When Jeanne gave him the ultimatum Tony didn't think twice about leaving NCIS and going with her. He had a clean work record and knew he would have a problem getting a new job but his leaving didn't go over well with the others. Abby was furious and wouldn't speak to him while Tim tried to understand and Ziva was mad at Tony. Gibbs didn't say anything negative but Tony knew he wasn't happy with him.
"Why won't you just tell me Gibbs?"
"Tell you what?"
"Whatever it is you want to tell me for following the woman that I love. Is it so wrong to do what I want to follow the woman I love?"
"Did I say that? I'm not going to say anything Tony because you have to do what's right for you but you also know that my door's always open."
"Already expecting me to fail boss?" Gibbs hands him a glass of bourbon and Tony can tell he has a lot on his mind.
"No, of course not. It must be serious if you're leaving us for her. I just mean that you might want to talk or just need somewhere to go. Just because you're not a part of the team doesn't mean you aren't family."
"Yeah ... tell that to Abby."
"She blames Jeanne and her father for putting your life in danger. She does want you to be happy but she's afraid once you leave you'll never come back." Tony takes a drink of his bourbon.
"I know I shouldn't have fallen in love with her because it compromises everything but Jeanne's different."
"You can't help who you fall in love with DiNozzo and she seems nice enough. What are you going to do when your time's up with us?"
"We want to travel some, just get away for a while. I have money saved and my trust fund and she has money too. She wants to just get away for a while mostly from her father but just the two of us."
"I get it and just keep in touch so we know you're alive. Kort won't stop until he stops her father."
"I know and that's why we choose to travel rather than just stick around here doing nothing. I'm going to look for work after we return."
"Just let me know and I can give you a good recommendation."
"Thanks boss,"
"You know there's just one more thing you have to do before turning in your paperwork tomorrow." Tony was confused. "Hand over the job to McGee."
"I thought that was already official."
"Yeah well I overheard him and Ziva talking and they assume that I did it because you're leaving. You could've recommended anyone else for the spot but you wanted him to take your place so I think it'll mean more coming from you."
"Okay, I'll have to remember that." Tony's phone goes off. "Hey Jeanne, I'm just talking with Gibbs in his basement."
"Tony, please come home. We have to go to the hospital and …" Jeanne was trying not to cry but she broke down as Tony got up.
"What happened? Who's at the hospital?"
"Sarah just called. They found a body in the river and she's sure it's my dad. Someone killed him and I have to go identify his body. I can't do this on my own Tony. Please come home and go with me."
"Okay, I'm on my way. Are you sure it's …?"
"Sarah met him once and they don't have positive ID but she's pretty sure it's him. I tried to call his phone and he's not answering. He's never ignored my calls."
"Okay, I'm on my way. Just wait there for me and we'll go." Tony runs a hand over his face. "Sorry boss I got to go?"
"What happened? Who's at the hospital?"
"Jeanne's co-worker Sarah said they brought a body in and they think it's her dad. She has to go identify his body and she doesn't want to go alone. I'll see you in the morning to finish the paperwork and all of that."
"Okay Tony and be careful." That night after confirming Le Grenouille's body Jeanne spent the night crying in Tony's arms.
"Do you really have to go in this morning? I don't want to be alone."
"I'm sorry but I have to. Come with me, it's just my exit interview and finish the paperwork. Plus I have to hand over the reigns to McGee to make him the official senior field agent."
"I can't go they hate me. Will you come home as soon as possible?" Tony kisses her head.
"I should be home by lunch." At the office when Tony walked in Gibbs knew what happened.
"Tell Ms. Benoit sorry for her loss. Is she okay?"
"No, she wanted me to stay home with her but I had to come finish out everything. I told her I'd be home by lunch though." Tim was there.
"Lunch? We were going to take you out for lunch today."
"Sorry Probie but Jeanne's father died and we identified his body last night. She wants me home."
"Oh, I didn't know."
"I know and it's okay. I only came in because I had to finish up some stuff." After Tony's exit review with Jenny, she looks at him.
"Tony, if I knew you were falling for Jeanne I would've stopped the mission a long time ago. I didn't want anyone to get hurt and I didn't realize how close the two of you were getting."
"I know and I could've pulled out any time. I knew if you realized how serious it was getting you would've stopped it but I thought I could handle it." He hands her a business card. "That's Dr. Evans; he's good at what he does?"
