Chapter Four
Keith had been so intent on comforting Jethro that he hadn’t noticed Mac leaving his cubicle. He was being wheeled back now, his eyes closed, his muscles a bit less clenched. “Painkillers, I imagine and X-rays. You sit with him, Lad, and I’ll consult with the doctor.”
“Yes Sir, I mean Dad.” It was difficult to not think of Keith as a superior officer, but he didn’t want to upset the man any more than he already was. “I’ll watch over him, nothing will happen while I’m here.”
Keith cupped Jethro’s head and deposited a brief kiss on the other man’s forehead. “That’s my boy. I’m proud of you, Jethro. If you need to call me sir, you do so. I was just worried that you were pulling back when I needed you here.”
"No, that's not it, just habit more than anything. It's a sign of respect, like with my CO or even my dad at times. Calling you dad is fine, just sometimes if the sir slips out, know it's because I respect you and want to show it. Nothing more."
“I’m honored then, Lad.”
They’d started an IV right away and Mac had been drifting until they took him to X-ray but the jostling roll awakened him. A familiar face swam into his vision. “Beautiful boy.”
“Hey Babe, feeling a little better?” Jet took Mac’s hand ,covering it with both of his. There wasn’t much more he could do without giving them away, but he’d settle on this for now. “The medication should be helping a lot. Only reason why Dad left, you looked peaceful for the first time since I found you again. He’s with the doctors. I’m supposed to take care of you.”
Mac nodded. “Was drifting, peaceful. Don’t get that much.” He’d absorbed much of what they’d said. “Unless the X-ray is bad, I think they’re packing it and bandaging me up. Surgery in future, stuck with me resting ‘til then. Better painkillers though.” He cracked a smile. “Gonna be dopey, Jet.”
Mac slowly curled his fingers around Jet’s hand and sighed. “Gonna make it on all levels. You, me. Life.”
"I can take you dopey, as long as you're breathing. Bet you were like that when you were little, kind of silly and soft-spoken. Not at all like the commanding presence you are now." Dopey Mac needed protecting, where normal Mac would just brush off the concern. "We'll be fine, you'll be fine and I'll take care of you until you are. Wouldn't have it any other way."
“No, I was serious, and quiet. Ask Mom. I’m more a mouse than a commander right now.” Mac’s eyes fluttered shut and he sighed. “Nice to be able to breathe, Jet. Like these drugs.”
“You should have told me. I didn’t do anything, you could have been dying and I wouldn’t have known.” He wouldn’t do anything to upset Mac, not when he was finally looking peaceful. “We’ll deal with that later. You just need to tell me if it gets bad like this.”
“A true leader never worries his men. I got caught in that mindset, Jet. I know I was wrong. I know it wasn’t fair to you or Mom and Dad. My flawed mindset.” He sighed. “I don’t like people worrying about me. You should know that, Jet.”
“I’m not one of your men, Mac, not that way at least. I’m supposed to be you partner, someone who can help you when you need it and ask for help when I need it. This was just reckless.” At least Mac knew he was wrong. That was something, although Jethro suspected Mac would do things the same way if he had to do it again. “Let’s make a deal, if something is going on, we talk about it. I don’t want to lose you and then come back after the fact and be wondering if I had missed something. I’d rather just know, and deal with it head on. Maybe that’s the difference between officers and us enlisted guys.”
“There isn’t as big a difference as you think. We’re no different. Well, right now…” Mac looked at his watch.” Yeah, as of ten minutes ago, I’m no longer in the Corps, so you’re a soldier and I’m just a regular guy. By the way…Happy New Year, Beautiful Boy.”
He twined his hand in Jethro’s. “You are my partner. You weren’t when I got injured. I need you to understand that what happened then won’t happen when I’m with my partner. Now I know we’re committed to each other, that makes everything change in my mind and heart.”
