Title: Day is done
Author: T'PeeJ
Spoilers: Bete Noir
Summary: Ducky gets home at long last. DISCLAIMER: Navy
NCIS is the property of Belisarius Productions,
Paramount Network Television, DPB (The second greatest
being in the cosmos) and CBS. My thanks to rainonrose
for betaing this for me during her busy life.
This story goes in between "Only time will tell" and Are
you happy now?"
~~
Ducky closed the door to his house and slowly walked
through it as if he was a zombie. He dropped his hat and
coat onto the floor. He just didn't care at this point.
This day had been a living hell. Ducky entered his
bedroom and changed into his nightclothes. Moving back
into the kitchen, he put on some water to make some tea.
Ducky got out the china teapot and measured out the
tealeaves. He filled a measuring cup with water. He put
this in the microwave and set the timer for two minutes.
As the water in the teapot heated, Ducky gathered the
rest of the ingredients for a proper pot of tea. When
the microwave sounded, Ducky poured that hot water into
the china pot and covered it with a tea cozy.
"Today is one day that I pray to never relive again,"
said Ducky aloud. He leaned against the counter and
buried his face in his hands. If this could have blocked
everything out of his head, Ducky would have gladly
stood there and done so for everyone that had suffered
that day.
The teakettle sounded, and Ducky moved to turn the
burner off. After emptying the china pot, he placed the
tealeaves inside. He then poured the boiling water over
the tealeaves.
Ducky had done his best to patch the man up in the
autopsy room, but it was really the hospital that had
saved Gerald's arm--and his life. Gerald would be on
medical leave for a while. It didn't surprise him if
Gerald thought long and hard on not coming back to NCIS.
Ducky was doing the same thing tonight.
DAMN that man!" Ducky exclaimed. Ducky had done many
things in his life--but taking another man's life was not
one of them. However, at that moment, he wanted so badly
to hunt that man down for hurting Gerald and Jethro. He
had scared the hell out of Caitlin and Ducky, as
well--though Caitlin--that sweet, beautiful child--had
seriously considered stabbing that bastard with the
scalpel. Ducky had persuaded her not to do it. The man
had been trying to get Caitlin to do something heroic--or
stupid, whichever the case may have been--so he could
shoot her. She had listened to Ducky in the end, but
that terrorist had manhandled her over it. If he could
have, Ducky would have helped Caitlin somehow. He wasn't
just a dotty old man.
Jethro was the second person Ducky thought about. He had
chewed the man out over not wearing his vest once again.
"Why must you be so pigheaded, Jethro?" Ducky asked the
empty room. "I can't lose you--or any of the others. I
really can't.")
Ducky strained his tea into the teacup. He moved out
into the front room and sat. As he sipped his tea, he
let his mind wander.
"Caitlin," said Ducky, closing his eyes again. He had
gone to her apartment in order to scold her, but by
then, he had been too exhausted. He talked to her like a
Dutch uncle. He had leaned over and kissed Caitlin's
forehead at one point. He had tried to show her that she
was important. She wasn't a royal screw-up, like he knew
she was thinking. Ducky smiled as he remembered--Caitlin
had kissed him on the lips. Never would he have expected
that. The way the sparks flew between Gibbs and Caitlin,
Ducky had always assumed it would be a cold day in hell
before she would ever look his way. She still wouldn't
look at this old man while Gibbs or Tony or any other
living and breathing males were on the planet, but Ducky
did dream on occasion about Caitlin--and for a bit more
fun, Abby. Oh, the things he could teach the ladies of
NCIS. Ducky laughed for the first time that day. He was
so glad it was over. He would finish his tea and...
Looking back into the kitchen, Ducky realized he had
just made a full pot of tea.
"May my saintly Mother forgive me for wasting such fine
tea," Ducky spoke aloud once more. "But if I don't go to
bed right now, I won't get up and go back to NCIS
tomorrow." Ducky stood and went back into the kitchen.
Putting the cup and the pot in the sink, Ducky moved off
to his bedroom. He realized that he hadn't eaten all
day, but that didn't matter. He was going to sleep.
Hopefully with all the lights off, but he wasn't too
sure about that part.