"What exactly does he do?"
"Works with neurology diseases. He's not the best but if you're going to stay here, he's the one you want. Ducky recommended him and so did Dr. Pitt."
"How did you …?"
"The way your hands shake, sometimes your eyes do this funny little thing. I don't know if you realize it but that's what happened to my mom. Slowly it was little things like yours right now but there was no help for her back then but there is now. Not a cure but better then what my mom went through."
"Thank you Tony, I've been told there isn't a cure."
"Like I said there's not but there's help and it helps people to live. Better than slowly dying and he'll take you. The Elizabeth Paddington Foundation funds his research for a cure and they'll pay for the treatments too if you qualify."
"I'm the director of a federal agency I don't think I'll qualify for help."
"It's based on need not financial status. I already submitted your name to be cleared. Just call him and get help so maybe things won't be so bad." Tony leaves the office.
"How did things go?" Tony sighs,
"Okay I guess and I finished the paperwork. I hate to run off but I don't want to leave Jeanne home alone too long." Gibbs shakes his hand,
"It was good working with you, stay in touch and let me know when you need a recommendation."
"Thanks Gibbs, I will." Tim and Ziva join him. "Well now it's official Tim, you're senior field agent. Everything's unlocked, I put the generic password on my files and everything's set for you."
"Thanks but you don't have to act formal. We know it's just routine to pass it on." Tony acts surprised.
"I was asked who I recommended for the position. Being with Gibbs for 8 years, I learned who can do the job and who can't. You pulled your weight when he retired and you're more trained now so I don't doubt you can do it still."
"Okay, thanks." Tony smiles at Ziva.
"Don't let him pick on the new Probie too much."
"If he does I will join in." Tony laughs knowing he was going to miss their usual banter.
"I have to go, I promised Ducky and Palmer I'd stop by before I left." Tim nods,
"What about Abby?"
"She doesn't want to talk to me but I'm going to stop by anyway. I can't just walk off without saying anything." After saying goodbye to Ducky and Jimmy explaining why he was leaving early he went to Abby's lab. "I'm leaving now Abs." She looks at him.
"We wanted to take you out to lunch."
"I know Probie told me but I have to get back to Jeanne. I'm not going to be gone forever Abs and you have my email address right?"
"Yeah, you're going to check it?" Tony laughs hugging her.
"Of course and I will write to you too. We're going to travel but they have internet most places and my phone does too."
"I know I'm just going to miss you Tony. I wish you could stay here with us."
"We'll be back and you can come see me when we do. She just doesn't want me working for NCIS anymore. Now her father's dead so we have to deal with that and then we're going to travel too." Tony picked up some soup for Jeanne on the way back to his apartment where she was talking in French to someone.
"Sorry that was my mother. She's flying down tomorrow to see me. I needed to talk to someone and didn't want to bother you at work." Tony hugs her.
"I wouldn't have minded and you're not a bother. Everyone sent their condolences and said if we need anything to let them know." Jeanne just looks at him and Tony smiles. "Well Gibbs and Ducky did and I know the others would help if I called them just like I would help them if they called. I brought you some soup, I'm sure you haven't eaten anything yet."
"Thank you Tony and you know when we return if you want to stay in touch I won't say anything I just would prefer you don't work there."
"I know and they have my personal email address to stay in touch. Abby's the one to likely stay in touch but I want to know how Jenny's doing too."
"Why? She almost got us killed?"
"It wasn't her it was Kort but she's sick and I gave her the name of that doctor you told me about. Dr. Evans, the neurology specialist."
"She's the one with the disease?"
"Yeah, her symptoms are the same as my mom's were and I'll never forget them as long as I live. I don't like her but she asked if I needed to be pulled out but I was just so in love with you I didn't want to disappear like that. I told her I didn't have a problem staying but I didn't know it'd end up like this." Jeanne hugs him.
"Do you regret coming with me?"
"Would you have called me last night if I didn't?" Jeanne shakes her head.
"It wouldn't have been right if you didn't want to be with me."
"I would've come anyway right or not." Jeanne spent the day going through her fathers stuff and calling people who had to know. Tony opens his laptop emailing Abby to remind her he was either a phone call or email away. Abby promised to send him something at least once a week and Tony was happy she was at least speaking to him now.