Jimmy Palmer: Now, I know it seems like some people have it much easier while others have it much rougher, but, uh... I think it's safe to say that there's no one who's had a tougher life than Agent Gibbs.
Timothy McGee: [entering the squad room] How does it sound? Reception still good?
Ellie Bishop: Shh.
Jimmy Palmer: Believe it or not, his wife and his young daughter were both killed on the same day. But you never hear him mention it. No, he just... buries himself in his work. And he builds boats in his basement. He'll kiss Abby on the forehead once in a while, but h-he's not exactly a hugger, you know. At least he's never hugged me. We all rely on him so much. That man has the weight of the world on his shoulders. You'd never know it. I really worry about him. But a... as tough as Gibbs is, on my darkest day, when our adoption fell through, Ryan... I lost my kid. Gibbs was the one who comforted me most.
[flashback]
Jimmy Palmer: Take it you heard.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Mm-hmm.
Jimmy Palmer: Yeah, she, uh, she saw the baby and just... I guess she felt the same way we felt when we first saw him. Can't fault her for that, right?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: You should go home.
Jimmy Palmer: I will. Yeah, Breena and I, we just wanted to get all this stuff out of the house, you know. We wanted to give it back as soon as possible.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: We?
Jimmy Palmer: Me. She's hurting, too, but she, uh... she is so much stronger. She's ready to try again. And, uh... and me, I feel like I can't breathe. I've never felt this bad in my life, Gibbs.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Ah. Just wait until it's 3:00 in the morning and your kid's running 104. You're just getting started.
Jimmy Palmer: No, that's the point. I'm not starting. You know? And... maybe I never will.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Well, then fight for it, Palmer. That's what you do. You fight for your family. And sometimes you fight like hell just to have one.
Jimmy Palmer: You want me to fight? I feel like I just went ten rounds with Joe Louis.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Do you want to be a dad, Palmer? Because right now, this is being a dad.
Jimmy Palmer: Maybe I'm not ready.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: You wouldn't feel the way you feel right now if you weren't ready.
[return to present]
Jimmy Palmer: And Gibbs was right. The best advice I've ever gotten. Hugs or no hugs, I... I will never forget his kindness that day. He cared. And Ryan, as tough as your father was, I'm sure if you think about it, you think of many times where he was just as kind.
