Note: I love how Jimmy always thinks of other people's wellbeing before his own. I thought episode 17x19 would be a great episode to show that a little more with this short extra post-episode scene. Let me know what you think.
Squad room
"Agent Gibbs. Are there going to be any repercussion against me?"
Gibbs look confused at Jimmy, so he elaborates.
"I mean. I did beat Max up pretty bad. I didn't have to. Am I going to be in any kind of trouble for that?"
"Palmer…" Gibbs says, laughing. "the guy took you hostage and pointed a gun at your face." Jimmy doesn't seem to understand what Gibbs is saying. "I think you two are even," Gibbs says and walks to his desk.
"Okay." Jimmy just says. Then he receives a slap to the stomach from Kasie, who is standing right next to him.
"aw, what was that for?" Jimmy asks, irritated.
"Stop being so damn polite all the time."
"I thought you said you didn't like me when I was rude."
"you said you weren't rude."
"yes, but…" Jimmy doesn't even know what to say to Kasie.
"wow, you two spend 4 hours together in a hostage situation, and you already sound like a married couple." Nick jokes.
"no, they don't," Gibbs says and gets up from his desk. "they are still talking to each other."
"wow, Gibbs, you are such a romantic," Jack says sarcastically while Jimmy and Kasie are just looking confused at each other.
"what can I say, Jack? I had plenty of experience." Gibbs says with a sarcastic smile and walks by her and up the stairs.
"Palmer… Kasie." Kasie and Palmer look up at Gibbs, who has stopped halfway up the stairs. "hit the shower." He orders and then runs further up the stairs. Once he has reached the top of the stairs, he stops and leans over the railing. Kasie, Palmer, and the rest of the group look up at him.
"When you are done playing in the shower, hit the director's office for debriefing."
"I don't have any changing clothing," Kasie yells up to Gibbs.
"scrubs," Gibbs says and walks away.
"scrubs?" Kasie asks, confused.
"yes, you know what I am usually wearing doing an autopsy."
"he wants me to get change into that?" Kasie asks, confused.
"better than nothing," Ellie says, and everyone besides Kasie starts laughing.
"Okay." Kasie says, determined. "but I don't have the body type for a one-size outfit. I'm just saying." Kasie's statement amuses Jack and Ellie, who shares a quick smile.
"It isn't a fashion competition you are going to, Kasie," Torres says and laughs.
"hey, I like to be stylish."
"Hey, Kasie," Jack says, stopping her on her way out of the bullpen.
"piece of advice. Always have a set of changing clothes in the lab."
"But I don't usually go into the field."
"I know, and neither do I, but still. You never know when it will come in handy."
Kasie nods with a smile.
"Thanks, Jack."
Post episode – next day - autopsy
Jack walks into the autopsy and immediately hear Jimmy is talking with someone. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. I need to be at work. I can't come and pick you up. I prose nothing bad is going to happen to me." Jimmy is sitting at his desk with his back to the automatic door where Jack just entered. He looks back over his shoulder and sees Jack.
"sweetie, I need to get back to walk. I promise you nothing bad is happening. I will come and pick you up later, and we can go to the park and play. I love you, sweetie. Bye." Jimmy hangs up on the phone. "My apology Agent Sloane," Jimmy says politely in his usual formal manner.
"no need to apologize, dr. Palmer," Jack says with a sweet smile.
"what can I do for you?" Jimmy asks and walks over towards Jack.
"well, I actually just came down to see if I could help you," she says, and Jimmy looks utterly confused.
"with the autopsies?" Jimmy asks, confused.
"well, I am behind today due to yesterday's unexpected events, but…" "I meant if you needed to talk about yesterday, I am happy to listen." Jack clarifies with a smile.
"I'm so sorry, Agent Sloane. Of course, you are not here to help with autopsies." Jimmy says apologetically while he walks to one of the autopsy tables to get started on the first autopsy of the day. "Agent Gibbs did mention yesterday that you were available in case needed. I just haven't had time to stop by your office." Jack notices Jimmy usually seems distracted and confused.
"I came in a bit late today, so I better get started." He says while he gets his gloves on. "Agent Gibbs doesn't like to wait for results."
