AN: It was the constant reviews from AlanaLE that made me realize what big a part Ducky would play in this story, which really helped to shape the true potential of this story. Thank you so much!

Thanatopsis

Chapter Eight

It had been three days since the last crime scene, and Ducky had only shown up to do the autopsy, leaving Palmer to deal with the details. And Gibbs. From what Palmer told them all, as they gathered to hear the results, was that Doctor Mallard did the autopsy silently and hightailed it out of there the second it was done. Palmer was really shaken up. He didn't know what was going on and his imagination was running away with him.

"I kept trying to get him to talk. I even started saying things wrong on purpose so that he would correct me, but he just stayed silent." Palmer was obviously experiencing the beginnings of an emotional breakdown. McGee put a hand on his shoulder. Gibbs had already left with a worried and determined look on his face.

"Its okay, Jimmy." Tony said.

"I hope he isn't sick. What if he's—"

"Palmer," McGee looked him hard in the eye. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure if there was something wrong, you would be the first to know."

Palmer was still trying not to panic when they left him.

Abby was worse.

Oh, so much worse.

"But what if he's dying?" she said, calmly enough, her elbows on the desk in front of her. She was watching her hands as they picked at each other. "He could be really sick, he just doesn't want to tell us. What if he's sick?" she looked up at them anxiously. "Why would he hide it from us?"

"Abby, do not jump to conclusions," Ziva said.

She was silent for a moment, and then she suddenly jumped up. Tony opened his arms. She started off in his general direction, but wound up clinging to Ziva, who, being smaller than Abby, was forced back a few steps. She ran into a table with the back of her legs and had to sit on it to stay upright.

Ziva gave McGee and Tony a desperate look which was met with two pairs of raised hands.

McGee felt guilty for letting his friends go through the worry, while he knew what was wrong with Ducky. He didn't want to break the old man's trust. He had been told about Daniel in confidence, and he intended on keeping that confidence.

Ziva was now giving them both a threatening look, or as threatening as a look could be when it was red in the face from lack of air. McGee and Tony glanced at each other for a moment before Tony took off in a silent sprint to the stairs. McGee sighed, and then took a step towards the two women.

At the slightest touch, Abby released Ziva and latched onto Tim. He knew hugging was how she dealt with things, but that didn't make it easier to fight off the mascara-filled tears that would hopefully not stain his dark gray shirt too easily.

McGee looked around to find Ziva had vacated the lab as well. He didn't know what to say. The only thing he could think of that would actually make her feel better was the truth and he couldn't do that. So he rubbed her back until she calmed down, said he would be back down to visit as soon as he could and left for the bullpen.

Although they didn't show it very well, Tony and Ziva were worried too. He could tell by the way that Tony stared off into space while he was supposed to be working, and in the way Ziva was focusing even harder, flipping out every time she hit a snag on her computer or phone. Gibbs just yelled a lot. None of them seemed to notice that McGee wasn't acting out, but merely observing.

Ducky hadn't spoken to McGee since the day he cleared him for duty. Maybe he just felt he didn't need the help. He hoped Daniel hadn't gotten worse; chemo was a hard thing for the body to deal with.

Gibbs had tried to talk to Ducky, but the doctor was much better at avoiding Gibbs than McGee had expected. He was never at home when Gibbs went over to see him, and he wouldn't answer. When Director Vance was asked, all he knew was that Ducky was using up his backlogged sick days for personal business.

Ducky also kept his phone off. Gibbs was especially upset when McGee had searched his location and came up with nothing, not for lack of actually trying. McGee was just as worried as the rest of them.

This was why McGee had been waiting outside Ducky's place for the past three hours. Gibbs had come by earlier, but left more frustrated than before. He didn't see McGee's Porsche parked down the road and behind a few cars.

It was nearing midnight and McGee was getting ready to leave, when Ducky's car finally pulled into the driveway. McGee quickly got out of his car and walked up the sidewalk, pulling his jacket tighter around him. It was just starting to get cold in D.C. The door was already closed by the time he ascended the steps. He stood there for a moment, trying to gather what he wanted to say.

What could he say? Palmer is freaking out, Abby is trying to strangle us, and Gibbs will work us to death if you don't come back. That seemed a little selfish. Ducky wouldn't have missed work if he didn't have to. How much worse had his friend gotten that Ducky would have been gone so much. More importantly, why did he keep leaving his phone off? Why was it that important that he wasn't found? It was really starting to feel like he didn't trust them.

McGee sighed and knocked on the door. After about a minute, a shadow appeared on the other side of the frosted glass. It opened slowly, revealing a haggard looking Ducky. He looked exhausted, as if he hadn't slept in days. McGee knew that feeling.

"Timothy?" He sounded surprised. "What are you doing here?"

McGee gave him a stern look. "We're worried about you. All of us. Gibbs is about to lose it." Ducky gave a small smile. "How's Daniel?"

