Author's Note: News Conference, Chapter 26. Lengthy and choppy. Chapter 27 (in progress) will hopefully smooth some of the dialogue.
Overview: It is uncertain how a Presidential employee's labor and delivery would be handled in a realistic situation. From a general overview of job intricacies and responsibilities, it would be within reason certain protocol would come into play with issue to national security. The following is a news conference concerning the recent birth of triplets at University Hospital and the mother identified as Suzanne Gibbs, Special Aide to the President. Please note that the following fiction is based on creative hypothetical and situations of a Presidential Aide.
In this chapter: Jethro continues to wrestle with Suzanne's condition and the writer explores the question to journalists 'how far is too far?'
Given the uncommon circumstances, an officer secured the entrance into the ward and also the neonatal unit. A meeting was held at the beginning of shift work explaining the new protocol. All personnel were identified by name badge, both hospital and visitors. Susan McNamara would have an escort at all times, whether through NCIS agents, her son-in-law or Dr. Donald Mallard. Only a specific list of names were allowed visitation, once Mrs. Gibbs recovered. The latter directive was per Jethro Gibbs, Supervisor Special Agent and spouse. Colleagues from the White House persuaded to add Roy on the list.
'We cannot exclude Roy.' Claudia explained the unique bond between the kitchen support staffer and their friend. Gibbs simply nodded, remembering the unexpected visit from the young man to their home.
'Three kids! Oh, I can't wait to see them!'
'I bet the girls look exactly like Suzanne!'
'What is your son's name, Gibbs?'
'When can we see them?'
'Suzanne and the kids...are not doing so well right now.' Jethro briefly informed the group. His facial expression conveyed worry with the exhaustion. Momentarily, he sat with hands covering his face. Tobias joined his friend, motioning to step away. Too many conversations, he thought. Insignificant. His sweetheart was behind the steel doors alone. The younger agents, concerned, wished to see Susie. Fornell's eyes bulged and head vigorously nodded, an indicator for no. The conversations immediately stopped.
Doctor Mallard changed the focus on the children. Despite the "Gibblets" were inside the neonate intensive care unit, the recovery and survival rate were highly in their favor. The unit was only to ensure healthier further lung development for the two.
"Jaundice is typical for preemies. Their youngest daughter, however, Jacqueline, is doing very well." Ducky yawned. "Just came from the ward. Strong lungs, very alert..." He chuckled softly. "Just a tad wheeze in the lungs."
"How's Suzanne?"
"Pray for her. Please." Jethro abruptly left for his wife's room.
"Soon as I finish my beside visit with Suzanne, I shall shower and resume the role of 'Grandpa Ducky,' part Deux." Ducky thought it was ample time to make a visit as well, not to mention change from his surgical uniform.
Fornell informed the group the severity of the situation.
"Suzanne's unconscious."
Semper Fi.
Once a Marine, always a Marine. Always faithful, no matter the situation. The motto applied to everything Gunnery Sergeant, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs did throughout his life. Faithfulness as a husband, now a father, included the mantra of commitment to the task.
He remained in the room, determined not to leave. Jethro placed Suzanne's hand inside his.
'You have some big hands, Susie.' He chuckled. 'Big hands; skinny fingers...' He forgot Suzanne's unique features, such as large hands but unusually small wrists. The wedding band was a size 8; her engagement ring was a 8.5. He noticed that both rings had play, despite the pregnancy. The chair Jethro sat reclined into a portable sleeping bed. He simply held her hand against his chest, resting beside Suzanne. On occasion, she wore the charm bracelet Jethro bought as a present. That became too large at a woman's 7 inch. Generally on her wrist was a man's watch, which had extra secure latches on the smallest size. Jethro sighed, thinking of her daily ritual-spraying perfume on her right wrist, immediately rubbing on the left.
Connected. Physically and emotionally connected were the way they slept at night, even conducted their day. Their life outside work, it was seldom discussed by both. Occasionally, it was an 'I'm out; Susie's home.' from Jethro. Suzanne was happier with assignments at home, leaving at 4 o'clock to say, 'I have a roast in the crock pot.' Before the pregnancy it was the couple spoon, just the two sharing intimate space. The pregnancy changed a lot. It was a life-changing event and surprisingly unexpected as their marriage barely reached an eighth month. At home, their cuddling variations cease at the third trimester where Suzanne had to sleep on her back. Still, she reached for Jethro's hand, held it throughout the night.
"Good Morning, Suzanne." She greeted softly. A shift nurse quietly entered the room. Large smile, cheery disposition and polite.
"Let's get some sunlight on your face, first, see if this sunshine will convince you to wake up." She adjusted the window blind to allow the golden beams inside the room. On the dry-erase board, she scribbled pertinent information and continued her introduction.
"My name is Colleen. I'll be taking care of you, Sweetheart." She finished writing the pertinent information on the board and glanced Suzanne's file. "Once you wake up, I'm giving you a ginger ale and water."
With the extra light inside, the nurse barely noticed Jethro sleeping in the chair and holding Suzanne's hand. At first sight, she gasped. A soft clatter, the pen dropping onto the floor, stirred Jethro awake.
