Chapter 35
He managed to sleep, it wasn't the most restful sleep, since he wanted to keep tabs of his surroundings, but he was used to getting by with little rest.
The morning came and he woke, he stayed still for a moment, feeling his enviroment with his other senses. Then he stood from the bed, slowly. Tony was sleeping, still on the same position, leaning against the headboard.
He grabbed his bag and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
He took off his clothes and bandages, and stepped in to the shower. He turned on the hot water and let the warmth relax his muscles.
Twenty minutes later he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He dried himself and put on a long sleeved light blue button-down shirt, black pants and black shoes. He brushed his teeth and got out of the bathroom.
Tony was already awake and stretching.
" Man, my back is not happy with me. " They heard a pop coming from Tony's back. " Morning Gremlin. "
" Good Morning Tony. "
Tony walked in to the bathroom and Palmer put his bag on his bed. He walked over to the window and pulled up the blinds, the sunlight filling the room and warming his skin. He closed his eyes and repeated a series of breathing exercises that his masters on the Order taught him, to clear and focus the mind.
He was already sitting on the bed waiting to leave when Tony left the bathroom.
" Ready to hit the road Jimmy? "
" Ready when you are Tony. "
" Great, we'll stop to get some breakfast before heading over to work. "
They left the room, and got in Tony's car. Five minutes later they stopped at a coffee shop. Tony said for him to get in the line and get the coffee.
Tony waited for Palmer to be a bit further away from him, but still in his line of sight, he then picket his phone and called Gibbs.
" Yes, DiNozzo? "
" Morning Boss! Just calling to check in, we stopped for coffee and we'll be going straight for NCIS. Did you guys find anything else? "
" McGee is looking into the story he gave us, Abby is working on his clothes and Ziva is looking at the evidence from his apartment. You got anything? "
" Nothing but the knowledge that Autopsy Gremlin has very impressive reflexes. "
" Meaning? "
" Meaning when I got close to him while he was sitting in his bed distracted, he jumped me, I was on the floor and immobilized before I even knew what happened. I don't think even Ziva could be that fast. Don't tell her I said that. "
Gibbs was quiet for a second.
" What else? "
" He apologized. Said he was startled and just 'reacted'. But I'm not so sure. "
" You think he has training? "
" From those moves. Serious training. You had to see it, even injured, he was so fast it took me a moment after I was already on the floor to process I was down. I couldn't even describe how he did it. "
" Just get here. " Said Gibbs, hanging up.
Tony pocketed his phone and stood by the door. Ten minutes later, both of them were in the car, on their way to the NCIS building.