Chapter Five

They made it to the hospital in record time, and as soon as the car was parked, Gibbs shooed McGee out, sending him to find Ziva. He didn't waste any time, running for the entrance, leaving Tony snickering.

Gibbs turned to look at him and Tony immediately sobered, then turned serious. "I'm sorry, Boss."

"Hey," Gibbs said softly. "What'd I tell you about apologizing?"

"It's a sign of weakness, I know," Tony said. "I just. . . If it wasn't for me getting in trouble again, Tim would've been able to be here sooner."

"Ziva'll understand," was all Gibbs said in response to that, then motioned for Tony to stand. "Come on, gonna get you checked out. And don't tell me you're fine, because I know a couple people who won't let you leave without someone looking you over."

Tony grumbled, but it was just for show, because Gibbs knew how much he enjoyed people fawning over him. Gibbs hid a smile and helped him into the hospital.

Meanwhile, McGee had gotten Ziva's room information from a nurse and was speeding through the hospital, finally finding the maternity ward and hurrying down the seemingly endless hallway until he found her room. He gave a soft knock on the door before pushing it open, not wanting to startle her.

"Ziva?" he said, noticing Jimmy and Breena sitting on the opposite side of the room after he spoke.

Ziva had been resting with her eyes closed, but as soon as she heard McGee's voice, her eyes flew open and she tried to sit up. "Tim! Where have you been?"

He hurried over to make her lie down again, running a hand over her head. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be here sooner. I got here as soon as I could and. . ."

"Is that blood?" Ziva was staring at his shirt, then looked up into his eyes, her expression worried. "Are you okay? What happened?"

He shook his head. "It's nothing. Tony. . ."

"Tony!" Ziva exclaimed, looking to Jimmy for an explanation, but he just shrugged, so she turned back to McGee. "Timothy. . ."

"He's fine," McGee insisted. "He's downstairs right now. All that matters right now is you and the baby." Ziva just stared at him, her stare narrowing to a glare after a few moments, and McGee rolled his eyes. "Ziva, I'll tell you the whole story later, but right now, it's time to have this baby."

"As long as everyone is okay," Ziva said, still glaring at him.

He nodded. "I promise. I wouldn't lie to you, Ziva."

"I know you wouldn't." She lifted a hand to his face, her gaze softening, and lowered her voice. "I love you."

McGee swelled with pride and looked like he was about to melt at the same time. "I love you, too," he said, lowering his head so he could kiss her.

While they were kissing, Jimmy's voice sounded from the opposite side of the room. "Should we, uh, leave you two alone?" McGee just waved them off, so Jimmy turned to Breena. "Let's get out of here." She nodded and stood, taking his hand, and they walked out, Jimmy calling out, "Good luck!" over his shoulder.

Moments later, Ziva pulled away from the kiss, and McGee grinned. "Just wanted to get rid of them, huh?" he asked, assuming that's why she kissed him.

She shook her head. "No. I am having a contraction. I think it's time."

McGee's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything, just pressed the button for the nurse, hoping someone would show up soon. He was ready to become a father.

"Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony!" The sound of Abby's heavy boots clomping across the tile floor filled the ER and Tony looked up just in time to get a flying armful of the lab tech, who gave him one of her infamous hugs. "Oh my God, I was so worried! Gibbs said you were missing and I was trying not to freak out because nobody likes when I freak out, but do you know how hard it is not to freak out when I don't know where you are? Thank God you're okay." She nestled into him, humming appreciatively, and Tony let out a strangled noise, making Abby loosen her grip. "You are okay, right? Because I am so not okay with you not being okay."

He nodded. "I'm fine. I just couldn't breathe, that's all." He rolled a shoulder. "I always forget how hard you hug."

"Oh, did I hurt you, Tony?" Abby backed off, but ran a hand over Tony's head. "Poor baby. What did those bad men do to you?"

He shrugged. "I don't really remember much, actually. All I remember is waking up in the crypt at the Naval Academy with McGee looking down at me. Kinda wish it had been you instead." He gave her a lopsided smile. "Definitely would have been a prettier sight."

Abby blushed a little and bit her lip, but couldn't help but smile at his compliment. "I'm just glad they found you in time. I can't imagine what I'd do without you, Tony. And I mean that." She hugged him again, but was much gentler this time.

Tony returned the hug, and as he thought about Abby's words, he suddenly remembered what happened in his alternate universe dream or whatever it was with Paula, how she wanted him to be happy, not waste any more time, and how when he had a chance, he should take it. The thought of doing that kinda scared him, but. . .

He cleared his throat and asked, "How's the Momma Ninja?"

"You know she hates when you call her that, right?" Abby said, rubbing circles on his back.

"I think she secretly likes it," he said, and winked at Abby when she pulled away from him.

She giggled and said, "I think you're probably right, but don't tell her I told you that." She sighed. "I think she's probably a lot better now that Timmy's with her." She froze. "He is with her, right?"

