Auntie Jen and Uncle Jethro

            A few days after Jaylyn given birth to her girls it was just Jenny, Jethro and Kelly at the house. The quads had left for Drexel a few hours after their cousins were born and they were in their dorms by 2330 that night. Kasey wanted to bring Jaylyn home to meet his parents back in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Jaylyn had protested his idea some since she hadn’t quite lost all the weight she had gained during her pregnancy. Eventually Jaylyn succeeded and took the eleven hour drive down to Atlanta with Kasey.  Jaylyn and Kasey were going to drop their girls off at Jenny and Jethro’s on their way down to Kasey’s parents’ house. While Jaylyn got her things together for the impending trip she was taking and while she got the diaper bag situated with all of her girls things for their time at Auntie Jen and Uncle Jethro’s; Jaylyn was on her iPhone with Jenny on a face time call debating the whole trip.

            “I really don’t want to do this. Of all the times for Kasey to want me to meet his parents it has to be now. I look like hell.”

            “It won’t be that bad, J and you don’t look like hell at all. You look like you just gave birth; Kasey’s parents will understand.”

            “Sure they will. I can see it now; they won’t react well to the whole situation. Hello Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell; I’m Jaylyn Shepard. I work at NCIS as a Federal Agent and I just had three daughters that your son is the step- dad of since their biological dad was gunned down by my best friend at work around the same time I miscarried my sons. That will go over oh so well, Jen.”

            “It will be fine; they won’t have a problem with you being a mom and the fact that their son is their step-dad probably won’t even faze them.”

            “Really, I’m sure Shannon is completely fine with you being Kelly’s step-mom.”

            “We’re in two different scenarios, J. Just deal with it, finish packing and bring the girls over here.”

            An hour or so after Jenny and Jaylyn had talked Jaylyn and Kasey were dropping the trio off. Later on things were all over the place. Aliyah was fussy as Juliet was; Zoey was the only one that was calm and sleeping at the moment. Jethro had Aliyah in his arms trying to pacify his crying niece while Jenny was dealing with a crying and fidgety Juliet.

            “I forgot how good you look holding a baby, Jen.” Jethro said as he gave Aliyah a bottle a watch Jenny tried to get Juliet to stay still.

            “I know Jethro. We’ve done the whole babies thing, it’s time for us to be an aunt and uncle.”

            Juliet and Aliyah had settled down which allowed Jenny and Jethro to put them down in the basinets Jethro had brought up from storage in the basement. The second that Jenny and Jethro had a chance to relax, Zoey started up. Jenny picked Zoey up from her basinet.

            “Ya got it?” Jethro asked.

            “Of course I have it. I’m a pro at this after our girls. Go make us some coffee.” Jenny said as she did the whole bouncy walk thing to calm Zoey down.

            Zoey was the youngest of the trio. She also was Jaylyn half and half daughter. Zoey had Kellan’s blonde hair and Jaylyn’s green eyes. Juliet was the middle child; strawberry blonde hair and green eyes, she was her mother’s true mix. Aliyah; the oldest, looked more like Jaylyn. Aliyah had her mother’s red hair and green eyes.

            Zoey was crying as loudly as her sisters had moments before.

            “Its okay, Zoey. Auntie Jen has you.”

            “I think she misses her mom.” Jethro said as he brought Jen some coffee.

            “That was my first guess.”

            “You sure you can handle her.”

            “Yes, I can. Madison was worse, remember.”

            “Okay, I’m going to get us some dinner.” Jethro said he picked up his car keys.

            Jenny just nodded. Zoey was still crying.

            “Zoe, its okay; Mommy will be back in a few days. I’m the closest thing you got to her right now so please stop crying for me.” Jenny begged. 

            Zoey finally settled some after that.

            “See I’m not that bad.”

            Zoey then let her head lay on Jen’s shoulder, she closed her little baby green eyes and had fallen asleep.

