"So what's it really like?" Jenny Sheppard asked wide-eyed as she stood next to Kate Gibbs.
"It's interesting...to put it politely...I think." Kate said as she stared at her boss.
"Well I already know about the morning sickness...I'm used to that already. In fact, I should be almost done with that soon." Jenny said as she reached for the tortilla chips and salsa.
"Your body goes through changes you never thought it would. By the time I was six months my favorite activity was standing in front of the mirror and making mooing noises." Kate said with a giggle.
"Moooooo moooo mooo." Maggie commented as she walked through the kitchen holding her doll.
"Mooooooo!" Kate replied back with a giggle.
"I've never been much for mooing, but I guess I'm just scared." Jenny admitted as she finished chewing.
"Scared of what Miss Jenny?" Maggie asked as she stood next to the kitchen table.
"Maggie...mommy and Miss Jenny are having a private conversation. Go find daddy." Kate instructed as Maggie stared at the two women at the kitchen table.
"Basement!" Maggie said happily as she tore through the kitchen and to the basement door.
"Boat?" Jenny asked with an arched eyebrow.
Kate laughed and nodded slowly. It had been strange at first, but now she realized that it was nice to have someone around who knew Jethro just as well as she did.
"What are you scared of Jenny?" Kate pressed on once Maggie had left the room.
"The pain." Jenny said simply as she refused to meet Kate's eyes.
Kate's eyes widened in surprise, she never thought that Jenny would ever admit any sign of weakness.
"It's really not that bad if you have someone to...." Kate stopped mid-sentence she almost said "if you have someone to hold your hand." She had stopped herself when she realized that Chris Pacci wouldn't be there to hold Jenny's hand.
"He'll be there...in his own way. A way we don't understand, but he'll be there." Jenny said aloud as she finished Kate's thought for her.
Kate blushed and avoided Jenny's gaze, this was almost too awkward.
"Am I interrupting girl time?" Tony DiNozzo asked obnoxiously as he made his way into the kitchen.
"Hardly." Jethro said as he emerged from the basement holding Maggie.
"It's bedtime kid." Jethro said as he kissed Maggie and handed her off to Kate.
"Almost ready boss?" Tony asked.
"Yep." Jethro Gibbs replied as he kissed Kate.
"See you girls later!" Jethro said happily as he waved and left the house.
"Where daddy and Uncle Tony go?" Maggie asked as Kate tucked her in with Jenny watching from the doorway.
"Well...you know how when daddy works late we have Ziva and Abby over we paint our nails, do our hair and eat junk food?" Kate said hoping Maggie would understand.
Maggie nodded with a smile.
"Well sometimes boys like to go out and listen to loud music and eat junk food." Kate supplied.
"Daddy's listening to loud music?" Maggie asked with a smile.
"Very loud." Kate said with a smile.
"And Uncle Timmy and Uncle Tony too?" Maggie added as she yawned.
"Yes, Ducky also." Kate said as she kissed Maggie good night.
"You're a good liar." Jenny whispered as the women made their way downstairs.
"Tonight, I can't be anything but, not even to a four year old." Kate said knowingly. They had no idea how the evening would play out. The risks were many, and too frightful for Kate to fully comprehend.
Abby and Ziva were waiting in the kitchen quietly.
"We figured you were putting Maggie to bed, and that Matthew was already asleep." Abby explained the silence.
"Yes...I figured it would be best if the children were in bed for all of this." Kate said as she heaved a sigh.
It was only a matter of time now. Jethro had insisted upon it. Kate only hoped the plan would work.
"I can't eat, but thanks though." Ziva said as Kate passed around a plate of homemade cookies.
"Jenny you should get some rest." Kate suggested gently. Jenny looked exhausted.
"Can't sleep." Jenny said quickly.
"Understandable." Kate replied.
It was three a.m. before everybody made their way back to the house of Gibbs. The women had sat at the kitchen table half the night waiting for four men to return. Now they filed into Kate and Jethro's house, all wearing somber expressions. None of them were proud of what had transpired, the ladies included but they would all take the secret to their grave. It was the oath they had taken, and NCIS Agents always stuck together.
"Everybody...and I mean everybody crashes here tonight. Jen gets the guestroom, she deserves a real bed." Jethro said in a growl as he reached for Kate's hand and headed upstairs.
"I can't tell you that Kate. That was the point of you girls having an alibi last night." Jethro whispered grumpily as they stood in the shower. It was the next morning, and the team was still sleeping downstairs.
"Please." Kate pleaded.
"My kill...another weapon." Jethro whispered quietly.
Kate didn't press on, she knew it was all he'd ever say. All she needed to know in those four words. It didn't bother Kate one bit that he had done it for Jenny. To give her some peace, some solace. He would have done it for anybody on the team.
***A FEW MONTHS LATER***
"A gun recovered from the bay area by two local teenagers has been identified. The handgun is the service weapon belonging to the late NCIS Agent Christopher Pacci. You'll remember Agent Pacci was killed while undercover. The gun was found near the same area where the body of Renee Benoit was recovered. The badly decomposed body of the alleged arms dealer was recently identified by the Baltimore medical examiner. It now appears that in the final moments of serving his country Agent Pacci was responsible for the death of Renee Benoit, an alleged arms dealer." The newscaster droned on recounting what everybody already knew.
Jenny Sheppard clicked off the televison. After all she had better things to do than listen to a news report. She looked down at the child next to her. Christinia Patrice Sheppard was sleeping peacefully. Jenny ran a hand over Christina's smooth cheek and said a silent prayer thanking Chris Pacci. In his own special way he had been there, he had found a way to keep Jenny safe.
THE END
