Ok... I'm really truly sorry about making you guys wait for like three weeks. Life has been... chaotic to say the least. I'm also sorry that this chapter is really short, but I really wanted to get something posted, and this is what came to mind. And I have started the next chapter already so hopefully I can get that finished in a few days. I also finally have a good idea as to where the story is going, so things will be heating up pretty soon. Enjoy!
Jimmy decided not to go upstairs. He decided not to show his face to anyone besides Dr. Mallard, who was also mostly staying in autopsy. Breena was at home with a fever, and he wasn't allowed to go home to take care of her. Dr. Mallard had been up to the squadroom a few times that day, but he had encountered death many times. He knew exactly how it felt when someone close to you passed away.
Jimmy, however, knew he couldn't handle seeing Tim and Tony's parents like- however they were. But he had seen his mother's face when his dad died, and Jimmy didn't think he wanted to go through that again. So there he sat on a slab. Jimmy had half the mind to call Breena again until he realized that it had only been five minuets since he called her last. He was really worried about her. Breena almost never gets sick. The doors opened and Jimmy looked up. It was Agent Gibbs.
"Uh- A- Agent Gibbs! Dr. Mallard is- isn't um... he-" Jimmy started, only to be cut off by the man. "I know Palmer. I came here to talk to you." Jimmy looked at the man with the second most astonished look he'd ever gotten on his face. The first was when Breena said yes. "M- me? Ok, um what c- can I do for you?" Jimmy asked, unsure that he could do anything for the man. 'It's Gibbs.' he thought. 'Why would Gibbs need anything at all from the autopsy gremlin?' "How's Breena?" Gibbs asked. Jimmy mentally sighed in relief. He wasn't much of a conversationalist, but when it came to things he knew about, he could talk all day. Plus, talking about Breena might put Jimmy's mind at ease.
"She's ok. But the director won't let me go home to see her." Jimmy pouted. "Why do you want to go home?" Gibbs said. Jimmy couldn't believe that he was having a conversation with Gibbs. there must be an ulterior motive behind it. Nonetheless, he told him why. "Well she woke up a few hours ago and told me she had a fever and was throwing up. I wanted to go home to take care of her, but Vance won't let me go until five." Jimmy said as he twisted the wedding band around his finger.
He chuckled and looked up at Gibbs. "Do you know why we wear wedding rings on the finger we do?" he asked. Gibbs shook his head. "I have no idea. And I've been married four times." Now it was Gibbs' turn to smile. "It's because that finger is the only one that has a vein that leads directly to your heart." Jimmy said.
"You know what, Palmer? I think you've been here too long. You're starting to remind me of Ducky." Gibbs replied. "I'm going to take that as a compliment." Jimmy said. Gibbs sat down on the slab next to him. "What do you make of all of this?" he asked. "What do you mean by that?" Jimmy responded, confused as to what exactly Gibbs was talking about. "Everything that's going on right now. DiNozzo and McGee being dead. Terrorists. What are your thoughts on it all?" Gibbs answered his question, clearing a few things up.
"Oh. Well... I think that Tony and Tim... made a great sacrifice to their families to catch these terrorists. And I admire that because... I'm not sure I could ever tell Breena and my mom and my brother that I was dead and be lying." Palmer concluded, slowly verbalizing what he thought of his friends. "Good summary." Gibbs said. "I'm not even sure how everyone would take it." Jimmy said.
"You have a brother?" Gibbs asked when he realized what Jimmy said. He didn't know that Palmer had any family. "Yeah. Matt. He lives in Annapolis with his wife and two kids." Jimmy said. "Hmm... Older or younger?" "Older. He's been teasing me about getting married for the longest time. Then, when Breena and I finally got married, he called me in a week and asked me if Breena was pregnant yet. He's- he's kinda like Tony in some ways." Jimmy said, speaking highly of his brother. "Sounds like you two are close." Gibbs observed. Jimmy nodded in agreement. "We're really close. We almost never fought growing up. He's been really great to me."
They sat in silence for a few minuets. Gibbs opened his mouth to speak again, but he was cut off by Jimmy's cell phone. Gibbs sat patiently as he answered the phone. "I am so sorry, Agent Gibbs. This is Breena. I- I should probably take this." Jimmy apologized before he picked up. "Fine with me, Palmer." Gibbs responded as the man next to him fumbled to find his phone in his pocket.
"Hey Bree! How are you feeling?... Why? What's wrong?... Well then why do I need to come home?... What! Breena! That- that's wonderful!... I wish I could, but Director Vance has ordered me to stay here. Oh Breena. This- this is amazing! I- I can't believe it!... I have to go, sweetie. Can I tell everyone?... Great! I'll be home as soon as I can, ok? Maybe the director will let me go. I love you... Oh, right... Ok. Bye." Jimmy set the phone on the table and looked at Gibbs. "What was that all about?" he asked, curious as to what made the man so happy.
"Breena had a hunch and... And I'm going to be a father! Breena's pregnant!" Jimmy said, the biggest grin on his face. Gibbs smiled and clapped him on the back. "Wow, Jimmy! That's great! Congratulations!" he said. Gibbs remembered when Shannon told him he was going to be a daddy. Jimmy jumped up. "I- I gotta go tell Abby! And Ziva! And- Oh, Dr. Mallard! I just got the best news!" Jimmy said when the man came into autopsy.
"What? Oh hello, Jethro!" Ducky said, overwhelmed by the situation. "I'm gonna be a father! Breena just called me!" Jimmy exclaimed. "Well, that's wonderful! Congratulations my boy!" Ducky smiled at the ecstatic man. Then Jimmy's happy smile turned into and expression that clearly read 'I'm doomed.' "Is something wrong, Palmer?" Gibbs asked when he saw the expression Jimmy was sporting. He knew the look well.
"No, It's just- I realized something." he said as he looked up from the floor. "What's that, Mr. Palmer?" Ducky inquired. "I have no clue how to take care of a baby." he said, full realization kicking in. Gibbs and Ducky just looked at each other and laughed. Gibbs got up from the slab and started to walk out of the cold room. He clapped Jimmy on the shoulder and spoke some words of encouragement as he left.
"You'll do fine, Palmer. Kid's gonna be lucky to have you as a dad."
Jimmy looked at Ducky after the doors shut. "Did...? W- was that a compliment?" he asked. A beaming Ducky grabbed Jimmy's hand and said, "That most certainly was." Then, and only then, did Jimmy smile.
And now I have thrown yet another curveball at you. Getting a little hard to juggle everything, right? Anyway... Did you like it? Because if you liked it, you should let me know! Heck, let me know if you didn't like it. Because no matter what, every review makes my day. Thank you so much to every one who's been sticking around!