*5:00 A.M.*
"You have to be kidding me." Gibbs slammed the dashboard with his fists.
"There is nothing I can do Gibbs. The road was shut down." Ziva was exasperated too. "The tractor trailer butter knifed."
"Jack knifed." Tony said from the backseat. Ziva told Gibbs she wasn't letting him drive. When they got off the ship, Maggie's text came thru saying she was going to the hospital. Ziva promised to get them there quickly and in one piece. Now the quickest route between them and the hospital had been shut down due to an accident.
"Find. Another. Way." Gibbs spit out and checked his phone again. Tony sensed Gibbs' growing aggravation.
"I'll try again Boss." He already tapped out Tobias' cell phone and got no answer. Next he tried Maggie's and when that didn't go through, he tried Jackson's out of desperation.
"She's fine. Being examined right now." Jackson told Gibbs. "I can't go in. Nurses won't let me."
"WHAT! She's in there alone! Hell Ziva, drive faster!" Gibbs yelled. "Dad, see if they will bring your phone to her."
Gibbs could hear the shuffling of his father's phone from person to person; muffled voices saying the phone was going in to Maggie.
"Hey." Maggie's voice finally came on the line. "How far out are you?"
"Not sure. We're being detoured all over hell and back because of a pile up."
"I'm watching it on TV now."
"You're watching TV?" Gibbs couldn't believe she was in labor watching TV.
"Keeping my mind occupied. Dr. Richman will be here soon. I may have a few hours to go."
"I'm trying to get here as fast as I can. I don't know where the hell all this traffic is coming from."
"People go to work early in DC Gibbs. You usually….oh crap…a contraction."
Gibbs listened to Maggie breath through the contraction.
"Accident happened in the early morning, they didn't clean it all up before traffic started."
"How the hell can you be so calm right now?"
"I have you to do the freaking out." Maggie laughed. "I have to go. Dr. Richman is here."
"Let me talk to her."
Gibbs heard Maggie pass the phone to the doctor.
"Stuck in traffic huh Gibbs?"
"I'm about ready to get ready and run. How is she?"
"I'll call you after my exam."
"I'm sending in back up, can you let her in. I don't want Maggie alone right now."
"Your father is here and your friend who brought her. They can come in if you want."
"Hell no. Abby Sciuto is on her way. She'll stay with Maggie til I get there."
Abby ran through the maternity doors giving the nurses a fright. She had on her highest platforms, black and white checkered Bermuda shorts and Psycho ward tee shirt.
"I'm here to coach Maggie Gibbs."
The nurse blinked at Abby, not quite sure what to make of her.
"She's okay Janey." Jackson walked over to where Abby stood at the desk.
"If you say so Jackson." Nurse Janey wasn't too sure but took Jackson's word as truth.
"On a first name basis with the nurses?" Abby teased Jackson.
"Making sure my daughter in law and grand baby get the best service." Jackson winks.
"If you'll come this way Abby."
Abby followed the nurse to Maggie's room. The doctor was just finishing the exam.
"Maggie!" Abby squealed and rushed over to hug Maggie.
"Dr. Richman, this is Abby Sciuto, Abby this is Dr. Richman."
"Doctor." Abby shook her hand. "So where are we?"
"We are going to let Maggie call Gibbs back, but I'm going to wait another hour and if we haven't proceeded any further, then we'll revisit the C-Section.
Maggie called Gibbs and filled him in. "I'll be there by then. I promise. I will get out and run."
"Abby's here and they just gave me a shot to help with the contractions."
"Let me talk to Abby, you go rest. You're gonna need it."
"Gibbs. Tell me what you need."
"I need you to take care of her Abby. Keep your finger right on speed dial and call me right way if anything changes."
"Got it sir." Abby said in her best military voice.
"Abs." Gibbs replied.
"I know I know. I've got things under control." Abby guaranteed him.
Maggie tried to drift off to sleep, but she couldn't. The shot helped the contractions, but the closer and stronger the more nervous she got.
"What's wrong Maggie?" Abby sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I'm kind of scared Abby."
