Disclaimer: Not mine except Jess and the Baby.

A/n: There is a brief, brief, less than two sentences hint about abortion. Please don't flame me on that. I personally have very liberal views on the subject and respect those of you readers who have stricter views on the subject. If you feel offended by this note, perhaps it's best to turn away now. I would also like to point out at this time that I have never been to DC nor have I been pregnant. Any glaring errors about these subjects please share and I will try to fix. I love constructive criticism.

Prologue.

"Tim. Hey. We need to talk."

Tim McGee turned away from his car and smiled at the pretty blond. "Jess! I haven't seen you in awhile. That sounded ominous actually. Is something wrong?"

"I need to talk to you, do you have a minute?"

"Actually-"

"Good." She grabbed his sleeve and tugged him towards one of the tables in front of the coffee shop. Tim stuttered for a moment before setting down the four coffees and bag of breakfast treats.

"What's wrong Jess? I thought we agreed-"

"I know what we agreed Tim but this is serious. I already made up my mind but you have a right to know. And don't think you can change my mind buddy." Jess shook a manicured finger at him.

"Change your mind about what? Jess what is going on? I'm kind of in a rush to get to work so if this is important…"

"This is very important! You asshole are you saying this isn't important?" Jess hopped to her feet and stood leaned over the table towards him looking as intimidating as Ziva even in the powder blue mini dress.

"Uhh… No? No. I didn't say that…I'm sure this is important conversation. You haven't said-"

"Well if you would stop interrupting me." She sat with a huff glaring at her ex for a moment before sighing. "Look Tim, I'm pregnant."

Tim felt his eyes go big and his mouth drop open. "Jess?"

"Look you remember how the condom ripped and I said I'd take a pill?"

"No, no I remember distinctly you said you were on the pill." Tim spoke firmly.

"O-kay so maybe I did. What I meant to say was that I'd take one of those morning-after pills. Anyhow one thing led to another and you remember how crazy that morning was and I guess I just forgot about it until I was late."

"You're pregnant?"

"Yes."

"And it's mine?"

"Of course it's yours what do you take me for some kind of whore?" Jess was on her feet again and her voice was louder snapping him out of his trance. "Yes Tim you are the only guy I slept with for that time period."

"Jess…Jess calm down. You, you said you made up your mind? "His voice dropped in dread "What did you make your mind up about? You're not-"

"I'm not keeping it Tim." Jess stated calmly, blue eyes shining.

"You can't have an ab-"

"God Tim no! What? What kind of person do you think I am? No. I just meant…Look Tim I can't raise a kid right now. I didn't spend twenty thousand dollars in college loans to drop my career and play single mother. I'll have the baby, but it's not my kid. I'm giving it up. Now you can either do the same, or you can raise it yourself, but I need to know by Friday."

"Friday?" Tim repeated numbly.

"There is an adoption agency that will help pay for the hospital visits, bills and things. I can barely pay for myself right now between loans and the apartment and the rest. If you decide you want this I'll respect that. You are the father. But I'm going to need you to help with the money. Check-ups and consults and such. I know this is a lot to throw at you and not very much time to think it over…" she reached over and grabbed his hand "but Tim it's a big thing and it's not like I have very many choices either. My family can't know about this. Ever. So I'll let you think about this. I'll call on Friday."

Tim watched her stand and walk away quickly. A baby. Me? I am terrible with kids. Heck even Gibbs is better than me with kids. Which I guess makes sense with Kelly and all. His phone rang. "McGee. – Oh! Yes I'm on my way in. I was just, with the coffee – Right sorry boss. Be there soon."

XXXxxx

Tim sighed as he paper clipped his report together. The week had been a whirlwind of activity. A case came in Monday afternoon with a dead Petty Officer that led to the deaths of two other Petty Officers, and a kilo of coke. Tony had stopped gloating about the wife being the mastermind only after Gibbs passed off the extra stack of paperwork. He sighed again stretching his fingers and looking at his own stack of forms yet to be filled out. And this is why other units follow protocol so strictly. The paperwork after these investigations is a nightmare. You'd think by now we'd at least make an effort to work inside the box. But then we may have had four dead…

He pulled the next set of papers in front of him. He stared blankly at the form for a moment before his computer screen flashed and a box opened. He blinked at the number displayed and the set of figures below it. He'd forgotten about the program he'd set up this morning. According to his computer he could afford to pay for all the pre-baby medical bills if he wasn't injured or sick in the next seven months and if he pulled some of his book money from that savings account. Assuming Jess chooses a doctor who charges in the average price range and there are no complications. God, complications what if something happens to… No not even thinking about that. God. I'm going to be a father. He closed the window in front of him and turned back to the forms that seemed less intimidating than his impending fatherhood.

