July 30th
Jordan stood at the side of the bed, before pulling in a chair, "Donald, to day is the start of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival in Edinburgh. I brought some Jazz along, I thought we could listen together." She watched for any emotion, and movement, as the music quietly played out. Morag thought she saw the index finger move in time to the music. She nodded. Jordan noticed too and smiled.
August
The August nights began to draw in, as they say in Scotland. The days getting shorter. The nights longer. Some of the big department stores had started to get their Christmas decorations up, much to the annoyance of Ziva and Gibbs.
6th
"Donald. I know how much you liked, sorry like, shows and the media. But today starts the Edinburgh International Festival. The Fringe. I know, not the legitimate festival, well….. really it is, as most of the fun is in the fringe." Jordan began to say, "It was the street fest. The performers walked down from the Pleasance to Meadowbank Stadium.
8th
"Well Dr Mallard, I haven't been in for a while. I'm sorry but I'm winching," as Jimmy bowed his head and laughed, "She is a lovely girl. I wanted to bring her to meet you, but then again, she just met my mother, and I didn't think meeting two….." his voice trailed off. "But if you would like, I will bring Sandie in to see you. Oh and Morag has started to call me Jamie. I quite like it don't you?"
Jamie thought he saw a smile, or was it just a quiver of the Doctors' lips.
12th
"Hi Duks, brought you a coffee, but I see you're not quite up to it yet." looking for expression on the face of Donald. "Magnificent 12th Duks…."
"Glorious 12th, Agent Gibbs, get it right." Morag had reminded Jethro. Gibbs smiled.
"So, this Glorious 12th, the start of the grouse season. I had to stop DiNozzo bringing in a couple of pigeons to you. Ziva wanted to go shooting. Should I let her? Tim says I should stop grousing."
Gibbs stood looking out over the garden. He was deep in thought. It was 8months now and still no response. As next of kin he wondered if he was doing the right thing.
"Duks, am I doing ok here? Am I doing the right thing? Would you be better off in a home?" Jethro asked quietly. He thought he saw as sigh.
"Aye, Jethro you are doing fine. Just get that lazy Jamie in here." Morag answered, "Since that laddie, has been winching, he's been nowhere to be seen. Tell him to bring his young lassie in to see the Doctor. Aye and himsel', the Doctor needs a weel kent face." as she turned and walked away.
13-30 International Edinburgh Festival (official).
"Hey Duks was talking to some of the lads up at the Barracks, and they were saying that The Citadel Band from Charleston, are actually going to play at the Diamond Jubilee of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They're going to be the only U.S. band in Edinburgh. Abbs says there's a Charlestown in this Kingdom, she has found. Didn't know that they allowed the Tattoo up at the Castle since it's a working Barracks. But heck Ducks I'm beginning to find out more about your homeland than you would probably like me too."
International Book Fest. 14 - 30 August
"Ducky, I have just discovered that this Edinburgh Festival has everything the team could wish for. I have found a book festival where Authors are invited to attend. I was thinking of asking Tim's agent if he could be invited for next year." Abby gushed.
"It would be nice, but some of the Authors attending are local. Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith, and from the US Joyce Carol Oates." Tim now added, "But I don't think they would want someone as unknown as me there."
20th
"Dr Mallard, I have a confession. No, I did not do anything wrong. Dr Hampton didn't shout. But I fell in love today with the most beautiful girl in the world. Then….." as Jimmy began to explain.
"I walked in and found him oogling a Katoey." Tony answered laughing.
"That Tony, is rich coming from you," Tim now answered.
"Yep it was really quite funny, since Tony had an altercation with something similar." Gibbs now added, "But what he was going to add was…" now looking at Jimmy.
"I didn't realise that "The Lady Boys of Bangkok" were playing at the Festival. And, the funny thing is, so I heard…"
"Allegedly Jim, don't get yourself into trouble." Tony added.
"They go to the Ladies toilets…." he whispered.
"Laddies, ladies….they do not speak good English ," Morag muttered, "And anyway, they see the picture of a woman in a dress on the door and so they think that is for them"
"Maybe Morag," Gibbs answered, "They don't want molested."
"True, so true." as she walked away laughing.
Gibbs looked at Donald, and yes definitely a smile.
25th
Tony breezed into the room. "Doctor, no gonna believe this," he shouted in his best Sir Sean voice, "It's Sir Seans' birthday today. Thought I'd treat the team to a few of his best 007 films." He thought he heard Ducky sigh.
30th
The night stayed dry, which was unusual for Edinburgh at the festival. The wind calm, an Indian summer looked like it would finish the summer off in Scotland. Morag had managed to get Tim to find a web site, on a lap top he had spare, and she had placed on the end of Ducky's bed.
