Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS, its characters, or its scripts.
Spoilers: About Face
A/N: *Insert groveling author here* I can't apologize enough, I really feel guilty for not posting in so long, :( But I can honestly tell you that every single one of the stories I write will be finished, because I, myself, hate it when authors don't finish their work.
I hope this meets your standards, :)
Enjoy!
---X---

The rest of the weekend went faster than most of them would have liked it to, but Friday was spent by Abby dragging Gibbs to multiple stores for compulsive Christmas shopping, and winking at Gibbs when she dropped some much too early mistletoe into their cart.

Saturday, the team helped Abby and Gibbs move some things from her place to his, including the famous coffin, which Abby had to twisted Gibbs' arm a little bit for in order to get.
And on Sunday, both were itching to do something productive, to them, they'd been away from work for too long, not that every moment of their vacation hadn't been wonderful, its just that they weren't used to being at home for so long.
That was why they were glad to wake up to Monday that morning.
---X---

"Doctor, there's something I wanted to ask you…" Palmer begins, the invitation in his pocket nearly burning a hole through the cloth.
"One moment, Mister Palmer. I've got to get the gurney," Ducky interrupts, standing from the body.
"Oh no, I should do that," Jimmy says, standing as well, and forgetting about what he was going to ask.
"No, no, no. I shall use the elevator, as not to affect my cardio," The doctor insisted, regarding Palmer's earlier comment. "So you get the body off the roof, to down there," pointed to the ground, floors, and floors below him without even blinking. "And then-"
"Then we can get the body back into the cage," Jimmy smiles and watches as the doctor nodded and descended to the main floor by use of the elevator.

Meanwhile, Jimmy got to work. He slid the body off of the stage and onto the plastic lining which they always used for the bodies. He nonchalantly blew air through his lips as he got the job done. He saw that a wallet of some type had fallen beside the corpse. Palmer took it from the floor and opened it. A passport. This would surely be of some use to the team. He put it back as he heard Ducky calling from the ground floor.

Jimmy looked over the railing at the doctor.

"Nice job at parking," Ducky commented sarcastically while struggling to get the gurney back in the van in order to move it.
"Sorry!" Palmer called down to him.
"Is it all clear up there?"
"All clear, doctor."
"Good." Ducky nodded approvingly.

Jimmy stepped back from the railing and to the body.

The passport. Where was it? He knew it was just there…
He looked around the victim and goose-bumps rose on his skin. Maybe it was Tony playing tricks on him again.
Palmer looked toward the open space which had some pillars, perfect for hiding behind.
"Tony, this is not funny…" No response. "Tony?…McGee? Did you take that passport?" He moved closer.
As metal rods were knocked together, a harsh sound was produced and the noise vibrated throughout the level. He saw someone move swiftly behind plastic that hung from the ceiling. It must be Ziva then. "Ziva, I need that."

The elevator sounded, signaling it being in use. This definitely wasn't funny.
What was going on?
This reminded him of a horror movie he went to see with Abby. But this wasn't a movie. "Who's there?"
Someone started running, and out of instinct, Jimmy chased after them. "Hey!" He shouted as he ran. "Hey! Stop!"

"Mister Palmer?" Ducky said, stepping off of the elevator.

"Hey! Stop!" Jimmy yelled again.
The man with the passport jumped over the second story railing and onto the ground floor. "Hey!" Palmer screamed, ready to follow the man over the railing.
Until he pulled out a gun.
Jimmy froze. It was like slow motion.
He saw the trigger, and heard a click, and instinctively dropped to the floor for safety.

BANG! BANG!

Palmer heard the man's footsteps echo throughout the room until they faded away.
"Jimmy are you alright?!" Ducky rushed toward him.

"I'm fine," he said.

Given the circumstances, with an unknown man stealing vital evidence from a crime scene, this case could be considered as one of those rarer ones when there is a lot of action. But little did he know what this case would eventually lead up to.
---X---
Later, Autopsy

"How is Mister Palmer? I really miss his assistance...You don't fully appreciate someone until they're not here..." This was not only directed towards himself, but to Gibbs as well.
"He'll be alright," Gibbs assured him, missing Ducky's hint.

"Yes, I do hope so..." He sighed. "Oh," Ducky said, recalling a could-be important factor in the case. "I don't know how it fits into your puzzle," he told Gibbs, "but it is on his upper extremities and throughout his respiratory system." He handed Gibbs the magnifying glass he'd been holding after taking another look for himself.

"He was breathing it," Gibbs concluded.
"It seems so."
"What is it?"
"Abby is running tests." Ducky said it with a certain inflection on Abby's name.
Gibbs looked up and saw Ducky's look but the doctor didn't make eye contact. "What?"
"Nothing."

Ducky wasn't usually one to play games unless he knew something you didn't. But whenever he did know something you didn't, he'd always find a special way to let you know.
"Something you want to tell me, Duck?"
Ducky wasn't one for gossip either, so what he said next was a surprise to Gibbs. "Well, we've known each other for a long time. You, Abigail, and I have worked together the longest. And- Jethro, I'm not going to dance around this subject any longer than I already have… Do you have feelings for Abby?"

