A/N: Thank you to those who have reviewed, followed or added this to their favourites. I wasn't sure if it was very good, so it's nice to get some feedback. Again, I own nothing NCIS, sadly.
Within minutes of the elevator whirring back into life, it arrived at Abby's lab and McGee stepped out, with a quick glance back at his boss. Now alone, Gibbs hit the button for Autopsy, not really wanting to have the conversation that would soon be upon him.
He didn't want to admit it, but he was struggling. Nearly losing Maddie had taken its toll. He'd nearly lost another person he cared about, and although he thought he could deal with that on his own, it was becoming blatantly obvious he was going to have to do something he hated.
He was going to have to ask for help. All too soon, the elevator arrived at Autopsy and the doors opened. "Ah, Jethro, excellent timing as ever." Ducky said as Gibbs walked in.
"What've you got, Duck?" he asked, all business, for now. "Well, your findings at the house seemed to suggest that our friend Mr Richmond was the victim of more than a simple hit and run accident, and my findings confirm that." the Scottish ME said, turning to Gibbs before continuing. "I discovered a bullet, lodged in the back of the poor fellow's heart. There was no exit wound, so it wasn't something we were looking for, but whilst conducting the autopsy, we found the slug, and then we turned him over and found the entry wound in his back. Yes, someone wanted to make sure our young officer did not survive. I'm not even sure the impact with the vehicle was an accident, given our findings."
Gibbs paused for a moment, taking in the new information. "Where's the slug?" he asked after a short while. "I sent Mr Palmer to deliver it to Abigail, for analysis. I did notice, however, it's not the sort of round we usually deal with. No, this was different, although I can't quite say how or why that is."
Noticing Gibbs still standing before him, the ME asked, "Is something bothering you, Jethro? You're normally out the door as soon as I've told you what you need to know."
Gibbs stood for a moment, was it that obvious something was amiss? "Yeah, Duck. Yeah, there is something." he said with a sigh of resignation - he knew he'd have to have this conversation now.
Ducky nodded, and motioned to two vacant stools. "Well, sit down, and tell me, what's wrong?"
"I need some advice, Duck. From a friend. Since the accident with Maddie... I've not been myself. So far, only you and McGee know what I'm about to say. Can we keep it that way for now?" Gibbs said, not wanting to disclose his panic attacks, but knowing he'd have to, or risk another incident like with McGee in the elevator.
"Well, of course, Jethro. You should know that anything you say here will just be between the two of us, but, what has young Timothy got to do with this?"
Gibbs swallowed hard, his voice dangerously close to breaking. "Since the accident, I've not been sleeping, because I've been having panic attacks. Just at night at first, then... I was with McGee in the elevator, and I had one this morning. I just, I don't know what to do, Duck."