A/N: Here it is! This is a big chapter. Very important stuff going on here. In more than one way. ;) You'll see what I mean.
Chapter Eighteen
McGee's eyes widened and he found himself trying to find his chair, which he seemed to have misplaced, as he swung his hand blindly behind him, finally locating it and plopping down on it. "She's . . . Ziva . . . You mean . . ."
"I'm gonna take her to the hospital, Tim," Abby said, suddenly sounding like the rational one.
McGee nodded though she couldn't see him. "Right. Uh, I should . . ."
"Tim? Are you okay to drive?"
He nodded again. "Yeah, Sarah's here. I'll be there shortly." He hung up without saying goodbye, too shocked to say anything else.
"Tim? What's going on?" Sarah's voice was shaky, and when he looked up, he saw her face had paled. His lips twitched up into a smile. She wasn't even close to his co-workers, but she thought something was wrong, that he was upset, so . . .
"Ziva's in labor," he said, blinking a few times. "She's . . . she's gonna have a baby, and I'm . . ." He focused and met his sister's eyes. "I'm sitting here with you. I need to go."
Sarah smiled at him, standing up as he did. "You better get to the hospital. She's gonna be wondering where you are."
"Oh, God, you're right," he said, and turned around in a circle, trying to figure out what to do next. "I gotta . . . pay the bill. Did we buy anything? I don't even remember . . ." He looked up and met Sarah's eyes again then. "And I gotta go back to Ziva's, get her bag . . . I don't even know if she has a bag. Maybe she had it with her. I should call Abby and ask her . . ."
"Tim." McGee looked up at his sister again, who looked amused. "Go to the hospital. I'm sure Abby will take care of everything else. Just go be there for Ziva."
He stared at her for a moment, blinking, then nodded. "You're right. You're right because you're my little sister and you're a McGee and you're just right." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, saying, "I gotta go," then running from the café, leaving Sarah gaping after him.
"Sure, leave me with the bill," she muttered.
McGee ran into the hospital, skidding to a halt at the nurse's station and looking around frantically. When he didn't see Ziva anywhere, he leaned over the desk and asked the woman sitting there, "Can you tell me where a Ziva David is?"
She glanced up at him, then started typing on the keyboard in front of herself. "It appears as though she's been checked into the maternity ward. Are you a family member?"
"I'm . . . I'm her emergency contact," he finally said, then reached into his pocket, withdrawing his ID and showing her. "Timothy McGee. Uh, she hasn't had the, uh, the baby yet, has she?"
The nurse looked up at him then, smiling. "No, Mr. McGee."
"Agent McGee," he automatically corrected, and the nurse tipped her head at him.
"Agent McGee." Her smile turned softer as she watched the worry flicker in his eyes. "She's in room 612. I'm sure she will be very happy to see you."
"Thank you," McGee said, turning around in a circle as he tried to figure out which way to go.
The nurse laughed to herself and took pity on him, saying, "Take the elevator to the third floor, then take a right."
"Uh, thanks," McGee responded, taking off for the elevator. He wasn't going to stop worrying until he saw Ziva, and then he probably still wouldn't stop worrying until she had the baby. The baby. Ziva was going to have a baby in a matter of hours. The thought . . .
The elevator opened, tearing him from his thoughts, and he stepped in, pressing the button for the third floor. When the doors opened on that floor, he stepped out and was greeted by a familiar face.
"Abby!" he said, surprised to see her out by the elevator and not in the room with Ziva. "What are you doing out here? Did you leave Ziva alone? What's going on?"
"Whoa, McGee, you're starting to sound like me," Abby said, holding up her hands. "Ziva's fine. The doctor wanted to do a quick check to see how things were going, so he kicked me out." She gave a one-shouldered shrug. "I figured I'd come wait out here for you."
He nodded as he listened to her, then when she finished, said, "Okay. Okay, that's . . . good." He let out a heavy breath. "She's really in labor?"
Abby nodded, smiling. "It looks that way. It'll probably be awhile yet before the baby comes, but . . ."
"Can you go to Ziva's and get her bag?" he interrupted. "I mean, like an overnight bag, not a purse. But you probably knew that already. Does she even have one? Is it here already?"
"Timmy," Abby said, her eyes wide. "You seriously need to calm down. I know you're nervous and excited, but everything is going to be fine."
"But I'm going to . . ." he started softly before cutting himself off and looking up at Abby, hoping she hadn't noticed his slip.
She simply smiled, choosing not to call him on what he almost said, and said, "She had a bag in her car. Everything is taken care of. I'm going to go tell everyone else, and you," she put her hands on his shoulders and turned him to face the direction of Ziva's room, "are going to go be with Ziva." She felt him tense under her hands and gave him a small push. "Take a deep breath and just walk, Timmy. Just think about how mad she'll be if she finds out you've been here and haven't gone in to see her yet."
