Chapter I: It's Not Food Poisoning

Late April/ early May, 2000. Washington D.C

It was about 0600 in the morning. That was the normal wakeup time for most people in the Georgetown neighborhood of brownstones. But that did not hold true in some of the homes on this street. Jennifer Shepard had been awake since about 0345, puking her guts up. Once she emptied her stomach, she tried to go back to sleep. But sleep would not come to her. It hadn't come to her in the two months since she'd left the man she'd loved madly. She knew that he deserved more than a "Dear John" letter. She chalked her recent sickness up to guilt. She knew that she had to get up and get to work.

Once she got to work, the nausea hit again. The combined smells of perfume and cologne hit her like a ton of bricks in the elevator. She couldn't understand the sudden overdeveloped sense of smell she'd gotten. She noticed her friend Cassie Yates, another female NCIS special agent. They exchanged smiles. Her paleness had not gone unnoticed by Cassie; who was always asking if she was alright. Cassie also noticed the fact that her friend had rings around her eyes. She looked exhausted. Ever since her return from Europe, she'd been out of sorts.

"Jen; are you alright?"

"I've seen better days, Cassie."

"Late night again?"

"Yep; I was up at 0345 puking my guts up again. I don't know what I've got. Must be some bug I picked up in Europe. Let's get to work".

Cassie rolled eyes once her friends back was turned. She wasn't stupid. She had a suspicion of what was happening to her friend. She went to the ME, with who Jen was extremely close to.

"Hey Doctor Mallard, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead Cassie."

Cassie didn't know where to start. She was worried about her friend's health and for the past month and a half, Jen had been acting weird. In the beginning, Cassie had chalked it up to leaving Agent Gibbs behind in Europe. She was well aware of the relationship that they'd been in. She decided to ask him.

"Doctor, have you noticed Jen's odd behavior? I mean it's distinct even for her to be acting like this. She nearly came into work late today, and she was pale. Do you have any idea as to what may be going on? I have my suspicions, but I would like your opinion."

"Jennifer just left Europe and a man she madly in love with behind for her career. That she'd be acting oddly would not be unusual. What have you noticed, Cassie?"

"She's been getting visibly nauseous when we go to crime scenes. Just last week with that Petty Officer Third class, I could've sworn that she was going to vomit right there. Sure enough, once we were inside, she excused herself and was gone for ten minutes. When she came back, she looked as pale as a ghost. And when we got back, she looked like she gone ten rounds with the devil himself. When I asked her what was wrong, she just said that she was fatigued. When I pressed a little more, she gave me a glare and said that if I didn't have anything better to do than worry about her, she'd find me something to do. So I backed off. Then the next moment she was all peaches and cream. It was creepy. And after she found out that her going to Great Lakes in Chicago, she was crying. Unfortunately, I've also been made aware of the fact that I'm also going to Great Lakes with her. If she's going to be acting like this the whole time; I'm going to lose my mind."

Ducky was silent for a few moments. He was thinking of the combination of symptoms that Cassie had told him. There was only one real explanation for all of the symptoms.

"Well, Agent Yates, the blood work that she had to have done when she came back from Europe, will be coming back next week. If there's anything out of sorts, we'll know."

After Cassie left, Ducky sat down. He had a good idea what those results would show. One of his best friends was pregnant with his other best friend's child. He would confront her next week when he had definitive proof.

The next week…

Ducky was looking through the blood work of the agents that had returned from Europe. He had to go either in alphabetical order or reverse alphabetical order. He figured that if he went in alphabetical order, he would have more time to look at Jennifer's blood work. He went through the stack. There was nothing really that interesting to worry about for most of the people. Until he got to the S's that is. He got to Jennifer blood work. For the most part it was normal. No infectious and/or dangerous illnesses. But what he suspected appeared to be true. There were elevated levels of estrogen in her blood. Combined with the other symptoms that Agent Yates had shared with him; and a few other things that he'd noticed while observing her, he knew exactly what was up with his friend. He went up to Director Morrow's office immediately. The Director looked up. There was only one reason why Doctor Mallard would be coming up to see him. He knew that the blood work for the agents that had come back from being abroad was in and the only reason the good doctor would come up, was that one of his agents was ill.