This was unfamiliar territory for Gibbs. He hadn't been so uncomfortable in a room with this man in a long time, if ever. He thought about telling him something. Anything. And he thought very hard about this. Then, he thought, it was late and he didn't have to deal with this now. He didn't want to deal with this now. So he looked him dead in the eye, and said something very characteristic of himself.

"Tell me if you find anything, Duck."
Before Ducky could say anything, he was in the elevator on his way up to dismiss everyone.
Ducky sighed.

I guess he had his answer.
---X---

"Uhh," Palmer said awkwardly as he stepped up to Ziva. She gave him that suspicious squint look that everyone hated to get. "Here." Somewhat fearfully, he gave her an envelope and went over to McGee's desk.

"What was that? A love letter, Palmer?" Tony joked.
"I sure hope not, 'cause I'm getting one too," McGee said as he examined his own letter before opening it.
"Hehe, maybe it is a love letter." Tony snickered.
McGee glared at him.

"The Josephine Photography Gallery's Amateur Exhibit?" Ziva read aloud, as she was the first one to get hers open. "Jimmy, you are a photographer?" She asked as she looked up at him.
"Well, yeah." He was feeling self conscious, as usual.
"I guess this explains why he's been acting weird lately." Abby smiled at him.
"Weirder than usual," Tony and Ziva stated at once, then blushed.

"I just didn't want to tell anyone until I knew it was a sure thing that I was getting submitted into the gallery."
"This is…cool, Palmer." Tim nodded, interested, as he examined his invitation to get into the gallery.
Jimmy finally exhaled, he felt a little proud.
"This is great, Jimmy." Abby smiled again.

"What's great?" Gibbs asked, somehow getting out of the elevator without it making a sound.
"Jimmy's hobby," she told him. "He's a photographer. And made it into an exclusive gallery." She smiled at Jimmy's look then looked towards Gibbs again.
Gibbs, obviously, wasn't into photography, but he still praised Jimmy. He nodded at him. "Good job." Leaving it at that, he got to the point. "Everyone can go home now."

They packed up slower than they usually did, probably enjoying the atmosphere the room carried. Once the room cleared out, Gibbs and Abby were the only ones left.
"Shall we?" Abby broke the silence.
He smiled just because she always made him. "We shall."
Abby linked her arm with his like you'd expect she would and they both moved toward the elevator.

There was no need to press the button, as someone was already making their way up.
The elevator made it's familiar ping! and just before the lift's doors opened you could hear faint conversation.

"Thanks for this, Ducky," the director told Ducky, as she slipped something into her purse.
"It's no problem- oh!" Ducky said, just noticing Abby and Gibbs' presence. He quickly put on his adorable smile. "Ah. Leaving for tonight?" He asked them.
Gibbs and Abby nodded. "Mmhmm." Gibbs suspiciously eyed the director's purse. Something just wasn't right…

The group of good friends stood there awkwardly, as if they'd just met.
Ducky was still wondering about the current status of Abby and Gibbs' relationship.
Gibbs wanted to know what was going on with Ducky and Jen.
Jenny was hiding something.
And Abby wondered if everyone knew something she didn't.

Abby put on a smile to lower the discomfort level. "Have a nice night, you guys."
"Ah, I hope you two do as well."

They all switched places so Gibbs and Abby could return to the ground floor.
"Night," Gibbs said lastly as the door closed.

Ducky and Jenny made relieved eye contact as they heard the elevator shift downwards.
"We must be more careful, Jenny…" He stated in a deadpan voice.
"This probably won't be going on much longer anyway…"
"Don't you say that, Jennifer!" He said harshly. "There is always hope!"
She could understand his anger, so she didn't chastise him for talking that way to his boss. "When you researched this, you told me the straight facts. There is no hope."

"Please, Jenny. There's no way to know if this will go into remission or not. Keep an open mind, if not for everyone else, than at least for the sake of yourself. Just thinking like that could make you feel worse."
The director knew that this wasn't the way to act; Not only thinking so negatively about this situation, but stressing an old man like this. "I'm sorry Ducky. I know you're right."

He sighed with relief. "Thank you, my dear. Keep an open mind. Things aren't always how they seem. If anyone knows this, it's everyone here at NCIS."
She nodded. "Goodnight Ducky. Get some rest. This is stressing you much more than it should be."
The doctor nodded as well in agreement. "You need some rest too."
"I'll be on my way soon," she promised.
"Goodnight, Jennifer." He gave her a hug. "I hope you feel better soon."
"Me too."

Ducky went on the elevator to autopsy to collect his things and Jen walked around the squadroom.
She took a seat at Gibbs' desk and looked at his things, as the other half of the room stay submerged in darkness.

She picked up the photo of Abby's ultrasound and sighed.
"You were right about one thing, Ducky."
She skimmed her thumb across the frame and stared out at the dark, cloudy sky through the windows.
"Things aren't always how they seem."
---X---

A/N: Thanks so much for everyone's feedback, even during my unexpected hiatus. And thank you for coming back and reading after all this time.
This is only part of the chapter! I just wanted to update as soon as possible! Sorry it's short! Next part will be up some time this weekend!

Please tell me what you think! Reviews are greatly appreciated! If you caught any mistakes that you'd like to point out, please do! :)