"About what?" Abby took Maggie's hand in hers.
"What if I am too old?"
"Are you kidding me? You're not old at all."
"I'll be in my late 40's with a toddler running around."
"Maggie, you are in better shape than most women I know. You'll be running the toddler down." Abby smiled. "You have wisdom that younger moms don't have. I don't see this baby in front of a TV. I see you taking it out for long walks and playing at the park and in the yard. I see Gibbs teaching the baby how to make things and build things. I see a very lucky baby who has an awesome Godmother too!"
Maggie smiled at Abby's words but her smile changed to a grimace as a sharp pain hit.
The baby's fetal monitor strapped to Maggie's belly was spitting out paper with lots of lines and jags on it. Maggie saw that Abby could interpret them and saw the look on her face.
"Abby, what is it? Tell me."
"Let the doctor see what it is. This isn't my specialty. I'm good with chemicals and guns and stuff like that."
"This is why you have me here Maggie." Dr. Richman picked up the paper and looked at it. "Okay, I wondered if this would happen."
"What?"
Dr. Richman repositioned the fetal monitor and tried to get a better read. She took a deep breath and stepped up to stand beside Maggie.
"Baby's in distress Maggie. I don't want to wait any longer. I'm having you prepped for surgery."
Maggie was in shock. The nurses came in and like a well-practiced machine had Maggie's hair up in a surgical cap, moved to a gurney and ready for surgery within 10 minutes. Dr. Richman was about to ask Abby to call Gibbs when he came rushing into the maternity ward.
"Gibbs! You're here!" Abby called out in relief.
"What's going on?" Gibbs asked.
"We're doing a C-section. Baby's in distress. Maggie's not dilated enough to wait for the baby to deliver vaginally."
"Okay. Where is she?"
"We need to get you in greens so you can go into surgery."
Maggie lay on the operating table looking up at the pristine white ceiling. Where was Gibbs? Where was Abby? She closed her eyes as another contraction took over.
"What's the matter? You wanted the drugs didn't you?"
Maggie opened her eyes at the sound of Gibbs voice.
"You made it."
"Didn't even stop for coffee." He kissed her forehead. "Ready to do this?"
Maggie smiled and nodded. The nurse walked over and had Maggie sit up.
"The easiest way for us to do this is have you lean forward on your husband. Put your head on his shoulder and let your shoulders drop forward. Good, just like that. Now you'll feel the cold of the antiseptic and then I'm going to put the needle in. I'm going to quickly pull you back down onto the table and within a minute you'll be numb from your chest down. Ready?"
Maggie nodded and did as she was told. Within a minute the numbness took over. Gibbs was back at her side, this time he had a surgical hat on and a mask covering his face.
"Feels weird."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I know they are doing stuff, moving my legs and getting me ready, but I can't feel it." She murmured.
"You want me to tell you what's going on?" Gibbs offered.
"Not really."
"Okay Maggie, we're ready to start." Dr. Richman told her. "Baby will be out in a few minutes."
Gibbs watched the doctor and her nurses in the mirror tilted so that he and Maggie could see. Maggie's eyes were closed; he knew she was trying to focus on the baby. Gibbs had seen murder victims and bodies in autopsy, but this…this was different. He watched as the doctor cut through the skin and tissue to reach the baby. Watching the doctor perform a C-section was giving new meaning to the saying knowing someone inside and out.
Maggie was focusing all her energy on the baby. Gibbs held her free hand and her other hand had the IV attached to it. She felt something drop onto her head.
"What's that?" Maggie asked.
"Oops, looks like a drop of blood." The anesthesiologist said and wiped it off her head. "Happens sometimes. Nothing to worry about."
"You're going to feel some pressure now Maggie, we're going in for the baby. Get ready Dad to cut the cord."
Gibbs nodded and squeezed Maggie's hand. He leaned in to her ear and whispered "I love you."
"And here we go….the newest member of the Gibbs family is….a boy."
Maggie felt the tears slide down the side of her face. She finally opened her eyes and looked over at Gibbs. He was staring wide eyed and a shit eating grin on his face as he looked at his son.
