He took extra special care with how he treated her. He always treated them with the utmost respect, but she received the care of a dear close friend. He cleaned away the blood from her face as if it was the most precious thing he would ever touch, and he was secretly grateful that it was a clean hole through forehead and she still looked like herself. It was not much, but it was a small mercy. For her family. For them.
"Well, my dear Caitlin..." His voice shook slightly and he moved her head for a bit and rearranged her hair, just so it all looked a bit more natural. That way if he did not look at the hole, he could almost fool himself into thinking that she was only sleeping.
In his mind's eye he saw her opening her eyes and smiling at him. "It was my time, Ducky. Time that was stolen from me, but it was my time."
"There is always the possibility, my poor girl, but I had hoped to never have to do this to one of you."
"I'm glad you're the one doing my autopsy. I wouldn't want it any other way."
"Other than coming back from the dead."
She laughed and when he blinked his eyes, her eyes were once again closed and she was still dead. Not a single hair out of place.
Ducky turned around to look at Gibbs who stood there silently. For how long, he did not know and it did not matter. As their eyes met, something dark crossed over Ducky's face. One that could easily rival that of Gibbs' own dark thoughts in that very moment. "I want him on my table, Jethro."
The End
—Episode Tag: Kill Ari