SLOU5

February 1975, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Shannon and Jethro sat in silence. Jethro was behind the wheel of Jack's truck; they were on their way back from seeing a specialist at the teaching hospital in Harrisburg. They didn't tell Jack why they were making the trip up there, but he had happily loaned them his truck.

The trip on the way to Harrisburg had been filled with chatter and excitement, as they talked and made plans for their future. The couple in question, had been married for two years already and were excited about their future together.

The doctor they had met with at the hospital today, had been a Diagnostician, who would run some tests to find out why they didn't seem to fall pregnant.

Jethro had been embarrassed by all the intimate questions he had asked, but Shannon had explained that the more detail they give, the more they could help them. Today, the doctor ran some blood tests and looked them both over, with a physical exam. The appointment had cost a lot of money and the doctor would phone Doc Harris, their regular doctor with the results in two weeks.

Now behind the wheel of his dad's truck, the miles disappearing from the highway between Harrisburg and Stillwater, Jethro was contemplating everything that had happened today, in his mind. Just as Shannon was.

She had offered her husband a chance to leave their marriage, because she couldn't provide a child, but Jethro had adamantly refused. He didn't care, he loved her anyway.

He had joined the USMC straight out of high school and Shannon had gone off to school, she had studied to become a bookkeeper. Jethro was currently on leave from their current posting, which was just down the road at Wilkes-Barre, which was convenient. Jackson had insisted that they live with him, to save more money. His argument was that the next post could be clear across the country, and they wouldn't have family nearby. To let him help them out.

On the outskirts of town by the abandoned papermill, Jethro pulled down the dirt road and off to the side, switching off the engine. "Talk to me." he begged, taking Shannon's hand in his.

"I'm afraid that there is nothing they can do for me, for us." she sobbed. She straightened her body up stiffly, as Jethro leaned over to comfort her.

"I know you're afraid, I am too." Gibbs admitted to his young wife. "Whether we are blessed or not, it doesn't change my feelings for you. We just need to put it out of our minds and wait, see what Doc Harris has to say in a couple of weeks."

"Jethro, in here I know that you're right." Shannon told him, tapping her head. "But in here, it's easier said than done." She finished tapping her heart. All Jethro could do was sigh and sag in defeat, he knew what Shannon was saying, was true.

Late November 2002, Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia

Tim had been surprised to look up and see Agent Tony DiNozzo in the doorway of his office. "Hey McGeek." DiNozzo greeted him with a wide smile. "Gibbs sent me over, he needs to know who the caller ID is of a 911 caller from a restricted number."

"Nice to see you too, DiNozzo." Tim quipped sarcastically. "Oh, I've been well. My wife is good too, thank you for asking."

"Sorry, but Gibbs is on a rampage, and I needed the ID like two hours ago." Tony apologised, handing Tim the notebook with the precise time the 911 call was made.

Tim immediately took note of the time of the incoming call to the 911 operator and began clacking away on his keyboard and Tony watched in fascination that Tim could type so fast. He was suitably impressed by the speed and skill of his typing and Tony noticed that Tim had a wedding ring on, a ring that had been missing only a week ago.

"There!" Tim exclaimed, "The call originated from Langley. CIA, extension number 153849-1."

Some more impressively fast typing and Tony not only had the location of the caller ID's extension, but he also knew that the call originated from booth 3 in the satellite control room.

"Thanks, Probie." DiNozzo grinned at him and the first time, he thought that Gibbs should hire a fourth member of the team, with skills that Tim had. They could definitely solve cases faster with a computer whiz like McGee on their team.

February through to July 1975, Stillwater, Pennsylvania

The news from old Doc Harris wasn't good and it wasn't bad. Basically, it was inconclusive, and the diagnostician basically said, 'keep trying it might happen.'

Shannon took the news in her stride, determined not to let it get her down. Sure, she had some frustrating and heart-breaking moments, like seeing someone from high school pushing a pram, or a pregnant woman on the street.

Gibbs was by her side the best he could when he was home. Gibbs himself struggled, a guy in the squad would announce that he and his wife were having a baby and his heart would ache and long for the day when he could rock up to his shift on base and tell his fellow marines that.

