Tony stood outside the door. He hesitated before bringing his hand up to knock on it. He had been agonizing over this decision all day. It hadn't been easy, and he still didn't know what he was going to do. He recalled the day's events quickly, running them over through his mind. Gibbs had returned; they worked a case together like it used to be—only it wasn't. They struggled with who was in charge, although not with any malice. Tony was just so used to it after all these months that it was hard to pull back and become just another field agent again. His team was no longer his team… but it really never was. They would always be "Team Gibbs." So when Jenny offered him his own team, a huge promotion, to NCIS Rota, Spain, he was stunned. The case conveniently kept him from responding to the offer in the allotted time, but here he was, at the end of the night, about to make a decision that would affect the rest of his life, no matter what he choose.

He knew that he had to just do it and get it over with. He knocked on the door.

"Come in, Tony!" Only slightly surprised, he opened the door and entered Director Shepard's office.

"How'd you know it was me?"

"Because your deadline passed hours ago." Tony shut the door behind him.

"I've made my decision."

"And I respect it. Sometimes, I even wish I made the same one myself."

"But didn't you always take the opportunities presented to you to further your career? I'm taking the promotion, Jenny."

Director Shepard was startled. After her conversation earlier with Gibbs, she was so sure that DiNozzo would be passing on the promotion. This was the last thing she expected to hear. Still, she thought quickly, she was impressed with his decision to take on the responsibility that everyone knew he could handle.

"You're not disappointed by my decision, are you?"

"No. Actually, I'm feeling a bit proud at the moment. This is a big step, Tony." He nodded, almost solemnly.

"Go home and get some sleep. I'll leave it to you to tell the rest of the team in the morning. Once I file this paperwork, you'll be on your way to Rota before you know it. Good night, Tony."

"Good night, Jenny." With those parting words, he left.