Epilogue
"This isn't funny, McGee."
"Tony, how many times do I have to tell you? It wasn't me." McGee twitched the bobble-head and watched the fanged face jitter up and down. "How many does that make now anyway?"
"Twenty-two," sighed Tony.
McGee lined up the bobbing Dracula with the others guarding the edge of the desk. He glanced over further into DiNozzo's cube. "Whoever found that Fauteuil a la Reine must have really—"
Tony looked suspiciously at the silk-upholstered armchair that had mysteriously replaced his desk chair that morning. "You know about French period furniture, McGee?"
"What? No. Of course not ... I mean, I know—"
"McGee." Tony advanced on the younger agent. "You will switch my chair back, McGee. And you will do it now."
"I didn't do it. I swear."
"Hey, Tony." DiNozzo's shoulders slumped slightly as Kate came into view. "You decide to redecorate?" She leaned over the desk for a better look. "Nice Fauteuil a la Reine."
"Boss?" Tony looked imploringly toward Gibbs as he made his way from the elevator.
"I tell you that you could redecorate, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs, surveying the situation.
"No, boss. But I didn't redecorate."
Gibbs came around the desk to see the offending piece of furniture more clearly. "Cabriole legs." He rubbed a hand along the walnut arms. "Nice carving. Doesn't really go with the desk, though
"If I just kill you all, will it put me out of my misery?"
"I doubt it," said Kate. "Emerson's guys have a copy of the case report."
Tony sank down into the carved arms of the chair and put his head down on his desk and Gibbs scattered the remainder of the audience with few well-placed looks.
"How's the nightmares?" inquired Gibbs taking a sip of his coffee.
Tony raised up cautiously. "Well, lately," he gestured toward his current seating arrangement, "it's only been the kind you get in the daylight hours."
"Good," said Gibbs, patting his shoulder. "That's the way it should be."
end
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