A/N: Thank you for everyone's patience on this story. Work has been insanely busy and I've got about five stories going simultaneously and I've been trying to finish the ones that are close to being completed. Unfortunately, this is not one of them so I ask and appreciate your continued patience. Let me know what you think.
Dr. Donald Mallard strode purposefully down the corridors of NCIS headquarters with a determined step. He was furious and hoped the walk would help him work off some of his anger. It didn't. It was very rare that Ducky would feel so much hatred for another human being, but he could not help it. By the time he reached the conference room, instead of feeling calmer, his fury had only increased. He took a deep breath, trying to at least keep it under control and opened the door. As he expected, Gibbs, Hotchner and Rossi were still in there talking. They looked up when Ducky entered the room.
Gibbs took a step forward and looked inquiring at the medical examiner. "Duck?" His icy blue eyes immediately noting older man's distress and his gaze sharpened.
Ducky opened his mouth and then slowly shut it again. He struggled for his words as anger and the need to see this Rapetti punished in various medieval ways warred with other emotions. He was an old-fashioned man who believed that women should be protected, no matter how capable they were in defending themselves. He could not help it. He was from another era, an era that did not fit into the modern day concept of relationships between men and women. But that era also taught him to keep his word to a lady. He had promised Emily he would not repeat what she had shared in confidence.
However, Gibbs was looking expectantly at him as were Emily's colleagues. He knew Gibbs was very concerned for the pretty brunette and Ducky half suspected that Gibbs might have already figured out what Emily's relationship with Rapetti might be. And complicating matters, Gibbs had a murder investigation to conduct. If he thought Emily had some pertinent information, he couldn't stop, he would need to know what she did.
"Duck?" Gibbs repeated, his voice tinged with impatience.
Ducky could see Hotchner and Rossi were closely watching him as well.
"I think Emily might have the beginnings of a very bad cold. I would suggest that she not be out in this weather if it can be avoided. Rest would be ideal, but I suspect she will resist that," Ducky said, trying to stall for time.
Gibbs gave him a hard look. "While I'm concerned about Emily's health, I need to know if there's anything she had to tell you about Rapetti."
Ducky bit his lip and tried for a response he hoped would persevere Emily's confidence and satisfy Gibbs. "Emily believes that Rapetti is not our murderer."
"Based upon what?" Hotch asked as he moved forward, Rossi right behind him.
"I'm sure you are aware that Emily had a prior association with Mr. Rapetti," Ducky said in a testy voice. "Based on that association and her experience as a profiler she believes he is not our killer."
"What was her association with Rapetti?" Rossi asked. "How did they know each other?"
The struggle on Ducky's face was evident. "They knew each other when Emily was younger. A teenager in Rome. Really no older than a child, while Rapetti was a young man. An older man. And Emily must have been such a beautiful child."
Gibbs and Hotchner stared quizzically at Ducky, wondering why the doctor seemed to feel he needed to talk about the differences in Emily and Rapetti's ages and the fact that she knew the man when she was teenager. Mallard saw a different expression on Rossi's face and in a moment, realized that the other man knew something else; something that might allow him to deduce what had happened. Perhaps Ducky could still keep his word.
However, it was clear neither Gibbs nor Hotchner were privy to that information. They were still looking inquiringly at Ducky, and in Gibbs' case, annoyed impatience.
"Dr. Mallard, she's going to have to tell us what she knows about him. Her past relationship with the man might be coloring her judgment," Hotch replied in a logical tone.
To call what occurred between Emily and Rapetti a "relationship" snapped the fragile control Ducky had over his temper. His stomach roiled and he couldn't help spat out furiously, "To call what that man did to that child-"
Mallard clamped his mouth shut as he saw dawning realization appear on the other men's faces. Hotchner looked stunned, Rossi swore furiously in Italian and Gibbs, well, he grew very still, his features went immobile. He was a statute carved out of marble, but for his eyes. Ducky could see a burning anger turning the light blue opaque, hiding every emotion. The doctor knew that was a bad sign.
"Did he hurt her?"
He said it in a low, raspy voice that held a faint tremble that indicated the strong emotions coursing through his body, but the question did not come from Gibbs. Ducky turned to look at Aaron Hotchner whose stunned expression was slowly being replaced by a dispassionate, professional mask.
"Did he hurt her?"
Hotchner repeated the question, but this time, it came out harder, cooler. Ducky examined the man closely, his gaze level and searching. There was no need to ask what was meant by the word "hurt". All four men understood what the euphemism stood for and did not wish to say the word. To say it would be to make the ugliness of the act all to stark to them and at that moment, may have been what snapped the fragile control they kept over themselves and stopped them from rushing out and hunting Rapetti down.
"I cannot break a confidence," Ducky said after a brief silence. "However," he continued as the men looked as though they were about to protest. He turned towards Gibbs. "I will say should you ever have reason to interrogate Mr. Rapetti, there would be no reason to be gentle."
