Ducky - Rest in Peace David McCallum, both you and Ducky will be missed! 1933-2023
The call from Vance came in at 0700, just as he was leaving home from the Navy Yard. A simple request for Tim. Call into Ducky's on the way into work. Check on him.
Tim took the necessary detour towards his townhouse. Knocking twice and not getting an answer, he opened the door with his key. When Ducky had moved to Georgetown, he had given Jimmy and Tim a key each, telling them that his home was theirs too. Should they need solace.
Tim noticed that the house was neat and tidy, as always. He called out and there was no answer. Nothing was out of place. He headed down the corridor that led to the library. Ducky's favourite room in the house. No Ducky.
His favourite teapot on the bench by the electric kettle ready to make his morning tea. Ducky always kept it there, ready to go at a moment's notice. No Ducky.
Heading into the bedroom. Tim knocked cautiously, before entering. There he was. Fast asleep in his bed. Gently moving to wake him, Tim paused as he approached the side of the bed Ducky was asleep on. His glasses on the nightstand. His current manuscript underneath them.
Tim reached out to gently rouse the man. His shoulder was cold. His body stiff. Panic coursed through him, as he reached for a pulse. There was no pulse. His body was cold. Grey. Lifeless.
Tim's vision was blurred, as he reached into his cell, calling 911. The frantic sound of Tim's voice sounded like a stranger in his own ears. "He's cold." Tim had whimpered to the dispatcher. The EMT's were on their way. With the call disconnected, he pressed speed dial four - Vance.
Tim couldn't remember if he had actually said any words to Vance. But by the time Leon arrived, the EMT's were there too. Tim's own tears were now wet on his cheeks, and he didn't even notice. He hadn't taken his eyes off Ducky.
Leon was holding him; he didn't even notice. "I need to call Gibbs." He told the Director.
"I can do that, if you like." Leon offered. He could see that Tim was in shock. He knew the men were close. Closer than close. He knew Tim's kids called him Granducky.
"It has to be me." Tim had whispered. Leon watched carefully as Tim pressed one for speed dial.
He could hear Gibbs on the other end, but no words came from Tim's mouth. Taking the phone out of Tim's hand had been the Director's only option. Putting the phone to his ear, the only words he heard was Gibbs' all the way from Alaska. "It's Ducky, isn't it?"
Tim had his phone back in his hand, and the coroner had arrived. The local coroner, a friend of Jimmy's from med school. Leon couldn't let Jimmy find out like this. Not like Tim had. It wasn't fair.
Without an argument, Leon led Tim into his own vehicle. Leaving Tim's new, black, shiny SUV parked in Ducky's driveway and together, they headed to NCIS. Leon was filling the silence with gentle words to Tim, none of them registering in his mind.
Leon knew that Delilah was in Dubai, for work and the twins were with Sarah because Tim had just wrapped up work on a classified case the night before. That the twins were supposed to be back in Tim's care that evening.
Somehow, Pamela had assembled the remaining members of the MCRT into a small conference room. Depositing Tim into a chair next to Parker, he stepped up to the head of the small table.
Jimmy's gut dropped, seeing Tim like that.
"Dr Mallard ... has passed on." Leon announced, struggling to get his own words out. Knight went to Jimmy, instantly. Torres held Kasie close to him and Parker latched onto Tim.
Nothing else in the room mattered.
"Do the rest of them know?" Parker finally asked, holding his head over Tim's to Leon. Parker could see the Director's own tears welling. "I can ..."
"It has to be me." Tim had whispered again, echoing the same words as earlier. "They were my team."
Tim braced himself, as he dialed a number in Paris, holding his phone out. This needed to be done, face to face. It was 6pm in Paris. Tony's tired voice and Ziva's sweet voice laced in a threat for interrupting dinner, came through the phone line and echoed through the small conference room. Once Tony and Ziva's eyes were focused to make eye contact with Tim, Tony's words vibrated through the room. "Who?"
"Ducky." Tim's voice strangled out. Parker could barely watch Tim struggle and took the phone from him.
Parker relayed the facts, before both of the former agents made promises to make their way over and Alden ended the call. "Gibbs?" He asked, knowing he had Gibbs' number too.
"Taken care of." Leon replied.
Tim took the phone again and brought up Abby's details, hitting facetime, because again, this needed to be face to face. Once it connected, Abby knew. "Ducky?" She asked, tears forming in the goth's eyes. Tim only nodded in reply, and Abby leapt into action. Promising she would be there soon.
Pamela wrote up a small memo, with the Director's electronic signature to be sent out agency wide. Her words were heartfelt and brief.
"It is with great sadness; I must announce the passing of our beloved NCIS Historian and former Medical Examiner - Dr Donald 'Ducky" Mallard. NCIS was blessed by Ducky's presence and long tenure within the agency. He was a friend to many, and he will be dearly missed. Ducky passed peacefully sometime this morning, at home. Details of his memorial to come. - Director Leon Vance."
No one said a thing more. Jimmy and Tim caught each other's eyes. Tears welling in each of them. There were things to be done. Together. Standing. Both men nodded at Vance and left.
Together, they corralled each of their kids. Victoria, Johnny and Morgan. Jimmy got Delilah on Facetime. It was late for her. Dubai was 8 hours ahead. Almost 10pm at night. Together, they told their children of their beloved Granducky's passing. Tears were shed, wept for him.
Tony and Ziva arrived, leaving Tali with DiNozzo Senior. Abby arrived. Gibbs arrived. Somehow, word had filtered to Fornell, as well. Delilah returned home. Jess, Kasie, Parker, Nick and Leon arrived. Kayla and Jared too. Ziva informed them that she had left word for Ellie through her friend Odette.
Gibbs had been named executor of his estate. Ducky had left sizable inheritances to the kids. Victoria, Johnny, Morgan and Tali. Some trinkets to Jimmy, Tim, Tony, Ziva and Ellie. A book to Nick and a letter to Jess. He had left much of his vast fortune to charities including The Marine Corp Scholarship fund.
His funeral had been a somber affair, with many people from all walks of life. People whom he had known or was acquainted with, over the years. Between Jimmy and Tim, sat Gibbs. Tony between Ziva and Abby in the next row over. Jess next to Victoria, beside Jimmy and Dee between the twins, next to Tim. The Director next to Ziva. Nick, Kasie, Fornell and Parker on the other side of Leon. They made up Ducky's family. The rest of the congregation was a sea of nameless faces, NCIS personnel from the different offices. Agents. Analysts. Patrons from his various charities.
He was buried next to his mother, Victoria. Reunited together in death.