"Duck-" started Gibbs as he walked into autopsy, but he stopped when he saw the M.E. sitting at his desk, on the phone. Ducky held up his index finger, as if to say 'just a minute.'
"Yes. Tonight, my dear," said Ducky into the phone. "See you then." He closed the phone and turned to look at Gibbs.
"What can I do for you?"
"What'cha got, Duck?" Gibbs asked, answering the asked question with another. "Petty Officer Jamison was shot twice in the back," Ducky stated.
"Tell me something I don't know, Duck," Gibbs snapped, turning to walk out of autopsy.
"His body is too mangled from the fire, Jethro!" Ducky said. Gibbs opened his mouth to say something back, but turned to walk out the door instead. Ducky sighed, and turned around to face the cold tables again when he heard the doors open.
"Duck," Gibbs said, turning back around on a whim. The doors closed, leaving them both inside for the time being.
"Yes?"
"Who's the girl?" wondered Gibbs
"I beg your pardon?"
"On the phone." Gibbs said. A small grin crept across the doctor's face.
"Dr. Hampton," he said simply. Gibbs cracked a smile.
"Good for you," he muttered, walking out of autopsy.
"Doctor!" greeted Jordan Hampton as she saw the M.E. walking up to her table. She was seated, as promised, at a small table on the patio of a diner. Ducky smiled at her, leaned over, and kissed her on the cheek. He sat across from her at the table.
"What can I get you both to drink?" asked a young waitress. Ducky ordered tea, and with a smile, Jordan got the same.
"How's the case?" she asked, making small talk. Ducky rested his head in his hands for a moment before replying.
"Troubling," he said.
"Even for you?" Jordan said with a smile.
"The killer...is a professional." Ducky muttered. Jordan nodded. Ducky looked into her eyes.
"Why did you want to meet me today?" he wondered. Jordan's face fell.
"To discuss...us," she said honestly.
"Here's your tea!" the all-too-bubbly waitress said, placing a tall glass in front of each of them. Ducky, shocked by Jordan's statement, nodded faintly to the girl.
"Can I get you anything else?" she asked.
"No...thank you." Jordan said quickly. The waitress left, sensing something in the air.
"Was there ever really an 'us?'" Ducky questioned, breaking the silence once more. Jordan sighed.
"I like you a lot, Doctor," she said.
"And I, you." Ducky responded.
"And truthfully, Doctor, I care about you more than anyone I can think of."
Ducky stayed silent.
"I was worried sick after you were stabbed by that woman, the other day. And seeing you, having your mind played with, I couldn't handle it." Jordan reached over, and took his hand into hers.
"I'm going to live with my sister in California for a while, to help take care of her kids. When I get back, maybe we'll see." She stood up, and gave the doctor a kiss on the corner of his mouth. With that, Jordan gave his hand a quick squeeze, and she was gone. Ducky leaned back in his chair. She was gone. He stood up to leave, but caught a glimpse of something on the wire table. He picked it up. It was a small, hand-folded paper crane.
A/N: I've had this idea in my head forever. Hopefully-if you've seen Broken Bird-you get it. I really, really liked Jordan Hampton, and thought she and Ducky were so cute. But I'm not really fond of how the story turned out-but I just wanted to get the idea out there. Please read and review-tell me how it was! Thanks
