a/n: could not pass up a chance to have a marine corps birthday baby!

November 10th, 2018
Bethesda, Maryland

"Katharyn"

She took the stairs up from the buzzing linguistics and intelligence office on one of NCIS' lower floors with a stack of reports in her left hand and a grimace on her face. She generally took the elevator these days, except walking was allegedly good for you when you were in labor – or so she'd heard.

When she'd had Anna, there hadn't been much time for anything; she had arrived in the blink of an eye.

As it stood, she had woken up this morning with mild pains that ended up being so far apart she ignored them, until about an hour ago when she'd calmly realized she probably needed to go to Bethesda – like, now. Hence, she was on her way up to tell her husband.

She was glad it was his second baby, so there would most likely be no panicked freak-out in the middle of the bullpen. Though he hadn't necessarily freaked out when she'd told him Anna was on her way, he had stared at her blankly for a full five-minutes and not snapped out of it until she took the keys from him and went and sat in the car by herself.

She smiled a little at the memory, and pushed open the staircase door to the main floor. She breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of human activity; it was so much better than the technical buzz of the intelligence analysis and linguistics room – where every once in a while furious typing or a sneeze broke the monitoring monotony.

If she were lucky, there wouldn't be much going on in the bullpen.

She approached the entrance to the Major Crime Response Team's unit, and stopped in her tracks – the only person sitting down was Nikki Jardine, and she was on the phone and furiously working at a computer. There were about a thousand things on two different screens, and Riley McAlister, Gibbs' boss, was having a terse, angry conversation on the phone.

Jenny bit her lip, wary of interrupting. Before she could come up with a way, one of Gibbs' team members turned and gave her a little wave.

"Hi there, Mrs. Gibbs," he said brightly, nudging Gibbs' shoulder.

"Hello, Harmon," she greeted pleasantly.

Harmon Rabb, of equal seniority with Gibbs, had also come in straight from the military – Air Force, though – and skipped FLET-C because of higher qualifications.

"How's Mac?" she asked.

"She's well," Rabb answered. "She's in Yemen right now," he said breezily.

Jenny didn't ask why. She didn't think she was allowed to – Rabb probably didn't know anyway.

Jenny approached, coming to stand next to Gibbs.

"I've got your linguistics analysis on the Autopsy case – the man who infiltrated spoke a British-accented Arabic that had some Gaza-area slang – an Israeli friend of mine actually helped me analyze it," she explained. "And, the intelligence on the arms dealing group actually points to a woman," Jenny handed over some files quickly.

Jardine got off the phone and lunged forward.

"Metro thinks they've got him – car chase on sixty-six, headed towards Front Royal," she said.

McAlister grabbed his bag, and started snapping.

"Shepard, you don't got to deliver files personally so you can flirt with your husband," he groused moodily. "Just fax 'em agency priority."

Jenny ignored him. She knew McAlister liked her in his own way, but she never got involved with his teasing just in case he was serious and her quick retorts made trouble for Gibbs.

"I need him a minute," she said placidly.

Gibbs met her eyes and tilted his head questioningly. She pointed her finger subtly to the side and he moved over towards his desk with her, arching his brows. She paused, glanced at his team, and then licked her lips.

"I am going to leave," she said simply, "because I am in labor."

He stared at her, and then it turned into a glare, and he narrowed his eyes.

"How in labor?" he growled.

"Well," she said delicately. "It started this morning – "

"Jen!"

"—but there was no point in sitting in a hospital for hours while nothing happened – "

"JEN!"

"—but now, it seems," she winced a little, "imminent, in a manner of speaking."

His teammates were staring at him.

"Gibbs," McAlister said sharply. "Save the bickering for the bedroom; we got to go."

Gibbs turned on him sharply, opening his mouth. Jenny caught his arm and yanked him back gently, shaking her head.

"I'll go in," she said softly. "They still aren't very close – I'll call Dad, or I'll see if Ziva can bring Anna by the hospital for a little while," she placated. "You go."

