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Remember that at the beginning of S7, Tony was about 36-37 years old ;)
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Thank you to my amazing and very patient BR, usa123 :)
"Choices & Consequences"
Chapter 3.
Throughout his years with NCIS, Tony had sometimes thought about the day he'd leave NCIS or when he'd take Gibbs' place at the head of the MCRT after the Boss'd retired.
He had pictured many scenarios but he'd never imagined that he would leave DC on bad terms with his mentor.
Tony sighed heavily as he leaned his head against the headrest of the seat on the flight that would take him to LA, where he'd take a flight to his final destination: the NCIS Field Office in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The new Team Leader looked out of the window on his right.
Team Leader, he thought as he chuckled. Anthony D. DiNozzo Jr., NCIS Team Leader, he shook his head. My father would never believe it.
He took four files out of his briefcase. Vance had sent them to his home before he'd left but the new Team Leader hadn't had time to study them yet.
My agents, he softly smiled.
He read the names on the first pages: Luke Walker, Leilani Moore, Samuel Lopez and Josephine Green.
A five-agent Team. This is going to be interesting.
Tony put the files back into the suitcase and rubbed his eyes as he tried to hide a yawn.
"Do you want a pillow, sir?" a kind voice asked.
Tony turned and saw the nice smile of a beautiful red-headed flight attendant. He instinctively smiled back. "Yes, please," he nodded.
A few seconds later, the woman was back with a very soft pillow. "May I bring anything else?"
"No, thanks," Tony answered as he took the pillow and tried to get comfortable in his seat. "Could you wake me up one hour before the landing, please?"
"Sure," she smiled and left.
Unfortunately sleep didn't come as easily as Tony hoped. What had happened in this DC kept playing in his mind over and over again...
Yesterday at NCIS HQ.
Tony had asked Gibbs to tell Abby, Ducky and Palmer that he'd call them later but, just before leaving NCIS HQ, he had decided to say goodbye in person.
Tony knew even before entering the Lab that something was wrong.
No music. Just silence.
"Abby?" he tentatively called as he stepped into the lab but got no reply. So he walked a bit further and saw the woman staring at the monitors in front of her PC.
It seemed she was working, as if it was any other day of the week, but Tony could see the tension in her shoulders.
Abby was deliberately ignoring him...not a good sign.
"Abby?" he tried again.
She abruptly turned and, if looks could kill, Tony would have died instantly.
Abby's eyes spat fire. Her breath was heavy.
Tony was ready for a bit of anger but his friend was beyond angry. She was furious.
"I'm here to say..."
"WHAT?!"
"I wanted to say goodbye before..."
"DON'T! Don't say anything!" she stepped in front of him. "Go! Go away!" she pointed towards the door. "Go!"
"Abby, let me explain why I..."
"Explain? I don't want your excuses!" she sniffled. "You're abandoning us. You got your team and now you go away and abandon me and Gibbs." She dried her eyes with her hand, smearing mascara all over her cheeks.
"I'm not abandoning anyone. I'm leaving DC, but we'll keep in touch and—"
"Who's going to have Gibbs' six now, huh?" she angrily asked. "You have to stay and protect him. He's our boss and our mentor." She grabbed the cordless phone that was on her desk. "Here! Call Vance and tell him you changed your mind," she demanded as she pushed the phone into Tony's chest.
He looked at the phone and then at her. "No," he said, gently but firmly.
"Call him!" She raised her voice. "You've got to stay. This is my family and you can't destroy it. Gibbs would do anything for you and you've got to be grateful for his attention and stay."
"I'm leaving and I won't change my mind."
"Why?!" she pushed him.
"'cause I need to go. I can't stay here after things I learned recently. I can't, Abs," Tony shook his head.
"Don't 'Abs' me! You've got to stay period," she sounded as petulant as a child throwing a tantrum. "Gibbs..."
"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!" Tony lost his patience and exploded. "It's always and only about Gibbs! What about me, Abby? What about what I did for him and this team? What about what I feel? What about everything I went through all of these years?!"
"So you want us to thank you?" she challenged him. "Is it about this? Do you want a medal like Gibbs? Do you want to have your own team like him?" she added with a mocking tone. "Are you jealous?"
"What if I told you that I'm leaving for something that Gibbs did?" he shot back.
"Don't you dare say that you're leaving because Gibbs did something wrong and you can't work with him anymore!" Abby was so angry that her usually pale face was now red.
Tony just nodded.
"Gibbs can't do wrong. He's always right and you're just jealous because he's a great man, a decorated Marine Sniper and an amazing boss."
Tony took a deep breath and shook his head. "I guess this is all I needed to hear." He looked Abby straight in her eyes and added, "Goodbye, Abs," before he turned and left the Lab.
She followed him. "Tell me what he did wrong," she challenged him once more.
Tony stopped, pushed the elevator button and then turned. "I wanted to explain but you didn't want to listen. So... no…not my story to tell anymore. I'm done here."
The elevator door opened and Tony got in. They looked at each other one last time and Abby's breath faltered when she saw the pain and the anger in Tony's eyes.
