WHY ME?
By
Ashleigh Anpilova
A sequel to Who Should It Be?
Ducky is delighted, but wants to make certain that Jimmy is sure he really wants him to be his best-man.
A Ducky & Jimmy-centric gen story
Written: January 2012. Word count: 500.
Ducky stared at Jimmy who was beaming and staring intently at him, he looked both excited and apprehensive.
He hadn't been certain what to expect when Jimmy had said he had something to ask him and wasn't going to take no for an answer. He had suspected it had something to do with the wedding, attending his bachelor party or maybe driving Jimmy to the Church in his Morgan.
So when Jimmy had said, 'I want you to be my best-man, Doctor', Ducky had been stunned; delighted and so deeply moved he'd had to swallow hard several times, but nonetheless stunned. Jimmy wanted him to be his best-man? But why?
He was suddenly aware he was standing in silence and the apprehension on Jimmy's face was eroding the excitement. He spoke quickly. "Jimmy my dear boy; I would be honored to be your best-man. But are you quite certain you want me?"
Jimmy nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes, Doctor. I am quite sure."
"But," Ducky was still not certain Jimmy had really thought this through, "why me?"
Jimmy frowned, blinked, took of his glasses, polished them on his cuff and put them back on again. Ducky waited. "Because . . . Because . . . Because . . ." He trailed off and looked at Ducky.
Ducky moved towards Jimmy and patted his arm. "It's all right, Jimmy," he said, "I understand and really, I'm very touched to have been asked, but -"
"What do you understand, Doctor?" Jimmy said swiftly.
"Well, that you feel a . . . Shall we say degree of obligation to ask me. After all, I am not merely your boss. I -"
"No, Dr. Mallard. No. It's not out of any obligation." Jimmy spoke more forcefully than Ducky could recall hearing him speak before.
Ducky looked at him carefully; from his years of working with Jimmy he could see Jimmy was telling the truth. "Oh," he said quietly. "In that case, Jimmy, I'd be -"
"I want you to be my best-man because you're the best person for the job," Jimmy said quickly. "And I like you, Doctor, I respect you. We work closely together and I like to think that you -" He stopped abruptly and his cheeks began to flush.
Ducky patted his arm again. "I do like you, Jimmy. I am very fond of you. And I really would be honored and delighted to play such an important part in what I hope will be the happiest day of your life. But are you really quite certain? What about Tony or Timothy? They are nearer your age. Do you not think one of them would be more appropriate?"
Jimmy shook his head. "No. Either would do a good job, but not as good as you. It's you I want to be my best-man, Dr. Mallard."
"And you are not taking 'no' for an answer," Ducky said with a soft chuckle.
"That's right I'm not."
Ducky smiled. "In that case, I had better begin to plan the bachelor party and work on my speech, had I not?"
Jimmy beamed.
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