-CHAPTER 9-

"Cameron Jenkins? You mean Dr. Jenkins that works here at Bethesda?" Ducky asked in surprise.

Jimmy just nodded his voice quiet and strained as he continued, "He…uh, he's a resident at the hospital…I've had a few classes with him and he's currently on a surgical rotation at Bethesda."

"Oh, dear! Jethro, Dr. Jenkins has been in and out of here all day checking on our young lad here." Ducky said with worry and no small amount of anger.

"Damn it," Gibbs exclaimed angrily, his mind on how many times throughout the day that Palmer's assailant had access to his victim.

"That could explain the restless sleep and agitation." Ducky said, looking at the agent as he flipped open his phone. "The first time it happened…Dr. Jenkins was in the room; Mr. Palmer became agitated at the sound of Cameron Jenkins voice."

Gibbs nodded grimly as he ordered his agents, "DiNozzo, the rest of the Lt.'s apartment will have to wait; gear up and meet me at the hospital."

Palmer had looked on in confusion during the brief exchange between the men, before the meaning of their conversation sunk in to his addled thoughts.

"He was here? CJ's been here!" Jimmy said fearfully.

"It's quite all right, my boy, you've not been alone at any time today." Ducky said, laying a comforting hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "Ziva was with us both for most of the day."

The agent then redialed, "This is Agent Gibbs, NCIS. Connect me with security."

While he waited to be transferred, Gibbs asked. "What kind of car does Jenkins drive?"

"A 1969 Impala…silver-gray," Jimmy answered.

"Why would Jenkins target the Lt.?"

"I don't know…it doesn't make sense…" Jimmy exclaimed in growing agitation. "They were engaged…"

"Cort and Jenkins were engaged?" Gibbs reiterated, "How long?"

"Uh…a few months maybe," Palmer answered slowly.

Turning his attention back to his phone he barked. "Agent Gibbs, NCIS, I need you to locate and detain a Dr. Cameron Jenkins. Call at this number when you have him."

Snapping his phone shut, Gibbs turned back to Jimmy. "How long have they known each other? Did you notice any problems lately? Were they getting along?"

Gibbs ticked off the questions in rapid succession, causing Jimmy to wince at the onslaught of questions.

Jimmy shook his head in a daze, his agitation growing. "I…I don't know…fine. At least, they seemed…I mean I thought they were fine…we were just casual friends…really didn't do much outside of the hospital and class…we've all been out to dinner, ya' know…or late night study sessions…but we didn't hang out. No one had time."

"So, then, you didn't know them well?" Gibbs clarified, while his mind began flipping through new theories. "Why were you with the Lt.?"

"Uh…well, neither of us had to be anywhere til that afternoon and she asked if I wanted to take a drive…"

"Was that an unusual request for her?" Gibbs asked.

Jimmy shook his head slightly. "No…yes, well, sorta. Like I said, we didn't have a lot of free time for socializing. She did ask me about my job at NCIS, asked me if knew any agents."

"How was the Lt. acting; did she seem scared or nervous?" Gibbs prodded.

Jimmy scowled in concentration. "She seemed…well, she did seem a little distracted, maybe a little…well, agitated I guess you'd call it."

"Agitated how?" Gibbs prodded.

"Well, she really wasn't acting scared…I mean she wasn't looking over her shoulder or anything…but she just seemed kind of uptight." Jimmy answered with a shrug.

"Was she angry?"

"No…wouldn't say angry either."

"What exactly would you call it then Palmer?" Gibbs asked with mounting frustration.

"She seemed like she had something on her mind. I don't know, she kept acting like she maybe wanted to talk about something, but didn't know how to start, I guess. " Jimmy said.

"How did Mr. Jenkins feel about Ms. Cort receiving the nomination for the internship?" Ducky asked, his mind conjuring up his own theories.

"We really didn't talk about it much…come to think of it…outside of the day we received the nominations, neither of them mentioned it." Jimmy commented.

"Why not? I thought this nomination was a big deal?" Gibbs asked. "Is there some reason it wouldn't be discussed? Did anything happen that day?"

"They…well; they sort of got into an argument that night. Cameron wanted Shelly to withdraw her name…" Jimmy said hesitantly.

"Was he jealous?"

"Oh, no, just the opposite…he was very proud of her nomination. We all went out to dinner that night to celebrate." Jimmy replied. "That's when the argument started, cause Cameron made the wise crack that the only reason me or Monica had a chance was because his girl would have to drop out of the running."

"So, if he wasn't jealous, what was the problem?"

"Cameron is in line for the chief residency position in surgery here at Bethesda…" Jimmy started to explain. "He and Shelly had just gotten engaged…then the position at Johns Hopkins came up…"

"Throwing a wrench in all their plans," Gibbs surmised.

"Yeah, I guess." Jimmy said quietly. "I don't understand…why do this…she was near the top of the list, sure, but there were other candidates…Shelly wasn't assured the position."

"Answer this; was there any chance Jenkins would have gone with the Lt. if she was awarded the position?" Ducky asked.

"No. That was one sure thing we all knew…Cameron has always had his eye on the Chief residency at Bethesda, since he was an undergrad; something about it being a family tradition. He wouldn't give it up for anything."

"Not even for his fiancée?" Gibbs asked.

After a moment, Jimmy slowly shook his head. "Not even for Shelly."

"That might just be the answer to that question." Ducky said.

"So he won't give up his position at the hospital and won't give up his girlfriend." Gibbs summarized, as he answered his ringing phone. "Gibbs."

"Shelly's dead for a bunch of maybes," Jimmy said sadly.

"I am sorry my boy." Ducky said quietly. "Let's get you settled, you need some rest."

Giving the agent an expectant look Gibbs answered Ducky's unspoken question. "They have him downstairs."

Ducky nodded his understanding as Gibbs turned to leave.

TBC-