Warning: not all medical stuff may be one hundred percent accurate
Two more weeks passed by uneventfully. Rylan turned five months old. Jane, Maria, and Taliah turned seven months old. Being three months along in her second pregnancy, it still wasn't difficult for Abby to hide the physical aspect of things. However, her morning sickness was getting out of control-not as much as with Rylan, but it was still hard for her to get enough to eat during the day. Gibbs, of course, figured out what was wrong in just seconds one morning before a case came in. Tony, Jewel, Adien, and Daniela were all still clueless, though.
Abby was getting tired of not mentioning anything to Tony, though. Besides, she found herself emptying the contents of her stomach into his trash can just as he walked in anyway. The game was up.
"Aw, really?" Tony moaned. "You really need to see a doctor about this." He helped her up as soon as she could breathe.
"Tony, I'm seeing a doctor next month," Abby said, stressing the word 'month' as much as she could. Tony's eyes widened.
"How long?" he exclaimed.
"Three months."
"Jeez, how did I not notice? Tell me I'm not the last to know."
"Jewel doesn't have a clue yet, and the same goes for her husband and daughter."
"By the way, Steve's in jail now so you can-"
"No he's not," Gibbs interrupted. "Broke out last night. Go interview the inmates to see if they know anything." Tony sighed and obeyed at once. Abby drifted off down to her lab to tell McGee that Tony knew the truth.
NCIS
Time seemed like it was speeding up. By the time Rylan was able to start crawling, Ziva and Tony's triplets were walking, talking, and changing. Abby wasn't sure this was a good thing or not, so she made no comment on the situation. Being in the third trimester of her pregnancy, it was nearly time for her to give up work again.
"Abs..." She looked up.
"Where have you been?" she asked coolly. Tim had been out for over six hours. It was well past midnight.
"I'm sorry, but..." He slid to the floor. It took Abby several moments to register that the carpet was soaked in blood, and even longer to realize who exactly was injured. Slowly, as if she was in a dream, she dialed 911. After that she called Gibbs, then dropped to the floor to try and save her husband before it was too late. It was like she was on autopilot, going through the motions but not exactly registering them. Someone took Rylan. She didn't remember, but at the time she didn't care. All she saw was Tim's face getting paler by the minute as he was loaded up into the ambulance.
"Here is your child, ma'm," an EMT said, handing over the bundle. Abby robotically took Rylan and comforted him without realizing what she was doing.
"Do you know anything that happened?" Tony asked worriedly.
"No," Abby said dully. "I don't want to talk right now. Let's get to the hospital."
"I have some new pictures of the girls," Tony said hopefully, changing the subject. "Maybe you'd like to take a look along the way?" Abby nodded excitedly, forgetting about McGee for the moment. She gazed at the photos, noticing that Taliah, Maria, and Jane were fraternal triplets, meaning they all looked completely different even though they were born at the same time. Taliah looked vaguely like Ziva, with inquisitive dark eyes, dark skin, and dark eyes. Well, maybe it was more than vaguely then. Maria seemed like the daddy's girl sort of daughter. She took on Tony's wild personality, but surprised everyone by being a redhead rather than brunette like her parents. Ziva had spent weeks searching through her family histroy for any instances of redheads, but found hardly anything. Eventually she had to conclude that it was a rare recessive gene. Jane was another matter all together. She looked like her mother a little bit, and she saw some of Tony in the infant's face, but...she was so completely different from the others it was hard to believe she was related to them.
"We're here," Tony stated.
"Where was Tim earlier tonight?" Abby asked calmly as they entered the hospital to prepare threatening the doctors for information, the usual routine.
"We caught a lead about Steve's location. He got shot by some teenager fooling around...the local police is considering on arresting him since he is eighteen...but it's still on debate right now." She felt calm. A little too calm, considering the current situation. She didn't notice the time passing, as life had been her a lot recently. It was as if someone was continually pressing fast forward, causing everything to blend together.
"How is he?" Tony asked when a doctor finally came to see them.
