Godspeed

Abby sat at Palmer's desk in the morgue, watching Ducky finish up an autopsy.

The older man sensed the intense green eyes on him, and turned to gaze at her, with an almost paternal reassurance in his eyes. "Abigail, I'm sure it won't be long before we receive word that they've been safely brought back to us," he said to her. "Search and Rescue must be careful how they proceed, you know that, my dear."

She fidgeted slightly. "I know… but the waiting is driving me nuts, Duckman."

"I don't like it either, Abigail. I've never told him this, but Jimmy is almost like a son to me. And if you ever tell him I said that, I will personally arrange to perform your autopsy myself." He winked at her, blue eyes sparkling.

Abby giggled softly. "My lips are sealed. But you might try telling him that you care, in case this ever happens again. God forbid, of course."

Ducky nodded. "You are, of course, correct, dear girl. I trust that Timothy knows how you feel about him?" Abby smiled bashfully, almost to herself. "Yeah, I think he does. I try to tell him as often as I can, I mean, since Kate… well, it's not like we've got forever. We like to think we do, but we don't."

"Our friends find themselves in dangerous situations nearly every day, don't they? It is the nature of the beast, I'm afraid." Ducky stripped off his gloves and removed his apron and cap. He grabbed an extra chair and wheeled it over. "It's important that they know we care. If Caitlin's death has taught us anything, it's that we must be honest with ourselves and the people who mean the most to us."

Abby felt her composure begin to dissolve, and she reached up to stop a tear that was threatening to make its way down her cheek, leaving behind it a trail of black makeup.

"Tony's like the best brother ever. And Tim… I can't lose him, Ducky. I love him too much. And Ziva is just… I can't lose another girlfriend like I lost Kate. It took so long to get myself to the point where I really really like her. Jasmine is practically my sister and she loves Jimmy so much. It would be like losing family to lose him too."

"Oh, Abigail," Ducky said, shaking his head sadly. "To lose any of them… wouldn't be like losing family. It would be losing family." He wheeled over and wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder, and finally let her tears flow freely.

……………………………………………………………………………

"She has a broken femur, all sorts of contusions and minor cuts. She could have internal injuries but I haven't seen any signs of it." Palmer filled them in as quickly and as thoroughly as he could.

It had taken Palmer a few moments to extricate himself from the arms of his girlfriend, who, if not for her professionalism, would have fallen apart at the seams with relief at finding her brother and her boyfriend alive and well.

She and the other rescue personnel quickly examined the four crash victims, and came to the rapid conclusion that, aside from some bumps, bruises, scrapes, cuts, and a general mental state of "stressed out six ways from Sunday," the men were basically okay.

They quickly tended to Ziva, transferring her, with everyone's help, into the basket that would lift her up and into the helicopter. It was then up to the three men to decide which of them would accompany her.

"My bump is the size of a nickel," McGee pointed out. "Jimmy's is the size of a quarter. He should go."

Palmer shook his head. "Sorry, Tim. Tony's got us both beat. His is the size of a silver dollar. I'm afraid that as the closest thing to a doctor that we've got, I have to pull medical rank and insist that he go with Ziva."

Tony shrugged. "Fine. See you guys at the hospital," he said, as he turned to leave.

"Tony," McGee called out. Tony turned briefly. "Yeah, Probie?"

"Give Abs a hug for me?"

Tony chuckled softly. "Of course, Tim. But she'll be happier when you're there to do it yourself. I'll call her as soon as we're there."

"Godspeed," Palmer called out, waving. Tony waved back, as he dashed to catch up with the rescuers.