##########
When he entered the Autopsy, Tony was still shocked and extremely upset by Abby's reaction. He couldn't believe the things she had told him and the anger he had heard in her voice.
Now he was hoping for a better reaction from Ducky and Palmer.
Both men were at the ME's desk talking.
"Oh, Anthony!" Ducky exclaimed as he stood up.
"It seems you were expecting me," Tony said gravely.
"Oh, you know this building better than anyone else, my dear lad. Even walls have ears," Ducky grinned.
"So you're leaving," Jimmy's low voice made Tony turn to him and nod.
They looked at each other for a brief moment but it was enough for both of them to understand what words couldn't explain.
Jimmy nodded and took a deep breath. "I'll miss you, Tony," he whispered.
"I'll miss you too, Autopsy Gremlin," Tony hugged the younger man, remembering all the times he and Jimmy had talked. He'd never have thought Jimmy Palmer would have become his best friend but it happened and now DiNozzo hoped that their friendship would survive the drastic change he was giving his life.
Tony felt Ducky's hand on his shoulder so he freed himself from Jimmy's embrace and turned. "I will greatly miss our talks over cups of Earl Grey, Anthony. You should know we both understand your decision and," he looked Tony straight in the eye, "we agree with you."
"Really?" Tony's green eyes widened as he saw both men nod. He felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Yes, my dear lad." Ducky squeezed his shoulder. "Mr. Palmer talked with Director Vance's secretary," he cleared his throat. "She heard everything."
"So we know why you're leaving, Tony," Jimmy clarified.
"Give Jethro some time and he will understand your reasons."
Tony stared at the nice ME for a brief moment but it was long enough for the older man to read all his doubts in Tony's green eyes.
"I know that it's difficult for you to believe me but trust me, it will happen," Ducky said as he patted Tony's shoulder.
"Thanks, Duck. But it's not just Gibbs...it's Abby too," Tony explained, his brief moment of happiness gone.
Palmer frowned and was about to say something unpleasant about their Lab Goth before Ducky intervened.
"Oh, do not worry about Abigail," he began as he waved with his hand dismissively. "She is such a brilliant scientist but she lacks an understanding of the real world especially when it comes to this team." He shook his head and sighed. "She is so blind when it comes to Jethro. In her eyes, he can't do any wrong. He is her hero and no one can question his infallibility."
"But it's wrong!" Palmer exclaimed. "Tony's like her brother and she should support him!"
"I know, Mr. Palmer. I know," Ducky nodded gravely. "Anthony, after you leave, Abigail will realize how wrong she was to you and she will get mad at Jethro because he let you go."
Tony chuckled, already painting in his mind Abby's tantrums and Gibbs' anger.
"So she will plague..."
At that word, Tony cringed.
"Oh, sorry," the ME was quick to apologize. "Definitely the wrong choice of words, my lad."
"No problem, Ducky," Tony softly smiled.
"What was I saying?" Ducky frowned. "Oh yes! Abigail will bug you with tons of emails, texts and probably letters too. Reply, not reply, it will be up to you."
"I'd let her stew for a while first," Jimmy chimed in.
"I agree with Mr. Palmer."
"And I agree with both of you," Tony smiled the first real smile since he had entered Vance's office. "I'm just sorry I won't see you both every day."
"We can chat via Skype every day if you want," Palmer suggested hopefully.
"You can bet on that, Jimmy!" Tony exclaimed. "Ducky, you..."
"I'm sure Mr. Palmer here will be more than happy to teach me how to use Skype or any other device that will help us to keep in touch."
"Next summer you could take a trip to Hawaii," Tony offered.
"That'd be amazing, Tony!" Palmer exclaimed.
"Mr. Palmer is right. I would be delighted to visit you in Hawaii, Anthony. Will you show us the Kilauea Volcano?" Ducky asked with an amused glint in his eyes. "It's the only one that has erupted since 1983 which would make it interesting to see the live lava," he added.
"Of course."
"So we have a plan for next summer." The older man was as excited as a child going to Disneyland. "We will send you a list of all the things we want to see."
"Perfect, Ducky," Tony nodded then checked his watch. "I need to go now," he said softly.
"It's been an honor to meet and work with you, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo." Ducky shook the younger man's hand.
Tony nodded, too moved to say anything.
"Thanks for being the first friend I had here." Jimmy hugged Tony as soon as Ducky let his hand go.
"We'll keep in touch, Jimmy," Tony whispered in his ear. "Thank you for being such a good listener and friend."
On the flight to LA.
This last memory helped Tony to relax.
Gibbs and Abby's words and behavior still hurt but the new Team Leader decided to archive those bad memories for later.
He wanted a positive start for this new phase of his life so he decided to focus his mind on Vance, McGee, Ducky and Jimmy's words.
Tony slightly reclined his seat and shifted until he was comfortable. Then, with a content sigh and a smile on his face, he finally fell asleep.
For the first time in years, Tony slept as peacefully as a baby.
TBC
I hope you liked this chapter. Let me know what you think, please. Thank you :)
See you in the next chapter :)
