Shot To Hell by ceilidh
A/N:- Thanks so much for the reviews – hm, from most of them, it looks like I'm not the only one who thought Abby gave Tim an unjustly hard time!
In the episode, of course, nothing was really said or done about it, although Gibbs and Ducky came pretty close! So following on from the end of chapter one, Ducky gives Abby that serious chat you didn't get to see.
As always, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Two - Desperate Measures
For a full minute now, an irresistible force had met an equally immoveable object in silent impasse. And as Ducky had dryly observed, this was probably the longest he'd ever known Abby Sciuto to be so quiet.
Its cause, though – no, there was nothing funny, at all, in why she now sat in such a seething sulk.
She was hurting, and poor Timothy was certainly hurting, too, from this rift between them, and – oh, for heaven's sake, all this pain it was causing was so pointless, so completely unnecessary!
There was such a special connection, such a precious bond, between these two, amazing young people. For that bond to be threatened now, over something so senseless… no, Ducky couldn't stand for that. And if Abby kept up this stubborn refusal to talk about it, then – well, she'd just have to listen instead.
"Really, Abigail, I cannot understand why you're still so angry with him," he said at last – his next words equally quiet, but still firm enough, holding enough stern authority, to make his point
"You must have seen from his reaction just now that Timothy can't understand it either. He's hurting, Abby, quite dreadfully. And quite frankly, he's suffered more than enough already, without you making him feel worse."
As he'd expected, and silently hoped, just this short statement prompted a now well-worn protest – the catch in Abby's voice betraying her own concession that it was becoming an increasingly shaky excuse
"But Ducky, he – he shot Jethro!"
"In self defence, Abby! As I'm sure Timothy has told you himself," Ducky retorted just as firmly – drawing on every part of his legendary patience as Abby's face stayed set in a stubborn frown.
The kindly uncle approach wasn't working, so – well, he'd just have to resort to cold, hard facts instead.
"Abby, come here," he added softly, leading her to the rows of cadaver lockers behind them.
Pulling one of the drawers open, he then drew back the sheet, revealing the hideously mutilated body beneath – hating himself for the pain he was about to cause her, but knowing he had to make her see sense.
"When Jethro attacked him, he followed the same bite-pattern he'd used on poor young Hansen here. He would have pinned him first, using his weight, and his paw on Timothy's neck, to subdue him.
Then, as Timothy tried to instinctively defend himself, he took the first bite-grip, deep into his arm. And as one who's suffered his share of dog-bites too, the pain from it would have been excruciating."
Pausing to let those quiet words sink in, Ducky re-met Abby's eyes with fatherly compassion in his own. Beyond that, though, was pure determination - carrying through into what he said next.
"Now, look at Petty Officer Hansen's injuries. All of them, Abigail. Tell me what you see."
Already guessing where this was heading, Abby fretted and fidgeted beside him, then finally gave in – her voice softening, losing its anger, as the point Ducky was trying to make became horrifically clear.
"There's… um… well, uh, wounds to his forearm. Deep bite wounds, almost down to the bone-"
Those injuries were awful enough, and she shuddered to think of the terrible pain they'd inflicted – especially when she remembered that her sweet, precious Timmy had suffered it too.
But it was the injury which had led to Kyle Hansen's death which now caused her to start shaking.
Before she'd laid so scathingly into him, she'd been horrified by the amount of blood on Tim's collar – appalled by the pain she'd seen in his eyes while she anxiously studied the deep claw marks on his neck.
Now, staring down at the bloodied remains of Kyle Hansen's neck, Abby felt her blood drain from her face – Ducky's quiet voice as much a comfort to her as it was a blade into a mercilessly nagging conscience.
"Yes, Abby. Now you know why Timothy had to take such drastic action to stop Jethro's attack on him. If he'd continued to struggle, as he would instinctively do, to escape, or to try and defend himself… well, I'm afraid Jethro's instincts would have reverted to those of his kill-or-be-killed ancestors. And you can see from how his own handler bled to death what could have happened to Timothy next-"
A muffled sob told him that she was finally getting the message, but Ducky still pressed gently on – his next words softer as he slipped an arm around her shoulders, ready for the hug he knew she'd need.
"And you know him well enough too, or at least you should, to know how seriously Timothy takes his job. He would never fire his weapon, against human or animal, unless his life was under serious threat.
And it was in danger, Abby. This was no over-used cliché, Timothy really was fighting for his life. He was being mauled by a dog who'd already turned on, and most likely killed, its own trusted handler. So yes, he shot Jethro, but… Abby, he had to. His life was in danger. Timothy had to defend himself."
As Abby nodded and turned, crying helplessly now, onto his shoulder, Ducky then smiled.
"There, now" he said at last, patting her back while still gently advising her, as only he ever could. "And you know I'll never turn down a hug from you, Abigail, but might I make a suggestion here? When you've finished with me, you go and give poor Timothy the biggest cuddle he's ever had too?"
Watching tangled pigtails bob in vigorous agreement, Ducky felt his smile widen in fond relief.
He knew that Abby, bless her doting heart, would follow his advice to the faithful letter, and – yes, like all life's soulmates, she and young Timothy would soon put this wee lovers' tiff behind them, and forget this whole sorry affair.