Jackson looked over at his son in the passenger seat. He hated the reason they were rushing to the hospital. When he lost his wife he prayed the his children would not have to go through the same pain that he had. Especially as young as Leroy was. He was just seventeen and he already had a child and had lost the love of his life. Leroy was shoved against the door of the passenger seat. His eyes were fixed out the window. Outside the car rain was still pouring down. It rained the day Ann died so it was fitting it was raining the night Jenny was killed. Jenny had been such a beautiful and happy girl. She and Leroy would argue that she was a woman but she was just a girl. She hadn't even finished high school and she was dead. Leaving a baby without its mother and Leroy without his soul-mate. At least by the grace of God the baby had been spared from demise in the wreck. It wasn't until they drove under a floodlight that Jack noticed the tears staining his son's cheeks. When they came to a red-light Jack placed his hand on his son's shoulder and gently rocked him. Just like he did when Leroy was a little boy and was sad, scared, or otherwise upset.
"It's not fair dad!" Jethro cried.
"No it's not." Jack replied.
"Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to die?" Jethro questioned.
"Life is cruel sometimes Leroy. That's all I can say." Jack replied.
"She was the love of my life. I will never love again." Jethro cried.
"Just hang on." Jack replied.
"How long did it take you to get over mom?" Jethro asked.
"I never did get over her but eventually the really bad pain ended and I was able to move on. I don't know how long it will take you to get to that point but you will someday." Jack explained.
"How long did you cry like right after?" Jethro asked.
"Days" Jack replied.
"Great" Jethro sighed.
"There is no shame in crying Leroy." Jack replied.
"Makes me feel weak." Jethro scoffed.
"Better than keeping it bottled up and snapping." Jack offered.
"I guess." Jethro sighed.
"Leroy I would give anything to take your pain away." Jack replied.
"But you can't. Just like when mom died." Jethro sighed.
"That's the hardest part of being a parent, Leroy." Jack replied sadly.
"Something I have to do all alone." Jethro sighed.
"You won't be alone. Darla and I will be there to help and Tony, Abby, and Tim are old enough to help out with a baby. You won't be in this alone." Jack assured.
"Jen won't be there. That's all I care about." Jethro replied.
"Oh Leroy is there anything I can do?" Jack asked.
"Just drive" Jethro replied.
"OK" Jack replied.
Jackson and Jethro arrived at Scranton General Hospital around three in the morning. Jethro made his way up to the information desk by himself. Jack wanted to go with his son and be with him but he knew that Leroy wanted and needed to do this alone. Of course he would be right there if his son decided he needed him but for the time being he stood back. Jethro rolled the pen on the sign in sheet back and forth with his hand until the receptionist noticed him and came up to the desk.
"May I help you?" The receptionist questioned.
"Yes I am Jethro Gibbs." Gibbs replied.
"What can I do for you Mr. Gibbs?" The receptionist asked.
"My fiancée Jenny Sheppard. Was brought in after a car accident. She didn't make it but our baby. Was born and is here." Jethro explained.
"Oh I am sorry. I will have somebody bring you to the NICU." The receptionist replied.
"NICU?" Jethro asked.
"Your baby was only born at seven months and had a traumatic experience throughout her birth. She will be up in the NICU for a while." The receptionist explained.
"She?" Jethro asked.
"Yes you have a beautiful baby girl." The receptionist replied.
"OK" Jethro replied.
Jethro walked with a nurse up to the NICU where his daughter was being kept. Much to his relief she was the second largest baby in the room and had the least terrifying medical equipment attached to her. She was sound asleep so her eyes were shut but Jethro knew from one of the books about newborns that Jenny had read. That her eyes were probably blue. With him as the father they had a roughly fifty-chance of staying that color. Jethro hoped they would eventually turn green like Jenny's. She was a gorgeous baby. Who looked just like her mother. Jethro had gotten his wish. He had a little girl who looked just like her mother. Now more than ever that's what he needed. It broke his heart that he wouldn't be part of a family with two beautiful redheaded woman but at least he had his precious baby girl. Who looked just like her mother. A knot formed in Jethro's throat when his baby girl stirred slightly in her sleep. It reminded him of when Jenny was sleeping. He half expected her to pull the blanket over her and moan his name. It took a moment for Jethro to remember she was just a tiny newborn. Only three hours old. That's it three hours and she had already lost her mother. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. They were supposed to be a family. He should have driven Jenny home. If he had she would still be here. He sighed and started to turn back towards the nurse who was waiting in the back of the room. She had made it clear that it would be a very short visit after all.
"It's late so this has to be quick but you can hold her if you want." The nurse said.
"Really?" Jethro asked.
"Of course." The nurse replied.
"How?" Jethro asked.
"Here kid I'll show you." The nurse replied.
The nurse walked Jethro over to the isolate. She helped Jethro put his hands in the little gloves attached to the top of the incubator and pick up the child. The baby girl opened her eyes and looked up at him. They were blue just like he suspected but they were wise and full of life just like her mother's. She was the only woman besides Jenny to take Jethro's breath away.
"You are the love of my life. I will never love anybody more than I love you. Emily Ann Gibbs. I just wish your mother was here to help raise you." Jethro whispered.
A/N: Emily Ann Gibbs tied with Kelly Ann for girls names. New chapter will be up soon please review and thanks for reading.