A/N I apologize for the wait. And for this chapter, I am not a science person so describing the autopsy is difficult. I have two more updates that will probably come out by the end of this week.
Chapter 9
"Duck, what'dya have for me?" Gibbs walked into autopsy. Two bodies were out on the slabs. The one on the far right that had sustained more damage in the fire had it's chest cavity open. Ducky was hovering over the other body contemplating his next move.
Doctor Mallard looked away from the cadaver. "Jethro, we have a problem. I cannot seem to perform an autopsy on this body." Ducky was very troubled. Next to him was a medical tray with various autopsy instruments that were bent and broken in all sorts of ways. "If my visual identification was not enough evidence for whom this man really is, then my broken instruments," Ducky gestured at the tray, "are more proof that this man is Superman! How can I be expected to perform an autopsy on a body that I cannot-"
Gibbs surveyed the situation, "I'll work on that."
Stopping mid-tirade, Ducky shared a glance with Gibbs. "Do tell Jethro."
"What about our Marine?" Gibbs tilted his head towards the other body, abruptly redirecting the conversation. Ducky turned towards the dead marine, "Finger printing was difficult but we got a partial print, I sent it up to Abby to confirm that the dog tags found on the body are a match. Its always difficult to obtain finger prints from a burn victim, so I..."
"Duck," Gibbs interrupted Ducky, "cause of death?"
"Ahh, yes, very well. Our marine didn't die in the fire. There is no evidence of smoke inhalation." Ducky took out an x-ray and put it up on the overhead. "There was something quite peculiar in the x-ray." Flipping a switch on the overhead, the x-ray lit up. "It seems our marine has an anomaly in his stomach."
Gibbs looked over Ducky's shoulder at the x-ray. "See? It's here. In the stomach." Ducky pointed to a small white blip on the x-ray where the lower intestine would be.
"I was waiting for Mister Palmer to arrive before I ascertained the identity of the object and what damage it did on our marine." Just then the automatic doors slid open and Jimmy Palmer walked in. "Ah Mister Palmer, glad you could join us."
"Sorry Doctor Mallard I was-" Jimmy started to explain. "It's all very well Mr. Palmer, but I need your assistance in examining this body." Ducky interrupted Jimmy, and gestured for him to put on his medical gear.
"Now without further ado," Ducky picked up a medical instrument to sift through the stomach of the dead body. Gibbs came up behind Ducky to observe the procedure while Jimmy stood opposite of Doctor Mallard.
"Gotcha," Ducky pulled out the anomaly and brought it to eye level. All three men's eyes were glued to the object.
"Is that what I think it is." Palmer stuttered out.
Ducky and Gibbs shared a look. Gibbs looked back at the green crystal-like rock that, despite it having blood on it, was easily recognizable."It's Kryptonite"