Present Day
Washington, D.C.
A friend's house
Gibbs pulled into a particularly hidden driveway and Abbey watched out the windshield as a large Victorian home came into view.
"This is where your friend lives?" Abbey was impressed with the house even in the dark.
"Yep." Gibbs answered simply. He slowed the car to a stop next to a vintage looking car. It looked perfect with the house.
They got out of the SUV, but the moment Abbey's feet touched the ground her legs gave out. The past 48 hours were catching up with her fast. She managed to catch herself on the car before hitting the ground. Gibbs was suddenly behind her gently putting an arm around her waist.
"Whoa." He helped guide her towards the dark porch. Abbey was thankful for the help; eager to make it inside without falling.
Gibbs knocked on the front door, but there was no sign of life inside. She glanced at him looking nervous, but he looked back reassuringly. He knocked once more and the front light flicked on.
"Coming, coming." Said a voice from inside.
The door cracked open to reveal an older gentleman wearing a bathrobe and pajamas looking slightly disheveled. The man's eyes widened in disbelief as he studied the pair.
"Jethro?" He said like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Gibbs gave him a slight smile. "Hey Duck. Mind if we come in?"
He took a second to process what Gibbs had said then stepped back opening the door wider.
"Come on." He said inviting them in.
Gibbs helped Abbey across the threshold and the man shut the door behind them.
"In here." He showed them into the next room and turned on a light to reveal a sitting room with a few couches and a coffee table.
Abbey gently sat down on one of the couches with Gibbs' help, but he remained standing. His friend studied them while slowly sitting on the other couch.
"What's the matter Duck, I've never seen you this speechless." Gibbs questioned.
"You're alive." He answered in disbelief.
Gibbs scrunched his brow. "What are you talking about? You knew I was on a case."
"Yes, but about a week ago…" He paused and looked Gibbs over once more. "We were all informed of your death."
Abbey's eyes widened and she looked over at Gibbs. His expression never changed when he glanced at her and then back to his friend.
"As you can see Duck, I'm alive." He told him.
Abbey shifted on the couch and winced. She was studied by both men and it seemed like Gibbs' friend noticed her for the first time.
"I'm sorry. I didn't introduce myself." He said. "I'm Doctor Mallard." He held out his hand.
She smiled at him. "Abigail West, you can call me Abbey though." She leaned forward to shake his hand, but drew back grabbing at her side.
"Oh dear." Doctor Mallard said getting up and going to her. "What seems to be the matter?" He questioned.
Before Abbey could answer, Gibbs spoke. "We had a run in before leaving Russia." He said.
"Russia?" The Doctor questioned.
She looked at Gibbs surprised that he was telling where they were when the mission was highly classified. He gave her a silent nod saying that it was alright. She turned back to the doctor.
"Yeah, Gibbs here only took one hit too." She joked.
"I see that you're sporting a black eye for that Jethro. We'll address that momentarily. Why don't you go put some ice on it." Doctor Mallard told him.
"Take a look at her Duck." Gibbs glanced at Abbey looking a little annoyed and disappeared into the house.
"I shouldn't have said that." She stated. "I know he feels bad about what happened; not that he would admit it." She shook her head at how stubborn he could be.
"I'm sure he won't hold it against you." He said sitting down next to Abbey on the couch. "Now what is it that Jethro was so insistent that I looked at?" He questioned.
Abbey stood up, groaning a bit as she did so. "Probably this." She lifted the left side of her shirt about halfway.
"Oh my." He said.
This was the first time Abbey was actually looking at the damage Dimitri had done. Most of her left side was covered in angry purple and red bruises. It looked terrible, but it definitely reflected how she felt.
The doctor tentatively placed a hand on the bruising, pushing lightly. Abbey hissed in pain and she tried her best not to flinch away.
"That little run in that Gibbs mentioned in Russia." She began to explain. "Some guys were trying to get information out of us when they found out that we were agents."
He studied her. "Are you injured anywhere else?"
"I probably have a mild concussion thanks to a brick wall, but it's nothing that won't heal on its own." She told him.
He nodded his head. "You have a few broken ribs to go with it, but those will also have to heal on their own." He sat back on the couch and Abbey lowered her shirt.
"Thank you Doctor Mallard." She said taking a seat as well.
"Of course; a friend of Jethro's is a friend of mine; and please, call me Ducky." He told her thinking that they would be seeing much more of each other.
"Well thank you Ducky." She reiterated.
"You know, this reminds me of a time when-" He was interrupted by Gibbs walking back into the room holding what looked like a bag of frozen vegetables in his hand.
"I hope you're not boring her to death Duck." He joked.
Abbey smiled at him. "No Gibbs, I'm very much still alive." She yawned. "Although, he may put me to sleep." She chuckled a bit. She thought about the last time she had slept and realized it was the short time in the barn back in Russia.
Ducky glanced at a clock on the wall. "Dear, well it is very late. Why don't you show her to one of the guestrooms and then I can take a look at that eye." He said to Gibbs.
He nodded in return. "Come on."
Abbey stood up and followed Gibbs out of the room. When they were out of earshot she glanced up at him.
"So Jethro huh." She said smiling.
He shook his head, but a smile started to form as he just kept walking.