Epilogue

The rhythmic, high pitched beeping beside his head brings Jimmy Palmer out of sleep, and as he resentfully forces his eyes open his vision is filled only with an indistinct haze of white. His neck hurts and he moves vaguely, reaching out. A pinch on his left arm stops his questing movements. He sees an indistinct dark blur on his right and then a familiar piece of thin light metal is placed into his hand. He opens his glasses, pulling them onto his face, the world resolving into a white room, fluorescent lighting, a monitor and IV on his left. It was the needle taped into his arm that had pinched. To his right stands Ducky Mallard.

"How do you feel, my boy? When we came in, I felt it best to wake you. Before you answer, yesterday's surgery was successful. You are going to be fine. You will be here for a while, but you should make a complete recovery."

Jimmy looks about the room. Other people are approaching from his left: Gibbs, Director Shepherd, Tony, Ziva, Tim, Abby, O'Mallory. He turns away from Mallard, unable to bear it. There are no words that can be said, nothing that will matter.

After a moment, Ducky tries again. "We rescued 16 young ladies. After they recover, they will receive surgery to remove their wings."

"Great," he mutters, not having the spirit for more.

Ducky tries yet again to reach his friend. "The evidence we found was enough to convince the Scottish authorities to act. They liberated five young ladies who will also receive treatment."

"Wonderful," he mutters dismally. "I'm glad for them. I guess someone can have a happy ending."

"Mr. Palmer…?"

"Please, doctor, just everyone leave me alone." For the rest of his life he will be alone, so he supposes he'd better get used to it. He senses Mallard withdrawing, but then his attention is yanked back by a familiar voice to his right.

"Don't worry, Doctor Mallard, I'll give him all the care he can handle."

He turns so quickly pain rips through his neck, but he doesn't care.

"'CHELLE!" He sits up so abruptly that Ducky reaches out to restrain him. His cry is equal parts astonishment and ecstasy as he stares in disbelief at the petite woman.

x

"Well, who else would I be?" she quips, startled at his frantic cry.

"You're DEAD!" The world is tipping out of control, threatens to dump him off.

Michelle giggles. "Hardly. I'm perfectly fine."

"If I may…" Ducky interjects firmly, concerned that Jimmy is going to hurt himself. "Yesterday the bullet nicked your left jugular vein producing an impressive amount of blood but it was a nick only. Agent Lee … well, I'm not entirely sure what she did–"

"Trade secret, Doctor," she tells him with an inscrutable smile.

He decides to accept it. "Anyway, it slowed and steadied your heart, reduced your blood pressure and gave you an infusion of strength that kept you going until pressure on the wound allowed the vein to clot. You should have been barely able to move, let alone to risk turning over; I look forward to finding out why that didn't happen. We got you to Bethesda and into surgery in plenty of time. It did, however, drain Miss Lee."

"I saw you DIE!" he protests, trying to wrap his brain around this new reality.

"Ding-dong, you saw me pass out from exhaustion," she corrects him with a loving smile. "I had to sleep. I was so drained I slept most of the day while you were in surgery – sorry about that – but when I woke up I was fine." She takes his hand. "But I did hear what you said. It was beautiful, even if I was too exhausted to answer you."

Jimmy, seeing Mother O'Mallory with the others at the foot of the bed, clutches Michelle's hands in his. "'Chelle, let's get married!"

"Jimmy, we are getting married."

"No, now, right now! I don't want to wait another second! I don't want to run the risk of ever losing you again!"

x

Michelle looks about at her friends, not knowing what to say and not liking it. This is too unexpected, too sudden, but she doesn't want to agitate him either. She turns back to Jimmy. "No. You're sweet to offer and I am going to take you up on it someday, but not until you're well and on your feet. Thank you, but we're going to do this right."

"As soon as possible."

Her eyes are filled with love as she pats his chest. "Yes, dear."

Fin

Next Episode: Salarium. Why would someone murder a Navy Commander on the eve of his retirement? Did the Petty Officer accompanying him see something he shouldn't? How do two murders take place in full view of dozens of witnesses without anyone seeing or hearing anything?