Chapter Two: Unanswered Questions
"Pregnant?" Jenny asked.
"What?" Gibbs said.
"Yes, pregnant," the doctor confirmed.
"Pregnant," Jenny repeated in disbelief. "Are you sure? I mean, could there be some sort of mistake?"
"Blood tests don't lie," the doctor said.
Jenny glanced over at Gibbs, wondering what he was thinking and how he was taking the news. If ever there was a time she wished she could read his mind that was it.
"When was your last menstruation cycle?" the doctor asked.
"Uh, I guess it has been awhile," Jenny admitted, "maybe two months? I just assumed it was all the changes and stress in my life."
"It's time for you to find an OB-GYN," the doctor said. "As for the fainting—did you eat breakfast this morning?"
"No," Jenny admitted, "I was in a rush to get to my meeting on time."
"That's why you fainted," the doctor said. "Your body is going through all kinds of changes. You need rest and nourishment."
"Any idea how far along I am?" Jenny asked.
"Your OB-GYN will determine your due date," the doctor said. "The best I could do right now is to tell you to go by your last period."
Gibbs and Jenny thanked the doctor before he left to go see his next patient. Both of them were in shock over the news they'd just received. Gibbs waited while Jenny changed back into her clothes then they checked out of the hospital and left. With a little effort Gibbs managed to persuade Jenny to take the rest of the day off and they headed for their favorite diner to get some breakfast.
"Jethro, Jenny," Elaine greeted. "I didn't expect to see you two here at this time of day. Give me a moment and I'll clear off your table for you."
"Thanks Elaine," Gibbs said with a friendly nod.
With a growing family Gibbs had moved from sitting at the bar to sitting in one of the booths and Elaine always gave him the best seat in the house. It had a decent view out the window, it was far enough away from the door that they didn't feel the draft every time some entered or exited and it was just close enough to the bar that you could peek behind the counter and watch as your order was being prepared. Bailey and Josie both loved watching the cook and Gibbs had to admit, the older man did put on quite an impressive show.
"Start you both off with some coffee?" Elaine asked as the two removed their jackets.
"Decaf for me please," Jenny said thinking about the negative effects caffeine could have on the baby.
Gibbs laid their jackets across one of the bench seats then scooted in next to Jenny. He didn't even have to tell Elaine he wanted coffee. He never came and went without having at least one cup. Elaine smiled as she took their orders. Gibbs wanted the usual, eggs sunny side up, hash browns, toast and a couple pieces of bacon. Jenny decided on a bowl of oatmeal with some mixed fruit on the side. She knew she could steal a couple bites from Gibbs and after her exciting morning she wanted something she knew would be gentle on her stomach. Her nerves were a mess.
"Are the twins at daycare?" Elaine asked as she jotted down the rest of their order. She loved the energy Bailey and Josie brought to the diner.
"They're at home spending some quality time with Tony," Gibbs said. "They're going to be upset when they find out we came here without them."
"I'm glad you guys still find time for yourselves," Elaine said. "That's important in a relationship. I'll get your order right in for you guys."
"Thank you Elaine," Gibbs said.
Jenny watched Elaine walk away then looked over at Gibbs who was sipping his coffee. "Are you mad?" she whispered.
"Mad?" Gibbs asked surprised by the question, "not at all. In fact, I couldn't be happier. What about you?"
Jenny shrugged and let herself relax knowing Gibbs wasn't upset. "A little scared but I was hoping we could have at least one more child, one that's part of both of us. I just didn't expect it to be quite so soon."
"A lot of people try for months, sometimes even years to get pregnant," Gibbs said resting his hand on Jenny's midsection. "Our little one may not have been planned but I couldn't be happier."
"It is pretty great, isn't it," Jenny said resting her hand on top of Gibbs'.
Elaine brought their breakfasts, topped off their coffees then left them alone once again. She always took very good care of them and never hovered like the wait staff in some other restaurants. Gibbs always left her a generous tip.
While they ate their breakfast they celebrated the news of the pregnancy and talked about all the new changes coming. A little over two months before, the adoption of the twins had been finalized and now they were going to be parents again. As the shock of the news passed, joy and excitement took its place.
