Jan 16
Tea and friendships are available in many comforting varieties.
Ducky surreptitiously observed Tony as the younger man sipped his tea.
They had spent the day chasing after someone who had murdered another NCIS agent. Those particular cases always struck very close to home for the other agents, and made everyone do their best work, Ducky himself included. He had been fond of Jules Knight, and had found it hard to perform his usual autopsy.
Shortly after the suspect had confessed, Ducky had found Tony looking lost in the hallway and had invited him down for a cup of tea.
Privately, Ducky didn't want to be alone either. Now that the investigation was over, his mind had begun to reflect on his times with Knight. Normally, he welcomed the thoughts, but he had had a long day and wanted the chance to wind down a bit first.
The younger man had taken the death very badly. There was something about being bludgeoned to death that scared a lot of people. However, Tony had had a close call with a plank of wood the previous day, and was clearly trying to work out why he had lived while another agent with a wife and two children was dead.
Ducky had leafed through his tea options, and settled on a nice blend of chamomile, honey and vanilla. It had had a very calming effect. The two of them had allowed the tea to warm them in more ways than one.
Finally, Tony placed his cup down and smiled his trademark smile at Ducky. "Thanks."
Ducky smiled back. "I am always available, Anthony," he reminded him. He did not feel well again, but some of the weight had lifted from his shoulders.
He could only hope that Tony felt better as well.