A true friend will see you through when others see that you are through.
-- Lawrence J. Peter
I was done.
I stared down at my hands.
All I can see is blood.
Not mine.
It's never mine.
This time it was Kate's.
It should have been mine.
I feel a hand on my shoulder.
I look up with unshed tears in my eyes.
"Come with me, Jethro," Ducky quietly says.
I nod.
I stand up and let Ducky lead me from the scene.
I follow him outside and allow him to clean me up.
I come to myself enough to drive us back to my house where he sees to it that I lie down and get some rest.
I know in the days to come I will lean on him.
I know that he won't break.
I can hear you ask, how do I know this?
I know this because in the twenty-five years that I have known him, Ducky has always been my friend. He has seen me through the good times, the bad times and the in-between times.
That is what a true friend does and some day I hope to return the favor.