But it hadn't happened yet, despite that Shannon and Gibbs counted their days and had regular and timed intercourse. Gibbs good naturedly grumbled that it was beginning to feel like a chore and less like an expression of their love.

It all came to a head at Jackson's fourth of July BBQ, old, nosy Mrs Burke, the lady who lived across the street. She didn't mean any harm; however, she asked a simple question to Jethro and Shannon at the dinner table that caused the mother of all arguments between the happy couple. "You've been married a while now and don't have any kids, so who's the one with the dodgy body?" she callously asked. She was a straight talking, straight forward woman who never beat around the bush about anything. Never used kid gloves. Claimed 'life is rough, so why tiptoe?'

"No one Mrs Burke." Jethro answered her firmly, between a forced grin and a firm tone that he hoped would be harsh enough to shut her down, but not disrespect her. "We're just waiting is all."

"You're not much of a woman then, are you Sharon?!" she snapped back at Shannon, deliberately getting her name wrong. Mrs Burke was still bitter that Jethro had never asked her daughter Carly out instead. She had always thought that she would have him as a son in law one day. She had been bitterly disappointed when Shannon and Jethro had announced their engagement, much to her mother and father's dismay.

"It's Shannon." she reiterated, politely. "This really isn't an appropriate discussion for the dinner table, either."

"We're all family here and it is my business." Mrs Burke argued with Shannon, trying to get the gossip.

"No, it's not." Shannon stood firm on her decision. "Sorry if you're offended, but it's nobody's business but Jethro's and my own."

"Leroy tell her I must know." Mrs Burke demanded. Jethro could feel the tension in the room, it was palpable.

"Just tell her Shannon. She won't let up until she knows." Jethro conceded, he just wanted to enjoy his day and be left alone to enjoy what little leave he had left before he had to return to base.

"You're my husband and you're supposed to back me up." Shannon seethed at him, no longer bothering with being polite. She tossed her napkin on her plate, pushing herself up from her chair. "Unless you no longer want to be married to me?" Turning on her heel, she left the room and headed inside to the bedroom. Slamming the door for good measure.

"Shan!" Gibbs called out, excusing himself from the table and following his wife upstairs to their bedroom.

Shannon and Jethro Gibbs proceeded to have the worst fight they had ever had as a couple. Harsh words were said, regrettable words were said, there was tears and frustration.

Finally, Shannon lowered the boom on an unsuspecting Jethro. "I think we should stop trying for a baby for a while. We need a break. Time to see if we still love one another the way we're supposed to."

December 2002, NCIS Satellite Office, Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.

Tim's birthday had been and gone, as had Jethro's and neither party had been able to see the other one. Gibbs had been in Cuba, at Guantanamo Bay, on a case for Tim's birthday and he had been chasing a sniper killing recruiters for his own birthday.

He had called and asked Tim to help Tony trace a 911 call and that had actually been the last time that either of them had heard from him. But it wasn't unusual for Gibbs to get immersed in his work and forget to check in with them. Especially now, that they were older and living closer to him, down the coast in Norfolk.

Tim had completed the required semen test for the specialist and Kelly had done her tests too. They were just waiting and biding their time, until the next appointment. Both on the Navy base and the little clinic outside the main gate, where Kelly worked had been extra busy, especially at this time of year as the Christmas party season begins. Keeping both of them busy with their jobs.

Tim had heard some scuttlebutt about his father-in-law and had written himself a sticky note to call him and see if he was OK. But there was no way that Tim was telling his wife that her father had been reported Mia. That he was helping his former Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel William Ryan stay hidden from the FBI. Tim pulled up the MCRT rotation roster on the NCIS extranet, to check when they were having holiday leave, to ensure that his and Kelly's coincided with Gibbs'.

Mid-December 2002, Gibbs Family Home, Alexandria, Virginia.

"You didn't have to come up, get me from hospital and take care of me." Gibbs grumbled from the passenger seat of the McGee's car. Tim was driving and Kelly was in the back seat. They had been called by Director Tom Morrow to the hospital. Gibbs had been shot in the shoulder in a showdown with a terrorist that had infiltrated autopsy, taking Ducky, Gerald and Kate hostage.