"Yeah, I noticed." Jack says with a sympathetic smile. "but I am pretty sure Gibbs understands if you are a bit off today."
"yeah, well. Victoria didn't want to go to preschool this morning, so that delayed me, and I didn't get much sleep last night, so…"
"Hey Jimmy," Jack says and walks over to stand across the table from Jimmy so she can look at him.
"are you okay? you seem distracted today."
"I am behind, and the case depends on the autopsy, so I need to get the results to agent Gibbs. I also have a ton of trace evidence to get to Kasie," Jimmy says and looks around, and the small evidence jaws standing on the table.
"let me take them up to Kasie." Jack offers and takes the clipboard to sign for the evidence.
"Are you sure?" Jimmy asks.
"Yeah, of course," Jack says with a smile.
"have you checked on Kasie? It was really rough on her what happened yesterday. She was held at gunpoint."
"she is fine. She is worried about you, actually." Jack explains.
"Yeah. Little Victoria always gets her worried." Jack notice how Jimmy transfer Kasie's worries over to Victoria instead of himself. "Victoria had nightmares last night. The worst I have seen in a while. She even wet her bed. She was so ashamed about it. I sat up with her all night. Breena needs her sleep."
"so do you," Jack adds in. Jimmy looks up at Jack.
"yeah, but it was my fault Victoria had nightmares. I told Breena last night about what happened, and Victoria overheard it."
"that does not make yours, or anyone else faults. Your little girl had nightmares. Everyone has that everyone's in a while."
"Yeah, I just don't want it to go out on Breena that my job causes Victoria to have bad dreams."
"Jimmy, let me ask you something," Jack says and takes one of the chairs and sits down across from Jimmy. He is seated near the body's head while picking out some pieces of a trace from a nasty head wound.
"do you honestly think that Breena would fault you if you had asked her to stay up with Victoria instead of you after the day you had yesterday?" Jimmy takes a moment to think. He knows his wife would never do that, but he doesn't like to think of disrupting her sleep because of him.
"as Kasie said yesterday, "stop being so polite to everyone Jimmy." It is okay to say, even to your wife, that you need to sleep after having a rough day. Everyone can have a rough day and need some rest. That does not make you a bad man, a bad husband, or a bad dad." Jimmy looks down with sadness on his face. "It makes you human, Jimmy," Jack says. Jimmy looks up with a small smile and nods.
"Thanks, Agent Sloane," Jimmy says with a smile, but he can't suppress the yarn that escapes, and it makes Jack smile.
"take it slow. I can tame Gibbs if he becomes a problem." Jack says and takes the tray with the evidence jaws and brings them up to the lab.
Later, Jack bumps into Gibbs in the hallway as he leaves MTAC.
"how are Palmer and Kasie?" Gibbs asks.
"Kasie seems to be just fine, but Jimmy… he is struggling," Jack says, concerned.
"what do you suggest?" Gibbs asks as they walk to the elevator together.
"the day off, but I am not so sure I want to do that. He has 2 autopsies from yesterday he hasn't done, and he you how he doesn't like to fail you." Jack says and looks over at Gibbs to see his reaction. Gibbs just look over at her with his usual poker face.
"Okay," he says, a bit cold for Jack, but she has the feeling he might have a plan of some kind to help Jimmy. He just isn't going to enlighten her into it.
Jack returns to autopsy at around noon. She is joined in the elevator by Gibbs. "going to check on Palmer?" Gibbs asks. Jack nods.
"yeah."
Nothing more is said until the elevator arrives at the intended destination and they step out. As Jack and Gibbs step out of the elevator and enters autopsy, they overhear Jimmy once again on the phone.
"listen, Victoria, I can't come to pick you up right now. I hear you don't want to be in school today, but I have work today, and you know I can't just leave work early."
Jimmy gets spooked by the feeling of his phone suddenly getting pulled out of his hand. He turns around on his chair, and Agent Gibbs is standing right behind him with Jimmy's phone in his hand.
"Agent Gibbs?" Jimmy says. "I am so sorry, Victoria called me she is really…"
Gibbs takes the phone to his ear.
