NCIS; Abby/McGee; Future
TITLE: Wouldn’t it be nice
AUTHOR: Sage Harper
FANDOM: NCIS
PAIRING: Abby/McGee
GENRE: het
PROMPT: 19. Future
RATING: PG
WORD COUNT: 1,572
SUMMARY: Ducky’s impending retirement raises some uncomfortable emotions.
WARNINGS:
NOTES: The 'charming' nickname for Lt.Col Mann (as referenced here) was inspired by becky_monster.
DISCLAIMER: All the good stuff belongs to Donald P. Bellisario et all, I'm just borrowing and will put them back when I've finished.
“Hey Duck,” Gibbs said, gently smoothing back lock of his lover’s hair. “How yah feeling?”
Broken ankle, sprained wrist, bruises in places he didn’t want to talk about. All his own fault too; for being careless and taking a tumble down a steep slope, stubbornly trying to keep up with the children …
“Much better, thank you dearest.”
It was true; to see his beloved’s tender smile, feel the warmth of his touch, could wipe that pain away.
“You want me to get you anything, do anything for you?”
Ducky sighed a little, bracing himself; he had to bite the bullet sometime.
“Jethro, would you be so kind as to take down a letter for me?”
~oo0oo~
McGee stood, rooted to the spot by utter disbelief, the letter shaking in his hands.
“Your coffee’s getting cold,” Abby called out, then approached him. “Is that from your agent?”
McGee nodded
“Well what does it say, did they like your book?”
He threw his arms around her.
“Liked it?” He laughed “they love it! I’ve got a three book deal.”
“That is so awesome, I knew you could do it.” Abby beamed “We should go tell Gibbs and Ducky.”
~oo0oo~
Gibbs stared at the words he had typed, verification of those Ducky had spoken.
He heard Ducky speak again, calling his name. The sound seemed so far away, the ground tilting beneath his feet.
He had to act, do something to break this crushing weight. Flight or fight?
Gibbs went out to the garden, almost wrenching French door from its hinges.
Then lay down on the lawn, needing to feel the steady earth beneath him.
~oo0oo~
“Gibbs, Ducky,” Abby called, letting herself into their home with the spare key having got no response from knocking.
“I’m in the lounge Abigail.” Ducky said “Terribly sorry for not answering the door, but I’m not currently very mobile.”
“That’s OK,” Abby went over and hugged him. “Oh yeah, we got you a present.”
“How kind, you really didn’t need to.”
McGee placed the item down on the floor, and with flourish pulled off the dust sheet it was wrapped in. To reveal …
A Zimmer frame
Painted blue
With rubber ducks tied to the front.
“Well that’s a rather, imaginative, gift.” Ducky said tactfully “but I don’t really have need for it just yet.”
“I quite agree.” Abby said “so does that mean you’re going to quit moping about, thinking you’re ancient… and then maybe get better and come back to work.”
“Yeah, it’s just not the same at work without you.” McGee concurred
“Actually I rather doubt that” Ducky began “Oh I shall recover from my war wounds; but they have brought home to me that I’m really too old for all this gallivanting around, in the name of medical examination … so I have decided that it’s about time I retired.”
“Oh,” Abby sat down beside him on the sofa “does Gibbs know?”
“Yes, of course … as my right hand is out of action I dictated my letter of resignation to him. He didn’t take it very well, I’m afraid. I think he’s out in the garden.”
Abby and McGee looked at each other.
“I’ll go talk to him.” She said.
~oo0oo~
“That one looks like a duck, doesn’t it?” Gibbs said, looking up at the clouds.
Lola paused her toddling through the garden and looked at the sky, then back to him, with confusion on her face. She signed ‘grandpa’.
“No, I mean the bird” Gibbs clarified “Y’know, quack quack.”
Lola nodded, then walked over and patted his shoulder sympathetically.
“Yeah,” Gibbs sighed “guess I am kinda sad. Well not really sad but, oh I don’t know really. You see Ducky had got it into his head that he should retire. I mean he’s getting close to retirement age, and he doesn’t really need to work. So maybe it would be best for him to go now, it’d make sense anyway.”
Lola sat down next to him on the grass.
“So that’s not why I’m feeling like this,” Gibbs continued, putting an arm around her “this whole thing has made me realise that Ducky isn’t all that young anymore. Not old, not yet, but eventually he will be. And then … the time is going to come when … he won’t be around anymore. And I am so not ready for that.”
