Autopsy.
The double doors swish open causing the medical examiner to turn from his desk and smile with welcome at the newest team member. "Officer David. What can I do for you?"
"Special Agent Gibbs sent me down to see if I could assist you. With Abby and Palmer both out sick he thought you could do with an extra pair of hands to help move the body or hand you instruments or take notes or whatever."
"I would be delighted to have you join me." Ducky rises from his chair and crosses to the autopsy table.
"As I am the least screamish it was decided I was the person best suited to the task."
"I think you mean squeamish Ziva and considering what was done to the lieutenant..." he waves a hand over the corpse "and his colleague..." he waves a hand in the direction of the autopsy drawers "that is a very good thing." He starts to look over the instrument tray. "It really was beyond the pale. Both literally and figuratively actually." He gives a small chuckle.
"What?"
"Are you familiar with the expression, Officer David?"
"I have heard of it, yes. It means someone has done something unacceptable. That is one way of looking at murder, I guess."
"I didn't mean that. Do you know where the expression comes from?" Ziva shakes her head. "It's from medieval times. A fortress was built with thick stone walls in a circle. Towers for archers. Massive wooden doors. A moat and a drawbridge. Inside the circle of walls would be a courtyard. When attacked the villagers would race inside, the drawbridge would be raised, the massive doors closed. Everyone inside would be safe."
"I see." She nods and he leans across the table and takes her hand holding it with the palm up. He circles it with a finger.
"All around are the walls, for protection." He stops moving his finger and rests it on the soft center of her palm. "This is the pale."
"So if you are beyond the pale you are an outsider. A threat."
"Exactly Officer David." He smiles at her as he releases her hand.
"I understand what was done to him was 'beyond the pale' in a figurative sense. But you were saying something about literally as well?" She queries with a puzzled frown.
"The body was found behind a children's jumping castle when it was deflated at the end of a festival in a local park. That was just my little joke." He gives a small grin.
Fortunately she is saved from having to comment on this by the ringing of her phone. "Officer David." She listens. "O.K." She hangs up and flips the phone shut. "Gibbs wants me back upstairs. You will have to manage on your own. Sorry doctor."
"That's quite alright my dear." She leaves and Ducky bends over the body. "Not to worry lieutenant. She's better at investigating than she is with American expressions. Now where was I?"