WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW
By
Ashleigh Anpilova
DiNozzo wonders if Ducky gets lonely all alone in Reston House.
An established relationship story.
Written: August 2009. Word count: 500.
THE SQUAD ROOM
Tony waited until he was certain Gibbs had left the squad room, before leaning forward and calling to McGee and Ziva. "Hey. Do you think Ducky gets lonely?"
"Lonely?" Ziva replied.
"Yeah, you know. Now that his mom's in a home and he's all alone in his big house. Well, I wonder if he gets lonely."
"He has been working longer hours," McGee said, moving to sit on the edge of his desk. "Palmer told me. He said Ducky's often here after he goes home."
"Mind you," Tony said, also leaving his chair and perching on the edge of his desk, "it's not just Mrs. Mallard, is it? I mean, she was a nice old lady -"
"Who thought you were a furniture moving gigolo who happened to also be a dogs' hairdresser."
"Yeah, thanks, McGeek."
"Hey, it was you who told me!"
"Oh, yeah. So it was. Sorry."
"You were saying, Tony." Now Ziva also joined the two men and sat on the edge of her desk. "About Mrs. Mallard being a nice lady."
"Yeah. Well she was - is, I guess - but she couldn't have been much company for Ducky. I was with her for a few hours and I was exhausted. Not by the furniture moving and dog hairdressing, but by the way she mind worked. Or didn't. I can't imagine her and Ducky sitting down and having a fulfilling conversation. And yet there was Ducky stuck with her night after night."
"And your point is?"
"Well, when did he get a chance to see anyone."
"You mean as in 'date' someone, don't you, Tony?"
"No! Well, not really. I mean Ducky's -" Tony broke off and looked carefully around him. He then decided even though Gibbs wasn't in the vicinity, he wasn't going to say anything else. The boss had an uncanny way of knowing just what was said. And Tony knew from past experience that anything that could be construed as even remotely negative about Ducky earned him the wrath of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However, the other two were looking at him expectantly, so throwing caution to the wind and crossing his fingers, Tony said swiftly, "Put it this way, I bet Ducky's slept alone for a long time."
Ziva stared at him and then she smiled; her worryingly deadly-sweet smile. "Well, Tony, there is one way you could find out for certain, is there not?"
Not wanting to do so, but finding himself speaking anyway, Tony asked, "And what, Ms. David, would that be?"
Now the smile grew even more deadly-sweet. "You could ask him."
RESTON HOUSE LATER THAT NIGHT
"Hey, Duck," Jethro called softly, going into the bedroom. "You still awake?"
"Of course." Ducky smiled.
In three strides Jethro had crossed the room, sat down on the edge of the bed, and put his mouth on Ducky's.
SOME TIME LATER
"Oh, yeah," Jethro said, as he kissed Ducky's nose and moved his arm slightly so he held Ducky more comfortably. "Meant to tell you. DiNozzo seems concerned that you're sleeping alone."
Ducky chucked.
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