“It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Gibbs scrubbed at his eyes, irritated to find tears forming “That I’m a grown up myself, capable of commanding a team and everything, but the thought of being without him makes me feel as helpless and dependant as you are. I need him Bug; I need him like I need air and food. He’s always been there, calm and solid, always knowing what needed to be said and done. No matter how much of a … bad person, I was.”
~oo0oo~
“I thought you were going to talk to Gibbs,”
“I was,” Abby said “but he was already talking to Lola. And I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“She seems to be going a pretty good job.” McGee noted, as he drank his coffee.
They stood for a moment, watching out of the window
“Sometimes we do need someone who is just going to listen,” McGee said “not pass judgement or give ‘helpful’ suggestions … when I was younger I used to talk to my sister’s goldfish.”
“Goldfish are cool like that.” Abby smiled
“I can’t imagine retiring.” Abby said, after a moment “I’m having too much fun; but when I do get old I’m totally going to be one of those really cool old ladies; the kind who flirt with guys young enough to be their grandson, drink cocktails, and generally embarrasses the hell out of her kids.”
“Thanks for the advanced warning,” McGee laughed “so that’s how I’m going to spend my retirement, trailing in your wake and apologising for your gross misconduct.”
“Don’t apologise, it’s a sign of weakness.” Abby insisted, in her best ‘Gibbs voice’ “I bet you’ll be like Ducky, when you’re older, all unflappable and wise. With loads of stories to tell.”
“Course I would, I’d have to be with you.”
“It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?” Abby hugged him
“It already is.”
~oo0oo~
“I’m being stupid, aren’t I?” Gibbs said, as Lola patted his shoulder again. “It’s not like Ducky is going to magically be ninety when he wakes up tomorrow morning. We still have a whole load of years left together, if I don’t do anything stupid and get myself killed. Not that I would, I gotta try and be sensible now, with you and Ducky and everyone else who’d miss me … Guess I will miss getting to see Duck every day at work, but that’ll probably just make the time we do get together even better. And I guess he’ll still come in sometimes, to give Jimmy a hand. Jimmy can manage on his own though, he’s very capable, just lacks confidence sometimes, so maybe this’ll be good for him.” Gibbs smiled “It’ll be a change for all of us, take some adjusting to, but we’ll cope.”
He reached out and ruffled her hair, she giggled.
“Y’know, it’s been real good talking to you.” He picked her up “but I guess we should go inside, so the others can quit worrying.”
~oo0oo~
“Jethro, I’m sorry …”
“Ah don’t apologise Duck, you don’t need to.”
“I feel that I do. I’ve been considering retirement for quite some time, and this mishap of mine just brought it home. I got so wrapped up in considering it myself that I didn’t talk to you. When really I should have done. Not sprung it on you.”
Gibbs sat down on the sofa, with Lola on his lap.
“It would have been a shock however I found out.” He admitted “but in a way this was for the best. I might have let my own feelings get in the way and talked you out of it. And that wouldn’t have been fair. As this is what you really want … is it what you want, right?”
“Yes, I believe so.” Ducky reached across and held them both “though when it comes to it I probably won’t be able to help popping in and generally meddling.”
“Ah we can live with that,” Gibbs smiled “really where would we be without your meddling?”
“Well Lieutenant Barbie, I mean Lt.Colonel Mann.” Abby smirked “would probably be the fourth ex-Mrs Gibbs.”
Gibbs shuddered at thought, prompting laughs all round.
“I can’t claim full credit for that,” Ducky insisted “Abigail’s assistance was invaluable.”
Abby curtsied
“So, do you have any plans for how to spend your time?” McGee asked Ducky.
“I think, that I shall write my memoirs.” Ducky began “all this conversations with you about your book has inspired me, oh I never did ask, how did your pitch go?”
“They loved it,” McGee beamed “I got a three book deal.”
Gibbs and Ducky gave their congratulations.
“And of course,” Ducky added “I shall get to spend lots more time with my most favourite grand daughter.”
“Ducky has offered to take care of Lola for us, while we’re at work.” Abby explained to Gibbs “and of course we accepted.”
“So really I can’t think of a better way to spend my days,” Ducky smiled “to record my past adventures, and have many more in the future.”
