A/N Wow thank you all for your reviews. I haven't forgotten my other stories. still have some research to complete before i can write the next chapter of both Where I belong and Abandoned and Alone.

Disclaimer, Psst! come here! It's not mine, but i know a guy who can get it cheap!

Chapter 2

"Mr. Palmer?" Ducky queried at the look on his young assistants face.

"Dr. Mallard. I….I'm sorry I didn't mean to," He bent quickly and picked up the scalpel, which he had now dropped for the second time.

"I know Jethro can be a big disconcerting to people who meet him for the first time, but he really is a lovely man," Ducky said

Jimmy turned away, "Yeah, I bet he's a saint," He said under his breath and continued cleaning up.

The day continued as normal, luckily Gibbs had not come back into autopsy, in truth Gibbs had been unnerved by his effect on the young medical examiners assistant, he wracked his brains but he was convinced he didn't know the boy, but the look of recognition, horror and a touch of hatred had shocked Jethro to the core. His gut was nagging at him; something was, as Abby would have put it 'Hinky.' However, they still had a case to deal with and he knew that working for NCIS meant the boy had had a thorough background check so Ducky was not in any danger. In addition, right now he was still obsessed with finding the terrorist who had broken into NCIS a month before and had injured Gerald.

Jimmy finished his shift and bumped into Abby on his way out, "Hey Jimmy, you still coming bowling tonight, I have most of Team Gibbs going,"

Jimmy's face fell, "I…I can't tonight, I have a test tomorrow." He admitted slightly grateful that he had a real excuse although he still had his evening job to do first.

"Oh, OK. Good luck for your test," Abby said brightly as she exited the elevator on Gibbs' floor.

He rode the rest of the way down and walked to the bus stop, His car had broken down again and parts were way down on his list of priorities right now. He stopped in an internet café, ordered a coffee and some time on a computer, and emailed his mother, as he was wont to do each week.

This week would be different, he told his mother about his new job and how he had seen Leroy and what his first impressions of him were.

It was the last part of the email that was hardest to write and admit, "Mom, I'm scared." He had admitted, "He doesn't seem to know me, so he can't have talked to Dad, so he still doesn't know where I am and as always Mom, I love you for not telling him and allowing me to have my life. But what if he tells or finds out; I need this job for my future."

He waited knowing that his mom was waiting for the email and would answer him straight away.

He was right within a few minutes Eunice had emailed him back.

'Jimmy,

Do not worry, I saw your father today, he still has no idea where you are or that I know where you are. I know he has not had any contact with his son so chances are Leroy does not know about you. I am proud that you are using my name and following your own path and I know that when Jackson stops being so stubborn he will realize how wonderful a son you are and although he does miss Leroy I know in his own way he misses you too. Do not blame Leroy for any of this it is not his fault. Maybe one day you will be able to tell him that you are his brother and he will be as proud of you as I am.

I love you lots son,

Eunice. Xx

Jimmy looked at the email, filed it away, closed down his session on the computer, and headed to work.

Team Gibbs walked out of the bowling alley triumphant, Even Gibbs had to admit to Ducky as they left that this had been a good idea of Abby's, They had raised about $500 for the 'new roof fund' at Sister Rosita's church and had had a welcome break from all the doom and gloom of their job.

Abby walked up to Gibbs and looped her arm through his, "It's a pity Jimmy couldn't come, he has a test tomorrow." She said as they entered a bar on the corner from the bowling alley.

"Maybe next time Abbs," Gibbs said, his gut still bothered him about Jimmy but he was not about to dampen her enthusiasm.

They walked up to the bar and ordered their drinks. Abby turned with hers in her hand when he face fell, she saw jimmy sitting in a back booth in the corner, and eyes closed leaning back.

She slammed her drink on the bar and stormed over to her friend. Gibbs, Tony and Tim looked up in surprise at her change in demeanor.

"James Palmer! You lied to me!" She stated and he jumped scared.

"Dad! I….." He started and realized where he was, his shoulders slumped with relief as he realized it was Abby speaking. "Abby, you scared the hell outta me," he smiled getting to his feet.

"Oh no you don't Mister!" Abby said pushing him back into his seat, "You lied to me!"

"I…Abbs I didn't lie, I'm just…" He stopped as a voice came from the back of the bar.

"Jimmy! These dishes ain't gonna wash 'emselves boy! You want that room you get ya ass in gear!" a gruff voice came from behind a door.

Jimmy shot Abby a pleading look, "Sorry Abbs I have to go." He said and walked out the back. The owner of the voice emerged and Tony walked up to him, "I'm sorry if we got your employee into trouble, we were just asking him a question."

Mac chewed his unlit cigar and looked Tony up and down. The old man was greasy, overweight, and mean. Even Tony felt threatened. However, Mac put on a fake grin.

