Thus far the adoption process had not been smooth for Rachel and Jethro. When they had called the lawyer they learned that he moved out-of-state with his wife and his replacement was not willing to help them. After three weeks of calling around they had finally decided to use Jethro's connections to adopt instead. After all that's how they got Abby. Today was a Saturday and Gibbs had to work but Rachel was taking Abby on a picnic. With Marlene and her girls. Rachel was a little nervous because this was the first time Abby would see Delilah since she got hurt. Abby ran into the room holding her photo-album.
"Are you ready to go Abby?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah! I thought Delilah might like to see this! There are so many pictures of Delilah and I! She is going to love it!" Abby cried.
"OK but I don't want you to lose that or get it dirty. Put it in the bag with the other recreational stuff you want to take." Rachel replied.
"OK!" Abby cried.
Abby was stretched out on the floor of Delilah's room. Abby was dying to go to the park but they couldn't go. Until Shawna and Steve got back from the pancake breakfast fundraiser for her chorus trip. Delilah was lying on her bed. She had hardly spoken to Abby since she got there. Out of boredom Abby started running her finger around the spokes on Delilah's wheelchair.
"Please don't play with my chair. It is not a toy." Delilah warned.
"I'm sorry I'm just bored." Abby replied.
"Then go see if you can use the computer or what Quinn is doing!" Delilah barked.
"But I want to play with you." Abby argued.
"Well I don't feel like playing!" Delilah yelled.
"OK let's talk than." Abby offered.
"Fine!" Delilah sighed.
"Guess what?" Abby cried.
"What?" Delilah asked.
"Gibbs and Rachel are adopting another kid!" Abby cried.
"Great" Delilah sighed.
"Aren't you excited?" Abby asked.
"Not really." Delilah replied.
"Why?" Abby asked.
"Because I'm not." Delilah snarked.
"Why are you in such a bad mood?" Abby asked.
"In case you didn't catch on the thing that you were playing with! Is the chair that I have to use for the rest of my life!" Delilah cried.
"Hey it will be OK." Abby assured.
"Yeah for you!" Delilah scoffed turning herself away from Abby.
"Girls it's time to go!" Marlene called from the doorway.
"I told you I don't want to go to the stupid park!" Delilah cried.
"Come on honey you have hardly gone out since your accident." Marlene replied.
"Well maybe if you had people staring at you and whispering you wouldn't want to go out either!" Delilah cried.
"Just ignore them." Marlene explained.
"Easy for you to say!" Delilah yelled.
"Come on once you get out you will enjoy it." Marlene offered.
"I don't want to go!" Delilah yelled.
"Abby sweetie maybe we should go." Rachel said.
"But mom I want to go on the picnic." Abby argued.
"We can still go just the two of us now let's go!" Rachel replied.
"Fine" Abby sighed standing up.
That night Rachel was getting dinner ready for the family. Jethro had a case so it would just be Abby and her for dinner. Just to be safe she made enough for three. So that if Jethro came home hungry he could just pop something in the microwave and just eat. Rachel glanced over and noticed Abby resting her head on the table. She grabbed a bottle of tea for her and a Caf-Pow for Abby from the fridge. Then made her way over to the table.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Rachel asked setting the cool beverage in front of her daughter.
"Delilah isn't funny anymore since her accident." Abby replied.
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
"She is really mean and she never wants to do anything." Abby explained.
"Sweetie Delilah's whole life was changed in an instant and she is having a hard time adjusting." Rachel assured.
"I know but why does she feel sorry for herself all the time? My friend Johnny from Kindergarten was in a wheelchair and he never felt sorry for himself." Abby questioned.
"Johnny was born without the use of his legs. He doesn't know any different. Delilah was a very active and independent girl. Who all of the sudden needs help with very basic things that you and I take for granted everyday." Rachel explained.
"Yeah but she can still bowl, go to the park, ride horses and almost everything else she used to do. Why doesn't she see that?" Abby asked.
"I have seen this in many of my patients. She knows she can still do all that stuff but she is frustrated. She knows she can do most of the stuff she used to but she only sees what's different. Having to switch rooms with the twins since she can't go upstairs anymore. Having to ride the handicap bus. Not being able to leave class five minutes early. Plus a few private things that Marlene told me about. That she swore me to secrecy on." Rachel explained.
"Oh well she ever be the same again?" Abby asked.
"In time yes but don't expect it to happen overnight." Rachel explained.
"Alright I just hope it happens soon." Abby replied.
"Me too Abby." Rachel replied stroking Abby's cheek.
Gibbs got home by mid afternoon Sunday. Just in time to join Abby and Rachel volunteering at the Children's Hospital. Rachel and Jethro helped with handy work and read to the kids. While Abby would spend time in the playroom with the healthier kids. Abby rode in the back of her dad's challenger. Trying to ignore her parents conversation.
"How was the picnic?" Gibbs asked.
"We didn't go." Rachel replied.
"Why not?" Gibbs asked.
"Delilah was having a rough day." Rachel replied.
"Oh no is she OK?" Gibbs asked.
"Physically yes. Emotionally no she snapped at Abby and it really hurt her feelings." Rachel explained.
"That's too bad I hope she comes around soon." Gibbs replied.
"We all do." Rachel replied.
The family arrived at the Children's Hospital. Once everybody was signed in they were given their assignments. Jethro was asked to repair a playhouse, Rachel was asked to read to the kids, and Abby was sent to the playroom. For the most part Jethro and Rachel didn't worry about her getting attached to a kid who later died. Since DC Children's had separate playrooms for the kids with simple things like appendectomy's or broken bones and kids who had serious illnesses like cancer or failing organs. Abby spent most of her time playing with a girl who had an operation on her throat. Until the second hour when Rachel came in to the Sunshine Playroom from the Rainbow Playroom. Gibbs had finished his project so he came to hangout with the sick kids and Abby. Once the two hours were over. Jethro and Rachel walked out of the hospital. With Abby between them. Upon arriving outside they heard a soft whimpering noise. Gibbs held Rachel and Abby back. Before heading off to investigate. The noise was coming from the bushes beside the ramp. He bent down and found a small boy covered in dirt, his clothes were torn, and he was obviously in pain.
"Hey little guy." Gibbs called softly.
"Don't hurt me." The boy begged.
"It's OK son I won't hurt you." Gibbs assured.
"Promise?" The boy asked.
"Cross my heart." Gibbs assured.
"OK" The boy replied.
"Do your parents know where you are?" Gibbs asked.
"No" The boy replied nervously.
"Can you tell me your name so I can get you back to them?" Gibbs asked.
"Please don't tell my dad! He'll hurt me again!" The boy begged.
"It's OK I won't let him hurt you. Just tell me your name." Gibbs assured.
"Tony, Tony DiNozzo Jr." Tony whispered.
A/N: There will be more about Tony in the next chapter. I have never been to a Children's hospital so I don't know if the playroom thing is real but for the story it is. New chapter should be up Friday or Saturday. Please review and thanks for reading.
