Title: An Autopsy Gremlin Blues
Author: WriterKos
Rating: FR15
Parings: none
Characters: Jimmy Palmer
Genres: Vignettes, Character Study, Drama
Warnings: none
Summary: One needs to have responsibility to handle the delicate care of an Autopsy Gremlin.

Sequel to "The Last Straw: Tales of Dr. James Palmer M.D."

Chapter 1 – Learn the rules

"This is outrageous!"

Ducky's expletive surprises the agents who look up from their paperwork in the middle of the Monday morning to find a very irate M.E. marching down the corridor, his face red with anger and fury burning brightly in his eyes.

The younger members of the team look at each other with confusion clearly written on their faces before looking again at the usual calm and moderated Scott, who now seems to be in a war path towards the stairs that lead to the Director's office.

Their fearless leader, almost as surprised as his agents, struggles to keep his usual poker face as he stands and stops the growling man before his desk, interrupting his march towards the stairs.

"Something wrong, Ducky?"

"Something is wrong? Everything is wrong! This is madness! The world has gone crazy and I have not been informed of it beforehand."

"What has happened, Ducky, to put you in such terrible state?" Ziva asks, looking worried at the frazzled doctor.

Now that they could look at him carefully, they can see that the usually pristine doctor is all ruffled, as if he had been in a wrestling match, his tie is askew, his hair uncombed but the most striking difference are his eyes. They could see that they are red and blotched, as if he had cried bitterly not too long ago.

"I've arrived this morning for work and I was surprised that Mr. Palmer wasn't there to greet me. As the morning went by, I've got worried as he rarely is so late so I tried to reach him on his cell phone. Perhaps something might have happened to the boy, and it's holding him back making it difficult for him to arrive at work."

"So what? Have you spoken with him?" Gibbs asks not really concerned. Palmer has been acting up lately and even he, who doesn't interact much with the boy, has noticed that.

"No, Jethro, I haven't. His landline phone has been disconnected. His mobile only reaches the voicemail. And then…"

"Then …"

"I've just received this from HR."

Gibbs takes the letter from Ducky's shaking hands, his frown becoming deeper and deeper as its contents are unveiled before his eyes. Gibbs lifts his eyes and looks at his long time friend, finding him struggling to keep his tears in check.

"They've fired the boy, Jethro. They've decided to try to hire another intern in his early years of Med School, because as he has just graduated and they would have to hire him full time in order to keep him here as a Medical Professional and that doesn't fit their budget!" By the last words, Ducky's voice is shaking with fury.

"And you haven't had any idea of this?"

"No! If I've had, I would have tried to speak to the Director. That's not done!" Ducky takes a deep breath. "Oh God, Palmer knew about it! He knew all along!"

Tony goes to Gibbs and silently asks to see the letter, receiving the piece of paper as if it were a snake. Each word feels like a sword hitting his skull, as he had flashes of sad blue eyes in a very thin face looking at him behind wire rims.

"Why do you say that?" McGee stands beside Tony, who silently hands him the letter and soon McGee also pales at the contents of it.

"He tried to tell me." Ducky takes his glasses and starts to obsessively clean the lenses, receiving worried glances from the Tony, Ziva and McGee, who are now looking like lost children who had just lost their best friend.

"He told me that he needed to talk to me. He tried several times, but I've just blown him off, believing it to be related to the case or one of his questions about my stories. He was always so curious and eager to listen to me and he… he was in trouble, Jethro, and I didn't know! I didn't see it! What a terrible person am I!"

"No Ducky, you're wrong. You're not a terrible person. I'm sure that if we speak with the Director this will be sorted out.

"But… I can't reach him. He's not answering his cell phone and his house number has been disconnected… And I'm ashamed to admit that I do not know since when. What have I done, Jethro? I should have talked to the boy. He had been quieter lately, but I've thought it was the usual pressure of ending his grad work, the writing, the extra hours… How could I not see it?"

"We'll sort this out, Ducky." Gibbs say, taking the letter from McGee's slack fingers and marching towards the stairs, eager to have a little chat with Director Vance.