"Sorry about the boy, ya know what homeless kids are like, he ain't bad really, and I like to help, he just works for food and a bed out back." He said gesturing in the direction of the basement door behind him. "Little loopy in the head, reckons he's in medical school," The man chuckled, "Has books and everything."

Ducky walked up to him, "Mr. Palmer IS in medical school and he works with me during the day."

"Who?" The man looked confused, "His name ain't Palmer, Its Jimmy Jackson."

The group looked at each other concerned.

"Duck, we need to talk to him." Gibbs said

"I believe you are right Jethro," Ducky said, "However, I feel that all of us bombarding Mr. Palmer with questions may have the opposite effect than the one we desire to create. Maybe if I talked to him." He suggested.

For some reason Gibbs didn't want to leave it but he listened to Ducky and he did know the boy better than him, "We can't leave him here Ducky, Abby said he had exams tomorrow and he looks already beat,"

Gibbs turned to Mac, "I wanna see Mr. Jackson now."

Mac's expression turned sour, "He ain't got time to chat to friends if he wants a bed." He snapped.

Gibbs flashed his badge hoping it would help the man allow them to talk. But Mac lost it.

"JIMMY!" He yelled, "Grab ya stuff"

Jimmy came out looking bemused but holding two bags one of books and one of clothes.

"Ya in trouble with the law this guy has a badge, I don't need that kinda trouble your outta here." He said shoving him towards the door. Jimmy tripped down the steps, grabbed his belongings, and put them back in his bag.

"Mr. Palmer, we were just trying to help," Ducky said.

"Just wanted to talk to you Palmer, That's all," Gibbs said.

Jimmy rolls his eyes, "And yet again YOU destroy my life!" he grabbed his bags and walked off.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gibbs asked Ducky confused, "I hardly know him." He was getting mad now.

Ducky calmed Gibbs down and sent him home, "I will catch up with our Mr. Palmer, he can stay with me tonight, and Mother is out of town, I will talk to him."

Gibbs nodded, he had no idea why Jimmy seemed to dislike him so much, and he knew he was gruff but had hardly said two words to the young man and as far as he knew, had never ruined his life.

Jimmy found himself crying as he walked, angrily blinking back the tears.

"Bloody Leroy," He snapped to himself as he pulled his bag up over his shoulder and turned the corner heading back to the homeless shelter he had vacated a month before.

Ducky pulled up beside him and called his name, but Jimmy ignored him.

"Mr. Palmer please wait!" Ducky said.

Jimmy sniffed and turned, Although Ducky had only known the young man a few days his heart hurt to see the boy so sad.

"Jimmy, please." Ducky said.

"I'm sorry Dr. Mallard, I will be into work tomorrow," Jimmy promised and walked into the shelter.

He knew Ducky wanted to talk and that he had felt bad about getting him tossed out of his bedsit, but he really wasn't ready to share and wasn't about to tell Ducky that Gibbs was the brother he had learned to hate.

The next morning bags in tow, Jimmy arrived at Autopsy. He quietly got to work hoping that the events of last night had been forgotten.

Any thoughts of a normal day were blown aside as Ducky rushed into the office, "Mr. Palmer, we need my bag," He called.

"Here it is Dr. Mallard" Jimmy said and passed it over.

"Good, Good. We need to head out to Bethesda; one of the Team has been shot." Ducky said as they left.

Jimmy was worried, he liked the team and really did not want anyone hurt but every time he tried to find out who it was that had been hurt Ducky seemed to be on the phone talking to people. Therefore, he knew he had to wait until he arrived at the hospital.

Jimmy was relieved as he turned a corner to find Tony leaning against the wall, he liked him and hoped one day that they could be good friends.

"They're taking him into surgery Ducky; He's with him now he shouldn't be long." Tony said, "He was down visiting." He explained to the older man who nodded understanding.

Ducky gathered them together as he waited for the doctor to explain what had happened.

Two men emerged and walked towards the group, Jimmy could not see who they were but he expected to find out soon.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Hendry, as you know Agent Gibbs was shot, he's just being anesthetized and I will be operating on him soon, but it looks like he will be alright. I just wanted to put your mind at ease,"

"Thanks." Ducky said and the others started to drift towards chairs to await their boss's fate.

As the crowed dispersed a voice from Jimmy's nightmares boomed across the waiting room.

"JAMES ALVIN GIBBS, COME HERE!"

Jimmy stood up and started to walk backwards away from the voice as the other heads looked up.

"Did he just say Gibbs?" Kate asked.

Tony and Abby nodded dumbly.

Jimmy looked wide-eyed into the face of his father.

"Dad….I…" He stuttered.