AUTHOR: Sage Harper
FANDOM: NCIS
PAIRING: Abby/McGee
GENRE: het
PROMPT: 19. Future
RATING: PG
WORD COUNT: 1,572
SUMMARY: Ducky’s impending retirement raises some uncomfortable emotions.
WARNINGS:
NOTES: The 'charming' nickname for Lt.Col Mann (as referenced here) was inspired by becky_monster.
DISCLAIMER: All the good stuff belongs to Donald P. Bellisario et all, I'm just borrowing and will put them back when I've finished.
“Hey Duck,” Gibbs said, gently smoothing back lock of his lover’s hair. “How yah feeling?”
Broken ankle, sprained wrist, bruises in places he didn’t want to talk about. All his own fault too; for being careless and taking a tumble down a steep slope, stubbornly trying to keep up with the children …
“Much better, thank you dearest.”
It was true; to see his beloved’s tender smile, feel the warmth of his touch, could wipe that pain away.
“You want me to get you anything, do anything for you?”
Ducky sighed a little, bracing himself; he had to bite the bullet sometime.
“Jethro, would you be so kind as to take down a letter for me?”
~oo0oo~
McGee stood, rooted to the spot by utter disbelief, the letter shaking in his hands.
“Your coffee’s getting cold,” Abby called out, then approached him. “Is that from your agent?”
McGee nodded
“Well what does it say, did they like your book?”
He threw his arms around her.
“Liked it?” He laughed “they love it! I’ve got a three book deal.”
“That is so awesome, I knew you could do it.” Abby beamed “We should go tell Gibbs and Ducky.”
~oo0oo~
Gibbs stared at the words he had typed, verification of those Ducky had spoken.
He heard Ducky speak again, calling his name. The sound seemed so far away, the ground tilting beneath his feet.
He had to act, do something to break this crushing weight. Flight or fight?
Gibbs went out to the garden, almost wrenching French door from its hinges.
Then lay down on the lawn, needing to feel the steady earth beneath him.
~oo0oo~
“Gibbs, Ducky,” Abby called, letting herself into their home with the spare key having got no response from knocking.
“I’m in the lounge Abigail.” Ducky said “Terribly sorry for not answering the door, but I’m not currently very mobile.”
“That’s OK,” Abby went over and hugged him. “Oh yeah, we got you a present.”
“How kind, you really didn’t need to.”
McGee placed the item down on the floor, and with flourish pulled off the dust sheet it was wrapped in. To reveal …
A Zimmer frame
Painted blue
With rubber ducks tied to the front.
“Well that’s a rather, imaginative, gift.” Ducky said tactfully “but I don’t really have need for it just yet.”
“I quite agree.” Abby said “so does that mean you’re going to quit moping about, thinking you’re ancient… and then maybe get better and come back to work.”
“Yeah, it’s just not the same at work without you.” McGee concurred
“Actually I rather doubt that” Ducky began “Oh I shall recover from my war wounds; but they have brought home to me that I’m really too old for all this gallivanting around, in the name of medical examination … so I have decided that it’s about time I retired.”
“Oh,” Abby sat down beside him on the sofa “does Gibbs know?”
“Yes, of course … as my right hand is out of action I dictated my letter of resignation to him. He didn’t take it very well, I’m afraid. I think he’s out in the garden.”
Abby and McGee looked at each other.
“I’ll go talk to him.” She said.
~oo0oo~
“That one looks like a duck, doesn’t it?” Gibbs said, looking up at the clouds.
Lola paused her toddling through the garden and looked at the sky, then back to him, with confusion on her face. She signed ‘grandpa’.
“No, I mean the bird” Gibbs clarified “Y’know, quack quack.”
Lola nodded, then walked over and patted his shoulder sympathetically.
“Yeah,” Gibbs sighed “guess I am kinda sad. Well not really sad but, oh I don’t know really. You see Ducky had got it into his head that he should retire. I mean he’s getting close to retirement age, and he doesn’t really need to work. So maybe it would be best for him to go now, it’d make sense anyway.”
Lola sat down next to him on the grass.
“So that’s not why I’m feeling like this,” Gibbs continued, putting an arm around her “this whole thing has made me realise that Ducky isn’t all that young anymore. Not old, not yet, but eventually he will be. And then … the time is going to come when … he won’t be around anymore. And I am so not ready for that.”