            “And Uncle Jethro thought I couldn’t handle you three on my own. He’s silly.” Jenny said to her nieces as she and Zoey went into the kitchen to get drinks for Jethro and Jenny to have with dinner.

            Once Jenny had the drinks set out she put Zoey back in the basinet she was in before. Jenny stood in front of her nieces watching them sleep. Jethro came in shortly after Jenny had put Zoey down without Jenny even noticing that he had came in and joined her by the basinets.

            “A bit nostalgic, huh?”

            “Of course I am. Our girls are away at school. These three, Madalyn and Asher are the only kids we have now.”

            “We could try for another of our own, Jen.”

            “You know that isn’t possible.”

            “I was trying to forget that.”

            “Sorry that tying my tubes screwed things up. I wasn’t thinking of this day eighteen years ago when I had the procedure done.”

            “Yeah I know.”

            “How long are you going to make me feel guilty over a decision about my body that made almost two decades ago cause I would really like to know.”

            Jethro gave Jenny no answer as usual.

            “Really you’re going with that.”

            “Hmm.”

            “A man of few words.”

            “You should be use to it by now.”

            “Sad thing is; I am use to it.” Jenny said as she turned to kiss Jethro.

            “They are fine, dinner is getting cold.”

            “What did you get?”

            “Your favorite.”

            “Steak au’poivre, asparagus and a fraise salad.”

            “Of course.”

            “Let’s eat then.”

            A few minutes later Jethro was putting his serving of asparagus on Jenny’s plate with her serving before she could steal his from his plate like the last time. Jethro could see that Jenny was still a bit worried about leaving their nieces alone in the living room while they ate. It was her mother side coming out.

            “I’ll wheel them in if that makes you happy.”

            “It would.”

            Jethro wheeled his nieces into the dining room so that Jenny would worry less.

            Hours later Jenny and Jethro were settling into bed for the night after they had put the triplets down for the night.

            “Ready for a sleepless night, Jen?”

            “Yes, it’s been awhile but I’m ready.”

            The triplets woke up multiple times throughout the night as expected. By 0400; Jenny and Jethro were beyond tired. They were actually considering on calling out of work for the day  at one point. Around 0600; they had decided to not go in then they decided to let Noemi and Kelly look after the triplets. Once Jenny and Jethro had their bedroom to themselves again they had adhered to Jethro bedroom rule. Second later they both collapsed in their bed in complete and utter exhaustion.

Summertime Cold Front

            Things had been beyond icy for days now. Usually in the morning Noemi had set out two cups of coffee sitting out for her bosses. But the past few days with the discord, Noemi’s routine of setting out two cups of coffee for her bosses in the morning had changed. Jenny would get up at 0400, take a hot shower that was just long enough that it left only cold water in the pipes for Jethro. By 0500 Jenny was at the agency in her office while Jethro was just waking up at the house.  Jethro had been sleeping on the settee for days, Jenny on the other hand spent the intervening time sleeping in their bed. Even though the girls had gotten their grandparents involved with the entire situation but it didn’t help much.  Jenny and Jethro didn’t talk to each other and when they did talk to one another; they were screaming at each other. The girls couldn’t take it nor could the team. At one point the girls teamed up with their dad’s team to resolve the dissonance between their parents.

            The quads were leaving for Drexel in a few hours and like their older sister as well as the team; they didn’t want there to be any issues still going on when they were away at college. Everyone was somewhat divided on the subject matter too. Ducky and Palmer didn’t take sides. Jaylyn sided with Jenny as expected. As much as Abby loved “Mommy” she loved “Daddy” a little bit more since she was his favorite. Tony and McGee took Jethro’s side like Abby. Ziva on the other hand was a bit torn. She was loyal to both Jenny and Jethro.  The girls of course stayed neutral like Ducky and Palmer. As everyone had expected Jenny and Jethro’s fight had carried over to the agency.  This was just as bad as the time when they argued in the elevator when McGee killed the Metro cop twelve years ago.  Jenny and Jethro bumped into each other at the elevator when he had gone out for coffee about mid-morning. Jenny was heading out to the hill to get more funding for the agency.