Ducky took a deep breath. "Why don't you come in?" He stepped back to allow McGee inside.

McGee had been in here once before, when Ducky first moved into the new place. It had been filled in a lot more since then. He followed him into the living room.

"Would you like some tea?"

McGee had to fight not to grimace. "No thanks." He sat down on the couch facing Ducky. "Are you okay?"

Ducky looked down for a moment. "Not really. Daniel is getting worse." He rubbed his hands together. "He has mere weeks left."

Tim put his hand on Ducky's knee, offering what little comfort he could. He was feeling bad for thinking that the doctor didn't trust them. He obviously just didn't think he could handle all the sympathy. McGee definitely knew that feeling. "I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

He smiled softly. "No, lad. Believe me, I appreciate the offer." He leaned back into the couch and exhaled, watching McGee. "I don't suppose you've ever had to deal with something like this?"

McGee shook his head. "I've been to plenty of funerals before, but it's always been a sudden death."

"Other than Caitlyn?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, and bowed his head. "My mom."

Ducky's eyes widened. "I never knew."

"No one does."

Ducky beheld McGee for a moment. "You know, I've read many poems that speak of death. They talk about it so familiarly. Many call it an old friend."

"Do you feel that way?" McGee asked.

Ducky thought about that for a moment. "That is a difficult question to answer. Admittedly, I have seen much death in my career. Even dealt it."

McGee nodded. The prisoner of war camp.

"Many of my friends have died, all of my relatives. Lovers." He looked up at McGee. "Did you know I once had a wife?"

McGee was shocked. "You're kidding."

Ducky smiled tenderly. "Her name was Josephina. She was amazing. I was about the same age you were when I met you."

"I never saw you as the type."

"After her, I realized that I wasn't."

"Did she pass?"

"Not when we were married, no. Josephina and I got a divorce after only eleven months." He gave a small laugh. "We both felt so constrained, trapped. Indeed, our love truly blossomed nearly ten years after we had broken off ties. We both knew by then that marriage was not for us. We were together off and on for five years before…" he sat forward on his knees, covering his mouth with his hand. "She was involved in a car accident. She was alive for two days after the fact." A single tear fell from his eye. "She did not go peacefully."

McGee was trying to fight the lump in his throat. "I couldn't imagine."

He cleared his throat. "Yes, and I hope you never have to."

They stayed silent for a moment. Then McGee spoke up, "Do you mind if I ask you a question, Ducky?"

Ducky came up out of his reverie. "Of course you can."

It took him a while to put the question into words. "You have dealt with death for a very long time." He paused. Ducky leaned in closer, curious. "Have you ever seen anything you found…," again, the right word, "difficult to believe."

Ducky's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid I don't I understand what you mean, Timothy."

McGee felt like telling Ducky just to forget it. It was hard enough to explain to Tony, did he really need to tell Ducky? As far as he knew, this wasn't something one would normally share with every single person he knew. McGee looked up into his kind, expectant face. Surely he would understand. Ducky wasn't the type to blow off something as crazy, or inexplicable. What did he really have to lose?

He took a steadying breath.

"My, boy, you must tell me what is troubling you."

Another few seconds, then, "I've been seeing things. Bizarre things." He rubbed his mouth. "When I was shot, I—I saw something. I think it was a premonition, at least that's what Tony calls it."

That caught Ducky's interest. "A premonition? Tell me about it."

"Well," he didn't quite expect that reaction. "I saw Tony die. Very vividly, very… quickly. There was nothing I could have done. I felt so helpless, and scared. I'm afraid that it's actually going to happen, and that freaks me out. Humans aren't supposed to know the future. I told Tony. Took him a while to believe me, but I think he finally does." He paused again and closed his eyes... "But that's not all. Apparently, it's not just visions. The other day, when I witnessed that crash; I held that girl until she died But after she died, her—spirit, I guess, showed up and we spoke." Tim let out a laugh. "She asked me if I was psychic, and I didn't know what to say."

Ducky continued to stare at him for a time. It wasn't uncomfortable. He was simply studying Tim, as if to see if he meant what he said. He seemed to come to a positive supposition. "This is all very interesting," he said.

McGee was skeptical. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

Ducky smirked, if it could be said that Ducky smirked. "No, not crazy. My friend Daniel would say gifted."

"What do you mean?"

"I've never met anybody who has seen what you have seen, but Daniel has a strong belief in things like that. A very good acquaintance of his had the same 'sight' as he would call it." He looked thoughtful again. "If you wouldn't mind me asking, I'd like you to meet him. You might learn something about how you came upon your new talent."

AN: Thank you for all the reviews. Sorry it took me so long to update, it's been... let's just call it a strange week.

As always, criticism is always welcome, as are suggestions. I can't guarantee that all suggestions will make it in, especially since I'm finally getting close to the end, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try. I'll try to update sooner this time.