Fare Thee Well
There was no dialogue in the goodbye scene between Ducky and Tony in "Family First." That didn't seem right, given that David McCallum and Michael Weatherly have both been on the show since the "JAG" spinoff episodes.
Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard began to type case notes, then stopped. For the third time.
He was trying to put together a report about the shooting death of former MI6 Director Jessica Terdei. But he had found it difficult to concentrate for the last couple of days.
"You all right?" Jethro Gibbs had asked him.
"Are any of us?" Ducky had responded. "It's information overload. One could pull a muscle trying to digest this."
There were the murders of Terdei and former NCIS Director Thomas Morrow, as well as Tobias Fornell's shooting, at the hands of Kort; Ziva David's apparent murder in Israel – and the news about little Tali, Ziva and Tony's daughter. Overload, indeed.
Ducky remembered how he'd heard the news – secondhand, through an excited Mr. Palmer, who'd gotten a phone call from Abby and then dashed off. Ducky, his heart health always a concern since his attack a few years ago, sat for a few moments, trying to digest the news.
Tony and Ziva have a child.
He had seen the byplay between the two of them, had known that they'd grown closer through the years, particularly after Ziva's father and Jackie Vance were murdered. But this was something else again.
He'd finally gotten a look at Tali, briefly, when he'd gone upstairs a few minutes later. "Want to meet Ducky?" Tony had asked the little girl, who shyly looked up at the doctor.
Ducky had leaned down. "Hello, young lady," he greeted her, knowing that she didn't understand a word he said. "It's very good to meet you."
Tali rewarded him with a small smile….
"…."Don't you think so, Dr. Mallard?"
Now Ducky was brought out of his thoughts by his assistant. "I'm sorry, Mr. Palmer, could you repeat that? I had my mind on something else."
"We might give Tony a goodbye party, or something, at some point," Jimmy Palmer repeated.
"Wait 'til I get back, Palmer," came from near the door, where Tony DiNozzo was standing.
Palmer's famous grin dissolved, replaced by shock. "Get back? Where are you going?"
"Heading with Tali to Israel for some answers, then to Paris."
That got Ducky's attention. "Paris…." he mused. He remembered that years before, Tony and Ziva had conducted an undercover assignment in Paris.
Tony walked over to him. "Yeah." He looked away – as if back in time – then back at Ducky. "A lot of things to think about."
The doctor was slightly mystified by the agent's – now former agent's – tone. He just nodded silently.
"I owe you a lot, Ducky," Tony continued.
"Tony…." Ducky began, but Tony held up a hand.
"Wait, Ducky. Let me finish. You've taught me a lot about life, and the way to behave." Tony smiled. "You even taught me a proper accent."
Ducky smiled. "Sorry, Anthony. You still don't have a proper accent."
Tony grinned.
"But you have matured tremendously. You'll be a fine father to that little girl."
Tony swallowed. "Thank you, Ducky. For everything."
They shook hands and Tony moved on to speak to Palmer. They embraced.
"Thanks for everything, man," said Tony, his voice choking.
"You just bring Tali over for a play date with Victoria when you get back," replied Palmer, his voice also breaking.
"I will," Tony whispered, breaking the hug.
He turned and was gone.
After a moment in which the two men had watched Tony leave, Ducky looked at his assistant. "So, Mr. Palmer, shall we get back to work?" he asked.
Palmer had looked reflective, but now perked up. "Absolutely, Doctor."
With a nod to Palmer, Ducky turned back to his case notes. He began to type, then stopped. For the fourth time.
He sat quietly and thought about Anthony DiNozzo, Ziva David – and little Tali.
Fare thee well, Anthony. Fare thee well.