"Jenny," he said curtly, "'M not goin' off to chase some son of a bitch while you have a baby," he said loudly.

"You're having the baby?" Agent Jardine asked, her voice going up squeakily.

"Whoa, you okay Shepard?" Harmon piped up.

She held up her hands – and smirked at McAlister's annoyed swearing – and looked at them.

"I'm fine," she said coolly. "I have done this before – "

"Gibbs, we got to go," McAlister growled. "I can't have one agent without back-up on this."

"Go," Jenny mouthed, poking him in the chest. She saw the furious protest on her husband's face, and turned to Rabb matter-of-factly. "Which case is it?" she demanded.

"Oh, uh," he began. "Kyle Boone."

Jenny gave Gibbs a sharp look.

"If you can get that bastard, you get him," she said sharply. "I won't forgive you if Anna has to grow up in a world where he's on the loose."

Gibbs looked torn, impossibly conflicted – angry – but she rested her hand on his shoulder and squeezed, trying to convey that she understood; she'd spent quite a few years as a Marine's wife, after all; she knew the importance of the service, and sometimes NCIS was no different.

"I'll be okay," she promised.

He swallowed and turned to grab his stuff, tossing his keys shakily to Jardine so she would drive. He stepped forward and kissed Jenny on the cheek, running his palm lightly over her hair.

"Jen," he said tightly, meeting her eyes. "Get someone there with you," he ordered.

She nodded, and waved him off. As his team dashed off to catch a killer, she checked her watch, noting the time so she'd be able to accurately report to Hetty, and she tried to decide if she was best off driving herself, or taking the metro to Bethesda.

Semi-comfortably laid up in a delivery room, Jenny pulled her phone away from her face and ended a call; sweeping her thumb around on the touch screen to return it to a game Anna was entertaining herself with. She handed it back.

"Remember," she instructed gently. "Careful!"

She sighed and pushed her hair back, holding her hand on her head for a moment. She let out a deep breath.

"My father is getting out of a meeting," she said, turning her head. She gave her companion a wary look. "You'll be off the hook soon."

Damon Werth shrugged, and grinned a lopsided grin at her.

"Hey, I done it four times," he said lightly. He gestured. "Well, I mean, I haven't done it, but I been around, when Ziva … "

"Damon, I'm not going to snap at you."

"Oh thank God," he said quickly. He leaned forward in his chair and rubbed his jaw. "Ziva gets really irritable during," he paused, "this."

"Give her a break," Jenny laughed sympathetically. "She eschews the drugs!"

Damon nodded, turning his warm eyes on Anna for a moment. Jenny was slightly amused at the situation, but she was dealing with it - she had first called her father to see if he would pick up Anna and bring her over, but he'd been in a meeting and hadn't answered. She had then called Jackie, to see if Jackie could pick up Anna and bring her over, but Jackie and Leon were in Brooklyn visiting her father. She had finally called Ziva – she'd been trying to avoid it, because she knew Ziva was at home with her four kids and Anna, but it became imperative.

It turned out Adam and Noah had a day full of soccer games, so Ziva was at the recreational fields and Damon had the day off from his contracting job, so he'd been at home with Anna and Ellie while Ziva had the older boys and Zach.

With a lot of maneuvering, Damon had ended up being the one at the hospital with Jenny while they waited for labor to speed up or Gibbs to arrive – whichever came first.

Anna shifted and crawled closer to Jenny, turning and snuggling into her arm and handing her the phone, apparently bored. It was the only reason Jenny sometimes let her play with it; it never held her attention long.

Jenny stroked her hair and looked at Damon wryly.

"If I'd known Ziva had so much going on today, I'd have found someone else to watch her," she said, apologetic. It had just happened to work out – unfortunately – that Gibbs was scheduled for weekend duty, and Jenny always worked a Saturday NCIS shift.

"Nah, Ziva loves it," Damon said firmly. "Y'know, she claimed she didn't want children for a year or so, and now half the time I think she wants another one."

