Do No Harm
Gibbs and his team pull together to support Ducky when his friend is in distress. They find, however, that some puzzles are difficult and some things can never be made whole again.
Disclosure: NCIS and characters are owned by DBP/CBS/Paramount. I'm only borrowing them for a bit so please don't sue (a big waste of my time and yours)
Author's Note: An important subject matter, but not the easiest to read… or to write. Statistics show that 1 in every 3 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. ONE IN THREE. I find that pathetic! Reviews are always appreciated.
Chapter 1: Ghosts of the Past
"Ethical knowledge is reflected in our decision to ignore a comment or attend to it. What we choose to say; what we choose not to say. When is the time to keep information entrusted to us to ourselves or when should we reveal it? Is there ever an appropriate time to breach a trust? As physicians, it is our ethical obligation to find the answers to those questions. Answers that will serve us well. Thank you."
The speaker backed away from the podium, dipping her head slightly to acknowledge the rush of applause that came from her audience that filled the hospital auditorium. Her green eyes scanned the crowd for a moment. A blush rose to her cheeks when she found the warm and smiling blue eyes that she had been seeking. She tilted her head to the left, an invitation for him to join her backstage. He acknowledged it with a wink.
"Going home, Dr. Mallard?" Jimmy's voice cut through the applause.
"No, Mr. Palmer. I have made other arrangements. Please, do go on without me. I trust that I will see you first thing in the morning"
"Yes, Doctor"
He watched as his assistant disappeared into the crowd. The ME made his way through the shifting bodies and towards the steps leading to the stage.
She was waiting.
"Ducky!" She threw herself into his arms in a tight embrace "You're here! I was hoping you could make it!"
"I really must introduce you to Abigail" Ducky said, gently extracting him from the embrace which reminded him of his favorite forensic Goth. "I do believe you two will find you have things in common. How are you, my dear?"
Dr. Lauren Murray looped her arm through Ducky's and began walking with him toward the exit. She acknowledged well-wishers as they passed by.
"I'm fine, Ducky. Life is busy, but this is my last lecture for the season. I'm so glad that you were able make it!"
"I would not have missed it. You were brilliant!"
"Only you would call the mundane ramblings of medical ethics 'brilliant'" She rolled her eyes.
He stopped, pulling back slightly to evaluate the woman at his side. Lauren Murray was a beautiful woman—who tried very hard to hide it. She wore little makeup, her blonde hair was pulled into a no nonsense pony tail. She wore clothes too loose, hiding any feminine curves. She had been one of his brightest students during his brief tenure at St. Andrews. He had watched her career rise and they had kept in touch over the years. He had reasoned that the difference in their ages made it unlikely that she would ever see him as anything more than a mentor. In all honesty, the thought of romance had crossed his mind, but he had never pursued that avenue. Their history was an added complication to that particular puzzle. She trusted him and he contented himself with that.
She smiled at him, "What is it, Ducky?"
"You" He leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek, "Were brilliant."
"Then you," she tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear, "owe me dinner! I just need to stop and pick up my briefcase" She gave him a wink, and opened the door marked "Speaker".
"No!" Her rapid intake of breath caught Ducky's attention.
"What is it?" He moved to her side and looked at the interior of the small room. The remnants of what looked like at least three dozen roses littered the sofa, chair and floor. Glass fragments from what he could only assume where the vases that once held them glittered along with the water in the light.
"I'm calling Security"
Her firm grip on his arm made him pause. "Please don't, Dr. Mallard. It's okay. Let's just go" She turned and looked at him with a guarded expression in her green eyes. A look the ME had seen before. His hand at her wrist noted the increase in her pulse. She turned her eyes from the room and swallowed hard, concentrating on controlling her breathing.
"Lauren, my dear. I really do think it best-"
"Ducky, please don't go there right now."
He read the tension in her body and the way her voice quivered as she made her request.
"Okay. I am taking you out of here"
He placed an arm firmly around her waist as they made their way toward his Morgan.
"Lauren!" A male voice called to them across the parking lot. "Wait!"
She glanced up quickly and then slid into his car once he opened the door, "Ducky! Let's go please." The pause added more emphasis to the next word, "Now"
Ducky moved quickly around to the driver's seat. He started the car and drove away; making a mental note of the man in his rearview mirror—tall, thin, and standing in the parking lot loosely holding a bouquet of roses.
Silence had never been Dr. Donald Mallard's forte. They had been driving for ten minutes and it was starting to worry him that she had not spoken a word since leaving the parking lot.
"Perhaps it would help if you told me who that young man was?" he began gently, "Did he have anything to do with-"
"You're asking for an explanation?"
"I learned a long time ago that there are instances when it is best to wait for such things instead of asking for them. Especially when it involves you." He dipped his head and caught her eyes briefly before focusing his attention back on the road. "Tonight I think an explanation is warranted, but I'll not push, my dear"
"Same old Ducky" She sighed. "It's a long story"
"You should know by now that is my favorite type"
"Then I should begin with, 'This reminds me of the time…"
He chuckled softly, "You do know me well" Ducky saw his guest clenching and unclenching her fists. She opened her mouth as if to speak and then thought better of it.
"Dr. Mallard, I'm suddenly very tired. Would you mind if I took a rain check on dinner?"
"Fine" He changed lanes and took the proper exit for her apartment. He knew that with this particular woman silence spoke volumes. In the space of a half hour, she had gone from bubbly to withdrawn. Not a good indication.
He pulled up in front of her apartment and turned off the car. He placed a gentle hand on her forearm to hold her a moment longer.
"Lauren, I know I said that I wouldn't push, but your reaction to all of this has me a bit puzzled. Are you sure you don't want to tell me what—or who- is troubling you?"
Her hand went to open the door. She turned, and placed a warm kiss on his cheek. "I want to, but I can't. At least not tonight, okay? I'll call you tomorrow."
She slid out of the car and shut the door. She leaned through the open window. "Hey, Ducky?"
"Yes, my dear?"
"Thanks for remembering not to push"
He watched as she walked the short path from his car to her door, waiting until she was safely inside and he saw a light come on.
He sighed deeply, wondering if he should go to her door and make sure she was okay. If it were any other woman he would do just that. But not with this one—it would be the very action to drive her away. He made a mental note to call her in the morning.
"All will be sorted out in the morning light" he spoke into the empty car. He pulled away, hoping that would be the case.
To Be Continued….