Gibbs filled out the final paperwork on the case before heading home. But he was interrupted by an unexpected call.
"Gibbs," the man answered automatically, flipping through the report.
"Hello, Gibbs. It's Ducky," the doctor's excited voice was heard on the other end, "It's about Jimmy. I told him to come to my house after the exams. I just called him, he hung up, and now he does not answer at all."
Palmer's behavior surprised Gibbs a little. The boy always seemed so innocent and sweet. The former Marine quickly put that thought aside and focused on his friend.
"Calm down, Duck. We'll find him quickly," the work phone suddenly rang, "wait a second."
"Gibbs," the man said coldly.
"This is Jack. One of the guys on your team has returned to the building. The boy seemed irritated and tired, I thought you might be interested" Jack was one of the few who knew about the relationship in the Gibbs team.
"It is important. Thank you, Jack," Jethro returned to the conversation with Dr. Mallard "I found your boy."
"Great, I'm on my way."
"You have nothing to worry about. I'll bring him, and you better calm down a bit, don't scare him too much."
"You're right. I'd rather wait a bit before I strangle him. And thank you Gibbs..."
"My pleasure. It's a small price to pay for everything you've done for me," the man replied and hung up."
Dissecting
Jimmy slipped past the guard and into the dissection room. Throwing his wet bag on the floor, the boy pulled off his wet jumper as he walked, sat down at the table and turned on the computer. Palmer nervously drummed his fingers on the table, he wanted to finish quickly and go home, wavy hair stuck to his forehead. The shirt was so wet that a bucket of water could be squeezed out of it, and it seemed that there was a real swamp in the boots.
"Damn computer," Jimmy muttered softly as the computer was still booting up. It was too slow for him. Irritation and nervousness took over him and he again took a cigarette. Naturally, he did not light it, only clamped it between his teeth for personal peace of mind. While waiting for the computer to boot up, the young man leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
His relaxation did not last long. Someone snatched the cigarette from him with a quick movement of his hand.
"Hey! This is…" the boy stopped as soon as he saw who was in front of him, "A-Agent Gibbs! What are you doing here at a time like this?" Jimmy stuttered. He hoped everyone was long gone.
"I have the same question for you, Palmer," the young man swallowed, that tone never leads to anything good. True, he usually treated his agents and Abby that way.
"I... I... forgot something... I need to finish this..." Jimmy didn't expect this kind of confrontation and didn't have time to come up with a really good excuse for his sudden appearance.
"And what's that?" Gibbs rolled his cigarette.
"That's not mine."
"What nonsense did I say?" the guy mentally hit himself on the back of the head, "Like a child."
"Yah?"
"Actually, I've got to go," Palmer muttered, and tried to slip past the older man. But a heavy hand grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"Not so fast," the man put the young man in front of him with a rough jerk, "what were you doing here?"
"I wanted to apply ... for dismissal. I was offered a new job…"
"Did you talk to Ducky about this, or was it an impulsive decision by a frustrated boy?" The boy's ears turned red at the question, and Jethro didn't need to hear the answer. He already knew, "I'll take you home. Where is your coat?"
Jimmy looked sadly at the wet jumper in the corner.
"I left it at home," Palmer whispered, waiting for the explosion.
"What are you?" The man asked in a dangerously low voice.
"I didn't think it would rain. There is not a word about this in the forecast," the young man tried to justify himself, but to no avail.
"The fact that they don't promise rain doesn't mean that you cannot wear a coat in the winter," Gibbs snorted and pushed the boy to the exit. He didn't say another word, the man silently ordered Jimmy into the passenger seat next to him. The guy didn't protest, the last thing he wanted to do was piss off the ex-Marine. Leaning against the cool window, Palmer watched what was happening outside. Until it dawned on him:
"Agent Gibbs is my home..."
"I know, I didn't say we were going to your house."
"Did Dr. Mallard call you?" The boy asked apprehensively, already knowing the answer.
"A few minutes before you got here. He was worried about you," Jethro replied surprisingly calm.
"I'm done..."
"Do not doubt it."
"Why? Why does he care, Agent Gibbs?"
"Just Gibbs. He likes you. You are still very young and inexperienced. And I swear, sometimes you look like a fawn in the headlights." Jimmy's ears flashed red and he turned away, pretending to look at the pedestrians outside the window.
"And Gerald? Wasn't he a good helper for Dr. Mallard?" Now Jethro began to guess where that pouty face had come from.
"He was really good, but he didn't look like you at all. He was much older and more confident in his actions. He kept a clean professional relationship with everyone, so he wasn't close to anyone on the team."
"So I'm not good enough for Dr. Mallard" Gibbs let out a heavy sigh.
"Not at all. I think he just sees his younger self in you. He wants to help you become just as good an expert. Think about it a little. If he really didn't care, would he punish you then?" At what time in half an hour his face turned red like a tomato.
"Probably not," Jimmy agreed, trying to hide his face. "Will you tell him about cigarettes and coats?" Big sad eyes looked at the man, but he didn't give in.