            “Are you still here?”

            “No. I’m the Director’s doppelganger.”

            “I never did know what that meant.”

            “So a doppelganger is someone who is pissed?”

            “Yes, Agent Gibbs. This one definitely is.”

            “Why?”

            “Why? Because you acted like a child over me having lunch with your mother.”

            “I didn’t act like a child. You hung up on me.”

            “Oh, semantics.”

            “Is that like doppelganger?”

            “Get a dictionary.”

            Back in the bullpen the team was tired of hearing their bosses arguing. The girls joined the team moments after their parents left.  Shortly after their arrival Senior popped in yet again.  He was intrigued by quintet that stood before him. Of course with Jenny and Jethro’s absence the team went on guard duty when it came to Senior being in the same vicinity as the girls.

            Kelly was protective of her sisters of course.

            “Junior, why didn’t you tell me that you knew these gorgeous women?”

            “Dad.”

            “I would watch yourself if I were you.” McGee said to Senior.

            “Yeah I would.” Ziva said.

            Senior was puzzled yet again.

            “Their parents would kill you, dad if you dated them.”

            The girls smiled since they knew that was quite true.

            “Their mom would castrate him and their dad would kill you.” Ziva corrected.

            “Not if I beat them to it.” Jaylyn said as she glared at Senior as she pulled her nieces close to her.

            “And their parents are…” Senior asked.

            “My sister and my brother-in-law.” Jaylyn answered with a look on her face that told Senior to back the hell off.

            Some time later Jenny and Jethro were back at the agency. Senior had left. Jenny and Jethro had gotten wind of the situation in the squad room from earlier. They were both pleased that the team stood between the girls and Senior.

            At one point during the work day even with the cold front still going on between Jenny and Jethro; things got a bit more interesting when Jaylyn was in the elevator heading down to see Ducky for the T.O.D. of the NCIS agents the agency lost the day before. Jaylyn was joined in the elevator by Ziva and Jenny. As the elevator descended the elevator trio got a bit of surprise.

            Jaylyn’s water broke about two floors down from the main floor. Jenny flipped the emergency switch as she went to aide her sister in her breathing. Ziva called for an ambulance and then she called Jethro to let him know what was going on.  When the news of Jaylyn being in labor reached the rest of the collective the girls hoped that the arrival of their cousins would mend the rift between their parents.

            Once everyone got to the hospital; Jenny was in the labor and delivery suite with Jaylyn as she had wished. Jethro was also in the room. Kasey came in shortly afterwards.

            “Why didn’t you tell me having kids hurt like hell?” Jaylyn asked.

            “It’s been awhile since I was where you are.”

            “Either way you could have warned me.”

            “J when you see your girls for the first time and you’re holding them in your arms; all this pain you’re going through right now will be a distant memory.”

            Jaylyn screamed out in pain as she dealt with a contraction. Kasey came into the suite.

            “Well it’s about damn time you got here.” Jaylyn said when she saw Kasey standing by the suite door.

            “I tried to get here as quick as I could, J. Traffic sucked.”

            “Jen, I think we should let the parents to be have time to themselves and do this on their own; don’t you?” Jethro said.

            “My sister is in labor, I’m not leaving her side; you can if want.” Jenny said.

            Clearly Jenny was still pissed at Jethro.

            “Can you two give it a rest, damn it. I’m kind of in the middle of giving birth over here and your marital squabble isn’t helping things. Now either shut up and stay or go fight outside.”

            “J.”

            “No Jen, I’m serious. Make up with your husband or get the hell out.”

            “She has a point.” Kasey said.

            Jenny and Jethro just stood on the sides of the hospital bed that Jaylyn was in not saying a word to each other at all.

            “Any day now.”

            “Rule 6.”

            “Screw the rules, Jethro.” Jaylyn said after a contraction.

