Disclaimer: Don Bellisario and CBS own the rights to NCIS and the characters contained within this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
In all his years, Ducky had never had to travel such a short distance to visit his latest guest at the Mallard Inn. Ziva had been found with a dead suspect in the elevator, which spelled nothing but trouble for the poor girl. While Mr. Palmer worked on the external examination, Ducky looked up at Tony and asked,"How's she holding up?"
"Uh, I don't know I haven't talked to her yet," Tony confessed, looking slightly sheepish.
He tried to mask his anger. Ziva was Tony's partner! Shouldn't he care more about what was happening to her? "May I ask why?"
A new voice joined the conversation. "Because I told him not to, Ducky," Gibbs said, joining him in the elevator. Ducky decided to busy himself with the examination. Despite attempts to defend her character, it seemed that Gibbs would never believe him. With a sigh, he returned to Autopsy with Brian Dempsey to further examine the body.
When Ducky arrived home later that evening, he found his mother asleep in the parlor and his study was dark. Odd, he always kept a lamp on in case he wanted a scotch and a good mystery story before bed. A light flickered on, and revealed Ziva sitting in his armchair, looking like she belonged there. "What was the official cause of death for Brian Dempsey, Ducky?" she asked.
"Ziva, could we please leave work matters where they belong?" Ducky pleaded gently. He really didn't want to go into this now.
"I will not be able to sleep until I know for sure." This was a rare moment for her. She was vulnerable. She doubted her own capabilities, and she was starting to believe that she had killed the poor man. "I cannot sleep with this guilt on my conscience." He sat on one of the chair arms and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned into his embrace and he rocked her back and forth.
After he thought about telling her, Ducky finally said, "Brian Dempsey died of natural causes, due to a congenital defect that led to a brain aneurysm. Is that what you needed to hear?" She nodded.
"Did Gibbs ever believe me?" The question didn't come as a shock to him, but this was information he was a bit more reluctant to share.
"I don't believe so." She stiffened slightly in his arms, and he instantly regretted his words. "But Director Shepard agreed with me on the cause of death." He stood and held out a hand to help her up. "Come on, I'll cook dinner. I'm sure you must be starving." She gave him a half-smile and took his hand. Perhaps helping Ducky cook dinner would keep her mind off of things.
Later that night, when they lay in bed together, Ziva thought about how it had been a hellish day for the entire team. Then, oddly enough, she remembered Tony attempting to drive the car with his head in a dead man's lap and started chuckling to herself.
Ducky leaned over and stared at her, confused and just a little worried. "Are you all right, my dear?"
She tried to suppress her laughter and snorted, rolling over to face him. "It is nothing. I just remembered something that happened today when we rescued the Director."
"What happened?" Jen had been very sketchy on the details.
"Tony had to drive the car, and he did so by squatting down next to Brian Dempsey, and drove with his head in a dead man's lap," she said. "I think it was one of those, oh what are they called...'you have to be here' things."
"I think you mean it was a 'you had to be there' moment," he corrected, kissing her forehead. "Now get some sleep. I'm sure we'll have another eventful day tomorrow." He wrapped his arms around her as she turned and held her close as they slept.
