Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, spoilers for the NCIS episode: "The Meat Puzzle"

Title: Meeting Luna

Summary: Where does Luna go when her parents are out hunting Snorkacks? Try the US of A. Completely AU, spoilers for the NCIS episode 'The Meat Puzzle'.

Chapter 1- Ducky

Ducky watched as Mary Hanlan withdrew the thick needle from its casing and handed it to her son. He clenched his hands into fists as he struggled against his bindings, then forced himself to breathe deeply and remain still as Vincent Hanlan placed the needle into his neck. His eyes opened to stare at the ceiling as mother and son stood placidly next to him, watching his blood flow out of the tubing and into a reservoir placed on the floor, below the table he was tied to. Jethro, if you're ever going to find me…

The door banged open and he heaved a sigh of relief when he heard Leroy Jethro Gibbs bark orders to his team.

"My hands—untie my hands!!" he directed them quickly. He was already starting to feel dizzy from the blood loss. Thankfully, Tony came forward and quickly undid the bindings on his hands. Quickly, he pulled the needle out of his neck and pressed his hand against the wound to still the blood flow with a sigh of relief. He noticed from the corner of his eyes that Gibbs and McGee had their guns trained on Mary and Vincent Hanlan, but Kate was doing a thorough search of the room, including the hidden room where they had kept him. Ducky turned panicked eyes to Gibbs as he barked his question to the Hanlans.

"Where is she?!"

"Jethro, please tell me you've already found her!" Ducky said, his heart starting to beat faster in panic.

Ducky opened his eyes blearingly to find himself in a dimly lit, slightly stuffy room. He blinked rapidly, trying to get his teary eyes to focus. The last thing he remembered was reading to Luna on the sofa on the ground floor study while Kate watched amusedly—certainly not conducive to waking up with his hands tied and missing his glasses.

"Ah, Dr. Mallard. Thank you for joining us." A male voice greeted.

"Vincent Hanlan. Last I heard you were buried six feet under for over a year. How is it that you appear in such wondrous conditions after exhumation?" Ducky asked.

"You'll do well to hold your tongue." A sharp female voice retorted as she stepped into the light.

"Mrs. Hanlan, I presume?"

"You took my boy from me Dr. Mallard. You have no idea how much harm you caused my family by sending Vinnie to jail. Let's see how you like it when we turn the tables on you."

Ducky's eyes widened as he watched her roll Luna into sight, tied up and laying on a metal table they no doubt used to prepare the beloved deceased for their funerals. The young girl was awake and frightened, pulling constantly on the bonds around her wrists and ankles, with tears in her eyes. She had a thick rope tied around her mouth and he could already see the rope burns around her lips.

"What are you doing? No—she hasn't done anything, she's only a child!"

"So was Vincent, when he was sent away." Mary Hanlan hissed at him as she turned towards Luna. "But don't worry Doctor. We know how to take care of our guests." She picked up a syringe and fitted a needle to it with a small smile. "Say good night to the little girl, Dr. Mallard."

"Jethro will find us Luna—be calm my dear, everything will be all right." Ducky stuttered. "Please—you can let her go, you've got me already—what could you possibly gain from retaining a child in such conditions? And what in heavens name are you giving her?!"

"Oh, it's just an anesthetic doctor." Vincent said with a smile. Ducky wondered how he could have such straight teeth as his tests had shown his teeth firmly planted on the exhumed skull the agents had dug up from the cemetery before turning back to watching Luna's eyes shutter closed and her body grow limp.

"Uncle Ducky!!!"

"Hello my dear! How was your flight?" Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard bent down slowly to give the eight year old girl a hug. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before leaning back and giving him a puzzled look.

"It's too far to fly, Uncle Ducky. We came by port-key!"

Ducky heard a low chuckle and straightened up as the girls parents walked up behind her. "Good to see you, cousin." The vivacious blonde greeted with a smile. "Thank you for agreeing to look after Luna for a few weeks—Xeno and I have been so looking forward to this trip." Ducky gave her a quick hug and shook the man's hand.

"Nonsense, Seraphina. You know how much my mother and I dote on young Luna." She smiled in response and patted her daughter's head.

"Now Luna, remember what we told you last time we came to the US?"

Luna nodded enthusiastically. "I know. We came on the bird with metal wings!"

"That would be an aeroplane, Luna." Ducky corrected with a smile.

Luna cocked her head to the side. "Right. Why is it called an aeroplane, Uncle Ducky?"

"While many would attribute the modern marvel of the aeroplane to Orville and Wilbur Wright—two very astute brothers who built a 'flying machine' in 1903, the human drive for aerial travel originated with the Chinese—"

Xeno leaned forward and gave Luna a kiss on the top of her head. "We'll be in touch," he said as the doctor and child turned towards the entrance of the building. Luna turned once to smile wave good bye and Ducky gave them a nod in acknowledgement.

Ducky watched with a knot in his throat as they lifted her into an empty coffin and screwed on the lid tightly.

"What are you doing?" he asked, horrified.

"You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? You took away something precious from us—slowly and painfully over the course of a decade. It's time you learned your lesson, doctor." Mary Hanlan answered as she moved over to the head of the table he was laying on and tied a piece of cloth roughly over his mouth and wheeled him into a dark room.