I'm posting this on my birthday, since I felt so honored to get so many followers so quickly.
That was such a sweet present for my 17th birthday! thank you.
Enjoy!
After 5 more "that's classified" or "no comment", Gibbs gave Alex one of Gibbs' knives and lead him to the autopsy room, where Ducky was waiting for them.
"Ah Jethro, I see you finally brought the lad down to meet me." Ducky called out, walking over to shake Alex's hand. "Hello Alex, I'm Doctor Mallard, but you already know me as Ducky. Jethro, I will have a report with the consent of the lad. Now its time for me to become acquainted with Mr. Rider." With that, a sound of the door closing and Gibbs leaving they began their conversation.
"You can call me Alex, Dr. Mallard. Do you mind in pouring me a cup of tea?" Alex asked in his native accent.
"Why of course, I suspect you are English born? Not many teen boys ask for tea in my adventures." Duck spoke while walking over to Alex with two steaming cups.
"Thank you, and yes I am though I haven't been spending much time there in the past few years. This is an excellent cup of tea, traditionally brewed I guess, Dr. Mallard."
"Yes it is, few around here respect that much. But you can call me Ducky."
"I apologize, I prefer formalities." Alex replied."Is there anyway to turn off the cameras in here, I don't need unauthorized ears listening in." Alex said before walking over to the computer. For in fact McGee and the team were watching from the Bullpen, including Gibbs.
"How did he know that, again?" Tony asked.
"He said it was like a sixth sense to him, maybe from the paranoia of having enemies." Gibbs answered.
"Well what kind of enemies can a sixteen year old have?" Ziva asked.
"Probably big ones, the way he fights." Gibbs replied.
"And the way he acted during the interrogation, like he has been in bigger problems." Ziva added.
"What's scarier than being yelled at by Gibbs when he's pissed off; no offense Boss. What is he doing at Ducky's computer?" Tony asked again.
"It looks like some hacking, he's hacking into the security feed." McGee said watching the kid work.
"Actually I don't think so, this is a federal building so cameras are mandatory." Ducky replied to Alex as the team heard through the feed.
"Well I can fix that." Alex said just before he turned to the camera and waved and pressed a button on the key board. Then the feed went black and fuzzy.
"How did he do that, and so quickly too?" McGee asked in amazement.
"I think he just out-hacked you McGeek." Tony said to McGee.
"Well hack back in." Gibbs barked.
"This is why I said we are rusted earlier, because if a teenager can sense our moves, then we are not as good as we thought." Ziva shot in past McGee's speedy typing.
"Sorry boss, he blocked the feed, we can't get in until he allows it." McGee looked upset for being out played by a teen, and hung out to dry with Gibbs, who looked pissed off even more.
XLINEBREAKXALEXRIDERXNCISXLINEBREAKX
Back in autopsy Ducky asked, "What did you just do?"
"I just blocked the feed in here, don't worry, I might be armed, but I won't hurt an innocent man, such as yourself Doctor."
"Why?"
"Well Gibbs said it was paranoia, but he wouldn't understand why I may be that way."
"You seem very calm Alex, just being down here can unsettle some people, I can tell the dead don't disturb you."
"No it hasn't much lately, I got over it, in my profession that is a weakness you can't have. or else you can't do it. And yes the expected move you would take would be to show me the man I killed, which will cause no effect. Because I can look at him dead and know he deserved it." Ducky was amazed that his plan was shot down. So on to plan B.
"And why did he deserve it?"
"Because he betrayed his country, and worked for an organization that is classified, so I cannot say more than that."
"And why does the dead not affect you, my lad?" Ducky asked as he poured Alex another cup of tea.
"Because with my profession, Doctor, it has become a normal occurrence on both sides of the battlefield."
"And what profession would allow a teenage boy to work for them, much less be in such tenuous circumstance that he has lost the fear in death?" Ducky asked appalled.
"A profession controlled by men seen in two ways, good and evil. They are seen as good, by most people; commonly the people who see them as evil, are the people who are working for them. I see most of them as evil, making me work for them."
"And how are they making you?"
"They hung a lot over my head for years, I did a lot for them, so I still have a lot of favors to call in before I am done."
"And they make you kill people?"
"They tell me to kill people who deserve to die, that are a risk to the security of many of my employers and their countries."
"So I am to believe your employers are on different continents?"
"No comment, I cannot risk exposing their identities until granted authorization, I have said a great deal and am playing with fire."
"You are quite wise and knowledgeable for your age."
"Thank you, Dr. Mallard."
"Now to carry on to the Physical exam. Can you please take off your shirt, Alex."
"In most cases I would say no, since I have had bad experiences with doctors of all kinds. But I see you care for my wellbeing-"
"Well of course I would, my lad. Who would dare harm a child?"
"Some bad people, any way I am saying this before hand, I may have to lie about the origins of what you may see. And if you know the truth, please keep it out of the paperwork, or use my excuse. That way they line up with my other exams." Alex said while pulling off his long sleeve, camo colored shirt and sweatshirt.
"What is there so upse- Oh my" Ducky almost was at a loss for words when he saw the web of milky white scars that wrapped Alex's torso and arms, all varying in sizes and age, and red ones still healing, "My dear boy, I can see why you would be paranoid, and call your employers evil."
"Doctor, these aren't from my employers, these are from the people they send me after. And the emotional scars can be worse at times."
"Is that a sniper scar?" Ducky refers to the assassination attempt remembrance that is permanently on his chest and in his memories.
"I have to lie and say no, it was from a biking accident, the lie works for most common people. But that was not a happy day." He heaved himself on one of the autopsy tables, his recently dislocated shoulder made him wince for a second, long enough for Ducky to notice.
"Are you hurt?"
"At the moment; no open bleeding. So I'm fine, just I dislocated my should a bit back and all the activity today caused it to flare up."
"Do you want something for that?"
"No, I have used pain relievers so much I kind of am immune to them, but an ice pack would be nice." Ducky walked to the back room to return with an ice pack which Alex put on his left shoulder. "Thank you, usually I try to block it out, since I've had worse, as you can see."
"That seems strange, well the others did find your actions strange as well. But I am not judging you. And pardon my language, -"
"Oh, I've heard some foul language before, the men I trained with -"
"Men?"
"-had such dirty mouths, you couldn't clean them with soap, because the soap would get dirty." Alex joked. "So I don't mind."
"Well, why the hell would someone send a child after men that could and have done harm like this?"
"Because I am the best."
"And yet you are a mere child."
"I don't feel that way Dr. Mallard. I haven't been a child for a long time."
Feeling the air become dense with silence, Ducky finished up the exam. Then Alex unjammed the video feed.
"They're back!" McGee called out once he saw the picture of the morgue come up. Then Gibbs' phone rang.
"Yeah, Gibbs."
"We wrapped it up down here, so you can come down and pick him up. I think Abby is anxious to meet our guest." Ducky said, being heard through the video feed and Gibbs' phone.
"On my way, Ducky." Gibbs said as he hung up and walked to the elevator.
"I think we got more than we bargained for with this case." Tony said what everyone was thinking at the moment.
Updating all chapters so far, please review if you find any mistakes.