"So which agent of mine is ill, Doctor?"

For some strange reason, Doctor Mallard smirked. What was so funny?

"Something you care to share with me, Doctor?"

"Yes there is. Don't worry, this agent isn't ill. In fact, she's in top physical shape."

"Then what is wrong with her?"

"Take a look at her blood work and at her hormone levels. Tell me what you see."

"I see elevated levels of estrogen…." He said before Ducky interrupted him.

"That coupled with some observations that Special Agent Yates has shared with me: Agent Shepard has been irritable, getting nauseous at crime scenes, she spends a lot of time in the bathroom, and the smell of vanilla makes her run away. One of the things that I learned about her in Europe was that she loved the smell of vanilla. Why would she run away from it?"

Morrow ran things through his head. All those symptoms, plus the blood work, left only one conclusion. Agent Shepard was pregnant.

"She's pregnant isn't she?"

"I believe she is. And I think I know who the father is. Will you send her down to me tomorrow; I'd like to have a chat with her."

"Of course Doctor; I'll send her down first thing tomorrow morning."

Ducky went downstairs back to Autopsy. Tomorrow morning was going to be an interesting one that was for sure.

The next morning…

Ducky was patiently awaiting Agent Shepard. It was almost time for her to come down, and he already had a body out for an autopsy. He knew that the sharp, pungent smells of Autopsy had always affected Agent Shepard in a negative manner. Since she was pregnant, he knew that her sense of smell would be magnified. He looked at the clock on the wall. She was running slightly late. About thirty seconds later, Agent Shepard walked in. No sooner had she walked into Autopsy, the smell of the disinfectant hit her sense of smell, and she covered her mouth. All Ducky did was point towards the sink, and she promptly went over and vomited for about three minutes without stopping. She had morning sickness alright. Once she stood up again, Ducky decided to start right ahead.

"I know you've never liked Autopsy, but throwing up for three minutes straight, is something new even for you. Agent Shepard, do you know why you were ordered down here?"

"Not particularly. When Director Morrow told me to come down here, I assumed that it has something to do with the blood work that was done recently. I've been feeling like garbage for a while now, and I have absolutely no idea why."

Ducky had been told her tell sign for when she was lying by Gibbs. Her right eye was twitching like mad. She knew exactly what was going on; but was beating around the bush. He knew that he had to get to the point and quickly.

"It's only a matter of time, Agent Shepard; before people will start to notice."

"I'm sorry Ducky, but I have to leave. There are some things that I have to take care of before I leave for Great Lakes."

Ducky now knew there was only one way to get her attention. He would have to call her on it.

"You're about three months along, Jennifer. I believe you know that."

She stopped in her tracks. She'd been called out. At least it was Ducky and not Burley. She turned around and smiled sadly.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before they'd make me get the blood work done. And after the results came back, I knew that you would notice. Have you told the Director yet?"

"I've only told him that I was suspected of your condition. Now that I've heard it from the horse's mouth as it were, I have to tell him."

"He said to me that I was still going to go to Great Lakes, no matter what you told me."

"Who's the father?"

"I think you already know the answer to that question, Ducky. And to answer what is probably your next question, no he does not know."

"If he knew, he'd be here with you."

"Don't tell him. Please, Ducky."

"That's the beauty of doctor patient confidentiality. I can't tell him unless you tell me I can; no matter how much I don't like it. Call me when you find out whether it's a boy or girl."

"I have a feeling that it's a girl, Ducky."

"Just call me when you know for sure. Go easy on Agent Yates; she's probably going to be the one that bears the brunt of your hormones."

After she left, Ducky shook his head sadly. His friend would want to know this. But like he said, doctor-patient confidentiality kept him from telling Jethro. He got out the paperwork necessary for this kind of situation. If his math was correct, she'd need late October through December at least, and maybe January.