"Hey Victoria, it is Gibbs. How are you doing?" Gibbs asks with his soft voice. Sobs is heard on the other end of the phone.
"no… good… I… miss… daddy…" the little girl sobs in between every word she manages to say. She clearly has cried a lot.
"you daddy is fine. You remember I told you that nothing is going to happy to your daddy when I protect him?" Gibbs asks the little girl, ignoring the surprised but big smile on Jimmy's face.
"yeah…" the little girl's voice is heard in between sobs on the other end of the phone. "I want to be with daddy, but he says he has to work," Victoria explains with sadness in her little voice.
"well, I am actually the one who decides whether your dad has to work or not, and if I tell him not. He doesn't have to work." Gibbs explains ignoring any attempt of protest coming from Jimmy.
"but daddy says…" little Victoria starts.
"well, I am the boss, so if I tell your dad to go and pick you up from school and do something fun, then he is going to do that." Gibbs explains and finally looks at Jimmy, who has given up on trying to interrupt Gibbs. "what would you like to do today, Victoria?" Gibbs asks while looking at Jimmy.
"I love to play in the park with Daddy."
"yeah? That sounds like fun. How about I tell your daddy to go and pick you up and go to the park, and you and your dad can have a playday? So instead of me being your dad's boss today, it will be you?" Gibbs suggests.
"yeah." The little girl says with joy in her voice. Gibbs tries to ignore the satisfied smile on Jack's face.
"but Gibbs, what if I can't protect daddy from bad guys?" little Victoria asks.
"don't worry, Victoria see, I am still at work. I am going to make sure all of the bad guys stay far away from you and your dad. so all you have to do is have fun with your dad. can you do that?" Gibbs asks.
"Yeah, I think so," Victoria says, a little uncertain.
"okay. your dad will come and pick you up soon, Victoria." Gibbs says.
"thank you, Gibbs," Victoria says and hangs up on the phone. Gibbs hands the phone back to Jimmy.
"but Agent Gibbs, I really appreciate it, but I have 2 unfinished autopsies from yesterday, and what about director Vance. he hasn't authorized it," Jimmy argues.
"consider it authorized." That is director Vance who has just appeared on one of the monitors.
"but Director, what about the 2 autopsies. Their families are awaiting answers. I can't let them wait."
"I have called in some reinforcement." Director Vance answers, and at the same moment, the automatic doors open, and Dr. Mallard enters.
"Dr. Mallard," Jimmy says, surprised. "I will be substituted medical examiner today."
"go, Palmer." Gibbs orders.
"but Dr. Mallard, you told me yesterday you had a lot of work to do," Jimmy argues. "I don't want to delay your work."
"Jimmy, your family needs you, and NCIS history doesn't go anywhere. Besides, I will get Agent Sloane to help." Ducky explains, and everyone looks surprised at Jack.
"you will?" Jack asks.
"yes." Ducky explains. "well, with the history. I have a very interesting case. I would like to discuss with you on occasion."
"I look forward to that." Jack says politely and feels a bit relieved Ducky wasn't talking about having her assisting with autopsies."
"well, dr. Palmer, it seems like everything is covered, so I order you to take the day off and be with your family." Director Vance says formally.
"yes, sir," Jimmy responds and begins taking off his hat and gloves and getting ready to leave while Director Vance's disconnects. The 2 agents and Dr. Mallard observes Jimmy while he wraps up a few things needed and gets prepared to go.
"thank you so much, Agent Gibbs. Victoria really needs this. I really appreciate it. ill make sure to have the paperwork ready by tomorrow." Jimmy says formally right before he walks out the door.
"Jimmy," Gibbs calls loud after Palmer when he walks out the door. Jimmy immediately runs back into autopsy. He looks shocked. Gibbs never uses his first name, and when Gibbs yells his first name, there must be something completely off.
"yes, sir. Did I miss something?" he asks, concerned, and looks around the room to see if he can detect which error he made.
"Stop being so damn polite." Gibbs orders. Jimmy just looks confused at Gibbs. "go." Gibbs orders and then breaks into a smile along with Jack and Ducky.