Chapter Fourteen

-Six months later, eight months pregnant-

"Gibbs residence," Jess said. "Good morning, Director Shepard… yes he's down in his basement. He must have turned off his phone again. I'll get him," In her seventh month, Jess addled to the basement door. "Jethro!"

"Is something wrong?" he called up in a panic. Normally, Jess would let Jethro work on his boat for two hours uninterrupted.

"No, it's Director Shepard! Probably a case!" Jess shouted and then went into the living room. Jess hated being pregnant, she couldn't do anything except cry and eat. Jethro grabbed the phone.

"Yeah…Gibbs... You want to offer her a job? Well she's pregnant Jen. 7 Months… Okay… No I have no problem with it… Alright then" Jethro went into the living room and sat next to Jess, handing her the phone and then proceeded to rub her stomach. It had been almost sixteen years since Jethro had been around a big belly like this.

"Yes Director?" Jess and Jenny had been able to work out their differences after Jess had told her off last time, so now they were friends and like to dish about Jethro. It was funny to Jess, not so funny to Jethro.

"Hello, Jess. I was impressed with the job you did with the most recent case; we never would have figured it out without you" Director Shepard said. Jess grimaced; as it turned out, Zack Addy had been working for Gormogon the whole time; he was even the one who made the dentures from human teeth. Jess felt sick to her stomach; Zack had been her best friend since her freshmen year when she first started interning at the Jeffersonian.

"Please don't remind me Director. It was a good friend of mine who committed that murder," Jess whispered, shaking her head. Jethro laid his head on her stomach, listening to the baby move. Jess smiled and stroked his head with her free hand.

"I am sorry Jess, that was insensitive of me," Shepard said. "But… I would like to offer you a position at NCIS, working as both a forensic scientist and a NCIS Special Agent. You would be working under Abby and Jethro of course," Director Shepard said.

"Did you discuss this with Jethro?" Jess asked, stroking her big fat belly. Jethro looked up from her belly and laughed.

"Yes of course. I would be honored to have you working for NCIS," Shepard said. "What do you say, Jess? Can we have another Gibbs at NCIS?"

"Yes, Director,"

"Good, report at 0430 with Jethro,"

"Yes ma'am," Jess hung up and looked down at Jethro.

"Hi," Jethro said, smiling. Jess chuckled and shook her head.

"Well, daddy boss, looks like you got a new Probie,"

"God, I can't wait to get this… thing out of me," Jess said, rubbing her stomach. Jethro had Jess sitting at his desk for the time being so he could keep an eye on her.

"Don't call your baby a thing!" Tony whined, getting on his knees to touch her belly. "Hey little baby, its Uncle Tony," Jess spit out her coffee. "What? It has a nice ring to it!"

"My kid will not call you 'Uncle Tony'" Jethro said, hitting him upside the head. "If anything, it'll hit you upside the head" Tony pouted.

"You could always train it to do that," Ziva suggested. Everyone stared at Ziva oddly. "I messed that up again didn't I?"

"Yeah, Ziva. You train an animal and teach a child," Jess corrected. Jethro's land line rang.

"Yeah Gibbs… Alright. Tony, McGee grab your gear we got a dead solider at Quantico," Jethro loaded his gun, grabbed his badge and cell. "You," he placed his hands on both sides of his chair, looking straight in her face. "Stay here. Do not move unless you have to pee or Abby and or Director Shepard needs you. Got it Probie?" Jethro said.

"Yes daddy boss sir," she said saluting him. Jethro smiled and pecked her cheek.

"And me, Gibbs?" Ziva asked, standing.

"Watch her!" Jethro almost yelled. "She hates following directions and will probably try to run away… if you have to tie her down,"

"Don't tempt me Leroy Jethro," Jess teased. Jethro smiled and led his team out to the elevator. "He's serious though Ziva. I hate following directions. Makes sex really bad sometimes…" Jess said, before realizing what she was saying. "You didn't hear that." Jess said, smiling. Ziva shook her head and mumbled something in Hebrew.

"Abby's going to need you, bad Jess" McGee warned. Jess smiled and started to sit up, but groaned. "Jess, are you okay?" McGee asked, running over to her as Jethro walked in.

"McGee, what did you do to my wife!?" he yelled, pushing McGee away from his wife. "What happened!?"

"She stood and groaned boss" McGee defended.

"Jethro, I'm fine. I just stood up too quick" Jess said.

"Maybe you shouldn't be working so soon," Jethro said.

"Boss!" Jess exclaimed, smiling. "I'm fine, daddy. Jethro Junior and I are just fine," Jess stood straight, smiling. Jethro had his hand on her stomach, smiling hugely.

"Jethro Junior?" he questioned. Jess giggled.

"Well if he's a boy--
"I wouldn't curse him with my name"

"I love your name Jethro!" Jess teased.

"Except you didn't grow up with it," he said.

"I need to go help Abby. Walk me?" she whispered. Jethro nodded and escorted her to the elevator. While they waited for the doors to open, Jethro rubbed her back. "Why don't you always do that Jethro?" She asked. Once the door opened, Jess stepped in, but Jethro did not.

"Let me know when you guys get something," Jethro said. Jess blew him a kiss as the doors shut.

"Abby… our dead guy is definitely… ow—"Jess gasped.

"Dead guy is ow?" Abby questioned.

"No Abby… ow," Abby looked over at Jess, who was holding her stomach.

"Oh god… what's going on?" Abby asked.

"I don't think it's my water… I think its discomfort…" Jess stopped, sitting down. She took a long deep breath.

"Should I call Gibbs?" Abby asked, walking to Jess, stroking her head.

"No…" Jess kept her breath steady and slow "I don't want him to worry"

"Hey you guy got anything?" Gibbs asked. He stared at Abby and Jess. "you sure your okay?" Jethro asked.

"Yeah... I'm… "Jess stopped, grabbing Abby's hand, gasping. "Jethro!" Jethro screamed. Jethro ran out to her side, looking at his watch.

"Jess your having a contraction okay baby?" Jess nodded slowly. "Deep breathing" Jethro did the Lamaze breathing with her. "Okay? Abby," Jethro looked back at Abby, handing her his keys. "Pull my car around. Tell McGee and DiNozzo, and have Tony call the director" He turned back to Jess, trying to keep her breathing slowly.