Exciting case story. I'm sorry Tony left but it for the best for him.

Great story!

Great ending! Will you be doing sequels, or maybe even have him work with other agencies accidentally while he travels? Seeing how you mentioned California, so could be ncis la, and of course hawaii, so the 5-0 team... Maybe to do with paintings...Oh the list could go on!

The ending is kind of bittersweet. It feels like Tony's made his mind up a long time ago and nothing the team would have come up with could have changed this. And honestly, why would it? Unless Gibbs retires, nothing would ever change anyway. I doubt Tony (or Tim for that matter) can actually reach their full potential with Gibbs around as sad as it is. He'll always be the boss and never allow them to grow that way because it would undermine the all-knowing Gibbs. Anyway...I loved the interaction between Tony and Ducky. Wonder what kind of painting Ducky will get :).

Kind of a bittersweet ending. I can certainly see why Tony doesn't want to come back to NCIS. Who knows - maybe eventually he'll get lonely bumming around the country by himself and decide to settle down someplace where he has friends. (Read: D.C.) There's all types of country around DC (except maybe desert) so he could go on lots of short painting trips!

Or not.

Looking forward to your next story!

This was good! For some reason it's so relaxing thinking of Tony reinventing himself and moving on past the angst of his old life. Thanks for writing and posting

Well this is a rather sad but nice and sadly believable path for Tony to take. So Gibbs to do all that you have him doing in this.

Tea and biscuits in the van while being abducted *snort* perfectly Ducky and Tony.

I think you should have Tony have another grand adventure (err case) while he is driving across America. (that's a line from and Neil Diamond song).

That Gibbs... he just wanted to have a son and be close by. Poor Tony, been kidnapped for their own plot!

Great story

Nice ending. Obviously, not what the gang wanted him to do, but I think Tony did what was best for him and that's all that matters. Great story - well done! ;-)

Be proud kid... another excellent story from you

Hope to read another from you soon

Glad to see Tony is not going back and is moving on with his life.

Well-written story, but I am not happy with the ending. Don't like Tony gone.

It seems to me that although he's making friendly noises to his old team, Tony's mind was made up long ago, he's never going to be persuaded to stay by anything they say, and his strongest feeling as he drives away must be relief.
Tony's departure is a recurring theme in your serious stories; you're sending him a long way away, as if you feel it's the only way he can grow and develop, not under the control of Gibbs the spider at the centre of the web. Can't say I disagree with you.
(This is a consequence of the winning, un-messable with formula of the show, where both Tony and Tim are wasted resources who should have moved on to their own teams long ago...)
I loved all the Tony - Ducky interaction; I hope the good doctor and Dan Paddington will meet again one day.

I didn't expect less of Gibbs and Tony! Of course they'd realize that there has to be a second chip and where and then come up with a decent plan fast. And of course the team is awaiting them (I'm with Tony here :)). LOVE the banter, Abby calling Tony DanTony, Tony telling all about Gibbs first kidnapping and then cutting him? LOL. I love me lots of drama, but your dialogues always have me cracking up. Now the ending? Of course I can be wrong and there's a completely innocent explanation, but why on earth did Gibbs let Tony and Ducky wander of alone? I mean, it's not like the threat is completely gone. I found that surprising even before I made it all the way to the end. I guess I'm lucky and can go right to finding out what happened...