Case Solved

The next day at work agents were congratulating me on the pregnancy as Nick was getting his back patted. Abby had begun planning a baby shower for me the second she found out. I was happy that it would be a while before I started to show which meant I could still fit into my clothes and I could wait to pull out my maternity clothes. But I had a gut feeling that the maternity clothes I wore when I was pregnant with Jayden and Jocelyn were a bit outdated. While I contemplated when I was going to replace all of my maternity clothes, Jethro helped out with the case and Ducky aided Palmer in Autopsy. Jen on the other hand kept bouncing from the squad room to my office every twenty minutes.
This time around I had a lot more responsibilities then before and I had to learn how to handle being pregnant while being the head of a federal agency and being a mom. At this point it seemed like an impossible feat, one that made me wish my mom was still around. The icing on my stressed out cake was that JD had decided to live on campus at Georgetown even though the campus was a mere six miles away from our home. It was going to be quite an adjustment to go from house with five people in it to a house with four people in it until Jayla came in. I needed something to distract me from everything going on in my mind.
Jen was still antsy and I knew that right about now Tony was likely getting on Ziva’s last nerve. Kate would be tolerating Tony while busting him with McGee. Abby as usual was content in her lab working on evidence with the occasional visit from McGee and Gibbs while she worked on the plans for the baby shower. So with that I decided to get away from the office with the two women that had been my sisters for my entire life. In one of Jen’s ventures up I had told her about my idea and she had full heartedly agreed to go. So with Jen on board I had sent a quick text message to Ziva telling her to duck away and that we’d meet her at the elevator. Of course there had been a slight snag in our plan. Jethro had noticed Ziva duck away by the time the elevator had brought Jen and me down to the floor below my office.
“You’re not going out unless it’s to chase a lead, Ziva.” Jethro said firmly.
“Gibbs, I have to; Director’s orders.”
“No you don’t not when there is a case to be solved.”
“Jethro.” Jen said.
“Jen, drop the Director act. You’re retired.”
“Leroy Jethro Gibbs!!!!! How dare you talk to her like that. Ziva is going out with us, there’s nothing you can do about that. You do not need four agents to work this case. You can get by with Tony, Kate and McGee. You have before.” I said firmly as I nudged Ziva to join Jen and me.
“You have no right to determine how many agents are needed to solve this case.” Jethro said.
“Actually Jethro, I do have the right to determine how many agents are needed to solve this case seeing how I am the Director.”
Jethro was about to say something in rebuttal, but Jen stepped in before this conversation between Jethro and I could escalate into something more.
“Calm down both of you. Jethro, you know better than to argue with a Shepard woman. Also why are you insisting on acting like a petulant child who is trying to work her up when you know she is pregnant with our niece.”
Ziva had noticed the concerned look on Nick’s face as she saw him look over to the squad – room. With one lift of her arms to pull her hair back briefly showed that she still had her sig holstered to her jeans. At that point Nick started to relax a bit, it wasn’t until he saw that Jen had her sig attached to her and I had mine with me. Nick knew that I was just as good with my gun as Jen and Ziva were with theirs.
With that Jen, Ziva and I were back on the elevator on our way out for a mini girls' afternoon. This year of Academy graduates were graduating this afternoon, which unfortunately meant that as the Director; I was required to attend to the after party that was being held tonight. I had to get a dress and shoes for the Academy Ball. This Ball was my first formal event as Director that I had to attend; it’d still be a few months before I had to attend my first Marine Corps Birthday Ball. By the time November 10th rolled around I would be at the end of my second trimester with huge stomach and all the other joys that came with being almost seven months pregnant which meant I would have to buy yet another dress and shoes for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
Once we got to the National Mall and stepped into the building the stress started to melt away. I had to keep my stress levels down for the sake of my daughter. I looked over to Jen who was on my right and then looked over to Ziva who was on the other side of me.
“This is nice, spending time with the two of you outside of the office.” I had said as we made a beeline for H&M.
Jen smiled as we got closer to the store.
“We love you too, Jay.” Ziva said.
We basically struck out in finding a dress and shoes for me in H&M so we took another stab with Forever 21. Thankfully we had better luck at Forever 21 and I was able to get what I needed for tonight. So in the game plan of not returning to the office too soon especially following my argument with Jethro, I decided to treat Jen and Ziva to lunch out before we returned to NCIS at Olive Garden.
Meanwhile the others were dealing with a pissed off Jethro while trying to solve the case. I knew that they would have the case solved by the time Nick and I left for the Academy Ball. For some reason or another I was looking forward to the Academy Ball. At this point I really didn’t care whether or not the case was solved. I just wanted to spend a night out all dressed up with my husband.
By 7pm it was time for the Academy Ball. The graduates had their graduation ceremony a few hours earlier. I had my hair done and I changed up in my office as Nick changed into his tuxedo in the men’s room. Thankfully by the time Jen, Ziva and I returned to NCIS, Gibbs and the others solved the case. So at 7:40pm I was descending the stairs to the squad room where Nick waited for me with the others. I pretty much had the same reaction that Jen got when she descended the same stairs the night that Ducky escorted her to that years' Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Nick was completely awestruck and I was able to see it in his eyes.
Minutes later we were walking into the Academy Ball. I knew and half expected to see SECNAV at some point during the night. Davenport didn’t seem like he was never going to retire no matter how many times his wife pleaded with him. When Nick and I walked in everyone looked up. The men were astonished by how young I was. They couldn’t get over the fact that I was the youngest Director of NCIS to date. The women on the other hand found it a bit upsetting that I looked so good in my black bodice dress and matching stiletto heels for someone who was four days pregnant.
Within minutes of arriving Davenport found me.
“Did your team solve the case, Director Shepard - Balboa?” Davenport asked.
“Phillip.” Davenport’s wife reprimanded.
“Claire, this is business.”
“I know it is but Director Shepard - Balboa and Agent Balboa just got here. Besides the last thing Director Shepard - Balboa wants is to talk about work when she has other things is to think about.”
“Thank-you Ma’am and yes the case is solved, sir.”
“I heard that you called in your sister, Gibbs and Dr. Mallard to assist you and your team with the case.”
“I did sir, we needed the help. I did nothing wrong, everything was by the books. Just two former NCIS agents and the former medical examiner helping with a case.”
“Really Director Shepard - Balboa, I saw it as you, Agent DiNozzo and Mr. Palmer not being able to cut the apron strings.”
Both Nick and Mrs. Davenport saw where this was leading to. Nick knew I had a temper when I was pissed and he could see by the look in my eyes that I was about ready to snap Davenport’s neck.
“With all due respect sir, despite what you may believe there were no personal aspect to calling my sister, brother-in-law and Dr. Mallard to help us.” I said trying to keep an even temper as best as I could.
Before Davenport could say anything, his wife stepped in.
“Phillip, give it a rest. Director Shepard - Balboa did as instructed, had Agent DiNozzo and his team solved the case. Now I believe it would be wise of you to not stress Director Shepard – Balboa out for her well-being as well as her unborn child’s being and let her enjoy her evening out with her husband like you are suppose to be doing with me.”
Davenport nodded as Nick and I continued to delve further into party.
“Thank-you.” I whispered to Mrs. Davenport as we walked by her.