Tim and Kelly had insisted on taking Ducky home with him, but Ducky had been adamant that he stay in his own home, as not to confuse his elderly mother who had Alzheimer's Disease. Tom Morrow had ordered a protective detail for the good doctor, on the advice of the FBI and Ducky had offered to let Abby and Kate have a sleep over together in his home. "Yes, we did." Kelly snapped from the back seat. "Left to your own devices, you would have gone straight back to work from the hospital and would live on nothing hut coffee. Now you will listen to everything I tell you to do, and you will do all of your PT. And you'll do it with a smile and no arguments. Got it?"

"Yes Ma'am." Gibbs grumbled in a snarky tone. Both Tim and Gibbs recognised that tone, that was her don't mess with me tone.

Tim and Kelly had an ulterior motive for hanging around the Gibbs home. That tomorrow, they were heading back to see the Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr Prue Berkeley, to get the results of their tests and find out why they were having difficulties. Manoeuvring Gibbs upstairs and into bed had been difficult, but Kelly had whimped out and left Tim to help him strip down to his shorts and remove his sling, making Gibbs ready for sleep.

Back downstairs, Kelly closed off the door to the basement and noted that there were only a handful of toys to complete before the December 24 deadline. She programmed the coffee machine to brew the first pot at 5:30am. Her father hadn't been fooling anyone, least of all her, she knew that he would be ready to return to work tomorrow. He would be on desk duty anyway, so it wouldn't matter if he showed up with painkillers and his arm in a sling, still. She knew he would still have outstanding paperwork on that case and that it was best to complete while it was still fresh in his mind. Tim was like that too.

Either her or Tim would drive him into the navy yard. Probably Tim. She also knew they'd need a team debrief and that Tim had some files to deliver to an agent there too. He had been assisting in a cold case with that agent and that agent had requested a copy of a case file from the Bufort County Courthouse and Tim had spent an entire day tracking it down.

The following morning Gibbs had slept in and woke up after 0530. He couldn't remember how he had made his way into bed and who had helped strip him down before he briefly remembered that Tim and Kelly had driven up from Norfolk last night, after the hospital had assumingly called Kelly to notify her that he had been injured in the line of duty. He could smell the scent of coffee wafting up the stairs and that meant only one thing, they were still here. "Morning" Kelly's sweet voice filtered through his grumpy mood. She was carrying a tray with a mug of steaming hot, fresh black coffee, just the way he liked it and a western omelette, sliced into bite sized pieces for breakfast. "Eat up, Dad. Tim cooked your favourite." She reminded him and he couldn't help but smile. Tim was one of the good ones. "Once you're finished eating, I'll help you get up. Tim will help you in the bathroom and I'll change your dressing, check your wound and put your sling back on. Tim can take you into work and he can pick you up afterwards."

"Not going to hold me hostage and make me stay home, this time?" Gibbs grumbled, remembering the first time he had been shot in the line of duty. Kelly had been in med school and Tim had been at FLETC, Kelly had attempted to hold her father hostage, not letting him leave the house for anything, which had driven Gibbs up the wall. He had just about ready to stage a coup, when Tim came back and Ducky stepped in, distracting Kelly and allowing Ducky to take him out of the house, undetected while Tim distracted Kelly for the day.

"Learnt my lesson last time, you were a miserable and sufferable. Not going through that again." Kelly recollected. The only thing that had made it memorable for her was that Tim had made a twenty-four hour round trip to distract her and they hadn't left the house. "Besides, you pull that crap again, I'll just shoot you, myself."

Luckily for Tim, Gibbs had gotten himself showered and dressed without him having to assist him. Not that it would have been a big deal if Tim had to help him, after all, Gibbs had helped Tim in the bathroom when he was recovering from his car accident.

July 1994, Memorial Hospital, Del Mar, California

Gibbs, as well as Kelly, had been a frequent visitor to Tim in the week and a half since the accident. He had yet to cross paths with Tim's father, though and Gibbs had been disappointed that he had not dropped everything and been by his son's side. Penny, of course had come, she had taken her time to get here, but she had come. She had fussed over him and now that he was awake, she dropped in and out, trying to shuffle her work commitments around caring for her Grandson.