"Jesus."

"She just likes seein' Ellie and Anna play," he said. "Reminds her of her sister, I guess."

"Ah," Jenny said. "Well – now she's got all four kids at the rec fields, and you're here playing husband to me instead of her – "

"You shouldn't be alone, just waitin'," he said amicably.

"I appreciate it," Jenny said, turning and smiling at Anna. She tilted the little girl's head up. "It's nice to spend some time with her for the last few hours she's an only child."

"Yeah, and I'm sure Gibbs'll show up."

"If he doesn't, don't be offended if I kick you out."

"No harm no foul, Jenny," Damon laughed dryly.

Jenny grinned. Anna took her hand and toyed with her engagement ring, admiring the sparkle.

"Mama," she said quietly. "Sick?"

"No, I'm not sick," Jenny said calmly, patting her back rhythmically. "I'm going to have the baby soon."

"Oh," Anna sighed.

"What do you think about that?"

Anna shrugged, poking her mother's diamond ring. She looked up at her and blinked, long dark lashes shielding her pretty eyes for a moment. She made a face.

"Where Daddy?" she asked.

"Good question," Jenny snickered, tickling her ribs gently. Anna giggled and smiled, curling up into a ball and burying her face in Jenny's side.

"You think she's ready?" Damon asked.

"You know, I'm still not sure she really gets it," Jenny said, looking over. "She's a smart two-year-old, but she doesn't say much on the matter."

"Kid doesn't talk much at all," Damon snorted. "Ellie constantly talks for her, never shuts up."

"She takes after her father," Jenny said fondly, pointing to Anna – Anna was perfectly vocal for her age, no developmental problems, she just did a lot more observing, or hand-signing, than speaking.

Jenny tilted her head back.

"She knows," she decided firmly. "We moved her into her new room a month ago, and she likes her toddler bed – Gibbs built it with sturdy sides so she doesn't roll out."

"Adam used to climb out of his crib, barely a year old," Damon said, shaking his head. "Ziva thought, okay, we'll put him in a toddler bed. First night in it, fell out, busted his mouth, bled for fifteen minutes."

Jenny gave him a sympathetic look.

"Did Ziva melt down?"

"Hell no, you know Ziva. Rolled her eyes, cleaned him up, put him back in the crib and moved Noah back in the cradle."

Jenny winced.

"I always forget how close your kids are," she said warily – she couldn't imagine having a twelve-month-old and a two-month-old at the same time.

Damon shrugged. He obviously enjoyed it.

Anna sat forward.

"Damon," she said clearly, looking at him thoughtfully. "Ellie come play?"

"Ellie's going to stay with Zeevy," Damon said placidly.

He smiled at her, and she tilted her head licking her lips. She sighed and looked around, then shifted and crawled up to Jenny again, lying back against her. She stared at the ceiling and pointed.

"Where baby?" she asked.

"You know where," Jenny responded, taking Anna's hand. She showed her, as usual, and Anna rolled over and looked at her hand on her mother's abdomen with wide, curious eyes.

"Hmmm," she murmured. "Boy?" she asked. "Girl?

"We don't know yet," Jenny answered. "What do you want?"

Anna sat up, scrunching her nose. She looked at her hand for a long time and then grinned.

"Duffy!" she cried.

Jenny laughed, leaning back. She wrapped her hand up in a blanket and squeezed, gritting her teeth through a harsher contraction. She supposed Anna would really accept the idea once the new baby had arrived.

"You good, Jenny?" Damon asked.

"You mind asking after Hetty?" Jenny asked grimly. "I want an epidural this time," she said, looking over at Anna. "I love you, Banana, but I am never doing that again," she confided.

Anna snuggled up to her, and Damon left to find a nurse.

The location of Kyle Boone had changed six times since NCIS raced out to apprehend him, and as the hours ticked by, Gibbs got more anxious and more frustrated. He obsessively checked his phone and his watch; no updates from Jenny, no calls from the Colonel – he couldn't get away for a minute to check in, because they needed all their attention focused on the search.

