Author's Note: The inspiration for this segment is from Vincent Van Gogh's painting, Starry Night, followed by Tracy Byrd's Keeper of the Stars.
The last installment of 'Always on the Run' included: media fascination with the new "Presidential Body;" the demands of emergency travel; internal shakeups in the White House; arguments; agreements/romantic entanglements; and, confirmation of a life-changing event for both Jethro and Suzanne Gibbs.
As always, please enjoy and feel free to leave comments and suggestions.
The Gibbs' celebrated 7 months of marriage with an interesting milestone: Suzanne became pregnant. The newlywed suspected weeks before, pinpointing the symptoms to everything else. Due to their often conflicted schedules-late night calls from the White House to extended cases for NCIS-when was a conception date even possible?
"She's pregnant." Jethro said matter-of-factly with a smile. "We're going to have a baby…" He paused momentarily, rotated his eyes back and forth in disbelief. He chuckled and continued reading the keyboard.
The team could not believe the smile on Jethro's face, the look in his eyes. It was of hope, optimism. Jethro Gibbs openly displayed his happiness. Marriage number 5 to Suzanne Gibbs, nee McNamara, disproved the general 'functional mute' theory for their Supervisory Special Agent. For the Boss' flinty persona was Suzanne's wry timing. In their various congratulations, it was her zinger—'Guess I found my M.O.S…'—that comforted Jethro for the transition.
It was no accident me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew
Now I just can't believe you're in my life
Heaven's smilin' down on me
As I look at you tonight
"Is that new?" Eleanor Bishop commented, handing the boss a file, smiling for the simple reason he, too, was content. She noticed a reproduction on his desk. Overhead was a small reproduction of a Van Gogh painting. A latest picture sat on his desk, an unofficial White House photo with her standing at the podium answering questions, a twinkle in her eyes and wide-grin. Her 30 was a very mature, settled. The age fooled many, as she spoke eloquently about workplace experience. Her attitude for life was worldly but not too worldly. Shannon's visit helped. The visit helped, the blessing from his beloved to pursue Suzanne, to allow allowed closure and permitted him to love one more time in his life. without guilt
"Van Gogh-Starry Night." Gibbs chuckled. "She bought it when she was in Avignon."
Before, he was not one for providing descriptive stories. Since marriage, he was eager to share how he acquired the artwork.
"Susie's story came out, felt trapped after being mobbed at Starbucks for coffee after a junket." Jethro softly chuckled.
"I remember." Ellie nodded. "She and the President couldn't go for a run due to security factors." Jethro stared at the pictures, particularly the honeymoon picture. Briefly, he reminisced-courtship, first kisses, their wedding, their first union as husband and wife. The song continued in the background and images came to mind.
Soft moonlight on your face oh how you shine
It takes my breath away
Just to look into your eyes
I know I don't deserve a treasure like you
There really are no words
To show my gratitude
His smile grew, thinking of the gentle touching, admiring glances on their first night together. Jethro recollected how beautiful she looked in the moonlight, even in daybreak, their first morning as husband and wife. The first morning where Suzanne, finally, communicated on their honeymoon without resistance or fear stood out.
"Oh, don't be shy, baby…" His calloused hands caressed her cheek. A simple finger pulled her chin upward. Their eyes met.
"I love you, Suzanne." Jethro whispered softly in her ear.
""I love you, too, Jethro."
Their lovemaking was passionate, tender and occurred more than once and throughout the first day. They spent their honeymoon learning of one another. Suzanne blossomed, losing her initial shyness in the bedroom and enjoying the both that emotional and the physical intimacy with Jethro. A smile crossed his face, recalling Suzanne's soft moans of pleasure.
"Love, marriage, and now a baby carriage?"
"It's never too late, DiNozzo." Jethro laughed.
""Suzanne is pregnant." Tim added. "I bet she was surprised!"
""Yeah." Jethro nodded, smiled. "She's almost in her second trimester."
Suzanne Gibbs returned from a meeting with the President, hands filled with file folders and a plastic water bottle. She confirmed her pregnancy to only close associates-of course, Claudia, Linda, the detail and of course, the POTUS. She glanced at her stomach in the reflection, chuckled. 'Another 'Another'Another day fooling people…'''she thought. Her appearance slightly changed. Her bottom frame showed little change—still in good physical shape, curvaceous and a small pooch, barely noticeable. When asked about the extra weight, Suzanne simply said her left knee. The clothing attire changed from closely fitted shirts and trousers to long jumper dresses. Her face, however, filled in slightly. The expectant mother showed small signs in her face, her hands. The perfect camouflage for the shifting weight, both Linda and Claudia suggested—bigger hair! Suzanne wore her braids out, fully with a larger flower on the right side. Another disguise was a larger accessory bag to camouflage her stomach. Suzanne laughed, because she wondered when the obvious signs would appear.