“Happy New Year..” A new year, a new start for the both of them, which they both needed right now. “Still should have told me. I was committed, but you can’t tell me you weren’t a bit scared too. It’s why you ran instead of talking to me tonight. I was scared to tell you about Shannon, and look what happened. None of that will continue. We need to be honest if we’re going to last.”
“We’re in a room alone. Could I have a real Happy New Year, Jet?” He urged his lover’s head down and kissed him gently, but deeply, love overcoming lust. When they finally broke away, Mac tugged Jet so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed, and snuggled in close.
“Should have confided in you.” Mac looked into Jet’s eyes. “I was completely terrified. I still am. I was just worried that you’d run. You’d think I was a weak and whiny, that you wouldn’t respect me. New year, new love, new leaf to turn over. I’ll be honest if you’ll be honest.”
“I’ll be honest. I think you know all my secrets now, not much there. Shannon was the big one. She’ll tell you some other ones. I wet the bed until I was seven, but if anyone finds that out, I’ll know who leaked it. No one but my parents knew that.” Some day, they’d talk about his parents and more about growing up the way he had. Wasn’t always good, but that was for another time. They’d also have to talk about Shannon, and her place in his life and why she was with him. “My life is an open book to you. If I’m not saying something you want to hear, ask me.”
“You were a bed wetter?” That made Mac smile before seriousness overcame that thought. “I have one other big one, Jet. Otherwise you know everything.” When Jethro nodded encouragingly, Mac continued.
“Not quite ten years ago, a friend and I witnessed his brother being beaten and I…had a gun in hand, but…I couldn’t shoot the assailant, Jethro. And his brother died as a result of his injuries. My friend, he took the gun and did what I couldn’t.” Mac shook his head slowly. “I don’t regret the fact that I didn’t kill, but his brother is still gone and he’ll always blame me.”
Uncomfortable with the silence, Mac held up a hand. “And I’m a serial nail biter.”
"Is this what your dad was talking about? Your friend who died right before you moved?" Jethro knew it had to be, but he never would have known that Mac had somehow been involved. "You never should have been in the position of having to choose, Mac. No boy that age should have to. But look at what you've done since then. Your service, and whatever you do from here on out, will honor that boy. I know you're going to argue with me about that, but just don't. You've been holding this in for a long time. You need to let it go, babe."
“Jet, they don’t know. They just know that he died…not that we covered up the circumstances or that I was close to killing his assailant. I don’t want them to ever know that.” He caressed Jethro’s palm in slow circles. “I don’t regret what I did or didn’t do, sweet boy, I know…I know.”
“They won’t hear it from me. It can be our secret together.” No wonder Mac had run away as soon as he possibly could. “You’ve been running from this since you left Chicago. You shouldn’t have had to do that. I know why you did, but it wasn’t your fault. I guess I shouldn’t be upset, you ran straight to me. But if you need to talk, or need me to scare away the nightmares, what ever it is I’m here to do it.”
Mac blinked rapidly. “Jet…I never thought of it that way, but…you’re absolutely right. I didn’t realize before now. You…you hit on something there.” And knowing that, maybe Mac could come to peace about it.
“Your so damn brilliant and you’re so tuned in to my psyche. You told me something I hadn’t even realized before now.”
“Awwww shucks, I’m not brilliant. Just seems to make a lot of sense. Something horrible happened to you back then, and you left as quick as you could. Might not have planned on doing it that way, but it happened.” Now something else horrible happened, but Jethro had every intention of making sure that Mac didn’t run again. “You’ve got me to help out and keep things sane for you. Don’t hide from it, let me help you.”
“You are brilliant. Accept that I think you are. I wouldn’t fall in love with an intellectual lightweight.” Mac turned serious. “You don’t hide ether. We both know we’re having nightmares, but maybe we should start facing ‘em together.”
"It's what I've been waiting for. We've got everything that I can think of out on the table, so no more hiding." Jethro pulled Mac more firmly against him, letting the man's warmth relax him. "I'm not hurting you am I? Don't want you hurting any more because of me."
