Ducky loved puzzles. He loved them when he was just a child, and even now he loved them. He saw the human body has one big puzzle, and when there was one lying on the metal slab in his 'office' it was there for him to solve. Solve why it was there in the autopsy room. Solve how it became to end up in there, and help solve who put it there. Or what.

But he had always hated paperwork. Everyone hates paperwork, he supposed, but there was something about paperwork that made him loose his will to work. He loved getting in there, hands on. But he hated the work he was required to fill out.

Unfortunately for him, today was going to be a slow one. Or at least this morning. Mr. Palmer was out for a personal day, and Ducky was left to finish up the left over paperwork on his latest puzzle.

He hung up his beige trench coat, as well as his black hat on the coat hanger just inside of the lab. He made his way slowly to his desk, not wanting to sit down and do some work. He'd much prefer going up to Abby's lab and chat with the charming, interesting young girl.

On top of his pile of paperwork, lay a white envelope; his name written in the middle very neatly. But it wasn't the neatness of the writing that made his heart stand still. It was the name of the person who's writing this was - young Caitlin.

Ducky had always known that Caitlin was special. She could draw like no one else could. She had a smile that would light up a room in an instant. But he also knew that she was born to die a hero.

He supposed that if Caitlin hadn't have taken her training in protection before she was assigned to the president of the US, then it would have been Gibbs lying on the slab a few weeks ago. If she hadn't have leaped to protect Gibbs, then she wouldn't have been in Ari's line of fire, and ultimately, she'd still be alive.

But it wasn't that he was blaming Gibbs - no, he could never do that. He was blaming Ari, because Ari had counted on Caitlin listening to her training instead of her head, which would place her right where he wanted her. Dead center of his scope on his sniper.

Ducky reached over and opened the envelope with delicate hands. Upon unfolding the letter, he stopped to blink back the salty tears that were from the brought back memories of the young Caitlin Todd. She had so much of her life yet to live. So much that she hadn't seen. Like the smile of her children, and the kiss of her true love. So much that the damned Ari had snatched away from her, as if it was nothing.

Dearest Ducky,

I can still remember the first time you asked me to dinner. Believe me, I would have loved to say yes, just to be able to spend more time with you but… I love you like a father. You're sweet, charming, and wonderfully kind. And I know that it sometimes seems that we never care about your stories, but believe me it's not that we don't care. It's just that you seem to always pop up with these stories at the most pressing of times. Like in the middle of a case.

If you had come up with these stories when we were all doing nothing, or at a company dinner, then we would have all listened to them. Because you've been places we haven't been.

If I'm dead, then I expect you will have performed my autopsy. I have to ask that you don't tell Tony what my tattoo is - or why Gibbs knows it's not a rose. If Tony can't figure out that it's in my government file, then that's his problem. I know that you'll never tell him, Ducky. Thank you for that.

Look after Gibbs for me, alright? Make sure that he always eats - you've already done such a good job- and drinks more than just the sludge he claims is coffee. And make sure they all treat the my replacement nicely. It was only two years ago I was the replacement. They'll find their place in the family soon enough.

I'll miss you, even if I didn't leave NCIS and I'm dead instead, I'll still always miss you.

All my love,

Caitlin.

The salty tears fell from his eyes, past his glasses, and onto the hand-written letter. He knew that she was writing properly because it he liked it. He could tell when she began to write like she was actually there talking to him.

And if only for a moment, she really was.