Tissue warnings ahead, as well as a visit to NCIS:LA
Rising Knights Chapter 34
Once Hetty dismissed everyone, Callen gave the high sign and the rest of the team met up in an observation room.
Eric makes sure that he has an internet connection ready, so that he can help implement their plans; once Callen has told everyone what his plan is.
Sam Hanna is conversing in quiet whispers with Callen and the others, especially Nate Getz can tell that the conversation definitely concerns Gibbs; Callen's body language is too tense not for it not to be.
Kensi waits for the others to sit down before she tells them that with the capture and arrest of the Kopfs, OSAKI is finally out of business.
"They were definitely the last hold outs. Our contacts in Japan have confirmed it. As for Dr. Mallard's death, Nate has the specs on that one."
"I've read the report and it's solid. The doctor that signed off on Ducky's tox tests is the actually one of Sam's old contacts, a Dr. Laurie Fields."
Sam looks up at the name and a slow smile crosses the black man's face. "If 'Charlie's Brat' got involved I'm satisfied. Laurie Fields is the only one I'd trust with something, someone this important. We can trust her guys."
Sam Hanna is only one of a handful of men who know the truth about Laurie's military background. Curious to know more about Fields, yet knowing that the information isn't going to be forth coming anytime soon Callen looks around the room.
"Anyone else have an issue waiting until Thursday to get to NCIS?"
Four hands shoot up into the air. Callen smiles and tells Eric to push their flight time forward to tomorrow.
"Gibbs hasn't let me down in the past; I'm not about to let him down now. Alright people we know that Dr. Mallard died from chemical pneumonia. How did he get it? Why him and why not the rest of the team?"
Kensi looks up and says, "If Gibbs is as fond of the old man as you say he is; what better way to start taking down your enemy than with the ones you love?"
Callen nods but adds, "Yeah I get that, but why Ducky? Why not start with Gibbs dad or even Mike Franks? Hell any of the team for that matter; what made them start with the M.E.?"
Those are the questions that the team is working on when Vance steps out of Hetty's office. Vance and Hetty both stop to listen to Nate Getz's answer.
"We have to look at the big picture though guys. It's entirely possible that Dr. Mallard has been misdiagnosing himself for too long. My uncle did it and he died from a simple head wound because he refused to have it examined. It's a common enough occurrence in the elderly these days. They've been hurt or just have a general mistrust of the younger generation of doctors."
They all look up when Hetty says, "It's true unfortunately. We see the younger generation graduating in fewer years and doubt that they could possibly have learned enough to make us trust them."
Hetty steps closer and asks, "Did you manage to get our flights updated Mr. Beal? Yes I said our flights. Ducky Mallard was a friend and he'll be getting a proper send off."
"We're set to take off at 08:00 hours. That should put us there no later than 18:30 even with a slight layover."
"Good, everyone get your cases wrapped up today so that we can leave on time. Callen come talk to me please." Hetty starts walking back upstairs and Callen steps into place beside her.
"What is it Hetty?"
"What frame of mind will Gibbs be in?"
Callen sighs, "Gee Hetty, ask me a hard one will you?"
Hetty smacks him on the arm and Callen chuckles as he escorts her into her office. Once they're inside and sitting down, he says
"I honestly don't know what or how he's going to initially react to all of us showing up. Surprise, suspicion all immediately come to mind then probably realization that we're just there as support for him and the team."
"Is there anyone on the team that you can think of that might not accept us being there?"
Callen frowns. "Hetty you've met Abby and I know for a fact that Tim McGee is probably the most welcoming person on the face of the planet. If anyone will be suspicious it would be Ziva."
Hetty nods thoughtfully then asks why Callen didn't bring up Tony DiNozzo.
"Abby, Gibbs and DiNozzo knew Ducky the longest. Those three are going to be the most affected aside from Ducky's assistant, Jimmy Palmer. From what I've read out of Director Vance's notes, Jimmy and Ducky were almost a father/son team more than an m.e and his assistant."
He sits back and thinks about the current case they've been working on, "McGee will be affected, but right now, he's got the added conflict of this thing with his parents. I'm not sure how that's going to affect him to be honest with you."
Hetty nods and makes a notation on the pad of paper in front of her.
"Ziva's basically our unknown factor. Granted she is a former Mossad agent, but she's also a new U.S. citizen."
Callen shakes his head. "The thing is Hetty, they all formed attachments to Ducky. He was like their uncle to most and almost Gibbs surrogate father. I just don't know how he's going to react to all of us being there...I'm sorry."
