Shock

Chapter 16

Gibbs held Ziva's hand as the wave of pain washed over her. Her labor had progressed so quickly there hadn't even been time yet for an ultrasound to determine the child's well being, and Ziva was afraid for the baby, and for Tony.

Gibbs grimaced as her grip on his hand proved hers the stronger. "Ziva, breath, in….out.." He said, offering breaths of his own as examples (in an attempt to get him through the pain she was inflicting on his hands.)

Tony should be here. Gibbs thought, glancing toward his watch, and then the door. She's already only two minutes apart, wherever he's at; he's not going to make it. I should be looking for him, but she shouldn't be alone…

He was torn between wanting to be out there, looking for Tony and following whatever lead he'd taken off after and knowing that Ziva needed someone there for her.

Beep. Beep. Machines for monitoring were hooked up to her stomach and wrist, a fluid iv inserted into her hand. She was pale, her hair damp from sweat, and the bandages on her forehead, cheeks and upper left arm were stained pink from the blood that had leaked through after the accident.

She's scared. He thought, frowning for a moment before another contraction, sooner than he expected, distracted him and he began breathing for her again. Her dark brown eyes turned to his for a moment as it began, then grew wider as she held her stomach against the pain. She looks as beautiful as Shannon did the day Kelley was born… On an impulse he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Ziva's forehead.

Suddenly it was like he was there again, holding his wife's hand, stroking her beautiful dark hair and cooing soft words to her. "It will be okay, girl, it'll all be all right" he spoke aloud, though his eyes were still picturing his wife.

The doctor came in, and Gibbs, focusing back on the present, released Ziva's hand as the contraction faded. "I should go call the team, see how things are going…I'll be right back." He said, moving for the door so the doctor could examine Ziva in privacy.

He stepped out into the hall and pulled his phone from his pocket, hitting the speed-dial to Abby's lab. Ring…Ring…Ring…

"Hey Gibbs!" Abby's bubbly voice came over the phone.

"Hey Abbs, any news on Tony?"

"No, where are you? We expected you and Ziva back ages ago."

"Ziva was in an accident." He paused, hearing a gasp and a sudden rustling sound on the other end of the line as Abby nearly dropped the phone. "She's okay, minor injuries, but she's gone into labor." He paused again as another gasp followed this development.

"Tony's note said he was after Opale. The pictures from Tony's phone were of the café, I recognized it from before, but by the time Tim got there, Tony was no where to be found. His car was there, along with the camera on the driver's seat, which Tim's bringing back to me so I can check it, and then the waitress said that Tony had been there, had her take a bunch of pictures and when he left she said it was like some guy walked up to him and ushered him into a ford pick-up. She took pictures of the man and the vehicle. Tony left a note on the table, waitress said some other guy gave it to him, said no one else touched it but the guy and Tony so I'll dust that for prints."

Abby rambled on, and Gibbs tried to absorb everything, but behind him he heard Ziva yell through another contraction. "Okay, you and Tim keep on it…Tony's going to miss this baby coming into the world, Ziva needs someone with her. I'll check in with you later Abby."

"GIBBS!" Abby yelled, before he could hang up the phone.

"Yeah?" He replied, turning back toward the room.

"Grab a camera from the gift shop, ask a nurse to take photos….if he's going to miss it, pictures will be the next best thing."

Gibbs nodded, thinking to himself I should have thought of that. "Good thinking, Abbs." He closed the phone and headed for the gift shop.

When he walked into the gift shop, he saw the cameras right next to the register, so he grabbed one. He glanced around while waiting for the lady who ran the register to finish fiddling with a display. Before she finished, he spotted a little white stuffed bear. He flashed back again, to the day Kelley came home. His father had brought her a little white stuffed bear identical to the one on the shelf. Without thinking about it, he reached up and grabbed the bear, adding it to the camera on the counter as the woman came around and punched the keys on the register. She wasn't very chatty, which he appreciated in his hurry, as he made his purchase and headed back to Ziva.

As he walked into the room, another contraction took Ziva's concentration, so he set down his purchases and moved to her side. She looked at him, as if pleading for news of Tony, but he only shook his head, counting and breathing with the nurse. When the contraction passed, he asked the strange woman "Would you mind taking pictures, for the father….he's unable to be here."

