Sep 27
I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age. – Thomas Jefferson
Palmer smiled to himself as he watched his mentor preparing to go home for the night.
It surprised him that he felt their friendship grow every day. He supposed it had something to do with Ducky's role in his life; after all, Palmer knew he was still learning and Ducky delighted in showing him new things.
But it was more than that. When he had first come to work at NCIS, he had been nervous and made lots of mistakes. Instead of yelling at him or throwing him out, Ducky had befriended him and stayed patient. And gradually he had begun to improve both his skills and his friendship.
Ducky told everyone almost everything about his life; few topics were off limits. It helped them develop – working with someone who had no secrets made him a more open person. Perhaps too open at times, but he was working on that. Especially when Agent Gibbs glared at him for making an inappropriate comment.
He smiled at Ducky as the great man left with a cheery wave and a reminder not to stay too late himself. Palmer didn't plan to stay for long; one more table cleaned and he would be straight out the door.
Tomorrow would be another day. More skills to learn, more history to be imparted by Ducky, and a chance for their friendship to develop further.