AN: Quite an intense episode to say the least. I am glad we now have answers and all in all, am quite content with how it ended. Do enjoy the Tags, and as always, requests are welcome.
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It wasn't long after the black bag was laid on the table that Palmer stepped inside the autopsy doors. Ducky immediately stepped in front of the young man and halted his steps. "Are you certain you want to see this Mister Palmer?"
He removed his glasses and ran a hand over his face. "I've seen hundreds, what's one more?"
Ducky frowned at the lack of emotion covering his voice. "Are you certain?"
He tried to step around the ME when something occurred to him. "How did it happen?"
Ducky handed him the clip board and it was only seconds before Palmer turned back towards the door and hit the elevator button.
"Jimmy, I would not do anything so hastily, Jethro did what was necessary."
Palmer stayed silent as he entered the elevator and remained so until the doors came to a close. He exited at the office floor and headed directly for one Leroy Jethro Gibbs. "You killed her."
The decibel of his voice caused the team to form a circle around their friend. Gibbs chose to stand up at the remark. "I did what I had to do."
He shook his head violently and pointed at him. "You didn't have to…you could've waited…could've shot him in the leg, could've done something…anything but killed her…killed her like that…" He continued to rant regardless of the proximity of the team surrounding him. "You wanted to kill her. Didn't you? For lying to you…for killing Langer…didn't you?"
Gibbs put his hand up to quiet him. "No, you're wrong."
"Am I?" He shot back, now dead locked onto Gibbs eyes.
Gibbs stepped around the desk and gestured for his team to back away. "She made her own choices."
"Like you did."
Gibbs nodded and didn't seem to mind what he was implying. "I take that shot or he kills someone else. An innocent person, Lee or myself. And she knew that."
"She?"
"She gave me permission to pull that trigger. She died a hero Palmer."
Jimmy took a step back in response and finally let a tear break free down his face. "Guess it doesn't matter how someone dies. Just that they're dead huh?"
Gibbs shook his head before placing a gentle hand on his arm and guiding him towards the elevator. "It matters."
Palmer stopped them abruptly and locked onto Gibbs eyes once again. "Do you think…do you think maybe she wanted to die?"
Gibbs kept silent for a few moments as he considered his reply. "I wish I could answer that. But I can't."
"And now no one can." He started to move along with Gibbs direction and remained silent until they reached the autopsy floor. "You didn't want to kill her, did you?"
Gibbs wasn't expecting the question but handled it with grace. "No."
Palmer almost smiled at the simplicity of the response but knew better than to expect much else. He moved through the autopsy doors to see Ducky waiting beside her body. He took a step towards the bag and with an assuring nod that he'd be alright, the ME stepped aside. Ducky took his place beside Gibbs and they observed him in reverent silence until he was ready to assist.
"Are you certain you want to do this Jimmy?"
Palmer gave a final glance at Gibbs before responding solemnly. "I am. Sometimes we have to do things we don't necessarily want to. But they have to be done…"
Ducky then placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "That they do dear boy, that they do."