The only obvious sign of Gibbs' understanding of what Ducky was saying was the slight flaring of his nostrils. Mallard watched this reaction with some satisfaction. Even if it took extreme measures, Ducky knew that Leroy Jethro Gibbs would not let Rapetti's despicable actions against Emily go unpunished.
"We'll still need to talk to Prentiss."
All the men turned to look at Hotchner with surprise.
"Aaron," Rossi began in a slightly chastising tone.
"You know we have to question her," Hotch continued in the same dispassionate voice. "She has information on a suspect in an active murder investigation. She has a personal involvement with that subject that might be affecting her judgment."
"She's not trying to protect the blaggard!" Ducky burst out.
"I know," Hotch acknowledged in the same emotionless voice. "We have to still question her." He turned to look directly at Gibbs. "You know we have to."
The two men stared at each other. No one spoke, Rossi and Ducky barely breathed. A full minute passed before Gibbs nodded reluctantly.
"He's right, Ducky," Gibbs murmured. He stared steadily at Hotch. "However, no one else is involved. I'll do the questioning."
"We'll do it together. Remember, Prentiss is still my agent," Hotch responded coolly. "But I agree. At this time, there's no reason to involve anyone else."
Ducky wasn't certain if he felt relief or anger. There would be someone going after Rapetti to bring him to justice, or make sure some form of justice was parceled out, but Emily would have to re-tell her story, yet again, with these men asking for explicit details, something Ducky had not. He had simply listened. These men will be interrogating her.
"I insist on being there," Mallard said in a firm tone. "Emily has been through a lot today and asking her to repeat something that she had kept secret for so long could push her to her limits."
Hotch stared at Ducky for a moment but nodded. "I think it might be a good idea if she had someone there to support her."
"While we are questioning her, I hope we let Emily know we're there to support her as well," Rossi broke in. He was troubled by the conversation, afraid that one other secret Emily had told him several months back was a direct result of Rapetti's attack. Rossi was going to make sure that man got what he deserved.
"I would also suggest that we speak to Emily in the morgue and not in one of the interview rooms," Ducky told the men. "It will seem less like an official interrogation."
"We're not interrogating Prentiss," Hotch sighed. "We are questioning her about her knowledge of a potential suspect."
"You are prying into a very traumatic incident that has greatly impacted Emily." Ducky was irritated by the FBI agent's insistence on using Emily's surname. "Despite what your intentions are, it will feel like an interrogation. I intend to be there to mitigate the damages as much as possible," Ducky huffed out before he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.
"I am not going to interrogate Prentiss," Hotch hissed out angrily through gritted teeth.
"Her name is Emily," Gibbs responded frigidly. He turned to look at Hotch with his cold, blue eyes. "If she wants to stop, we stop. We don't push her. She tells us as much as she's ready to tell us."
The FBI agent turned his own flat dark eyes to stare at the other man. His voice was icy, professional and dangerous. "I will conduct the interview in the manner I see fit. Agent Prentiss is my agent and I know she will do all that she can to help in this investigation." Hotch pushed past Gibbs and without a backward glance, left the room to follow Ducky to the morgue.
Gibbs glared after Hotch's back. He was vaguely aware of Rossi coming up to his shoulder.
"He'll be careful with her," Rossi assured the NCIS agent. "Hotch knows how hard to push Emily."
"He can't even bring himself to say her name," Gibbs groused in a gruff voice. "How can he know her well enough to know when she's hit her limit?"
Rossi stared steadily at Gibbs for a moment. They had all wondered about his relationship with Emily. Were they friends? Lovers? No one was certain but Rossi could see the depth of feelings the NCIS agent had for the lovely brunette. Gibbs was feeling ferociously protective of her and saw Hotch as a threat to her well-being. And Rossi had to admit, Hotch was giving a good imitation of someone who didn't really have Emily's welfare in mind.
Dave knew differently though. Hotch had been in emotional shut down since the Reaper attacked him. Haley's death two months ago broke through some of that emotional ice he had formed over his heart, but it also damaged it and Hotch's belief in his own self-worth. Rossi knew Hotch cared for Emily, perhaps more than the man realized himself. But after the trauma inflicted by Foyet, both emotionally and physically, Aaron was in no shape to show it so he fell back on what he knew, Supervisory Agent In Charge Aaron Hotchner. Which meant he likely would push Emily and not treat her with the kid gloves Gibbs expected?
This was going to be an interesting interview.
Emily refreshed her tea and cupped the mug with her cold hands. She closed her eyes and tried to regulate her breathing. Ducky had left her alone, to give her time to wash the tears from her face and regain some semblance of composure.
