There won't be a dry eye in the house when NCIS's Tony DiNozzo steps into the squad elevator for the final time.

Fans have only known of Michael Weatherly's (Tony) impending departure for a few months now, but NCIS has spent a year preparing for his send off. Writers carefully sewed seeds of discontent throughout season 13, prepping Tony for the biggest decision of his crime fighting career. When "Family First" rolls around, it will be time for the special agent to turn in his badge and gun.

"We started talking about it six months ago, and we knew we had to acknowledge that Michael had been part of the show since Day 1," showruner Gary Glasberg told TV Insider. "So the episode had to show Tony in all the different ways we've come to love him. We also knew that the reason Tony DiNozzo would ever choose to leave his NCIS family would have to be something really significant. What we came up with delivers some real heart-wrenching, emotional moments."

Tony's farewell will take place against the backdrop of life and death stakes. NCIS' search for an escaped British spy will put someone close to the team in dire straights, and their plight will be the catalyst for many of the finale's tear-inducing scenes.

"There will be carnage and death and destruction," Weatherly teased. "I've never worked harder on an episode to hit all the right emotional beats."

Check out the episode summary below:

"NCIS, FBI and MI6 continue an international manhunt for an escaped British spy who is targeting current and former agents," CBS announced, adding that Robert Wagner will return as Anthony DiNozzo Sr. while FBI Special Agent Tess Monroe (Sarah Clarke) and MI6 Officer Clayton Reeves (Duane Henry) will continue to recur.

Find out more when NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Click the video below to see a preview for the series' next episode, "Dead Letter."

Tags: NCIS television CBS