The nurse smiled and nodded. "Sure thing." She stuffed the camera in her pocket, and left the room.

"Hey Zee, what'd the doc have to say?" Gibbs asked, using a cloth to wipe the sweat from Ziva's face. She was pale, exhaustion and stress showing in ever feature. Her eyes were red and puffy, as if she'd been crying and Gibbs couldn't tell if it was worry over Tony, or pain from the contractions that caused it.

"He said….everything was going well, the baby is crowning, and it won't be long now."

Gibbs nodded, lifting the bear from the table. "I got this for her." He said, tilting his head to the side and half smiling at the memories of Kelley and her little white bear. Creases showed around his eyes and mouth.

"Any news, Gibbs?" She asked seriously during the brief lull in contractions. She was still uncomfortable, but she looked as though she was afraid to move, as if moving might bring on another wave of physical pain.

"We still don't know where he is, but Abby said he left lots of evidence at the café, the one Michael sent those videos from before. It looks like he told Tony to meet him there, but by the time Tim got there neither of them were anywhere to be found. Tony left his phone there." Gibbs added, to put off questions of why no one had called him.

"Gibbs, it's time.." Ziva said, taking a deep breath.

Oh no! Wait! Gibbs thought, pulling his hand from hers. "Let me get the doctor.." He stepped out the door, calling to the nurse. "She says it's time." He told her, and then went back in. From personal experience, Gibbs knew to trust Ziva's instincts, hoping the nurse would get the doctor, because he sure didn't want to be the one delivering the baby. Ziva leaned forward, pulling her knees up toward herself in a push, and Gibbs moved to stand by her shoulder. She kept pushing, her face growing red with the exertion, and Gibbs started to fear the baby was coming without the doctor, just as she stopped to take a breath and the doctor walked in the door. He let out a breath of relief as the doctor moved to the foot of the bed and lifted the sheet that was draped over Ziva's legs.

The nurse came in with the camera and began taking pictures, of Gibbs, of Ziva, of the doctor, and of the crowning baby. Gibbs was relieved that that wasn't his responsibility.

"Oh my, Ziva, you're moving right along aren't you? Alright, keep pushing." He said, leaving the sheet up as Ziva took a breath and began pushing again. Within moments, it seemed, the doctor was telling her to relax, as he lifted the aspirator and suctioned the baby's nose and mouth, and then "Push, dear. One more push." He encouraged, and with this final push, the baby came out, and Ziva collapsed back on the bed, gasping for air.

Gibbs waited. Ziva waited. For a moment there was silence. Gibbs looked at Ziva, concerned. Her big brown eyes met his, her mouth open in fear as they waited. Dear god, not the baby…

Gibbs tore his eyes from Ziva to look at the doctor who was rubbing the baby's chest, his brows furrowed in concentration.

Suddenly a thin wail filled the room, and with it returned the noise, the Beep Beep of machines, the speech of the doctor as he reassured them that the baby was going to be okay.

Gibbs watched as they placed the baby girl on Ziva's chest, rubbing her down with linens to clean off the mess of birth as they cut the cord and clamped it. For that brief moment, Ziva's eyes were bright with wonder and love, forgetting all her worries of the child's father, for a moment, before they lifted the baby away to be measured and examined.

Ziva looked up at him, and Gibbs watched as they put the baby in the incubator, holding a tiny oxygen mask to her face.

The pediatric doctor spoke to both of them. "Because she didn't breath right away, we're going to take her to the NICU to be examined for respiratory complications." He said calmly.

Suddenly Gibbs gut felt odd. "Ziva, I'm going to stay with her…" He said, looking into her eyes and hoping to relay his concern…Tony had said not to let Ziva out of his sight, but Gibbs couldn't be in two places at once. Tony would have asked for help, if it was just Ziva…he would have come to me, but, the baby…if Opale threatened the child, then Tony would have acted rashly, he would have gone off without thinking about it…

She nodded, releasing his hand and looking to the pediatrician who nodded his consent, that it would be okay if Gibbs came along. "Keep her safe, Gibbs…" Ziva said weakly.

Gibbs pressed another kiss to Ziva's temple. "I will, always." He whispered as he turned to follow the pediatrician and the baby out of the room.

A/N: Well, thoughts? Thank you for the reviews! Please keep them coming :D