It had been hard to talk about what Rapetti did to her, but it had also felt good to unburden herself to someone and she couldn't think of anyone better than Ducky. There was no judgment, no questions, and no pressure. Just gentle acceptance and encouragement.
The soft whoosh of the sliding doors opening caused Emily to stiffen. Her back was to the doors and she was still feeling drained. Her cold was not helping. She took a deep breath and turned slowly around. She was surprised to see Ziva standing there.
"If you're looking for Ducky, I think he went upstairs," Emily croaked out. The constant talking earlier had worsened her sore throat and made her sound terrible.
Ziva tilted her head at the sound of Emily's voice and a concerned crease appeared between her brows. "Is your cold worse?"
"It's not getting any better," Emily replied morosely as she took a sip of tea. The honeyed tea provided a little relief to her throat, but she knew it was temporary.
Ziva leaned down to open a drawer in a cabinet by Ducky's desk. It was where he kept his mugs and tea making paraphernalia. She pulled out an extra mug and prepared a cup of tea for herself. She sat on an empty stool and the two women simply drank their tea in silence for a few minutes.
Emily eyed Ziva warily. The former Mossad agent didn't simply come down here for a cup of tea. Prentiss braced herself for the woman's questions. After all, Ziva was at the Italian Embassy that afternoon. She saw Emily's reaction to Rapetti.
"You must have been very young," Ziva said suddenly. She took a sip of tea and looked at Emily.
The FBI agent knew what Ziva was getting at and she sighed. "Fifteen. He got me drunk."
Ziva nodded gently. "He is a predator, but not our killer."
Emily stared at her. "How did you know I thought that?"
Ziva shrugged and set her cup down. "I know if you thought he was a likely suspect, you would not remain silent about it."
Emily's lips twisted into a mocking smile. "But I did remain quiet about a rapist for two decades."
"You were a child," Ziva said simply. Her own eyes darkened. "And what happened to you…it is like…a part of your soul was taken and you're uncertain how to get it back."
It was Emily's turn to closely examine the other woman. Her face softened and she asked gently. "Somalia? When you were held for two months?"
Ziva nodded. "It has been used as a means of intimidation, torture and terrorism for centuries. It is not surprising they would use it on me. However, I did have counseling afterwards. It was required. Did you have anyone?"
Emily shook her head. "I couldn't talk about it. Never spoke about it until today. With Ducky."
Ziva smiled. "Ah, Ducky. He makes a good sounding plank."
Emily chuckled gently. "I think you mean sounding board. And you're right, he does."
They sat for a few minutes in understanding silence. Ziva did not push Emily for any more details. She didn't need them. Ziva understood Emily and vice versa. They were survivors of horrific experiences and it bonded them on some level.
"Gibbs killed him," Ziva said, breaking the silence. "When I was rescued. With his sniper rifle."
"Does it help knowing he's dead?"
"That they are dead. It wasn't only one."
Emily winced and her heart ached for her friend's experience.
"What do you want to do about Rapetti?"
Emily gave Ziva a startled look. "What do you mean? What can I do? He's not the killer."
"You know there are ways to deal with people like Rapetti," Ziva said in a low voice. "You and I both have connections that will take care of him, despite his own connections and wealth."
Emily stared at her in dumbfounded belief for several seconds before she shook herself. "Ziva, I appreciate the consideration, but you know as well as I do we can't go down that route. It would be against the oaths we both took."
"But it would be justice."
"Not the type of justice we swore to carry out."
Emily reached out to grasp Ziva's hand. She knew the other woman's fury was as much about what had happened to Emily all those years ago as it was about her own experiences. Prentiss only wondered how much help the NCIS agent really did get after her experience in Somalia.
"Thank you for the offer, but I do think we need to go about this in the right way."
Ziva nodded. "Sometimes it's difficult to forget what was accepted when I was in Mossad though it has been many years."
"The training was thorough and I dare say for you, began when you were a young child."
Ziva nodded again. "It's difficult to shake free of it sometimes." She sighed. "Especially when you see injustice happening."
"We'll just have to find some other way to make certain Rapetti answers for his crimes," Emily shrugged, still uncomfortable with the discussion. She shot Ziva a look. "A legal way. I won't have anyone jeopardizing themselves in some misguided notion to avenge me."
Ziva didn't look convinced but she simply nodded. "As you wish. But I suggest you have that same conversation with Gibbs."
Emily sighed and rolled her stiff neck from side to side. Rossi might leave things alone and follow her wishes, but she knew from past experiences, one didn't dictate to Gibbs, especially where a friend was concerned. If Ducky hadn't said anything to Gibbs, the man would have figured things out simply by her reactions to Rapetti that afternoon.
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," Emily replied.
The doors quietly swooshed open again, causing both women to look up.
"Looks like you have come to that bridge," Ziva observed as Ducky, Hotch, Gibbs and Rossi walked into the morgue.