It didn't take long for the quiet movie time to turn into a loud, rambunctious affair. The excitement started when Tony dropped an ice cube from his drink down the back of Ziva's shirt and escalated when Abby couldn't resist and gave Tim a wet willy. The sudden movement and jerking around by the adults gave the kids the impression it was time to play. Before long people were being hit with pillows, tackled by little ones and tickled until they were laughing so hard they couldn't breathe. The group quickly ended up on the floor where an all out wrestling match broke out. Giggles and playful screams filled the room, making it impossible to hear the front door open.
"Hey," Gibbs said trying to get their attention. "HEY! No wrestling in the house. Somebody's going to get hurt. I've already spent enough time at the hospital today."
The group froze in their current positions. Abby stared up at Gibbs from upside down on the floor with Bailey's bare foot tucked up near her chin while the rest of the little boy's body was sprawled out on top of Tim who was half under Abby and half on top of Tony. Ziva had her legs pinning Tony's chest down and his arm held firmly against her chest while Josie's butt rested on his shoulder and her head rested on the floor. Gibbs and Jenny stood and stared at the dog pile, shaking their heads.
"So… um… how did everything go this morning?" Abby asked innocently.
"Fine," Jenny said drawing out the word, "just a little dizzy after skipping breakfast."
Abby narrowed her eyes in confusion. She knew a missed meal wouldn't cause anyone to pass out unless something else was going on. She also knew she was currently in no position to push the matter. This wasn't the first time Gibbs had caught them wrestling and she knew they were going to get lectured—again.
"It looks like maybe we need to go outside and burn off some energy," Gibbs said helping Jenny get her jacket off. "Why don't you guys go play in the backyard for a little while?"
Abby gasped in excitement as she untangled herself from the arms and legs and small bodies lying on top of her. "Can we walk down to the sledding hill at the end of the block?" she asked hopefully as she popped to her feet.
"I think that sounds like a good idea," Gibbs said.
The group untangled themselves from each other, quickly straightened up the living room and dressed in warmer clothes then they headed out with a thermos of hot chocolate and a sled for each of them. It was a school day so they would likely have the hill all to themselves.
Jenny couldn't help but laugh as she sat down on the couch next to Gibbs. "Just think of what it'll be like when there's one of them," she said elbowing him.
"Then we're really going to be outnumbered," Gibbs said with a grin. He loved coming home to a house full of laughter and fun. He loved being surrounded by family and he was looking forward to adding one more to the mix.
While the others were occupied on the sledding hill, Jenny called a few close friends and did a little research on the internet, searching for the best OB-GYN. Once she selected a doctor she called the woman's office and was overjoyed when she was offered an appointment the following day. One of her other patients had just called and canceled and the doctor was willing to see Jenny in her place.
With Jenny busy on the phone, Gibbs started a big pot of chili for lunch. He knew his crew would be cold and hungry when they returned and that was a quick and easy meal to warm them up and fill their bellies. After browning some burger and mixing all the other ingredients together he left the pot on the stove to simmer while he went to see if Jenny had had any success.
"So, what'd you find out?" he asked sitting next to her on the couch and resting his hand on her thigh.
"Faith recommended I try to get in to see Dr. Jamie Brandt," Jenny said. "I looked her up on the internet and she had a lot of recommendations so I called her office."
"Were you able to get an appointment?" Gibbs asked.
Jenny smiled and nodded. "Somebody cancelled their ten o'clock tomorrow so she said she'd see me."
"Us," Gibbs corrected quickly. "The baby might be growing inside of you but this is a team effort. I'll be here for you every step of the way. We do this together. Got it?"
Jenny felt like her insides were turning to mush. She wasn't sure if it was her hormones or what but she almost felt like crying again. "I knew there was a reason I loved you!" she squealed.
Gibbs smiled as a tear escaped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. He brushed it away then leaned in and kissed her. "I love you too," he said.
After a day full of excitement and fun with Tony, Ziva, Tim and Abby, Gibbs and Jenny had a difficult time calming the twins down for bed. Jenny ran some warm bath water with lavender scented bubble bath while Gibbs rounded up the twins. On school nights they often got bathed together because it was quicker and easier.