"He is alive, if that's what you're asking," the woman replied. "Thankfully, the bullet didn't hit any major organs or nerves. We were able to remove it from Agent McGee's ribcage quite smoothly. He lost a lot of blood, but was replenished completely a few minutes ago. I will take you to his room now." Abby's eyes rolled back in her head at the word 'alive' and by the time the doctor turned around, everything had faded away and she sank to the floor. She was vaguely aware of Tony's strong hands catching her.
NCIS
"I can't believe we were this close," Gibbs muttered as he barrelled into the hopsital.
"It does seem like an unfortunate coincidence," Ducky agreed dryly, hot on his friend's heels. The white walls and medical smells did not bother him. He was quite used to them. That on top of the lingering sense of death were all just background distractions for the ME.
"Least he's not dead," GIbbs grumbled quietly. "I'd have to kill him if that happened."
"Jethro," Ducky admonished. "You know that's not possible."
"If Ziva can survive with three one year old triplets, I'm sure resurrection is not far out of reach."
"You're starting to sound like Tony."
"Hell just froze over." Gibbs smirked at Ducky. The medical examiner laughed, a slightly shocked look on his face. Leroy Jethro Gibbs never failed to surprise him, and he had studied psychology too. Perhaps that was why their friendship worked out so well. The man who claimed to have 'seen it all' is still given shock after shock from Gibbs.
NCIS
Steve lay low in the hospital. His hired man had missed the required target. Now this time he wouldn't miss. Just a little longer...Tony passed by far too quickly. Steve cursed under his breath.
"Did you see something, Abby?"
"Nope. I wish you wouldn't be so paranoid." Steve cursed again, accidentally pulling the trigger. The last thing he registered was impossible pain exploding in his skull.
NCIS
Abby came to a sudden halt. She spun around to see Steve dead on the ground, a bullet in his forehead and blood pooling on the floor.
"Guess you were right." She fainted for the second time that day. And, once again, Tony had to catch her before she could harm the still unnamed baby. Gibbs and Ducky caught up to them, both catching sight of an unconscious Abby, dead Steve, and shocked Tony.
"Boss, could you help me out here?" the senior agent gasped. "She's kind of heavy."
"What happened?" Ducky asked.
"Not sure...I think Steve was pointing his gun the wrong way by accident. Looks like stupidity can kill after all." Tony snorted, thinking of several badly done zombie movies that weren't even all that scary.
"Have Jewel watch your kids. Call Ziva in to process the scene. Duck, do your thing." Gibbs sweeped off toward McGee's room without missing a beat. Abby woke up and glanced up apologetically at Tony as he made sure she was alright before obeying orders. Gibbs didn't normally forget about Abby, not unless something was wrong. Something told him that his boss didn't want things to go down this messily. Why was it that every time he thought it was over, it really wasn't?
NCIS
"Hey, Probsters," Tony said with a jovial smile on his face. Abby clung onto him as she observed the condition of her husband. He was in a coma, and showed no sign of leaving it any time soon. "Abby's here to visit." He left her to be alone.
"Hi, Tim," Abby said softly. "I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow...we get to find out the sex of the baby." No reaction. "We've already got a great son starting to grow up. Nine months old, can you believe it? He's got your hair and your eyes, and hopefully your brain. Next thing you know we'll be sending him off to preschool and kindergarten..." Her voice trailed off as she thought of the future. Time was passing too quickly. She wanted the right now, here in her arms. But time was not listening to her, as if it was saying the right now wasn't important, but the fugure she should be focusing on.
NCIS
'Are you sure this is the right spot?' Tim asked, looking around. They had been on a stakeout for over five hours, just for Tony to have some weird hunch based on a movie. Of course.
'Have I ever let you down?' Tim gave him a look.
'Alright, point taken. Just trust me on this. I wouldn't do this to intentionally get you killed. Humiliated, maybe but not hurt or killed.'
'Fine...but where-' There was the familiar sound of a gunshot. Before Tim could even register what had happened, blood poured out from his gut onto the ground.
'Uh...Tony...that's a lot of blood.' Duh, Captian Obvious.
