NCIS Squad Room.
As she tries to concentrate on the old case files Gibbs had given her to review the newest member of the team finds herself becoming distracted as part of a conversation she recently overheard repeats in her mind. What should I do about this? Do I need to do anything? After all information is power and having such information on a colleague could come in quite handy one day. Then again by telling Gibbs it would be another way of proving her loyalty to NCIS. Maybe it would help her to gain the trust of the other team members too. Naturally Jenny and Gibbs were accepting of her place here but she can still feel the resentment from the others especially DiNozzo. Unfortunately her presence cannot help but be a constant reminder of the absence of Kate and the reason for that absence. She sighs and continues reading.
Abby's Lab.
"Psst, Abby. Psst." Abby jumps and then turns to glare at Jimmy who is standing in the doorway.
"Sorry." He walks into the room.
"What is it Palmer?"
He looks around. "Well. Um. You see..."
"Jimmy!" She continues to glare but then seeing that he is obviously agitated smiles and softens her tone. "Come on Jimmy tell Auntie Abby what the problem is."
"It's Ziva."
"Why? What's Officer David done now?"
"I feel like she's watching me."
Abby chuckles. "Watching you?"
"Yes. This whole last week. Before that she was friendly. Like if we ran into each other in the elevator or at the vending machines she'd say Hi or ask how I'm doing you know stuff like that. But ever since Monday when she came down to pick up the Dawson file I feel like she's been watching me and she's not smiled once."
Abby smiles at him. "Oh, Jimmy I'm sure you're just imaging things. Officer David is a trained Mossad operative and I guess being on the alert all the time is a good skill for a killer."
"Hmm. I guess you're right. Thanks Abby." He leaves and she returns to her microscope.
NCIS Squad Room. Late That Evening.
Ziva looks up from her desk and discovering she and Tim are the only ones left in the office crosses the room to his desk. "McGee."
"What is it Ziva?"
"I have a problem and I need your help."
"Sure."
"It is about Dr Mallard's assistant." She looks around the room nervously.
"Jimmy?"
"Yes."
"But he's a great assistant. We went through a couple after Gerald was..." McGee stops a little embarrassed.
"Shot by Ari. I know." She grins ruefully at him.
"It's not everyone who can handle the gore and working with Ducky has it's own set of challenges no doubt. So what is the problem with Jimmy?"
"I think he is a alone fish."
"An alone fish?" McGee stares up at her puzzled and thinking hard.
"Yes. An alone fish. You know a guy who loans out money with exorbitantly high interest and hurts people who are unable to pay him back."
"Oh, you mean a loan shark." McGee laughs. "And you think Jimmy is one?"
"Yes or he might be being blackmailed."
"Why do you think this Ziva?"
"When I went down to Autopsy the other day I heard Jimmy talking on the phone and he was telling someone to break a leg. That certainly sounds like the behavior of a loan shark or someone being threatened to me. To be honest I was surprised. Does NCIS not do any kind of checking on its employees?"
"Of course we ! Oh! I think I know what happened." McGee laughs.
"What!"
"Jimmy was telling me the other day about his niece's school play. It's a fundraiser and he's been trying to sell tickets to everyone."
"So?"
"So, Ziva. The concert was on Monday night and I know he was worried about her performance. He couldn't go so I'm guessing he was calling to wish her good luck."
"And what does this have to do with breaking someones legs?"
"I'm betting he was talking to his niece and said 'break a leg' which is a theatrical expression meaning good luck."
"Oh. That makes sense. Good night McGee."
"Good night." Tim waits until the elevator doors close before he bursts into unrestrained laughter. The idea of Jimmy Palmer as an alone fish was simply too ridiculous for words.
NCIS Elevator. The Next Morning.
"Good morning Jimmy." She smiles at him as she enters.
"Good morning Ziva." They ride in silence for a moment then the doors open and she steps out calling back over her shoulder "Have a nice day."
"You too." It is several seconds before he picks his jaw off the floor and heads to Autopsy.