Ducky's song, Tony Orlando-Knock Three Times

I have seen that Gibbs' coffee cups have the similar logo to Starbucks but am ignoring that possibility

Warning; glimpse of gory violence

reference to the 1984 movie Ghostbusters

/

Tony slammed the car door with a grin. His smile disappeared as the car accelerated. Tony struggled to remain straight, plastered to his seat from the sudden G-forces affecting his body. He held a travel mug of very hot coffee, preferring not to spill. He turned to see Gibbs glaring at him.

"Turn that frown upside down, I bring coffee." said Tony.

"You also closed the safety belt in the door. The door didn't close all the way."

"Ah-that's the reason for that incessant beeping-"

"Sugar...Cream?" asked Gibbs.
"Nah, you didn't seem the type." Tony handed him the coffee as he opened the door tugging in the belt. "Bet you never stepped foot in a Starbucks with all those marshmallow-infused whipped creams and syrupy blends of caramel and chocolate-"
"Just to use the head." Tony watched Gibbs savor the aroma and feel of the coffee steam as it rose through the open lip of the travel mug. Tony cracked a smile. The man looked almost comical with the white, fluffy kittens printed on the surface of the mug; his face; serene and happy. Gibbs closed his eyes and Tony felt a bit uncomfortable, as if intruding on the man's intimate moment spent with his beloved hot beverage.

"How's...him?" asked Gibbs.
"Him? Tim?"
"That's the him."
"He was on his third bowl of Lucky Charms when I left. To be honest-"
"Please don't use that term. I like to think you are always honest with me."
"-he didn't look so good."

Gibbs eyes shot towards Tony, broken from his sweet coffee orgasmic reverie, that steely, stoic expression resurfacing.

Damn, Tony thought. He hated to think he could have had a calm, decent day with this crusty, short-tempered guy now ruined with bad news.

Gibbs flipped open his cell.

"Who yah gonna call?" Tony smiled to himself. He started humming the 'Ghostbusters' theme quietly. He was surprised to see Gibbs slightly bobbing his head to the beat as he kept his eyes on the road.

"I have a doc friend. Tim knows him from when he did his...uh-"
"Internship?"

"That's it. Ducky'll take good care of him."

Tony felt his chest loosen as he let out a breath. "I like the sound of that."

/

Ducky rapped his knuckle on the door to Tony's place, singing as he did so. "Oh, my darlin'...Knock-three-times on the ceiling if you want me...Twice on the pipe", Ducky knocked two more times, "if the answer is no."

The door opened, "Ah,you must be Officer MacDonald Devins-"
"And you are...Ducky?"

"In the flesh. I am here to see our patient. How is Timothy?"

"He's in bed at the moment. I'll direct you-just down the hall."
Ducky followed the squat, dark-haired man through a whistle-clean, dominantly white decorated apartment. He stopped at a window overlooking a park that seemed to stretch for miles. "Ah-The view is so scrumptious. It makes me want to don my running shoes." said Ducky.
"Butler Park. Complete with duck pond and paddle boats."
"Lovely indeed."

Their focus on the park was interrupted by a yell from behind a door further down the hall.

"Uh, oh." Mac met his gaze with Ducky's. "I hope no one got in."

"Well, let us investigate-shall we?"

Ducky followed the determined officer through a door to find Tim in bed, asleep but thrashing side to side, twisted in a sheet. He was covered in sweat, shouting words of distress as if being assaulted.

Ducky sat on the edge of the bed to grab Tim's shoulders, hoping to break him from his nightmare. "Timothy? It's me-Dr. Mallard. You remember me, don't you? I was the one responsible for your first autopsy viewing."

Mac commented over Ducky's shoulder. "That might not be the best subject to calm the kid."
"Hmmm. You may be correct on that assumption."

Tim continued to wave his arms in anxiety as Ducky tried to get a good grip of his wrists. Mac assisted. "You will tear your stitches if you do not calm down Timothy!"

Tim's eyes popped open due to the tone in Ducky's voice. "Ducky?" Tim's chest heaved, as he woke; exhausted and frightened.

"There, there young boy. Glad to see you have decided to join us. You had me worried." Ducky released his grip then patted Tim's chest. He frowned when he felt the exceptional heat radiating from him. He placed his hand on Tim's forehead. "I'm afraid you have a high fever, Timothy. Have you taken any meds?"

"Uh-About an hour ago-pain meds."

Ducky scanned the night stand. "I'm afraid I am out if you can believe that one. I'll check the powder room for a fever reducer then check your vitals." He smiled as he patted Tim's cheek. "Be right back."

"Uh-Thanks Duck."

Ducky hummed to himself as he picked through aspirin bottles, ointment tubes and nail clippers stored in DiNozzo's medicine cabinet. He stopped mid-hum when he heard a subtle noise that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand. "Timothy?" No sound. "Officer Devins?" He stepped towards the door to the bedroom. "Oh jumpin' Jehoshaphat on a pogo stick. What is going on now?" He opened the door.

Tim was kneeling on the floor frantically administering CPR to Officer Devins. "Oh...Gracious. Timothy?"

"He was...shot, Duck. He just slumped to the floor..."

The bullet had entered the Officer's right eye leaving a meaty bulb of torn flesh. The Officer's other eye was open, staring blankly at the ceiling. The man was dead, probably a goner before he hit the floor. Ducky...ducked, letting his muscles loosen and his legs collapse. He knelt beside Tim.

"Timothy,we need to leave...Or hide." He was speed dialing Gibbs' number as he spoke. Tim continued to perform useless chest compressions on the dead man. Ducky let him as he explained the incident to Gibbs.

"Come on, Duck. We can't not try-"

A bullet warned them when it broke a window whizzing past their heads to shatter a vase. They both flinched.
Ducky flipped his phone closed then grabbed Tim's wrist forcefully enough to draw his gaze. "He's dead."

"But, will that holdup in a court of law-Not dead till proven dead, they always say." A broken laugh, void of humor, escaped Tim's lips causing the lines in Ducky's face to deepen. Ducky saw the fear and diminishing hope in the young man's tear-filled eyes. Ducky knew Tim had been through a lot in the last few days and his strength and courage was wearing thin. He had not had time to check the temperature of Tim's fever but knew by his bright, red flushed cheeks it was high.

Ducky bit the inside of his cheek then drew in a breath. "Come on, son." Ducky reached for Tim's wrist. "Tony told Gibbs of a place we can seek refuge."

"With Officer Devins?"

"Lets' find it and get you settled then I'll see if I can get Devins undercover, too."
Tim smiled, "Okay."