Mac let out a happy sigh. “Like you taking care of me. Kinda like I took care of you in Germany.” Even though he’d been more badly injured, Jetho had seemed more broken at the time and Mac had spent hours soothing his newfound lover. “Not hurting me. You’ll know if you are. Too many exposed nerves. This is nice, though.”
His hand ran over the locked muscles of Jethro’s cast arm, digging in deep. “Can’t wait for you to get this off. Dad’ll have all sorts of muscle building regimens worked out. Really want to feel both your arms around me and both your hands touching me.” Mac rested his head against Jet’s. “Double handed hand jobs, babe, and getting taken doggy style.”
“When your doctor clears you for more then lying in bed, you might get your wish, babe. But until then, we’ll have to settle for this. I’m not going to send you into a heart attack just because it’s been a few hours since we’ve been able to have sex.” Jet kissed Mac’s head, needing to be constantly touching and making sure her was still there. “I’ll have some time to do all the exercises your dad can come up with. I’m going to try and get assigned temporarily someplace around Chicago if it’s possible. I’m on desk duty until the arm heals and I get my rehab time in. They don’t need me here, and it might buy us some extra time together until I get called back to active duty.”
“Few days, more likely. And I have needs.” Mac assimilated what Jethro said and smiled. “Love to have you on my turf for a while, Gibbs, though we’re going to have to get over the awkwardness of making out in my folks’ place.”
“I wasn’t the only one who was concerned about that. Your parents are pretty cool, but I’m not sure I want to test just how cool they can be. But they have to know, with the two of us living together they’re going to get more then cuddling on the couch.” He wouldn’t push his luck, but he wasn’t sure that he could keep things to hand holding, especially not when he’d come so close to losing Mac.
“They won’t get anything they can’t handle but we’re sharing my room. Our room now. And anything goes in there. We’ll need to if what’s going down is what happens.” Jethro just gave him a look and Mac shrugged. “Mom’ll claim it just came to her, Dad’ll give the stern paternal look, but I know they’ve decided to help her, Jethro. And you know what that means just as well as I do. I don’t like it, but I know where things are going. Mom and Dad have another young person to champion.”
“I’ll try to keep her away from you as much as possible. I know you aren’t going to care for this, but she needs the help as much as you and I do. Your parents are wonderful, and if they can do something to help Shannon out, I’m all for it. But I understand where you’re coming from. You don’t have to worry, Mac. I’m not going to stray; I’m not going to run back to Shannon. I’m here for you and you alone.”
“I can handle myself, maybe not now…but in general. Know this, Jet. You stray, we’re over. I don’t worry that you will, but the way you worked this situation left a hell of a lot to be desired. No anger, no upset, just know that it wasn’t cool and won’t happen again, okay?”
“It won’t happen again. I never intended to continue with Shannon now that we were together, but I still should have told you before we were pulling up in front of her apartment.” He’d almost lost the best thing in his life, because of is own stupidity. “We’re starting fresh, although I don’t expect a clean slate. I know I screwed this all up, and I plan on proving to you that you can trust me.”
“And I love you enough to give you a clean slate, Jet. Let’s begin again.”
He took Jet’s hand and placed it very lightly over his heart. “Right here is where you live. It felt broken when I didn’t have you here.” He gave Jet a small smile. “Guess it sort of is broken right now.”
“But we’re going to get it better. I’m here, and I’m not going to let a little broken heart take you from me.”
~*~
Keith was waiting for the doctor to read the X-ray when Emily and Shannon came in. The girl looked to be absolutely beside herself but Emily was grimly determined. He folded his wife into his arms. “He’s resting, Em. They have him on some painkillers, his vitals are fine, and I’m just waiting for the doctor to read the X-ray. Its all encouraging and we should be able to bring him home tonight.”
