This little chappy is for Jackie. Hope you like it!

Chapter 6: Double Identity

Name: Catherine Palmer

Age: 9

Parents: James (Jimmy) and Jacqueline Palmer

Summary: In her eyes, Cate's dad is a superhero.

What makes a superhero?

One, you need to have a super power, duh.

Two, you need to have a costume.

Three, a nickname.

Four, a damsel in distress; a Mary Jane to your SpiderMan.

And five, a second identity.

Well, my dad might not be flying around D.C. laser-beaming monsters and moving mountains, but he does have all the requirements.

His power, he speaks for the dead, at least that's what Ducky told me they do. Now its no super strength or invisibility, but I think its pretty cool. I mean how many people can say their dad lets dead people tell their side of the story? Okay, for al of you that have Medical Examiners as dad's, you can put your hands down, I was just making a point.

Costume, check. He's got his scrubs. Which, in my opinion, is a lot better than Speedos over brightly covered tights, and a lot manlier.

Agent Dinozzo gave him the nickname, long before I was born, even before mom and dad got married. He calls him the Autopsy Gremlin. I think it's a pretty cool name. Its just flows; "Look! It's Autopsy Gremlin, here to save the day!"

My mom's got the damsel in distress part in her pocket. They met during a case. My uncle was killed by a bad guy before I was born, my dad was working the case, they bumped into each other and my mom said it was love at first sight. And my dad helped identify her brother's killer when he found the bad guys blood on my uncle's hands. And my mom always says he's her hero.

And lastly, there's the double identity. At first, I had trouble with this, but then I noticed how he acts with my mom and I and then with Agent Gibbs' team.

Around us, he's funny and talkative and confident. But as soon as he's in front of one of The Agents, he goes white and starts stuttering or says the wrong thing at the wrong time. I don't know why. But aren't al superheroes like that? They're all nerdy and awkward until they put their mask on?

I guess we're his mask. He's a different person in front of us. He's my dad in front of us. And he's Palmer in front of The Agents.

So there you have it, my dad has all the requirements of a superhero.

'Cept for maybe an evil nemesis. I guess Agent Dinozzo can fill that space.

Yes? No? Maybe so?

Oh! And I'm working on the Rule 9 sequel as we speak.