Because lmill123 fed my muse. I hope you will all like this one as well. I own none of it and the universe belongs to someone else. Maybe one she will come up, we can always hope.
Gibbs walked into the bullpen he looked at his team as they finished up the last of the paperwork. Then he took a sip from his cup before sitting down. "You can leave once you're done with your reports. I don't want o see any of you until Monday seven hundred hours. You won't be called in we are off rotation this weekend."
"Thank G-d I was beginning to think that we were the only team working here." Tim mumbled.
Tony looked at Tim. "So what are your big plans for your time off, McGoo?"
"Sleep, clean, laundry and write. You?"
"More than likely Tony will be patrolling bar looking for a cheap hook up" Ziva quipped.
"It's cruising, not patrolling, Zeevah. And no, I'm going camping with some friends they want to go zip lining. I said I would go. Sounds like it will be fun a good way to burn off steam."
"You better not get hurt DiNozzo" Gibbs bellowed.
"Wouldn't dream of it boss."
"Gibbs do you have plans as well?" Ziva asks.
"Housekeeping on Saturday and lunch with Ducky on Sunday. He invited me a week ago he wants to go over some legal paper with me. Ziva what are your plans."
"I have a kickboxing tournament both days."
"Don't kill anyone, Tim and I won't help you with the paperwork." Tony tells her with a smirk. As she glares back at him swearing in French as she does.
"You eat with that mouth after talking like that?" Tony asks. He stands goes to the printer signs his report then hands everything to Gibbs. He is gone even before Gibbs has his glasses on his face.
Ducky answered the door with his usual efficiency, not any wasted effort on his part at all. As in all things Ducky was on point It took them just an hour to go over the paper work that hr had to show him. Another fifteen minutes to show Gibbs where the important paper were being kept.
"If you answer the door Jethro, I will make you some coffee and a pot of tea for myself."
"Sure thing Duck."
Ducky doesn't get more than three feet away before he is called back by Gibbs.
"Duck did you order lunch?"
"I did not. Who do you ask?"
"There is a couple of men standing here with two coolers and a basket of food."
Ducky frowned as he came closer. "There must be some mistake I didn't order any food."
"You didn't Doctor Mallard. You won it in an promotion for ordering equipment on line." one of the men explained.
"It must be Mr. Palmer's doing. In that case do come in, the kitchen is over there." Ducky points the way.
" If you could please point to your dinning table Dr. Mallard? I have the linen and china to set the table." the younger of the two men asks.
Gibbs and Ducky sat at the table looking at the beautiful setting, white plates with a single thistle on the rim of each plate. When the food was brought out of the kitchen and placed ion the table along with a pot of coffee and one of tea. Both men licked there lips at what they were seeing. Sandwiches of salmon, chicken and steak, a side salad for each of them, with a vinaigrette dressing, on the side. A cup of steaming soup with a few crackers on the side of the small plate. A platter of cheese and fruit and a platter of small tarts, breads and cookies. They can see that the table already has all of the condiments that they will be needing. The last thing that was put on the table a bottle of port wine and two crystal glasses.
"This looks incredible gentlemen, thank you" Ducky says as he looks at the two men.
"You're very welcome Dr. Mallard. Now the food was four people we put the rest in your refrigerator. The basket, china and linen are yours. Enjoy your meal." the older of the men tells them.
"Or my, young man you have a nasty cut on your hand, it must be very painful." Ducky says as he looks at the wound through the food grade gloves the man was wearing.
"Not to worry Dr. I cut myself four days ago, I'll have my brother look at it, he's corpsman. He always takes care of all of my cuts and burns."
"Is he stationed here?" Gibbs asks."
"This week he is." Is the answer he gets back.
When they hear the door close, Ducky and Gibbs waste no time in digging into the feast laid out in front of them.
"Ducky, have you noticed anything about DiNozzo lately? He is keeping secrets form me and I don't like it one bit."
"Jethro, Anthony is grown man, What he does with his life is his own business not anyone else's. You should know this better than most." Ducky admonishes.
"I still say something is going on he comes in looking so tired some days and when we get a few days off, or when the director sends him off on one of his undercover missions he comes back hurt, stitches black eyes, broken bones. He came back not that long ago with a stab wound and a fresh bullet hole in him. All he does is smile and tell me need to know Gibbs. Then he sits down swallows some grunt candy and gets to work."
"You did have a hand in training him, what did you expect Jethro?"
"You're not in the least bit surprised are you? You know something Dr. Mallard." Gibbs tells him then glares at his friend.
"I am not afraid of your glare Jethro. I've know you too long and stitched up too many of your own wounds to be intimidated by you. I will not break a confidence I am your doctor as well as his, I do have a code I live by just like you do. Or do I have to remind you? Now shall we clean this small mess then sit in the living room with a nice glass of port?"
Knowing that he has lost this battle Gibbs concedes for now. He brings the plates into the kitchen then helps rinses the dishes leaving the stacking of the dishwasher to Ducky.
"My my, my." Ducky says softly as he wipes down the counter.
"What is it Duck?"
"Look a new tea chest."
"A what?"
"A tea chest, where tea drinkers keep their loose tea leaves. A beautiful piece."
Gibbs looks at box and growls at what he is seeing. A wooden box with a carving of a little blue man wearing a white hat holding a dog.. He picks up the box and examines it.
On the bottom he reads, the following.
Best wishes Dr. Mallard.
With gratitude and thanks for your years of service.
The Blue boys company and Billy.