Something was holding him here besides the fact that Jethro had said he was on his way. And while he didn't know what it was, Ducky felt no urge to fight it. He couldn't bring himself to leave the hospital waiting room he'd been camped out in since he'd brought Timothy in over an hour ago. The sobs and cries of disbelief and grief that had reached him over the phone as he'd broken the news of Timothy's death to his fellow teammates had shaken the M.E. to the core; grounding him in place where he'd been sitting when he placed the pain-filled call. Jethro's angry declaration hadn't been a surprise either.
It wasn't that he'd expected any less from them; simply that he'd not been prepared himself, to lose such a treasured young soul and in such a horribly painful way or so quickly after the attack. He was sure that Jethro's team would pursue the maxim penalty for the asinine security guard that had so thoughtlessly and recklessly tazered Timothy for no reason. But at the moment, all Ducky could think about was the young man who'd lived to please everyone else, often at times remaining silently miserable as he did so.
How he wished Timothy had learned to stand up for himself! But even more so, Ducky wished the young man hadn't needed to. His team should have treated him much better than they did and now it was too late to make amends.
"Dr. Mallard!" Ducky turned to see a nurse approaching him. He looked at her with interest and noticed the glazed eyes and the paleness of shock and moved to meet her half way.
"My dear! What on earth? Come, sit down." Ducky guided the young woman to the chair and crouched in front of her.
"I…Dr. Mallard, Agent McGee is alive. He…He…apparently he just sat bolt upright gasping for breath."
Ducky was struck dumb and simply stared at the nurse for a long minute before daring to speak. "I'm sorry, but did you say…?"
"Yes. He's alive we don't know how but, he's alive. We were too busy trying to stabilize him to think about calling you but one of the doctors ordered me out to get you. I'm sorry we didn't come sooner."
Ducky was too shocked to be angry about the fact that he hadn't been told sooner because, Tim was alive and everyone had been busy helping his young friend rather than coming to get him. That wasn't something to be angry about. "How is he now?"
"He's stable for the time being and we're trying to figure out what happened. We just don't understand it."
"That's okay my dear. It's a miracle that's for sure, but…" Ducky patted her hand and started to walk out of the room.
"Dr. Mallard?"
"My dear, I am going to go and see Timothy. I need to see for myself that he alive before I call his team." Ducky pulled out his cell and chuckled softly. "I can't believe it. I just don't believe it!"
"I assure you he is alive and stable. Call them now. Let them know the good news." The nurse stood up and moved to stand beside the M.E. With a soft smile, she kissed his cheek and made to leave.
"My dear." The nurse turned to look at Ducky and smiled warmly. "You may call me Ducky."
"Ducky it is."
He followed her out but paused looking at his phone. Decision made, he flicked it open and made the call that he never though in a million years, he would make.
***NCIS****
For the second time in less than an hour, Gibbs' jumble of pain filled thoughts of his youngest agent was disturbed by the ringing of his phone. He listened to the shrill ring and ignored it briefly because he was barreling down the interstate on his way to Bethesda Naval Hospital to snap those damn doctors back in line and force them to not give up on his agent.
He picked it up but before he opened it, the ringing stopped leaving him to think about his agent once again. He tossed the phone onto the seat and swerved to go round the car in front. How he manage to drive through his haze of grief, disbelief, guilt and anger was beyond him and he was getting so lost in his own turbulent thoughts that he almost missed his phone ringing for the second time. Finally, the insistent ringing irritated him enough that he wanted the noise to stop and so he punched the speaker phone button again, without even looking at his phone.
Gibbs was still angry at himself for not taking Tim immediately to the hospital as he obviously should have and found it impossible to keep his intense anger out of his tone after the events of the day.
"Yeah Gibbs!" he growled into the air surrounding his phone angrily.
"Jethro."Ducky's voice seemed shaky; even more so than the last time he'd called with the worst possible news. What else could have happened since then?
"Ducky. What is it?" He couldn't keep the concern for his long-time friend out of his voice and softened it to the point of comfort.
"Jethro. I need you to come to E.R. Nurse's Station as soon as you arrive at the hospital."
"Talk to me, Doc." Gibbs urged plaintively.
"Just hurry, Jethro." Ducky cryptically replied, ending the call on his end without another word, immediately dialing yet another number.
"Director Shepperd" Jenny answered her ringing cell phone on its' second chirp from her where she sat in Gibbs' chair while she awaited an update along with the rest of Team Gibbs.
"Director, I feel it is necessary to advise you that Timothy's team should be instructed to come to Bethesda immediately."
"Explain." Jenny directed as she got up and walked out of the squad room, heading for the stairs up to her office.
Ducky's tone became that of a long time friend rather than an employee. "Jennifer, please trust me on this. I do not want them to be made aware of anything before they arrive as it may inhibit their ability to drive here safely."
"You're telling me you have an update that will be hard for them handle?" She asked in surprise as she stopped in mid-step while her mind processed what the M.E. was saying without words.
"Tell them to be quick about it, would you, my dear? Perhaps letting Ziva drive would be best." Ducky replied as he ended the call and returned his attention to the nurse waiting to talk with him further.
