Tony had passed out on the couch. He was entirely too exhausted, too drunk, and too emotionally drained to even venture an attempt at making it to the bedroom. So when the sun shone through the windows, he woke up early, sore, and no less conflicted than the night before. He groaned as he shifted his cramped body to reach for his cell phone and check the time. The first thing he saw was the missed call from Jeanne, an unneeded reminder of what was coming in the near future. He shut his phone without checking the time. It was time to get ready for work.

Tony had attempted to mentally prepare himself as he drove to the Navy Yard. It wasn't working. He was not looking forward to telling everyone that he was leaving.

His heart was pounding as he rode up the elevator, knowing that while everything looked the same, nothing would ever be the same again.

The elevator door opened and the first thing that he saw was Jenny, waiting at the top of the stairs for him to show up. She smiled at him with her trademark smile, and began her descent down the stairs. It was only then that he noticed the entirety of Team Gibbs gathered around the cluster of desks. Ziva, McGee, and Gibbs were sitting at their desks; Ducky was leaning on Gibbs' desk, and Palmer was sitting on top of his empty desk. Abby was pacing back and forth behind where McGee sat, her hands nervously taping against one another held up near her mouth. The concern was evident on her face and in her body manner. Jenny must have said something, Tony concluded, to get them all here, waiting for him. He took a deep breath.

He arrived at his desk just as Jenny did from the opposite side. He tried to match her bright smile, but his slight hangover was preventing him from doing anything of the kind. She nodded at Gibbs before putting her arm around Tony.

"Tony and I have an announcement," she declared. Abby was immediately still, her eyes wide and jumping between his and the director's. Everyone else was focused on the scene taking place before them with curiosity, save Gibbs, who was giving his traditional 'stop interfering with me and my team' glare to Director Shepard. Tony couldn't help but laugh inwardly; if only Gibbs knew what Jenny had him doing without his approval, that glare would be so, so much worse.

She glanced at him and smiled encouragingly.

"I… I've been offered a promotion." Abby and McGee gasped, torn between being happy for Tony and wondering what this would mean.

"After the wonderful work Tony has done here in Agent Gibbs' absence, I felt that he was truly deserving of his own team. Agent DiNozzo will be reassigned to NCIS Rota, Spain, and will be leaving in two weeks time. I am very, very proud of Tony for taking on such responsibility, as you all should be as well. I am confident in his ability and wish him all the best in his endeavors. Congratulations, Tony." Jenny hugged him.

"I'll leave you all to Tony now. I'm sure you have plenty of well wishes and questions for him," Jenny said with a smile, and departed.

Ducky was the first to react, giving Tony a warm handshake. "Well, well, Anthony. How lovely! I am quite convinced that you will perform just wonderfully! Congratulations, my boy."

Palmer, with his big goofy grin, reached Tony next, not shying away from giving him a hug. His words, quietly spoken into Tony's ear, were not heard by the rest of the team, but Tony heard him loud and clear: "Congrats, man. You're going to be great. I am going to miss you though."

Abby was next. Her eyes were filled with tears as she rushed into his arms, practically knocking the wind out of him. She just held on tightly without saying a word, not willing to speak or let go. "Oh Tony… what am I going to do without you?! I mean, this is great, this is a really, really great opportunity and you really deserve it, but… I already miss you so much! Promise me you'll call and write everyday?? And visit whenever you can??" Tony just nodded.

McGee slowly rose from his desk and offered Tony his hand for a firm handshake. He was too shocked to speak still, so they nodded at each other.

Gibbs did the same. Never one for many words, he imitated McGee's solemn yet congratulatory handshake before turning back to his desk.

Ziva, however, did nothing. If it was possible, she seemed to disappear even further into her desk, giving the impression that she wasn't even there; or perhaps, simply the impression that if she had a choice, she would have actually disappeared. She was looking down and refused to make eye contact with anyone.

Before Tony could approach Ziva, the phone rang. "Gear up" said Gibbs, and the team, eager to regain some state of normalcy, quickly did as asked and headed for the elevator right behind Gibbs, with Abby, Ducky, and Jimmy trailing behind, heading back to their respective floors to get back to work.