A NCIS Kidnapping: Palmer Style
By RascalFlattsS
Summary: AU for "The Meat Puzzle". What if Vincent and Mary Hanlan went after someone other than Ducky? Probably spoilers-you've been warned. Definite Whumpage! Read to find out who!
Disclaimer: Do not own NCIS.
A/N: I was watching this episode this afternoon on USA's NCIS Viewer's Choice Scare-a-thon. And this popped into my head. Happy Halloween everybody!
Assistant Medical Examiner James Palmer was walking up to the door of his apartment. It had been a long day. Not only had they had another meat puzzle but the suspect was someone from Dr. Mallard's past. And if that wasn't bad enough, whoever it was had left the last barrel right on Dr. Mallard's front porch. The fact that someone would even think of threatening Dr. Mallard made Jimmy's blood boil.
It's a good thing Agent Gibbs is on the case, thought Jimmy. He'd never let anything happen to Dr. Mallard.
Jimmy grabbed his keys and unlocked the door. He stepped into his apartment, flipped on the light switch and shut the door and locked it. He set his backpack down on the floor in the kitchen. He undid his tie and threw that on the counter. He walked over to the fridge and pulled out some left over Chinese food.
As Jimmy turned around, he found himself staring into the cold gray eyes of one Vincent Hanlan. The Chinese food fell to the floor.
Jimmy felt his breath catch in his throat. "You're supposed to be dead," he stuttered.
Vincent smiled. "Funny, how things work out."
"What are you doing here?" shouted Jimmy. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious, Mr. Palmer?" asked a voice behind him. Jimmy turned and saw a woman standing behind him-Vincent's mother. She smiled. "Dr. Mallard took eight years of my son's life. It's only fair that I return the favor."
When Jimmy had turned to look at Mary, Vincent had grabbed Jimmy from behind and put a cloth over his nose and mouth. Jimmy instantly recognized the chemical: chloroform. Jimmy struggled. He snapped his head back causing Vincent to stumble back into the counter knocking over a stack of plates.
Jimmy smiled as he heard the plates crash on the floor. At least Agent Gibbs will find evidence of a struggle he thought. His vision was blackening. Jimmy tried not to breath the chloroform in, but he couldn't help it. His eyes rolled back in his head and his unconscious form slumped forward in Vincent's arms.
Mary smiled. "You're coming with us, Mr. Palmer."
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NCIS Special Agents Caitlin Todd and Anthony DiNozzo walked into Autopsy with Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard. Waiting for them was NCIS Special Agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Timothy McGee.
"How did it go?" asked Gibbs, taking a sip of coffee.
"Uneventful," said Kate.
"I think one of those dogs gave me rabies," said Tony.
Tim rolled his eyes. "You do not have rabies, Tony."
"Then why does my arm itch, McItchy?" asked Tony, pulling up his sleeve.
"That's not rabies," said Kate. "That's allergies."
"Has anyone seen Mr. Palmer?" asked Ducky.
"Nope," said Gibbs. He paused when he saw Ducky's face fell. "What's wrong, Duck?"
"It's nothing, I suppose," said Ducky. "It's just that it's not like Mr. Palmer to be this late. Granted, he might be a few minutes here and there but never this late. I'm worried, Jethro."
Gibbs nodded. "Tim, call the front gate to see if Palmer has arrived yet. Tony, Kate-"
"Head over to Palmer's apartment to make sure he didn't just hit the snooze button one too many times," finished Tony. "On it boss!" He and Kate walked out of Autopsy while Tim pulled out his cell phone and called the front gate.
Gibbs walked over and patted Ducky's shoulder. "It will be all right, Duck. We'll find him."
Ducky nodded. "Oh I hope so, Jethro. It's just this case. It has me on edge."
Gibbs nodded. "Me too, Duck," he said softly.
"Boss," said Tim. Both men turned to look at him. "That was the front gate. Palmer hasn't checked in yet."
"Get Abby to put a trace on his cell," said Gibbs.
"On it Boss," said Tim, running out of Autopsy.
"Did Palmer say anything about not coming into work today?" asked Gibbs. "Anything at all?"
"No, nothing," said Ducky.
"What if he needed to call in sick?" asked Gibbs. "How would he do that?"
"Well he would leave a message on the phone," said Ducky. He walked over to the phone. "There's a light blinking a message."
"Listen to it," said Gibbs. "It might be Palmer."
"GIBBS!"
Abby and Tim came skidding into Autopsy.
"Abby, what's wrong?" asked Gibbs. "Did you find Palmer's cell phone?"
"There's something weird with Palmer's phone Gibbs," said Abby. Tim held up a laptop. Gibbs looked at the screen.
"Here's a map," said Abby. "I ran a trace on Palmer's cell phone. And here where the phone registered from."
"Okay, this is good news" said Gibbs, nodding along. "What's the problem?"
Tim and Abby exchanged a nervous glance. "According to the GPS in Palmer's phone, he's in the middle of the Potomac," said Tim, his voice soft.
Gibbs paled. "Are you sure?"
Abby nodded, "Positive."
"But that doesn't mean that Palmer isn't still…" Tim's voice trailed off as Gibbs smacked him on the back of the head.
"Oh course it doesn't," said Gibbs. "He's still alive until we get a body. What was the last call he made?"
Abby typed on the laptop. "Last call was made last night at twenty two hundred," said Abby. She paled a little. "According to this, Palmer called NCIS."
All three turned when they heard Ducky drop the phone on the floor, creating a large echo. Gibbs saw Ducky sway a little. He and Tim raced over to grab him. They managed to catch Ducky before he hit the floor.
"Duck, what is it?" asked Gibbs. "Who was it?" He had a feeling that he already knew the answer.
Ducky took a few breathes before speaking. His voice shook. "That was Vincent Hanlon. He said that he was Jimmy. And he's threatening to kill him."
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A/N: DUN, DUN, DUN! Horrible cliffie karma strikes again! Poor Jimmy-what's going to happen to him? What do the Hanlans want with our lovable Autopsy Gremlin? Is Gibbs going to kick some butt? Who knows!
Please R&R! I love reviews-it gives me an excuse NOT to study. :-D