It was a Wednesday morning, Kelly and Gibbs had arrived at the hospital early, well before visiting hours began. There was a nurse, Fran, who had been sympathetic to Tim and understanding that Gibbs and Kelly had been there, more than his own family. She and Gibbs had spoken a few times and Gibbs had asked more questions to both her and to the doctors about Tim's treatment plan and rehab options than what Penny did.

"What do you think about having a real shower this morning, Tim?" Fran had asked him as she entered the room and wished him a good morning. "We can cover those leg casts and that arm cast. Imagine how great you'll feel afterwards."

Tim nodded enthusiastically; he actually couldn't wait. Although he'd had sponge baths, he hadn't washed his hair and he could feel his hair beginning to get greasy and dirty. "You're just in time Gibbs." Fran announced as they entered the room. "Tim's going to attempt a shower this morning."

"That's great news Timmo." Gibbs encouraged him. Gibbs knew Tim had been struggling with feelings of frustration from not being as independent as he usually was. He hated having to rely on people to help him. Gibbs had to remind Kelly more than once to let Tim do things for himself, to allow him the sense of independence. "Don't be afraid to call out if you need help though, don't want you doing more damage." Gibbs reminded him.

Giving Gibbs a nod to the affirmative and Kelly a big grin, Tim used his walking frame, slowly and gingerly made his way to the bathroom. Fran had put the towels and face washers within reach of the shower chair and had followed him in. She had reminded him not to be embarrassed, that as a nurse she had seen everything before. But he simply stammered, blushed and refused to look at her. "Gibbs?" Fran called out, and Gibbs was immediately entering the spacious bathroom.

Gibbs had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing at the young man's predicament. He could clearly see that poor Tim was embarrassed at having Fran in the bathroom with him while he showered. "I got it Fran, go have a coffee. If we need you, I'll push the call button. Tell Kelly to watch some TV."

As soon as Fran was gone, Gibbs heard Tim breathe a huge sigh of relief and almost relax before tensing up again at the thought of Gibbs helping him. "I... I... I c... can do it, myself."

"You betch ya, Timmo." Gibbs grinned at him. "I'm here for moral support. You know, help with the spots you can't reach."

"I can do it." Tim argued vehemently. However, Gibbs could tell Tim was thankful for his comforting presence in case something went wrong. Tim was even more thankful that Gibbs had gotten Fran to leave him alone.

"Be that as it may, you can't reach everything with two broken legs and a fractured collarbone. Don't be a hero, Tim. Rule 28." Gibbs reminded him. "It's ok."

"If you need help, ask for it." Tim recited to Gibbs. "We all need help sometimes."

Tim actually managed to get the majority of his body washed, lathered and rinsed off by himself. Tim did concede the point and ask Gibbs to wash his hair and his back. Gibbs helped Tim manoeuvre himself on the wet floor, getting him seated into the dry chair and helping him dress himself.

Forty minutes later, Tim was back on the bed. Freshly showered and dressed in clean sweats, ready for some more pain medication and a nap. Fran came in with Tim's medication and Gibbs went in search of coffee, leaving the young couple alone. "Gibbs?" a voice called out and he looked up to see Admiral John McGee sauntering down the hallway towards him. The man seemed in a hurry, which surprised Gibbs, until Gibbs took a moment to read his disposition and worked out that this was just another obligatory visit while he was temporarily stateside. "How is Timothy doing?"

"His nurse Fran is in with him now and the doctor will be here to examine him in fifteen minutes. You're more than welcome to join us. After all, he is your son." Gibbs said through his gritted teeth. He had been proud of himself for hiding his anger, because he wanted nothing more than to punch the man. "We can find out what the doctor has to say, together. But Tim managed a shower with minimal help this morning."

"Sorry, I can't wait. I'm sure he's still recovering nicely. I have a meeting back on base soon, I really must leave." the Admiral told Gibbs. He hadn't believed the man; his son was injured in hospital, and he had a meeting that was more important than speaking with the doctor treating him. "I'm sure you will notify me if anything untoward was to happen to Timothy, you would call me. " John reminded Gibbs in harsh, cold voice.