This could be their only chance to catch this son of a bitch, and Jenny was right – they couldn't let a man like that run loose and wreak havoc in a world their daughter lived in.

But Gibbs wasn't on his game, and he was distracted – his wife was alone at Bethesda having a baby, for Christ's sake – hell, for all he knew she'd had the baby an hour ago. He was angry he wasn't there, wary because of the scare they'd had last time – and he wanted to get his hands on Boone and throttle him for ruining so many lives, and for taking this moment from him.

"He's good, but he ain't no Marine," growled McAlister, coming up behind Gibbs with a flashlight. "Hell, we've go to be hot on his trail – pay some damn attention, Gibbs – "

Gibbs shot him a nasty glare, and Jardine came panting up from a path.

"Torn red material up ahead, may be a makeshift bandage," she gasped. She rested a moment. "Boss, go easy on Gibbs," she said tersely. "His wife – "

"Yeah, we all got wives, we all got families," groused McAlister. "He signed up with this – look, son, I know Jen; she don't need you there. You'd be in her way," he muttered, frankly but with clear respect.

He stormed off in Jardine's direction, and Gibbs ignored the sympathetic look she shot him, gritting his teeth at McAlister's ignorance. He knew Jen didn't actually need him there – not for physical reasons – but McAlister didn't have kids; he didn't understand the fact that moral support went a long way.

And Gibbs hadn't left the Marines so he could miss the birth of his second kid.

Twigs snapped next to him, and a soft rustling sounded. He turned with a flashlight and squinted into the bushes.

"Harm?" he called gruffly.

No answer told him it wasn't Agent Rabb; an NCIS agent would identify himself immediately. Gibbs went for his weapon, right as a burly man charged out of the woods and tackled him, wrenching his wrist violently to the side, and taking him down for a fistfight.

Army General Jasper Shepard paced the hallway outside of the delivery room. His hands were clasped tightly behind his back, and his jaw was set – any minute now, someone should open that door and tell him he was a grandfather again, and waiting was driving him crazier by the minute.

He was relieved he didn't have Anna anymore – and it was the only time in his life he was glad his little granddaughter was gone. She had been so tired and fussy for the past hour and a half that it had been a blessing when Jackie Vance had come to get her.

Damon Werth had left when Jasper arrived, and for another few hours of slow moving labor, Jasper had sat with Jenny and Anna waiting and shooting the bull. It had gotten darker, though, and past Anna's bedtime, and that was when Jenny had been ready to deliver.

Jackie came to get Anna and keep her overnight to meet her sibling in the morning, and Jasper was left alone – pacing, waiting, and wondering where the hell that idiot son-in-law of his was.

It was taking a hell of a time with this one – Anna had been born without time for an epidural; Jenny had been in labor for almost the whole day now, with it being after nine p.m. He shook his head, glad at least she'd gotten her epidural, and glad that, despite the ardor, it seemed to be going safely.

He kept repeating an anxious march: one to three, about face, one two three, about face – over and over, in front of the door, until finally a loud click sounded and the door opened wide.

He turned and stood sharply at ease, meeting Hetty Lange's calm, astute eyes, and she smiled at him, stepping back.

"Your girl's awake and fine," she said, ushering him in.

Jasper stormed in in his usual imposing manner, letting the door fall heavily closed. He ignored the efficient bustle of nurses cleaning up and quietly staying out of the way and zeroed in on his daughter, looking very alone in the middle of the room with no husband hovering next to her.

She was sitting up with pillows behind her; her hair knotted and tied up, focused completely on the infant in her arms. Jasper stepped up next to her swiftly, bending to see, and she looked up, her green eyes shining with relief and delight.

"I thought it was going to go past midnight," she said breathlessly. Her lips were red and chapped, and she was flushed and sweaty.

He shook his head, showing her his watch.

