Athena Gibbs ON HOLD

Dead Man Talking

Season 1, Episode 19................Lots of POV switching might be very short. 

Three Months Later

Athena's POV

I sat in Abby's desk chair, watching as Jethro paced nervously, "Sweetheart. It will be okay." Jethro groaned, "You are due any day now. I don't want you sitting at home in case the baby decides to come, but I don't want you to do anything either." I rolled my eyes and looked at Abby, "You'd think he was giving birth." Abby giggled and Jethro's phone rang. He picked it up and paled, then hung up, "Athena. Abby." I frowned, "What's wrong?" Jethro sighed, "Chris Pacci was murdered." Abby gasped and I teared up, upset that someone who I considered family is dead. Jethro kissed my head and looked at Abby, "We will solve this. Let me know if anything happens." Abby nodded, "Of course. Stay safe." Jethro went upstairs and I quietly sobbed as Abby hugged me as gently as possible.

----------------------The Next Morning----------------------------------

I gasped in pain and held my stomach and Abby turned around from her center desk and gasped, "Is the baby here?" I shook my head, "No. Abby, we spent the entire night here and nothing has happened. Jethro doesn't need any more stress on his plate. Pacci comes first." Jethro walked in with two Caf-Pows, "Did you get my bullet from last night?" Abby smiled sadly, "I already ran it." Jethro nodded, "Did you two leave at all?" Abby shook her head, "No, I didn't want Athena to leave, she's already getting contractions." I rolled my eyes, "It was just the baby kicking." Jethro stared at me, "I mean it. Call me when your water breaks. Thank you, Abbs." 

Abby smiled, "Well, Pacci is family. And so is Mom," Abby rolled over to the bullet, "Slug looks pretty clean. From a .357. Based on rifling, it came from a Smith & Wesson, model 66." Jethro stared at the screen, "Very small, easy to conceal." I nodded, "Yep. I ran a comparison through NIBIN and got nothing. I'll have Abby keep searching." Jethro looked harshly at Abby, "You let her help?" Abby sighed, "Gibbs, she flashed those beautiful eyes at me and she was sitting and not stressing! She is going to lose her mind if she doesn't help." Jethro nodded and kissed my head, "I know." 

Jethro went to walk out and stopped, "Abbs, Pacci ask you to do anything for him recently?" Abby shook her head, "Not in a while." Jethro nodded, "He was working a cold case. Search the hard drive on his computer." Jethro left as Abby nodded, "You got it. You ready Mom?" I smiled and rubbed my stomach, "Show me magic, sweetie." 

Jethro came back with a memory card, Cait, and Tony. Abby flipped through the photos as they talked but I was focusing on my breathing. "Mom? Are you okay?" I heard Tony ask and I nodded, "Peachy." Jethro came over and knelt in front of me, "Sweetheart. Do we need to take a break from the case to get you to the hospital?" I shook my head, "Chris is more important. Jethro, please. You have to find his killer before they get away with this. I can hold on." Abby sighed, "The baby won't share the same thoughts though." 

"There's nothing on the card but candids. Based on the date-time stamp, they were all taken in the past two days," Abby flipped through some more pictures. Cait sighed, "I interviewed all the workers. Nobody remembers seeing Pacci or anything unusual. But one of them did find this. He found it at the bottom of the stairwell this morning," Cait held up an evidence bag containing Chris' camera. 

Jethro opened it up, "No memory card." Cait shook her head, "Nope." McGee came running in, "Sorry! Sorry, I'm late! I had to park in the visitor's parking lot and the guard-" I groaned and grabbed my stomach, "Where is it, McGee?!" Mcgee jumps as everyone else does and fumbles with his briefcase causing Jethro to take it and open it himself.

I groaned again, "Jethro. I'm starting to think that the baby wishes to be greeted by the world." Jethro looks happy, but then frowns, "Shit. Tony, take Athena to the hospital. Honey. I swear I will be there to make the birth." I nodded and stood up, "Let's go, DiNozzo." Tony helped me waddle out of the room and to the car, heading for the hospital.