Chapter One

A shot rang out at the crime scene making everyone duck for cover from the shooter. Guns drawn Gibbs, McGee, Ziva and Tony scan the area for anything that might give the shooters position away. Gibbs also calls out for a check to make sure everyone is ok and that no one got shot.

"Tony?"

"I'm fine boss?"

"McGee?"

"Ok boss"

"Ziva?"

"I am unharmed"

"Duck"

"I'm fine Jethro."

"Palmer?"

Nothing other then a low moan, "Palmer, are you ok?" another groan from the young assistant to Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard.

Gibbs springs into action, "Cover Ducky so he can get to Palmer" he yells

Ducky crawls over to Palmer and turns over his young assistant and sees him clutching his stomach trying to stem the flow of blood oozing between his fingers. He looks in young Palmers eyes and sees they are unfocused and glazed over, Jimmy is going into shock. Ducky's medical training takes over and he applies pressure to the wound trying to stop the bleeding.

"Jethro, Jimmy is going into shock, we have to get him to a hospital." Ducky yells

Looking down at Palmer, Ducky uses his voice to calm Jimmy who is starting to panic. "It's ok Jimmy, you are going to be fine. We will get you to hospital and they will patch you up. If you wanted to have a day off to spend with Agent Lee why didn't you ask me Jimmy instead of getting shot, this is much more a Tony stunt then you ." Jimmy smiles at the last comment and starts to calm. Ducky presses more firmly on the wound to try to stem the bleeding, Jimmy groaned when Ducky put on more pressure. Gibbs and his team secured the area so an ambulance can take Jimmy to Portsmouth Naval Hospital. As Jimmy was loaded into the ambulance Gibbs saw the look on Ducky's face and knew that by the look on his face, the chance of Jimmy surviving was grim.

"Go with him Duck, he looks up to you."

"There is still a body here that I need to work on Jethro."

"We can call in another ME while you look after Jimmy Duck. Go."

Ducky drove the van back to NCIS headquarters then changed into his civilian attire and drove to the hospital to see how Jimmy was doing. He had to admit to himself that Jimmy had become more then an assistant to him over the past 4 years, he had become like a surrogate son to him. He had watched him grow into his role as his assistant, getting more confident as the years went by. He also knew that he was very much in love with probie Agent Michelle Lee. To lose Jimmy now would be a blow to not only Ducky as he would lose a valuable assistant but as a man as well.

Xxxxxxxxx

Walking into the ER he headed toward the desk where the head nurse was sitting.

"I am looking for the room of a Jimmy Palmer please." He flashed his NCIS badge and told the nurse he was a doctor. She opened the door to Trauma One for Ducky telling him Jimmy was in Trauma Room Two. He stopped in the doorway of Jimmy's room to gather himself. Jimmy was on a ventilator, his stomach bandaged up after surgery. Stopping the nurse who was leaving his room he asked about his condition.

"May I ask what the prognosis for Mr. Palmer is?'

"He is critical but stable right now Mr.…"

"Dr. Mallard Ma'am"

"Dr. Mallard, he lost a lot of blood and we are giving him a transfusion to replenish the blood loss. He is young and in good shape which will give him a fighting change. If he can make it through the next 48 hours without an incident his prognosis will be much better. It's too early to tell Dr. Mallard."

Ducky walked into the room and pulled a chair up next to Jimmy's bed and took Jimmy's hand. He reached up and ran his fingers through Jimmy's curls in a fatherly way. "Well Jimmy you made it through the worst part, you came out of surgery with flying colors. Just rest up and soon you will be ready to leave." Ducky said using his voice to sooth Jimmy as best as he could. He continued," In fact this reminds me of a time…." Ducky told Jimmy one of his many stories until it was time for him to leave. "I'll be back tomorrow my boy, sleep well Jimmy." He bent down and kissed the top of Jimmy's head.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Jimmy made it the crucial 48 hours with no problems and his prognosis was a good one. Ducky was sitting by his side filling him in on the latest case when he felt his hand being squeezed lightly. "Jimmy? If you can hear me squeeze again." and once more he did. Slowly Jimmy began to open his eyes and look around the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Its ok Jimmy, your at the hospital." Ducky said seeing the confusion in his eyes

Groaning and pointing at his intubation tube Ducky knew that Jimmy was asking for it out. As Jimmy's doctor walked in Ducky informed him of that. "Jimmy my boy, do you want your tube out?" Jimmy nodded slightly. The doctor pulled the tube out of Jimmy's throat and gave him a nasal canister instead. Ducky brought over a cup of ice chips and told Jimmy to suck on them gently before speaking.

Jimmy looked up at Ducky and asked," What happened Doctor, all I remember is examing the body and then I was here?"

"You were shot Jimmy, there was a sniper waiting for us when we arrived and he shot you. Don't worry, Gibbs found him and he is behind bars now." Ducky told him while smoothing back Jimmy's hair in a calming motion.

"Why would anyone want to shoot me? I am one of the most harmless people around?"

"It wasn't personal Jimmy, the sniper just wanted to take out any NCIS personnel, sadly you were the one he shot at. " Ducky told him trying to reassure him "You are recovering quickly and should be out of here in a few days my boy."

"That's good I guess Doctor." Looking up at Ducky, Jimmy didn't want him to leave. He didn't know why exactly but he felt safe and calm when Ducky was there with him. "Would you mind staying with me until I fall asleep Dr. Mallard?" Ducky didn't hesitate in saying yes. He told Jimmy one of his stories until he fell into a sound sleep. While driving home Ducky didn't like the idea of Jimmy being by himself after getting out of the hospital. It would be at least two weeks until Jimmy was able to come back to work and while Agent Lee would most certainly visit he wasn't too keen on the idea of Jimmy being by himself. He would ask Jimmy when he saw him tomorrow if he would stay at his Reston home while he recuperated.