"ACCIDENTLY ON PURPOSE"

Bard 15

Summary: when a team member is involved in an auto accident was it really an accident; and who was the intended target?

A/N: I wanted a story that focused more on team/family dynamics as opposed to some big 'end of the world' case story...so it's a little itty bitty case...but lots of h/c and family...

...NCIS...

The morning saw Gibbs marching into autopsy in his usual brusque manner looking for his old friend, spying him sitting at his desk.

"Hey Duck, how's the cold?" Gibbs asked the older man, handing him a cup of tea, and then adding with a sly smirk, "with a dash of the old home remedy."

"Thank you Jethro…" the older man said with a smile, taking the lid off and taking a small sip. "Just what the doctor ordered."

"Quiet today." Gibbs commented, looking around autopsy.

"Yes, I imagine the team is going stir crazy with nothing of note to investigate."

"Yeah, cold cases do not hold their attention, especially DiNozzo…if they don't get something new soon Ziva is going to give you a customer." Gibbs said with a chuckle.

"Anthony that bored he is tempting fate with our lovely assassin?" Ducky mused.

Further conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the phone, both men taking notice that it was an outside line.

"Autopsy, Dr. Mallard speaking."

"Yes. Yes, he does. Yes, I am…why…oh, my." the older man gave a worried look to his friend as he continued. "Is he all right…which one….okay, thank you for calling?"

Gibbs watched in concern as the older doctor replaced the phone and leaned into the desk, shoulders slumped, and took a deep breath. "Duck, what is it? What happened?"

Looking up, Gibbs could see worry in his friends' eyes. "It's Mr. Palmer…he has been in an accident…they found his NCIS ID and called…they're taking him to Bethesda. The officer…the officer said it didn't look good."

"Come on Duck, I'll drive you."

On his way to the car, Gibbs called DiNozzo. "Yeah boss?"

"DiNozzo, call Baltimore PD find out about an MVA that just happened…why…because I'm takin' Ducky to Bethesda right now to check on Palmer, that's why?"

"Palmer? Is he…"

"Don't know yet. Find out what you can."

TBC-

a/n: there are definitely NOT enough Jimmy stories out there...seems like anytime anyone does incorporate the poor guy in the storyline, they make him into an idiot...so I like to see him being treated as part of the team/being important to the team - or - being portrayed as competent and productive at his job-or-just getting equal "whumping"/H/C time...

...I'd like to give kudos to the best Jimmy story I've come across so far... "An Autopsy Gremlin Blues" by WriterKos...