"I don't think he'll be happy if I withhold anything about his little helper."
"I'm definitely finished…" he groaned.
"Listen. It's hard to understand. But I think he feels the way I feel about Tony and the others. He loves you like his own child," Jethro chuckled as the boy practically pressed himself against the glass to hide his embarrassment.
"I think I'm beginning to understand."
"This is good. And one more thing. If you ever make Ducky so worried again…" This time, his voice filled with steel. There was no need to continue the threat. The boy nodded his head quickly. The last thing he wanted was to get into trouble with Gibbs.
"Great, we've arrived," the guy didn't even notice how they ended up in front of Dr. Mallard's house, "Wait a second until I open the door, I don't want you to get even more wet."
Palmer nodded weakly, resigned to his fate, leaning back in his seat, waiting for Gibbs. As they approached to ring the bell, the door suddenly opened and Jimmy was pulled into a tight hug.
"You have no idea how much you scared me," Ducky whispered in his ear. The hug lasted for a few seconds before the older man pulled away, "Come on, we're going to have a very long conversation, young man."
"Bad, very bad." thought the boy as he walked into the house. Immediately, a pleasant warmth engulfed him.
"Give me a second, Ducky?" Gibbs reminded of his presence.
"Of course, my dear friend. Jimmy, go upstairs and take a hot shower right now," the doctor ordered. The guy nodded.
"Yes, sir."
The hot water was amazing after such a busy day. The muscles slowly relaxed under the stream of water and the tension disappeared.
"Almost like cigarettes." Came a sudden thought.
"I brought you clean clothes, Jimmy."
"Thanks sir."
The clothes were a little big. It was a regular pajama T-shirt and pants. Palmer changed clothes and went in search of a doctor. He stood at the stove and cooked something.
"A little big," the man pointed to the sofa, "Sit down," the guy obeyed. A warm hand went around his neck and then took the towel from him.
"You should get rid of the habit of walking around with a wet head," the man's voice sounded slightly mocking as he began to dry the boy's hair with a towel.
"I can…"
"No, you should have done it before, now shut up for a bit." Palmer just relaxed as his hair was being manipulated by Ducky. "That's it. Did you eat?"
"Well..." the stomach answered for him, which at the most inopportune moment reminded him that he had eaten almost nothing today.
"All right, sit down at the table."
It was very good. The boy did not know that his boss could cook so well. Chicken in the oven, potatoes and vegetable salad. He even finished the pepper, which he hated.
"Thanks, that was amazing."
"I'm glad you liked it. Now go upstairs."
"I could help wash the dishes," the young man offered, but his offer was rejected.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it while you get ready for bed."
The boy pouted, but still obeyed. The room he slept in was good. A large bed, lots of bookshelves stuffed to the top, an oak table opposite the window, and a small TV.
"May I come in?" There was a knock on the door.
"This is your house," Palmer shrugged, playing with his laces.
"We need to talk, but not today, it's too late. Therefore, you will receive a spanking today just for scaring me," he sat on the bed and extended his hand, "come."
"No Please. It's not like that…" The boy sighed. It has always been so humiliating.
"You know why this is happening, so come over."
Palmer had no choice but to obey. As soon as he took a few steps forward, then for the blink of an eye he was on the rigid knees of a man. It really wasn't too bad. But his pants were down to his knees, which was the worst part.
"Why are we here?" Questions about how he hated them.
"I... I... Didn't pick up and then turned off the phone," Jimmy sobbed, burying himself in the blue sheet. She smelled pleasantly of lavender, which was a little soothing. Spanking fell on his poor bottom one after another.
"Okay, why is it bad?"
"Because you were worried about me," the boy began to fidget. Flip-flops have always been so unpleasantly regretted. How can someone as kind as Dr. Mallard be so strong?
"You have no idea how much." Because of guilt and fatigue, he was already on the verge of tears. And the spanking did not help a bit, even such a light one.
The man stopped as soon as the first tears began to roll down the boy's cheeks. He immediately found himself in a strong and soothing embrace.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to worry you," Jimmy whimpered into his boss's shirt.
"Shhh… It's okay, you're forgiven," a warm hand rested on a tossed mop of curly hair. The soft wiggles and the warmth Palmer felt made him yawn.
"Somebody needs to go to bed," Dr. Mallard smiled. Having moved the blanket, he laid his ward, "Do you want something?" Despite the pain in his ass, the terrible fatigue and the fact that tomorrow he will have the most unpleasant conversation of his life. Jimmy smiled slyly.
"Hot chocolate."
"You're a cunning boy," the man sighed, but he returned a few minutes later with a steaming cup.
"Thank you, this is delicious..."
"Now close your eyes, you need to rest…" Ducky took the cup from his weakened hands and straightened the blanket.
"Story?" The boy asked sleepily and seemed so young.
"Of course," a man could never refuse a child.
That day, for the first time in a long time, Jimmy was truly happy. His butt hurt, and the problems didn't end there. But still he felt loved and needed, and that meant something. It was with this thought that he fell asleep.