— Lize Samens couldn't believe it…
— What did she say ? Tony asked Tim.
— She told me she still couldn't believe it, that if it had been her decision to make, she'd certainly have broken both Marine Martin Pitt's legs instead of one, and same about his arms.
— Well, some of us are combative…
— What about Hirving ? Ziva asked.
— Nothing much. She just said she wished he would die in Hell and burn.
— Is that all ? Tony chuckled with understanding.
— What, I would have said the exact same thing, Ziva commented. These people really deserved to die.
— Well, Tony finally pronounced, fingers crossed behind his neck, life sucks, sometimes…
Tim rolled his eyes and typed a few words on his computer's keypad, looking at the agent next to him.
— Very thoughtful, Tony, he grimaced, I'm pretty sure that Marine Philip Frank would have appreciated that conclusion.
— Yes, remind me to repeat this on your funeral day…Ziva added.
— Very suspicious to say, David, especially coming from a dangerous Israelian…
— You know what, Tony ? she suddenly turned incredibly mad, why don't you follow Pitt and Hirving, and simply go to H…
— Duck ? Gibbs interrupted the future crazy speech, noticing the curious arrival of the medical examiner.
— Hello, Jethro...he lowly said, his eyes visibly lost behind a fog of worries.
— Is everything alright ? Ziva finally gently asked, anger slowly vanishing from her facial expression.
— Did any of you see Mr Palmer ? Ducky asked, now facing the bullpen.
Gibbs approached a bit closer, coffee in hands.
— Did you check in Abby's lab ? Tim nicely spoke. I'm sure she might have been asking for him as soon as she noticed he had some free time.
— Sounds like her style, Jethro simply nodded, taking a sip of his drink.
— No, I would be extremely surprised…you do not understand, he quickly followed, the group of agents strangely staring at him now, when I am saying that I am looking for Mr Palmer, it is a true fact, I have honestly no idea where he can be.
— Told you he needed sun, Tony briefly smiled, pushing his back against his seat. He must be sick or something...
— Gibbs ? Ziva normally asked, Jethro only discreetly nodding in return.
Ziva started clicking on her computer, deeply focused on whatever her new task was.
— Jethro, can I talk to you ? Ducky asked.
Gibbs nodded and started walking to the elevator, his ME by his side.
— Dinozzo, McGee.
— Yes, boss ? Tim spoke first.
— I want you to finish your reports. Now.
— On it, Tony executed, Tim silently agreeing too.
Gibbs watched the doors of the elevator close in front of him, the silver cage now only keeping the two men for itself.
— He would have called, Jethro…
— He might only be late, it's still early, but, you know...Jimmy in not really himself, nowadays, Ducky, Gibbs sighed. Maybe he wouldn't have called.
— What are you saying, Jethro…of course, he would have done so. He cares enough about me for telling me if he couldn't manage to come.
— Of course, he does, Duck, but…
— But what, Jethro ? I do not understand a single word of what you are saying...
— Maybe he really didn't want to come, alright ? Gibbs finally admitted.
Ducky raised a questioning head and opened his mouth in order to ask for more, but Gibbs' phone suddenly vibrated and revealed a message onto its screen.
He raised a hand and touched the ME's arm, the elevator finally opening in front of him.
— I'll explain it to you later, Duck, now go back to work, I have something to do.
…Gibbs hurried without explanation and entered his vehicle, staring again at Ziva's message. She had traced Jimmy's number for the second time without asking questions, and it was more than confusing. Yes, Palmer's was supposed to be under a bridge…since last night.
He drove to the address his agent had sent him and quickly walked down the stairs when he finally reached them, bending down a little as he saw the few drops of blood no one had noticed yet…
He slowly moved his hand in the end to one corner, and grabbed what he had expected to find…
Jimmy's phone.
He sighed and briefly took a look at the sky, looking for fresh ideas.
— Hey ! he finally said and stood up, a woman approaching the bridge with her dog. NCIS Agent, have you seen anyone hurt around here ?
The stranger grabbed her pet between both arms and shyly walked in Gibbs' direction, nodding…
— They did find someone a bit earlier. A young boy who was brought to the hospital.
— Thank you, Jethro coldly said before leaving, slamming the door of his vehicle after he sat inside of it, briefly rubbing his worried face…
— — — — — — — — — —
…Gibbs hurried inside the room after the woman at the reception had given him the number of the door and finally faced a Palmer in a pretty bad shape. He took a look at his NCIS young colleague in his bed, bandage around the head, apparently sleeping… He wouldn't wake him up yet, no. He needed to rest first. But he wanted informations.
Alright, he needed coffee. Now.
— …you shouldn't be leaving now, Mr Palmer, the woman said.
— You don't understand, the other voice answered. I wasn't aware at all of the time, I am supposed to work, and I'm already late…
— Yes, you are, and you're gonna be, but this only because you had an accident, sir…
— I'm…I'm sorry, I really need to go, now.
Gibbs heard the amazing conversation when he approached the room an hour later, his new dark cup between fingers. That could not be true…
— Listen, the voice became louder, I do understand your worries, but…I do not miss work, alright ? Jimmy sincerely tried to explain, I really have to go…
— Palmer ? Gibbs finally said as he entered the room. What the hell are you doing, and talking about ?
The nurse next to Jimmy sighed and walked away for a minute or two, Gibbs' glance silently indicating her that the situation was now in good hands…or at least, taken cared of.
Jimmy watched Gibbs with surprise, feeling bad for being seen in the middle of an hospital room during working hours, and still visibly mad to realize who was standing again in front of him...
— Listen, I have no idea why you are here, Agent Gibbs, he coldly pronounced, but I'm sorry for being late. I am calling a cab, and…
— No, no, no…Jethro nervously started chuckling, stopping Jimmy with a palm, this has to be a joke…you're going to work, Palmer ? You're fighting with a nurse because you're late ? I don't know if you've noticed, he ironically smiled, but you have something around your head.
— I fell, it was only an accident ! Anyway, I see you later, Agent Gibbs, Jimmy sighed, trying to move away.
— Hey ! Jethro interrupted him. You're not going anywhere ! So now you put your butt onto a chair and you're listening to me.
Gibbs' face had suddenly turned extremely serious...
Jimmy sighed for another time and reluctantly sat on the nearest seat, already hating his horrible life.