Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.

This fic will mostly be about Gibbs and Jen. It takes place in season 4, so Jen knows about Kelly and Shannon.

- -

"Gibbs, do you know what's up with the director these days?" Ziva asked when she was sitting at her desk. Gibbs looked up from his work.

"Nope, haven't noticed anything" he said, although he had noticed something was very wrong with Jenny. She always seemed extremely tired and whenever he was around her, he felt like there was something she wasn't telling him, like if she was keeping a secret from him.

"Are you sure? Cause I thought…" she started but Gibbs interrupted.

"Yes, I am sure! Now get back to work!" he was starting to get annoyed.

Just as he started to concentrate on his work instead of Jenny, DiNozzo came up to his desk.

"Boss, the director wanted to see you, said it was important" Tony said and Gibbs gave him a quick look and then hurried up the stairs to Jen's office.

Tony and Ziva looked at each other.

"He knows something, doesn't he?" Ziva asked and Tony walked up to her desk.

"Either that, or he doesn't know anything at all. But he must have noticed something"

Gibbs walked right past Cynthia, who was sitting at her desk. She looked up when he passed, but didn't bother to stop him, since she knew the director was expecting him. He opened the door and closed it behind him before he turned around to find that Jen was not sitting at her desk. She stood looking out through the window. She didn't move or made any sign that she heard him coming in. He noticed she had the same clothes as she had worn yesterday, and even from behind he could tell she was extremely tired.

"Jen" Gibbs said and she didn't move.

Jen had heard him enter her office, but she couldn't find the strength to face him. She knew she had to tell him, she had known this moment would come eventually. But now when she finally had found the courage to call him up to her office, she started to think that maybe it would be best for him if he didn't know. 'Best for him' she thought, 'but not for me'. She was very aware of how she looked, like crap. Same clothes as yesterday, no make up and messy hair. She heard him calling her name, but she didn't, she couldn't move or answer him.

"Jenny" he said again and started to walk up behind her. She heard him coming, and she had to make a quick decision.

"What's wrong?" he asked when he stood right next to her. She turned her face away from him and said

"It's nothing, Jethro. Just go, it was a mistake to call you up here" the last part she whispered, but Gibbs heard her.

"No Jen, I have noticed your behaviour lately, and I have to say it worries me. Now tell me what's wrong!" he was starting to get annoyed.

She breathed in and closed her eyes, fighting against her tears. She knew he would be mad at her when she told him, but right now she just hoped he would understand and help her get through this, if she was forced to go through it alone she might not make it.

She opened her mouth to talk, but before she could think of anything to say, the phone rang. They looked at each other for a moment, and when the phone rang for the third time, she broke eye contact and walked over to her desk. She hesitated for a second before she answered.

"Shepard" she tried to keep her voice steady as she spoke again seconds later. "Okay, I understand. I'll be there as soon as I can" she hung up. She hadn't expected that, now it would be even harder to tell Gibbs her secret, but she had to.

"What was that about?" Gibbs asked and he frowned when he heard her sobbing.

"Jen?" he walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. He turned her towards him.

"Tell me Jen! Because I don't understand what is wrong! Maybe you always could read my mind, but I can't read yours!"

"They called from the hospital…" her voice was barely more than a whisper, but she knew he could hear her.

"Are you sick?" he asked, that could explain her weird behaviour. But at the same time he felt cold inside at the thought that she might be dying.

Jen shook her head. "No, I'm not. Jethro, I don't know how to say this to you. I know I should have told you years ago, but I thought it would be best if you didn't know." She paused to take a breath and looked up into his eyes; she saw that he didn't understand, so she continued. "But the situation has changed. Please don't be mad at me when I tell you"

"Tell me what?"

"I have a child, a little girl called Amy. She…" her voice broke, Gibbs still had his hands on her shoulders, and his mind was spinning. A child…

"She's in the hospital. She's suffering from a serious lung condition…" Jen started to cry and through her tears she said

"My little girl is dying" before she broke down completely and since her legs couldn't carry her anymore, she collapsed into Gibbs' arms. As he held her tightly to prevent her from falling, he thought about what this had to do with him, he could only think of one possible reason…

"Is she…my…our…daughter?" he asked, confused.

"Maybe" was the short answer he got out of her, but that wasn't good enough. He held her arm tightly with one hand, so she wouldn't fall, while he pulled out her chair with his other hand and then he made her sit down. He leaned down close to her.

"And what does 'maybe' mean, Jen?"

She wiped away her tears before she answered.

"It means I not entirely sure you're the father…but at the same time…I don't think there's any doubt that you are. She has your eyes" she said and looked up into his eyes, like to prove it to herself, ans she met his cold gaze.

"Why the hell are you telling me this now, when she is sick? Why do you let me know I have a daughter when she might die? Don't you think I have been through enough already?"

Jen started to cry again, this was the reaction she had expected from him, but she had fooled herself into thinking that he would understand.

"Why?" he yelled and made her jump in her chair.

"Because I need you" she looked up at him once more "I love her Jethro, she's all I got. I couldn't handle it if I lost her. Since you're the one I trust, I need you to be there for me if she…"

"But I don't understand…" he started, but Jen interrupted, sounding more angry than sad now.

"It's not just about me. Two days ago I asked her if there was something she wanted, and she said she wanted to meet her dad, and I can't deny her that. But if you don't want to, it's your decision" she gently pushed him out of her way and she got to her feet. When she reached the door she heard his voice calling her name, she looked back at him.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To the hospital, they said it was important. She wasn't feeling good…at all" Jen swayed and Gibbs noticed this but by the time he rushed forward it was too late. She fainted and he threw himself down onto the floor next to her body. His mind was spinning, but he had one clear thought, and that was that he had to take Jen to the hospital. And he felt like he had to check up on Amy as well, maybe not for himself, but he thought he owed Jen that. He lifted up Jenny into his arms, managed to open the door and walk out. Cynthia looked up from her computer when the door opened and got shocked when she saw the director lying unconscious in Gibbs' arms.

"Oh my God, is she ok?" she asked but Gibbs didn't answer, all he had to do now was to get Jen into his car and get to the hospital as fast as he could. He rushed down the stairs, fast, but still careful so he wouldn't drop her. Tony looked up from his desk just in time to see Gibbs walk pass them.

"Boss, what happened?" he yelled and ran after him. Gibbs had stopped at the elevator.

"Tony, push the button" he said without answering to question.

"But…" Tony tried.

"Now! I have to take her to the hospital"

Tony obeyed and looked at Jen with a worried expression. The elevator doors opened and Gibbs stepped in.

"I call you" he said before the doors closed again. Tony was shocked; he turned his head and saw Ziva and McGee hurrying towards him.

"What happened? What's wrong with Director Shepard?" McGee asked but Tony just shook his head.

"I think she might be sick" Tony said and looked from Ziva's shocked face to McGee's.

Okay, so that was my first chapter, please leave a review and tell me what you think!! Next chapter will be up soon.