            “Sorry.”

            “Good. Now let’s get back to why we’re all here.”

            Over the next few hours later Jethro and Kasey had stepped out of the suite to give the mother and the mother to be some time to bond over motherhood. It was Jaylyn’s one request. She wanted it to be just her and Jenny in the suite when the next generation of Shepard women were born.  It had been the same way eighteen years ago when Jenny gave birth to her and Jethro’s girls; so it was only right to have it be the same way when Jaylyn’s girls were born.

            Jenny helped Jaylyn through the delivery just like Jaylyn eighteen years earlier. After the attending nurses had cleaned up the babies the nurses handed each baby over to Jaylyn and Jenny before they left the suite.  Jenny at one point quickly sent a text to Jethro telling him to send in their daughters and only their daughters. She wanted all four generations of Shepard women to be together in one room for a little before the rest of the group came into the suite to see the latest additions.

Hip to My Heart

            A few days later Jenny had decided that she was going to have lunch with her mother-in-law and she knew that Jethro wouldn’t approve nor would he want Jenny to have any sort of contact with his mother. But Jenny always did what she wanted. Jethro was just gonna have to learn to deal. With her parents being both dead and the fact that she already had a good relationship with Jack; Jenny wanted to have a good relationship with Ann. So with Jaylyn and Ziva both in tow; the trio met Ann outside of Red Robin.

            “Jenny, it’s good to see you again.” Ann said.

            “Hi Ann, it’s good to see you too.”

            “Who did you bring with you?”

            “This is my sister; Jaylyn and our friend Ziva. They are agents on Jethro’s team at the agency.”

            “NCIS?”

            “Yes, NCIS; I’m his boss.”

            “He must like that.”

            “Sometimes he does.” Jenny said.

            “Other times he hates it.” Jaylyn said finishing Jenny’s sentence as the hostess seated the quartet.

            “How far along are you?” Ann asked Jaylyn.

            “9 months. I’m due any day now, just waiting for my daughters to decide when they want to come out.”

            “I bet you and your husband can’t wait. I know I couldn’t wait for Jethro.”

            Jenny and Ziva looked at each other knowing that they both couldn’t wait for their respective children to make their debuts when they were each pregnant.

            “My boyfriend and I can’t wait. My daughters’ bio dad and their brothers died. I was pregnant with quints but I partially miscarried.

            Seeing that the subject matter was a touchy subject, Ann switched gears.

            “Do you have any children, Ziva?” Ann inquired as their waiter brought their drinks and took their food orders.

            “I have a daughter and a son by my…”

            “One of the other agents on Jethro’s team is the father of Ziva’s children.” Jenny said coming to Ziva’s aide.

            “How old are they?”

            “My daughter just turned twelve and my son will be seven in a month.”

            Lunch progressed. Back at the house Jethro had gone upstairs and knocked on Emiliana’s bedroom door.

            “Hey Em; have you seen your mom? I can’t find her anywhere.”

            “She said that she, Aunt J and Ziva were meeting Grandma at Red Robin’s for lunch.”

            “She did what?” Jethro questioned as he stormed away.

            “This isn’t going to be good.” Emiliana said to herself.

            Jethro called Jenny’s cell phone. She of course ignored the call. He then tried Ziva’s phone and didn’t get through. Then in one last attempt, Jethro tried Jaylyn who answered.

            “Put her on.”

            “Put who on, Jethro? Jen isn’t with me. I thought she was with you.” Jaylyn said in attempts at buying her sister some time.

            “Jaylyn; stop lying and put my wife on the damn phone now.” Jethro said starting to get pissed.

            “I tried.” Jaylyn said as she handed her phone over to her sister.

            Without talking to Jethro at all after she got Jaylyn’s phone; Jenny ended the call and handed the phone back to Jaylyn.

            Jaylyn and Ziva smiled at Jenny’s defiance while Ann was completely stunned.