That made McGee snap out of his anxiety and he nodded. "You're right. She wants me there and I want to be there." He smiled to himself and started to walk down the hallway, calling over his shoulder, "Thanks, Abby!"
She smirked to herself as she pressed the button for the elevator. "Another job well done, Sciuto," she said to herself.
Meanwhile, McGee arrived outside the delivery room Ziva had been put in and took a deep breath before knocking on the door, feeling the need to announce his presence. The door opened and McGee was greeted by Dr. King's smiling face. He stuck out his hand to McGee. "Tim, it's nice to see you again."
McGee returned the handshake, then peeked around the doctor to Ziva, who was sitting in the bed, looking a bit tired, but not bad aside from that. He gave Dr. King an apologetic smile before moving around him and approaching the bed. "Hey," he said softly, and Ziva opened her eyes and gave him a small smile. He brushed her hair away from her eyes and she leaned into his touch.
Dr. King watched the exchange and said, "I'll leave you two alone. If you start feeling any stronger contractions, the call button is right there on your bed, Ziva."
Ziva nodded and they watched him leave, then McGee settled on the edge of the bed once he closed the door, looking back to Ziva. "So, what'd he say?"
She shrugged. "I am in the earliest stages of labor right now, and it will be awhile yet before the baby comes, but . . ." She trailed off and McGee nudged her hand with his, urging her to continue.
"But what?" he asked, and the look he gave her was so soft Ziva nearly melted under his gaze.
She squeezed his hand and said, "But I would feel more comfortable staying here. I do not want to risk anything, and Doctor King said it was alright if I stayed." She fell silent then, but McGee felt there was more she wasn't saying.
"What?" he said, and gave her hand another squeeze. "You want me to stay with you? Because I will, no questions asked."
Ziva couldn't help but smile, hissing briefly as a contraction passed, but then she returned her attention to McGee. "You are so selfless and . . . thank you. I do not know what we will do to pass the time, but . . ."
He shrugged. "We don't have to do anything," he said. "I'm just happy being with you." He kept his eyes on hers as he divulged his not-so-secret secret and Ziva was unable to keep the smile from her own face.
"I feel the same way, you know," she said after a moment, lacing her fingers through his. There was a comfortable pause between them, then she said, "I am quite looking forward to the future, Tim."
McGee nodded, finding himself holding her hand a little tighter. "Me too, Ziva. Me too."
"So, have you thought about finding a bigger apartment at all?" McGee asked a few hours later. They'd spent the previous hours together talking about whatever came to mind and trying to keep Ziva distracted from her contractions – or as distracted as was appropriate, given the circumstances.
She gave a huff of disbelief. "I have hardly had time to adjust to the fact that I am going to have a baby, let alone time to look for a new place to live," she said, shifting to find a more comfortable position in the hospital bed.
McGee quickly moved to help her, receiving a murmured thanks from her, then when she settled, said, "Well, if you want help looking . . ."
She tilted her head at him. "What are you implying, Tim?"
He shook his head and muttered, "You probably think I'm moving way too fast . . ."
Her hand fell to his arm and he looked to her stunned face as she asked, "Are you asking me to move in with you, Tim?" He simply stared back at her and she retracted her hand, suddenly feeling stupid. "Of course not. That is . . . silly to think that. And now you must think . . ." She trailed off, shaking her own head, before looking up and finding McGee with an amused look on his face. "What?"
"It's just kinda funny, each of us thinking the other thinks we're moving too fast, when we're clearly thinking the same thing," he said, giving her a smirk that she found rather adorable and couldn't help but to echo.
"And yet we have not even gone on a date yet," she murmured.
McGee opened his mouth to respond, but Ziva let out a sudden gasp of pain as another contraction hit and the moment was ruined and McGee turned serious as he took in her expression. "Do you need the doctor?"
She nodded and he didn't waste any time in pressing the call button furiously, only stopping when Ziva removed his hand from the button, laughing through her pain. "I am not about to have the baby right now, Tim," she said, and opened her eyes to look at him, breathing heavily as the contraction passed.
"I know, I just . . ." he started, and Ziva smiled, squeezing his hand.
"You are very sweet," she said. He still looked a bit anxious, so she continued. "Everything will be fine. In no time, she will be here and . . ." She trailed off, suddenly looking a bit nervous herself.
"And?" He couldn't help but grin at her. "We need to just come out and say this stuff."
Ziva laughed at that and nodded. "You are right. In no time the baby will be here and then we," she squeezed his hand again, "can further discuss the future."
"Hmm," McGee said, pretending to be deep in thought. "You know, I don't know how much discussion is going to be needed."
"Oh, really?" she smiled at him, looking amused. "You sound sure of yourself."
"Nah, it's not that," he said, rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand. "Maybe I just think we can come to some conclusions without talking."