"He's amazing." Gibbs looked down at Maggie and kissed her. The nurse lifted him enough for Maggie to see the dark hair and squished face. He opened his mouth and let out a solid healthy cry. Just what Maggie was waiting to hear.
"Come on Dad." The nurse had Gibbs follow her to the small table with the heating lamp where the baby was cleaned up and weighed and measured.
"9lbs 8 oz. and 21 inches."
"Wow." Gibbs was amazed that the baby actually fit inside Maggie.
"This is where you cut the cord." The nurse instructed Gibbs.
As Gibbs was cutting the cord, a series of bells and beeps started to sound.
"Maggie. Can you hear me Maggie?" the anesthesiologist asked Maggie.
Gibbs turned in panic. "Doc."
"I was afraid of this." Dr. Richman said as she worked on Maggie. Gibbs saw a number of blood soaked gauze pads and fear set in. "Nurse, I need you to take Mr. Gibbs outside."
"No." Gibbs started to push against the nurse. "I'm staying."
"Gibbs listen to me." The doctor yelled at him. "Go with your son to the nursery and let me do my job here. I can't focus if you're in the room. Now GO and let me do my job!"
Gibbs let himself be pushed out of the room this time and followed the nurse to the nursery; he barely heard what the woman was saying to him. His mind was back in surgery with Maggie.
"Have you decided on a name?" The nurse asked.
"Franklin." Gibbs looked down at his son who was now wrapped in a blanket, blue cap on his head, eyes closed tight to the new world around him.
The nurse matched the bracelets on the baby's wrist to the one on Gibbs' wrist. "Would you like to hold him?"
"I wanted Maggie to hold him first." Gibbs looked down at his son.
"Sir, your wife is in good hands. Dr. Richman is the best. But this little guy;" the nurse picked him up and passed him over to Gibbs. "This little guy needs his dad right now."
Gibbs looked down at his son. Franklins face was round and chubby. He had a little cleft in his chin, much like Jamie did. Gibbs slipped the blue cap off the baby's head and placed a kiss on the dark spattering of hair.
"I can't wait for your Mama to see you." Gibbs kissed his son again. "But right now I have a room full of people who want to know about you." Gibbs handed Franklin back to the nurse.
"I'm going to give him a proper bath and let him sleep under the warming lights for a little bit. You go see your family. I'll have the nurse come and fill you in on your wife."
"We should have heard something by now." Jamie paced back and forth in the waiting room.
"We will son, don't worry. I'm sure everything is…" Ducky stopped talking when he saw Gibbs come into the room, his face a mask of worry.
"Gibbs." Jamie walked up to his step-father.
"The doctor is working on your mother now. I don't know what is going on." Gibbs told him.
"And the baby?" Jackson asked. "Is it okay?"
"He." Gibbs nodded. "It's a boy Dad. He's perfect."
"Thank God." Abby hugged Gibbs. "I'm sure Maggie will be fine."
"What's the baby's name?" McGee asked.
"Franklin Michael Gibbs." Gibbs told him.
"For Franks. That is a fitting tribute." Ziva commented.
Gibbs stood at the doors that led to where Maggie was still being operated on. When no one came out after 30 minutes, Ducky used his clout to find out what was going on.
"What did they say Duck." Gibbs vision was still on the doors as he listened to Ducky.
"It seems the baby's arm got caught on the placenta as he dropped. There was internal bleeding and they didn't see it until they got him out." Ducky explained. "That is why the baby went into distress; the placenta separated from the uterine wall and was competing with the baby with space."
"Here comes the doc now." Tony said as he saw the doors open.
"How is she Doc?" Gibbs needed to know.
"Maggie is fine. She lost a lot of blood. But she'll be fine."
"Did you know about the placenta coming away?" Gibbs asked.
"I worried about it and Maggie and I talked about it at her last appointment."
"Maggie knew this could happen?" Gibbs was dumbfounded.
"No. We talked about the possibility of it happening. I saw nothing to indicate that it would." The doctor pulled Gibbs aside and told him a few things in private and said he could see Maggie when she was settled in her room.