Two hours later he was out the door with the promise of a long weekend unless a case was called in. Vance had pulled through giving the team the next day, Friday, off. It was mostly to avoid overtime pay, but also- according to the director- to give the team a chance to recoup after a job well done. Tim smiled at Tony who looked ready to collapse in the elevator but was still chattering about the many ways he was going to spend his day off. So far the list seemed to include sleep, movies, and food with women.

XXXxxx

The ringing was important but he couldn't figure out why. Sluggishly it registered as a phone and he snapped it open. "McGee"

Tim?

"Jess? Do you know what time it is?" Tim asked groggily.

…It's one o'clock in the afternoon. I was calling to see if you wanted lunch…Long night?

"Not what you're thinking." Tim sat up wide awake. "Problem at work, we were there until maybe two this morning. I didn't get in 'till close to three. And it isn't one yet."

You never did tell me what you do… I guess that's not important. So lunch? I only have an hour for my break.

"Let me throw on some clothes where are you going?"

I was thinking that little café where we met. With the green umbrellas?

"I'll be there as quick as I can order me a sandwich?"

Sure.

Tim had already tugged on a pair of jeans. Setting down the phone he tugged on a clean button down and scrambled to find clean socks. Making it out the door he locked up and jogged towards the lunch meeting. Halfway there he regretted his hasty exit as he realized the hadn't shaved or brushed his hair, and while he had thought to swish some mouthwash he was not exactly going to present the image of responsible father by showing up looking like….

"Tim!" Jess' voice cut through his thoughts.

"Jess! You look good." Tim smiled self consciously. She did. Strawberry blond waves were pinned neatly back in a half ponytail and her dress was white and flowy coming to her knees with a sea foam green vest buttoned conservatively overtop. She wore a silver necklace and matching hoop earrings.

"You look like you ran over here." Jess smiled to take the bite out of the comment. "Thank you for coming."

"Iwantthebaby." Tim went red and took a deep breath. God I didn't mean to just say it like that!

"You?" Jess blinked at him.

"I want the baby. I'll have to figure out how to make it work, but I think I really do." Tim smiled at having said it out loud and slipped into his chair. "I want to be a father."

"Are you sure?" Jess reached out to grab his hand. "I'm serious Tim. I think you're a great guy, but you have an odd work schedule. Even after medical bills babies are expensive. I really won't be a part of this kid's life. You can't call me to babysit or take it for a weekend because you have a date. I don't want shared custody. You would be on your own, a single father."

"I understand Jess, and I know it will be hard, but…Every time I thought about giving this kid up for adoption it about killed me. I can't walk away from this. I promise I don't expect anything from you except for a promise you'll be healthy while carrying my kid. No alcohol etcetera." He squeezed her hand and got a squeeze in response. "I know you have to run soon but we need to work out some of the details. Do you have a doctor already, when do you go in for visits? I'd like to be kept informed about those; I want to go with you when I am not at work…."

"I haven't picked a specialist yet. My primary gave me a list of good ones that I need to see soon. I can email you details once the appointments are made. I don't have a problem with you going with me especially since you will be paying for the visits. Do you know how you want to work out payments on that by the way?"

"I need to check with my insurance and see if I can cover any of this on my medical account. Have you looked at your insurance do you have any coverage?"

"There is a copay on visits and consults. I don't know about the details for delivery or what the co pays are but I'll look into it."

"Okay I can cover what the insurance doesn't. I can do this three ways. I can deal with the hospitals directly and work out a payment plan with them so you don't have to deal with any of it. Or I can open a medical account and give you access to funds to cover you appointments. Last option is to just reimburse you for payments."

"You would trust me with access to your account?" Jess asked surprised.

"It's easy enough to track payments made. I would put a limited amount in the account to cover appointments. It's not like I'm giving you free range on my bank accounts."

"I think I like option 1 best. That takes me out of the middle." Jess glanced at her watch. "Look I'll email you when I have all the details. I have to get going, do you see our waiter?"

"I've got this one. Thanks Jess, for telling me."

"Thank you Tim. Will you be offended if I throw in now that I plan on getting a lawyer to draw up a written contract for all this?"

"Not at all. I would have thought of the same thing myself probably a week from now. You have my address?"

"I do." She stood gracefully and smiled. "And Tim? Congratulations on your impending fatherhood."

Tim beamed. He watched his ex leave, grinning madly. He laughed to himself as he picked up his untouched sandwich. Gonna be a father!

XXXxxx

A/n: Please review! Can anyone tell me about Jethro, Tim's dog. I watched all the episodes out of order and there are several I still haven't seen. Does he still have the dog? Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this!