Author's Note: This is it. This completes the story arc of Bobby's angst. This is the end of this story. See my note at the end. It's important.

Disclaimer: I don't own CI. Lord help us if I did.

Title: Keeping It Together

By: Marion

Epilogue

Bobby sat beside the Turtle Pond for a long time that morning. I was a pretty day, crisp and cool, but not too cold. He thought about some really happy times he'd spent there when he was very young. His mom and his brother showing him the turtles. He smiled.

He took out his cell phone and called Alex. "What animal are you guys looking at?" he asked.

"Penguins," she said.

"I'll be there in a few minutes," he told her.

"See you soon."

xxx

"Uncle Bobby!" Cassie called. "Over here!"

He came closer and Sarah and Cassie ran to hug him. "Hi there," he said.

"We saw a big elephant," said Sarah excitedly.

"Come see the seals, Uncle Bobby. They're so cool," said Cassie. They took his hands and led him back to Alex and the rest.

"Hey, partner," said Alex.

"Good morning," he said, giving her a grin. She could tell he was feeling better.

They walked through the zoo, Sarah and Cassie excitedly pointing out animals and sights to Bobby.

"Do you like being my uncle?" Sarah asked Bobby, off-handedly.

Bobby stopped walking and grinned at the little girl. "Its my best title," he said. He looked at Alex. "I have to go."

"Noooo," whined Sarah and Cassie.

He knelt and hugged each of them. "I'll see you again before you know it," he said. "You be good."

He stood. Alex put a hand on his arm. "What's up, Bobby?"

He smiled warmly at her. "There's someone I have to see. I'll call you tonight."

"Good luck, Bobby."

"Thanks."

THE END

Final Note: Please Read, IMPORTANT!

Okay, before you send a lynch mob after me, there is a Sequel! I gave up writing my original nanowrimo novel because all I wanted to write was this. So I decided to write a Criminal Intent story for my nano novel.

The point of nanowrimo is to write 50,000 words in November. It's to turn off your inner critic and get your words out. With all of you counting on me to finish it I'll do better than I have in the past.

These are my promises to you:

I will write "The Ivy Green" in November. It will be BA shippy and it will have the story of Goren and his niece, Ivy. I will begin posting it in December as I edit it. I hope you will all read.

To make it easier to keep tabs on, I will post the first chapter as a preview so that you can put it on alert if you want to. The first chapter will be up at the same time as this chapter.

I'm doing it this way so that I can deliver you my best work. I don't want anyone to read my nano novel unedited.

Thank you for your reviews and your readership of this story. I can hardly wait until I'm ready to post "The Ivy Green."