"Don't be, you've given me something to think about and now you can go and finish up that case you Mr. Hanna and the others were working on."
Callen realizes that she's referring to the McGee case. She wants to be able to tell Gibbs that his agent is safe. Callen nods and leaves the room to tell the others what exactly their primary mission of the day is.
The others nod; just because the main OSAKI head is down, doesn't mean all the cells are extinguished. They all pick up their phones and start dialing.
###
Gibbs pulls up just outside of Rock Creek Park. Setting the car into park, he opens the door and starts walking. Mike and Jack exchange glances. Mike indicates that he'll follow his probie while Jack stays behind. Knowing that he cant keep up with the other two, Jack nods and waits on a bench not too far away from the cars. He's worried about his son, he hasn't seen him this upset since Shannon and Kelly's deaths. Then, like now, he'd been unable to prevent it.
Unlike then however, Leroy was able to see his friend's body; to see for himself that the man actually is dead. The fact that Ducky waited so long to see a doctor…Jack makes a vow then and there to make sure he sees his own doctor the minute he gets back to Stillwater. Although he has to admit, he wouldn't mind if Laurie Fields became his physician someday. He sighs as he absorbs the sunlight dappling through the shade from the trees and dreams of a time when his son might finally find peace; not just peace of mind, but peace in that battered heart of his as well.
Mike is glad that he's stayed in shape as he follows his probie down a running path. He knows from past experience that Gibbs is running from ghosts; ghosts of all those loved ones that he'd been unable to protect. Not just Shannon and Kelly although those are the two main ones; no his probie has all the others as well: Jenny Shepherd, Chris Pacci, and Caitlin Todd, just to name a few. Not for the first time Mike wishes that Gibbs had someone to help ground him; the way Shannon had before her untimely death. The way his probie is going, it won't be too long before Mike is attending another funeral and he doesn't want it to be Gibbs.
Gibbs finally stops, panting heavily hands on his knees. Mike doesn't have to move closer to know that the former Marine is fighting tears or ignoring them as the case might be. Gibbs will expel all emotion by the time Friday arrives; this much Mike does know. Running helps calm Gibbs down, as does the feel of wood beneath his hands. Mike knows there aren't any boats in the basement and wonders what Gibbs will create instead.
When Gibbs finally sinks to his knees, Mike moves closer and kneels down beside him. Mike feels slightly awkward, hugging his former protégé, but knows instinctively that Gibbs needs the human contact now. As his hand connects with Gibbs shoulder the younger man turns and cries.
"Why Mike? Why am I always too late? First Shannon and Kelly, then Pacci and now Ducky? Why am I cursed to lose them all? Why?"
Mike doesn't answer, knows that he's not expected to answer as Gibbs rails at the fates. Five minutes later, when Gibbs finally quiets Mike loops an arm around his shoulder and helps him stand up; leads him back to where Jack is waiting and sits him down beside his father.
Kneeling once more, Mike quips, "You know something probie? That's the longest conversation I think you've ever had; best part was that I didn't have to say a word. "
A wry Gibbs smile warms Mike's heart and he knows it was the right thing to say. Jack takes in the tear-stained cheeks and hesitantly hands his son a handkerchief. Leroy wipes his eyes before blowing his nose.
Sitting back against the bench he closes his eyes. Mike and Jack watch as he finally starts to relax. Mike motions for Jack to start the car and escorts Gibbs to the passenger side.
"I'll be right behind you, Jack. Just get him home."
Jackson Gibbs nods as he makes sure that his son is buckled in securely before buckling himself in and driving towards Leroy's home. Mike Franks follows close behind, clearly not letting his friend go through this turmoil alone.
###
Tim turns to Jimmy who is probably more affected by Ducky's death than the rest of them combined. He knows that Jimmy considered Ducky a second father; maybe even a first one since he'd lost his own at an early age.
"Hey Jimmy, why don't you pick up some clothes and come stay with us at Vance's? You don't need to be alone right now anymore than the rest of us do."
Jimmy nods and looks at Abby. "Do I need to pick up Jethro? I know that the director has a big back yard and…" Jimmy breaks off and a smile crosses his face for the first time that day. He knows what he wants to do with Ducky's house now. Deciding to wait to tell the others he looks expectantly at Abby who beams at him.
"Oh that's an excellent idea Jimmy! Sister Rosita and the nuns all love him, but he misses Tim terribly. Let's go."
Jimmy waves at the others as Abby drags him to the elevators.