"No, it's almost ten," he said gruffly. "Jenny—"

"I know, it's November tenth," she said, licking her lips. "It's the Marine Corp Birthday, Daddy – "

"Jennifer, it's wrapped in white and green," he broke in, nodding at her words but giving her a pained look.

"Oh," she said, startled. She laughed, and looked down, tilting up her arms a little. She pushed open the blanket a little and smiled, glancing back up at him with raised brows. "It's a girl!"

Her father grinned proudly, clasping her on the back. He squeezed her shoulder, and bent to give her a chaste, paternal kiss on the top of her head. He reached down and stroked the baby's cheek, waiting to see if she'd open her eyes. She didn't; she started fussing, crying.

Jenny wrinkled her nose affectionately, and shushed her quietly.

"What goes with Kelly, what goes with Kelly," she murmured. She looked up at her father. "I get this one, that's fair," she said quickly. "He was on his own with Anna…?"

Jasper shrugged.

A young nurse approached with a hospital bracelet for the baby, a clipboard and pen and another blanket, reaching out for her.

"Baby girl Gibbs?" she asked politely.

Jenny held the baby closer, pausing a moment, relaxing, just thinking. She thought of their options, of all the 'K' names they'd considered – she kept going back to one, one that was easy for Anna to say, regal – like old Hollywood and royalty, timeless –

"Dad, Katharyn?" she asked. "You like Katharyn?"

"Can I call her Kit-Kat?"

Jenny laughed softly.

"You can call her whatever you want," she placated. "I'll call her Katharyn," she murmured.

The nurse beamed, and made a mark on her clipboard.

"K-A-T-H-A-R-Y-N," Jenny provided. "Middle: K-E-L-L-Y," she added.

She swallowed hard, bending to kiss the baby's forehead. She didn't remember the procedure from last time, since she'd passed out, but she did know from what Gibbs had told her that they'd take the baby to the nursery to clean her up and check her out.

She bit her lip, but didn't protest when a different nurse took the baby, wrapped her up tight, and let the bracelet be put around her tiny wrist before they both left with the baby.

Jasper kissed the top of her head again, and Hetty came to stand at her side, hands in the pockets of her scrubs.

"You're all set," she said. "Let's move you somewhere more comfortable," she said, beaming.

It only took half an hour to settle Jenny into a recovery room, sign the birth certificate and other required legal papers, and get Katharyn cleaned and swaddled and in her mother's room for the night.

Jenny was admiring the baby, rocking her gently, when Jasper's phone went off shrilly and he fumbled with it, checking the caller identification. It was exactly who it should be.

"He's here," he said gruffly, turning on his heel before Jenny could answer and heading out of the recovery room to the waiting area.

Staff must have directed Gibbs towards the maternity ward, because he came barreling around a corner and nearly mowed down his father-in-law in his rush. The General grabbed him firmly and stopped him – the man looked like he'd been through the wringer; tired, dirty, scraped up.

"What the hell happened to you?" Jasper asked.

Gibbs opened his mouth, and Jasper shook his head. He placed a well-aimed slap to the back of his son-in-law's head and narrowed his eyes.

"Never mind," he growled. "What's the matter with you, son, you don't even have a deployment as an excuse!"

Gibbs shoved Jasper's arms off of him and gave him a look, stepping to the side and starting to move past him.

"Jen told me – " he started defensively.

"Just get in there," Jasper said, starting to smile. He pointed. "First door on the left."

Gibbs turned, starting to run again, and then glanced back. Jasper could tell by the look on his face what he was asking, and he nodded at Gibbs, giving him a firm smile and a two thumbs up – Jenny was all right, it had all gone to plan this time, as far as her part went.

Gibbs' missing it was an entirely different matter.

Gibbs entered the room quietly, his heart pounding and his mouth dry. Without acquiescing to medical attention, he'd left the woods where they'd finally apprehended Kyle Boone and, at breakneck speed, hardly stopping even at red lights on his way. He was surprised to be told she'd only had the baby half an hour ago – poor Jen – when he arrived, and wasted no time getting to her.

