Gibbs talked Ducky into staying at his place, convincing him that he'd had too much to drink to get behind the wheel. He then called DiNozzo and found the senior field agent was still at NCIS headquarters, as were his other agents and Abby. Apparently no one wanted to head home until the puzzle surrounding their M.E. and friend was solved. While Jethro wanted answers to Ducky's dilemma, they still had a case to solve so he ordered Tony and Ziva over to Bethesda Naval Hospital to interview "Ducky Jr."
Tony and Ziva discussed what little Gibbs had added to their knowledge of the situation on the drive over. Tony finally declared it "just plain weird" that they were about to interview Ducky's son.
"Well, at least he is a witness to the crime and not a suspect," Ziva pointed out.
"Yeah, well there is that," Tony agreed as he pulled the car into the hospital's visitor's parking lot.
Tony and Ziva asked for the location of John Doe Samaritan's room and headed down the corridor, Tony pushing the door open to allow his partner in.
"Hello, I'm Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo and this is my partner Ziva David, if you're feeling up to it, we've got a few questions for you," Tony started out genially, after noting that John Doe was awake.
Ziva was trying hard not to stare at the man who was very much a younger version of Ducky save the color of his eyes.
"Sure thing, I'd be glad to help," their witness replied in an Irish brogue, as he struggled to sit up.
"Aw, let me help you there," Tony said, trying to help the other man up. Once he and Ziva had John Doe in a more comfortable position, Tony started out with questions. "First thing we need to know is your name."
"O'Brien, Donald O'Brien, everyone calls me Donnie," he replied, not noticing the looks Tony and Ziva gave each other on hearing his first name.
"Well Donnie, that accent of yours sounds authentic. Are you from Ireland?" Ziva asked.
"Aye, I grew up in Belfast, but I've lived in quite a few different places." Donnie answered. "By the by, you don't sound very American either Agent David."
Ziva smiled, "Israeli." Donnie nodded.
"And what were you doing near the Naval base?" Tony asked.
"I was just out for my morning run, I usually run about 10 miles of a morning. Anyway, I hear that young lass a-hollering and so I hopped the fence to go to her aid," he explained.
"That was a six foot chain link fence with barb wire at the top," Tony observed, the fact that he was impressed by Donnie's nonchalant description of going over the fence as "hopping" it, obvious in his voice.
"Aye, it was a bit like our academy's obstacle course. Anyway, I see this fellow attacking the young woman, I yelled at him as soon as I got clear of the fence. I figured he'd run, but he stood his ground and got his knife up ready for a fight. I could see he'd been in knife fights before, the way he held himself and the blade," Donnie stopped for a second, seeming a bit tired.
"What about you Donnie, you ever been in a knife fight before?" Tony asked.
"Not really, I mean they trained us for it, but that was the first time I ever used my training, guess I was a little sloppy" Donnie replied looking down toward his wound.
"Training?" Ziva asked.
"Oh I'm Garda Siochåna, Irish National Police," he answered.
"Oh well, we're practically brothers then," Tony said with a smile.
"I guess so," Donnie said with a grimace.
"Are you in pain?" Ziva asked.
"A little," Donnie admitted.
"I will get the nurse," Ziva said as she left the room.
"Bonnie partner you've got there," Donnie observed with a tilt of his head toward the door Ziva had just gone through.
"Yeah," Tony agreed, but pressed on with the questioning, "look Donnie, did you get much of a look at the guy who attacked you and the girl?"
"No, unfortunately he had on a ski mask. Can't tell you much about him except height, weight and skin color.
"Which were?" Tony prompted.
"Feet and pounds here in America, right?" Donnie asked. Tony nodded.
"Well, he was a fair bit taller than me. I'd say six foot and maybe eleven stone six," Donnie answered.
At Tony's puzzled look Donnie added, "Oh uh, I mean about 160 pounds, and he was Caucasian, but tanned."
"Not bad, catch a hair or eye color?" Tony asked.
Just then an attractive young redheaded nurse and Ziva entered.
"Ms. David says you're experiencing some pain, Mr. O'Brien is it?" Donnie nodded.
"Aye, but you can call me Donnie," he added with a smile.
"I'm going to give you something for your pain, and now that we've got you awake and a name for you, is there someone we should contact for you?" the nurse asked as she added something to his IV.
"Not on this side of the puddle. Actually, you could do me a favor though," Donnie paused.
"Of course, what would you like?" the nurse asked.
"Your phone number," Donnie said with a smile.
Tony caught Ziva's eye and a silent agreement went between them that Donnie was a charmer with the ladies just like his old man.
The nurse rolled her eyes and very slightly shook her head no. "We really should notify your next of kin, even if that person is not here in the states."
"Oh, alright if you contact the home office of the Irish National Police and tell them Donnie O'Brien was injured, they'll contact me mum."
"Alright, I'll see that the call is made," she told her patient.
"Don't keep the hero too long now, what he really needs is rest," she told Tony and Ziva as she left.
Tony waited for the nurse to leave.
"Just a couple more questions before we leave," Tony added. "What were you doing here in Bethesda?"
"Well, I came for a training and stayed on personal business," Donnie answered.
"What sort of training?" Ziva asked.
"Anti-terrorist," Donnie answered.
"Where were you taking the training?" Tony asked.
"I wasn't taking it," he answered with a note of amusement in his voice. "I was teaching it. I AM from Northern Ireland, Tony. I was born in the height of The Troubles," Donnie answered with a sleepy smile.
"So who were you teaching?" Tony pressed.
"MPs and LEOs from the States, Navy was hosting," Donnie answered sluggishly. It was obvious Donnie was about to succumb to the pain medication.
"And the personal business?" Ziva pushed sensing that they might be getting to something very important and wanting to get to it before Donnie fell asleep.
"I've been trying to get up the nerve to visit me Da," Donnie answered, visibly trying to rouse himself.
"Your Da?" Tony asked.
"Father." Ziva said translating for Tony. Tony shot her a look, which seemed to say he knew that already.
"Mmm, he works here in Bethesda," Donnie looked at the two NCIS agents, focusing much more clearly than he had a moment ago. "Hey, maybe you two know him? He's a doctor, a medical examiner, his name's Donald Mallard," he looked hopefully at Tony and Ziva.
"Y-Yes, we do know Dr. Mallard, but he has never said anything about having a son," Ziva replied not wanting to reveal too much.
"No, no he would not know me," Donnie said softly and sadly.
"I'm sorry mates, but that pain med has me knackered, can we finish this another time?" Donnie asked.
"Sure," Tony said and patted the other man on the arm. "We'll drop by tomorrow morning. You get a good night's rest."
When they left the room Ziva said, "He was more upset than tired."
"Yuh think?" Tony said, imitating their boss. "Come on let's take what little we know back to the boss."
"And to Ducky?" Ziva asked.
"Maybe, let's see what the boss thinks, first."