"I apologize, Mr. Gibbs."
"It's okay." He glanced at Suzanne, still heavily sedated from the delivery. "It is morning."
Four hours passed. The wall clock read 9:15. Blood pressure was within normal range and appeared to resting comfortably, perhaps too comfortably. Again, she made notes into the medical chart.
"Suzanne's showing very strong signs and will be fine." Colleen assured Jethro. "She'll wake up naturally this afternoon."
"The seizure...?"
"Triggered by the childbirth." She closed the tablet. "No signs of epilepsy. No signs of damage. Because of the medication administered before and after the delivery, she'll wake up a little disoriented."
"The news conference...?"
"They're just starting, Mr. Gibbs."
"Mrs. Gibbs delivered two daughters and a son at 4:46 this morning. They arrived six weeks early. Mrs. Gibbs was approximately 31 weeks, 4 days into her pregnancy."
The press conference on behalf of University Hospital began moments ago with an announcement from Tobias Fornell, family friend and Senior Field Agent for the FBI. He preferred the secondary title; it was no one's business except the quiet community their alliances and relationships. Fornell kept it short and to the point, just as he promised Jethro. Claudia was at the opposite side of the podium, while Vance stood behind and in between.
From the hospital room, he watched the press conference, still holding Suzanne's hand. Tobias made the general announcement and introduced the doctors from University Hospital. The main story was a set of triplets were born without use of fertilization medication within a five year period. It happened to coincide the fifth birthday of the McGill triplet boys.
"The odds of triplet births in the U.S. are 1 in 1000, less than .01% of the population. If you are familiar with human reproduction and ovulation…a healthy man and woman are able to create three healthy children during this period without the help of fertility treatments or in vitro fertilization."
The questions continued, overlapping one another. The medical team continued with general explanations on multiple births as the entire team digested legitimate versus borderline questions. She quietly interjected a reminder before the doctors continued. Claudia reminded several familiar reporters and said, 'common courtesy, folks.' It was a Suzanne catchphrase used at Presidential meetings and conferences, meaning if your grandmother would not answer, please, do not ask. General factors for triplet births, like age, and race, were answered by the medical staff.
"Our biggest concern pertaining to multiple births are the complications. Mrs. Gibbs' children weighed over 3lbs, which is a good sign for children at about 31, 32 weeks. They, of course, will be in the NICU unit for an undetermined amount of time. She was diagnosed with preeclampsia, hypertension, in her 10th week and projected for twins. As she continued carrying the children, the pregnancy worsened the symptoms. Women with multiple births have complications, which can be carried to their newborns. The only way to alleviate the preeclampsia is delivery."
"Does Mrs. Gibbs have a history of high blood pressure?"
"Fooling around with the press will give you high blood pressure…" Claudia answered with a smile, while others chuckled. DiNozzo beamed, watching his girlfriend with pride the way she handled the conference. Subtle, she sneaked a wink at his direction. In the preliminary questions, Dr. Mallard and Susan arrived and sat in the back row. The elders blended with other personnel within the hospital system, easily undetectable to the eye. Thankfully, the press could not identify the two. The daughter slightly resembled the mother.
"Mrs. Gibbs is in excellent health. You should know that, as most have followed her and the President the past year."
"When did the President learn about Mrs. Gibbs' giving birth?"
"The President learned personally three hours ago." Claudia answered. "He and the Owens Administration plan to congratulate Agent and Mrs. Gibbs at a later date."
"Did Mrs. Gibbs know about the third baby?"
"We confirmed the third fetus during her emergency delivery this morning. Baby C was strategically placed during the ultrasounds and mimicked the heartbeat of the second fetus, producing an echo. An assisting doctor discovered the infant this morning."
"So the children delivered via cesarean?"
The doctors nodded.
"I learned Mrs. Gibbs is in critical condition…"
Susan was visibly upset. Ducky offered a hand to Susan. She grasped tightly as the doctor wrapped the other around her shoulder. The reporter dangled, smiled with an exclusive image only from his device. Members of the general press shook their heads in disappointment. Claudia's smile disappeared to a disgusted frown.
That one revelation triggered anger from Fornell, who immediately ended the news conference. A simple nod from Vance alerted Tony to retrieve the evidence. With assistance from Ellie Bishop, the duo managed to delete the image from all his technology devices. Surprisingly, the other reporters applauded the work of NCIS. Within the same breath, Fornell explained the reason for heightened security measures. Reporters continued to mumble the reporter's disregard for boundaries among another. One commented aloud, with disgust, that Mrs. Gibbs was someone's daughter, sister and wife.
'How would you feel if someone did that to your daughter, sister, or wife, Lawton?!'
"Hours ago, this reporter entered the hospital and invaded Mrs. Gibbs' privacy by obtaining photographs an hour after delivery." On camera, the Senior Agent arrested the reporter for trespassing and read his Miranda rights. The impromptu remark was enough to generate conversation for the political round table segments on both cable and network television.
"Folks, I'm asking you kindly to give Agent and Mrs. Gibbs a period of adjustment. Doctors, unless it has to do with specific medical questions, please do not answer any questions pertaining to Agent and Mrs. Gibbs. Thank you."