A/N: Again, thanks so much for whatever support your giving me… even just reading this and putting on your Alerts is… wow. Thank you. And now for emo!Ducky! Okay… this is getting more and more painful… Who am I kidding? Onward?

General Warning Label: teen!NCIS, heterosexual sex (Abby/Gibbs), slash (Tony/Tim), masturbation (Tony), erotic dreams/fantasies (Everybody), violence (Gibbs), teacher/student (Kate/Jimmy, respectively), child abuse (Ziva), homelessness (Jenny), suicide (Ducky), & death by abortion (Abby). Told you this wasn't for the faint of heart...

~*~

Chapter Six: And Then There Were None

~*~

It was Monday. Yes, that was the day. Ducky had just left the school grounds to go straight home, as he was instructed to do by both parents that morning. After having a long chat with Leroy on his way out, and then hugging his friend as if he would never see him again, Ducky made his sad way home, thinking about the pile of homework that had to be done once he was again thrown into his room and locked in. His mother wouldn't be telling him everything would be all right this time, Ducky thought sadly as he opened the door to his house, expecting the worst.

The worst was waiting for him. His father jumped up from his chair and grabbed Ducky once again by the collar, leading him up the stairs before he had the chance to say a simple, "I'm home!"

Once in the general safety of his room, Ducky sighed and moved the mouse of his computer. There were several emails for him, all from Leroy, except one: from Mrs. Gibbs. He clicked on it, ignoring the others, for they were probably pleas from Leroy not to do anything… drastic. He began reading the email.

Dear Donald,

Your email was a shock, I must admit. I've never gotten an email from you saying, so boldly, that I am your only adult friend in the world. I know your parents, and I know that, particularly, your father is hard on you, but have hope. Your mother is still well I presume, and she is certainly a friend as well, I would hope, even if your father is not…

Even with these words, I cannot give you the money you requested. One ticket to England will not help you get through this summer class. I know it will be tough to pass this class with the sun shining, and Leroy already out of school, as well as your other friends, but I think that you can do it. Fleeing to England is certainly a silly notion. It's only two weeks more of school, isn't it?

But I can certainly email your father and tell him that you worked very hard in class, and though you did have some trouble staying awake these past few weeks, I know you worked very hard to understand what you missed. I can also tell them that though I have no husband, that does not mean that your friendship with Leroy has become the reason for your lapses in class. I know that is what you miss the most right now, and Leroy misses you as well.

One thing that disturbed me about your email, though, was your… veiled threat that if you cannot run away to England, that you would take your own life…

But I digress. Your current situation does not affect you relationship with my son or me. We both still love you as if you were family.

Love always, Elizabeth Gibbs

Ducky sat back in his chair and sighed. So much for running away. He could have asked her to adopt him legally, or something, but then he would still have to see his parents. England had been his first choice, because he heard that his mother's sister lived there, but he had never met her before… But now that idea was out the window as well. Ducky sighed and looked over some of the other emails before remembering something he had stashed in his computer desk drawer the first time he had actually noticed that his father was… his father wasn't very nice to either him or his mother…

The shiny black barrel of the pistol smiled back at him as he lifted it up to his face. No… he couldn't do this here. As much as he hated his father, he didn't want his poor mother to have to suffer through to clean up whatever was left of him. He couldn't do this sadness anymore… he had to get away.

He opened the window and climbed down the tree that was outside his room. Maybe he would visit Leroy before he did his last deed… but then he saw Leroy trekking over to the abandoned barn, Abby soon following a few minutes later.

Lucky… Ducky thought, before heading over to the public park, which was empty since Abby had left earlier to meet with Leroy. At least I got to get one last look at Leroy before I leave this world… Ducky thought., wiping away a tear that had managed to escape from the corner of his eye.

~*~

A/N: Oh man. I love to write, but I'm starting to get depressed with this one. Why, why did I choose to write this story? Anyway, I'm done whining about this. I actually am enjoying telling this story. Please review, if you get a chance, and thanks again for your support!

Aeron Ailsa