“It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Gibbs scrubbed at his eyes, irritated to find tears forming “That I’m a grown up myself, capable of commanding a team and everything, but the thought of being without him makes me feel as helpless and dependant as you are. I need him Bug; I need him like I need air and food. He’s always been there, calm and solid, always knowing what needed to be said and done. No matter how much of a … bad person, I was.”
~oo0oo~
“I thought you were going to talk to Gibbs,”
“I was,” Abby said “but he was already talking to Lola. And I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“She seems to be going a pretty good job.” McGee noted, as he drank his coffee.
They stood for a moment, watching out of the window
“Sometimes we do need someone who is just going to listen,” McGee said “not pass judgement or give ‘helpful’ suggestions … when I was younger I used to talk to my sister’s goldfish.”
“Goldfish are cool like that.” Abby smiled
“I can’t imagine retiring.” Abby said, after a moment “I’m having too much fun; but when I do get old I’m totally going to be one of those really cool old ladies; the kind who flirt with guys young enough to be their grandson, drink cocktails, and generally embarrasses the hell out of her kids.”
“Thanks for the advanced warning,” McGee laughed “so that’s how I’m going to spend my retirement, trailing in your wake and apologising for your gross misconduct.”
“Don’t apologise, it’s a sign of weakness.” Abby insisted, in her best ‘Gibbs voice’ “I bet you’ll be like Ducky, when you’re older, all unflappable and wise. With loads of stories to tell.”
“Course I would, I’d have to be with you.”
“It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?” Abby hugged him
“It already is.”
~oo0oo~
“I’m being stupid, aren’t I?” Gibbs said, as Lola patted his shoulder again. “It’s not like Ducky is going to magically be ninety when he wakes up tomorrow morning. We still have a whole load of years left together, if I don’t do anything stupid and get myself killed. Not that I would, I gotta try and be sensible now, with you and Ducky and everyone else who’d miss me … Guess I will miss getting to see Duck every day at work, but that’ll probably just make the time we do get together even better. And I guess he’ll still come in sometimes, to give Jimmy a hand. Jimmy can manage on his own though, he’s very capable, just lacks confidence sometimes, so maybe this’ll be good for him.” Gibbs smiled “It’ll be a change for all of us, take some adjusting to, but we’ll cope.”
He reached out and ruffled her hair, she giggled.
“Y’know, it’s been real good talking to you.” He picked her up “but I guess we should go inside, so the others can quit worrying.”
~oo0oo~
“Jethro, I’m sorry …”
“Ah don’t apologise Duck, you don’t need to.”
“I feel that I do. I’ve been considering retirement for quite some time, and this mishap of mine just brought it home. I got so wrapped up in considering it myself that I didn’t talk to you. When really I should have done. Not sprung it on you.”
Gibbs sat down on the sofa, with Lola on his lap.
“It would have been a shock however I found out.” He admitted “but in a way this was for the best. I might have let my own feelings get in the way and talked you out of it. And that wouldn’t have been fair. As this is what you really want … is it what you want, right?”
“Yes, I believe so.” Ducky reached across and held them both “though when it comes to it I probably won’t be able to help popping in and generally meddling.”
“Ah we can live with that,” Gibbs smiled “really where would we be without your meddling?”
“Well Lieutenant Barbie, I mean Lt.Colonel Mann.” Abby smirked “would probably be the fourth ex-Mrs Gibbs.”
Gibbs shuddered at thought, prompting laughs all round.
“I can’t claim full credit for that,” Ducky insisted “Abigail’s assistance was invaluable.”
Abby curtsied
“So, do you have any plans for how to spend your time?” McGee asked Ducky.
“I think, that I shall write my memoirs.” Ducky began “all this conversations with you about your book has inspired me, oh I never did ask, how did your pitch go?”
“They loved it,” McGee beamed “I got a three book deal.”
Gibbs and Ducky gave their congratulations.
“And of course,” Ducky added “I shall get to spend lots more time with my most favourite grand daughter.”
“Ducky has offered to take care of Lola for us, while we’re at work.” Abby explained to Gibbs “and of course we accepted.”
“So really I can’t think of a better way to spend my days,” Ducky smiled “to record my past adventures, and have many more in the future.”