"Bubble bath is for girls!" Bailey complained as soon as Gibbs led him and Josie into the bathroom.
"You'll live for one night," Gibbs said with a smile as he helped the three year old get undressed.
Bailey crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at Gibbs in a way that made the agent proud. The child may not have been his biological offspring but in many ways he was a chip off the old block.
"Are you grumpy now?" Gibbs asked poking at Bailey's belly. Bailey smirked as he swatted Gibbs' hand away then the scowl returned to his face. "Huh, are you grumpy?" Gibbs repeated tickling the child a little harder. Bailey's smirk quickly turned to giggles then all out laughter as Gibbs tickled him.
"You're supposed to be calming him down," Jenny reminded Gibbs when the two got out of hand.
"Sorry Mom," Gibbs teased.
"Sorry Mommy," Bailey mimicked.
Gibbs winked at Jenny then lifted Bailey up and rubbed noses with him before settling him in the bathtub. "Into the bubbles you go, Little Man." Bailey looked very displeased in the tub with the flowery smelling bubbles.
"Are you ready to get in, Sweet Pea?" Gibbs asked once Josie was undressed.
"Can I get my rubber ducky?" Josie asked. Gibbs nodded and the little girl dug through the basket of bath toys until she found the one she wanted. Bailey refused to play with any toys in protest of having to endure what he considered to be a girly bath time.
"If you'll do story time, I'll do bath time," Gibbs told Jenny.
"Okay," Jenny agreed, "just remember, we're trying to calm them down not wind them up." Gibbs playfully smacked Jenny's butt as she turned and fled from the bathroom.
"Ooooo, Mommy got a spanking!" Josie sang as if Jenny were in trouble.
Gibbs washed the kids' hair then helped them wash their bodies. Josie had fun playing with her rubber ducky while Bailey sat with a grumpy expression on his face. The calming lavender scent seemed to be doing the trick. Both kids seemed to be relaxing and were starting to yawn. After bath time was over Gibbs supervised teeth brushing, brushed their hair then helped them get their pajamas on.
When they were both ready for bed he took them into his bedroom and he and Jenny cuddled with them in their bed. They'd decided earlier to go ahead and tell the twins about the new baby. They wanted to give the kids plenty of time to adjust to the idea of a new sibling and ask any questions they might have.
"Mommy and Daddy have something very special to tell you guys," Jenny said.
"It's the wedding?" Josie asked excitedly. After trying on her flower girl dress and helping Jenny plan other parts of the wedding she could barely contain her excitement.
"Not yet, Sweet Pea," Gibbs said resting his hand on her head while Bailey laid against his chest. "The wedding isn't for another month."
"Mommy went to the doctor this morning and he told me there's a baby growing in my tummy," Jenny said.
Josie quickly stood and moved away from Jenny's stomach then turned around to look at her. "How did a baby get in there?" she asked, studying Jenny's midsection carefully to see if she could see the infant.
"Sometimes, when Mommies and Daddies love each other very much they cuddle in a very special way and then babies get made," Jenny explained looking over to Gibbs for support.
Josie lifted her own shirt and looked at her stomach then looked back at Jenny. "You and Daddy cuddled with me too. Is there a baby in my tummy?" she asked.
"No Sweetheart," Jenny said pulling the toddler back into her lap. "Grownups cuddle in a different way than Mommy and Daddy cuddle with you guys and only grownups can have babies."
"Is Daddy gonna have a baby too?" Josie asked looking over at Gibbs' stomach.
"Nope, only mommies can have babies," Jenny answered patiently.
"How can you get the baby out of your tummy?" the little girl asked.
"When the baby is ready to come out, Daddy's going to take Mommy to the hospital and the doctor will help the baby come out," Jenny said.
Although Josie's mind was spinning with questions, the little girl seemed to be satisfied with all the new information she'd gathered so far. Jenny turned her attention to Bailey who was unusually quiet, even for him. The little boy was shyer than his sister but not usually around them anymore. She found it hard to believe that he didn't have any questions. "Bailey, what do you think about having a new baby brother or baby sister?" she asked.