"Now would the rest of you like to see the baby? He's in the nursery now."
Maggie came awake slowly. She became aware of Gibbs talking. His voice sounded funny. Then she realized he was talking to the baby.
"You have a big family who are dying to meet you. Your Aunt Abby wants to hold you first, but I told them all no one gets to hold you before your Mom does."
"Then maybe it's time for Daddy to give him to me."
Gibbs gently put the baby back in the basinet and sat down next to Maggie on the bed.
"You scared the hell out of me." He kissed her forehead.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to." Maggie was looking at the bundle in the clear basinet. "Are you going to let me hold him?"
"Let's prop you up a bit." Gibbs took the bed control and lifted the top of the bed so that Maggie was in a better position. "Any pain?"
Maggie winced a little as she moved up on the pillows.
"Don't push it. Take it easy." Gibbs told his wife.
"If you don't let me hold my son Gibbs." Maggie playfully warned him.
Gibbs moved a pillow on to her lap to help support the baby and then picked him up.
"Franklin, I'd like you to meet your Mom."
Gibbs placed the baby in Maggie's arms. He watched as her face lit up and tears filled her eyes.
"He's perfect." Gibbs ran his finger over his son's little clenched fist. "Ten fingers, ten toes and one important body part."
"Such a guy thing to say." Maggie teased Gibbs. "He has that chin thing like Jamie."
Maggie leaned in and inhaled the baby's scent. "God, someone should bottle that smell and sell it."
"Don't say that to Abby. She will try."
"Have they seen him yet?" Maggie asked.
Gibbs shook his head. "Only through the window at the nursery."
"Not even your dad?"
"He wanted to wait until you've had some time with him."
Maggie and Gibbs cooed and kissed the baby. When Franklin woke up, Maggie had Gibbs feed him. She was amazed at what a pro he was at feeding and changing diapers.
"Dr. Richman tell you that she tied my tubes when she was in there?" Maggie asked as Gibbs swaddled Franklin.
"She did." Gibbs put Franklin back in Maggie's arms.
"You upset?"
Gibbs put his hand on the side of Maggie's face. She leaned into his touch as he ran his thumb back and forth over her cheek. "Nah. I don't think I can go through this again. I was scared I lost you."
Maggie put her hand on top of his.
"I think it's time. Let em in."
By night time, Maggie's room was filled with flowers and balloons and stuffed animals. Abby and Ziva promised to have all the photo's they took in an album before Maggie got home. There were pictures with just the Gibbs men – including Jamie - ; pictures of Jackson and Franklin, of Tony with just Franklin and with Franklin and Jamie. Pictures of the baby with his godparents alone and together. And Abby's favorite picture, one that would become her screen saver at work, go on Gibbs' desk and in Franklin's room. The black and white image was of Maggie, Gibbs and Franklin at the hospital sitting on the bed. Gibbs was sitting with his arm behind Maggie as he kissed her on the top of the head. Maggie was leaning against Gibbs as she kissed Franklin on the head. Franklin was yawning wide and his little fist was clenching his father's forefinger.
*Three months later*
Maggie woke up, the sun was already up and she could smell the coffee brewing in the kitchen. Sunday morning, her favorite morning with her men. Through the baby monitor on the night stand she could hear Gibbs talking to Franklin. She slipped her robe on and padded quietly to the baby's door.
"And this picture is you big sister Kelly." Gibbs was sitting in the rocking chair holding Franklin and rocking back and forth in the chair. "You have the same hair color as hers. She was a beautiful girl. She would have loved spoiling you." Gibbs kissed his sons head. "Some day; when you are older, we're going to build a sailboat of our own. You and me. And Jamie can help too. We'll take Mommy out on the water and go sailing."
Maggie just looked at Gibbs and the baby and was thankful for how lucky they were. Both of them had found true love again in their lives and Franklin was proof of that. Gibbs started humming to the baby and slowly Franklin's eyes began to close and he fell back to sleep. Gibbs kissed the baby and looked up at Maggie standing in the door and smiled.
*Phoof* fade to black and white.