Tony was hysterical after reading Tessa's report. He couldn't imagine that Gibbs would be offended by it. Gibbs would probably take the remarks as glowing recommendations that he was still an excellent trainer. After all, the Marines had training worse than what Gibbs inflicted, and nobody ever complained about it.

"DiNozzo, what is so funny?" Gibbs asked, feeling somewhat amused, although he didn't know why.

"Err… nothing, boss. I was just reading something funny. Here, this report is from Tessa. She had to go and take a call, so I offered to give it to you," answered Tony. He handed the report over.

"You read it, didn't you?"

"I did."
"Why am I not surprised that the two of you are already making my life difficult?"

"Hey, you should have known we would get up to mischief together when I told you what we were like in school."

"I did, don't you worry about that. I was hoping the two of you had grown up."

Tony grinned. "Not likely, Gibbs."

Gibbs shook his head. Dropping the file on his desk, Gibbs turned to Tony. The bullpen was currently empty, so he dropped all pretences. "Tony, is something bothering you? You've been trying to get me to talk to you all day."

"Everything's fine, boss. I wanted to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"Well, I was listening to the rest of Ducky's story, and I made a decision."

"What decision?"

"I need a break. A proper break. Not sick leave. I need to take a vacation."

"About time, Tony. I've been trying to get you to do that for a while now."

"Well, Ducky was talking about a trip he once took to Australia. He said that he really enjoyed his time there. I did some research, and there's two states in the country that seem like I would have fun in them. I want to go."

"So, take some leave and go. I mean, you might have to wait a couple of months to be cleared for flying, but after that, you have plenty of leave time stored up that you can use."

"Will you approve it?"

"Straight away. And Morrow will too, I'm sure."

"Thank you." Tony smiled.

"Are you planning to go alone?"

"No. I met this woman… well, you met her, too."

"Who?"

"Remember that paramedic that came to help me when I collapsed on that coffee run?"

"Of course I do. You couldn't stop flirting with her, and you were half way to being unconscious."

"Well, we went out last night for drinks. She's really fun to be around, and she agreed to accompany me to Australia if I go."

"Good. I wouldn't want you going alone. I'd worry too much." Gibbs said that with a grin, but deep down, he really was worried. "Why don't you start planning the trip and I'll organise your leave?"

"Thanks, boss!" Tony smiled happily as he headed off to find Ducky.

"Anthony? Do we have a case?" asked Ducky when Tony stepped into Autopsy.

"No case. I just wanted to tell you something," answered Tony.

"Okay."

"I'm going to start planning a vacation. Amelia agreed to come with me to Australia, and Gibbs said he would approve my leave once I have everything worked out," said Tony excitedly.

Ducky smiled. "You must tell me what it is like when you come home. I would like to know if it is worth going back there one day."

"But, of course! I love telling you stories. You're the only one that listens to me, after all."

"I think Jethro does listen most times."

"Yeah, but you always listen."

"Just as you always listen to my stories. It is only fair to repay the favour."

Tony smiled again. "Thank you, Ducky. And thank you for giving me the idea. It really is a good one."

"Anytime, dear boy. Anytime."

Tony was exhausted by the time he got home from work. The team had decided on Chinese take-out for dinner, so he was full, but he wanted a shower and wanted to just sit down and relax before sleeping. He wanted to also try to find some flights and accommodation for his vacation to Australia before going to bed, so that he could at least give them details to Amelia the next day.

"I might do that now, actually," Tony said to himself.

Settling down on his comfortable couch, Tony powered up his laptop and began to search. He had already decided that he wouldn't be travelling around the whole country, just two states. He didn't want to take more than a month off from work, and figured that Amelia probably wouldn't be able to get more than a month anyway. It didn't take long for Tony to find a nice hotel for his first destination, and he decided that he would book the hotel then and there, just to make sure that he would get the room he wanted.

"A two bedroom apartment in a hotel? That's interesting," said Tony out loud. He clicked on the link. "Hey! That's cool! We can share a room and still have our own rooms!"

Tony smiled happily as he went through the steps to book one of the apartments. He had found the perfect place to stay, in his opinion. The place had two separate bedrooms, a small living room and a small kitchen that he could cook in. After all, two weeks was a long time to be somewhere without cooking. Feeling happy, Tony continued to search the internet, finding himself another lovely hotel room for his second destination, although this one had a single bedroom with two beds in it instead of two bedrooms.