S2 13 AU (Meat Puzzle) A Death in the Family

AU stories for NCIS episodes. Each is independent from all the others since this is based on the possibility of parallel universes and multiple timelines…. many, many of them. Later on some may seem to follow something that happened in an earlier AU episode story but it's probably coincidence unless I say otherwise in the beginning. Again, these are AU scenes/stories which means a character may die in one story and be alive in the next one. Or it might be a missing scene.

This is a short alternate universe story/scene for season 2, episode 13, Meat Puzzle.

The original episode aired on February 8, 2005.
Rating: K+
Category: general
Warnings: Can't think of any
Disclaimer: Borrowing characters. Just borrowing. No profit.
And finally, all mistakes are mine.

Gibbs and Abby cleared the dishes while the caregiver took Victoria Mallard to the sitting room. She was doing as well as could be expected. Her Alzheimer's was progressing but after losing her son it was a good thing that she didn't remember. It was important for her to be in her own home and thank goodness Ducky's savings and life insurance, along with her social security, was covering her care with no problems. And it was great that the nurses and caregivers liked her dogs and didn't mind caring for them too.

They would join Mrs. Mallard for a few minutes before heading out. They came for dinner twice a month and checked in periodically. When she asked about her son they told her he was on his way or was working late and would be there soon. Her short term memory was good for about 30 seconds so she never got a chance to wonder and put anything together. Her world now was her dogs.

Abby hugged Gibbs from behind. "Six months today, Gibbs." He sighed, turned around and hugged her properly. They missed Ducky so much and were getting through it one day at a time.

When Ducky hadn't shown up for work and didn't answer his cell phone or land line, they'd gone to his home to check on him. They found him dead at the bottom of the stairs. He'd been dead for hours. His mom was in the sitting room talking to the dogs seemingly unaware of anything being wrong. An autopsy revealed that he'd lived only a short time after the fall and there was nothing to indicate that it was anything but a home accident.

June 2004.

"Vincent, you can't leave their bodies for people to find."

"I want him to suffer, Mother, him most of all."

She stroked his face to console him and whispered, "It's fine to make him suffer but if you leave bodies they will eventually be traced to you. To us."

She added, "If you do this right, you won't need to fake your death. Nobody will come looking for you."

"I won't need to hide." He was quiet for a moment and said, "I'll think about it, mother."

The next day Mary Hanlan talked to him again and he agreed. In the next three months Vincent stalked and killed three main players from his trial. Judge Roland Davis fell while jogging early in the morning and died a day later from a head injury. DA Michael Grant was found near the Appalachian trail where he'd been hiking. His death was ruled accidental. Jury Foreman Carl Foss fell in his bathtub, hit his head and drowned.

"It's time for me to take care of Doctor Mallard, mother."

"Let's think like the police. When Doctor Mallard disappears, NCIS will look into who would want revenge. You will be on that list. Like the others, his death needs to look like an accident. That way they won't look for anyone to blame. If you want to see him suffer then make sure he's alive for a while before he dies. And do it at a time when he's off work so nobody will come looking for him."

August 8, 2004.

Ducky woke to his mother calling him. He was on the second floor and she was on the first so he got out of bed, put on a robe and headed down the stairs. Suddenly he was airborne for a few feet and then kind of tumbled and slid. He was at the bottom with his feet on the first step and he was in excruciating pain. He heard his mother's voice before passing out.

Consciousness came suddenly and painfully. He hurt everywhere which normally could be a good thing when an injury involves the neck or spinal column. In his case it was a bad thing because he was sure he had sustained several fractures and possibly had internal injuries. He called out to his mother telling her to call 9-1-1 but she didn't answer. He opened his eyes and looked around. It was still dark outside and dark in the house and he wondered where the dogs were.

He took a deep breath and tried moving his right arm. It hurt so bad he was sure he'd pass out but he didn't and managed to reach his side. Now if he could just move a little.

"I wouldn't move if I were you, Doctor Mallard," a voice in the dark told him.

Ducky was startled more than he cared to admit.

"Who's there? Who are you?"

A man dressed all in black came out of the shadows and squatted down in front of him. He was close enough for Ducky to see him and the moment there was recognition, he laughed loudly.

"I see you remember me," he taunted. "Roland Davis, Michael Grant and Carl Foss recognized me too, right before they died."

Ducky's mind swirled. He knew those names but the pain wasn't letting him think clearly. As much as he wanted to ask about them, he needed to know about his mother first.

"Where is my mother? Did you hurt her?"

"She's fine. Asleep now actually. I gave her a drink with a sleeping pill in it."

"The dogs, what about the dogs?"

"They're fine too. It's amazing what a little melatonin and peanut butter can do. Don't worry, I have no intention of hurting them or your mom."

"The names. I know them but I can't…. I can't," he groaned.

"The judge, the district attorney and the jury foreman," Vincent laughed. "I saved you for last."

End

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