Jimmy appeared in the bullpen with a stranger. He looked about.

"Have you seen Agent Gibbs, it's just I met this girl at reception, not as in met as going out with met, as I'm happily married," turning to the brunette and smiling. "Security said she was looking for a Dr Mallard, and I know that he, that would be Dr Mallard, not Agent Gibbs," as Jimmy rolled his eyes and looked at Tony and Tim, "Is at the cardiac clinic this morning, for one of his bi-annual check-ups, and I know security know that we have a Dr. Mallard working here, it was just that Gwen, is looking for a Dr Mallard," Jimmy continued getting more tongue tied.

"Autopsy Gremlin, as Senior Agent in charge at the moment, I will look after Gwen," as Tony rose and walked round his desk to the woman whom he aged about 35 years, and wearing no wedding band, "Antony DiNozzo, but you can call me Tony," as he offered her his hand. "And that is my co-worker and partner, not partner in the romantic sense but my partner as partner in crime, Timothy McGee," Tony added pointing at Tim, who raised his hand and gave a little wave, as he looked Gwen up and down.

"Hi, hello," Gwen replied now, trying to untie her arm from her coat and shake Tony's hand, "Gwen Hall, pleased to meet you."

"You're not American," Tony began to say listening to the British accent.

"English, from London. I actually came over for a holiday and thought I would look Dr. Mallard up, but seeing that he has already had a heart attack I should maybe just go, I would hate to give my Great Uncle another attack," as Gwen turned almost colliding with Gibbs.

"Who are you?" Gibbs questioned trying not to spill his coffee over the woman.

"This is Gwen Hall and she is looking for her Great Uncle, Dr Mallard," Tony announced.

"Actually I'm Gwen Mallard but didn't want to say anything until I knew I had the right place," Gwen began to say.

"Where's Ducky?" Gibbs asked Jimmy.

"Hospital, for his cardiac check-up," came the reply.

"I could take Gwen for a coffee while we wait Ducky's return," Tony offered.

"No, DiNozzo, I'll take Gwen for a coffee and we will try and find a way of not giving Duks another attack. McGee check the conference room is free, I'll see about some coffee, and Jimmy, no word to Ducky." as Gibbs lead the woman away from the bullpen and towards the elevator.

"Damn I was so looking forward to finding more about her," Tony whispered as he made his way back to his desk.

-oOo-

"So Gwen," as Gibbs offered her a chair and placed a cup of coffee on the table, "You are Ducky's great niece. I remember him saying that he did have a nephew, but I never asked more, but you goin' to tell me the story?"

"My father Iain, was Donald's nephew. My grandfather, George was born 1919, to Mary and Donald's father they married just after the great war. George, my grandfather, Donald's half brother married Doreen Garvie, and they had a son Iain, he was born 1948."

"But Ducky's father, he married Victoria and what happened to Mary?" Gibbs asked.

"Sorry, Mary died in childbirth in 1928 and my great grandfather, that would be Donald's father married Victoria and their union produced Donald," Gwen continued.

"Your father Iain?"

"He died last year….heart attack," Gwen smiled, "Must be in the genes, as granddad went the same way. It was while mum and I were clearing out dad's effects we found a letter. Our lawyer confirmed a deposit box and well, when opened, we found copies of Mary's death certificate and a copy of Donald's birth certificate, among other family records."

"I remember Ducky saying once, when we were at a crime scene that, "the last time he had been that high up a ladder was hanging a piñata at his nephew's birthday party," it never really clicked," Gibbs now added, "And Iain never talked about his family? Your grandfather, did he not stay with his family?" Gibbs continued to ask.

"No, George was sort of adopted, by Mary's family, her brother. They were off farming stock, and a large family, 13 children and so just fitted in. I never did quite figure out if Donald actually met George, and I didn't know he had met my father. That would be interesting to find out how and where and when," Gwen continued as she heard Gibbs' cell ring.

"Yep Gibbs…..Ok maybe you could ask Ducky to come up the conference room," as he shut the call off, "That was Jimmy, he was saying Ducky was back."

"Why do you call him Ducky?" Gwen asked.

"Mallard…Duck, no idea Gwen, he was introduced to us as Ducky and it just stuck, maybe you could ask him," as they heard the door open and Dr. Mallard enter the room, Gibbs stood and watched as Ducky walk in before shutting the door behind himself.

"Jethro," Ducky said approaching the table where Gwen was sitting, "Jimmy said you needed to see me, is it my psychological profiling you require?" now looking at the woman.

"No Duks, but I think you should sit down," indicating that Ducky be seated, "May I introduce you to your great niece, Gwen Hall," as Gibbs watched the colour drain from the old man's face.

"Oh no, what have I done, please, not another heart attack," Gwen whispered as she rose.

"I am quite fine my dear, but yes you did give me quite a turn, but the Doctor says that my stents are in place and my health diet is now keeping me alive, but yes heart did miss a beat there, but….that would make you Iain's daughter, unless my brother had more children after Iain," Ducky questioned.

"No, I am an only child, but I do have two small children of my own, I have left them with their father for the afternoon, they are exploring the Smithsonian Institution after seeing the place in "Night at the Museum" they want to look for the cast, good to see they have an imagination."

"No ring on your finger my dear, I thought maybe divorced or not married."

"Allergy Dr. Mallard, but my husband Gordon says I can go shopping for new rings," as Gwen now looked at Ducky, "But I am so glad to have met up with you, and can I invite you out for dinner, to meet the family? I have so much I want to ask you. But I really must ask your nickname…Ducky?"

"Ah yes, it's an unfortunate one I picked up …as a lad during the Blitz. It wasn't as many people think, me being Mallard and there from Duck…Ducky…it was the East-end of London, the Cockneys instead of saying "you alright dear," they would say "Awe right Duks", and so it stuck especially when our name was Mallard."

"Sounds right, Dr Mallard," Gwen replied.

"Gwen, please call me Donald or Ducky and not Dr. Mallard, it is so much more informal," Ducky replied.

"Ducky I have so many questions I want to ask, and I suppose the first is when did you actually met my father?"

"Iain…it was 2 June 1953, the Coronation of the Queen," as Ducky leant back in the chair and began to relate the tale.

TBC