'You'll be fine,' Tony said. 'Just tell Abby that it's a scratch.' But on the inside he was panicking. He didn't want to deal with this. He didn't want his friend to end up hurt. But it happened and it was all his fault. He should've been paying attention. He should have tried harder to protect McGee.
NCIS
"Abby, he will be there in the morning. Come on, you have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Tim wouldn't want you to miss it."
"No," she groaned, ignoring Tony's logic. She was too tired to move.
"I can't carry you."
"Because I'm fat," Abby grumbled triedly. "I know, stop reminding me."
"Anyone who has a baby inside them is bound to be a little larger at some point." Abby stumbled to her feet and allowed herself to be lead away.
"Where's my baby?" she asked.
"Don't you worry about that...I got it all taken care of." Suddenly, Abby sat up. Her eyes were wide open.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." She remained strangely quiet the whole way back, not even acting surprised when she found out that Palmer had Rylan this whole time. That night she remembered there was a difference between what she had felt and what was going into labor for real. She turned to tell Tim, but remembered that he was in the hospital.
"Timmy..." It was harder than usual for her to get to sleep that night due to back pain, and a strange emptiness somewhere on her bed where her husband should be. The bed was too large and lonely without him there.
NCIS
"Im bored..." Both Kate and Director Shepard were there with Tim, bored out of their minds. After a long discussion of whether he was really dead or not, nothing else seemed to matter.
"I wish that I could go back," Tim said sadly. "I miss Abby."
"So go, then," Kate told him.
"Don't think it's that simple," Jenny spoke up.
"What, he can't just wake up and be back in the real world?"
"When Jethro got caught in that explosion, he was in a coma for a week. When he woke up, he couldn't remember anything after 1991." Tim bit down his lip worriedly. He didn't want to lose his memory and devastate everyone like that.
"You just got hit in the stomach, there's no reason for you to worry," Jenny assured him. "So...Kate, why haven't I seen you around?"
"It's not like we ever knew one another," she reasoned. "Plus, since McGee knew both of us, we're both in the same place now."
"But why didn't we know that we were dead?"
"Because I wish neither of you had died!" Tim blurted out. They both looked at him. "Kate, there was nothing I could have done for you, but Jenny...Tony and Ziva both felt so guilty. They were responsible for you and then...they wish they could have just not listened to you and protected you like they should have."
NCIS
"Tim...I went to the doctor yesterday. We're having a little girl." Abby gazed at him hopefully. No response. "I was wondering if you had any ideas for names. We've gotten so caught up with Rylan that I have nearly forgotten about that." Tim still remained slightly pale and motionless, The EKG beeped steadily. Abby sat down next to him in a chair, feeling sore and tired, but not willing to give up.
"I was thinking that her middle name could be...Caitlin, in memory of Kate." Tim's left hand twitched slightly.
"Come on, Abs." She looked up and saw Gibbs standing there, Rylan squirming in his arms. "It's late." She hadn't realized how long she had been in here. More time must have passed than she thought. The baby kicked feebly as she follwed Gibbs out of the room. Meanwhile, Tim showed no sign he had ever moved.
NCIS
"I was thinking her middle name could be...Caitlin, in memory of Kate."
"Aw, how sweet of her," Kate said happily. "Wait, Abby's pregnant? A second time? Sheesh, this makes me wish I wasn't dead all the sudden. Who's the father?" Tim gave her a look.
"I am, but that's not important right now. I've got to get back to Abby somehow."
"Come on, Abs, it's late."
"Oh, Gibbs..." Jenny sighed. "So many unanswered questions between us."
"I think he likes it better alone," Tim said. "We tried setting him up with Agent Borin once, but that didn't work out so well. They're too similar." Jenny smiled, her once happy green eyes far away and sad.
"Maybe there's a way for us to see everyone from here," Tim murmured, his eyes drifting to a screen that was on the other side of the room.
NCIS
"It's been almost three months, boss," Tony said to Gibbs, who nodded. Abby was quietly sobbing into her hands.
"They took another look at Timothy's organs last week, and found much more damage than they had thought," Ducky said. "Unfortunately, he is still low priority for a second surgery." Gibbs growled.
