Fiction. Something Left To Lose (Gibbs/Ducky)
TITLE: Something Left To Lose
FANDOM: NCIS
PAIRING: Gibbs/Ducky
GENRE: Slash
SUMMARY: A sequel to Trains And Boats And Planes. Ducky goes to find Gibbs.
WORD COUNT: 500
RATING: G
WRITTEN FOR: ncis_drabble Challenge: 910: 'Just sign here'.
"Just sign here, please, Dr. Mallard. Then, once I've processed the paper-work, you can take Mr. Gibbs away."
Ducky signed his name on the form. "What exactly happened, Sergeant?"
"Mr. Gibbs came to the rescue of a young lady who was being sexually threatened by several young men. Three of the men are in hospital."
"Oh, dear," Ducky said. "How is the young lady?"
"She's fine; thanks to Mr. Gibbs. A bit shaken, but if he hadn't intervened, she'd be far more than just shaken; might even be dead. Technically I had to arrest him. Didn't want to, given he'd saved the young lady, but . . ." He shrugged and gave Ducky an almost sheepish look.
"Rules are rules."
"Yeah. And when I learned he was a former Marine and NCIS Agent, well - I had to be seen to be doing the right thing."
Ducky smiled. "I understand perfectly. However, I suspect Jethro did not."
The sergeant nodded. "Something like that. To be honest, I can't say I blame him. He's through there," he pointed to a door. "I gotta process this; it'll take about half an hour, but you can go through now. I reckon he's calmed down a bit."
"Thank you." Ducky smiled and went across to the door. Through the window he saw Jethro sitting on a narrow, hard looking bed. He couldn't read his expression. He hesitated for a second or two and then pushed open the door.
As the door opened, Jethro looked up. "Duck!" The surprise in his voice was clear.
"Jethro." Ducky's tone was flat.
"What are you doing here?"
"Getting you released."
Gibbs stared at his long-term lover; the man he'd walked away from; the man he'd left to find 'freedom'. The man he knew he still loved, still wanted. "You couldn't have known -"
"I didn't."
"Oh. Then why -"
"I came to remind you of a promise you once made to me. I came to say all the things I should have said before you walked away from me; from your friends; from NCIS."
"Duck, I -"
"I've always known I was second best. That I couldn't compete with - But that didn't matter. I loved you enough to live with that knowledge. And I thought you loved me enough to keep your promise."
"Duck, I -"
"You have a choice, Jethro. You come home with me now. Whether you return to NCIS or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is our relationship. You come home with me or you will never hear from me or see me again. I shall leave America and I won't leave a forwarding address. Timothy is extremely able, but I will make sure even he cannot track me for you. Well?"
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. As Gibbs heard the words, he realized he did have something left to lose: Ducky. And he couldn't lose him.
"What time's the next plane?" He strode across the room and pulled Ducky into his arms. "Never gonna lose you, Duck."
FANDOM: NCIS
PAIRING: Gibbs/Ducky
GENRE: Slash
SUMMARY: A sequel to Trains And Boats And Planes. Ducky goes to find Gibbs.
WORD COUNT: 500
RATING: G
WRITTEN FOR: ncis_drabble Challenge: 910: 'Just sign here'.
"Just sign here, please, Dr. Mallard. Then, once I've processed the paper-work, you can take Mr. Gibbs away."
Ducky signed his name on the form. "What exactly happened, Sergeant?"
"Mr. Gibbs came to the rescue of a young lady who was being sexually threatened by several young men. Three of the men are in hospital."
"Oh, dear," Ducky said. "How is the young lady?"
"She's fine; thanks to Mr. Gibbs. A bit shaken, but if he hadn't intervened, she'd be far more than just shaken; might even be dead. Technically I had to arrest him. Didn't want to, given he'd saved the young lady, but . . ." He shrugged and gave Ducky an almost sheepish look.
"Rules are rules."
"Yeah. And when I learned he was a former Marine and NCIS Agent, well - I had to be seen to be doing the right thing."
Ducky smiled. "I understand perfectly. However, I suspect Jethro did not."
The sergeant nodded. "Something like that. To be honest, I can't say I blame him. He's through there," he pointed to a door. "I gotta process this; it'll take about half an hour, but you can go through now. I reckon he's calmed down a bit."
"Thank you." Ducky smiled and went across to the door. Through the window he saw Jethro sitting on a narrow, hard looking bed. He couldn't read his expression. He hesitated for a second or two and then pushed open the door.
As the door opened, Jethro looked up. "Duck!" The surprise in his voice was clear.
"Jethro." Ducky's tone was flat.
"What are you doing here?"
"Getting you released."
Gibbs stared at his long-term lover; the man he'd walked away from; the man he'd left to find 'freedom'. The man he knew he still loved, still wanted. "You couldn't have known -"
"I didn't."
"Oh. Then why -"
"I came to remind you of a promise you once made to me. I came to say all the things I should have said before you walked away from me; from your friends; from NCIS."
"Duck, I -"
"I've always known I was second best. That I couldn't compete with - But that didn't matter. I loved you enough to live with that knowledge. And I thought you loved me enough to keep your promise."
"Duck, I -"
"You have a choice, Jethro. You come home with me now. Whether you return to NCIS or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is our relationship. You come home with me or you will never hear from me or see me again. I shall leave America and I won't leave a forwarding address. Timothy is extremely able, but I will make sure even he cannot track me for you. Well?"
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. As Gibbs heard the words, he realized he did have something left to lose: Ducky. And he couldn't lose him.
"What time's the next plane?" He strode across the room and pulled Ducky into his arms. "Never gonna lose you, Duck."