A/N: Hey here's the next chapter. This is a crossover with NUMB3RS! I do not own any of the characters that are familiar i just use them for some fun! :)
Anywhere Else But Here
Riley and Tony glanced at each other as the door swung closed behind them. Riley sighed then asked, "Who do you want to go see first, Ducky or Abby?" Tony glanced at her and started toward the stairs, "Let's start with the person who won't be as emotional about us leaving." he said. Riley nodded in agreement. Following Tony, the two went down the steps and towards the bullpen. Riley glanced at the desks where Team Gibbs called home, glad to notice that Gibbs, McGee and Ziva had already gone home. Her eyes focused in on her desk between her father's and Ziva's desk. She remembered, fondly, when she was assigned that desk by her overprotective father that wanted to keep a close eye on her. 'What happened to the father that tried to protect me from everything?' she thought. The couple walked toward the elevator, Tony pressing the button to the elevator.
The two rode down to Autopsy in contemplative silence. The ding of the elevators snapped them out of their thoughts. They stepped off and headed toward the sliding doors of Donald 'Ducky' Mallard's work place.
Ducky glanced up from his stacks of work when he heard the doors opening. He smiled when he saw two of his favorite people enter. When rising from his seat, he noticed the look in his friends' eyes and prepared for the worse.
Riley realized when Ducky recognized this wasn't a social visit. She sighed and let Tony take over explaining the situation to Ducky, knowing she would be responsible for telling the emotional Abby.
Ducky was aware that the one he would be getting the answer from would be Tony and gave his complete attention to the young agent. "Is something the matter, my boy? I didn't think we received another case." Ducky commented. Tony sighed and said, "No Ducky, no cases. Riley and I need to tell you something." Tony hesitated and glanced toward Riley who moved closer to give Tony her silent support. 'Just like her father.' Tony thought.
Ducky unknowingly echoed the younger agent's thoughts, glancing between the two. "You can tell me anything, you two. You know that, don't you?" the old M.E. asked. The tow agents nodded before Tony continued, "Ducky, Riley and I are leaving D.C." Ducky stared for a moment before collecting his thoughts, "Why? Where are you two going?" Tony walked closer to the unusually flustered man and said, "We're going to LA. We need to leave Duck. Gibbs has gone way too far." Ducky sighed, "I understand your reasoning but do you have to move so far away?" Tony shook his head. "There are no openings here in DC, Ducky. Im going to the NCIS in LA and Riley is going to the FBI there. We're not going to change our minds, Ducky." Tony added at seeing the older man opening his mouth.
The old M.E. sighed but nodded his head. "Are you going to tell the others? Abby?" he asked. Tony and Riley glanced at each other, before Riley said, "We're going to tell Abby after you. We don't know if we're going to tell the others." Ducky nodded.
"When are you going to be leaving?" Tony smiled slightly. "We need to report in this coming Monday. So we're going to pack this weekend." Ducky hated that they were leaving so soon after telling him but knew he would not be able to change either of their minds. Ducky smiled, sadly, at the two; he moved toward them, pulling both into a hug. The three stayed the embrace for a moment before Riley and Tony pulled away. Tony silently patted Ducky on the shoulder before turning toward the door; Riley softly kissed Ducky on the cheek before also turning and followed Tony toward the elevator.
Ducky watched the two enter the elevator, feeling a deep sadness knowing that their absence would change the regular activities around NCIS.
The two special agents stepped into the elevator, moving on to the next person that they hoped would understand their reason for leaving.
In the NCIS Forensic Lab, Abby Sciuto sensed that something unpleasant was coming. She knew that things had changed after Gibbs returned from Mexico. She knew that things were still changing around her favorite team. She just didn't know if it would change so much or so little.
"DING"
The arrival of the elevator sounded incredibly ominous to the forensic scientist. As she turned toward the door, waiting to see who had come down, she felt she would get the answer to explain her sense of dread.