Chapter 3 – Moments of Truth

"Excuse me, where's the lab?" Nicole smiled shyly as she stood in the squad room. McGee glanced up, recognizing the young woman from the previous evening, in the parking garage.

"Downstairs… but if you're looking for Jimmy, he'll be in autopsy." Tony looked up at McGee, questioning him with his eyes. McGee returned a look that seemed to say, "I'll explain later," and Tony seemed satisfied with this. Gibbs looked up, grinning to himself at the wordless communication his agents had just put into practice.

"Thank you. I'm looking for Abby McGee, as well." Three sets of eyes grew large as a young boy came up from behind her. "Hi," he said, smiling shyly. McGee arose from his chair, taking the woman gently by the arm and steering her towards the elevator. "Right here, Ma'am," he said, smiling. He glanced down at the young boy, thinking to himself that if he didn't know any better… this kid looked awfully familiar.

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"This is confidential, right?" Nicole asked, as Abby took a sample from both her and Christopher, and then from Jimmy, for a paternity test. Jimmy stood quietly next to Christopher, his hand resting lightly on the young boy's shoulder.

Abby had been shocked at first, at the revelation that Jimmy – their Jimmy, their seemingly shy, quiet, and awkward Jimmy – had fathered a child years ago. Jimmy himself still seemed slightly in awe of the idea, and not quite yet able to fully grasp the concept that he'd played a part in creating a whole 'nother human being.

"Of course. Nobody knows unless you tell them." Abby smiled warmly at them. "But I have to be honest… I think I know what these results will say. I've never seen a child so strongly favour one parent before. Well, except for this one father-son combo… I once went out with the father thinking it was the son…" Jimmy frowned at her slightly, for the sole purpose of reeling Abby in from her caffeine induced hyperactive digression. "Right. I'm getting off topic. Anyway, like I was saying, or starting to say at least… In my humble, though surprisingly unscientific opinion, anyone can see that he's definitely yours, Jimmy." Abby grinned at the young morgue assistant, as he flushed slightly, partially from pride, and partially from something that he still couldn't quite put his finger on.

"I need to get back to Autopsy. Oh, and Jasmine is stopping by later. Nicki, you and Christopher need to meet her… she's my fiancée. It's really important that she find out about him right away."

Nicole nodded, smiling down at her handsome young son. "Of course, Jims. We'll see you and Jasmine later, then."

Abby waited for Jimmy to leave, and then she turned to Nicole. "Maybe Christopher would like to go with Jimmy for a short while? Let him get to know his dad?" Christopher's face lit up slightly. "Can I, mom? I really like him. I understand what you told me yesterday about him." Nicole nodded, rumpling the loose dark curls on the top of his head. "Of course, Chris… go, catch up," she said, smiling. The two women watched after him as he ran to catch up to Jimmy.

"Okay Nicole. What's really going on here?" Abby had a suspicion, and while she didn't doubt Nicole's claim that Christopher was indeed Jimmy's son, Abby also sensed that something bigger was going on here.

"I just felt that it was time for Jims to find out about his son, that's all." Abby gave her a sceptical look. "Try again, Nicole," she said, with a raised eyebrow.

Nicole sighed, sitting down. Abby was noticing that she looked quite pale, and tired. "You're sick, aren't you?"

Nicole nodded, clearly exhausted. "Yeah." She brought her hand up to her face, rubbing her forehead absently. When she looked back up at Abby, her eyes were red-rimmed with tears. "I'm dying, Mrs. McGee. I wanted Chris to get to know his dad before I… before I'm gone. I want him to be with Jims. If it works out and I have time… I want to add a codicil to my will that gives him full custody. My parents know about it and they're fully agreeable, if I decide that Jims will be a good parent. These tests will prove to the court who he is in relation to our son."

"Oh," Abby said, shaking her head with regret. "I'm so sorry, Nicole. I know Christopher has already lost the only father he ever knew. This will be so hard for him." She reached over, resting a hand on her shoulder, her darkly made-up face reflecting regret and sympathy.

"That's why it was so important to me to introduce him to his real father now." Nicole paused, and took a long, laboured breath. "Jimmy is a good man, isn't he? I mean, he was ten years ago. That hasn't changed, has it?"

Abby smiled with an odd combination of warmth and sadness both. "Of course he is. He's engaged to my husband's sister, so I mean, he's practically family. I've known him for a few years now. Christopher will have a wonderful dad, once they both get used to the idea."

Nicole nodded. "Good, good. I'm so glad to hear that. Now… what about Jasmine? How will she feel about raising another woman's child?"

Abby thought just a moment, then said, with firm conviction, "Jasmine will be fine with it. Trust me, she's my sister-in-law. Besides, once my husband knows he'll make sure that Jasmine gives Christopher a fair chance, but I just don't think it's going to take that much convincing." Abby winked as she squeezed Nicole's shoulder reassuringly.

"Now, these tests are going to take a bit of time, so why don't you go catch up with Christopher and Jimmy? Jasmine said she'd be here soon. I assume you want to look your best, and you look like you could use some rest first. I'll have these results for you in a few days."

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Jimmy sat at the chair at his desk in the morgue, thinking.

The meeting with Jasmine had gone exceptionally well. She loved him enough that she understood that Christopher had resulted from something that was over with years ago. And to be honest, Christopher himself had charmed his future step-mother with the same smile that had helped his father to win her over in the first place.

McGee was a pretty easy sell, too. Tim had already suspected, based on the first time he'd seen Christopher with Nicole, in the squad room. He had taken some time to get to know his future nephew, and Christopher figured he'd make pretty good Uncle material. But Christopher's favourite people, of all the people his dad worked with, were Ducky, and Gibbs.

And as a result of everyone at NCIS either finding out, or figuring out, what the deal was with Jimmy, this woman from his past, and that suspiciously familiar young boy - the entire group stood in the lab for support, and probable congratulations, as Abby prepared to read them the results of the paternity tests.

Ziva stood next to Nicole, Jasmine on her other side. The two women had become fast friends with Jimmy's former flame, and they flanked her, protective arms draped around her to hold her up. It concerned everyone, Jimmy and Ducky especially, that the stress of the past week seemed to be taking a heavy toll on her already shaky health. So, it came to no surprise to either Ziva or Jasmine, when Abby announced, "Well… congratulations, Jimmy. It's a boy." She'd then grinned broadly, and thrown her arms around him in a congratulatory hug.

Ducky smiled warmly, then took Christopher by the hand and led him to a chair at the far side of the lab, while Tony, Tim, and Gibbs shook Jimmy's hand. "Come, Christopher, my young lad," they heard Ducky say as he led the youngest Palmer away, "I've got a story to tell to you. It's one of your father's favourites, in fact…"

Jimmy grinned and chuckled softly, shaking his head as he watched Ducky and Christopher settle into chairs, and out of earshot. Then, his wide, bright grin downgraded into a soft, subtle smile, as he turned to Nicole.

"Nicki… can we have a word outside?"