            “I can’t believe you did.”

            “You shouldn’t he does that to everyone. Besides he can’t tell me who I can and cannot have lunch with. He’s not my father; Ann, he’s my husband and he has to deal.”

            “He’s just as stubborn as his father.”

            “Jethro is worse Ann, believe me.” Jaylyn said.

            Lunch progressed and eventually the quartet parted ways. As Jenny, Jaylyn and Ziva walked to the car a thought came to Jaylyn.

            “I think Dr. Freud would have a field day with the fact that Jethro has a thing for redheads and his mom is a redhead.”

            “Yeah Gibbs, definitely took a page out of Jack’s play book.” Ziva said.

            “So did McGee.” Jaylyn said referring to McGee’s mishap with Amanda Barrow from eight years ago.

            The trio got into the car, shortly after that Jenny was heading home after she dropped Ziva and Jaylyn off at their respective homes. Of course when Ziva was dropped off Jenny had been mauled with hugs from Madalyn and Asher. Tony and Ziva had to pry their kids off of Jenny so that Jenny could leave.

            Once she arrived at the house Jenny could tell that she was about to walk into the lion’s den. On some level she didn’t care how pissed off Jethro was with her, she could handle him being pissed at her. Kelly was reading her apartment when Jenny got home and the girls were still packing their things for Drexel.

            The minute that Jenny walked into the house; world war three broke out. Kelly and the girls heard Jenny and Jethro arguing from their respective rooms. Noemi steered clear as much as she could.

            Midway through Jenny and Jethro’s fight Delilah, Arabella, Emiliana and Madison had decided to take refuge in Kelly’s apartment since it was the furthest away from the war zone.  Emiliana had Jaylyn on the phone as she walked into Kelly’s apartment with her sisters.

            “They’re fighting again.” Emiliana said to her aunt.

            “They should know that all this arguing isn’t good for them or for me.”

            The fighting continued on for a while until the quintet heard Jenny’s study door slam shut followed by the basement door being slammed shut.

            It was clear that things were going to be a bit on the icy side for the next few days at the Gibbs household.

            This was one of those times where Jenny and Jethro would both being going to bed angry with each other. Jenny would take their bedroom thus making Jethro sleep on the settee in the living room. He’d also was forced to take a cold shower before he settled down for the night since there was no way in hell that he was going to get anything from Jenny after the fight they just had.

            Before the quintet had gone to bed they had secretly gotten a hold of Jack and Ann via phone calls so that they could mend the discord between their parents.

L.O.V.E.

            Jenny had figured since Jethro had brought her breakfast in bed a few days ago that it was time for her to repay him in her own way. That morning she got up early and ran down to her study to grab a few post it notes from her desk drawer. Once she had them and a pen she returned to their bedroom briefly.

On the first post it note Jenny wrote an “L”.

L – is for the way you look at me…

After she had written what she wanted to, Jenny placed the post it note on her pillow since she knew when Jethro woke up and realized that she was laying beside him that he would first look at her pillow as he tried to figure out where she could be. Jenny then left their room again and headed to the next place she knew Jethro would go to find her; the kitchen.

O – is for the only one I see…

This note she put on the coffee pot and she moved onto the next locale.

V – is very, very extraordinary…

Jenny had placed this one on the basement door since she knew that Jethro would likely go down there thinking she was hiding down there sanding the project he was working on.

E - is even more than anyone that you adore can…

Jenny left this one on the door frame of her study. This was also were she decided to hide once she had her morning cup of coffee with her. After all she had an overseas op in Annandale that she had to oversee. As predicted Jethro woke up and wondered where Jenny had gone off to. When he had read the post it note on her pillow, Jethro smiled.

She is the one that loves Sinatra just as much as DiNozzo. Correction she loves Sinatra more than DiNozzo.

Jethro then proceeded to search for Jenny once he had made himself somewhat presentable. He found the remainder of Jenny’s notes until he was standing in the doorway of her study watching her oversee the op she had. Jethro loved watching her, he had been captivated by her since the day Morrow introduced them.

