Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or any of its characters.

Moving On

Anthony DiNozzo walked into Director Shepard's office about a month after Gibbs had left the team. "Director, I need a word."

"Of course, Agent DiNozzo. Shut the door and come have a seat," Jenny said.

Tony walked further inside and closed the door. He walked over to the desk and sat in front of it. "Look, Director, I've tried, but I can't do this. I want you to transfer me."

Jenny was frankly shocked. She didn't understand this at all and she didn't see it coming. Tony seemed happy as team leader and his team seemed to respect him as their boss. They all seemed to miss Gibbs, but they were willing to work under Tony. Why would he want to leave? "You have to explain this to me because I can't for the life of me understand why you'd want to leave your team. You were just promoted to Team Leader. That's a dream job."

"Not mine, not with this team anyway. Not with Gibbs' team," Tony said. He had thought a few times about the future and being Team Leader, but he always thought that when that happened, he would leave and be Team Leader elsewhere. He never thought it would be with the same team he had now and because Gibbs retired.

Jenny sighed, realizing what the problem was. It was sitting at Gibbs' desk everyday and knowing he wasn't coming back, picturing him there when he walked in, but realizing he was gone. She was reluctant to see him leave over the pain though. "Maybe you should take some time off. I can take your team off rotation for a couple of weeks."

"I appreciate that, Director, but no. It won't change anything. Look, I don't begrudge Gibbs leaving. Well, okay, maybe I do a little, but I understand why he left and I respect it. I just don't think I can be him and I don't want to try to be. That's what I've been doing for the last month and it's just not right. I need to move on," Tony said in a firm voice.

Jenny could tell by his tone that she wasn't going to change his mind. He'd thought it through and decided he couldn't stay. "You understand that I can't guarantee you another Team Leader position, right? I can look and find you a new position that meets your qualifications, but I may not be able to get you a leadership position."

"I understand, Director. I'm not being picky," Tony said

"Alright, give me a couple of days to figure out where to send you," Jenny said.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Tony said before standing up and heading for the door.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Later that day, Jenny was walking out of MTAC when she ran into Timothy McGee. "Agent McGee, good you saved me a trip. I was going to come find you. Would you walk with me to my office?"

"Of course, Ma'am," Tim said quietly. Honestly, it was the last thing he wanted to do. Tony had just informed him and Ziva that he was transferring out of Washington and he wanted to be alone.

Jenny led the way down to her office. They walked past Cynthia and into the office. "Have a seat,"

Tim closed the door behind him and sat down in the chair in front of the director's desk while she sat behind her desk.

"From the scuttlebut I've heard in the last hour, I know that Agent DiNozzo has spread word of his decision to transfer.

"Yes, Ma'am," Tim said through gritted teeth. He couldn't help but be anger at Tony for doing this. They had all just started to get over Gibbs walking away. Things started to get to a new normal. Now Tony was leaving. He was angry and hurt by both these men taking off like this, not to mention he felt like he was in the middle of a twisted game of musical chairs, only with people.

"That leaves a position open for Team Leader. You will now be the most senior agent on the team, but I can't give you the position," Jenny said.

"I understand, Director," Tim said. He did. He'd only been an agent for four years, a field agent for three, and he knew he wasn't thought of as much of an agent by most.

"Not yet anyway," Jenny continued.

Tim frowned in confusion. "Okay, now I don't understand."

Jenny leaned forward in her chair. "At first, I was going to just have Tony replaced and have you remain Senior Field Agent in definitely. But that wouldn't be fair. You are the senior agent on the team and you deserve to move up just like Tony did." Also, she saw a great deal of potential in McGee. He reminded her a lot of herself. And he wouldn't see it right now and neither would they, but Tony and Gibbs leaving was best for him. He wouldn't have reached his potential with them around. She doubted they did it on purpose, but they held him back by misjudging his potential. She'd never said anything, but she noticed how often Gibbs kept the young man behind in favor of sending Tony and Ziva out in the field.

"I still don't understand. You said you couldn't give me the position," Tim reminded him.

"I can't. you'd be completely unprepared at this point and I in no way want to see you fail. Here is my plan. I"m going to transfer another supervisory agent here for a two year period. He will come in with the knowledge that it is a two year assignment and that he will handing the reigns over to you once he's done," Jenny said.

Tim looked at her in shock. "So in two years, It'll be my team?"

Jenny nodded. "I'm confident that you can learn from this man in that time. One thing though. I need a promise you won't pull what Tony has. I won't do this just for you to leave."

"I swear, Director. I have no intention of leaving," Tim said.

"So we have a deal then," Jenny said before extending her and to him.

Tim shook her hand in a daze. He couldn't believe this was happening. In a couple of years, he'd have his own team. Of course, it didn't take away the pain and anger he felt from Gibbs and now Tony taking off, but it was something to look forward to. "Thank you."

Jenny smiled in return. "You're dismissed."

Tim nodded and quickly left.