A/N: Welcome to all the new adds and thank you for the awesome reviews. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. (Reading over it now, there's a part or two that reads like a clumsy sex scene. I apologize, LOL). An update so soon? NO WAY.
Gibbs excused himself from the kitchen, carefully removing Abby's hold on his hand to open the front door. He stepped back to let a very apprehensive and cautious Jimmy Palmer move past. He stopped, worrying the handle of the medical bag that Ducky had given him, jumping as Gibbs shut the door and locked it behind them.
"Listen, Agent Gibbs,...Dr. Mallard said some very strange things, then gave me this bag, and asked me to come over here," he nervously adjusted his glasses. "He said something about Valkyries, and...and hunters, and angels. I'm not sure that he's okay."
Gibbs said nothing, only leveling him one of his trademarked stares as he waited for him to talk himself down.
"I mean, unless...unless he is okay...and all of this is...real." He swallowed nervously. "Is this...real, Agent Gibbs?"
The agent nodded toward the kitchen. "It's real, Palmer."
"Oh." He drug his hand across his face, trying to still the shaking. "So, um...what is it you need me to do?"
"C'mon." He took the lead, stepping into the kitchen where everyone had gathered to hear Bobby give them a briefing on what he'd read.
They looked up as the two joined them, everyone falling silent.
"Hey-ey, it's the Gremlin!" Tony exclaimed, his words slightly slurred.
"Everyone, this is Jimmy Palmer, Ducky's assistant," Gibbs said by way of introduction. "Palmer, this is Sam, Bobby, Castiel, and Zerachiel running around in McGee's body."
"Hi," Palmer managed.
"Great. We can get started," Bobby said, sliding the book back away from the edge of the table.
"What do you need me to do?" Palmer asked.
"Gonna need you to look after the kids while we're gone," Gibbs retorted, nodding toward Tony and Abby.
"Gone? Gone where?"
Sam looked up, "Asgard."
"We are wasting valuable time now. We should get them moved so we can begin." Castiel, looking very ill, had returned to a chair. Both angels were in dire need of assistance.
"I suggest a bed." Bobby stood, offering his hand to Abby. "You're a very brave girl, Abby Sciuto."
She smiled nervously, standing up beside him.
Sam moved, hauling Tony up beside him as gingerly as he could, sliding an arm around his waist for support.
"Thanks, Gigantor," Tony grunted, "no chance that was happenin' otherwise."
"Gave Tony pain pills, huh?" Palmer asked, following the crowd as they headed down the hallway.
"Kinda obvious, isn't it, Grem-i-lin?" Tony called over his shoulder. "I tried to warm 'em!"
Bobby shook his head. "Kid's so much like Dean it ain't funny."
Gibbs cracked a half-smile. "Probably a good thing they haven't met before, then."
"I'll second that."
They let themselves into the bedroom that Abby had shared with McGee. Abby went immediately to the left side of the bed, watching Sam settle Tony against the headboard on the right side of the bed. Having the two of them in the same room would make monitoring them much easier.
Castiel settled on the bed beside Abby; Zerachiel settled next to DiNozzo. Each took a mirrored grip on the headboard, a way to keep themselves steady. Cas looked into Abby's eyes, making sure she was ready.
"I am sorry that I had to make use of you like this," he said quietly. "Thank you for giving willingly."
She nodded, her hands fisting in the quilt top. "Let's get this over with. We've got a man to rescue."
Tony reached over, taking one of her hands in his own. He was the big brother, being brave and comforting his little sister.
"What's...what's going on?" Palmer asked, his wide eyes taking in the scene in front of them.
"The angels are recharging," Bobby explained. "It's called 'soul touching.'"
In simultaneous motions, the angels moved forward, a small glow seeming to begin between their hands and the midsections of their "batteries." The glow intensified and it seemed that the angels plunged their hands inside the bodies, immediately eliciting blood-chilling screams.
Sam had to hold Ziva back, keeping her from rushing to her partner's side. The agents could only watch in horror at what was happening. Palmer had paled beyond white, his jaw slack.
