A few months before:

"Anthony has Gibbs seen the real report of the injury you sustained when Ziva's bullet ricocheted and hit you in the arm in that storage container when you two were trapped there?" Ducky asked.

Tony replied "No . He believes her version that it just grazed me and that I was wearing the sling to be dramatic." "Heard all about the cozy little team dinner she threw for everyone but me too. But oh right , I couldn't be trusted to behave in her apartment or something."

Ducky looked at him. "She said you had other plans and that your arm was hurting to us."

He shrugged. " Well , she is a good liar. I was never asked. Just means I am going to take Fornell up on his offer and make a move. The FBI is really interested in me as a profiler in their behavioral analysis unit. This way Ziva can have what she wants, me gone and she can run McGee into the ground."

Ducky sighed. "Have you told anyone yet? About your decision to leave us?"

Tony said "Have a meeting with Director Shepard in a few minutes. Have this for Gibbs. Only need to add that medical report and then I am out of here." "I'll miss you , Abby and Palmer but I need a clean break. I'm sure Gibbs will be in touch, he always is but this is for me. I can't be in the field with someone that I can't trust to have my back. Ziva hasn't wanted me around since the minute she came here and Ari died. So she will celebrate. Heard there is a new possible female that wants in here from the west coast."

Ducky nodded. "Well Anthony I won't forget how kind you were to mother when you moved her furniture around on those weekends and helped groom the dogs. "

Tony smiled. "She wasn't so bad. She just called me her Italian gigolo."

Ducky said "Are you telling Abigail, you are leaving?"

He replied "I will after I make it official . Thank you Ducky."

Ducky replied "I am always here anytime you need anything dear boy, just call me ."

Tony nodded. "I will "

Tony entered the bullpen and said "Gibbs I need a moment with the director, that envelope and file on your desk explain why . Sorry it has to be this way but it's time for me to leave the party."

Ziva said "Some other federal agency will have you? The class clown who flirts with every woman in sight?"

Tony replied "Why yes Ms. David they will. The FBI wants me as soon as I tie up some loose ends here . I'd say I would miss you but then I'd be lying."

He kept going up the stairs as he heard Gibbs open the envelope while sitting at his desk.

Then he was allowed to go into Director Shepards office. She said "So you want to move on Agent Dinozzo?"

He replied "Yes maam I do. I have my reasons clearly stated in a letter to Agent Gibbs and here is a copy of the same for you. Also a medical report that you may find interesting regarding my arm injury in the storage container with Ziva. I have an opportunity with the FBI to be a profiler and I want to take advantage of it. I cannot work around Officer David . She will not have my back in the field and does not want to trust me or be my partner."

Jenny said "Well you have some unused paid time off coming. I will put in the paperwork for that for you and also your resignation letter and file. I am sorry that you are leaving Tony but I know you wouldn't do it if it wasn't necessary for your own well being."

He replied " Thank you. It has been a pleasure to work with you maam and there are some things I will miss about this place."

She stood and shook his hand. "Good luck, I understand Aaron Hotchner the unit supervisory special agent was impressed with your file and he doesn't do that easily."

Tony shrugged. "Fornell put in a few good words. "

She replied "It's more than that Tony, you're good. Maybe I need to look more closely at Officer David myself."

Tony looked at her. "I would never tell you how to run your agency maam but just from my perspective, she is going to get someone hurt one day and badly. I am able to walk out the door but the next person may not be who works with her."

Jenny nodded. "Thank you for being so candid and I wish you good luck in your new adventure."

Tony smiled. " It's just time to move onward and upward ."

Abby's lab: Tony walked in and said " Hey Abbs, I wanted you to hear something from me. I was offered a position with the FBI and I am going to take it. I need to do this for me. I can't work with Officer David as my partner. I will still keep in touch with you, Ducky and Palmer. I pity McGee because he is going to get a crash course in being a senior field agent and have to deal with Ziva all at the same time. Tell him there is a blue notebook in my top left desk drawer that will help him survive. Made it after my first year with Gibbs."

Abby listened and then hugged Tony . "I am sorry you're leaving but I understand why. I just found out what Ziva did from Ducky and I don't like Officer David very much right now. "

He said "Just do your job and be you, we can still have our Chinese and movie nights on weekends. You have my cell number and can call anytime . I am going to have some time off from here that will be paid for before my resignation goes through. So I may have to give myself a vacation and some beach time. "

Abby hugged him again. "Get some rest and take some time for you."

He smiled. "I will, need to clean my desk out, the shredder is going to get a workout today."

Abby smiled. "I have an extra Caff Pow in the cooler if you need one."

He said "No I don't think the bullpen needs me on a caffeine high ." Then he laughed. "That would be wilder than me on painkillers."