Maybe a "spoiler alert?" So don't read if you don't want to know, LOL
I read some interview with one of the producers after the finale was on TV, and these were comments he made...which kinda tells us a little. (If he was honest, LOL)
It sounds like Ducky survives, and next season will show a lot of Ducky dealing with what he went through, and emotions involved. At some point, the guy said Jimmy will be important with helping Ducky through this. So, my guess that Jimmy died was apparently wrong.
Nothing is said about JLC' Dr Ryan character, other than they were starting to get more involved with the evilness of her hubby's character towards the end...so will that come into play as the new season opens. ///Some readers were thinking maybe she was somehow involved? Oooooohhh, that would be interesting. /////Boy, if you read NCIS sites, there isn't much support for JLC' character being involved with Gibbs. (Good! LOL)