"How is being in a coma make him low priority?" Gibbs stormed out of the room. Ziva sat down and tried to comfort Abby.
"He only responds when I mention Kate or Jenny but he won't do anything when I say other things!" Abby wailed. "I don't understand! I thought he'd want to be here when the baby was born!"
"I'm sure he does," Ziva told her. "He just doesn't know how to get back. Did you name the baby?"
"Valarie Caitlin."
"That is a beautiful name." Abby managed a smile and sniffled slightly. Then she grimaced, her hand fluttering down to her inflated stomach. Ziva gazed at her curiously.
"Everything all right?"
"Just a stomach cramp...I think. It's been happening all day...oh no." There was a brief moment of silence.
"What's wrong?"
"My water broke."
NCIS
"Arrg, why can't I get back?" Tim whined, staring at the screen with all his might, wishing himself to be with his wife once more, even if it was for a few minutes.
"You aren't healed enough," Kate said.
"I know!" he snapped, causing Kate to step back in surprise. He had changed a lot over the years she had been gone.
"Just be patient," Jenny said softly. "You'll get there soon." Tim groaned, feeling nearly ready to hit something in his restless frustration. He started pacing again, wishing and hoping and worrying...and waiting. Always waiting.
NCIS
"Just one more," the doctor encouraged. Abby shrieked, cursing Tim's name to high heavens and lowest circles to hell for "putting this curse upon her again." The umbilical chord was cut, the child was given wrappings and clothes...then finally Abby was able to see her daughter for the first time.
"Valarie, you're so beautiful." She looked up to see a nurse standing there.
"McGee is now being put into surgery for kidney and liver damage," the woman announced.
NCIS
"Why can't I see what's happening to myself?" Tim asked.
"Because it's all in your first person view, see?" Kate pointed at the screen. "This is what everything would look like if you were awake."
"You're being put into surgery," Jenny added. "Looks like you'll be able to wake up soon."
"Will I remember everything that happened here?"
"I doubt it," Kate said. "But it was nice having some entertainment. I'm tired of looking at the inside of my grave..."
"Maybe there's a different setting," Jenny said. "Look, there's some controls...let's see what Gibbs is up to."
"Oh, you're just saying that because you still love him!" Kate rolled her eyes. "I want to see Tony!"
"Gibbs!
"Tony!"
"Gibbs!"
"Tony!
"Gibbs!"
"Will you stop it?" Tim muttered, starting to feel a headache come on. "You're acting like Tony and Ziva."
"Who's Ziva?" Kate wondered.
"I give up," Tim said.
NCIS
"How much longer?" Abby said. Valarie was only a couple days old. She was dealing with the sleepless nights a lot better than she thought she would. Rylan would be one in less than a week. She had no idea what to do for celebrations so far. But now that she was no longer pregnant she didn't have to wear those baggy clothes anymore. Unfortunately, she still had some weight to lose. Right now that was the least of her concerns. She wanted her husband back.
"A couple more hours," Tony replied. "How's Valarie?"
"Do the bags under my eyes answer your question?" she asked dryly. Little Rylan babbled on and on about some bird he had seen, using his limited vocabulary as best he could.
"Bird! Sky!" he said, smiling up at his mother.
"Yes," Abby replied.
"Daddy?" Rylan asked for the fifth time.
"He'll be awake soon. Don't worry." There was a long silence. Rylan toddled off toward Jane and Maria, who were playing with some toys. He played with some blocks near the two toddler girls but paid them no attention. Jane was currently asleep in Ziva's lap. Her dark curls, which had grown out so much over the months, splayed out against her mother's chest and down across her own face. Abby decided to let go of her worries for now, since she needed to be relaxed while feeding Valarie, especially in public. The sling had proved to be useful. She ignored any looks from others, knowing saying anything wouldn't do much good. Being tired would put anyone in a bad mood, especially a two-time mother with an almost one-year-old and a newborn.
"Abby!" She saw Jimmy barrell into the waiting room. "McGee is trying to wake up!"