Tony nodded. "Gibbs told him to go find her and I think that's the fastest I've ever seen him run. Pretty funny sight, really."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Not funny to pick on McGee like that. He was just excited, and wanted to get to his wife. You know, the one who's having his baby? Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same thing."

He thought about her words and nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was quiet. "Yeah, I would." He grew silent for a few moments, then said, "Abbs, if you could have anything in the world for Christmas, what would it be?"

She shrugged. "That's a pretty loaded question, Tony. I mean, there's like lab equipment and puppies and an endless supply of Caf-Pow!, but then if things like world peace or all the bad guys in the world to go away forever were an option. . ."

"Don't those two kinda cancel each other out?" Tony asked, but then waved away his own question. "Never mind. You know what I'd want?"

Abby screwed up her face in thought, then grinned as she said, "Ferrari! Or a legit movie theater in your living room."

Tony made a noise of contemplation, then said, "As nice as those things would be, no. I would want . . . to be happy."

Abby tilted her head at him. "You're not happy?"

He shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant. I just. . . Look at McGee and Ziva. I didn't see that coming. I don't think anybody did. But they're so happy together, and now they're having a baby, who's probably already here by now. It's just funny how things come together."

Abby continued to study him, then spoke, her voice soft. "What happened to you really made you think, huh?"

He hesitated, wondering if he should tell her about the alternate reality and his conversation with Paula, but decided against it, instead simply nodding and saying, "Yeah. I guess I know now what I really want."

"To be happy," Abby confirmed. Tony didn't say anything, so Abby fidgeted around, twisting her hands and finally asking what was on her mind. "Why are you telling me all this, Tony?"

"I just thought," he gave her a soft smile, "if Tim and Ziva are as happy as they are, maybe we could be happy like that, too."

"Oh, Tony," Abby breathed. He couldn't tell if she liked the idea or thought he was being silly, so he had no choice but to wait for her to say something else. He gazed at her, waiting for her response, and finally she closed the gap between them, giving him yet another hug. He still wasn't sure what that meant, but got a better idea when she murmured in his ear, "All I want for Christmas is you."

He laughed and returned the hug, giving her a happy squeeze before falling into a waiting room chair, bringing her down with him to sit on his lap. They continued to nuzzle each other and talk quietly about what this all meant, while Gibbs stood unseen to them across the room, watching from a doorway. He nodded to himself and turned away, coming face to face with none other than Fornell and Vance.

"How's DiNozzo?" Fornell asked.

Gibbs held back a smirk, thinking about what he'd just witnessed. "He's fine."

"And Ziva?" Vance asked.

"Come on, see for yourselves," Gibbs said, motioning for them to follow him. They took the elevator to the maternity ward and remained silent as Gibbs led them down the hall. They reached Ziva's room and Gibbs knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open, revealing Ziva, McGee, and their baby, who was squirming in Ziva's arms as McGee gazed down in awe.

Both McGee and Ziva looked up as the three men entered the room and McGee spoke. "Hey, Boss. Agent Fornell. Director Vance. How's Tony?"

"He's fine," Gibbs answered. "I'm here to check on Ziva and the baby."

"It's a boy!" McGee said, bubbling with excitement.

"We have decided to name him . . . Jethro," Ziva said, running a hand over her son's head.

"Oh, geez," Fornell muttered behind Gibbs, unable to hold back a laugh.

Gibbs stared at them, then blinked. "You're not serious."

"Of course not," Ziva said, then looked up, laughing at the expression on Gibbs' face. "We decided to go with Joshua."

"Good name," Vance piped up from behind Fornell.

McGee beamed at the praise, then looked to Gibbs. "Do you want to hold him, Boss?"

Gibbs shook his head, smiling a bit. "Nah, I'll come back later, give you guys some time alone with him first." He walked to the side of the bed opposite McGee, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of Ziva's head. "Good job, kid," he said, and Ziva smiled up at him, her face glowing. He looked over at Fornell and Vance then, saying, "Let's get out of here."

As he walked to the door, Fornell and Vance doled out their congratulations, then they waited until they were back to the elevator again before speaking.

"Damn, that kid had some timing," Fornell commented.

Gibbs nodded, then said, "Tobias. . . Thank you for taking care of the crime scene so Tim could be here. I'm sure it meant a lot to him."

Fornell smirked. "Don't go gettin' soft on me, Gibbs. I'll have to buy you a Christmas present."

Both Gibbs and Vance laughed at that, then Vance clapped Gibbs on the back. "Good job today finding Santos . . . and DiNozzo."

Gibbs shrugged and shook his head. "It was all McGee."

Now it was time for Vance's lips to quirk upwards. "Probably knew what would happen if he wasn't here."

Gibbs chuckled at that. "Yeah, yeah, sounds about right."

"Looks like another successful ending for Team Gibbs," Fornell said. "Merry Christmas, Gibbs."

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Tobias."

THE END!

A/N: Thank you all again for reading! :)