Tim and the others all start laughing when the other two are out of sight. That familiar scene of Abby dragging any of them is just the thing they needed to lighten their day.
Maggie can see when Ducky's death starts to come to the front again and quickly suggests that they head for the Vance household or Jimmy will beat them there.
They split into separate vehicles; Tim and Ziva in one with Maggie while Tony and Sarah are in the other car with John. Tony decides to find out more about his friends dad and starts asking him about the various commands he's been on.
John smiles, knowing that Tony's just curious and might be able to use the information to help open up Tim's memories even more. Every now and then, Sarah will ask a question that brings a smile to John's lips. His daughter obviously loves her brother and is going to help him regain his memories.
"Sarah, may I ask why you aren't as affected as Tim was?"
Sarah sighs and grabs hold of Tony's free hand as she tells her father what she'd almost told Tony just the day before.
"When I was in graduate school, I started having a migraine and was about to grab the pills that Stacy had given us when my instructor came around and asked me what I was taking and for what reason. I told him and he told me that some medications actually exacerbate the conditions and make it worse the next time…making you take more medication. I, he showed me some home remedies and I haven't taken the drug since. When Tim called and told us about the medication I gave Tony the bottle from Tim's backpack yesterday. We're hoping that Abby's lab equipment can help identify the drugs."
John whistles as he thinks about how much has happened in just the past 24 hours. He meets Tony's eyes in the rearview mirror and asks, "You guys always have this much excitement going on?"
"No this is one of our more hopping weeks. We do have one or two where we sit at home and work on cold cases."
The tone of his voice tells both passengers just excited he is when those weeks come to pass. As they still have plenty of beverages from the night before, Tony calls in for Chinese and looks at John for what he and Maggie will be wanting. John tells him and waits until they're all sitting around the Vance table to say, "You guys need a restaurant out here called The Knotted C."
Maggie nods her head in enthusiastic agreement. "Yeah, we dined there at least once a week when we were in LA. It has such a welcoming atmosphere to it. The food surpasses all your expectations no matter what you order."
Tim looks up, "I think that Gibbs and I ate there once when we visited the area. Nice and clean, very friendly and the menu varieties were outrageous."
Ziva looks at the three McGees and asks, "So how do we contact them and see about getting one out here?"
They continue with light chatter for the rest of the meal. For a moment John thinks that Tim has forgotten about the restaurant until he finds his son talking to someone online. A few minutes later and Tim is smiling.
"Eric said that he'll get us some contact names by the time they get here."
"Who gets here, probie?"
"Oh, uh, the entire LA team is on their way out here. Hetty was adamant that she makes sure Ducky gets a proper sendoff."
Mild shock is the one thing seen on the other faces. Then Ziva asks where the other team will be staying. "I do not think that there is room at any of our inns."
Jimmy is silent then says, "We have an alternative. They…could stay at Dr. Mallard's house. He'd get a kick out of them staying there. Providing it doesn't bother them too much."
Maggie can see the others start to say something then Tim says, "You're right Palmer, Ducky would love to have the company. Let me see if any of them have a problem staying there."
A quick typing and then Tim is saying, "They're all okay with it."
Jimmy gives an audible sigh and sinks into the couch. Once again Maggie and John are amazed at how the team rallies around one of their own. Abby immediately sits beside her friend while the others gather around the couch. Not saying a thing, they take each other's hands. Gradually, the hugs start. First with Abby and Jimmy; then Abby gets up and hugs Tony, Ziva Tim and Sarah. John and Maggie are the recipients of an Abby hug too. Tears are prevalent on all faces as they wonder what to say next.
Jimmy looks around and says, "I hate to bring this up but who are we missing?"
Tim smiles at him, "We sent Mike and Jack after Gibbs. I think we all know that the boss wouldn't want us to see his tears."
Jimmy nods at Tim's logic then frowns, "Actually I was referring to Jordan. We have each other as support; who does she have?"
Tim looks at the others who nod in agreement. Jordan deserves to have their support; she was the one who'd been with Ducky and she cared for the old man just as much as the rest of them did. Tim reaches for his keys and Ziva plucks them from his hand. Taking him by the hand she leads him out of the room.
"You have a good opportunity here Tim; take this time to learn about your family again. I would give anything to have Tali back; please let me go get Jordan and you take this time to find out more about your past."
Tim looks down into her pleadingly earnest brown eyes and nods in slow agreement. He tells her where Jordan lives and heads back inside.
A/N: We get the teams together as well as Jordan and Gibbs and they're all in one location…Ohh that's gonna be an emotional ride…