"Look away!" Sam warned, pulling Ziva against his chest as the light became blinding, filling the room.
It took a while for the light to ebb away, making the ambient light in the room seem almost too dim. Those gathered blinked the moisture from their tearing eyes, squinting toward the bed.
"Forgot the damn belts," Bobby mumbled, cursing under his breath.
"Neighbors won't think too much of it," Gibbs assured, "there's trouble here more than I care to tell."
"Tony?" Ziva pushed away from Sam, stumbling toward the bed.
Castiel caught her, stepping away from the bed. The angels seemed to glow a soft golden aura, their wounds healed and strength renewed. The agent looked up at him in awe.
Gibbs pushed Palmer forward, startling him out of his stupor. He made his way quickly to Abby's side, checking her vitals as Sam moved to Tony, doing the same. Both were breathing, their faces pinched in pain, slumped over against each other on the bed.
"Your friends will be fine," Castiel asserted, leading Ziva back to the group gathered at the door, "let them rest."
Sam reluctantly moved away from the bed, allowing Palmer to take over. He moved to stand beside Castiel, his body tensed as he waited for the question he knew was coming next.
Castiel didn't disappoint. "Sam...?
The younger Winchester held up his hand, silencing the question on the angel's lips. He could feel the others staring at him, aware that someone had let it slip at what Castiel had asked him to do. "This is dangerous, Cas. You know that."
"I do."
"If...something goes wrong...you kill me before I'm able to hurt anyone." He stared his friend down, leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, Castiel nodded.
"What?" Bobby erupted, his face reddening. "The hell do you think you're doin', boy? We lost you last time? Remember that? Dean will kick your ass from here to Tuesday when he finds out."
"It's not his choice, Bobby. It's mine." He cut off the older hunter's objections. "We're down a hunter, Bobby, and it's too risky bringing someone else in. Cas is right. I don't have a choice. It has to be done."
Outraged, Bobby moved quickly, standing toe to toe with the angel they had long considered a friend and ally. "I don't know what game you're playin', and frankly, I don't give a damn about any ulterior motives you've got brewin' in that head o' yours," his voice was low and dangerous, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "So help me God if anything happens to him, I'll have your head." Before Castiel could speak, he turned on his heel and stalked from the room, leaving a wake of rage behind him.
Sam turned to Zerachiel. "I'll need a lot. Bring them to the basement. I'll make the trap."
The second angel nodded, disappearing from the room.
"Go, Cas. Get the stakes. I'll handle what needs to be done here."
With the angels gone, there was a sense of uneasiness that seemed to creep into the room, infusing into their skin. Sam offered Ziva a small smile, trying to relay confidence that he didn't truly feel.
"You should rest, eat...We'll be leaving soon." He excused himself, sliding past the senior team leader.
"This is one twisted mess," Gibbs sighed.
"I know." Ziva's voice was small and her eyes still rested on the door as if expecting Sam to step back in. "This...is all so strange." She slowly turned back to the bed, taking quiet steps toward her partner.
"He's fine," Palmer offered, "they both are...sort of. I mean...they'll live. Heart rate is a little low, though I'd expect that after that...whatever just happened. I'll start IVs and get some adrenaline shots prepped. After that, it should just be monitoring side effects." He opened the medical bag, rummaging through the supplies and murmuring to himself. Slowly, he pulled a manila envelope from the side of the bag, his lips mouthing the name written on the front. "Oh, Agent Gibbs...I guess Ducky wanted you to have this."
Gibbs took the envelope from him, peeling it open. He shook a pendant from inside, looking over it with interest. Palmer eyed the pendant, recognizing the symbol.
"Ducky said that's called a Valknut...worn by the Valkyries. They were on the bodies brought into autopsy."
Gibbs nodded slowly, returning the pendant to the envelope. "Good work, Palmer." He moved to the bed, pressing a fatherly kiss to Abby's forehead before turning to leave.
Jimmy couldn't help but smile.
tbc...