Divergence/Convergence
Disclaimer: All characters property of CBS, not mine, alas.
Began writing this in January when it was first announced that Michael Weatherly was leaving at the end of the current season. Due to various life things it's taken until now to get it written, typed up and posted. Read and enjoy!
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Chapter 1: Proposition
"Man, I love closing a case," declared Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, flopping down into his desk chair.
I'll happily never set eyes on that creep ever again," added probationary agent Ellie Bishop. She shuddered. "I swear he spent that entire interrogation undressing me with his eyes."
"He did," confirmed Special Agent Tim McGee from behind her, making her jump. "Sorry."
Tony laced his fingers behind his head and put his feet up on his desk, gazing up at the balcony above. His eyes landed on NCIS Director Leon Vance, who was looking down into the squadroom, deep in thought. When he realised Tony was looking at him, he broke out of his thoughts and met the agent's eyes, beckoning to him. "Agent DiNozzo, with me." His voice carried over the unusually-quiet room.
Tony immediately scrambled to his feet and glared at McGee. "Did you tell him about this morning's incident? You promised you wouldn't!"
"You really think I'd do that?" retorted McGee. "I'm not as mean as you."
Tony narrowed his eyes at him and stalked off, up the stairs to the director's office.
A confused expression on her face, Bishop turned to McGee. "What happened this morning?"
"He reversed into Vance's car."
Bishop winced. "I take it you didn't tell the director?"
McGee shook his head. "Now he owes me. Big time."
Comprehension dawned. "Ohhhh. I see."
McGee's reply was a smirk.
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When Tony got to the top of the stairs, Vance was waiting by the door to his office (the inner sanctum, as McGee sometimes referred to it). The director's face was neutral; in Tony's experience that could never be a good thing. Had McGee brazenly lied just now? Had somebody else seen the incident? He had intended to inform Vance, honestly he had, but he'd been in a hurry this morning and there had been a serial rapist-murderer petty officer to deal with. He followed Vance into the office and sat down when the other man gestured to the chairs. "Sir?"
Vance shut the door, strode back to his chair, sat down behind his desk and picked up a file. "You did well, looking after the team while Agent Gibbs recovered from his injuries."
A little thrown, Tony blinked. "Thank you, sir."
"A number of years ago Director Shepard offered you the role of team leader in Rota. You turned it down."
"Uh – yeah. It wasn't right for me."
Vance regarded him intently. "Would you reconsider a permanent team leader position?"
Tony frowned. "Is there something wrong with Gibbs?"
"Not as far as I know."
"Well, sir, I don't know if Rota or Spain'd want me after the last time I was there –"
"Not Rota." Vance handed over the file. "A little further east. You get first pick."
Intrigued, Tony accepted the file and opened it, searching for the location. When he spotted it, his heart skipped a beat: Tel Aviv, Israel. He read it several times before it sank in.
"It would be a big move. If you don't want it, I'd understand. You've got forty-eight hours to decide; let me know either way. They recently expanded the role of the office and Agent Hawkes helped set it up; with him retiring, they need a good, experienced agent in charge."
"When you say 'in charge', do you mean in charge of the team or the whole office?"
Offering his agent a small smile, Vance said, "The latter."
Tony blinked. "Wow. I, uh – I'm flattered, sir. Thank you for considering me." His head was whirling with the prospect as he skimmed the file. It was certainly an appealing prospect – if he was honest with himself, the idea of being a permanent team leader and in charge of the entire office was exciting, and with Zoe now out of his life, perhaps a fresh start was what he needed.
And did Vance know something he didn't? With the position being where it was, he couldn't help wondering. He raised his head from the file. "Can I think about it?"
"Of course. Just remember you've got forty-eight hours." Vance held out his hand and Tony returned the file to him. This time the director smiled more broadly and Tony nodded at him before leaving.
Instead of going straight back to the others, Tony made a beeline to Autopsy. He wasn't ready to broach the subject with Gibbs (and anyway, the man was busy with other things) but Ducky would provide an excellent ear.
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"Ah, Anthony! What can I do for you?" was the ME's greeting from his desk. "Is there something amiss with the petty officer?"
"You mean other than his brain and his Neanderthal attitude to women?"
Ducky sighed, then shook his head. "A thoroughly unpleasant affair indeed."
"He'll probably get the injection."
Nodding, Ducky pushed his glasses up his nose. "But you did not come down here to talk about that."
