-CHAPTER 8-
Frustration was evident in the clipped stride and scowl on Gibbs face as he strode down the hospital floor. Abby had found nothing new in her investigation of the Lt.'s car and the one clue that Jimmy had managed to give them was not panning out. All three JH candidates had alibis for the time of the accident.
Gibbs entered the hospital room quietly, taking in the scene in one sweep. Jimmy was sleeping somewhat fitfully, while the older doctor dozed in a chair by the bed. Ziva was standing in the far corner by a window, the late evening shadows helping to hide her in the dimly lit room.
"Gibbs." Ziva said, moving out into the room.
"Ziva." he answered as succinctly. "Been quiet?"
"Yes." she reported quietly. "He did have several visitors stop by to check on him…some of the doctors he works with here at the hospital, they mostly talked with Ducky, as Palmer has been sedated for most of the afternoon."
"Tony and McGee are already at the Lt.'s apartment, meet them there…I want every inch of that place gone over." Gibbs ordered.
Accepting the order with a nod, Gibbs noticed a thoughtful look come across his agents face, "Something else?"
"Should we not also check out Palmer's place?" she asked, "Since we do not know for certain if this attack was directed solely at the Lt. or at both of them."
Gibbs nodded. "Good call. Check out both of them."
As Ziva slipped out the door, Gibbs turned to the other two occupants of the room, noticing then that Ducky was awake and watching him.
"So, how goes the investigation?" Ducky asked quietly.
"Slowly," Gibbs huffed in frustration, coming to stand at the foot of the hospital bed. "How's he doin', Duck?"
"As well as can be expected for what he's been through. His physical injuries are not life threatening, he should recover nicely…" Ducky reported, as he rose and fussed over the patient.
"But…" Gibbs prompted.
"Emotionally, it seems, will be another story entirely." Ducky finished, his hand coming to rest lightly on Jimmy's bandaged arm. "As with what we witnessed earlier, he becomes extremely distressed every time he regains consciousness."
"PTSD?" Gibbs asked.
"Possibly; I know that this was a frightful experience…it would be for anyone; but his fear and agitation seem to be somewhat out of proportion to the incident." Ducky mused, looking down at the young man. "He did not show this level of agitation when he was shot at, at the construction site."
"He is on some pretty heavy pain killers Duck, and he's no doubt reliving it in his dreams." Gibbs countered. "He just needs time to get it all straight in his head."
"I suppose your right Jethro…" Ducky mused absently.
Their attention refocused on Jimmy as his fitful sleep was becoming more restless.
Ducky took the young man's hand in his, placing his other on Jimmy's forehead, "Mr. Palmer…Jimmy, Jimmy, wake up for me now…you are in the hospital…you're safe now."
Gibbs moved to the opposite side of the bed to lend his support, "Palmer…wake up."
The soft, yet stern tone seemed to flip a switch and the young man shot straight up out of bed with a startled yell. "No…stop! C. J. …stop….noooo"
"Jimmy!" Ducky exclaimed, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Jimmy, you are all right my boy…calm down, you're in the hospital."
Jimmy was breathing heavily, his eyes darting around the room in fear. Gibbs could clearly see tremors coursing through the young man's body.
"Palmer, you with us," Gibbs asked, reaching out to gently guide the young man's face so their eyes met. "Jimmy look at me."
Jimmy's wide eyes slowly locked onto Gibbs, as he slowly came back to himself.
"Agent Gibbs?" he croaked out in confusion before turning to his mentor, who was still holding his shoulders. "Dr. Mallard?"
"That's it my boy…now let's lay you back down…" Ducky said as he gently pushed Jimmy back down onto his bed, fussing with the bedclothes then turning to his monitors.
"These nightmares are keeping you from a proper rest lad; we must get you something to sleep."
Palmer just turned away from the doctor, closing his eyes tight against the thoughts running through his head.
"They're not just nightmares are they Jimmy?" Gibbs prodded. "You remember something, don't you?"
Jimmy felt trapped, his mentor on one side of his bed Gibbs on the other and his memories assaulting him whether awake or asleep.
He brought his injured arms up to either side of his head in an attempt to hide from everything, "No…just…no. I don't want to think about it." Jimmy pleaded.
Gibbs gently took Palmer's arms and pried them away from his face, his voice quiet yet commanding. "Look at me Palmer. What is it you remember? Did you see who did this…do you know who it was that ran you and the Lt. off the road? Who is CJ?"
Jimmy slowly opened his eyes to look at the older agent and Gibbs was momentarily taken back by the raw emotion in the young man's eyes.
"Why? Why would he do this…?" Jimmy whispered hoarsely.
"Who Palmer; who did this," Gibbs pressed quietly.
"He loved her…he said he loved her…he was my, I thought he was my friend…" Jimmy's voice was barely a whisper, so choked with emotion.
Palmer was suddenly lost in the memory, "It was the car; would recognize the car anywhere…he treats it like a baby. I saw the car coming up really fast behind us. I thought how strange it was because he was on call at the hospital…then…then; the car rammed us. After that I really don't remember much."
Ducky and Gibbs exchanged knowing glances, realizing now why Jimmy was so traumatized by the accident. Palmer knew the assailant…knew him well enough to consider him a friend; and this friend had tried to kill him: did kill the woman next to him."
"Did you see his face...are you certain?" Gibbs pressed.
"It was the car! It was his car...I saw his car..." Jimmy exclaimed angrily his agitation causing machines to loudly sound out the spike in his respiration and heart rate.
Taking the distraught young man's head in his hands, Gibbs looked Jimmy in the eye and asked gently. "Jimmy, calm down...just tell us who you say; tell me his name Palmer."
"Cameron, Cameron Jenkins." Jimmy huffed out breathily.
TBC-