Gibbs stopped outside of the director's office and sipped his coffee, surveying his team. It did appear that they were actually getting paperwork done and that it wasn't just an excuse to be at the office when the director arrived. He took a deep breath. Jenny's front might be firmly in place but he doubted it would stay that way long. She was still so fragile under the surface, he wished that she would stop pretending that it was over.

He took another draw of coffee. No way he could focus on paperwork, of all things, right now. Walking over to the elevator, he punched the down button. He would go see Ducky. No doubt the older man was anxious to hear about how the director was doing. The medical examiner was the only one who knew he and Jenny were married, but thank God he could be trusted to keep a secret. In fact, he had been the witness at their wedding seven months ago.

The elevator seemed extra slow today and Gibbs shifted impatiently as he waited for it to reach the basement. Stepping off the elevator he was greeted with the familiar double beep and whoosh of the motion sensored autopsy door sliding open. A look inside revealed Dr. Mallard and Jimmy Palmer leaning casually over one of the cold, metal autopsy tables, conversing about the dead body laying there.

Dr. Mallard turned at the sound of the doors. "Oh, Jethro! Good morning. Did we get a case?"

Gibbs shook his head. "No Duck, just thought I'd come down and see how you two were making out."

Ducky gave him a look that did not buy his excuse. "Mr. Palmer and I were just going over this John Doe again to see if our friend was keeping any secrets from us. But alas, I believe he has told us all he can."

Gibbs nodded. Ducky was always talking about his patients as if they were still alive and conversed with them like they could tell him what had happened. It was not unusual anymore. There was silence for several moments while Gibbs and Ducky regarded each other and Jimmy looked back and forth between them.

Finally Ducky turned to Jimmy. "Uh, Mr. Palmer..."

It took Jimmy a second but then he understood. "Of course Doctor, privacy. I think I'll go see if Abby needs help with those tissue samples." With that he made a quick exit.

Ducky turned and leaned against the table. "What can I do for you Jethro?"

Gibbs rubbed his forehead. "Just wanted to let you know about Jenny, Duck."

Ducky nodded. "Ah. Yes I had heard. Terrible thing that happened. I should like a crack at the charlatan myself. How is she doing?"

Gibbed started pacing. "Fine. At least, that's what she says every time I ask her even though she knows I don't believe a word of it. She's acting like nothing happened Duck, trying to pretend there are no long-term consequences. But she doesn't want me to touch her, there are marks all over her from what that dirtbag did to her and she has this haunted look in her eyes, like she's constantly living in the memories."

"Ah, I see. Well, it's to be expected that she wouldn't want to dwell on the events, nor the villain who orchestrated them. Is she at home today?"

"No Duck, that's the thing. She came to work today! I told her there was no reason to rush, but she insisted. And you know Jenny, there's no talking her out of anything once she's made up her mind."

Ducky chuckled. "Yes, well, she can be rather obstinate now, can't she?"

Gibbs finished his coffee and tossed the empty cup in the garbage can. "More than you know Ducky."

Ducky regarded his friend carefully. "And how are you doing Jethro?"

"Me?" Gibbs questioned. "Fine Duck. At home I try to be gentle with her, supportive, patient. At work I'm Special Agent Gibbs unless her office door is closed. I can only do as much as she lets me."

"You mistake my meaning Jethro. I'm asking how are you doing with this whole situation."

Gibbs glared in Ducky's direction. It was definitely a dangerous thing to have a close friend who also had a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology. "Get to the point Duck."

"I'm simply saying Jethro, that you must have your own feelings about this situation. After all, she is your wife."

"Well of course I'm angry Duck! Dang it!" he slapped his hand down on the nearest table. "She's my wife! I'm supposed to be able to protect her! And even after we found her, I couldn't take a minute to be with her because that wasn't my job right then and because nobody is supposed to know that we're married!"

Ducky was content to observe as Jethro had his rant. The older man knew his friend just needed someone to listen, even if they didn't say anything at all.

"When I got home that night and saw her, all I wanted to do was hold her until everything was alright again. But I have to be so careful when I touch her. I can't kiss her right now, there is no chance of anything more than that for who knows how long and she won't let me in. How the heck am I supposed to help if she won't let me in or talk to me?"

"Jethro, you are not a very patient man. With boats yes, with people no. But this time you will have to force yourself to be patient with her. There is no rushing the healing process when someone has been through what Jennifer has. Don't push her. Talk to her, do things for her, reassure her of your affection. She needs to rebuild her trust in men, my friend, and you are just the person for that task. You know her better than any of us do."

Gibbs sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I know Duck. But I'm just so angry at what happened to her. I think I'll hit the shooting range for awhile." He placed a hand on Ducky's shoulder. "Thanks Ducky."

"Anytime Jethro. You always know where to find me."

Jimmy Palmer walked into the lab and was greeted by loud death metal music and the sight of their resident forensic scientist Goth in a white and black blouse, high black boots and a plaid mini skirt with chains criss-crossing the sides.

"Hey Abby," he smiled.

"Jimmy!" Abby spun around and gave him one of her patented 'Abby hugs'. "What are you doing up here? Don't tell me you and Ducky ran out of bodies?"

"Well, we only have one mystery right now. Did you finish with those tissue samples we sent up earlier from the John Doe?"

Abby gave him a look. "Jimmy, don't you know that I would've called you if I found something? I don't just keep discoveries to myself." She raised an eyebrow, "Are you that bored that you came up a whole flight of stairs to ask about tissue samples?"

"Well, uh," he laughed awkwardly, "Dr. Mallard and Agent Gibbs are in Autopsy right now and umm, they needed a moment alone, so I thought I'd come and say hi."

"What is Gibbs doing in Autopsy if you have no new bodies?" Abby demanded, hands on her hips.

"Um, I think it might have something to do with the director. You see -"

But Abby cut him off, holding up one hand. "Hold on a minute Palmer, you mean the director is here today?"

"I'm not, I'm not sure, to be honest. I left before they said much."

"Uhhh, Palmer!" Abby complained, "Didn't you ever eavesdrop as a kid? That's how you learn all that useful information your parents will never tell you." Jimmy opened his mouth to speak but Abby made the motion for silence. "Uh-uh. Zip it. I'm going to get my information from a more reliable source."

Jimmy stood in the center of the lab, feeling both forgotten and unnecessary, while Abby picked up her cell phone and dialed a number.

"DiNozzo."

"Tony?"

"Hey Abs, what's up?"

"Don't you 'hey Abs' me like there's nothing unusual about today. Is the director here or not?"

"Umm, yeah Abby, she got in, I don't know, maybe 45 minutes ago. Why?"

"Why? Why didn't you call me? I have to go see how she's doing! I have a present here for her and everything. Thanks Tony, I'll be right up."

She hung up before Tony got to say goodbye and spun around to look at Jimmy. "You, out. Back to Autopsy Jimster. I am on a mission."

"Abby, please don't send me back, not yet. Not while Agent Gibbs is still there. He is...he scares me."

Abby looked at him wide-eyed. "Palmer! How can you say that about Gibbs? He is not scary, he's just...intense. He probably hasn't had enough coffee yet this morning. Go on, leave. I have to go!"

"Abby, what am I supposed to do if they're still in there?"

She shook her pigtails, running out of patience for the nervous assistant. "I don't know Jimmy. Pace in the hallway or something. Gotta go!"

Abby grabbed a small box off her desk and headed for the elevator, leaving a very unsure medical examiner's assistant to take the stairs.