Thanks for the comments. Sooner or later, I'll find a story where McGee and Kate aren't such disbelievers about Tony's secret... maybe.

. . . .

Ducky could keep Tony's secret from Gibbs. Can Palmer? (I'm assuming for the sake of the story that NCIS has an on-site cafeteria)

. . . . .

(quote from chapter 3 of JackieLeigh's Doctor DiNozzo story)

"Tell Palmer if he needs any more help to let me know." Tony said before he turned to leave.

"Oh Anthony," Ducky said. "I thank you, again. I'm sure Mr. Palmer will be catching up with you in a few days to let you know how he did on the examination."

Tony nodded before he turned again and left.

Gibbs waited for a moment before he went back to the elevators and acted as if he had just arrived.

What, exactly, did Palmer need help on? What TEST was Ducky talking about? Gibbs wondered as he entered Autopsy.

(end quote)

the next day...

Gibbs headed to the Navy Yard cafeteria to grab a sandwich for a quick lunch between interminable meetings. On one hand, he understood why the meetings were needed...on the other hand, he hated them with a passion. The only thing that would get him out of the afternoon meeting would be something serious, like a mass murder or an explosion at a major DC site. Since Gibbs wasn't crazy, he didn't want either of those to actually happen, but it made for a distracting fantasy that eased the boredom and tension from being in the meeting.

He smiled to himself when he saw Jimmy Palmer also in the cafeteria getting a sizable lunch. Gibbs wandered around the area and managed to position himself next to Palmer in the check-out line.

"Palmer," Gibbs said quietly in greeting. He hoped Palmer wouldn't be too nervous to talk to him, but at the same time, be nervous enough to say more than he intended to. Similar to interrogating a suspect, Gibbs thought.

"Uh, Agent Gibbs, sir, um," Palmer stammered, "I'm uh, just, um," Palmer cleared his throat and didn't try to finish his sentence. Gibbs sighed silently and tried again. "Getting lunch? It looks good."

Palmer looked down at his tray, and nodded, "yes, for Dr Mallard too. He brought something from home, but he wanted a salad to go with it, and I left my lunch at home," Palmer shook his head, "so silly of me. I put it in the refrigerator last night, and this morning I was running late, and, oh, uh, I'm sorry, Agent Gibbs, I didn't mean to.." Palmer inched forward when the line moved slightly.

Gibbs smiled slightly and motioned him to continue, "it's ok, so this is for both of you?"

Palmer sighed, obviously relieved, "yes, Dr Mallard likes to take a proper break for lunch, not that he's not working, you understand, he is. A lot. Really. He stays later than people realize, you know. To review reports, and,"

"I know," Gibbs interrupted the young man's panicky rambling. This wasn't going well. The line moved forward again. "I know Ducky works hard. You must too, working with Ducky." Palmer nodded gratefully, and took a deep breath, but he didn't say anything.

Gibbs didn't say anything either for a few minutes. The line moved again. Two more customers before Palmer was at the head of the line. "How are you feeling?" Gibbs asked suddenly.

Palmer looked at the Senior Agent with wide eyes. "Feeling?" Palmer asked. Gibbs nodded, "Ducky mentioned you had an exam, I thought it was medical exam." Gibbs explained smoothly. Ducky had mentioned Palmer having an exam, just not to Gibbs.

"Oh, yeah, no, I mean, uh, what?" Palmer turned to the cashier, slightly surprised to find himself at the front of the line. "I got it, Jimmy," Gibbs said, and he paid for both of their meals. Gibbs walked with Jimmy to the elevators, "the exam?" Gibbs reminded him gently.

"Hmmm? Oh, no it's not that kind of medical exam, Agent Gibbs. It was an exam in Medical School. Anatomy." Palmer sighed, obviously relieved that the exam was behind him. Gibbs punched the button to call the elevator.

Gibbs nodded, "Ah, I misunderstood. Glad you're not sick then, Palmer. Ducky must've been a big help to you. As a study partner." The two men stepped into the elevator. Gibbs pressed the button for the morgue. Palmer nodded, "oh, gosh, yes, him and Tony were such a help! But mostly Tony."

Gibbs nodded again, "makes sense, he studied Anatomy for his Phys Ed degree at Ohio State." Gibbs actually had no idea if that was the case, but he was good at sounding like he knew what he was talking about. Suspects usually filled in the rest of the details thinking they were just confirming what Gibbs already knew.

Palmer did the same. "No, I don't think so. I mean, he probably did, but this...this is pretty detailed stuff. I'm sure it was from his med school Anatomy classes at Johns Hopkins. I don't know how he does it. Talk about working hard, he works here all sorts of hours, and still manages a weekend shift every month in Bethesda's ER," Palmer shook his head in disbelief and admiration. The elevator came to a smooth stop and the doors slid open, "well, here's my stop, thanks for lunch, Agent Gibbs."

Jimmy stepped out of the elevator and headed toward autopsy. Jimmy wondered briefly why Tony and Ducky had both told Palmer not to tell anyone, especially Gibbs, about Tony being a doctor. It was obvious that Gibbs already knew.

Gibbs was relieved that Jimmy left after that bombshell. Tony going to medical school, at Johns Hopkins no less, and working at Bethesda, wasn't something he expected to hear and he wasn't sure what he would've answered Jimmy. He pressed the button for the bull pen.

A few seconds later, Gibbs was walking off the elevator and heading toward his desk. Tony was at his own desk, eating lunch while reading through case files. Kate and McGee were out of the bullpen. Gibbs put his sandwich down on his desk and walked back to Tony's desk. Tony swallowed a mouthful of food and looked up when he realized Gibbs was standing silently in front of him.

"Boss?" Tony asked.

"Good job with Palmer, Tony." Gibbs said seriously.

"Palmer?"

Gibbs nodded. "His anatomy class. Good job. Doctor."

Tony gave a wry smile, "oh...uh, yeah. so he told you?"

Gibbs nodded and studied the younger man.

Tony waited, he wasn't sure what Gibbs' expression meant.

"Doctor and a federal agent," Gibbs said. It sounded somewhere between a question and a statement.

Tony's turn to nod.

"Amazing," Gibbs nodded again and turned back to his desk and his sandwich. He had 3 minutes left before the next meeting.