Ok, I thought about holding out for more reviews before updating, but I'm too excited about this! The end of the story is soon approaching- but have no fear, there is plenty of action left. So... enjoy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: THE BABY FINALLY COMES

Jack climbed into bed and lay on his side, looking at his wife. She had her eyes closed, trying to rest. He could tell how uncomfortable she was, though, she continually shifted and moaned. Jack wiped her forehead and stroked her cheek. He didn't rest any, but it just felt good to be close to her.

She was getting so weak, and Gibbs and Liz were becoming worried. Liz left the room, needing a break, and found her husband at the helm.

"Well?" he asked. "Do I have a niece or a nephew yet?"

Liz sighed. "No. . . and I don't know how much longer you're going to have a sister-in-law."

Will started. "What!" he demanded, turning from the wheel.

Tears were streaking down her cheeks. "Sunni's getting so weak. She's loosing blood, but the baby's not moving. She's in pain. . . I-I don't know how much longer she can take it."

"You think. . . you think she's not going to make it?" Will asked, keeping his voice low.

Elizabeth pursed her lips and shook her head, unable to speak.

"How is Jack?"

"He's in there, lying with her," she sobbed. "Stroking her cheek and talking to her."

"How long has it been? How long has she been in labor?"

"I think it's been twenty-four hours," she answered, taking note of how dark it was. "It's going to be morning soon, isn't it?"

Will nodded.

"I haven't slept in so long," she rubbed her eyes. "I can't imagine how Sunni feels. . ." She sighed again, trying to get a grip. "How is our boy doing?"

"He's fine, he's fine," Will assured her. "Just worry about your sister, okay?"

Liz nodded. "I should get back in there."

"Give her my love," Will said, kissing his wife.

Liz entered the room to find that Gibbs had left, giving Jack and Sunni privacy. That was not a good sign. Jack was whispering something in her ear. He hadn't seen Elizabeth, yet.

"I love you, Catybird," Liz heard him say. She had never heard him call her that. "I love you more than anything in this world," he continued. Sunni looked to be sleeping. Liz about sobbed when she saw the tears streaming down Jack's cheeks. "Don't leave me, luv. Please, I can't do this without you. I thought I'd never love anyone, but now I can't live without you. Don't leave me, Caty. Stay here. I love you. . . I love you."

Sunni rustled, opening her eyes. They were tired and frighteningly nearly lifeless. "I love you, too, Jack." That was all she said. The girl, who usually Jack couldn't get to shut up, now had trouble uttering a few words.

Liz, not being able to handle it any longer, crept out of the room, closed the door and leaned against it so she could cry.

"What's wrong? What is it?" Gibbs demanded, returning with more rags. "Is she okay?"

Liz looked up and nodded. "She's still with us," she whispered.

Looking confused, Gibbs stealthily stuck his head in the room. He, too, saw Jack with his wife. He pulled his head back out and took a deep breath and swallowed.

"C'mon, dear," he said, offering a hand to Elizabeth. "We need to deliver this baby."

They returned to the room to find Jack standing, ready to go to the door and fetch Liz and Gibbs. His eyes were dry, but a little red.

"What is it?" Gibbs asked, noticing Jack was ready to get them.

The captain pointed to Sunni. She was sitting up slightly, breathing heavily again. "It's time," she panted.

Gibbs took his place at the end of the bed and Liz and Jack were on either side of Sunni.

"You're right," Gibbs said. "Th' baby's moved. I think it may finally be moving down the birth canal." He looked up at her. "Now, when you feel the next contraction coming on, I'm going to tell you to push, okay?"

Tears were streaking Sunni's cheeks. "I'm not sure I can," she sobbed.

"Jack," Gibbs ordered. "Put th' heal of yer hand into th' small of her back when I tell 'er ta push. It'll help her ta push."

Jack nodded.

"Okay, Ms. Sunni," Gibbs said. "An'. . . push! Push now, Sunni!"

The pain washed through her, but Sunni sat up, with Jack's hand in her back. She used all her strength left, wanting this whole ordeal to be over.

"Wait, wait! Stop pushing, Sunni, stop pushing!" Gibbs ordered.

"What's wrong?" Jack demanded.

"Th' baby's comin' feet first," he groaned.

"So I'll deliver it feet first!" Sunni cried.

Gibbs shook his head. "No way, Sunni. That will most definitely kill you."

Jack's eyes bulged.

Sunni's head fell back, exhausted.

"Okay, okay," Gibbs nodded. "Th' baby's turnin' itself around-"

Sunni cried out in pain, feeling the baby move.

"Just wait a little longer," Gibbs pleaded. "Don't push, whatever you do, don't push!"

"I can't!" she cried.

Jack held her shoulders to the bed to keep her from pushing. "C'mon, luv, ye can do this," he said to her.

Sunni cried out again, tearing Jack to pieces.

"Okay, okay, just about there. All right, there's gonna be another contraction soon an' then ye can push. Jack, ye'll need ta help her. Okay. . . one, two, three, push!"

"C'mon, Sunni," Liz cried, "Keep pushing."

The contraction ended, but Jack didn't hear the cry of a baby. He looked at Gibbs, fear in his eyes that the child was born dead.

Gibbs, however, didn't look back at him, but at Sunni. "Okay, one more push and that's it."

Jack, Liz, and Sunni let out a collective moan.

"I don't think I can-"

"Yes, you can, now take a breath. . .get ready. . .an' push!"

Jack held his breath for what seemed like an eternity. Nothing was happening, nothing was happening, nothing was happening, and suddenly, a shrill cry of a baby pierced the air.

Sunni fell back on the bed, breathing heavily, thoroughly exhausted and Jack fell on his butt onto the bed next to her.

Gibbs wiped the baby off, cleaned it and offered the knife to Jack. After a second, he gathered the strength to stand and cut the cord.

Gibbs looked up to Jack and Sunni and smiled. "Congratulations. Ye have a beautiful baby girl."

He had a daughter. Jack had a daughter.

Sunni held out her arms, still heaving for air. "Let-let me hold her."

"Sunni, you need to rest," Jack was saying.

"I want to hold our daughter," she demanded.

Gibbs rested the small child in her mother's arms, wrapped in a blanket. Jack looked down at the girl in awe. She was so tiny; he had never seen anything so small.

"She's gorgeous," Sunni whispered, looking at her button nose and blue eyes that would some day turn green like her mother's. On top of her head was a patch of whispy black hair, like Jack's.

They had a daughter.