"We'll take him and Jethro to a hotel. If the doctor says it's okay for him to travel, we'll be taking him home." How to approach bringing Shannon with them was going to be a whole other matter. Emily could try and sneak around it and convince Keith it was his idea, but that would take too much time, especially if they would be able to take Mac tonight. There was also the whole thing about bringing her back with Mac in the same car. Her son might not like that at all. Best to face this head on, and battle it out while Mac wasn't involved. At least then they'd have a plan for when he was ready.
"I want to help Shannon. She's all alone except for Jethro, and a girl her age needs a mother. We need to bring her home with us, and make sure she gets the things she needs to be an adult. Starting with her diploma. She's going to need a lot of help, and I think we're just the people to provide it."
Keith sighed heavily. “I was expecting this but not so soon.” He had been anticipating this and had already made his decision. “Shannon in front, Mac in back, between you and Jethro. And if she lays a hand on our boy in anger, all bets are off. She’s not to feel that she has a right to strike out at him. Never again. She’ll go to school or get a job, and she’s not to get in between our boys, Emily. I will not have Jethro and Mac further stressed. You and she can share a hotel room this evening but she’s not to be with Jethro alone yet. I don’t want her hurting him.”
Keith took a deep breath and nodded at his wife’s amazed expression. “I still have the ability to surprise you, don’t I?”
“You do. I didn’t think you’d go for it so easy. But I knew you saw the same thing I did, she needs someone and we would be good for her. But there is a problem, at least a small one.” She should have never doubted her husband’s capacity to love. He didn’t have to teach anymore, but he loved his kids and wouldn’t turn his back on them. “She’s skittish around men. When I suggested that she come home with us she thought it was to be your personal sex toy. I promised her you wouldn’t touch her. That means at least in the beginning not even hugs or inadvertent touches. I know and you know you would never treat a young woman that way, but her father has really done a number on her.”
“I’m a father and an educator. I see a lot of lost young people that I can’t help, Emily. For this one, we can make a difference. I’m going to do whatever I can.” He gave Emily a gentle but sad smile. “I’ve dealt with this before, Emily. Has there been abuse or just the threat of it?” He thought back to earlier. “I restrained her after she pushed you down; I hope that didn’t upset her further.”
“She said you gave her your coat and you weren’t creepy. So I’m guessing whatever you did wasn’t enough to upset her. She even said that hugs would be okay, but I don’t want her to confuse anything for a sexual advance.” Emily knew that her husband would step up to the plate, he still taught so he could help kids as much as he could, that and he just loved children. “I don’t think there has been any physical abuse, perhaps mental and emotional, but she said that Jethro saved her before it got too bad. If her father weren’t dead, I’d kill him, I have never hated someone so much in my life. What he did to that girl’s self-esteem should have gotten him shot, or hung by his toenails. Something just as horrible as what he’d done to her.”
Keith rubbed Emily’s back, trying to soothe her. He couldn’t tell her some of the horrors around the children he’d taught throughout the years. “Not every parent loves their child or wants them as much as we wanted Mackai, Em. It’s a darn shame that people like us didn’t have more kids while people who don’t treat their children like the treasures they are do.”
“We may not have had more, but it looks like we’re going to get the family we always wanted. Two more children now, and who knows how many more to come.” Relaxing into her husband’s embrace, she tried to let go, knowing that Shannon would be safe with them, and she wouldn’t have to worry about the next man who came along and took advantage of her. “Not how we planned it, but I think we’ll be fine all the same.”
Keith gave his wife a gentle smile. “Looks like we do have that family, not as grown up as they’d like us to think they are, darling.” He tipped her chin up, kissing her gently. “Happy 1984, Emily Taylor. I owe you a romantic dinner and some champagne when things have calmed down.”
“I’ll hold you to that, darling. When we get home, when all our children are home with us.” The past year had been difficult, with Mac being deployed then returned to them in pieces, but they had prevailed. Their boy would get the medical attention he needed, and they would deal with the rest of everything as it came. “Can’t say I’m upset to see the past year end, but I know that this is going to be a very good year for us.”
