Title: Too Late
Fandom: NCIS
Author: alidiabin
Words: 300
Genre: slash
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Warnings/Spoilers/Rating: none | up to 9x24 | PG
Pairings: Gibbs/Ducky, (one-sided on Duckys side).
Summary: Ducky realizes it is too late to tell Jethro. Happy belated birthday Nakeisha.
Too Late
The pain sweeps up before he can recognize it. As he realizes what is happening, a heart attack of all things, it is too late. He is alone on a foggy beach. He has no one to call for help. He suspects few people shall venture to the beach during the unseasonal weather. In the few seconds it takes him to fall to the sandy floor, he comprehends that he is dying.
He had never feared death, as in his line of work death was normal. As he had aged, he often thought of death. Contemplated his own demise. He had resolved never to die like his mother or Doctor Magnus. With a decaying mind but trapped in a healthy body. He had always imagined his death to be different. He did not know how. Maybe it would have been slower. Maybe, he would have been given a set number of months to live. He would have had time to put his affairs in order. Time to pass on information to Mr. Palmer, time to tell Abby it would be okay and time to tell Jethro. Time to tell Jethro that his friendship had meant so much to him, and that if they had their time all over again, maybe they could have had more.
But he didn't get the luxury of time. He was dying. Jethro would never know. Jethro would never know that Ducky loved him. That was it. Ducky's time was up.
XXX
He woke up in a white room. For a second Ducky wondered if were in heaven. Until he noticed, Palmers sleeping form next to his new bride on the pull out bed. Ducky was alive. He knew what this second chance meant. He had to tell Jethro he loved him. Before it was too late.