Happy Hogmanay, everyone!

I am not going to confirm or deny if Tony is dead or not, because if I told you he was really alive you'd be disappointed in every chapter until he showed up, and if I said he was definitely dead, I think half of you would give up reading. The story is focussed on Gibbs; it's more a character study than anything at this stage. The one thing I will say… There will be a sequel.

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Chapter 6: The Morning After

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The following morning, Ducky let himself into Gibbs' house, tutting when he saw his friend had not only not locked his door, he'd actually left it ajar. The ME didn't bother to check the bedroom; he knew where Gibbs would be and headed straight for the basement stairs.

Ducky shook his head sadly as he saw the heap of humanity on the floor, noting the broken bottle in the corner.

"Come along, Jethro," he said, kneeling beside him to shake his shoulder. "I really cannot carry you and you need to get upstairs in the fresh air…" Ducky was silenced as the dim light caught the tear tracks on Gibbs' face. He'd never once seen the former Marine cry, even during his divorces.

"Duck?" He asked groggily. "What're you doing here?"

"I promised the others I'd look after you," he told him gently. "And I can see you need it. Come on; let's get some coffee down you…" He helped his friend to sit up… and then saw the damage done the previous day. "Good Lord, Jethro; what happened?"

"Got in a fight," he grunted in reply. "Coffee, Duck?"

"Make it as far as the couch first, my friend. I want to take a look at those injuries and it's too dark down here." Ducky pulled Gibbs' arm over his shoulder and helped him to his feet, swaying dangerously. Together, they just about managed to make it to Gibbs' living room. Ducky deposited him onto his couch and went to put on the coffee machine and fetch his medical bag from the car.

"If there was ever a time for the sludge you call coffee, Jethro, it's now," the old ME told him sympathetically, handing him the biggest mug he could find.

"Thanks, Duck," Gibbs replied, pouring half the scalding liquid down his throat in one go.

Ducky pulled on a pair of latex gloves and produced his suture kit. "That cut on your brow is a nasty one," he said. "I'm afraid it's going to need a couple of stitches, considering your history with butterfly tape. Hold still for me; it will hurt, but considering the amount of alcohol in your system, I don't want to give you any painkillers."

"Just do it if it needs to be done, Ducky."

Gibbs sat stoically as the needle punctured his skin. "I hope you didn't pick a fight with an innocent bystander," the Doctor said. "I know how skilled you are in the noble art of fisticuffs."

"Not innocent. Bastard deserved everything he got."

"Indeed? What did he do to upset you so?"

"You don't wanna know, Duck; trust me on this."

"Very well, Jethro." Ducky tied off the stitch and cut the thread. "Halfway there." Gibbs took the opportunity to finish his coffee. "I'll clean up those split knuckles in a moment; unless there are any more serious injuries you haven't told me about?"

"Just cuts and bruises," he replied dismissively.

"How much did you have to drink?"

"Don't remember. Half a bottle?"

"Half a bottle?!" Ducky exclaimed. "That gutrot you drink is 125 proof! If I'd found you last night, I'd have called an ambulance to get your stomach pumped. What were you thinking?"

"Thinking I didn't want to think any more, Duck."

"Yes, well; I won't deny I allowed myself a couple of glasses of Scotch last night. But you really mustn't let this become a habit, Jethro. The last thing Anthony would want is to see you like this."

"He won't, Ducky. That's the problem."

"I know how much Tony meant to you, my friend; and I understand your grief. All of us are suffering…"

"I never told him," said Gibbs abruptly. "Not once, in four years."

"Anthony was a perceptive young man, Jethro. I'm sure he knew."

"Still should've told him, Duck. I thought there'd be time. He was only thirty three…"

"Death can come at any time; we, of all people, should know that."

"But a car accident? After he's been shot at and kidnapped and pushed out of planes and nearly blown up?"

"It was a senseless waste of his young life, Jethro; but you can't deny that accidents happen every day. It was just Anthony's misfortune that it was his turn."

"Shouldn'tve happened like that. I should've been there; should've been able to protect him."

"Oh, really, Jethro; even had you been with him, what could you have done to save Tony?"

"Nothing; but I could've been with him. He shouldn'tve had to die alone. Not Tony…"

If he hadn't been staring directly into a bloodshot blue eye, Ducky might have missed the tear that slipped down his cheek.

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Tell me what you thought. I'm always open to suggestions.