It was a welcome sight, to see her upright, relaxed, and healthy-looking in that hospital bed; it was so different from when he'd been here with her for Anna. She looked calm and happy, and the little plastic mobile crib was next to her.

She sat up a little more when she heard him shut the door, drawing her knees up. The baby was swaddled tightly in her arms, and she held one hand to her lips to indicate his second child was sleeping.

He sat down gingerly next to her, his thigh pressing into hers, and she leaned forward, giving him a beautiful view of the sleeping baby. He reached for the tiny arm, running his thumb over the bracelet.

"Happy Birthday, Marine," Jenny said softly, smugly.

He gave her a curious look, distracted from finding out if he had a daughter or a son, and then he grinned, catching her meaning, and he smirked – November tenth, anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps' creation.

He leaned closer to Jenny, his hand still holding the baby's lightly. He arched his eyebrows.

"You're two for nothing, Jethro," she said softly. "It's a girl."

He broke into a huge grin, and lunged forward to kiss her, his free arm going around her in a tight hug. She smiled and burrowed into the hug, reveling in it for a moment, and he pulled back. She tilted her head at him curiously, and he shrugged, giving her a sly look.

"Wanted another girl," he confessed gruffly. He shrugged; he knew she'd been assuming he wanted a son. He'd have been happy either way, but he loved Anna so much –

He checked the nametag, nodding approvingly.

"Katharyn," he tried, liking it.

"Katharyn Kelly," she added. "And, Anna Abigayle," she sighed, content. "Dad asked to call her Kit-Kat – Kit-Kat, and Banana, then."

"Whatever he calls her, figure Anna's gonna call her 'Duffy'," Gibbs pointed out dryly.

Jenny laughed, and shifted, squeezing his knee.

"Hold her, Jethro," she murmured, handing the new baby over.

Gibbs took her confidently, securing her against his chest and supporting her head deftly. He smiled down at her, pleased to see her sleeping so peacefully – content with another healthy, gorgeous baby daughter. He cleared his throat and looked up.

"Jen, 'M sorry, I – "

"Did you get him?" she interrupted.

He looked wary.

"Boone," she clarified. "You get him?"

Gibbs swallowed hard. He didn't want to discuss that right now; it didn't seem appropriate. He met her eyes pointedly, hoping she'd understand – and she seemed to – that Kyle Boone wouldn't menace anyone ever again. Jenny nodded firmly, swallowing hard – she hoped someone else had made the kill shot.

She cupped Katharyn's head gently, smiling at her.

"You know how lucky you are?" she asked. "Daddy's already slaying dragons for you."

She looked up and bit her lip, surveying her husband.

"Are you all right?" she asked tersely, noting his busted lip, his swollen, blackened right eye.

He just nodded stiffly – he was fine. His wrist was probably sprained, but he'd see to it later. He was determined now to just sit here in the quiet with his wife and new baby.

He held her a little closer. He was still sorry he'd missed it, but he was here now, and he'd be here for her for the rest of her life. He moved his arms up and pressed his lips to Katharyn's brow. Jenny lay back, exhausted, watching silently. She turned onto her side and let her eyes fall closed a little.

"Daddy's going to pick Anna up from Jackie's and bring her tomorrow morning," she said sleepily.

Gibbs nodded, smirking a little – he was curious to see Anna's reaction. He figured they better get some pictures; the story could be a funny one or a cute one – either way, it was sure to be memorable.

"Jethro," Jenny murmured, her eyes closed lightly. "What are we going to do with two of them?" she sighed good-naturedly.

Gibbs watched her fall asleep a moment, letting silence do the talking, and when she was breathing evenly next to him, he just shrugged a little, rocking Katharyn, and giving her a light, protective nod. He wasn't worried – their mother was a force to be reckoned with, a law student, analyst, and parent rolled into one; he knew exactly what they'd do with two of them.

They'd raise them – and hell, now they knew what they were doing.

November 10th, 2018
Bethesda, Maryland

-alexandra