Tony let the front door slam behind him. Today was one of those days he would rather forget. It must be close to Shannon and Kelly's birthday or maybe an anniversary. Because Gibbs had been extra volatile the past few days. All Tony had done was played a stupid prank. A prank that made McGee laugh and it hadn't interfered with work. They hadn't had a case in a couple weeks and were just doing paperwork until the phone rang. Somehow it sent Gibbs into a rage and now Tony's ears were ringing from the screams. Vance had actually sided with him but didn't discipline Gibbs. It wouldn't do anything anyway. Then Tony had been cut off by some rich kid in a fancy car and somehow that was his fault. Then came the traffic jam. To make things worse. The store was out of his favorite chips and he received a news alert that one of his favorite shows was coming to an end in a few weeks. Just when he thought it could not get any worse. He noticed a nasty stain on his favorite jeans. He had never been happier to return home. From the living room he heard Tali crying and Jenny and Tyler arguing. Toys were everywhere and Ziva was nowhere to be found. Tyler's project, which was due the next day was half finished, covered with Cheetos dust on the counter. Jenny make-up was scattered on the table. Even though she was only allowed to wear it on special occasions and it was supposed to be kept in the bathroom. He headed into the family room. Where he tripped over Tali's train-set. The same set which had been taken away after being left out.
"Where is your mother?!" Tony demanded.
"I don't know. I was at the library with Daisy and Carla." Jenny explained.
"She's been on the phone forever! Since we got home at least!" Tyler exclaimed.
"She's crying" Tali added.
"Why?" Tony asked.
"I dunno" Tali replied.
Now Tony was more worried than anything. Ziva was not the type to talk on the phone for hours and she certainly did not let her children run wild, so she could talk. She did not cry around anybody. Unless something was very wrong. He found himself bolting up the stairs and bursting through the door. The lock had been broken since before Tali was born. Ziva sat on the bed, her eyes red and puffy, her head hung low, and her hair covering her face. She was cursing in Hebrew, in a broken voice. Holding her phone in a death grip. He coughed to get her attention. Whens she heard him, she looked up, and Tony got a good look at her face. She must have been crying for hours.
"Oh Tony. I was just trying to call you." Ziva commented.
"Yeah my phone's dead and I can't find my car charger." Tony explained.
"Have you spoken to Jimmy today?" Ziva questioned.
"No Breena and him were out of town. They had an appointment for Eddie.." Tony explained.
"Yeah I know. I just got off the phone with Breena. Tony. The cancer is back." Ziva replied in a broken whisper.
"Are they sure?" Tony asked.
"Unfortunately they have been waiting on the final results for a while now." Ziva replied.
"Is it in the same spot?" Tony asked.
"It's spread through the brain and to his spine. They have found other masses in his lungs and on his liver. They won't have those results for a few days but it's not looking good." Ziva explained.
"God, poor Jimmy and Breena. Poor Eddie and Victoria." Tony whispered.
"I know it's breaking my heart." Ziva replied.
"Is there anything we can do?" Tony asked.
"Not right now. Right now they just want privacy." Ziva replied.
"OK" Tony replied.
Tony's heart was broken and none of his problems seemed to matter. Everything wrong in his life would eventually go away. Most issues would not even matter tomorrow. Eddie and the rest of the Palmer's were not so lucky. Eddie had gotten sick just before his second birthday. He had never been to school and only rarely spent time with not sick kids. Little Victoria had only known hospitals and being tossed to friends or relatives. When Eddie could not be around her. Jimmy and Breena had missed months if not years of work in the past four years. Jimmy only stayed on at NCIS because of pure pity and Breena was only employed because she worked for her dad. Still Jimmy had to work and be away. Just to keep the family afloat. They were sure the last trial had worked and this nightmare was over. Now just six months later, it had come roaring back. Six months was the longest remission but they knew going in, just how grim the prognosis was.
From downstairs Tony could hear Tali melting down and the twins arguing. Whatever it was, was probably stupid. Nothing against his kids but three year olds and thirteen year olds were not exactly know for their logic. It drove Tony up the wall but at least his children could argue. At least when they cried it was not from pain or illness. They were all healthy and Ziva was healthy. He had his health problems but it was nothing serious. His family truly was blessed. Because so many he knew were not so lucky. Delilah was paralyzed and even though she was doing well. She still had her struggles. Just that day had been angry at Gibbs and blamed his grief. He could not imagine that pain. Now Eddie was sick and maybe dying. He could not imagine that.
"Are you OK?" Ziva asked.
"I had such a shitty day. I got yelled at by Gibbs, cussed out in traffic, stuck in traffic. I ruined my jeans, they didn't have my chips and Midnight got canceled. I was so miserable but none of that matters. Not compared to Eddie." Tony explained.
"We are allowed to have bad days." Ziva reminded.
"I know but it's just one bad day. Eddie and the Palmer's have had bad years." Tony explained.
"I know" Ziva replied.
"We are so blessed." Tony replied.
"We are and who knows. Miracles happen every day." Ziva replied.
A/N: What do you think? New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.