Tony shook his head and perched on the edge of the desk so that he was facing the ME. "Vance called me into his office. He had a…proposition for me."
"Oh?" Ducky's eyebrows went up and he put down his mug.
Tony shifted. "There's a team leader job come up. I'm his first choice."
"That sounds a rather exciting prospect." Ducky scrutinised the agent in front of him. "I get the distinct impression, Anthony, that this job is not here in DC."
"What makes you think that?"
A small smile graced the doctor's lips. "Master's degree in forensic psychology. Also, I've worked with you for a long time; I know you well. So where is it? LA? Florida? Somewhere else on the other side of the country?"
Tony let out a deep sigh. "Actually, it's abroad."
"I see. Which office?"
"The, uh…" He cleared his throat. "The new one. In Israel."
"I see. Well, that would be a substantial change. Do you want it?"
Shrugging, Tony got to his feet and began pacing.
Comprehension registered on Ducky's face. "You need someone to talk to about it, someone who won't let their emotions take over and beg you to stay."
"Exactly." He knew Ducky was discreetly referring to their forensic scientist.
"Pros and cons. Cons first."
Tony exhaled. "I'd miss you guys. A lot. All of you. Then there's my dad – I'd be leaving him without anyone and he's getting on a bit now. He moved to DC to be closer to me. I don't know anyone out in Israel. It's not exactly a big office, either. And then you've got the political situation – hardly a laid-back, terrorism-free area. My life would be different – I mean really different." He stopped, collecting his thoughts and running through his reservations, wondering if he had missed anything.
"And the pros."
Tony ran his hand through his hair, making it stick up. "I guess…I'd get to lead my own team, not just be standing in for Gibbs for a while. And I kinda like that idea. It's a big promotion, so the pay would be better – although I'm sure Senior would then expect me to bail him out of even more difficult situations. I don't have any romantic ties. A change might do me some good. It won't be stupidly cold in winter; I like warm places."
Ducky nodded, a shrewd look in his eyes. "Anything else?"
"Not that I can think of." He stopped pacing and looked more closely at Ducky, only now fully registering the ME's expression. "Why? What do you think I've missed?"
Ducky shrugged, a mild smile on his face for a moment before he grew serious again. "What exactly happened with you and Ms Keats? All Mr Palmer told me was that it ended."
"It wasn't working out. It was hot and then the fizzle went. I ended it when I realised that."
"Sounds like it was for the best."
Tony looked the ME right in the eye. "There's something you're thinking but not saying."
"Is there?"
"I'm not in the mood for this, Ducky; just say what's on your mind."
"Alright then, my lad." Ducky straightened his shoulders and met Tony's gaze, his face serious. "I was thinking perhaps it would be a chance to reconnect with Ms David."
And there it was. Tony had been trying not to think about that possibility, but now Ducky had spoken the words, mentioned her name, he could no longer ignore it. Not wanting to be too closely analysed he asked, "Is that a pro or a con?"
"You tell me, Anthony," replied Ducky, smiling knowingly. When Tony opened his mouth to protest, the ME merely gave him a hard look.
"Fine," conceded Tony. "I don't know. I don't know if I want to or not. I don't know if she'd want to. I don't know if I'd even be able to track her down." He meant it – his head was whirling with all the potential scenarios his brain could conjure. What if he found her and she got angry and told him he should never have come? What if she had somebody now and Tony's arrival hurt her, served only to complicate matters and made things intolerable? What if –.
"I cannot tell you," Ducky informed him, breaking into Tony's thoughts, "but perhaps you are being given the opportunity to re-form that link."
"What if she doesn't want anything to do with me?"
"And what if she does but you reject the job and never take that chance? I've seen people bitterly regret not finding out either way and I know you, Anthony – you need to know one way or the other."
"You think I should take the job?" asked Tony. He wasn't sure what Ducky was getting at, which way the ME thought he should choose.
"I would miss you a great deal, I can't pretend otherwise, as would we all, but I think you would spend the rest of your life regretting it and wondering 'what if'. Besides, becoming a team leader permanently is an excellent opportunity. But I also advise sleeping on it and not making any hasty decisions before a good night's sleep."
Tony slowly nodded as he took in the older man's words. "Makes sense, I guess. I'll do that."
Smiling, Ducky patted the agent's knee. "Sensible lad. Let me know what you decide."
"Of course. Thanks, Duckman. See you later." He got to his feet and left Autopsy with Ducky's goodbye in his ears.
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TBC