“We have our son home, and he’s brought us the gift of two lovely young people. We need to count our blessings, love.” Keith caressed Emily’s cheek and brushed his mouth over her forehead. “This will be the year of healing.”
"We all need that, both body and soul. I look forward to a day when I'm not worried about MacKai or Jethro, and now Shannon. All three though are finally on the right path with our guidance.” At least she hoped so. “And maybe it's time that we work on us. I've been neglecting you since the bombing, and you need me just as much as the children."
“You’re their mother now, in blood as well as intent. You will never stop worrying about them, Emily. And you have not been neglecting me or our marriage. We are every bit as solid as we have ever been, Sweetheart.” Keith caressed her face. “I love you more every day.”
"Only because you overlook my flights of fancy and my ability to worry about not only our boy, but other children as well." Emily closed her eyes, trying to block out the bad things that had leading up to this moment. "You will always be my one and only love. I can add other children to the mix, and it will always come back to you and how much I love you."
“Only because I’m completely besotted with you, Emily,” Keith reminded in a gentle tone. “I love you more every day, every moment. Your openness and the way you’ve accepted Jethro and now that lost girl into our home shows me in so many ways what an incredible woman you are and what a lucky man I am to have knocked you down all those years ago.”
"I would have lost my son if I didn't accept Jethro. Even if I didn't adore the boy, I would have accepted and made a point of getting to know Jethro. I didn't think I'd like Shannon as much as I did, but I would have liked her even if she weren't connected to Jethro." Both of them were good people, and were going to enhance her family being a part of it. "And you only know you're lucky because I remind you all the time. I think I'm pretty lucky, you've allowed me to be who I am, and to be a mother before anything else."
“Things would have been different but I cannot accept that we would have lost Mac over it, Emily. We know our boy…Do you see that in him?” But they didn’t know Mac as much as they thought they did, there were some demons inside their boy that they’d have to address. “Yes, indeed, Emily. You remind me how lucky I am by waking up beside me every day and giving me that beautiful smile. I would have worked ten jobs to keep you doing what you wanted and needed to do raising our boy.”
“I know you would have. We did okay though. Wouldn’t change any of it, not even the bad times. And even those, looking back now, weren’t that bad.” Sure, there were times that she wished could be erased from memory, but she still had the best husband and child in the world. “Now, we just have to hope we can get back to that. This is bad, but it’s not something we can’t deal with.”
~*~
His mother had mentioned the young girl at the diner many times, but Ducky was shocked when the girl called and his mother was so insistent about going to the hospital. She didn’t seem to have many details but her concern was catching and Ducky found himself driving quickly on the deserted roads.
As soon as they pulled up, she hopped out of the car and he was forced to hurry after her.
Shannon was standing off to the side, feeling very out of place, when Victoria walked in and made a beeline to her. “Mrs. Victoria!” Shannon said in relief.
"You're sure you're okay, Darling? You aren't hurt in any way?" Victoria gave her favorite waitress a once over, not seeing anything obvious. She was wearing jeans and a sweater and looked like the young teenager she was. "Tell me what happened, Darling. You can say anything in front of Donald, he'll help out in any way he can."
Ducky gave her an encouraging nod. “Hello, Shannon. Lovely to meet you.” He took her hand in his and kissed her hand.
“Mrs. Victoria…I can’t…”
Ducky nodded again. “I’ll gather some information, Mother. You take care of your friend.”
When he’d walked off toward Mrs. Emily and her husband, Shannon started shivering. “Mrs. Victoria, my boy…my boy likes another boy. That way. He don’t want me no more.”
“Oh Shannon, I’m so sorry. I know that you were looking for more from him than you had prior to this.” Having heard all of Shannon’s plans, she knew that the girl had to be disappointed. “Do you need a place to stay? We have plenty of space at our home, if you need to get away. What do you need, Darling? How can I help you?”
Shannon looked over at the people, Mac’s parents. “The other boy, I hurt him. He was hurt in the bombings and I hit him and now he’s here.” She sighed and tried not to cry. “His mom and dad said I could stay with them, Mrs. Victoria, but I don’t know. What do you think? Could you talk with ‘em, see what you think?”
