Beyond The Oath

You Should Never Look Back

Ducky: "You haven't gotten the privilege to know him for as long as I have, but, if that man has saved at least one life, there won't be any regret."
Ducky: "You know this isn't the first time Jethro has been in this situation."
Jack: "What are you talking about?"

Ducky: "Oh 20 years or so ago, he was on a fishing boat that had an undercover asset from the FBI, he made Jethro chase him into this-this laundry room. That room blew up with him inside of it."

Jack: "Oh my god."

Ducky: "That wasn't even the first close call we had with him. This one time he went into a school class room with a boy who had pipe bombs strapped to his chest. He was shot by a terrorist in our very own autopsy. He's been poisoned with B.Z gas. He climbed onto the ledge of an 18 story building to stop a Petty Officer from jumping. He was hit by a car saving Timothy. He was kidnapped in Mexico and almost killed by a drug dealer. He went face to face with the man that blew up NCIS. He was framed and suspended from NCIS, and then went to the Middle East, where he was set up to die. His father died, as he was trying to mourn, he was being hunted by a drug cartel. He was blown up on a bus. He was in a helicopter accident. He was shot twice at point blank range, by a child he was trying to help. He was blown up by a car. He was kidnapped for 4 months in Paraguay. He was blown up by a grenade in Columbia. He was put into a coma in Desert Storm. His wife and only child were murdered. His mother died when he was 10. He went face to face with villagers and saved a woman's shelter in Afghanistan. He's gone undercover, and had his cover blown, and survived that. Jenny Shepard, who we thought was dead, was killed because she tried to protect Gibbs. Emily Fornell died. Kate Todd was killed, Ziva killed, then came back. Mike Franks was killed. His Ex wife was killed. Clayton Reeves was killed. Tony DiNozzo left. Abigail was shot then left. Paula Cassidy was killed. He's been married three times because he feels he can't get close to people. He lost his memory. He was shot and held in Columbia for 2 months. He was shot in Paris. He's saved my life. He's been thrown into two different European Prisons. He's had the hell beat out him so many times, you couldn't count. He's targeted by serial killers, mercenaries, terrorists and drug lords. He was shot in that same diner by a 17 year old kid because Jethro had to put the boy's father in prison .Not once has this man felt sorry for himself, not one time in the 45 years I have known him. That man will do anything to make sure someone else lives. I tell you this because he can live through anything, I mean hell not even jumping on a grenade could kill him, you mustn't lose faith."

Jack: "I never knew all of that."

Ducky: "You just can't lose faith."
Jack: "Thanks Dr. Mallard."

Ducky: "Now, would you like some coffee?"
Jack: "Sure."
Ducky: "I'll be back soon."