Jack walks down to the autopsy. She is expecting to find the chief medical examiner Jimmy Palmer, but instead, she finds former chief medical examiner, Dr. Donald Mallard. Ducky turns around to face his unexpected guest. He is sitting at the desk looking at what seems to be an old case file when the automatic doors to the autopsy are opened.

"good evening Jacqueline." Ducky greets in his characteristic Scottish manner. "to what do I own this late visit to the autopsy room."

Ducky's cheerful voice brings a smile to Jack's face.

"good evening doc," Jack says. she doesn't sound as cheerful as she usually does and it doesn't go unnoticed by the experienced doctor.

"I was expecting to find dr. Palmer." Jack says and walks over to Ducky.

"he had family business to attend to. Victoria is going to perform at her first school play tonight."

"I see," Jack says. she places the file she was bringing down on the table.

"I was just bringing this down for Jimmy, but it can wait until tomorrow," Jack says and is about to leave the autopsy room again.

"what is on your mind, Jack?" Ducky asks. The use of her short nickname brings her attention to Ducky. He seems concerned. He normally always uses her full first name, but the fact that he doesn't today brings her attention to him. he is concerned about her and she knows he can see right through her whenever something is off. She walks back over to Ducky and sits down across from him.

"Doc can I ask you a strange question?" Jack asks.

"sure."

"do you believe that dreams mean something or are they just nothing."

"do I believe in dreams? Personally, or professionally?" Ducky asks.

"Both," Jack asks. Not sure if she really wants to talk about this but her strange dreams that seem so realistic have been bothering her lately, so she needs to talk with someone about them.

"professionally… I haven't seen any scientific proof of dreams being anything other than being a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during sleep." Jack nods. She is a scientist too. She already knew the scientific definition of dreams. She is about to get up from her chair when Ducky grabs her hand gently and it makes her look up at him and sit back down to listen to what he further has to say.

"personally… I like to think that dreams can be interpreted as massages. Our subconsciousness trying to tell us something."

Jack nods and looks down at her hands.

"you had a dream that is confusing you?" Ducky asks.

Jack looks up at him again.

"3 actually. Well…" Jack says before she elaborates. "it is the same dream. I have had it 3 times now. It always occurs when I am sleeping on my couch in my office. Never when I am sleeping at home."

"What is the dream about?"

Jack look down embarrassed.

"a coworker."

Ducky nods in understanding. Jack can see on the little smile Ducky has on his face he has probably already figured out who it might be, but he isn't saying anything.

"and have you spoken with this coworker about your dream."

"that is the thing Doc. I don't know if it is a dream. At first, I thought it was real. It feels so real and then I wake up and it feels like it was real and at the same time as it isn't."

"What happens in your dream?" Ducky asks. he can sense the frustration in Jack's voice.

"I sleep." Jack starts.

"in your dream, Jack." Ducky interrupts. Jack nods.

"Yeah. Doc… I dream that I sleep. I dream that I sleep on my couch and then someone comes into my office and pulls a blanket over me. the person touches my face and then…" Jack stops talking. She looks down embarrassed to tell Ducky about it.

"and then what?" Ducky asks for her to continue in a sweet caring voice. He isn't about to tease her or anything about her dream. He is just trying to help. She can tell in the way he is looking at her.

"and then the person kisses me…" she says embarrassed and looks up before she adds. "on the temple."

Ducky nods.

"have you asked Gibbs if he has been in your office those 3 times where you have had this dream?" Jack look up surprised at Ducky. She never mentioned it was Gibbs she was dreaming about. Ducky gives her a knowing look. Of course, he would figure out it was Gibbs she was dreaming about.

"yeah I did and he said he wasn't in my office the first time and the second time Vance was in my office and got my profile so it was probably him who put the blanket over me while I was sleeping and my brain messed with me and the 3rd time I woke up and Gibbs was leaning over me to wake me up when McGee came to my office. So, it was probably just a dream." Jack says trying to rationalize the situations in her mind.

"well… It does sound very much like something Gibbs would do. A kiss on the temple and a nursing blanket and a gentle touch to the face. it is gestures I have seen him do many times before to Abby, Catiline, Ellie, and Ziva. He cares about you, Jack."

"he said he wasn't in my office," Jack says a little annoyed because she was pretty sure that it was Gibbs too.

"well… Gibbs doesn't like to be called out on situations that can make him seem weak. Depending on how you asked he probably found a way around answering directly." Ducky says with a tricky smile. It annoys Jack but she knows Ducky is right. That is exactly what Gibbs would do. Try to avoid confrontations like that. For a man who doesn't like politics, he sure knows how to avoid direct questions and answers just like politicians.

"so how do I confront him?" Jack asks.

Ducky likes the sneaky look in Jack's eyes. tricking Leroy Jethro Gibbs isn't easy, and it is a dangerous task. But Jack is a woman who likes a challenge.