Ziva narrowed her eyes at him. "Timothy McGee, I never would have taken you for the type."
He gave a one-shouldered shrug. "What can I say? When there's a beautiful woman . . ."
She reached up and gave him a gentle smack on the cheek, as the doctor arrived at the door then, saying, "Uh-oh, someone's in trouble," as he walked in. McGee smiled and turned to face him, standing up as Dr. King approached the bed. "How you feeling, Ziva?" he asked.
"The contractions appear to be getting stronger, and closer together," she told him, and he nodded, moving toward the foot end of the bed.
"Let's have a look," he said, lifting the blanket and making McGee give an uncomfortable cough.
Ziva rolled her eyes at him. "It is unlikely you will see anything from there," she said, then reached out for him. "If you stay up here, you will be spared the trauma."
He glared at her, but took her outstretched hand and walked back to stand near her, while Dr. King checked Ziva out. After a few moments, he popped his head back out and smiled at them.
"You're sitting at about 5 centimeters now," he said. "I hope you're ready, because it's going to be a long day . . ."
And a long day it was, with Ziva remaining in labor for another 6 hours, McGee at her side the whole time.
At about hour five, Dr. King looked up at her with a grin. "Are you ready?" he asked. Ziva nodded and he said, "When I tell you to, I want you to push. Okay?" She nodded again and glanced over at McGee, who held her hand tighter.
"You can do this, Ziva," he said, and she smiled at him, only turning her attention back to the doctor when another contraction hit.
"Push!" he announced, and Ziva followed through, squeezing McGee's hand unintentionally and nearly causing him to buckle over in pain.
When the moment passed and Ziva realized what she had done, she breathed, "I am sorry, Tim. I did not mean to . . ."
He nodded, cutting her off. "Yeah, I figured as much," he said. "Though I think I'll just stand over here now, to save my hand."
She gave him a dirty look as he flexed his hand, saying, "Just imagine what it will be like when we . . ."
"Okay," Dr. King interrupted, saving them all from a potentially embarrassing situation. "Let's just focus on getting that baby out, alright?"
McGee shot him a grateful look and focused on trying to be comforting to Ziva, who had forgotten she was annoyed at him as she continued to push through her contractions, curling her fingers into McGee's shirt instead, while he ran a hand over her hair, unsure of what else to do.
The remainder of the labor continued in the same vein, until Dr. King announced, "I can see the head!" which made Ziva gasp in joy and turn to McGee, her face aglow.
He beamed back at her, running his hand down her cheek to cup her chin, and said, "You're almost there. Just a little more."
She nodded and faced forward again, focused and determined. Dr. King gave her the signal to push and she did . . . and it only took a handful more pushes before Dr. King announced, "And here she is! Your beautiful baby girl!"
A sudden wailing filled the air and McGee and Ziva laughed in amazement at the tiny human squirming in the doctor's hands. Dr. King then turned to McGee, asking, "Would you like to do the honors?"
McGee simply stared at him for a moment before asking, "The honors?"
Dr. King laughed and held up a small pair of scissors. "Cutting the umbilical cord."
"Oh," he said, blinking. He turned to Ziva. "If you're . . ."
She gave him an incredulous look. "Do you think I would not want you to do it?" she asked.
He nodded, smiling. "Of course." He took the few steps to the doctor, taking the scissors from him and snipping where he directed. Dr. King then handed the baby over to a nurse, who walked away to clean her up, and turned back to Ziva, smiling.
"Once I get everything cleaned up, you'll get her back and I'll give the three of you a moment alone," he said, and Ziva nodded, reclaiming her hold on McGee's hand, which he gladly returned.
After the labor process was over and everything was cleaned up, the nurse came back in with the baby, saying, "Congratulations," before handing her to Ziva, who took her with an amazed look on her face.
Dr. King smiled down at them and said, "I'll be back in about 20 minutes to finish up the paperwork and get you moved to your new room."
"Thank you," Ziva said, glancing up at him for only a moment before returning her attention to the child in her arms. She smiled down at her, brushing her fingers over the baby's head, then lowered her face to the baby's and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
McGee watched the scene with pride, unable to take his eyes off them. "Did you decide on a name?" he asked after a moment, and Ziva nodded.
"She will be Liora," she said, her fingers running across the soft hair on her daughter's head.
McGee smiled. "That's beautiful," he said. "What does it mean?"
"My light," Ziva said. "And it's true. She opened my eyes and made me see what was front of me the whole time I have been here."
"Oh, yeah?" McGee said, smirking a bit.
"Yeah," Ziva responded, turning her head to look at him. He looked down at her and something seemed to click that said this was the right moment.
He leaned in, she craned her neck to meet him, and they shared their first kiss.
A/N: There it is! The kiss! And the baby, of course, but they kissed! I hope you're all happy! LOL. I sense about two more chapters coming up, one to "end" the story and then an epilogue. :)