of them unhappy ones and now he was going to have to confront all the ghosts he'd left behind, all the ghosts that seemed, at least in his mind, to reside on every corner of the Streets of Baltimore.

A/N – Streets Of Baltimore coming 2005 grin Well hopefully. Once again thank you to everyone who read Agent Down and reviewed. It was much appreciated.