“Of course I will. I wouldn’t want you going off with people that didn’t have your best interest at heart.” Victoria suspected that wasn’t the case, but she’d still talk to the couple, and make sure. Shannon always took such care of her when she came into the diner for one of the girl’s special pies, that she felt she owed it to her to do the same. “You deserve to have someone look after you Shannon, you could really do something more with your life given a chance. Do they live close, so we can still visit? I still expect you to join me for a proper tea, and I know you could do wonders with my mother’s scones recipe. I make them, but they taste nothing like what my mum’s did. You though, you have a gift and I know you’d do wonders with it.”
Shannon wiped her eyes, aware that tears were falling. “I’d love that, Mrs. Victoria. They live…Chicago, I think? But Jethro lives here and I ain’t leaving either. I like the diner and I want to try a real British tea. You promised me one and I’ll hold you to it.”
“Even if you go to Chicago, dear girl, we’ll keep in touch. That’s what the telephone is for, isn’t it? And you can write to me, show me everything you’re learning. Just because you’re not here, doesn’t mean we can’t continue to be friends. I love to write letters, and will continue to check in with you, Darling.”
“I can’t read the curly writing, Mrs. Victoria. I wish I could but it doesn’t make much sense to my eyes. Mrs. Emily says there’s a word for what the problem is. She and her husband are right smart, just like you are.”
“I can write without the curls, and it will give you practice with your reading.” Victoria looked forward to speaking to the woman that had won over her young friend. “They must be smart, if they want to assist you this way. I am excited for you, you’re going to be just fine I know it.”
“I hope so. My boy…everything changed, Mrs. Victoria. I always expected we’d get married and I’d be Mrs. Leroy Jethro Gibbs.”
"You'll find a lovely boy, who will be yours and no one will be able to lay claim to him. You'll see, Shannon." Victoria wished she could make that happen for the girl, but she would have to find love on her own. "When it's meant to be, it will happen. Just don't rush it; it's a woman's prerogative to be selective in one’s spouse. You have plenty of time, child."
“You’ll have to tell me about your marriage sometime, Mrs. Victoria. I dearly want to know.”
"Someday, Dearie, I'll tell you about my Trevor. You don't need to hear that sad story now though." Her husband had proved to her, that there was indeed a man for every woman out there; they just had to find one another. "You'll find a boy of your own, I met and married Trevor late in the game, at least for that time. I believe I did just fine for myself, waiting as long as I did. No matter how long you wait, you'll do just as fine, my dear."
“Trevor? He sounds so very classy ma’am. Is he Scotch like you and your son? Who is very handsome for an old man, by the way. He must be…like…thirty.”
"A bit older than that, the boy got his fathers good genes. Hardly ages, but thank you, I think he's a handsome boy." Some day, Shannon would have a good laugh, at calling thirty old. "You won't think that is so old when you're that age, Darling, but I suppose to someone your age, that is old. Which means I must be ancient."
“Is he…dating?” There had to be a reason why Ducky stayed with his mother. “Or is he like…Jethro.” He was very attractive and she didn’t want to examine the pull she felt toward him. It wasn’t right, so soon after Jethro.
“He sees women, but I’ve about given up on him settling down. This is the longest he’s been in any one place, and that’s the only reason I joined him here.” Her child had traveled the world, helping people who needed it most and who were most often ignored. “Before, I was lucky to receive a card from him, letting me know what continent he was on. Since I had him pinned down, I decided it was time to visit. I found I liked it here, so I never went home. I’ve essentially imposed myself on Donald’s life, which I’m sure also has a bit to do with the lack of women coming to visit him.”
“He sounds like he has a wonderfully exciting life. I’ve never been out of the Virginias. Jethro said we were gonna go to Washington, DC, but we haven’t gotten there yet.” She sighed. “Some day I’d love to go to all those far flung places. Your boy, he should find himself a good woman to settle down with. You need grandkids.”