"I have exactly 30 minutes to get ready for the next event with the Boss…" Suzanne dashed inside the office.
""Mrs. Owens was concerned." Linda said. "She said you didn't eat anything at the Press Club."
"We're all just worried."
"Suzanne merely quelled the concerns with a simple smile and hand-wave.
"All the food smells…the coffee…just got to me. Really, I'm fine." Suzanne admitted, sipping on her bottle of water. With curiosity, she wondered as to why a buffet tray sat on her desk.
""Roy…in the kitchen…brought it earlier." Linda explained. "He said this should help."
""I'll talk to Roy." Suzanne smiled, shook her head. "I hated he found out from other people, much as he looks out for me."
"You just found out yourself last week." Claudia responded. "If you would've gone to the doctor three weeks ago when you started feeling pregnant…"
"Well, damn: I guess there aren't many secrets around here." She opened to see a large bowl of chicken noodle soup and half of a grilled sandwich.
"You know Roy's your work husband..." Claudia added.
The three laughed.
"The doctor said that I'll eventually gain some more weight." Suzanne assured the two. "I've gained 4 pounds already…3 months pregnant. That's a start…" Suzanne slurped a little of the soup, giggled slightly and excused herself. "This is good..."
"This is a Presidential baby…" Claudia said. "You're the first one in about 10 years that's had a baby on staff during an administration term."
"Baby Bump Owens?" Suzanne chuckled. She thought of something, groaned in disgust.
"Oh, hell! "They're going to have a field day with this." Suzanne rubbed her stomach.
"The news cycles are already speculating pregnancy..." Suzanne pounded her fist into the desk.
"We're leaving for Latin America on the 15th, and I'm going to start showing." She sighed heavily, rested comfortably in her chair, rapidly reading and responding to electronic messages.
"Yeah...six weeks. Probably towards the end of the Tokyo trip…" Claudia said.
"You know everyone will have an opinion about it." Linda added. "Hamilton's camp will have a field day, heading that PAC opponent." Since her unexpected departure from the White House, she accepted a job that required her to dispute all Presidential policy in the administration.
"She'll lead the charge, calling me selfish and suggest I resign my post for the sanctity of traditional values..." Suzanne sipped on her water, leaned further into her chair.
"…From the same woman whose father-in-law fathered a child with his secretary at Hamilton and tried to bribe the paternity doctor…" Claudia added, tossing files onto Suzanne's desk. "Talk about your trashy reality TV moment…"
"Only in the White House…" Suzanne chuckled slightly, continuing to type the final itinerary for the Latin America junket.
"Claude…" she pressed the button to the printer. "This is the final; I need your initials before it goes to the box, please?"
"Tell 'em." Claudia suggested, scrawling her illegible signature on documents. "Tell them now you're pregnant and questions concerning your personal life is off limits..." Linda nodded in agreement.
"Why should my pregnancy become part of a foreign or domestic policy issue?" Definitely, the elevated voice and growl indicated irritation with the entire matter. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly exhaled. The room became silent. Keyboard clicks and faint telephone rings were heard in the background. Suzanne's extension chimed several times.
"I know…it comes with the territory." Suzanne got up from the chair, paced about the room. "Basically, I'm traveling with the President and that'll be restricted in another three months…" The walking continued. Most countries hesitated, according to research, visas to expectant mothers.
"Advance, Claudia Bailey… Mrs. Gibbs is on her way with the President...private location. Activating voice mail…." She forwarded the call to voice mail."
"So what am I going to do once the baby is born?"
""Newlywed: that is a conversation between you and Gunny, no one else. You two deal with that when the time comes." Claudia answered.
"The feminist groups will support me, say that I can have it all—career, motherhood, marriage…" She sighed. "It's not that easy." All three nodded in agreement.
"I have a 12:30 with the President." Suzanne flipped her right wrist, glancing at the watch dial at the bottom. She logged off from the desktop computer, gathered additional belongings and walked towards the Presidential library. "I need to take notes and then go to an event."
"What you need is some potassium for little Jethro and to take care of yourself." Linda tossed a banana. Without looking, Suzanne caught the fruit with one hand and continued waling.
"I'll see y'all later."