Author's Note: I have marked this complete, because I have the story already written, and am going to be posting it here two chapters at a time. Apologies for any confusion.

Abby was bouncing around her lab when Tim and Tony came in.

"Hi Guys! Do you have evidence for me?"

Tony picked up the remote and turned off the music.

"No, Abbs. We have to tell you something."

Abby's features instantly changed.

"What happened? Who's hurt?"

"Abby, can we go into your office?" Tim asked.

"Oh my God... did someone - who -"

"No one died... just, please, let's go into your office."

"Okay."

Tim walked with Abby into her office, and Tony closed the door behind them.

"Sit down, Abbs," Tony said gently.

Abby sat down in her chair.

"Okay, someone start talking. I'm worried."

Tim squatted to be at her level, and took her hand in his.

"Tony went to Gibbs' house to pick him up this morning. He found Gibbs on the floor in his basement. He tried to shoot himself last night."

"What!"

Tony put his hands on her shoulders to keep her sitting.

"Let him finish, Abby."

Abby reluctantly nodded.

"He's physically all right, and he's at Bethesda now. The reason Tony and I came to tell you together is because you can't go up and see him."

"Why?"

"He's being held for 72 hours... for psychiatric evaluation. He's in a volatile state right now... any of us going to see him isn't going to help."

Tears flowed freely down Abby's cheeks.

"Why would he want to hurt himself? I don't understand what was so bad that he would- would-"

Abby lost it, and buried her face in Tim's shoulder as she cried. Tim rubbed her back soothingly.

"It's going to be okay, Abbs. He's going to be fine."

Tim looked up at Tony, who was still standing behind Abby's chair.

"I can take care of Abby. Could you go and let Ducky know what's going on?"

Tony nodded and left them alone in the office, Abby crying hysterically into Tim's shoulder as he held her.

"Anthony, you are putting me on," Ducky said, shock in his voice, after Tony told him what had happened to Gibbs. "This is some kind of joke."

"It's not, Ducky. I found him this morning. If he hadn't been drunk, he'd probably be dead right now."

Ducky braced a hand on the empty table next to him.

"Oh dear..."

"He's going to be okay, Ducky."

"Jethro is far from okay, Tony. I've been his friend for quite some time now... he never confided in me that he was feeling this out of sorts."

"Vance is up at the hospital with him."

"Perhaps I should go up there as well."

"Don't, Ducky. Gibbs isn't in any state to see any of us. Vance gave us an order for no one but him to be up there during Gibbs' evaluation."

"Very well. I shall call Director Vance nonetheless." Ducky noticed a bothered look on Tony's face. "Are you all right, Tony?"

Tony let out a shaky sigh.

"I'm the one that found him, Ducky. There were a few minutes between me seeing him and checking his pulse, that I thought he was dead... I don't think I've ever been more scared in my life than I was during those two minutes."

"To find someone in that state is probably the hardest thing one could ever experience," Ducky said gently. He looked away for a moment, then sighed and turned his attention back to Tony. "I have often said that my Father left Mother and I when I was a lad. He did leave us... but not in the sense that I've portrayed."

"What are you telling me?" Tony asked.

"My father committed suicide, Tony. He hanged himself in our attic. I was the one who found him. I'd come home from school on cold March afternoon, and realized I'd beat Mother home. My Father's study was up in the attic, so I went up to greet him. When I got to the top of the steps, I found him hanging from the rafters."

"My God... Ducky I'm so sorry... I had no idea..."

"Thank you... it was many, many years ago, and not a memory I like to look back on. Nevertheless I eventually got past it... with help. Mother helped me to accept why my Father did what he did, and helped me move on. I want you to do the same, Tony. It may take some time, but explore your emotions, and try to understand why Jethro was feeling the way he did. It may help you like it helped me."

Tony nodded and forced a small smile.

"Thanks, Ducky."

"You are most welcome."

"I'd better go and see if McGee needs help with Abby. When I left them, she was a mess."

Ducky nodded and watched Tony leave, and went into his office to call Vance.

TBC...