All Gibbs could do was stand there in shock, as John McGee turned his back and walked away. Gibbs looked down and noticed he had balled his hands into fists and hadn't released them until Admiral John McGee was well out of hand. "You really should see your son." Gibbs strongly advised him, before John returned to where Gibbs was standing. He tried to intimidate Gibbs, but it didn't work. He worked for Mike Franks, no one intimidated him, except Mike Franks. "He is your own flesh and blood, your son. Ten days ago, he almost died in a very bad car accident. An accident my team investigated. I saw the scene, spoke with the paramedics, the reconstruction team, even the emergency department doctors here; by all accounts, Tim should not have lived to tell the tale. Don't get me wrong Admiral, we are certainly so very happy and thrilled he did."

"I am grateful that you willed him to live, that day. That you ordered him to live." John told Gibbs, "That he actually listened to you. That he is still here with us. But we both know; he is more your son than mine at this point." the Admiral told him.

"No, he's not." Gibbs argued, getting more angry and more frustrated at John McGee's remissive behaviour towards Tim. "He is my daughter's boyfriend, Admiral. Do I wish I was blessed with a son, as well as my daughter? Yes. Do I wish I had a son like your son? Smart as hell and all that potential and talent. Yes. Every day, but I am grateful for the blessings I have left."

"What good is having all that, if he throws our long-standing family tradition back in my face like that?! I'm running late now, thank you Gibbs." the Admiral snapped, harshly. "My son understands that with my duty to our country, he, as my son, must come second. Perhaps, you could teach my son about family honour and following in one's footsteps. Then, maybe if you were a better father and a better marine, you'd be a better agent. Then you would understand where I'm coming from, too."

Gibbs saw red, he had to ball his fists up and willed his hands to physically stay by his sides. While knocking the Admiral out would bring Gibbs immense satisfaction, it would do nothing but bring hurt to a young man who was already as near and dear to him. "I am a better father than you will ever be." Gibbs lashed out as John McGee turned the corner of the corridor and left the hospital, never seeing his son. He never heard Gibbs and never even looked back.

Mid-December 2002, Capitol Medical Suites, Dr Prue Berkeley's office, Washington DC

Kelly and Tim had been relying on her father going into the office after yesterday's shooting, the following morning. After all, they had another appointment to get their results with the Reproductive Endocrinologist that they had begun seeing. Kelly seemed really calm and to Tim, it was eerie. Like the calm before the storm. True, she hadn't broken down and cried in the last three weeks, so he knew it was coming. Soon.

The doctor greeted them warmly, even lulling Tim into a sense of ease and calm, although he was still weary of Kelly and her calm demeanour. "Your test results are back. Tim let's start with you. Your sperm count is good, it's actually quite good. As is your motility rate. Over ninety eight percent. Most men sit around ninety six percent. As were your bloods. We will start you on a male specific fertility based over the counter vitamin. One tablet in the morning with breakfast is vital. Remember, no hot baths, no laptops on your testicles or anywhere nearby and no briefs, wear boxer shorts or commando." Tim let out a small sigh of relief. It wasn't audible and barely visible, enough to release some of the tension, that he had been carrying.

"Kelly, I have your results too. Everything looks good too. We have the results of your bloods and your scans, and everything is looking as it should be." Kelly squeezed his hand in relief. "This is what's called subfertility. Basically subfertility, generally is any form of reduced fertility with a prolonged time of unwanted non-conception. Next up, I am going to order a HSG procedure you Kelly. A HSG procedure is simple, it's a hystersalpingogram xray and ultrasound. We are going to use it to look at the inside of your uterus and fallopian tubes. The resulting images will resemble a black-and-white photograph: The white areas, made by dye injected into the cervix at the beginning of the procedure, will show the shape of your uterus and fallopian tubes. This will help identify if blockages or abnormalities are present in these organs."

