Chapter 9: Spat
"We're having a baby girl, Jethro! And it will be magnificent. The four of us together. Nothing will go wrong", Jenny drew an image for Gibbs.
But he wasn't easily placated.
"Can you guarantee that?" he asked, solemnly.
Jenny sighed. She cupped his face in her hands.
"Jethro, there are no guarantees. You know that. I can't promise forever. But I can promise that whatever time we have will be wonderful".
He let Jenny's soothing voice wash over him. But things were still too fresh in his mind to be completely put at ease.
"I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to any of you", he told her as leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.
Jenny prayed there wouldn't be any more hiccups until the baby was born more for Gibbs' sake than her own.
Gibbs was eternally grateful for a work free Sunday. He clucked around Jenny all day like a mother hen. With each passing minute, Jenny's annoyance grew.
"Jethro, stop!" Jenny screeched, when she couldn't take it anymore.
"Jen, humor me", he said.
Jenny gave in reluctantly.
Later that day, Jenny had an idea that might get Gibbs off her back.
"Jethro, I know you go to your house and build stuff. Can you make something for the baby, too?" she asked.
"Sure, what do you want?" he asked, not revealing that he was already working on that project.
"I'm not sure, I'll leave that up to you", Jenny, just wanted him gone. He was driving her mad. "I'm going to rest for a while. Why don't you and RJ head down and get it started".
Gibbs looked at her suspiciously.
"I know what you're trying to do here, Jen, and it's not going to work", he informed her.
"Just go, okay? I'll be here safe and sound when you get back. The housekeeper is here to watch over me and besides, I have this", she flashed her cell phone.
Gibbs knew better than to argue with her. Pregnant women were known to be hormonal. And he didn't want Jenny to turn into one right away. He agreed reluctantly.
One of his worst nightmares came true in the form of Diane, his ex, showing up at his workplace. It didn't end there. She was an agent, too, for another agency and the she was going to be working on a case with him and Fornell. It was a train wreck. Gibbs was sure DiNozzo was enjoying this scenario. Fortunately, for Gibbs, they wrapped up the case in a couple of days. He wouldn't have to face Diane anymore.
Gibbs went back to his house. He wanted to finish the rocking chair tonight. He took off his jacket and made himself comfortable in one of his old sweatshirts that Kelly had so lovingly made for him, with the word 'Papa' emblazoned on it and her tiny hand prints in some places. The paint had faded over the years, but somethings still remained. There wasn't going to be any bourbon tonight because he had to drive back to Jenny's place later on. Gibbs had just grabbed his tools when he heard the front door open and then shut. He counted the visitor's steps, and right on time, Diane appeared on the top of the stairs. Gibbs hadn't anticipated this visit. It was evident from her posture that something was bothering her. She made small talk and was about to leave when Gibbs decided to butt in and relieve some of the pressure on her mind.
"You should cut him some slack", Gibbs said.
"Excuse me?" Diane had a horrified expression on her face. As if she'd been found doing something she shouldn't have been doing in the first place.
"Victor. Cut him some slack", Gibbs repeated.
"What for?" she asked.
"For not being someone else. I couldn't. And, look how that mess turned out", Gibbs paused. "Don't be like me, learn from it".
Gibbs saw tears shimmering in her eyes before she launched herself into his arms and started crying in earnest. He was too engrossed in Diane and didn't hear the door open and shut again.
"Sometimes, I feel if we had children…" Diane said, more to herself. "But you didn't want any, so, you wouldn't let me have one".
The last held a note of accusation. Gibbs' expression grew melancholic. When he reflected on the past, the circumstances prevented him from wanting more children. It had been for the best. Something caught his attention and he looked at the top of the stairs. RJ. Gibbs didn't know how long RJ had been standing there. He hoped that RJ hadn't heard the bit about him not wanting any children. But by the look on his face, he knew it was futile to wish that.
Gibbs almost shook Diane off and headed up the stairs. He missed Diane's look of utter shock.
"RJ, what are you doing here? How did you get here on your own?" Gibbs asked.
"We thought we'd surprise you" RJ said.
"We?" Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
"I came with mom", RJ stated flatly.
"Jenny! Of all the –", Gibbs broke off and made his way out to the living room. He almost walked into her in the kitchen.
"You shouldn't be here, Jen. The doctor explicitly said you were to stay off your feet!" Gibbs was losing it.
"You bastard!" Gibbs turned around to see Diane. He'd totally forgotten about her presence. And from the violent outburst he knew she was aware that RJ was his son and there was another on the way.
He didn't say anything.
The three of them just watched as Diane marched off in a fit of anger.
"So that's what you've doing behind my back! You lecherous, amoral, sad excuse of a human being!" Jenny shrieked.
"Jenny, listen to me! That was, Diane, my ex-wife", Gibbs tried to explain things to her.
Jenny was hysterical. She wouldn't even listen.
Things turned into a bizarre dream fairly quickly, given Jenny's hormone induced rage.
No matter what Gibbs said wasn't getting through to her. And to make matters worse, RJ was witnessing their argument. In the end Jenny wasn't talking to him and just sat on the sofa facing away from him. When he tried to hold her hand, she jerked it away. Gibbs looked at RJ for a little help, but RJ looked away. Even he was mad with his old man. Gibbs was beginning to wonder if the bed really had a right side to wake up on.
First off apologies for the extended delay. There were extenuating circumstances. That said, hopefully, Ill be back on track with the story with the next chapter. Till then, hope you guys aren't very disappointed.