NCIS
Chapter 13
B&W teaser- Jimmy Palmer looks worried…
A car is driving down the road and then pulls into a parking lot. Abby Scuito helps Timothy McGee out of the passenger seat.
"Here, I can get it."
Abby, I told you. I don't need any help."
"Oh, and I suppose you can carry everything up to you apartment by yourself? Come on Timmy. You have to accept some help no and then."
They walk up the stairs and unlock the door. Abby puts McGee's suitcase and a few flowers and plants down.
"I could have helped you."
Struggling to put everything down, she replies, "That's okay. I got it."
McGee goes into his kitchen and opens his cupboard to retrieve some coffee. He struggles with his good arm to open the container of grounds. He fumbles it and it spills on the floor.
He becomes frustrated. Then Abby comes over and says, "It's okay Timmy. I'll get it."
"For the hundredth time you don't have to help me."
"Come on now. The more people help you, the quicker you can recover, and then the sooner you'll be back to work."
He turns and mumbles something. She asks what he said.
"I'm not going back! No one will want a gimp working for them."
Abby looks concerned and says, Tony wants you back."
"Yeah right. Why so he can call me gimpy of crippled. It was bad enough when it was just probie or elf lord. I just don't think anyone will want-"
He is cutoff as Abby move in and kisses him square on the lips. He is shocked and is going to ask why she did that. Then he moves in and kisses her back.
Jenny Shepard enters a house with her own key and goes to open the basement door. She walks halfway down the steps.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs grabs his sidearm, which is right next to him and goes to point it at her. He then stops and puts it back down. He is unshaven. His hair has grown out a bit. He continues to work on his boat.
"What can I do for you, Jen?"
She continues down and then responds, "I was just seeing how you are doing Jethro. You haven't been in contact with anyone in a month."
"Your point?"
"Come on now Jethro. The Gibbs I know wouldn't hide down here when someone is trying to do harm to him or his team. It's just not you."
Gibbs looks up and replies, "I told you. I can't risk anyone else being hurt because someone want to finish me off."
"Well…you still have to go and clear out your desk. DiNozzo gave me the message. His new team is still trying to get settled in."
Gibbs laughs and says, "DiNozzo's team…"
"I doubt it that DiNozzo is going to pack your things and mail them to you."
"He won't have to." He pauses. "I've been offered a job."
"A job, which one?"
"Yours."
She laughs and then replies, "You…director. You who wouldn't play politics when you were an agent."
He remains calm and then replies, "It's only temporary. Until they find a permanent replacement for you." He puts his hand sander away and then says, "I here you're going to be heading up the New England division."
"That's right. You must have great sources."
"Who said I had sources. It was me that suggested that you don't get assigned to duty in Greenland."
"Well, thank you Jethro…I mean Director."
Gibbs shudders at the thought and says, "It'll take a while to get used to that."
"Come on lets go." The two leave and head back for their new posts.
Jimmy Palmer walks up to Ducky's house and rings the doorbell. An older woman answers the door and looks at him and then asks, "Who are you?"
"I'm Jimmy Palmer. I work with your son."
"He's not at work. He's at home."
"Yes, I know. I came to drop of some things for him." He says, as he tries to go through the door.
She closes it slightly. Then she opens it.
"Where is Doctor Mallard?"
"Who are you, and why do you have Donnie's books?"
"I'm Jimmy. I work-"
"It's alright mother. He can come in."
Ducky is resting is his chair in the den reading a book. Palmer goes over to him and says, "Here are your things Doctor.
"Oh, yes. I was wondering where I left them. Thank you, Gerald."
"Uh…it's Jimmy."
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry, Mr. Palmer. I was thinking of the past. My memory is still a little fuzzy."
"Well a mild cerebro-vascular accident will do that."
"It's called a stroke Mr. Palmer. And it's only was a mild one. I'll be up and at'em with in the week."
Ducky gets up and then asks, "How are things going back in the morgue?"
"There fine Doctor. I took the liberty of loading all of you files into the computer so you can access them easily."
"Oh, dear. You didn't"
"Yes. And then I stored the paper files along with the other notes."
"My dear Mr. Palmer. Those files were not complete. You must find them all and put them in the precise order you found them in."
"Why?"
"Did I tell you of the time back in England when we had all our work done and filed so we didn't have to worry where it was. You know electricity can't be relied on all of the time. One time we had a blackout and we had do finish all of our cases by candled light. It was quite enlightening."
"Oh, yes. Of course, I'll get back and change every thing back."
"Very good."
Palmer goes to leave and he sees Ducky going through his books and reading a little note. He is saying something to himself. It's Palmer name.
The young assistant ME has a look of concern on his face.