Federal agents can prepare for a number of things civilians could never prepare for. Even though his days in the field were long behind him. Tony DiNozzo was still armed with the knowledge to survive a number of scenarios. He was prepared for more than most. He had been through drills for mass power outages, terrorist attacks, nuclear war, germ warfare, pandemics, epidemics. Even small tragedies he was prepared for an agent down to an attack on head quarters. Any shattering tragedy you could imagine. Almost any tragedy that is, but there was one tragedy even the finest federal agent could never prepare for.
It happened in the blink of an eye. Tony had just collected Tali from school. He replied to a text from Jimmy before pulling out of the parking lot. He looked back at Tali as he backed out of his space. She was pale and kind of slumped over in her seat. He didn't think much of it. The flu was bad this year but Tali had gotten sick months ago. She had gotten pretty lucky considering. She remained quiet the entire drive home. Tony turned into the driveway and helped Tali from the car. She was warm, really warm. He rushed her inside and tucked her into bed. He grabbed the thermometer from the medicine cabinet. He returned to find Tali leaning over the bed vomiting. He didn't waste time with taking her temperature. He grabbed her and rushed back out to the car. He buckled her into her car seat and raced towards the hospital.
The emergency room was pretty crowded. Tony was prepared for a wait. He wished that he had called the pediatrician. Tali went completely limp in his arms and then went into a seizure. In one swift move he got her onto the floor and fell to his knees beside her. A crowd had started to form but quickly dispersed when an orderly raced out with a gurney.
Everything happened in a blur. Tali was rushed off. Tony just stood back frozen with tears forming in his eyes. Somebody must have helped him to a seat because when he came to he was sitting on one of the waiting room couches. Jimmy was beside him rubbing his back. He could not remember calling Jimmy but he must have. He doubted that some stranger in the hospital would call Jimmy. Maybe some staff member but everybody in the waiting room was either sick or waiting on news on a sick loved one.
He went to wipe his face and was met with fabric. He was wearing one of those masks they gave you if you had flu symptoms or if you just had a crappy immune system. Unless he had missed more than he thought. He was the latter. They were just at the small emergency room about ten minutes from Tony's place. He doubted anybody besides Jimmy knew his history.
"T...Tali?" Tony stammered.
"They haven't told us anything. Ducky and Gibbs are trying to get more information. Bishop and Abby went for coffee. McGee sends support but he doesn't feel comfortable being at the hospital. The twins are so small and with this flu." Jimmy rambled.
"I understand" Tony whispered.
Eventually their was an update and the news was not good. Bacterial meningitis. The words bounced around Tony's brain and stabbed at his heart. He had trained to be a physical education coach. He had heard lectures on how serious meningitis could be. Serious as in often fatal. He had gotten Tali to the hospital promptly but it did not make much difference. Tali was already very critical. She was too sick to be treated by the small hospital. They did not have time to wait for a ground ambulance in rush hour traffic. A helicopter was radioed.
Tony rode in the helicopter with Tali. He had to keep it together. Staying strong was near impossible but he had to do it for his girl. Thirty minutes later the helicopter touched down at the Children's Hospital over an hour away by car. Jimmy and Gibbs were following by car. Ducky, Abby, and Bishop were following as well but not as closely behind. Gibbs was driving. Under less tragic circumstances Tony would have made a joke about the retired Marine beating the helicopter. On that night all Tony could do was cry and pray.
Upon arrival to the Children's Hospital, Tali was rushed to the PICU. All Tony could do was wander helplessly until they had her set up in the room. He kicked himself with anger when he realized Tali had never received a meningitis vaccine. It had taken months to get her medical records. She was up to date on shots or so he thought. Wait was meningitis one that was on him? He desperately tried to recall the sign advertising the vaccines children needed to enter kindergarten. He tried to remember what he had read in doctor's offices. Had Ziva brushed off meningitis? Or had he dropped the ball? He could never fault Ziva for anything. He was sure it was on him. He was sure that he was the one who had failed his baby girl. He looked down at her bed. She was a shell of the girl she had been that morning. All he could do was pray.
Tali was in excellent hands. She was in the care of gifted and renowned doctors. Working desperately to save her life. Tony could only stand back and watch in awe. Unfortunately even in the hands of the best doctors. Some patients just cannot be saved and tragically Tali was one of those patients. The doctors did all they could but Tali was simply too sick. The ventilator had been breathing for her since arriving to the hospital. Her kidneys had begun to shut down around midnight. One hour later a cat scan revealed extensive brain damage. On that night Tony was forced to make the hardest decision of his entire life. Keep Tali alive on machines and pray for a miracle. Or turn off the machines and let nature take it's course. It was simultaneously the easiest and hardest decision of Tony's life. At two forty five in the morning on Thursday January 18th 2018, Tali DiNozzo died in her father's arms. Her heart monitor let out a high pitched scream. Tony's wails would soon, somehow over power the machine's scream.
A/N: Will Tony be able to cope with his loss? New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.