"Now Donald shall we settle down and watch the fire works, that end the festival, for another year."
September
4th
"Well remember today Donald," Morag remarked as she pumped up Ducky's pillows. The day carers had been in, and cleaned and refreshed him. They had raised the bed so he could look out over the garden. If only his eyes would open. "11.00 o'clock the Queen opened the new road bridge. Remember the haar, and at exactly 11 the sun shone and the clouds moved. It was like the parting of the mist between the Kingdom and the rest of the world. Do you remember the romantic short ferry crossing across the Forth? No more long queues, to get over. The Hawes Inn was always a good refreshment point." she looked and she thought she saw Ducky nod. No maybe it was his head falling against the pillow. But always hope.
17th
"Hey Ducky I didn't know about this?" Jethro questioned as he entered the room with the Washington Post, "I know, I didn't take Shannon's faith, and you know I do respect, but the Pope, he was in Edinburgh yesterday. One question I got to ask, and it would be nice, if someone could answer. How did the Pope get along Princes Street? I mean…with it dug up for the trams."
"Divine intervention, Agent Gibbs," Morag interrupted, "The Lord moves in very mysterious ways." as she plumped up the pillows.
Gibbs looked at Morag, shook his head slightly and smiled the Gibbs smile. Yes Morag, she had this habit of creeping up behind and answering your questions. Was she an angel or the devil?
October
8th-16th The Gaelic Mod in Caithness.
The start of the month saw Jethro standing at the window, looking across the garden. The autumn colours gave a warmth to the cold air. He turned and pulling the chair up to the side of the bed sat and looked at his friend.
"I read in the paper, that the Gaelic Mod this year is in Thurso. That's in Caithness isn't it,?" Gibbs asked, "Always remember you saying your mother left you on the bus from Orkney to John O'Groats. She was halfway to Thurso before she missed you. I don't suppose she was going to sing?" now laughing. He thought he saw Ducky smile.
"Thurso is a lovely place Agent Gibbs. It is the a little wind swept, but the wind, it draws the cobwebs out your hair." Morag replied as she passed through the room. Yes definitely a devil, Gibbs thought.
3rd -16th Commonwealth games India.
"Hey Duks," Gibbs spoke as he entered the room, "See your team finally decided to go to the Games. Bit of a nightmare I believe, but it all worked out well in the end, and you did end up with 26 medals, 9 gold,10 silver and 7 bronze. Not bad for a small country." Jethro looked over a Ducky, his breathing light but steady. "Next games are in Glasgow. Fancy going? That's if Leon lets us all off at the same time." Gibbs wondered if his friend would ever see the light of day again or if he would just fade away. He wondered if they were doing the right thing.
Friday 22nd to Sunday 31st October
Jimmy, walked into the room. He wondered if Dr Mallard would ever be the same again. Would he ever regain consciousness. It had been so long since the accident. So much had passed in Scotland. They had talked to Duks and told him tales of happenings, and news in his native land. But Jimmy missed the tales of Ducky's escapades. His tales of old. His mumblings. Morag saw the young man deep in thought.
"Jamie, do not worry yoursel', the good Doctor is in good hands and he has his friends around him." she spoke in her highland lilt, "Pull up a chair, speak to him."
Jimmy took the chair and sat beside Ducky.
"Dr Mallard," Jimmy coughed and spluttered, "I never thought I would say this…but I miss your stories. Dr Hampton, Jordan, she has allowed me to call her that, but it is slightly unprofessional, don't you think?…well she doesn't have the tales you tell. I was wondering when you get better you can tell me more. But Doctor, I found out today that there is a Scottish International Storytelling Festival, being held in Edinburgh this month. I believe the festival brings together storytellers and audiences from all over Scotland and beyond. Bet you wish you could be there." as the young man looked across at his mentor.
31st
Abby was twirling round and round in her Marilyn Munroe dress.
"Duks I put this on specially for you." she oozed.
"Thought it was for me." replied Tim dressed as Robin Hood. The green tights pulled up tight against his body, but the leather tunic, long enough to spare embarrassment.
"We are off to a Halloween party. Fancy dress. Well you would have gathered that if you…." he didn't finish. Tim just wasn't thinking.
"Gibbs says he will come in later and sit, just in-case there are any trick or treaters, who might upset Morag," Abby now added, "So before we go we will just say this to you Duks. "The sky is blue, the grass is green. May we have our Halloween!" That's how you used to say trick-or-treat in Scotland, remember you told us."
Abby leant over and kissed Ducky's forehead, "I keep asking the Nuns to pray for you." as she and Tim left.