A few weeks later he is sitting on the couch in his living room reading to Izzy. She sits on his lap in her pajamas. She looks up at him with her big bright eyes. She furrows her brow.
"Yes?"
"How long you stayin'?"
"Forever," he answers.
"Forever?"
"I live here. Remember last week when all of those boxes were here? I moved all of my stuff over here."
"Why?"
"So I could stay here with you and your mommy."
"And my baby," she grins.
"In a few weeks you'll get to meet your baby."
"I share," she says, sweetly.
"Did you know that it's my baby, too?"
"'kay."
"Is that okay?"
"Uh huh."
"Is it okay if I stay here?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to read another story before bed?"
"Now," she nods, handing him another book.
"Hop on Pop."
She sits in his lap as he reads to her. He finishes the book, and hands it to her.
"Izzy, it's time to put the books away, and go to bed."
She shimmies off the couch, and carries her handful of books back to the shelf. She carefully returns the books to their resting places. He sits on the stairs, waiting for her. She climbs the stairs, and wraps her arms around him. He stands up, and she clings to him like a monkey on his back. He carries her to her room. She hops onto her bed.
"Where's mommy?"
"She is in the shower. She'll be done in a few minutes. Can I tuck you in?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No, Pop!"
"Pop? Who is pop?"
"You," she giggles.
"Should we go find your mommy?"
"Now, please!"
She grabs his hand, and drags him out of the room. They head down the hallway into the master bedroom. Izzy makes her way to the bathroom door. She tries the doorknob, but the door is locked. She lets go of Jethro's hand, and starts banging on the door.
"Mommy! Mommy! Open!"
The door comes open, and Mac stands in the doorway in a robe with wet hair.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes," she nods.
"Can you wait a minute?"
"No," she grabs Sarah by the hand, and drags her to the doorway of the bedroom.
She stops, and turns around. She looks at Gibbs. She stomps her foot.
"Come! Pop!" She barks.
He grins, and follows her out of the room. They take her to her room, and tuck her in tightly. Sarah flips off the light, and exits the room. She's in bed reading a book when Gibb's finally gets out of the shower. He climbs into bed next to her.
"I don't think she could have more attitude if she tried," he comments.
Mac smiles, "You are delusional if you think that. You have only begun to see the layers of sassiness that girl is capable of."
"She's just one little girl."
"When did she start calling you pop?"
"We read Hop on Pop, earlier."
"I feel geriatric trying to keep up with her at the grocery store."
"I think that has more to do with how pregnant you are, than your age."
"Maybe, both," she suggests.
"I guess, that is possible."
"I vote you take on grocery shopping for the next five weeks."
"How hard can it be?"
"You have to take her with you."
"Why?"
"Because I can't keep up with her anymore. She wants to take laps around the house, and I just want to nap on the couch."
"I know."
"On that note, I'm going to sleep. I'll see you in the morning," she reaches over, and flips out her lamp.
At 0327 he finds himself being nudged awake. He opens his eyes, and finds the overhead light on. Sarah stands over him, fully dressed.
"Go back to sleep," he tells her.
"I can't."
"Why not?" He sits up.
"Because your baby has decided that it doesn't want to wait one more day."
"For what?"
"To be born."
"What?!"
"I'm in labor."
"When did you start having contractions?"
"Ten thirty."
"We went to bed at ten. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I just got up to pee, and my water broke all over the bathroom floor."
"What are we going to do with Izzy?"
"Harriet is on her way over now. She should be here any minute."
"I'll get dressed."
Within ten minutes he is behind the wheel of her SUV. She straps herself into the passenger's seat as he backs out of the garage. They arrive at the hospital ten minutes later. It takes nearly half an hour before they can get settled into a room. The nurse comes in, and checks on Sarah.
"How long have you been in labor?"
"Since ten thirty."
"Six hours?"
"Sure," she nods.
"I am going to go grab the doctor."
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"Why are you getting the doctor, then?" Mac questions.
"You're about to have a baby."
"Not for a while."
"You're fully dilated."