“I’ve told him that myself, I would enjoy having children around. I never meant for Donald to be an only child, but after the war, his father was ill. Passed away too young, leaving just Donald and I.” It had been difficult, having a child who didn’t understand why his papa wasn’t coming home, but they had survived it. “He’s all I have left, and I am pleased he finally decided to settle in one spot. It may seem exciting to you, but his jet set lifestyle was distressing to his mother. Now, at least I know that when he isn’t coming home, it’s because his job is keeping him away and I’ll see him in the morning.”
“I think I understand. You know he’s safe and he’s just out being a doctor here nearby, right?” She knew Mrs. Victoria was widowed but she didn’t know she lost her husband when he was so young. “No man will compare to him, right? I feel that way ‘bout Jethro, but its silly when I think bout what you lost.”
"No man compares to your first love. But darling, my circumstances were so different from yours. I had a not quite school age child to care for, and I needed to be concerned for him first, then for myself. I couldn't just bring a man in without knowing how it would affect Donald. So after a while, I decided it was easier to just be on my own."
“I’m still a little sad for you. You should get out and look. Mr. Parry at the diner, might be a short order cook but he’s not like that icky cook from the Alice TV show.”
“Oh sweetheart, don’t feel sad for me. I had a wonderful husband and it was my choice. I needed to dedicate myself to Donald, and he was always very cautious about men who showed any interest.” The boy still was extremely protective of her, and she didn’t dare bring a man around anymore. “I’m much too old to be looking for love any longer, although I’m sure Mr. Parry is a wonderful man who would be a wonderful friend to have.”
“But Mrs. Victoria, you’re old but not dead.”
No, I’m not dead. But I’m also quite set in my ways. I don’t want a husband, and I have a son who escorts me to the theatre. I don’t need much beyond that anymore.”
~*~
A couple in their late fifties was huddled near the nurse’s station. “Are you associated with Shannon? She’s asked my mother to visit with her. I’m Dr. Mallard and would love to assist in any way.”
“Doctor Mallard?” It had to be Shannon’s friend’s son. “I’m Emily Taylor, our son is a friend of Shannon’s guardian. He was injured when he was deployed, and is still having medical problems. I don’t know if there is anything you could do, but any assistance would be greatly appreciated.”
“Mrs. Taylor.” Ducky reached for her hand and kissed the back of it before shaking the man’s hand. “I would be glad to consult, if you’d like. Has he been seen yet? Was he injured in the bombing a few months ago?”
“Yes, he was in Beirut during the bombings, almost died there. We were lucky that he was rescued and was able to walk away, although there is considerable damage to his chestt. He’s had X-rays done, but we still don’t know. They say he can go home, but after tonight I must admit I’m afraid of what can happen.”
“Will you give me clearance to find out all the information you need to make an informed decision?”
“Of course,” Keith replied. “I’d like to consult with you, Doctor. Em? Why don’t you look after our boy…and Shannon.” He turned to the doctor. “Doctor Mallard, we’d appreciate anything you can discover.”
“Mother cares for the young girl, so anything I can do to help her and her friends. And please, call me Ducky, all my friends do. Mother, of course calls me Donald, but my chums from school gave me the name and it’s grown on me. Less stuffy don’t you believe?” Ducky knew that the name didn’t always inspire confidence, but he hated being haughty. He may be a doctor, but he was no different from your average person. “I will speak to the doctor. He’ll probably have you sign some documents, but I’m not unfamiliar with the staff here. They’re good, but a personal friend working with them never hurt. At times, doctors tend to talk over you, not to you. I can try and decipher for you at the very least, if not see something else that may work for your son.”
“All right then, Ducky.” Keith watched his wife enter the area where Mac was being held and followed the doctor. He listened intently as Ducky procured the medical records and leaned in, shoulder to shoulder with the younger man and Mac’s primary doctor. “How does it look, Ducky?”
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