"You should take Jethro's room," Ducky suggested, watching as Jackson spread sheets and a blanket over the worn plaid sofa in the living room.
He just shook his head. "I fall asleep most nights in a chair in front of the television… if I sleep at all," he added. "No," he tucked the sheets under the cushions, "you take Leroy's room. Besides, you'll be closer to Tony if he should need anything in the night. He knows you better."
Ducky glanced into the kitchen where Tony was putting the dishes away, a job he insisted on doing. "He does feel comfortable with you though."
Jackson nodded in agreement. "We do just fine together. Leroy brought him up last month to visit. He's real trusting."
Ducky smiled. "Well, you are Boss's boss."
Jackson gazed at the younger man in the kitchen, stretching to put glasses on the shelf, and he sighed. "I guess that is a bit like granddad." The weight of that responsibility was evident in the expression on his face.
Ducky reached out and touched his arm. "I can stay as long as you want."
"Thanks." Jackson drew in a deep breath. "I think we'll be all right… but I know he's relieved you're staying tonight."
"It's been a long two days." Ducky pulled his watch out of his vest pocket and checked the time. "And it's only getting longer." He looked toward the kitchen. "Anthony… it's time for bed."
And he knew he was tired when, instead of immediately complaining, Tony readily agreed. "All right. Gotta brush my teeth," he explained as he trailed off down the hall toward Gibbs' room.
Ducky and Jackson followed a few steps behind.
Tony went into the bathroom and reached for his Batman toothbrush, leaning in the cup beside Gibbs' blue one. His hand stopped halfway, and he looked back over his shoulder where Ducky and Jackson stood in the doorway.
"Boss doesn't have his toothbrush," he said softly, a realization that seemed to bother him.
"The nurses will give him a new one," Ducky assured, "but we'll still pack him a suitcase in the morning."
"And we can take him stuff?" Tony questioned as he picked up his toothbrush and began to squeeze toothpaste onto it.
"We can take him whatever you think he might need."
Tony seemed to like that idea, and, as he brushed his teeth, he mumbled around the toothbrush in his mouth.
"Like his toothbrush and his sweatpants… an' his t-shirts, 'n socks… 'n underwear." He spit toothpaste into the sink. "And the book he's got by his bed." He cupped his hand under the water and rinsed and spit again.
Ducky exchanged a smile with Jackson. "Sounds like a plan. You can help me pack."
"Okay," he agreed, putting his toothbrush back in the cup.
With Ducky beside him, he followed Jackson back down the hallway, watched as the older man turned back the covers on his bed, then climbed in and pushed his legs under the blankets. Jackson sat down on one side and Ducky sat on the other.
"Did you used to tuck Boss in?"
Jackson nodded and seemed to get a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were remembering. Then he smiled. "I did. A long time ago."
Tony turned over on his side, pulled a fistful of blanket up under his chin, pushed his cast on top of his pillow. "Did you tell him stories?"
Another nod. "Did that, too." He reached out and ran his hand over Tony's forehead, brushing his hair back. "Do you want a story?"
But Tony shook his head. "Not tonight." He looked over at Ducky. "'m tired."
"I think we all are." He patted Tony's shoulder. "It's been a long day."
Tony looked toward the end of the bed, reached his hand out. "Bert?"
Finding the grey hippo, Ducky gave it to him, watched as he curled around it. "Close your eyes, Anthony." He rubbed his hand along Tony's arm. "Jackson and I will stay right here until you fall asleep."
"Okay." And he let his eyes fall closed.
Several minutes passed.
And then… "Ducky?"
"Yes?"
"Boss is gonna be all right?"
In the dim light of the room, Ducky looked over at Jackson, saw the same uncertainty in the man's eyes that he heard in Tony's voice.
And so, he reassured them all.
"He's going to be just fine."
An answer, a promise… a prayer.
~vVv~