The doctor let the couple process this information and before Tim had a chance to ask any questions, she continued. "The beginning of an HSG procedure will feel similar to your annual gynaecological wellness exam. You'll lie on your back and place your feet into stirrups. A speculum is then inserted into your vagina so we can clearly see your cervix. A small tube called a cannula that looks like a straw is inserted into the uterus and a balloon is inflated to keep the dye, also known as a contrast, from leaking out. The dye will be injected through the cannula. After the speculum is removed, dye is fed through the cannula. When enough dye has been inserted into your cervix, the X-ray portion of the procedure can begin. Once the dye has filled the uterus and fallopian tubes, abnormalities will show up if they're present. We will use an ultrasound and check the lining of the uterus and fallopian tube to see if they are blocked. If they are partially blocked, we may try to unblock them using the contrast. We will tell you if we attempt this prior to trying. During an HSG, you may feel cramping due to the stretching of the fallopian tubes, uterine distention (when it's enlarged from internal pressure), or pressure from the balloon. This cramping usually lasts for about 5-10 minutes after the procedure but can sometimes be felt for several hours afterwards. We usually recommend that you take some Tylenol an hour before the procedure to help minimise the discomfort."

Tim and Kelly took in the explained procedure. It sounded like a big procedure, but realistically, they would be in and out in thirty minutes, including Kelly's time to change into a gown and then back into her clothes. "I'd like to schedule this on day seven of your cycle, that's tomorrow. I can do 1200 or 1300 hours."

"1200 is fine. What are the side effects of this procedure?" Kelly asked, knowing that was the first thing that Tim wanted to ask too.

"Side effects include dizziness, light headedness, nausea, cramping and some vaginal discharge. If you experience any heavy bleeding, vomiting, foul smelling odour, fevers or chills or increasing pain after two days, please phone my emergency line immediately. Now, we should discuss the cost, because it is an out-of-pocket procedure and not all insurances cover it. The good news is that your insurance does and there is a three hundred- and seventy-five-dollar cost."

"That's fine." Tim agreed. When he and Kelly had discussed the costs of seeing a specialist and spoken with their insurance provider, they had factored the cost of several procedures into their budget before treatment could begin, just in case.

"Please understand that a HSG test strictly used as a diagnostic tool, a handful of studies have shown that it may marginally increase fertility for a few months after the procedure. This can happen if the injectable dye flushes out a temporary blockage caused by mucus or said, tubal flushing has been found to be successful only when using the contrast rather than the saline."

"Tomorrow, after the procedure, we will discuss the following steps in more details. For now, if you have any questions, please send me an email."

Tim and Kelly left the medical suites on autopilot and found themselves in the park, opposite the doctor's office.

"Talk to me, sweetheart." Tim begged, looking over at his wife.

She smiled widely at him. "This might actually work." Them both feeling hopeful.

Mid-December 2002, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Navy Yard, Washington D. C

Gibbs and his team sat around the conference room, waiting for Director Morrow who would be leading the debrief on yesterday's activities. Tony was jovially teasing Kate and Abby for sharing a bed last night and the girls were egging him on, giving him a mental picture of the two of them together, while Ducky and Gibbs shared a low conversation.

"How were the girls last night?" Gibbs enquired as Ducky pushed Gibbs' coffee mug closer to him. "Were they ok?"

"Fine, they more worried about you, though." Ducky replied, he had struggled to convince the girls that his friend was cared for and being taken care of. "Kate and I did struggle to restrain Abigail from kidnapping you and making you stay with us at my home."

"Someone phoned Kelly, her and Tim came up. Although they made the trip quickly. It seemed like barely an hour had passed, and they had arrived." Gibbs told his friend. "I am almost positively sure they weren't planning on coming up."

"Maybe they were going to surprise you, Jethro." Ducky hypothesised out loud. "Perhaps they had given you some strong pain medication and you were completely out of it."

"That might be true my friend." Gibbs smirked. "I remember grumbling to Kelly in the car and her threatening to shoot me."

Ducky laughed out loud at that image, and he could envision it perfectly. After all he had been present the first time his friend had been shot and the overprotectiveness that Kelly had heaped on her father. "Kelly and Tim's presence definitely explains why you didn't ask for help with your sling and dressings this morning."

"I am blessed to have them both in my life." Gibbs admitted as the Director breezed into the room and began the debrief session.