Author's Note :
Thank you for the feedback and comments.
We are almost at the end of this story… Enjoy…
Thanks.
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Dr Malone examined Jenny as soon as she was taken into the ER. Gibbs stood next to Jenny stroking her head.
Everything has to be okay.
My babies … they have to be okay…
Jenny…
God ... all three of them have to be safe.
"Jenny, I am going to prep an OR for an emergency C-Section." Dr Malone.
"What?" Gibbs exclaimed. Shit!
"Why?" Jenny asked. "Why can't I try to give natural birth as per our plan?"
"I do not want to take any risks, Jenny. I'm concerned that you've been in labour for a few hours now and only dilated 3cms. But my biggest concern is…" Dr Malone pointed to the ultrasound image. "Your baby isn't in the correct position and there isn't enough room or time for the baby to maneuver into the correct position. If we try to go the natural way, your babies could end up in distress and we could end up facing other complications."
"Oh God!" Jenny cried out. "How can this be happening?"
Gibbs took a deep breath.
"I did everything right!" Jenny continues. "This should not be happening!"
"This is not your fault, Jenny." Dr Malone said.
"Dr Malone's right." Gibbs said. "This is not your fault."
"Jethro, I'm so sorry." Jenny said. "I know how worried you've been that something would go wrong. And now it is…"
"Shh…" Gibbs said. "There was no way for you to prevent this."
"Jethro, Jenny do you want to wait? Or will you sign the consent forms?" Dr Malone asked.
"Prepare the OR." Gibbs said.
"Good. I'll be right back." Dr Malone said as she left the ward.
"No… Jethro… I don't know… " Jenny stammered.
"Listen to me." He whispered as he took her into his arms and held her close. "Everything is going to be okay. You, our babies… all of you are going to be okay. I will be with you through all of this. I promise."
"Oh Jethro. I'm scared."
"I know you are… But you're also the strongest woman I know and you can get through anything. And you and our babies will get through this. I know it… I need you to know it too."
Jenny held Jethro close and blinked rapidly to slow her tears.
If he can be strong…
So can I…
I will be okay…
Our babies will be okay…
I have to be strong for him...
And for our babies...
And for me...
She took a deep breath and pulled out of his embrace slightly.
"I love you, Jethro." She said, her tears drying. "I trust you. Everything is going to okay. Our babies are going to be okay. Because they are strong and they are fighters just like their mom and dad."
She leaned forward and kissed him deeply.
"That's my girl." Jethro said a moment later. "Now let's get ready to meet our babies."
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.
It didn't take long before Jenny was lying on the OR table. The OR was full of people, two sets of pediatric teams and the team that would take care of Jenny. Soon an IV line was started in her arm and various meds were administered. Then a spinal anesthetic was administered and a catheter inserted.
Jethro walked into the OR dressed in a hospital gown and mask. He sat down on a stool near Jenny's head.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you too." Jenny replied as he kissed her forehead.
Both masked their fears and concerns, each boosting the other's hopes that everything would be okay.
"Here we go." Dr Malone said as the screen was lifted blocking Jenny and Jethro's view of her abdomen.
Dr Malone spoke throughout the procedure explaining as she made the first incision through Jenny's skin and then the incision into the uterus. Jenny felt weird sensations but no pain or discomfort. Then the amniotic fluid was suctioned out and Dr Malone announced that the first baby was about to be born.
Jenny's eyes were filled with tears and she struggled to speak. She felt Jethro tense and hold his breathe.
A few moments later she whispered, "Dr Malone, is my baby okay?"
Gibbs squeezed her hand, desperately waiting for Dr Malone to answer.
Then the room filled with a high pitched cry followed by more crying and whimpering.
Jethro looked at Jenny and she looked back at him. The smile on his face took her breath away. He was relieved, happy, elated. Jenny sobbed as she squeezed his hand the same emotions flowing through her.
"Jenny, Jethro your son is perfectly fine." Dr Malone smiled.
"A boy!" Gibbs grinned in absolute joy.
"Agent Gibbs would you like to cut the umbilical cord?" Dr Malone asked.
