I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

A/N I have taken liberty to use them to create a history for Leroy Jethro Gibbs. I've often wondered what in his past made him the man he is today. Not all events and information contained herein will follow that from the show, but I felt the need to make things fit into my story. Forgive me, but I hope it works as well on paper as it does in my head

We all start out from somewhere and the people and events that surround us form the persons we grow up to be. As hard as it may be to look upon your hero, even he or she was once an innocent child. For Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo is seemed inconceivable that his boss, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs was ever anything but the man he admired. Though when the opportunity to discover the past of his esteemed leader arose, he found disappointment in not learning more despite visiting the place of his childhood.

The beginning was like most others. The story, though, explains the man.

As his wife, Marie labored, the nervous first time father-to-be paced. The mundane room held only a handful of expectant dads in different phases of anticipation. It wasn't too hard to see the difference between first time anxious dads and the 'old hat' dads just waiting to find out the sex of the next mouth to feed. The one thing in common seemed to be the lack of conversation while waiting.

The only words shared were congratulations, when a nurse would call one forward to give the news that the waiting was over and mom and child were doing fine. Thankfully, all the moms and babies were doing fine today.

All the heads turned as the door opened and a petite blonde nurse in her white dress and hat appeared.

"Mr. Gibbs?" she called looking around the room.

Changing the course of his pacing and directing it toward the young nurse, the dark haired nervous young man replied, "Yes?"

"Congratulations, sir. You have a son."

A smile spread across his face, smoothing out the anxiety. "My boy. Leroy." he breathed.

The nurse wrote the name down on the chart. "That's nice. Will there be a middle name?"

"His mother can choose. How is she?"

"Don't worry. She's doing very well. They're resting and bonding. We'll come and bring you back in a little bit."

"Okay, I'll be here."

She nodded and returned through the door to finish the paper work with the new mother.

Jackson Gibbs, new daddy, gleamed and turned to the other men who congratulated him and a few patted him on the back and shook his hand as he passed out cigars. He sat in relief, thinking about 'his boy'.

The young nurse knocked lightly and entered the room quietly watching her patient admiring her baby. She loved the look of wonder first time mom's expressed as they held their newborns. Marie Gibbs looked up still smiling, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears of joy.

"I just need to finish up a few things, so we can process the birth certificate. We have a first name," she began.

"Oh, he didn't," she looked dismayed.

"I'm sorry. Is there a problem?" she looked apologetic and worried.

Marie instantly calmed her, "No, no. It's okay," though internally she was wondering if she could raise her son as a single mom. "You were saying."

"Well, yes. Your husband said his son's name is Leroy, but for you to choose the middle name," she continued, still a bit hesitant.

Marie forced a smile and simply replied, "Jethro."

"Very well, the rest of the information I can get from the records. I'll leave you and Leroy Jethro to your bonding. Your husband will be in soon to visit." She smiled and nervously exited. 'That's a first,' she thought to herself.

As she stroked her young son's face, Marie cooed, "You'll always be my 'Little Jethro'. Leroy- what is he thinking," she smiled genuinely and shook her head. She lifted her baby close to kiss his cheek.

After another nurse had come to instruct the proper way to prepare and sterilize a bottle and Little Jethro had had his fill, Jackson was brought back to see his family.

Seeing his proud face, Marie couldn't be upset about the name any more. He approached them in a gentle demeanor, she never would have guessed he possessed. He leaned down and gently brushed her lips with a kiss before dropping his head to kiss his son's head.

"You're happy," she stated.

"On top of my world!" he exclaimed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she laughed lightly.

He couldn't take his eyes off his son. "It's hard to believe he's really here," he sighed.

"I know what you mean. I've been staring at him for hours. Do you want to hold him?"

Nervously, Jackson nodded. Since they made him throw the scrubs on over his clothes, he decided to enjoy holding his son.

A nurse seemed to magically appear to assist in the transfer from mother to father, instructing with each step how to handle the newborn. Jackson nodded his understanding and held Leroy close to his chest. His son opened his eyes and seemed to look right through his father's soft blue eyes right into his soul seeming content for a few moments, before letting loose with a high pitched scream.

Jackson frowned unsure what to do, but deciding Marie would know, he gently handed him back to her.

She watched him and could see his look of uncertainty, "Don't worry dear, all babies cry."

He only nodded and hoped that it wouldn't last too long. The nurse appeared again, this time taking the crying child away saying something about too much stimulation or perhaps a need for a diaper change.

Jackson reluctantly said good bye to Marie having to get home, make some phone calls and get some sleep to return to work the next day. The miner promised his strawberry blonde haired beauty that he'd return as soon as he could. She nodded in understanding, as always, knowing that from now on, at least, she wouldn't be alone waiting for him.