Chapter 10

Three weeks later...

"Mr. Palmer, have a seat," Vance said.

Jimmy sat down nervously.

"As you know, there was a review conducted regarding your role in the rescue of the MCRT, specifically the death of one of our suspects."

Jimmy nodded without speaking. Vance smiled.

"The committee has completed their review and given me their findings based on the evidence collected and on the accounts of the members of the MCRT, as well as Dr. Mallard."

"Yes, Director," Jimmy said.

"The committee came to the conclusion that your actions were appropriate for a situation in which there were few options. There will be no further investigation, and you should consider the matter closed."

"Thank you...sir."

Vance stood up and shook his head. "No, Mr. Palmer. Allow me to thank you for your efforts. As one who is untrained and who had no real backup, you performed admirably."

"I wasn't alone, sir," Jimmy said, standing up as well. "Dr. Mallard was there and he did a lot."

"Yes, I have spoken to him already. Both of you are to be commended for your work."

Vance put out his hand. Jimmy hesitated and then shook it.

"Thank you, sir."

"Now, I believe Dr. Mallard is needing his assistant down in Autopsy."

Jimmy smiled. "I hope so, Director."

Vance returned the smile. "Then, get to it. You're a real asset to NCIS, Mr. Palmer. If you choose to stay after your schooling is done, we will be lucky to have you."

"Thank you, Director Vance!" Jimmy said and let himself out of the office. He hurried down to Autopsy, back to the place he belonged. He hadn't been there in what felt like ages with the review going on. It was too much to hope that he'd be able to work while he waited.

Ducky was there filling out paperwork as he often did at this time of the day. Jimmy walked over to his office.

"Dr. Mallard!"

Ducky looked up. "How did it go, Mr. Palmer?"

Jimmy nodded. "The review committee said that...that it was okay what I did."

"Very good. Timothy called me while you were in your meeting. He would like to talk to us if we have time after work."

"What for? Everyone is getting things ready for his welcome-back party next week."

"I don't know, but I suppose it's something he would like to say without an audience...and he is still mostly homebound under doctor's orders. Even the party next week will have to be toned down quite a bit...and Abigail knows it."

"Okay. I guess it's okay."

Ducky chuckled. "You needn't sound so uncertain, lad. I'm sure that Timothy wants one of two things from us: either to know what else he did while he was delirious or else to thank us again for what we did for him."

"But..."

"Mr. Palmer, it doesn't matter that he's already done so, nor that we've already given him some information about his actions."

Jimmy nodded. "I guess it doesn't. Do you think he's lonely?"

"Perhaps not lonely, but bored...and even as you yourself are still working through all that happened, he may be struggling to come to grips with it as well. You and I are among those who have seen Tim as low as he has ever been."

"And he needs to acknowledge it by forcing himself to talk to us?"

"Not forcing, but allowing himself to talk to us, perhaps even about what happened. Even without memory, the horror of one's experiences can remain."

Jimmy chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment.

"Dr. Mallard?"

"Yes?"

"How did you get so smart?"

"Did you think that I learned nothing from the stories I tell?"

Then, he winked.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tim let them in eagerly enough. He was walking around on his own now, but he was still very obviously unwell. He looked pale and sickly and was taking very strong antibiotics. He was going in for tests every other day it seemed, but the smile he gave them was unfeigned. He gestured for them to sit and he sat down pretty quickly himself.

"I'm not supposed to be exerting myself very much yet," he said.

"It's wonderful to see you on your own two feet, Timothy, for no matter how short a time," Ducky said.

"My aching feet," Tim replied. "I didn't realize what I'd done to my feet until I started walking around for the first time. I guess that's what running through the forest with no shoes will do to you."

"So...do you remember anything else?" Jimmy asked.

Tim shrugged. "Bits and pieces, but not much. Mostly emotions, not events. I do remember feeling guilty."

"About what?" Jimmy asked.

Tim smiled a little. "I got away...and left everyone else there. Now...I know that I couldn't have done anything for them. I wasn't even coherent when I managed to get out of the cabin. Apparently, they forgot to lock the door just once, and that was all I needed. But Ziva said that I told them I'd be back, that I'd come back but that I had to get out because it was so hot."

"That's pretty much all you said when you were delirious," Jimmy said. "You had to get back."

"At least I was consistent," Tim said with a bit of a smile. "Ducky told me about the review. How did it go?"

Jimmy could smile about it a little now. "The committee found that my actions were appropriate. I get to come back to work."

"That's great, Jimmy. Really. I wanted to be able to help somehow with that whole thing, but I just can't remember. I wish I could."

"It's okay, Tim. It doesn't matter...and you don't need to feel guilty for that."

Tim smiled sheepishly. "I know...but you guys did so much for me. I just want to...be able to give that back, but how do you do that when people saved your life?"

"Well...speaking as one of the people," Jimmy said, "you don't worry about it...because you don't have to."

"Yeah...I kind of figured," Tim said. "So...on a different note, has Tony said anything about this party? I'm getting nervous."

Ducky laughed. "It'll be nothing to worry about Timothy. Everyone knows that they'll have to take it easy on you for a while."

"If only I thought that would be enough," Tim said with a mock groan.

"I'll protect you," Jimmy said without thinking.

Tim looked at him seriously. "If I ever doubted it before, Jimmy, I won't doubt it again. Ever."

"You are going to have to show off your scar, though," Jimmy said with a grin. "I think everyone wants to see it."

Tim smiled a little. "It'll be a great trophy later on, but right now, it's still pretty awful looking. Red and all the debridement is pretty obvious."

"Maybe I'll tell Tony to wait for that."

"Good idea."

They chatted for a little while longer and then Tim decided he'd been up for too long and needed to lie down. He was feeling a little lightheaded from the exertion of being upright. Ducky and Jimmy excused themselves with Tim's professions of gratitude following them out of his apartment. Jimmy was thoughtful as they headed back to the car.

"Dr. Mallard, I think I might know another reason Tim wanted us to come over."

"What's that, lad?"

Jimmy thought about how to phrase it right. "Because we've seen him so low...he doesn't have to worry about us being worried about how he looks and how he acts now. He didn't even hesitate to say that he was tired. I think he would have with the others."

"You may be right."

"And I think I know why you wanted me there."

Ducky's expression was the picture of innocence. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah...and I'm glad you wouldn't let me waste my mind."

"I'm glad you allowed me to interfere."

At the car, Jimmy paused for a moment. "Dr. Mallard?"

"Yes, Mr. Palmer?"

"I think that the best thing you ever did for me was hire me to work with you."

"You know what, Mr. Palmer? I think that may be about the best thing I ever did for myself...but next year, you can go to the conference by yourself."

Jimmy laughed and got into the car.

FINIS!