CHAPTER 6

Ducky

This wasn't part of the plan.

Young Timothy was at his desk, grinning and humming under his breath as he worked. "Hey Ducky," he said with a grin. "Find anything more for the case?"

"Ah, you're in a pleasant mood Timothy. What has you so perked up?"

"Oh," he blushed and ducked his head, but he and the rest of the team could see his smile, "I had a great date last night."

Glancing at a nervous Tony and Ziva who was throwing cautious looks around for Gibbs, he put on a smile though it was hard. This wasn't part of the plan. Sure they had planned for it to be a date, but the way Timothy's eyes glowed and melted was bad. Timothy couldn't fall for Damon. "Really? With who?"

"Damon Werth. I was a little nervous at first since I can still remember the way he dislocated my shoulder, but he's really great."

"That-That's great Timothy."

Tim beamed up at him and was going to say something but Jethro stormed in the bullpen, anger and irritation rolling off him in waves. Ducky nearly winced as Gibbs slammed down his coffee cup on his desk. "There a reason you're up here Ducky?"

"Ah, yes. I found something interesting on our poor fellow."

Gibbs stared and waited before sighing. "Care to explain?"

"Certainly."

"I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead."

Ducky frowned as he entered his autopsy and saw Mr. Palmer mumbling to himself as he was supposed to be studying. "What troubles you Mr. Palmer?"

"Dr. Mallard!" he jumped in fright and Ducky frowned. "Oh god Dr. Mallard. You can't let him kill me."

Mr. Palmer charged at him and grabbed onto him. "Dear heavens. Jimmy," he soothed, patting his hand to get him to lessen his hold a bit as it was tight, "what are you talking about?"

"Agent Gibbs! Yesterday, he was everywhere I turned." He was looking around now as if he expected the man to pop out of one of the freezers. "Now, Tim had a good time on his date with Damon. The date I set up. He's gonna kill me! You can't let him."

Ducky patted his hand again and led him back to his desk. "Let me get you some tea. That'll calm you down." After passing the young man a cup, he spoke. "Now, Jimmy, Jethro will not kill you. And if he thinks of it, well don't you worry lad. I'll just tell him one of my stories to give you enough time to run." Mr. Palmer cracked a smile as intended. "That's a lad. Now, I know this didn't go as expected. We didn't think the date would be horrible but also not this good. It's okay. This'll just push Jethro to make a move faster."

"Ducky."

Mr. Palmer jumped so bad he spilt tea everywhere and stared at Jethro in the doorway. He looked over to his old time friend and could see where that fear of death came from as Jethro's ice blue eyes were drilling into Mr. Palmer. Poor lad.

"Why don't you go take a break Mr. Palmer? And don't worry about the mess. I'll clean it up."

Mr. Palmer made a fast escape and Ducky started cleaning the spilt tea.

"You should have had him clean his own mess Ducky."

"No need to cry over spilt milk. Or tea." He smiled with a glance to Jethro to see his lips quirk. "Besides, I would hate for Mr. Palmer have to clean a bigger mess than this as his trembling would spill more. No doubt because of you."

"Didn't do anything to him Ducky."

"Except trying to glare holes into his head. Now, though that would be an interesting autopsy, I would not like it to be on Mr. Palmer. He is such a smart lad."

"Yeah, a right genius."

Ducky looked to Jethro and hid his smile. He knew Jethro wasn't one to spill feelings and problems, but when one came bad enough he came to Ducky. And it was only a matter of time for Jethro to come visit him about Timothy.

"Now, Jethro, are you saying that because he is or because you are angry at the fact he set up young Timothy on a date with someone and they hit it off?"

"Tim can go on any dates he wants."

He raised an eyebrow. "Tim?"

"McGee."

"Ah."

They stood in silence, looking at each other, a battle of who would speak first and Ducky decided to be the one to lose this battle.

"I can't help but wonder how long it's going to take you to finally follow your heart and go after what you want Jethro. As you can see, he's not going to stay single forever."

Jethro shrugged, shifting his weight from one foot to another. "I'm a grade A bastard on a good day, too many ex-wives and failed relationships under my belt, and not exactly the most open person. McGee's better off without me going after him."

Ducky really didn't want to speak like this, just thinking it had a blush dusting his cheeks, but he spoke. "So you have no problem Timothy maybe finding his happily ever after in Mr. Werth. Being happy, growing old together…sharing a life." Jethro's jaw locked and Ducky almost stopped at the slightly hurt look in the man's eyes but he pressed on at the possessiveness that was pushing through more in those ice blue eyes. "Sharing a life, a bed. Night after night, going home to a warm bed and into the loving and caring arms of Mr. Werth after a hard case."

The agent glared, Ducky thought he heard his teeth grind from a few feet away, before turning and leaving without a word. Ducky didn't stop throwing out, "We of all people know how limited time is when it comes to the delicate thing called life."

A/N: I know, not that funny compaired to the other chapters. But...someone had to give Gibbs the talk.