Author's Note: Suzanne Gibbs is preparing for a multitude of hats, including motherhood. Realities are beginning to set in, such as making choices between parenthood and career.
Suzanne Gibbs continued her promise from the beginning: whenever she was home, she'd make dinner. Keeping something substantial in her stomach or eating in his presence became more of a challenge. The pregnancy was rough. She wondered if the remaining months would ease or increase with difficulty.
Some days were better than others. Applesauce, soup, and water were the only items she could eat without retaliation. Frequently, she excused herself from dinner and retreat into the backyard, claiming she ate earlier at work.
Jethro noticed one change in Suzanne since her pregnancy: quietness. At home, the "chatterbox" workplace persona stopped once she stepped into the door. Normalcy was to come home, greeted at the door with enthusiastic barks from Fred and Suzanne. She emerged from the kitchen, apron adorned, still dressed in work-clothing and a string of pearls and kissing her husband on the cheek.
"Hello, my little Donna Reed…" He chuckled. Sometimes, the references to Suzanne were classic television mothers—June Cleaver, Carol Brady and Laura Petrie. Suzanne chuckled, would mimic the mannerisms of that stereotype. Lately, the hellos were shorter, less warm and intimate.
"Hi. Dinner's ready." Suzanne would say, returning back into the kitchen.
"Susie…" She rinsed her face with cold water, dabbing lightly with paper towels.
She explained to Jethro the mystery of morning sickness—that it was not necessarily just in the morning! Suzanne reassured him that soon, her appetite would return to normal. She ended the day, heading upstairs to shower, reading and bed.
"I'll be fine." She was not moody, just quiet. She rarely discussed work, just a nod or a sigh. With her understanding, soothing smile, she'd whisper, "Just tired, Sweetie. We had a full schedule."
"She's eating very little—fruit, applesauce, water…" Jethro sought advice from Dr. Mallard. "Claudia mentioned to Tony that Susie manages to eat some soup at work, drink some decaffeinated tea and ginger ale." He shared the Press Club excursion where Suzanne left in a hurry, feeling nauseated. "But she's supposed to go on the Latin America junket for three weeks feeling like that..."
The hormonal imbalance was new to him. He was away for Shannon's entire pregnancy with Kelly.
"She can't leave out of the country if she can't even eat food."
"Jethro, there are a lot of possibilities…" Ducky began. At first, Jethro's expression was of concern. Ducky smiled, placed a hand on Jethro's shoulder. "Remember, she's still in her first trimester."
Ducky asked a series of questions. After all, Suzanne was very much alive. Obstetrics and gynecology were not his field of expertise.
"Is she taking the prenatal vitamins?"
Jethro nodded.
Ducky concluded that once she finished the first trimester that her eating habits would soon return; thus, the nausea would end.
"So the vitamins could be making her sick?" Jethro asked.
"There have been numerous studies on morning sickness conducted on women…" Ducky rambled as he focused on paperwork.
"Suzanne has migraines, correct?" Jethro nodded. Ducky brewed tea, offered Jethro a cup which he declined.
"She can't take her medication. Adverse reaction to light and sound..." There was a moment of silence. To Jethro, it was completely sensible.
"You two could be expecting a daughter…" Ducky added.
Jethro's smile widened. Another daughter?
"There is a correlation between women diagnosed with migraines and pregnancies linked to higher female births…" Ducky remembered several cases where both living and dead expectant fetuses were included in the study.
"Morning sickness can also be connected to multiple births…"
"Twins?" Jethro said.
Shannon and Kelly: twin girls.
"Another possibility. Of course, it cannot be certain until Suzanne gets further along in the pregnancy." Ducky concluded. "She's about 8 weeks along…"
"Her next checkup will be when she comes back from her trip."
"That's a good time to have a sonogram to determine everything." Ducky said. "Otherwise, Suzanne is in great physical and mental shape, young...having a rough first trimester, typical for first time mothers…" He chuckled at the generally stable Jethro Gibbs. "This is not my field of expertise, but it seems that your wife is fine…and so is your unborn child." Ducky escorted Jethro to the door.
"Suzanne will be fine in Latin America." Ducky said. "If she's not, she'll have enough sense of mind not to travel."
Suzanne replenished her go bag for the Latin America and Asia junket. Jethro stood in the doorway, watching in curiosity how she managed to coordinate different looks with little accessories and space. Each trip, no matter the length of time, she carried only two pieces of luggage: a suit bag and a small duffle bag.
"The dresses are looser—camouflages this pooch." Suzanne patted her stomach and zipped the suit bag. "I also packed the larger shirts: the blue and the gray."
"They haven't caught on yet?" Jethro asked. "It's starting to show in your…face…" Suzanne's face shifted to little disappointment. "Just a little…"
Suzanne nodded a "no" answer. She made it a habit to carry three pairs of shoes: one heeled, one flat/casual and running shoes.
"Well, it looks like you're tired…"
Jethro's trademark stare rubbed off on Suzanne's mannerisms; she returned the gesture.
"But then again, you're always working, Sugar." He quickly recovered, kissing her gently on the cheek.
"Nice save." She chuckled, stuffing the insides of shoes with undergarments and socks. Suzanne's personal quirk: always carry the supply of undergarments. Adaptable to any situation, she was not, however, comfortable with just anyone 'playing with her drawers and brassieres.' Everything else could be laundered, if needed.
"What about the bras?" Jethro chuckled.
"I'll rinse them in the sink!" She wrapped the garments in a special bag. "No one will measure my cup size across their head…"
"Susie…three more weeks?" He groaned. "You really have to go?"
"Latin America is my baby. I wrote some ideas with the President. I helped Claudia with a bit of Asia/Pacific affairs. I'd like to see it through."
"You're going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine." She smiled. "Just moving a little slower, but fast enough."
Three sharp honks came from the street, indicating her ride, Claudia, was in the driveway.
"Speaking of which, there's Claudia now." Suzanne chuckled, the coworker waved from the passenger side from her car.
"She's my companion for the entire trip." With plenty of room in the canvas carry on, Suzanne zipped the bag. Jethro insisted on carrying the bag to the car.
"Good Morning, Claudia."
"Don't worry, Gunny: she's not carrying anything, except the bag and her purse." Claudia smiled.
"My God! She's more uptight that you are!" Do you know Claude bought the entire Bullseye pharmacy once I told the office I'm pregnant?!"
"I'm glad someone's thinking of your well-being." Jethro placed the bags in the backseat, suggested strongly that someone from Secret Service help with carrying her luggage.
"The doctor's meeting us once we reach Brasilia and travel into Central America." She reassured Jethro. "I lived in Latin America 4 ½ years…remember?" Jethro nodded. "I've taken every precaution…"
"But in about…five months?" Jethro nuzzled against her, gently rubbing her stomach. "You'll have…we'll have a baby."
"This is the last trip overseas." Suzanne whispered, facing Jethro. "I'm on the desk until I give birth."
"Suzanne, I think you should be more concerned about the baby."
"I think…this is a good time to work on the nursery…" Suzanne smiled.
"Hey…" Jethro rested his head against hers, reaching for a kiss across her lips. "Tell me one more time…"
"I'll call from a secured location…"
"Not that…" He smiled.
"I know." She whispered. "I love you. I'll be safe. I'll come home."
"I love you." She climbed into the passenger seat, gently closed the door.
"Come on, Thump." Claudia muttered. Jethro smiled, winked at Claudia.
"Watch your six-both of you."
"All right, Chief."