Bailey latched onto Gibbs' hand that was resting on his chest and looked backwards up at the man he'd come to call daddy. He wasn't sure about the news at all. "You don't want us anymore?" he asked, devastated by the thought.
"Sweetheart, just because we're having a baby doesn't mean we don't want you anymore," Jenny said reaching out and resting her hand on the boy's leg.
Gibbs held the little boy closer to him and kissed the top of his head. "We're still going to love both of you and you guys are still going to live right here with us," he assured them.
"Will you still make us food and give us baths and take us to school and read us bedtime stories and we can still stay home with you on the weekend?" Bailey asked without pausing to take a breath.
"Yep," Gibbs answered, "we can still do all that and lots more."
"When will the baby be ready to come here?" Bailey asked starting to let himself get excited.
"It's still going to be kind of a long time," Jenny answered. "It'll be after the wedding and after your birthdays and probably after summer is over," Jenny said doing the math in her head quickly.
"Can I hold the baby?" Bailey asked. "I will be so so careful."
"I wanna hold the baby too!" Josie added.
"After the baby is born, you can both have a lot of turns to hold him or her," Jenny assured them. "Mommy and Daddy will need your help taking care of the baby."
"I love you, Daddy," Bailey sighed curling himself into Gibbs' lap, "and Mommy too."
"I love you, Bailey," Gibbs said kissing his head. "I love Josie and I love Mommy."
"We are the happy family," Josie said cuddling into Jenny and smiling as Gibbs rested his hand on her cheek.
"We are a very happy family," Jenny agreed. "Are you guys ready for your bedtime story? Would you like to stay in here with Daddy and I until you fall asleep?"
"I want to stay with you and Daddy forever and ever," Bailey said.
"Me too," Josie added.
"I'm happy to hear that," Gibbs said, "because we want you guys to stay here with us forever and ever too."
Gibbs and Jenny both read a story then cuddled with the twins until they fell asleep. They usually put them down in their own beds, read them a story then left them to go to sleep but after the scare that morning and breaking the news about the new baby they wanted to be close to their kids to be sure they were okay and to simply enjoy having their family together.
Jenny grabbed onto Gibbs' hand as they walked through the small parking lot towards Dr. Brandt's office. The nervous excitement was building and she needed his calming touch for reassurance. After filling out a clipboard full of new patient paperwork, she settled in next to Gibbs and waited for a nurse to call her back.
Gibbs had just as much nervous energy as Jenny but knew she needed him to be strong and calm. Even years of lying in wait as a sniper hadn't prepared him for this wait. There was a baby growing in his fiancé's womb, his baby. Soon there would be one more mouth to feed, body to clothe and child to love unconditionally.
He flipped through a few magazines, watched a couple minutes of TV, counted the bricks in the wall then decided to people watch. Jenny sat next to him, holding tightly to his hand as she bounced her leg up and down. Every time the door opened she perked up, hoping the nurse was going to call her name then relaxed back into her seat when another woman was called. By the time it was her turn she nearly jumped out of her seat and ran back to the exam room. Gibbs held her hand firmly, instilling some of his calmness in her.
While the doctor gave Jenny a thorough physical, pelvic exam, breast exam, urine test, pap smear and drew some blood to run more blood work, Gibbs sat beside her offering moral support. Dr. Brandt also decided to go ahead and do an ultrasound. Gibbs and Jenny's excitement escalated when they heard their child's heartbeat. In that moment reality hit, they really were going to have a baby.
After an endless amount of questions, discussions about lifestyle changes, things to avoid during the pregnancy, prenatal vitamins and other general advice given to all expecting parents, Gibbs and Jenny scheduled their next appointment then headed back out to the parking lot.
"September 24th," Jenny said with a smile. She felt like she was living a dream. She had two beautiful children at home and now there was a third. On top of that their wedding was coming up and after that their honeymoon. She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn't a dream. It was really happening.
"Seven months," Gibbs said. "When do you want to tell the others?"
"Well, we already told Bailey and Josie," Jenny pointed out. "I doubt they'll be able to keep the secret for very long."
"Why don't we invite them over for dinner at our place tomorrow night," Gibbs suggested as he started the car. Jenny nodded her head in agreement then the two headed for NCIS headquarters to start their work day.