Ducky slowly became aware of the fact that was awake. He tried to open his eyes and was glad to find that he could and that, when he did, he could see. Breathing in through his nose, he revelled in the smell of the hospital. Unlike a lot of people, Ducky liked the smell of hospitals. To him they smelt of cleanliness and of the preservation of live, something he found to be a refreshing and welcome change to the stench of death that filled his work and soaked into his clothes and skin.

He let his ears open up to the sounds around him. He found these almost as relaxing as the smells. The constant, rhythmic bleeping of the machines was reassuring to him, even when it wasn't attached to him. It let everyone know that there was still life; that someone was fighting to stay in this world and that that someone was winning.

Finally, he allowed himself to look around and he couldn't help but smile at the sight he saw - his friend, asleep in a chair next to his bed. He couldn't begin to imagine what had brought his friend back to this neck of the wood but he was sure he would soon find out.

"Hello, Jethro," Ducky whispered softly to the man beside him, knowing that if he was awake then a whisper would be enough to get his attention and if he was asleep it wouldn't be enough to wake him. Gibbs did look like he needed the rest. Ducky just couldn't work out if that was because he was finally starting to show his age or if something had happened recently to cause the new lines etched on his face.

"Hey Duck, you're awake." Gibbs looked at him with a smile in is eyes and a little concern too.

"I am, and now, so are you." Ducky's eye's twinkled with laughter and happiness at seeing his friend again. "What brings you here Jethro?"

"To the hospital?" Gibbs asked, confusion covering every inch of his face.

"No," Ducky had to smile in response, "back here. What brings you back to this part of the world?" Ducky almost instantly regretted his question when he saw the deep sadness fill his friend's eyes.

"I'm sorry Ducky. I never meant…"

"Jethro," Ducky tried to interrupt.

"I just wanted…"

"Jethro!"

"I never should have…"

"Gibbs!" This last shout succeeded in getting Gibbs' attention. "I understand."

"You do?" Ducky smiled and nodded, amused by the almost childlike expression of surprise on his friend's face. "You're not mad at me for leaving?"

"No, Jethro. I'm not mad at you. Unlike our young friends I completely understand how you were feeling. You suffered a great shock and a terrible loss and then you were let down by the people you had to trust. I don't blame you in the least. I just hope you found what you needed, where ever it was you went." Gibbs smiled gratefully at Ducky.

"Closure, I found closure and I learnt that this is where I need to be."

"Then welcome home, Jethro." Gibbs grinned.

"Thanks. Do you think Tony will give me a job?" Ducky just grinned back because he really didn't know the answer to that question.