There was a pause in the op Jenny was overseeing to which Jethro used to his advantage.

“Sinatra, nice touch.”

“What can I say it’s those blue eyes. I’m a sucker for blue eyes; you know that.”

“I know you are. That’s why you married me.”

“It’s one of the reasons.”

“And the other reason?” Jethro inquired even though he knew what the other reason was.

“You know you had to make an honest woman out of me after you got me pregnant.”

The agent running the op over in Annandale came on the screen clearing his throat to make his presence known to Jenny and Jethro.

“Am I interrupting something, Ma’am?” Agent Carlson asked.

“No Chase, you aren’t. Agent Gibbs is just distracting me as usual.”

“I’ll get you more coffee, Jen.”

Agent Carlson’s eyes darted back and forth trying to avoid the awkwardness of the entire situation.

“It’s alright, Chase; he can call me by my name.”

“I know, ma’am; it’s just a bit weird hearing you be called by your first name when the entire agency calls you by your job title or some other respectful name.”

“Relax; people call me Director, Ma’am, Jen, Jenny and Mom. I am a lot of things to many people, Agent Carlson. Now tell how the op is going.”

            Jenny hears gunshots over the video feed and saw the panic in Agent Carlson’s eyes.

            “What went wrong Agent Carlson?”

            “Special Agents Nealius and Keraldi were shot, Director. They didn’t make it.”

            “Get their bodies back here for Dr. Mallard, asap; Agent Carlson.” Jenny said as she ended the video feed.

            Jenny then made one of the two phone calls she had to make. Jethro had kind of overheard the tail end of the video conference and the phone call she had made.

            “Are you okay?”

            “I just got off the phone with Amy, Special Agent Ryan Nealius’ bride of two months. Correction. Widow. Now I have to call Bill and Amanda Keraldi. I don’t like making these calls, Jethro.”

            “No C.O. does, Jen.”

            “I know, but..”

            “What?”

            “This isn’t Libya. My people are not supposed to be killed by suicide bombers here.”
            “No, but they were, Director. And it’ll happen again if you stand around here feeling sorry for yourself.”

            “I am not feeling sorry for myself, Jethro. I’m feeling sorry for the agents and their families. But you’re right. I have a call to make and you have a suicide bomber to kill … catch.”
            “Before I do, come over here.” Jethro instructed.

            “Jethro, we don’t have the time now. I have a phone call to make and you have a suicide bomber to catch.”

            “That’s not why I want you to come over here, Jen.”

            Jenny walked over to Jethro who took her into his arms in a hug. Jenny let herself go the minute her head found Jethro’s should. Jethro knew that every once in awhile Jenny had to lower her hard as nails exterior just so that she didn’t completely lose touch with herself. This was one of those times. Jenny Gibbs couldn’t always be that tough, hard core, Marine’s wife, head of an armed federal agency Jenny that she was throughout the week; she had to be Jenny Shepard.

            Jethro whispered into Jenny’s ear to comfort her as she cried on his shoulder. Jenny began to compose herself. Once she did she pulled away from Jethro.

            “I have a phone call to make and you have a scum bag to get.”

            “Okay Jen.”

            “Tell your team.”

            “I will. And I’ll let Duck know he’s got bodies coming his and Palmer’s way.”

            “Thank-you, Jethro.”

            The duo parted and off to do what they needed to do. As they were doing what they had to they both placed the black strap across their respective badges as Jethro’s team did the same in the places they each were at. After Jenny finished her tasks she called Ann.  She knew Jethro wouldn’t approve, but she wanted to get to know her mother-in-law better since she knew her father-in-law quite well. Plus she didn’t have her parents anymore so Jack and Ann were all she pretty much had as far as parental figures besides Ducky. Jenny also wanted her daughters and step-daughter to know their paternal grandmother since they knew their paternal grandfather.