Gibbs' eyes overflowed with tears as he stood up and looked down at his new born son. His hands shook as he very carefully cut through the umbilical cord. As soon as he was done the pediatric team took his son to a waiting station and started checking him over.
"Okay, now for baby number two." Dr Malone said as Gibbs moved back to stand next to Jenny.
"Is he really okay?" Jenny sobbed.
"He is ... perfect." Gibbs said, leaning forward to kiss her.
"Here we go." Dr Malone said as the room filled with new born cries for a second time.
"Congratulations Jenny, Jethro… your daughter is also perfectly fine."
Jenny cried as she said, "You were right Jethro. You said everything would be fine and you were so right."
"Need you again Agent Gibbs." Dr Malone said.
Gibbs looked down at his daughter and cut through the umbilical cord.
Oh God…
Thank you for these precious moments…
Thank you for my precious babies…
Thank you for giving me this second chance…
As soon as he was done a 2nd pediatric team scooped up his daughter and headed to another pediatric station to check her out.
Gibbs sat next to Jenny and said, "Congratulations my love … and … Thank you."
"Jethro… I'm a mum!"
Gibbs laughed, "Yep, you're a mum..."
"I can't believe it. I was so afraid."
"I know. But it's all over now and you and our babies are fine. And I love you."
"And I love you too." Jenny replied, laughter in her voice.
"Jenny... I love you…" Gibbs' voice took on a serious note. "And I want you to be a part of my life… forever. I want to give our beautiful babies a wonderful home filled with love and laughter and joy… I want to give them parents who are 100% committed to them and to each other."
Gibbs retrieved the ring he had in his pocket and said, "Marry me, Jenny Shepherd and make this the most amazing day of my life."
"Oh Jethro." Jenny sobbed surprise, shock, joy all flirting across her face.
"Marry me..."
"I love you so much … and yes. Yes… Yes… I will marry you."
Gibbs grinned broadly as he kissed Jenny deeply before slipping the ring onto her finger. He then kissed her knuckles.
"Mrs Gibbs… I like the sound of that." He grinned.
"Jenny," Dr Malone interrupted. "Meet your son and daughter." Dr Malone gently placed the baby boy on Jenny's chest and a pediatric doctor placed the baby girl in Gibbs' arms.
Jenny looked down at her son and kissed his delicate forehead.
"Ah... Hello my sweet little one. I am so happy to meet you." She whispered, tears once more streaming down her cheeks.
Gibbs looked down at his daughter. "You are so precious to me and I vow that I will take care of you no matter what." He kissed her forehead. Then he leaned forward so that he could look at his son and Jenny could meet their daughter. Jenny kissed the baby girl's head and said. "You are so delicate and beautiful and mummy loves you both so much."
"It's time to take them to the neonatal ward. They are pre-mature and we will need to closely monitor them. But right now they are doing great." The pediatric doctors said as they took the babies from Jenny and Jethro.
Gibbs kissed Jenny again, "Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Not in the last few seconds." Jenny smiled and then her features changed.
"Agent Gibbs I need you to leave right now." Dr Malone said her voice harsh.
"What's wrong?" Gibbs demanded as Jenny's eyes rolled shut and her body went limp.
"Leave now." Dr Malone ordered and a nurse pulled him away from Jenny.
But it wasn't before he saw Dr Malone's hands inside Jenny's open abdomen trying to stem the blood that was gushing out of Jenny's body.
"What's happening?" Gibbs shouted. "What's wrong?"
"Please Agent Gibbs. You have to leave." The nurse said as she pushed him out of the OR.
"Jenny!"
Gibbs' breath caught and his entire body trembled in shock.
What's happening?
What's wrong with Jenny?
All this time I was worried about losing our babies.
Oh God…
But Jenny's the one I should have been worrying about.
I can't lose her…
Jenny!
You hang in there …
You come back to me…
I won't survive without you…
Oh God…
Don't you do this…
Don't take her away from me…
Please … don't … take her away from me!
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Author's Note:
That's it for this chapter…
There is one more chapter to go…
Let me know your thoughts.