Athena Gibbs ON HOLD

Ravenous

Athena's POV

"Athena, I'm not taking this," Jessica said, trying to push the wad of money back to me. I shook my head and grabbed her hands, "Jess, please. You take care of my son a lot. Sometimes more than I do and I want...no...need you to take this. Jethro and I are grateful that you take care of AK when we have cases." Jess smiled, "I also take care of Jack sometimes. You are Jack's aunt. You are family, Athena. I know that Haley also appreciates you." I smiled and hugged her, "Thank you. Thank you so much, Jess. All of you are lifesavers! I hope that when AK is four or five, he'll be able to go to a daycare or preschool." I shoved the money back in her hands and ran to my car before she could give it back and I looked back to see her shaking her head with a smile.

I parked the car and hurried to Autopsy as Ducky had asked me to sit in on his class. Ducky smiled at me as I hurried in, "Good morning, Mrs. Gibbs. Everyone. Athena will be sitting in on this class, just to supervise." All the new agents looked nervous as I stood there behind Duckman. "This liver shows signs of advanced cirrhosis, clearly consistent with the jaundiced skin we noted earlier. Now if you come closer, you will be able to see the inflammation of the pancreas." I looked over to see Ziva and Tony, smiling at them as Ducky glanced at them, "Oh, hello! Scalpel, please, Mr. Palmer." 

Jimmy handed Ducky the scalpel and Ducky cut part of the organ out to show his class, "Every cadaver has its own story to tell. In many cases, it's just a whisper that reveals..." I walked over to Ziva and Tony and Tony whispered, "All new agents are required to observe an autopsy. You should have seen McGee. Hurled." Ziva looked confused and I smiled, "Threw up all over Ducky's shoes, cousin." Ziva nodded and the three of us focused on Ducky again, "It's not only visual cues we look for. Odors can be helpful too. Note the putrid smell." Ziva glanced at Tony, "I think he's talking about you. Tony." 

I snickered as Tony smelled his armpits and grimaced as a new agent threw up, quite harshly. Ziva didn't look phased, "We had this same test at Mossad. If you fail they terminate you." Tony looked confused, "How do you fail an autopsy?" Ziva gestured to the man who threw up, "By doing that. What happens if you fail here?" Jethro came walking in and kissed my temple, then going to Ducky, "It depends, Officer David. Some of them go on to become our director. Going to have to reschedule your class, Duck. Rangers found a body in Shenandoah Park." 

Ducky looked at Jethro, "Well, perhaps you'd be willing to share the specifics with the class?" Jethro glanced at everyone and Ducky continued, "Yes, the three most frequent causes of death in our national parks are heart attacks, hiking accidents, and prolonged exposure to the elements." I walked over to stand by Jethro and he shook his head, "Not this time. Sailor was eaten. By a bear." Everyone started muttering but I looked excited, "A cute fuzzy American doggie?" Jethro looked at me, "I believe that you need a psych exam, sweetheart." I smiled sweetly and Ziva looked concerned, "Cousin, did you usually pet the bears on Crete?" Jethro walked past her as we all followed him, "Crete doesn't have bears, they have the Cretan Wild Cat, named in Latin is Felis Silvestris Agrius, Greek Fourokattos."

I sighed in remembrance, "Those cute cats wanted so much fish." Tony looked alarmed, "So don't let Mom near a bear?" Jethro nodded, "Yes, DiNozzo. I don't have the space at the house for a black bear." 

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I looked around the site and then looked at the body, "American doggies don't usually eat people, do they?" Tony looked confused, "Haven't you been here for ten years? They are not American doggies?" I blinked, "I've been here for eleven years. But....they aren't house pets usually?" Tony chuckled, "Someone call a hearse because Mom is about to pet that thing. No, they are wild animals, Mom. The American Black Bear. This is yet another reason I never want to go camping."